Chapter 16: Because You're My Girlfriend, Right?

Because You're My Girlfriend, Right?

─Onizuka's fan club?

"What does that mean..."

Bang!

At the same time I asked again, the door to the rooftop slammed open.

The sound of multiple footsteps approaching.

"So you were in a place like this."

Three unfamiliar female students glared at me with hostile looks.

"Umm... who are you...?"

I asked timidly.

Come on, it's so scary to have all the girls look at me with such disdain...!

The other person snorts, "Hmph."

"I heard you came out from Onizuka-kun's house the other day."

"What is your relationship with Onizuka-kun?"

Did I came out of Onizuka's house the other day...?

I repeated their claims in my head and dig up my own memories.

I immediately realized what they were talking about.

It was that day, when I took a stray cat to Onizuka's house and gave it a wash.

Could it be that someone saw me coming out of Onizuka's house?

"No, that's not the kind of relationship we had..."

"Then what kind of relationship is 'that'? I'm asking what kind of relationship it is."

There's nothing more frightening than an angry woman.

Even when I became a high school student, I was the younger brother who couldn't go against my older sister.

Considering how angry they were, I don't think they would believe me even if I gave them an honest explanation...

"We just picked up a stray cat together..."

Still, I took a gamble and tried to explain what happened.

"There's no way I'd believe such a lie."

"In what shojuo manga world is a delinquent picking up a cat in the rain?"

That's right!

I think so too!

But this is really the world of shoujo manga...!

If I were to tell these girls, who are the epitome of shoujo manga characters, something like that, they would probably just dismiss me as crazy.

I don't know what excuse to make.

Rather than telling the truth, it seems better to shift to making up lies that will get them to back down.

"It's true. She and Onizuka were just picking up stray cats together. That's what I heard from him."

An unexpected rescue came.

Nagumo even went so far as to lie to protect me.

"Eh, huh, is that true...?"

Even the girls were taken aback by the appearance of a third-party witness,

"But even so, it's true that she ended up at her house!"

It was only for a moment.

"Maybe she used the cat to seduce Onizuka-kun? That's disgusting."

That is completely unfounded.

But their predictions were half correct.

Although I didn't try to seduce him, it's true that I was in my underwear in front of him, so it's hard to say anything back.

"I did visit Onizuka's home, but... it's really nothing like you'd imagine."

"Tell me a better lie!"

Bang!

She pushed me hard on the shoulder, causing me to stumble two or three steps.

Oh no, I was assaulted by a girl I just met...!

That hurts...!

They're scarier than the delinquents who bothered Onizuka...!

They won't listen to me and they won't take me seriously.

Surrounded by three girls, my heart was already breaking.

...Rather than clearing up the misunderstanding or making up a lie, I felt it would be quicker for me to just apologize.

I don't know why I have to apologize to these girls.

So, if this situation can be resolved.

Nagumo, who was unrelated to this, also protected me, but that might be the best way to resolve this situation for the time being.

It would be wrong to make Nagumo suffer any further from the pointless misunderstanding between Onizuka and me.

"...I'm sor–"

"That's why I'm saying it was wrong!"

As if to cover my apology, Nagumo raised his voice, which was unusual for him.

When I looked towards Nagumo, his sleepy eyes were forming a semicircle as he gazed at me, as if smiling.

"Because Otome-chan... you're my girlfriend, right?"

Eh?

Before I could say anything back, Nagumo's face got very close to mine.

Chuu~.

A soft sensation on the right cheek.

A small lip noise.

"~~~~!?!?"

It took me a moment to realise that he had kissed me on the cheek.

W-why...!?

My confusion didn't even become a voice.

Holding the right cheek where I was kissed, I stared at Nagumo.

Nagumo wasn't looking at me, but at the girls with a belligerent smile.

"See, there's no reason for my girlfriend to seduce Onizuka-kun, right?"

Nagumo glared at them.

"...!"

"You should have said that from the start!"

The three girls left the rooftop with a parting remark.

"...Phew~"

"Oh, my dear! I thought you didn't want to fall in love!"

As Nagumo took a breath as if the matter had been settled, I grabbed him by the collar.

Nagumo just lets it happen with a puzzled look on his face.

"Yeah. So we're not really dating or anything."

"Oh...? Okay...?"

Is that so...?

Even though he kissed me on the cheek, that doesn't mean Nagumo confessed his feelings to me... right?

"Oh, was that just a way to get through that situation?"

"Yup."

Finally understanding, I relaxed his grip on his collar.

"Oh, thanks."

...Well, he's a nice guy.

Even though we weren't particularly close, I expressed my gratitude to Nagumo for going to such lengths to protect me.

The corners of Nagumo's mouth turned up in a mysterious grin.

"Don't you want to thank me for helping you?"

"Eh?"

"I helped you."

Even if the same line is said twice, it doesn't change the fact that I can't accept reality.

Just when I thought he was a good guy, he demands something in return...!

This guy has some incredible guts.

"...like buying a drink from a vending machine..."

I reluctantly suggest.

Even if someone tells you to say thank you, that's all a high school student can think of.

"It's not like that..."

It seems he had no intention of listening to my proposal from the start.

What came out of Nagumo's mouth as he pretended to think was a request that far exceeded expectations.

"Be my master."　

─Master?

What is he talking about?

I had no idea what Nagumo specifically wanted from the word "master."

Is it something naughty?

Are you really man, despite your pretty face?

I absolutely hate that!

Blast away your pink delusions.

Nagumo continued with a mischievous smile on his face as if he was making fun of me.

"Master have to take good care of their pet, right?"

So that's what it means...!

With that one sentence, I finally understood.

Although he did use impactful words like pet and master.

But in reality, I'm just a gofer.

The order was to prepare what Nagumo wanted at the right time for him.

"Of course I don't want that--"

"Now that I think of it, that necklace... Onizuka-kun was wearing the same one before, right? I wonder why Saotome-san is wearing it now?"

Nagumo's hand slowly reached out and touched my necklace.

"...!"

He's sharp.

I internally clicked my tongue.

He knew all about it, including the fact that Onizuka had worn this necklace around his neck before and that I was wearing it now.

Not only did he have a wide information network, but Nagumo himself also had impressive observation skills.

I underestimated him...!

If I refused to become his master, the girls in Onizuka's fan club would probably tell on me about something inappropriate.

"Apparently she wasn't actually dating Nagumo, and that she had entered Onizuka's house and seduced him."

"Apparently Onizuka and her are dating."

Just imagining such a future is enough to give me a headache.

I gave up and raised my hands like a robber surrounded by police.

"...I understand. I'll be your master."

"Yay! I look forward to working with you, Otome-chan?"

Nagumo was smiling gently, but I felt like his eyes weren't smiling.

If you're a pet, you should act like a pet and listen to what your master tells you to do.