Chapter 171: Ishida-senpai's Concerns

When I took Aya in the Literature Club, Ishida-senpai thought I brought a new member and Otsuka-senpai instantly barraged her with questions.

Aya, being the introvert that she was, shrunk down behind me and before I could explain, Kana went to our rescue. This is her territory so she's not really that shy and seeing I brought another girl, she probably already guessed that she's one of my girls.

Kana jumped into my arms which almost startled Ishida and Otsuka-senpai before she turned her head and looked at Aya who was cowering behind me.

"Ruki! Who's this?"

"She's Rindou Ayase. My classmate and…"

Even though I haven't completed my sentence, Kana nodded her head and pulled Aya from behind me before turning to Ishida and Otsuka-senpai.

"She's a visitor to our club, Rumi, Karen. Can you let me take care of her?"

"Sure. Go ahead."

Ishida-senpai nodded and went back on her seat while Otsuka-senpai muttered and just watched on as Kana pulled Aya and had her sit next to Rae before taking the seat next to her.

"I was just a bit curious."

"You're always curious, senpai. Since when are you not curious?"

I commented to the pouting Otsuka-senpai.

"I know… but lately it's because of you."

Her voice was soft as I saw her slowly shift her body to my direction.

Well, after showing her my intimate moments with Kana, there's no way she wouldn't be curious. And with the series of events that happened after that, it further culminated that curiosity.

"Right. I haven't had the chance to ask my questions to you, senpai."

Acting as if I only remembered it now, I also turned towards her. Kana was already busy trying to get to know Aya and Aya was also doing the same. I told her that I'll bring her to the author of the book I was reading after all.

"Then go ask them now so that it will be my turn again."

This girl. Is her curiosity meter about to be broken? Her voice was a bit loud and made the others stop what they're doing to glance at us.

Realizing that, Otsuka-senpai's face heated up and turned red, she looked around her before silently going back to her seat.

That's new. For her to be embarrassed like that.

I actually already forgot what I wanted to ask her. It's about Ishida-senpai, right?

I shook my head and went to the three girls' side. Of course, they asked me what that was about.

Kana already has an idea because of the two instances where Otsuka-senpai saw us, the first one being we showed it to her deliberately while the next was her coming up after we're just done. The other two were left wondering though so I explained it to them in a way that they wouldn't be embarrassed.

But it seems the effect wasn't that good or in other words, it let their minds wander off. Rae would probably think about our last instance while Aya will imagine what will happen to us later.

Kana found the two girl's reactions adorable so after talking with me about her novel and giving it back to her, she focused on the two.

Err…That was after having me circle my arms around her from her back and used my body as her backrest.

This kind of intimacy was something Kana didn't mind doing anymore. She's older than the two and maybe she also wanted to show them that she's my girl.

Her change was already showing bit by bit now. She also stopped talking about Kenji who still hasn't come back to the club. For her, there's only me now and this time in the club with me was something she always looks forward to.

After around 20 minutes, I excused myself to Kana, Aya and Rae. Ah, also to Ishida-senpai and Otsuka-senpai.

I already told them about my secretary job for the President so they were letting me off the hook for the club activity for the meantime.

"Wait, Onoda-kun. Can we talk?"

Ishida-senpai followed me outside and called out to me. The Student Council is just above so I stopped and waited for her to catch up.

"What is it, senpai? Am I getting in trouble now?"

"You don't look like you will be bothered by trouble. Onoda-kun. I just have some things I want you to clear up."

Ishida-senpai caught up with me then we continued our steps until we reached the stairs where she finished what she wanted to say.

I stared at her in silence for a few seconds to observe her reaction and surprisingly, she's not turning her gaze away.

"Alright. Ask me and I'll answer truthfully, senpai."

I could already guess what she would ask. Their club turned weird when I appeared. Now, it's like I'm the center of it instead of them. With what happened with Kana and seeing Rae talking to me intimately as well, there's no way only Otsuka-senpai will be curious. And when Otsuka-senpai reacted like that earlier, Ishida-senpai was probably fed up and wanted to clear things about my existence there.

"Are you just in the club because of the girls? I know I already asked you this before. But Onoda-kun, what really is your purpose? Even Karen was acting like that now and I…"

"Is it getting uncomfortable for you, senpai? I'm sorry if you feel that way. I'll answer you but let's not talk here."

To give her a peace of mind, I'll answer her truthfully, whether she will accept it or not. I guess that's yet to be seen.

This girl. She's really the most normal among them and someone whose priority was the club before her love life. I'm not really sure if she likes that Kenji but at least I know she's a good friend to Kana. Except for that instance where if I hadn't seen her, she would surely follow that Kenji inside the love hotel.

After agreeing to talk somewhere private, I went up the stairs and tried to see if any of the rooms on the 4th floor could be opened. There's only the student council here anyway so surely, there will be one where no one can eavesdrop on us.

Since it will concern my girls, I have to take better precaution.

Ishida-senpai followed me and luckily there's one that was left open.

