Stealing Spree

Chapter 2170: Secret Garden



When Arisa and I showed up in the clubhouse, everyone was already there including Misaki, Maaya, and even Komoe who probably arrived alongside Shizu.

Watanabe didn't tag along. Most likely, she's with Masato-senpai.

Orimura-sensei was standing at the far back with a frown on her face. She was probably ready to berate me considering how packed the clubhouse became with all the girls present.

Hell, some of the girls were even sitting on the stairs or were already relaxing upstairs due to the lack of seats. They only peeked when they heard the commotion of our arrival.

Minori and Yuika-senpai were seated among Haruko and the others from the same club. Aya was even sharing a cushion with Edel. My lovely koala was cuddling her like a doting older sister.

After spending time in the same club for months now, Aya and Edel were already comfortable being around each other. Aya would tell me something about Edel's home country sometimes since she's also curious about the culture of a different place. It's fueling her imagination, allowing her to more vividly imagine those isekai light novels with a medieval setting.

Anyway, although they didn't say anything, they already knew the reason why we took our time returning.

I mean, Arisa, who was still as red as an apple, entered the clubhouse while hiding behind me.

When Izumi approached us to help me carry the bag containing those baggy chips, she scowled at me and called me a 'pervert' again.

Well, there's no reason to correct her on that part so I just smiled and continued inside.

Like Izumi, the others also helped in sorting out the things we bought, leaving me with nothing else to do.

I know some of them are still wondering why we gathered so... as soon as the small commotion caused by the girls picking their drinks or snacks they wanted to eat, I signaled for Shizu to help me introduce the school's one and only special club.

It wasn't that hard to explain. Just that, some of them were wondering if I was serious about planting potatoes as well as the limitations of our club.

While everyone already knew that I had a connection to Hayashi-sensei, most of them had no idea to what extent.

So, with the help of Shizu, we informed the others that we got this place for ourselves and all we had to do was to maintain the place and complete some activity to maintain the sense of existence of this clubhouse.

It didn't necessarily have to be planting but since I brought that up myself, Hayashi-sensei was probably intrigued whether we could accomplish that.

"I get the general outline of our clubhouse, but Ruki, what do we do with our normal clubs?" Maaya asked.

Upon finishing our explanation, I had them ask questions that still confused them. That way, we could clarify everything.

I mean, the simple way of seeing this club was that it's the gathering place for me and the girls connected to me.

Unfortunately, it couldn't be just that. No matter how much Hayashi-sensei favored Shizu and me, she wouldn't just let us convene here without proper reason.

And in the future, other students might wander in this region of our school grounds. I mean, it was only recently that Miura and Sagara-senpai from the Game Club went here to check out the rumors circulating in our school regarding ghosts in this place.

When that eventually happens, it'll be inevitable for our clubhouse to be exposed. That's why we have to do something that can make this place appear official. Whether it be reviving the gardening plots outside or any other activity that can be written and submitted to a report to the Student Council.

"Treat this clubhouse as your secondary club. We don't need everyone's full attendance but if you want a place to relax, you can always come here... I'll probably visit this place every day starting next week. I'll be the president-in-name and will work on our garden at the back." I answered Maaya's query.

Although it's not wrong to say that they can always find me here, I'll leave it to the girls when they want to come and hang out.

Besides, I already have Rumi and Shizu staring daggers at me. For sure, they're thinking of the same question.

'If you're going to be here every day, what about your duties in our Literature Club/Student Council?'

And so, before they could voice that out, I opened my mouth telling them my plan.

"Of course, even though I said I'll be here everyday, I won't be neglecting my duty in my club and my position in the Student Council. At the very least, I won't be going home without checking this place."

At that, everyone nodded. And among them, Misaki stepped to the front. With her paper fan partly covering her lips and her wide forehead brilliantly shining under the light, she curiously asked, "Then, Ruki, can I come here to play when our club finishes practice early? I don't want to wait for the time to leave in our clubroom."

