Stealing Spree

Like I planned, when Misaki exhausted her questions for me, I asked her about Kanzaki on whether they were still close to each other. She answered positively and mentioned Chii as well on the side.

The girl even praised Kanzaki for being a model student she wanted to follow. Apparently, our Class President sometimes comes to their room to check on her. She’s also a little concerned because of her perceived innocence.

That’s a surprise for me… Because I seldom pay attention to Kanzaki even in class, I was mostly unaware of her actions. Besides, after that day when I rejected her request, we never had a proper talk again.

Next, I brought up my plan to buy the forehead girl a phone.

As I expected, Misaki couldn’t say yes immediately. Not only does she have no idea how to use one properly, but she’s also not confident to hide it from her parents.

But when I told her that we could talk to each other through it, the girl changed her mind and agreed right away. Itou stepped up and offered to help Misaki teach using the phone and how to hide it.

There’s still a risk for her so I told Misaki to think about it as well. If her mind doesn’t change, I will take her out and bring her to a phone shop to buy it as a present for her.

Well, I’m aware that by doing so, we’re making a rebel out of her… If the time comes that her parents find out about it, I’ll step out to defend her. Out of guilt and selfishness.

Right… Just by doing all these, I already lifted her standing in my mind close to my girls.

Not taking advantage of her innocence my ass… I’m a damned hypocrite by even thinking about it…

Anyway, that’s it. Before I separated from the two, I also reminded them to leave a few minutes after me. Even though the one following me disappeared when Nakanishi-senpai talked to me, there’s no hurt to be extra cautious.

Naturally, both girls became curious for the reason but after I made up an excuse – which was not necessarily a lie – the two girls obediently agreed.

As I traversed the hallways of the Club Building, I kept an eye out on the stream of students coming and going. It’s already club hours so for the first ten minutes of it, these hallways would be busy. Someone could be watching me again so… I skipped going to Nami and Haruko’s Club. I passed by the Literature Club though… I informed the girls there that I wouldn’t be able to walk them home.

While Rae accepted it easily, Kana looked at me with a meaningful gaze. She had an idea about what was happening so… before I left for the Student Council, that girl told me to take care of myself.

As for Ishida-senpai, I thanked her for the tea leaves. Although I didn’t tell her about the leaves’ lascivious side effect, I mentioned how effective it was to relieve me of exhaustion. And that made the girl’s mood lighten to the point that I got to see her beautiful smile.

Otsuka-senpai eyed me throughout my time there but she didn’t approach me apart from the normal greeting… I’m thankful for that. Because if her curiosity broke out today, there’s no escaping it.

And now, I’m standing before the Student Council Room.

Shizu had just kicked me out of the room.

The reason?

Because I told her I could handle whatever plan Enomoto and his goons laid out for me.

Unlike Kana who only sensed that something was probably going to happen, Shizu caught wind of what would undertake later.

When the other three left the room for their job for today, she even asked me to come with her and get help from Hayashi-sensei; this school’s Director.

Obviously, I rejected that. That’s why I’m here now, waiting for her to change her mind and let me in.

But five minutes later, Shizu remained inside without any intention of allowing me back in. She even told me to go to my office instead and do my job. Or the cleaning that I kept on postponing.

Without any other choice, I decided to do just that.

Because I put my mind to it and I didn’t get distracted from anything else, I finished that in less than twenty minutes…

Yep. It’s that easy.

Now, without anything better to do, I sat down on my chair and passed the time by checking the files Eguchi-sensei left behind and also, using my phone to message my girls that I failed to see today.

“Wow, Onoda-kun, you finally finished clearing this place up. Want some help in decorating it?”

While I was replying to Nami’s message that’s also laden with suspicion, someone entered the room. The way she entered was so silent and because my focus was on my phone, I only became aware of her when she spoke.

I lifted my head and saw Watanabe, hands behind her as she spun around, scanning the whole room. She’s sporting a rather energetic smile.

Once she finished spinning, she walked to my table, sat down in front of me and repeated what she said, “Are you listening to me, Onoda-kun?”

“I heard you the first time. I’m just wondering why our Treasurer is here. Have you finished your job?”

If I recall correctly, she was sent out by Shizu to some clubs who were asking for a revision of their budgets. For this girl to come here without even knocking on the door, I couldn’t help but become suspicious of her.

Maybe it’s because of what she witnessed last week? I don’t know.

“Sure I have. And I have nothing else to do so I came here to play.”

“There you go. You said it yourself. You’re not here to help me but to play.”

“My bad. I misspoke… Don’t mind it.” Watanabe laughed and waved her hand, putting whatever she said under the table.

Without changing my expression, I put the girl under my gaze and waited a few seconds before talking…

“Won’t your Ma-kun look for you?”

“Geez. What’s with that suspicious look? Anyway, Ma-kun is still walking around, collecting club reports. He won’t be back soon.” Watanabe shrugged it out.

“I see… Can’t I be suspicious if you suddenly show up here?” Asking her this was intentional. It’s to fish out any unnatural reaction from her even with the risk of getting on her bad side.

“No, that’s unnatural, Onoda-kun. We’re both from the Council and I thought we were friends. Am I wrong?”

Friends, huh? Aren’t we just colleagues?

“Alright. I might be overreacting.”

“Of course, you are. I’m about to get nervous, you know?”

“Well, if your conscience is clear, there’s no need for that.”

“Stop picking out my words, I’ll get mad.” Watanabe pouted and acted upset. Furthermore, although she said that, I could pick out how amused she was in this situation. She’s probably finding it funny that I could be this suspicious of her…

I guess I’ll drop my suspicion here… It’s also plausible that she’s really here just to see and help me. Oh, and to stave off her boredom after finishing her job.

“Alright, sorry for doubting you. I’ll take you up on your offer. How will you decorate this room?”

As I observed her reactions, I noticed that apart from her sudden appearance in this room, she’s really acting normally or within the realms of what I know of her.

If she’s just really here to help me then that’s great but if there’s another motive, I guess I’ll find that out soon enough. I just need to act normally as well while keeping an eye out.

“Hmm. I wonder? Why don’t we start with this table?” Watanabe put a finger on her lips as she contemplated. Moments later, she smirked and knocked on it.

A somewhat unpleasant noise was instantly made. It’s not a fancy table like Shizu’s, after all.

“This is no good for our Disciplinary Officer. I know a room where there’s a better table than this. The problem is… I can’t carry it by myself.” The girl continued while shaking her head. And when she mentioned that, the girl’s eyes shined with the same enthusiasm as earlier.

She’s really not planning anything, huh? In that case…

“That’s not a problem. It’s a man’s job to carry heavy things. Lead the way.”

As soon as she heard my answer, Watanabe energetically stood up and walked to the door, “That’s great! I like that Onoda-kun’s quick on the uptake. Follow me!”