Chapter 97: Introduction (1)

"Look at their hands…"

One of them pointed to our linked hands. Is it that surprising?

"Hey, Kazuo. Are you fine with this?"

Tadano asked. He's sitting next to him. I know that he still doesn't accept me and now he's riling Ogawa to make a move.

Ogawa didn't answer him. On the contrary, his gaze was locked on our hands.

I can guess what he's thinking. He probably hasn't touched Nami's hands yet and now he's watching us doing it naturally, without aversion.

"Onoda and Nanami…"

Mori was surprised. She alternately looked between Ogawa, Nanami and me, trying to understand this situation.

After a while, she got the idea of what's really happening.

She looked at me and a meaningful smile surfaced from her lips.

This girl is quite sharp when it concerns Ogawa. Now she understood that this is what I meant earlier. The plan for us which will also give her a chance to Ogawa.

"So Nanami already has a guy. Isn't this sad? I thought you and Kazuo were getting closer these past few days."

The speaker was a new face to me.

Ah. Based on her uniform, a 2nd year. The Student Council President? No. Not her. Is she part of Ogawa's harem?

"Izumi-senpai, I was asking Kazuo for advice these past few days."

Nami answered. She's really into our act now. She turned her meeting with Kazuo as her seeking advice from him.

"I see. Then will you introduce him to us? I can see that you all know him, only us 2nd years don't know the name of the guy who managed to win you over."

The senpai she called Izumi smirked. I could feel her eyes checking out everything about my appearance. What's her deal, I wonder? I can't guess her type but just by her sitting posture and her uniform which were not properly buttoned, she's like a delinquent. You know, the type who make fun of pushovers.

Well, that's just my impression on how she looks. Maybe she just likes dressing like that. Who knows?

"Right. Nanami-chan is sneaky. Getting herself a guy in the 2nd week of your High School. Who is he?"

The other 2nd year finally opened her mouth. Just by the tone of her voice, she's probably the playful-type who would often tease you to get your secrets out. And being next to that Izumi-senpai, they make a great pair.

"Hina. This is a chance for you!"

Kikuchi, the fujoshi, exclaimed. Yes, she's here too, even with her being a fujoshi, she chose to join this club instead of Manga club.

Apart from Ogawa and Tadano, there's one more guy but he seems to be a quiet type, even in class. Knowing Tadano who only has an eye for Nanami, these girls are here for Ogawa, right? Or maybe that quiet guy? I don't know, he's like an air sitting there.

Ah, I forgot his name since he's not really talkative but he's always at their circle.

Kikuchi is an exception. She's probably here because of Mori while satisfying her fetish by secretly pairing Ogawa and Tadano to each other or to that quiet guy.

Nami pulled my hand and led me to a seat next to her.

"You guys already know him so for Izumi-senpai and Arisa-senpai. Let me introduce to you, Onoda Ruki, we started going out with each other this Monday."

I looked at the two and nodded at them as a greeting. Well, I don't know what to say and they're clearly not talking to me. I'm just checking out everyone's reaction. Apart from these two new faces, the others are just curiously watching us.

"Seriously, this Monday? How long have you known each other?"

Izumi-senpai asked. Well a little more than a week?

"Uwaa. Lucky guy. Hey, Nanami-chan. What did you see in him?"

I don't know as well, Arisa-senpai. Err. Why am I answering them in my head?

"So the rumor is true. Nami is meeting with him during lunch."

The last girl who hasn't spoken yet murmured at her seat.

Ah. I remember, her surname is Imada.

"Onoda, snatching away Nanami. I remembered how she blocked Harada to approach him last Monday. At that time, you're already…"

Kikuchi murmured. She's trying to connect the dots. But during that time, I talked to Mori first. I don't know the extent of her knowledge about my deal with Mori. Why isn't she suspicious of me?

Well, Nami only made up that we started dating last Monday. It's to support what she revealed to Tadano when he caught us in that empty clubroom yesterday.

