Stealing Spree

“Club inspection?”

As I watched the door open up and saw who was behind it, I put on my best smile as I said that.

Well, best smile was probably the wrong word because the girl instantly frowned and immediately tried to close the door on me.

To not let that happen, I placed my foot forward, preventing it from being shut. I then used a bit of force on my arm, just enough to push it open so that I could enter.

“Senpai, aren’t you being cold to me? And here I am, taking the time to visit you.” I said as soon as the door closed behind me. Still with the same smile as earlier, I reached for the girl’s waist, pulling her as close to me as possible.

“Onoda-kun, you know, I’m going to believe you if you didn't use Club Inspection as your excuse. As well as, doing this without even asking me whether I want to or not.” Sounding a little disappointed, Nakanishi-senpai’s eyes pointed at our closeness before grabbing my wrist to try and take my hand off of her waist.

Well, I didn’t give her a hard time on that, I quickly released her and took a step back. She’s still wearing the lab coat on top of her uniform, giving her a very mature vibe, close to what Hayashi-sensei was exuding.

Nonetheless, if they stood next to each other, people would probably line up on this girl more. Her charms were definitely out of most girls’ leagues. Even though I could brag about my indifference to beautiful girls due to the abundance of them within my complex relationship, there’s no escaping this one.

It was just a matter of whether I could hold it in or not.

“Alright. It’s my bad. But I’m honest when I say I’m visiting you, senpai. I can’t have my lovely senior get lonely in this place, right?”

That’s partly a lie, of course. The main reason was to check on Enomoto while visiting this girl only came second. But there’s no need for me to blurt that out. And since I confirmed that no other people were present in this club, I could act a little brazen like this.

Upon hearing that, Nakanishi-senpai’s eyebrows twitched as she resignedly shook her head.

“… It makes me wonder if the favorable junior I have met before was a different Onoda-kun. Do you have a twin brother?”

“Nope. I’m the one and only. You can’t find a copy of me anywhere.”

“Oh. Is that so? Too bad then, I’m lowering my evaluation of you.”

“How low will that be?”

“From 100 to 1.”

“Huh. That’s a sharp-nosedive. But it relieves me that I’m at 100 before. Senpai likes me that much, I’m honored.”

“This guy’s shamelessness… Alright, out with it. What are you here for?”

Putting on another act, instead of getting further annoyed, the girl started to soften up. And even though it’s not yet visible, there’s a hint of amusement in her expression. Furthermore, albeit slowly, she’s drawing closer to me.

“Hmm? Is it time to get serious?”

“Yes, it is. I’m busy. I can’t play with you.”

“But I’m not playing, senpai. Well, as much as it saddens me, I guess I must accept that senpai doesn’t want to see me anymore.”

“Stop acting, numbskull. Want me to pour a solution to you?”

“pH Level?”

“2. Don’t worry, it will only give you, at most, a second-degree burn if treated right away.”

Will it? I don’t know. I only know that below 7 is acidic and it's far below 7. I might see my flesh get dissolved.

“Nakanishi-senpai, are you actually sadistic?”

“If against a shameless guy like you, then yes. I can be sadistic to stop a mischievous junior like you.”

What a swift answer. But even so, the girl’s eyes were now smiling. Even if she couldn’t admit it yet, this kind of banter was like a breath of fresh air for her. Who knows how long she had to confine herself in this place? And with that other third year not here at the moment, she’s doing her experiments alone.

“Now, I’m hurt. Senpai, I think I will need to hold your hand.” Overacting at most, I clutched my chest and grimaced in pain as I closed our distance again. Without waiting for her to react, I reached for her hand and tightly gripped it.

It’s bullshit, of course. But that’s one of the factors why she failed to react on time.

By the time it settled in her head, it was already too late for her.

“Uhh… Enough playing around, Onoda-kun. We’re not outside. There’s no reason for you to hold my hand.”

“Ah. That’s true. But can you overlook it this one time?” I implored while keeping my act of a playful junior. Furthermore, instead of just holding her hand normally, I began slipping my fingers through her gaps one by one.

Nakanishi-senpai tried to squeeze it with all her might though but to no avail. It’s just a flimsy resistance.

Before she gave up and exhaled, “… What then? You’ll probably ask the same thing next time.”

“I won’t. I promise.”

“I’ll hold you onto that promise.”

