After settling the issue with the camera, the four of them left the eleics store.

  "Sakura-san, now that your camera problem is resolved, we talk about yesterday's matter?" Kushida's attention had been on this issue the eime—this was, after all, her primary reason for ing out today.

  "Um…"

  Although she had agreed to go out with Kushida today, Sakura couldn't shake the uneasy feeling she got from the short-haired girl. There was something about her that seemed strangely dangerous, making her feel wary.

  "Hey, Kushida-san, don't be so impatient, okay?"

  Notig Sakura's hesitant expression, Hikaru quickly uood that aside from her shy personality, she was also quite timid. Even if she had withe violent i, gettio testify wouldn't be easy.

  "Yeah, let's give Sakura-san some time to think it over."

  As someone adept at reading the atmosphere, Iose immediately sehat Sakura wasn't fortable in social situations.

  "Ugh… fine. But if you decide, let me know, okay?"

  Seeing that Iose and Hikaru were suddenly in agreement, Kushida swiftly ged her tone.

  "…Okay."

  Sakura nodded lightly, but her gaze involuntarily drifted toward the only boy present—Hashima Hikaru.

  "Um, thank you for earlier, Hikaru. I… really appreciate it…" She felt the o express her gratitude. Fag the intimidating store clerk's gaze had pletely shut her down, making it impossible for her to speak.

  "It's nothing. Everyone has things they're good at and things they struggle with. If something is difficult, it's okay to rely on your friends."

  Hikaru smiled warmly aured toward Kushida and Iose, tinuing, "If you ever need help, Kushida-san and Iose-san will be there for you. You trust them."

  "That's right! We all want to support you, Sakura-san!"

  Uniting cssmates was Iose's specialty, so she quickly caught onto Hikaru's message and immediately reinforced it. "Even if we're not in the same css, if you ever need help, I'll always be there for you."

  "Me too, me too!" Kushida added cheerfully.

  "Thank you… all of you."

  Though she felt grateful, Sakura wasn't the type to openly express her emotions. In a situation like this, all she could do was offer a soft word of thanks—any promises or deeper expressions were beyond her ability.

  "And of course, if you ever have any questions for me, just ask—I'll answer holy."

  Hikaru was carefully testing his approach.

  Since Sakura was naturally timid, he had to be careful with his approach. If he rushed things, it could backfire.

  That's why, from the very beginning, he kept his demeanor and gaze soft, making sure not to seem pushy.

  "Mm…"

  Sakura looked at Hikaru's face. For the first time, she didn't feel the usual disfort she had around boys.

  She had always been wary of male attention, but Hikaru's gaze was clear and free of ulterior motives.

  She could feel it was genuine.

  This was the first time sining to this school that she had ever felt that way.

  For the first time, she didn't feel the urge to run away.

  ---

  As the four of them walked through Keyaki Mall, several female students appeared ahead of them—Ando Sayo, Himeno, and a few others.

  They soon noticed Hikaru and the others, wavihusiastically as they approached.

  Hikaru quickly noticed Sakura's face turning pale and immediately made a decision.

  "Since we ran into some familiar faces, Iose-san and Kushida-san, why don't you two go say hello?"

  "Hikaru, you're not ing?" Iose blinked in fusion.

  "Aren't we all cssmates?"

  "Don't fet about Sakura. Would you two rather leave her here alone?"

  Hikaru smiled as he pointed out the obvious.

  Both girls were quick-witted, and they instantly uood what he meant—Sakura probably didn't want to i with them.

  "In that case, stay here with Sakura. We'll be back soon."

  Iose g Sakura, who had lowered her head again, and nodded in uanding.

  "Yeah, we'll just go say hi."

  Though Kushida wore her usual mask, her social butterfly perso she couldn't avoid greeting acquaintances. If she ignored someone who had already waved at her, it could cause unnecessary fri.

  ---

  With Iose and Kushida gone, only Hikaru and Sakura remained.

  "…Thanks, Hikaru-kun." Sakura's voice was barely above a whisper—but she uood Hikaru's thoughtfulness.

  "It's nothing. I'm sure they'll expiuation for me anyway."

  Hikaru's calm demeanor ale presence helped Sakura muster the ce to speak.

  "Hikaru-kun, you probably heard about my situation from Kushida… about the withing."

  "Yeah, I did."

  Hikaru quickly recalled the details from Sakura's stoalysis—f her into unwanted situations or exposio public scrutiny would lower her stock price.

  Giveimid nature, askio testify was a huge burden.

  "So, Hikaru-kun… what do you think I should do?" Sakura asked, looking at him expetly.

  "Hmm…"

  Hikaru sidered his words.

  Unlike Iose and Kushida, Sakura wasn't fortable with social iion.

  With those two, he could be direct. But with Sakura, he had to approach things slowly aly.

  "My advice is simple—just be yourself."

  Hikaru deliberately avoided looking at her, instead gazing at the group of girls ahead to keep the versation rexed.

  "Remember what I said earlier? Everyone has things they're good at and things they struggle with. Even if you're ected to this situation, it doesn't mean you have to take responsibility."

  "This isn't your fault, so there's o burden yourself."

  "If you have evidence, you hand it over to someone who deal with it. If you don't, you give a simple testimony to share your perspective."

  "At the end of the day, no one force you to make a decision—I want you to do what feels right for you."

  "Do… what feels right for me?"

  Sakura csped her hands together, carefully thinking over his words.

  "Yeah. You're the one who decides. What you want to do and what you don't want to do."

  Hikaru g the Love Stock Market System, firming his strategy was w.

  As expected, the system notification appeared.

  [Your wave Sakura Airi the ce to support her css. She now trusts and values you more.]

  [Sakura Airi Stock Price +10 | Current Price: 40]

  Seeing this, Hikaru knew he was on the right track.

  To gairust, he had to take things slowly a her make her own choices.

  If he rushed her or pushed her into something she wasn't ready for, it could backfire.

  "I've decided. I'll tell Kushida-san about that day," Sakura finally said.

  "Good. As long as you're sure, that's all that matters."

  Hikaru mentally revised his approach.

  inally, his pn was to colletel after firming the witness. But now, he realized that coag Sakura for the hearing might backfire.

  Her timid nature wasn't suited for public scrutiny, meaning he had to find someone else to take the lead irial.

  ---

  "We're back, Hikaru!"

  Iose and Kushida returned, and the four of them walked back to the dorms together.

  ~~~

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