With all of them talking at the same time, Nami had a hard time responding. She looked at me with that pleading eyes of hers, she even tightened her hold on my hand.

Ah. I guess this is my time to take the stage.

I coughed once to get their attention and that instantly silenced the room. Their eyes were now all locked on me. Even Tadano who had his annoyed face on and Ogawa who seemed calm but trembling at his seat were looking at me.

"Uhm. It's nice meeting all of you, especially you seniors. Truthfully, I'm kind of scared to meet her circle of friends but seeing you all here and seeing you all happy and curious about Nami and me, I guess that reduced my fear."

I started. Well, I need to put on an attitude that I showed in the classroom. Most of them don't know the real me anyway, only Nami and Mori.

Ah. Even Mori only knew me as the pervert who wanted to steal Nami and her but since she's cooperating with me, she won't say anything.

"Oh? Why are you afraid? Do you think we will be against your relationship?"

Izumi-senpai asked. She put on her delinquent attitude at the front. Is she trying to intimidate me? But she's quite cute. I can conclude that she's one of the girls aiming for Ogawa. She kept on glancing at him, watching his reaction to what's being said.

"Ah. No, it's not like that. I heard from her that you all are close friends of her since middle school, it's a friendship that has lasted for years now. For me to suddenly intrude, I thought you might find me rude."

I don't know if my acting is believable but I guess it is. They're not suspecting we're just acting. Our hands never separated even after we took a seat after all. Nami even leans her body to me. From their eyes, we're probably like an idiot couple showing off our affection to each other.

Even if this is just an act, to be introduced like this isn't a bad experience.

"Onoda, you were kind of quiet in class but you're fairly popular, you know. To think that you will think that deeply for Nanami…"

Imada interjected. Is she part of Ogawa's harem? Ah. I don't think so, she's just an ordinary friend like the quiet guy whose name I forgot.

"Ah. I'm not thinking that deeply, it's just, I like Nami and I want to make a good impression on her friends."

Good impression for you guys to think that our relationship is real. Ogawa is probably uncomfortable right now, he's holding himself back by staying silent there. But yeah, if I succeed at stealing her, this relationship will probably stay as it is.

"Onoda-chi, tell us how did you win her over? That's what we're curious about."

Arisa-senpai asked with that playful smile on her lips.

"Err… Nami, is it fine to tell them?"

Right. I should ask her first, this way it will be too believable. Will she follow through our act?

"Why are you asking me? It's you who wanted to get a good impression when I already told you they wouldn't mind it."

I guess worrying about it is useless. Nami is too into acting now that she's even supporting my story by adding more details by herself.

"Alright. But first, Tadano, you met us yesterday, right? I'm sorry for what I said back then. The situation led me to say those things to you."

I turned to Tadano and bowed my head to him. This time is the most suitable to calm this hot-headed guy down. He's still rejecting my existence but if I do this, it will make him step back and stop his hostility.

"No. I was also at fault. You don't have to apologize."

He flinched when I turned to him and said all that. He didn't expect me to apologize at this moment.

"Thanks, man. We might have our differences but for Nami, I'll lower my head to you."

Yes, for my smooth stealing of Nami from Ogawa, I need you to accept our pretend relationship even if I still hate your guts.

"Hey! I told you it's fine. As long as Nanami is happy. But if you make her cry, you know what will happen."

His tone turned serious while saying that last sentence of his. Well, I already expected that and nothing will make me be intimidated by him. He's still not a threat in my eyes.

"She won't cry. I'll make sure of that. Now to answer Arisa-senpai's question, the truth is, Nami is the one who approached me."

To make it more convincing, I will mix in events that really happened. Nami was aware of that so it will be easy for her to support my story.

"Wow~"

Arisa-senpai even clapped upon hearing it. And the rest are just dumbfounded by my words that Nami approached me first.