I couldn’t help but ask again with a serious face when Shinomiya-san made her unexpected request. I thought for sure it was either a bad joke or that she was trying to prank me for fun, so I looked at her face. But, sadly, it seemed she was being entirely serious.

“Didn’t you hear me? If not, I’ll say it again. I want you to take embarrassing photos of me—!!!”

“STOOOOOOP!! I heard you loud and clear! You don’t need to repeat yourself!!”

No way. In my sixteen years of life, I’ve never been this confused. I’m even more flustered than when Yuzuha-san wouldn’t let me go home until I agreed to be her personal photographer.

“I see. Well, that’s good to hear. Now, could I hear your answer, Anno-kun? You’re not going to say no, are you?”

Despite her cute voice and delicate smile, there was an undeniable pressure behind her words, as if she would never let me go. It felt like a sword was being held to my throat, the worst feeling imaginable.

“So, what will it be? ‘Yes’? ‘I agree’? Or just a ‘uh-huh’?”

“Isn’t the answer the same no matter which one I choose?!”

The absurdity of the question caused me to reflexively retort. Even if there’s no real choice from the start, shouldn’t there at least be one option that says ‘no’?

“Could it be that you’re dissatisfied with me? That my body isn’t good enough for your tastes? Is that what you’re saying?”

“I never said anything like that! And watch your wording! I’m not taking photos for some body-related reason!”

“Oh, is that so?”

She tilted her head in a cute way. Her actions were so adorable that I almost lost my resolve, but I steeled myself and fought to stay composed.

“Well, let’s put aside questions about your…preferences for now. Could you give me an answer? You’re not going to say no, right?”

It would be a lie to say I wasn’t curious. But even with that curiosity, I knew this was a request I shouldn’t accept. If I took pictures of a classmate, especially one who sat next to me, in an embarrassing pose, I wouldn’t know how to face her the next day.

Even though I understood that in my head, my instincts as a photographer were urging me to accept, whispering that I should take this offer.

The reason for that was simple. I had caught a glimpse of a side of Shinomiya Rinoa that no one else had ever seen. The way she had undone her uniform in an empty classroom and had a slightly ashamed yet seductive expression on her face—she wanted me to capture that again…

“Before that, I want to ask, why do you want something like this?”

“Reason? Well… if I had to say, I guess it’s because ‘I want to see a side of myself that I don’t know’?”

An angelic smile that hid a devilish intent. This charming expression, with both delicacy and allure, made me want to photograph it right now.

“I can’t tell you more than that right now, but… how about it? Can you accept that?”

My answer was clear. It was something I’d heard from my father, but “recording the fleeting beauty of a moment for eternity” was my motto, and Shinomiya-san was the perfect subject for that. If she asked me to capture her as an ordinary girl, a side of her that even she didn’t know, there was no way I could back down.

“Alright. I’ll accept the request…”

“Thank you! I knew you’d say that, Anno-kun!”

As soon as I said that, Shinomiya-san happily hopped up and down. It was such a childish and cute way of showing her joy, but the two… “dangerous” objects that shouldn’t have been swaying like that were making my mind go haywire. I cleared my throat awkwardly and asked the key question.

“Taking the photos is fine, but… what kind of embarrassing pose do you have in mind?”

“I have some ideas. But, since you’re a professional in this field, I’d like to consult with you about it… Would that be okay?”

“Y-yeah, that’s fine… But, do you know that I’m into photography?”

“Yes, I’ve heard from people you’re close to. You’re a professional photographer for a popular cosplayer, right? That’s amazing.”

She smiled as she said that. The source of that information could only be Yuzuha-san, who knew about my work as her personal photographer. No one else at school could know about it.

“Sigh… Fine. If that’s the case, I guess we’ll start by sharing our ideas. Let’s find some time to discuss it.”

I sighed deeply and agreed. Who could say no to a beautiful girl like Shinomiya-san, who was looking up at me with those pleading eyes? If anyone could, I’d like to meet them, because I definitely couldn’t.

“Yes! How about this weekend? After a light meeting, we could even try a mini photoshoot!”

“I don’t mind, but…”

I was about to say something about not rushing into it, but I couldn’t bring myself to say it when I saw how excited Shinomiya-san looked.

“Alright, it’s settled then! Ah… I’m so looking forward to it!”

She said that while smiling in a blissful way, and I quietly forced a smile. I never imagined I’d end up in a secret relationship with a classmate who everyone admired. Life sure is full of surprises.

“The place for the meeting and mini shoot is at your place, right?”

“Why would it be at my house?!”

In the quiet classroom after school, my scream echoed. Already, I regretted agreeing so easily.