Ryuen throws harsh words! Maple and Airi change clothes for each other?

Ryuen's expression soured as Tennoji Kaede blocked his path, clearly demanding an explanation.

"She's from First Year Class D. It's no big deal if she overheard some of what we were saying."

Sakura Airi trembled, glancing at Kaede, who seemed to be speaking up for her. She wisely stopped her shouting.

Ryuen pondered for a moment, then withdrew his hand. Tennoji Kaede made a helpless gesture to him.

"I'll handle her. Give me the camera too. We can discuss other things next time."

Ryuen tossed the digital camera he was holding. Kaede caught it steadily, fiddled with it, and seeing it wasn't broken, deftly removed the memory card.

"Woman, I've memorized your face. You should recognize me too."

"Eek! I understand! I didn't see or hear anything today. I won't say a word! I'm sorry..."

Ryuen cast another sharp gaze at Sakura, exuding a terrifying aura. He turned and threatened her again.

Kaede didn't intervene this time. Ryuen was his partner, not his subordinate. They each had their own methods, and both sides had to show basic respect.

Just like Ryuen, he didn't care how Kaede would clean up the mess afterward. Since Kaede had spoken up to handle this matter, he could accept it.

Sakura continued to apologize profusely.

"...Hmph, spoilsport!"

Ryuen retracted his imposing aura, his expression calm. "If you're not sensible this time, next time I'll have my fun with that rather delectable body of yours..."

Sakura Airi was overcome with terror, clutching her chest tightly with both hands.

Tennoji Kaede silently broke out in a sweat... Those words were truly... so Ryuen.

After Ryuen delivered his parting threat, he slowly left the Special Classroom Building.

After watching Ryuen leave, Kaede loosened his belt.

"Ah, don't be nervous. My belt really just came loose..." Tennoji Kaede chuckled and extended his hand to her. "Sorry for scaring you earlier. Do you still have the strength to stand? If not, you can just sit here and rest for a while."

Sakura Airi remained silent.

"Then, Sakura-san, you should sit here and calm down properly."

"You... Who are you?"

Sakura Airi looked up blankly. The matching hair-colored decorative glasses and messy bangs obscured her expression.

"You're Sakura Airi-san from First Year Class D, if I remember correctly? I'm Tennoji Kaede from Class C."

Kaede felt he could play the good cop here...

"Don't take Ryuen-san's words too much to heart. He was just trying to scare you. After all... Sakura-san must have accidentally overheard our conversation, right?"

Sakura Airi nodded vigorously. "I really didn't mean to eavesdrop. Today I... I came to..."

"It's alright, I'm still willing to believe you, Sakura-san."

Sakura secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

"However." Kaede continued, changing his tone and holding up the digital camera with the memory card reinserted, "I can return this digital camera to you, but you saw the attitude of our class's Leader earlier..."

Sakura looked bewildered, clearly not understanding Kaede's meaning.

"I'm sorry, Sakura-san, but for all intents and purposes, I can't trust your verbal promise. Therefore, I need to check the photos on your digital camera's memory. What do you think?"

Huh!? Check the camera? That's not...

Kaede continued, "You know, Sakura-san, you were holding a camera and eavesdropping on a conversation between Leaders from another class~"

"While I'm willing to believe it was accidental on your part, Sakura-san, this really makes it easy for people to misunderstand. If I don't do some checking, I can't explain myself to Ryuen-niichan..."

Sakura stammered, looking up and down several times. Kaede maintained a look of helplessness, and finally, she could only nod gently.

[Detected 'Sakura Airi', a failing work from Black House with 59 points]

[Causal Mark for 'Sakura Airi' has been deployed]

['Cause': Sakura Airi hopes you will not discover her true identity as an Internet Celebrity]

['Effect': Charisma +5, Disguise +10, Makeup Artistry +20]

[Under normal circumstances, the potential energy level unit for an ordinary person is 10]

Now she's learned makeup too, he's really become a Drama Queen...

