Stealing Spree

Because of Ogawa, Saki ended up crawling out of being the bully-turned-bullied to a Friend A. She was thankful for him. Truly. And that’s one of the reasons why she answered Ogawa when I asked her if she’s interested in someone.

However, because of how she began seeing herself as inferior after that swift change in her status, she never truly tried to express that. Or she wasn’t too interested to pursue it.

In the end, she became their lovely friend who was always there to set the mood, open up a new topic if there’s none and connect them like glue.

Perhaps if there was no Saki in their circle, they would be like a stuck-up group who would eventually fail to bond and disband.

Ogawa was only truly focused on chasing after Nami. Hina was chasing after Ogawa and the list went on. They all had that different purpose in their group and most of the time, they were only focused on that.

But thanks to this girl taking in the role to liven up the mood, they were still complete.

As for how that silent guy ended up liking her, Saki told me that one time, the two of them were the first ones in their circle’s gathering spot. And although that guy seldom talked, Saki tried conversing with him until she managed to hear him say something.

Perhaps, he probably felt comfortable enough with her but that didn’t end well as he couldn’t express it. He was content with just seeing her and following her. He probably had no idea that he was already stalking her.

Either way, I also had to straighten that guy when I had the time.

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A few minutes later, Saki and I arrived at the business district and even before we started looking for the four, they already called out to us.

They’re in front of a taiyaki shop and all of them were munching on a taiyaki placed on a paper holder. It was newly-made. Moreover, in Nami’s arm, clutching a paper bag that was most likely filled with it.

Out of the four girls, Nami smilingly skipped a step to instantly arrive in front of me.

She then stretched her hand to have me hold the taiyaki that she had already bitten. When I took it as she wanted me to, Nami then put her hand inside the paper bag and pulled out a taiyaki before giving it to Saki who was wryly smiling as if she’s already aware of what the girl was about to do.

Following that, Nami pushed my hand that was holding her bitten-taiyaki, urging me to take a bite of it.

After I did so, she then pointed at herself. She’s obviously telling me to push it near her mouth to feed her.

Although it’s a bit silly, it was also an adorable move by the girl.

Intentionally biting on the part where I bit, she then smiled beautifully while softly chewing it.

“No wonder she wanted to hold the bag…” Hina silently commented from behind her.

“Nanamin. A sly vixen.” Chii, who had a new nickname for Nami, bit her lips in envy.

As for Rae, she was only slightly shaking her head. Following that, she also stepped forward and let me have a bite on her taiyaki.

In this way, we somehow became a little spectacle for the few people walking along this business district.

When I asked Nami whether Ogawa and Tadano saw them… she answered yes.

However, since I wasn’t present there, she made an excuse that the four of them would go somewhere.

Nami also told me how strained Ogawa’s voice was and how red his eyes were…

According to the eyewitnesses in the form of Chii, Rae and Hina, Ogawa was visibly shaking as if he was restraining himself not to pounce at Nami.

As for Tadano, he was looking out and was probably ready to jump in between them in case Ogawa lost it.

At the end, when Nami, who ended up addressing him in a cold tone because of his increasing negativity in his sentences which they refused to tell me, Tadano pulled him away while urging Nami and the others to go.

It’s easy to guess that he’s probably barking at them about me. About how I was deceiving them.

I had to give a point to Tadano for being there… That guy was at least on the better side now. If he couldn’t talk reason with that rabid dog friend of his, then I might have to show him how it was done.

Rae also whispered to me when we were about to leave that Ogawa was almost about to get physical with both Nami and Hina. He was about to grab their shoulders and shake them. However, before that happened, Chii got in between them and Tadano held him back.

Nami was most likely downplaying what happened to not let me worry. She also saw what happened last Friday after all. As much as possible, she wanted to settle it peacefully.

However, it was Ogawa who was the real problem. Had he accepted facts as is… it would probably not escalate to the point that he was now like a crazy dog who only knew how to bark.

I guess I better check with Izumi-senpai about what happened to understand the situation. I’ll ask them for her contact later.

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After that brief spectacle wherein they all tried to let me bite on their taiyaki bread, to let us out of the people’s curious gazes who probably started to wonder why I was surrounded by girls, we began our walk towards the train station.

Naturally, we still got some attention but it was not as much as when we’re standing in the middle of that path walk, flirting with each other.

“We don’t know how many there will be in your house, Ruu. Will this be enough?”

As soon as we sat ourselves inside the train, Nanami who took a seat on one of my sides opened the paper bag to show me the brimming number of taiyaki inside.

If I had to guess, there were more than 20.

For them to think of even buying these, I guess they’re also somewhat restless about meeting the other girls.

“Un. That’s probably enough. Here, give it to me. Let me hold it for you.” I nodded and gestured picked the paper bag filled with taiyaki from her lap and put it on mine.

With her arms freed, Nami didn’t hesitate to hook her arms on mine before leaning her head on my shoulder.

And when the other four saw that, they all showed an envious look.

Well, the one taking the other side, Rae, copied what she did and turned us into another spectacle for the other train passengers.

In any case, they all soon turned their heads away as if they were seeing an unsightly scene, while some straight-out cursed for showing a public display of affection.

That’s how it was normally anyway, it was common courtesy not to be too flirty when in public.

However, there’s no way I would reject my girls and push their heads away. And throughout the train ride, whenever we would stop at a station, one or two of them would swap seats to also experience it.

Even the still somewhat reluctant Saki couldn’t help but join in.

And in this way, even though all of them, even Chii, were silent unless I addressed them… the closer we approached my station, the higher the tension I could feel from them.

That’s why I began patting their heads to calm them down.

Even if it had a minimal effect, it still helped.

And by the time we reached my station, even Rae, who was supposed to be the calmest among them, stiffly walked out of the train car.

“You all don’t need to be tense… it’s just a meeting.” I jokingly said.

And that immediately elicited different but similar reactions from the five girls as they all sent me a glare.

“Ruu, can I slap you once for saying that?”

“Can I also tug at your hair, Ruki? I promise I will release it after a minute.”

“No, let me punch Kii in the gut. He deserved it for joking like this.”

“I wish I had my book here to hit Ruki with.”

“Un. I will pick any of the four options. Idiot Ruki…”

Alright, remind me not to say a joke again.