The self-study period ended and the following periods passed by without any issue.
I kept my phone’s vibration on for Nao’s number just in case she messaged me. Seeing that there’s nothing when the lunch break arrives, I went out to call her and check. I couldn’t be too careless. A person’s rage can be quite terrifying if left unchecked.
There was once a guy from middle school who’s secretly in love with the girl I stole. One time, he caught us making out and rage immediately filled his mind.
Thinking he will still have a chance when the girl and her boyfriend break up in the future, he was waiting for his turn properly.
However, when he found out that the girl was making out with another guy, he raged and instantly lunged upon her. Yes. Not me, but to the girl. Calling her names and such.
Well, since I was with her, nothing really happened except his ass getting beaten by me.
However he didn’t stop. Though he didn’t tell her boyfriend about what he discovered, he started to use that as a leverage to have his way with her.
The girl immediately contacted me and I prevented another attempt from him.
But if you thought that he would stop, that only made him more desperate. In the end, the girl became too terrified of him that she had to move away. The guy dropped out of school and was put into juvie when he tried to assault another girl.
Well, the rage he felt twisted him that after the girl left, he looked for another to vent out his frustrations.
About the girl though, she at least contacted me when she left but considering how I was before, she was soon forgotten as well. Right. Just like with Nao.
So from that story, I became wary of any rage-filled person. If Shio’s husband became consumed by his rage then I have to take Nao out of his reach.
After three dial tones, Nao picked up her phone.
“Ruki? I never thought I would receive a call from you. This just made my day even brighter.
Nao’s cheerful voice rang out from the other side.
“Nothing happened, right?”
Well, if she’s happy then that’s good. I went straight to the point.
“He didn’t come to school. The teachers said he called in sick.”
Hearing my words, she also turned a bit serious.
Is he still at their house or is he looking for Shio? Maybe he’s already here. We’ll see.
“I see. After school, will you go home?”
I don’t know if that guy knows her house but to be safe. I’ll ask her.
“Which home are you referring to?”
Nao asked with a bit of a teasing tone.
“Your house, of course. Why? Do you wish to stay the night again?”
I answered her. It’s fine to bring her home again due to the special circumstances.
“I’d love to but I’ll go home for today. Ruki. Don’t you dare forget me again.”
“Stop worrying about that. I’ll never forget my Nao again. I told you if something really happened immediately tell me, I’ll come running.”
“Un. Alright. You should eat your lunch now, I’m going to take mine as well.”
After saying that, we ended the call.
My worry kind of eased up a little but I should also call back home. Dialing a landline will cost me but there’s Shio so I called her through messenger.
Nothing happened there as well and from her voice, she somehow recovered already.
Releasing a sigh of relief, I went to the empty clubroom to see Nami again. It’s already a regular schedule by now. Even with those rumors flying around, there’s no reason to stop.
“Where’s your lunch?”
Nami asked when she saw me arriving empty-handed.
“I don’t have an appetite. Looking at you is enough to make me full.”
“There you go with your tongue again, Ruu. Here, I’ll share with you.”
Nami took a piece of an egg roll from her lunchbox and brought it in front of my mouth using her chopsticks.
“I guess I’ll take a bite, it’s a waste to let this opportunity pass by.”
I smiled at her before opening my mouth to eat what she’s offering me.
“Do you think I’ll be embarrassed with indirect kissing?”
She took another roll and ate it then she fed me another bite. I could see her joy whenever I eat what she’s offering me.
“I didn’t say anything. Did you cook this? It’s the first time I saw you bring a lunchbox.”
Right. She always eats cafeteria food but today she brought a lunchbox.
“No. This is made by Shizu-nee. We talked yesterday night and she said she will support me to keep my relationship with you.”
That SC President can cook? Ah but that’s not the focus right now, she will support us? Do I have to believe in it?
“I see. I haven’t told you what we talked about yesterday.”
“Don’t worry, she already told me. She’s trying to see if we’re just acting and with the way you denied it, it somehow convinced her. But your relationship with Maemura…”
Ah. So she took it upon herself to relay what we talked about, did she tell everything truthfully? With her nature, she probably did, but the problem is still the proof of my cheating with Satsuki.
“As much as possible I don’t want her to be implicated by this. What did she say about it?”
That girl is diligently practicing for their upcoming match, if this went out then she’ll really be affected.
“I told her I’m aware.” ．
Nami put down her chopsticks. Without being aware of it, we finished eating her lunch box while talking about a serious topic like this. This will probably look weird if seen by others. Like we’re too casual about our topic.
“And?”
After drinking, she offered me a sip from her juice and well, since we’re already past an indirect kiss, I took up her offer.
“She asked me if I’m alright with it.”
After finishing the drink, Nami put away the lunchbox.
Seeing that there’s a sauce left on the side of her lips, I took out my handkerchief to wipe it.
Nami smiled and blushed at what I did.
“I see. I put you in that situation…”
“I told her not to do anything.”
Even if you told her not to do anything…
“…will she listen to you?”
“That. She’s a bit unyielding.”
Nami looked down seemingly helpless.
“Nami, take me to her.”
I lifted her face up and said it to her.
