Stealing Spree

“What’s this? Why do you have an entourage of girls behind you?” Coach Ayu’s doubtfully asked me after I showed up at the Boxing Gym with all of the girls around me.

Originally, we planned on letting Sena and I go first while Akane and the others had to wait near the Boxing Gym for a few minutes. They would walk in as customers who would enroll for the Training Program around the Basics of Boxing.

However, because of that incident, I ultimately decided against letting them stay outside.

One, those who were following us could still be around here somewhere. If by chance they saw that I wasn’t with them anymore, there’s a higher chance that they would once again try to approach them.

Two, their group could attract a lot of attention to themselves in a short time. Even if those guys who followed them out from the milk tea shop failed to see them, it’s not like they’re the last men on Earth.

To avoid unnecessary trouble, we’d just introduce them as Sena’s schoolmates who became interested in learning as an excuse.

Perhaps I was worrying too much but it’s still better this way. If I am presented with a choice of conducting the Training Program or running to save them, I definitely will not hesitate to come to their rescue.

In any case, these girls also expressed that they wanted to be near me. Even if nothing actually happened to them, they’re still shaken by what happened.

Ah no. It’s not because they’re scared of those thugs. But it’s because they’re worried about me.

For them, even if I won one fight, they’re worried that those guys would come back and find me with more numbers wherein I would become helpless to fight back.

I already baited those two conscious thugs with that nickname that was still sending shivers down most of the normal mobs’ spines. If that’s not enough for them to drop any thought of further retaliation, I could just revive the ‘Ghost’ and take them out one by one.

Furthermore, if they did link me to that nickname and began going after me to prove themselves superior to me, I just needed to make them understand that that nickname was well-deserved.

What I was truly worried about were the girls. If they began to stalk them and eventually approach them when I wasn’t with them, I might need to revive some of the despicable methods I used before.

Blackmailing some delinquents and thugs to prevent and deal with them in my stead. I still had those materials I gathered. Like one of the senior delinquents robbing someone or other condemning evidence that would put them behind bars. While some were staged by me. Most of those were real.

Nonetheless, if those weren’t enough to put them behind the bars, their reputation would plummet and they would just wish to be arrested to spend a few years in it as they wait for the issue surrounding them to be forgotten.

By blackmailing them, I would naturally fabricate some other reason why I wanted them to do that. And to make it more convincing, I would also send those other guys some messages about rumors that would end up with them getting into conflict.

Even if that was a temporary solution… I just had to improve it from that.

In any case, that’s just a possibility. As long as they learned their place and stopped bothering me or any of the girls they saw with me, I would treat this incident as the same as the others like it.

The situation earlier was inevitable. Should I just let them bother my girls? Over my dead body.

Anyway, because these girls were more worried about me than their well-being, I also somehow reprimanded them. They’re the ones who were the initial target of those guys. I could protect myself against any threat but most of them were vulnerable.

Miho, Elizabeth, Yukari and Yae didn’t have any experience in self-defense. Aika could run to escape. Even if she’s not a sprinter, she’s an obstacle racer, she could parkour and outmaneuver them if they ever tried to chase after her.

“Coach! They’re my schoolmates! Why do you instantly suspect Ruki as if he’s blatantly cheating.” Sena answered Coach Ayu with her arms at her waist.

Coach Ayu looked at her and slowly shook her head, “You’re naïve Sena. Look at how close they are to your guy. Do you mean Onoda-kun is this popular? And you’re not the least bit bothered that some other girls can be chummy with him?”

This woman is single. Why does she have that much observational skill as if she already experienced being cheated upon? That’s not true, right?

“I’m confident this way!” Sena retorted back as she hugged my arm and pulled me with her inside. “Ah, we’ll be going ahead to prepare. Coach Ayu will tour all of you.”

Before we completely entered the door to the area for members, Sena twisted her body to complete the act that they’re her schoolmates and not here for me.

And likewise, I turned around to nod at the girls which they returned with their lips curved into a smile.

And as expected, upon noticing that despite she’s in the middle of explaining something to them, Coach Ayu raised her eyebrows as she alternated her gaze on me and the girls before finally landing on Sena who seemed unaffected.

Nothing happened yet and the training program hadn’t started yet but Coach Ayu was already suspicious of us. And she’s acting as if she’s more jealous than the actual supposed girlfriend of mine. How can I dote on those girls during the training then?

Ah. Wait… My train of thought is wrong. It looked like I might be the one who would be breaking the rule we created for ourselves; acting without malicious or flirtatious intent and focusing on teaching them.

Anyway, as soon as we entered the members’ area where the boxing ring and different training equipment and zones were placed, Hisa-jii welcomed us. No, welcomed me.

“Ah. You’re here Onoda-kun.”

The old man was wearing summer clothes that were dotted with flowery designs as if the spring season had already ended.

And as I expected, compared to those thugs we encountered, just standing in front of this old man was already intimidating despite his kind expression. That’s the difference between a professional and a bunch of amateurs.

“Yes, Hisa-jii. I think I'm quite late from the appointed time, I apologize.”

“It’s fine. The time was naturally adjusted to give a window in case any of the instructors are running late. Just keep in mind that we’re still strict on time. If you’re late for more than an hour then that’s something I will not tolerate.”

“I understand.”

“Good. Let’s go. I’ll show you the place where you will conduct your lesson. And I also have to give you a few more reminders.” Hisa-jii kindly said before turning to the girl who’s clinging tightly to my arms. “Sena, go in and change now. I’ll be borrowing Onoda-kun.”

And due to that. Although she’s too reluctant to let go of me, she couldn’t defy the old man.

However, before Sena followed what the old man said, she grabbed my face and unhesitatingly kissed me. “This is fine, right? Hisa-jii?”

“Haa… Youth. Go on and finish that then follow me Onoda-kun.”

As if he’s already tired of seeing youth being flirty towards each other, Hisa-jii waved his hand and began walking in the direction he pointed, leaving Sena and me behind.

With the chance presented to us, even if it’s just a few seconds or a minute, I returned Sena’s affection. We’re in an open area so… it’s kind of rude to show this to them.

After being satisfied with that, Sena happily hopped towards the dressing room. Surely, she’s thinking that because of this, she got the headstart among the other girls who came with us.

That adorable girl. If someone saw her like this, they would be having trouble associating her to the fierce girl who knocked out a guy much bigger in build than her with just a one-two combination.

Before following Hisa-jii, I watched Sena’s back with a smile plastered on my face.

Well then, let’s begin this part-time job. Whatever I learned from this is another building block for our future.