Stealing Spree

Minutes passed and apart from continuing to tease her to make her flustered, I didn't have that much progress with Izumi-senpai.

Comparing how much of a lovestruck girl she was to Hina who had some other intentions for chasing after Ogawa, this girl was purely and totally in love with that dense coward.

It's already a wonder that she could still like that guy when at this point, she's exchanging fewer and fewer words with him due to his severe fantasizing of a scenario wherein my relationship with Nami was nonexistent.

"Say, senpai. Before Ogawa, did you like some other guy?"

Since I already used up all my ammo for teasing her, it’s time to change my strategy.

Although unnoticeable at first, my seat had already inched closer to her. If it was around a meter earlier, I stealthily reduced the distance to half of it. At this distance, I could now easily reach for her but as always, there’s no reason to be too hasty.

I hadn't even told her yet that I'm going to steal her. All I did was tease her in order for her to ease up whenever we’re alone like this.

At this point, I already managed to do that when she stopped inching away from me. Besides, even if she often glared and raised her voice at me, I could now occasionally see a slight smile on her lips.

That’s definite progress with the little time I had spent with her.

Moreover, what I heard about her was all from Arisa-senpai's mouth. By continuing to tease her, I was slowly gathering information about this blue-haired delinquent upperclassman.

Usually, what I heard from Arisa-senpai should be enough to see an opening where I should focus on attacking. However, because she’s not this proactive prior to my relationship with Nami, a lot of new openings appeared on her defenses.

For example, when I told her I was going to help her, her previously unconscious fear she had for me lessened. Perhaps, if I hadn’t suggested that, I would still be sitting at the table I was sitting at before. Conversing with her without making any eye contact.

If not for my taking Nami to myself, she wouldn’t be this serious at trying to chase after that dense coward. However, contrary to her expectation, her greatest rival for that guy was still Nami. Even if Nami stopped fawning over him, that guy continued to fantasize about his relationship with her.

“Before Kazuo? Perhaps none. If it was only little crushes then there’s a lot.”

“Crush. That’s unexpected, considering senpai always had this aloof aura around you.”

“What do you know? Every girl or even guy like you will have a crush on someone. Isn’t that what you feel for Arisa?”

No. I don’t have time for crushes, senpai. As soon as I got interested in someone back then, I would be plotting on how to steal that girl from her boyfriend.

Even what I am feeling for Arisa-senpai wasn’t at the level of crush. Perhaps those who I admired like Ishida-senpai could be put in that category.

“No. I like Arisa-senpai. If it’s about a crush then… it’s you, Izumi-senpai. I have a crush on you.”

“Huh?! Don’t you just throw those words away easily. What ‘you like Arisa’ and ‘you have a crush on me.’? Get serious Onoda-kun.”

Perhaps she hadn’t expected my answer, Izumi-senpai was once again flustered to the point that she almost kicked the floor to flung herself away from me.

“But I am serious… Senpai, is it bad to like Arisa-senpai and have a crush on you? Isn’t this what normal boys have?”

As she lifted her gaze to scan me once again. Izumi-senpai tried to compose herself by crossing her legs, resulting in her skirt to somehow be pulled upwards, revealing her white thighs for eyes to see.

Naturally, I behaved myself by fixing my eyes to only look at her.

"I’m not telling you that it’s bad. I just can’t see why you will say that when you already have Nanami as your girlfriend. Like I told you before, stop involving Arisa with you. I still haven't forgotten what you did with her last week… The last thing she need was another stupid guy to ruin her school life once more.”

Just with the tone of her voice, this girl was clearly giving me a warning about Arisa-senpai

As always the two upperclassmen are great friends to each other.

While it might appear that Arisa-senpai was the one who always protected and supported her from everything, there were times where it's the other way around.

Just like today or like last week where she tried to reprimand me about what happened between us in front of her.

I lifted both of my arms in surrender. I knew that if I continued, it would be like last week where I had to create distance between us to communicate properly. Let’s tread this properly. I already got this close to her. To throw away my hard work to achieve this will be a huge waste.

"Alright. Calm down, senpai. What happened between Arisa-senpai and me was an impulse we failed to stop."

"Impulse, huh? Onoda-kun... You have Nanami as your girlfriend. I kept quiet about that since it involved Arisa… But you have to know when to stop, alright?" Izumi-senpai sneered as she crossed her arms.

