Chapter 063: Kushida's Slight Petty Temper, Hikigaya Airi?
That afternoon, after school, Sakura Airi—who had appeared exhausted and dejected in the morning—suddenly had a complete shift in her mental state.
If one were to describe it, it would be like a wilted flower suddenly blooming in full force.
And the reason was obvious.
She had spent the morning frowning in distress, but now she was completely at ease.
Her earlier exhaustion was likely due to losing her camera and searching for it everywhere—because the photos inside were all her selfies, including swimsuit shots and personal close-ups taken in her room.
If someone were to see those pictures, she would feel utterly humiliated.
At the same time, those pictures showed her real face.
So—whether it was the exposure of her past as a model or the revelation that she was actually an extremely beautiful girl disguising herself as an ordinary, somewhat plain student—it would be troublesome for her.
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.
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"If there's really such a thing as glasses sealing one's attractiveness, should I buy a pair of non-prescription glasses?" Hachiman said. "Maybe that way, my reputation would improve too."
?
Horikita Suzune glanced at him in confusion.
"What kind of nonsense are you talking about?" Horikita said. "By the way, don't you think this situation is a little problematic?"
"What do you mean?"
"It's about the camera. You let Kushida return it to Sakura, but Sakura has no idea you were involved in this at all," Horikita said. "So in the end, you did a good deed, but the person benefiting from it remains completely unaware?"
Eh?
So, Horikita, you're the type of person who believes that after doing a good deed, you should make sure the recipient knows about it?
You're so rigid, Horikita.
This isn't necessarily a bad thing.
If you want to improve your standing with Horikita, you have to act in front of her.
She needs to see it, to experience it firsthand—there's no way you can rely on something like "protecting her from the shadows." Because she's as dense as a block of wood. If you don't tell her directly, she won't even try to guess.
And regarding this—
Hikigaya now somewhat understood why Kushida had put so much effort into spreading rumors that day, deliberately showing Horikita how hard she was working.
Because Kushida had already figured out exactly what kind of person Horikita Suzune was.
Unfortunately, Horikita was just too cold and aloof, and even Kushida's skills weren't enough to win her over.
"This just shows, Horikita, that your way of thinking isn't delicate enough," Hachiman said. "If Sakura knew I had seen her photos, what do you think would happen?"
"?"
"She'd feel really embarrassed, right? If someone saw her… ahem, rather daring photos, she might start overthinking things. In fact, this kind of situation could even lead to romance."
"…That actually happens?" Horikita seemed to be hearing about this kind of thing for the first time.
Oh, it does.
For example, say you were always alone, and then, in middle school, everyone started getting cell phones. You got one too, but no one exchanged numbers with you. Then, one day, a cheerful, good-looking girl noticed you while swapping contacts with others and decided to add you too.
A trivial thing, really—but depending on the person, the way they interpret it can be completely different.
For some, this small moment could make them start paying attention to that girl—and just like that, they'd be thrown into the whirlwind of adolescence.
If he kept talking about this, though, it would just turn into a record of his past embarrassments.
So Hachiman decided to stop.
Now, he could kind of understand why Komachi always pushed him to interact with others, to make friends.
Because if he had even a single friend, maybe he wouldn't have misunderstood a girl's actions so easily.
And he certainly didn't want to connect with people in a way that would leave a lasting impression on their hearts for all the wrong reasons.
Still, the fact that Sakura had once been a model—that was something Hachiman hadn't noticed.
Which meant, when it came to gathering intel, his "Hikigaya Surveillance Camera" had actually lost to Kushida the Angel.
Kushida, you're seriously impressive.
That said—
The information Kushida obtained probably didn't come from observation alone. She likely dug into people's hearts until they willingly told her about their past.
That was Kushida's real power—an overwhelming ability to invade others' personal space.
After letting Kushida return the camera to Sakura, her mood visibly improved.
She had probably been extremely nervous about losing it. But when she realized that a girl—Kushida, no less, someone who frequently talked to her—had found it and returned it, she felt completely relieved.
.
.
.
"So, do you think that's enough?" The golden-haired angel turned to Hachiman. "I thought you were pretty interested in Sakura."
After school, Horikita was getting ready to leave, and, just as she had predicted, Kushida was tagging along, trying to go back to the dorm with her.
But when Horikita inevitably ignored her, Kushida turned to Hachiman instead.
And, naturally, the topic was about returning the camera to Sakura.
"Why are you asking me this too, Kushida?" Hachiman asked.
