Biodata
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Sakura Airi; surname originally written as 佐仓 36 |
| Alias(es) | Shizuku — her gravure-idol name 46 47 |
| Gender | Female 36 |
| Affiliation | Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School, First-Year Class D 36 |
| Occupation/Role | Student; gravure idol and photography enthusiast 36 48 |
| First Appearance | Chapter 36, “A Dowdy Girl Could Be a Gravure Star Too” 36 |
Background / History
Meeting An Xiao
Sakura privately takes gravure photographs in an unused classroom. An Xiao discovers her there while carrying Student Council documents. Embarrassed by the encounter, she falls and pulls him down with her, then covers his eyes while straightening her clothes. Recognizing the Student Council paperwork, she fears punishment for using the classroom 36.
She asks whether her hobby makes her strange and becomes more comfortable when An Xiao accepts it without judgment or the lecherous attention she associates with boys in her class. After learning that she spent most of her points on her camera, he recommends a Photography Club that could provide support and opportunities to earn points. Sakura accepts the club president’s contact information but does not immediately commit to joining 36.
Witnessing the Class C–D Fight
Leaving the classroom together, Sakura and An Xiao witness Sudo fighting three other students. Sakura identifies Sudo and stays close to An Xiao while he secretly records the incident. Afterward, she asks why he did not intervene, then takes the initiative to exchange Line accounts with him 37.
Ayanokoji, Horikita, and Kushida subsequently approach Sakura about testifying for Sudo. Although reluctant, she attends the deliberation meeting and is deeply distressed by remarks from Class C’s homeroom teacher. She later avoids Horikita and Kushida, who seek An Xiao’s help in arranging an apology 43 45.
Camera Repair and Stalking
By her next meeting with An Xiao, Sakura has contacted the Photography Club president and learned techniques from her. An Xiao accompanies Sakura to an electronics store after she accidentally drops her camera. The clerk makes her uncomfortable enough to hide behind An Xiao, and she later admits that she might not have managed the warranty form alone. An Xiao warns her to avoid the clerk 43 44.
Investigating the clerk, An Xiao discovers obsessive messages on a forum devoted to Shizuku and recognizes Sakura in the idol’s photographs. When Sakura does not answer his calls, he and Honami Ichinose set out to find her 46.
Meanwhile, Sakura confronts the clerk behind the electronics store, demanding that he stop contacting, stalking, and secretly photographing her. She has considered calling An Xiao but decides against troubling him again. The clerk knocks away her ringing phone and advances on her despite her protests. An Xiao arrives and incapacitates him with a stun weapon. Sakura hugs An Xiao before fainting from emotional distress, and he carries her to the infirmary 47 48.
Choosing to Report the Incident
In the infirmary, Sakura worries about exposing her gravure-idol identity and the attempted assault. Nevertheless, she chooses to make a formal complaint and asks An Xiao to accompany her. He reveals that Ichinose is already handling the matter with the school authorities 48.
An Xiao praises her courage but distinguishes bravery from recklessness, warning her not to confront the stalker alone again. Before leaving, he encourages her to have more confidence and tells her she looks pretty without her glasses 48.
Appearance
- Hair: Pink to pinkish-red; it falls in front of her face when she lowers her head 43 48.
- Glasses: Part of her everyday appearance; An Xiao specifically compliments her appearance without them 36 48.
- Posture: Often hunched, with her head lowered and her gaze fixed on the floor 36 44.
- Contrasting presentation: Her gravure-photography appearance differs sharply from her subdued, “dowdy” school persona 36.
Personality
Sakura is shy, easily embarrassed, and anxious in social situations. She frequently stammers, lowers her head, and apologizes or bows when receiving help. Pressure to testify leaves her trembling and close to tears, while an uncomfortable interaction with the electronics-store clerk makes even routine paperwork difficult 36 43 44.
Photography gives her a subject she can discuss more freely. She gradually relaxes around An Xiao because he treats her interest without judgment, and she initiates exchanging contact information despite immediately becoming flustered 36 37.
Her reluctance to burden others can lead her into danger: she declines to call An Xiao before confronting the stalker. Even so, she directly demands an end to the harassment and later chooses to report it despite fearing wider exposure of her private life 47 48.
Abilities & Skills
Photography and Gravure Modeling
- Takes gravure photographs of herself and maintains the idol identity Shizuku 36 46.
- Invests most of her available points in a camera 36.
- Seeks advice from the Photography Club president, who teaches her photography techniques 43.
- Keeps this interest private from classmates; An Xiao avoids suggesting a photography-related apology gift because she does not appear to want others to know 45.
Equipment / Items
- Camera — Bought with most of her points; later damaged in a fall and taken for warranty repair 36 43.
- Glasses — Worn in her everyday school appearance 36 48.
- Mobile phone — Used to exchange Line accounts with An Xiao and communicate with the Photography Club president 37 43.
Relationships
- An Xiao — A trusted friend who accepts her hobby, helps with her camera, rescues her from the stalker, and supports her decision to report the incident 36 44 47 48.
- Honami Ichinose — Helps An Xiao find Sakura, protects her privacy during the rescue, and handles the report to school authorities 46 47 48.
- Photography Club president — An enthusiastic senior introduced through An Xiao; provides photography instruction by phone. Sakura’s membership in the club is not confirmed 36 43.
- Kiyotaka Ayanokoji, Suzune Horikita, and Kikyo Kushida — Approach her about testifying for Sudo. Following the distressing hearing, Horikita and Kushida try to apologize, but Sakura avoids them 43 45.
- Sudo — Classmate whose fight she witnesses and is asked to testify about 37 43.
Notable Quotes
“Please stop contacting me! And please stop this stalking and secret photography!” 47
“If, if I choose the former, An Xiao-kun, will you accompany me?” 48