Chapter 325: Barely On Time

"Suzuki-san, can I ask you something?"

When I felt the silence building up inside the car, I also felt the need to break it.

After dropping Mizuki at their school gates, the car turned back and was now on its way to my school.

Mizuki insisted on having Suzuki-san drive me near my school after all. Although I could still ride the train and not be late, I took the offer to make that girl satisfied.

However, ever since we left the vicinity of their school, I only heard Suzuki-san once when asked me for directions.

Like an obedient employee, she only nodded when I answered her and stopped asking any unnecessary things.

Well, she was already like this before so it's not surprising.

Of course, I could pass the time talking to my girls on my phone. However, after a year of not being with Mizuki as well as my realization of what I'm feeling for her, I wanted to hear what happened during that time.

Unlike Otoha who's not dabbling in their family's affairs, Mizuki was already involved in their businesses.

The Hasegawa Family's main line of business was real estate and residence buildings as well as hotels and restaurants. One could say that Himeko and Maaya's Itou Family was a competition of their family when it comes to the latter two.

However, being a Noble Family, they had deeper roots than the Itou Family who's only rising from the last 20 years.

Ah. I knew of that because of the article about their family which served as an advertisement to grant a brand on their family name.

And since Himeko was somewhat of an introvert, her knowledge about it was only at the surface. Her little sister, on the other hand, was probably like Mizuki now.

As I waited for Suzuki-san to answer me, I glanced outside the car window. Seeing the unfamiliar neighborhood and how the people walk about to live their lives, I once again reaffirmed that I'm someone too ignorant about the ways of the world. I spent the five years working only towards satisfying my desire while ignoring everything else.

It's a good thing to realize it this time, however… I'm still not normal. I still have that desire to steal someone.

At the moment, I don't have a target to steal from someone else.

Shizu and Arisa-senpai aren't in a relationship. Hina is a special case because of how she wanted both Ogawa and me for her.

I shouldn't forget that she's a scheming girl… Perhaps she's doing something that would allow for her plan to be realized, perhaps not… I'll check on her later.

Apart from those three… There's the obvious possible target in the form of Izumi-senpai…

Because of that Ogawa, the thought of stealing someone head over heels towards him surfaced in my mind last night… That's how annoyed I was at what he did this time. Instead of confronting us, he babbled about the 'Act' which conditions were all made by him.

True, we're not following most of the conditions he set but for him to tell it to someone in their group, that's what I find unacceptable. Moreover, seeing Nami like that… if not for them still being considered as her friend, my fists would've flown in Tadano's face last night.

Because I'm still unaware if there were still girls chasing after him that are unknown to me, Izumi-senpai is the only one fitting that bill.

If I chose to go through this… My approach would surely be different than what I've done recently.

Haa… At the moment, I knew I could still control it but if he did another stupid stunt again…

… I'll ask for Izumi-senpai's forgiveness beforehand.

-

-

Minutes passed and my question remained unanswered. Suzuki-san had her eyes completely focused on the road without even looking at the rearview mirror to meet my gaze.

This was fine. This wasn't the first time I was ignored anyway.

Besides, she's always like this. Even before, the best I could get from her was her greeting.

Well, after cutting off Mizuki for more than a year and seeing me again this time, I could only guess what's going on in her mind. If Mizuki confided with her even once, she'd know or interpret that my cutting Mizuki off meant I dumped her.

I only wanted to ask her about how Mizuki was during the past year.

Although we're often talking in messenger, that stubborn girl would seldom tell me things, especially if it's about something that she suffered from.

Like Kana, she always wanted to solve her problems by herself. But whenever I would hear about it back then, I would one way or another, assist her.

Learning how she was from another person's eyes would give a different perspective and perhaps, I would learn something that she thought was not important but to the others it was.

It's not like I would immediately run over to help her if there was really something. I would still talk to her first to confirm.

Either way, I gave up repeating my question so the rest of the ride remained with the awkward silence.

