Stealing Spree

Due to what Tadano said, Nami once again entered the state of being frozen and not knowing how to respond. This girl… when it was really about Ogawa, guilt was most likely riddling her. Hence she needed time to prepare herself.

As always, I kept my hold on her. To calm her down, I whispered while gently turning her head to face me. "Nami, you yourself know that this is bound to happen. Don't worry. I'm here with you."

Letting our eyes meet, I believed that at this point, just hugging her tightly wasn't enough to get her out of her current state. Perhaps this event with Tadano might hasten that reveal. However, if we could still prevent it then I would.

I don't know if it's only Tadano who heard about it or there were others but considering no one messaged Nami during our time together, it's probably only this guy.

Ogawa was possibly nearby, watching things unfold. That coward.

After the events earlier starting from when I came in late, lunchbreak where I left them at the cafeteria, that time where he disturbed us in that room, the slap gave by Haruko and Nami through their words, the way he confronted me to vent his frustration and lastly the way I openly pick Nami up in their clubroom…

Looking back, a lot has happened which involved that guy today. Nonetheless, during our time together, those were insignificant. He was only brought up when we started talking about her past.

As Nami stared at me, the doubt that was probably starting to fill up her mind about whether she did right or wrong vanished. Soon afterward, she closed her eyes and put her forehead on my chest.

She then slowly turned her back to Tadano as her arms embraced me tightly. With this gesture, it's the same as saying she's leaving everything to me.

To live up to that, I looked at the guy who looked like he ate something unpleasant with his face wrapped in undisguised bitterness.

"Tadano…. Whatever you heard from Ogawa, I can say that it is partly true. However, as you can see. This isn't us acting." I answered his inquiry without any break in my tone. It's filled with my confidence. Confidence that the Nami in my arms right now was not the same Nami that they grew up with. She had already changed. No, I brought up that change.

And that's the same to the girl staring at us from Nami's doorsteps.

"I'm not talking to you."

He still had the gall to be like this, huh? There's no point entertaining his words anyway. Let's end this.

"Hate me all you want and try to deny things. But you or even Ogawa will not change anything."

As soon as I finished my words, I took my eyes off him before lifting Nami's head by her chin.

She's eagerly biting her lips. With this expression of hers that showed how much she's trying to steel herself but finding it hard to endure, I simply nodded at her to tell her that I understand.

I caressed her head until that expression of hers eased up before I reached in for their front gate.

Under Tadano's speechless expression since he couldn't find any words of rebuttal, I opened their gate and guided Nami through the remaining steps towards their door.

Behind us, the guy gritted his teeth, failing to find the words to refute what I told him. Nonetheless, I ignored whatever expression he's making. I'm here for Nami, not to feed him information that he could've easily guessed given the situation.

He's not blind. He saw how Nami entrusted herself to me. Instead of answering him who's trying to question her decisions, she let the guy she picked who thinking about her well-being to protect her.

As I reached the door and came face to face with Shizu, our eyes naturally met each other. And through that momentary eye contact, we somehow achieved mutual understanding.

At this certain moment, we both wanted the same thing, Nami's well-being and stability.

I nodded at her and she did the same before I passed Nami who seemed like a weak chicken at the moment to her. "Please take care of her, senpai. She's strong… just that, she's not ready for this yet. Let me deal with whatever that will happen next."

"This is why… I told you to be careful. But you…" Shizu paused and released a sigh before shaking her head. "Nevermind. Do what you must. I'll take her inside."

"I'm sorry if I will not be able to greet her mother. Today's not the day."

"Blockhead. I also won't let you. Go now and take him with you before she notices what's happening here. Settle whatever you need to settle."

"Un. See you, senpai. Nami, I'll message you." I patted Nami's head before turning around and making my way out.

From behind me, I heard the sound of the door opening and closing. There's no need for me to look back. Shizu brought Nami inside to get away from this. With her there, I can rest assured.

Whatever happened to us earlier could be put aside for now, we both understand. We would settle our own issue when the time comes.

When my feet brought me out of their gate, only then did I turn to the speechless guy who seemed to want to say something but lost the chance to do so.

Although Shizu told me to deal with him, I'm not inclined to call him for a serious talk. If he wanted to get an answer, I wouldn't be the one to approach him.

That's why after fixing their gate closed, I only passed by him to continue on my way home.

One step.

Two steps.

Three steps.

I literally counted my steps before I heard someone rushing from behind me. It was around twenty steps and I was about to reach the end of their street.

"Onoda. Wait!"

With that shout that sounded like he's commanding me, I continued on my way.

Another ten steps before he realized his mistake.

"Please wait! Can I talk to you?"

Although his voice was still that of shouting, at least he worded it better than by adding 'Please' and a question.

It's a different matter if it's one of my targets telling me to wait because that was my expected outcome. But for this guy to also do the same, I would never entertain him just for that.

It took another five steps before I stopped. At this point, I already reached the end of their street. If I turn to the right, it would be the straight way to that Manga Café and the train station.

Hearing his somewhat huffing voice as he urged his feet to catch up to me, I waited for a few seconds before seeing the red-faced Tadano.

Well, it's not that he got tired because of running and chasing after me. It's because of how he tried to gulp down his indignations after not hearing anything from Nami and seeing me pass her onto Shizu to escape or rather, to get away from his interrogation.

All of them knew how Shizu was against my relationship with Nami. With that lukewarm reaction from her, he probably guessed that this time, he's the one in the wrong.

I also wouldn't go out of my way to tell him that Shizu had already accepted me for Nami.

"Make it short. I have a train to catch up to." I started.

I have Akane, Miwa-nee and Minoru to go home to. Moreover, there's still the update from Nao and I want to be there for Shio.

Upon hearing that, Tadano stood up straight and looked around, there were no other people in the street at the moment and there's also no place to stop by for a talk. He had to do it here, right in front of someone else's house.

"… You and Nanami. Is it true?"

This again… How many times does he have to ask?

"Isn't it obvious? What did you hear from Ogawa? And did he tell it to everyone else in the club?"

Answering his question with a series of questions, Tadano was somewhat taken aback that he unconsciously took a step back.

"No… He only told it to me. He... he believed he's Nanami's boyfriend."

"Look here, Tadano. Did it look like we're acting in front of you? Are your eyes blind?"

"But he said he asked you to act for them…"

"He said this, he said that. Tadano, you're not Ogawa's dog. Open your eyes to the truth. Anyway, is it him who asked for it or is it Nami? Do you remember who introduced me to all of you?"

He's acting like a dog who barked for his owner. Just because Ogawa told him about it, he's acting as if he's doing something for Nami when in fact, he's just feeding both of their egos. Ogawa wanted to let this guy shake our relationship and this guy wanted to get back at me.

"… It's Nanami."

"Now, is that still not clear for you? If you're really her friend as you claimed to be, why interrogate her as if she owed you answers? Well, scratch that. Tadano, it's me. I stole her from Ogawa and made her fall in love with me. Do you understand now?"

To stop him from interrogating Nami, I have to make myself the villain here. Besides, even if she wanted to take up some of the blame, I could only stand in front of her now and catch everything.

Ogawa, Tadano or whoever else they will bring up. If I have one thing I can be truly confident in, it's my glib tongue.