Sakura Wants to Change Herself / A New Special Exam?

After understanding what the other person meant, Sakura Airi immediately looked bewildered.

After meeting Hashiba Hikaru, she devoted almost her entire heart to him, looking forward to seeing him every day.

As for what she will do in the future, or what will happen, she has absolutely no plans.

"Is that so?" Hashiba Hikaru nodded.

He is not God and has no right to decide other people's fates. If Sakura really only intends to stay in her own world, then there is no need for him to go through all this trouble.

"That's good too."

Chapter 176 Sakura Wants to Change Herself

After taking the photos, Hashiba Hikaru checked the time on her phone; it seemed to be almost midnight.

"Um, Sakura, how about we eat here?" He glanced at the restaurant behind him; it wasn't very crowded, which should be fine for the shy girl.

Is it really possible?

Sakura Airi's eyes immediately lit up with joy. Back in school, in order to ensure that his time management plan went smoothly, Hashiba Hikaru basically only spent time alone with her in her dormitory, his own dormitory, or secluded photo spots.

Shopping or dining at the Keyaki Mall like friends was something I'd never experienced before.

"Of course, we just hadn't found the right opportunity before. Now isn't this the perfect time?"

Seeing the expectation on the other person's face, Hashiba Hikaru pushed open the restaurant door.

Although Sakura was still reluctant to interact with other people, she would gain unwavering courage whenever she was with Hashiba Hikaru.

"Um..."

The two walked into the restaurant side by side. As a dining venue set up on Luxury Cruise Ship, the decoration here was quite nice, with an elegant and grand layout, as well as a clean and bright open kitchen, where you could see the chefs at work and smell the tempting aroma of the food.

Let's sit here.

Hashiba Hikaru glanced at the other students in the restaurant. Since the Cruise Ship was currently booked for private use, everyone she saw was naturally a first-year student.

"OK."

Sakura Airi glanced timidly at the students around her. Although she felt a little uneasy, she slowly sat down in the seat opposite the boy.

"Anyway, you can eat as much as you want, Sakura, please order first."

Hashiba Hikaru handed the menu to the other person; when eating, ladies are naturally given priority.

"I'll just eat the same thing Classmate Hashiba, you can order something."

Sakura Airi isn't particularly picky about food, and she doesn't eat much. She agreed to Hashiba Hikaru's request simply so she could spend more time with him.

"That's fine too. I remember Sakura doesn't like green peppers." Hashiba Hikaru glanced at the menu previews with her head down, her tone very natural.

"Uh... How did Classmate Hashiba know?" Sakura Airi was quite surprised by the boy's discovery.

"We've eaten together in the dorm many times, and you always made a point of picking out the green peppers, even though I was just trying to make the dishes more colorful."

A smile appeared on Hashiba Hikaru's lips. Although the girl's body was mature, she sometimes showed such childlike habits, which he found very amusing.

"... So, Classmate Hashiba remembers everything?"

Sakura Airi knew the boy had a good memory, but she didn't expect him to remember even her little habit. The feeling of being valued triggered another change in her emotions, making the girl's pretty face flush.

The uncontrollable pounding of her heart gradually rose in her ears, a sign of the joy welling up within her.

"Then let's choose this lunch set meal. I heard it has refreshing dishes and side dishes, which is perfect for summer."

Hashiba Hikaru stood up and handed the menu to the waiter behind the counter, waiting for the chef to begin preparing the meal.

"What's wrong, Sakura?"

Seeing the red-haired girl's unusual expression, Hashiba Hikaru quickly asked.

"It's nothing, it's probably just a little hot." Sakura Airi waved her hand, her face flushed, indicating that she was fine.

"That's good. Remember to let me know if you have any questions."

Hashiba Hikaru observed the other person's expression and smiled faintly, "It'll probably take a while to cook, let's chat, Sakura."

"What would you like to talk about Classmate Hashiba?"

"Let's talk about the Uninhabited Island Exam that just ended. I'm Sakura got through it." The boy filled a glass of barley tea on the table and looked at her with some curiosity.

"Well, there's nothing special about this."

Sakura Airi looked at the other person's face and slowly recounted her experience of facing the Uninhabited Island Exam.

The girl didn't speak very fast to begin with, so she could only pick out some key points to explain, while Hashiba Hikaru listened very attentively.

As a female member of Class C, Sakura Airi's Uninhabited Island Exam can be summed up in one word: going with the flow.

