Stealing Spree

On my way down to our floor after sending Kana back to their classroom, I peeled my eyes and ears open for any possible rumors, gossip, and events that would be of some use to me.

Unfortunately, those wouldn’t just conveniently pop up just because I was there. I turned up with nothing. Only some were hanging out by the hallways and most were just moving from one classroom to another.

Obviously, my presence there was clearly out of place. And that led some senior students to curiously look at me. Most likely, they’re wondering why I was there in the first place. Yet, none of them started a conversation or asked a question to satisfy that curiosity.

I could attribute that to my act as a harmless junior, meekly going down the steps. It’s convincing enough to find me uninteresting. It’s also a bit of luck that I didn’t run into someone who knows me by my face; Like the seniors from Satsuki’s Basketball Club, the ones from the Game Club, or those from the clubs I visited with Shizu.

I also didn’t run into Shizu, Haruko, and the others. I didn’t message them that I was upstairs given the time I went up with Kana. Besides, I was a little apprehensive that Edel would suddenly jump in my arms even if we already talked about that.

I was aware that I wouldn’t be able to refuse her if that koala did that. Although I could probably handle the outcome, my face and name would be known to more people. That would restrict my movements when my plan to be seen as a guy with many ‘girl’ friends was still in progress.

If everything went well then there would come a time when I would even seek out Edel myself.

As each staircase was just ten-odd steps, it didn’t take long for me to reach the ground floor. The hallway was still rather populated as those who left the School Building or went to the cafeteria had just started to come back, hurrying even.

However, right as I walked out of the staircase area and approached the restrooms close to it, I ran into a rather interesting sight.

Well, calling it interesting might be pushing it. And no, it’s not about a girl or anything. It’s Fukuda and his cohorts leaving the men’s bathroom along with some other delinquent-looking students. Judging from their uniforms they’re all 1st years.

They’re all laughing together on their way out of the bathroom as if they just did something amusing inside.

Did they take a dump together? That was truly hilarious if that’s the case.

“Heh. Have you heard that guy begging for mercy? He’s scared shitless when we didn’t even put a hand on him.”

“Right? He almost showered himself with his piss. Who’s that again? A popular guy from Class 4?”

“Yeah. I heard from the girl in their class. He’s within the Top 5. I guess he’s only that much.

Oh. These guys. I don’t know if they’re just idiots or fearless. It sounded like they just bullied someone from the bathroom. The other students who heard them quickened their steps, probably scared that they would be spotted and picked on by them.

As for me, since they all swiftly turned towards the same direction I was treading, they were oblivious of my presence behind them.

After getting a few more kicks from what they just did, Fukuda who was walking at the front and giving off the most intimidating presence among them cut them off.

“Enough. You guys are making it sound like we just bullied someone. What would we do if someone reported us? That will put a bad record on our names.”

“Fukuda-san said it right!”

“Yeah! Bullying is just a method used by insecure weaklings. They pick on the weak to appear strong.”

As if on cue, his followers who I couldn’t bother to remember the name did their jobs as his yes-man. Even though it was one of them who first babbled his mouth.

When I passed by the bathroom, I spied the one they were laughing at. The guy had disheveled hair and uniform but he was in no way hurt. His crotch was wet though. Whether that was made by Fukuda’s gang or not, I had no idea.

But when the guy saw me looking at him, he immediately turned around and retreated inside.

He’s ashamed, huh? Well, even if he was bullied by them, it’s not my obligation to console him.

I’m not an ally of justice and… I also abhor that kind of behavior. If he’s a man, why can’t he stand up for himself? If what they’re saying is true then he got scared just by their presence. I pity the girl he’s dating if there’s any. The guy would surely turn tail and run away by himself if ever they were put under a difficult situation. More than the bullies or the unreasonable delinquents, I hate those kinds of guys the most. Cowards.

Well, I left him alone and continued on my steps, shadowing Fukuda’s group. I could hasten my steps and walk past them but there’s no point. I’d still reach the classroom anyway, why make an extra effort?

Besides, I could pick up something from their idiotic conversations. They already prided themselves as delinquents. That alone was enough to mark them as problematic students. Regardless of being a bully or not.

When we reached the classroom, Fukuda and his gang entered through the door that was closer to their seats at the back. However, on his way in, Fukuda spotted me.

His confident gaze instantly crumbled and was replaced with a frown.

“You. Onoda, did you hear?” He asked.

That’s short and lacking in context. Yet, with the way he stopped and blocked my way forward, he wanted me to answer whatever he was talking about.

“Hear what? That you scared someone in the bathroom? Yeah. That’s great of you. Is that what you meant by being part of the strong?” Without pulling any breaks, I frankly told him what I heard from them before tying it up to his words when he was still trying to recruit me to their group.

Perhaps hearing Fukuda’s voice, those from the other classes that continued on their steps towards their classroom stopped and looked behind. Furthermore, Fukuda’s lackeys who entered before him turned around to check out what was happening.

Obviously, the attention of those sitting near the door and hearing our voices also looked on curiously.

“That’s—” Fukuda looked as though he was about to explain himself but upon noticing the attention we gathered, he gulped down and recomposed himself. “—Nah. That’s not being strong. If you heard then it’s not our fault he got scared. The guy is just a scaredy-cat.”

Good answer. But he already made that earlier blunder.

“Oh… I see. Keep it up then.” I shrugged before resuming my steps. When I passed by him, I tapped his shoulder before continuing towards the other door to our classroom.

But waiting for me there were the other two delinquents from the other class. They looked at me as though I was an enemy that they wanted to defeat. Too bad for them, I ignored them and entered our classroom.

Incidentally, Chii was standing near the teacher’s table, chatting with Kanzaki about something.

When she saw me entering, the girl quickly excused herself and ran towards me like a pet dog welcoming her owner, wagging her tail in the process.

And at the same time as that, Fukuda who probably gathered his wits entered from the other door, catching this scene in full view.