Stealing Spree

On my way to where my girls were supposed to be, I passed by the entrance and found that the opposing team from earlier was still stuck standing there, crowded by their mourning fans and schoolmates.

I could see how they were uncomfortable but at the same time, they wanted to console them and appear as though the loss wasn’t going to make them break.

From the way I see it, they’re neither prideful nor arrogant. Even if they were the reigning champions in our city for a few years, they still couldn’t get past the prefecture level. In terms of their achievements, they must’ve thought that it was nothing to be boastful about.

Anyway, I didn’t want to get entangled with them again. Hurrying in my steps, I aimed to slip away before any of them could spot me.

Not that I believe I am worthy of their attention, it’s just a precaution. I mean, I’m experienced enough that after provoking someone like that, I should expect them to find a way to retaliate.

But try as I might, I am way too conspicuous. And it’s not just because of my appearance. It’s because of how I looked like I was running away from something.

Halfway through my attempt to slip away from their gazes, it coincided with the point guard also slipping out of their fans’ encirclement.

Our gazes met and almost instantly, her porcelain white face looked like it was being torched.

“You!” She started, her fingers pointing directly at me. “Where are you going?!”

“Huh? None of your business.” I promptly replied reflexively, expressing not even an ounce of concern about her.

Of course, it didn’t sit well with her. How meddlesome.

Perhaps feeling like I was dismissing her again, the girl repeated what she showcased earlier; her quickness. In the blink of an eye, she crossed the distance between us, crashing against me.

I could’ve dodged her. No. I should’ve dodged her. However, knowing that there was a wall beside me, my body moved on its own, preventing her from being hurt for her own recklessness.

Her forehead squarely hit my chest and the force behind that sudden dash pushed me to the wall.

Hearing the dull thud created by my arm hitting the sturdy surface, the girl realized what she had done.

“T-that. Are you okay? I… I didn’t mean it.” As concern flooded her watery eyes, she approached me and reached for the arm that I supposedly hurt.

Little did she know, I managed to cushion myself appropriately. Knowing that her rush would result in me hitting that wall, I easily broke her momentum when I moved my body to that side at the same time as she crashed into me.

“Oh, really? You didn’t mean it?” I slapped her hand away before she could reach my arm and acted like it hurt.

The girl ignored my words, or rather, it probably didn’t register in her head as she stared at my arm in terror. She’s possibly terrified that she injured me.

“Relax. It’s not broken or anything.”

“But…”

“What? Will you compensate me for being hurt?”

“I… Of course, I will. I’ll apologize too! I’m sorry for being brash.” The girl hurriedly bowed in apology. If I didn’t stop her, she’d bend her back to a 90-degree angle just to give a more sincere apology.

I guess that’s enough lessons for her. At least, she could admit to her wrongdoing.

“Tell me. Are you always this hot-headed? No. Wait. You’re calm in the court. Otherwise, you won’t be able to bring your team to that favorable position.”

“Favorable? Don’t joke with me. You broke it easily in less than five minutes! Uhh… Wait, I’m sorry for shouting, I didn’t mean it.”

Ah. I see. So this is her personality, huh? An explosive brat who will always get worked up when it comes to things she’s confident about.

That’s probably the reason why she’s so easily provoked.

I shook my head inwardly and stared at her like I was looking at a droopy fruit. Her name is Mikan, right? Yeah… It suits her. The explosive sweetness and sourness of that fruit are quite a combination.

“If you have nothing else to say, I’m going.”

“Wait. You still won’t tell me your name? And your arm…”

“Don’t worry about the arm. I can still carry you with this. As for my name… sorry, you have to earn the right to know it.”

I raised my arm and moved it normally. Of course, I made it look like I was being careful not to exert it but I guess that’s not needed at all.

The girl was already flustered enough by my words. She became more like a ripe orange this way.

It’s a chance to tease her again but I have no motivation to do it anymore. I already lost a lot of time engaging with her. I better hurry.

“... How do I earn it? Tell me.”

As I started walking away, I heard the girl’s voice behind me. She’s begging me to tell her.

This girl… Is she that obsessed with her loss? Or is it because she wanted to know how my strategy defeated her?

Uh. Of course not, that girl… she’s showing early signs of infatuation, isn’t she?

If Orimura-sensei was here, I could definitely hear her cursing my awful charm.

“Maybe if we meet again someday?”

“Okay… I’m Sakuraba Mikan of Hirari High! Remember that!”

As the girl shouted her name and school, I simply raised my hand and continued on my steps without looking back at her.

Hirari High.

Yeah. That’s the school that girl is attending.

-

-

Pushing that encounter to the back of my mind, I soon arrived where my girls were. Well, they’re not alone as some of our classmates remained with them. Some of them are probably planning to ride the same bus together.

The cucked group was also around but I couldn’t care less about them.

I found Akane and the others taking a huge space for themselves. They already formed their own group and no one could break into it. Except me, of course.

As soon as they spotted me approaching them, the first one to jump out of their circle was none other than the goofball.

“Babe!” Like seeing a savior from her predicament, she immediately threw herself at me.

However, the girls who didn’t want to be bested by her quickly followed suit.

Before Hanabi could reach me, Elizabeth and Saki kicked the ground as they raced towards me.

With my arms wide open, I prepared myself to receive all three of them. Akane and Nami were shaking their heads at this sight while the other girls were cheering for them as though this was an official match.

And because of that commotion, everyone’s attention focused on us.

“... Onoda-kun sure is popular. Who are they? I only know Imada.”

“You’re not here last time. That girl with a tiara is also his close friend. As for that other girl…I saw him with her earlier. Her uniform looks like it's from the 3rd High, no?”

Ignoring those gossipers, I stood my ground and waited for the three to reach me.

First in the race thanks to her head start, Hanabi wrapped her arms around me, monopolizing my chest for herself. Perhaps realizing that she has competition, she didn’t hesitate to choose the boldest option.

Then, a second later, Saki and Elizabeth also reached me, taking an arm each. They didn’t even spare a moment to think about how they could be seen by others. My arms immediately lodged in the middle of their valleys.

Yep. This was more like a public display of my relationship with them. There’s no escaping the rumors that would be created from this.