But right at that moment, the door opened and Shizu-senpai entered the room.
Is she listening to us or she just predicted that we’ll be here talking about this?
It’s probably the latter. Though she always put on a strong front, she’s not that clever. At least, according to my observation of her from yesterday.
“There’s no need, Onoda-kun, I’m already here.”
She started as she walked in after closing the door.
“I see. Shizu-senpai, can you tell me why?”
Since she’s here then this is probably the best time to confront her before things escalate further.
“Why what? Is caring for Nami not enough?”
As I thought, that will be her defense.
“I get that, but she already said that it’s alright with her, right?”
Nami held my hand, maybe as a show of her support. With this, I confirmed, she really didn’t want our connection to end. I’m already there, just a little more and Ogawa can forget being her boyfriend.
“So, does that justify you being a cheater?”
As a normal person with a normal perspective, it will always be like this.
“No. But do you even know the whole story, Shizu-senpai?”
I’ll have to find a way to break into her mind and accept our situation.
“I guess not. Tell me then.”
She pondered for a while and of course, she couldn’t find an answer.
“No, I can’t. I don’t trust you, senpai.”
Let her feel that it’s something that shouldn’t be known. That for her to know, she has to make me trust her.
“I see. Too bad then. I’ll keep meddling with you and if you don’t stop, the gang will know.”
I almost clicked my tongue in irritation but Nami held me back and stepped in front of me.
Right, I’m not fighting her alone, Nami is here with me.
“Shizu-nee! Please stop this! I’m not a kid that needs your supervision anymore!”
Hearing her shout like that, I squeezed her hand as a way to tell her to calm down.
“N-nanami. No. I’m doing this for you.”
Ah. She’s still on with that?
“For her? Or for yourself? Tell me, senpai. What is Nami to you? You don’t listen to her and just do what you want. So is that you doing it for her?”
I circled my arms around Nami and pulled her into my embrace. While saying all that, I’m showing her how close we are and that no matter what she does, she won’t be able to separate us.
“I…”
What I said struck a chord with her which made her unable to retort.
“Shizu-nee. I know I was helped by you many times before but this time, please let me decide for myself.”
Nami after calming down her emotions released herself from my embrace and went in front of Shizu-senpai who’s looking down at the floor.
“What’s good with this cheating guy, Nanami?”
Hearing Nami’s words, Shizu-senpai looked up and asked her again.
“You don’t know because that’s the only thing you see in him.”
Right. All she could see right now is the fact that I’m cheating with someone else. That’s what she couldn’t accept for Nami.
“Then show me what he really is.”
The volume of her voice lowered as if she’s pleading Nami for it.
“Senpai, I can’t show you. I still don’t trust you.
I answered before Nami could open her mouth.
“Why do I need to gain your trust?”
Because as of right now, she’s still untrustworthy. I couldn’t let my secret be known to her if she’s like this.
“You’ll know why if I tell you but I won’t.”
“Ruu…”
Nami called out to me. I guess she’s also trying to ask me to trust Shizu-senpai this time.
“I like you, Nami but Shizu-senpai, it’s not about like or dislike. I just don’t want to implicate the others if she goes out of control.”
It’s always about them. If it’s only me, I don’t care if my reputation go down the drains but knowing Shizu-senpai, she’ll drag everyone with me.
“What? What are you two talking about?”
She probably picked up the word ‘others’ and that made her more confused.
“Shizu-nee, promise me, no promise us that you won’t tell anyone. That’s the only way.”
Nami nodded at me and once again turned to Shizu-senpai. She understood what I’m getting at.
“What the hell is this situation? What did you really do to Nanami, Onoda?!”
Startled by Nami’s change in attitude, she attributed it to me.
“Haa. Nami if I told you I want to take her in as well, what will you feel?”
I sighed before asking Nami. If there’s one way for her to trust me, then it’s this. Taking her in as my woman.
“Shizu-nee too? Do you like her?”
Though she knew I still kept on adding new ones, Shizu-senpai isn’t someone on my target list.
“I adore the way she wanted to protect you. Though because of how antagonistic she is to me, I can’t really say I like her but at the very least, I don’t hate her. Aside from her overprotective nature towards you, I don’t know anything about her.”
Just like how Itou is too adorable for her sense of responsibility and her care towards Himeko, Shizu-senpai is the same. It’s probably just her way to protect her but I guess, without knowing what’s on her mind, I won’t know what’s really the true nature of her being overprotective towards Nami.
“I see. Then why do you want to take her in?”
Nami wanted me to clarify my reason for wanting Shizu-senpai.
“Because that’s the only solution I can see right now for her to understand and to gain my trust. I’ll treat her the same way so don’t worry.”
If I can make her fall for me, then I’ll have her understand our not-so-normal complex relationships.
“Hey, what are you two talking about?”
Confused at what we’re talking about, Shizu-senpai looked up at us.
“Shizu-nee, how about you become Ruu’s woman as well?”
Nami, after pondering about what I said, eventually nodded and said those words to Shizu-senpai.
“Huh?!”
And with horror and confusion in her face, Shizu-senpai was about to break down from it.
Err… now, my problem is, how can I make her fall? Should I spend some time with her? Ah… there’s always a way.