Stealing Spree

Fifteen minutes later, after I finished spoiling the other two after Rumi, I left the clubroom with Maaya and Hana in tow. Well, the latter took my invitation seriously, and given that no club activity could hold her there, she chased after us when we were about to leave.

And that made way for the first-ever bickering of the two. Maaya pushed her away because Hana had the audacity to step in between us. Not only that, but Hana also provoked the girl by drawing up a smirk at the same time as she linked arms with me.

Somehow, in the duration of my visit to the club, Hana regained some of her previous disposition, challenging Maaya in her attempt to steal me.

Unfortunately for her, Maaya wasn’t one to back down at all. She might be acting a little tamed when it comes to me but she’s also the type with a strong personality. I mean, few people could really break past her wall of indifference and disregard.

And so, even before we could step outside, sparks had already started flying off between them. I stepped in to settle that, putting Hana on my left and pulling back Maaya to my right. I also refused to link arms with Hana as her little punishment for starting that.

In any case, even if she’s not the one who started it, she’s still the one who’d be getting the short end of the stick. That’s her current position because of stubbornness.

“I get that you’re not giving up in your quest of stealing me but Hana, it shouldn’t be like that where the two of you would almost get into a physical altercation.”

To further drive it to the point, I reminded Hana, deflating the little bit of enthusiasm that she gathered.

Maaya giggled at that, partly gloating and partly amused at how I could control the girl through a few words. Then, she also offered Hana her own advice.

“If I were you, I wouldn’t act that desperate to get Ruki’s attention. Didn’t you already experience it? He’ll come to you himself if he sees you troubled or gloomy.”

“I am well aware of that. Nevertheless, I have to come up with a method to steal him from all of you.”

“Steal him? Keep on dreaming. If you’re truly someone from his past, you should know by now that it’s impossible to accomplish. If you failed back then, what can you even do today?”

Upon delivering those words, Maaya stopped paying attention to Hana.

She’s not wrong on that. And of course, Hana was also aware of it. She just couldn’t give it up without trying harder.

Anyway, after giving one last look and a wave to the three girls remaining in the clubroom, we set off from there.

Like the girls in the Book Club, the three girls had no interest in watching our athletes compete. Instead, Rae and Rumi are more interested in brainstorming plots and ideas for Kana’s novel. Although everything would still be decided by the girl, she’s very open to hearing other ideas. Those two read the novel she submitted not just once or twice. Moreover, they’re involved in editing and proofreading it. If I’m Kana’s number one follower, then those two are close second and third. They loved the story and the world of mystery she created.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t do the same as them. My mind was very convoluted that I might just ruin her novel if I also pitched in my horrible ideas. It’s better for me to just become her test reader again when she starts writing it.

For our next destination, I held off going to the Student Council Since I knew that I would be staying there for at least an hour, the Student Support Club became our next destination.

Honestly, I couldn’t care less about the reaction of Ogawa or Tadano to what happened earlier. The only reason I would be there was for my girls.

Also, with the Mentor Program being canceled today considering the school hours were cut short, the time that I should be spending with either Izumi or Arisa would also not happen. That’s why meeting up with them like this was my only option.

Upon arriving in front of their clubroom, I knocked twice and waited. Their clubroom was unusually quiet like no one was talking.

Either Nami and the others refused to discuss what happened or no one was bringing it up.

Given that Tadano visited the silent guy earlier, I expected him to tell Ogawa and Kikuchi about it. Maybe he kept it to himself?

A few seconds later, the door opened and Izumi with a creased forehead welcomed us. Judging from how she looked done and helpless, I couldn’t help but open my mouth first to ask her what happened.

“Geez. You’re finally here. Come in and break the ice.”

With a sigh, she widened the opening of the door to let us in. She didn’t have any reaction to seeing Hana and Maaya behind me. I guess she’s more bothered about the condition of their clubroom, huh?

As I stepped inside, the air was definitely colder than outside. It’s like a blizzard has been slowly forming in the middle room.

Taking in the view from there, I instantly noticed Nami with a cold expression. No matter how I look at it, she’s pissed about something.

Hina and Saki looked normal though. The two even jumped up and quickly moved to welcome us.

As for Arisa. She’s like Izumi. In fact, it’s even more apparent on her face that she already lost any method to settle whatever was happening.

Leaving Maaya and Hana to the three, I walked over to Arisa, hugging her from behind. Despite being aware of my arrival, what I did still managed to surprise her.

Her helplessness was immediately dispelled. In its place, a troubled expression rose as she turned her head to me.

“Ruki... Can you solve this?”

“Well, I don’t know what to solve if you don’t tell me what’s going on.” As I said that, I turned my head to Nami and stretched my arm out to her.

Yeah. I was blatantly ignoring Tadano and Ogawa who were already flabbergasted at my appearance. As for Kikuchi, well, she had a wry smile on her lips as she watched everything unfold.

In any case, if I wanted to know the situation, asking my girls would be enough.

“Promise me you won’t be mad.”

“Hmm? Is that something to be mad about?”

“I don’t know. It’s just...”

Before Arisa could finish conveying her thoughts, Nami, who stood up and grabbed my hand to come to my side as well, cut in.

“Ruu, they’re asking to give him a second chance.”

“Who are they?”

Nami didn’t answer with their names but with her gaze landing on the boys at the other side of the table as well as Kikuchi, things happened as we expected. Either they’re pitying him or it’s just them trying to salvage what was left of their broken circle.

“I see... Then, let me take it from here. Even if I’m supposed to be an outsider, I’m the one who’s really the center of this issue, right?” I said. Since I couldn’t ignore the two anymore, I looked at them and met their gaze.

I could spy conflicting thoughts through Tadano’s eyes. He’s possibly questioning himself if what he’s doing is right. As for Ogawa... well, as always, he’s furiously glaring at me. And that anger wasn’t born of his jealousy anymore but something else. What is it? Maybe his sense of justice? Really, he's also trying to be a hypocritical main character of his story.

Nami nodded and moved behind me. But when I was about to separate myself from Arisa, the girl grabbed my hand, or rather, my injured fist. I put a bandage roll on it and since it’s my left, it’s not that noticeable to others.

But this girl... she knew what she was holding.

Her thumb tried to feel the wounded part even through the bandage. Caressing it a few times, Arisa blew her breath on it as though she was trying to heal it. Following that, she tightened her grip and looked at me with sorrowful eyes.

Even though she didn’t say anything, her thoughts were properly conveyed. She’s saddened that I also got hurt in the process.

I squeezed her hand back and put on a smile for her before whispering, “It’s worth it, Arisa. I’m not regretting it.”