Stealing Spree

"Why are you asking for my help? He didn't look like he's in danger though."

I asked since I was puzzled with this request of her. All those revelations just for me to help Fukuda?

"He's a good guy but he was always pulled along by those seniors."

Ah. So she wanted to pull him out of delinquency?

After revealing her identity to me, Chii remained within my arm's reach. It's still a bit unbelievable that the girl apart from Miwa-nee who was also a trigger for all that happened is here within our class. I seriously have no idea and I will not possibly know if she didn't reveal it to me.

"Are you sure he's only been pulled along?"

It could be that he also played along with them. He's even inviting me to join his group to flaunt their weight in school. That didn't look like someone who's being pulled along.

However, I also observed that he's quite behaved in class and the way she treated Chii.

"I don't know. But whenever he talks to me, he's always confessing about the things that he did and how he didn't want to do it."

Chii shook her head while probably trying to recall their conversation. She looked really eager to help him. Where's that playful Chii who I couldn't understand before?

"Isn't that just him wanting to impress you? He's head over heels for you, you know?"

Other guys will lie just to let the girl he likes to have a good impression of him. I also did that before so I know.

Hearing my words, Chii averted her gaze and lowered her head as if she's ashamed.

"I know there's also a possibility that it's like that. However, I can't reciprocate his feelings so..."

"You wanted to help him in his troubles instead?"

This girl. Why go to all that trouble? Gratitude? I don't know.

I observed her and I couldn't help to compare her appearance now to the Chii that I could vaguely recall. Haa. All this time I'm worried if I will be able to understand her, but now... our past explained her interest in me.

"Yes, that's why. Can you?"

She revealed her identity to me to become leverage for this. All of that to help someone who she couldn't like. But she's probably thankful to him. Fukuda took great care of her and he's even respecting her. Despite her claiming to be his boyfriend, he's the one denying it.

There's probably some merit when she said that he was being pulled along by the seniors.

"I can talk to him but that doesn't guarantee it will be able to help him whatever his trouble is. That's all I can do Chii. I don't want my girls to be dragged with me if I dipped my hand on that... troublesome lots."

Delinquents can play delinquents if they want, right now they haven't crossed me yet but if ever they did...

Haa. I might have to deal with them one way or another.

"That's already enough. He has a good impression of you so he will surely listen."

Hearing my answer Chii was overjoyed that she unconsciously hugged me to express it.

Upon realizing that, she blushed and took a step back.

"I... I didn't mean to do that."

"I know. I guess that part of you didn't change."

When she became comfortable with me back then, she would also hug me unconsciously whenever she felt joy. But yeah, that was before I grew bored of her.

She's now being careful towards me.

"Eh? Now, I think revealing my identity to you is a bad idea. How can I act around you now?"

"Just continue as you are, Chii. You still need to act like a gyaru, right?"

"Yes. I have to keep this up, but I guess it now grew into me. Right, Onoda-chi? I'm totally a gyaru like this."

She fixed her hair and went back to her gyaru form as she tried acting as a gyaru in front of me again.

Well, that would probably not work on me again. I will now always see her as that Chii who revealed her identity and put down her pretense as a gyaru. But yeah, I'll never spoil it for her.

We left the room after that and she went ahead of me.

Before I went back to class I saw Izumi-senpai outside.

Right. She's kind of a delinquent right?

I was about to greet her when suddenly, someone else appeared from the side, it's a 2nd year like her and coincidentally, he's also a delinquent and someone connected to Fukuda who was just the topic of our conversation just now.

"Izumi. When will you accept me? I already became your dog for a year."

With the way he acted around her, why am I seeing a resemblance in Fukuda? Birds of a feather?

"Not today Uchiyama. I am in a bad mood so scram for me."

I see. So she's like this when she's not around Ogawa. Girls in love can be quite scary eh? Or is that just her way to shoo away those who wanted to try if they would have a chance at her?

The delinquent guy flinched and left her like she asked while leaving with a mournful expression on his face.

Oi. You're a delinquent. Act like it!

She's not really my target but even if she's a former rival, she's Nami's friend.

When I saw her putting a white stick in her mouth that's probably a cigarette, I approached her to remind her.

"Izumi-senpai, you're not really hidden there. You'll be caught smoking if you're not careful."

