Sakura Airi suddenly raised her voice, her eyes red as if they were about to bleed.
She broke free of his hand and reached for her collar again. Her school uniform had slipped off one shoulder, exposing part of her collarbone.
Tanaka Yukishin immediately gripped her shoulders and straightened her clothes.
Her delicate body trembled beneath his hands like a fallen leaf.
He sighed. "You really don't have to. There's no need, and it wouldn't accomplish anything. Look..."
Sakura Airi froze, her hands suspended in midair.
Why was he refusing?
Her gaze wavered, then she realized the answer.
Because of Karuizawa Kei.
Tanaka Yukishin had a girlfriend. He couldn't let her take on that kind of reputation, even if it was only an act.
If word got out, it would inevitably affect his relationship with Karuizawa Kei.
So that was it.
Her fingertips slowly relaxed and fell to her sides.
"So... that's how it is."
Her lips twitched, as if she were mocking herself—or finally accepting something.
That was right. Tanaka-kun had a girlfriend.
He didn't want what happened to me to affect his relationship with Karuizawa Kei.
I really envy her.
Karuizawa Kei.
Then what did I mean to Tanaka-kun?
Maybe I was... a stand-in for his childhood friend.
Iri-chan, I envy you too.
She thought about how the boy had stopped her the day before yesterday and told her he couldn't just ignore her or stand by and do nothing.
She thought about how, when she had been so frightened and panicked just now, the boy had appeared out of nowhere.
She thought about how she had thrown herself into his arms for comfort, and how he had held her, stroking her hair and back as he said, "It's okay, it's okay. I'm here."
She thought...
And thought...
And thought...
She thought about everything they had been through.
Tears kept welling in her eyes.
But why...?!
Bitterness, resentment, and sorrow surged through her.
Overwhelmed by her emotions, Sakura Airi suddenly felt she was losing control.
At that moment, she didn't want to think about anything.
She didn't want to know what punishment the stalker would receive.
She didn't want the boy beside her.
She just wanted to find somewhere quiet and empty, and have a good cry,
to cry out all her hurt and pain.
Unfortunately, she couldn't.
She struggled to hold back her tears, but they brimmed over and blurred her vision.
She twisted her waist and legs, preparing to turn away.
If she couldn't cry somewhere quiet and empty, then she didn't want the boy to see her tears, either.
Just then, that familiar embrace returned.
And with it came a sentence.
"Thank you, Airi-chan."
Feeling his warm embrace and the helpless gratitude in his words,
Sakura Airi saw Karuizawa Kei in class, smiling as she linked arms with Tanaka Yukishin. She saw herself, willing to stake her reputation as a young woman to give false testimony for him, only to be refused twice.
At last, she couldn't hold back her tears.
"Why...?!"
Her tears soaked his chest.
Ten seconds earlier.
"Look at the camera over there."
Tanaka Yukishin tried to explain.
But Sakura Airi didn't hear him. Her gaze had already drifted into the distance.
Lost in her memories, she couldn't hear a word around her.
Tanaka Yukishin was left looking utterly helpless.
If it had been Kei, he could've pulled her into his arms and kissed her deeply.
Then he could've scooped her up in his arms, carried her home, and comforted her properly in bed.
Thinking of how he'd helped Sakura Airi—and how she'd just been willing to give false testimony for him—
a hug shouldn't be crossing the line.
So he held her in his arms.
"Thank you, Airi-chan."
"Maybe I didn't explain myself clearly and gave you the wrong idea. I'm sorry about that."
"But if you look where I'm pointing, you'll understand why I turned you down."
With that, he let go and pointed at the utility pole across the road.
Leaving his warm, reassuring embrace, Sakura Airi felt reluctant to let go.
She sniffled, her eyes red, and lifted her tear-streaked face.
She followed Tanaka Yukishin's pointing finger.
That was...
A camera!
She went rigid.
Belated embarrassment washed over her, burning from her ears all the way down her neck.
That whole scene—her ripping at her clothes and crying out... it had all been recorded?
Her fingers unconsciously clutched the fabric on Tanaka's chest, then abruptly let go.
"S-sorry..."
She stared down at her toes, twisted together, her voice barely audible.
She wished she could sink into the ground, but beneath her embarrassment was a secret flicker of joy—so he hadn't turned her down because he was worried about appearances...
Seeing her ears turn bright red, Tanaka Yukishin couldn't help laughing.
His laughter immediately earned him a punch that carried no real threat.
"Stop laughing!"
Sakura Airi looked up and glared at him, her damp eyes like glass beads soaked in water.
Her expression was amusing: embarrassment and anger mingled with the relief she was trying to hide.
"Next time, explain first, you idiot..."
She muttered under her breath, but quietly clutched his sleeve.
Watching Sakura Airi stop crying,
Tanaka Yukishin breathed a sigh of relief.
Finally, she'd stopped crying.
Girls really were such a hassle.
Not only were they sentimental, they also liked to cry and were unreasonable.
The patchy tear marks on Sakura Airi's face gave her a fragile, endearing look.
And the blush that spread across her cheeks added a touch of charm to her pure, adorable face.
Tanaka Yukishin was momentarily captivated.
"What's wrong with my face...?"
Noticing his gaze, she lowered her head in a fluster
and hurried toward the handbag she'd dropped on the ground.
"You look pretty."
Tanaka Yukishin answered bluntly.
"Tanaka-kun, you're teasing me again."
She murmured the words so softly they were barely audible.
But Sakura Airi stopped what she was doing and turned around, letting Tanaka Yukishin look at her.
His gaze was completely different from the stalker's.
There was only appreciation for her beauty in it, with no other feelings mixed in.
Suddenly, Tanaka Yukishin seemed to notice something.
"Your face..."
"What about it?"
"Your makeup hasn't run at all! Is that tear-proof makeup?!"
"I don't really like talking to people, so I try not to draw attention to myself. That's why I never wear makeup."
After finishing the call,
Tanaka Yukishin glanced down at Sakura Airi, who was clutching the collar of her uniform with one hand because a button had fallen off and it wouldn't stay closed. The edge of her pink underwear was just visible between her fingers.
He took off his tracksuit jacket and held it out to her.
"Put this on for now. After we've given our statements, go back to your dorm and change into something clean, then give it back to me."
"Okay."
Sakura Airi obediently took it and put it on. She didn't seem concerned that Tanaka Yukishin might see the skin she was exposing.
Their fingertips touched as she accepted the jacket, brushing against the back of his hand by accident.
They both jerked their hands back as if shocked. The girl's ears instantly turned the color of the sunset, while the boy covered his mouth with his hand and gave a light cough.
About ten minutes later, amid the roar of engines,
two motorcycles came into view.
Two police officers parked their bikes, stood them up, and walked over.
The one in front was a middle-aged man who looked a little older.
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