Whether what Nami said was true or not, I still wanted to have that talk to Saki and make her mine. Not just someone who I would present chances to take. Thats not the kind of relationship I wanted for us.

Nami, do you think shes also below any of you?

Since it was her observation of her, shes surely not thinking the same as her. But I still had to ask, to know what Nami thinks of Saki.

Of course not, shes a part of our circle and theres no such thing as hierarchy between us. At least, thats what I like to believe. Besides, seeing how you wanted to talk to her, I dont need to ask anymore whether you came to like her or not. Even if you say youre just initially interested in her, isnt that how it always starts with you? Your interest in a girl will eventually grow into your liking and in the end, loving the girl.

Namis speculation was spot on again.

Well, her observer skills were always this scary. She could read me through her everyday observations of me.

Thats true. My interest, admiration and adoration always end up with me moving to take them for myself. Thats the basis of my desire. Taking the girls I like for myself. Thats what Miwa-nee told me she kept whispering in my ears that night. To take everyone I like.

Besides, like and love were proven to be not that different from each other when it comes to me.

Back then, the reason I would steal a girl apart from them having boyfriends was because I was interested in them.

Naturally, not everyone would be interested in me. Even if I successfully stole them. Those would be most of the girls who didnt return after I freed them from myself.

I said most because theres a possibility that there were girls like Nao, Chii or Miyako who had no choice but to give up and try to move on with their lives.

Ah. Wait, I was going off-topic.

In any case, thats it. Like Nami said, my interest in Saki would eventually turn to like as time passed and especially because Saki reciprocated the interest that Id shown her.

If she hadnt shown me the same interest that Id shown her, we wouldnt be in this situation. That kiss that started my entanglement with her wouldnt happen if shes not the least bit interested in me or I wasnt the least bit interested in her.

How should I say this? Youre spot on with how you describe me

Nami flicked her eyebrows along with a smug smile as she declared, Who do you think I am? Im your scary observer girl, right? But Ruu, do this properly. Court her like you court me or Hina. Even if you already did it, we girls still love it when youre making an effort for us.

Eh? Did I court her before? Was everything I did to steal her equivalent to courting her? Perhaps thats how she saw that.

I agree But dont forget us I also want to spend more time with you. Hina also added. She looked like she had something to say earlier but I guess Nami already said all of those so she could only awkwardly hug me and settle herself in my embrace.

I promise. Ill do it properly for Saki, Arisa-senpai and perhaps Izumi-senpai.

Well, I didnt include Shizu-senpai anymore since we already reached a consensus and theres really only one path with her, to slowly let her accept our situation.

This playboy. Were only talking about Saki here. Nami laughed and pinched my arm.

Its a relieved laugh. Shes relieved because the words I just uttered were typical of me and that I returned to normal, not someone who was trying to own up to my faults and was asking for their punishment.

After another five minutes, the three of us left the room and rejoined Arisa-senpai, Saki and the others who were waiting at the school gates.

Although they all seemed to be wondering what important talk I had that even included Hina, none of them asked about it. Not even Saki.

However, when we began walking towards the bus stop where they would board, Hina and Nami sandwiched Saki before matching my pace and placing the girl next to me.

The silent guy Taku and Tadano were ahead this time so they didnt notice that. And even though theres a possibility for the silent guy to look back and see us, thats already negligible. Hes like Tadano after all. He wouldnt do or say anything and just suck it up.

W-whats this? Saki almost stuttered as she threw her questioning glances at the two girls who placed her next to me.

Think of it as them encouraging you to talk to me, I answered in place of the two.

Isnt our talk not going to be today?

Yes. But since we all have the same destination, its a shame not to take this chance. I shrugged and reached for her hand stealthily.

The girl was surprised but I whispered to her that no one could see it.

And upon confirming that when she looked at the two girls on both of our sides whose eyes were both towards the front, she clasped her fingers with mine before using her bag to cover it from the front.

If the others looked back, they also wouldnt be able to see it.

With this, her nature as the chance-taker was fully showing at this point.

As we drew near to our destination, Nami who probably couldnt bear the silence opened her mouth. Saki. I dont mind it. You shouldnt sell yourself short. Youre the same as us, just girls hooked by this guy.

Upon hearing that, confusion immediately filled her face.

Eh? Huh? Whats this?

It is just as you hear. I like Ruki Hina added.

Even though Saki was aware of my closeness to Hina, hearing the girl admit it made her more confused at whats happening.

If I wasnt holding her hand, the girl wouldve fallen out of balance from what she heard.

By the time we reached the bus stop, Saki still hadnt recovered from what she heard. Due to that, she was dragged inside by both Nami and Hina who let her sit in between them at the backseat of the bus.

Arisa-senpai and others asked them what happened but the two girls made an excuse which was eventually accepted by them.

When the bus started moving away from the station, I watched whats happening through the glass window.

Hina and Nami were smiling somewhat mischievously at me as they waved their hands while theyre supporting Saki on her seat

Furthermore, on one of the windows, I noticed how Arisa-senpai was glaring at me with her cheeks puffed up.

I had no idea if she noticed something and I had no way of asking her when the bus had already left the vicinity. Perhaps she did notice, perhaps shes just kind of upset that I didnt talk to her. Who knows?

Either way, it would appear that everything somehow ended well. I managed to tell them what happened and I now have a new task. Properly court everyone.

Well, proper might be an overstatement but I would certainly strive to do that.

Now then, its time to eat that ramen.