Chapter 368: The Club Without Ogawa (1)

"Onoda-kun, why are you here again?

Upon seeing me, unlike yesterday, Izumi-senpai threw me a question.

Since the start of the week, it's the third consecutive day that I've visited this club. Every time I would show up here, the harmonious atmosphere that was probably present in this room was moving into the verge of collapse.

"Ah. I'm sorry for intruding, senpai. I told Saki that I was only here to pick up Nami but she pushed me inside. You see, I promised to walk with her everyday now that her time of the month has arrived."

I bowed in front of her before scanning my gaze to the other members present in this room.

Perhaps because Ogawa was absent, this delinquent girl was most likely irritated to not see the guy she was chasing after.

Moreover, there's also the thing that happened between us yesterday.

That's why upon hearing my answer to her question, Izumi-senpai stared at me with an incredulous expression. Following that, she tried to open her mouth to say something else but a few seconds later, she decided against it.

If I have to guess, she's thinking that I had an ulterior motive. Just from the way she alternately looked between Arisa-senpai and me, she's more concerned about her friend rather than herself.

I thought Izumi-senpai already told Arisa-senpai what happened between us but when I checked on Arisa-senpai and met her gaze, there's no difference to her puzzled look yesterday.

If not for Izumi-senpai, stepping in front, she would probably be the one to ask the same question.

And since there's no difference to how she appeared yesterday… That only meant one thing…

Izumi-senpai didn't tell her what happened between us.

Or if I was just overthinking this, then that gaze of hers now contained a different meaning.

Well, I'm not sure what to make of this so for now, I decided to go through my plan. Act like a normal junior without reminding them of what happened between us.

Either way, I answered her question truthfully, except for the part wherein Saki pushed me in.

My reason for visiting this club was to pick up Nami and Hina

Hina understood that even if I only mentioned Nami, there's no way I would leave her behind here.

I could actually choose not to enter but something happened that forced me to the opposite.

While I was kissing Saki, we heard the opening of the door from the clubroom next to this one.

As a reflex, I stepped forward to not be seen by whoever's coming out of that clubroom.

To be safe, I naturally broke the connection of our lips as the door was abruptly pushed by what I did.

Fortunately, Saki moved like a speedster as she instantly fixed herself before turning around to follow me inside.

By how swift that was, I couldn't help but praise her inside my mind.

Nami and Hina were already aware of my entanglement with Saki. I told them about that encounter near the baseball field yesterday.

Nami's reaction was as expected. It's somewhat lukewarm. It's as if she's aware that it was bound to happen and there's an issue for her if I also take Saki as my woman. In fact, she even asked me for the full details of how it happened. Although I vaguely summarized it, Nami smiled meaningfully and filled in the blanks accurately.

As it turns out, she's aware of the reason why Saki kept on shipping us.

She's a natural observer and they've been friends for years at this point. Being the most energetic girl in their group, Nami had already thoroughly read Saki's character.

The reason she didn't tell me about it was that she didn't want to repeat what happened with Shizu-senpai. She basically offered her older cousin to me.

Although there's also that time when she asked Saki if she wanted to experience kissing, she claimed that she's only half serious about it to tease the girl.

And naturally, Nami's also aware of Saki's interest in Ogawa. However, she waved her hand and called it the girl's little crush. According to Nami, Saki wasn't as invested in it compared to how she wanted me to notice her.

The one who reacted in a somewhat negative way about me being involved with Saki was Hina. She's still new about this and she had a different mindset than Nami.

That's why, throughout the day, I continued talking to her through messenger whenever we had time and before we went back to the classroom after lunch.

By now, she's already somewhat accepting of the idea but her words were still filled with concealed jealousy.

She couldn't say anything about Nami and the others since they're already my girls before her. However, for Saki who I claimed to not be a target yet, she's showing that kind of jealousy as if she's about to fall out of my favor.

Well, it's understandable since I still hadn't conquered her. Moreover, what we're waiting for was her answer.

For her to be jealous even if she's still undecided, that gave me the urge to tease her.

"Onoda-kun, we're still in the middle of our club activity."

This time, the one who spoke was Kikuchi, she found out that Izumi-senpai fell silent while Arisa-senpai also didn't step forward.

Then Tadano and the silent guy Taku were both… silent.

More than being afraid of me, I guess Tadano was more afraid of being hated by Nami.

Because he couldn't really curb his hatred of me, he's probably trying to ignore me instead.

"Un. Can you wait for a while, Ruu?" Nami followed up after Kikuchi before tapping the empty seat next to her. "Sit here with me, first. Is it fine Izumi, Saki-chan?"

Nami asked Izumi-senpai since she's their Club President. That's surprising, of course, but it only happened because Shizu refused to list her name in the club and Arisa-senpai wanted to make fun of Izumi-senpai. Urged by that playful senpai, the others ride on it, giving Izumi-senpai the role of Club President whether she liked it or not.

And the reason for also asking Saki was because it was her previous seat.

Instead of giving me another chair, Nami wanted me to sit next to her.

"As long as he keeps his mouth shut."

"Yes! It's fine. I'll sit here instead."

Although indignant, Izumi-senpai consented by giving that condition while Saki took the empty spot of where Ogawa should be.

As soon as I seated myself next to Nami, the awkward air that began when I arrived was intensified.

But to clear the air in the room, Arisa-senpai put on a bright smile before clapping her hands.

"Alright guys, chin up. Since we have an observer today, let's show him that we're a proper club!"

As expected of Arisa-senpai. If not Saki, she's the one setting the mood in this room.

Even if she's not as great as Nami for being an observer, she's aware that if this continued, they wouldn't be able to finish anything.

"Ah. Treat me as someone invisible. I'll also keep my mouth shut. I'm aware that by being here, I am intruding in your circle. I apologize for that."

After saying that, I bowed once more.

However, Nami before I could completely lower my head, a hand blocked my head.

"What are you doing, Ruu? Stop apologizing. I'll be upset if you continue that."

While pouting her lips, Nami pulled my head up to face her while grabbing my cheeks in a way that I also ended up with pouted lips.