Sakura: I Want to Capture Hajima's Appearance

"So that's how it is."

The boy nodded slightly, a relieved expression on his face, and said, "Looks like I made the right choice; this situation won't happen again."

"Hmph, it's good that you know."

Seeing the other party's ambiguous smile, Kushida Kikyo knew that Hashiba Hikaru was just trying to appease her. However, since she had already given him a way out, she could let bygones be bygones.

This has always been the key to Kushida's ability to maintain a long-term relationship with the other person. The boy doesn't deliberately emphasize awkward moments; instead, he uses feigned ignorance or perfunctory responses to smoothly transition the conversation, thus avoiding any embarrassment.

Hmph, I wonder which girl this guy learned it from; he's way too skilled at this move.

"Of course, I've always been clear about my stance. After all, Kushida and I are on the same side," Hashiba Hikaru said with a faint smile, taking another sip of her cola. "Our cooperation will continue, so I won't make things difficult for Kushida."

Of course, this only applies during the period of stock price increase.

This last sentence was naturally added in my mind. As a high-quality stock, the 5,000 shares of Kushida Kikyo could generate a considerable profit after the stock price surged. Moreover, this time there was no need to rush to liquidate and cash out; instead, the shares could be used multiple times.

"After all, Classmate Hashiba is Akito know what's best to do."

Kushida Kikyo leaned back in the leather seat, her tone stern.

"This deal allows us to achieve things that benefit both of us, so I don't want any surprises, you understand?"

"That's just how it is."

Hashiba Hikaru nodded, then asked, "Is this why Kushida contacted me today? Or is there something else?"

Actually, there isn't any, but Kushida Kikyo didn't want to answer that directly, so she casually asked in return.

"I can only say that this is the most important thing, so I brought it up first. Is there something urgent you need to do, Classmate Hashiba?"

The short-haired girl looked up and stared into his eyes, as if trying to find some answer.

"No, not really. It's summer vacation now, so I'm quite free." The boy shook his head. If there weren't any Special Exam, he actually spent most of his time on the Cruise Ship reading.

"Don't you have dates?"

The girl's sudden question caused a look of confusion to appear on Hashiba Hikaru's face.

"What date? I'm single, I don't have anyone to date."

Hashiba Hikaru waved his hand. Although it shouldn't be too difficult for him to fall in love, with the support of the Stock Market System, he naturally needed to focus his energy on earning rewards, which was the key to achieving a happy life.

"No?"

Kushida feigned disbelief, put her small hand to her mouth, and whispered to Hashiba Hikaru, "But I heard that Classmate Hashiba is dating Ichinose -san, isn't that true?"

"..."

Hashiba Hikaru looked the short-haired girl up and down, unsure of what she meant by asking that question. However, many of the students in Class A already knew the answer to this question, and he hadn't kept it from them.

In the current situation, the young man cannot associate with anyone. In order to earn money from stocks, he must at least outwardly convey the message that he is still single.

"Of course not. Ichinose and I are just classmates; we're not dating."

"Really? But the way Honami and Classmate Hashiba interact doesn't seem like that of ordinary classmates at all." Kushida Kikyo still remembered what happened last night.

Ichinose Honami held the boy's hand and rested her head on his shoulder; the two called each other's names.

Is this how classmates get along? Do you think I'm a three-year-old?

"Well... of course, we're not just ordinary classmates, we're closer friends. After all, Ichinose people who serve the class, and we often work side by side."

Hashiba Hikaru shook her head. She didn't intend to continue arguing with Kushida Kikyo about this topic, and instead changed the subject, saying, "So, is there anything else, Kushida?"

"Nothing important, but I'm really curious about your relationship. It's something like..." Kushida Kikyo touched the end of her hair and said with a smile, "More than friends, less than lovers?"

"Hmm... you can understand it that way too."

After confirming that Kushida Kikyo had nothing else to do, he stood up with the cola she had given him.

"Let me Kushida to a drink next time. I have to go now."

"Okay, goodbye, Classmate Hashiba."

Kushida Kikyo waved to him from her seat, and once he was completely out of sight, the smile on her face vanished without a trace.

