Stealing Spree

Spending around ten minutes reading all their recorded cases, I found myself being intrigued by the method the Guidance Counselors used on trying to correct and guide those problem students.

They appeared a little creative in tackling different issues. There’s that one case where a student who was bullied since 3rd grade turned her life around when the Guidance Counselor found out her strong suit and let her explore it while helping the girl by minimizing the inconvenience brought about by those bullying her.

Well, with the file only a summary of what actually transpired, I had no idea about the actual steps the Guidance Counselor did for the girl.

At the bottom of the page, it was written that the bullied girl graduated at the top of her class and continued to her 1st choice college.

Well, that sounds inspiring but that’s just one of the successful cases concerning bullied students.

More often than not, the student would either refuse to come to school or transfer out rather than face the possibility of meeting their bullies again.

Anyway, while I was doing that, I noticed Eguchi-sensei’s eyes never left mine. She’s observing my whole person, her thoughts hidden behind a shroud of a rather gloomy expression.

Yep, the way she looked at me wasn’t that of someone waiting for my reaction to what I was reading, instead, it felt like she was just trying to burn my image in her mind. It’s the kind of gaze that came from someone interested in me.

Which is… not surprising. She clearly expressed herself last Saturday, after all.

But since she told me to forget it, I wouldn’t go out of my way to raise it again. She’s conflicted and what she truly needed wasn’t my acknowledgement or my confirmation that I am just as interested in her. She needed to clear her mind. Otherwise, this gloom she’s showing would be more apparent as the days go by.

And since we’re entering the rainy season, she would probably be more melancholic every time the sky became filled with rain clouds.

Well, being her Student Assistant, if she decides to talk about it, I will listen and comfort her if need be. For now, acting like a diligent student and the Disciplinary Officer who’s going to work with them is what I have to do and show to her.

That’s why after I finished reading it, I didn’t say anything out of topic. I raised questions I naturally found from everything I read and listened to her answer, clearing my head as to what I should expect with this new post.

“Thank you, sensei. I learned a lot.”

“You don’t have to hide it, Onoda-kun. I know this puts a lot of pressure on you. Right now, not only are you Student Assistant for two teachers, you’re now more or less a helper of the Guidance Department.”

“Well, there’s no point lying that I didn’t feel that. In any case, I’ll do my best to assist you. And also do the other duties assigned to me as the Disciplinary Officer.”

Eguchi-sensei showed a satisfied nod before taking the thick folder from my table. She’s about to leave. I thought she was going to drop a case on me right away but it seems she’s only here to inform me of this…

“I’m the one handling the first-year students like you. You can rest assured. There’s no troublesome student I’m going to send to you. At least, not yet.”

I guess the other two were assigned to the 2nd and 3rd years respectively. So that’s why there are three of them instead of just one. That’s how it was in other schools, after all.

“That… sounds reassuring.” I somehow let out a sarcastic comment.

Eguchi-sensei bitterly smiled. “What do you say about letting me treat you to ramen again? To thank you for taking up this trouble.”

“That sounds great but I also don’t want to trouble you, sensei. Thanks for the invitation though. I appreciate it.”

I noticed how her eyes lit up and showed an expectant smile when she raised that invitation. Most likely, even if not intentionally, she’s looking forward to going out with me again. Last time we were with Orimura-sensei. And this time, she’s possibly being influenced by what she confessed two days ago.

Or… I was just reading too much about her situation.

After a few more exchanges to properly conclude our conversation, Eguchi-sensei soon stood up and left the room.

Watching her walk away while still exuding a slightly gloomy mood, I felt the urge to run after her and ask her what was wrong. However, the few seconds of hesitation already brought her out of my sight.

If she’s still the same tomorrow during our class with her, I decided to ask her then.

Alone again in the room, I resumed what I was doing before Eguchi-sensei arrived.

Cleaning the room free of the boxes that should belong to a storage room.

I checked on Shizu too but seeing her diligently working, I also got a little motivated.

Ten minutes after Eguchi-sensei left, I welcomed my 2nd visitor; the 2nd year follower of Kujou Marika who chased after me earlier.

“Please take a seat, senpai.” I politely said, gesturing to the rather old chair that Eguchi-sensei used.

As soon as I saw her lumbering out of the staircase area, I started observing her.

It’s to ascertain if she’s here as a ploy of someone to entrap me or whatever they’re planning. I also didn’t discount the possibility that she’s sincere about asking for help.

Kujou Marika is still a mystery to me. What I know about her is that she’s not from our city and she’s only here to chase after her fiancée. Other than that, nothing.

What she showed last week to me left me baffled as to her real intention so… if I could hear something about her through this girl, I would tread into it even if it could be a trap.

The first thing the girl did upon entering was to take in the appearance of the room. And surely, from the slight curl of her forehead, she’s a little disappointed.

And when I offered the chair, she hesitated to sit down on it. Perhaps in fear that it would break down on her.

As I watched her take a seat, I placed my elbows on the table and clasped my hands before resting my chin on it. My eyes then focused on her.

Perhaps a little intimidated by that gesture, the girl gulped down and calmed herself down for a moment before facing me.

“Go ahead, senpai. I said I am going to hear you out. This involves Kujou Marika-senpai, am I right?”

Since she looked like she was getting pressured by the way I stared at her, I opened up the conversation and shot straight away to the core without exchanging pleasantries.

Uh… My gut instinct pointed to this girl as ‘trouble’ after all. Better to send her on her way as soon as possible.

The girl took a few seconds before managing to respond. “Y-yes. As I’ve said earlier, I want to ask for help to investigate Ichihara-senpai and pull her away from him.”

Still the same tone as earlier. No matter how we look at it, this issue is too personal rather than just a simple issue concerning their life in this school. More like, this should be an issue for Nami’s Student Support Club. But that’s if this is a normal issue.

Honestly, she sounds like she’s reciting a memorized script. That’s even more apparent now that I had her repeat what she said earlier. Her pupils dilated and shook slightly. She’s also not a great actress.

In any case, since I told her I’m going to hear her out, I didn’t point that out and responded normally, “I got it. I need senpai to elaborate on it. You see, without information, I don’t know what I’m getting into.”

“Uhm… Yes, of course. First, please take a look at this.” The girl brought out her phone. And as I expected, she showed me a photo.

However, instead of what I’m expecting to see – like Ichihara Jun being with another girl – what’s in it was Kujou Marika crying alone on the staircase leading to the rooftop of the School Building. The same place I often meet with Kana.

The photo looks like a stolen shot but without context, I have no idea what to make out of it. Besides, thinking back to the Kujou Marika that I encountered, I could never imagine her crying…

Now, I’m uncertain if this is really a move from Kujou Marika to deal with me or something else entirely…

Really, she should have started with the explanation before showing this… Is she certain that she’s not messing up her script?