Stealing Spree

Since there's still time, after the update about her current status, I continued my conversation with Nao.

At that point, she was already at the train station but because it's currently rush hour, she held off from boarding it and sat on one of the benches on her platform.

While ignoring the wave of students and office worker alike who were crowding behind the yellow line as they waited for the next train, Nao detailed her day to me, starting from morning until this time where she even boasted how she made her fellow club members in the Pastry Club praise what she baked for their club activity today

Following that, she pulled out a box from her bag. After opening it, there are a dozen delicious-looking fluffy muffins neatly placed inside.

"Ruki, I'll be sending these to you tomorrow. Tell Miwa-nee to expect it at your doorstep. This is for Minoru!"

"I thought that's supposed to be mine. Anyway, that boy will love that."

I acted as if I was saddened to know that what she made was for Minoru. Looking at that pleased and somewhat smug expression of hers, this girl's adorableness was rising.

"Hehe. Don't be downhearted this time, Ruki. I'm going to make yours later at home. It will be a surprise so look forward to it."

As if she achieved what she wanted to see from me, Nao started laughing heartily as our conversation continued.

-

-

A few minutes later, our call ended when Nao boarded the train. Seeing her happy from the few minutes that we were talking was enough to satisfy me. Moreover, it made her forget about the problem she was currently facing.

I still had that desire to help her but if I brought it up again, Nao would just pout and she might think that I didn't trust her.

All I could do for now was to wait for her updates and to regularly check on her.

As I pocketed my phone, I continued on my way to see Satsuki at the Gymnasium to check on her and their training.

Afterwards, I began preparing to go home. Aya already left the school along with Haruko and her girls.

Well, their Club Activity ended earlier than the Student Support Club. While I was still there, they already packed up and left the school.

There's nothing left for me to do so instead of going back to the Club Building, I thought of checking if Shio was still around.

However, when I reached the School Building, I ran into the two seniors, Arisa and Izumi-senpai who probably had just come back from the Administration Building.

Upon seeing me, Izumi-senpai instantly had her cheeks bloated as if she was already about to burst in anger while Arisa-senpai only had a complicated expression on her face as if she couldn't decide whether to talk to me or not.

As I planned, even though there's that event at their clubroom earlier where I interacted with them, I chose to refrain from excessively interacting with them. Especially now that they're together.

Perhaps if I was alone with either of them, I could once again take advantage of the situation and try to appeal and raise my value in their eyes.

Unfortunately, the two would always be together especially if it's at this time.

When our gazes met, I only nodded at them and was already about to turn my heels towards the school gate.

"Going home?"

Before I could complete that turn, Izumi-senpai's bloated cheeks deflated as she asked that question.

"Ah. Yes, senpai. See you tomorrow."

Naturally, I wouldn't ignore them if they talked to me first. So I answered normally before completing that turn.

However, Izumi-senpai threw another question.

"Why are you in a hurry? Are you running away from me after yesterday?"

"Yesterday? What do you mean? Did something happen between the two of you?"

As I expected, Arisa-senpai was clueless about yesterday. But this time, Izumi-senpai straightforwardly mentioned it even if Arisa-senpai was beside her.

With Arisa-senpai's gaze alternating between the two of us, this senior wouldn't take silence as an answer.

However, before I could open my mouth and answer, Izumi-senpai beat me to it.

"You heard my report, Arisa. This guy was shameless and hateful yesterday."

Upon hearing that, Arisa-senpai's eyebrows furrowed as her complicated gaze transformed into a glare. Most likely, she's thinking that I also did something to Izumi-senpai.

Thinking that if that's what really happened, she would surely take me as her mortal enemy.

"Care to explain what does that mean?"

With an interrogative tone, Arisa-senpai addressed that to me.

Naturally, I still kept my calm. There's no point for me to panic in the slightest.

The situation was still under control anyway.

Moreover, looking at Izumi-senpai's expression, she's most likely conflicted about whether to tell Arisa-senpai about yesterday or not.

Since the sun was already setting in the west, there were now fewer students present on the school grounds and most of them were at the Club Building or behind with their respective athletic clubs.

I lowered my head and acted as if I was also deliberating.

A few seconds later, Izumi-senpai's voice once again rang out and her answer was as expected. She chose not to tell Arisa-senpai about what happened between us yesterday.

"He... Onoda-kun told me this Monday that he would help me with Kazuo but then he took that back yesterday."

Upon hearing that, Arisa-senpai's glaring eyes somewhat relaxed and she released a relieved sigh. "Eh? Is that it? You know this guy and his mouth. You should've told me about it. See how I reprimand this cheeky junior."

This time, Arisa-senpai's lips curved into another playful smile, not knowing that her friend had just lied to her. She even raised her little fist and showed off her non-existent bulky biceps.

"N-no. You know me, I can deal with this guy. You go and finish your business, the bus is about to arrive."

Izumi-senpai rejected her and even pushed her inside the School Building. Looking at the direction she went in, Arisa-senpai was probably going to the bathroom... Why didn't she use the one at the Administration Building though?

Ah. Perhaps that's occupied so they had to run back here and as if it's a twist of fate, they ran into me...

Is it that much of a coincidence? Maybe. No. Not really. Somewhere in my mind, I was also hoping to run into them. Checking in if Shio was still at the school was just half the reason and the other half was hoping to run into them.

And there we have it, I truly run into them as if it's all according to plan.

"Senpai, are you sure you don't want to tell her what happened between us?"

Once Arisa-senpai disappeared at the corner, I finally had the chance to open my mouth.

"... Forget about Arisa. I can let you do what you want to do. Try to steal me or whatever you call it but Onoda-kun, can you let Arisa off?" Izumi-senpai turned around and answered like this in a pleading tone.

By the way she worded it's as if she's sacrificing herself for the sake of her friend.

That's a common plot in most hent*i, right? Especially the ones with the 'blackmail' and 'moral degeneration' tags.

This girl, she already put me in the same category as those fictional lowlifes.

Well, that's probably not wrong, especially in their eyes. The eyes of those living their life normally.

Haa... But even if she pleaded like this, my desire to know more about Arisa-senpai wouldn't just disappear just because she said so.

"Senpai. When I told you I like Arisa-senpai, I meant it. And when I told you I am interested in you, I also meant it. As much as I wanted to grant your wish... I guess it's much better to just ignore my existence and stop associating with me. That way, I will have a hard time doing what I told you I will do." I responded.

Without waiting for her to answer, I bowed in front of her again before turning around. "Well then, I want to say see you tomorrow but you might not want to see me starting tomorrow so... See you, senpai."

I don't know if she will understand what I'm trying to say but there's really no way that I will stop just because she told me to do so.