"No matter what, you can't betray me..."

The last murmur was so soft that even the girl herself could barely hear it, like a dream.

After leaving the movie theater, Hashiba Hikaru's gaze fell on the System Panel. In fact, a message had already popped up in the System Bar when he and Kushida Kikyo were hugging, but he didn't have time to look at it at that time.

After saying goodbye to Kushida Kikyo, a new notification popped up, so I took a look at it as well.

[Your attitude pleased Kushida Kikyo. Although she knew you were just being perfunctory, she did feel reassured. Kushida Kikyo Stock price rose 10 points, currently at 70.]

[Your collaboration with Kushida Kikyo is like the most important proof to her; she cares more and more about this relationship. Kushida Kikyo Stock price has risen by 20, currently at 90.]

"After discovering this other side of her, I feel like her stock price has become much easier to rise. Is that just my imagination?"

Hashiba Hikaru recalled the entire process of Kushida Kikyo's second round of stock price increases. Although it was still inseparable from Horikita Suzune, the stock price would change more often after she had close contact with her.

Is this some kind of new way to play?

"Forget it, as long as it can boost the stock price, whatever the reason, getting more system funds in the end is the most important thing." Hashiba Hikaru didn't dwell on it. Anyway, the system had been around for so long, he was already prepared.

After returning to the first-floor deck via the stairs, feeling the cool sea breeze, the boy's thoughts returned to the competition within his class.

With six days left until the Cruise Ship trip, if the school truly has no plans, then the remaining time is entirely up to the students.

To be able to charter such a large Luxury Cruise Ship, this school must have some serious financial resources.

Just as the boy was enjoying the sea breeze, his phone suddenly rang again with a text message notification.

Upon opening it, I found it was yet another stock market character.

Sakura Airi: Is Classmate Hashiba free right now?

It really has been a while since I last saw her. After the Final Exam, Hashiba Hikaru has been spending time with her classmates and hasn't had many opportunities to meet her.

Hashiba Hikaru: Of course I'm free. Is there something you need, Sakura?

Sakura Airi: I found a great spot for taking photos on the Cruise Ship, Classmate Hashiba, wanna come over?

Hashiba Hikaru: Sure, send me the address.

After the other party sent the address, the boy turned around and went back up the stairs. He couldn't help but touch his forehead, feeling a little emotional.

Is this what true time management is?

Seamless transition, start!

Chapter 175 Sakura: I Want to Record What Classmate Hashiba Looks Like

The address Sakura Airi sent was at the back door of a restaurant on the fourth floor of the Cruise Ship, where there was a spacious terrace with views of the vast sky and the azure sea.

Moreover, it's located at the back of the restaurant, so usually no one notices it. Most students leave through the corner after finishing their meals.

After arriving at the place, Hajima Hikaru looked at the surrounding environment and sighed in his heart.

As expected of Sakura, the places she chooses are always very secluded corners, yet they all have unique scenery.

"Classmate Hashiba, you've arrived."

When that familiar figure came into view, Sakura Airi's face lit up instantly, and she quickly went to greet him.

Good morning, Sakura.

Hashiba Hikaru greeted her with a smile, then looked the girl up and down.

Sakura Airi was still wearing her oversized tracksuit, not a bit of skin showing, and she was still wearing those red-rimmed glasses without any prescription.

Sensing the boy's somewhat surprised gaze, the red-haired girl quickly explained, "Well, because the Cruise Ship trip requires me to share a room with other girls, I didn't bring a lot of my clothes... including swimsuits and such."

"Will Classmate Hashiba be disappointed?" She pursed her lips, looking at Hashiba Hikaru's face, worried that the other person would think she was too boring.

"Of course not, I've seen all the different outfits Sakura wears, and I've memorized them all."

Hashiba Hikaru pointed to her head and said with a smile, "There will definitely be other opportunities in the future."

"Uh-huh."

Upon hearing this explanation, Sakura Airi's face immediately turned as red as an apple.

In the months leading up to summer vacation, she and Hashiba Hikaru were very proactive in their private interactions in the room. The photos of her wearing clothes that were to be posted on the blog were all shown to her by the other person before deciding which one to use.

