Stealing Spree

Both of us didn't say anything else after that but her tears continued to escape her eyes. In the end, the hand that I was using to wipe the tears off her face became so drenched from it that I had to use my handkerchief to continue.

After doing that, I left it in her hand before standing up.

"I will get us our lunch. Can you wait for me here?"

Amidst her sniffs and quiet sobs, Hina weakly nodded her head.

Upon seeing that, I caressed her head and lifted her chin.

"I'm going to kiss you."

Although that didn't sound like I was asking for permission which I promised to do for her, Hina nodded once more.

She's confused and she's undecided. But here I was, taking advantage of this state of hers.

However, at the moment, this was all I could do. I couldn't leave her here while crying like this. At least, I wanted to stop her tears first.

As I slowly lowered my head to take her lips, Hina clung to my arm and gradually moved it towards my back.

"Ruki…" Hina whispered right before our lips touched. This kiss was unlike what we shared before this, it's soft, gentle and… calming. Calming for her and perhaps for me as well.

Even if I refuse to admit it, the fact that Hina continues to like Ogawa despite everything that happened somehow gets to me. I want her to be mine, naturally, losing wasn't in my vocabulary before. But for her, I was now ready to accept it albeit, half-hearted.

Kissing her this time was perhaps my last attempt to appeal to her.

"Don't think about anything. This doesn't have any meaning. I just want to stop your tears."

Releasing her lips and distancing my head to look at her properly, I put on a rather fake smile.

Well, she wouldn't notice that it's fake anyway.

"Well then, I'll get my lunchbox. There's no time to line up in the cafeteria anymore."

After saying that, I left that abandoned clubroom and made my way back to the classroom.

When I entered our classroom, Ogawa was at his seat, alone. His hands were on his desk, clasped together. He appeared to be in deep thought but upon seeing me, the veins on his forehead appeared. But like always, he reeled in whatever anger he was feeling at the moment.

Although he was always glaring, he probably didn't want to create a scene in this room. He had a reputation to maintain after all. Besides, Nami, who he wanted to impress, if that was on his mind, wasn't here.

I only gave him a passing glance before approaching my seat and getting the lunch box made by Miwa-nee for me.

I thought of sharing these with the girls but because of what happened, I would be staying with Hina this whole time.

Those three even urged me to do so upon hearing what happened. But each of the three sent a separate message.

Aya cheered me wholeheartedly with a photo of her along with the lunchbox she made that they were sharing at the moment.

Nami told me to take care of Hina, no matter what, she's still concerned about her. The girl was still like that even if she was aware that Hina was holding her responsible for how Ogawa put her at his arm's length.

Unlike the other two, Satsuki was slightly grumpy because she also made something for today. A pitcher of lemonade. Well, it's in a container and it only contained enough for five glasses.

That's why to appease her, I told her to set aside my portion and I would drink it later.

Knowing her, that's probably the first time she did something like that, it would be doing her wrong if I skipped it. Moreover, lemonade held a special meaning and memory for the both of us.

To save time and also to check on the other girls, I began messaging everyone, from Akane to Ria as well as Kana, Haruko, Himeko, Rae, Mina and Chii.

However, before I could complete all that, I ran into Sakuma at the entrance of the School Building.

"Onoda, is now not a good time?"

This guy was probably looking for me for that question of his.

"Hmm? Is it urgent?"

"No. It can wait. I just thought that…"

"Sorry, Satsuki is waiting for me." I pointed at the lunchbox in my hand. "After-school is fine. Before I go to the club."

"I see. Alright." His eyes rested on the lunchbox for a few seconds before nodding his head.

Well, the guy was expected to still have a reaction when it comes to Satsuki. Imagine loving a girl for years but when you finally made up your mind to confess, you will notice that the girl is already taken by another guy. What's worse is… The guy is someone you considered a friend.

It's not that noticeable to him since I directed his attention to another girl, Satsuki's sister. But even so, seeing us together or hearing about our relationship will surely trigger that memory of his.

If he's really sincere this time and nothing happens that will make him fail, then… I'll support him. From what I hear about Satsuki's sister from Satsuki herself, she's so into Sakuma. However, that's still subjective since it was Satsuki's point of view.

That girl used the incident to get that sister of hers to step away from Sakuma once. Who knows if it was just her own interpretation of their closeness?

Ah well, let's not be pessimistic about him. I only met her once and although I saw how she interacted with Sakuma, that's not enough to conclude that she's also into him.

When I returned to the abandoned clubroom, Hina was still sitting where I left her, however, there's now another person beside her.

Arisa-senpai.

"Onoda-kun? Are you the one who made Hina cry?" With her raised eyebrows, Arisa-senpai's interrogative voice entered my ears as soon as she saw me entering the room.

And upon hearing that, Hina instantly fumbled that she almost dropped my handkerchief.

"Eh? No… You're wrong, Arisa. Ruki brought me here to calm down."

"Hmm? Is that true?"

As if not satisfied with Hina's answer, Arisa-senpai narrowed her eyes on me.

This girl. The perception of me in her eyes was probably a bad guy at this point. And it's most likely because of what I did this Monday.

"Arisa-senpai is free to doubt me. I deserved it. However, let me give this to Hina first."