Stealing Spree

“Do you have a minute, Onoda-kun? Can you accompany me somewhere?� Kanzaki answered with another question.

A minute, huh? Why can’t she just say what she wanted to say here? While we’re alone...

Based on her current expression, she mustered her courage to come to me like this. Furthermore, she even waited until everyone left the room.

What was she thinking?

“Somewhere? Will it take only a minute? We both have clubs to go to, right?�

“... You can refuse. I’m just...� With her voice trailing like that and her eyes darting around while occasionally landing on me, it’s more than enough to prove what I first observed.

“Hmm...� I already told Kana that I would be late because of being on cleaning duty so that’s safe. I guess. If it’s just a minute... I could spare this girl some of my time.

However...

“I thought you’re going to ignore me, President. Didn’t I annoy you earlier when I asked about your ex?�

I had a hunch that this might have to do something with that guy. But I could be wrong. That’s why asking this first would give me more information.

I could pass this up and just move on to go to my girls and continue the day but since she specifically waited for me, I could lend her my ear for a moment.

I mean, she’s among the girls I first targeted in our class... It’s suffice to say that my interest in her was still within me. Just that, I gave up on going after her because of her stout resolve as well as the emotions that suddenly flooded back in my mind at that time.

True. Rekindling that desire to steal her wasn’t something I was actively pursuing. But let’s just say, I wanted to repay her on account for helping us study.

Right... That’s how it is...

Ugh. Who am I convincing again? Anyway, I was now more or less in control of my desire. Yesterday, even after seeing that troublesome couple and knowing their relationship, it didn’t even cross my mind to steal Kujou-senpai.

Well, it could be that I was focused on Ishida-senpai or she just didn't interest me. Either way, it goes to show that... I already changed a lot in just two months. I also found myself becoming more sociable. Even though I could ignore them all except for my girls, I put up with the pretense that I was easy to talk to...

“You did see us last week... And possibly heard our conversation. Do you still need to confirm it? I ignored you because you put me on the spot... and they’re all looking at me as if I’m stealing you from them.�

“They?�

“Who else? Andou, Maemura, and the others that were reviewing with us.�

“Oh... Now that you mention it... So that’s the reason, huh?�

“Yes. That’s why... I stopped you from getting close to me.�

Well, I did feel my girls’ gazes but I thought it was all directed to me. That’s my bad then.

“Alright, President. As an apology, I’ll hear you out and accompany you.�

“Onoda-kun. That reaction... You didn’t even appear surprised. Is there something...�

... going on with us? I completed her question in my mind since she stopped herself from doing so.

“Do you really want to know, President?�

Although I asked her that, I had no plan to let her in on our secret at all. I was also confident that she would take a step back and choose not to pursue it. Otherwise, she would finish that question.

“F-forget it. Let’s go. I’ll wait for you outside.�

“Sure.� I nodded and returned to what I was doing.

Half a minute later, I picked up my bag and joined Kanzaki. We didn’t leave the School Building.

Instead, Kanzaki led me somewhere along the first floor. If there were classrooms that we were using for homeroom, there was also another area where the specialized rooms were located. It’s just a turn after the Changing Room and before the door towards the cafeteria.

We’re not using them yet since the lessons didn’t need any hands-on activity yet. But they’re there. And Kanzaki led me to one of those rooms.

Looking at the sign above, it’s the Science Room.

Although there were still students walking around, no one could be seen wandering into this area. Except us.

A while later, I heard Kanzaki unlocking the door and opening it.

Where she got the key or why she had that with her were questions I didn’t voice out. I was more curious for the reason she specifically brought me here.

Privacy? Or there’s something she wanted to show?

“Take a seat wherever, Onoda-kun.� She said as she walked inside and stood to the side as she waited for me to enter as well.

I followed her and picked the seat at the front. Like most Science Rooms there are no desks but a set of laboratory tables with circular chairs for students to sit on.

Around the room were various scientific diagrams, the usual posters or illustrations one would see inside the science room.

The blackboard was also replaced by a whiteboard but at the moment, there’s nothing written there.

I mean, this was still unused and everything was still tidy so... there’s not much to take in about the room.

Once I settled down on the seat, Kanzaki who was still by the door, closed it. Following that, the familiar clicking sound of a lock reached my ears.

Now... that’s interesting.

Whatever she’s planning to do here, I truly couldn’t guess.

Since we both brought our bags. I placed mine on the table behind me and when she walked toward me and took the seat next to me, she did the same.

As the awkward silence started to consume us, Kanzaki put a hand on her chest and breathed in. It’s a long inhalation as though she’s filling her lungs to the brim.

It’s an action to gather her courage. After exhaling that rather long breath, Kanzaki turned her head to me. I couldn’t draw what kind of expression she put on but at the very least, the air around her seemed too heavy as if she was about to do something unthinkable.

“Onoda-kun.� She started.

I met her eyes that looked like there was a fire burning in them after peering through her glasses’ lens.

“... Can we continue that lesson?�

Although there’s a slight pause as though she had just an internal struggle, Kanzaki managed to release what she wanted to convey.

I said I had no idea what she was planning... but with the word ‘lesson’, I got a moment of realization that... all along, this was tied to how we started interacting with each other.

I truly didn’t expect it since, in the first place, we somehow understood each other that there’s no point continuing it after that first instance in the library.

This girl... She had already broken up with her boyfriend. Could it be that she decided to give him another chance?

No... From the way they acted around each other earlier, there’s no indication that their relationship was restored.

Then what’s this?

Well, I could just ask her. That would save me from overthinking.

“Do you mean the ‘Kissing Lesson’? Didn’t I already give you advice on how to set the mood? You didn’t tell me if you even did that or whether it worked. The next thing I knew, you had already broken up with him. What’s this about then?� I asked.

As she digested what I said, I observed Kanzaki’s reactions, she rubbed her palms together and she’s getting fidgety. And because of the silence, the sound of her heartbeat became barely audible even though my ears weren’t even near it.