"Mhm... I'll teach you gardening and then cuddle you upstairs."

"Really?! Yay!" Misaki rejoiced.

And because of what I said, almost everyone raised their eyebrows. Some straight-up pouted, showing signs of jealousy. For example, Satsuki who sighed and facepalmed before muttering under her breath and eventually, glaring at me while shaking her head in disapproval.

That girl... She should really step out and tell me if it didn't sit well with her. But knowing my Satsuki who'd rather act more honest when we're alone, it's just her way to express jealousy. And likewise, there's Chii and Arisa who laughed at the silliness of my answer. All in all, despite the mixed reaction, their eyes sparkled at the whiff of opportunity. After Maaya and Misaki, I answered more questions from the girls, exhausting their doubts. And by the end of it, Rae thoughtfully handed a bottle of soda to me before I could ask for it. After quenching my thirst, I called for Orimura-sensei and introduced her as our clubhouse's advisor.

Although she wasn't exactly certain that every girl inside the clubhouse was my girlfriend, she at least figured out that my relationship with them was closer than just being ordinary

friends.

She also didn't stay for too long. She still has to check on the Volleyball Club, after all. With that, our Potato Clubhouse (tentative name) was successfully inaugurated.

Before long, I got pushed by Shizu out of the middle as she started a new round of discussion.

"Alright. I'm sure you all heard what that blockhead decided to call this place. I'll be opening our first discussion on coming up with a better name! You can nominate a name and we'll vote

for it later."

As Shizu started speaking, Komoe and Haruko pushed the whiteboard that Mutsumi-senpai used to present a fake timetable behind Shizu.

Then, they handed her the eraser and marker which the Student Council President readily

used.

At this point, I could only wryly smile and retreat to the back as I watched my girls bury the name 'Potato Clubhouse'.

"Pfft. Look how united they are. Onoda-kun, did you intentionally name it like that to get them riled up?" Amidst the ruckus happening in the middle of the room, Yuika-senpai softly asked in between her attempts to stifle her sweet laughter.

Yep. I ended up joining them in this corner. Next to her, Minori-senpai was staring at me like I was an anomaly that needed to be studied.

I glanced to their side and shrugged my shoulders, "Nope. I intended the name to be like that. Alas, Shizu led the rebellion in order to change it. Isn't Potato Clubhouse legit?"

"Oh. Come on, Onoda-kun. Who names their club Potato? You made it too literal. But I like it though. It's pretty straightforward. Just like how you carry yourself."

Yuika-senpai continued giggling but slowly, her voice softened up more as that last part was mostly said in a whisper. On top of that, her face turned red from embarrassment.

When our eyes locked in, Yuika-senpai immediately became flustered followed by her

attempt to retreat and hide behind Minori-senpai.

"Was that a compliment, senpai? Thank you." I swiftly replied at the same time as I chased for her hand before she scurried to Minori-senpai's side.

Well, I asked them to be here with us so... I should also accommodate them, right? But with all

of my girls around us, I probably put them in quite a bind.

As my fingers gradually interlocked with hers, the delicate senior stopped retreating and turned back to face me again. Then slowly but surely, she pushed her cushion close to me until

our shoulders touched.

"O-onoda-kun. Don't blame me if they scold you for this, okay?"

"Mhm. I promised, right? I'll take care of you. Although your club is plenty comfortable for

you to stay in, don't hesitate to visit this place in the future. And that also applies to you,

Minori-senpai."

After assuring Yuika-senpai, I also turned to the other one who was already shaking her head

at my bold display.

For sure, she was thinking why I was paying attention to them when a lot of my girls were

around us.

It's simple. Because I'm already planning to pamper everyone. For me, it won't be an

impossible task.

Minutes later, they finally voted for the name to replace Potato Clubhouse - The Secret

Garden...

Yeah. Of all the names they could recommend, it ended up sounding like what Elizabeth would suggest.