Chapter 468: Chapter 461: Post-Night Festival (Part 1)
In the photo, Tsukimi Sakurazawa’s smile was radiant and beautiful, her hands forming a heart shape towards the camera. Behind her, the world was a blanket of white snow. Her lips were bright red, her black hair and bright eyes so vivid that she didn’t seem like a figure in a pixel. Shirakawa Sawahei looked at this photo, slightly lost in thought.
It seems... it seems like I subconsciously made it a solo shot.
"Shirakawa~ why aren’t you done yet? I’ve been holding this heart shape until my hands are nearly stiff~"
He retracted those messy thoughts from his mind and replied softly.
"It’ll be ready soon."
For the solo shot taken earlier, Shirakawa Sawahei hesitated for a moment with his finger but ultimately kept it, not deleting the photo.
The group photo was quickly taken. Holding the DSLR, he quickly noticed that the cute little Ise Yu, acting as the Study Girl, seemed to bring him some talent in photography. After all, her selfie skills were not low, and even when lying on the sofa making poses with duck faces, the photos she took were quite adorable.
Shirakawa Sawahei toyed with the DSLR, curious about this new skill.
Ah, photographers... such a health-damaging profession... but sometimes they get perks, like often being asked if they want an extra drumstick.
Shirakawa Sawahei thought about the photo just taken and sighed with emotion, thinking that if he had this skill back during the summer seaside retreat... just by casually taking some photos, he could eat drumsticks every day for 365 days a year...
Now? Now, there’s no such benefit.
Unless one day Tsukimi Sakurazawa gets a whim and asks him to take some private photos... but thinking about it, such a request would usually only be bold enough for cute little Ise Yu to make.
The lazy girl naturally didn’t know what Shirakawa Sawahei was thinking at the moment. After taking the photo, she squatted down contentedly to continue designing the face for her precious snowman. The satisfied look on her face truly had a hint of maternal radiance. Shirakawa Sawahei was momentarily dazed nearby, then picked up his DSLR and also took a solo shot of the cutie.
Hmm, and a photo with Koyukina.
Tachibana Tomoku and Black Hearted Lolita were sitting in a warm place, seemingly engaged in a conversation, though it was mostly the little lolita speaking, and Little Invisible listening. Asano Nazuki, who was usually annoyed by her own sister and Little Bai, Shirakawa Sawahei, finally found a perfect listener, naturally started to brag a bit about her stuff.
"Tachibana, you know, I have a friend, she’s beautiful and cute, and her personality is super nice, but she has a rival, and also a rival with her rival..."
Tachibana Tomoku sat on the chair listening earnestly, her eyes focused, exuding a soft, cute aura like a docile puppet cat. Shirakawa Sawahei approached this scene and couldn’t help but chuckle lightly and called out.
"Tachibana?"
Hearing Shirakawa Sawahei’s voice, Tachibana Tomoku instinctively turned her head, and Shirakawa Sawahei seized this moment to capture a rare photo of Little Invisible’s glance back.
Yet, clearly a photo, Shirakawa Sawahei felt that the person in it had bright eyes, seemingly shining with luster.
Black Hearted Lolita was instantly displeased and quietly started grinding her teeth. Naturally, Shirakawa Sawahei didn’t favor one over the other and casually took a shot of her too. The little lolita was still in a dark state and caught off guard by the camera, her little face filled with astonishment.
"Little... Shirakawa! How did the photo turn out? Let me see!"
The girl came over persistently; she didn’t want her dark photos to be caught and kept by Shirakawa Sawahei. That wouldn’t suit Lady Kaori’s style at all. Shirakawa Sawahei, not allowing her to seize the opportunity, made a few perfunctory gestures then swiftly slipped away.
The Calligraphy Club’s four-slay achievement was unlocked. Next, he should look for that Great Demon King Hayakawa Kashi, who once considered joining the Calligraphy Club, to achieve his dream of a pentakill.
Of course, dreams are often beautiful, yet reality remains harsh. If Little Arrogant could be pentakilled so easily, she wouldn’t be called the Great Demon King by the little girls in the Calligraphy Club. Shirakawa Sawahei wandered around with his DSLR for a long time, but as night fell, he never caught sight of her.
Making a special call would be too deliberate, so Shirakawa Sawahei felt a bit regretful but resolved to keep this four-slay achievement for the time being, waiting for another way to achieve the pentakill in the future.
Don’t ask how, if asked, it’s just that you’re not right.
...
Amid the eager anticipation of many, the after-party festival commenced as scheduled; a massive bonfire was lit, and bright flames rose in the central open space. The students of Akihisa High School gathered around the bonfire, starting to enjoy one of the few festival celebrations in high school life.
Some people were chatting and laughing, some were playing and teasing, others hooked arms and started dancing. Laughter and joyful voices resonated nearby, and several tourist employees, onlooking from afar, seemed to recall their own youthful days, letting out sighs of nostalgia.
Ah, to be young is so wonderful.
In the snow-clad world, Shirakawa Sawahei watched the spectacle from the side, slightly touched in his heart. He was already in his second year of high school now. Come next April, during the season when cherry blossoms fell, he would be in his third year. By then, ordinary students would face the pressure of academics and could no longer immerse themselves fully in such celebrations...
Things like seaside retreats, fireworks festivals, summer comic conventions... by this time next year, they would probably be distant memories.
The lazy girl and the whimpering creature, along with a Black Hearted Lolita, had already gathered by the bonfire to warm up and play. Shirakawa Sawahei stood slightly further away, accompanied only by Little Invisible. He remembered when he was a freshman, a smile crept onto his face unwittingly.
So many things happened during the forest school period.
What did he say back then? No falling in love... Now, living with the lazy girl, surrounded by close female friends... this situation seems indistinguishable from being in a relationship.
Does this mean that studying well and not dating in high school is the ultimate flag? All the seniors couldn’t escape it, and I too am not immune?
He pondered and felt that his thoughts back then were overly naive. If that girl had clarified everything and confessed last night, how could Shirakawa Sawahei bear to reject her?
How could there be no feelings?
After spending so much time together, saying he didn’t like her would certainly be a lie, the kind that could be struck by lightning multiple times. Nonetheless, having feelings seemed to still not allow Shirakawa Sawahei to make a choice.
People are quite capable of deceiving themselves. Sometimes you feel the other person likes you back, but most likely, it’s just a psychological illusion.
"Tachibana?"
"Hmm?"
Shirakawa Sawahei chuckled lightly, "Don’t you think I’m bad?"
Tachibana Tomoku cautiously replied, "No."
"What if one day I turn bad and end up hurting others?"
Little Invisible hesitated for a moment, unsure how to answer this question.
"Then, then I’ll go apologize for you..." The girl blinked her crystal-clear eyes and softly said, "If you apologize sincerely, I’m sure you’ll be forgiven."
Shirakawa Sawahei sighed, reached out to gently stroke the Little Invisible Study Girl’s head, silently telling himself.
No matter what, he hoped not to hurt this tender-hearted girl.