Stealing Spree

The Mentor Program would only last until the end of June. By then, all 1st years were already expected to have familiarized themselves with their new role as high schoolers and their new environment.

And that means, there are only at most 14 instances left to learn or spend time with my Mentor or Mentors since I also considered Arisa-senpai as one. Nonetheless, if they still stand me up today and in the following days and weeks, there’s no point counting it anymore.

After separating with Shizu, I found myself sitting inside the abandoned clubroom again, waiting for any of the two to show up.

Although it still appeared bleak and desolate as before because it’s not being maintained anymore, the noises coming from outside which came from the other students were giving it a bit of color.

I stood up and went to that same window where we climbed up during that first instance.

It was back at that time when I became conscious of Arisa-senpai. Or it’s the other way around. She’s just as playful back then but because of that one move from me where I held her close after climbing up, the dice rolled to an interesting outcome.

As I surveyed the view that could be seen from it, it also looked desolate. Apart from those students passing by to reach the wider part of the school grounds where various courts and fields were located, all I could see was the western wall and overgrown weeds right in front. Previously, it was just freshly cut but now, it’s already tall enough that no one would dare try to traverse it just to climb up from the window.

Anyway, ten minutes of my time was spent like that… Just staring outside. But even so, no one showed up in the abandoned clubroom.

Well, I had no idea what kind of report they’re writing when they’re not showing up but I guess, it’s quite easy to forge something for it.

In any case, I was also not expecting them to make a turnaround after only a week. They decided to create a distance from me. Although I could see them in their clubroom, any private conversation between us was effectively cut off.

I didn’t even get to ask Izumi-senpai about the progress of her conquest after I let her take Ogawa home two weeks ago. Even so, Nami, Hina or Saki were filling me up with information. There’s no visible difference in their relationship. Although Ogawa seemed to have calmed down recently, he’s undoubtedly still fixated on Nami.

I could give a point to that guy for his seemingly undying affection but since it’s directed to my girl and I hated most of his traits, that was crossed out. Furthermore, even though I didn’t have a clear picture, he probably still left Izumi-senpai hanging, and if there were other girls showing interest in him out of their club, it’s the same.

That idiot lacked the ability to turn down the girls expressing interest in him. That’s his most damnable trait. Not his fake ‘good guy’ persona. Everyone can put on that kind of façade after all.

In any case, as long as he knew where to toe the line, I wouldn’t mind his existence. It’s that silent guy who didn’t know when to stop was more of a threat because it’s quite hard to predict what’s going on in his mind.

Even after showing him the extent of my relationship with Saki, he’s like a pillar made from the hardest ore when he remained unshaken on his spot, still looking at Saki with his twisted affection.

There’s that anger in his eyes, however, until the end, he stood rooted there without doing anything else.

Well, I kept reminding Saki to tell me if he exhibited a change in his behavior. That way, I could respond immediately. Until now, there’s nothing of that sort yet, he even looked normal today, albeit still silent as heck.

I sat back down on the chair. It’s only ten minutes so I decided to wait a little longer. Even if it’s not Arisa-senpai, they should at least inform me that they wouldn’t come and meet me anymore, right? It’s like I was wasting my time for nothing.

Fortunately, I had my phone with me. While waiting, I opened my unread messages and responded to them in kind. Some of them, as expected, replied in less than a minute, but most were left unread. It’s normal, most of them were still in class after all.

Still, I couldn’t help but continue to worry over Otoha and Hitomi. I have yet to receive an update about their situation. Is she still grounded? Is her grandfather still in that hospital? Has her mother found out about my identity?

Every time my mind would drift to that, I couldn’t help but be bugged by uneasiness. Should I just go and sneak inside their mansion to check? I still remembered the way. However, if it’s already guarded back then, even more so this time.

Ugh… I might have gotten a lot of experience when it comes to waiting – I mean, I was always fabricating chance encounters back then – but this time, it’s different. I care enough to be this disturbed for this well-being…

While I was agonizing about Otoha and Hitomi’s situation, my concentration was broken by the sudden noise akin to the sound of a sliding door.

I hurriedly raised my head to check. It’s not the door where I entered but the one at the side, connecting this room to the other one. It’s not fully opened but only enough for someone to peek from it.

Understanding the situation, the corners of my mouth raised into a smirk as I stood up from my seat.

“I see. What a blockhead. Why didn’t I think about checking that room again?” I intentionally said that in a loud voice and sure enough, I heard hurried noises close to shoes squeaking coming from there.

During that first instance, I did check that room but this time, I just remained in this one while allotting at least thirty minutes to confirm that I will be stood up once again.

That’s my mistake today. I should’ve checked when I entered.

In any case, there’s no point blaming myself anymore.

Without waiting for whoever’s in there to run away using the door from that room, my feet quickly brought me before that door. As soon as I slid it open, that slender figure of the girl I was hoping to see had yet to traverse that short distance to the door. In fact, she’s down kneeling on the floor with her back turned to me.

Looking at how she’s struggling to get up but failed to do so completely, she clearly tripped over because of her sudden movements.

Is she originally this clumsy? I somehow asked myself that question.

Nonetheless, upon seeing her failing to stand up again, I hurried to her side and checked.

“Arisa-senpai, there’s no need for you to run, is there? Look at what happened…”

Her face was grimacing from the pain and her knees that were originally spotless were red because of the blood that’s starting to spill from the abrasion caused by her tripping over.

Without waiting for her to respond, I picked her up in ‘princess carry’ before heading off to the door.

“O-onoda-kun. Put me down, it’s not serious. I can still walk.” Arisa-senpai managed to squeeze those words out once the situation sank in her mind.

“Says someone who’s struggling to get up. Don’t worry, I’ll leave after making sure that you’re treated. You don’t want to see me, right?”

A wry smile crept on my lips and I didn’t dare check what kind of expression she had on her face. I only focused on opening the door to bring her to the infirmary. I even pushed aside the perverted thoughts of holding her soft and slender body this close to me.

It’s clear enough. She probably only thought of checking if I was waiting for her in that room. That’s why she didn’t come in from the front.

Unfortunately, out of her expectation, the door made a noise when she slid it slightly. And that resulted in her hurried decision to run away and escape before I caught up to her.

But she royally tripped resulting in her knees being scrapped…

Haa… I guess it’s partly my fault even if my influence was indirect.. She wouldn’t run away if I ignored the noise and didn’t look in her direction after all.