Shizu-senpai led me to another empty clubroom not far from where we came from. She’s the president, she knew every empty room in this Club Building. Being led here by her, I’m expecting some kind of trap waiting for me but I guess she didn’t prepare that much.
As soon as there were no other ears who could hear us, Shizu-senpai turned around. This should be the 3rd time that I’ve seen her. The first being in the Entrance Ceremony and the second at their clubroom.
Now that I’ve seen her closer like this, I could clearly see how her appearance had some similarities to Nami, she’s also sporting long black hair, with her fringes only reaching her eyebrows, it gives off a prim and proper vibe. There’s no other decoration on it like a ribbon or something, it’s all natural. Her brown eyes were at times sharp and at times gentle, depending on who or what she looked at. Her lips were a bit smaller than Nami’s which can either give you a menacing or a beautiful smile.
“So, Onoda-kun, how long will you two need to act?
With that kind of opening, I was a bit taken aback because of her sudden question. I thought she’ll start with, why am I fooling around with other girls?
But with this question, did she know about our act or she’s just guessing?
“Act? I don’t think I follow you, Shizu-senpai.”
I answered normally without any hint of surprise. I opted not to admit it easily. Nami and I haven’t talked about this yet. If she really knew, who told her? Or did she figure it out by herself?
“Stop playing dumb, Onoda-kun. That girl won’t just date another guy out of the blue. Besides I couldn’t quite get why you even agreed to this act when you already have that Basketball Club girl.”
This empty clubroom has a sofa set at some corner, she sat on a single sofa and pointed me to sit at another one.
With her next words, it really looked like she figured it out by herself but without definite evidence from her, I won’t admit it yet. It’s another story if it’s me who first brought this topic up, however as soon as we’re alone, she started off with that.
“Why do you think we’re just acting? And it’s not even out of the blue, please stop guessing. Also, don’t pull in an uninvolved person here.”
Shizu-senpai was staring at me with her two brown eyes scrutinizing every reaction I made. This is even harder than acting in front of their club members but yeah, it’s not like I didn’t have any experience with this kind of interrogation. Haruko used to interrogate me before I made her mine.
“Very good, Onoda-kun. You’re a tough nut to crack. How about this? Is she still uninvolved? If you continue your narrative that you’re not acting, then explain this to me.”
She put down a digital camera with the same photo which Nami showed me yesterday displaying in it.
“Nami already showed me this and I explained it to her. But I don’t think I also need to explain this to you, Shizu-senpai.”
I picked up the digital camera and pushed it back to her side after nonchalantly looking at it as if the photo taken in it is none of my concern.
Shizu-senpai only stared at me in silence without any change in her expression.
Usually one would be shivering in fright right now but this wasn’t enough to frighten me. It’s not like I was running away, Nami and I will come and talk to her soon. So this was unnecessary. She wouldn’t even tell me why she thought we’re just acting.
Maintaining my calm expression despite the tension she was trying to put on me, this was easier than restraining myself whenever I’m alone with one of my girls.
“If this is all, I’m going to return to Nami’s side, Shizu-senpai.”
I stood up and went to the door. However before I opened it, Shizu-senpai broke her silence. Will she tell me? Since she’s not answering my questions, I also thought of not answering any of her questions.
When I saw her back in their clubroom before, she came off strongly, but today, she’s just intimidating and that’s all. Did Nami’s words to her last night cause an effect on her?
“Nanami’s change. Are you the cause of it?”
Dropping the interrogative tone, she changed her question. I don’t know if all of that was just her probing me but it’s clear that she’s the one who caught me with Satsuki.
What was really in this president’s mind?
“If Nami even changed in your eyes, it’s not because of me. She grew up, that’s all.”
Leaving these words, I opened the door and stepped out, leaving the SC President still sitting on that sofa as she stared at my back. Whatever she’s thinking or what she think of me right now, I won’t admit it just yet.
I wouldn’t dare claim to be the cause for their changes, I might’ve started it but it’s their desire to change that pushed them.
She truly cared for Nami, that should be a good thing but once she found out that our relationship were about to become reality and I’m also in a relationship with other girls, she will surely flip out.
When I went back to the empty clubroom that’s not so empty now, they’re having a somewhat lively discussion. However, when Nami saw me coming back, she immediately stood up, her face with a hint of worry as she slowly walked towards me.
I noticed Ogawa’s face flashed a hint of surprise upon seeing that. Of course, any normal guy will surely pick up something from Nami’s action upon seeing me. Especially if he’s the real boyfriend. What she just did didn’t look like it was still part of our act.
“What happened, Ruu? What did Shizu-nee say to you?”
Without minding her friends’ reactions, Nami asked me.
“Ah. Nothing, Shizu-senpai asked for my forgiveness from the last time in the clubroom.”
I lied for now since I couldn’t talk about it in front of the others. I hinted that to Nami by pressing her hand. She understood it when she looked back and saw the others watching us.
“Look at Nanami, it’s rare seeing her like this. She’s too worried about Onoda-kun, she thought Shizu will eat you and you’ll go back in tatters.”
Arisa-senpai said in between her laughs. She still didn’t have any breaks and because of that, it earned her a hit from Izumi-senpai.
“Honestly, to be called by Shizu alone and come back unscathed. You have strong nerves, Onoda-kun. Maybe that’s why Nami is so into you.”
