Stealing Spree

Chapter 2326: One Question

Ignoring the guy, I tried to walk away but he was persistent. Even when I hastened my steps to leave him behind, he followed.

Thereʼs no reason for me to answer an interview that will surely be full of rumors about me or the girls. Itʼs one thing to be curious about it but to write it in an article for the whole school to read? Thatʼs a no.

”Again, Iʼm

ʼm not interested,” I sternly said without breaking my stride.

Iʼd rather spend my time meeting the other girls who sit down for an interview with this guy.

”Wait, wait! Onoda, please!” The newspaper guy pleaded, nearly tripping over his own feet as he tried to keep up. ”This time, Iʼll stick to the facts. No embellishments, no sensationalism. Just a straightforward interview about your rise to popularity!”

I paused mid-step, turning slightly to look at him. His determination was evident, but so was the desperation in his eyes. He probably had a deadline or was under pressure to get some ”scoop.”

”I didnʼt rise to anything. People just canʼt mind their own business. You included.” I narrowed my eyes, close enough to feel like I was glaring at him.

If he couldnʼt be reasoned out with words then threatening him should suffice.

Obviously, he might just write about that. The headline would probably be, ”Onoda: The mysterious playboy is a delinquent?!”

Such stupidity.

The guyʼs face fell as he braced himself against the pressure of my gaze. Heʼs clearly older than me and he probably had received the same treatment before. Hence, he quickly recovered.

Holding up his notepad, he continued, ”Then let me clear the air! You can set the record straight, Onoda. Think of it as damage control. Donʼt you want to stop the rumors?”

I tilted my head, pretending to consider his words. ”Hmm... Nah. Rumors are like background noise. You either tune them out or let them fade on their own. Either way, I donʼt care about rumors. Let them buzz. Will they even know the truth?”

At that answer, the guy was stumped.

I faced ahead again to enter the same alley I was using to reach that cafe I now frequent with my girls.

However, the guy really didnʼt know how to give up, with gritted teeth, he followed again and said, ”Alright... Onoda-kun. One question. I only needed you to answer one question. After that, Iʼll leave.”

I sighed and stopped again. I could feel my patience wearing thin. If not for this guy being someone who could just write anything as his article if things didnʼt go his way, I wouldʼve buried him right away.

Turning to him, I crossed my arms and fixed him with a skeptical look. Since he would probably not get off of my back if I didnʼt even give him a bit for his scoop, I decided to entertain this just so I could extricate myself from his hounding.

”One question, huh? Fine. Make it count. But if itʼs something ridiculous, not only will this be the last time you approach me, but Iʼll make sure youʼll also shake on your knees the next time you try to do so.”

The newspaper guyʼs face lit up with relief and excitement, clutching his notepad like it was his lifeline. ”I promise! I swear on my name as a journalist!”

”Journalist, my ass. I bet your newspaper is filled with shit because you keep chasing rumors.”

”Wow. So you have that keen insight, huh? Not bad, Onoda. I knew I didnʼt make a mistake picking you as my subject for my article.”

”Iʼm not praising you, genius.”

”Come on. This is standard journalism. Do you think the news you hear on TV is always filled with truths? Most of those are also born from rumors. More often, theyʼre even writing those rumors themselves while basing on one fact!”

”Heh. So, what one fact do you have on me?”

”The fact that youʼre dating Shimizu and the amount of evidence regarding how you keep getting spotted by the other students with another girl. Are those enough?” The newspaper guy proudly announced as if he had just found the cure to cancer.

I shook my head at him and said, ”Oh. If thatʼs the case, shouldnʼt you be writing one now? You have evidence. You could spin your tale from there. You donʼt need to interview me anymore.”

The newspaper guyʼs face fell, realizing I had led him on without giving him anything. ”But... but those are just rumors! I needed better material. One that came from the source!”

”Well, I donʼt have the luxury to give you that,” I said, starting to walk again. ”And I donʼt appreciate you following me around like a stray dog.”

”Wait. You said one question! I promise I wonʼt bother you after this,” the newspaper guy pleaded, his voice trailing after me as I walked away.

I stopped and turned around. With my eyes narrowing to a slit again, I urged him to start.

”Alright, shoot your shot. I donʼt guarantee I will be telling you a face but the moment I read your article and see how you twisted my words, you should find yourself a hole to crawl in,” I warned, my arms still crossed as if I was holding back the urge to just grab him by the neck. The newspaper gulped down as a bead of sweat trailed down his forehead. He took a moment to gather his thoughts before he blurted out his question.

”A-alright. Here goes... Why do you think so many girls are drawn to you, Onoda? Is it your confidence, the way you carry yourself, or something else entirely?”

Of all the things he could have asked, this was what he picked? So, he was already convinced that I was related not just to Akane. Heʼs just here to confirm it. What a sly bastard. ”Drawn to me, huh? I never thought I was so popular that you think theyʼre drawn to me. But anyway, itʼs none of those things,” I answered flatly. ”People are just nosy, thatʼs all. They see someone who stands out a little and they canʼt help but make it their business. Simple as that. Say, if you see me standing here and a girl approaches me, will you think sheʼs drawn to me because Iʼm attractive?”

The newspaper guy nodded eagerly, his pen poised over his notebook. ”I-I suppose so. You do have that... certain charm, Onoda.”

”See, you canʼt rationalize it yourself.”

”What do you mean? Will they have another reason to approach you?”

”Exactly. They might want to borrow notes, ask for help with a project, or just say hello because they recognize me. It doesnʼt always have to be about attraction. Or you know, theyʼre my close friends. Have you thought about that possibility?”

He nodded as he scribbled down my words. This guy... heʼs really not catching on. I couldnʼt decide if he was playing dumb or genuinely thought he was getting somewhere.

Anyway, I should end this here.

”Alright, thatʼs all Iʼm giving you. If you have any more questions, save it. I have a schedule to keep,” I told him firmly.

His pen froze mid-scribble, and he looked at me with a mixture of confusion and disappointment. ”Wait. Thatʼs it? Youʼre not even going to acknowledge that you have... I donʼt know, charisma or something?”

”Iʼm narcissistic enough to claim I have the charisma to draw the flies in. But you do you. Youʼll write it in your article anyway.” I smirked, watching the newspaper guyʼs shoulders slump slightly. Then I suddenly remembered something, ”Oh, wait. I might have a scoop for you. You should hang out at the third-year area, youʼll catch a cuck trying to justify his kink.” The newspaper guy looked up with sparkling eyes, eagerly waiting for the juicy details, but I just walked away, leaving him hanging.

With Ohori-senpai and the girls leading the charge, it wouldnʼt be long before that cuck exposed himself. But with this guy also going there, it might even eclipse the article he would

write about me.