From the moment she arrived on the island, she stayed with the girls in her class. She didn't participate at all when they discussed various class strategies; she simply listened to the instructions of Hirata Yosuke, who was the leader, including collecting supplies and cleaning the camp.

Due to physical limitations, Sakura sometimes felt overwhelmed, but she was unwilling to ask her classmates for help. She could only endure her discomfort until break time, when she would sit alone under a tree and daydream.

The students in Class C were all aware of her usual attitude and generally wouldn't take the initiative to talk to girls. They kept a low profile while silently observing everything that happened in the camp. This was the entire process of Sakura Airi's exam.

After hearing these stories, Hashiba Hikaru rubbed her temples in exasperation.

Just as he had guessed, putting aside whether she had any contact with other classmates, she probably spoke very few times during the exam.

"So, is my attitude really that strange?"

Sakura Airi felt the boy's gaze, so she quickly asked.

"No, it's not surprising." Hashiba Hikaru's expression was serious when she answered the question. "Everyone has the right to decide their own way of life, as long as it doesn't affect others, that's their own freedom."

"But... why is Classmate Hashiba making that face?"

Because the red-haired girl often secretly observed Hashiba Hikaru's expressions, and because she was a very perceptive person, she sometimes managed to catch what the other person was really thinking.

"Is Classmate Hashiba... worried about me?" she mustered her courage and asked.

"..."

Upon hearing this, Hashiba Hikaru was slightly surprised. He observed her expression and could tell that she was quite nervous, yet she still bravely spoke up.

Was she actually able to sense it all along?

The boy's thoughts became somewhat complicated. At first, he took the initiative to approach Sakura Airi simply because he wanted to obtain system funds. However, as time went by and he spent more time with her, Hashiba Hikaru actually developed some feelings for her.

Sakura Airi is different from the other girls. Although she has a gentle personality and is not good at speaking, she is sometimes so shy that she doesn't dare to look people in the eye.

But the girl also has her own strengths. For example, she is very obedient. When Hashiba Hikaru tutors her, she really means it. She stays focused on doing practice problems and doesn't give up easily even when she encounters difficulties.

When this personality trait manifests in her love of photography, the girl's eyes sparkle with a unique brilliance—a look that comes from genuine care and concern.

Although Sakura Airi never said what her dream was, the boy could probably guess. Despite being ashamed to appear in front of the public, she still chose to become Blog Idol and a print model, which was her own choice.

Therefore, Hashiba Hikaru believes that if Sakura can graduate from here, she will definitely have more opportunities in the future.

After sorting out her thoughts, Hashiba Hikaru organized her thoughts in her mind and then said with a smile.

"Yes, actually, Sakura should have realized her weakness a long time ago."

The boy gazed at her pretty face and said softly, "You should know that this school isn't an ordinary high school. This Special Exam might just be an appetizer; there might be even more complex competition waiting for us later."

"In that case... I..."

Sakura Airi had already formed a preliminary judgment about the matter, and as her contact with Hashiba Hikaru became more and more frequent, a feeling called fear even arose in her heart.

Before meeting the boy, Sakura thought it wouldn't matter if she were expelled from school one day, since she could go to school in another place anyway.

But after meeting Hashiba Hikaru, she had someone she wanted to get closer to for the first time, and there were many things she wanted to do with him, so the thought became increasingly heavy.

But she hadn't expressed it before, not only because she was afraid, but also because she was worried that if she spoke up, Hashiba Hikaru would think she was too weak. The girl didn't want to have any negative impression of herself in the other person's eyes.

"Sakura, is there anything you want to say? Feel free to speak your mind; I will support all your decisions."

Looking at the glint in Sakura Airi's eyes, Hashiba Hikaru Hashima formed some conclusions in her mind.

While it is arrogant to presume to impose one's ideas on others, if she herself had this idea, then giving the girl a push from behind would be perfectly acceptable.

"Um, I actually have an idea, but I'm afraid that if I say it, Classmate Hashiba will laugh at me, so..." Sakura Airi pursed her lips, then held out her small hand to the boy, "Can you lend me your courage?"

"Certainly."

Without the slightest hesitation, he took her small hand in his.

Feeling the warmth emanating from the boy's palm, Sakura Airi seemed to gain unprecedented courage. After taking a deep breath, she finally revealed her innermost thoughts to Hashiba Hikaru.

After pouring out all her fears, worries, desires, and complex emotions, Sakura Airi's rosy face seemed to be covered with a light layer of sweat. Speaking such things out in a restaurant, a place already crowded with people, must have been quite a challenge for her.

