Sakura

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Sakura Airi (Sakura; 佐仓)
Alias(es)	Shizuku
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Advanced Nurturing High School, Class D
Occupation/Role	Student; internet blog idol and gravure model
First Appearance	Chapter 4

Background

Sakura is a Class D student who conceals her work as the blog idol and gravure model “Shizuku.” She takes photographs in secluded locations to avoid recognition, but this secrecy makes her vulnerable when an obsessive fan discovers her identity 6 38.

At the beginning of the school year, Sakura is isolated by severe social anxiety. She avoids group activities, speaks quietly, keeps her head down, and struggles to approach classmates despite recognizing that her grades need improvement 9 19. Her first meaningful connections at school are with Sosuke Natsukawa, who helps her escape a stalker, and Honami Ichinose, whom Sakura meets through Natsukawa and later trusts with her hidden identity 6 9 38.

Appearance

Sakura is a red-haired girl with large blue eyes. Her usual reserved presentation contrasts sharply with her more polished idol persona.

• Red hair, initially worn in twin tails 4
• Thick glasses that conceal much of her expression and are described as masking her beauty 4 7
• Large, deep-blue eyes 19
• Often wears deliberately dowdy or frumpy clothing outside of photoshoots to avoid attracting attention 7
• Without her glasses, her delicate and timid features are more visible 102

Personality

Sakura is initially timid, self-conscious, and highly sensitive to attention from others. She frequently lowers her head, avoids eye contact, and physically withdraws when placed in social situations. Her fear of crowds and being watched intensifies after the stalker begins contacting her and sending candid photographs 19 35 37.

Despite this anxiety, Sakura is sincere, considerate, and capable of significant courage. She asks Natsukawa to become friends, entrusts Ichinose with her idol identity, refuses to abandon the investigation despite threats, and later volunteers for Class D’s relay team 9 38 41 120. She remains deeply attached to Natsukawa, viewing him as the person who helped her leave her isolation behind 45 136.

Abilities & Skills

Photography and Idol Work

Sakura maintains an online career as Shizuku, taking and posting photographs as a blog idol and gravure model.

• Uses a digital camera for her work and takes photos in secluded areas to avoid being recognized 6 7
• Can take candid, natural-looking photos; she later photographs Natsukawa in his dorm room 102
• Her idol activity gives her a secret public-facing persona that differs from her timid school self 6 38

Academic Improvement

With tutoring and encouragement, Sakura becomes substantially more capable in her studies.

• Initially avoids Hirata’s study group despite admitting that her grades are poor 19
• Scores above 85 in every subject after her improvement 32
• Later leads a study group during test review in the library 136

Running and Physical Training

Sakura begins training to improve both her ability to flee danger and her confidence in public.

• Completes her first lap after initially struggling with running and public exercise 36
• Progresses from one lap to two while using a focus technique based on Natsukawa’s footsteps and breathing rhythm 37
• Learns sprinting posture, force application, and endurance pacing for the sports festival 107
• Completes her relay leg despite exhaustion 121

Wilderness Knowledge

During the uninhabited-island exam, Sakura learns to identify edible plants and applies that knowledge socially.

• Learns to distinguish edible wild vegetables and berries 72
• Uses this knowledge to help another student, leading to her independent friendship with Hasebe Haruka 102

Equipment / Items

• Digital camera used for Shizuku’s photoshoots and personal photography 7 102
• Personal terminal used for contact with Natsukawa, Ichinose, and her stalker 34 40
• Thick glasses used as part of her inconspicuous everyday appearance 4 19

Relationships

• Sosuke Natsukawa — Friend, rescuer, tutor, running coach, and primary source of security. He helps her escape the initial stalker encounter, supports her through the later harassment, and encourages her to build confidence and independence. Sakura develops clear romantic feelings for him and asks him to call her by her first name 6 36 45 46 71.
• Honami Ichinose — Friend and ally. Ichinose accepts Sakura’s identity as Shizuku without judgment, helps investigate the stalker, and publicly accompanies Sakura for protection 9 38 39 42.
• Hasebe Haruka — Friend made through Sakura’s own effort after sharing wilderness knowledge. Haruka later joins Sakura’s study group and supports her during the library conflict 102 136 137.
• Chabashira Sae — Homeroom teacher. Sakura and Natsukawa report the stalking messages to her, but Chabashira declines to intervene because she considers the evidence insufficient 35.
• Unnamed stalker — Obsessive fan who discovers that Sakura is Shizuku, sends threatening messages and candid photographs, and attempts to control her through fear of exposure. He is eventually apprehended by school security 6 40 45.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Stalker Encounter and First Friendships

While taking photographs near an abandoned school building, Sakura is cornered by a fan who recognizes her as Shizuku. Natsukawa finds her hiding inside, waits with her until it is safer, and helps her escape through a window 6 7.

Afterward, Sakura begins eating with Natsukawa, accepts his warning to conserve private points, meets Ichinose, and gathers the courage to ask Natsukawa to be her friend 7 9.

Academic and Personal Growth

Sakura accepts after-school tutoring rather than remaining alone while her classmates form a study group 19. Her academic performance later rises to over 85 in every subject, giving her a concrete source of confidence 32.

Stalker Crisis

The stalker returns with direct messages, candid photographs placed in Sakura’s mailbox, and threats to expose her identity at school. After Chabashira refuses to act, Sakura begins morning runs with Natsukawa to build stamina and reduce her fear of public attention 34 35 36 37.

Sakura reveals that she is Shizuku to Ichinose, who joins Natsukawa in protecting her. Though terrified of exposure, Sakura chooses to continue resisting rather than submit to the stalker’s control 38 40 41.

Sakura and Ichinose follow a false retreat strategy to deceive the stalker, while Natsukawa traces his online activity. Sakura ultimately agrees to face the danger rather than continue living under his threats; the stalker is subsequently caught by school security 42 43 45.

Island Exam and Sports Festival

During the uninhabited-island exam, Sakura explores with Natsukawa, helps gather food, and learns to identify edible plants. She becomes more physically confident and is encouraged to share her knowledge with other girls 71 72.

Before the sports festival, Sakura specifically asks Natsukawa for sprint and endurance training because she wants to contribute to the class. She later volunteers for the relay and completes her leg before passing the baton to Natsukawa 107 120 121.

Friendship and Library Conflict

After the island exam, Sakura uses what she learned about wild plants to speak with Hasebe Haruka and gains her first friend through an ordinary interaction rather than Natsukawa’s introduction 102.

She later leads a library study group. When Ishizaki attempts to take Natsukawa’s notebook, Sakura protects it and is injured in the resulting struggle, demonstrating how far her courage has developed 136 137.

Notable Quotes

“I... I cannot stop.” 41

“I want to... become a little more useful.” 107

“Sosuke-kun... I think I really made a friend.” 102