Chapter 9: Tender Foot Mistakenly Steps on Precision Gear, Footplay Plan Trades for Smiles

No way.

They didn’t see that wrong, did they?

This girl—worried about others, saying sappy things, eyes tinged with concern—was that really Shizuku Sakurai?

The delinquent girl?

“No… my knockoff battery must’ve exploded, and I’m probably in a coma at the hospital.”

The camera guy couldn’t believe his eyes.

To confirm this was real, he turned his camera—originally aimed at the posing girl—toward Shizuku Sakurai, recording to prove what he saw was true.

But his actions pissed off the girl nearby.

“Don’t talk nonsense. If you’re in a coma, you’d be isekai’d playing otome games, not here getting milked by me for photoshoots!”

She hooked her foot, glaring at him, trying to nudge his lens with her toes.

But either her angle was off, or the camera guy didn’t guard his precious gear well enough.

A light-colored sock brushed his lens, fogging it with a hazy mist, smudging the once-clear view with dirt.

Her foot soiled his lens.

“Ah! F*ck! You son of a b*tch! Do you know what you did?!”

The camera guy flew into a rage.

Clutching his smudged lens, he glared at the confused girl, fury boiling inside.

He’d woken early to shoot for quick cash to buy a Holy Grail.

But now?

His lens was ruined, and so was his mood!

“No way! You gotta pay up! This lens is my baby—you owe me something of equal value!”

He reached for the girl, ready to pounce.

But before his arms got halfway, a boy grabbed his wrist.

“Hold up, that’s a bit much.”

“Too much? What’s too much, Su Buyu? She trashed my lens, so I take her first time. What’s the issue?”

The camera guy eyed Su Buyu’s furrowed brow, baffled by his interference.

Su Buyu was even more baffled by his logic, momentarily speechless.

Sure, she messed up.

But paying that price? No way.

He had to find a solution.

Su Buyu fell silent, thinking of a way out.

But the camera guy wasn’t having it.

“She screwed up first. You siding with her, planning something crazy against me?”

“Let’s be clear—I’m into feet. I’ve got no interest in a gloomy guy’s toes!”

He tried shaking off Su Buyu’s grip.

But with a tug, his arm didn’t budge, caught in a vice-like hold.

That strength?

“You wanna fight, Su Buyu?”

Sensing his silence, the camera guy’s tone turned serious, his gaze sharpening.

“Think carefully. I’m the head of the photography club. Cross me, and your days here won’t be easy.”

His silver glasses glinted coldly under the light as he side-eyed Su Buyu’s quiet stare, threatening him.

The classroom’s back door swung open.

A navy-blue backpack strap slid off a boy’s shoulder, its metal buckle clinking against the frame.

Eyes turned to the two figures facing off at the front.

The camera guy, holding a DSLR, was restrained by another boy, his face so serious it looked like he’d deck him.

Cold wind blew outside.

Scattered leaves drifted into the classroom, their crunch echoing in the silence.

“What’s… going on?” A boy outside gasped, nearly losing his grip on the doorframe.

A girl behind him quietly pulled out her phone, aiming it at Shizuku Sakurai.

Her face showed a hint of shock.

“Yo, something surprising Shizuku Sakurai? That’s rare.”

“Did they start fighting over her?”

She snapped a photo of Shizuku Sakurai, her guess gaining traction among the others outside.

“Maybe? Shizuku Sakurai’s got looks. Sure, she’s a loose cannon, loves fighting, and keeps to herself, but… She’s not a bad pick, right?”

The chatter shifted to Shizuku Sakurai.

To them, the camera guy and Su Buyu were nobodies, barely noticed.

But Shizuku Sakurai? She was the class hotspot.

Not just her bold style and safety shorts.

Her defiance—clashing with bad teachers in class—drew eyes.

Her strength was like a bulldozer, crushing any malice.

Spotting anyone bullying, she’d corner them, halting their wickedness.

Violent, sure.

But undeniably striking.

Was that the cause?

The speculation spread, becoming “truth.”

The stray words reached Shizuku Sakurai’s ears.

She glanced at Su Buyu’s thoughtful eyes, about to speak.

But a sudden laugh rang through the classroom, startling the students outside.

It was Su Buyu’s laugh.

“Hey! I’ve got a great idea!”

As if struck by something hilarious, his eyes sparkled, lips curving in a barely-contained grin.

He released the camera guy’s hand, waving the girl over.

“Hey, come here. I’ve got something to say to you both.”

“Huh? What?”

The girl was puzzled.

But seeing Su Buyu’s earnest gaze, she hesitated, then put on her clothes, ready to hear him out.

Why’d she only dress now?

It was her kink.

Per her, her near-perfect body and curves would be wasted if not admired, her efforts in vain.

“…Haha.”

Su Buyu gave an awkward laugh, finding it too weird.

This world’s logic was bizarre, but it was exactly this absurdity that became his key to solving the issue.

He quietly gathered them, heads together by the wall, butts out, forming a circle to avoid eavesdroppers.

The students outside grew curious.

They wanted to listen, but Shizuku Sakurai’s presence blocked them, radiating a “stay away” vibe.

Guess they’d have to wait.

But the next moment, a deafening exclamation erupted from the classroom.

“Wow! Su Buyu, you’re a f*cking genius! I’ll call you big bro forever!”

The camera guy grabbed Su Buyu’s shoulders, shaking him wildly.

Laughing ecstatically, his gaze shifted from sharp to worshipful, like he’d seen a savior.

“Big bro, I, Genichi Fujino, pledge loyalty! Whatever you say, I do!”

He dropped to his knees, but Su Buyu caught his shoulder, stopping him.

“Just a suggestion. You gotta check if she’s cool with it.”

He glanced at the girl, who was casually scrolling her phone, unbothered.

“I’m fine with it. Today sucked—no photos, and now I gotta do some physical work. Sigh.”

“But I’ll take the punishment.”

She dragged Genichi Fujino out.

The confused classmates stared, clueless about what happened.

Some tried approaching Su Buyu to ask.

But the bell rang, shattering their curiosity, sending them to their seats for the teacher’s arrival.

One lucky soul was different.

“Hey, what’d you say to them?”

Shizuku Sakurai, seated in front, turned to whisper to Su Buyu behind her.

He grinned, leaning close to her ear, murmuring.

“Genichi Fujino’s into feet, right? Since he wanted her to pay with something equal, I suggested feet are important too. If it’s about ‘giving,’ why not let her ‘give’ with her feet?”

“And the result?”

“As you saw. She was cool with it.”