Chapter 301: Flipped Attitude

Now that I got her interest, I'm now deliberating whether to tell her about my not-so-normal relationships or not. For sure, given that she seemed to be more mature in thinking than most girls around me and how she wanted to keep the status quo despite admitting how we had a good thing going between us, she would surely be enraged if I revealed our secret to her. At least at this point, she would be. I had to slowly change her line of thinking about that point.

That's why I decided not to tell her about it yet. I will drop clues here and there easing her up to the idea. But the risk is still high. Perhaps, it will backfire and all the good I piled up in her books will be completely erased.

I'm prepared for that though. This will be tough but I'm willing to tread on it for her.

"I can't tell you, senpai. Even if I want to, I can't. This isn't just about me after all."

"What is this? Why are you being mysterious?"

"Well, it's complicated and you will surely be angry at me if I tell you. Given your personality, you will. And… It's not something I want to see yet."

"After having piqued my curiosity, you're gonna act like this. You're messing with me, Onoda-kun." Arisa-senpai exhaled and put on a disappointed expression.

"Well then, will you understand it with this? I love Nami. That will never change. However, I'm interested in you as well, senpai."

As soon as she realized the meaning of my words, Arisa-senpai stared at me for a minute, shook her head and deeply sighed all the while keeping her disappointed expression.

"I see. You're just another one of those playboys who can't be satisfied with one. And here I am, having high hopes for you. I'm disappointed Onoda-kun… Let's move onto your Mentor Program."

"As I expected, that will be your response. Alright, I'm listening." I wryly smiled and didn't follow through on what I told her, instead, I also switched gears to put my focus on the Mentor Program.

Upon hearing my answer and seeing my reaction, Arisa-senpai paused for a while. Perhaps she was trying to understand why I so easily gave up.

However, even after a few minutes of trying to sound me out, nothing changed, I didn't say anything anymore and just waited for her to open her mouth again.

In this way, I noticed how she appeared to be slightly irritated. After taking a deep breath, she pulled out a folder from her bag, flawlessly switching to the Mentor Program and putting in everything that happened in the previous few minutes to the back of her mind.

"… This is what I prepared for you. Check it"

There's that coldness in her voice now. It's prickly. However, this just increased my evaluation of her.

Shizu-senpai is also like this at first. However, she was proven to be a 'glass cannon' that had her personality shatter easily once I got a good grasp of it.

But Arisa-senpai, she's different. She has her own belief and what she's showing to me is her real attitude. That playful side of hers that I experienced before was just how she put those not close enough to her at arm's length. If she considers someone her friend then she will be like this, considerate and will often give advice and lectures.

I took the folder and opened it. As I scanned over the topics she managed to compile, I was awed by her once more. Not only was it organized, but it was also too detailed that even without any added input by her, I would understand it.

Nonetheless, I'm sure she would still walk me through it one by one.

Well then, let me try if my guess is right.

"Thank you, senpai. I feel like I will learn a lot from this." I stood up and bowed to her before turning my heels to the door.

"Where are you going?"

As I expected, Arisa-senpai stopped me with her words.

"I'm going to study this, senpai. I don't want to impose on you any longer. Besides… Ah, nevermind."

"Stay here. I'm your mentor for the day. I will walk you through it one by one."

My guess is right. This girl, she's truly wonderful. However, at the same time, it will be harder for me to get past her defenses she had already put up.

Arisa-senpai can perfectly separate one thing from another.

Even though she seemed thoroughly disappointed from what I told her, she wouldn't let it come into conflict with her role as my Mentor for the day.

I acted conflicted at first before turning back to my seat. I purposely avoided meeting her gaze and put my eyes focused on the folder filled with the knowledge she compiled and organized for me.

After a few minutes of silence, I heard Arisa-senpai pulling her chair again and placed it next to me. As her refreshing womanly scent wafted over to my side when she sat on it, she leaned over and started explaining what's in the folder one by one.

