So She Turned and Ran / Shiina's Downfall

Hoshinomiya showed no signs of being drunk and walked straight out the door.

"Don't worry about Hoshinomiya, go back and get some rest." Aoyama met Ichinose's shy yet puzzled gaze.

Ichinose nodded in disappointment. "Okay, I understand."

She had many questions, but with the Chabashira still around, she could only keep them buried in her heart for the time being.

Moreover, Aoyama didn't seem inclined to say anything more.

Thursday morning, the first official day off for students.

The self-service breakfast is only available for a limited time, so the cafeteria was packed with students early in the morning, creating quite a lively scene.

Although there were no assigned seats, students from each class would choose to sit near their classmates, making the dining area look like it was divided into four groups.

"Are you alright, Kushida? Don't you need to go with your boyfriend?" Shinohara looked at Kushida curiously from the area where the Class D students were gathered.

Just now Kushida said he could go out and have fun with them, even for a whole day.

Kushida maintained her sweet smile, "Aoyama- kun hasn't asked me out yet, and I haven't hung out with Shinohara- san in ages, so I'm planning to have a blast today."

"Well, since Kushida is so excited, we'll have to think about where to go."

Hearing Kushida say that, Shinohara's face also lit up with a happy smile.

Like Shinohara, Sakura, who was sitting behind Shinohara, couldn't help but smile.

Since Kushida and Aoyama didn't make plans, she could ask Aoyama out without any worries. She wanted Aoyama to know as soon as possible that she had made a new friend.

I would love it if you could pat my head again and praise me.

With this in mind, Sakura sent Aoyama a text message invitation to the cruise ship's gym.

According to her recent observations, apart from the Koenji, no other students from Class D appear in the gym, and Koenji usually ignores her, just like he did at school.

Sakura looked shyly at Hasebe, "Can you come with me to meet a friend Gaga?"

That day, after I mustered up the courage to talk to Hasebe and tell her that I wanted to be friends with her, I don't know why Hasebe was even more enthusiastic than me and immediately dragged me to a new private room to sing.

We played together until late at night before reluctantly parting ways.

Before she could recover from her exhaustion, he went to invite her to hang out again early the next morning, saying that since they were friends, their way of addressing each other should be more intimate.

Even though they had only known each other for two days, they called each other by affectionate nicknames like "Gaga" and "Airi," as if they were old friends.

Hasebe stopped eating his breakfast. "Eh, Airi has friends besides me? That's unexpected."

The shy Sakura actually had friends other than herself, something she never imagined.

"I'm so heartbroken that I'm only the second friend in this Airi."

Sakura's gaze wandered. "Ah... if it's Gaga, she's my fifth one at school."

At the school gym, Ichinose two had all told her that she was their friend.

If that's been said, then counting can't be omitted.

"But if we call each other by name, Gaga will be the first." Hasebe's somewhat teasing smile freeze, Sakura quickly comforted her, putting her hand on Jiajia's arm.

"I'm not that jealous. Making more friends is a good thing." Hasebe moved closer to Sakura. "But even if you introduce me to your other friends, I might not necessarily become friends with her."

Hasebe is also aware that his outspoken personality makes him unpopular.

Without a suitable opportunity, she didn't feel she could become friends with anyone.

"It's not a girl I'm meeting, Gaga." Looking at the affirmative reply on her phone, Sakura blushed and corrected her, "It's Aoyama -Aoyama from Class 1-A."

"Aoyama Shiki!?"

Hasebe was dumbfounded when the chopsticks slipped from his hand.

The unsophisticated Aoyama Shiki Sakura Airi and the popular Aoyama Shiki seem to be from completely different worlds.

Chapter 119 So, she chose to turn around and run away.

How did Airi meet Aoyama -kun? Did they know each other before?

On the way to the gym with Sakura, Hasebe but couldn't figure out how Sakura and Aoyama could possibly have any connection.

One was practically invisible in the class, while the other was Student Council Vice President who was famous throughout the school. Although they were in the same grade, they were not in the same class.

