Stealing Spree

Chapter 2307: Poor Girl

”W-wait. Onoda-kun. I thought we were going on a patrol? Why are you leaving me behind?” ”Well, it looks like your help is needed here, senpai. Please help Shizu and the others. Iʼll be back soon.”

Once the meeting concluded, I decided to go out and start my duty as the Disciplinary Officer. With the case of Minami Shouko pretty much considered done, I had nothing urgent to do other than to go around and make sure that everything was in order.

While I initially wanted to bring Komoe or Minami Shouko with me, I changed my mind after sitting in on that meeting. The Student Council had a lot of things to do and it was better for them to help out there than join me in walking around the school, doing nothing but looking for mischief that probably doesnʼt even exist.

Of course, it wouldnʼt always be like this. I promised Minami Shouko. I would have to deliver on that promise. Just not today.

As I left the Student Council, I planned out my route and stops. On top of my priority was naturally to make sure no one was going to disturb the clubs of my girls.

The Literature Club was pretty quiet but I knew that if I showed up my face there, I might not be able to finish my duty so I walked past it. Then, I completed the patrol on the third floor.

Going down the floor, I ran into several students, mostly seniors who didnʼt have anything to do with me. The girls were naturally still curious but no one went out of their way to block my way or chat me up.

Possibly that was thanks to the armband I was wearing today. It had a certain aura that screamed ʼdonʼt mess with meʼ which was pretty useful for a chick magnet like me.

Wait... When did I start considering myself as one? Arenʼt I the Classmate A? Ugh...

Anyway... my first stop was the Alchemy Research Club. I couldnʼt care less about what Enomoto was doing, I simply wanted to see my lovely senior.

Upon knocking, I was expecting to see the natural seductress opening the door. However, I was met with Nikka-senpai whose face was stained and her hair disheveled, ”O-Onoda-kun! What brings you here?”

”Hmm? Failed experiment?” I asked back instead of answering her question. It wasnʼt hard to guess what happened just by looking at her state.

Nikka-senpai nodded, her cheeks reddening, ”A-A little bit. But itʼs fine. Nothing too dangerous. Are you here for...?”

Her voice trailed there, seemingly seeking confirmation that I was here for a specific person rather than an actual disciplinary concern.

”Yeah. Is Reira-senpai in?” I inquired.

”She is but she stepped out to do something for our advisor. Sheʼll be back later. Wanna wait for her?”

Now thatʼs rare. If I remember correctly, their advisor was the Chemistry Teacher who was teaching second years. Must be important.

”Well, itʼs fine I guess. Iʼm just trying to check on her. Are you alone in there, senpai? Enomoto is also out?”

Nikka nodded, ”Yes, heʼs at the library. Weʼre supposed to do research for our newest project but the lab got messy and... I needed to clean up.”

Library, huh? As if that guy would stay there. Heʼs quite a smart aleck. Heʼs the type who would rather read on his own and do his own shenanigans in his free time.

But really, leaving behind his childhood friend here... Is he not going to make a move on this girl? What a waste.

”I see. Do you need help, senpai? I can spare a few minutes while I wait for Reira-senpai.” ”Eh? Y-youʼre pretty dedicated, Onoda-kun. No wonder she finds your presence comfortable. Too bad, youʼre close with a lot of girls.”

”Well, I canʼt change that. But did she say that about me? Now Iʼm flattered.”

”Uhm. Donʼt tell her that I told you about it.” Nikka-senpai giggled a bit before stepping aside and letting me inside their clubroom. ”Then, Iʼll appreciate your help Onoda-kun, if itʼs not too much trouble.”

The moment I stepped in, I could already smell smoke coming from their lab area. Good thing that didnʼt trigger the fire detector.𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

”Looks like you did such an explosive job, senpai,” I jokingly said as I followed her there and found the chaotic mess on their experiment table.

Nikka-senpai blushed in embarrassment, ”I just messed up a bit.”

”I get it. You donʼt have to explain to me, senpai. Iʼm just a helping hand, right?” I said as I started picking up those that could be picked up, ”By the way, donʼt tell Enomoto that I stepped in here alone with you.”