"Ehh…" Kushida stretched out her words. "So that means Horikita already asked you about it? I figured—she's that type of person, after all. She thinks hard work always gets rewarded, and if you do something good, your name should be attached to it."
Wow, Kushida, you really understand Horikita well.
Hachiman figured that if Horikita ever wanted to learn how to be more socially adept, she could probably take lessons from Kushida.
After all, Kushida was a master of social maneuvering.
"Horikita's always been alone, just like she is now. She spends all her time studying," Hachiman said. "She's the type to completely tune out everything else."
"Ehh…"
"So I was kind of curious about Horikita's past—but honestly, all she ever does is study."
"Oh." Kushida suddenly looked a bit cuter.
That was exactly what Hachiman had intended—to put her at ease.
After all, he knew about Kushida's black history. So did Chabashira-sensei. And if the class divisions were based on a comprehensive evaluation system, then there were probably students from other classes who also saw Kushida as a potential "time bomb."
Which meant—there was no point in her getting so worked up over it.
Still, Kushida was a useful person to have around, and she worked for free. So to ensure he could continue to make use of her, Hachiman decided to reassure her a little more.
And make sure she believed that Horikita was still completely unaware of her past.
"Sakura is very introverted and a bit timid. If a boy were to see the photos on her camera, it would probably be very troubling for her."
"That's why I think it's better not to tell her," Hachiman said.
"I see… Hikigaya-kun, you're really…" Kushida spoke in an adorable tone. As she said this, Hachiman suddenly felt his left hand being gently enveloped by a pair of soft, delicate hands.
This scene again?!
Kushida lifted her head slightly, gazing up at him with moist, shimmering eyes from below.
"You're such a good person," Kushida said.
Alright, that's one more "good person" card added to the collection.
Since Hachiman knew Kushida was a ticking time bomb, he didn't believe she was just a simple, innocent girl.
Still, should he say that this was truly the power of a girl's charm? Even knowing that Kushida was acting, his heart couldn't help but flutter a little.
But—
Hachiman didn't think he had done anything so significant that it warranted Kushida making such a move.
While observing his classmates, he had also kept a part of his attention on Kushida.
Among the girls, Kushida blended in seamlessly, effortlessly fitting into any social group.
Among the boys, she was also quite popular—Ike Kanji had even said that Kushida was practically an angel.
However, Kushida had never done something like this to any of the other boys.
In other words—was she trying to win him over?
Damn it.
Did she see him as someone who needed this kind of approach?
Hachiman reflected on himself.
"But lately, Hikigaya-kun, you've been getting pretty close with Hirata-kun," Kushida said while still holding his hand, tilting her head slightly.
That pose was undeniably cute.
Kushida really knew how to make use of her strengths.
Alright.
Hachiman understood now.
Kushida wasn't giving him a "good person" card because he returned Sakura's camera.
This was about something else entirely.
Did she really have to interfere just because he had been interacting with Hirata?
"Horikita wants to reach Class A. I also think that if we can get to Class A, we'll be able to enter the universities we want without having to take entrance exams," Hachiman said. "So, after she got me involved, I decided to assist her."
"Then, because of the argument in class, Hirata met with me privately and asked me to avoid causing more trouble. He said if anything came up, I should let him know in advance so he could help coordinate things."
Since Kushida had made such an effort, Hachiman decided to answer her honestly.
"Oh," Kushida nodded. "I see."
"Yes, Hirata really values the relationships between his classmates," Kushida remarked.
Hirata and Kushida were quite similar—both were outstanding in many aspects, outgoing, and friendly.
They got along well with almost everyone.
And in class, both of them played the role of maintaining harmony among the students.
So they were the same type of people.
"But if it's about assisting, why didn't you come to me?" Kushida suddenly looked heartbreakingly pitiful.
…Eh?
Hachiman was momentarily taken aback as he looked at Kushida Kikyo.
Because what she just said sounded exactly like something a jealous girl would say.
Was she… jealous of Hirata?
Not good.
Hachiman quickly recited a mental mantra—'Girls are expert deceivers. The kindness and warmth they show might just be their default behavior toward everyone.'
So don't misunderstand, Hachiman.
And yet, he couldn't completely deny it—Kushida really was adorable.
Even knowing she was intentionally putting on her cutest act, it still made his heart waver.
Damn it.
Most likely, Kushida had simply placed him on the same "hard-to-conquer" list as Horikita Suzune, which was why she was engaging with him like this.
Which meant that everything up to this point was just her preliminary groundwork before making her move.
