Stealing Spree

Drawing closer to her to the point that it would be harder for her to dodge if I ever decided to cross the remaining distance between our lips, her only path of retreat was to fully climb the table and slide backward.

With this move of mine, Izumi-senpai was once again speechless. Or rather, she couldn’t find the words to respond with.

The black of her eyes shrunk as her courage gradually slipped away.

Izumi-senpai pursed her trembling lips as she lifted her butt to retreat from me only to fail from pulling herself away.

Well, I was just trying to shake her after steering the conversation in this direction.

Besides, it’s her fault for muttering that incorrigible coward’s name again. Something probably snapped in me? I don’t know.

But with this, it confirmed the fact that she hadn’t made any progress even after more than a week.

Whether it’s because she’s not forward enough or Ogawa was just too much of a lost cause, I had no idea.

Either way, this girl was too patient.

“You heard my answer to what you’re trying to request so let’s move on from that and focus on you. Isn’t this the focus of our Mentor Program meetings? Since there’s not a lot you can teach me…” Since she couldn’t find her words, I opened my mouth once more. “Senpai tried to beg for Arisa-senpai but you seem to have forgotten that I also wanted to steal you from Ogawa. Well, steal is probably wrong since you’re not even put in his eyes at all. But when I said I have a crush on you, I’m serious about it.”

Given that I readily let her take the chance to be with Ogawa back then, it’s correct to say that I’m not that serious enough. Even so, it’s all in consideration to her.

Before I completely admired her because of her dedication and concern to Arisa-senpai, I felt bad for all of her failed attempts to make that coward look in her direction.

“And honestly, I can’t stand to see you keep trying only to fail again and again. Senpai, you’re like an egg trying to crack a diamond-hard rock like Ogawa. He’s hopeless.”

Although I hadn’t really gotten a good look at him after I slapped him with the truth, I still stood with that evaluation. He’s still hopelessly longing for Nami.

Unfortunately for him, Nami’s kindness only covered her friendship with him. The guilt that she was feeling for cheating on him was already dissolving every passing day.

Furthermore, Hina, the one he neglected the most, was even reveling at the thought of taking her revenge on him. The consolation, she still considered him as her childhood friend, just like what he wanted.

Saki couldn’t be bothered to care anymore… That girl had already abandoned whatever interest she had over that coward.

Kikuchi was neutral or rather she leaned more towards Hina. That’s her friend, after all.

Arisa-senpai was impartial. She’s the one with the more mature outlook when it comes to their group.

Shizu? She’s more like a proctor that could keep them all in line. She’s probably the one with the weakest attachment with their circle. She’s there to protect Nami.

In the end, only this girl remained by his side. And as for whether there were still others that were charmed by him, Nami and Hina told me that there should be one or two that were left behind in their middle school.

Even though Nami didn’t graduate from their middle school, given that she was still infatuated with Ogawa back then, she’s still updated on what happened. She’s even aware that the idiot was hailed as the most popular guy during their 3rd year.

Good for him, huh?

“… Even so. I love him.” Izumi-senpai’s eyes shook as she muttered that after much deliberation.

I could clearly pick up that those three magic words weren’t said in great confidence. It’s more like she convinced and forced herself to say it, just to refute my argument or to get me off her case.

Is she starting to doubt her choice? I don’t know. It’s probably because I cut off her route of escape.

What should I do with this girl?

With the short time that we spent in this room, a lot has already happened. She first showed up with a strong front. She then kneeled and begged. And now, after steering the conversation to herself, she’s like a cowardly mouse not leaving her hole.

“No, senpai, you don’t love him. You adore him. You got drawn in by the kindness that he had shown to you.” I thought of telling her that she got drawn in by his ‘protagonist aura’ but she would probably not get it if I did so. “Tell me. Apart from that first instance that led you joining their circle, did he ever appreciate your presence? Or is it all one-sided?”

Again. Izumi-senpai found herself at a loss. At first, her eyes shone as if she remembered an instance where he appreciated her. However, her mouth that was about to open froze. She couldn’t formulate the words or she found herself wrong in assuming that whatever came to her mind was Ogawa appreciating her.

Looking at her like this, I sighed and retreated a few steps, opening her path of retreat.

“Senpai, stop. You don’t have to answer my question anymore.”

“W-what?”

“Like I said. It’s fine now… If you want to leave, you can.”

Should I tell her? This girl was too pitiful. And what I meant to that was the way she stopped and struggled in thinking of an instance where the boy he adores appreciated her.

She tried pulling Arisa-senpai away from her boyfriend before but why could she not see that she’s also being blinded with her adoration to that coward?

I sat back down on my seat and took my eyes off of her.

Naturally, she got confused about why I suddenly retreated but this was better for her.

She’d just be hurt if I pointed it out. It’s better for her to realize that by herself.

Ah… How I wish Arisa-senpai was here.

Two minutes later, I heard the rustling of clothes behind me followed by a dull thud. The girl had just slid off the table.

“Y-you. What’s wrong with you?”

“Are you seriously not going to escape, senpai?”

I twisted my head slightly to check on her. The girl was already standing straight but she was still as meek as a rabbit. The flair of delinquency that should at least be apparent because of her attire was nowhere to be seen.

“Answer me, Onoda-kun. Why? Why did you suddenly change your mind?”

“Are you asking me because you wanted me to continue pushing your buttons or are you curious as to what I will say if you confessed that the idiot never sincerely appreciated your presence by his side?”

That’s right. She could argue that the idiot remained kind and smiling at her. However, those acts were most likely how he was normally. He's a pretentious bastard donning a kind face.

In truth, he’s always a deluded idiot. And even now, he’s probably still thinking that if he behaved himself, Nami would look at him again.

Arisa-senpai surely saw through that guy. However, for the sake of her best friend’s happiness, she’s supporting her wholeheartedly.

Perhaps, even at the moment since she’s that coward’s Mentor, she’s lecturing him to look around him and stop fixating on Nami even if she already failed multiple times.

“You’re silent, senpai. Is it both?” I put on a wry smile as I asked that.

Unexpectedly, Izumi-senpai helplessly nodded.

Now this is new.