Chapter 207: Where's my Mentor?

When the bell indicating the end of the 5th period rang out, most students stood up excitedly.

It's now the time for the Mentor Program. Some of them got someone they know as their Mentor while some were just excited for this activity.

Who knows what kind of experience this Mentor Program will bring about? I at least don't want to see Aya become like Otsuka-senpai who has an excessively curious personality. However, having her circle expand is something I want to see. It's also something in line with the things that she can do for what she wanted to be in the future.

10 minutes later, a group of 2nd-year students entered the room, in front of them was none other than Shizu-senpai. Otsuka-senpai and Arisa-senpai were among them.

With their number, it's still not enough for the 30 students in our class. 

I guess the others are late. And I still have no idea who's assigned to me.

When they appeared, everyone fell silent especially after Shizu-senpai stepped forward as the representative of the Mentors.

She scanned the surroundings and when she saw me, she stopped for a second before continuing. She's wearing the same amiable mask like how she presented herself during the Opening Ceremony. She'll probably only become the scary Shizu-senpai if she's not in front of a lot of students and since she closed herself with that mask, those she could call as a circle of friends were only Ogawa and Nami's group.

"Year 1 Class 1, some of us visited earlier to check out our mentee and given that your class advisor already explained the program to you, we are starting the Mentor Program today. Mentors, will you please go to your mentee."

With that amiable smile on her face, those who didn't know how she really is also had smiles on their faces while those in that club had complicated expressions.

After saying that, everyone behind her walked towards their designated mentee. Afterwards, she also started walking in our direction and stopped in front of us. This time, she didn't spare me a glance.

"Maemura-san? I'll be your Mentor for this year. Let's get along."

Shizu-senpai extended her hand to Satsuki with the same smile which the latter took while flashing almost the same smile.

"Likewise, senpai."

Somehow, I could feel some kind of standoff was happening during this handshake between them.

When their hands separated, almost at the same time, both of them turned their heads towards me which immediately sent shivers towards my spine.

"Why do they look like they're going to fight each other?"

Aya, upon noticing this strange situation, whispered beside me. When Shizu-senpai heard that, she also threw her a glance which made Aya cower behind me.

Right now, she's projecting that scary aura of hers.

Alright. Let's try to diffuse this situation.

"Uhm... Nice to meet you again, senpai. Please take care of Satsuki for us."

Upon greeting her like that and adding the second sentence, Shizu-senpai's eyes turned into a slit while her smile turned into a meaningful smirk. Even if I turned it to 'us' due to everyone's eyes being focused on what's happening here, she probably translated that as 'me'.

"Leave it to me, Onoda-kun. Don't forget your secretary work for me later, alright?"

This girl…

What should I do here? With her words, everyone now knows that I'm working as her secretary. Even Ogawa and Nami's circle of friends were surprised when they heard that.

And all of them turned to Nami, except Ogawa. They're probably wondering if I chose to work for her to have her accept me for Nami.

"I won't forget it."

Since I couldn't think of any way out of this, I could only answer as such. 

"Good. Let's go then Maemura-san."

Seemingly pleased at my answer, she turned around and started to make her way out of the room taking the focus away from us.

"Idiot Ruki."

Before leaving with Shizu-senpai, Satsuki whispered under her breath.

Haa… I guess I can only hope that they won't clash. Satsuki might be foul-mouthed but towards me or maybe Sakuma but yeah, Aya mentioned how she looked scary because of her expression. Somehow, they're almost the same, just that Shizu-senpai's scary front was just a mask.

She won't make Satsuki become scared of her, will she?

"Onoda-kun your popularity never fades."

Another voice commented when the two left the classroom. It's Otsuka-senpai who came to pick up Aya. Just by looking at her, I knew she's suppressing her laugh and curiosity at what she just witnessed.

"… Even you will jump in, senpai. Please take care of Aya for me"

I shook my head and said that in a dejected tone as if I've been wronged.

Upon seeing that, my acting somehow affected Otsuka-senpai and she immediately turned into a dignified upperclassman.

"Leave it to me. It's not like we're still strangers to each other."

"Ruki. See you later."

"Un. Have fun, alright?"

