Chapter 300: Swapping Again

"What do you want to achieve, senpai?"

As I turned to face her again, Izumi-senpai picked up her chair and moved it near me. This shows how much interest she had when I told her I will help her.

Just how much of a lovestruck girl she is? Despite numerous attempts to woo Ogawa and failing every time, she's still this eager to make that guy look at her in a different light.

"Isn't it obvious? I want to be put in his eyes just like how he looks at Nanami. You're Nanami's boyfriend, why are you so relaxed that another guy was still chasing after your girl?"

Chasing after my girl, eh? As if he has a chance to get her back. Well, given that he's like a protagonist, some kind of deus ex machina might happen to him which could give him a chance to redeem himself.

Let's see. I'll be cautious of what's happening around him.

"It's not that I'm relaxed. I'm just confident that she's mine and not his. No matter what he does, he'll never get the previous attraction she had towards him before."

Staring straight at Izumi-senpai's eyes, I could see the minute details that happened within it. The slight widening of it showed her surprise or awe from the words that came out of my mouth.

"He wasted all the chances he had. If I didn't appear in Nami's life, I'm sure he'll stay the same indecisive guy who couldn't confess to the girl he likes while ultimately being surrounded by other girls who like him. Even from the first time I saw him, I immediately saw his trait. A harem protagonist who will not end up with any of the girls currently surrounding him. Perhaps in the future, he will be able to marry someone else but not among the girls in your circle right now." I continued with my evaluation and perhaps, this is the first time I had to thoroughly put into words what I think about that guy.

"That's a harsh evaluation, don't you think so?"

Is it harsh? I don't think so. Besides, I even said he can still marry someone in the future despite his current trait.

Ah. Izumi-senpai probably felt slighted about that line where even she was crossed out.

"Well, I kind of hated his guts so it's really my biased view of him. What about you, senpai? What do you think of him? Of course, outside of your attraction to him, what else do you see in him?" I answered honestly before returning a question.

"… If I remove my attraction towards him? I don't know."

"See. You're also seeing him in your own biased view. He's handsome and kind, I get it. He also doesn't discriminate against anyone else. As long as you're in his good books, he will smile at you. He also doesn't have a noticeable conflict with any other students aside from Nami who bickered with him at times. Senpai, do you like him as him or is it an indescribable affection you have towards him?"

Just like with Nikaido. That attraction she had towards me led her to do some extreme things so that I will put her in my eyes.

Looking at Izumi-senpai, she's also possibly leaning onto that.

"… I thought you will help me. Why do you keep asking questions like this?"

"Well, I have to know to what extent your like is towards him. That way I can draw the line of what you can do to make him look in your direction."

Although I said I don't want to see him getting together with Izumi-senpai. I guess it's wrong for me to use her for that. I'll help her in a way but only enough to let her feel superficial progress.

Err… That sounds crueler. Giving her bubble hopes that will pop at any moment.

Well, who knows what will happen in the future? I'll first see what it is that's driving her to be so head-over-heels towards that guy.

-

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Time passed and my conversation with Izumi-senpai was somewhat fruitful. She was also delighted to share things that she kept hidden in her. Although there's Arisa-senpai supporting her 100%, it's like the feeling of getting a second opinion for her.

I hadn't formed a suitable take on how to help her yet but I told her that I will get Arisa-senpai and we will think of a way together.

Of course, including Arisa-senpai was filled with my ulterior motive to be closer to that girl. In any case, with the new hope I dangled towards her, she grasped it tightly with enthusiasm that she seemingly forgot that instance last week where Arisa-senpai and I showed her that scene.

Around 15 minutes after she left, Arisa-senpai came back with Ogawa in tow.

Judging from his meek expression, the girl probably reprimanded him or she gave him an earful. Nonetheless, with that smug expression on her face, I raised a thumb in her direction which made Arisa-senpai's lips bloomed into a beautiful smile.

"Well then, just like last week. We'll swap mentee. Onoda-kun, to me!"