"I met Aoyama -kun in June, around the time Sudo was wrongly accused by Class C..."

Aoyama laughed from the bottom of her heart and recounted all the help Sakura had given her, ending with the advice to actively make friends, the friend of whom was naturally Hasebe.

Hasebe pinched the end of his long hair that fell in front of him. "I thought Aoyama -kun would be a bit more domineering."

She had never had direct contact with Aoyama. The closest she had ever been was when Aoyama came to Class D to talk to Horikita and the others before the start of the Uninhabited Island Exam.

In the crowd, she watched as Aoyama angrily confronted the people Yamauchi, showing no sign of gentleness.

Making Kushida break off his friendship with the boys in Class D is also a bit much; he doesn't seem like the gentle and kind boy Sakura described at all.

"Sakura- kun can be a bit domineering sometimes with people who aren't friends," Aoyama smiled shyly. "But with friends, he's incredibly gentle and patient."

"Is that so? Then I'm really looking forward to our meeting later." Hasebe became even more interested in Aoyama.

Currently, the most outstanding boy in the first grade is Aoyama Shiki.

His appearance is top-notch among boys. Just by looking at the bulge of his muscles under his clothes, his athletic ability is probably no worse than that of members of sports clubs. He is also the top student in his grade and the Student Council Vice President.

In every respect, Aoyama meets her criteria for a partner, except for the fact that he already has a girlfriend.

"Wait a minute, Gaga, I need to change my outfit."

Arriving at the gym, which now only houses staff, Sakura stood in front of the full-length mirror, took off her glasses, and skillfully untied her braids.

Before Nagase could react with surprise, the plain-looking nobody in her eyes had transformed into a stunningly beautiful girl, her slightly shy demeanor adding to her charm.

With her fair and rosy complexion and bright, icy blue eyes no longer obscured by her bangs, Sakura Airi is undoubtedly a beauty.

Hasebe's impression of Aoyama dropped a bit, and he pouted, "If I were a boy, I would also be gentle with Airi as beautiful as Airi."

Because of her beauty and figure, which was no less than Sakura's, she often suffered from lewd stares from men and was also clearly aware of men's lust.

If that's the Sakura, it's perfectly normal for Aoyama to be gentle with her.

"I don't think so, Gaga." Sakura shook her head, understanding Hasebe's meaning. "The way Aoyama- kun looks at me doesn't scare me at all."

Sometimes she could see desire in Aoyama's eyes, like that time with the fishing fanatic, she remembered very clearly the feeling of their cheeks rubbing together.

But even then, a lingering calm remained deep within Aoyama's eyes.

I believe that if she resists even slightly, Aoyama will let her go.

Hasebe neither confirmed nor denied it, saying, "Perhaps it's been well hidden."

It might be even better if I had ulterior motives, then I could get closer to Aoyama- kun.

Looking at her radiant reflection in the mirror, Sakura thought with a touch of resignation that she didn't dislike Hasebe because she felt Aoyama had ulterior motives. She had once been just as wary of men as Hasebe had been.

"Good morning, Sakura, and this is Hasebe Haruka."

Just as Sakura was lost in her own world, Aoyama Shiki appeared behind her and smiled at her reflection in the mirror.

"Does Aoyama -kun know me?" Hasebe asked with a slight frown before Sakura could even turn around.

Her only talents are her appearance and figure, and she feels that these are the only two reasons why Aoyama has taken notice of her.

Unaware of the source of Hasebe's hostility, Aoyama calmly stated, "I can accurately call out the names of every student currently enrolled."

Although the Student Council did not have detailed files on students, it did have simple information such as photos and names, which he memorized in just a few glances.

However, as for Nagase, one can recognize him without a file.

The only first-year student with blue hair and a beauty mark is Hasebe Haruka.

"That's amazing."

Hasebe widened his eyes slightly and exclaimed, "There are hundreds of people in the whole school, how could there not be confusion?"

Dozens or hundreds are manageable, but this is hundreds, and you have to remember their names.

