Stealing Spree

I was aware of the existence of the Photography Club in our school. However, I had yet to visit it during one of my patrols or when Shizu brought me along with her. They’re not a problematic club, after all.

And Juri being a part of it definitely makes sense. She loved it even before getting scouted to be a model. Now that she wanted to bring me there, she’s probably going to show me more of herself that I had yet to see because it’s already in the past.

Anyway, the Photography Club was located on the first floor of the club building. It was further inside, past the abandoned clubroom and the stairs. We had to make a turn and traverse the corridor that leads to more clubrooms.

But given that it’s on the first floor in the first place, three minutes was more than enough to reach it.

“Here we are.” Juri happily exclaimed as we stood before the clubroom. Looking up, there’s the sign on the door that reads, ‘Knock before you enter’.

“Huh. First time I saw someone put out that kind of sign. Not even the Drama or Theater Club has one.” I commented which further roused the girl’s enjoyment.

“Ah. It’s a sign I put up back then. I’m glad it’s still here. Isn’t it only appropriate to knock and not barge in unannounced?”

Right. She’s the propriety freak. How did I not connect that? Wait. With the way she said... there must be something else.

“Hmm. Isn’t that common sense? Sounds like someone had continuously barged in your clubroom back then that spurred you to make that sign.”

It’s a wild guess but Juri’s lips stretched wider into a jubilant grin.

“Heh, as expected of you, Ruki. You guessed it correctly in one try. That’s exactly the reason. A guy kept on trying to ask me out. Setsu wasn’t always around me back then as she was part of a different club.”

Ah. So because there’s no ward in the form of Setsuna-nee, he thought he could take the opportunity. It’s quite commendable to use that kind of method... However...

“Where’s that guy now? Can I beat him up for bothering you?”

Yeah. It would never sit well with me even if he’s already out of the picture.

“Ruki, your thoughts are leaking. I shot him down brutally and barred him from our club. I even reported him to our Club Advisor. In the end, he almost got suspended. Also, Setsu brought down retribution to him that he almost dropped out.”

How brutal? And what is Setsuna-nee? A wraith that haunts people down?

Anyway, imagining that scenario... it’s laughable, to say the least. But if it was me... he’d be hiding in the infirmary too because of the swollen face that I would be giving him.

Uh. Alright. Let’s stop thinking in the mindset of a violent idiot.

“Good for him, I guess?” I shrugged and that made Juri laugh way harder.

She’s digging my reactions too well. As always, everything I do is something praiseworthy for her. I’m so lucky to have caught her eye.

Soon after that, the door finally opened, and someone I didn’t expect reared her head to check on who knocked.

“Eh? Onoda-kun? What are you doing here?” The girl reacted upon seeing me. She’s both surprised and delighted as if she just won a lottery. She probably thought I was visiting her. Unfortunately, when she noticed who was standing next to me, she pulled back her initial reaction and stared at the familiar woman in front of her, “Oh... You’re Koizumi-san... No, senpai?”

“Aren’t you Imari-chan? You never told me you are part of this club.” Juri didn’t focus on her initial reaction but instead on the identity of the girl.

Well, she’s my classmate and like I said, someone who will probably be delighted to see me visit her. Shimura.

Compared to how she was in the classroom, the girl appeared more charming than before. Was it because of her different hairstyle? She had her long hair tied, resulting in her ear and neck being exposed. Furthermore, she put on a hair clip to keep her bangs to one side rather than have it fall seamlessly as part of her everyday appearance.

“Uhm... I also only learned recently that you’re a senior member of our club... Thank you for the tips from before.” Shimura answered.

Thinking back to that practice game that we watched before, Shimura was among those girls who surrounded Juri to ask for tips regarding fashion or makeup.

Although I had yet to see some improvement regarding that, it’s fully shown to me this time... Mhm, while I wouldn’t call her plain looking, there’s nothing about her that stood out before. Even when I walked alongside her and Misumi recently, I couldn’t recall a moment where I found her very charming. In any case, she’s still among the girls I grew close to.

“Don’t mention it. I’m here for a visit. And Ruki here is my tour guide. Can he also come in?”

“Oh... Of course, you’re both welcome. Please come in.” Shimura stepped aside and slid the door open enough for us to come in.

I don’t know if the girl started suspecting of what I am to Juri but she surely couldn’t help but stare at me and still be glad to see me visit her club.

She put on a very pleasant smile and guided us in.

I let Juri enter first before following behind her. However, as we walked further into the clubroom, the two girls sandwiched me between them.

Juri noticed Shimura’s clear interest in me but didn’t comment on it. Instead, she put on a meaningful smile and a playful poke at my side, conveying what she picked up.

Their clubroom was quite neat and almost instantly, we were greeted by frames of photos on the walls. Most of them were scenic photos probably taken by every member of the club.

There’s a table in the middle of the room surrounded by chairs. One of which was pulled out. Judging from the magazine in front of it and the bag placed at the next seat, it was where Shimura was sitting.

Then further into the room, there were two more people there. A girl and a boy. Possibly seniors. They’re seated next to each other. The girl was wearing some kind of monocle or a loupe as she was busy tinkering on a gadget while the boy was providing her assistance.

From what I could see, it’s probably an old polaroid camera. With my meager knowledge of photography, the new models of that type of instant camera were worth a fortune. As for the value of those old models, I had no idea. I never had one.

But well, they're so concentrated on it that they probably didn’t notice our arrival.

In any case, when Juri’s eyes landed on the girl, a mischievous smile crept on her face as she tottered towards them.

Shimura and I were left standing there. She’s confused while I already kind of figured out the identity of one of them.

The girl is the junior Juri mentioned. I mean, it’s impossible for it to be the dude. She would tell me about it otherwise.

“Hmm? I see. That camera is still here. You’re always so diligent, Marin.” Juri said in a louder voice as she leaned on the other side of the girl.

Startled at Juri’s sudden appearance, the two of them almost fell over.

The dude managed to balance himself and supported the other girl’s shoulder.

“Juri-senpai! Wow... It’s been a while since I’ve seen you outside of a magazine.”

As soon as she got a good look at the newcomer, her hand whipped off the apparatus she was wearing as she excitedly exclaimed while sighing in contentment. The guy behind her was puzzled but the same as the others, mesmerized by Juri’s overflowing charm.