Chapter 426: They are here

With that question hanging in the air, all eyes began to gather on me.

It was directed to me. I could keep my silence but all these people waiting and to mess with this guy trying to pull me down, I briefly scanned my gaze around me.

Sakuma promptly closed his mouth shut. Perhaps, afraid that he would blurt out my relationship with Satsuki if the focus turned to him. We did ask him to keep it a secret after all. And with this guy moving on and focusing on Satsuki’s sister, he’s probably thinking that if he behaved well, Satsuki would say good things about him to her sister.

Tadano also reacted by shifting his gaze between me and Nami who was having a straight face as she waited for my answer.

Well, not only her, although they were expecting me to say their names, they’re aware that I wouldn’t be able to do that or else it would be hard for the others to approach me because rumors would continue to pop out.

Aya only furtively nodded and smiled at me. It’s her way to reassure me that no matter what I said, she would understand.

Satsuki sighed in discontentment and appeared as if she’s uninterested in whatever I was about to say. But knowing that girl, she’s also anticipating for me to say her name.

In any case, I’m going to talk to the three of them later regarding Saki. Perhaps, Hina would join as well.

If that girl found out that I did it with Saki right after almost doing it with her, she might become depressed again so… I’m thinking of talking to her in private.

Chii still had that brilliance in her eyes as her non-gyaru persona briefly peeked out of its shell. She knew it wouldn’t be her name.

Nonetheless, the way she looked at me as the Chii I got used to was telling me that she’s yearning also yearning to be that girl, even though she’s still sorting out her thoughts about us.

And Saki had a complicated expression on her face. It didn’t escape my notice how her hand unconsciously went down to that part of hers. Although she claimed that she’s unsure if she likes me or not, what happened between us was still fresh in her mind.

Because of Fukuda’s loudmouth, even those near us were waiting for my answer.

Moreover, Ogawa’s undisguised hostility was looming over to my side.

Perhaps if I answered yes and with Nami’s name, he would jump out like a dog who got his bone stolen.

Let’s see. How should I answer?

Obviously, there’s no way for me to mention a name. But my desire to not deny them was telling me to admit about having a girlfriend.

That’s why, under their expecting eyes and perked ears, I answered confidently and safely. “Do I have a girlfriend? I do. Actually, they’re here.”

Upon saying that, I smirked not only at Fukuda but also at the delusional guy next to me.

Let me see how you would react…

“T-that… did he just say ‘they’?”

“I heard it. He’s joking, right?”

“Obviously, he’s being ganged up on by them. Don’t you see?”

“Oh. Ogawa and Fukuda, huh?”

“He's been the topic of conversation ever since earlier and now… Fukuda asks that. I have to say though, that answer was spectacular!”

“Matsuda, aren’t you the guy who was scared of Onoda?”

“Ugh… Forget I said that. And keep it down.”

With that kind of reaction from our surrounding classmates who were also listening in on us, it became a buzz that immediately circulated around our whole class, perhaps even those from Class 3 caught wind of it.

Ah. There seemed to be some bonus info there about that Matsuda who was supposed to keep his mouth shut about my relationship with Aya. He’s spreading how he’s afraid of me, huh?

In any case, as long as he kept his mouth shut, his fears wouldn’t be realized.

With that out of the way, I waited for the two or three to react to my words but they were both stumped as they didn’t expect that I would answer like that.

“Y-you’re joking, right?” Fukuda almost stuttered as he appeared to be somewhat taken aback.

“You’re lying Onoda, stop dreaming.” Ogawa then confidently called it out as a lie.

Tadano and Sakuma had complicated expressions on their faces. As to what they were thinking, it was probably bordering between believing what I said and treating it as a lie like the others.

As for the girls in front of us, Chii released a silent sigh of relief or disappointment, she immediately put on her gyaru mask after all.

Then Aya smiled slightly but she also tried acting incredulous with her eyebrows raised at me. That ended up for her to look adorable though.

If not for this situation, I would’ve already picked her up and spoiled the girl.

As for Satsuki and Nami, despite acting as if they’re unaffected with my answer, the way their shoulders trembled was enough for me to deduce that they also accepted that it was the only choice… Besides, it was almost in line with what would happen if someone caught on about our relationship with all of them. I would be claiming that I was dating all of them which would make me become a delusional guy.

Saki also couldn’t believe what she heard. She stopped me from saying something earlier after all. If she let me, she would’ve known about my abnormality and my multiple relationships. As to whether she would end up believing my answer or not, I guess she would go with what the majority would take as the truth.

“You asked. I answered. Feel free to believe what you want to believe.”

Keeping my calm and the smirk I put on, I then stood up and turned my heels around to go out of the Gymnasium, leaving the heavy atmosphere behind.

It’s a great exit strategy as well. If I stayed there then the atmosphere would stay like that and those two would continue targeting me,

It’s not that I was afraid of them. Dealing with them in public wasn’t in line with what I was always doing. Ogawa would have his turn to be schooled. If he still keeps being delusional about his relationship with Nami… then Nami and I would force him to. As to the method, that’s still something we hadn’t talked about yet.

As for Fukuda. Chii asked me to advise that guy about his delinquency and how he wanted to go out but considering how he openly targeted me this time… I could just drop the courtesy altogether.

He could be a great friend, true. But not to me. He likes Chii. That’s enough reason not to befriend him or if I would do it, it would be like that time when I stole Haruko from her ex. Using that friendship to get more chances with Chii.

In any case, that was unneeded at the moment.

Since I left the Gymnasium just like that, I already have no plan on going back… While my feet were taking me back to the Club Building, I messaged the five girls there about where I would be and asked them not to follow me.

It would just be suspicious after all. Even if they say it’s for a friend, it would undoubtedly become a source of another rumor.

Haa… Really, I should’ve kept my status as the Classmate A.