Chapter 363: Rumors

After that announcement, everyone acknowledged it and no one raised a question. It's a normal occurrence. Even during middle school, we had those clean-up drives and even camping.

At least, this time, it's a month before an extra-curricular activity like this happened.

Back in middle school, I made sure not to be absent whenever this would happen. Why?

Because through that activity, it would be easy to notice who was a couple or not.

Those boys would naturally try to stick close with their girlfriends or those they had a crush with. Hoping to get some points and to bond during this activity.

Naturally, I wasn't searching for a target from our class but for those from another class who's also doing a clean-up drive in a different area.

And this year, surely, it's not only our class or all of the 1st years who will be there. Perhaps even 2nd years would be included.

The river near this school and the riverside where we would be assigned was wide enough that there's a place for every class to clean.

When the murmurs from those who were excited about it died down, Shio began her English Class.

Beside me, Aya was excited enough that she wrote about it on the notes she often used for stealthily talking to me.

And Satsuki, even if she didn't say it, the way she turned her head to look at me with somewhat dreamy eyes was enough to indicate that she's also looking forward to it.

Their practice match will happen this Saturday. Coming to the activity this Sunday is possible.

However, I might need to leave early during it because of my part-time job at the boxing gym.

I agreed to do that Boxing Lessons for beginners at least two times a week. I needed to be committed to something I started. Besides there's already some kind of contract that Coach Ayu sent to me that approved of me being a part-timer.

I also sent a revision of the program Coach Ayu created and she already approved of it, the only thing left was to wait for the day for that lesson to start.

It would be a place for me to experience if I have any talent in teaching. I decided to do everything and find something that would fit me after all.

The lesson with Mizuki about managing businesses and everything around it was also like that.

Then there's the upcoming Cultural Festival where I would need to lead the Literature Club to success.

Either way, despite my busy schedule to tend to my girls and to get closer to my targets, I wouldn't neglect to better myself. Time was always ticking down. I couldn't afford to just fool around with my girls now if I wanted to see a future with them.

Err… My mind wandered off again.

Right, back to the extra-curricular activity and the part-time job. That's also a great chance to bring my girls with me to the boxing gym. If I would teach strangers, I would also use this chance to teach them some self-defense.

I wouldn't always be with them so… giving them the ability to protect themselves could ease some of my worries.

I've decided. I will definitely take them all with me. Satsuki, Aya, Nami, Hina and Rae. I will also ask Chii and Saki if they want to.

Although Sena might be slightly upset if I took them with me, I'll just have to satisfy her the day before that so there will be a chance for these girls to bond, not only in their group chat but also in person.

For all I know, even Akane and Yae might also join that class… I just had no idea if it would be Saturday or Sunday.

Just Sena was enough to pull students who wanted to enroll but if they saw all these attractive girls joining that class…

Word of mouth might do wonders.

Ah. Of course, I will waive their lesson fee.

Alright. That's a good plan. I'm going to talk to them about this later.

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Although Ogawa's absence somehow made the class wonder what happened to him, they all soon forgot about it and the classes passed by normally.

When lunch break arrived, instead of eating at that empty clubroom again, we changed our routine and went to the cafeteria.

Occupying two tables, we sat near Nami's group of friends.

Seeing Aya, Satsuki, Nami and Hina join me at the same table, although it drew some attention, the presence of Sakuma, Tadano and the silent guy Taku made it look natural.

We all agreed to refrain from being too close since we're in public. Either way, just watching my girls eating peacefully and being satisfied with the current situation was enough to make me full.

We chose to eat at the cafeteria today because of the floating rumors among the 1st years that talked about the Club Building becoming a place for some couples for their tryst. Some of our classmates talked about waiting to see if they would recognize some of those couples.

Moreover, there are also circulating rumors that probably pertain to me. It's now somewhat rampant that there were now some instances wherein those who I would pass by would suddenly murmur while stealthily looking at me. It happened earlier, on our way to the cafeteria.

As to what kind of rumor they heard about me, I had no idea.

As far as I know, the rumor that was directly talking about me was how I was the poor teacher's pet of not only Shio but also of Eguchi-sensei and Orimura-sensei. They got added after the two PE instances.

Then there were those that didn't really point at me but I was probably a suspect because of how close I am to the girls.

According to that rumor, one guy was meeting with different girls every day. It had no proof or even an accurate place or person, only hearsay and witnesses who didn't want to step up.

For now, that's the extent of the rumors that I heard that probably pertain to me.

If the rumors accurately pinpointed me, I might probably become a target of the newspaper club of this school. Just like what's happening at Akane's school.

In any case, because they also heard and noticed the rumors, whenever we're in public, the girls would now keep their distance from me. But they all vowed that as soon as there's no more eyes looking at us, they would take any chance they could get.

Even Aya, who was somewhat satisfied with our closeness, firmly declared that.

Well, I was of the same mind.

After that lunch break at the cafeteria, the rest of the day also went about normally.

When it's time for the club activities, Satsuki and the other girls didn't wait for me anymore as they all went to their clubs.

I told them that I would visit them before going home, especially Nami whom I promised to escort now that her period began.

In a blink of an eye, the whole day without Ogawa passed by in a flash.

Not that I was complaining but without that guy who's always sending off bad vibes towards me, the day became a bit brighter.

I guess it's a lot better when he's sick. He should stay bedridden for a little longer.