NOVEL NEXT Chapter 118: Chapter 118
Chapter 118: This beautiful girl is actually Sakura Airi? !
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[The sandwich was sent by Horikita Suzune.]
"Ah?"
Rin Matsuoka showed a blank expression. "Horikita was here? When did she come? How come I didn't know about it?"
[At 7:08, the host was still half asleep.]
"Seven o'clock? Horikita wakes up really early. She already prepared breakfast before I even got up."
Rin headed to the bathroom, washed up, and changed into casual clothes. He then left his dormitory room with his phone and the flattened bacon sandwich in hand.
Although it was only 9:49, there was still nearly half an hour until his 10:30 appointment with Sakura Airi.
But when meeting a girl, it's always better to arrive early.
If the boy arrives first and the girl arrives later, she might notice him waiting and feel that he values their time together.
Based on the message Sakura Airi had sent him on Line earlier, they were supposed to meet at the pavilion about 300 meters away from the main entrance of the dormitory building.
This road wasn't a main thoroughfare out of the school. Plus, it was Saturday morning, so most students were either sleeping in or doing other things. As a result, the path was practically deserted.
Perhaps Sakura Airi, who was shy and timid by nature, had chosen this quiet location knowing it would have few passersby on a Saturday morning.
When Rin arrived at the pavilion, he couldn't help but show a surprised expression. He thought the girl waiting there was Sakura Airi...
But why was it only "thought"?
It was because the girl before him, with her bright red hair, was stunningly beautiful. Her fashionable and elegant outfit was a far cry from the "country girl" appearance Rin associated with Sakura Airi.
The girl under the pavilion had waist-length bright red hair cascading down her back. The morning sun filtered through the pavilion's roof, casting a dazzling halo around her hair.
Her upper body was dressed in a sky-blue pleated lapel blouse. The fabric, supported by her full and soft chest, was adorned with subtle pleats and lace, lending her a look of purity, refinement, gentleness, and simplicity.
Her pleated skirt hem fell gracefully to her knees, revealing fair, delicate legs. She wore thick-soled sandals, with her toes painted in light pink nail polish—subtle, soft, and adorable.
Looking at the girl sitting under the pavilion, Rin hesitated. He thought she must be Sakura Airi since no one else had such vibrant red hair.
But this girl's stunning beauty made her almost unrecognizable. She looked nothing like the shy, rustic Sakura Airi he remembered.
[Host, don't doubt your judgment—she is Sakura Airi.]
Rin, who had arrived half an hour early, had not expected someone to already be there.
The girl's translucent white skin and graceful figure radiated a quiet, ethereal charm.
Sakura Airi, who had been attentively watching the road, noticed Rin immediately. Sitting quietly like an elf in the forest, her face lit up with surprise when she saw him.
Standing up, she quickly walked towards Rin, her shoulder bag swinging lightly at her side.
The movement caused the full curves bound by her blouse to rise and fall gently with each step, creating a mesmerizing sense of rhythm akin to rolling waves.
As Sakura Airi approached, Rin Matsuoka noticed the light makeup on her pretty, fair face, which made her cheeks look particularly rosy, and her crystal-clear lips had a moist glow, probably from applying colorless lipstick.
With light makeup, Sakura Airi looked especially pure and beautiful.
The shy Sakura Airi mustered her courage and took the initiative to greet Rin. "Matsuoka-san, you're here so early."
"If we're talking about early, Sakura, you've beaten me to it. You were waiting here before I even arrived. How long have you been waiting?"
"Not long. I just got here," she replied.
In reality, Sakura Airi was lying. She had been waiting here for over half an hour.
Rin had decided to arrive half an hour early, but Sakura Airi was even more exaggerated—she had come an hour early.
It was clear that Sakura Airi was looking forward to today's meeting even more than Rin was.
"Well, you look so beautiful now that I feel like I have to confirm… Are you really Sakura?" Rin asked with a hint of doubt.
"Um… I'm Sakura Airi," she answered softly.
When Sakura Airi heard Rin say that she was beautiful, her lightly made-up cheeks flushed with a mix of shyness and joy. It was worth it!
She had spent three to four hours on her makeup and outfit, and it was all worth it!
Rin noticed Sakura lowering her head, her snow-white legs slightly closed under her pleated skirt, looking shy and demure. It was a heartwarming sight.
There was no doubt—this shy and timid demeanor was indeed Sakura Airi.
Although Rin had previously thought that Sakura Airi, with her plain "country girl" look, could become stunning if she dressed up properly, he didn't expect her transformation to be so dramatic.
She looked like an entirely different person!
If Sakura Airi were to dye her bright red, conspicuous hair into another color, no one would associate her with the plain and unassuming "country girl" Sakura Airi.
"Sakura, you're so beautiful. Why don't you dress like this more often?" Rin asked curiously.
"Because… I know I'd attract attention if I dressed up, so I…" Sakura Airi hesitated before continuing awkwardly, "That's why I deliberately dressed like that before. I'm very shy and don't want to be stared at."
Rin couldn't help but laugh lightly.
Most high school girls loved dressing up to showcase their beauty and elegance.
Sakura Airi, however, was the complete opposite. Because of her shyness, she intentionally dressed plainly to avoid drawing attention to herself.
Her approach worked well. All the students in Class D dismissed her as a dull "country girl" and paid her no attention.
The only exception was Rin Matsuoka.
Even when Sakura Airi dressed plainly, Rin treated her kindly, talking to her with a smile and discussing things she was confident and passionate about—like cameras.
Looking at her sparkling eyes filled with shyness, Rin suddenly remembered something. "By the way, Sakura, where are your glasses? Doesn't it affect your vision if you don't wear them?"
"Actually, I'm not nearsighted. Those glasses don't have any prescription. I wore them just to avoid attracting attention," Sakura Airi admitted.
"I see," Rin said with understanding.
Sakura Airi hesitated briefly, then looked at Rin uneasily. "Matsuoka-san, do you… prefer me with glasses?"