I could see her slightly trembling as if afraid that I will do something to her so I entered first.

"Senpai, I won't do anything so you can relax. I just don't want others to hear my answers even accidentally."

"A-alright. You know, you're quite scary, Onoda-kun. That day too."

She stepped in while still feeling a bit scared but since I placed myself far away from her and she stopped just a few steps from the door, she managed to compose herself again.

"I get that a lot, senpai. Did I scare you back then? Honestly, I was also surprised when I saw you with him."

Ishida-senpai lowered her head as if she was ashamed to remember that.

"That… shouldn't have happened."

"Do you like him?"

"Maybe. I don't know anymore. You said you will answer me, why did the topic change to this?"

She couldn't answer or maybe she really doesn't know what she felt for that guy. The three of them have probably been together in the club since their first year. She got close to them and she probably grew a crush on that Kenji. However, since she's Kana's friend and Kenji's attention was all on Kana, she never acted on it. Until Kenji approached her himself…

This is just a guess but I guess that's close to the truth.

"Ah. I'm just curious about you, senpai. Let's see, at first, it's really just about Kana. When you had me try the club. Rae, she was mad at me before and when I talked to her, I managed to clear that up. Also, I wanted to help her with something about herself, and that leads to our current situation. Otsuka-senpai is just being herself, overflowing with curiosity."

"But whenever you're there, the atmosphere of the club was turning like that. I feel like your influence was changing the club at its core."

She's not wrong to feel that. It really always turns to that kind of atmosphere because of how affectionate we are to each other.

"Senpai really loves the club, eh? What should I do then? The club actually grows into me now, and that's not just because of the Kana and Rae."

"This is my last year here, you see. Kana and I will have to leave the club before graduation so I'm worried about its future next school year. Karen wouldn't be able to maintain it because of her overflowing curiosity that might scare potential members. And you… I don't know what to think about you, Onoda-kun."

"I see. This is what really concerns you, senpai. I understand. I'm of the same mind as you, senpai. I will probably not be able to hold the club up. Right now, I'm only thinking about spending time with Kana and Rae there and this is my honest answer."

With me not being able to stay in one place because of the girls I have to see. Managing a club will be a hassle.

However, now that I think of it. The club can be my foothold for the future. A place where I can test if I have a management skill. But it's a Literature Club, there's nothing much to do there…

"I see. The club is hopeless then."

Hearing my answer, Ishida-senpai's shoulders slumped down. She was disheartened.

Seeing her like that, I don't know but I want to cheer her up. This girl is too devoted to the club, it's like seeing myself in her. Just that, it's not the club I was devoted to but my goal to have that future with the girls. There's a lot of difference but we're both trying to do anything for it.

"I'm sorry, senpai. But you see, I think I want to take on that challenge. Make the club prosper."

Starting my goal with this, it might not result in anything but it will surely let me learn a lot.

"How will you do that?"

"I still don't know yet and it's not like I will be able to do it by myself. I will surely ask the help of everyone when the time comes."

I'm not walking this path alone. Those who will stay with me will either actively help me or wait for me to ask for their help. So… this can be a simulation.

"You mean…"

Ishida-senpai raised her head back up and looked at me. She already had the idea about what I'm talking about.

I put a smile on my face and nodded at her.

"The Cultural Festival. It's still far to talk about it right now but let's do something for it. Something that will boost the number of members next year. For now, can I continue to spend time with them in the club?"

We could actually talk about it while we're spending our time together. Two birds in one stone, eh? This should be the first time I will do something outside of stealing someone's girl or filling my desire.

"If you don't forget what you just said then I don't mind just don't make out in front of us… that's not something you openly show to others."

"You're right. That's our bad, senpai. I'll talk to them about it."

Right. It's surely awkward for Ishida-senpai to see us that intimate. That's why they're always silent when I'm at the club because they don't know how to react if Kana and I were always like that. And these days Rae is also joining us.

"Why are they fine being with you? Even though you're already seeing another girl. Kana looks so happy with you than when she was with Kenji so I opted not to advise her out of your relationship. What's really special about you?"

I knew she would ask me about this too. Just like with Shizu-senpai.

"It will look like I'm narcissistic if I answered that. Just, I really love Kana and that girl you saw me with. It's hard to explain it to other people about this kind of twisted relationship we are in. I'll do anything for them and they will surely do anything for me. It's a type of relationship where there's no one above the other. I make them feel special and they also make me feel special."

"I don't get it..."

"As I said, it's really hard to explain and it's not originally like this. We grow and we're still growing."

Yeah. When did it turn like this? Was it when I realized how special Akane is with me? I only take responsibility for what I did before but now, I clearly wanted to be in their life and so did they. Maybe keeping that option open made them not feel restricted and it made them open up completely to me. And there's also my honesty to them, they believed I would not lie to them.

Ishida-senpai was still confused but she didn't follow up with a question again. Surely, no matter how I explain it, it will always be confusing if they haven't experienced it themselves.