Stealing Spree

I thought about raising my hand to give the extra paper back to her but then, it dawned on me…

I told her about my meeting with the two PE Teachers. Moreover, she was made aware of Eguchi-sensei’s plan of asking me to be her Student Assistant at that drinking party they all attended last Friday.

If I’m not wrong, this was her way of telling me that she doesn’t mind me being a Student Assistant to Eguchi-sensei.

Uh. I better ask her later for clarification.

Today, Shio only used half of her time to teach us before coming up with a quiz about everything we’ve learned from her so far.

And to her disappointment, some of us still failed despite it being a simple quiz of giving the meaning of the English word.

As for me… although I didn’t get a perfect score like Kanzaki or Nami, I was among the above-average like Aya. And that somehow abated her disappointment.

Satsuki passed albeit barely. There were words she misread as something else which in turn made her write the wrong meaning to it.

And among our group, Sakuma failed which made him gulp down when Shio announced an extra homework for those who failed that they needed to pass next week. Along with that announcement, Shio also revealed that she would prepare a long quiz and she emphasized that it wouldn’t be as simple as the quiz today.

Well, being her first advisory class after getting her license to teach, she probably wanted to do well. Besides, the way she conducted her classes was not as boring as our Japanese History teacher wherein he’s only telling us to read the books and then he would do some pop quiz with our books opened. In the end, only those who would actually take their time to read and understand what they were reading could learn something.

As for Shio, she’s very hands-on with her teaching approach. Although there were times where she would focus on one student, me for example, she wouldn’t neglect the other students and in fact, she’s making it easier for the others to pick up what she’s teaching through focusing on one student.

That’s because most of us would be intrigued if there’s always someone in the spotlight apart from our teacher.

In any case, with that kind of announcement, those who failed began looking towards their seatmates to ask them for help. On the other hand, the others who passed the quiz also turned serious as they thought about the upcoming long quiz.

That’s why as soon as Shio left the classroom and while the next period hadn’t started yet, the class became filled with buzzing noises of conversations.

And naturally, that didn’t spare us.

Seconds after Shio stepped out of the room, I felt a hand grabbing my shoulder. “Onoda! Help me!”

It’s Sakuma, pleading like a little kid.

Or that’s how I imagined him without looking back.

“Sorry. I’m busy.” I coldly answered as I began tidying up my desk to prepare for the next class.

However, despite hearing that, the idiot even stood up and went in front of my desk to plead.

But because of how I just repeated my words, the guy plopped down, like a balloon losing air.

And watching all those at my side, Aya probably felt bad for the guy, she rummaged through her bag and pulled out something, her notebook.

“S-sakuma-kun, here.” Although her voice was still as soft as before, Aya courageously handed the notebook to Sakuma.

Since we’re in the same group, Sakuma was the closest guy to her if I was excluded.

“Rindou! You’re a lifesaver! Unlike this… Uh… heartless guy.”

Sakuma was instantly energized as he received the notebook.

However, upon hearing his response or specifically how Sakuma called me heartless, the adorable and courageous Aya puffed up her cheeks as she tried showing an angry expression to defend me. “Ruki is not heartless!”

Alright. That’s too adorable of her and… I was truly being heartless there.

Anyway, the little gesture from her was triggering my desire to thoroughly dote on her. Moreover, her courage to speak up even though Sakuma wasn’t truly talking to her was worth commending. I better do that later.

In any case, Sakuma was dumbfounded upon seeing Aya like that. Eventually, he nodded his head and took back his words about me being heartless to please Aya.

“G-good… Give it back to me in two days… I… we also need to review it.”

Aya, satisfied with what he showed, flashed a brilliant smile before reverting back to her usual expression.

But when she noticed my eyes staring at her, the girl didn’t know whether she would cover her face from embarrassment or ask me for a head pat.

In the end, I whispered my words of praise to her which made the girl redden completely.

As for Sakuma, he stood up happily as he returned to his seat, reading Aya’s notes.

Well, Aya gave it to him so I wouldn’t say anything about it.

On the other hand, Satsuki witnessed all that and clicked her tongue once more. However, this time, the recipient of that was Sakuma.

“You idiot. Ask Setsuna-nee to teach you. You’re always with her anyway.”

With that kind of suggestion from her, Sakuma’s hand that was flipping Aya’s notes froze.

“I… I don’t want to trouble her.”

“Trouble? Suit yourself then. And here I am giving you a suggestion.” Satsuki annoyedly responded. Perhaps in her mind, that’s also one way for her to help that guy. She’s surely still somewhat guilty to him and with things slowly returning to normal, she’s also going out of her way to at least go back to speaking terms to the guy.

Anyway, after that, Satsuki’s gaze at me.

“Idiot. What about you? Do you have plans? What about we study together for that long quiz? I also…” Satsuki’s voice trailed as her face gradually reddened.

Watching her reaction and thinking about the way she said that… this girl was directly inviting me to study together.

No, she suggested that because she’s too embarrassed to ask me directly to help her study. And that’s how she ended up wording it.

And the way she reddened was because she noticed the pairs of eyes that suddenly turned towards her… Her voice was rather loud so those near us heard it clearly.

The scary Maemura invited someone to study with her. That’s probably something new.

Anyway, since she’s asking me, I needed to respond right?

“Sure, let’s study together. Wanna come too, Aya?” I smiled and also included the girl next to me who’s still reveling from the praise I whispered to her ears.

“Yes! Let’s study together!” Aya then energetically accepted along with her giggles.

And to further save Satsuki from the spotlight she pointed at herself, I also turned to my back, “So? Do you also want to come, Sakuma?”

“You’re inviting me too?”

“Why not? Aren’t we a group? Well, it’s fine if you don’t want to. You had Aya’s notes already anyway.” I shrugged and tried to close the offer.

But my shoulder was grabbed by him once more. “I’ll come! No, let me join!”

I could do away with only Satsuki and Aya. But considering they’re both my girls… I had no idea if I could rein in my desire for them, forgetting about studying. Sakuma being there would at least stop me from being that bold.

“Alright. But I’m not the one who suggested the study, you know? What do you think? Can they come too?” I turned my gaze back to Satsuki who finally regained her calm.

Alternating her narrowed gaze between us, she then clicked her tongue and nodded in agreement.

Following that, I heard a barely audible curse from her, “Idiot Ruki.”