"So, what are Sakura's thoughts now?" Hashiba Hikaru squeezed her small hand, her tone very tender.

"I want to... change myself!"

Sakura Airi's tone was firm. "Although I'm still a little confused about the future, I already have something I really want to do, and if I want to achieve that goal, I must move forward."

"That's great! I'll always support you as Sakura's classmate."

"Uh-huh."

Sakura Airi gazed at the boy before her. She knew he was very popular, and being with him wouldn't be an easy thing.

But I will never give up!

Chapter 177 A New Special Exam?

After a heart-to-heart conversation, Hashiba Hikaru and Sakura Airi finished their lunch together. As expected of a restaurant on Luxury Cruise Ship, the food was quite good.

After leaving the restaurant, the boy looked at Sakura, who had a smile on her face, and couldn't help but feel a little emotional.

Although he actively contacted various girls for the sake of the system's funds, in some ways, this might have changed their fate.

Taking responsibility for someone else's life is a very serious matter that requires a high level of awareness. Hashiba Hikaru believes that she is just an ordinary person and does not have the ability to take responsibility for everyone's future.

That's why he can't establish a closer relationship with anyone. This isn't just to avoid hindering his efforts to boost the stock price, but more importantly, to maintain a distance between them and keep everything within a safe range.

"Classmate Hashiba, shall we train together after we get back to school?" Sakura Airi turned around and said with a smile.

"Of course, consistent exercise is always a win-win situation, and I hope Sakura can stick to it!"

After their heart-to-heart talk, the girl and Hashiba Hikaru exchanged many ideas about making changes. Putting aside whether they could make friends with others smoothly, improving their physical fitness could be put on the agenda soon.

Sakura Airi's athletic ability is very weak; she basically fails most sports tests. She was well aware of this, so she thought she could start by improving in that area.

After learning that Hashiba Hikaru gets up early every day to exercise, the girl immediately made this request.

"I will."

Sakura Airi nodded emphatically. This was a win-win situation for her, as it would improve her physical fitness and give her more time to spend with Hashiba Hikaru.

"Uh-huh."

After sitting with the other person for a while longer, the boy received a message from the class, and the two officially parted ways.

After the girl's figure disappeared from sight, Hashiba Hikaru opened the flashing System Bar. It seemed that a new notification had popped up after their heart-to-heart talk.

[Your words stirred a longing within Sakura Airi; she wants to stay at this school with you and has decided to make a change. Sakura Airi Stock price rose by 20, currently standing at 190.]

"Not bad, if all goes well, we might be able to raise it even higher."

The next few days passed quickly. From August 7th, when they returned to the Cruise Ship, until August 10th, they received no notification from the school. So the first-year students seemed to have forgotten what had happened before and enjoyed themselves to the fullest on the Cruise Ship.

Hashiba Hikaru has been living a very fulfilling life these past few days. Besides spending most of her time with her classmates, she also meets up with Sakura Airi and Kushida Kikyo whenever she has free time.

Kushida would always arrange to meet the boy in dimly lit places like movie theaters or cinemas. Although she would always start the conversation by mentioning Horikita Suzune, the content of their conversation would always have nothing to do with the black-haired girl.

Although he didn't quite understand what the other person meant, Hashiba Hikaru didn't dislike this kind of interaction. After Kushida tore off his mask, he was completely natural and genuine. Compared to the soft and gentle mask, he actually thought this side of him was better.

As for Sakura Airi, this always timid girl seemed to really start preparing after deciding to change herself that day. She not only looked up information about sports preparation, but also took the initiative to ask the boy about the postures and precautions for various sports.

Hashiba Hikaru was naturally happy to share, and she even suggested that they try swimming as a form of exercise, but Sakura Airi blushed and refused.

Although the girl was willing to wear her swimsuit to show him, the swimming pool on the Cruise Ship was filled with students from other classes every day, which was something Sakura Airi couldn't accept.

Having roughly guessed what she was thinking, the boy naturally didn't bring it up again. Perhaps he could take her to the Swimming Pool for evening training after returning to school, but he would have to pay Private Points to buy access.

In short, let's put it a little later; it's good enough to start running as the first step in our exercise routine.

As for Ichinose Honami is in the same class, she has been going to Hashiba Hikaru's room to see him every day. Under Shibata's hints, the three boys in the dormitory always leave the room at different times so as not to disturb the two of them.

Just like now.

Hashiba Hikaru sat at the table, engrossed in reading a book, while Ichinose Honami lay on his bed, chatting with her classmates on her phone.