[Shikime Natsu: Airi, how is the situation with Horikita?]
Only a few seconds after the message was sent, Sakura Airi's reply popped up.
[Sakura Airi: Natsu, wanting to make friends with Horikita-san is still quite difficult.]
[Sakura Airi: Although on the surface she is the one actively approaching me, in reality, every time we chat, I need to take the initiative to keep the topic going~]
Even with just text, Shikime Natsu could imagine the girl's helplessness. Horikita Suzune's communication level was probably still at the "three sentences" stage, right?
Asking someone with Horikita Suzune's personality to actively maintain a conversation was indeed asking a bit too much.
[Sakura Airi: In order to cooperate with Natsu's plan, I am working really hard~]
[Sakura Airi: So, Natsu must properly compensate me.]
Sakura Airi did not hesitate to ask Shikime Natsu for remuneration. She had worked so hard, after all; she needed to receive Shikime Natsu's concern to have the motivation to keep striving.
Shikime Natsu chuckled lightly, his fingers tapping rapidly on the screen.
[Shikime Natsu: Of course.]
[Shikime Natsu: But before that, I want to know how Horikita performed in the class today specifically?]
Sakura Airi soon sent a large block of text, describing in detail what happened in Class D today.
In the morning, Kushida Kikyou waited until everyone in Class D had arrived before announcing the news that the past exam questions could continue to be used. She said the problem with the second years had been solved, and everyone could be at ease.
Then, everyone in Class D praised Kushida Kikyou for her capability, saying she had helped everyone immensely. In short, in the eyes of the Class D students, Kushida Kikyou was like a saint descending to the world, and her status in their hearts rose in a straight line.
However, there were also those who made invidious comparisons, saying that compared to Horikita Suzune, Kushida Kikyou was indeed better. She could solve this kind of huge trouble, unlike a certain someone who couldn't even handle a small matter well and almost turned the past exam questions, which cost everyone over ten thousand Private Points, into waste paper.
Even though Sakura Airi didn't name names in the message, Shikime Natsu didn't even need to think to know that the person who could say such brainless words would be no one else but that Yamauchi Haruki.
This is what is meant by "the shadow of a tree, the name of a person."
In this class, Yamauchi Haruki was the synonym for "stupid" and "shit-stirrer."
[Shikime Natsu: Did Horikita react at the time?]
[Sakura Airi: No change at all.]
[Sakura Airi: It was like she didn't hear it, no expression change on her face.]
As expected.
Shikime Natsu nodded.
It had to be said that Horikita Suzune's superficial skills had indeed grown quite a lot. Even when being mocked with passive-aggressive remarks in front of the class, she could actually manage to keep her face unchanged and her heart rate steady.
No, it should be said that in the current Horikita Suzune's heart, trash like Yamauchi Haruki probably didn't even count as a "human" worth caring about.
To her, the evaluation of such people was just like a dog barking by the roadside; it wasn't worth her wasting even a shred of emotion.
[Sakura Airi: Then during break time, Horikita-san continued to communicate with the people you designated using three sentences, following Natsu's instructions.]
[Sakura Airi: It didn't look much different from usual, still very business-like.]
Speaking of this, Sakura Airi seemed to find it somewhat funny and sent a snickering sticker.
The current Horikita Suzune didn't even use the small notebook she originally used for recording much anymore; basically, she used her phone to report the daily progress directly to Shikime Natsu.
As for the chatting style... it remained about the same as in the beginning.
First, she would stiffly call the other person's name, startling them. Then, the other party would ask "What is it?" with a confused face. Finally, Horikita Suzune would rack her brains to find a different topic to force a conversation.
If not for Shikime Natsu forcibly giving her a strict order beforehand, strictly forbidding the use of repeated dialogue—for example, she couldn't ask nonsense like "How is the weather today" every time—otherwise, with Horikita Suzune's stubborn brain, she would probably really treat this as a formula problem to solve, completing the task mechanically every day.
[Shikime Natsu: By the way, has Horikita really not noticed all this time?]
[Shikime Natsu: That while it seems she is choosing you as a target for friendship, in reality, you are actively cooperating with her, or rather, you are choosing her?]
[Sakura Airi: Hehe, Natsu, don't look down on my disguise skills.]
[Sakura Airi: Before discovering that Natsu was also a student at this school and revealing my true self, I had always perfectly played the role of an honest, duty-bound, plain female student with thin presence. No one has ever seen through it.]
