Stealing Spree

As our last destination, the 2nd High School, being the closest affiliated school apart from the high schools we were attending, I partly expected to find some familiar faces who chose to go there after graduating from our middle school.

And I wasn't wrong on that.

If the first two schools we visited had contrasting results – the first one was too eventful because of Nao, Saionji and Hanabi while the second one ended without anything noteworthy – the third school was kind of a mix of that.

When I finally got my chance to explore the hallways to observe and search for the students, I got stopped many times by different students, especially those who were already wandering outside.

It's almost the end of the 7th period, after all.

Some were curious about me because they saw me accompanying the principal earlier and asked if I was going to transfer to their school.

Some simply got attracted by my appearance and asked for my name – the buff of my haircut was still going strong.

And lastly, the few who managed to recognize me because we were once in the same class in middle school.

I dealt with the first two categories normally without being a snob. I mean, they could pose a problem to my task if I ignored their approach. On the other hand, I used my supposed former classmates to find out the information I needed regarding the suspected students and the teachers connected to them.

Of course, I created a made-up reason for it. It was fruitful, to say the least.

The three suspected students were a little obscure or rather, they were low-key. Whether it's by choice or not, I had no idea. As for the teachers… I only managed to catch one with the suspected student. And while he looked like someone who might really do something illegal, I wasn't in a position to judge him just because of that.

At least, just to say that I did my job, I followed them while keeping myself hidden.

The result?

Nothing happened because they separated right at the staircase where the teacher went down while the student started making her way back to their classroom.

And since I was already there, I used that chance to call out to the girl. I probed her using the same method I used with Kazehito and Kanno-sensei, pretending to be her junior.

In one way or another, my probe was successful as it got me firsthand information rather than the rumors heard by other students or what they think of her.

After guiding our conversation to the teacher I saw her with, she mentioned that she's been giving him learning materials because she's really lagging behind in class. She even showed it to me right there and then. She's carrying it, after all.

And because of that, even if it's only based on what I observed from the tone of her voice, the stability of her eyes, and her minute bodily gestures, I made a mental note that there's a high possibility that she's innocent. I couldn't say the same for the teacher though since I only heard about her part of the story and it would be suspicious to probe further.

If I have to describe that girl, she's timid yet very sincere; be it her studies or people she feels comfortable with – the way she easily believed in my lie also added to that evaluation. Moreover, the girl even offered to give me a tour. Within the brief time that we spent conversing, the girl had quickly found it comfortable to be with me.

Either it's also because of my face or the way I spoke, I had no idea. But even if it's a little tempting to get to know the girl more, I declined the tour offer.

That encounter was the only noteworthy event in the 2nd High School.

I couldn't count my meeting with my former classmates as noteworthy. I couldn't fully remember them. And I also couldn't count catching the other students' attention as one. I'm already used to it back in our school or at Akane's school.

And with that, after separating from the girl, I returned to Eguchi-sensei's car.

I'm not really sure if I truly managed to cover everything that I needed to see but that's not my problem anymore.

-

-

"Onoda-kun, we're finally done!" With a rather exhausted smile on her lips, Eguchi-sensei tiredly exclaimed when she returned around half an hour after the 7th period.

"Yes. Good work for today, sensei." I replied as I watched her hop inside the car, her head and back immediately plopping down on the backrest. She also rested her legs which were surely tired from too much walking and standing around.

"Un. You also did a great job, Onoda-kun. Can you wait for a moment? I'll just rest for a moment then we'll go."

"No rush, sensei. And if you're fine with it, my lap is open to rest your feet on."

Also leaning my back, I patted my lap which her eyes instantly focused on.

But after deliberating for a while, Eguchi-sensei quickly shook her head while having an amused expression, "Are you tempting me, Onoda-kun?"

"Maybe?" I jokingly answered which earned me Eguchi-sensei's raised eyebrow.

A second later, she burst into sweet-sounding laughter as she took off her shoes and lifted her legs. "I will be taking that offer then, Onoda-kun."

"Un. Shall I take this as sensei falling into my temptation?" Saying that with the same playful tone, I grabbed her legs and guided them down on my lap.

And even without prompt, I started pressing my fingers on her bare legs, massaging her tired muscles. Eguchi-sensei stared at my hands but did nothing to stop me.

"Yes, you can say that. The temptation of your lap was irresistible, Onoda-kun." And she giggled again, this time looking more relaxed and relieved.

Somehow, that talk where we addressed her current state after what happened between us paved the way for us to be a little casual when conversing. The same as how I drew laughter from her earlier, she felt comfortable like this and so do I. But only if we're alone.

When there were other people around, we would revert to acting as a pair of a teacher and her Student Assistant.

It's better like this than letting her be racked in guilt by remembering how we crossed the forbidden line.

I'm confident with my poker face but that's not the case for Eguchi-sensei. When she arrives home, she'll surely be reminded of what we did. And even without guessing, she'll feel conflicted about it.

Since that's something I will have no control over, I already gave her my contact information. That way, she'll have the option to call me.

However, I'm well aware that that's just patchwork and not something that will solve her conflicted feelings. Sooner or later, we still have to address what happened between us…

-

-

By the time Eguchi-sensei's car drove off the 2nd High School, the night had already started to set in the sky. It really took us the whole day to finish visiting all three schools.

A lot has happened that it feels like a month has already passed. No. That's an exaggeration. Maybe half a month?

Anyway, since it's already decided that we'll go report to Hayashi-sensei tomorrow morning, Eguchi-sensei asked me if she could drive me home.

I declined.

At the current state of our relationship, it will be a problem if she finds out that I'm already living with another girl. Besides, even if we can make an excuse that Akane is my childhood friend living next door, the possibility of Fuyu being there with my silly girl is high.

So, to play it safe, I asked her to drop me off at the train station near our neighborhood. But before doing so, I told her that it was fine for me to stay outside a little longer, dropping the hint that I could spend more time with her.

I noticed her reluctance to end this day, after all. If I'm not wrong, Eguchi-sensei wanted to know where I live or if not that, extend our private time together even for just a few minutes.

And I'm right on the money.

Putting on a determined expression as if she was about to go into a war, she slowed down the car to enter a parking space that we coincidentally passed by. As soon as the vehicle stopped on a spot, Eguchi-sensei heatedly stared at me as she bravely asked, "I don't mean anything with this but… Can we stay here for a while, Onoda-kun? I would like to spend more time with you… as Ryouko and not your teacher, Eguchi."

Yep. Instead of waiting for me to recreate the same situation as earlier, she's the one who raised that banner this time.

And considering how she's a little shaky despite the determined look on her face, she's afraid that I would decline her.

Well, whether it be as her Student Assistant or the one she's infatuated with, I already decided not to decline.

So, in a bid to calm down her shakiness, I reached for her hand and clasped it with mine before answering with a silly yet sincere smile, "If you say it like that, I'll be a jerk to decline that. Besides, I also feel the same, Ryouko-san."

"Onoda-kun…"

Having confirmed that I am of a similar mind, Eguchi-sensei's caught my lips, like a magnet attracted to them. With her hands also dropping on my cheek to keep my head in line, she initiated a fiery and passionate kiss, mindlessly forgetting the world outside her car…