Stealing Spree

Chapter 2373: Confused Girl

I returned to the Literature Club room feeling both relieved and slightly drained from the encounter. The atmosphere was noticeably tense but hopeful with the girls waiting anxiously for my return.

As soon as the door clicked shut behind me, Kana rushed to me with concern filling her eyes. ”Ruki, is everything fine?”

I nodded and put on a reassuring smile before patting her head, ”Of course. You donʼt have to worry. In the first place, that guy would never be able to lay a hand on me.”

”So, what happened to that guy?” Hana asked as she also stepped forward. She went to hold me by my cheeks, moving it from left to right, checking if I got a bruise.

”Well, I wonʼt overstep my duty so I left him to the Guidance Counselors. You know whoʼs there, right? Also... if he still gets away from them, thereʼs a backup right outside the door.” Hana narrowed her eyes before eventually letting go of my cheek but not after pinching it. Rumi, Rae and Otsuka-senpai didnʼt say anything but I could tell they were just as concerned. Rumi even gestured for me to fill her in with more details later.

As for our guests, Reira and Nikka-senpai, they werenʼt in the clubroom when it happened but theyʼre still curious.

”How impressive, Ruki-kun. You know. No one has made Ichihara suffer a loss more than you. Iʼm sure a lot of others are supporting you from behind.” The natural seductress nudged her glasses as she proudly smiled.

I could see how she was holding back standing up and checking on my condition too.

I guess being in the same room as the girls who openly show concern and affection to me is limiting her. She doesnʼt want to be seen as a rival in their eyes. Little did she know, they wouldnʼt mind her doting on me as Iʼd already expressed to the girls my interest in her.

”Supporting from behind? I donʼt need it, senpai. Iʼm a selfish guy. Iʼll probably turn a blind eye to his shenanigans if I didnʼt get involved with Marika.”

”Regardless, youʼre now showing everyone that heʼs not untouchable. That at least gets a commendation, right?”

”Thatʼs right, Onoda-kun! Even... Enomoto has started distancing himself from him. Ichihara is a hopeless case.” Nikka-senpai interjected, perhaps to make me feel at ease.

Do I look disturbed though? Maybe.

”Alright. If you seniors say it like that, how can I still deflect it?” I chuckled and shrugged.

Then I felt Kana who was still hugging me, pinching my side as she lifted her head. Her thoughts were conveyed through the glimmer in her eyes.

I leaned down to kiss her, assuring her one more time that I got the handle on the situation. After that, I led us to the long table to join the others.

And there I didnʼt leave her side as we continued with our planning, rewrites and editing of the scenarios for the next hour or so.

With the work we did, the long table was already covered in notes and scripts filled with corrections or suggestions.

To make sure that weʼd kept track of the changes, Otsuka-senpai handled organizing it while I kept on reading through it.

Now, Iʼm not just a test reader anymore. I got promoted to a proofreader, ensuring coherence between lines.

I guess reading a lot has started to hone my skills.

Itʼs also making my comprehension better. I even started to recall the details in Kanaʼs novel that I probably missed.

In any case, when there were thirty minutes left for the club hours, I thought it was about time for me to do my clubhouse visit and rehearsal with Misaki.

I stretched, my back popping satisfyingly after a long period of sitting. Kana, who had been comfortably leaning on my chest as she remained on my lap, stirred at my movements.

She looked up, her eyes wide and innocent, and asked, ”Ruki, is it time?”

I nodded smilingly as I squeezed her hand. ”Mhm. Iʼll be back after Iʼm done.”

”Okay... But youʼre not worried about... that guy, right?” She asked her brow furrowed in

concern.

I guess sheʼs still worried about that pompous idiot retaliating against me. ”Ichihara? Nah, heʼs not worth worrying about,” I said dismissively. ”By now, heʼs probably sulking somewhere, trying to figure out how his perfect little world got turned upside down.” Kana giggled, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly. ”Thatʼs true. Heʼs the type whoʼs always full of himself. Kenji is close to him so I know how insufferable he is.”

Ah. Thatʼs right. Now that I think about it. That Goto-senpai should still be his lackey, right? Well, considering heʼs not accompanying him anymore, heʼs possibly trying to distance himself from Ichihara Jun.

”He met his match on me. He wonʼt be able to get past my shamelessness and unbending will,” I said confidently. ”Besides, I have more important things to focus on. Like making sure our booth is the best one at the festival.”

Kanaʼs eyes lit up. ”Oh, yes! And we have to make sure our scenarios are perfect. We want everyone to have a fun time trying out our booth. Iʼll write more using your suggestions,

Ruki.”

”Mhm. Iʼm looking forward to reading it,” I wrapped an arm around her and pressed my nose on her nape, enjoying the warmth of her presence.

Kana naturally melted in my embrace as she giggled in satisfaction.

After pampering her, I naturally moved over to the other girls who were already glaring at me, giving them the same treatment.

In this instance, Nikka-senpai witnessed it all already. She stared at me dumbfounded when I eventually moved over to their side. Perhaps thinking that I was also going to pamper her like I did the other girls, she closed her eyes and raised her hand to block me. But well, I wasnʼt going after her but to the girl next to her. When she noticed that nothing was happening, she opened her eyes again and saw me leaning down behind Reira-senpai, my arms wrapped around her neck while the lovely senior squirmed from my embrace. ”T-thatʼs enough, Ruki-kun,” Reira-senpai stuttered, her cheeks flushing a deep shade of red as she tried to escape my embrace. But she couldnʼt resist the urge to lean into my touch slightly, revealing the softness of her heart despite her tough exterior.

At this sight, Nikka-senpai asked in confusion, ”Reira? Onoda-kun? What is happening

here?”

Reira-senpai turned her head slightly to look at her, trying to maintain her composure, ”N- nothing, Nikka. Itʼs just... this junior is just persistent in pampering me before he leaves. Donʼt

mind us.”

”What are you saying? He also did the same to the others... Eh? Are you all...?” Nikka-senpaiʼs eyes grew wide as she looked around, noticing the other girlsʼ reactions. They all nodded at her, subtly and openly, confirming her unspoken question.

Slowly, red crept up Nikka-senpaiʼs neck as she realized that among the girls here, she was the only one not intimately or closely involved with me.

”... Youʼre unbelievable Onoda-kun.”

”Sorry, Nikka-senpai. Please understand. Iʼll be done soon. If... youʼre curious. You can ask

everyone.”

”Eh? You wonʼt even try making an excuse?”

”No. I mean, I like all of them and thatʼs the truth. Too bad. Reira-senpai doesnʼt want to admit that she likes me too yet.”

”Oi, you shameless junior. Donʼt go saying that out loud,” Reira-senpai said, her voice a mix

of annoyance and a hint of amusement as she swatted my arm away as I released her from my

embrace.

”But itʼs true. I donʼt think I can hide it anymore, Reira-senpai,” I replied with a smirk, earning me a playful glare from her.

”Enough flirting, shameless guy. Go now if youʼre really going and stop disrupting us.” Rumi,

as the Club President, was the first to break the amusement. Yet, her stern tone still had a hint

of affection in it.

”Alright. Iʼm sorry. Iʼll return soon. Nikka-senpai, donʼt worry. Iʼll behave around you. Besides, Iʼll be scolded by all of them if I end up scaring you.” I shrugged shamelessly which earned me a collective sigh from the girls.

Soon after that, I finally stepped out of the clubroom, promising to return as soon as my rehearsal with Misaki finished.