This was the truth.
When it came to the skill of disguise, Sakura Airi and Kushida Kikyou really were evenly matched.
It was just that wearing that "angel" mask for too long caused too much pressure to accumulate in Kushida Kikyou's heart. She needed to find a place with no people to vent her anger from time to time, and if she were seen, she would be easily exposed.
But Sakura Airi had absolutely no such distress.
The "transparent little nobody" role she played didn't require deep communication with too many people in the first place; it could even be said that she was deliberately lowering her own presence.
This kind of unattractive disguise was actually more natural, and the girl wouldn't accumulate too much resentment in her heart.
Of course, this was under normal circumstances. If a fool like Yamauchi Haruki really did something that broke through the lower limit of human intelligence or made people feel extremely disgusted, it wasn't impossible that Sakura Airi couldn't help but explode.
Horikita Suzune disliked Kushida Kikyou because Kushida Kikyou had that sense of purpose, but... she chose Sakura Airi, who also had a purpose. It was evident that Sakura Airi's disguise was a cut above.
[Shikime Natsu: Then, do you think it's possible for Horikita to truly become friends with you, as well as Mei-Yu Wang, before June?]
[Sakura Airi: If we leave it to Horikita-san to take the initiative, I estimate it will be very difficult.]
[Sakura Airi: No matter how much I cooperate, with her current progress and mindset, let alone June, I'm afraid she won't be able to do it even in a year.]
[Sakura Airi: Wang-san has unilaterally treated Horikita-san as a friend, but for Horikita-san, Wang-san is still just a classmate, far from being a friend. When they stand together, they don't look like friends.]
[Sakura Airi: It's the same for me. Although I approached her with a purpose, I did go in with the mindset of becoming friends.]
[Sakura Airi: But, Natsu, I really can't feel even a little bit of a 'friend' feeling from Horikita-san.]
Even if Sakura Airi couldn't clearly define what a "friend feeling" was, she at least knew very well that the current Horikita Suzune didn't give her any such feeling.
It was as if there was a lamentable, thick barrier between the two.
[Sakura Airi: So, what I mean is, if we want to achieve the goal, I must take some special actions on my side.]
Shikime Natsu looked at the text on the screen, lost in thought.
He also understood clearly what Sakura Airi wanted to express. After all, being in Class A, he couldn't pay attention to the situation in Class D at all times. Horikita Suzune's social mission, for the time being, could only be fully entrusted to Sakura Airi.
As for Kushida Kikyou?
Although that two-faced person had full marks in social skills, she and Horikita Suzune were fundamentally repulsed by each other. There was simply no hope of her sincerely helping Horikita Suzune make friends; thanking the heavens if she didn't cause trouble was enough.
And as for Horikita Suzune, she wouldn't be willing to make friends with Kushida Kikyou either. Regarding Mei-Yu Wang, Shikime Natsu hadn't made any special moves, since Mei-Yu Wang was essentially a kind girl.
As long as things developed naturally, if Sakura Airi completed her part here, then Mei-Yu Wang's side would be completed naturally. Or perhaps, the more natural Mei-Yu Wang might even become friends with Horikita Suzune first.
[Shikime Natsu: Then what do you plan to do?]
[Sakura Airi: Does Natsu remember saying just now that you would compensate me?]
[Shikime Natsu: Of course I remember. What do you want?]
[Sakura Airi: This weekend, Natsu, accompany me and Horikita-san to buy clothes together, okay?]
[Sakura Airi: Girls going shopping for clothes together is the fastest way to improve their relationship.]
[Sakura Airi: And then... I hope Natsu can pick out clothes for me and give me some good advice~]
Shikime Natsu raised an eyebrow.
A three-person date? And bringing Horikita Suzune along?
[Shikime Natsu: Horikita definitely won't agree, right?]
If it were just acting together with Sakura Airi, Horikita Suzune probably wouldn't mind. After all, Horikita Suzune still had her own mission: to make three friends before June.
In order to make friends, even if it meant wasting time on shopping on the weekend, Horikita Suzune would probably agree.
It had to be said, Horikita Suzune was a bit like a player who would only complete tasks according to the quest guide.
[Sakura Airi: I naturally have a way to solve this matter, Natsu doesn't need to worry.]
