Stealing Spree

Chapter 2000 Why am I not surprised?

A while later, Sachi took her leave and went ahead after I introduced her to Izumi. She's either considerate again since she figured out my relationship with the girl or she was just still afraid of Izumi. Either way, it will probably be resolved the more she encounters those close to me.

For now, she's acting like a friend who's treading on a thin line, ensuring that my girls won't see her as a threat. Little did she know, some of them were already thinking that she might become one of them if she continued with her involvement with me...

Currently, I truly see her as a friend I can talk to if I need her view on some things. Just like how I listened to her back then, I wouldn’t mind using her shoulder as well.

Since we still had some time before the first period started, I postponed continuing to our classroom and brought my girl somewhere we could be alone.

Through the process of elimination, I only had one place in mind.

Our usual meeting place. The abandoned clubroom located on the 1st floor of the Club Building.

I attempted to sneak us out but given that there were more and more students coming in from the gate, it became impossible for us not to be spotted.

Thankfully, no one called out to us. Most of them just followed us with their eyes, perhaps wondering where we were headed.

Even though Izumi initially appeared reluctant on our way, her tune changed the moment we entered the room. She turned around and pinned me on the wall next to the door.

With a smug smile as though she was claiming victory over this surprise attack, Izumi pressed herself closer with one of her legs anchored between mine.

“You know, if Sachi sees you like this, she’ll think you were just shy earlier.”

I smilingly said upon raising my arm, allowing her to completely enclose her arms to my back.

Izumi looked at me and pouted.

“Shut it. That girl knows her place. But you… Don’t blame me for this, idiot.”

Blame her, huh? Why would I?

“I won’t. I like this proactiveness.”

I smirked which resulted in her pout turning into a scowl. Her eyes explored the entirety of my face and neck, most likely finding an opening to retaliate.

However, in the end, Izumi dropped that thought and just unhappily glared at me.

“At least act surprised, you idiot. Ugh. Never mind. Forget it. There’s no winning against you.”

“Heh. Don’t give up that easily. Aren’t you supposed to be a stubborn girl?”

“Who’s stubborn?

“You?”

“Psh. We’re both stubborn. Forget it. You find a way to tease me again. There’s just no way to win against you.”

“It’s a force of habit, sorry. But you know what, I love this, Izumi…”

“If you love this, you’ll play along.”

“Didn’t you hate it when I only played along?”

“Oh…”

Remembering that time when she expressed that sentiment, the girl instantly became gloomy. Once again, she probably felt it backfired on her.

To save her from that gloominess, I pushed my head, planting my lips on her cheek.

Almost instantly, the girl came as her blush took over the entirety of her face…

With pursed lips, she hatefully and albeit contradictory, affectionately glared at me.

I faced that with my usual smile and dropped another kiss on the other side before I endearingly whispered close to her ear.

“Say, Izumi. Can I move now?”

I get what she’s feeling at the moment. Despite taking the initiative to pin me like this, Izumi found herself at a disadvantage when it comes to words.

With the way I could just calmly take whatever she prepared, she found herself in a bog, not knowing how to move from this.

Nonetheless, I do admire her effort. I might not know her motive for acting like this but it’s clearly just her way to keep up her title as my senior. And maybe to make sure I won’t just keep teasing her. That’s the usual scenario when we meet, after all.

Unfortunately for her, I’ve already deconstructed her character so… she had to do more before she could get back at me in this regard.

After contemplating for a while, Izumi’s pursed lips loosened as she disappointedly lowered her head on my shoulder. Following that, her arms slipped down to my chest and eventually latched onto my sides before slowly wrapping them around me.

Now, this is her being more affectionate.

“... Do what you want.”

“Don’t mind me if I do.”

“... Idiot.”

Although she said that, I got a glimpse of her satisfied smile as I swiftly reciprocated what she did.

I wrapped her tightly within my embrace and then moved us further inside the room where the pair of chairs we often used was located.

Rather than sitting there, I continued to the corner where the table was located. I sat her down on top of it wherein she naturally opened her legs, allowing me to press closer to her while I remained standing in front.

In this way, she didn’t need to raise her head to level her face with mine.

As our gazes met, Izumi’s irritable yet cool expression melted like a snow cap at the peak of a mountain from the brilliant ray of sunshine.

Having dropped her futile attempt at dominating me, it only took a couple of seconds for this affectionate side of her to surface.

Apart from what happened, I could also attribute this to how she’s always trying to keep her cool when in public space. In a private setting like this and with it being a place we consider special for us, Izumi could let go of her inhibitions.

Her trust in me to protect her is one of the reasons. But more than that, Izumi will only show this side of her solely to me.

Ogawa could’ve been in my place if he took her seriously but that’s all too late now… I’ve already stolen all of her affection for him. On top of that, I cultivated it more and let it bloom like this.

Like magnets influenced by the force of attraction, our lips naturally meet as we pour more of our affection into each other through it.

I don’t know how long it lasted but by the time our lips separated, our faces were already blazing hot and a string of saliva extended between our tongues.

I caressed her head and then her face before wiping her moist lips with my thumb. Once that’s done, I once again put on a teasing smile.

"Alright. Before I forget because of how lovely you are right now… Out with it, Izumi. We're alone now. Tell me. Did an issue arise that requires you to go out of your way to see me this early? You can also call or message me but you waited for me there. Let's see, did you hear something from that group again?"

It’s just a suspicion but it’s more than likely the reason. Otherwise, we could talk about it through the phone.

"... Can I not see you without a reason?"

With another pout, she tried to dodge the question but from her reaction, it’s probably just a reflex from how I got it correct. She’s not hiding anything from me.

"You can, of course. But that's not what I'm saying. We know each other very well, Izumi. It's just unusual, you see. The only time you did a similar thing was the day after I got ambushed by Uchiyama. I remember that because your concern made me fall deeper for you."

Taken aback by the last part, Izumi almost smacked me on the face from embarrassment.

"This guy... Don't just suddenly blurt cheesy words like that... So, do you find this unusual? Will you say the same if Arisa looked for you?"

"Honestly, probably yes. But thinking about it... I may be thinking too deeply about this. I shouldn't be too surprised if any of you decide to wait for me every morning."

That's another way to look at this. But I'm certain that there's a reason for this. Izumi isn't the type to suddenly move without a reason. I guess unless she's skipping class or when we're alone like this.

"Now, you get it..." Perhaps satisfied that I understood her perspective, Izumi smugly raised her chin.

I could burst her bubble but I saw no reason to do that. I just watched her be content with it until she eventually remembered that there was really something she had to tell me.

Thankfully, that didn't take long.

After finding me just staring at her in fascination, Izumi faked a cough before a serious expression occupied her face.

"Okay. I admit. You're not wrong... Something came up. I heard from the girls in my group that an Anti-Onoda Club has been established. Because of what you did at the camp, boys now see you as a threat."

This... Anti-Onoda? It's so absurd that I became speechless. Still, why am I not surprised?