Understanding this, Hikigaya finally felt at peace.
Thus, his interaction with Sakura was supposed to have ended here.
That was how it was supposed to be.
.
.
.
The next afternoon, after school—
Hachiman was invited by Kushida. Her reason was straightforward—she wanted him to accompany Sakura to the shopping district because the camera had been purchased there, and she needed to take it for repairs.
However, she also wanted him to invite Horikita along.
She was hoping to use this opportunity to interact more with Horikita. The whole "if you help me spread rumors, I'll acknowledge you" thing that Horikita had said before? That was nonsense.
For the past two days, Horikita had continued to ignore her, so Kushida wanted to push things a bit harder.
And just like that—
Hachiman was tasked with bringing Horikita, while Kushida would bring Sakura.
Wait, wait, wait.
What the hell was this?
Some kind of new, bizarre play?
But considering that he was the one who had found Sakura's camera, Hachiman didn't refuse.
After all, Hirata had also said that getting to know more classmates wasn't a bad thing. Sakura was neither troublesome nor a nuisance, and Hachiman also hoped she wouldn't be afraid of him.
It wasn't like he was some kind of villain.
.
.
.
The school had only one electronics store, which held a monopoly on business.
However, during that time when Sakayanagi treated him to a meal, she had mentioned that she had arranged for students in her class to investigate the school's shopping district. It turned out that students weren't allowed to have part-time jobs or open stores there.
Right.
Besides the well-known restriction on part-time jobs, Sakayanagi had also brought up the topic of opening stores.
In other words, Arisu Sakayanagi had so many points at her disposal that she was already considering major financial moves like setting up a business.
As expected, she really was an unmatched, wealthy heiress.
Of course, it was also possible that they were trying to pool the students' points in the class for investment.
During their time at school, if they owned a shop, it would generate monthly profits, and when they graduated, they could either sell the shop or pass it on.
It was indeed a good business opportunity.
Moreover, working on something together created a sense of shared interest, strengthening unity and trust.
The students in Class A were truly sharp-minded.
With that thought, Hachiman shifted his gaze to his companions around him.
It was now four in the afternoon.
Students had already finished their classes—some went to participate in club activities, while those who didn't have clubs spent their time leisurely.
As for Hachiman's class, aside from Hirata, who had been recruited into the soccer club as a trade-off for gathering information from upperclassmen, the rest were still free agents.
Hirata had also revealed the true nature of school clubs.
If one joined a club and became a regular member, they could receive rewards from the school.
As a result, he received an additional 20,000 points for his monthly allowance.
It seemed that the school had prepared some financial support to encourage students to develop in multiple areas.
This meant it was a legitimate way to earn points, but only if one became an elite—trying to coast along without real effort wouldn't work.
Thus, only one person in their class had joined a club—Hirata.
From a certain perspective, it was very much like Class D.
However, as someone who had always been part of the "Go-Home Club," Hachiman had nothing to say.
But then—
"Um…"
"Hello."
Apart from the now-familiar Kushida Kikyo, standing slightly behind her was a girl with fluffy pink twin tails, looking a little nervous.
She was wearing non-prescription glasses.
Her face was smooth and fair.
It had to be said—what an impressive disguise, Sakura.
At a glance, she appeared to be a plain, introverted girl with low presence.
But in reality, she was an exceptionally beautiful girl, possibly even on par with Suzune Horikita in terms of looks.
And this confirmed something—once you had seen someone's real appearance, it was hard not to feel a slight increase in affection when looking at them again.
Hachiman reflected on himself.
But—
"Um, Kushida-san…"
Sakura seemed uneasy.
Her small hands were raised slightly, fingers loosely curled into fists, and the only person she felt safe enough to speak to was Kushida Kikyo, who was always a little angel to everyone.
"What's wrong, Sakura?"
Kushida put on an adorable expression, fully activating her aura of friendliness.
"Ah, you mean Horikita-san and Hikigaya-kun? I have something to do with them later. But for now, can we go together?" Kushida asked. "Or… are you uncomfortable with it?"
"Ugh… N-No, I don't mind." Sakura replied weakly.
But she clearly did mind.
She then lowered her head timidly.
Was she actually socially anxious?
No, rather—
Wait, wait, wait, Kushida-san, you didn't tell Sakura anything, did you?
This was a classic case of "acting first and informing later"!
But thinking about it, it made sense. If Sakura had known that both he and Horikita would be coming along, she probably wouldn't have agreed to go out at all.
Hachiman glanced at the black-haired, fox-eyed girl beside him.
