Chapter 26: Curiosity from Sakayanagi Arisu
Soon, Katsuragi Keima and Sakura Airi arrived at the school's supermarket.
Keima went to the nearby gaming section to purchase a second game console, while Sakura Airi headed toward the camera section.
Upon seeing the dazzling array of cameras in the store, Sakura Airi's eyes practically sparkled. She immediately spotted the pink camera she had been eyeing last time and carefully cradled it in her hands.
"Dear customer, it seems you really like this camera."
Just then, a shop clerk responsible for this area walked up. He wore a seemingly warm smile, but his gaze swept up and down Sakura Airi's body.
"This camera is part of a promotion recently. There are some great discounts!"
His appearance was below average—one could even say he was a bit ugly—and that smile added a touch of sleaziness to the clerk's demeanor.
The moment she saw him appear, Sakura Airi's initial enthusiasm was somewhat dampened. Immense pressure, like invisible hands, weighed heavily on her shoulders, making it difficult for her to even breathe.
"I, I..."
Sakura Airi wanted to say something, but her throat felt blocked. She couldn't get a word out for a long while, and her breathing grew ragged. To her, there was even a trace of unbearable discomfort in the man's gaze.
"Shall I introduce this model to you? I remember you came by last time!"
The clerk took another step forward, standing in front of Sakura Airi. The distance between them was less than a meter. Sakura Airi could feel his heavy, turbid, and seemingly quickened breath. Moreover, he seemed to remember her...
This made Sakura Airi's discomfort even more pronounced.
"I..."
Just as Sakura Airi was at a complete loss, Katsuragi Keima's voice rang out from the side:
"Don't bother. We'll just take a look ourselves."
Keima, holding the new handheld he had just picked out, stood beside Sakura Airi.
"Customer, the differences between these cameras are quite significant. If you're buying for the first time, you won't understand the advantages and distinctions of each model at all. And I'm sure you aren't clear on how to use them..."
"No, we are very clear on that," Keima said immediately.
"Well then, feel free to contact me if you need anything later."
The clerk gave an awkward smile and immediately walked a bit further away.
Keima watched the clerk, his brow furrowing slightly. He had overheard the conversation between the clerk and Sakura Airi. Although Sakura Airi possessed outstanding looks and a great figure, she usually wore glasses, kept her head down to hide her face, and her figure was obscured by the school uniform. No matter how you looked at it, Sakura Airi in this form was not an inconspicuous presence.
The foot traffic in the school was quite high; besides students, faculty members also shopped here. Sakura Airi had only been here once before; the clerk shouldn't have such a deep impression of her. This guy's eyes also seemed to linger on Sakura Airi for too long.
Furthermore...
This guy's appearance, words, and actions were the quintessential image of a perverted villain in a game.
"Katsuragi-kun... are you finished with your shopping?" Sakura Airi asked in a small voice.
"Yes. Since I already knew which model I wanted before coming here, it didn't take much time."
Keima looked at the handheld in his hand with satisfaction, then quickly shifted his gaze to Sakura Airi. "Sakura-san, you must have a model you've set your heart on as well."
"Mm... it's this one..." Sakura Airi lifted her hand slightly, showing him the camera.
"Then let's go pay."
"Pay..."
Sakura Airi bit her lip, her gaze hesitating. She turned her head; that clerk was smiling, seemingly watching her from a distance. That uncomfortable feeling grew stronger and stronger. Last time, it was at this exact moment that the meager courage she had managed to muster completely shattered.
"It's a bit of a hassle to pay separately. How about I pay for you, and you can just transfer the points to me afterward?"
"Is that okay...?"
Sakura Airi was a bit surprised; she hadn't thought that was even an option. This way, she could avoid the embarrassment at the checkout.
"Yes, paying separately is a waste of time."
"Okay... then I'll trouble, trouble you, Katsuragi-kun..."
Sakura Airi took out her terminal and exchanged contact information with Keima. This was the first time she had ever exchanged contacts with someone. After transferring the points to Keima, he went to the checkout counter while Sakura Airi waited outside the supermarket.
A moment later, Keima walked out and handed the packaged camera to Sakura Airi.
Cradling the camera in her arms, a happy smile appeared on that usually timid face for the first time in a while. However, she quickly tucked the camera away and looked up at Keima, who had already pulled out his new handheld and started playing, his glasses reflecting the game screen.
"Anything else you need to buy?"
"No, nothing else! Thank you so much for accompanying me, Katsuragi-kun... If it weren't for you, I might not have dared to speak to the clerk..."
"That's quite normal. Even I thought that clerk looked a bit scary."
"No, it's not just the clerk... I... I'm really not good at these things... I've caused you trouble, Katsuragi-kun..."
"There's no need to apologize. Everyone's personality and thoughts are different. Some are good at socializing, others aren't. This isn't your fault. You don't need to blame yourself, and you don't need to change anything. Just live in the way that makes you comfortable."
Keima's eyes moved away from the screen, meeting Sakura Airi's gaze. The sudden eye contact startled her, and she hurriedly looked elsewhere, her cheeks flushing slightly.
"Let's head back then."
"Mm."
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Meanwhile, in a corner of the school cafe, a petite girl with white hair was holding a cup of hot coffee, blowing on it gently.
"It seems Class D already knows about the school rules as well."
Beside the white-haired girl, another tall and beautiful girl asked with a worried expression, "I suppose the other classes will find out soon too? Then our advantage..."
"Don't worry too much, Masumi-san~ That just makes things more interesting, doesn't it?"
The girl named Sakayanagi Arisu wore a meaningful smile on her face.
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