Still feeling the elation as if she did a good deed, Arisa-senpai ushered me towards the other room where we spent the time spying on the two last week.

"Izumi-senpai, remember. Do it discreetly and don't push yourself towards him." I whispered to the girl on the chair who's now staring intently towards the meek-looking Ogawa.

On the other hand, when Ogawa looked at me, he still had the same kind of coldness as if he couldn't wait to interrogate me again and vent his frustration about Nami by confronting me. As if I'll entertain that to make him feel good about himself.

That's why after giving him a single glance, I followed behind Arisa-senpai to the next room.

It's still the same dusty room. The two chairs I brought for us to sit on last week were still near the door.

Upon entering, Arisa-senpai continued until she reached the middle of the room. This time, she probably didn't want to peek at what's happening in the previous room or there were some things going on in her mind.

She did say she would mentor me seriously this week. I wonder what she prepared.

Following her, I picked up the chairs and moved them to the middle.

When Arisa-senpai heard the sound when I dropped the chairs to the ground, she reflexively turned around as if she was surprised by the sudden noise.

"You seem to be out of sorts, senpai. Did something happen?" I asked her with a hint of worry in my voice.

Alternating her gaze between the chairs in me, Arisa-senpai shook her head. "Onoda-kun."

Calling out my name, she met my gaze that's been locked to her figure ever since I entered the room.

All my focus was already on her. The conversation I had with Izumi-senpai and the possibilities that I was thinking of earlier was already put at the back of my mind.

"What is it, senpai? You're surprisingly different from how you were before you entered this room."

"Are you as dense as Kazuo? It's because of you, numbskull."

"Why because of me?"

"Haa… Can I hit you thrice, Onoda-kun?"

Seeing her troubled face like this… something was welling up in me. It's like I wanted to continue teasing her. Is this my sadistic nature?

No. This is just how fond I am of her.

"That's a specific number but go ahead. In return, let me hold you for three seconds." After saying that, I stepped forward, closing the distance between us.

"Nevermind then. You're still like this even after I lectured you." With a click of her tongue, Arisa-senpai turned around and took a step forward.

I followed her and seeing her exposed back, my arms moved and slowly slipped themselves from her sides.

However, before I could completely enclose her in my embrace, Arisa-senpai slapped my arms away.

Taking that as a sign of her rejection, I stopped and stepped backward.

"I see. Alright. No more playing. I'm sorry for my behavior, senpai."

I took one of the chairs and brought it away from her. After putting it down in one corner, I sat there.

Noticing my presence disappearing behind her, Arisa-senpai turned around.

"Are you trying to make me pity you?"

"No. I just feel like I might not be able to control myself if I'm near you. You will not like that so I'm taking precaution."

Putting a hand on her forehead, Arisa-senpai once again sighed before walking to my corner while pulling the chair with her.

When she reached at least a few steps of distance between us, she stopped and sat on it.

"Onoda-kun. I told you. What happened between us is a one-time thing. It will not happen and it should not happen again. I know you understand that. I had just lectured Ogawa about his relationships, don't make me do it again for you."

"I understand. But senpai, I want to know more about you." I nodded at her and told her my intention. Well, my real intention about getting close to her. What I did earlier was just me being a horndog who couldn't control himself.

"If that's the case, I can tell you. But don't try that stunt again." Arisa-senpai crossed her arms, pressing those two perky hills of hers.

"I respect you, Arisa-senpai. That's why I will listen to you. Don't worry. I won't do anything like that again. At least at this distance, I won't."

"You… Don't you feel bad about Nanami? Because I do. She's a friend of mine and you're her boyfriend. Ogawa is chasing after her but she chose you. Do you want to throw that away?"

In a logical and moral sense, what she's saying is correct. But they're already aware of my entanglement with Arisa-senpai. Even Nami.

"Not really. There's no throwing someone away, senpai. I guess I could tell you that I'm not normal… Far less normal than the guys you currently know or those you encountered so far."

"What do you mean?" Intrigued, Arisa-senpai leaned forward a bit.