With all my experiences with girls, I know when to behave myself so instead of relishing the fact that she's close to me and trying anything funny, I focused on taking in the knowledge she's imparting to me. This is also my purpose in this Mentor Program after all.

Even if I'm already getting drawn towards the girl next to me, I will not forget it. Even if most of the knowledge in it could be proven trivial, who knows if I might have a use for it in the future?

In this way, an hour passed within this room where her voice continued to explain while I occasionally asked her for clarification.

Halfway through it, Arisa-senpai was also engrossed in teaching me. Perhaps, it was because I'm not that difficult to teach or she already eased up from what she heard from me earlier.

"With that, we're done for today." Arisa-senpai stopped leaning over. She then did some stretching; raising her arms up to ease her muscles on her sides and arms that probably felt the strain from leaning over a long period of time.

"Thank you, senpai." I bowed to her once more and handed the folder back to her. "Let me get you a drink."

"It's fine. I don't need it."

"After an hour of talking, I'm sure your throat is now dry. Let me insist. I will leave after giving it to you, don't worry." I smiled and stood up.

Without waiting for her reply, I went to the door. Not the door to where Ogawa and Izumi-senpai currently are but another door leading outside.

For now, this should be enough. There will be more chances in the future. I will also put off that request from Izumi-senpai. It's not the time to talk about that after the flip in the attitude of Arisa-senpai from what I said.

After spending around 10 minutes going back and forth from the nearest vending machine, I found Arisa-senpai seated and staring at the door when I came back.

After handing her a canned drink for her and Izumi-senpai, I turned around once more and my feet led me back to the door.

I couldn't care less for Ogawa, he could buy one for his own.

However, before I could completely leave the room, I heard Arisa-senpai's voice as it carried a question.

"What are you, really?"

I looked behind and saw her contemplating expression as her eyes met mine. She's waiting for me to answer it but after what happened, I just shook my head and completed my exit, closing the door to that room.

There's no need to rush it. Just like with Shizu-senpai, I will slowly try to understand her and in turn, she will also understand me.

Even so, this time with her could be said as still fruitful. Moreover, it became clearer for me that I'm hopelessly interested in another girl once again.

Just like before, I had this urge in me to completely make her mine. It might be not at the moment but in the near future.

-

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Now that I'm done with my Mentor Program a bit ahead of time, I checked my phone to see if there's something new. Apart from the messages from the girls, Akane continues to try to gain sympathy from me with her voicemails filled with her pleading for me to pick her up from her school. That silly girl…

Because of that, before going up to the Literature Club, I called her and satisfied her. At the same time, Fuyu apologized to me saying she was powerless to control Akane and she deemed that only I would be able to truly calm her down.

I wouldn't be able to come and pick her up since I still have that time with Shizu-senpai, so in a promise that I will make it up for a later date, I asked Fuyu to escort Akane home which the former agreed to readily.

Now that's another great friend. The problem is, how can I thank her for her help? I have no idea yet. I'll ask the silly girl instead since she knows her friend better than me.

After replying to the messages of Elizabeth, Hiyori and Aika, I went up to the clubroom.

Aya was still with Otsuka-senpai, Nami with Haruko and Satsuki with Shizu.

And because it's still the time for 7th period, there's no one in the clubroom yet.

For the first time in a while, I got a rare alone time.

Checking my phone again, messages from other girls also came in. MIzuki, Yukari and Miyako. There's also one from Yae and Otoha.

They're still in class. Those girls have this much free time, huh? Well, it's not like I hated it. After replying to all of them, I took out the organized plan which Akane helped me create last night.

It's the plan that I will present to Ishida-senpai. Since I have the time, I thought of checking it again.

It's not a definite plan yet but a rough draft of what we thought of will be plausible for the Literature Club.

Spending the time focusing on it… the chime of the bell rang out indicating the end of the 7th period.