Stealing Spree

Chapter 214: Progress

The lecture given by Arisa-senpai ended at the same time as the ringing of the bell which indicated the end of the 7th period and school hours.

I thanked her for the lecture and when I was about to mention what happened to us, she stopped me and once again enforced the one-time thing mindset.

When she said that, I realized Iʼm becoming too affected from what happened to us. Thatʼs why like her, I convinced myself that itʼs a one-time thing. The doubt I have about the possibility of her being averse towards relationships could be put off for now. Unless she mentioned it, I wonʼt ask. Itʼs her privacy.

At least, in the end, from just being a friend of my girlfriend, she really became my friend.

Err… Maybe more than just a friend. Sheʼs my playful senior while Iʼm her cheeky junior. We just have to avoid remembering what happened and weʼre good.

I went back to the classroom to get my bag. The others who left with their mentors were also flooding inside to get their things. Aya had a satisfied smile on her face when she came back to the classroom. Like a little child, she told me how Otsuka-senpai showed her her collection of books and short stories she personally wrote. Iʼm really glad that she enjoyed it which made my hand naturally move to pat her head which made Ayaʼs grew even wider.

After that, she asked me about my mentor so I whispered to her what happened. About the swap and what happened between Arisa-senpai and me. She didnʼt know her so she expressed her doubt. Thinking that I was just restraining myself on liking someone again.

I do like her but not to the point of adding her to my girls. I couldnʼt explain it clearly. But I feel that if I tell her that I like her, her reaction will be distancing herself from me.

Maybe in the future but not now. Iʼm liking our current situation and the lecture she did really hit hard. I donʼt need to be overly considerate to the girls Iʼm not targeting.

When Nami and Hina came back they could only look at me from their seats. After I nodded at the both of them, Nami noticed how I looked at Hina. Her observer skill worked again that when she turned her head to Hina, she immediately concluded what happened, with an amused smile on her face.

Without waiting for their other friends to come back, Nami took Hinaʼs arm before leaving the room together to go to their club.

Due to that, I lost the chance to tell her about Arisa-senpai.

With Aya at my side, we waited a bit more until Satsuki showed up. Well, itʼs part of my routine now to escort Aya to Harukoʼs club. Partly to spend time with her and partly to have the reason to visit Haruko and Himeko.

Satsuki complained to me how irritated she was at Shizu-senpai. Turns out, Shizu-senpai kept asking her about what she thought of me and other things about me.

Haa... Shizu-senpai wasnʼt acting as her mentor.

To reduce Satsuki irritation, I first escorted her to the Gymnasium and itʼs effective. Even if she doesnʼt say anything, itʼs clear that escorting her like that is enough to satisfy her.

-

-

”Youʼre finally here. From that facial expression... Maemura-san complained to you, correct?”

Shizu-senpai with her reading glasses on had her elbows resting on her table and her fingers were crossed to rest her chin on it. The stack of papers on her side increased more than the last time I was here. Upon seeing me entering the room, she immediately put on that kind of expression as she watched me walk over to her side.

”I get it. That was your intention, right?”

”Not really. I just wanted to see how much affection she has towards you. And I must say... Her affection for you was even higher than Nanami.”

Well, I got Satsuki first and we had more moments together. Nanami will also soon reach the same level. After what happened to us today, itʼs only a matter of time.

”You can do that without irritating her, senpai. Can I ask you to also get along with her?”

”After saying that you like me, now youʼre here talking for another girl. Onoda-kun, what will I think of this? Also, arenʼt you here as my secretary and your promise to help me?”

No matter how I look at it, Shizu-senpai is just being grumpy. Is it because of last night? Teasing her made her like this, eh?

”Alright. I admit itʼs my fault for teasing you last night. Iʼm sorry, I just couldnʼt help it upon seeing you being that adorable.”

The way she got flustered was really something I wouldnʼt forget.

When she heard my words, she was taken aback before slowly turning red once more. My guess was spot on. She acted like that to Satsuki because of last night...

”…This blockhead. Why do you think that this is about that?”

”Because I saw how flustered you were last night along with that glare as if I wronged you before the call ended.”

Yup. Thereʼs that occurrence but I dismissed that due to how satisfied I was upon seeing her that flustered. To think that she would use that as a pretext to irritate Satsuki. I have to apologize to her later.

But what to do with Shizu-senpai? I really promised to help her open up but how will I do it? Flirting with her wouldnʼt work well. It will just make her uncomfortable...

”Haa... Alright, I will stop and properly become her mentor tomorrow. In exchange for that, youʼll stop teasing me, Onoda.”

Shizu-senpai sighed from her seat. She involved Satsuki when she could just confront me about it. I guess itʼs not all about that occurrence. If I have to guess, sheʼs trying to investigate why the girls accepted being with me.

”… What if I just wanted to honestly tell you what I think?”

”Such as?”

”Such as how I will comment on your interaction with me right now. Iʼm glad youʼre now a bit comfortable at expressing your thoughts to me, senpai.”

I smiled and went to her table to arrange the somewhat disorganized stacks of paper. This is my work here after all.

