Stealing Spree

For this silent guy’s first sentence being this kind of vague threat, I was honestly disappointed. It lacked any substance. Did he think that would make me shiver on the spot? Perhaps if he said something like ‘I’ll steal Saki from you’, I might give him a better evaluation.

I ignored him and went to collect dispensed drinks, putting them in a bag provided at the side in the process. After taking the change from the large bill I used, I pocketed it and returned to where I was sitting earlier.

I then looked at the two who had just started to recover.

I could leave them here already and return alone to the Gymnasium. However, because we all went together, I acted like the talk we just had was only a passing whisper that I had already forgotten.

A while later, Ogawa moved to the vending machine and started buying for those who entrusted their money to him. On the other hand, Fukuda remained to stare at me, his fist was still cupped into a fist.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” I thought he had something more to say but he repeated his question earlier. And this time, it’s laced with vexation. It’s like his last attempt to try and understand me while also knowing that it wouldn’t yield anything.

“A lot, I guess? In the first place, I’m not someone normal like the three of you.” I shrugged once more and turned in the direction of the gymnasium. Seeing three figures walking toward us, a smile naturally formed on my lips. “Oh. By the way, are you still going to concede? I mean, I never wanted to be hostile to any of you. It just so happened that you all liked the girls I set my eyes on.”

“… Do you think it’s easy to just give up? And do you think you can keep this up?” Fukuda bitterly asked. Even though my back was already open for him to sneak attack, he possibly couldn’t do so anymore.

Even from afar, all of us could recognize the three.

Nami, Chii and Saki. And judging by their steps, they’re making a beeline toward me.

“I do. If you get in my way then, I’m going to drop all pretenses.” After saying that, I stood up and welcomed the girls with open arms.

Even if I couldn’t see them, I could hear gasps and the sound of the three idiots’ agony from behind me.

“Do you guys need help?” Although Nami directed that question to all four of us, the girl only gave them a sweeping glance before focusing entirely on me.

At least, the girl held back from hooking her arms on mine or jumping in my embrace. Likewise, Chii and Saki only looked at them for a moment and ultimately stopped in front of me. Ah. No. Saki’s opportunist trait acted up again. The girl straight up jumped inside my embrace, taking the chance I presented to her.

Well, that only lasted for a few seconds. She still restrained herself from fully showing how intimate we could be in front of the three.

“Geez, you guys, like, totally don't need help at all.” Chii facepalmed as she focused on the bag of drinks in my hand. The tone of her voice was neither scolding nor complaining, she was laughing instead.

And with the three girls’ arrival and the blatant display that they’re here for me, it’s another stinging slap to their faces.

The discussion ended right there and they just became three bitter witnesses to our interactions. Fukuda tried talking to Chii but the latter acted normally around him. Just that, she’s always returning to my side.

Ogawa and Taku clearly had bitter looks on their faces but like Chii, the two skillfully acted like everything was fine as they tried to check on them.

In this way, the feelings of bitterness in their hearts probably grew in size.

But for Fukuda, having confirmed that what he heard was true, he deflated like a balloon.

On our return to the gymnasium, the guy looked like he had just lost his soul. Furthermore, Chii, who still sees him as a friend, approached him, asking what was wrong. It’s either the girl was intentionally hammering the last nail in his coffin or she was legitimately worried for the guy. But after failing to get an answer, she returned to my side.

-

-

After we distributed the drinks to everyone, everything returned to normal. We still stood there and cheered for Satsuki.

Setsuna’s focus was all on the game that she had probably already forgotten about my existence. Every time Satsuki would be the center of attention by having the ball passed to her or successfully rebounding, she would shout like a crazed fan.

And hearing that from below, Satsuki would frown at her sister. Well, her eyes also searched for me. Since I stood directly behind Setsuna, that frown would be erased like it was never there in the first place.

Obviously, Setsuna misunderstood that Satsuki was being cheerful because of her but I let that go. Otherwise, I would hear the troublesome girl complain why Satsuki’s treatment of us was like the difference between heaven and earth.

Unlike Setsuna, Koizumi-san noticed that, making her laugh at what she was witnessing. “Great job on not spoiling her fun, Onoda-kun.”

“I have to be careful. Who knows what will do if she finds out that her sister’s smile is not for her?”

“Un. I get you. Don’t worry, I’ll back you up if ever…”

“Thank you, Koizumi-san.

After that brief conversation between us, we turned our focus back on the game.

And since we’re in this crowd, we easily blend in. Even if the ones next to me were my girls, no one would find fault with it. That’s why Nami, Chii and Saki remained next to me. Saki even occasionally slipped her hand from my sides to hug me momentarily.

Besides, the three guys from earlier vanished like smoke after distributing the drinks.

Whether they ran outside to cry or just distanced themselves from us, I had no idea.

Well, I’m at least thankful that they chose not to ruin this day. I’m expecting some kind of retaliation from any of the three soon though. Perhaps this Monday or next week.

Furthermore, if Ogawa went through with his words about exposing me, it’s still up to debate if they would believe in it. If he added his own delusions in the story, making me out as a disgusting villain, then there might be a chance some who would make a fuss over that.

In any case, the position Shizu gave me would come in handy to stop that. There’s a lot that would see that as an attack on the new Disciplinary Officer, giving it a high chance to be deemed hearsay.

As minutes passed, the second half of the game entered its final period; the last two minutes.

The score? Unfortunately, with the Seniors exhausted, the former 10-point lead grew to 20. Satsuki’s excellent performance didn’t go unnoticed though.

From what I heard, ever since she managed to block at least three shots, the focus of the opposing team on her grew to the extent that there were always two opponents marking her, suppressing her offensive and defensive capabilities.

With that, the other substitutes that weren’t from the starting lineup all found it harder and harder to keep the lead from widening.

The cheers on our side already died down and they were only waiting for the game to end. But even so, our class still kept at it, especially the troublesome sister.

“Great job, Satsu-chan! You’re making your older sister proud here!” As if it was her last hurrah, Setsuna shouted at the top of her lungs.

Although that’s not a cheer at all, everyone regained their spirits to cheer. And like a butterfly effect, the five girls on the court were enlivened as they gave it their all to at least reduce the lead before the game ended.

When the last whistle for the end of the match, the scoreboard recorded 68 – 82, a fourteen-point score lead for the Seven Stars Girls’ Academy.

They did their best. And looking at how they’re not that depressed about their loss, Eguchi-sensei probably told them her expectations. They challenged the number 1 school. Our school’s ranking wasn’t even in the top 30 in the prefecture.

Anyway, before they could do the ending ceremony where the two teams would bow at each other, my feet already moved. To run at that side door and wait for the girl to return.

However, I wasn’t alone in running, someone grabbed my shoulder.

“Guide me to where Satsu-chan is!” Setsuna ordered. Her face filled with concern.