Chapter 748 - So, You Noticed

With her proposed activity being approved by me, Eguchi-sensei energetically presented it to the students while not being aware that she was exhibiting a contrasting attitude to how she usually was.

It surprised everyone but not enough for them to completely change their perception of her. Most of them only interpreted it as Eguchi-sensei having a good mood.

Nonetheless, Eguchi-sensei didn’t put that to mind as she’s already content at seeing her students enjoy the activity she prepared. The lecture that followed it in connection to the activity also became well-received by the students.

Well, as her Student Assistant, I only joined the activity before assisting her on that lecture.

Somehow, that ended up making me more well-known to the students of Class 4. Rae, who was surrounded by her friends, sent me a thumbs up when our gazes met while Sachi, the Volleyball Girl, still had that meaningful smile when I caught her looking in my direction. On the other hand, my girls from our class were either giggling or smirking whenever my eyes would rest on them. It’s as if they’re telling me ‘Let’s see if you won’t be popular after this.’.

They’re not wrong… Every time I would go to their classroom by acting as Shio’s Student Assistant, their curiosity or interest in me would surely go up even if it’s just a little. Then there’s also this time during PE when my ‘work’ was even more prominent. For example, last Friday during the basketball match. I got more exposed to the girls from Class 3 where Itou and Misaki were in.

Nonetheless, those curiosities and interests would definitely have a limit. In time, they’d just treat it as a normal occurrence. I’m not Ogawa with his chick magnet passive skill that could make someone attracted to him just by standing in a corner or talking and helping someone once after all.

I was still safe, I guess?

Anyway, my wish to win that bet was just a way for me to retain my ‘Classmate A’ status, not me wanting to beat my girls in their own game. Popular or not, my priority would still be my girls. So there’s that.

I stopped thinking about students’ attention soon after and just waited until the lecture was over.

-

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Minutes after the PE class, my feet led me back to the Club Building or more specifically, the empty clubroom where we ate earlier. My uniform was stored there, the same with my girls who also changed there.

Actually, I didn’t get to see them changing earlier. Not because I left to see Eguchi-sensei but because they asked me to turn around and not peek.

That’s kind of useless when I already saw all of them naked, right? But still, I guess that’s just how it was for women. They’d still be embarrassed if someone watched them change.

Ah. No… Chii was also there. They probably did that for her, right? I mean, Chii and I still hadn’t progressed to the point of showing each other’s naked body.

In any case, because Eguchi-sensei asked me to stay for a while to evaluate her lesson and activity for today, they probably already returned to our classroom.

Or so I thought…

As I opened the door to the empty clubroom, someone pulled me inside and promptly pushed the door close.

With my reflexes, I could easily resist but I didn’t do so because obviously, the culprit was one of my girls. It’s not any of the six earlier but someone else… Someone I made plans with today.

However, before I could even greet her, her arms were already hooked around my neck and tiptoed on her heels to reach my lips.

With her glasses on, its rim was the first thing I felt as it fit my nose before her soft lips pressed on mine.

My arms wrapped around her body and slightly lifted her off the ground as I returned that kiss which she welcomed wholeheartedly.

Her hands crawled to the back of my head and clutched a clump of my hair and her legs also hooked around my back, resulting in me carrying her weight completely.

She’s light so it didn’t matter for me but still I walked us to the middle of the room and sat her down on top of the table before continuing.

This kind of surprise that evolved into a passionate kiss filled with both longing and affection lasts for more than five minutes or until we both need to regulate our breathing.

“I thought this would surprise you. You’ve proven my knowledge wrong once more.”

“Not really. You surprised me. I just adapted to it. By the way, let me…”

I fixed her glasses and combed her disheveled hair with my fingers before sitting down next to her. Her slightly bitter smile relaxed completely as she lifted my arm to snuggle to my side.

We were both sweaty from the earlier activity but Rae disregarded that as she pushed her nose to my chest, sniffing my body odor. After a while, she climbed up to my lap as she wasn’t satisfied with just sitting at my side.

It’s been a while since we’ve been alone together. The last time was when I brought her to that clubroom with a sofa where we talked about how I was still broken.

“Are we still on with our agreement? What do you want to know this time?”

“I guess we’re past that point. You’re now capable of thinking for yourself without relying on your vast knowledge.”

“You know, Ruki? Sometimes, you’re really irritating by being an idiot. That’s not what our agreement entails. It’s my time to relax around you and it’s your time to widen the scope of your knowledge.”

“You’re right.” I scratched my head and laughed awkwardly which then earned me a pinch on my cheek from the annoyed glasses girl.

And as if that’s not enough, she cupped my cheeks and pressed her forehead on mine. With our eyes blocking each other’s view, there’s no other choice but to stare at one another.

After a while, she pulled away slightly.

“I love you, you idiot. And I’m truly grateful for changing my one-track mind. Those friends I told you? They’re now more natural around me. But sometimes, they’re teasing me about why I stopped saying ‘Based on my knowledge’. How should I answer it?”

“Mhm… I love you too. And you don’t have to be grateful. Like I said, I only gave you a push. As for how to answer that. Let’s see… Isn't it just a simple case of telling the truth? Why not tell them that your boyfriend told you so…?”

Wait. I just contradicted myself with that answer.

“Look at this guy, how I wish I had a book in my hand to smack you with. You just contradicted yourself. Saying not to be grateful but then telling them that I changed because of you. But you’re right… I want to see their surprised faces upon learning that I have one. What will you do if they ask me to meet you?”

“You know, you don’t have to be roundabout it. You already told them, right? And they asked you to introduce me to them. Or if not that, they figured it out and they wanted to know if I’m serious about you.”

Right. This girl intentionally steered our conversation around it but her eyes and gestures betrayed her.

Rae’s hand slid off my cheeks before she lowered her head and grimaced slightly as if she messed up. “… So, you noticed.”

“Mhm, it’s a little obvious earlier. The way they looked at me was as if they’re weighing me out if I’m good enough for you. But it’s fine. They’re your close friends, right? It’s natural for them to be a little protective of you.” I lifted her chin to make her look at me again. I placed my thumb on her lips that’s still a little wet from earlier before caressing it gently.

“If they want to talk to me, then so be it… I know you’re thinking about how it will be detrimental for us but it’s not a big deal as long as they keep it to themselves. Just like how the Basketball Club, Nami’s circle and Kana’s friends understood that it’s a secret.”

There’s no other choice but to ask them to keep it a secret after all. Unless we stopped caring about what the others would think about the nature of relationships, keeping it secret was the only way.

“Uh… Still, the reason they found it was because I slipped. Isn’t this my fault?”

“It might be. But that doesn’t matter anymore, Rae. I mean, there’s the option for you to deny it but will you like that?”

“N-no. I think I want to brag about you to them. Make them speechless..” Rae quickly shook her head and declared.