Rewinding time a little.
While Sōsuke Natsukawa and Hiyori Shiina were enjoying a quiet reading time on the second floor, a study group consisting of Airi and the others was taking a break in a corner of the Library's first floor.
"Phew... Finally finished."
Miyake Akito put down his pen, let out a long sigh, and slumped into his chair.
"Me too..." Sakura Airi rubbed her aching wrists as she looked at the test paper filled with dense formulas. Although she was exhausted, a sense of accomplishment sparkled in her eyes.
Yukimura Teruhiko pushed up his glasses and collected their test papers. "Since you're done, I'll start grading them now. You can move around freely during this time, but keep it quiet and don't disturb others."
With that, he buried his head into grading mode.
Hasebe was currently resting her chin on one hand out of boredom, spinning a pen with the other, her gaze lingering on Airi's face for a moment.
"Hey, Airi."
"What is it, Haruka-chan?" Sakura blinked and looked over, somewhat confused.
"I know I asked before, but I'm still curious." Haruka shifted her posture, leaning forward slightly. "That Natsukawa... even though he's smart and looks decent, he clearly seems like a playboy Normie, right? Why are you so devoted to him?"
Hearing her friend bring up this topic again, Sakura Airi's face instantly turned red. She lowered her head, twisting the corner of her shirt with her fingers, hesitating for a long while.
If it were before, she would have chosen to remain silent or give a vague answer. But after spending time together, she could feel that Haruka genuinely cared for her.
Moreover... she didn't want her best friend to keep having a prejudice against Sōsuke; she wanted her to understand Sōsuke-kun's good points even just a little.
"Actually... shortly after school started..."
Sakura Airi took a deep breath and began to softly recount the past she hadn't mentioned to others.
About that terrifying electronics store clerk, about those malicious secret photos, and about the days and nights she spent trembling in despair.
And... the boy who appeared like a light.
"...He was the one who helped me drive away the stalker, and he was the one who taught me how to face my fears."
Sakura Airi's eyes sparkled with admiration, and a gentle smile unconsciously tugged at the corners of her mouth.
"If it weren't for Sōsuke-kun, I might... I might not even be at this school anymore."
"So, to me, Sōsuke-kun is special. No matter what kind of person he is, no matter how many girls are around him... as long as he doesn't drive me away, I want to stay by his side forever."
After hearing this, Hasebe Haruka was stunned.
She had originally thought Airi was simply being fooled by Natsukawa's looks or sweet talk. After all, that man looked like he'd be very good at making girls happy.
But she hadn't expected there to be such a story behind it.
"So it was... a hero saving the damsel in distress?"
Haruka murmured to herself, her feelings becoming somewhat complicated.
Though it was a cliché, in that kind of isolated and helpless situation, having someone stand up for you truly possessed a lethal charm that could make one fall.
"No wonder you're so deeply in love with him." Haruka sighed, reaching out to poke Airi's rosy cheek. "So our Airi was captured by a 'knight' after all."
"Ugh... Haruka-chan!" Sakura covered her face in embarrassment, the tips of her ears turning completely red. "D-Don't make fun of me..."
Seeing her friend's bashful and cute appearance, Haruka couldn't help but smile. The hostility she felt toward Natsukawa seemed to mysteriously dissipate a bit more.
'Tch, even though he's a scumbag, at least... he's a scumbag with a bit of responsibility.'
"What about you, Haruka-chan?"
Sakura Airi seemed to want to change the subject, or perhaps out of curiosity between girls, she asked back, "Haruka-chan, you're so beautiful and have such a great figure... have you ever had a boyfriend before?"
At this question, the smile on Hasebe Haruka's face faded slightly.
"No. Not once."
"Airi, you should be able to understand, right?"
"The way those guys look at me... it's really disgusting." Haruka frowned, making no effort to hide her repulsion. "The way they look at me isn't like they're looking at a person, but like they're looking at a piece of meat. No matter what I do or say, their focus is always on my upper body."
"That kind of gaze, filled with lust and filth... it just makes me want to vomit."
"So, I have absolutely no interest in ordinary guys whose heads are only filled with that one thing."
"Then... has Haruka-chan ever met a boy she liked?" Sakura asked cautiously.
"Liked?"
Haruka rested her chin on her hand, seemingly lost in serious thought.
"My standards are very high, you know."
She toyed with the ends of her hair, her tone carrying the pride of a beautiful girl.
"First, they can't be an idiot who looks at me with those filthy eyes. Second, they have to be mature enough, have masculinity, and be able to communicate on a spiritual level. Finally, they have to be easy on the eyes."
"Counting it up... the only one in class who even barely approaches that standard is probably Hirata."
"Hirata-kun, huh..." Sakura nodded. "He really is a good person."
Just then, for some reason, a scene suddenly flashed through Haruka's mind.
It was an afternoon a few days ago, when that always lazy boy had placed that Mont Blanc in front of her.
And the focused gaze he had, devoid of any ulterior motives, while explaining a problem.
'...Wait, what am I thinking?!'
Haruka shook her head violently, as if trying to shake the image out of her brain.
Am I crazy? That guy is a scumbag!
'How could I be interested in someone like that... I must have been influenced by the filter from hearing Airi's story just now!'
'Yes, that's definitely it!'
...However, just as the private girl talk was getting good, a harsh clamor broke the silence of this corner of the Library.
"Yo, aren't these the nerds from Class D?"
"Hiding here and secretly reviewing? How diligent."
Several figures swaggered over, blocking the light from the window.
Leading them was Ishizaki Daichi from Class C, with a few lackeys following behind him.
"Tch."
Hasebe Haruka's good mood vanished instantly. She clicked her tongue impatiently and looked coldly at the uninvited guests.
"The Library is a quiet place. Can you monkeys who don't know the rules get back to the forest?"
"Ha? Who are you calling a monkey?" Ishizaki Daichi's expression changed, his tone turning fierce. "Is this how you Class D people treat your seniors?"
"Seniors? You mean seniors who were held back?"
Haruka shot back without backing down; her tongue could be quite venomous when she wanted it to be.
"If you're here to pick a fight, then save it. We don't have time to play house with you."
"You woman..." Ishizaki was left speechless by the retort. In a fit of rage, he tried to step forward, but was blocked by the silent Miyake Akito.
"This is a public place," Miyake said coldly. "If you want to cause trouble, we'll call the librarian."
"Tch, who said we were going to cause trouble?"
Ishizaki Daichi's eyes darted around, and his gaze shifted past Miyake to the table in front of Yukimura Teruhiko, who was grading papers.
There sat a black notebook.