Chapter 388: Visiting the Basketball Club (1)

The Basketball Club’s clubroom. It included the Meeting Room and the Locker Room, both of which were places I had already visited. With Satsuki. And at both times, it was with our burning passion for each other.

Because of that, the two rooms were not spared by being marked with the traces of our lovemaking and were now a place that contained that kind of memory between us.

However, compared to my earlier visits, this time, I wasn’t invited by Satsuki alone.

As it turned out, the reason why she wanted me to go to their clubroom was that her relationship with me was found out by her fellow club members and… their coach, Eguchi-sensei.

Their next practice match would be this coming Saturday. As a breather after days of intensive training, Eguchi-sensei decided to use the first half of their club hours today to go over their strategy and relax.

However, when Satsuki pulled out her phone to check on my most recent message, everyone in the room noticed her refreshing and lovable smile.

In her club, just like when she was in our classroom, the girl also seldom smiled and most of the time, her eyes were narrowed as if she was always in a bad mood. Due to that, most of the club members, even the seniors, thought that it was almost impossible for her to naturally smile.

But upon seeing that smile she made when reading my message, they immediately crowded around her and that ended up with this situation.

“Ah! I know you. You’re that famous teacher’s pet.”

One of the first-year club members exclaimed when she recognized me once I entered the Meeting Room following Satsuki who picked me up outside the door.

“Teacher’s pet?”

One senior club member who was like Satsuki, a bench player, wondered.

“That’s right, senpai. If you asked any first year, they would know about Kinoshita-sensei’s favorite errand boy. To think that he’s Maemura-san’s…”

Perhaps because she’s somewhat scared of Satsuki’s glaring eyes which shifted to her upon hearing what she’s trying to say, the girl failed to finish her words.

Apart from that exchange, almost all of the Basketball Club members in the room showed some kind of reactions to my appearance

In this room, apart from Satsuki as well as Eguchi-sensei who was watching the commotion with interest, everyone from their club was here. From third-years to first-years.

Well, most of them were just curious about the guy who could make the well-known silent and grumpy girl, especially the third years at the regular team.

At one point, they even called me as the reason for Satsuki’s motivation for always doing her best during practice and in-game.

Looking at the foul-mouthed girl that stopped in front of me to try hiding me from the other club members’ eyes but failed spectacularly, I could notice how she was slightly out of focus and uncomfortable with the attention that I was currently getting.

Most likely, Satsuki didn’t really want to bring me here. However, in the end, she couldn’t outright reject them.

And now, we have arrived at this moment where there’s no turning back anymore.

But first, let’s calm this girl down.

While the others were eyeing me like a new toy on display, I daringly reached for Satsuki’s hand and clasped it tightly.

As soon as I did that, as I expected, almost everyone in the club who was looking at us had their eyes peeled. Some of them even covered their mouths or eyes as if it was the first time they saw someone holding hands in front of them.

Not minding their subsequent reactions to what I did, I scanned my gaze towards them before opening my mouth. “Uhm. I don’t know what’s happening here and why am I called here but…” I paused for a while to look at Satsuki affectionately for a bit, letting them see it. “Thank you for taking care of my Satsuki.”

Along with those words of gratitude, I lowered my head to a bow.

Since I’m already here, let’s go all out and announce my relationship with this girl. Well, I had an ulterior motive to partly tease the girl and partly see her lovable smile that they’re talking about.

Besides, at this point, some of my relationships with the girls were already known by select groups of people.

Akane’s friends and most likely a lot of students from their school were already aware of my relationship with her. Nami’s circle of friends at the Student Support Club knew about us. Everyone in the Literature Club knew about my relationship with Kana and Rae.

Ah. That Kenji didn’t know about Rae.

In any case, that guy’s not important anymore.

I also had Kana tell her friends about our relationship. I only met Momoiro-senpai but the others probably knew about it already.

Then that Matsuda of the Otaku Group from our class knew about my relationship with Aya. Although I threatened him to keep quiet, my relationship with Aya wasn’t a secret anymore.

There’s also the Book Club and the neighboring Poem Appreciation Club.

And lastly, the members of that Boxing Gym knew about my relationship with Sena.

There’s still a lot to list. In a way, most of my relationship was now semi-public. And letting this club become aware of Satsuki’s relationship with me would be put in that same category.

Naturally, I would ask them to keep this secret to themselves. But there’s no such thing as being completely safe. Sooner or later, some of these ‘secret’ relationships I have with my girls would be out in the form of rumors or anything close to that.

In any case, we already talked about a kind of preventive measure in case it escalated to the point that my multiple relationships were about to be exposed.

If someone would come to ask me directly, I would admit to it.

My words alone wouldn’t be enough for them to confirm it. So if they try to also come and confirm it with the girls, I instructed them, against their rejection, to steadfastly deny it, except Akane.

That way, I would only end up being labeled as someone delusional and the rumors would eventually die down as long as no one sees me near them a few days after that.

Bragging about our relationship would naturally feel good but what’s the point of doing that if it would hurt them in the process? I would never do that. Getting the normal ones’ attention would just ruin our future.

Besides, protecting them would always be my priority when it comes to this. It’s better for me to take the fall than let them suffer. I was already past the point of doing things callously.

“You idiot! What are you saying?!”

Satsuki reflexively snarled at me upon hearing my words and seeing me bowing in front of her fellow club members.

However, when she saw how the others were reacting, she ended up being flustered and not knowing what to do.

Satsuki began looking around the room for a place to hide her face. But with my hand clasping her hand tightly, there’s no way for her to go. In the end, being the only place in her vicinity that she probably thought was the most secure, she unconsciously hugged me and buried her face on my chest.

Before she could gather herself and notice what she did, I circled my arms around her and whispered in her ear.

“What are you being flustered for? Isn’t this why you asked me to come? Let’s just ask them to keep this a secret for us, alright? Besides, the way some of them looked at me, they’re aware that I was always coming here to see you.”

“But…” Satsuki weakly responded.

“Is my Satsuki afraid of being teased by others? Look at them, they’re all happy for you.”

All of them being happy was somewhat of an exaggeration… Naturally, some would be somewhat envious and annoyed but those wouldn’t show it on their faces or I wasn’t just looking properly.

Being someone who instantly entered the regular team, some were surely envious of her position and seeing her with her boyfriend this time, those feelings of enviousness would be intensified.

In any case, knowing Satsuki… she’s only this frail in front of me. That glare of hers could scare even a ghost after all.

Perhaps convinced with my words, Satsuki looked up at me and a few seconds after that, her eyes widened in panic, finally realizing our current state. The way her face and ears completely turned red as if she was about to boil and expunge steam from her head was too cute.

Unfortunately, I missed the chance to snap a photo of that.