"..." Suzune Horikita.
Yeah.
The fox-eyed girl was standing alone, and even by herself, she didn't idle—she was looking through a vocabulary book.
Hachiman happened to spot a particularly malicious English word—"abandon."
Today's Horikita Suzune was as cold as ever.
Thus, the four of them headed to the shopping district.
They soon found the only electronics store in the shopping district.
The school provided students with living expenses while also offering convenient spending opportunities—everything available in the outside world, including entertainment and leisure, was also present in the school.
And naturally, fundamental stores like an electronics shop were also available.
However—
Since the shop was within a closed school environment, customer flow was nowhere near that of an external store, so business wasn't particularly booming. After all, the total student population was less than five hundred.
Each grade had around 160 students.
And over the years, dozens of upperclassmen had been expelled.
That meant only a few hundred students, along with teachers and various shopping district staff, formed the store's main customer base.
And when it came to electronics—items like computers could last five or six years once purchased.
In other words, it was mostly a one-time purchase.
That was assuming every student even bought a computer, which in reality, wouldn't happen—having half the students buy one would already be impressive.
Especially considering that students from Class C and Class D might not have the money to afford one even after three years.
That said, Hachiman thought he might consider getting one for himself.
He wasn't particularly short on points.
Besides laptops, the store's best-selling item was digital cameras.
Digital cameras were more affordable.
The electronics store was located on the second floor of the shopping mall.
Since the school had plenty of space, the stores were generally large, and the electronics store was no exception. It also had a complete selection of products.
The goal was to repair the camera that had been stepped on by Sakura, and at the same time, Kushida also had some needs.
Hachiman decided to walk behind with Sakura. On one hand, since Sakura had social anxiety, walking in front would put pressure on her. On the other hand, this arrangement allowed Kushida and Horikita to walk ahead together.
This way, they could have a conversation.
However, Horikita completely failed to pick up on Kushida's intentions. When she noticed that Kushida was trying to talk to her, she simply quickened her pace and left Kushida behind.
"..." Kushida.
Kushida was utterly stunned.
She then turned back to Hachiman and gave him a sorrowful expression.
Seeing that, Hachiman also felt a sense of despair.
He had already tried to help, Kushida.
But what caught his attention next was Sakura, who was timidly following behind him, looking like a frightened little rabbit.
This was typical behavior of an introverted and socially anxious person.
That wasn't a problem.
However—
Hachiman felt that something about Sakura's state seemed off.
When she arrived at the entrance of the electronics store, her body trembled slightly as if in fear.
This was the reaction of someone afraid of something. If she were simply nervous about being around unfamiliar people like him and Horikita, she would have shown this behavior from the beginning, not just now.
"What's wrong, Sakura?"
Hachiman turned to her, noticing she had stopped in her tracks.
"I... um…"
Sakura hesitated, her expression filled with uncertainty and fear. But in the end, she said nothing. She simply took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down.
"N-Nothing…"
She forced a smile, but her body was trembling even more intensely, as if terrified of something.
Hachiman then shifted his gaze toward the inside of the store.
Shelves lined both walls, stocked with various products.
At the counter, a store employee in a red uniform was staring in their direction. He was a short, slightly overweight middle-aged man with rougher facial features than their classmate Yamauchi.
He even had a somewhat sleazy demeanor.
Hachiman also noticed that Horikita, who was walking ahead, had instinctively stopped in her tracks, her finely arched eyebrows slightly raised.
Although she didn't know why, she clearly disliked the way that man was looking at her.
But what caught Hachiman's attention was that the store clerk had already noticed their group entering the store.
However, his first target wasn't the exceptionally beautiful Horikita Suzune.
Nor was it Kushida Kikyo, who had the charming presence of a little angel.
Nor was it him—the only boy among the three girls.
It was Sakura.
From an ordinary person's perspective, what did Sakura look like?
She wore thick, non-prescription glasses, had twin tails, was dressed modestly, and was trembling slightly out of fear.
Was that eye-catching?
No, not at all.
"..." Hachiman.
"Sakura, did you come here during lunch break?" he asked.
"Eh?"
Sakura seemed a little startled by his question and looked up in surprise.
"Y-Yes, I did. But… um… when I bought my camera before, it wasn't—it wasn't this employee who helped me," she answered.
Oh.
I see.
Hachiman started to understand.
The reason Kushida accompanied Sakura to get the camera repaired—
Sakura had likely come here alone at noon, intending to get her broken camera fixed, but something prevented her from doing so.
