Stealing Spree Chapter 1357 Might As Well

Five minutes later, I left the Alchemy Research Club.

I got Enomoto's request which was stupidly simple in exchange for the piece of information that I needed.

What kind of request was it?

The dude asked to stop eyeing Nikka.

Yeah. With his recovered poker face, Enomoto raised that request. And because of it, I couldn't determine whether he was looking out for that childhood friend or he was just confirming his suspicion about what I tried to do there.

In short, that guy was playing mind gas with . There's no winner or loser. Yet, I understood that it might be his way of telling not to treat him the sa as Ichihara Jun or Inugaki.

Furthermore, having understood that I wasn't the type to grovel on my knees to show respect to a senior, Enomoto would probably not demand it from .

In any case, the little reaction he showed earlier was already a dead giveaway that he cares for the girl. No attempt of masking it as a probe to could make think otherwise.

And that's why I accepted his request after acting like he caught and my intention.

Still, since I was only looking through my perspective and not his, I would never treat my assumptions as the truth.

I have to confirm it in our future interactions.

And likewise, I will have to make sure that he won't be able to read next ti.

Anyway, moving past that, I finally got a na.

From Enomoto's words, he himself wasn't certain that that person was the mastermind.

He ntioned a motive though.

"He was taught a lesson by Ichihara for trying to get close to Kujou. His older sister who graduated last year beca one of the girls Ichihara managed to catch."

That's how Enomoto worded it.

It's another dude who's holding a grudge against Ichihara Jun.

Furthermore, he also raised the point that Tanaka might also be holding a grudge against either of the two or both of them.

As for the reason why they specifically involved , Enomoto brought up the library incident.

Because I stood up against the couple there and suddenly got pushed into the spotlight by being appointed as the Disciplinary Officer, I beca the most convenient tool for them to use.

And yep, I was only being used. And perhaps, due to Marika's growing trust in , it beca more convenient for them to use .

That's about it.

I guess I have to wait for Marika's update regarding the follower she sent to tail Tanaka.

Although I didn't have high hopes for it, any information they could fish out might be able to confirm Enomoto's information.

"Takashima Gentoku... Another third-year student."

I couldn't help but let that na roll on my tongue as I made my way to finish my daily routine.

Sohow, the surna Takashima was a little familiar to . Soone's silhouette flashed in my mind when I heard it earlier.

Considering every mory I repressed in my mind concerned the girls that I've stolen, there's a high chance that one of them was surnad, Takashima. Whether she's related to the guy or not, that's sothing I needed to discover.

Haa... Looks like this situation is becoming too complex. While Enomoto's threat lowered due to this fruitful visit, Ichihara Jun and that mastermind's threat rose.

I now have to deal with them completely. For Marika's sake.

-

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Upon arriving at the Book Club, I was greeted by the sight of Kanzaki attentively listening to Haruko explaining sothing to her.

I failed to hear their topic but I could put out a guess and it would probably not be too far off considering our uptight Class President straightened her back and acted flustered at my appearance.

Well, I didn't probe into it. I simply greeted the girl before moving to check on my girls.

After drinking a cup of Mina's tea, Edel accompanied next door where I showed my face in front of Minori and Yuika-senpai. The green-haired senior stared at with a slight hint of anticipation. It's as if she's expecting to make a move on her today. On the other hand, the orange-haired senior was as wary as ever. But there's also a change in her behavior, she stopped trying to run away upon seeing .

I guess that's the result of the last ti I was here. Though short, our talk back then was a little fruitful – aning, we now had a slight understanding of each other.

Well, without showing how pleased I was to see their behavior change, I greeted the two with the sa amiable smile and sat down across from them.

Naturally, Edel was in her 'koala mode', not wanting to pass up the chance to stick close to .

Due to that, I earned another contemptuous glare from Yuika-senpai. Minori-senpai sighed in slight disappointnt but when she saw Edel's carefree attitude as the silver-haired koala happily and comfortably clung to , she dropped it and faced my gaze with a certain conviction.

"Okay then… Are you here to chat with us again, Ruki?"

"Ruki?!" When Edel heard the way Minori-senpai addressed , her koala-mode turned off for a mont as she raised her head to seek confirmation, "Uhm… did I miss so significant event between you two?"

"Maybe not that significant. The last ti I was here, Minori-senpai asked if she could call by na. I said yes. As for Yuika-senpai…"

"I won't call you by your first na! You're Onoda and call 'senpai'!"

And there she goes. Pitching in to clarify her position on this, Yuika-senpai's timidity seemingly vanished into thin air.

On the other hand, Minori-senpai simply nodded in confirmation.

With that, Edel, who thought she missed a developnt between and her last two sisters, laughed awkwardly and buried her face in my chest once more.

"I get it that she's like a koala even to Haru… But this… Edel-senpai has gone from bad to worse. Clinging to a boy she should hate. Hmph!" Ending that with a rather contemptuous humming, Yuika-senpai made a face at before turning her head sideways, not daring to look at .

Edel didn't let that pass. With the awkwardness magically disappearing, she declared, "I love Ruki, Yuiyui! He's different from most boys. Co and hug him and you'll understand."

"No way!"

"Eh, a kiss then?"

"Never!"

"You're being difficult, Yuiyui. How will you understand his charm like that?"

"I don't need to!"

Sohow, the two started to banter like that. Minori-senpai and I could only watch helplessly and wait for them to stop.

But I admit, that was amusing. Seeing Edel defend and proudly boast about in front of the two made my chest flutter with happiness.

"Alright, take a drink, you two." Minori-senpai sohow produced a pitcher of water from sowhere and handed cups of water to the two as soon as they stopped their bantering.

While the two were busy quenching their dried-up throats, the green-haired senior turned to , "And Ruki, you have yet to answer my question."

"Ah. I apologize, senpai. Actually, yes, I'm here to chat with you. I promised I am going to help but I seldom visit…"

I scratched my head and put on an embarrassed smile.

That's the truth, anyway. While we already chatted once, the two had yet to open up completely to . They still hated my guts or just the fact that I am a guy.

Or maybe it's not that intense anymore, evidenced by what had transpired in this room since we arrived.

"Or, you're just trying to prove to us that you're different from the others." Minori-senpai pointed at as if she already read like a book.

"Yeah. That too. I an, Minori-senpai… It will be hard for the two of you in the future if you continue hating n. Although I won't suggest using as your punching bag to drain the unbearable negative feelings you have towards us n, I decided to continue appearing in front of you like this until you get used to my shaless face."

Honestly, I never planned to say that at this mont. But now that I'm here and we're already on this topic, I might as well be straightforward and shaless about my intention.

Unexpectedly, Minori-senpai, Yuika-senpai, and even Edel, who was breathing raggedly on my chest, reacted to it.

The two seniors sitting across us nodded at each other before their lips drew an arc. Minori-senpai then resignedly raised her hand as though issuing her surrender. Yuika-senpai quickly erased the smile on her lips and replaced it with a pout as I got subjected to her impassioned gaze.

As for Edel, she reached for my cheeks and pinched them with all her might, "Un. Your tongue is as impressive as always, Ruki."

After saying that, she then turned her gaze to the two girls, her koala trait restrained for a mont, "Minori, Yuiyui, you heard him. Turn off your hate filter for a mont. Is his sincerity still lacking for you?"

Following that question, a few seconds of silence ensued. The two couldn't answer right away.

In any case, with my eyes also focusing on them, there's no need for them to voice it out anymore. It's already written on their faces and shown by their bodily gestures.