Chapter 709 - Learning

Having been confessed to by a classmate just proved that Ishida-senpai had it in her. Although her passion and diligence for the Literature Club was definitely the most admirable aspect about her, she’s still beautiful in her own right.

Moreover, her being a good friend for Kana and her impartiality with issues was also something that I could give her a thumbs up. She gave that Kenji a chance to redeem himself after all. Too bad for that guy though, Kana would never jump back to him again. If only he did better at courting Kana and made the girl be deeply in love with him. Unfortunately, that’s all in the past and I would never let go of that cute and shy girl.

Anyway, now that my mind somehow centered around this girl for today, I remembered that she’s also someone that was close to being my target to steal. Seeing her that day with that idiot certainly ignited my desire to steal.

However, I soon dropped it because I remembered that forgotten emotion. Nonetheless, had my desire not been quelled by Akane and my girls, I doubt I would stop with that plan to silence her by stealing her.

At that time, Ishida-senpai was thoroughly afraid of me but that’s not the case anymore as she seemingly flipped after I dropped the interest and just focused on both Kana and Rae.

“Senpai, don’t you think you’re being too self-conscious? Like you said, you already rejected him. There’s no reason for you to hide your face from her. Besides, you can easily tell him I’m your junior at the club. That’s the truth anyway.”

Since we got reprimanded for being too loud right at the bookshelves area, Ishida-senpai and I picked a random book and left.

Luckily for her, one corner table got vacated when we arrived at the Study Area. It’s away from the supposed classmate who confessed to her. His back was turned to us and he seemed to be busy reading and jotting down things. Even if he turned around, there’s close to zero chance for him to spot Ishida-senpai, she had me sit across her to block her view after all.

Looking at him from afar, he appeared decent enough. His back, at least. As for his front, I had no idea.

Since they’re all in their third year, to make an effort to study on Sundays was actually something admirable. However, since Ishida-senpai told me that she already turned him down, he’s probably not her type, right?

I don’t know. If I factored in how she kept on putting down hints for me to pick up, then I was most likely the reason why he got turned down.

Not that I would pity him upon knowing that. I couldn’t care less about his existence after all.

Anyway, if he failed, then he’s just not appealing enough.

As for that Kenji. I heard from her that he started keeping his distance from them and he began looking gloomy. She still considered herself as his friend so she tried comforting him with words but he only pushed her away.

Such a pathetic guy.

But since I was the culprit why he became like that, I guess I could pity him for a bit.

“Self-conscious? It’s because you haven’t been confessed to by a classmate!”

Yeah. Because I was the one doing the confession. But technically, Aya and Saki confessed to me. Not a normal confession though.

“Hmm? Then tell me about it, senpai. How does it feel?”

“… It’s awkward. Although I could still feel his gaze on me, he’s avoiding me whenever I run into him.”

“If that’s the case, then why don’t you want to be seen by him this time?”

If he’s the one avoiding him, what’s she afraid of? I couldn’t understand this girl’s thought process.

“Onoda-kun, are we here to talk about me or are we here for you to learn from me? Go and read that. Ask me if there’s something you don’t understand.”

In the end, she dodged the question. Ishida-senpai crossed her arms and straightened her back as she commanded me to read what’s on my hand.

Ah. It’s not the book but the notebook I saw from her bag.

Apparently, she listed the qualities of a Club President that she wanted me to understand there. Apart from that, there were also literary advices in it… And she’s giving it to me.

At how thick the pages and her neat handwriting, I could only guess how much effort she used to make it. Looking at the bottom of each page, there were little notes that were written creatively as if she’s conversing with the reader. But then, seeing my name on those notes, Ishida-senpai wrote those with me in her mind.

How diligent. If she kept doing this for me, I might really fall for her…

Nonetheless, I quite like this kind of relationship with her. Being a simple junior and senior.

“Sure, I’ll pretend you didn’t dodge that question, senpai. By the way, I appreciate this. Let me just give this a quick read and I’ll fire questions to you.”

“Stop pointing it out like that, idiot.” With a somewhat helpless sigh, Ishida-senpai left me to my own devices as she flipped open the random book that we picked earlier.

With that, time passed in the silent yet at the same time, noisy library.

I put my focus on the notes she made for me and Ishida-senpai delved into the book in her hand.

At times, I would raise my head to ask her a question and she’d answer it with a clear and concise explanation. In a way, the notion of me that this was just her attempt to spend time with me gradually vanished and I started absorbing the knowledge she wrote.

She truly expects me to take the mantle of the Club President and in turn, preserve the life of the Literature Club. When it comes to writing, I was certainly a newbie and when it comes to reading, unless I focused on the piece, I wouldn’t understand the message of the author.

In conclusion, I’m not cut out to be a man of literature, at least not yet. True, Kana told me that I had the talent if I filled my head with more knowledge apart from what I was focusing on back then. Still, talent is like a flower seed. Unless you cultivate and let it grow in the right conditions, you’ll never see it bloom. It won’t just instantly bloom.

“You don’t have to be talented at being the Club President. Have you seen me writing my own novel like Kana? Or writing any types of literary pieces? I… I’m a lot more mediocre than you thought. I just have that passion to be there. I’m aware you’re not that keen on succeeding me. If after the Cultural Festival you still feel like not taking it, then it's fine. Karen will definitely be happy to succeed me.”

Ishida-senpai’s sincere words echoed to my ears when I asked her that I don’t have what it takes to be the Club President. She already told me the reason why she picked me back then, this time, she expanded on that.

“Senpai, this is why I admire you. If you think I can do well with it, then I’ll try. Thank you for this.” I raised the notebook that somehow carried her scent before putting it in a small bag I brought with me.

Upon hearing my words, Ishida-senpai gave me an approving nod and a satisfied smile.

After that, we decided to leave the library. That classmate of hers was still busy so we just retraced our steps, returned the book and left without alerting him.

Since she didn’t want to be seen, I respected her choice.

Anyway, with that out of the way, I asked her if she wanted to eat with me.

It’s past 12 o’clock. I would find it bad if I didn’t show her my gratitude.

And as expected, Ishida-senpai took me up on my offer.

“Since this will be my treat, senpai can pick a place,” I said as we began our walk away from the library.

She’s the one who’s more familiar with the area so I left it to her discretion.

However, the answer that she had given me was something I didn’t expect. Or maybe I expected it but not to the point that I would think it’s possible.

“Let’s go to a supermarket, Onoda-kun.. I can cook for you, my house is nearby.”