Stealing Spree

In conclusion, Otsuka-senpai was put in a bind on how to present me and answer their questions when the time came.

I don’t mind helping her, but since she created the problem, I think I can have fun teasing her first.

Won’t it be fun to see her scrambling and pulling her hair on how to solve it? That’s why instead of answering her straightaway, I decided to stall for now. Besides, she had yet to say when that group date would happen.

“They’re going to ask us for advice. Are they thinking of doing it with their boyfriends?”

“… Y-yes. Maybe? Those two girls have been in a relationship for close to one year now. They started dating their boyfriends last year around summer.” Otsuka-senpai looked like she was struggling to find an answer to my question. Most likely, she never expected them to bring that up with the way their conversation went.

This was all new for the curious girl. Furthermore, she’s just as ignorant as them even if she’s a bundle of curiosity.

“I see… Summer couples. It’s a surprise they can hold on for too long. I bet they’re each other’s first lover.”

There's that common belief that things could happen during summer break for high schoolers. Some would have a full-on transformation to change their image in class. Others would be like Otsuka’s friends, they’d experience summer romance.

Since their relationship was close to one year by now, they're possibly like Mio with her cowardly ex. They're dawdling a lot on how to breach the subject but unlike Miyoshi who couldn’t even initiate a kiss, they’ve probably done more than that.

“They are, I think?”

“You think? You’re not sure? Are you really their close friend?”

Otsuka-senpai cutely puffed her cheeks, not liking my question one bit. But then, she scratched her cheek and forced a smile.

“You know how I am, Onoda-kun. I tend to be distracted most of the time because of my curiosity. Also… I don’t think I’m that interested in prying about their relationships. As long as they’re still happy with their partners, I see no problem with it.”

“What a good friend you are, senpai.” Before I knew it, I was already patting her head. As always, I have a soft spot for someone who truly values friendships – but it’s still only applicable to girls.

Although that made her flinch at the suddenness, Otsuka-senpai didn’t reject it.

She just pouted at me and attempted to remove my hand from her head.

“Don’t tease me, Onoda-kun. That’s normal, no?”

“Indeed, it is. But it’s still impressive. I thought your friends wouldn’t be given a pass with your curiosity. I was wrong.”

“I’m sad that you see me the same way as the others Onoda-kun.”

She kept her pout and acted upset by crossing her arms.

I shook my head at that display. She’s acting differently than I remembered. Or is it because I haven’t paid much attention to her before? Whichever the case, I now find this curious girl fascinating.

“Don’t worry. I’ve changed my opinion. Anyway, when will it happen? Tell me so I can prepare.”

Moving back to the topic, Otsuka-senpai also let go of her pout and tried to remember. She frowned and creased her forehead before awkwardly smiling.

“Maybe two weeks from now?”

“Senpai, are you having trouble remembering things? Or is it because you simply didn’t focus on what they said regarding it?”

I put on a teasing smile which once again put her in a bind. With a nudge on my shoulder, she huffed cutely before trying to remember the details again.

Lamenting her shortcomings with shame, Otsuka-senpai groaned.

“Ugh. You’re correct. I didn’t quite catch what they said. My head was occupied with the thoughts of how to tell you about it back then… I’ll ask them later. Oh. Look, they’re over there.”

She then pointed somewhere. I followed her finger and found two sets of couples forming a group. I don’t know any of them but I’ve surely met one of them already… One of the girls is from that club who misappropriated their funds. Was it the Insect Research Club? I couldn’t remember the exact name. Nonetheless, I’m certain that she was one of the members there when Shizu and I visited it.

That information is pretty worthless though. As for the other three, I probably ran into them once or twice and that’s it.

“Alright. They haven’t seen me with you yet, right?”

“Y-yeah… I also haven’t told them your name.”

“That’s good then… Let’s keep it as a surprise for them. By the way, senpai…”

“What is it?”

“If it’s two weeks, that’s plenty of time to give you real experience, no?”

Dropping that like a bomb to her, Otsuka-senpai seemingly got blasted as she stared at me in utter confusion. Then, once the words set in her head, she exaggeratedly hugged herself before attempting to move out of my gaze.

However, her destination seemed to be behind me, and before long, I heard her almost inaudible voice trying to confirm if she heard it right.

“Onoda-kun… You think so?”

The teasing smile on my lips widened as I moved behind her. As my hands landed on her hips, I blew air into her ear and said, “Mhm... Won’t that solve our problem of how to answer their questions?”

“But you said…” Little by little, her body temperature was warming up. Most noticeably, the streak of crimson once again appeared to conquer the entirety of her face.

Before she erupted, I let out a laugh before saying, “I’m kidding… You don’t have to be so nervous, senpai. You know, I can prepare a cheat sheet that you can use to answer their questions.”

Realizing that I just teased her, the girl erupted, not because of embarrassment but annoyance. She turned around with her expression looking miffed as she tried to drum my chest with her slender arms.

“D-don’t do that again, Onoda-kun! I think my heart leaped in both fright and excitement upon hearing that. Ugh…”

As she issued her complaints to me, I kept holding her while chuckling at her reaction.

“Fright and excitement. Senpai, are you actually looking forward to it?”

“O-of course I am… You said you’re going to satisfy my curiosity about it…” Although she stuttered, Otsuka-senpai’s answer was swift. She’s not denying it. She’s still looking forward to that day.

“Mhm. And I’m still going to fulfill my promise to you… If ever you believe you want to satiate more of your curiosity, then come to me… Last I remember, it’s you who’s stalling for time. And for your sake, I won’t suggest it casually like that. It should be important to you, no?”

“Don’t try to justify that, idiot Onoda-kun… If you say it like that, isn’t it wrong for you to use it to tease me?”

“Ah… True. Then should I apologize?”

Otsuka-senpai hurriedly shook his head before staring at me in all seriousness. Deep in her eyes, I could see her indignance.

“No… I don’t need it. But Onoda-kun, you have to take responsibility. Instead of what we agreed before, I’ll have you satisfy some of my curiosity... If it’s impossible during this camp… look for me tomorrow after it.”

Ah. That reminds me, we did have an agreement… I shifted that to the corner of my head…

Did I just trip myself here? I shouldn’t have teased her if I knew I’d be folding like this…