Stealing Spree

“Kikuchi-san. You’re also on that side...”

With Arisa and Nami letting me face the three who disagreed with the decision of kicking the silent guy out, the first one I focused on is her. The fujoshi who should be sensible enough to understand that kicking out Taku was within reason.

I’m certain she’s also aware of it. Yet, for whatever motive she currently has, she’s standing on that side.

Hina already tried to convince her but she stood by her choice. At least, that’s how it appeared in everyone’s eyes. But her wry smile from earlier was telling me something.

Did Ogawa beg her to stand with him? What for? Or rather, what’s in it for her?

As she’s someone who would even help Hina frame me back then, I couldn’t find a plausible basis for not listening to her this time.

Indeed, she has that peculiar interest in fantasizing about a romance between handsome boys but it can’t be her only reason, right?

“I apologize, Onoda-kun. I weighed my choice through every available information. And I find it unfair to suddenly kick him after one mistake.” Taking quite a while to gather her thoughts, Kikuchi’s response sounded a little reserved. It’s something one who wasn’t aware of everything would say. Or it could be an excuse to not say her real reason.

“I see. One mistake. Is tailing Saki almost every day for the last one to two years count as one mistake? That opens my eyes to how much a single mistake can hold.” I sarcastically replied.

Behind me, Saki joined Nami and Arisa in supporting me. She most likely already said her piece. Unfortunately, even if she’s the victim of years-long stalking, she never really paid attention to it. Perhaps, if I didn’t catch him following her, she would continue disregarding his actions. In short, it was considered fine until it wasn’t after I discovered it.

For sure, some of them were also aware that the silent guy had a thing for Saki and they never found it problematic until I pointed it out.

In any case, what’s done is done.

Saki not being able to fully utilize that she’s the victim here could probably be attributed to her previous position in their circle as simply the mood setter. She’s still in the process of picking up her lost confidence back up through my help.

With Ogawa being the guy who extended his hand to bring her out of her gloomy days of being the bully-turned-bullied, she still held the last bit of respect, gratitude, and consideration for him. Hence, she backed down easily.

Or that’s how I imagined what happened after piecing everything I heard from them.

It’s also impossible to deny that my use of violence against Taku got the idiots their ground to stand in opposition to what we decided.

Ugh. It’s complicated but not unsolvable at all. If they won’t agree. I’ll force them to.

Seeing that Kikuchi couldn’t deflect what I said, I opened my mouth again, this time, my eyes landed on Tadano, “You met him. Did he ask you to help him oppose his termination from this club?”

Although he was expecting me to question him as well, Tadano looked like he had just bit into a lemon from how sour his expression became. Clenching his fist and loosening it up a few times, the guy took his time to himself down before answering me.

“No. He won’t tell me anything.”

“Oh. Then why are you opposing it if the one who’s going to get kicked out is fine with it?”

“You threatened him, didn’t you? He’s trembling in fear when I see him. And that’s right after you exited the infirmary.”

“So, you based your decision on what you saw. Noted. You’re the type to base your decision on incomplete information. You also blinded yourself to only hear one side and disregard the other.”

It’s one thing not to believe me since I can still be considered an outsider from their circle. However, to disregard Saki, Nami, and Arisa... The guy is disillusioned.

I shrugged and stopped paying attention to him. There’s no need to hear more. There’s also no reason to deny that I threatened Taku. I never considered myself a saint, anyway.

Of course, Tadano tried arguing but my attention was already on the most disillusioned guy in the room.

Seeing him glaring at me, a smirk naturally formed on my lips, “Say, are you siding with him because you hate me for stealing everyone? Too bad, if Kazuha-nee hears about this, she’ll be greatly disappointed. Her little brother irresponsibly putting his own hatred over something more important… Haa.”

“What’s wrong with standing for someone that got hurt? Isn’t it enough that you put him in that state? Do you think yourself a God now?”

“Of course, it’s not enough. He deserved to be locked in a juvenile facility. Tell me, do you rather want him to be sent there for committing a crime?” I raised my voice a little there but obviously, this guy wasn’t enough to agitate me. No matter what he does, it’s not going to amount to anything.

“I’m not supposed to explain myself to you but here, for the sake of your peabrain... it’s not entirely my decision to have him kicked out.” I added. Nami, Saki, and Arisa immediately chipped in, expressing their support.

Izumi and Hina also stopped watching from a distance and joined us.

At this point, Arisa, Nami, and Saki took the helm back from me. They faced the three who were opposed to the decision and unlike earlier when they were feeling uncertain or troubled, conviction could now be seen on their faces.

The first to stand down is obviously Kikuchi. She raised her arms and sat back down after apologizing to Ogawa.

As I expected, she’s just there because of doing the guy a favor.

Then, Tadano closed his eyes and resignedly sighed before retreating to his seat. His gaze landed on me and from what I read from his expression, he wanted to talk to me in length. Maybe to correct the notion that he’s only hearing one side and disregarding the other.

And lastly, Ogawa stubbornly remained in opposition. He really didn’t know any better.

Instead of improving his already soiled reputation in front of the girls’ eyes, he’s continuing to do useless shit like that.

Once everything settled down, all of us took a seat. Maaya and Hana also got their chairs. Even though they’re supposedly outsiders, they fit in naturally with my girls.

Anyway, the attention soon returned back to me. Nami and Arisa probably wanted me to put an end to what was being discussed and extinguish the last fire in Ogawa.

And so, I prepared myself to address them. But while that was happening, my girls who were all in my support took turns in squeezing my arms or hands, channeling their thoughts and decisions to me.

In particular, Izumi, who's supposed to be the Club President, lunged at me and whispered, “Hey, won’t you join this club, shameless guy? You’re better off leading us. I’m not cut out for this.”

Well, she probably found herself helpless today. But it’s an issue that didn’t really concern their activity. She’s already doing an excellent job for their club.

“Don’t worry. I may not join but aren’t I always visiting? Feel free to come and complain to me if you find it difficult. I’ll comfort you every time.” I whispered back and took the time to start comforting her.

Once she returned to her seat, the girl had a satisfied look on her face, eliciting various reactions from the others.

Anyway, to end the issue of the silent guy, I proceeded with what I planned to say to all three oppositions.