How to Raise a Passerby Idol

"That's it for today's photoshoot. Go ahead and change back into your clothes. Don't worry, I'll stay right here and won't peek." Natsukawa turned his back and walked around the corner. Listening to Sakura's footsteps fading away, he couldn't help but feel a sense of pity for this girl. In the original story, she developed feelings for Ayanokoji after he saved her from a stalker incident. After a series of events, she resolved to change during her second year, only to be immediately voted out by Ayanokoji during a special exam. However, Natsukawa wasn't entirely clear on the specific plot points; he had only heard about them from fellow netizens while surfing the web. When he was reading it, the novel had only covered the first-year arc, and he hadn't kept up with it later due to his busy work schedule.

He actually had a very favorable impression of this socially anxious girl (it was definitely not because he was lusting after her assets! Definitely not!!). Although she was always afraid of talking to strangers, she still wanted to overcome her inner weakness and dared to face the middle-aged fan who had been harassing her. Even if she was a bit of a ditz for not calling for help and going up to deliver herself to the stalker alone.

About ten minutes later, Sakura returned carrying a handbag, now changed back into her dowdy, frumpy outfit. Her thick glasses acted like a seal on her beauty, and as she turned, they would occasionally reflect a white glare.

"Th-that, how are we supposed to get out?"

"I can't be 100% sure the stalker has left yet, so we should climb out the way I came in."

Natsukawa led Sakura to the window he had climbed through: "We'll go out from here, take a detour back to the dormitory area, and avoid the main entrance."

Sakura leaned her upper body out the window and looked at the height from the windowsill to the ground, looking a bit hesitant: "Th-this is so high..."

"It's fine, I'll go down first and then catch you." Natsukawa nimbly climbed out the window. After landing steadily, he turned around and reached out his hands to Sakura: "Come on, jump with confidence, I'll catch you."

A blush crept onto Sakura's cheeks. She hesitated for a moment, but finally gathered her courage and clumsily climbed onto the windowsill. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, pressed down on her skirt, and jumped down.

Because she had her eyes closed and didn't extend her arms to maintain balance, Sakura landed unsteadily and lunged forward. Natsukawa hurriedly stepped forward and grabbed her shoulders with both hands, but due to the momentum, Sakura fell right into Natsukawa's arms, knocking him back two steps. Unfortunately, she didn't knock him to the ground, missing out on the classic "face-in-the-cleavage" trope.

"I-I'm sorry!" Sakura hurriedly stepped back, her face as red as a ripe apple, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her skirt.

"It's fine, let's go." Natsukawa smiled, pretending not to notice her embarrassment.

The two took a long detour, and after confirming they had avoided the obsessive fan, they finally returned to the dormitory area.

"Thank you, Natsukawa-kun." In front of the girls' dormitory, Sakura whispered her thanks. This time, she finally looked directly into Natsukawa's eyes for a brief moment.

"You're welcome. Remember to be careful with photoshoots like that in the future. Let's exchange contact information; if you run into this kind of situation again, you can call me." Natsukawa waved his hand, "See you at school tomorrow, then?"

Sakura nodded gently. After they exchanged phone numbers and email addresses, she ran into the dormitory building as fast as a startled rabbit.

Watching Sakura flee while occasionally looking back, Natsukawa couldn't help but find it amusing. At the same time, he couldn't help but think of himself during middle school. Back then, he was just as afraid of interacting with others; he knew he couldn't go his whole life without social contact, but he never dared to take that step. From time to time, he would fantasize about someone breaking through his heavy walls of the heart, pulling him out of his closed-off inner world, and leading him to experience the beauty of the world.

Now, he had finally made up his mind to help Sakura change her fate of being expelled. He wanted to let Sakura face her true self.

This wasn't just to make up for the regrets of the original story, but also a form of self-redemption to satisfy his own heart.

"But how should I go about this? Never mind, no need to rush. Let's first find a way to improve her grades, and then..."

The next day at noon, Natsukawa strolled into the cafeteria. Just as he was hesitating about which window to choose, he unexpectedly caught sight of Sakura Airi. She was standing alone at the end of the line, head bowed and staring at her phone like an ostrich, forming a sharp contrast with the students walking in pairs or groups around her.

"Sakura-san, what a coincidence." Natsukawa walked up to greet her.

Sakura was startled. When she looked up and saw it was Natsukawa, the tension on her face eased slightly: "Na-Natsukawa-kun..."

"How is it? Did the stalker discover your identity?"

"N-no, thank you for your help yesterday, Natsukawa-kun."

"That's good. Do you usually eat at the cafeteria, Sakura?"

"Yes, I usually..."

The line moved quickly, and soon it was almost Sakura and Natsukawa's turn.

"Want to sit together?" Natsukawa suggested.

Sakura hesitated for a moment, then nodded gently.

After ordering their meals, the two found a relatively quiet corner to sit down. Natsukawa had ordered a meat-based set meal, while Sakura had chosen a lighter option.

The two continued their unfinished conversation. Sakura introduced the digital camera she had just bought, and Natsukawa complimented how cute it was. Then, he changed the subject: "Sakura-san, I suggest you save your private points. These points might be very useful in the future."

"Wh-why?" Sakura looked up in confusion, "The school gives us 100,000 points every month, that should be enough, right?"

Natsukawa shook his head: "Don't you find it strange? A high school that gives students the equivalent of 100,000 yen in pocket money every month and provides such perfect facilities, yet asks for almost nothing in return."

He lowered his voice: "Based on my observations, everything in this school is built on the foundation of 'meritocracy.' The current comfort is likely just a facade. If we don't perform well, we might not have so many points later on."

Sakura's eyes widened: "R-really?"

"Just observe the classmates in our class and you'll understand. This school boasts a 100% advancement rate and the ability to work anywhere you want, but look at most of the people in our class—do they deserve it? A husky won't truly become a wolf just by mixing into a pack. Even if you get into a Fortune 500 company, that's not your own ability; staying there is what counts. Most people treat this as a free paradise and indulge themselves. But if my hypothesis is correct, they will soon regret their current behavior."

Just then, a familiar voice rang out from nearby:

"Natsukawa-kun, is what you just said true?"