Stealing Spree

When Coach Ayu said she’s busy, it sounded like an excuse.

No. It’s literally an excuse to avoid me. She didn’t have anything lined up for today except coaching and supervising Sena’s training.

She’s part of the management of the gym but it’s not like she’d be drowned out with paperwork.

Well, there’s no use mulling over it. I took that as an extension of her disappointment in me.

As for the reason why she wanted me to come back after sending Sena home, I had no idea. The way she said it was just another way of saying that I might spend a lot of time in her office so it’s better to not let the girl wait on me. Either way, the mystery about that would surely be revealed later. There’s no rush.

And I doubt she’s going to hold me off for something personal. That’s just not in her character as a passionate boxing enthusiast.

After changing into training clothes that consisted of a shirt and flexible pants, I returned and started the 3rd session of the training program I prepared for beginners.

My students that attended the program since the start were already showing a little change in their bodies and form. It’s been a week. By repeating the set of exercises that I taught them, their stamina and those muscles that they’re moving were slowly being developed.

Perhaps halfway through, if they didn’t drop out, their stamina should be enough for them to step foot in any sport like boxing. Likewise, that’s the time for them to start throwing punches and work on speed, strength and reflexes.

For now, that’s still not enough.

Hence along with the newcomers who were just given a summary of what they needed to do to catch up with the others, the first half of today’s session went towards the exercises once more.

Like the first two sessions, I checked them one by one, correcting their posture and slight mistakes.

The boys, except the three plus two idiots, were somehow looking at me as if I was their idol. They showed off what they attained for a week and how much improvement they got as they waited for my praise. I’m not stingy with praise so I gave it to them while encouraging them to do better.

“Instructor is the best! I can’t wait to learn how to properly throw punches! Not just jabs!” One of those boys exclaimed happily.

The girls, on the other hand, apart from the few who were too serious, also tried to get my attention and praise. Uh. They appeared to be more enthusiastic today than last week.

“How come you’re a lot cooler today, Onoda-sensei?” One of the middle-schooler girls asked. Visible in her glittering eyes her admiration towards me.

With my girls watching this scene, I only acted normally, patted her head and answered with a smile, “Am I? I have no idea. But thank you.”

I had no idea if they would develop a crush on me and honestly, it didn’t matter to me if they do. They’re just my cute little students in my eyes at this point.

Anyway, moving on, the group of mothers where Ichihara-san belonged, they’re the ones who only joined because they had a lot of free time and they got taken in by the way I teach their children. Furthermore, some of them thought they could go back to being fit for their husbands.

I corrected their postures and gave them advice so that they wouldn’t be too tired from day-to-day exercises. They’re unlike their children after all.

Well, Ichihara-san was the exception. She still retained her alluring mature beauty and figure. And honestly, if this was before the change, I might go and steal her from her husband.

Fortunately, I could put a cork on my desire nowadays. Besides, she’s kind of an important client. She mentioned using her connection to entice more enrollees in my program.

“Onoda-sensei, don’t make it too obvious that you favor Ichihara-san.” One of the mothers whispered that to me when I went and corrected her posture.

Do I favor her? I don’t know. I probably got caught staring longer at Ichihara-san.

Anyway, I denied that with a straight face, telling her that I’m treating all of them equally.

Following the mothers, there were the idiots who were already worshiping me, one of them even greeted me as if I’m some kind of master.

“Instructor! Well met! This Kinjo will look forward to your guidance.” One of the newer guys who looked like a template anime otaku greeted me in a rather archaic tone. Following that, the other four put their hands together and bowed at me.

They looked funny and when the others saw that, they laughed at their silly display of respect.

As for me, I maintained my neutral expression, advising them on the exercises before whispering my reply, “Alright. As long as you two behave like these three and abide by what I told them, you can expect more advice from me. What about it? Did you apply my advice to your everyday life?”

I turned my head to the three idiots from last week. They quickly nodded their heads and sported a wide grin. “It’s just as Instructor said. Girls are less creeped out by us. I think we can properly talk to them soon!”

One of them exclaimed, the leader of the three idiots named the whites of his teeth peeking from how big a smile he had.

After that, they tried asking why the other girls from last week weren’t present. They’re pertaining to Chii and the others who went last Sunday. For my answer to that, I only glared at them and the three immediately appeared as if they had just choked on their words.

By the time my girls’ turn arrived, they’re all shaking their heads as they commented on how popular I became in just a span of two lessons.

Elizabeth tried to repeat her previous antics of slipping towards me. Yukari prevented that by pulling on her ears, resulting in the mischievous princess pouting at her friend. In the end, I went in between them, lulling the chuunibyou’s pout and thanking Yukari’s effort.

Yuka, Miho and Aika acted normally. Or not.

They intentionally made a mistake in their posture so that I could come close to them and correct it. It’s not too obvious so I indulged the three albeit stealthily.

As for Akane and Miyako, although they did everything perfectly, I still went and paid my attention to them. The former clearly didn’t want to create more trouble for me while the latter was just being reserved.

Well, I advocated being fair even in this training program so none found that strange. Even if there was someone who’d think otherwise, he or she didn’t voice it out.

Once they all finished with the exercises, we quickly moved to the next lesson and demonstration.

Luckily, even though some found it harder to keep up, those near them helped them to comprehend the lesson.

Halfway through my lesson, Sena, who finished her training set for the day, joined me in demonstration and explanation.

By introducing her again as someone who’s aiming to be a pro, those younger students were enamored at the thought that they immediately bombarded her with questions.

Sena accommodated their questions without complaints. When asked for confirmation about our relationship, she unhesitatingly answered positively while hooking her arms with mine.

Well, it’s not a secret in this gym. Most of them were already aware of it since last Saturday.

Around two hours later, the 3rd session ended on another good note. They might be exhausted but everyone was satisfied, even those five idiots from another high school.

After changing and giving another advice to those five who were waiting inside the changing room, I went out of the boxing gym. When I passed by Hisa-jii that’s manning the front desk, he also reminded me about returning after sending Sena home.

With that, the importance of the meeting with Coach Ayu rose.

That’s why upon joining the girls outside, I discussed that with Akane and the other girls. With the girls, who I couldn’t see regularly, still reluctant to go home early, it was decided that they would wait in Sena’s house for me. Well, it would trouble their household but Sena was the one who offered it.

To make sure that no one would bother them again, I walked them towards it. We took a longer route towards it though… It’s to avoid the more public route. And thanks to that, the girls and I got the chance to be intimate with each other even if it’s just a little.

Every second counts for us after all… And seeing their smile was enough to energize me.

When I returned to the gym, I went straight to Coach Ayu’s office. And there she was, waiting right outside her door.

Upon spotting me, Coach Ayu wordlessly entered the room with me following behind her heels.

After closing the door behind me, I jokingly asked. “What’s the serious atmosphere, Coach? Am I about to be executed?”

Regrettably, that was answered by a heavy silence.

… What’s really going on here?