When I separated from Nakanishi-senpai, the girl once again reminded me of something. That whatever my job as a Disciplinary Officer entailed, I should exercise caution at dealing with every student.

According to her, not everyone wanted to change and at the same time, not everyone wanted a meddlesome guy, poking his nose in their issue. No matter how good-looking he was.

Yep. She added that last line. I guess Im also good-looking in her eyes, huh?

Anyway, to end that encounter on a good note, I naturally accepted her words.

I tried asking for her number but thats when she refused. As for her reason... its the same one why no one was making a move on her.

Furthermore, because I walked with her today, the girl told me that shes going to put in a word to prevent those who drew a target on my back from messing with me.

That girls too considerate for her own good. But her situation also doesnt seem better than what she makes it out to be.

From my eyes, shes like a caged bird. Set to sing for that guys tune.

At least, thats what it looked like if only based on what she revealed and what I found out from our conversation.

Anyway, now that I got the name of their leader, I now have a direction on how to approach this.

Although its tempting to steal Nakanishi-senpai to make a point, its better not to go that route yet. Ill lay low against them for a while.

Before those delinquents, there was the pending issue with that follower who approached me. Better settle them first before diving into another issue.

And on top of all that, theres my time with my girls. Theres no way I will be cutting my time for them just to deal with troubling matters, even if the importance of it was gradually scaling upwards.

Ruki, have you received my gift?

As I walked out of the train station, I received another email from Hana. Opening it, that message left me a little stumped. And it was enough reason for me to hasten my footsteps.

Gift. If I factor that shes probably not here in this city, shed be mailing it.

However, from my conversation with Akane, Miho and Miwa-nee while I was waiting on the train, none of them mentioned something delivered to our doorstep.

But considering Hanas personality or what she showed ever since yesterday, that girl sent that email as soon as she received a notification about her package being successfully delivered...

This means the girl believed that Im already at home and received it. I could imagine her anticipating what kind of reaction I would make...

Really, how did she become like this?

As I rushed through the quiet streets of our neighborhood, my mind whirled with thoughts about the girl.

Honestly, for Hana to reappear seemingly out of nowhere and declare how she wanted to steal me from the girls came as a surprise even for me.

I mean, after cutting her off, I already lost the reason to keep tabs on her; much like how Im unaware of most of my girls status and I needed to hear about it from them.

From my memory of her, I dont think I made that much of an impact on her. True, we somehow shared a secret, if thats what shes getting at. Behind her extremely friendly public image, shes being intimate with someone they will never link to her.

But is that enough to be fixated on me?

I can understand Chii and Hifumis reasons but not Hana...

Like I said, among the three relationships I made back then, Hanas was more or less the one handling our relationship and not the other way around.

I just had to be too thick-skinned at cutting her off when the girl could do that to me any time she wanted. I was too deluded by my desire, after all.

Haa... Its only been a day since she reappeared and... it feels like Im already dealing with her for a few years. Furthermore, we never had a proper conversation to hear each others thoughts...

In any case, apart from Hanas reappearance, theres also the mystery of who told her about me and provided information such as my email and number.

Recalling the content of her first email, what Hana had written gave away an important detail.

She got my number and email long before contacting me yesterday. Hence, the reason why shes glad that I never changed those details yet.

Naturally, my girls also noticed it. And theyre wrapping their heads around it to figure out who it is. The one who provided it isnt part of our current complex relationship.

Apparently, its also not my mother. I asked her last night. Apart from being a little excited about my mention of Hana, my mother denied involvement with her.

Hifumi was also unlikely to be a suspect. She wouldnt need to ask me about her had she been the one providing her information.

That means... our suspect is possibly one of the girls I cut off. And someone that doesnt want to be involved with me again.

Uh... Do I need to remember all of them to find out?

No... Obviously, the simpler solution is to ask Hana herself... Im just taking a hard stance not to cater to what she wanted me to do.

Based on how I see it, Hanas approach this time is about whittling my patience away to compel me to approach her myself.

Instead of asking me to call her or talk to her, her approach is like this...

Cutting the fifteen-minute walk to close to five minutes of running, I arrived home all sweaty on my back. The rush got to my head, making me push my physical ability to this point.

Upon entering the front door, I instantly noticed both Akane and Miho. Although theyre both possibly waiting for me at the door, theres a huge box behind them. Its still wrapped tightly and unopened.

Ruki, here, I never thought this would be handy right away. With concern written on her face, Miho produced a towel and started wiping my sweat off my face, neck and back.

On the other hand, Akane noticed how my eyes focused on the package right away. Are you expecting this package, husband? It arrived just now.

No. Im not expecting it. Its Hana. I received another message from her. I answered Akane before turning to Miho and thanking the girl for her concern.

But since I mentioned Hana, the two girls also had a change of expression.

She asked me if I received the gift she sent... Lets see. I continued before approaching the box.

Naturally, the two girls followed me. Even if I didnt check their faces, they were both as concerned as me.

I lifted the box and found out that it was not as heavy as it looked. Theres a fragile sign so its probably padded with either bubble wraps or padding like styrofoams.

Normally, there should be an address of the sender even if theres no name on the waybill of the package. However, upon looking at it, theres nothing. Well, not completely empty. Instead of the senders name and address, theres the post office address where she possibly dropped it...

I put it down and looked at the two. Theyre both as curious as me by now... So, even without mentioning it, they understood that we had no other choice but to open it.

However, as though timing it at this moment, my phone rang once more...

As I exchanged glances between the two girls, Miho concernedly asked, Is it her?

Obviously, the answer is yes...

That Hana... Is she trying to be mysterious? Because if she is... its too effective.