Aya nodded and smiled at me before she followed Otsuka-senpai outside.

Time passed and almost everyone already got their Mentor, some left the room while some stayed. Ogawa surprisingly got Arisa-senpai as his Mentor.

Nami's mentor was late like mine but when she arrived, I was surprised to see Haruko. She first greeted me so I thought she's the one assigned to me. However, she only whispered how she missed me before moving over to where Nami is with a meaningful smile on her face.

Haruko noticed that Nami was looking over our interaction.

When they left, 15 minutes passed immediately but even after waiting for that long, there's no mentor coming for me.

Could it be that no one was assigned to me? Or I was assigned to someone who didn't care about this Mentor Program? I don't know.

After a while, I noticed Chii and her mentor about to go out of the room. When she passed by me, she stopped for a while and whispered that I should ask Shio for my mentor.

That girl... Even when talking with her mentor, she's still observing me. Her request from me is still unfinished, there's no way I will walk over to their group and ask Fukuda so it will have to wait.

I thanked her for her advice which she answered with a smile before going over to her mentor. I heard that mentor of hers talking about showing her a trick. As to what kind of trick, only the two of them know. Her mentor is also a gyaru but knowing that she's not really like that, it will just be a matter of time when that identity will start to stick with her. Just like how Shizu-senpai can't really cast off that mask since that's already how she's known by those close to her.

After another 15 minutes, I stood up and decided to look for Shio like Chii advised.

Since it's part of the school program, if I can learn from this then I won't pass on it.

I looked for her around the School Building but I failed to see her, when I asked one of the teachers, he told me that she went back to the Administration Building.

Upon hearing that, I couldn't help but smile.

She's probably in her room there. I can also use this as a chance to spend some time with her even if it's just for a few minutes.

After determining my next destination, I went back to the room first just in case someone arrived when I was outside.

Unfortunately, there's still no mentor looking for me.

"Onoda-kun, wait. Let me go with you."

I'm already about to leave the room again when Mori's voice called out to me.

Since I was occupied with other things, I didn't notice that like me, her mentor also hasn't arrived yet.

"Looks like we're in the same position."

I nodded and said which she answered with a somewhat awkward smile.

And there goes my chance to be alone with Shio...

The others were already busy with whatever discussion they're having with their mentors which made it easy for us to leave unnoticed

Well, it's not like they'll care about where we will go. We're the only two without a mentor in there. To think that we'll experience this kind of trouble on the first day, will this program be fine?

"Do you think they forgot to assign us one?"

If they did then my problem is easy to solve but if not, I lost the Mentor roulette to land on someone lazy.

"Uhm... I actually know who's my mentor, she told me she will be an hour late. I just don't want to wait alone there."

Eh? This girl…

Is that the real reason?

It's already quite obvious since yesterday, Mori is trying to get my attention. But yeah, it might also be not related to how I like her.

During the class, she's still focused on Ogawa after all.

Am I right at thinking that she's trying to distance herself at Ogawa as a way for him to notice her?

"I see. Now that we're here, instead of trying to find out who's my mentor, let's spend time together, Mori. Just until your mentor arrives."

We're already outside the School Building.

And when I said that, Mori slowed down her steps first until she completely stopped.

As soon as I noticed that, I looked back at her and saw her staring at me. Her face clearly expressed how she was in conflict whether she would accept my suggestion or not.

Maybe she just really wanted to accompany me at first but now that I suggested it, she's now in conflict.

Upon seeing that, I went back to where she stopped and grabbed her wrist. Before she could react, I already started pulling her to the same place where the broken vending machine is located. When she finally had the chance to react, I only felt a little resistance before letting herself be pulled by me while warily looking to our left and right.

That broken vending machine was nearby so it didn't take long for us to reach it. I had her sit on the bench while I sat next to her before asking her a question.

"Mori, have you changed your mind about me?"

She still has that conflicted look but now that she's this close, I noticed that her shoulders were slightly trembling as if something's bugging her.

If it's not about me, then it could only be about Ogawa.

Haa… how devoted can this girl be?

"I see. It's about that guy again. I still can't beat him when it comes to you, eh? Did something happen between you and him?"