Stealing Spree

Chapter 2373: Confused Girl



I returned to the Literature Club room feeling both relieved and slightly drained from the encounter. The atmosphere was noticeably tense but hopeful with the girls waiting anxiously for my return.

As soon as the door clicked shut behind me, Kana rushed to me with concern filling her eyes. "Ruki, is everything fine?"

I nodded and put on a reassuring smile before patting her head, "Of course. You don't have to worry. In the first place, that guy would never be able to lay a hand on me."

"So, what happened to that guy?" Hana asked as she also stepped forward. She went to hold me by my cheeks, moving it from left to right, checking if I got a bruise.

"Well, I won't overstep my duty so I left him to the Guidance Counselors. You know who's there, right? Also... if he still gets away from them, there's a backup right outside the door." Hana narrowed her eyes before eventually letting go of my cheek but not after pinching it. Rumi, Rae and Otsuka-senpai didn't say anything but I could tell they were just as concerned. Rumi even gestured for me to fill her in with more details later.

As for our guests, Reira and Nikka-senpai, they weren't in the clubroom when it happened but they're still curious.

"How impressive, Ruki-kun. You know. No one has made Ichihara suffer a loss more than you. I'm sure a lot of others are supporting you from behind." The natural seductress nudged her glasses as she proudly smiled.

I could see how she was holding back standing up and checking on my condition too.

I guess being in the same room as the girls who openly show concern and affection to me is limiting her. She doesn't want to be seen as a rival in their eyes. Little did she know, they wouldn't mind her doting on me as I'd already expressed to the girls my interest in her.

"Supporting from behind? I don't need it, senpai. I'm a selfish guy. I'll probably turn a blind eye to his shenanigans if I didn't get involved with Marika."

"Regardless, you're now showing everyone that he's not untouchable. That at least gets a commendation, right?"

"That's right, Onoda-kun! Even... Enomoto has started distancing himself from him. Ichihara is a hopeless case." Nikka-senpai interjected, perhaps to make me feel at ease.

Do I look disturbed though? Maybe.

"Alright. If you seniors say it like that, how can I still deflect it?" I chuckled and shrugged.

Then I felt Kana who was still hugging me, pinching my side as she lifted her head. Her thoughts were conveyed through the glimmer in her eyes.

I leaned down to kiss her, assuring her one more time that I got the handle on the situation. After that, I led us to the long table to join the others.

And there I didn't leave her side as we continued with our planning, rewrites and editing of the scenarios for the next hour or so.

With the work we did, the long table was already covered in notes and scripts filled with corrections or suggestions.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

To make sure that we'd kept track of the changes, Otsuka-senpai handled organizing it while I kept on reading through it.

Now, I'm not just a test reader anymore. I got promoted to a proofreader, ensuring coherence between lines.

I guess reading a lot has started to hone my skills.

It's also making my comprehension better. I even started to recall the details in Kana's novel that I probably missed.

In any case, when there were thirty minutes left for the club hours, I thought it was about time for me to do my clubhouse visit and rehearsal with Misaki.

I stretched, my back popping satisfyingly after a long period of sitting. Kana, who had been comfortably leaning on my chest as she remained on my lap, stirred at my movements.

She looked up, her eyes wide and innocent, and asked, "Ruki, is it time?"

I nodded smilingly as I squeezed her hand. "Mhm. I'll be back after I'm done."

"Okay... But you're not worried about... that guy, right?" She asked her brow furrowed in

concern.

I guess she's still worried about that pompous idiot retaliating against me. "Ichihara? Nah, he's not worth worrying about," I said dismissively. "By now, he's probably sulking somewhere, trying to figure out how his perfect little world got turned upside down." Kana giggled, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly. "That's true. He's the type who's always full of himself. Kenji is close to him so I know how insufferable he is."

Ah. That's right. Now that I think about it. That Goto-senpai should still be his lackey, right? Well, considering he's not accompanying him anymore, he's possibly trying to distance himself from Ichihara Jun.

"He met his match on me. He won't be able to get past my shamelessness and unbending will," I said confidently. "Besides, I have more important things to focus on. Like making sure our booth is the best one at the festival."

Kana's eyes lit up. "Oh, yes! And we have to make sure our scenarios are perfect. We want everyone to have a fun time trying out our booth. I'll write more using your suggestions,

Ruki."

"Mhm. I'm looking forward to reading it," I wrapped an arm around her and pressed my nose on her nape, enjoying the warmth of her presence.

Kana naturally melted in my embrace as she giggled in satisfaction.

After pampering her, I naturally moved over to the other girls who were already glaring at me, giving them the same treatment.

In this instance, Nikka-senpai witnessed it all already. She stared at me dumbfounded when I eventually moved over to their side. Perhaps thinking that I was also going to pamper her like I did the other girls, she closed her eyes and raised her hand to block me. But well, I wasn't going after her but to the girl next to her. When she noticed that nothing was happening, she opened her eyes again and saw me leaning down behind Reira-senpai, my arms wrapped around her neck while the lovely senior squirmed from my embrace. "T-that's enough, Ruki-kun," Reira-senpai stuttered, her cheeks flushing a deep shade of red as she tried to escape my embrace. But she couldn't resist the urge to lean into my touch slightly, revealing the softness of her heart despite her tough exterior.

At this sight, Nikka-senpai asked in confusion, "Reira? Onoda-kun? What is happening

here?"

Reira-senpai turned her head slightly to look at her, trying to maintain her composure, "N- nothing, Nikka. It's just... this junior is just persistent in pampering me before he leaves. Don't

mind us."

"What are you saying? He also did the same to the others... Eh? Are you all...?" Nikka-senpai's eyes grew wide as she looked around, noticing the other girls' reactions. They all nodded at her, subtly and openly, confirming her unspoken question.

Slowly, red crept up Nikka-senpai's neck as she realized that among the girls here, she was the only one not intimately or closely involved with me.

"... You're unbelievable Onoda-kun."

"Sorry, Nikka-senpai. Please understand. I'll be done soon. If... you're curious. You can ask

everyone."

"Eh? You won't even try making an excuse?"

"No. I mean, I like all of them and that's the truth. Too bad. Reira-senpai doesn't want to admit that she likes me too yet."

"Oi, you shameless junior. Don't go saying that out loud," Reira-senpai said, her voice a mix

of annoyance and a hint of amusement as she swatted my arm away as I released her from my

embrace.

"But it's true. I don't think I can hide it anymore, Reira-senpai," I replied with a smirk, earning me a playful glare from her.

"Enough flirting, shameless guy. Go now if you're really going and stop disrupting us." Rumi,

as the Club President, was the first to break the amusement. Yet, her stern tone still had a hint

of affection in it.

"Alright. I'm sorry. I'll return soon. Nikka-senpai, don't worry. I'll behave around you. Besides, I'll be scolded by all of them if I end up scaring you." I shrugged shamelessly which earned me a collective sigh from the girls.

Soon after that, I finally stepped out of the clubroom, promising to return as soon as my rehearsal with Misaki finished.