Stealing Spree

For the next few minutes, I stayed with Hanabi, assuring her that those three should be off the site after the stunt that they pulled. The venue was open for everyone who wanted to watch the Interhigh but thugs like them would always be monitored in case they created some trouble.

And sure enough, blocking a girl and attempting to drag her away fully showcased their troublemaking capabilities. It’s only natural that they get kicked out and even get served to the authorities to keep them away. They truly have a pea-sized brain to not even think of any consequence just because everyone was avoiding them.

I’ll go check later. If they’re still hanging around near this place, I might as well teach them a lesson for scaring Hanabi. I can do that much for her, right? Besides, who knows? They might also wait for me to ruin that for them. Better to nip the trouble in the bud.

Anyway, enough about them.

When Hanabi finally calmed down, the girl fixed herself back on the bench and let go of me. She covered her flustered expression with her hands and took another half a minute to bring her face back to its natural color. Then, once that was done, she faced me again, repeating her earlier question.

Why am I here, and where am I going?

As there was no reason to hide it from her, I told her about me accompanying our Basketball Club.

Upon finding out that it was the Girl’s Basketball Club, Hanabi’s eyes sparkled with interest as she once again brought up the Basketball Team that her twin sister joined at the Seven Star. Knowing that they’d surely qualify for Prefectural Level, she probed me if this move of sticking to the Basketball Club was my attempt to get closer to her twin sister. Somehow, a certain scenario already formed in her head where Matsuri and I would be meeting during the match between our schools. And there, the romance between us would bloom once more.

Yeah. What a healthy imagination this young lady has, right?

But that’s not the end of it. She then branched out into thinking that I had another motive in joining them here. She huffed and put me under her scrutinizing gaze.

Of course, that was fruitless. No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t figure out how I was able to get permission to accompany a supposedly all-girls club.

In the end, she could only drop it when I attempted to leave her alone again.

Due to that, Hanabi felt inclined to follow me back and find out the truth herself.

And now, we’re in this situation...

“This shameless brat. You left saying you’re going out to get some fresh air. What’s this now? Bringing back another girl who’s clinging to you like that. Are they that easy to pick up for you? What’s more, she’s not from our school!”

As I expected, not even seconds after entering that side door, a woman with both hands on her hips blocked our way. She’s fuming on his nose while glaring at me and scanning Hanabi who’s having the most fun in her life.

Given that it would be inevitable for the goofball to meet Satsuki or the other women in the club, I let her know about my relationship and my standing in it. Rather than explain it to her on the spot, clearing all that up beforehand would be less of a hassle for me.

Besides, Hanabi was a smartass. Even without explaining extensively, she could connect the dots by herself. When I mentioned Satsuki being my girlfriend, she even acted like I was cheating on her – mischievously using the ‘babe’ card I used earlier.

Yep. Contrary to what I expected, she not only insisted on going with me but also desperately clung to me while declaring her growing interest in meeting her ‘rival’.

Of course, I saw through her obvious intention in insisting that. She found this a golden chance to stave off her boredom and have more fun than just simply going around to watch sports matches she’s not really interested in.

As for me, I also have a reason for bringing her with me despite the risk...

It’s for this woman in front of us.

“Sensei, why are you surprised? Didn’t I say I will demonstrate it to you? Here’s an example.” Without changing the expression on my face, I faced her sharp, almost stabbing glare as I presented Hanabi in front of her.

Upon hearing that, Orimura-sensei was taken aback. She almost froze there as her eyes focused on the goofball beside me.

Likewise, Hanabi was also clueless as to what I was talking about at this moment, she cutely tilted her head, making her ribbon bounce.

A moment later, a vein popped up on Orimura-sensei’s head as she aggressively stomped her feet to close our distance before poking my forehead, “D-don’t make me laugh, Onoda-kun! What do you mean by this?”

Instead of answering her, I shrugged and took a step back, hiding behind the goofball.

And although Hanabi was initially confused at what was happening, she quickly grasped the situation upon seeing the enraged Orimura-sensei.

She let out a chuckle as she bravely stepped forward to face the woman.

“I knew it. You’re not just an ordinary guy, babe. No wonder Matsuri is still hung up on you. Fufu~”

“Babe?! Oi... What is this...”

As though she got hit by a hammer, heavy confusion struck Orimura-sensei. The blacks of her eyes almost rolled to the back as she became livid on that spot.

On the other hand, Hanabi’s chuckle gradually transformed into laughter. Even if she also couldn’t understand the situation fully, she was moving according to her whims.

And part of those whims was to figure me out completely. And so, even in this instance, she’s playing the ‘babe’ card.

Where’s the scared goofball now? Yep. It’s gone. She had already forgotten that incident.

All she had in mind at this moment was to satisfy her thirst for fun things.

Without saying anything else, I dragged the two back to the waiting room. Eguchi-sensei, Satsuki, and the rest of the Basketball Club were still warming up so we’re still alone.

When Orimura-sensei eventually recovered from her confusion she sat down in front of us, her eyes narrowed to the point that her forehead was already creasing. She wanted answers but she couldn’t find the right question to ask.

Due to that, she just stared at me, waiting for me to properly explain everything to her. As for the sassy goofball, she’s cheerfully humming while continuing to cling to my arm. She’s having the most fun at the moment.

I don’t know how she will fare when she meets Satsuki or Eguchi-sensei later but for now, she’s on cloud nine, looking down from up high at Orimura-sensei.

After letting a minute pass in silence, I straightened my back and confidently faced the woman in front of us. To smoothly transition from this stuffy atmosphere, clearing the air was in order.

And so, after organizing my thoughts and whispering a few things to the sassy goofball, I opened my mouth.

“Alright. I guess I owe you a clearer explanation, sensei. This girl is Hanabi. A student from Third High. As you can see, I brought her here for a reason. She won’t stop clinging to me and she’s fairly interested in why I’m with the Girl’s Basketball Club. Like you, she’s just as confused... Am I right?”

Upon saying that, I nudged the girl on my side.

Hanabi cleared her throat and stood up to introduce herself properly before supporting my claim.

“Yes. I was as confused as you, sensei. But not anymore. I get the gist of it... Ruki, take care of me today, okay?” Ending that with a wink, Hanabi then giggled again as she sat back down.

Not knowing what to say as nothing was truly cleared up, Orimura-sensei blankly stared at us. Then, slowly but surely, like a volcano going active from being dormant for a long time, she eventually erupted.

Orimura-sensei inhaled a long breath before pointing at Hanabi, “... What the hell are you two talking about? Stick to human language, will you?! You, girl. Are you also his girlfriend?”

Before answering that, Hanabi turned to me as her face gradually warped into a mischievous expression. With her lips stretching from side to side, she nodded, “Uhm... I suppose I am now. He called me ‘babe’ earlier. Does that count?”