I raised my other hand to make that gesture. Nakanishi-senpai rolled her eyes at that though. Well, if she really hated it, she’d be so upset by now. But then again, she could just be giving up on resisting because she thought I wouldn’t stop.

“Mhm. You got it. I can’t have you become really upset with me. It will be my loss”

“You slick-tongued brat. Anyway, let’s finally get to your purpose for coming here. It’s Enomoto, right?”

Nakanishi-senpai clicked her tongue before quickly switching the topics. Now, that’s a great way to escape from further teasing.

Anyway, I also switched gears and put my focus back on the reason why I visited her or this club in particular.

“Yes, senpai. Does he have no plans on making a move against me again?”

Nakanishi-senpai readily answered it. And honestly, I couldn’t find a hint of falsehood, “I don’t know. He’s fairly busy tending to Nikka these days. He hadn’t mentioned you at all lately.”

“Nikka? Oh. That senior. Is she dating him?”

“No. Childhood friend.”

Alright. That's new information. So, a childhood friend and someone he vowed to protect were put in the same club. But thinking about the requirement to have five members in a club, I wonder who’s the other two if Enomoto was also a member here?

“I see. I doubt she sees him as simply a childhood friend.” I said as I recalled how passionate that girl was the last time I visited here. That girl instantly deflated when she found out that the one knocking on the door wasn’t Enomoto.

“Don’t get there. Let them have their romance.” Nakanishi-senpai chided.

She’s also aware of it.

“Hmm? I’m surprised she’s not jealous of you, senpai. Enomoto-senpai houses you here and protects you, right?”

“Why will she? I’m simply someone he picked to accompany the girl.”

“Oh. But what if he’s interested in you? Won’t that complicate things?”

“Stop, Onoda-kun. There’s no way.”

Nakanishi-senpai instantly shot down that possibility as she waved her hand dismissively.

“Oh. Maybe it’s the other way around. You’re the same as Nikka-senpai.”

“Huh? Where did you get that?!”

“From your expression? Even in this dim room, I can see you’re blushing, senpai.” I smirked and pushed my face closer to her which in turn, made the girl lean back just to escape my watchful gaze.

When she couldn’t retreat further, Nakanishi-senpai raised an eyebrow and annoyedly raised a question, “And might I remind you whose fault do you think that is?”

“Are you saying it’s my fault?”

“Who else? You’re being too touchy with me. Why are you holding my hand like this anyway? Only someone numb with this kind of contact wouldn’t react this way. Yeah, someone like you. Or maybe you’re just too oblivious at how forward you’re acting.”

Uh… Now that I think about it. She’s right. I probably misinterpreted that blush. It’s the product of my presumptuousness.

“Alright, senpai. That’s my bad. Should I let go of you now?”

As I said that, I loosened up my hold on her hand. Nakanishi-senpai surely felt it. However, her fingers remained intertwined with mine.

And while rolling her eyes again, she muttered, “Why are you asking me? If you’re done with what you came here for then go. Leave me alone.”

Hmm? Is this actually that? Saying the opposite of what she meant.

No. I was probably just too used to my tsundere girls. Hearing Satsuki, Mina and Itou act that way built up my experience in it.

In any case, though I said I was going on patrol… my next destination would be the Theater House. To also check on a certain golden ringlet girl.

I could still spare some time…

“On second thought, let me accompany you for a while…”

“See how unreasonable you are.”

Izumi-senpai was troubled that she might be an unreasonable girl. But here I am, getting that title with little effort.

“Yes, yes. That’s why I’ll make up for it by accompanying you here.” This time, I let go of any playfulness in my voice and smiled at her naturally.

Upon seeing that, Nakanishi-senpai was stumped. She averted her gaze and without saying anything more, dragged me further inside this clubroom.

Nakanishi-senpai was like a loner. She lacked the friends to share her joy with and she’s probably here in this club just to while away the time until she could finally graduate and escape from the unending lecherous gazes thrown at her.

As for what she planned after high school, I had no idea. In a way, there’s still a lot that I don’t know about this girl. And likewise, she had no idea about the extent of my capabilities. But if there’s one thing that was compelling her to tolerate me, it’s most likely because she’s finding comfort in my presence. There’s no need for her to put on a mask of indifference. She could be herself around me.

And that’s further proven today.

Well, the next time I come here, I’ll uphold that promise I made. This will be the last time I will take advantage of her inherent kindness.