Stealing Spree

With those words with subtle meanings, it’s only natural not to answer them directly.

Sena excused herself by moving towards her training area that was literally next to the open space where I would conduct the lesson. The girl swiftly escaped the other girls’ raised eyebrows and questioning gazes, leaving me alone to be subjected to it.

Anyway, it’s fine. We found a chance for ourselves and took it. These girls would feel jealous, that’s normal. And I would be appeasing whatever they were feeling right now as soon as we also got the time for ourselves.

Either way, they already guessed what happened and they’re only looking at me to confirm it.

However, because they were introduced as Sena’s schoolmates, I couldn’t carelessly interact with them this time or Coach Ayu’s smirk would change its meaning. She would surely think of me as someone who’s cheating on Sena.

That might jeopardize this part-time job I got for myself.

That’s why I have to reinforce the thought that I am loyal to Sena. And this is the perfect opportunity for that.

“Un. We did. It’s a rare chance, coach. It’s a waste not to.” I admitted shamelessly which made Coach Ayu’s lips twitch a few times.

Akane and the others who were slightly behind also had the same expressions. Although they were all smiling, I could now guess what they’re thinking inside their heads. Especially Elizabeth who seemed as if she couldn’t restrain the curse binding her anymore.

Ah. Wait. Why am I also talking like a chuuni when it comes to Elizabeth? Ugh…

Anyway, those others behind them who were the enrollees for the program had mixed expressions on their faces.

Some were smiling innocently, some were somewhat disappointed, some were confused.

They were probably already informed that someone else would be the instructor. And upon seeing I arrived and immediately interacted with Coach Ayu, they connected the dots that I would be their instructor.

Those disappointed probably thought that it would be Sena and it’s understandable. Her fists were already covered with bandages since she would be training her punches today while I looked like a normal guy who didn’t even have the air of a professional.

Those confused probably thought that it’s an adult who would instruct them like Coach Ayu.

Either way, when I got the chance, I scanned them with my eyes and found out that although there were still parents accompanying their children, most of them were youths.

There were at least twenty of them, some of which were already wearing boxing attires; fitting shirts and shorts that were somewhat loose on the legs for boys, crop-tops and tight shorts for girls.

Judging from their heights or the way they carried themselves like clutching tightly on their mother’s hands, there were more grade schoolers among them than middle schoolers. Akane and the others were the only high schoolers.

Well, grade school or middle school were about the right time to start picking up boxing if they wanted to settle on one sport.

And the reason why there were no other high schoolers was that most of them already had some kind of plans for their futures so taking up a new sport was a rare occurrence.

Although I told my girls that I would teach them self-defense techniques, this was still a Basic Training Program for boxing.

I could add it on the side but ultimately, I would be teaching them boxing. In here, at least.

Tomorrow, when the girls gathered at my house, I would focus on teaching some easier techniques to protect themselves. It would be crowded, true. But our house isn’t small anyway. And that mini gym was more than the size of this area allotted for this program.

“Your frank nature is still too baffling. Haa… Anyway, are you ready?” Coach Ayu sighed before staring straight at me. Perhaps trying to see if I was already faltering upon being faced with these many enrollees. “Alright, go on and greet them before I bring the others who haven’t changed yet. I already briefed them about what kind of program they will undertake. It’s now up to you to elaborate it to them.”

After saying that, she stepped aside making way for the enrollees and parents to be directly faced in front of me.

At this point, I was already standing in front of the whiteboard and following the lead of Akane and the other girls, they’re lined up neatly.

I needed an introduction that wouldn’t sound weak. And the first thing I had to do was to impress those parents who gambled on enrolling their son or daughter here.

Scanning my gaze at them once more, I bowed slightly to the parents and smiled at the middle school and grade school students.

Naturally, the number of male enrollees was higher than the females. Apart from my seven girls, there were only six girls among those more than twenty youths. And they were evenly split in half; three grade-schoolers that were probably around 4th to 6th grade and three middle schoolers that were probably 1st or 2nd years.

Like high schoolers, 3rd year middle schoolers were about to be busy raising their grades to reach the minimum of the high school they would apply to.

Although Ria looked as if she’s carefreely passing her days, it was only because she’s smart enough to rank among the top five even without focusing on it. That’s one of the benefits she’s getting from being an observant. She’s a fast learner.

“Good day to all of you. I’m Onoda Ruki and I’m going to be your instructor for today.” It’s a simple introduction that Akane and the other girls were already about to burst out in giggles from the way I said it.

It’s thoroughly different from how they remembered of me after all. Most of the time, my word choice would be somewhat informal, unlike here wherein I started with a greeting and politely introduced myself.

Following that, I turned around to write on the whiteboard behind me.

Of course, I didn’t need to write my name in there like what teachers always do, I went straight to the contents of this program.

Starting from its name, Basics of Boxing, I then listed the exercises they will be doing for today.

“Before I let you off to change into your training attire, I implore you to read these and tell me what you think.” I faced them again and tapped onto the board using the marker I used.

Among my girls, Elizabeth instantly raised her hand to ask something but considering the way she talks, I instantly skipped calling her and moved onto one of the parents at the back who was holding onto her son’s arm. It would not be wrong for me to say that he’s too young for this kind of sport.

What is he? A second grader or third? Either way, even if the boy turned out to be the youngest, the sparkle in his eyes spoke of how fascinated he was for being her.

“Yes ma’am.”

“You wrote the basics of boxing. However, I don’t see any exercise there that’s related to boxing. Are you trying to fool us out of our money? The fee here is expensive enough for an entry-level training program. Can you assure all of us worried parents here that you can teach our sons and daughters the basics of this sport?”

With that series of questions, most instructors who were doing this for the first time would probably be tongue-tied. But for me, my mind immediately whirled to produce answers.

Moreover, I saw my girls whispering their encouragement to me. And Sena, who was supposed to be hitting the bags not far from us, was also looking in my direction with a raised fist while mouthing ‘You can do it’.

With this kind of moral support, anyone would be confident, right?

Ah no… some would be too nervous because of the pressure brought by encouragement. Fortunately, I’m not that kind of guy. As long as it’s about my girls, it’s enough to energize me.

“I understand your concern ma’am. This is the first lesson. In any sport, the first thing every coach will advise the athlete is to build one’s stamina. If I let all of the kids here start hitting the bags or throw a punch without the necessary stamina, they will be exhausted in no time. That’s why… for the lesson for today. I will be teaching them how to build their stamina fast without exerting their bodies to its limit.” I confidently answered the parent.

Fortunately, the mother of that young boy accepted my answer. With her lead, the other parents also nodded continuously as they began whispering with one another.

After that, I answered more questions and that included some of my girls that were raising their hands just to play the part of a high schooler interested to learn. Through their enthusiasm, they were influencing the others with it.

Five minutes later, Coach Ayu clapped her hand once and winked at me. That’s actually her way of saying that she’s impressed at what I did. And after that, she guided those who hadn’t changed yet to the changing rooms and that included Akane, Yae, Yukari, Miho and Aika. Elizabeth was already wearing her tracksuit so she remained. And with that kind of chance, the chuunibyou playfully smiled as she acted as if she was about to stumble in my direction.

And as soon as I saw that, intentional or not, I stretched my arm to catch her.

Amidst the clapping of the students who remained, Elizabeth kept her playful smile and whispered. “Ruki-sensei, this princess is too clumsy. May you grant me your forgiveness by taking this heavenly pair of lips of mine using yours?”