Stealing Spree

Chapter 2868: Tell me who to look out for

I glanced over my shoulder, and I was met by Minami Shouko’s smug smirk.

Mhm. She easily picked up that what was happening at the moment was my charm’s fault for telling Suzuki-senpai that I would accompany her to the shop.

But well, assumption or not, I couldn’t deny that I dug my own grave.

Still, I shrugged nonchalantly before turning back to Suzuki-senpai, who was clutching her envelope tightly. ”Well, if there’s time tomorrow and you still need to buy something, I guess I can spare time to accompany you, senpai. What do you think?”

Suzuki-senpai blinked at me before her expression shifted, her lips pressing together in a poor attempt to suppress a pleased smile. ”Y-you better keep that promise, Onoda-kun.”

Minami Shouko let out a forced cough behind me while muttering something about ’hopeless cases’ before pretending to sort the papers in front of her.

Suzuki-senpai, having gotten an answer, bowed quickly and scurried off.

A moment later, I felt three sets of gazes boring into me.

My head slowly turned and found Shizu, Haruko and Komoe staring at me with varying reactions.

Yep. I’m in trouble.

Anyway, with the line done and the envelopes distributed, I stood up from my seat and stretched, making my way towards Shizu’s table first.

”President, I’m done on my table. Do you still need me for anything else?” I asked, pretending not to notice the sharpened pencil she was twirling between her fingers like a throwing knife.

Shizu didn’t even glance up from her ledger, ”None for now. You can go on your patrol now. But you have to return. We’re not done with you yet.”

The girl’s ominous phrasing naturally didn’t send a thrill down my spine. Why do I need to be scared of my girls? And I’m not running away. I acknowledge my sin.

Yeah. It’s a sin to still be careless about my charm. Should I just do something to turn the other girls off before they fall for my unintentional charms?

Ah. If I do that, I’ll still be scolded by my girls. They won’t let me act like a Classmate A with my previous unkempt hair anymore. Me being popular is also something they’re proud of, after all.

I guess I should just act normally and avoid promising other girls anything. That’s reserved for my girls.

”Got it, President.” I nodded and grinned. Before stepping away, I massaged her shoulder, making the club president in front of her table blink in surprise at my shamelessness. However, with Shizu not reprimanding me, she wisely kept quiet.

Next, I made my way to Haruko, who flicked my forehead before saying, ”I’ll let that one slide. I know girls cannot resist your charm. But hubby, learn to control it a little. Or else...”

She didn’t need to finish her sentence. I already got the meaning. If I keep unintentionally charming girls, Haruko would have to deal with them personally.

As for what she might do to them? Maybe she’s going to scare them. Of course, like always, if my girls found out I was also attracted to a girl, they would accept it, no matter how reluctant they were.

Sheesh. I’m really a bastard. Well, all I have to do is make sure not to charm anyone intentionally. Unless it’s part of my plans.

Komoe was the last one I approached but unlike Shizu and Haruko, the girl pouted at me which I eased with another kiss.

With that, I told her I’ll return soon with drinks to refresh them. Komoe instantly perked up, her pout transforming into a bright smile as she nodded eagerly.

As much as I want to bring one of them with me, they’re still busy. Minami Shouko also rejected me. Not because she didn’t want to but because she had to stay to help Komoe with the receipts. So, I just walked out of the makeshift conference room alone.

Putting on my Disciplinary Officer armband, I stepped back into the hallway.

Watanabe and Masato-senpai were still stationed outside the conference room when I emerged.

I asked them if they also needed a drink, to which Watanabe just huffed and turned away, while Masato-senpai politely declined. That girl really held grudges, huh?

Well, it’s fine. I began my patrol, passing by the clubs residing on the current floor.

The first classroom I passed had its door slightly ajar, enough to catch a glimpse of the Calligraphy Club president meticulously arranging inkstones while her vice president argued about brush stroke techniques. The other club members were also busy preparing the papers for their booth.

No violations, I guess? I continued patrolling, swinging by the Home Economics Club next where the scent of caramelized sugar wafted outside their clubroom even if their doors were tightly shut.

I peeked through the Home Economics Club’s window, just in time to catch one of their members dipping her finger into a simmering pot of syrup before popping it into her mouth with a pleased hum.

Another member scolded her, probably muttering about hygiene standards, while the girl just grinned and licked her lips.

However, perhaps I was staring for too long, the mischievous club member noticed me watching and grinned. She wiggled her fingers in a teasing wave before dipping her finger into the syrup once more and made a gesture of offering it to me as she mouthed, ’Onoda-kun, want a taste?’

Of course, she recognized me but I couldn’t even remember her name, let alone the other members of that club.

Before long, the other members also noticed me. The girls waved while the boys, who were probably in that club just for the chance to get closer to girls, were frowning.

How laughable.

I ignored those idiots before shaking my head and chuckling before tugging at my Disciplinary Officer armband. I then mouthed back, saying ’Want to be cited for public indecency?’

The girl pouted while the other girls laughed, especially that other club member who scolded her.

After that, I waved and walked away before the situation escalated further.

For the next ten minutes, I diligently performed my role as the Disciplinary Officer, checking clubrooms, classrooms and ensuring no festival preparations were violating school rules.

Well, at this point, most of them were still in the preparation stage.

Once that’s done, I pulled out my phone and sent a message to someone, ”Kaede, I have time now. I’m gonna fulfill my promise to check on the Track Club. Tell me who I should look out for apart from that senior who’s the ringleader for bullying you.”

Kaede’s reply buzzed in instantly.

”Eh? You don’t have to.”

As I expected, that’s how she’s gonna reply. Although her motivation to run again was slowly returning, she’s still avoiding that club.

”I promised you back then, right? Don’t worry. I won’t cause trouble. I’m just going to see the situation.”

Kaede’s next message took longer, the typing bubbles appearing and disappearing twice before her reply finally popped up.

”Okay. But be careful, Ruki. They’re still seniors. It’s only the president and those close to her.”

”Got it. Even if they’re seniors, I’m the Disciplinary Officer. Besides, you know my reputation, right?”

The girl replied with a nodding emoji before adding, ”Right. If it’s you, everything will be fine. They can’t be arrogant in front of you. And I think they’ll even welcome your presence.”

”Welcome my presence, huh? Not for long. If I tell them I’m there to investigate a case of bullying, they’ll definitely try to act innocent.” I muttered under my breath as I pocketed my phone and headed towards the athletic fields.

Soon, I reached the oval field where the Track Club usually practiced. But considering none of them qualified for the prefecture-level tournament last Interhigh, only a few could be seen training. The rest were preparing for whatever booth they decided to present at the Cultural Festival.

After standing there for a while, I headed to their designated clubroom, a small building next to the field. It housed the other athletic clubs like the Baseball, Soccer and Tennis Clubs, but they had separate rooms inside.

As I entered, I ran into Sakuma, who was coming out of their clubroom. The guy was in his practice clothes with a towel draped over his shoulders.

”Onoda? What are you here for?” He first showed surprise, then brought up that question with a hint of wariness.

This... Is he afraid I’m here to target another girl? Well, since the Soccer Club is one of those bigger clubs, they have those managers and staff who are mostly girls.

But well, I chuckled and shrugged, ”Just patrol. Also, I’m checking on the Track Club.”

Sakuma’s shoulders visibly relaxed before he scratched his head. ”Oh. I see. You’re wearing the armband.”

”Mhm. So, are you out of practice already?” I nodded and took my turn to ask a question.

Although this guy was now too conflicted about his attempt to befriend me, I still acted the same.