Compared to before where she has a prejudice against me. Thatʼs now non-existent and sheʼs more of expressing her thoughts about how I acted around her. She also didnʼt deny it when my guess was spot on.

”… Nanami is right. Youʼre hard to deal with and most of your words will strike a chord. Put that down, shut up and bring me tea, Onoda.”

Though she didnʼt react to what I said. She took her time to digest it and after determining that what I said was correct, she accepted it. Her last sentence was just her wanting to get out of the situation where it was already heading on her becoming flustered once more.

”Right away, senpai. I also love to see your smile. The genuine one, not the intimidating smile you always put on as a mask.”

”Didnʼt I just tell you to shut up?”

”Ah. Right…”

I scratched the back of my head before following her order. To shut up.

As I moved from taking the tea set and making the tea she wanted, I noticed that her eyes followed my every move. And like she ordered, I didnʼt comment on that.

Even after I put the teacup on her table, I stopped talking altogether and just stood at her side once Iʼm done.

If sheʼs following my move, Iʼm also doing the same.

Due to that, I noticed how one of her eyebrows raised and that slight smile she put on before picking up the teacup and sipping the tea I made quietly.

When she finished drinking it, she gave me a silent nod before starting to work on the stack of papers next to her.

Upon seeing that, I moved from my position and I assisted her. Picking up the finished ones and organizing it.

As we spent our time in silence, her little actions were all captured by me. Sometimes she would lift her head and stare at what I was doing. Whenever that would happen, I would smile at her which always resulted in her being a bit flustered before focusing back to her work to escape my eyes.

Nonetheless, that same situation happened more than 5 times that at the 5th time, Shizu-senpai couldnʼt resist it anymore and smiled back at me. It was the genuine smile which I told her that I wanted to see.

Time continued to pass as well as the silence between us. Surprisingly, I found out that this situation with her is also relaxing. Spending time in silence like this with her while weʼre both working. And from looking at Shizu-senpaiʼs expression, she also felt the same. Itʼs different from when I first came here where she drowned herself while working alone and handing out orders that thereʼs that uncomfortable air around her. This time, sheʼs building up experience in working together with someone else.

She probably didnʼt notice it yet but weʼre already on the same page. I would move even before she could tell me what to do and due to that, the stack of work smoothly flowed that we managed to finish everything with a lot of time spared.

When the other 3 members of the Student Council came to visit after doing their tasks. I stood still on her side, silently listening and watching. Since I planned to help her, having her work with the 3 with teamwork will be the ultimate hurdle. Iʼll think about that when the time comes.

The Vice President complained once again about my existence, heʼs already wary of me that I was here for her. And this time, heʼs not wrong. However, like before, he got shut down by Shizu-senpaiʼs words.

The Treasurer and Secretary couple of the Student Council were also curious about me but with one explanation from Shizu-senpai, they stopped poking their noses into it.

”Onoda-kun. You can stop being silent now. Thank you for helping me.”

Shizu-senpai turned her revolving chair around and faced me when we were left alone again after the couple left.

”Iʼm just doing my work, Shizu-senpai. Did you notice it?”

”What?”

”You worked with me. Not just you giving me orders but me helping you without waiting for your orders.”

”Huh? Is there a difference?”

This girl... She really didnʼt notice. I guess I can only slowly teach her that.

”Yes. It means youʼre capable of working with someone else on equal grounds and not just you ordering that someone.”

”I donʼt really get it but... We did save a lot of time that we finished all of this. You did your job efficiently, that you already moved even before I told you what to do.”

”And thatʼs how teamwork works, Shizu-senpai. We worked as a team. Not just you ordering me what to do.”

For her, who probably has zero-experience working together with someone because of how she always wanted to take the lead, to be seen as strong, itʼs really hard to understand the difference. Because most of the time, only the end result matters.

”Is that how it really is? If you say so then...”

”Un. I can now see the light in your path, senpai. Working with others and opening up to those close to you will not just be a dream. Soon we can put your scary facade on a shelf and just be the real Asakura Shizu.”

”…Blockhead. T-that wonʼt happen... This time I only felt relaxed working with you. Because itʼs you...”

Shizu-senpai stuttered as she tried to deny what I said. In the end, she whispered the last sentence with her somewhat embarrassed and sweet-sounding voice.

”Iʼm happy you say that but I will make sure that it will happen, Shizu-senpai. I promised you.”

”Your promise...”

”Well then, now that weʼre done with work, itʼs probably time for me to go.”

One last time, I reorganized the finished papers and neatly put it where it should be

However, before I went to pick up my dropped bag, Shizu-senpaiʼs voice reached my ears.

”… Onoda. Your time as my secretary hasnʼt ended yet... Even if thereʼs no more work to do. Can you stay a little longer?”

She stared directly into my eyes. Upon muttering that question, thereʼs that glimmer of hope which appeared in her yellow eyes that was hiding beneath her reading glasses. Hoping that I will accept. As to what she planned to do by asking that, only she knows.

She took the initiative to ask, why will I let it pass?

So upon hearing that, I answered her with a smile.

”If it means I can spend more time with you... Yes, I can stay.”