Chapter 514: Splitting Up

When all the classes finished with the place designated to them, we have all gathered once again on one to be evaluated and to do a roll-call for the last time.

Before it was quite a common occurrence for someone to flee even before the end of the activity. That’s why the teachers thought of adding another layer to keep them in check.

Due to that, the students were forced to do the activity and forced to stay so that they wouldn’t be marked absent.

Well, because of this, sneaking out with Shio like I told her last night or any other girl was also impossible.

As soon as the attendance check was done, the teachers, with Shio as a speaker once more, dispersed the students.

“Finally!”

“Let’s go to the arcade?”

“No, let’s watch some good movies.”

“I’m going home.”

“Don’t be a killjoy and come with us.”

Conversations like that began to fill our surroundings as the students began grouping up and going on their own ways.

On the other hand, the teachers as well as Shizu turned around to go back to the school grounds. Unlike the students, they still had to make a report and record everything that happened in this activity.

And according to what they decided, Satsuki and Aya followed behind Shizu. The three would be hitchhiking in Shio’s car.

Although Aya hadn’t interacted with Shizu yet, with Satsuki there, I know she would be fine.

As for Satsuki and Shizu interacting with Shio… I could only imagine the result.

Hopefully, they will be able to interact with each other without becoming awkward…

And although Shizu wasn’t officially my girl because of that consensus, those who heard about her dealings with me had somehow already deemed that Shizu would eventually give in.

That’s why no one was truly against her also coming to our house.

I told them that I would be teaching them self-defense but I guess their impending meeting with each other would be the main event…

Moreover, because I would still need to go to my part-time job, most of them would remain in the house... Whether they would decide to go home earlier or not, that’s not for me to decide anymore.

In any case, I was expecting all of them to remain until I returned from the Boxing Gym.

“Yo. Onoda, you’re not going yet?” Sakuma suddenly approached me when he saw me unmoving.

He surely noticed how Aya and Satsuki followed Shizu and the teachers so he’s most likely wondering why I wasn’t following them.

“Not yet. What about you? Isn’t today a great chance to spend with Maemura’s sister?”

“Huup! I… You’re right. It’s a chance. I’m gonna run, Onoda!”

Sakuma almost choked at first but recovered before he was filled with bravery. And lastly, he sprinted as if he was a speedster that I actually became tempted to shout ‘Run, Sakuma, run’.

Ah. Either way, looking at him goes like that. I guess he’s finally growing as a person. Unlike the Sakuma from before who couldn’t make a move even with all the chances presented in front of him.

Due to that attitude, it resulted in him losing Satsuki. To me.

If he fought and tried to also get Satsuki’s attention before. I would probably spend a lot of effort to steal her. Or if Satsuki ended up not having a change of heart, I might also give up altogether given that I would eventually experience the change in my thought process.

Well, that’s a past possibility and there’s no going back to the past. Satsuki is mine now and Sakuma is already focused on her sister. As long as he perseveres, he truly has a chance for her.

That’s unless the girl felt the same.

Although it still felt like he’s lacking in some departments like how he appeared uneasy whenever I would mention Satsuki’s sister, I guess I can say that I am rooting for him.

People don’t normally change easily… perhaps except me. And there are also people who will not change even after being pushed to the brink. Like Ogawa.

As for Sakuma, he’s in the first category, it will take time and it needs his real effort to make it come true.

“You’re a great friend, aren’t you, Onoda?”

From my side, another guy showed up and asked. I didn’t need to turn my head to him to recognize that it was Fukuda. Most likely he witnessed that exchange between Sakuma and me.

“Me? A friend? I don’t think so.”

I’m not anyone’s friend.

Oh… There’s Misaki. Now that I think about it, I also only caught a glimpse of that girl earlier, she waved her hand to me and smiled as a greeting from a friend to a friend. And she did the same to Chii and Kanzaki. That’s a totally friendly girl.

“Why do you say so?” Fukuda followed up another question.