”Hmm? Why is that? Did he tell you not to interact with me?” Nikka-senpai tilted her head in confusion as she also began cleaning up, instructing me what not to touch.

”Something like that. Heʼs pretty protective of you, senpai. Well, Iʼm not telling you this because I want to hear your thoughts about him.”

”Pfft. Yeah, right. Youʼre not being obvious, Onoda-kun. Itʼs clear that youʼre trying to get information on whatʼs going on between us,” Nikka-senpai snickered, her cheeks flushing even deeper.

Sheʼs really infatuated with him, huh? Too bad that guy seemingly had no plans of even courting. Itʼs like heʼs keeping her here as a treasure. What would he do if someone stole that treasure right under his nose?

Alright. Scratch that. Iʼm not here for that. Besides, heʼs laying low and not meddling with me again anyway. Thereʼs no point provoking him. Iʼm just here for Reira-senpai.

”Iʼm just curious, thatʼs all,” I said with a shrug. ”But senpai, are you satisfied like this?”

”Satisfied? What do you mean?” She looked up from the flask she was cleaning, her eyes meeting mine with genuine confusion.

”Well, you know, being his childhood friend, and all. Do you ever wish for something... more?” I tried to phrase it delicately. This girl was pretty pure herself but I could she was aware of what Enomoto was doing behind her back. Otherwise, she wouldnʼt obediently stay here like this.

Nikka-senpai blinked before she looked down at her work, her expression contemplative, ”M-more... You mean romantically?”

I nodded.

”W-well...” She took a deep breath, her cheeks burning even brighter than before, ”I... Iʼve always liked Enomoto-kun. Since we were kids. But heʼs always been... distant. And when he started hanging out with those delinquents, he told me to join this club. Itʼs like he wanted to keep me busy... or locked away.”

”Isnʼt he just protecting you, senpai?”

”Protecting me from what? Other boys like you?”

”Yeah. Heʼs afraid to lose you too but at the same time, heʼs also afraid to take that step to make you his. Oh, wait. Thatʼs just my assumption, senpai. Donʼt mind it.” Acting like I just slipped and didnʼt mean to say that, I tried to change the topic, ”Anyway, what kind of experiment are you doing to produce something like this, senpai?”

Unfortunately, Nikka-senpai was pretty sharp as well, she ignored my attempt to change the topic and instead looked at me with a serious expression, ”So you can see it too, Onoda-kun?”

”See what?” I feigned ignorance, pretending to scrub the table with a bit too much

enthusiasm.

”That... that heʼs afraid. Do you think I should be more proactive?”

This girl... It looked like something was triggered within her. I guess sheʼs also hoping for more from Enomoto. But that guy wasnʼt doing anything other than keeping her here. ”Well, it depends on you, senpai. But you donʼt have to force yourself. Itʼs not like you two will be separated after high school.”

”Youʼll never know... Heʼs smart and handsome while I... Iʼm just his childhood friend.”

”Come on. You donʼt have to put yourself down like that, senpai. Youʼre pretty good-looking yourself. And youʼre pretty smart too.” I tried to cheer her up while I continued to help with

the clean-up.

I said I was only going to wait for Reira-senpai but somehow, this ended like a consultation. And if I hadnʼt changed from before, Iʼd probably already made a move on this vulnerable girl. ”T-thanks for comforting me, Onoda-kun. Reira is lucky.” Nikka-senpai forced a smile before focusing all of her attention on finishing tidying the table.

But as she said that, the door to their clubroom opened and as if she just heralded her arrival, Reira-senpai stepped in. As soon as she saw me, the girlʼs lips curved up into a pleasant grin.

”Ruki! Wait. Didnʼt I tell you to invite me properly? How come youʼre here again without prior

notice?”

Although sheʼs happy to see me, the girl remembered our most recent conversation last week. Yeah. How can I forget that? Unfortunately, I didnʼt have the time to go out and invite them

for lunch.

”And did you bully Nikka? Why does she look like that?”

Alright. That oneʼs not on me.