Izumi-senpai also commented but yeah, her eyes then traveled from us to Ogawa whose eyes were looking down.
Did she comment like that to see Ogawa’s reaction? This girl.
“Alright, you guys go back to your classrooms now. The lunch break will soon end.”
And before anyone could comment further, Shizu-senpai showed up at the door. She’s back to her normal self as if what we talked about at that empty clubroom didn’t affect her.
Err… nothing really came up from our conversation, right? It’s just her questioning me and me not answering nor admitting to her allegation.
“Nanami, can I go see you at your house later?”
She then turned to Nami and asked that. Since she couldn’t pry an answer from me, will she try to get it from Nami?
“Yes. I’ll wait for you.”
Understanding what Shizu-senpai wants to do, Nami agreed. This girl probably thinks she’ll also face Shizu-senpai like how I did it today.
After that, the others left first leaving us alone again. Ah, no. There’s still Ogawa.
“Kazuo…”
Nami noticed him and called on him.
“Nanami, I’ll be honest, I’m feeling uncomfortable seeing you two act. It looks too real.”
He said as he looked at me, maybe he wanted to hear me say that I will tone down our act. 𝐨𝘃𝗹.
“But that also diverted their attention, right?”
Since he’s looking at me, I answered him.
“Are you sure this is fine? Even Hina thinks your act is too realistic.”
He mentioned Mori since he thought I’m doing this act to get a chance to be with her. Never in his dreams that I’m now solely focused on his girlfriend. I already kissed her twice and last night wasn’t just a normal kiss.
“This is what you asked of me. Until now, no one suspected that the real couple here are the two of you.”
It’s too real that even Nami is slowly falling for me now. Everything she had shown since last night was her genuine feelings for me.
“Kazuo, do you want to stop our act?”
Nami asked him. She also finally noticed that she’s now more concerned to me than her real boyfriend.
“N-no. Just that, can I also hold your hand when we’re alone?”
His eyes then traveled down to our hands that were still linked together. Seeing that, Nami reflexively took her hand from mine.
I could hold it again later so this is fine. It’s a bit too early to put a stop on our act so I have to keep him in check for now.
This guy finally got the courage to ask to hold her hand. Maybe he’s already too jealous at seeing us being too close to each other every time we’re acting.
Should I let him hold her hand? Ah. It’s just holding hands, he’s her real boyfriend so this is bound to happen. But yeah, I wouldn’t deny that this was uncomfortable, it’s all on Nami for now.
“Of course. You don’t need to ask, Kazuo.”
Nami smiled at him and that immediately cleared up Ogawa’s worry.
This guy, is he too simple?
“Then should I go first? To give you, the real couple, some time to talk.”
For now, I have to be patient. With Shizu-senpai looming at us like that, if Ogawa also erupted then our act will really come to light and that will cut my time to be alone with Nami. Though she’s already leaning towards me, it’s still not enough until I tell her my past.
“Thank you, Onoda.”
Ogawa sincerely thanked me. Will his kind nature flip around if he found out what we’re doing when we’re alone?
“No worries, see you in class.”
I looked at Nami one last time before going out of the clubroom, she’s also looking at me with a complicated expression. Probably trying to see my reaction about them being alone.
I didn’t know if it was shown in my face, I was also reluctant to leave her alone with him.
I lied to her about what really happened when Shizu-senpai called me out and maybe she’s also waiting for me to tell her about it but with Ogawa there, he will just be suspicious if I don’t leave. I don’t need another Sakuma for now.
When I went out of the room, I saw Mori not far from it, waiting.
When she saw me, she averted her gaze for a moment. Is she waiting for Ogawa?
“You left them alone?”
Mori asked when I approached her.
“They’re the legit couple, what do you think will happen if I insisted on staying with her?”
This girl is too loyal to Ogawa. What do they really see in him? It’s not just his handsome features, right?
“Kazuo won’t like that.”
She thought for a while before answering.
“Hmm. Are you waiting for him here?”
I asked her. Her eyes that were staring at that door turned to me.
“There’s no point now if she’s with him.”
With a sigh, Mori answered. She still knew that when Ogawa is with Nami, no one else will be more important to him than her.
“Then let’s go. Or will you keep waiting here?”
“Why do you sound concerned for me?”
Mori grumbled quietly as she fixed her posture. She couldn’t look me in the eye for too long. Is she thinking about how she rejected me?
“Giving up on you doesn’t mean I stopped liking you, Mori. I just don’t want to see you here waiting in vain like that.”
I only put you on hold so yeah, I will still be concerned and isn’t this an ideal time to appeal to her again?
“You’re still going on with that… alright. Let’s go.”
Though still reluctant, she turned around and stood next to me as we started to walk our way out.
“So, no progress on taking him for yourself?”
To ease the silence between us, I put out a question. I’m also a bit interested if she even made progress towards stealing Ogawa from Nami. Ah. So she’s the same as me now, eh?
“I’m not like you! I don’t know what you did to Nanami but your acts were too realistic to call it an act now.”
I see. So no progress at all. I wonder, what about Izumi-senpai?
She also noticed how real our act is. Well, apart from her no one else knows that we’re just acting. There’s Shizu-senpai but I couldn’t tell if she’s just guessing or not. She neither confirmed nor explained how she figured it out after all.
“Ah. Well, it’s real.”
I turned to her and smiled as I gave that answer.