Kiriko told me after school ended. She remembered it was some aloof individual who acted like he did everything by accident and was rude. Before he vanished, he told her he wanted to remain anonymous. I knew it then. I knew it was Sakurai-senpai who saved her. But..
Sakura blurted out, her voice a mix of nerves and eagerness, "Y-Yeah!! I know what you're di-doing, Sakurai-senpai." Her gaze was intense, almost piercing through him.
'What the hell, Sakura!? You sound like a mob boss! So much for gratitude!! And why can't I speak properly?! "What you did" — it's not that hard! This is a mess. He's going to think I'm threatening him!'
Yuuto's head tilted, a mask of calm curiosity on his face. "Again, I'm lost here, really," he said, trying to sound detached. "Are you on drugs, Exhibitionist?"
Yuuto: 'I'm fucked. I'm completely, utterly, butterly, fucked. I'm going to have to move to a different country. Put on a mustache, buy a tanning machine, put up a new website... Thinking about it, why did I put an image of me (although bald and glasses less) on a public website when I wanted to hide my identity? Unnecessary!! This isn't supremehuman-hero-man, where Carlak Kenneth is unrecognizable with glasses on. What was I thinking?!? Was I really that desperate for some publicity?! Wait, does this mean this girl... Was on the website!? Is she a customer?! Wait, she can't be... So what is this!?'
Frustration bubbled up in Sakura as she inadvertently clenched her fists. "It's not 'exhibitionist,' it's SAKURA, SA-KU-RA!" she corrected sharply. "You can't keep it a secret anymore, Sakurai-senpai! I'm onto you!"
Yuuto kept his expression cool, but inside, alarms were blaring.
'She knows I'm ANTI-NTR MAN!' he panicked silently, still managing to look at her with an unaffected gaze.
Simultaneously, Sakura's mind was a whirlwind of gratitude and determination.
'He's the one who saved me and Kiriko. I have to thank him,' she resolved, meeting his calm look with a fiery intensity.
Yuuto's face paled, a stark contrast to the cool demeanor he struggled to uphold.
The gears in his mind churned wildly. 'Eliminate her? No, impossible. She's too well-connected, too visible. Questions would swarm like bees to honey. And her friends... they'd know she was here late. Damn, Sato would vouch I was here too. Prime suspect, stamped and delivered. There's only one path left.'
"S-sakurai-senpai...?" Sakura's voice, softer now, broke through his frantic thoughts as she noticed his slight bow.
"...Could you... Please keep this between us?" he managed to say, the words almost sticking in his throat.
Internally, Yuuto conceded to his last resort. 'Begging it is, then.'
Sakura's thoughts spiraled into chaos.
'NOOOOOOO, don't do thaaaaat!! Now it really looks like I'm blackmailing him!! AAAAHHH!!! I just wanted to express my gratitude, and it's turned into a scene from a crime drama, WHHHHY!? But why is he even so keen on keeping this a secret!?! It was something heroic! No, focus, Sakura. You need to clear this up, tell him the real reason you're here...'
"L-listen, what I really came here to tell you is—" she began, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Sakura. Please, don't tell anyone, okay?" Yuuto's soft plea cut through her panic, his earnest gaze locking with hers.
Sakura's frenzied thoughts halted. 'He... he used my name...' A warmth spread through her cheeks, an unexpected blush. Taking a moment, she observed him more closely, reassessing the boy in front of her. 'So, he does have manners after all...'
'Hmmm...'
"Is it really so crucial to you that this remains a secret, Sakurai-senpai?" she asked, her eyebrow arching as she looked intently at Yuuto, sensing the depth of his earnestness.
"...."
'Tsk. I know the sound of this. One of the 11 commandments of what "Yee Shallth Not Do In A Vanilla genre". This is an NTR's best friend. Right now, I'm being... [Extorted]. This girl knows this is the biggest secret of the century, so she's going to apply the 'Oooooh? So, it's important to you that your boyfriend doesn't find out about this, huh? Well, if you're so hellbent on keeping it a secret, become my personal slut!' Technique! S-RANK!! WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT, I WOULD BE AT THE RECEIVING END OF THIS VILE TECHNIQUE!!'
"Then... I won't tell anyone," Sakura stated, a resolve in her voice, "but only if..."
'There it is,' Yuuto thought, steeling himself for the upcoming words, 'From here on out, it will be an all out game between me and that bitch. I'll have to outsmart her daily, while becoming her little puppet. BRING IT ON, NTR SCUM. I've written dozens of NTR Scenario pages, I'm ready for ANYTHING!!!'
"...If you promise to call me by my name and... try to be nicer to everyone."
Yuuto's eyes widened in shock as he bowed.
"....??"
The thoughts had gone silent.
A silence, then a quiet request for confirmation. "Could you say that again?"
"...just... be more respectful, and... call me by my name," Sakura's voice was softer, her cheeks tinted with a shy warmth as she looked away, "Please, don't make me say it again..."
"..."
Raising his head, Yuuto's eyes met the sight of Sakura, her demeanor shy, her fingers nervously twirling a strand of her hair.
"That's it?"
As Yuuto processed Sakura's simple request, the world's melody rose around them. The breeze whispered in his ears, birds sang with clarity, and the sunset painted the sky in vivid hues. Nature's chorus, louder than his inner turmoil.
"Uhhm..."
"I..."
"I suppose..."
"I can agree to that condition... But, I can't promise I'll be a saint to everyone. If someone picks a fight, I won't back down."
Sakura's face brightened immediately, her smile like the first rays of dawn. "A little effort is all I ask for! Now that we've settled that..."
Yuuto looked at her, puzzled by the sudden shift.
"?"
"Nice to meet you, Sakurai-senpai! My name is Sakura Takagi, a Second Year," Sakura beamed, her gratitude genuine. "I really wanted to thank you for saving Kiriko and me. Both of us, I believe, feel incredibly fortunate you were there." With those heartfelt words, she turned and walked away, leaving Yuuto in a rare moment of silent contemplation.
"Sakura," he called out, his voice unexpectedly causing her to halt and pivot back toward him.
"Hm?"
"I told you then. Call me Sakurai."
"...Hehe, Sakurai and Sakura. It sounds a bit odd, doesn't it?" she chuckled lightly, an ease in her tone.
"..."
"Well, I don't mind it, though. See you around, Sakurai!" With a cheerful wave, she turned away, her steps light.
Yuuto stood there, watching her leave, a whirlwind of thoughts briefly seizing him. 'Why... did I insist on that?'
'...'
'...'
"...Well." Yuuto finally shrugged off his confusion, taking a deep breath as he mulled over their interaction. 'So, she discovers a secret that rivals the mysteries of Area 51, and all she asks for is a bit of decency...? Suspicious... But for now, I'll play along.'
'It doesn't seem like she's a bad person,' <---- Also knows this because he built a profile on her by stalking 6 months ago.