Stealing Spree

Chapter 2307: Poor Girl



"W-wait. Onoda-kun. I thought we were going on a patrol? Why are you leaving me behind?" "Well, it looks like your help is needed here, senpai. Please help Shizu and the others. I'll be back soon."

Once the meeting concluded, I decided to go out and start my duty as the Disciplinary Officer. With the case of Minami Shouko pretty much considered done, I had nothing urgent to do other than to go around and make sure that everything was in order.

While I initially wanted to bring Komoe or Minami Shouko with me, I changed my mind after sitting in on that meeting. The Student Council had a lot of things to do and it was better for them to help out there than join me in walking around the school, doing nothing but looking for mischief that probably doesn't even exist.

Of course, it wouldn't always be like this. I promised Minami Shouko. I would have to deliver on that promise. Just not today.

As I left the Student Council, I planned out my route and stops. On top of my priority was naturally to make sure no one was going to disturb the clubs of my girls.

The Literature Club was pretty quiet but I knew that if I showed up my face there, I might not be able to finish my duty so I walked past it. Then, I completed the patrol on the third floor.

Going down the floor, I ran into several students, mostly seniors who didn't have anything to do with me. The girls were naturally still curious but no one went out of their way to block my way or chat me up.

Possibly that was thanks to the armband I was wearing today. It had a certain aura that screamed 'don't mess with me' which was pretty useful for a chick magnet like me.

Wait... When did I start considering myself as one? Aren't I the Classmate A? Ugh...

Anyway... my first stop was the Alchemy Research Club. I couldn't care less about what Enomoto was doing, I simply wanted to see my lovely senior.

Upon knocking, I was expecting to see the natural seductress opening the door. However, I was met with Nikka-senpai whose face was stained and her hair disheveled, "O-Onoda-kun! What brings you here?"

"Hmm? Failed experiment?" I asked back instead of answering her question. It wasn't hard to guess what happened just by looking at her state.

Nikka-senpai nodded, her cheeks reddening, "A-A little bit. But it's fine. Nothing too dangerous. Are you here for...?"

Her voice trailed there, seemingly seeking confirmation that I was here for a specific person rather than an actual disciplinary concern.

"Yeah. Is Reira-senpai in?" I inquired.

"She is but she stepped out to do something for our advisor. She'll be back later. Wanna wait for her?"

Now that's rare. If I remember correctly, their advisor was the Chemistry Teacher who was teaching second years. Must be important.

"Well, it's fine I guess. I'm just trying to check on her. Are you alone in there, senpai? Enomoto is also out?"

Nikka nodded, "Yes, he's at the library. We're supposed to do research for our newest project but the lab got messy and... I needed to clean up."

Library, huh? As if that guy would stay there. He's quite a smart aleck. He's the type who would rather read on his own and do his own shenanigans in his free time.

But really, leaving behind his childhood friend here... Is he not going to make a move on this girl? What a waste.

"I see. Do you need help, senpai? I can spare a few minutes while I wait for Reira-senpai." "Eh? Y-you're pretty dedicated, Onoda-kun. No wonder she finds your presence comfortable. Too bad, you're close with a lot of girls."

"Well, I can't change that. But did she say that about me? Now I'm flattered."

"Uhm. Don't tell her that I told you about it." Nikka-senpai giggled a bit before stepping aside and letting me inside their clubroom. "Then, I'll appreciate your help Onoda-kun, if it's not too much trouble."

The moment I stepped in, I could already smell smoke coming from their lab area. Good thing that didn't trigger the fire detector.

"Looks like you did such an explosive job, senpai," I jokingly said as I followed her there and found the chaotic mess on their experiment table.

Nikka-senpai blushed in embarrassment, "I just messed up a bit."

"I get it. You don't have to explain to me, senpai. I'm just a helping hand, right?" I said as I started picking up those that could be picked up, "By the way, don't tell Enomoto that I stepped in here alone with you."

"Hmm? Why is that? Did he tell you not to interact with me?" Nikka-senpai tilted her head in confusion as she also began cleaning up, instructing me what not to touch.

"Something like that. He's pretty protective of you, senpai. Well, I'm not telling you this because I want to hear your thoughts about him."

"Pfft. Yeah, right. You're not being obvious, Onoda-kun. It's clear that you're trying to get information on what's going on between us," Nikka-senpai snickered, her cheeks flushing even deeper.

She's really infatuated with him, huh? Too bad that guy seemingly had no plans of even courting. It's like he's keeping her here as a treasure. What would he do if someone stole that treasure right under his nose?

Alright. Scratch that. I'm not here for that. Besides, he's laying low and not meddling with me again anyway. There's no point provoking him. I'm just here for Reira-senpai.

"I'm just curious, that's all," I said with a shrug. "But senpai, are you satisfied like this?"

"Satisfied? What do you mean?" She looked up from the flask she was cleaning, her eyes meeting mine with genuine confusion.

"Well, you know, being his childhood friend, and all. Do you ever wish for something... more?" I tried to phrase it delicately. This girl was pretty pure herself but I could she was aware of what Enomoto was doing behind her back. Otherwise, she wouldn't obediently stay here like this.

Nikka-senpai blinked before she looked down at her work, her expression contemplative, "M-more... You mean romantically?"

I nodded.

"W-well..." She took a deep breath, her cheeks burning even brighter than before, "I... I've always liked Enomoto-kun. Since we were kids. But he's always been... distant. And when he started hanging out with those delinquents, he told me to join this club. It's like he wanted to keep me busy... or locked away."

"Isn't he just protecting you, senpai?"

"Protecting me from what? Other boys like you?"

"Yeah. He's afraid to lose you too but at the same time, he's also afraid to take that step to make you his. Oh, wait. That's just my assumption, senpai. Don't mind it." Acting like I just slipped and didn't mean to say that, I tried to change the topic, "Anyway, what kind of experiment are you doing to produce something like this, senpai?"

Unfortunately, Nikka-senpai was pretty sharp as well, she ignored my attempt to change the topic and instead looked at me with a serious expression, "So you can see it too, Onoda-kun?"

"See what?" I feigned ignorance, pretending to scrub the table with a bit too much

enthusiasm.

"That... that he's afraid. Do you think I should be more proactive?"

This girl... It looked like something was triggered within her. I guess she's also hoping for more from Enomoto. But that guy wasn't doing anything other than keeping her here. "Well, it depends on you, senpai. But you don't have to force yourself. It's not like you two will be separated after high school."

"You'll never know... He's smart and handsome while I... I'm just his childhood friend."

"Come on. You don't have to put yourself down like that, senpai. You're pretty good-looking yourself. And you're pretty smart too." I tried to cheer her up while I continued to help with

the clean-up.

I said I was only going to wait for Reira-senpai but somehow, this ended like a consultation. And if I hadn't changed from before, I'd probably already made a move on this vulnerable girl. "T-thanks for comforting me, Onoda-kun. Reira is lucky." Nikka-senpai forced a smile before focusing all of her attention on finishing tidying the table.

But as she said that, the door to their clubroom opened and as if she just heralded her arrival, Reira-senpai stepped in. As soon as she saw me, the girl's lips curved up into a pleasant grin.

"Ruki! Wait. Didn't I tell you to invite me properly? How come you're here again without prior

notice?"

Although she's happy to see me, the girl remembered our most recent conversation last week. Yeah. How can I forget that? Unfortunately, I didn't have the time to go out and invite them

for lunch.

"And did you bully Nikka? Why does she look like that?"

Alright. That one's not on me.