In the hallway of Second Year Class B.
After discussing some topics related to the Sports Festival and Cultural Festival, it wasn't until very late that Class B dismissed to go home.
At this time.
In the hallway.
"Who is that?"
"Do you guys know her? I've never seen her before."
"The one next to her is Class D's homeroom teacher, Teacher Chabashira, right? Does that mean she's a Class D student?"
"Isn't she super cute? How come I've never heard of her before?"
Looking at a girl in the hallway, several boys from Class B discussed in low voices.
Nearly two years had passed since enrollment.
Everyone already had a good grasp of the school's situation.
Led by Horikita Suzune, Ichinose Honami, and Kiryuuin Fuuka.
Horikita Suzune naturally won with absolute beauty, while Ichinose Honami was loved by everyone for her cute appearance plus her cheerful personality.
Right.
While Kiryuuin won with her beautiful appearance and her proud, tall figure.
The three were undoubtedly the school's unique top-tier school beauties.
However.
the girl before them was not inferior to the three in the slightest; with her cute appearance plus a perfect figure, it wasn't even certain who would win or lose.
Just then.
Ichinose and Himeno Yuki followed behind Hikigaya as they left the classroom, similarly witnessing the scene before them.
Hikigaya couldn't help but take an extra look.
After all, being a guy, he liked to look at beautiful women, but he didn't take it to heart either; his gaze couldn't help but linger on Chabashira Sae nearby.
He was more curious.
What was the Class D homeroom teacher doing in Class B?
However.
The other party walked straight over.
The girl's pink long hair was tied in twin tails, and her plump, delicate body and rounded, straight long legs were truly eye-catching, looking like a natural-born idol.
It truly made Hikigaya feel she looked familiar, yet he could never recall such a person in his mind.
"Hachiman.."
The girl before him had a flushed face, looking like a little rabbit that might be startled at any moment.
Ichinose and Himeno Yuki were instantly a bit puzzled.
After all.
They didn't recognize the girl before them either.
The two turned their heads slightly to look at Hikigaya: you still know such a beautiful girl?
"Hmm?"
Hikigaya was similarly a bit dazed, frowning as he looked the girl before him up and down, before saying somewhat uncertainly:
"Sakura...?"
"Yes."
"What? Are you Sakura-san?"
Ichinose and Himeno Yuki said in surprise, looking Sakura Airi up and down.
They truly couldn't imagine.
That this beautiful girl before them would be the same person as that timid and introverted Sakura.
"Haha, it doesn't quite suit me, does it..."
Feeling the gazes of the people around her, Sakura Airi's face turned as red as a branding iron, as she said somewhat bashfully.
"No..."
Hikigaya shook his head and returned to the main topic: "Did you come to see me for something?"
"Oh, yes."
Only then did Sakura Airi return to her senses.
Looking up at Ichinose, her small face suddenly became somewhat dejected.
"Ichinose-san, Himeno-san, can you let me have a few words alone with Hachiman?"
"Hmm?"
Ichinose and Himeno Yuki were slightly stunned.
The two looked up at Hikigaya.
They knew Sakura Airi liked him, but right now, they didn't care that much anymore, and they were truly a bit curious about Sakura Airi's change.
Gazing at the Sakura before him, Hikigaya looked up at Chabashira Sae nearby.
He could clearly feel that Sakura's state seemed somewhat dejected.
He was more concerned about why Chabashira Sae would appear here.
Although it wasn't without speculation.
Hikigaya truly felt it was a bit too outrageous.
Class D.
They couldn't have exchanged an expelled student for a hundred class points, could they?
No, no, no.
No matter what, this was too outrageous.
No matter how one thought about it, it was a move with more harm than benefit; even if Horikita Suzune had truly become extremely self-serving now, she couldn't possibly make such a choice.
Right.
"I'll go over there for a bit... you guys go back first, I'll contact you if anything happens."
Hikigaya nodded to Ichinose and the others, and with their permission, he followed Sakura Airi and turned to leave.
Looking at Chabashira Sae leading the way in front.
In this direction, it should be back to the faculty office.
Hikigaya looked at Sakura Airi beside him.
The change was truly too great, almost like a different person from before.
He said with some concern:
"That, Sakura, what exactly is with this outfit of yours?"
"How is it, does it suit me?"
Sakura Airi looked up at Hikigaya beside her, the smile on her face more brilliant than ever before.
But it also couldn't hide a trace of sorrow in her eyes.
That's right.
She had been chosen as the expellee by Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.
After all.
There was no other way; the exam had already reached the stage of choosing an expellee, and her strength on the OAA was also the lowest.
If they persisted, it would only bring greater losses to the class.
Therefore.
Sakura Airi didn't resist either, and she took the initiative to persuade her best and only friend, Hasebe Haruka.
As for Ayanokouji, Miyake, and Yukimura.
To be honest.
Although Sakura Airi could understand their desire to rise to Class A, she still couldn't help but feel some disappointment in her heart.
After all, only Hasebe Haruka had persisted until the end.
And she was the one who took the initiative to persuade her.
However.
When the result of expulsion truly came.
Sakura Airi couldn't help but feel some regret again.
It is only when something is truly lost that one knows the bite of regret.
Until now.
Sakura Airi finally understood.
Even if Hikigaya had a girlfriend, what did it matter? What did it matter if there was Ichinose and the others?
These feelings would not lie.
If she had known this would happen.
She would no longer care about Ichinose and the others, but would have taken the initiative to confess to Hikigaya.
However.
What had happened could not be undone.
But, Sakura Airi still wanted Hikigaya to know these feelings.
"...Well, it suits you very much."
Hikigaya nodded frankly.
As expected of someone who had been a model; without those dowdy glasses and without using bangs to intentionally hide her beauty.
Sakura Airi was indeed very beautiful.
"That's truly wonderful."
Sakura Airi covered her mouth with her hand and breathed a sigh of relief.
This praise alone was enough to give her such joy, yet it was already something beyond her reach.
The three arrived at the faculty office floor.
Chabashira Sae glanced over here, instantly making Sakura Airi aware that time was running out.
"That..."
Hikigaya also stopped with them, looking at the Sakura Airi before him with some doubt.
"Sakura, you came to find me, you should have something to say, right?"
"Yes!"
Sakura Airi's face was flushed; thinking of the words she was about to say, she was so ashamed she wanted to run away immediately.
But she wouldn't run anymore.
She had to say it properly.
"Hachiman..."
Sakura Airi's smile was brilliant, and her gaze was more firm than ever before as she said:
"I just wanted to tell you that besides Ichinose and the others, there was once a girl who also loved you very much... liked... liked you very much..."
As she spoke.
Sakura Airi's voice became faint and she began to sob, her eyes turning red as tears fell uncontrollably.
She clearly didn't want to cause trouble for Hikigaya.
She clearly just wanted to leave a deep memory for Hikigaya.
But.
Why wouldn't the tears stop?
She clearly didn't want to cry.
It was truly good that the tears didn't stop.