Stealing Spree

"Onoda-kun. You’re in the Student Council, right? How did you get recruited?"

After some basic questions which included their inquiry about my standing in our class which I truthfully answered in a joking tone saying ’I’m the most popular guy’, Eri switched her line of questioning with a detail that’s not a secret to them anymore.

I switched out my humble disposition to a bragging one and playfully answered, "How, huh? Let’s see. The president heard of my popularity. They went to meet me and took me in as their personal secretary."

I intentionally used a neutral pronoun to hide that the president is a girl. It’s quite obvious that if I didn’t, her questioning would just spiral down into trying to figure out how close I am to Shizu or who she is to me. After the reveal of my relationship with Fuyu, these girls will surely not be able to calm down.

Let’s save that reveal for when I cannot hide it anymore.

"Pfft. You’re still insisting on your popularity. Okay. Let’s say that’s the truth. Why a personal secretary and not just a normal member like someone who can deal with general affairs?"

"Because they wanted to observe me closely."

"Heh... So, what happened to the trial?"

"Apparently I did a great enough job that they didn’t want to let me go anymore. Basically, I trapped myself into the position." I shrugged and then smirked while flaunting my excellence.

Finding that hilarious, Eri burst out laughing before handing a follow-up question.

On the other hand, Futaba dismissively rolled her eyes as though she was not impressed with

Me.

And lastly, Fuyu looked up at me, her eyes seemingly trying to see through my deepest thoughts. If I’m not wrong, she’s already equating the possibility that the president is one of my girls.

"I can but... how should I say it? I’m too kind to turn down the president. I saw how they’re struggling in the position. They’re kind of strict and authoritarian yet they keep doing things on their own. They only handed tasks to the other members without properly communicating with them."

"Geez. What a kind soul you are, Onoda-kun. Does that mean you took pity on the president?" This girl... I guess she’s now invested to know more about Shizu, huh?

Everything I said was the truth. I only hid the fact that I helped her break out of her shell and made her fall for me.

Well, it’s still an interesting tale even without those details.

"No. I don’t think they’re pitiable. It’s just... I believed they needed the push I could provide. So I accepted the role."

"Wow... You sound like a really kind and reliable guy there, Onoda-kun." Eri did a slow clap and sarcastically smirked at me. But from her glittery eyes, I could pick out that she was really impressed with me.

"Hmm? Am I not kind and reliable in your eyes?"

Before answering, Eri looked at Akane who was just silently listening from my side and busily playing with my hand.

"You are but Onoda-kun. you kept running away from Akane in the past. We can’t help but also see you as a frivolous bastard who doesn’t know how to appreciate someone as sincere and devoted as Akane. She also kept defending you from us so... we didn’t do anything to confront you over and over."

Ah. Of course, that’s how they’re going to see me back then. But that last part... so that’s what happened, huh? Because of Akane, they didn’t pester me after confronting me once wherein the result was also me running away from them.

... I could remember that instance because my ’desire to steal them’ somehow got triggered when they blocked my way back then. I ran away before I could put them on my list of targets. In their eyes, they surely thought I was a bastard for running away without answering. "Also, we noticed how you’re looking out for us. Do you know what Eri said? "That Onoda. He must be a real tsundere for our Akane’."

Not long after Eri finished speaking, Futaba followed up with that.

Tsundere... Ugh. I never expected to be labeled with that term. But looking at it from their perspective, I truly looked like a tsundere if I kept looking out for them despite my constant escaping from their group.

"Oh! You’re right. I did say that before. I mean, isn’t he one? Hehe. See, he pretended not to care about Akane but he’s always there when she’s in trouble. And to an extent, we got included in his blanket of protection. That must be how Fuyu also got so conscious of him." "... I can’t deny that." The girl in my arms also chirped in before the three of them stared at Akane.

"Heh. You hear that husband? That’s why I never lost hope. See, my wait has paid off. You returned to me." Akane happily giggled before she squeezed in further to my side, hugging me tightly. After that, she looked at her three friends and continued, "Fuyu falling in love with husband is expected and I don’t see anything wrong with it. We can love him together. Ruki also loves us both. I believe in him. Besides, do you remember how many girls have we seen involved with him? A lot, am I right? I’m certain they are just like us. Hopelessly in love with this sinful guy."

Ah... She really went and said it. Is she not worried about how they’ll take that?

But then again, she’s talking about the past. It’s pretty hard to connect that to the present.

No. Wait... They can do that...

Not long after Akane finished speaking, what I just thought was proven by Eri. "Whoa. Akane. What are you saying? Shouldn’t you be wary of them? Fuyu may be fine for you and us... But what if they showed up in front of Onoda-kun again? Oh, wait. I remembered. Onoda-kun’s close friends who watched the Interhigh with us... aren’t some of them familiar?"

... Yeah. They already met Ririka, Yae, and the others who went with us last week. They even watched Sena’s match where I sat among their club members.

Akane and Yae managed to spin their identity as my close friends... but now, because of what Akane said, Eri remembered them.

And sure enough, even Futaba was suddenly intrigued.

Before long, their eyes refocused back on me as though inquiring if what they were thinking

Was correct.

... How did we arrive at this point when Eri was just asking me about my role in the Student Council? How mystifying.

In any case, it’s not like I can just deny them.

I calmly smiled, not displaying any ripple on my expression, "What do you mean familiar? They’re all from the same middle school as us. Some of them are even popular. But well, I get it. You’re wondering how close I am to them, right? With Akane saying that she didn’t mind the girls I was involved with before, you were already suspecting them to be the same girls."

"y-yeah. You nailed it, Onoda-kun. So, which is it?"

"I’m also curious. You can’t be multi-timing, right? You’re not going to be that shameless..."

"I’m shameless but all I can say is... I care about all of them. It’s up to you how you interpret that though. What do you think, Fuyu?"

I turned to the girl in my arms who probably already come to terms that they might just really be the same as her. She looked at me with a complicated expression before saying...

"... I’m jealous. You have to love us more than them, Ruki-kun."

"Mhm. Didn’t I already tell you how much I love you? No one else can exceed that."

Although she looked unconvinced, Fuyu converted her brooding negative feelings into action.

Since she was already on my lap, the girl twisted her body to wrap her arm around my head. With her bright red lips parted open, she’s inviting me to kiss her.

Of course, Akane also moved and did the same.

Because of this, Eri and Futaba were suddenly faced with an awkward situation, witnessing

Their two friends vying for my full attention.

I heard Futaba audibly sighing. I had no idea what that meant. Eri, on the other hand, didn’t say anything. She just remained at her spot, watching over us.

And so, I properly responded to Akane and Fuyu right in front of them, giving them a kiss full

Of my affection and passion.

Of course, this wouldn’t get us out of the current topic but at the very least, this threw the

Current mood off.

I did answer what I think of the girls anyway. It’s already up to Eri or Futaba to continue in this line of questioning or veer away from it.

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