Stealing Spree

Even though I wanted to do something for the PE Teacher in front of me, I knew that it would just make it worse if I approached her again.

Now that I think about it, Eguchi-sensei’s reaction was closer or even more intense than someone who hated men like Serizawa-senpai.

I wasn’t privy to Eguchi-sensei’s full circumstances so I couldn’t just reach a conclusion based on what I observed from her.

Well, if this was before, that kind of behavior was enough of an opening for me to pierce through the fog clouding the woman called Eguchi Ryoko.

On another note, even if this was before, I still wouldn’t make a move on her since there’s no catalyst that could trigger my desire to steal her and make her mine.

That’s why after seeing her attributing everything that happened to herself, I simply accepted it and silently watched over her.

Besides, from the contents of the paper she used as a draft for her creative PE activities, the issue made a huge jump to her problem with being in close contact with the opposite gender.

Even if she owned up to what happened, that’s clearly my fault for holding her close like that.

While Eguchi-sensei returned to lying down there with her back turned to me, I couldn’t help but try to think of a solution to her problem.

Alas, the first thing that entered my mind was that silver koala’s solution of closing her eyes and clinging to me tightly. According to her or Haruko rather, girls could feel more secure by doing that.

It worked on her but I doubt the same thing would happen to Eguchi-sensei. Furthermore, it would be too inappropriate. In Eguchi-sensei’s standards at least.

In the end, I dropped that line of thought and just waited for her to calm down.

Fortunately, Orimura-sensei soon arrived in the room, breaking the current stalemate.

At first, she looked to be in a teasing mood. However, upon seeing Eguchi-sensei lying down on her sofa and me sitting across from her, the 2nd year PE Teacher’s eyebrows instantly raised.

Of course, considering what she went through when we’re alone, she instantly suspected that I did something inappropriate to Eguchi-sensei.

“Onoda!” She angrily shouted my name as she stomped over to my side. She then grabbed my collar as she forcefully pulled me up while her eyes were fiery from anger.

It’s well within my abilities to reverse the situation but I just chose not to.

I raised both of my hands, surrendering to her completely.

“What did you do?! Do you think I will let this pass? I can have you expelled this time!”

Orimura-sensei’s anger was genuine. With the threat of being expelled I started thinking of defending myself and explaining the situation whereas although I did something which rendered Eguchi-sensei weak on the knees, I didn’t do anything excessive.

However, before I did that, the teacher lying down on the sofa finally had a reaction.

“Sanae, wait! What are you doing?! Stop that!”

As I took a glance in her direction, her still half-opened eyes clearly told me that she had just woken up.

She fell asleep alright.

Orimura-sensei’s furious voice woke her up. Along with what she just shouted to me and the way she’s grabbing my collar as if she’s about to choke me using my own clothes, Eguchi-sensei was horrified, leading her to hurriedly shout for Orimura-sensei to stop.

“Huh?! Why are you defending this student?! He did something to you, didn’t he?”

“No! Where did you get that conclusion?! Sanae, when did you become this aggressive?”

Oh. So, she’s originally not like this, huh? There’s no doubt, it’s truly because of what happened in the shower room.

Seeing how steered the situation to be in my favor, this teacher had probably started becoming wary of me, despite her words saying that she’d dropped the prejudice she held against me.

“Uhm. I think I deserve being treated like this, sensei. Not the expulsion though… Anyway, I’m glad you seem okay now. I’m afraid to approach you again in fear that I might make it worse.” I heaved a sigh of relief, totally ignoring that I was still raised from my seat by Orimura-sensei’s tight hold on my collar.

Well, instead of talking directly to her to prove that I didn’t do anything excessive, it’s better to let Eguchi-sensei handle the situation.

Besides, she would definitely detail it to the point of revealing her current condition, what led to it and everything else.

“Thank you for understanding, Onoda-kun. I’m alright now… Sanae, can you release Onoda-kun? And take that angry expression of yours away, it doesn’t suit you.”

“But, this guy. Did he really not do anything?”

“I’ll tell you what happened. Don’t be that hard on him.”

Hearing that she’s not stuttering anymore, I guess she’s really fine now. Although she’s still clutching the coat that I used to cover her earlier, the color has already returned to her face.

That little nap after calming down solved it.

With Eguchi-sensei’s persuasion power, Orimura-sensei, although still somewhat reluctant, clicked her tongue and let go of me.

She left me alone and went to Eguchi-sensei’s side as she began checking the latter’s body as if looking for evidence that I did something.

Only when she failed to find anything did the woman release the tension on her face.

Looking at the two of them, my fondness over close friends once again got triggered.

I think I now know why I always look favorably towards that kind of relationship.

Because I’m widely aware that I will not be able to find a close friend of the same gender as me. I can’t afford to be friendly to anyone. To protect all the girls connected to me, I cannot allow anyone to get close to me in fear that he will be able to know our secret.

These two close friends had that kind of bond which could not allow the other to be aggravated by another person. That’s also Eguchi-sensei’s stance during that night when they treated me to ramen. If not for the clear explanation of what exactly happened back then, Eguchi-sensei's favorable impression of me would be reversed.

“I’m alright, Sanae. Hear me out, will you?”

And with that Eguchi-sensei began narrating what led to the situation that Orimura-sensei witnessed upon her arrival.

Although Eguchi-sensei purposely omitted that it all started because of my being nosy over her drafted activities, I interjected and added it.

My PE Teacher pouted and reprimanded me for doing that though. I wryly smiled saying that it’s better that way. Rather than letting her narrate a story wherein a hole could easily be pointed out, filling up the true events would straighten it out.

Starting from when her prayer beads, my helping her to pick them up and the first situation where I picked up and read her drafts.

By the time Eguchi-sensei finished, Orimura-sensei's fiery gaze at me somewhat subsided.

Of course, because in light of everything, I’m still the one with the greatest fault.

“Like I said, I deserved it. I apologize for that, Eguchi-sensei, Orimura-sensei.” I bowed to the two.

Soon afterwards, I stood up and began walking towards the door.

Why am I leaving? I don’t know exactly but it felt like that’s the best timing to exit.

However, as if repeating the previous cases of me leaving behind a girl in a room, a voice stopped me.

Or rather a hand grabbed my wrist preventing me from going out. “Stay here and do your job as her Student Assistant.”