Stealing Spree

Starting with Shio’s class, the quizzes held by each teacher brought no small deal of headaches to everyone.

No matter how much one crammed and studied, four consecutive quizzes with at least 50 items each would take a toll on everyone’s brain. Well, except to geniuses who could breeze through it of course.

Even my Aya looked worn out when the 4th period ended, what more Satsuki? The girl was knocked out and slumped on her desk.

Nami and Hina looked a bit better but Saki? She’s in the same state as Satsuki.

Chii was still holding on but if it went on, she’d soon run out of gas.

Fortunately, it’s lunch break after the 4th period and perhaps they at least graced us with some mercy, it’s at least twenty minutes early.

Shio and the other teachers most likely realized that it’s too much for us.

No wonder midterms and finals were spread throughout two school days. That’s one of the reasons.

“Aya, can you prepare our table? I’ll buy refreshments.”

“Yes! What about…?”

Aya’s eyes wandered to Nami’s direction. She’s clearly asking if they’ll join us.

Well, my lunchbox for today was made by Shizu. She made it a point for me to get it from Nami first thing in the morning. Today’s the day for me to be her secretary so… I held off thanking her fully later.

“They’ll join us here. I’ll buy enough for everyone.” I smiled and tapped Satsuki’s shoulder on my way out, waking the girl up.

Naturally, she looked annoyed but upon understanding why I did that, she murmured grumpily, ‘I preferred you whispering to me, idiot.’

I preferred that as well but it would be conspicuous if I did it right in the open.

As for Sakuma, well, he could join us as well. If he could raise his body up.

I then left the room and outside the School Building to the nearest vending machine. There’s one in the cafeteria but with the flood of students, there’s bound to be a line there.

After returning with the refreshments, our desks were once again joined to create a large square table. Shizu’s lunchbox was already placed in front of my seat.

Nami most likely sneakily put that down during the chaos when they’re organizing the desks.

And surveying those crowded around the makeshift table, only those I expected to join was sitting around it; namely my girls and their friends.

Due to that, only Sakuma and I became the only boys in that group.

Ah. No. Tadano and that silent guy also joined. As for Ogawa, he’s nowhere to be seen. That guy most likely chose to disappear rather than see Nami and the others crowding around me.

Anyway, that’s fine even if they joined us. That’s even better, in my opinion. It saved us from more rumors.

Once we finished eating, I left the room to check on the girls from the other school. Since some of them were together, it became easier for us. I also checked on Nao, to see if she’s doing fine there.

Once that's done, I thought of going back to our classroom. However, I ran into Chii in front of the School Building.

She specifically waited for me there. She’s still on her gyaru act but once I saw that there’s no one around, I just grabbed her hand and pulled her with me to the Club Building.

In less than a few minutes, we reached the empty clubroom.

“W-wait. Kii… what are we here for?” She asked. Her eyes wandered around the room as if she’s afraid to meet my gaze.

Well, I didn’t really plan this. I actually thought of going back to review one last time with the others for the 5th period’s upcoming quiz. It’s Monday so the 6th and 7th would be taken by the Mentor Program.

However, seeing her there as if she’s specifically waiting for me to show up, I couldn’t stop myself from desiring to be alone with her.

It’s been a while after all. Most of the time, we’re with the others and due to that, I couldn’t focus on her completely. This time... I got the chance to do so.

“Nothing. I just want to bring you to a place where you can drop your gyaru act and become my Chii.” I grabbed a seat and sat down before dragging her down to sit on my lap.

She was perplexed but the girl instinctively held onto my shoulders. I looked up at her flustered face and thought of teasing her more but I restrained myself.

I had no idea what to talk about with her. I mean, we’re already talking to each other through messenger so any topic I could bring up was already exhausted.

I just really want to spend the remaining time with her.

“… This guy. What if someone saw us? Didn’t we agree to tone down meeting each other like this? Nanami and the others are abiding by it but you…”

“I can’t help it, Chii. I missed you. Besides, you forgot another point for that. I’ll still spend time with all of you as long as there’s enough time. You noticed it last week, right? I’m leaving the classroom to meet them outside like this.”

Even if there’s that agreement that dissolved the gathering in this room every lunch, we’re continuing to meet outside. Just that, not with all of them at once.

And the point for that wasn’t just to avoid suspicion or getting our complex relationship exposed. It’s also to not let them be that constricted to it. It’s already enough that I was the one devoting my time to them and not the other way around.

Although I very much love to just give them all of my time, I didn’t want them to do the same. No, that’s not the right words.

Everyone still needed space for themselves. It’s enough that we caged ourselves in this relationship that shouldn’t be made public. But if all of their free time in school got devoted to being spent with me, it would just constrict them.

Well, that only applied to the girls in the same class as me. It’s easier for them to reach me, after all. That’s why the others were somewhat jealous. Nonetheless, we have to settle on what we have at the moment. Besides, they all have different careers in front of them.

“… I haven’t answered you yet, right? Don’t you think I might say no?”

“Hmm… We’ll get to that once you properly answer. But at the moment, I’m just a normal guy expressing my love to be with you. If your answer turned out to be ‘no’ in the future, you can expect me to stop this and take a step back.”

Upon hearing that, Chii’s flustered expression froze as she slowly lowered her head to my shoulder. I felt her hands losing their grip on my shoulders but instead of letting it down, her arms slowly circled to my back.

“Kii… you’re unfair. You know, I’m still preparing myself.”

“It’s a given that I’m unfair. Not just to you but everyone. I wrapped you all up in this abnormal relationship after all. That’s why we can set it aside for now. You can have all the time to prepare yourself. I just want to spend some time with you. Today. At this moment.”

“If you say it like that… I won’t be able to hold back.” Chii lifted her head to stare into my eyes. Beneath the makeup that’s masking her true appearance, I could clearly see her former self who started to become clingy back then.

I ignored and somehow pushed her aside back then but now… I wanted to correct that. If I could only go back to that past, I would give myself a punch. No. A punch wasn’t enough. I would beat myself up.

“I’m waiting for that. I did you wrong years ago… I want to make it right. This time will surely not be enough but… expect me to steal you again.”

“Who will you steal me from? Hug me, Kii.”

“Who? From yourself, I guess?” As I answered that, my arms that’s resting on her waist wrapped around her slender figure.

There’s not much for us to talk about verbally but with our bodies tangled together like this, we began to feel each other’s emotions for each other.

For me, it’s a bit of regret, atonement and the emotion that I hadn’t remembered before, love.

For Chii, it’s simply her desire to walk with me again but there’s also the reluctance to do so.. Nonetheless, the rhythmic beating of her heart also spoke of that same emotion.