Stealing Spree

"Nikka-senpai, you've got my charm all wrong. That guy looks like he's about to trip over his own ego. Where's the cool, dependable Ruki I'm known for?" I playfully said as I pulled her notes closer.

Reira-senpai also looked at it and giggled at how over-the-top it became.

Nikka-senpai grinned with her eyes narrowing with mischief as she gave me a side eye. "Cool? Dependable? Sure, if that's what can satisfy you, Onoda-kun. I'm just capturing the vibe, y'know?"

She tapped her pen against the notebook, then added a tiny crown to the chibi's head. "There. Now you're the King of Chaos."

Now, that's another one to be added to my long list of titles.

Reira-senpai rolled her eyes and then nudged my shoulder again. "Nikka, don't encourage him. His head's big enough as it is."

What is this girl saying? Aren't I the most humble guy according to my girls?

I squeezed her hand and smirked, "Big head but bigger heart, senpai. Who else can balance this chaos somehow?"

"Don't be smug about it!" Reira-senpai quipped.

Nikka-senpai laughed, a bright, carefree sound that drew a few curious glances from across the room.

Reira-senpai's grip on my hand tightened again, like she was reminding me I should focus on her instead.

I gave her a quick, reassuring glance before leaning in and whispering, "Reira-senpai, wanna come with me? Let's get drinks for everyone."

"Y-you… Why do you have to whisper that? Just say it normally!" Reira-senpai hissed as her cheeks became tinged with a faint flush.

However, the way her eyes sparkled showed a mix of exasperation and affection she was trying to hide from me.

She gave my hand another squeeze before letting go and standing up, smoothing her skirt as if to regain her composure.

"Fine, let's go. Someone's gotta make sure you don't sneak away to see another girl."

How did she know? I'm planning to see Arisa and Izumi, after all. Just to check in on them. They're too diligent not to leave their club to those three idiots. I gotta surprise them with a drink and maybe earn myself a few affection points.

Sumire and the others should also be coming soon. They were a bit late since they decided to pass by a shopping district located between their middle school and our school.

I stood up and stretched with a grin, catching Nikka-senpai's amused glance as she waved us off, already back to doodling something new. Possibly another exaggerated version of me.

"Senpai, make sure it looks cool, alright?" I teased, dodging her playful swat at my arm. If Enomoto sees her like this, will he start feeling something?

Nah. Probably not. That guy is so drunk with his 'authority'.

After I went over to inform the other girls, Reira-senpai fell into step beside me as we headed out of the clubroom. She tried to act nonchalant, not showing how excited she was but the girls had already seen through her. Most of them even had meaningful smiles as they reminded me to take care of her.

Honestly, I'm just glad to see her constantly smiling now. Unlike the first time I met her when she was pretty much this icy yet extremely senior who was sent by Enomoto to inform me of something, she's now brighter and more cheerful. At least, that's how I see her. It also helps that the girls welcomed her when I brought her to the club first.

The hallway was as quiet as before. Most students were in their clubroom and those who were walking around were either leaving or just slacking off.

"Ruki-kun, why do you have to make it sound like a secret mission?"

She opened up a conversation as we walked towards the staircase. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, giving me a glimpse of her glossy white neck and flawless ear. It was such a normal gesture but it looked so enchanting. Most guys would find themselves weak in their knees from the sight. She's such a natural seductress.

.

"What's your angle? Are you trying to get me alone or something?" She continued as she hid her impish smile by turning her head the other way.

I chuckled, slipping my hands into my pockets as we walked. "Can't a guy want a minute with his favorite senior without an audience? Besides, I figured you could use a break from pretending not to be jealous of seeing me with everyone."

As audacious as it sounded, I put on a smirk before reaching for her hand again. This time on my own initiative.

Her steps faltered for a split second and she shot me a look, her lips pursed in an adorable pout that no one had probably seen before, "Jealous? Please. I'm just… making sure you don't get too full of yourself, Ruki-kun. Someone's gotta keep you leashed or you'll turn the place into a love nest again."

"Love nest. Well, I won't deny that. My girls found me irresistible and vice versa."

Reira-senpai clicked her tongue and rolled her eyes, "Geez. If you keep acting like that, you won't be my favorite junior anymore."

"Do you hate that kind of character, senpai?"

"... I do. I hate those who think they're a hotshot because everyone pays attention to them. You're not like this before. Why are you acting this way now?"

"What do you mean, senpai? I'm still acting normally. Have you forgotten our first meeting? Or that instance where I walked out of that alley and asked you to take responsibility?"

"That…"

"Didn't you find me unreasonable back then? How did I act?"

"S-shut up. That is that. This is this…" She let out a sigh before her shoulders drooped, "Y-you're right. You haven't changed at all. It was me, wasn't it?"

"Not really. You're still the same, senpai. Just that, there may be things you're trying to convince yourself that it isn't the case."

"Such as?"

"I don't know. Maybe something about us?"

"Do you mean to say I… I'm starting to fall for you?"

"Honestly, I have no idea. Only you can answer that, senpai."

"Then what about you? What do you see me as?"

"Let's see. You're my favorite senior."

Reira-senpai's eyes narrowed as she processed my words.

The hallway's dim light caught the faint flush creeping up her neck. And somehow, she looked like she was about to swat me or storm off. But then her shoulders relaxed, and she let out a small, exasperated sigh.

She glanced down at our intertwined fingers and pressed her thumb on my palm.

"Favorite senior, huh? That's such a cop-out, Ruki-kun," She shook her head as if unsatisfied with my answer. "You're dodging the question. Typical you, always slipping out of the tough ones with that smug grin."

I chuckled, returning a gentle squeeze on her hand as we descended the staircase, "Dodging? Nope, I'm just keeping it real, senpai. You're special to me, but I'm not gonna pin you down with some heavy declaration when it's quite clear you haven't figured things out yet. It's fine, you don't have to rush."

She pinched the bridge of her glasses and looked at me with a mix of suspicion and something warmer, like she was trying to decide whether to call me out or let herself lean into this moment. To take this opportunity and get something done with me.

"Hmph. You're such a menace. You say stuff like that, and then I'm stuck overthinking it for days. It's not fair."

"Hey, overthinking is my specialty, not yours," I teased, nudging her shoulder lightly. "But if you're stuck, just talk to me. I'm not going anywhere, and I'm pretty good at untangling messes. Especially the ones I make."

"Shut up. I won't talk to you about it. You're just going to tease me any chance you get."

"Heh. How did you know?"

"Because that's also your specialty!" Raising her voice for a bit, Reira-senpai then dashed down the stairs, pulling me with her.

As we reached the landing, I tugged at her arm, pulling her to me before she could turn to the next set of stairs.

"Careful, senpai. Don't run down the stairs, you're with the Disciplinary Officer, you know?" I said as my other arm instinctively wrapped around her waist, pressing the softness of her body against me.