Then Please Save Me

Sakura shyly held out her hand and took his warm hand. A strange feeling welled up inside her; this was the first time she had ever touched a boy's hand.

Hachiman pulled her to her feet. Sakura patted down her skirt, unsure of what to say for a moment.

"Oh no!"

Sakura hurriedly turned around and spotted the camera lying quietly on the ground.

She crouched down to pick it up, anxiously checking its condition.

"It's broken..."

Tears welled in her eyes. To her, this camera was like a good friend.

And now, it had been damaged in the fall.

"Sorry. It was all because I was too reckless."

Hachiman crouched beside her, his face full of remorse.

"It has nothing to do with you..." Sakura softly reassured him.

Even though she was already terribly upset, she still comforted someone else first. What a kind girl.

"As an apology, I'll take the camera in for repairs."

"No, you don't need to trouble yourself."

Sakura waved her hands, signaling that Hachiman did not need to take responsibility.

"No, I have to. Otherwise, I'll feel really guilty."

Hachiman's attitude was firm, as though he absolutely had to do this.

Sakura, who was not good at refusing people, did not know how to respond for a moment.

"Th... thank you..."

In the end, Sakura agreed to Hachiman's request.

"All right, and to further show my apology, let me treat you to a drink!"

With that, Hachiman invited her.

"Huh?"

At the Cafe, Hachiman and Sakura each ordered a drink. Since Hachiman had said he was treating her, Sakura chose the cheapest drink on the menu.

Holding her cup, Sakura's mind went blank for a moment, unable to handle the situation before her.

There were simply too many people in the Cafe. Hachiman's looks stood out in particular, and many girls had their eyes on them, making Sakura feel restless and uncomfortable.

Click!

The flash went off again. Hachiman had taken another photo of her.

"I... you..." Sakura could not even form a sentence.

"Why are you taking pictures of me?"

Hachiman looked at the photo with satisfaction. "Because you're cute, Sakura."

"I'm not. Something like that..."

Sakura refuted him quietly, believing he was merely teasing her.

"Actually, you're very pretty, Sakura. Why do you hide your smile?"

Hachiman moved closer to Sakura and stared straight at her.

She panicked at once, a flush spreading across her cheeks. Her hands fluttered up and down as she found herself at a loss over the distance between them.

"Don't do this... It makes me uncomfortable..."

"Sorry."

Hachiman scratched his head and apologized for his behavior.

When dealing with Sakura, he could only change his usual personality and take a more proactive approach toward her.

For timid and introverted Sakura, only this approach could bring them closer more quickly.

"Sakura, could you teach me photography?"

Hachiman started another topic, doing his best not to let the silence settle in.

"Huh?"

Sakura asked in surprise. Lacking confidence, she instinctively wanted to refuse, but Hachiman did not give her the chance.

"Because I want to take photos that capture youth too. Unfortunately, my photography skills are just awful.

If you can, please teach me your photography skills. I'm begging you."

Hachiman's request was so sincere that Sakura was immediately put on the spot.

If it was something within her abilities, Hachiman believed his approach would not be refused by Sakura.

Sure enough, Sakura shook her head, yet she could not bring herself to say no.

Moreover, Hachiman's sincere gaze made her unable to refuse him.

"I... I understand..."

Sakura let out a heavy sigh, already regretting her decision.

She was not good at teaching anyone at all!

"You're awfully relaxed. You're a criminal, yet while everyone else is running around for you, you're sitting here drinking coffee?"

A cold voice sounded from behind him. Hachiman did not even need to turn around; from the atmosphere around him suddenly turning chilly, he knew who had arrived.

"Yo. Want to join us?"

Without the slightest embarrassment, Hachiman greeted her and invited Horikita to sit down with them.

Horikita did not refuse. The faint sweat on her forehead showed that she had put considerable effort into finding eyewitnesses.

"You're Sakura, right?"

Horikita ordered a drink, her sharp gaze fixed directly on Sakura in front of her.

"Y-yes!" Sakura gathered her courage to reply. "S-sorry, we just happened to run into each other... Please don't misunderstand."

She explained herself to Horikita in a humble voice, leaving Horikita somewhat stunned.

I haven't even said anything yet. What are you apologizing for?

Unbeknownst to her, many people in class had been spreading rumors that Hachiman and Horikita were together.

Sakura had taken the rumors at face value and subconsciously regarded the two as a couple.

The moment Horikita appeared, Sakura's heart sank. She felt guilty, as though she had deliberately seduced someone else's boyfriend.

"Although I don't know why you're apologizing, I have something to ask you."

Horikita's presence bore down on Sakura, making her afraid to raise her head and look Horikita in the eye.

"I really have nothing to do with Hachiman..."

Sakura's voice carried a faint sob as she feared others would think she was a shameless woman.

"Hm? What are you talking about?" Horikita finally realized something was off.

Sakura remained silent, while Hachiman could not help but chuckle at the scene.

These two really were talking past each other.

"I'm sorry!!"

Sakura abruptly sprang from her seat. After apologizing with all her strength, she lowered her head and fled outside.

Horikita stared in bewilderment. "What was that supposed to mean?"

"Who knows?" Hachiman said with a smile, clasping his hands behind his head.

"I found out that Sakura may be the only eyewitness."

Horikita took a sip of her drink and shared the information she had gathered.

"Wow, Horikita, you're surprisingly capable."

"What do you mean by that?" Horikita narrowed her eyes, murderous intent pouring from them.

Hachiman shuddered and put on a flippant smile.

"Seeing you argue with Sudo in class, I thought you wouldn't care about the two of us. I didn't expect you to be so unexpectedly concerned about us.

Could it be that you've fallen for me?"

Horikita rubbed her forehead, looking as though this child was beyond saving.

"Please do not misunderstand. Ayanokoji and Kushida kept begging me to help, which is why I was willing to do these things. Otherwise, whether any of you were expelled would have little to do with me."

Horikita spoke in a tsundere manner, giving off the impression that she did not care in the slightest about who lived or died.

"Sure, sure. Then please save me, Horikita."