Stealing Spree

What I expected to be a thorough interrogation right off the bat was dashed. Instead, as soon as the Dean saw a glimpse of my figure when Shio brought me in, a warm and grateful smile was pasted on her lips. It’s like she’s already thanking me for what I did even before questioning the validity of the story.

If the praise and gratitude she showed me for ‘helping’ Shiina earlier could already be considered huge, this time, it was more than that.

How to explain it? Let’s just say she already believed that I acted on behalf of the girls’ well-being rather than my own impulsiveness. The result where I ended up using violence was given less importance. Because in her eyes, if I didn’t do that, something worse could’ve happened.

“Onoda-kun, isn’t it? Come here and sit down.” With the same smile remaining on her lips, she urged me to sit down at the seat opposite hers.

Apart from Shio who escorted me in, the only other people inside the room were the Dean and Shiina who walked to her side. I don’t know if she’s here because she’s related to the Dean or it’s because she wanted to be here for me. Whichever the case, her presence alone was already increasing my fondness for her – especially whenever she was sneakily showing the whites of her teeth through her smile.

Unfortunately, Juri and Setsuna were left outside along with some of the professors and teachers who also returned to this place after eating their dinner. Of course, Eguchi-sensei was also there. But Shio being here was simply because she’s my Class Advisor.

“Ah. Yes… Thank you and I’m sorry for causing trouble.”

Although this meeting didn’t feel like she wanted me to take the opportunity to apologize for what I did, I still opened up with an apology to show my humility.

No matter how one would interpret what happened, I know for myself that I didn’t beat those three idiots because of the goodness of my heart or my sense of justice. If they didn’t pick on Satsuki and Setsuna-nee, I’d definitely turn a blind eye to whatever shenanigan they might do.

But then again, if I heard about what they did and realized the threat they’re posing, I might still deal with them to prevent the possibility of my girls being targeted by them.

With that, their fate of having their eggs broken was predetermined, I guess?

“Oh. Don’t be sorry. I called you here not to scold you.” The Dean started as she gently waved her hand to stop me from bowing my head. “I’ve heard of what happened. While slightly excessive, I am of the same belief that you’ve done the right thing. Some could say that you should’ve handled it better. But I understand why you did what you did. If they come here to bring trouble to your head, allow us to ensure your safety.”

How magnanimous… Somehow, hearing her say all of that hits me the realization that I shouldn’t always be taken in by my impulsiveness.

As I wasn’t expecting this kind of reception, I could only put on a shameful smile in the end which was kind of uncharacteristic of me.

I looked at Shio at my side and found her lips cracking into a pleasant and proud smile. Next to the Dean, Shiina was also pleased with what she heard. That’s without her influence, for sure. Otherwise, I would see from her expression that she helped me with this.

Still, after seeing me becoming silent and having a loss for words to respond to the dean, Shiina interjected.

“Raise your head, Onoda-kun. I’ve also heard from the girls who are approached by them that they’re overbearing. If you did not deal with them, we were already planning to complain to the management about their behavior. They’re dangerous.”

“Oh. You did that? Great. We’ll call them here to testify if need be. Now, let’s wait and relax here. The management will be coming to hear your side.”

“Yes… But if it’s going to be too much trouble, I’m willing to be disciplined.”

“No. You are our responsibility this time. I should’ve accounted for the other guests of this place being a threat to the students. If not for Maemura and Koizumi suggesting to look after the students going out of our area, those poor girls would possibly be harassed by them.”

Once again, she put a stop to me trying to take responsibility for my actions. Apart from that, she also mentioned that since I did it while I was out patrolling with Juri and Setsuna-nee, it’s only natural for them to be on my side.

And just like this, the next few minutes involved us waiting for the hill management to arrive with the complaint lodged by the three idiots.

They didn’t come along, of course. Knowing those three, they’re probably hunkered down somewhere, acting like they were hurt too much.

The first thing the manager did as she arrived was to greet the Dean. She’s an elder and someone who’s a respected figure in our city. Nonetheless, given that there was clear evidence of physical violence, her eyes immediately became stern as she recited the complaint for all of us to hear.

There’s nothing special to it. Just the three idiots telling them that they’ve been beaten by someone. They didn’t even describe my appearance, they just said that it was done by someone malicious who dishonorably went for their balls.

I could already imagine them feeling the humiliation of admitting to being beaten by a student shorter than all three of them. Moreover, one of them could even be considered a buffed guy. How pathetic that would be?

But since they got hurt and believed they suffered injustice against me – even if they just wanted to get back at me, they filed that complaint.

They wanted me to apologize in front of them. Furthermore, they’re probably going to ask for compensation whether it’s from the management or us.

And that’s going to be their downfall.

As soon as I stood up and presented myself as the culprit, the manager who looked like she was also not buying those three idiots’ words was flabbergasted.

Most likely, she’s not expecting a high school student like me. In her head, the culprit who beat them up was a college student and someone among the Camp Managers. I mean, if that’s the case, it would be more believable since they’re responsible for us.

Unfortunately for her, the employee who we talked to and possibly relayed the incident to her failed to mention me. If I have to guess, he only brought up that someone from this camp was responsible.

“You? Wait a second. Is this true? He’s the one who injured them?” Eventually, she recovered her voice and managed to deliver those questions. Her skepticism was at its peak, of course.

Her gaze alternated between me and the Dean. Both of us nodded at her, confirming that we were not kidding here.

Because of that, the manager seemingly wobbled from where she was standing before taking the empty seat that was reserved for her.

Putting her hands on the table, she leaned forward to look at me carefully, most likely trying to determine if I was trying to fool her or not.

Of course, even if I didn’t have proper control over my expression, she still wouldn’t be able to say that I was not telling the truth.

Before long, she closed her eyes to rearrange her thoughts.

Using this opportunity, I opened my mouth to tell her the version of my story which should either match or conflict with the three idiots’ statements.

“Okay. I think that’s enough.” The manager raised her hand in front of me, stopping me from continuing to narrate how I smashed their balls with a stomp.

Not just her, but everyone in the room was all wryly smiling because of how detailed I made it to be.

The manager then coughed a few times to clear the awkwardness before speaking again, “I won’t doubt the authenticity of your story. Your actions are justified. However, it doesn’t mean the complaint will be invalid. A medical practitioner looked at them and determined that they did suffer an injury… in their nether region.”

“I see. Then I’m relieved. They deserved it. Earlier, I heard that they were demanding my apology. I’m sorry but I won’t be able to do that.”

Since that’s what she’s probably waiting to hear from me, I immediately gave her an answer.

However, the Dean immediately backed me up as she promised.

“Miss Manager, I can do it in his stead. It won’t be a problem, will it? I am responsible for everyone in this camp. However, just as you heard from him, his actions against them weren’t unprompted. They are troublemakers who are as dangerous as wild animals. I will also file a complaint against them. We have eyewitnesses of their misdeeds against our students. I believe one of your employees is among them.”

Upon hearing the Dean’s words, the manager appeared helpless as though she was expecting this to happen. In fact, she’s probably here to take a counter-complaint that would justify them kicking those three out. She’s just doing her duty as the manager of the place.

Following that, the Dean called for Juri and Setsuna-nee to give their statement as eyewitnesses.

Given that we provided the evidence way before those three could complain, the process became easy.

In any case, when the manager left to return to their office where those three were presumably waiting, the Dean along with some professors and Shio went with them to handle and close the issue.

As for me, I got left behind in the room with Shiina, Juri, and Setsuna-nee.

In the end, everything still worked in my favor… No. They didn’t have any chance right from the start.