In other words, she wasn't good at dealing with this store clerk.
And what about this store clerk?
Aside from his rough appearance, there was something unsettling about his gaze when he looked at Sakura.
His eyes burned with an uncomfortable intensity—
Something eerily similar to a pervert's stare.
Hachiman was surprised at himself for having to update his impression of this employee.
"Haven't you ever taken off your glasses outside, Sakura?" Hachiman asked.
"Eh?" Sakura was caught off guard by the sudden question.
That reaction meant she hadn't removed her glasses to reveal her real appearance, right?
Then why was this store clerk paying so much attention to Sakura?
Hachiman decided to test something.
…
"Welcome! How can I help you today?"
The store clerk had already taken the initiative to walk to the entrance. He grinned, putting on a business-like smile. However, beyond his unkempt appearance, his voice carried a greasy, unpleasant tone that made people uncomfortable.
Just like before, his gaze was directed at Sakura when he spoke.
"I… I…"
Sakura's body trembled even more violently. Especially the moment the clerk spoke, she nearly collapsed.
"We're here to repair a camera."
Having been pestered by Kushida all the way here, Horikita Suzune walked straight up to the counter, placed Sakura's black camera on it, then took a step back.
She wasn't afraid of people, nor was she introverted—she simply wasn't good at socializing.
Her personality often made Kushida complain about how rigid she was.
Now that they were here for business, she simply got straight to the point.
Seeing that Sakura was afraid, she stepped in to handle the situation.
"Hmm?"
As Hachiman was about to walk over, he suddenly felt something grab the back of his shirt.
Puzzled, he looked down—only to see Sakura gazing up at him with a face on the verge of tears. Her small hand clutched onto the fabric of his shirt.
This was the first time she had physically reached out to him, aside from speaking.
But Hachiman didn't take it as some romantic gesture.
It was simply an instinctive reaction—she was scared and seeking security.
In other words, between the store clerk and him, Sakura found him more reliable.
So, he had earned a "trust card."
Not that it was something to be happy about.
"You don't seem to be feeling well. Why don't you wait outside?" Hachiman suggested. "We'll handle this for you."
"C-Can I?"
That question alone made it seem as if Hachiman had just saved her. Her expression instantly became more animated.
"Eh!"
"But isn't that her camera?" the store clerk quickly interjected when he saw Sakura refusing to enter.
"She bought it from this store and has the warranty card. Does she really have to be present in person to get it repaired?" Horikita asked.
"Uh… no, not necessarily."
Perhaps Horikita's commanding aura was too strong, as the clerk found himself unable to argue.
Horikita Suzune was as cold as ice.
But this only further confirmed that something was off about this clerk.
Because no one had mentioned whose camera it was.
Sakura's camera had been in Kushida's hands from the beginning.
Horikita had taken the camera from Kushida, not Sakura.
While it was possible that the clerk had seen Sakura buy the camera when school started—
Would he really remember that long?
As Hachiman thought about this, he approached the counter.
His attention, however, was on the black camera sitting there.
Clearly, it was a display model.
There was a sign next to it with phrases like "20 Megapixels" and "New Arrival—10% Off".
A promotional item, obviously.
That alone wouldn't have been an issue.
However, after picking up Sakura's camera earlier and thinking about a photographer's daily life, Hachiman had actually borrowed a book about cameras from the library.
And from what he could tell—this camera was currently in shooting mode.
Moreover, given the angle, it was recording the counter's surface.
If a girl stood just a little closer, the camera would undoubtedly capture everything from her neck down to her abdomen.
Realizing this, Hachiman subtly positioned himself in front of Horikita.
Meanwhile, Kushida was outside with Sakura.
Was this a coincidence? Or intentional?
If intentional—then this store clerk was definitely not a decent employee.
…
Horikita placed the camera on the counter, along with the warranty card Sakura had prepared in advance.
The clerk picked up the camera and inspected it, then carefully examined the warranty card.
"There's no personal information on the warranty card. Please provide the owner's name, details, and phone number."
"But not yours," the clerk added. "The camera owner's."
Hmm.
It was confirmed.
This store clerk wanted to obtain Sakura's information.
He had an obsessive interest in Sakura. Meanwhile, Sakura was timid and introverted, but she was probably very sensitive to others' likes and dislikes, which was why she instinctively wanted to avoid any contact with this clerk.
That was why, when she came at noon and saw that he was on duty, she didn't dare to enter and hoped to come with Kushida instead.
But in the end, she discovered that he was still on duty.
