Stealing Spree

As we walked side by side outside the Club Building and towards the Baseball Club, Shizu and I began gathering attention from whoever we would run into or whoever would see us.

Even without the popularity she garnered as the Student Council President, just by her beauty alone, it’s enough for anyone to stop at what they’re doing and admire her, even from afar.

As for me, I was mostly ignored.

‘Mostly’ because there were still those fanatics who would send me envious glances as if they wanted to take my place and walk beside her themselves.

Shizu calmly received those stares directed at her as she was already used to those kinds of eyes looking at her with admiration ever since perhaps their middle school.

On the contrary, the girl whispered to me that she was elated to know that some of those students would speculate about our relationship with each other.

Perhaps she’s hoping that even without doing anything, our relationship would gradually become established in those students’ minds.

Although not as direct as to what she admitted earlier wherein she wanted someone to see us and believe that we’re in a relationship, it’s the same idea.

We both love each other but we couldn’t take the final step because of our different views on how our relationship should evolve.

Well, even if that’s what she was hoping to gradually take form and become an established fact, I didn’t really mind those envious glares.

Just because we’re being seen walking side by side didn’t mean it would instantly evolve to the student body believing that we’re a couple. Even if it became a rumor, it would die down instantly.

Perhaps even that Inugaki would help put the fire down and reveal that I was just Shizu’s lackey for his own peace of mind.

Furthermore, unless those fans of hers saw us particularly intimate or flirty with each other, they would also deny it for the same reason.

That’s why… what she was hoping to happen only had a slim chance of being materialized.

It’s not that I don’t like being seen as the guy she’s dating, I am even somewhat exhilarated with the thought. However, that isn’t ideal for us, especially when I am already known as a boyfriend for Kana, Satsuki, Aya and Nami.

Our walk towards the Baseball Club soon came to an end as we finally arrived before the entrance to the baseball field.

This was the place where I first kissed Saki this Monday. Compared to back then where it was empty and we managed to do what we aimed to, it was now populated by the club members, the club managers and their coach or advisor that was wearing our school’s tracksuit.

At the moment the 40 or so members of the club were all lined up properly in front of their coach who was shouting something towards them while pointing at two club members kneeling down at the forefront, their faces swelling from a punch.

Even if we couldn’t hear what he was saying, it’s easy to guess when a broken pitching machine could be seen next to him.

That was the machine that was reported to be intentionally broken by some of the baseball club members.

With broke, I mean it was totally broken as if it was bashed by metal bats.

No. It was really smashed by those bats. It was too obvious when two bent metal bats were also placed in front of the two and their hands were even bandaged.

I wonder. Should I guess their story on why they bashed that machine to oblivion like they were venting their anger to it?

Ah. It’s useless to think about that when Shizu would already get the whole story in a while.

As we entered the field and walked towards where they were gathering, the sounds of their voices toned to the point that it became a whisper. Moreover, most of those at the forefront who were most likely the starting regular members immediately put a scowl on their faces.

And it’s easy to guess why they did that.

They recognized Shizu and they probably thought that the Student Council meddling with their issue when they could resolve it internally was unacceptable.

Their coach was one thing to lecture them about that broken machine and their undisciplined club members but now, Shizu would dip her hands on it. No wonder they scowled inside of being enamored by her arrival.

And this was probably also the reason why Shizu chose to come instead of sending that couple. If they saw these scowling faces, especially from these bulky third years who were probably sluggers of the baseball team, that Secretary would surely shake on his knees from being too intimidated.

In any case, apart from those in the regulars or specifically the seniors, the first and second years behind them had their eyes immediately trained onto Shizu. Some even outright blushed upon seeing her before their face turned gloomy when they recognized who she was.

And in response to that, Shizu scanned her gaze towards the baseball club members and to the two culprits still kneeling with their heads hung low. The broken machine and the bent metal bats also didn’t escape her gaze

Despite seeing their scowls and the other members’ reactions, Shizu’s expression never fluctuated. She was calmly discerning if there might be some other detail that she missed.

“Sensei, are they the culprit? What is their motive for destroying something that isn’t theirs? No. Even if it is the club’s property, it was still not their right to deliberately destroy something.”

After greeting the coach who seemingly calmed his anger down after seeing her, Shizu once again went straight to the reason why she’s here.

And although she’s the one talking, I kept my position to stand next to her, keeping my presence high.

I arrived here with her so no one really asked who I am or what I am doing here. They naturally considered me as part of the Student Council so… like with Shizu, they were looking at me with unfriendly eyes.

If I recall correctly, there’s someone in our class that joined this club but with the regulars blocking my view, I couldn’t find him.

Well, it’s understandable since they’re 1st years, unless he’s like Satsuki who was exceptional and was a much-needed player, first years were often at the bottom of the pile. They would spend their club days just training without even having a chance to play on a practice game.

Besides, it’s not like the baseball club here was great despite being a popular club. They could barely pass the district tournament and got eliminated at the 1st round of the next stage of the last Spring Tournament that was held this March.

For these two to intentionally destroy something that was only donated for the betterment of their club, something must’ve happened that led to that action.

“Ah. Asakura. Yes, they are the culprit. However, the motive isn’t clear yet. These two… Tanaka and Kusakabe will not say anything and they’re also not saying anything about what happened to these two.”

After he confirmed Shizu’s question, he then pointed at the regulars and his anger began to rise up again.

That’s the reason why he was shouting earlier. The seniors of the club were hiding something.

“Hmm? As I’ve seen it, they are already punished. Will they really not say it or they were already told not to say it?”

At this point, Shizu probably already had a guess for the reason why they did that as her eyes shifted back to the regulars or specifically to the Captain of the Baseball Club.