Pressure So Terrifying

Arriving at the electronics store in the shopping center, Sakura was still deeply affected by Hachiman Hikigaya's encouraging words. It was only when Hachiman called out to her that she snapped back to her senses.

"We're here."

"Huh? Oh..."

Sakura looked up and met the clerk's eyes inside the store. The next moment, her whole body trembled, and she inexplicably began to feel afraid.

"What's wrong?"

Hachiman noticed something was off about her and asked.

Sakura shook her head with obvious difficulty. She seemed to want to say something but hesitated in the end, then took her camera over to speak with the clerk.

The clerk did not look very old, probably under thirty. At a glance, though, he looked completely like an otaku!

Because of Sakura's personality, communicating with the clerk was extremely difficult for her. However, Hachiman did not step in to help. If she wanted to change herself, she could only rely on herself.

Time passed bit by bit, and Sakura finally managed to reach an agreement with the clerk.

Since the camera had been bought through the school, its repairs were unexpectedly free. That was a pleasant surprise and saved him a fair amount of money.

"Please fill in your personal information. Once the camera has been repaired, we'll deliver it to you."

The clerk smiled in a way that revealed nothing of his mood, his narrowed eyes fixed on Sakura.

Sakura held the pen, about to fill in the information, but her hand hesitated.

"Sorry, can I write it?"

Seeing this, Hachiman finally moved. He stepped forward and took the pen from Sakura's hand. While the two were still surprised, Hachiman had already quickly filled in his name and Dormitory number.

"This student, the camera belongs to her, you..."

"It's fine. I'll pass it on to her. Right, Sakura?"

Hachiman looked at Sakura, and she nodded.

"Sorry to trouble you."

Leaving those words behind, Hachiman took Sakura and left.

"What an annoying little brat!"

Once the two had completely vanished from sight, a silver gleam appeared in the clerk's eyes, and his expression turned slightly twisted.

Hachiman's unauthorized decision to fill in the information had ruined his perfect plan.

"Welcome. Is there anything I can help you with?"

Another customer entered the store, and the clerk hurriedly changed his expression, putting on a friendly smile.

"Thank you, Hikigaya."

Sakura thanked him with her head lowered.

Hachiman shook his head slightly and smiled. "You seemed a little afraid of him, so I took matters into my own hands."

"He hit on me before, so I was a little scared of seeing him again."

"I see." Hachiman pretended not to know and spoke as if he had just realized it.

The air became somewhat quiet. Introverted Sakura walked with her head down, showing no intention of starting a conversation herself.

Hachiman looked up at the clear, cloudless sky and the bustling crowd around them.

"Sakura, you don't have anything to do later, right?"

"No."

Having no friends at all, she had no plans on weekends or weekdays other than attending class.

"Let's go see a movie together."

"Okay... Huh? Wh-what?!"

Sakura came to her senses and frantically waved her hands, at a complete loss as she searched Hachiman's face for clues.

What did this mean? Could it be the legendary... date?

Generally speaking, inviting someone to watch a movie was undoubtedly the same as saying, Please go on a date with me!

After all, very few people invited friends of the opposite sex to watch movies together unless there were feelings involved.

No matter how she looked at it, watching a movie together stirred up a strange emotion within her.

Should I refuse? I'm clearly troubled when other people hit on me.

But... I didn't seem to want to refuse.

I wanted to watch a movie—no, I wanted to watch a movie with Hikigaya.

What a strange thought.

"A new horror movie came out recently. I've really been looking forward to it, but I'm kind of a coward, so I don't really dare watch it alone."

Hachiman pointed to the movie poster playing on a large display outside the shopping center. It really did have the title of a horror movie written on it.

"I don't have many friends, so I couldn't find anyone to watch it with.

Besides, I didn't really help with the camera repair costs, so let me treat you to a movie as compensation for breaking your camera."

Sakura's face visibly turned red. Her hands twisted together as she nervously swayed back and forth.

"Okay..."

Unable to refuse Hachiman's expectant gaze, Sakura nodded and accepted his invitation.

"Great, thank you so much."

Hachiman smiled and headed to the theater with Sakura.

Perhaps because of what had happened between Hachiman and Sudo, they did not see any classmates at the theater, avoiding the possibility of being discovered.

All in all, the movie's horror atmosphere was exceptionally well done.

Unlike Horikita's reaction, Sakura did not dare open her eyes throughout the entire movie. It was clear that she had only agreed to Hachiman's request with great reluctance.

Something especially memorable happened midway through. When the movie reached its climax, Sakura fearfully wrapped her arms around Hachiman's arm.

In that instant, Hachiman felt pressure so terrifying it defied description.

On Sunday evening, the pleasant holiday was about to end. After tonight, Hachiman would have only one day left before facing his final judgment.

Whether it would be heaven or hell depended on the results the day after tomorrow.

Hachiman did not feel the slightest bit worried about it.

He sat in Ayanokoji's room in a relaxed and cheerful mood, listening to the major discovery Kushida and the others had made.

"Shizuku? You're saying Sakura is that incredibly cute gravure idol, Shizuku?"

Ike and Yamauchi stared at the photos on the computer, comparing them to their impression of Sakura.

"You're kidding, right?"

No matter who it was, they would probably find it difficult to connect the introverted, insecure Sakura with the energetic and sunny Shizuku.

"Sorry, I'll head out for a moment."

Hachiman had no interest in joining their gossip. He stood up, preparing to leave Ayanokoji's room.

Everyone else was too caught up in their shock to pay any attention to Hachiman's movements.

After leaving the room, Hachiman took the Elevator down to the first-floor lobby.

Leaving the Dormitory building, Hachiman wandered down the road. After walking for quite a while, he stopped at his destination.

Ahead of him, a black-haired girl with straight hair and a twin-tailed girl sat on a bench with their backs to him, talking.

"Sakura, I don't know why you refuse to become a witness.

But right now, the only person who can save Hikigaya and Sudo is you. Could you please stop being so willful?"

Horikita's tone was as sharp as ever. She did not care in the slightest whether Sakura could accept it.

As always, Sakura kept her head lowered without any confidence. Faced with Horikita's words, she could not summon even the thought of arguing back.

"I... I can't do it..."