[Sakura Airi: Natsu just needs to promise me, and free up your precious time for me.]
This tone really was full of confidence.
Shikime Natsu smiled.
[Shikime Natsu: Alright, I'm free this Sunday, so I'll accompany you guys.]
[Sakura Airi: OK! Then I'll plan the itinerary, and Natsu just has to follow my arrangements when the time comes~]
Looking at the energetic sticker on the phone screen, Shikime Natsu couldn't help but feel somewhat emotional.
Sakura Airi really was a girl who didn't require one to worry.
The current her, compared to the Sakura Airi who was submissive and needed him to guide her step by step when they first met online, was simply like two different people.
In just such a short time, she had actually undergone such a huge change, even starting to guide the development of events.
This made Shikime Natsu have to sigh with emotion; his training... oh no, his guiding ability was truly formidable.
Then, the matter of helping Horikita Suzune change should also go very smoothly, right?
Just then, Sakura Airi sent another photo.
Shikime Natsu clicked it open, and his gaze was instantly captivated.
In the photo, Sakura Airi was wearing a slightly loose white shirt. The collar seemed to have "inadvertently" opened a bit slightly, revealing a large expanse of snow-white, delicate skin, as well as that cleavage that devoured one's gaze.
She made an expression at the camera that was somewhat shy yet carried a few points of boldness. Looking at this appearance, Shikime Natsu really began to doubt whether Sakura Airi was truly shy. After all, she dared to send even this kind of photo to him.
This photo could be said to be quite conducive to daydreaming.
[Sakura Airi: Natsu, do you think this outfit suits me?]
Shikime Natsu's lips hooked up slightly, and his fingers replied quickly.
[Shikime Natsu: Very suitable.]
Even if it was just two simple words, the girl on the other end of the screen could still feel the appreciation within them.
[Sakura Airi: (Smile.jpg)]
Inside the dormitory.
Sakura Airi looked at the brief reply on the phone screen, and a sweet smile appeared at the corners of her mouth.
She put away the phone, pulled up the collar that had slipped down somewhat, and then lay on the bed in a relaxed manner, hugging a pillow and rolling around on the bed once.
In her mind, she involuntarily recalled Shikime Natsu's handsome face.
Just thinking that she could see Natsu again this Sunday, and go shopping together at that, filled her heart with anticipation.
Actually, Sakura Airi had originally thought about just dragging Shikime Natsu along for a two-person date.
How good would that be? Only him and her, without any third wheels.
But... that wouldn't work.
A trace of shrewdness inconsistent with her appearance flashed through the girl's eyes.
She wanted to declare her sovereignty over Shikime Natsu.
Even though she knew that Shikime Natsu cared about Horikita Suzune largely because of Horikita Manabu, that level of attention still made her feel a trace of a sense of crisis.
Since that was the case, then let Horikita Suzune see it with her own eyes.
Let her see the intimate relationship between herself and Shikime Natsu, directly cutting off any thought Horikita Suzune might have of developing a further relationship with Shikime Natsu.
Even if Horikita Suzune originally had no interest in Shikime Natsu, seeing the relationship between herself and Shikime Natsu, she would definitely have even less interest.
It was just a pity... Shikime Natsu was quite popular in this school, communicating with almost every cute girl in the school.
The way those guys looked at Shikime Natsu was quite off; they completely wanted to possess Shikime Natsu.
Especially since Shikime Natsu was ranked number one in looks among the school's boys. Now, presumably, every girl in the school had Shikime Natsu's photo, right?
Damn it!
However... Sakura Airi also vaguely sensed that Shikime Natsu didn't seem to have plans to stop for a single girl alone. Maybe he wanted to build a harem?
Sakura Airi had read a bit of light novels; boys seemed to be quite enthusiastic about things like building a harem. And even though she had sent so many of her own service photos to Shikime Natsu, Shikime Natsu still hadn't shown an appearance of being considerably interested. Obviously, he wanted to build a harem.
But...
Even knowing this point, compared to sharing Shikime Natsu with other girls who popped out from who knows where, that most truest desire deep in Sakura Airi's heart was still shouting.
She wanted to monopolize.
Even if it was just a tiny chance, she wanted to try to monopolize that gentleness.
"Natsu..."
The girl buried her face in the pillow, murmuring that name softly, her hands wrapping around to hug the quilt beneath her.
____
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