Stealing Spree

Since there’s only two of them, going to the bus station took a short while. Nami and Hina were going to talk to that guy and… like Nami said, even if I wanted to be there and watch over her, she wouldn’t let me.

This was something she wanted to do for herself. Meddling wouldn’t help so I could only ask for what happened later.

Nonetheless, even if that's the case, I still kept on reminding her to call me. Ah no. I reminded both of them before they boarded the bus.

Even if they were sure of Ogawa’s personality and were able to predict how he would react, accidents were still prone to happen. It might look as if I was trying to make a mountain out of a molehill, however, the look in his eyes earlier was from someone near desperation.

I couldn’t help but be overly wary of him because I wouldn’t be there with them…

Haa… I should trust them for now and go back to Rae.

-

-

On my way back to the Book Club, I ran into Itou right after I reached the 2nd floor where it is located. While I showed up from the stairs leading to the 1st floor, Itou who probably came straight from the Game Club on the 3rd floor.

As soon as she saw me, Himeko’s little sister immediately glared at me while grunting annoyedly. However, the one following behind her flashed a bright smile and greeted me.

“Ara… Ruki, it’s nice seeing you.”

With her exposed forehead and the folded paper fan she brought against her lips, Misaki almost jumped off from the last two steps of the stairs to arrive in front of me.

However, as if remembering that she’s a graceful ojou-sama, she coughed once and gracefully descended those last two steps as she stood next to Itou in front of me.

This girl appeared to be someone high class but her nature to be this friendly despite we only had one instance of interacting with each other was somewhat adorable and full of innocence.

Since she’s treating me as a friend, I guess it’s not wrong to consider herself as one. Besides, there was no malice with her friendship nor ulterior motive on my part.

Although I only saw her on some occasions such as this, the way she treated me was always the same. Full of friendliness.

Well, I thought of recommending her to focus on being friends with Chii and Kanzaki but I could already imagine how she would tilt her head and ask me why I said that.

“It’s nice seeing you too, Misaki and… Itou. Uhm. Are you also from the Game Club?”

I returned her greeting and although the other girl was glaring at me, I also greeted her. She’s Himeko’s sister and the one obstacle for us to become closer than we are now.

“Me? No, I’m from the Drama Club. I picked up Maaya-sama at her club.”

She seemed to be Itou’s underling but I guess… it’s more fit to say that she’s her follower.

Nonetheless. It’s not like Itou was annoyed by her. Instead, Itou’s glare at me intensified upon seeing how friendly Misaki to me.

“Misa, stop talking to him.”

“No offense, Maaya-sama. May I ask why? Ruki is my friend.”

“I can’t explain it to you well but he… he’s a bad guy.”

Looking at how she couldn’t find words to describe me, it went to show how little she actually knew about me. Perhaps, she only based that evaluation on how I made Himeko as one of my girls and… with her knowing about Akane.

“Is what she said the truth, Ruki?”

“It depends on your perspective, Misaki. What do you think? Do I look like a bad guy to you?”

Misaki stared at me and took her time to think. After a few seconds, she gently shook her head. “Uhm… No.”

Upon hearing that, Itou sighed and didn’t correct her anymore. She removed her glare at me and faced the direction of the Book Club. “Enough of that, Misa. Let’s go and pick up my Nee-sama.”

“I understand, Maaya-sama,” Misaki answered.

However, before following her, the forehead girl waved her little hand at me and smiled. “Ruki, we’ll be going.”

Since she immediately ran off after Itou, I failed to tell her that our destination was the same.

-

-

Since the Book Club was nearby, it didn’t take long for the two girls to reach it.

Well, they didn’t stop at the Book Club but the neighboring Poem Appreciation Club.

Itou knocked on its door and the two were invited inside.

Right. Himeko was there with Mina and the other two. I guess that saved me from explaining to Misaki why I followed them.

When I entered the Book Club, Aya and Rae were ready to go with their bags slung on their shoulders.

