Chapter 1160: Follow up

Chapter 1160: Follow up

The following periods passed just as smoothly as the first four. And at the moment, the bell had just rung, indicating the end of the 7th period.

As promised, I prepared to pick up both Kana and Ishida-senpai in their classroom.

But before doing so, my head sought my girls’ figures, checking on them as they also prepared to go to their respective clubs.

On my side, Aya handed me a notebook. It’s a notebook with her written book reviews and summaries. Last week I requested her help with it. She finally finished it.

“Thank you, Aya.” I smiled as I dotingly patted the girl’s head.

Aya wholeheartedly accepted it, lowering her head slightly to make it easy for me to pat her. Furthermore, the girl also stood up from her seat to squeeze in my embrace, totally ignoring the attention that we’d be getting.

Since it’s like an extension of what happened during the 1st period, most of our classmates stopped paying attention to our display of intimacy soon enough.

I mean, there’s nothing they could do about it, right? However, I’m surprised Kikuchi isn’t saying anything about this. She’s aware that I’m Nami’s boyfriend and at the same time, I’m also Hina’s boyfriend in her eyes. And perhaps, she also knows about Saki. The three stopped holding back on showing it whenever we were in their clubroom, after all.

Anyway, on my other side, Satsuki, who had just finished stuffing her things inside her bag, reached for my arm and pinched it to get my attention.

When I glanced at her, a smile couldn’t help but show on my lips. Even without much change in her usual expression, the little pout that she’s doing wouldn’t be able to escape my notice.

And if I had to guess, she wanted the same treatment as Aya.

As the girl quickly realized that I saw through her, she huffed and bloated her cheeks before averting her gaze. However, not even ten seconds later, she sneakily reached for the hem of my sleeves, tugging it as her way to tell me that she was waiting for her turn.

Classic Satsuki.

And that’s why, after Aya left for the Book Club, I grabbed Satsuki’s hand and guided her out of the classroom. Since it’s the time when most of the students were leaving for their clubs. The hallway was packed. Showing up with our clasped hands, we instantly grabbed the attention of those who saw us.

Well, even if they recognized us, I paid no attention to it. I even tightened my grip to ensure that her hand wouldn’t accidentally slip out of my grasp.

When we successfully left the School Building and got to a place with fewer eyes to even bother to look at us, I glanced back to check on the girl.

She stuck close to my back while her bag covered her face.

“Embarrassed?” I asked as I turned around to face her. I reached to her bag, lowering it down to peek at what she was hiding.

“No, you idiot! I don’t want anyone else to see me like this… And it’s to prevent another rumor about you.” Without putting any resistance, Satsuki gradually lowered her arms, showing the top half of her face to me.

She’s as flustered as she could get. And although she’s still glaring at me, it only added to her charm.

“Rumor? That’s irrelevant at this point. Will you believe if I tell you that soon enough, we can kiss out in the open without bothering about who can see us?”

Satsuki paused and contemplated for a moment. But after realizing that I got her with that question, she quickly erupted with hits on my shoulder, her ears turning even redder.

“No, you idiot! No one’s going to kiss you in public! What’s with you? If you’re so brave to expose our relationship in public then do so… I’ll wait for it.”

“Are you sure?” I kept a straight face and smirked. I gradually pushed my face closer, my eyes locked on hers.

One second. Two. Three.

Five seconds later, the girl gulped down, closed her eyes and eventually closed her mouth shut. Her lips sucked in her mouth.

She’s refusing to answer. She had no idea if I’m serious or not, after all.

“Alright. My Satsuki wins. I can’t do it yet if there’s no guarantee that you’re all going to be fine.”

Upon hearing that, the girl immediately opened her eyes and handed me her bag, freeing her hands. Following that, she went for my cheeks, pinching them as hard as she could.

And while giggling oh-so-sweetly, she whispered, “Remain an idiot forever, Ruki. Let’s go.”

Satsuki grabbed her bag back from me. And this time, she’s the one who led me by hand as we continued on our way to the Gymnasium, ignoring every student we passed by on our way there.

As always, this trip to the Gymnasium didn’t end with just watching her enter from the side door, I went in with her and found a rather obscure corner where we let go of any inhibitions.

Before leaving and returning to the School Building, I told her about Koizumi-san’s message. Apparently, she also received a message from the girl, asking her for a talk later.

Well, the way she worded that sounds rather unusual. Koizumi-san was asking for a talk rather than straight saying that she was going to inform Satsuki about that scouting trip with her.

I could be overthinking it but I guess that’s for Satsuki to find out.

-

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Around ten minutes later, I finally returned to the School Building to pick up the two girls on the third floor.

Since a lot of time had already passed, the only ones left there were those on Cleaning Duty or those waiting for someone.

However, I was once again stalled at the stairs leading up to the second floor.

Up top, I ran into someone. The girl also stopped in her tracks as she focused her eyes on me.

“You… Are you going to…?” While her words seemed incomplete, I could infer what she was trying to say considering our only interaction was about that.

It’s Kujou Marika’s follower who asked me to investigate Ichihara Jun and help the girl get out of his grasp. Obviously, I already saw through her act back then… And according to Shizu, she’s been seen to be close to that guy before she became Kujou’s follower.

This time, however, it looked like she also got taken aback at our unexpected meeting. The girl hurriedly tried to come up with something in line with what we talked about before. However, that’s all she could manage.

Well, let’s play along for a moment. It’s also been a while since I saw Kujou-senpai. I thought she was going to go out of her way to look for me after what happened last Sunday but she has been quiet all this time.

I wonder. Maybe I’m wrong about my assumptions about that ringlet girl? No… I should still be vigilant about her.

“Not today. I still haven’t finished investigating. But if there’s a chance to talk to her, why not? Senpai, you told me you’re going to tell me where I can find her, right? You still haven’t delivered.”

Her eyes widened slightly as she paused for a moment before answering

“I… I’m sorry. She’s not moving places so much these days. At the moment, Marika-sama is still in their classroom. She’s waiting for Ichihara-senpai to pick her up.”

“And her other followers?”

“They’re around her but if it’s you…”

“You think I have a chance to get past her followers?”

“Yes. She talks about you sometimes. ‘Junior-kun is interesting’ she says.”

And how did she know that I am that Junior-kun? Did Marika mention it or did she find out from someone else?

“I see. Alright, if there’s a chance, I’ll try but don’t get your hopes up.”

“Y-yes! Should I follow you?”

“No, senpai. You’re going to expose yourself if you do.”

“R-right. G-good luck then Onoda-kun…”

“Mhm…” I nodded and watched her pass by me, descending down to the 1st floor.

That girl, she’s hurrying up to get away, huh?

I waited for a moment, sensing the surroundings if someone was eavesdropping. When I found no one, I continued on my steps, ascending to the third floor

Well, even with that talk, I decided not to approach Kujou Marika today… At least let me pick up Kana and Ishida-senpai first.

I’ll put it up to the chance whether I will encounter her or not. She’s not a doll that will only move if someone pulls on her strings anyway.