"Let's call it a day for the shoot. Go change back into your clothes. Don't worry, I'll stay here and won't come around the corner to peek." Natsukawa turned his back and walked away from the corner. As he listened to Sakura's footsteps fade into the distance, he couldn't help feeling sorry for her. In the original story, she developed feelings for Ayanokoji after he had stepped in at just the right moment during the stalker incident. After a series of events, she resolved to change in her second year, only to be voted out by Ayanokoji in the class vote soon afterward. Natsukawa didn't know the details very well, though; he'd only heard about it from people online. When he'd read the novel, only the first-year arc had been published, and he'd stopped following it once work got busy.
He had a soft spot for this socially anxious girl (definitely not because he was into her huge boobs! Absolutely not!!). Though she was always afraid to talk to strangers, she still wanted to overcome her weakness and face the middle-aged superfan who kept harassing her. She was a bit of a ditz, though. She hadn't called anyone for help and had gone up to meet him alone.
A little over ten minutes later, Sakura returned with a handbag. She had changed back into the dowdy outfit she'd worn earlier. Her thick glasses were like a seal suppressing her looks, and they occasionally flashed white as she moved.
"Um... how are we supposed to get out?"
"We can't be sure the stalker's definitely gone, so let's climb out the same way I came in."
Natsukawa led Sakura to the window he'd climbed through. "We'll get out here, circle around to the dorms, and avoid the main entrance."
Sakura leaned out of the window and looked at how far the sill was from the ground. She seemed hesitant. "I-it's so high..."
"It's okay. I'll climb down first and catch you from below." Natsukawa nimbly climbed out and landed steadily. Then he turned and held out his arms to Sakura. "Come on, just jump. I'll catch you."
Sakura's cheeks flushed. She hesitated for a moment, but eventually worked up the courage to awkwardly climb onto the sill. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, held down her skirt, and jumped.
Because she'd landed with her eyes closed and hadn't spread her arms to keep her balance, Sakura wobbled and pitched forward. Natsukawa hurried over and grabbed her by the shoulders, but the force sent her tumbling into his arms, knocking him back two steps. Unfortunately, she didn't knock him to the ground, so they missed out on the much-anticipated face-in-the-cleavage moment.
"S-sorry!" Sakura hurriedly stepped back, her face red as a ripe apple. Her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her clothes.
"It's fine. Let's get going." Natsukawa smiled, pretending not to notice how embarrassed she was.
The two of them took a long detour, making sure to avoid the fanboy, and finally made it back to the dorms.
"Thank you, Natsukawa." In front of the girls' dormitory, Sakura thanked him softly. This time, she finally managed to look him in the eye for a moment, though only briefly.
"You're welcome. Be careful when you take photos like that from now on. Let's exchange contact information, so you can call me if something like this happens again." Natsukawa waved. "See you at school tomorrow?"
Sakura nodded slightly. After they exchanged phone numbers and email addresses, she dashed into the dormitory like a startled rabbit.
Watching Sakura hurry away while glancing back at him now and then, Natsukawa couldn't help finding it amusing. At the same time, he was reminded of himself in middle school. Back then, he'd been just as afraid of talking to people. He knew he couldn't go his whole life without speaking to anyone, but he'd never dared take that first step. Sometimes, he'd fantasized that someone would fight their way through every obstacle, break through the thick wall around his heart, and pull him out of his isolation to show him the beauty of the world.
Now, he'd finally made up his mind to help Sakura change the fate that had led to her expulsion. He wanted her to be able to face her true self.
This wasn't just about making up for the regrets of the original story. It was also a form of self-redemption that he needed.
"But how am I supposed to do that? Never mind. I don't need to worry about the rest yet. First, I'll figure out how to improve her grades, and then..."
The next day at noon, Natsukawa strolled into the cafeteria. He was trying to decide which food stall to grace with his presence when he unexpectedly spotted Sakura Airi. She was standing alone at the very end of a line, head bowed as she stared at her phone, like an ostrich. She stood out sharply from the students around her, who were moving about in pairs and groups.
"Sakura, fancy meeting you here." Natsukawa walked over to greet her.
Sakura jumped. When she looked up and saw Natsukawa, the tension on her face eased a little. "N-Natsukawa..."
"So, did the stalker figure out who you are?"
"N-no... Thank you for helping me yesterday, Natsukawa."
"That's good. Do you usually eat in the cafeteria, Sakura?"
"Yeah, I usually..."
The line moved quickly, and before long it was almost their turn.
"Want to sit together?" Natsukawa suggested.
Sakura hesitated, then nodded slightly.
After ordering, they found a relatively quiet corner and sat down. Natsukawa had ordered a meat-heavy set meal, while Sakura had chosen something lighter.
They picked up where they'd left off, and Sakura told Natsukawa about the digital camera she'd just bought. He complimented her on how cute it was, then changed the subject. "Sakura, I recommend being careful with your private points. You might need them for something important later."
"W-why?" Sakura looked up in confusion. "The school gives us a hundred thousand points every month. Shouldn't that be enough?"
Natsukawa shook his head. "Don't you find it strange? A high school gives its students pocket money equivalent to a hundred thousand yen every month and provides such excellent facilities, yet it demands practically nothing in return."
He lowered his voice. "From what I've observed, everything at this school is built on the idea of 'ability above all.' The comfort we enjoy now might just be a facade. If we don't perform well, we might not get so many points later."
Sakura's eyes widened. "I-is that true?"
"Just look at our classmates and you'll understand. The school boasts a hundred percent rate of advancement and claims students can choose any job they want, but look at most of the people in our class. Are they really up to it? A husky doesn't become a wolf just because it joins a pack. Even if you get into a Fortune 500 company, that's not an accomplishment—you have to stick around. Most people treat this place like a free amusement park and indulge themselves without a care. But if my guess is right, they'll regret their behavior soon enough."
Just then, a familiar voice sounded from beside them.
"Natsukawa, is what you just said true?"
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