Moreover, after realizing her own feelings, Sakura Airi would even muster up the courage to change some of her outer clothes in front of the boy, wearing only a close-fitting tank top and hot pants, boldly showing her perfect figure to Hashiba Hikaru.

Although she was incredibly shy, she was willing to do it.

"This is indeed a very nice place. Sakura, how do you plan to take these photos?" Hashiba Hikaru strolled to the railing of the terrace, gazing at the distant sea.

"I plan to take photos of Classmate Hashiba first, and then Classmate Hashiba can take photos of me." Sakura Airi took her camera and began to adjust some settings.

"Sure."

Hashiba Hikaru and Sakura Airi's photography events have been held many times. With the boy's initiative in asking questions, he has actually mastered quite a few photography skills and can at least take some pretty good pictures.

"So, get ready, Classmate Hashiba. Being a model means you have to follow my orders at all times."

Sakura Airi felt a burning passion in her heart. In fact, she did something behind Hashiba Hikaru's back: after each photography event, she would secretly develop the photos of the boys she had taken and make them into an album, which she hid in her blanket.

Hashiba Hikaru was unaware of this; it was a secret Sakura had never revealed.

"Classmate Hashiba, turn your back to the fence and smile."

Once the filming began, Sakura's expression became noticeably more serious. She gripped her camera tightly, staring intently at the person in the lens, every move of whom captivated her.

"Let's try a different position."

"Mmm, you can tilt your head to the side, that's good, keep it like that."

Sakura Airi demonstrated remarkable professionalism during the photoshoot with Hashiba Hikaru; as a model who loves photography, this is her domain.

About twenty minutes later, Sakura Airi, having had her fill of taking pictures, looked at the camera's image library with a satisfied smile on her pretty face.

"How's the filming going?"

Hashiba Hikaru moved closer to the girl and peered inside to examine the photos.

It has to be said that if a person has a good natural foundation, they won't look bad no matter how they're photographed.

Moreover, Sakura's photography skills are quite good; the timing of her shutter releases is very precise, capturing the boy's already outstanding features beautifully, making every angle look like a professional model's photo.

"Not bad, as expected of Sakura." Hashiba Hikaru took the camera and praised the girl's photography skills with a smile.

"No, it's just that Classmate Hashiba is naturally very beautiful..."

The girl was happy looking at the pictures taken today, because Hashiba Hikaru was wearing a short-sleeved shirt and swim trunks, an outfit that wasn't often seen at school, since Sakura didn't have the chance to take swimming lessons with him.

The photo album will need to be updated again when we get back.

A smile crept onto the red-haired girl's lips.

"Now it's my turn."

Hashiba Hikaru raised his camera, equally absorbed in photographing Sakura. On one hand, this attitude was a standard way to boost the other party's stock price; on the other hand, photographing a beautiful girl with both a stunning appearance and a great figure always brought him joy.

"Uh-huh."

After the photo session was over, seeing the red-haired girl with beads of sweat on her forehead from posing in various ways, Hashiba Hikaru took a tissue out of her pocket and handed it to her, gesturing for her to wipe it off.

"Classmate Hashiba." Sakura Airi's face showed a look of longing as she gazed at the other person's profile.

"Sakura, have you thought about what path you want to take in the future?" the boy suddenly asked.

"Huh?"

Sakura Airi stood beside him, somewhat puzzled by his words.

"I'm referring to Sakura's future after graduation, such as what kind of job she wants to do or what industry she wants to work in."

Hashiba Hikaru turned to look at the shy girl. Although they had spent time together privately this semester, she no longer showed any timidity in front of him; on the contrary, she seemed quite enthusiastic.

However, when the boy deliberately went around the window of Class C, he still saw her sitting alone in her seat, almost never talking to her classmates.

While this personality and way of dealing with people might allow her to Blog Idol active only online, she would be easily eliminated in this high-pressure, competitive school.

After all, the first Special Exam is living on Uninhabited Island. What if the later tests are even more difficult and force you to cooperate with others?

Hashiba Hikaru isn't their nanny; she can't possibly take them with her all the time.

"I haven't thought about that yet."