Stealing Spree

As if a cat being drenched in cold water, Watanabe trembled in surprise that she reflexively went behind her man to hide from Shizu’s somewhat cold gaze.

The Secretary also choked with his words that all the two could do was huddle together in that corner where they were sitting.

Seeing that reaction from them, Shizu’s expression didn’t change. She still had a straight face as she nonchalantly continued to enter the room and straight to her seat which I had just finished sorting.

When our eyes met each other, Shizu curtly nodded at me before taking a seat.

Still no reaction.

Well, this was normal. The girl still had to put on her mask in front of the other members of the Student Council.

Although she’s already changing for the better, she’s only comfortable taking her mask off in front of me or Nami.

Ah. Let’s not think too deeply about this. Once the other members leave the room after their meeting, that’s when I will have my chance to talk to her. For now, I just have to do my job.

Amidst the deafening silence, the sound of the boiling tea suddenly filled our ears, followed by its sweet and fragrant aroma.

When Shizu noticed that, she raised her head that was trying to become busy with a short stack of papers I had organized.

Shifting her gaze from me to the boiling tea, one of her eyebrows lightly moved. A simple gesture from her which was equivalent to telling me to bring her tea.

But then, before I could acquiesce to her request, I heard the scared couple release a sigh before the sounds of them hurrying up to stand from their seats. Following that, the Secretary discreetly whispered to Watanabe.

A few moments later, the girl walked to and stood in front of Shizu’s table and bowed her head in apology.

Following her, the Secretary also bowed in apology which Shizu answered with a wave of her hand, brushing off the words she heard from Watanabe as a bygone.

She’s the type who didn’t want to mull over something that wasn’t really important. She’s aware that most of those who were working with her see her as the upright Shizu who wouldn’t bend before anyone else.

Hell, even those considered her friends didn’t know what’s hiding beneath her strong and scary persona.

That’s why… my discovery of it must’ve been seen as also special by her.

Perhaps, that’s one of the factors why she ended up falling for me…

Nonetheless, that still wouldn’t change her desire to have a normal relationship with me.

Watching all those happenings with a smile, I went to the boiling tea and began filling cups not only for Shizu but also for the two or three if that Vice President would arrive today.

When I handed them their cups, the couple also whispered their apology to me. Though I doubt they would drop their suspicion, at least they knew how to apologize to Shizu. I could take it if someone was rude to me, it’s not like I would be hurt by it… but if it’s for the girls I deemed important to me… then that’s where we would have a problem.

Telling them to review the tea after drinking it, I then moved back to Shizu’s side.

It’s Mina’s tea and I promised to help her improve her recipe. Gathering the review of other people about it could be said as something close to that.

“This… isn’t our tea.”

After taking a sip, Shizu murmured with a volume loud enough for me to catch. She put the cup back on the table. Following that, she slowly turned her head to me, her questioning eyes waiting for an answer.

Well, the tea they have in stock here was something Shizu bought at a specialized tea shop. She’s already used to its taste so… tasting another kind of tea, she’s now wondering where I got it or if I brewed it myself.

“It’s from someone who’s asking me to taste their tea. Don’t worry, she’s kind of an expert when it comes to it so… there’s no defect for that.” I answered honestly.

It was unnecessary to tell that it’s from one of my targets but for Shizu, she could easily deduce that fact.

Despite her straight face, I noticed how her lips slightly twitched upon hearing my answer.

Turning her head back to the front, Shizu resumed sipping her tea.

She didn’t want to comment on it but it was definitely just as I had guessed. When it comes to me, she’s now aware that most of the time, anything new that she could see in my person was from one of my girls.

There’s no one to blame for that but me…

In any case, seeing that she still had that kind of reaction… what I feared didn’t happen. She’s still my Shizu.

Ah. No. She’s not mine yet…

Until I resolved her mindset of wanting me all to herself, she wouldn’t be one of my girls.

After a while, Shizu and the other two began working. Shizu passed some of the papers for them to look at and check.

The meeting probably wouldn’t start yet because that dog still hadn’t arrived.

That’s why when they began focusing on their work and it didn’t seem like I was needed by Shizu, I moved back to the teapot and got myself a cup.

Since Mina specifically prepared this for me, I wouldn’t miss out on tasting it. And as I expected, she took in my mind what I said and improved the recipe once again.

I was partly making my descriptions up when I reviewed the tea yesterday but… with how much she improved during the past few days, she probably could already discern what I wanted to say.

Her recipe this time was no doubt already a peerless one. Should I tell her that it’s enough?

“Onoda-kun, come here.” Shizu suddenly called out to me, pulling me out of my thoughts.

When I turned my head towards her, Shizu was taking off her reading glasses and was sorting the papers on her table. Following that, she stood up and looked at me. “You’re coming with me. We’re going to inspect some of the clubs that were reported to have violated the guidelines I set.”

“Eh? President, why you? Isn’t that our job?”

Upon hearing what Shizu said, it wasn’t me who reacted first. But the Secretary. Watanabe beside him was nodding her head continuously, agreeing with him.

“Can you face the Baseball Club with just you two?”

”Eh? What… what’s wrong with them?”

With the name Baseball Club, the couple immediately shrunk back as the Secretary stuttered to ask what’s wrong.

“They broke one of the machines donated by one of the alumnis. And it wasn’t an accident.”

Emphasizing that last sentence, I could see Shizu gritting her teeth. She was mad. Alright.

But this girl… if the two were afraid of that club, then she’s too brave to go there by herself.

Ah. Wait. I was going with her.

So I was a hired muscle this time, huh?

In any case, she probably deemed it impossible for the other members of the Student Council to ask or to confront the Baseball Club for the report’s truthfulness.

“I understand, Shizu-senpai. What about the meeting, will you not do it first?”

With the couple being scared again, I stepped up and responded to her this time.

Upon hearing that question, Shizu shook her head, “That can wait. If they begin their training then it will be hard to converse with them.”