Stealing Spree

That was certainly a valid question. Since we’re living at the same house and I even started sending her to school, transferring should be the next step. It’s not even 2 months since the start of the school year. Even if there was a discrepancy in lessons I took at my school, I could easily catch up.

However, that’s only possible if I became willing to leave my girls behind in that school. Taking them all with me was also something that couldn’t be accomplished just because I say so. That’s why the earliest that we could be together in one school would be next school year.

As not only Eri but also Fuyu and Futaba anticipated my answer, I waited for a few seconds before pulling out my rehearsed answer inside my mind.

“Mhm... I will do so next school year. You see, I became part of the Student Council at our school.”

“Huh? That’s... fast. Aren’t you a first year like us?”

“Well, things happened and...” I shrugged while giving off a vague answer.

“Oh. Right. I remembered, Onoda-kun was also a part of our Student Council before. It’s the President herself who scouted him. It’s kind of a big rumor back then. The cool, aloof and mysterious guy from our year was apparently hiding his capabilities. The famous Kojima-senpai scouted him and even tried to pick him up from their class whenever possible.” It was Futaba who chimed in as she tried to recall what happened during our 2nd year in middle school. The time I started coming to the Student Council to steal Haruko.

But was there really that kind of rumor about me? Piling up everything I heard about myself, that didn’t sound like a Classmate A status... it looked like I was fairly popular without my knowledge.

How blind was I?

Anyway, although there’s no tacit acceptance of my answer, the conversation moved to my ‘middle school exploits’ that reached the level of rumors. In that sense, it was actually Eri and Futaba who kept on listing them. On the other hand, Akane became the one they turned to for confirming it while Fuyu just remained silent, watching my reaction closely.

I still tried to act how they saw me as, I played along with what I was hearing, especially if it’s about something I wasn’t aware of. No matter what kind of reaction I showed, the two girls made it into a laughing matter.

By the time we reached their school gates, the four of them switched positions. I was still in the middle but Futaba and Eri now sandwiched me, making the other students walking alongside us raise their eyebrows.

When they noticed that, it became another point to laugh at.

“Onoda-kun, next time, join us in laughing. I’ll list Eri’s exploits as well.”

“Huh? Excuse me? Why don’t we start with yours? But Futaba is right, we’ll look crazy if we’re the only ones laughing. Fuyu and Akane too!”

Even as they’re about to enter their campus, the two girls never let up. They’re still enjoying it, even dragging the other two.

“You two are already crazy. Isn’t it bad to laugh at it like that?” Fuyu facepalmed and sighed before turning to me. “And you, Onoda-kun, don’t just laugh along with them. Some of those are exaggerated enough to be believable. They’re no way they’re the truth, right?”

Uh... As much as I wanted to nod at her, they’re all true. Or at least partly true. Among what the two listed, there’s that rumor about me confronting the delinquents of our previous school and came out unscathed.

Someone most likely witnessed that event but afraid of the delinquents coming after him by becoming the source of news, he or she turned it into a rumor, twisting some events to be more unbelievable.

Like all of them were sent to the hospital with one or two bones broken. I remembered never going that far or else it would bite back at my ass. Giving them a makeover with a punch on their faces and body pains that would let them move their bodies for relief was enough.

“Now, now, Fuyu. There’s no need to be mad. We’re just humoring each other.” Akane went in for the save and returned to her previous spot next to me. “Look at your forehead, if you’re not careful, it will leave a line of wrinkles even if you’re still young.”

“Not you too, Akane. I’m just... saying what’s on my mind.”

“Oh. Are you worried about Onoda-kun being hurt?”

“Could it be...?”

Futaba and Eri gasped in surprise as they implied that possibility. Obviously, they’re acting to annoy Fuyu.

“Eri, do you also want to greet T-chan? Oh. Futaba will be having lunch with it later. You can join them instead.”

This girl... is she always like this? Resorting to violence? In any case, that reaction clearly says one thing, she’s not amused.

Upon hearing that, the two acted scared and hid behind me while Akane laughed at their reaction.

As for me, I became the recipient of Fuyu’s unfriendly gaze which eventually relaxed after another sigh and a shake of her head.

“Mhm. I guess I have to thank you, Yuuki-san.”

“Onoda-kun. Stop with that. I don’t...” Fuyu held out a hand, embarrassed.

But I just continued and even addressed the two behind me.

“No. I mean it. For being good friends with Akane. I also have to thank you two, Kitayama and Adachi.”

In the end, I received a tap on my back from the two while giggling bemusedly.

A while later, I saw the four off as they went inside their campus. Akane looked back at me and raised a thumb up. Satisfied with what happened. Although the original purpose for running into them was to remove Fuyu’s suspicion on me, Akane was admittedly happy that I was getting along with her close friends.

Well, she’s aware that I never really thought of them as a target despite being aware of their relationship, so she’s not worried that I would suddenly go after them. That’s not the case for Fuyu though...

Even if she didn’t openly say it yet, that silly girl was also silently observing if there’s a high chance for me to also be interested in her.

Perhaps she would bring that topic up in one of our nightly conversations.

Anyway, I quickly moved out of that street and made a little detour before going back to the train station. I found myself by the river with a single cherry blossom tree standing. It’s a popular fishing spot, so there are already a few enthusiasts sitting by the river. On the other hand, I just stood beneath the shade of the tree to wait.

The detour was obviously for meeting one of my girls... Despite the risk, there would always be a way as long as we put our mind to it. That’s a lot better than uttering an excuse about why I couldn’t meet them. There’s that saying, ‘If there’s a will, there will always be a way.’

“Look at him contemplating under the shade of Sakura. He can be a hot model, don’t you think so?”

“Not a model, sister Aika. That’s a super idol!”

“You two. Can’t you just approach Ruki normally?”

“Says someone who brought a large bag with her. What’s that, a newly woven costume for our guy?”

“T-that’s a secret!”

With their voices that loud, my head instantly turned to them and my lips naturally curved up into a smile. I watched the three girls make their way to me; arms wide open.

“Aika, Hiyori, Ririka...” I called out to them which made the three girls also flash me their wonderful smiles.