"I'll fill it out," Hachiman pointed at Sakura and said. "I can fill in her information, right?"
Right now, Sakura was standing outside the store and wasn't here.
"Yes, as long as you provide the camera owner's information, that's fine," the clerk nodded.
So, Hachiman started writing.
But—
"Hikigaya Airi?" The clerk read the name he had written, as if trying to confirm it.
Horikita hadn't paid attention to what Hachiman was writing, but when she heard the name the clerk read aloud, she seemed a little surprised—though she said nothing.
"Is there a problem with Hikigaya Airi?"
Hachiman asked.
"N-No, not at all," the clerk quickly shook his head.
He then watched as Hachiman continued writing.
"Please provide a phone number as well," the clerk added. "In case there are any issues during the repair, we'll need to contact the owner."
"The camera was purchased only a week ago. Can't it be exchanged instead?" Hachiman asked.
"Normally, yes," the clerk replied. "But this camera was damaged due to rough handling, so it's not eligible for an exchange. By the way, are you first-year students?"
I see.
Yeah, right.
Hachiman had already confirmed—
This store clerk was after Sakura.
So after writing down a fake name, Hachiman provided his own phone number.
…
The repair would take a week, as it needed to be sent back to the manufacturer.
A regular store clerk wouldn't have the skills to fix it themselves.
"By the way, did you start working at this store just this year?" Hachiman asked.
"Huh? How did you know?" The clerk seemed curious.
"If students were allowed to work part-time here..." Hachiman trailed off.
But the clerk quickly shook his head. "That's not possible. Our store requires long-term contracts, and we're not allowed to hire students."
Is that so?
Hachiman had already lost interest in him.
He had gathered all the information he needed.
And now that they had handed over the camera, another girl with purple hair and two hair clips had entered the store, so the clerk went to assist her.
"I've been meaning to look at some electronics," Kushida said, taking this opportunity to enter the store.
Horikita, on the other hand, stepped out and stood with Sakura.
However, since both of them were the independent type, even though they stood together, they were merely waiting—neither speaking nor bothering the other.
There was a subtle sense of balance between them.
Meanwhile, Kushida was browsing laptops.
But the prices were quite steep—the cheapest one cost 40,000 private points.
For first-year students, that was nearly half of their monthly allowance for their first month at school.
Most people wouldn't be able to afford it.
The only one who could casually spend that much was probably Sotomura, the guy in class who had ranked the girls by looks earlier.
"If you earn points in the special exams each month, you can get a higher allowance," Hachiman said.
"…Alright, Hikigaya-kun," Kushida replied. "I'll cooperate with you in the exams."
Oh.
Did that mean he had gained a cooperation card from Kushida?
Though, compared to Hirata's, Kushida's cooperation card was far less valuable, so Hachiman didn't pay much attention to it.
"By the way... Horikita mentioned earlier that you wrote down the name Hikigaya Airi," Kushida said with a playful wink.
As if implying something.
Uh.
Normally, giving someone your surname meant marriage registration.
So was Kushida implying, Hikigaya-kun, what exactly are you scheming?
But that was completely unjustified.
Hachiman had no ulterior motives toward Sakura—he wasn't trying to take advantage of her just because she was a timid, introverted girl who was secretly a stunning beauty.
It had simply been a quick decision to deal with the store clerk.
And besides, this wasn't something that could be discussed openly here.
However, Hachiman noticed something—
The purple-haired girl who had just entered the store seemed to be looking to buy a laptop.
But the model she wanted was a bit special and wasn't available on the shelves, so the clerk had to go to the storage room to get it.
And while waiting—
That purple-haired girl slowly approached them.
"Kamuro-san."
Kushida, who was well-connected, immediately recognized the student from another class.
It was Masumi Kamuro from Class 1-A.
This Kamuro had previously come to Class 1-D looking for Hikigaya Hachiman.
But this time, she wasn't looking for anyone in particular.
"You all are really careless," Kamuro suddenly said to them. Then, she reached out her hand.
She opened her palm—inside was a black SD card from a camera.
...?
For a moment, Hachiman didn't react. Then, he quickly turned around and saw that the camera on the store clerk's counter was still powered on.
Kamuro also glanced in that direction before turning back, her expression stern.
Uh.
So that meant—Kamuro, when you distracted the clerk by pretending to buy a laptop, you actually pulled off something pretty incredible?
You stole the SD card from the clerk's hidden camera.
"..."
Damn.
So, when did you even do that?
Hachiman hadn't noticed at all.