When Kushida Kikyō and Sakura Airi walked to the rest area beside the entrance of the electronics store, Hashima Hikaru made eye contact with the male store clerk again.
"Excuse me, clerk-san, could I ask you something about cameras?"
"Uh, what's the question..."
The clerk felt somewhat angry after seeing Sakura Airi being led far away from him by the short-haired girl, but faced with the calm inquiry from the young man, he remembered the earlier threat and quickly replied: "Could it be that this student wants to select a camera?"
"Of course, otherwise I wouldn't have come back a second time."
Hashima Hikaru shrugged, indicating that was indeed the case. After all, any answer that gained someone's trust would work. Since this guy was a clerk here, he couldn't possibly turn away a potential customer.
Logically speaking, since this artificial island was completely sealed off, the staff working here should have been selected in advance. Even if there was personnel circulation, it probably wouldn't be too frequent.
And Sakura Airi was a new student who had only been enrolled for a little over a month. No matter how you looked at it, this clerk shouldn't know her, unless he knew her before she enrolled.
But Sakura's behavior yesterday didn't resemble someone facing a familiar person at all. She not only showed fear, but also rejected his gaze.
This indicated that this guy very likely knew Sakura one-sidedly, while Sakura didn't know him.
After the young man quickly analyzed this in his mind, he used the photography knowledge he had crammed that morning to ask questions.
"Um, with cameras, is there a big difference between cameras for photographing people and cameras for landscapes?"
"There is indeed a difference. The parameters needed for portrait photography and landscape photography are quite different," the clerk began explaining his experience. "If you're a beginner, you need to find your own comfort zone."
"So for portrait photography, does the clerk-san have any recommended cameras?"
Hashima Hikaru continued asking, his gaze sweeping over the various camera samples on the counter, but he was actually paying close attention to the other's facial expressions.
"For portrait photography, I recommend this camera. Its parameters and effects are excellent in all aspects."
Upon hearing this, the clerk instinctively placed his palm on a pink camera that had been kept within reach. It seemed somewhat similar to Sakura's camera.
"What model is this camera? Is it expensive?"
After briefly looking at it, Hashima Hikaru immediately reached out to touch the camera, but was stopped by the clerk.
"That sample temporarily cannot be used by customers," the clerk saw Hashima Hikaru's movement, his eyes bulged, and he quickly took the camera back.
He awkwardly explained to the young man, "This camera was previously broken, and the repair parts are still on the way, so it can't take photos right now."
"Is that so?"
Hashima Hikaru touched his chin. This guy really wasn't good at lying. Despite clearly caring about the camera, he made up such a flimsy excuse.
If it was broken, why be so nervous about it?
Couldn't he just let me discover that for myself?
After retrieving the camera, the male clerk looked at Hashima Hikaru's contemplative expression and, feeling impatient, quickly asked: "Has this student selected the camera he wants to buy?"
"Well... let's wait a bit."
Understanding the other's hint, Hashima Hikaru showed an apologetic expression and replied: "My personal points are a bit insufficient right now. Maybe I'll come back next month to buy a camera. Sorry about that, clerk-san."
"..."
Although he was cursing inside, as a service industry employee, the male clerk knew there were certain things he absolutely could not say out loud, or he would definitely be fired.
"That's fine. If the student is interested next month, you can come back again."
"Mmm, I will. I'll be going now."
Hashima Hikaru left the counter without any lingering attachment and rejoined the two girls.
"I asked about cameras, but unfortunately they're a bit too expensive. For now, I'll just try using my phone."
The young man sighed with feigned disappointment and said to Sakura Airi beside him: "Phones can take photos too, right?"
"Yes, they can. Although not as good as cameras, they can still produce nice results."
Sakura Airi, who often took selfies with her phone, naturally understood the convenience of phones. Seeing that the young man seemed genuinely interested in photography, she voluntarily said: "If Hashima -kun really wants to use a camera, I can lend you mine..."
Seeing the blush on the girl's small face, Hashima Hikaru just calmly shook his head and replied gently: "I'm not in a huge rush. Let me try with my phone first."
"Since your camera is fixed now, why don't we go take some photos together later and see how it goes?" Hashima smiled and suggested to her, "Would Sakura-san be willing?"
"Mmm... that would be fine."
"Well, I have to go now. If you two want to take photos, go ahead."
Seeing these two somehow becoming photography enthusiasts, Kushida Kikyō didn't want to continue standing there being ignored.
The short-haired girl looked up at Hashima Hikaru's expression as if wanting to say something, but ultimately didn't speak. Instead, she said goodbye and quickly left.
"See you, Kushida-san."
"Well, looks like it's just the two of us now. Does that make Sakura-san uncomfortable?" Hashima Hikaru asked the girl softly.
"Not at all. If Hashima -kun wants to learn photography..." Sakura Airi tightly clenched her small hands, gathering courage to say, "I can provide some suggestions."
She had initially wanted to say she could teach him, but thought that might be too presumptuous, so she changed it to providing suggestions.
"Really?"
Hashima Hikaru's face showed delight, and with excitement in his voice, he said to the girl: "Thank you so much. If I have a guide to lead me, my photography journey will definitely go very smoothly."
"Thank you, Sakura-san."
"It's nothing, I'm not some amazing photography expert..." The girl shook her head, a blush reappearing on her cheeks.
Hashima Hikaru thought to himself that since she had said such things, perhaps he could strike while the iron was hot and push things a little further.
So the young man gently asked Sakura Airi: "Since we both like photography... can I become friends with Sakura-san?"
"!"
Hearing these words, Sakura Airi's heart immediately trembled. She looked at Hashima Hikaru's face with nervousness and shyness. The young man's demeanor remained gentle; all she could feel was considerate emotion.
"Friends... does Hashima -kun really want to be friends with someone like me?" Sakura Airi used nearly all her strength to ask this question.
"Of course I do. Sakura-san is willing to help me, so naturally I want to be friends with you," the young man gazed at the red-haired girl before him, his eyes bright.
"In that case... I agree to be Hashima -kun's friend."
Despite her shyness and discomfort, Sakura Airi still agreed.
She wanted to observe up close what kind of person this young man was—the first person who could make her heart feel so different.
"Mmm, so from now on, we're friends, Sakura-san."
After he spoke, the system notification promptly sounded.
[Due to shared interests and your gentle attitude, Sakura Airi has agreed to become your friend. Sakura Airi's stock price rises by 10 points, current stock price: 50.]
Not bad at all, Sakura-san.