Stealing Spree

No matter what, time constraints like this would always be our enemy. As much as we wanted to spend more time with each other, unless we ignored the school, it would always be cut short.

Either way, we’re all aware of this… and it’s in our best interest not to mull over it too much or we'll all just get disappointed. There’s no solution to it with our current situation.

“Hey, before you pull a long face again, let me tell you something… I love every second of my time with you. No matter how short it is. You’re the one who said it. That in the future, our situation will get better.”

Rae’s words pulled me out of my thoughts as she turned around to look closely at me again. Her eyes behind her glasses brimming with a wonderful glint of resolve.

“For now, as high school students, our current goal is to graduate. There’s no shortcut to this. Or maybe, if you’ve been proven to be a genius, you can skip grades and reach college quicker than normal. But you’re not, right? And none of us is.”

As soon as the last of her sentences dropped, Rae squeezed my cheeks before quickly running out of the Club Building. I caught her emerging victorious smile the moment she gave me one last passing glance. Perhaps, she counted not giving me a chance to respond as a victory.

In any case, our relationship has grown stronger yet again. Our plans from before were canceled. And from what I heard from her, it’s actually not easy to make plans outside… Now that brought me back to the fact that her family was aware of our relationship.

Are they expecting something from us? Or… they’re just cool with it? I have no idea. Rae hadn’t brought that up again.

A while later, I moved to the abandoned clubroom as soon as the bell rang, indicating the end of the 6th period.

Yesterday, I asked Arisa-senpai whether I could look for her if Izumi-senpai didn’t show up.

She didn’t give me a straight answer.

Should I interpret that as a yes or a no?

Honestly, instead of trying to talk to that fake delinquent, I’d rather spend my time with Arisa-senpai even if it would turn out like yesterday; restraining ourselves to the limit.

Unfortunately, it got the opposite of what I wished for.

Ten minutes in, while I was reading and responding to my girls’ messages, the fake delinquent entered the abandoned clubroom.

I didn’t have to raise my eyes to find out that she was glaring at me. The loud clicking of her tongue as well as the tapping of her shoes was enough to indicate that.

“Oi, playboy. What did you do to Arisa?”

Coming off strong right at the onset, Izumi-senpai called me out in a rather straightforward tone. She didn’t beat around the bush and promptly threw a pitch right in the middle.

“What are you talking about, senpai?”

I swung and intentionally missed the ball, acting oblivious as I finally met her gaze.

Izumi-senpai’s forehead was creased, her eyebrows clashing. She’s like someone who had just drunk spoiled milk.

She’s still wearing her uniform loosely, acting like a delinquent and her arms crossed tightly beneath her mounds which emphasized it for my eyes.

Whether that’s intentional or not, I guess my perverted self would thank her for the treat. Wordlessly though.

“Stop acting like a fool. I heard everything.” Izumi-senpai released a sigh, stepped away from the door and stopped just a few steps away from me. Following that, her stiff and prickly tone changed to as soft as a weightless as a feather. Before my eyes, Izumi-senpai went down on her knees as she implored me, “There’s only one reason I came here to meet you. Spare Arisa… I beg you.”

This girl… All things considered… I hadn’t expected this kind of move from her. Especially after that imposing entrance as if her glaring eyes could stab me multiple eyes.

Her hands clasped together as if someone powerless begging for her loved ones to be forgiven of their sins.

The only thing missing was her tears. Still, she’s already on the verge of crying.

I knew I controlled the surprise I received from what she just did but that probably came off to her as me being expressionless. Or rather, indifferent to what I witnessed.

Perhaps uneasy that I wasn’t going to answer her, Izumi-senpai almost crawled forward, dragging her knees to approach me closer.

“Please, Onoda-kun. You’re aware of her past. Don’t let her experience the same thing as before. I won’t tell a soul about your relationship with the other three and I won’t care about it. But please, leave Arisa alone… Keep her out of your immoral claws.”

Looking at her acting like this, the desperation she’s showing me… I ought to feel guilty. However, I found myself not feeling it.

If I can explain what I’m feeling watching Izumi-senpai acting like this, it’s more of I feel royally ashamed.

I kept saying about how I admire their friendship but because of this, I found myself being firm on my decision to make Arisa-senpai mine. No amount of kneeling or begging from Izumi-senpai could change my mind.

I’m still and will always be a bastard…

“Senpai, first of all. Can you stand up?”

I answered. I remained in my seat, just looking down at her. My voice was even bereft of emotions.

I could easily lie and say yes to stop her from doing this but I didn’t feel like doing so.

Call me cruel or anything but I had long accepted that part of me… This side of me is probably being overlooked by my girls… They’re turning a blind eye to this horrible side of me.

What should I do here? Should I compromise? But to what end? No matter what, I will continue chasing after Arisa-senpai. The only thing that can stop me is Arisa-senpai herself. If she adamantly refuses my every attempt, I will eventually give up.

Honestly, this isn’t the first time someone kneeled in front of me. I also kneeled in front of Miyako but that’s the only instance I did it. Compared to the girls or boys who kneeled in front of me, that’s too little.

“Senpai, since you said you already heard everything… I love Arisa-senpai. That’s something that will not change.”

“Love? Onoda-kun, stop spouting nonsense. I’m begging you here. I’m lowering my head to you. If you really love her, you will not want her to relieve what she felt before…”

“I’m different from her ex.”

“Different? Please, stop fooling yourself. Or yes, your difference is that you’re worse than him! Aren’t you satisfied yet with Nanami, Hina and Saki? What more do you want?!”

At this point, Izumi-senpai somehow lost it. The volume of her voice rose. Yet she remained kneeling. Her hands dropped to my knees and gripped it tight.

She’s furious. Of course, but she couldn’t lash out completely as she’s still hoping for me to change my mind.

Unfortunately… I still won’t relent. My lips curved to a wry smile as I responded to her.

“I’m afraid I still want Arisa-senpai.”

“Y-you bastard!” As if the last straw snapped in two, Izumi-senpai rose to her feet and screamed that to my face.

A moment later, I felt a stinging pain on my cheek as her palm landed crisply on my face.

I saw it coming. However, I chose not to dodge.

I’m aware of how much I deserve that slap.

“… Yes, senpai. I’m afraid I’m this much of a bastard.” My eyes met hers once more as I bitterly confessed that.

Haa… After the fluffy moments I had with Rae, I never thought it would quickly spiral down to this.