"S-Sorry…"
Despite the gentle smile, Yamauchi Haruki didn't feel the usual warmth he associated with Kushida.
Instead—
What wrapped around him was pressure.
Kushida… is scary…
No, that's not right. Kushida is an angel. It's not that she's scary—it's just because everyone's watching me.
Convincing himself of that, Yamauchi stammered out an apology.
"I—I remembered wrong. No, I mixed it up. Um, anyway, it wasn't Sakura who confessed to me—it was a girl from the class next door. So… yeah… that's fine now… right?"
"I don't know." Kushida Kikyo's expression didn't change. "You should ask Sakura-san."
She wasn't the one who needed the apology. Explaining it to her was meaningless.
"Th-then… Sakura-san, I'm sorry…"
In front of everyone, Yamauchi lowered his head again, humiliated.
Sakura Airi: "…"
He apologized.
Then… does that mean I should forgive him…?
"…Mm." She let out the faintest response.
After all, Sakura Airi wasn't the kind of person who would press someone relentlessly once they apologized.
Since he said sorry… she would let it go.
…Though if Kushida hadn't stepped in, she probably would've just kept her head down, silently suffering on her own.
I should… thank Kushida-san… right?
With that thought, she suddenly stood up and bowed deeply in front of Kushida.
"—Th-Thank you!"
Her voice was far louder than expected.
"…"
For a brief moment, the class fell silent.
Then, in the next instant—
Laughter erupted.
"Hahahaha—!"
"Is she seriously bowing like that?"
"Wow, Kushida-chan really is the best!"
"Hey, don't laugh! Sakura's ears are totally red!"
The noise swallowed Sakura whole.
Regret flooded her as she realized she had spoken too loudly on impulse.
Her mind buzzed uncontrollably.
Her body stiffened.
But—
Somewhere within that moment—
As she bent forward, closing the distance—
She caught a faint scent from Kushida.
"…"
It was hard to describe.
Was it shampoo? Sweat? Something else?
She couldn't tell.
But one thing was certain—
That scent didn't seem to belong to Kushida herself.
It was… different.
"Mm, no need to thank me. It's just what I should do."
Smiling warmly, Kushida reached out and helped Sakura up.
She had long been annoyed with Yamauchi.
This was just a convenient chance to put him in his place.
Without Hirata keeping him in check, he had started acting up again. It was irritating.
She didn't know how long this would keep him quiet, but with final exams approaching, Hirata would handle things soon enough.
"Um… really… th-thank you…"
As Kushida spoke, the laughter gradually subsided.
Pulled upright, Sakura murmured her thanks again, barely audible.
Kushida nodded gently.
"Mm-hm. If you ever have trouble, you can come talk to me anytime."
With that, she let go of Sakura's hand and returned to her seat.
The bell rang.
Sakura Airi went back to her own seat.
The moment Kushida held her hand—
That faint scent became clearer.
But if it wasn't Kushida's…
Then whose was it?
A bold thought—one she herself didn't quite believe—surfaced in Sakura's mind.
Could it be…
A boyfriend?
Thinking about it, it wasn't impossible.
Kushida was so popular—if she were secretly dating someone, it wouldn't be strange at all.
If it were a boy… no one could resist Kushida.
Unlike me…
Aside from someone like Yamauchi, no one would even look at me. No one would approach me. No one would ever…
…connect with me.
Yes.
Sakura Airi, who feared interacting with others, feared eye contact, feared crowded places—
Had always longed for someone who could truly understand her.
But even now—
The one who understood her best…
Was someone loved by everyone.
Someone who belonged to everyone.
Kushida Kikyo.
"…"
Suddenly—
She felt like putting on her mask again.
Sakura Airi didn't know when she had become like this.
But by the time she noticed—
She was already alone.
She didn't speak first. Didn't reach out. Avoided eye contact. Couldn't express herself.
She stayed in her corner, hiding in her small world, waiting for someone to discover her—
Like a hidden treasure.
Yet at the slightest misstep, she would retreat again.
Hide. Fall silent. Unable to speak.
Unless it was someone like Kushida—
A bright, outgoing person who could connect with anyone—
No one would ever become her friend.
But precisely because Kushida was that kind of person—
She could never belong to just one individual.
So Sakura understood.
She was destined to be alone.
And yet—
She also understood—
That humans cannot live alone.
Even if her instincts pushed her toward isolation—
Her heart still longed for connection.
Even if her body rejected crowds—
Deep inside, she still dreamed of shining on stage like an idol.
And so—
Sakura Airi put on a mask.
As long as she hypnotized herself, convinced herself over and over—
Put on makeup, wore pretty clothes, mimicked the lively expressions of idols—
Maybe, just maybe—
That version of herself could be loved by everyone.
"…"
Careful.
Hesitant.
Moving as if sneaking through a game.
Avoiding the gazes of passersby—
Carrying her camera and a set of beautiful clothes—
Sakura Airi quietly pushed open the rooftop door, its electronic lock long disabled.
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