Stealing Spree

It’s the same room that I had already been to many times before. However, I could certainly feel the invisible pressure pressing down on my shoulders.

Am I afraid to meet her?

No.

What I was afraid of was if the way she would look at me now had already changed.

She cried the last time I was here. And although I returned and held her in my arms, nothing about our situation had changed.

I saw her last when I walked Nami to her house and back then, we didn’t really have the chance to talk to each other. She messaged me once on Messenger but that’s it.

I never ran into her these past few days and even if I messaged her, she’s only responding normally and we never had any decent conversation.

I also didn’t try to push it lest she found it annoying.

That’s why this would be the first time we would see and talk to each other since Monday.

When I opened the door to the Student Council and scanned the interior to see if she’s already sitting at her table. However, aside from the couple of Secretary and Treasurer that were already inside, Shizu and that Vice President that had a dog in his name were still nowhere in sight.

I thought I was already late…

Anyway, it’s fine like this. Shizu might find it awkward if I apologized to her again for being late when my excuse would be because I spent time with my girls

After greeting the two, I went to the corner where I was making tea.

Since Mina made a whole container, I thought of sharing that with them, or especially Shizu. I just needed to heat it for a while.

Following that, I began sorting Shizu’s table, tidying it before she arrived.

When the couple saw me, they couldn’t help but raise a question.

“Onoda-kun, you’re hard at work. Why don’t you join us here?”

Watanabe, the SC Treasurer and a fellow 1st-year student asked. If I recall correctly, she was recruited to the council by her boyfriend right during the first week of the school year. Shizu approved of her because… the former Treasurer that she appointed last year when she won transferred to another school. Seeing that she’s not that keen to look for someone to replace that treasurer, Shizu settled with her.

As for that Secretary, he’s a third-year senior who… supported Shizu’s run for the Student Council.

From what I heard, that was quite a landslide for Shizu’s side, despite being a first-year running against a second-year who was already well known by most students, they still picked her as the new Student Council President.

And… well, that second-year student who lost against her was actually Inugaki. She appointed him as her Vice President as a consolation to his loss. In the end, that guy ended up liking her. His popularity waned and was replaced with Shizu’s popularity. Of course, what’s popular was the Shizu wearing the mask. Not the Shizu I pulled out of her shell.

“No, it’s fine Watanabe-san. I’d rather not become the third wheel.” I politely declined before continuing with what I was doing.

However, Watanabe seemed to be keen on talking to me and perhaps knowing about why I was suddenly appointed as Shizu’s personal Secretary even if there’s already the Secretary of the Student Council in the form of her boyfriend.

“You’re not going to be a third wheel! We’re curious, you know. How did you become President’s…”

She didn’t finish her words but it was already implied what she was asking about.

The Secretary then also said something as a support for his girl and perhaps because he’s also as curious as her.

“President isn’t known to be the sociable kind but… this year, she approved of that club and used them for odd jobs. They’re her friends, right? But you, Onoda-kun, you seem to be not part of it. Could it be that you’re actually her…?”

He also trailed his voice as if he’s afraid to complete it.

Taking precaution in case Shizu suddenly arrives, huh?

These two… I understand what they’re trying to do here. They’re trying to corner me to say something about my relationship with Shizu.

Are they bored out of their minds?

These two were already lucky. If not for me stopping my stealing spree, then I would already put Watanabe on my list to steal.

And now they’re trying to pull gossip from my mouth.

In any case, their questions were somewhat intrusive but it’s not like I didn’t have an answer to that. An answer that would mislead their thoughts.

“Let’s just say, I caught her eye. She thought I was so hateful that she wanted to straighten me up.”

In a sense that’s the truth. She found my ‘cheating’ to be too hateful and she wanted me to be a good boyfriend for Nami.

In the end, she found out that my ‘cheating’ was something Nami accepted and she also found herself falling for me when I pulled her mask off, discovering her real personality.

“Hateful in what way?”

“In the way I do things, I guess.”

I shrugged and completely put their questioning to a halt.

The two began whispering with each other but… it’s loud enough for me to hear.

“See, I told you, they’re not in that kind of relationship. I’m sure even her friends in that club weren’t that close to her.”

“Don’t conclude it yet… She said that Onoda-kun was temporary. But now, he’s already part of the council. Besides, ever since he arrived, it’s the President who somehow changed.”

After saying that, Watanabe then turned her head back to me.

“I don’t know if you’re aware but I can hear you two…” I commented after I finished sorting Shizu’s table.

“That’s intentional, Onoda-kun. Hehe. But it’s true Onoda-kun, what did you do to our tyrannical president?” Watanabe admitted while subtly scratching her head to appear silly with her question.

However, she didn’t notice that as soon as she reached the last two words, the door opened and Shizu entered the room.

“Tyrannical? Do I appear like that to you?”