Hearing my voice, she was startled that she bit the thing she put in her mouth and a cracking sound was heard.

Ah. That's certainly not a cigarette.

"Huh? Onoda-kun? This is candy, you know? But seriously, don't just jump out like that. Why are you here?"

She took it out and showed it to me before putting it back in her mouth. Like she said, she really looks like she's in a bad mood right now.

"Ah. That's my bad. You're Nami's friend so I thought of reminding you, I'm sorry if that felt intrusive."

"Nah. It's fine. You're a good boyfriend, eh? If only Kazuo can be as gutsy as you."

Izumi-senpai had a troubled expression as she muttered that last sentence.

"That's probably a tall order for someone like Ogawa."

"You're right. Ugh. Nami probably moved on to you because she gave up on him."

"Huh? Not really, senpai. I made every effort to make her fall for me, and if I wished to I can also make you fall for me."

I don't know but I somehow got agitated from her words. It's like telling me that Ogawa's still better and Nami only chose me as a rebound.

Ignorance really is a bliss.

"This guy... that's some grand declaration. Don't you think I won't tell Nanami about this?"

Though she was taken aback by my words, she recovered instantly.

"Ah. I'm sorry senpai. I just got agitated when your words seemed like telling me that Nami chose me just because she gave up on Ogawa."

"You're right. That's a fair point. That's my bad this time"

"Well then, I'll go back to class"

"Did I make you upset?"

"Maybe? I'm different from Ogawa so... It's kind of insulting even if you didn't mean it. Also, I'm serious about what I said. I can make it possible."

Leaving those words to her, I never heard a reply to her on my way back to the classroom. If I told her that Nami succeeded in having Ogawa confess to her, she'll probably be more surprised. And if I also told her that I stole Nami from him, she'll probably be left in shock.

Her type might seem to be hard to crack but if you show her that you're interested in her and then neglect her after a period of time, she'll soon be the one to approach you and ask you why you suddenly stopped approaching her. Of course, it also depends on your effort on how you show your interest in her. If it's all superficial, it won't work.

I just don't know what she saw from Ogawa.

Ah. His Passive Chick Magnet most probably.

And yeah, it's not like I wanted to steal her. There's no point, for now.

She's Nami's friend so I thought of befriending her as well. That's the only reason I approached her.

Nothing special happened during the 7th period and the class ended normally. Chii's request to talk to Fukuda can be done anytime so I don't think I need to do it today.

I saw her looking at me before going out of the classroom together with their group.

Haa. That Chii. She said she didn't know if she still loves me or anything but she also said that she couldn't stop thinking about me.

Isn't that the same as saying she still likes me? I don't really know what to do with her. She's my target when she still hasn't revealed her past with me but now...

Do I like her? If so, which do I like? The Chii of the past or the Chii of this present? Or is it both?

Haa... I want to talk to her more but earlier, I could feel how afraid she was to be seen as boring again by me.

I'll think about it. It's no use in forcing myself to come up with a solution with this.

Satsuki went out first since even if there's no practice their club will hold a meeting, maybe it's related to their upcoming game.

Nami also went out with her friends and Ogawa after saying goodbye to me. I also want to spend time with her after school but yeah, there's no time yet.

Ogawa has also started changing the way he looks at me. That kind of friendly yet dumb face of his was slowly being replaced by his gloom. He's probably soon to erupt from always seeing Nami and I showing this kind of affection to each other. We never had a chance to talk again, so maybe he'll confront me soon?

Ah. It's not like he can do anything. I have a lot lined up today so I'm just exhausting myself thinking about that guy. Aya was already waiting for me. I'll bring her to the Literature Club and introduce her to Kana and maybe to Rae as well.

Since I finished her novel, Kana will surely be happy if I talk to her about my feedback about it in entirety.

After that, I'll go to the Student Council again to do a little secretary work. Though I still haven't changed Shizu-senpai's view of me, at least she's not that against me anymore. I don't know if I can have her open up to me but that will need a lot more time. Her shell was thicker than Aya's. There's also the book Haruko gave her that's why she managed to get out of her shell faster.

Afterwards, Satsuki's time in the Gymnasium and then lastly picking up Aya to go home with Shio.

Err... this is a long day for me. Well, it's not like it will be tiring. In fact, most of it will be a relaxing time.