When the car stopped on a street near our school, I thanked Suzuki-san before leaving the car which she once again answered with a wave of her hand.

"Also, thank you for taking care of Mizuki," I added before closing the car door

To my surprise, it was the phrase that earned another word from her. "It's my job. There's no need for Onoda-sama to thank me for taking care of the young miss."

"You're right. Nonetheless, I'm glad she has you by her side."

And this time, she just waved her hand once more before speeding off to the distance.

-

-

When I arrived at the school gates, it was seconds before the teacher-in-charge closed them. Luckily, I still got in.

Upon seeing that I got in seconds before she closed it, Eguchi-sensei shook her head and tapped my back.

"Am I safe, sensei?" I acted innocent to inquire. However, that earned me a colder than yesterday's voice from her.

"Barely. Don't make this a habit, Onoda-kun."

"I understand, sensei. See you at the PE later."

"Ah. Now that you mention it, come to the faculty before the 5th period. Orimura-sensei and I needed your help again."

"I understand."

Well, it's better this way than letting them make another draining activity for us.

Moreover, I needed to change Orimura-sensei's nickname for me. To always be called as Shio's pet might give birth to new rumors.

Once I arrived at the classroom, I acted normally and went to my seat quietly.

Before Sakuma could remark about my barely safe arrival, Shio entered the classroom and instantly put me under her commanding gaze.

"I see. Onoda arrived on time today. Great job on escaping another punishment." With a rare grin that was also new to the student, Shio remarked.

Oh? It looks like her trip to the City Hall was fruitful. Great.

When the class heard her remark, like always, it earned various reactions. Aya at my side whispered that she's relieved I arrived on time. Satsuki clicked her tongue and sent a message to me that was contrary to her reaction. Sakuma behind me choked on his words as if he's deliberating to say something and chose not to in the end.

I guess our group here will continue to be this awkward for the time being. I heard from Satsuki how her sister continued talking about Sakuma like someone talking to his or her favorite toy.

According to her, her sister and her friend were staying at their house for two weeks before going back.

Because they saw me last Saturday, her sister was extremely curious about me. Knowing that her sister was in love with Sakuma ever since that incident, she wanted to know the story of how Satsuki ended up with me rather than Sakuma.

Well, naturally, Satsuki refused to answer and told her sister off to not meddle with us.

Now, looking at Sakuma being this bright. I guess everything's going well between him and Satsuki's sister, Setsuna.

As long as he doesn't mess that up, I'll stand by my words of not getting in his way. Besides, I also have no reason to do so. Perhaps when he finally casts off that awkwardness he's currently flaunting around us, he will ask me for advice again.

Let's see how that will work for him.

On the other side, Nami smiled at me before staring back at the front, ignoring Ogawa's reaction once more.

Tadano was silent at his desk this time, last night was still fresh in his mind after all.

Hina, on the other hand, looked out of sorts. She was there yesterday when I picked Nami from their clubroom. Whatever was currently running in her mind, I already decided to talk to her today. Perhaps before or after the PE class.

Eventually, the giggles and laughter from Shio's remarks ended and the classes started.

And like this, the whole morning period ended uneventfully.

Like always, I spent the lunch break with my three girls at that empty clubroom.

Aya surprised me when she brought out another lunchbox for me. Upon seeing that, Satsuki and Nami stared at it blankly before whispering 'Why didn't I think of that?' 'I wish I knew how to cook.'

Due to that, the two deemed today as Aya's win, letting her spend the most time with me.

Unbeknownst to me, the three already made this time during lunch as a silent competition.

Well, as long as it's not a toxic competition when they have to hate each other then it's fine. They all understood it anyway and I'm really glad they're all on good terms

Besides, Aya also beckoned them to share what she cooked and that made the other two smile in shame, once again admitting their loss to the adorable introverted girl.

Once we're done eating, it's time to check with that silly girl and see how she's doing.