Chapter 277: Heartbroken Sakura

Chapter 277: Heartbroken Sakura

"Huh?"

Seeing Sakura like this, Hikaru instinctively grabbed the nearby blanket and covered himself.

To save space, all the students' tents were relatively small. As Sakura entered, she had to bend down and crawl slowly.

The girl's faint fragrance filled the confined space, making Hikaru's throat tighten.

"Sakura... what's going on?"

He reached out to turn on the small lamp inside the tent.

However, Sakura's sleepwear was loose and fluffy, and as the light came on, the slightly open neckline revealed just a glimpse of smooth, delicate skin...

Hikaru almost coughed up blood.

But when he saw the tears on her face and her red, swollen eyes, he immediately snapped out of his trance.

"Uuuh..."

The girl pouted, looking at him with a pitiful, tear-stained face.

She had planned to question him fiercely, but as soon as she saw Hikaru, all her prepared words vanished, leaving only the grievance in her heart.

It was as if she was looking at the world's most heartless betrayer.

"Sakura... what's wrong? Why are you like this...?"

Hikaru's tone was soft and careful, as if afraid that a slightly louder word would shatter her completely.

But as Sakura crawled up to him, Hikaru noticed her tear-soaked cheeks and felt a pang of guilt.

"What happened? Why are your eyes so red? Who made you cry?"

Sakura buried her face in his chest, her voice muffled and trembling.

"Big brother... you won't abandon me, will you?"

She had been bottling it up for so long, but in the end, she could only say these words, as if desperately clinging to her last hope.

Hikaru's heart ached at the sound. He gently patted her back and whispered,

"How could I ever abandon you? You've grown up now, and you're so talented. I'm lucky to have you around."

"You're lying... You're not someone who would give in just because of that..."

Sakura kept her face buried in his chest, her hands wrapped tightly around his waist.

The warmth and softness pressed against his chest were making Hikaru extremely uncomfortable, but he didn't dare move.

It wasn't long before his shirt was soaked with her tears.

He understood—this time, Sakura was genuinely heartbroken.

There was no choice but to follow her thoughts and go along with it.

"Alright, alright... Tell me, what did Latias say to make you cry like this?"

The girl finally lifted her head, a few strands of her dark hair sticking to her tear-streaked face, looking incredibly pitiful.

Sakura pouted and whispered,

"Tell me... what exactly happened that day in Mizuki City..."

Hikaru hesitated for a moment, then answered honestly,

"I gave a speech at the university."

Sakura pressed on,

"With whom?"

"Yukina-senpai..."

"And what else did you do?"

"...We... hugged a bit."

"And then?" Sakura leaned closer, almost pressing her forehead against his, her eyes staring into his soul.

"N-Nothing else..."

When he finally managed to squeeze out those words, Sakura breathed a sigh of relief.

If Hikaru said so, then there must not have been anything more.

"You... you didn't accept her confession?"

Hikaru shook his head.

Now he understood why Sakura had suddenly burst into his tent in the middle of the night.

Her emotions gradually stabilized, and the tension in the tent eased.

Feeling somewhat reassured, Sakura relaxed in his embrace, her small body squirming slightly.

But Hikaru suddenly froze.

"Don't... don't move..."

Hikaru's face was flushed, trying his best to suppress the overwhelming feeling.

If she moved again, he really couldn't hold back...

Sakura, too, suddenly realized what was pressing against her.

Her cheeks turned crimson, and her voice became as soft as a mosquito's.

"Big brother... you're... pressing against me..."

Having recently lectured Latias about human physiology, she immediately knew what it was.

Hikaru felt both embarrassed and helpless.

"Can you... get off me first...?"

"No!" Sakura lowered her head and buried her face deeper into his chest, wrapping her arms around his waist even tighter.

"Big brother, I want to sleep here tonight..."

Hikaru was stunned and instantly blurted out,

"No way!"

"Why not...?"

Sakura lifted her head, her eyes full of stubbornness despite her shyness.

Hikaru took a deep breath and, without any room for negotiation, pulled her to sit upright in front of him.

"You need to understand what you're saying."

He straightened his face and said sternly,

"It was fine when you were a kid, but you've grown up now. Things can't be the same as before."

"Boys and girls are different..."

"And if you plan to... to..."

Hikaru tried to say, "If you plan to find someone else in the future," but the words caught in his throat.

He just couldn't say it.

"Mhm... Mhm..."

Sakura nodded repeatedly, as if suddenly being lectured by him had brought back memories of childhood when he used to scold her.

The dynamic had flipped entirely—she had come to question him, but now he was the one lecturing her.

"Do you understand?"

Hikaru couldn't help but feel a little relieved seeing her nod so obediently.

"So... can you go back to your own tent now?"

But Sakura shook her head stubbornly.

"No~"

Hikaru felt his headache intensify.

He wrapped the blanket around himself tightly and sighed,

"Latias is waiting outside for you, remember? You promised to sleep with her. Are you just going to leave her alone?"

Just then, Latias, in human form, popped her head through the tent entrance.

"I... I also came in..."

Seeing this, Hikaru was completely speechless.

"Latias! You too? Don't join the trouble!"

By now, Sakura was no longer teary-eyed or sad. Instead, seeing Hikaru clutching the blanket defensively made her burst out laughing.

"Big brother... are you afraid you can't control yourself?"

Hikaru's face turned even redder.

What kind of question was that? Of course he was struggling!

The space was tight, her presence was overwhelming, and his mind was a mess.

Unlike with Yukina-senpai, being with Sakura felt natural and effortless—there was no distance between them.

With Yukina, there was a sense of respect and restraint.

With Sakura... it was different. They had grown up together. They were close. Too close.

Sakura leaned in closer, her bright eyes glinting mischievously,

"Hehe..."

Seeing her cheerful face, Hikaru couldn't help but let out a sigh of both relief and frustration.

This girl... was going to be the death of him.

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