Chapter 107 – Yukio-kun is the most important

Yukio suppressed the evaluation Ichinose had once given and stuffed the letter back into the envelope: "Did you read what's inside this, Sakura?"

"Um." Sakura's voice was particularly soft as she nodded: "I was very scared when I received it, so, so I opened it to look..."

"Ah!" Then, as if realizing something, Sakura became so nervous that she couldn't even bother with being shy, raising her head to meet Yukio's gaze again: "But, but I didn't think about agreeing! I didn't have any thoughts of agreeing at all!"

After explaining, Sakura once again lowered her head, emitting a soft whimper like a frightened fawn.

Yukio was also reassured, since it wasn't a threat and Sakura's online identity hadn't been discovered, there wasn't much for him to worry about: "Then keep it. If you don't want to agree, just don't. Contact me anytime if there's any problem."

Saying so, he handed the envelope back to her. Sakura awkwardly accepted the letter, feeling incredibly at peace upon hearing Yukio's promise.

It's hard to describe the feeling, like a deer that had lost its way in the city, being warmly guided back to the forest by a kindhearted person, feeling extremely safe once more.

Somehow, perhaps it was Yukio's words "Contact me anytime if there's a problem" that gave Sakura a tiny bit of courage: "Then, then Yukio-kun, could you, could you accompany me tomorrow? To go with me?"

"I, I don't even know who the person is, I'm worried, I'm scared... If, if Yukio-kun is there, then, then I won't be scared."

"..." Yukio fell into thought, understanding Sakura's fear. After all, the back of the gymnasium, according to the traditions of high school students, is a suitable place for confessions.

But for a girl to go to a secluded place alone indeed carries risks, yet Sakura is the undercover agent he placed in Class D.

An undercover agent, naturally, must stay out of the spotlight. If people discover him together with Sakura, it would raise considerable suspicions and alertness, whether it's regarding the leader candidate for Class D in the deserted island special exam or the preferential treatment exam.

Thus, Yukio quickly provided a solution: "Of course, I can. I will hide in the shadows to ensure your safety."

"Okay!" Sakura then smiled happily, her smile filled with joy and relief, along with a deep trust, and the obscure yet beautiful sentiments of a young girl's first love.

On that afternoon, Sakura kept apologizing to Yukio, saying she had been too willful, not considering at all whether Yukio had plans for the day. Her request for accompaniment was really thoughtless and troublesome for him.

Due to her nervousness, Sakura didn't arrive on time but wanted to come earlier to ease her mind, and naturally, Yukio also came early to accompany her.

"Pfft." Yukio couldn't hold back and chuckled: "If that's the case, why did you want me to accompany you yesterday?" Now, the two had arrived near the small woods by Gymnasium No. 2.

Coincidentally, it was right here where Yukio and Sakura got to know each other and later developed a relationship of superior and undercover agent, all because of this place.

If it weren't for Sudo and Ishizaki fighting in these woods, involving Sakura as a potential witness who might have had a camera, the two would not have had any intersection at all.

Returning to the scene, Yukio felt quite emotional, marveling at the mysterious ways of fate.

Seeing Yukio making fun of her, Sakura's face also turned red with embarrassment: "Yesterday, yesterday… I was too flustered at the time, I didn't, didn't think it through."

Seeing Sakura stuttering and becoming completely flustered, Yukio decided not to tease her further: "Alright, it was just a joke. Have you thought about how you'll respond to him?"

"..." When the topic turned to the agenda for today, Sakura seemed even more nervous: "I, I will reject him!" Despite being visibly tense, her words were resolute and firm.

"Even if, even if I'm very nervous, or such a rejection would hurt him, but..." Sakura said, casting a fleeting glance at Yukio, quickly looking away as her cheeks tinted with a shade of pink: "But I must reject him." (t/n: Sakura is really cute, isn't she?)

"Today's Sakura is especially determined," Yukio praised the little deer of the woods, wanting to encourage her further. Just as he was about to say something else, a drop of water, as if by sheer coincidence, fell through the branches and hit Yukio on the nose.

Realizing it was starting to rain, Yukio took Sakura's hand and hurried back. He remembered there was shelter near the gymnasium. Seeing this unexpected rain, he guessed it would probably pour heavily.

Plus, with the summer heat and frequent thunderstorms, it's too dangerous to stay in the woods during a thunderstorm. They couldn't stay outside any longer.

"Eh? Yukio-kun!" Before Sakura could speak, she was led by Yukio, feeling warmth spreading from his palm to hers, and then into her heart.

This unique emotion rose within Sakura's heart! It was tingling and warm, making Sakura utterly infatuated, unwilling to ever let go of his hand. Thus, without saying anything further, she simply let Yukio lead her in a light jog.

It was only when the rain hit her that she realized what was happening, and her gaze towards Yukio ahead filled with even more tender fascination.

Unfortunately, although Yukio reacted promptly, the rain was too sudden, quickly turning from a drizzle into a downpour, with the sky rapidly darkening and clouds gathering.

Accompanied by thunderous roars and lightning that made the gymnasium windows tremble, the only thing remaining between heaven and earth was an encompassing downpour.

By the time the two ran back to the gymnasium to take shelter, they were already half-soaked, looking a bit disheveled.

"How are you..." It was only then that Yukio let go of her hand to check on Sakura, but he found himself at a loss for words.

Due to the summer heat, both were in their summer uniforms, and the simple short-sleeved white shirts, once drenched by the rain, became a feast for Yukio's eyes.

The rain-soaked white shirt clung tightly to the skin, further highlighting Sakura's unparalleled "combat power," indisputably surpassing the standard of a high school girl.

"Hmm?" Just when Yukio was momentarily distracted, feeling something on his face, he snapped back to reality and realized that Sakura was very close, meticulously using a pink handkerchief to wipe the rainwater off his face, neck, and even his hair.

Not a single drop of rainwater was overlooked.

The closeness allowed Yukio to catch a faint, sweet scent, unique to Sakura. Facing her earnest efforts to wipe away the rainwater, Yukio didn't know where to look, shifting his focus instead: "Ahem."

"Sakura, you should wipe the rainwater off your face first. Don't catch a cold. I'm fine, a bit of rain won't hurt me."

"It's okay." Sakura was still so earnest, not at all like her usual shy and reserved self, as if she was wiping an ancient artifact worth billions: "Yukio-kun is the most important, I'm fine for now." (t/n: Yep, Sakura is the best.)

***

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