Chapter 47

He hurriedly picked up the digital camera without even glancing at Yuan Yuyuan, the culprit. "You've got to be kidding me. The screen won't turn on..."

"I'm really sorry I dropped your camera. Let me take it in for repairs," Yuan Yuyuan said to Sakura apologetically.

When Sakura Airi realized the person who had knocked her over was Yuan Yuyuan, the tyrant who exploited Class D, she felt even more aggrieved. She didn't dare let him take the camera to get repaired. "N-no, don't trouble yourself."

Just then, Kushida Kikyo, who had asked Sakura a question at the start and sent her fleeing in a panic, came running over too. "Are you okay, Sakura? It's my fault for suddenly talking to you. I must have startled you. I'm so sorry."

"N-no, it's fine. I was just careless... Goodbye."

After guiltily watching Sakura leave, Yuan Yuyuan frowned. "Am I really that ugly? Why did she look at me like she'd seen a ghost? That's a real blow to my self-esteem."

He'd originally wanted to use the opportunity to offer to take Sakura's camera in for repairs, then casually check whether it had any photos related to the Sudo Incident. But seeing Sakura look like a startled little hamster, he knew he couldn't force the matter.

Kushida Kikyo pressed her lips together, trying not to laugh. Remembering that Ayanokoji and the others were behind her, she held it in and said, standing where she was, "It's all my fault. Sakura's afraid of interacting with people, so this happened. It's not your fault."

"Then please tell her I said that. I know Class D doesn't have many points to spare, either. Since this was my fault, I'll take full responsibility."

Yuan Yuyuan knew they couldn't speak freely here, so he secretly gave Kushida a meaningful look.

Kushida Kikyo understood and nodded in reply. "I suppose that's our only option."

Yuan Yuyuan left the school building, satisfied. All he had to do was get involved with the only lead. Sakura? He'd capture her sooner or later. If he didn't trust himself, he could bring Kushida along—the angel everyone trusted. And even if Sakura came along too, Kushida could keep her distracted. What was wrong with two girls going to the bathroom together? He could take the opportunity to, hehe... A perfect plan! That was what you called foolproof!

First Semester: Chapter 44

Chapter 41: The Pretend-Baby-Spicy Horikita Manabu

Just as Yuan Yuyuan was congratulating himself, a call from Manabu Horikita brought him back down to earth.

"You don't need to come to the Student Council anymore."

What the heck??? Yuan Yuyuan looked completely baffled.

"Wait, you're firing me just so you don't have to return the favor? Pretend-baby-spicy Horikita Manabu, I hope every time you use the bathroom, the toilet paper falls into the bowl."

"...Ahem." Manabu Horikita sounded like he'd choked on something over the phone. "I mean, you should at least go investigate the scene of the incident, so people don't gossip about the Student Council."

"Heh, I really misjudged you, you sanctimonious hypocrite. The Student Council's purpose is to do practical things for the people, yet you're forcing your subordinates to do things just to save face. And that's not even the worst part. The worst part is that you're forcing me!"

Yuan Yuyuan couldn't care less about gossip. Whoever wanted to go could go. If anything happened, Manabu Horikita, as Student Council President, would be the one to take the heat. He'd rather sit in the Student Council room, basking in the air conditioning, than go to the Special Building.

"You're the one who insisted on taking the position. If you don't go, I'll review the matter personally."

"...Wait, I was joking. You didn't actually believe me, did you? As the saying goes, you have no right to speak without experience. I've been entrusted with an important task, so of course I have to investigate the situation at the Special Building firsthand. Well, that's it. Bye, bye, bye!"

Yuan Yuyuan trudged toward the Special Building, his face sour. That siscon had actually threatened him. Once he took over Advanced Nurturing High School, he'd make Manabu Horikita's life miserable. Nothing else would satisfy his grudge.

It was so hot. Why had they turned off the air conditioning just because classes were over? Had they considered the burden on the staff? As Yuan Yuyuan walked through the Special Building, he secretly resolved to propose a 24-hour air-conditioning policy for the school buildings. They couldn't let penny-pinching chill the hearts of the people who worked there.

Yuan Yuyuan wandered around, stopping now and then. Suddenly, he remembered something important. Which floor had Sudo fought on again...? Whatever. He was just here to make an appearance, anyway. He'd go up and down once and call it a day.

As he walked, Yuan Yuyuan spotted a pink-haired figure from behind. Wasn't that Sakura, the girl he'd just knocked—er, bumped into? She was taking selfies. So her social anxiety wasn't because she mistakenly thought she was ugly and felt insecure. Then what was the reason?

Come to think of it, the Special Building really was the perfect place for someone with social anxiety to take selfies. It was so hot here that no one in their right mind would come.

Yuan Yuyuan quietly approached Sakura. She seemed completely immersed in her own world, and didn't notice him until another person appeared in her selfie.

Sakura hurriedly put away her phone. When she saw it was Yuan Yuyuan, she didn't even dare think about running away. She could only stand frozen in place.

In the end, Yuan Yuyuan was the first to speak. "Sakura, is it because I accidentally broke your camera that you have to take selfies on your phone now?"

"N-no... I'm really sorry. I'll leave right away."

Yuan Yuyuan grabbed Sakura Airi's hand. Hm, soft.

"I'm the one who should apologize, Sakura. Can't you give me a chance to make it up to you?"

"It was my own carelessness, so you don't have to make it up to me. Um... could you let go of me first?" Sakura asked timidly. She didn't even dare approach Kushida, her own classmate, let alone Yuan Yuyuan, the sort of person who could scare Class D's children into behaving at night.

"Of course. Just don't avoid me, Sakura. Honestly, I don't look that scary, do I?"

"That's not it. I'm just not good at getting along with other people... I'm really sorry."

Sakura Airi shook her head quickly. She didn't want Yuan Yuyuan to misunderstand and cause her to suffer some undeserved misfortune.

"Then I have all the more reason to get your camera fixed. Don't worry, I'm not some bad guy."

Sakura Airi could say without the slightest bit of pride that she had always been exceptionally perceptive. But that was also why she was afraid of people: she could tell that so many of them were... seriously unhinged.

Seeing that Yuan Yuyuan's words seemed sincere, and that his gaze wasn't like other people's, she relaxed a tiny bit. But there was something important on her camera! What if Yuan Yuyuan accidentally saw it...?

"Um... wouldn't that be too much trouble for you? Actually, I..."

"Not at all! How could it be a bother? Please, Sakura, let me make amends. Otherwise, I'll feel so guilty I won't be able to sleep tonight."

Yuan Yuyuan didn't give Sakura a chance to refuse. The evidence was right in front of him. He had to consider whether this was the only chance he'd ever get.

"W-well... all right."

Sakura couldn't resist Yuan Yuyuan's insistence, so she agreed. Besides, she really did need someone to accompany her there. As long as she kept an eye on him, it should be fine... probably.

"Then let's exchange contact information. I still need to mooch off—er, investigate Class D, so I'll be going now. Bye, Sakura."

Once she agreed, Yuan Yuyuan was relieved. He hurriedly said goodbye to the shy Sakura, as he still had something important to take care of.

Yuan Yuyuan reached the corner and saw two people coming up the stairs. They were Horikita Suzune and Ayanokoji...