Time went back to the present.
Onizuka stood by the window, rubbing his sore hands. From the corner of his eye, he saw Sakura Airi sitting dazedly on the floor beside him.
Her expression was vacant, as if she still hadn't recovered from the shock of what had just happened.
You know, this girl may look pretty thin, but I can guarantee she's actually much more... substantial than she looks. Onizuka thought to himself, then shook his head and stopped dwelling on such things.
He walked over to Sakura Airi, a trace of concern in his eyes.
"Are you all right, Sakura?"
Sakura Airi silently looked up, her eyes clouded with confusion. She seemed not to have heard him. Her lips moved slightly, but no sound came out.
Sakura Airi: ...
Onizuka frowned. It seemed what had just happened had been a little too much for her.
Understandable. Anyone would feel the strain after being held outside a sixth-floor window for so long, let alone someone as introverted as Sakura Airi.
"Sorry about that," he said quietly, feeling a little guilty.
Onizuka took the water bottle from Sakura's pocket, opened it, poured some water onto his hand, and gently patted her forehead.
With the double stimulus of the light taps and the cool droplets of water, Sakura Airi slowly blinked and finally came to her senses.
She lifted her head, a trace of bewilderment in her eyes, as if she had only just realized where she was.
"Ah!! Ugh..."
With a cry, Sakura Airi seemed to remember everything that had just happened, and her face instantly turned pale.
Then she seemed to remember Onizuka's instructions and covered her mouth with both hands again. Tears welled in her eyes, and she looked utterly helpless.
Looking at her tearful face, Onizuka had to admit that he really was a devil...
He shook his head helplessly, a trace of guilt rising within him, then leaned down beside her.
"It's all right now. Uh, sorry I got you caught up in that just now."
Hearing this, Sakura Airi looked up at him. Her eyes were still wet with tears, but she didn't burst into sobs as he had imagined.
She slowly lowered her hands from her mouth and said softly between sobs,
"I'm... I'm all right. Onizuka... Onizuka, you can go... go take care of your own things."
Sigh, his guilt had only grown heavier. Onizuka felt like he could barely stand up straight in front of this girl.
Seeing her wearing the glasses with only one lens missing, he felt increasingly uneasy and couldn't help wanting to do something.
After thinking it over, he slowly reached out and gently took off her glasses. Sakura Airi was slightly startled, a trace of unease showing in her eyes.
Onizuka reassured her, "Don't worry. I'm just doing this to make you more comfortable."
He slid the lens out, tucked it into his pocket, then carefully put the glasses back on her.
Come to think of it, he had seen Sakura without her glasses in the stairwell before, but he had been busy with something important then and hadn't really paid attention.
Now that he looked again...
"You're pretty cute, aren't you?"
"Hm??" Sakura Airi froze, a trace of confusion in her eyes.
Realizing that he'd just let his thoughts slip out, Onizuka's face stiffened.
"You look... pretty cute without your glasses."
Since she'd already heard him, Onizuka wasn't going to pretend otherwise. Everyone had eyes that could appreciate beauty. Why not just say it openly?
But Sakura Airi was nowhere near as calm as he was. Her face turned red, then white, then red again, as if she were changing masks.
She lowered her head, unsure how to react, her fingers twisting tightly together.
Feeling that the atmosphere had grown a little strange, Onizuka decided to act. He simply stood up and held out his hand to Sakura Airi.
"Come on, Sakura. I'll take you somewhere."
Seeing Onizuka hold out his hand to help her up, Sakura instinctively started to reach for it.
But then she heard him say he wanted to take her somewhere. Remembering the frightening ordeal she'd been through over the past hour, she snatched her hand back just as it was about to touch his, then frantically shook her head.
Seeing her like that, Onizuka understood what she was afraid of. He bent down slightly to meet her gaze, trying to make his voice sound gentler.
"Don't worry. It's just the shopping district. I broke your glasses, after all, so I should buy you a new pair."
Hearing that, Sakura Airi felt a little more at ease. She looked hesitant, but still said softly, "N-no need... I have a spare pair of glasses in my dorm."
That was a lie. Her eyes darted about, and her hands and feet looked awkward.
Onizuka sighed. He really had no idea what to do with her.
"That won't do," he said softly, his tone firm. "Sakura, if you don't let me take responsibility for this, I'll feel really guilty."
Sakura Airi bit her lip, but in the end she accepted Onizuka's invitation.