-77- It suits you quite well

Today, Sakura Airi also wore casual clothes.

However, Sakura Airi's outfit looked quite ordinary, just a regular top with jeans.

But even so, Sakura Airi still attracted the attention of people around her.

One reason was that the top she wore lifted up high, revealing an astonishing fullness, making many passing men gulp down their saliva.

Another reason was Sakura Airi's attire.

In addition to wearing casual clothes, Sakura Airi even wore a hat and a mask.

How afraid of drawing attention must this shy girl be?

"Um... um..."

Sakura Airi, who was discovered by Hori, stood still, looking flustered and unable to say a complete sentence for a while, which made Hori feel a bit sorry for her.

At that moment, Hori shook his head inwardly and spoke to Sakura Airi.

"Are you also going to Keyaki Mall?"

Hori proactively changed the subject.

"Y-Yes." Sakura Airi, feeling relieved as if she was saved, nodded repeatedly, a bit timidly saying, "I-I'm sorry for bothering you."

After speaking, Sakura Airi seemed to intend to leave, burying her head and preparing to turn around.

But before that, Hori called out to her.

"Sorry to bother you, Sakura-san, could you do me a favor?" Hori suddenly said, "I want to get the digital camera I found last time repaired, but I'm not familiar with electronics shops. If you know your way around electronics shops, could you please help me find it?"

Sakura Airi's body instantly stiffened.

"M-Me?" Sakura Airi said nervously, "W-why me? Compared to someone like me... Kushida-san..."

Sakura Airi probably wanted to say that it would be better to ask Kushida Kikyou instead of her.

With Kushida Kikyou's popularity, she must have already strolled around Keyaki Mall with her friends, right?

And Hori is closer to Kushida Kikyou.

So, Sakura Airi had this kind of thought.

"But, as you can see, I'm not with her right now," Hori shrugged and said, "By the way, I don't have Kushida's phone number, so I can't ask her to come along, okay?"

"N-no phone number?" Sakura Airi was stunned.

Perhaps this girl completely didn't expect that Hori wouldn't have Kushida Kikyou's phone number?

But Hori still wanted to say.

"My relationship with Kushida isn't as good as you think," Hori looked at Sakura Airi and smiled lightly, "So, can I ask you to accompany me?"

Upon hearing this, Sakura Airi hesitated completely.

There was no other way.

This girl is extremely shy and has communication difficulties. She looks timid no matter who she talks to.

Now, letting Sakura Airi go to Keyaki Mall alone with a member of the opposite sex on a weekend, the difficulty can be imagined.

With Sakura Airi's personality, she would probably stammeringly refuse and run away.

But this time, Sakura Airi gathered her courage.

"I-If I can, please let me accompany you."

Sakura Airi said nervously.

This shy girl chose to accept Hori's invitation.

Hori didn't find this strange or unexpected.

"In that case, let's go."

Hori just said naturally.

"Y-Yes!"

Sakura Airi nodded stiffly and then took a step forward slowly, approaching Hori.

Hori patiently waited for her to come closer, then matched Sakura Airi's pace and walked forward.

The two of them walked into Keyaki Mall like this.

And under Sakura Airi's guidance, they headed towards the electronics shop.

...

I don't know if it's related to Advanced Nurturing High School, but in Keyaki Mall, there's a very famous department store nationwide.

Due to its student-only audience, the store's floor space isn't spacious, but it has everything students need in their daily lives and possibly need in terms of electronic products.

The electronics shop Sakura Airi mentioned is here.

"The... the service counter is over there."

Sakura Airi and Hori maintained a somewhat subtle distance as they walked, and when they entered the electronics shop, Sakura Airi pointed in a direction.

"Over there?" Hori nodded, took out the digital camera from the inner pocket of his uniform jacket.

Sakura Airi's gaze immediately shifted to the digital camera.

Hori didn't look at Sakura Airi but, as if knowing this fact, he suddenly asked:

"Do you really like cameras?"

This question was undoubtedly very abrupt.

At least, for Sakura Airi, it was.

"W-why are you asking?" Sakura Airi's eyes shifted as if she were startled.

Hori could only marvel at the shyness of this girl and said:

"Just asking casually, you don't have to answer if you don't want to."

Hori's style remained as casual and non-demanding as ever.

Fortunately, this display seemed to ease Sakura Airi's tension.

"I... I don't particularly like cameras," Sakura Airi said, lowering her head, her voice very weak, "I just really like taking pictures."

In other words, the camera is just a tool, and taking photos is what Sakura Airi truly loves.

"I didn't particularly like it when I was younger, but when I was about to become a middle school student, my dad bought me a camera. After trying it out, I started to like it more and more," Sakura Airi said softly, "So, I'm not very knowledgeable about cameras, I just like taking pictures."

"Is that so?" Hori was somewhat surprised this time. "I couldn't tell."

Sakura Airi seemed to misunderstand Hori's comment.

"I... I also know that people like me who are inconspicuous aren't suitable for this kind of thing, but... but..."

Sakura Airi's emotions seemed a bit downcast.

It seems this girl is not only shy but also lacks confidence?

Seeing Sakura Airi like this, Hori couldn't help but sigh.

"Don't think too much about it, Sakura," Hori said. "If you really like something, you should wholeheartedly invest in it. I think it suits you quite well."

"N-Nanaya-kun?" Sakura Airi finally raised her head and looked at Hori, astonished.

"Okay, let's go to the service counter over there," Hori said as if nothing had happened, walking toward the counter.

Sakura Airi quickly followed.

However, as they approached the service counter, Sakura Airi's steps suddenly froze again, as if she were paralyzed.