Since we’re taking the train… Rae suggested taking Aya with us.

Aya’s destination was one station away from the school while Rae’s destination was two stations away, the same station near Satsuki’s neighborhood.

Well, they lived in different neighborhoods so… they didn’t know about each other but… they’re all from the same middle school.

Serizawa-senpai was also gone but Haruko was still sitting there.

She’s specifically waiting for me.

After telling the two to wait for me outside the clubroom, I went over to Haruko.

“You seemed to be lost in your thoughts, Haruko. Is there something wrong?” I took the seat next to her where Serizawa-senpai was sitting before. However, even before I could sit comfortably on it, Haruko stood up and took my lap for her.

“There’s nothing wrong. Just missing this busy guy. Your face says there’s a lot that happened today…”

“Nothing really escapes you, huh? Do you want to hear it?”

“Naturally. However, you have those two waiting for you and I have those five in the next room waiting for me. Tell me all about it this Sunday. That’s my time of the week. Yaeko already took the Saturday after all.”

That’s right. We have someone else waiting for us so this brief time we managed to get for ourselves was somewhat precious.

Tomorrow, I might be home late since there’s that thing with the two PE teachers. I still have no idea if what happened today with Orimura-sensei would affect that.

Nonetheless, I will be sleeping in Miwa-nee’s room tomorrow to fulfill my promise.

Akane knew about it so… she planned on spending the night with her parents and I would pick her up first thing this Saturday morning.

“Alright, I’ll tell you about what happened this Sunday. That’s great too since I also want to hear your views.”

All of my girls’ views were valuable. However, Kana, Yae, Haruko and Akane were the ones I usually ran to whenever in times like these. I could include Nami and Satsuki, however, Nami had that problem with Ogawa while Satsuki had that incoming competition. It’s best not to add to their troubles for now.

“Un… Well then, let us savor these few minutes.”

Wrapping her arms around me, Haruko then fixed her sitting position and switched it to straddle me.

We’re the only souls in the room now so… there’s no need to hold back anymore. Due to that, the next few minutes became filled with our passion for each other.

-

-

After that brief time with Haruko, I went out and took Aya and Rae with me as we walked towards the station.

The two were still getting along with each other so… before going to our destination, we stopped at the Bookstore again.

With eyes shining in both of their eyes, the two entered the bookstore hand in hand as they began browsing for books to recommend to each other.

Aya went to the fiction section while Rae went to the non-fiction.

Watching the two having fun despite having different tastes in books, it’s a welcome sight.

Like the other two times, I visited here with someone else, I became their go-to to ask for opinions about what they picked.

Well, Aya had just bought one before so… she’s not really planning to buy anything and Rae… She told me she has her own library at home. They’re just here to check on books and to bond with each other and with me.

Spending around 10 minutes inside it, the two left the room, satisfied with all the titles they saw.

In the end, Rae finally got the interest to read fiction or specifically a fantasy novel. Aya was also reading non-fiction so she didn’t need to change her mind, instead, she took note of what Rae recommended to her.

On the other hand, the two recommended things for me to read . However, knowing that I didn’t have that much time to actually finish a book in less than a month, the two agreed to read those books for me and give me a full summary.

“I finally got you with me on the train…” Aya whispered to me when we got our seats on the train.

Right, this should be the first time we boarded together. Although I already walked her to the station many times before, those were only until her platform or… until she was seated inside like that time after she stayed with us at home.

“Un. I ought to do this with you long before.”

“No… It’s fine. I’m not complaining.”

“Ruki, we’re aware how busy you are so… you don’t need to apologize over every little thing.”

Rae interjected. Since we’re sitting close together due to how packed the train was at this moment, she somehow heard what we’re whispering to each other.

“Un. You being here was enough gesture to show how you cared for us.

Aya immediately agreed to her and the two high-fived right in front of me with bright smiles on their lips.

Since they’re teaming up to stop me from being apologetic for the nth time, I could only smile and appreciate these two girl’s efforts to understand me...