At this point, the somewhat good vibes that we built earlier would be swept away if I continued to involve Arisa-senpai in our conversation.

Well, knowing this girl's character, I still have a chance to salvage this situation. If I carefully choose my words correctly.

“Senpai, hypothetically speaking. If you like someone, will you just stop liking him because someone told you to do so?”

“No. Of course not. But the same can’t be applied to you. You’re taken. You should be devoted to your girlfriend and stop making passes on other girls. Moreover, we’re friends with Nanami.”

What she’s saying sounds totally normal… However, she’s saying that to an abnormal guy like me.

“I see. You’re right. I should stop when all of you meet on a daily basis. But senpai, what if I told you that I’m serious about Arisa-senpai and… I’m also serious about being interested in you?”

Upon hearing my words, Izumi-senpai shook her head and sighed.

"You're nothing but a bastard then. If it's Kazuo… He…"

"If it’s him, he’ll stay devoted to the one he likes and never look at another girl. Whether he had an interest in others or not, he wouldn’t bend to any temptation.”

I finished her words for her and that immediately made Izumi-senpai downcast and with no words to refute.

She knew that it’s correct. And that’s the reason why he’s not bending no matter what kind of moves she does.

“I admit I am a bastard. I'm well aware of that. But I will never act that oblivious just to stall. If I don’t like someone, I will frankly tell it to her, the same way I tell someone I like her. How do you think I got Nami when she was as infatuated as you towards Ogawa? Moreover, there's no point comparing Ogawa to me, senpai. You, yourself clearly see the difference between us. Even if you're a lovestruck girl, you're not an idiot like him."

Midway through my words, Izumi-senpai opened her mouth but failed to give a response, leading to me continuing to talk. With her scrutinizing eyes that appeared to stab through me, I could see how she's trying to formulate a response but in the end, failed to do so.

That’s why instead of stopping here, I continued.

"I also admit that you're right about me last week, senpai. I'm a dangerous guy… If I like someone, I will work my way to that someone's heart. Regardless if she already likes someone else or not.”

“As you can see, I am not mincing my words to you. Let me give you my straightforward thoughts at the moment…"

As I continued talking, Izumi-senpai continued to digest it resulting in her scrutinizing expression twisting in utter confusion. Her crossed arms tightened and her crossed legs switched position while she started taking in a deep breath.

Perhaps, at this moment, she’s starting to fear me once again since her eyes alternated between me and the door.

"Ah. If you're thinking I'm a creep then… Will this be fine?" I lifted my seat and moved away from her front where the door was directly behind me.

And as expected, she secretly released a relieved sigh before continuing to process every word I said.

Settling down my seat slightly closer to her, I leaned forward and reached for her cheek, slipping my fingers to the back of her ears and cupping her cheek onto my palm.

"This is my honest thought at the moment, senpai. I like you. Instead of trying too hard for Ogawa to look at you, can I take care of you instead?"

As expected, Izumi-senpai flinched at what I did. However, with my gaze focused on her, she also somewhat got absorbed in it.

In the end, she released another sigh.

"Haa… Did you do or say something similar to this to Arisa yesterday? You left early and… she asked me what I thought about you when the program ended."

“I did tell her that I’m interested in her. But I got shot down almost immediately so I took a step back.”

Narrating it as if it's a common occurrence, Izumi-senpai shot an incredulous look at me. “You’re not denying it?”

I slowly shook my head and smiled at her.

“There’s no point doing that, senpai. I told you. Ogawa and I are vastly different from each other. I like Arisa-senpai as she is… In the first place, the chemistry between us is too good. You’re a witness to that. That’s why I got to the point of wanting to know more about her. If there was ever a past that she wanted to bury or if it was something that scarred her, I want to understand it. And if I can help her to get past that, I will gladly do everything in my power to succeed.”

“As for you, I admire your dedication, not just for your affection towards Ogawa but also for how you seem to be that good of a friend towards her. In that same sense, I also admire Arisa-senpai for being that supportive of your pursuit of happiness.” I smiled before pulling my arm back to give her a sense of relief. “You can both call me a bastard or any other names with this, senpai. And perhaps, you can also steer away from me if you find this repulsive. But even if I said that I like you and Arisa-senpai. My love for Nami will stay the same.”

As Izumi-senpai listened to my words attentively, she got confused again upon hearing my last sentence.