Seeing Amane's expression, Sakura shrank back a little fearfully.
"You don't have to take a photo… Could you just give my camera back, Miyako-san?"
Sakura wanted to retrieve her camera, but Amane acted as though she hadn't heard, continuing to flip through the photos stored inside with her head lowered.
Sakura really wanted to just snatch it back.
But sadly, she didn't have that kind of courage.
She hesitated. In this situation, if she didn't do as Amane said, she probably wouldn't get her camera back easily—and worse, the contents might get leaked.
The only way was to agree to Amane's request.
But…
There were already some rumors about Amane circulating in class.
Yeah.
The rumors about Amane were the kind where girls were warned to carry a stick when going out, just in case something bad happened.
Sakura hadn't paid them much mind before.
But she never expected that one day she'd find herself in this kind of situation.
"Just… just one photo, okay?"
Only when Sakura agreed did Amane seem to snap out of it.
"Huh? Really? You're not just saying that, are you, Sakura-san?" Amane slipped one hand into her pocket.
"N-no, it's fine. I'm agreeing voluntarily, Miyako-san. But you have to promise to keep it a secret and return my camera."
Seeing how cooperative Sakura was being, Amane broke into a smile.
"Don't worry, don't worry—I've got a good sense of honor."
With that, Amane walked over to Sakura.
Then, to the latter's stunned surprise, she began taking off Sakura's school uniform.
"Miyako-san, what are you doing?!" Sakura hurriedly retreated to a corner, glaring at Amane with a mix of anger and panic.
They'd clearly agreed no touching…
Oh no!!
It suddenly hit Sakura—their agreement hadn't actually specified that Amane couldn't touch her.
Don't tell me Miyako-san is going to…
"I think a different style would suit you better."
At first, she'd thought Amane was going to do something unspeakable to her. But now it seemed like she just wanted to change her outfit?
Could it be… she'd misunderstood?
No way she could've misunderstood!
Right now, Sakura only had her outer blazer and a swimsuit on.
How was she supposed to change her outfit?
It's not like she could wear the blazer underneath…
Amane came closer to Sakura, who was crouched in the corner, and draped the school blazer over her shoulders like a shawl.
"Try crossing your arms."
Amane looked at her with an encouraging gaze.
Sakura met her eyes for a few seconds, then slowly stood up and shyly folded her arms.
It had to be said—Sakura's figure was seriously unreal.
She's probably a whole block ahead of Kikyō-chan.
Was she raised on nothing but papaya?
Seeing Sakura in her swimsuit, arms crossed, highlighting her delicate curves right in front of the lens, Amane didn't hesitate to press the shutter.
Click.
Even though she'd braced herself for it, Sakura hadn't had someone take her picture in a long time.
The moment she heard the shutter sound, she instinctively turned her face away.
Realizing she shouldn't have dodged, she quickly turned back toward the camera.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to—"
"It's perfect."
"Huh?"
Seeing how entranced Amane looked as she stared at the screen, Sakura grew curious and stepped closer.
When she saw the photo in the album, she couldn't help but gasp softly and cover her mouth with her hand.
There, in the sunset glow, stood a girl in a swimsuit with a wine-red school blazer draped over her shoulders, her face slightly flushed as she gazed into the distance.
The most striking parts of her figure, along with her long red hair, were tinged gold by the fading sunlight.
It looked… unusually captivating.
Less of that fragile air, a bit more spirited and cool.
Even Sakura herself found it hard to believe.
From a technical standpoint, the photographer's skill was remarkably steady—easily on par with the photographers she'd worked with before.
But that turning-away reaction of hers had been completely instinctive.
Yet Amane's timing was unaffected.
She'd only turned her head after hearing the shutter sound.
Who would've thought Amane's reflexes were even faster than hers? She'd already shifted to a position that made perfect use of the outdoor lighting.
Ever since she started taking photos on her own, Sakura had begun studying photography techniques.
That was when she realized how much effort went into getting one good shot—she often needed two whole hours of editing for a picture she was satisfied with.
But Amane had nailed it in one take.
I never knew Amane-san was this skilled…
Totally unaware that Sakura was praising her inwardly, Amane was lost in her own thoughts.
Something's off about those glasses…
Normally, seeing Sakura wear those frumpy frames, she really didn't stand out much.
But the moment she took them off, it was like her beauty was unleashed. With looks like that, she could probably outshine some idols, couldn't she?
And she was surprisingly photogenic.
Even if she were in movies, you might not see her in the most mainstream roles, but Sakura-san could totally pull off a leading lady vibe.
So why did she wear those plain, clunky glasses?
Could it be… a form of self-protection?
"Miyako-san?"
Noticing Amane spacing out, Sakura called her name softly.
Hearing Sakura's voice, Amane snapped back to reality.
"Sorry, sorry! You're just too cute, Sakura-san—I got a little mesmerized." In her mischievous mode, words like these came to Amane almost effortlessly.
The inexperienced Sakura blushed on the spot.
"N-no, not at all… I think I'm pretty average. If anything, I think Miyako-san is the cute one."
Sakura wasn't lying.
Amane, who drifted between different cliques every day and often popped up around Horikita, really did come across as a lively, cute girl.
"Well, I do think I'm kinda cute too," Amane admitted, puffing her chest out a little with pride. If her thick skin got any worse, she'd have no rivals left in the whole school.
But Sakura just thought she was joking and let out a soft giggle behind her hand.
Then she remembered something.
"Miyako-san, about the camera, as we agreed…"
The whole reason she'd agreed to the photo was to get her camera back.
"Of course, no problem! But I'd like to keep a copy of this one," Amane said, pointing at the picture she'd just taken.
"Why that one?"
Although it was really beautiful, there were far bolder photos in her camera.
If Amane had some kind of intention, she probably wouldn't pick this one, right?
As if sensing Sakura's doubt, Amane explained: "Well, because I took this one myself—of course I want to keep it. This way, whenever I see it, I'll remember the time I met a beautiful girl named Sakura Airi under the sunset."
The only reason she now knew her full name was Sakura Airi was definitely not because she'd just spotted a photo in the camera that showed the corner of Sakura's school bag.
On the tag on the back of the bag was written: Sakura Airi.
That saved Amane, who'd only remembered her as "Sakura."
Lately, she hadn't been in good form—her memory was slipping badly.
Come to think of it, hadn't Suzune asked her to do something today, too?
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.