Stealing Spree

When I first met Momoiro-senpai, it was also in this cafeteria. However, back then, I didn’t join their table, Kana went to mine. So the first time I talked to her was before I reconnected with Yua and the other girls.

I went looking for Ishida-senpai but got stopped by her. At the first glance, she’s a cheerful girl and someone who cares a lot about her friends. She’s even the one protecting Kana against that Kenji. Not letting him approach her again after their break up.

Nonetheless, she didn’t look like someone really influential or strong enough to offer protection to a junior.

But looking at her serious eyes as well as the non-reaction of the others including Kana, she could probably live up to her words.

“I appreciate the offer, senpai. It’s nice knowing someone as dependable as you. If I really get into a situation where it’ll be hopeless for me, I’ll look for you.”

I answered with a smile.

Upon hearing that, Momoiro-senpai stared at my face for a good five seconds. Perhaps trying to see if I was just acting tough before grinning with her approval. She reached for my shoulder and tapped it thrice before saying in a rather subdued voice, “Great. Before you’re Kana’s boyfriend, you’re our precious junior. I know how those two work so... if you don’t need my help yet, I can tell you what to look out for. As someone that was also targeted by those idiots following them.”

She then looked around cautiously. Just like last week, she probably didn’t want those followers to find out that they were talking about them.

Moreover, considering her eyes expertly moved from student to student, she seemed to have memorized the faces of those followers.

She’s probably thinking that there could be someone watching my every movement. In the end, she didn’t find anyone.

That’s true for me too. I always checked my surroundings and I never found someone observing me that could be connected to those two. I could differentiate the gazes that were being thrown at me, after all. And these past few days, it’s all full of admiration or envy.

Even that one senior who chased after me and tried to employ my help didn’t even show any hostility.

That’s why for now, I don’t think I’m high enough of a priority for them. For all I know, Ichihara Jun might be hitting on another girl right now or Kujou Marika was enjoying her exquisite lunch alone while surrounded by her followers.

“You are also targeted? What happened?” Curious about what she revealed, I leaned slightly forward to hear her next words clearly. Kana looked at her friend with a hint of concern while the other two did the same.

“It’s the same story as everyone that got unluckily involved with them. But in my case, I didn’t get hit on. I helped someone get away from him.”

After making sure that no one could hear her aside from us, Momoiro-senpai started her story.

Apparently, it happened during their first year. As an outgoing person, Momoiro-senpai was someone who instantly became friends with everyone from her class and even those from the other classes.

However, because she’s not from the same middle school as the majority of the students, she’s unaware of the reputation of Ichihara Jun or she did care enough about it.

It was around halfway through the school year when she spotted one of her friends being cornered by the guy.

Even though she didn’t look like someone strong, Momoiro-senpai had a strong personality who wouldn’t turn a blind eye to that kind of thing, especially when the girl was uncomfortable with it.

That’s why she sent Ichihara Jun away and told him not to bug her friend anymore.

Initially, he brushed that off as simple interference. But when it happened three times in a row, Ichihara Jun started finding her as a nuisance.

And starting from that, his followers started troubling her. And when Kujou Marika, who had just transferred to the school, caught wind of it, she assumed Ichihara likes Momoiro-senpai. That ringlet girl confronted her which resulted in Momoiro-senpai also lashing out at her.

Soon, her followers started harassing her as well.

“Senpai, seeing that you’re still here... Did you beat them?”

“Pfft. Do you think I’m influential enough to do that? I just didn’t bend at their will. Soon enough, they got bored enough to not bother me. Besides, because of the trouble I am facing, most of my friends also distanced themselves from me... Only these two and eventually Kana remained close to me.” Momoiro-senpai bitterly smiled.

“I see. To think that something like that happened...” I was honestly amazed by her story. Momoiro-senpai was pretty formidable.

Likewise, Kana and the other two also had amazed expressions as they all doted on Momoiro-senpai.

From the story that I heard, it seems that they’re really petty, huh? However, thinking that it’s all done by both Ichihara and Kujou might be not entirely true. It’s those followers of them who’d make extreme actions against those who defied them.

I also experienced that last week, after all. Just because I got along with Kujou at the convenience store, they instantly threatened me.

After asking a few more questions and Momoiro-senpai giving me more reminders, I soon excused myself from their table.

I committed those to my memory. Who knows, I might be able to use them in the future.

After spending the rest of the lunch break with Nami and the others, we all came to the Gymnasium together.

Today, Eguchi-sensei only told us to do some exercises, enough for us to sweat, before starting a lecture. Since my assistance wasn’t needed for the lecture, I got to enjoy that time sitting among my girls. Rae also eventually joined us, making it a rather pleasant experience for all of us.

And with that, the school day ends for us again. Unlike yesterday when I had to be stuck in the classroom for the Cleaning Duty, I made it a task today to walk the girls to their clubs.

I even specifically stopped by the Student Support Club to ruin Ogawa’s day...

I’m kidding. I don’t need to do that actively, his day is always ruined whenever I’m around anyway.

Well, my real reason for stopping there is... Saki.

I borrowed the girl from their club, in the guise of a request.

Truthfully, I wanted to request for all of them but... there seems to be a rule for their Support Club. When it’s the kind of help I listed, only one member could fulfill it.

And that’s because they could have multiple clients in a day. It would be bad if they closed their doors because of just one request.

“So, what are we doing, Ruki?”

As we went up the stairs of the Club Building, Saki who’s grasping my hand tightly curiously asked while showing a rather excited smile.

“Didn’t I fill up the reason on the request form?”

It’s a simple reason for wanting an extra hand to help me tidy up the Disciplinary Office. Shizu will be surprised for sure.

“Eh? I thought that’s just an excuse.”

“This girl... If I did that, I won’t be able to borrow you, right? Besides, I still want to follow the process. To prevent those three from grumbling to themselves.”

“I see... It’s not like we won’t have many chances to take. Being alone with you in a room, it’s already giving me a lot of ideas…” After thinking about it, Saki nodded her head in agreement before her lips stretched into a meaningful yet naughty smile.

“Mhm. It’s great that you understand... For now, let’s go to the Student Council.” Without denying her words, I caressed Saki’s cheek endearingly before continuing on our way.

This idea was something I thought of way before after becoming aware of the nature of their club... Only now did I get the chance to use it. I mean, I couldn’t come up with a valid reason to use back then.