Stealing Spree

"You're inviting me?" After a brief moment of silence where Nakanishi-senpai just remained staring at me, she eventually knitted her brows and doubtfully muttered. An imaginary question mark popped up on top of her head making her appear more charming on top of the mature charm she's naturally exuding.

As I expected, the temptress of a senior failed to instantly wrap her head around the purpose of my invitation. Or if not that, she couldn't determine whether I was scheming something or not. She's just that wary. She watched me fearlessly stand against Enomoto, after all.

"Mhm. I am. I said last time that I will be obedient, right? If it's impossible, then I'll understand. But in case you accept, let me give you a tour."

Yeah. I've been rather forceful with her the last few times so this time, I maintained my distance to make her feel safe from being taken advantage of by me. No more being touchy for no reason.

Although she's not really that mad at me for that, I had to follow through with my words, right?

"A tour, you say? Listen here you slick-tongued brat, I'm the senior between us. Shouldn't it be the other way around?" With one of her eyebrows raised, perhaps because my answer was in the realm of being incredulous, Nakanishi-senpai almost burst into a boisterous laugh. She managed to hold it in though and in the process, grabbed me by my ear to bring me close to her.

Now, this is new. She's the one initiating contact.

It's fine though. This showed that our relationship was really closer than anyone would think. As a recluse and someone who avoided the public eye, she could probably count in hand those she could be comfortable with.

"Should it? I don't know, senpai. Who knows, maybe while I'm giving you a tour, you'll point out the location of the delinquents' hideouts or hang-out spots that were affiliated with Enomoto." I teasingly answered which earned me a pinch on my ears which eventually moved to my cheek.

"This guy… so that is what you are after! Sheesh, here I am getting excited for no reason."

She sounded a little disappointed there. That's why before it sets in, I made a follow-up, raising my hands in surrender. However, I kept my cheeky expression to continue amusing her.

"I'm joking. I just want to take a walk with you. I don't need to find their hideouts. I have people on that."

That's half a lie, I guess? Watanabe would be out there, collecting information for me. Then there's also those three idiots who I've never really given a direct command to – they're still acting among themselves but this time, they kind of wanted to be my subordinate.

Even if Uchiyama and the other two didn't intervene yesterday when Ichihara blocked my way, they seemed to be doing something else to mitigate his influence. Something along the lines of… recruiting the others who were shaken at the result of that confrontation.

As for how I became aware of that, one of their lackeys went to me earlier – in one of the rare moments that I wasn't busy with my girls.

"Huh? This guy. Have you finished spreading your influence? Aren't you the type to hate them?"

"I never said I hated them, senpai. I only expressed that I don't want to be bothered by them. They can make an empire for all they want as long as they don't bother me or those within my sphere."

"That sounds familiar, huh? Enomoto also mentioned something like that. He's keeping them in line so Nikka or I won't be inconvenienced."

Oh? That's unexpected but very welcome information.

"What a surprise. We think alike." I sarcastically answered before putting on my shameless smile.

"No. You're shameless. He's not."

"Thank you for the compliment, senpai."

Nakanishi-senpai snickered at that before releasing my cheek to ruffle my hair.

Without stopping her, I steered our topic back a few steps.

"That aside, think of this invitation as me showing you my gratitude, senpai."

"Gratitude? What did I do to earn that?"

"Senpai, you're not old yet. It's about how you concernedly followed me when I walked into that ambush. I suspected you back then. Now that I cleared you of it… it's time for me to show my appreciation."

I'm not gonna lie. I have this urge to reach for her hand to properly convey that. But for the sake of upholding my words again, I fell back on simply straightening up my expression to show her my genuine smile.

"… I'm not gonna fall for that, you smooth-talker."

Or so she said. However, from the corner of her eyes and the subtle movements of her face, Nakanishi-senpai appreciated my words.

A moment later, she stopped ruffling my hair and simply let it slide back to my cheek. Then, with a voice as soft as a whispering wind, she muttered, "… I'll take a walk with you but I can't leave Nikka alone here. Enomoto will be upset."

I glanced in the direction of the inner area where Nikka was probably still tinkering with their experiment or club activity before nodding. "I see. Then let's call him here. Give me your phone, senpai."

"Huh?"

"I don't have his contact."

"No. Idiot. Will that really work?"

"Of course. Trust your favorite junior." This time, I flashed another shameless smile which earned another laughter from the girl.

Nakanishi-senpai retracted her hand from my head and used it to pull her phone out. Upon handing it to me, she embarrassedly hinted that I should also put my contact in it by saying, "I don't need your contact but let me know when you're going to visit next time. I can't always be surprised by you… brat."

I didn't comment on that and simply typed in my details before showing it to her. I let her modify the contact name however she liked.

The result? She wrote 'Naughty Brat' before going off in a burst of boisterous laughter that Nikka couldn't help but peek at us to make sure that everything was alright.

Nakanishi-senpai impishly glared at me before walking over to the girl, explaining the reason for her laughter – obviously she lied.

In any case, using that chance, I fiddled with her phone again to finally make that call.

Going through her contacts which were so few I could count them on two hands, I easily found Enomoto's name. Unlike the nickname she put on mine, she only used the guy's name. If that's any indication, I have no idea.

Without hesitation, I tapped the call button.

After two rings, the clicking sound which indicated the call going through echoed followed by the guy's voice.

"What is it, Nakanishi?"

From the rambunctious noises that I could hear in the background, that guy was definitely outside, on top of that, he was with a rowdy bunch who seemed to be having a festival.

Is he with his clique?

Well, one way to find out.

"I apologize, senpai. But it's me. I borrowed Nakanishi-senpaii's phone to contact you."

"Onoda?!"

Upon recognizing my voice, I instantly heard him gasping in surprise. Then for the next few seconds, the background noise lowered in volume. He stepped away from them.

He probably thought that I might be scheming something again.

I'll spare him from that thought.

"Yeah. How do I say this… Can you return to this clubroom? You see, I invited Nakanishi-senpai out to join me on my patrol. She can't leave Nikka-senpai alone so…"

Even before I could finish my words, Enomoto already replied. He tried to appear calm but I could easily sense the haste in his voice along with the sound of his footsteps. He's already making his way here.

Obviously, he doesn't trust me.

"I'll be there soon. I don't know what kind of trick you're trying to pull, Onoda… I hope this is the last time you do this."

"Hmm? There's no trick in this. I promise."

"Sorry, but I can't take your word at face value."

"Understandable. Well then, just know that I'm still honoring your request. I'm a man of my word, senpai."

As soon as I finished those words, Enomoto ended the call by himself. Most likely, he didn't want to waste his time talking to me anymore.

Let's just hope my sincerity came across to him, right?