Stealing Spree

Before returning like I planned, I spent a few minutes more organizing my thoughts about Orimura-sensei. She's still a troublesome woman in my dictionary but because of what happened between us, I'm sure she'll start running in my head along with my girls. The taste of her lips and body as well as her minute sensual movements were still fresh in my mind. It won’t fade away anytime soon.

In any case, even if I worried myself to death here, nothing was going to change. She wouldn't return to talk to me and even if she did, with the state of our minds, nothing would be concluded.

That left me with only one option. To silently wait for the next instance we could be together and be open to talk honestly.

"Alright. I cannot be stuck here any longer. I better go and see them."

I cleared my head and walked out of the door. Before stepping out, I took one last look behind me.

The Interhigh is over for us now. We won't be visiting this room anymore. But just today, it became filled with a bunch of unforgettable moments.

Satsuki, Hanabi and Orimura-sensei...

"He's back!" shouted one of the basketball club members who opened the door for me. She's a second senior who didn't make it to be a regular player but she's still extremely helpful during practice and assist work.

Earlier, she was one of those who helped me distribute the girls' lunch and drinks. Additionally, she's one of the most eager to strip in front of me...

Of course, I’ll be blind not to see her admiration towards me. However, at this point in time, everyone in the club has at least a positive impression of me regardless of my relationship, closeness to other girls, or the floating rumors surrounding me.

I stepped in the gap she opened and before closing the door, she also tried to look for the person who dragged me out of the room. Seeing that I came back alone, the girl didn't inquire about it anymore. Either she didn’t care that much about Orimura-sensei or she just treated it as if our designated bus driver for the day had gone somewhere else

Besides, she’s probably more excited for my return. And with that announcement, the imaginary spotlight within the room returned to me.

Grabbing onto my side, she guided me further into the room while ignoring the raised eyebrows from the other members who picked up on her opportunistic boldness.

I played along with her a bit to satisfy her while also accommodating the others. Eventually, I thanked all of them before extracting myself from that situation.

Good thing the girls had already finished changing. Even if I did that, no misunderstanding would be created from it. Or they’d be even more welcoming about it. I don’t know.

In any case, upon finishing a quick scan, my eyes automatically searched for the figure of Satsuki and Eguchi-sensei.

I instantly found Eguchi-sensei at the same corner as earlier.

As for Satsuki, she’s further in the room surrounded by Kawakami-senpai and other stars of the match. Also present among them was the girl’s older sister and Juri. They possibly arrived minutes after our departure.

Faced with a choice, I decided to approach the group first. As always, my grumpy girl didn’t waste a second to be affectionate. She lunged herself at me, making her older sister flabbergasted. Kawakami-senpai and the others, devoid of their shyness from being seen earlier, giggled at that sight and they considerately stepped away after we exchanged greetings.

“Idiot Ruki… Tell me what happened later.” Satsuki said in a muffled voice.

As I expected, nothing would escape her notice. Thankfully, the way she worded it was vague enough that it didn’t elicit a reaction from Setsuna-nee. Or maybe, she’s just incensed that I snatched her precious little sister from her. Technically, I did. But it’s already an old issue that we resolved, right? Either way, I greeted her as usual, ignoring her bloated cheeks that made her look more like Satsuki’s little sister.

“Mhm. I will.” I replied before also acting affectionate by holding her close and caressing her head.

Following this, I turned to the girl standing beside Setsuna-nee. Seeing her up close and catching her clear delight at my appearance, a smile naturally formed on my lips before I could utter my greeting to her.

Mhm. No matter what happens, I guess I’ll always be like this in front of them. Either I control my expression completely or it will naturally show.

“Geez, Ruki. I heard you’re the reason they won the game. You went ahead and proved yourself competent again. Will you ever stop amazing us?” Juri playfully teased me. And with her voice loud enough for everyone to hear, Kawakami-senpai and the others chimed in as well.

I humbly scratched my cheek. After everything that happened, could I still deny that?

“Come on. I’m not that amazing. I’m just lucky. Besides, I’m not the one who should take the glory. Kawakami-senpai. That buzzer-beater shot is amazing.”

Diverting their attention back to the one that truly made it all possible, Kawakami-senpai immediately became swarmed by others.

Although they already celebrated ever since they returned here, the mood in the room was definitely not going to die down anytime soon.

Juri chuckled at my expert diversion. She then whispered to the girl whose face was buried in my chest “Satsuki-chan, can I borrow this foolishly humble guy later?”

Satsuki positively answered using gestures. For sure, if she voiced it out, she’d be saying something like, ‘You don’t have to ask me for permission. You’re one of us.”

Anyway, for the next five minutes, I stayed with the three of them before Satsuki let go of me.

Moving from there, I went to Eguchi-sensei who’s probably watching us from afar. As soon as she saw me approaching, she fixed her posture and moved to the side, giving me the space I occupied next to her later.

We’re still going to act a little distant to not arouse suspicion but one look at her face and the concern in her eyes was readily apparent. Given that Orimura-sensei dragged me out after catching us in that risque situation, the question of why it took this long for me to return was running through her head. Additionally, she’s probably wondering where Orimura-sensei is.

“Sensei, Orimura-sensei is back on the bus. She said she was going to check it to make sure that no problem would turn up when it was time to go.”

Starting by telling her what Orimura-sensei asked me to relay – with additional details that I made up on the spot.

Eguchi-sensei nodded in understanding but just like Satsuki, she knew that something else happened.

She wordlessly put me under her interrogative gaze, waiting for me to spill the beans myself.

“I got scolded for putting you in that situation, sensei. I shouldn’t have lost control like that.”

“I see… She gave you an earful again, huh? That’s becoming a regular thing. Pfft.” She chuckled. Whatever was in her head, she most likely thought that it was kind of amusing. “So… how did you respond?”

“Uh… I was unrepentant. I think I weighed the risk properly… Also, you’re just that irresistible, sensei.” I answered honestly.

Yeah. I know. I’m skirting around what eventually transpired between Orimura-sensei and me. However, I cannot just drop that bomb right away, right? And since we’re not alone in this room, I have to be discreet with the details.

“Un. I expect that kind of answer from you. My shameless man.” Eguchi-sensei giggled again. Then stealthily, her hand wrapped around mine, before hiding that connection behind us. “Seeing as how you’re fidgeting which is very unusual of you, there must have been more, right? It’s fine. You can tell me about it later. For now… let’s enjoy this atmosphere.”

This… Is she secretly an angel and not the discipline freak of a PE Teacher? Ah. Scratch that. She already unmasked herself. She is no doubt an angel sent before me.

Ugh. Now I feel like an ass for being involved with her friend. But then again, there’s no rewriting history. It already happened and she more than deserved my honesty.

“Mhm. Let us do that. You worked hard, sensei.”

“You too, Onoda-kun. I’ll expect no less than a hug later, okay?”

Just like this, our hushed conversation continued for a little while before everyone’s attention returned to us again.

Then soon afterward, we started preparing to leave.