"It's possible if you put your heart into it." Aoyama said gently, patting the head of Sakura, who was greeting him in a slightly flustered manner.

He hadn't seen Sakura for seven days, and he was starting to miss the feel of that red hair.

This morning, I received a rare invitation from Sakura to meet up, saying she had made friends with him. Without much hesitation, I replied and agreed.

Did Sakura initiate the conversation herself?

"Yes, it was my initiative."

"Another improvement! That's amazing!"

"Hey-hey."

Very happy, Sakura squinted her eyes and enjoyed Aoyama's head pat, her heart leaping with joy.

I'm so glad that she hasn't become distant from me just because I have a girlfriend.

If it's just a pat on the head, Kushida shouldn't be angry, right?

Aoyama gazed gently at the happy face. "Your special training is now over. You are ready to graduate, Sakura."

"You no longer need my help; you can become the person you want to be."

Once you take the first step to actively make friends, any further intervention becomes superfluous, or even completely unnecessary.

The first one is always the hardest, but once you overcome the second and third, they become much easier. With each new friend you make, Sakura can draw nourishment for her growth.

"No! I don't want it to end yet."

For the first time, Sakura loudly refuted Aoyama's decision, her smile completely disappearing as she looked at Aoyama with unwavering determination.

Being in a different class and not a member of the Student Council, the only place where she could cross paths with Aoyama was through that so-called special training deal.

Once she's gone, I don't know what reason I'd have to bother Aoyama, who has a girlfriend, anymore.

"Airi ..." Hasebe hesitated, unable to speak, seeing Sakura's assertive demeanor for the first time.

"Why don't you want to end this? There's nothing more I can do to help you. You can't expect me to teach you how to get along with Hasebe, can you?" Aoyama scratched the back of his head in confusion. "These things can't be taught. When getting along with friends, it's best to follow your heart."

Sakura forced herself not to waver, "That's not the reason! It's just that I don't agree to end it."

Even if Hasebe n't there, she wouldn't dare reveal her true feelings.

So she turned and ran away.

Sakura Airi

Chapter 120 The Fall of Shiina

"How long do you think our class can maintain this peaceful atmosphere, Hirata?"

What does this mean?

In the four-person room, Hirata stopped wiping the floor and looked up at Ayanokoji, the boy who was more detached from the class than anyone else.

Compared to the eccentric Koenji, who would leave the bathroom early in the morning after exercising without drying himself off, he had a certain feeling.

This boy named Ayanokoji Kiyotaka didn't consider himself a student in Class D at all.

Although Ayanokoji had a few people like Sudo and Yamauchi who could talk to him compared to Koenji, Hirata could only read indifference in his eyes. Perhaps this was because the Yamauchi group always tended to ignore Ayanokoji.

Just like the self-assignment of rooms on this cruise ship, the Yamauchi group ignored Ayanokoji from the very beginning.

Sitting at the table by the window, Ayanokoji gestured to another person to sit down.

After weighing the pros and cons, he decided to use Hirata Yosuke to intervene in Class D's upcoming Special Exam and help Class D advance to Class A.

On the afternoon the Uninhabited Island Exam, Chabashira Sae, a teacher lacking professional ethics, threatened him in his father's name, saying that if he didn't help promote Class D to Class A, he would help his father expel him from school.

It is unclear whether the homeroom teacher has the authority to expel students.

To be on the safe side, Ayanokoji decided to temporarily follow Chabashira's instructions and also gather some manpower to create a protective circle for himself.

Using his limited personal points, he bought some information about the Special Exam that the senior students in Class 3-D had experienced, and gained a general understanding of the penalties for failures in the Special Exam.

Some Special Exam have penalties that allow the exam administrators to choose whether or not a student should drop out.

Putting one's neck on someone else's sword is Ayanokoji cannot accept.

"I think you remember Yukimura's complaints about Horikita this morning." Ayanokoji poured Hirata a cup of tea. "With your intelligence, I think you can see that Aoyama helped Horikita only to use him to leech off Class D."