Hearing this.
Wang Mei-Yu's expression dimmed.
Although it was just a small detail, it was clear that Sakura Airi still cared about that matter.
It made sense.
It's impossible not to care after being treated like that.
Being able to be like Sakura Airi and have no resentment was already very good.
"Okay..."
"Then Wang-san, please wait a moment. I'll let Hachiman and the others know."
After greeting Hikigaya and the others, Sakura Airi and Wang Mei-Yu left the school together.
"Hmm... Honami, I'll follow them to take a look. Please take a leave of absence for me at the student council."
After hesitating for a moment.
Hikigaya still followed them.
Although he didn't think there would be any problem, Sakura Airi's heart was still very delicate.
Palette Cafe.
"Does Sakura-san really not want to order? You can order whatever you like, I can treat you."
Wang Mei-Yu sat in front of Sakura Airi.
Clearly she was the one treating, yet she felt quite nervous.
She wanted to use money to ease her inner guilt, but unfortunately, not everything in the world can be solved with money.
"There's really no need. I don't have a reason to let Wang-san treat me."
Sakura Airi only ordered a cup of coffee and smiled indifferently:
"Wang-san, is there something you want to say to me?"
"Yes..."
After hesitating for a long time, Wang Mei-Yu took a deep breath.
She had to say it properly; not following someone else's advice, but because she herself wanted to do it.
"That..."
Wang Mei-Yu mustered her courage to speak loudly, but her voice wasn't as booming as she imagined; instead, it was a bit quiet.
"Sakura-san... I'm sorry. I have actually always wanted to apologize to you, it's just that I could never muster the courage, and I didn't know how to face you.
"I'm sorry. I did such a cruel thing to you during the last exam. I'm truly sorry."
Wang Mei-Yu spoke with her head lowered.
For some reason.
Having said it.
She felt as if something had been lifted from her heart, and she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Hearing this.
Sakura Airi was stunned for a moment.
After all, in the past year.
Aside from Horikita Suzune, no one from Class C had come to apologize.
Even Horikita Suzune's apology contained other motives.
Sakura Airi was naturally dissatisfied.
At the very beginning, she would even overthink, wondering if no one needed her, and if her expulsion was a good thing for Class C.
She never expected.
That someone would actually come to apologize now.
Clearly, Wang Mei-Yu had actually kept it in her heart all along, but she just lacked the courage.
This feeling.
Sakura Airi naturally understood, because she used to lack that courage too.
Honestly.
Though she felt she might be a bit too easy to talk to.
Sakura Airi still felt very happy.
Although Hikigaya had said it wasn't her fault, Sakura Airi couldn't help but think in that direction.
Being ostracized by everyone around her.
And having no one ever come to apologize made it feel as if she really had done something wrong.
After all.
Life in Class A was very comfortable.
Everyone around was very gentle.
As time passed, Sakura Airi no longer took those matters to heart.
But hearing Wang Mei-Yu's apology, Sakura Airi also felt a sense of closure; the one in the wrong was not herself.
Similarly.
The one suffering wasn't only her.
Wang Mei-Yu had probably been struggling internally over this matter frequently as well.
"Wang-san, please lift your head."
Looking at Wang Mei-Yu, who was huddled with her head down and shoulders hunched, Sakura Airi couldn't help but smile.
She remembered.
Wang Mei-Yu had many friends in the class, and she used to hang out with Karuizawa and the others.
She might be better at making friends than her.
Sakura Airi felt a similar part of herself in the other girl.
She wasn't actually good at socializing; she was just forcing herself to blend into the group.
"Eh?"
Wang Mei-Yu cautiously looked up: "Does that mean Sakura-san has forgiven me?"
"..."
Sakura Airi hesitated slightly.
Although Wang Mei-Yu's apology made her happy.
After all, so much time had passed, and she really didn't care much now.
Even if no one came to apologize.
It would no longer affect her life, so saying "forgive" felt a bit off.
Having spent so much time with Ichinose.
Sakura Airi had also learned a lot.
"Wang-san, may I order a Tiramisu?"
"Eh?"
Wang Mei-Yu was stunned for a moment, then immediately became delighted.
"Of course, please, please! Is one Tiramisu enough? You can order more if you want!"
"Mm, then I won't be formal..."
Sakura Airi nodded and ordered another dessert.
Being overly polite wasn't good.
Seeing Sakura Airi willing to let her treat, Wang Mei-Yu became even happier.
Soon.
The waiter brought out two desserts.
Afterward, the two of them became slightly awkward.
After all, their relationship wasn't good; they could even be called strangers who were coincidentally in the same class.
Even after receiving Sakura Airi's forgiveness, both of them didn't know what to say. Wang Mei-Yu was also the type who just followed what others said.
"Speaking of which..."
In the end, it was Wang Mei-Yu who spoke first:
"I never spoke to Sakura-san before..."
"That's true..."
Sakura Airi nodded.
"I used to see you hanging out with Kei and the others often, so I thought Wang-san would be someone much better at socializing."
"Actually, I only came here in middle school. At that time I couldn't speak Japanese (Sakurajima), and didn't have a single friend. It only got a bit better in high school, and I wanted to work hard to blend into the class."
Wang Mei-Yu explained with some embarrassment.
She hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"That... Sakura-san, can you tell me some things about Hikigaya-kun?"
"Eh? Why?"
Sakura Airi was instantly stunned.
Yesterday she had also heard the rumor about Hikigaya making a girl cry.
It was just that Hikigaya didn't say why.
She felt that Wang Mei-Yu should dislike Hikigaya quite a bit.
"Well... because."
Wang Mei-Yu's face flushed with some embarrassment:
"It's thanks to him that I was able to muster the courage to apologize like this. Before, I really liked to seek the opinions of others."
"But now that I think about it carefully, wasn't that just me having no thoughts of my own? So... I'm a bit curious."
Hirata and Ayanokouji's words.
Granted, they made her feel at ease and were comfortable to hear.
But they were of no use to her.
It was just escaping the current situation and pushing all the problems onto others.
Having understood this.
Wang Mei-Yu suddenly realized.
Hikigaya wasn't as loathsome as the rumors suggested.
After all, in Class C, she could only hear bad things about Hikigaya, so Wang Mei-Yu also thought Hikigaya must be a repulsive existence.
Although the things he said were indeed harsh and made people feel uncomfortable.
They made one feel a sense of sincerity.