Stealing Spree

Chapter 2962: Izumi’s Headache?

Our lunch break passed as eventful as usual.

Well, other than being stuffed full by trying out everything my girls packed for me, it was relatively peaceful. There weren’t any sparks of conflict between them because they’d rather come to me and demand my attention.

If only I could split myself, perhaps I could satisfy every single one of them and have more spare time to cuddle them all at once. As it was, I could only play along with their considerate but demanding nature, making sure that anyone who’d approach me would always be accommodated.

Alas, it was also becoming difficult to make a choice myself. But considering my greedy nature, it probably wouldn’t be that different if I were the one approaching them. I’d grab the one closest to me or whoever came to my mind first.

Just like now.

"Wait, shameless junior. Why stop me?"

"Well, I missed teasing my Izumi," I answered with a grin, pulling her back into the now-empty clubroom.

"W-who’s your Izumi?!"

"Heh. Looks like you’ve forgotten already. Let me remind you then."

As I said that, my hand dropped onto her head, sliding down to her face as I cupped her cheek.

The girl squirmed as she glared at me, acting like she wanted to push me away, but she didn’t actually put any strength into it. Izumi’s face gradually became tinged in a deep shade of crimson. She puckered her lips and huffed, trying to maintain that aura of a superior upperclassman, though it was crumbling by the second.

I looked into her eyes, her furrowed brows twitching in a desperate attempt to stay annoyed. It was a losing battle; the way she leaned into my palm, despite her protests, told me everything I needed to know. I leaned in closer, my breath ghosting over her lips, watching her pupils dilate.

"You’re so cute when you try to act tough, Izumi," I whispered.

"S-stop calling me that! And... why only stop me and not Arisa?"

"Hmm. Because Arisa was the one who hinted at me. Also, she understands me. You know our bond, no? That overly considerate senior, no matter how playful she is, will always put those important to her first before herself. Furthermore, I heard from her."

"You heard what?"

"Arisa said something gave you a headache. She didn’t explain it clearly, saying it’d be best to hear it from you. Now, tell me, why didn’t you mention it to me when I passed by your club yesterday? Afraid you’d take up more of my time?"

That’s right. This was another reason why I chose to keep her back this time. Earlier, when I went over to Arisa, she whispered to me that Izumi had run into some trouble and was feeling unwell, but she didn’t want to bother me while I was busy with the festival prep.

It hadn’t been that long when she asked if she was unreasonable. And now this. I couldn’t help but feel a surge of protective affection as I looked at her.

Izumi tried to maintain her composure, but her shoulders slumped slightly, the facade of the stern senior finally cracking.

"It was nothing," She replied, averting her gaze. "Not worth troubling you."

"Izumi, I may be a bastard and scumbag, but you know how much I care about you. I’d rather you trouble me than see you suffer in silence," I said, my tone softening as I lifted her chin to meet my gaze again.

The girl huffed but perhaps understanding she couldn’t get away with it, she leaned her forehead against my chest.

"It’s really nothing, idiot Ruki. Arisa didn’t give you any details, right?"

"Well, yeah. She just said you’re troubled." I replied before a lightbulb flickered in my head. "Wait... that girl... no wonder her playful smile seemed off. I’ll have to scold her later."

Izumi stared at me before letting out a snort. "See. You trust your Arisa too much. You’re forgetting to question her. Hmph. Should I be jealous?"

"Mhm. You should. That way I can have a reason to appease you right now," I teased, sliding my hand from her chin to the back of her neck, pulling her closer.

Izumi’s hands clutched the side of my uniform before wrapping around my waist. "Tsk, you and your glib tongue."

"Can’t help it. So, before I appease my jealous Izumi, won’t you tell me what exactly it is that gives you a headache? Is it a strange request for the Student Support Club?"

That could only be it, right? After all, they’re now known to be the club that’s dedicated to helping out other students, be it odd jobs, errands, or just assisting with a task.

Although I wasn’t aware of the volume of work, just the ones being handed out by Shizu to them were already more than a hobby club would do during their club activities. What more? There are more and more students finding it convenient to employ the Student Support Club for their petty needs.

Izumi sighed before raising her head again. This time, her lips were already curled up into a small smile. I parted the slightly damp strands of her blue hair from her forehead and stared directly into her shimmering eyes, now reflecting my image.

"I found it a headache because the request is from an athletic club."

"Athletic club? Which one?" My forehead couldn’t help but curl into a frown.

Among the athletic clubs that competed in the recent Interhigh, only a few of them achieved success. The Girls Basketball Club was the most successful, snagging that championship trophy.

As for the others, most were eliminated without being able to stand on the podium, especially those clubs with multiple members.

"It’s the Soccer Club. The Club President and Team Captain visited yesterday to apply for a formal support contract," Izumi explained, her voice softening as she leaned into me. "They aren’t asking for simple errands. They want us girls to act as ’morale boosters’ and managerial assistants for their upcoming training camp during the summer break."

"And by us, I meant all of us girls. Including Nanami, Hina and Saki. Kazuo and the others are also mentioned, but... I can tell they’re just forced to include them since they’re part of the club too."

Heh... The Soccer Club? They want my girls to be their managers? What? Did the female managers of their club all run away? Or is it because someone is having a design for my girls? Trying this trick to get close to them? Either way, they seemed to have an idea. Should I ask Sakuma about this deal?

"I see. That Club President sure had some guts. Who does he think he is?" A hint of anger couldn’t help but seep into my voice.

Perhaps catching that, the smile on Izumi’s face widened. "He’s your senior. And it’s difficult to turn it down. It was also suggested by their Club Advisor. After all, they had such a disappointing result last time."

"Hmph. I don’t care. Just say you’re booked for the whole summer."

"Pfft. What, are you going to employ us instead? Shameless junior, they’re going to pay for our services, you know?"

"Oh? Then tell me how much they want to pay. I’ll triple it."

Finding my words amusing, Izumi finally broke out into a fit of giggles. "Geez. This is why I don’t want to tell you. It gave me a headache but it’s not unsolvable for me. Don’t forget. I’m currently the Club President of the Student Support Club. I’m the one who decides the terms and conditions, not the Soccer Club."

She pulled back slightly, then tiptoed to plant a soft, lingering kiss on my lips, her expression one of triumphant amusement.

"Un. This is fine too. Arisa, that girl, her ulterior motive is glaring."

I chuckled, "Indeed. If I’m not wrong. She already predicted what the result of this talk would be, didn’t she?"

Izumi shrugged, "Probably. But that’s just how she is."

Right. She’s as protective and considerate towards her best friend as I am towards my girls, though her methods are far more mischievous.

"So, this contract. You’re still going to do it, right?"

"Un. Do you not want us to?"

"No. Not exactly. But I have to be there too. That way, I can protect my nest from wannabe vultures."

"Pfft. Who’s protecting who? As if we can be taken advantage of by anyone. If they try to play tricks..."

Izumi’s voice trailed off there, but the meaning was obvious. She could even get the delinquents like Uchiyama as her dogs, what more a few soccer players who were probably desperate for a bit of feminine attention?

"Then, since you got a headache over this, let me give you a massage."

"No, pervert! I’m fine now. The only thing I found troublesome was how to define the Soccer Club’s needs," Izumi replied, slapping my hand away, then bringing it down to her waist, letting me hold her squishy curve. "Now, with you here, I got an idea. Instead of being a stand-in for their female managers, we’ll serve as training supervisors."