Stealing Spree-Chapter 2549: Friends or More? (1)

"So?"

"So mean!" As if she couldn't find the right words, the girl just blurted out the first word she could come up with.

I scratched my cheek and said, "Sorry for being mean. How can I make up for that?"

"... I don't know. You're always in control, even when you're not. And then there's the way you're always with Eguchi-sensei, Orimura-sensei, and all your girls. It's like you're juggling a dozen lives at once, and somehow, you make it look easy. What can I say that won't feel like I'm just trying to grab my opportunity?"

"You can be honest about it, you know? I appreciated it a lot. Besides… do you think I'll be here if I also don't want this opportunity to talk to you? Anyway, since you said you've been paying pretty close attention to me. Should I be flattered or worried?"

At that, her flush deepened and she swatted at my hand from her head, only to grasp in the end as she lifted her gaze. "Impossible. You sounded cocky yet… why am I not being mad at you?"

"Let's see. It's because I got you charmed."

"There you go again!" Her cheeks puffed up but a moment later, they deflated as she started laughing softly. Not in a self-deprecating way but in some sort of silly giggles.

"I'm just saying… you're impressive. And a little frustrating, honestly. Ever since you hung out with me on the camping trip, I can't seem to forget how comfortable it is to be around you. I watched Maemura-san getting pumped up with her club practice, and when I asked her why she's striving like that, she told me it was to impress you. And so… I thought I should adopt the same mindset. To work harder and become a true regular in our club so that I can show you my cool side too."

This girl… It's totally flattering for any guy to hear this kind of confession. She had just told me that I was her inspiration to strive harder.

Now, that guy who moved away and somehow acted like a douche in their communication could never get her back anymore.

She's already this invested. In any case, I don't think we can call it as if she has fallen for me. It's not at that point yet. Maybe she likes me and wants to impress me, but that's all. She's still trying her best not to appear like she's desperate for my attention. And given that she knew about my relationship with the other girls, that was serving as a line she was hesitating to cross.

Sachi's laughter gradually tapered off, leaving a soft, contemplative silence between us.

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Her fingers still clung to my hand as she gripped it tightly as if she was anchoring herself to this moment.

The gymnasium's vast emptiness amplified the intimacy of our conversation, and I could feel the weight of her words settling in.

She wasn't just confessing admiration, she was also laying bare a vulnerability that she wanted to show me. And that somehow made my chest tighten with a mix of affection and responsibility.

I tilted my head, letting my grin soften into something warmer, less teasing. "Sachi, you don't need to work harder to impress me. You're already pretty cool, you know? I may not always be there but I'm hearing about your feats. The way you hold your own on the volleyball court, the way you're always observing everything with those sharp eyes of yours… I noticed that way before you started trying to show off. You're going to do great in the club."

Her eyes widened as she looked like she'd been caught off guard again.

Then she ducked her head, her ponytail swaying as she tried to hide the fresh flush creeping up her cheeks. My hand slid to the back of her head, pulling her a little bit closer.

"You're doing it again, Onoda-kun. Saying stuff like that with that face. It's unfair."

"Unfair? I'm just being honest," I said, echoing the same line I'd used with Minori-senpai earlier.

It was true, though. My eyes might've been mostly trained on my girls, but whenever she's around, it's not hard to notice Sachi's earnestness and her quiet determination.

She wasn't like my girls, not yet, but there was something about her that made me want to keep her close, to see where this connection could go. Maybe it was similar to what I have with Kaede.

Sachi lifted her gaze, her expression a mix of skepticism and hope. "Honest, huh? Then tell me, Onoda-kun, what am I to you? I mean, I know about your girls, and I'm not… I'm not trying to push my way into that. But I can't help wondering where I fit in your world."

The question hung in the air, but I could feel the sincerity behind it. The need for clarity in a situation that was anything but simple. I leaned to the sight, lifted my arm slightly and wrapped it around her shoulder, closing the distance between us just enough to make it clear I was taking this seriously.

"You're Sachi," I said, my voice steady. "You're the girl who keeps me on my toes with her sharp observations, who makes me laugh with her unexpected quips and who's brave enough to call me out when I'm being too much. You're my friend, yeah, but you're also… special. I don't have a neat label for it, and maybe I don't need one. What matters is that I like having you around, and I want to keep finding out what that means."