“Let’s just say, I’m not a friendly guy.”

Thinking about it, my answer was only applicable to guys… When it’s a girl, there’s no reason for me to decline their friendship.

I guess I just truly hated to have somebody else buzzing around my girls or I just despise them due to how greedy I am.

“But you’re friendly with girls, aren’t you?”

“Perhaps.” I shrugged.

He got it right. That’s one point for him.

“I like Chizuru.”

“I know.”

With that kind of confession, this guy was trying to probe my reaction. But much to his dismay, I wore a deadpan expression as I shrugged.

“Do you like her?”

“I love her.” And at this point, there’s no way I would deny it. This guy was having his own designs towards a girl I love. It’s only right for me to confidently tell him.

Besides, he already caught us in the act wherein he kept it a secret by himself.

“I see… Since when?”

“I don’t think I need to continue answering for myself to you.”

“Heh… That’s right. This is why you’re so popular. Silent but frank when confronted.”

Is that why I’m popular?

I don’t know. I’m just being myself all the time.

And even if I needed to act, it would always be with a purpose.

“Is that so? Well, what are you gonna do?”

“Today… I’ll be courting Chizuru.”

This guy… At least he has guts, unlike the cowardly guy who cannot accept the truth.

Fukuda most likely already determined that… in Chii’s eyes, he was never above me.

“Really? Good luck then.”

Do I look like I’m letting him do what he wants to do? No, not really. If he truly tries courting her then I will just have to double my efforts. This isn’t the old times where I have to resort to something else to seal the deal. This time… the decision lies in Chii’s hands. I will not put words in their mouths anymore.

In any case, I would expect myself to be totally annoyed with this guy if he started. I might not make a move when it concerns Chii but to teach this guy a lesson? I was already thinking of methods to do that.

“You’re that confident, huh?”

Considering the girl already expressed what she felt, my relationship with Chii was already at the same point as Shizu. Naturally, it’s natural for me to be confident.

Nonetheless, there’s still that worry that Chii would reject me in the end. Although that would be truly painful, it was her decision by then and I could only accept that.

“I am… Besides, she already left. How will you do that?”

I already saw Nami, Hina and Chii going to the crowd of Class 3 to pick up Rae. In the end, they already dropped the idea to take the bus, the four would be going to ride the train. If I’m not wrong, Kikuchi somehow wanted to come as well but Hina successfully reasoned with her.

As for Saki… I saw her going in a different direction. Towards the bus stop. And behind her, that silent guy was following.

Tadano and Ogawa, on the other hand, were probably trying to follow Nami with the former being dragged around by him. Good luck with those two finding them, those four were going somewhere to rest. Or more specifically, to rest and wait for me to pick them up.

“Huh? Eh? You’re right!”

Upon realizing that I was right, Fukuda frantically moved his head to look for Chii’s silhouette. However, no matter where he turned, she’s nowhere in sight.

And when he got tired of doing that, he turned around and was already about to sprint. However, before Fukuda’s feed launched himself towards the direction he’s facing, he turned his head back to shout at me. “Onoda, I’ll beat you!”

By saying that, you already lost, you know? Anyway, the direction he was going was wrong anyway. He caught a glimpse of the other gyarus that was often with Chii. He’s most likely going to ask them.

Now then, it’s also time for me to start moving, huh?

However, before that…

Turning my heels in a certain direction, my feet began carrying me towards a certain someone.

As I hastened my footsteps, I walked past the silent guy Taku and arrived next to Saki. “Going home?”

“Ruki…!” Surprised at my sudden appearance, Saki exclaimed as she looked behind her if there's someone else with me.

And magically, that silent guy was nowhere in sight now. He’s probably hiding somewhere.

That guy... is he becoming a stalker?

They’re officially friends, if he approached Saki, there’s no way she would ignore him.

In any case, since he wouldn’t make a move, he could only blame himself as I would take this chance to talk to this girl.

Because according to Nami, Saki refused to go and was now on her way home.

I want to hear her thoughts...