Spring Break was only a few days long, and Kaoru had initially thought he wouldn't be too busy.
However, things turned out to be far more hectic than he expected.
Although Tachibana Akane didn't live with Kaoru, she cherished their time together and stuck to him every day.
During this period, she took him around the entire school, chattering endlessly about her past experiences, including her time in first and second year.
Fortunately, Kei Karuizawa and the others understood that this was Tachibana Akane's time and didn't disturb them. Instead, they gave her these few days entirely.
The only exception was Kushida Kikyo, who muttered something about a Sound party, but Kaoru pretended not to hear.
Additionally, before Horikita Manabu left, he specifically warned Kaoru not to cause any "casualties."
Of course Kaoru had to listen to his brother-in-law.
The fact that the other party hadn't knocked him to the ground with a single punch was already an extraordinary act of mercy, and this small request was originally his bottom line anyway.
Truth be told, Horikita Manabu had considered whether to stop the relationship between Kaoru and Horikita Suzune.
He hadn't intervened immediately at the time because he thought his sister was just playing around, experiencing things without getting deeply involved.
Who could have imagined that Horikita Suzune would actually fall for him?
Knowing full well that the other person had a girlfriend, shouldn't she have just played around with him a bit?
Horikita Manabu grew anxious, wishing he could take Kaoruout of the school and away from his sister.
But it was too late.
Just by looking at Horikita Suzune's eyes, he understood - his sister of his was beyond saving.
Having just broken free from past restraints, she immediately jumped into the next trap.
Horikita Manabu didn't know what to say, feeling utterly exhausted.
After learning Kaoru's true intentions, Horikita Manabu felt both respect and admiration.
After rationally thinking it over for a while, he simply decided to entrust his sister to him.
If he could truly deliver on his promises, what harm would there be in letting Horikita Suzune continue to follow him?
Of course, the important thing was that Horikita Manabu was leaving.
He could no longer interfere in their relationship and could only leave it to fate, hoping his sister would be smart about it.
Kaoru knew nothing about these thoughts, officially seeing Horikita Manabu off as Spring Break drew to a close.
...
Sakura Airi was overjoyed.
She had taken many photos today, all of them with her friends.
Something she had always dreamed of had finally come true - it felt almost unbelievable.
She could have friends too!
She could go out and have fun with friends.
She could take photos for friends, and even group photos at that.
Is this what friendship feels like?
Sakura Airi lay on her bed, gazing dreamily at the photos in her camera.
She would look at each group photo for a long time, her legs swaying up and down behind her.
The memories of always hiding in corners, keeping her head down, afraid to meet anyone's gaze, being timid and always alone - those were gone now!
The small call she sent out to the world had been heard by someone!
"Hehehe, I did it."
Sakura Airi turned over and lay on her back, raising her camera high above her, her eyes sparkling.
"I really took photos with them!"
And what's more, they all knew about her identity!
There were no strange looks - only Hasebe Haruka teasing her a bit, treating her exactly the same as always.
Sakura Airi wanted to cherish them.
Friends who could accept both her false self and her true self - this must be the best kind of friendship.
To be honest, she had initially researched many stories about girls' internal conflicts and had been constantly worried about encountering similar situations, but nothing like that happened.
Hasebe Haruka would occasionally complain about such dramas, saying they were annoying, which was why she didn't interact too much with others and wanted to maintain a simple social network.
Perhaps something had happened before - Sakura Airi noticed she held particular prejudice against Karuizawa Kei and others, believing that Karuizawa Kei must have numerous small cliques around her.
As Sakura Airi thought about these messy matters, her mind drifted to a certain figure.
That person had brought a junior senpai along today - a Student Council member she had met before.
She felt a bit envious.
The two of them held hands as if no one else existed—one handsome, the other adorable—exactly like a scene from her dreams.
As for what happened afterward, Sakura Airi had little recollection.
She felt somewhat angry yet dared not show it, somewhat aggrieved yet only allowed herself to secretly nurse her grievances in her room.
However, Sakura Airi felt a little happy because she had taken several photos with Kaoru—just the two of them.
Looking at the photos in front of her, Sakura Airi habitually reached her hand downward, then her entire face flushed bright red.
She quickly patted her cheeks.
Damn it, she had fantasized too much—her fingers had moved on their own!
Blushing furiously, Sakura Airi put away her camera.
She couldn't keep looking, if she did, she wouldn't be able to stop herself from fantasizing.
No, she wasn't that kind of promiscuous woman!
How shameless!
Even as she scolded herself, Sakura Airi couldn't resist taking another glance.
Hehe, she and Kaoru were standing so close—just a little closer and they would have held hands!
Ding—
The doorbell suddenly rang from outside, startling Airi so much that she nearly dropped her camera.
"Airi, are you there?"
It was Kaoru's voice outside the door, making the girl's heartbeat quicken even more.
Eh?!
The very person she had just been fantasizing about was right outside her door.
Sakura Airi's eyes widened in shock, as if her parents had interrupted her in the middle of casting a spell.
"Airi?"
With a flustered cry, Airi didn't have time to tidy up.
She hurriedly jumped off her bed, hastily stuffed her embarrassing things under it, and then, red-faced, rushed pitter-patter to the entrance.
"I-I'm coming!"
As she spoke, she frantically opened the door.
However, Sakura Airi had forgotten she was currently wearing a nightgown.
Thus, Kaoru saw a pair of bouncing "white rabbits," with one shoulder strap half-slipped, revealing a small patch of smooth, fair skin.
The hem of her nightgown couldn't fully cover her thighs, giving a slightly plump impression, and her bare calves weren't wearing stockings—only a pair of white ankle socks.
"Sorry, did I disturb you?"
Kaoru restrained his thoughts, or else he'd recall what happened not long ago. "I sent you a message earlier, but you didn't seem to see it, so I came up instead."
"Eh, you sent me a message?"
Sakura Airi felt a bit annoyed—she hadn't noticed it earlier!
After saying that, she quickly invited Kaoru inside.
Kaoru caught a whiff of the girl's unique fragrance.
Though he knew it might be an illusion, every time he entered her room, he always had a similar feeling.
"Would you like something to eat?"
Sakura Airi wanted to offer some hospitality.
"No need. Actually, I came to ask if you have any photos of the school."
Kaoru sat down by the table. "I remember you took some scenery shots."
Sakura Airi felt a little disappointed. She had thought Kaoru wanted to do "that" with her again.
Although last time he had forced it into her mouth and it was a bit uncomfortable, it perfectly matched some strange things she had seen, where the plot was always like that—the male lead being rough and the female lead being pitiful.
Sakura Airi often fantasized about Kaoru as the male lead and herself as the pitiful female lead.
Despite her disappointment, Airi still felt happy and nodded eagerly like a chick pecking at rice.
"Yes, does Kaoru want them?"
"I'd like to pick a few and put them in an album to give to Akane—that is, Tachibana-senpai from today—so she can take them back as a memento."
Although the school didn't allow students to leak its secrets, Kaoru thought a few scenery photos should be fine for Tachibana Akane to keep as a souvenir.
Sakura Airi immediately guessed his meaning, because today's photo session inherently carried this connotation—Hasebe Haruka wanted everyone to have some commemorative photos.
Right after, Sakura Airi felt a bit jealous.