Chapter 712 - Do I Still Need To Say It?

“See you tomorrow, senpai.”

After a few minutes of silence which we spent just watching the TV, Ishida-senpai was now seeing me off at their front door.

Thinking about how she’d be alone again in this big house, I was somewhat reluctant at leaving. But that’s it, I still had to leave.

“You mean Tuesday.” Ishida-senpai tried correcting me with a smirk.

After what happened, she’s now relaxed with me. I just wonder if she’d still glare and be annoyed whenever I would arrive late at the club.

“Hmm? Why Tuesday? I’ll still drop by the club to Kana and Rae. So, see you tomorrow, senpai. Hopefully, you won’t send me another annoyed glare.”

“As if you’ll spare me a few seconds on your always busy day. It’s fine. I’m quite satisfied with the time I spent with you today, Onoda-kun. Do read that notebook and… Wait. No. This is enough. I won’t impose on you to meet again. Come and ask me in the club if you have any questions regarding the contents of that notebook.” Even though she didn’t finish what she’s about to say, it’s easy to understand what she meant by it.

Back then, she told me to spare her time so that she could teach me more but she’s now taking that back. Most likely, either she decided to stop appealing to me or she didn’t want me to see her as an easy girl.

I did ask her about that, after all.

“Senpai, I can accompany you again if you ever feel lonely or if not that, I’ll rely on you again for club matters. As the only one who knows this side of you, I feel privileged. I admire you, senpai. Also, I can honestly say by now that I’m interested in you. But as you know, I’m someone currently entangled with other girls. I love all of them.”

I wonder how many could honestly say what I just said? Probably none. In a normal situation, that’s enough for me to be crucified. Thankfully, my shamelessness knows no bounds and my girls… accepted me for who I am. I’m not saying I won’t fix it but in this situation, there’s no way I can just spout flowery and deceiving words. I can only be as honest as possible.

“This guy… Stop rubbing that you love them on my face. I… I still don’t know what to do about this interest I have towards you. Anyway, forget it. I’ll stop dropping those hints at you. Starting today, I’ll only treat you as my junior and successor.”

Ishida-senpai’s eyes shone with new resolve as she hugged herself. Well, even if she didn’t admit to it when I bluntly asked her earlier, it’s too obvious by now so she also stopped denying it.

“I see. If that’s what senpai decided…”

“Don’t goad me with words, Onoda-kun. If you’re truly interested in me like you said, then I at least want to experience being courted by you. Not the other way around.”

“Ah. You’re right. You deserve that, senpai.”

Court her, huh? I guess no matter how much I try to restrain that desire of mine, I always find myself in this kind of situation. And this was probably because of that trait Arisa-senpai pointed out to me. I was always too considerate to every girl… Even Coach Ayu who I never once considered as a target back then had somehow developed an attraction towards me.

“Un. Now go before I change my mind and lock you in here with me.”

Perhaps seeing me stuck staring at her, Ishida-senpai turned my body around and pushed me from the back, pushing me out of their front door.

With the way she said that, I did not doubt that she might really change her mind and keep me there with her, to keep her loneliness at bay.

“That’s a quick turnaround, senpai. Alright, I’ll be off.”

Before reaching their gate, I turned around one last time to check on her. And there she was, smiling her brightest before hurriedly closing the door to escape from my gaze.

-

-

After a few minutes on the train, I went back to the same apartment complex from yesterday.

I told them that I would be picking them up so here I was.

Well, they’re ready so even if I didn’t get access to that floor, it only took a few minutes for the three girls to show up in the lobby.

Haruko, Edel and Mina would be staying at our house for today. However, Mina and I split up with them after seeing the two off at the bus stop. To ease the girl’s growing worry for her mother, we decided to check on her first.

Although I wanted to bring all three of them with me, Haruko reasoned that we’d just drawn too much attention. Well, thinking about it, that’s true. There’s my adorable koala who would surely keep clinging onto me regardless of the place, which would surely draw too much attention to us.

With Mina in tow, we rode another bus instead of taking a train since it’s faster that way.

“Have you gotten enough sleep?” I asked after seeing Mina’s rather pale complexion. She’s also dozing off beside me even though the ride wouldn’t be that long.

As a professional worrywart, I couldn’t pass up on checking on that.

“… No. After what happened, I can’t get enough sleep.”

“Figures. Go and take a nap, I’ll wake you up when we’re there.”

I moved my hand and tried to push her head on my shoulder but she resisted it.

“No, I’m still fine, Ruki. I… I’m going to take that sleep in your bed later.” With a hint of a blush, Mina averted her gaze.

“In my bed, huh? Sure, I’ll lie down on your side to lull you to sleep.”

“To take advantage of me, you mean.”

“What do you think of me?”

“A perverted dog. Have you forgotten what you did yesterday?”

Oh, yesterday. After having sex with Haruko in front of them, I was still hard by then and the two girls, Edel and Mina, helped me or rather, Haruko taught them things about the opposite gender. The two used their hands and mouths to make me feel good. After that though, I also showered them with my affection and that still lingered in this girl’s mind. Most likely, Edel was the same but her koala trait prevailed instead of being embarrassed at what happened.

“Well, that’s…. Alright, I’m a perverted dog. But still, I care about my Mina.”

“You’re still as shameless as ever.” Mina laughed, casting away some of her worries. “Now that I think of it, I haven’t thanked you yet for helping my mom… Thank you, Ruki.”

“There you go again. There’s no need to thank me. I just did the right thing.”

“What right thing? If anyone else is in that position, they will not attempt facing those three but you… you’re too dependable.” Mina grabbed my hand and squeezed it tight. She didn’t want to show it on her face so she converted it into this kind of small gesture.

“I’ll gladly accept that praise then. But remember, I will not let anything happen to any of you. And that extends to those you care for.”

“You’re talking big, shameless guy. You’re not superhuman but I’m sure everyone appreciates it. No wonder they love you a lot.”

“What about you, do you love me?”

“… Do I still need to say it?”

“It will make me happy hearing it from you.”

“… Who cares about your happiness?” Mina scoffed and covered her face. But a few seconds later, in as silent a voice as possible, I heard her whisper, “I love you.”

Upon hearing that, I lost control of myself.. During the duration of that bus ride, my arms wrapped around her while I let her feel how happy she made me.