When he mentioned the photos, Airi Sakura finally realized her current state. Her face turned crimson, and she quickly turned away, fumbling to button up her blouse.
Oh no, oh no! He's really going to think I'm some kind of indecent girl now!
Airi had completely forgotten what Kaoru had taught her earlier. The emotions she had suppressed surged back, leaving her flustered.
At that moment, no matter how hard she tried, the buttons just wouldn't cooperate—her ample chest kept getting in the way.
"The student council has been inspecting the school facilities after classes lately, checking for any issues," Kaoru said from behind. "You should avoid going out too much. Even though this place is secluded, you still need to be careful not to be seen."
In truth, he was making excuses.
Kaoru had rushed here after receiving a message from Ayanokoji, tracking the location.
But Airi Sakura didn't question his reasoning.
'Ugh, I can't button it up at all!'
Airi hated her large chest—it was useless most of the time, only causing trouble at the worst moments.
"Has the pain from earlier subsided?"
The [painkiller] should have taken effect by now.
Airi wasn't complaining of pain anymore.
Kaoru glanced at the girl's petite backside—not that he meant to, but with her turned away, aside from her slender legs, there wasn't much else to look at.
The winter uniform hadn't changed the skirt's length.
As always, the hem lifted slightly, faintly revealing the curve of her plump hips and a glimpse of her fair, delicate thighs.
The black knee-high socks stopped just below her calves, while her small leather shoes concealed her feet, leaving only a hint of her ankle's contour.
It was hard to decide where to focus.
"Huh?"
Airi instinctively touched her backside. "It doesn't hurt anymore… and my head feels fine too."
"Good. But next time you want to go out for photos, you can call me," Kaoru said, remembering Airi's fondness for landscape photography.
"Hiding here just to take a few selfies is such a waste of our digital camera."
Airi pursed her lips and turned to face him, murmuring, "But don't you have to go to the student council?"
"It's not like I'm required to be there every day."
Kaoru's gaze drifted to the buttons on her chest—only one was fastened, leaving a glimpse of her pristine collarbone.
"Oh." Airi Sakura was momentarily at a loss for words. She had originally intended to ask about Ichinose.
"I'm sorry I couldn't make it to your gathering today," Kaoru said. "I'll go tomorrow. After the mock exams, I should have some free time. I'll need to tutor both of you."
Truthfully, tutoring wasn't necessary. Her grades weren't bad enough to risk expulsion, so there was no need for him to take time out for them.
Airi walked sullenly to the table, picked up her phone, and asked without a trace of jealousy, "Everyone's been talking about you lately. Did you really do it?"
She expected Kaoru to deny it—or even come up with some excuse. But instead, he admitted without changing his expression.
"Yeah, I did all of it. Probably worse than what the rumors say."
Airi stared at him blankly before her face twisted in shock. "You actually cheated!?"
"It's not cheating. Honami knows."
"W-wait, what do you mean she knows?" Airi was completely bewildered. "Even if she knows, it's still cheating!"
Admittedly, anyone would react that way upon hearing this for the first time—it was the natural response.
"To be precise, Honami knows, and so do they. Everyone's acknowledged it," Kaoru said after a moment of thought.
"They probably get along well in private. They're always discussing something behind my back."
Finally, Airi understood.
No wonder Ike Kanji and the others had called him a "harem king."
She had been a little angry at the time, but it turned out to be the truth!
"No one's mad?"
"Not right now."
"Even the upperclassmen?"
"Asahina-senpai and Tachibana-senpai are included, of course. But, Airi, I didn't know you were this nosy."
"W-well, it's hard not to be curious about this!"
Airi's face flushed with panic. "Y-you—you're really too much! Dating so many girls at the same time!"
The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted them. Seeing the silence in Kaoru's eyes, she grew uneasy.
Then another thought struck her—Kaoru had chosen to be with all those girls, yet he had never made a move on her, even though he had harassed her with a fake account!
How strange.
Logically speaking, shouldn't Kaoru like her?
Airi Sakura was getting angry again, her cheeks puffing up unconsciously like steamed buns as she sulked.
"Are you... mad, Airi?" Kaoru suddenly spoke.
Caught off guard by his directness, Airi instinctively flinched before quickly composing herself.
"I-It's normal to be angry, right? Only bad people play with girls' feelings."
"In your eyes, dating multiple people means playing with them?" Kaoru countered.
"Doesn't it?" Airi retorted, displeased. "Even TV dramas don't have plots like this."
"I already told you—Honami and the others know and don't mind. Does that still count as playing with them?" Kaoru sighed. "Seems like you tend to judge others based on your own biases. I thought I could make you trust me."
His words left Airi scrambling. "D-Don't be mad... I... I was wrong... I'm sorry..."
Kaoru shook his head. "It's not your fault. It's mine. I like them, but I haven't given them a normal relationship."
Airi froze.
This was the first time she had heard Kaoru say the word "like."
So... he really doesn't like me?
But then why did he harass me with a fake account? Was it just a prank? Was he just toying with me?
And who was that girl he was talking to back then?
Airi visibly deflated, the light in her eyes dimming.
"Um... I think I'll go home now."
Without waiting for Kaoru's response, the girl hurriedly packed her things, shoving her camera haphazardly into her bag before slinging it over her shoulder.
Head bowed, she turned to leave the classroom.
"Wait, Airi—you forgot your coat."
Listlessly, she took the coat from his hands, looking like a defeated soldier surrendering to the enemy as she trudged back to her own "prison camp."
"Can I see what you took pictures of today?"
Kaoru's sudden question caught her off guard.
Airi stopped in her tracks. See her photos from today?
In an instant, her mind raced. She had taken landscape shots, but Kaoru had seen her taking selfies—he couldn't be asking about the scenery.
So... he was asking for her photos?!
Before, Kaoru had always used a fake account to ask for her pictures—sometimes demanding leg shots, other times chest shots.
Back then, she had even foolishly asked the real Kaoru if he wanted her to send them, only to end up sending the tame ones to the fake account while the more revealing ones were intercepted by him.
At the same time, Airi recalled Kaoru's earlier implication.
Could it be... that Kaoru has feelings for her too?
Taking a deep breath, Airi made up her mind.
No matter what, she was going to get an answer today!
"You can't see the photos I just took." Kaoru's expression darkened.
So she was angry—was it because of the others?
Just as he was about to speak, Airi suddenly pulled out her camera and shoved it into his hands.
Her face was burning red, but her gaze was firm.
"But... you can take whatever kind of photos you want of me!"
The memory of her earlier selfie made her blush even harder.
Even if he wanted those kinds of photos, she'd do her best to comply—after all, this was her chance to test Kaoru's true feelings.
From the comments on the alt account, Airi Sakura could see another side of Kaoru.
She thought that if he liked her, he wouldn't be able to resist doing something bad.
She could use this as leverage and confront him about it!
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