Kaede sighed inwardly and confirmed with Sakura again before beginning to search the camera's memory photos...

Wow~ It really is... quite lewd. Kaede examined the photos with a poker face, appreciating them carefully.

Each photo was a selfie in various poses, on par with those of a camgirl. Wearing little was the norm; the focus was on her ample bosom.

Kaede frowned and sped up his scrolling through the album.

He had naturally anticipated the contents of Sakura-san's camera, but the reality might have been worse than he imagined.

The Sakura Airi before him was a famous popular idol and gravure model online, known by the net name "Shizuku," with over 5,000 followers on Twitter and considerable popularity.

The person in the photos was indeed the same person as the one in reality, but her personality seemed to be severely split.

Simply put, Sakura Airi was extremely socially anxious, yet she desperately craved genuine connection with others.

She subconsciously created a second personality for herself, allowing the two personalities to communicate.

She gradually developed these two completely opposite modes of survival, online and in reality: open and fearful.

The inner and outer personalities understood and supported each other.

Currently, from Kaede's perspective, Sakura was somewhere between a split personality and a normal persona adopted by an internet celebrity, which was a bit serious.

Kaede deleted the photos Sakura had subconsciously taken secretly, returned the camera to her, and didn't blame her.

"Sakura, here's your camera back."

Sakura Airi meekly took her beloved camera from Kaede's hand, a slight blush on her face.

He had looked through all the photos...

"Sakura, your photos are quite good. Just try not to be so curious next time. This school is very unique. You should understand that in Class D."

Sakura lowered her head. "Yes, yes... Thank you, Tennoji-kun."

At this moment, Kaede noticed that Sakura's clothes behind her were rather messy, as she had been roughly dragged across the floor by Ryuen...

Kaede reached out again. "You can't sit for too long, or your leg nerves will go numb. Get up first, and let's see if you're injured anywhere."

Kaede took Sakura's trembling, soft, and cool hand and gently pulled her upper body up.

Sakura swayed, and Kaede quickly grabbed her arm.

"Shiori! Stand steady... It seems there are no external injuries. Ryuen still has some restraint."

Her stockings weren't torn, thankfully. Only the hem of her clothes in the back had some slight scratches; they were unwearable.

"Thank you..."

Sakura didn't know how many times she had said "I'm sorry" and "Thank you" today.

"Sakura, you can't go out wearing that school uniform jacket. Wear mine back today; they're the same anyway."

Kaede raised his hand, stopping Sakura from speaking.

"Just do as I say. It's fine for guys to go back to the dorms without their jackets. Later, I'll get a replacement women's school uniform jacket of the same size. We'll contact each other another day and swap them."

"You don't need to wash my jacket outside either. I'll take care of it after we exchange them."

Sakura silently accepted Kaede's clean school uniform jacket.

"Also, please don't tell anyone from Class D what you saw today. I'll transfer 10,000 Private Points to you later... Just listen to me, and don't rush to refuse."

"If you feel unwell anywhere when you get back, consider it compensation for your medical expenses. If you feel bad about it, you can transfer the remaining points back to me later. Remember, prioritize your health."

Thinking about Sakura Airi's later expulsion, Kaede truly saw her as a socially anxious younger sister of his own, and his concern was genuine.

Who among you wouldn't be heartbroken and curse when seeing her expelled?

Even if she was just a background character, she shouldn't have been a sacrifice!

After Kaede turned away, Sakura quickly changed her clothes, and they then exchanged contact information.

After confirming Sakura had received the 10,000 Private Points, Kaede followed a short distance behind her, and they left the Special Classroom Building in batches.

At a certain crossroads, they parted ways.

Sakura Airi looked back, quietly gazing at the man with his shirt showing and holding his outer garment as he disappeared into the distance.

Kaede stopped after seeing Sakura return.

After confirming a certain predetermined matter, he nodded slightly and continued on his way...