Under Natsukawa Sosuke's gentle yet firm guidance, Sakura Airi's morning jog training had already lasted for two days.
On the Sports Field in the early morning, Natsukawa maintained his steady and slow pace as usual. He did not demand anything beyond Sakura's limits, but gently pushed her toward new goals right at the edge of her capability—from one lap to two laps.
Sakura Airi's running posture was still clumsy, but her breathing was much more stable than on the first day. Most crucially, she had learned the "Attention Diversion Method" Natsukawa taught her: focusing all her mental energy on counting Natsukawa's steps and adjusting her own inhalation and exhalation frequency. This mechanical repetition successfully peeled her consciousness away from the fear of the surrounding crowd.
After completing his daily study tasks, Natsukawa began using the System to allocate points to his stamina, preparing for the upcoming Deserted Island Trip. The cost of this physical enhancement exchange was running 4 kilometers every day for a week. After two days, Natsukawa's physical strength had been slightly reinforced after the system allocation, and although it wasn't obvious, it was still something he had built up through his own training.
Afterward, Sakura Airi followed closely behind Natsukawa back to the Class D Classroom, just as before. She habitually fixed her gaze on Natsukawa's back; only this connection of sight could grant her a moment of peace... In the afternoon, Club Activity Time arrived. Natsukawa was continuing his "Reading Pastime" in the Library when his terminal suddenly vibrated.
Natsukawa Sosuke planned to read in the Library until 5 o'clock, as he usually did. This time slot had previously been dedicated to running after completing his daily studies, but Sakura's situation forced him to move his exercise to the morning. He habitually came to the Library and switched his phone back to normal mode.
A gray figure had also appeared in the distance, and the two of them tacitly immersed themselves in their respective books without disturbing each other.
Just then, Natsukawa's Personal Terminal vibrated, and a message from "Sakura Airi" popped up on the screen.
"Natsukawa-kun... Where are you right now?"
"In the Library. What's wrong? What happened?"
The reply was almost instantaneous, carrying a visible sense of panic:
"I... In my mailbox, there are lots of candid photos."
"I, I went back to the Dormitory Building, and when I checked the mailboxes in the First-floor Lobby to see if there was anything..."
"Inside... inside there are lots and lots of photos... photos of me being secretly photographed..."
"I don't know what to do now..."
The personal mailboxes, located in the Dormitory Building's First-floor Lobby, were where students collected letters and notices—a space that was public yet private. Having "candid photos" printed and stuffed into her mailbox in such a declarative manner was no longer simple online harassment.
Natsukawa's eyes darkened slightly. He immediately replied: "Wait for me right where you are. Don't look at the photos. I'll be there immediately."
Natsukawa quickly packed his school bag, slung it over his shoulder, and walked out of the Library with steady, swift steps.
When he arrived on the first floor of the dormitory, he immediately spotted Sakura Airi. She was standing next to the dense wall of mailboxes, her body rigid, like a frozen statue.
She hugged the school bag tightly to her chest, as if trying to completely isolate herself from the outside world. Her blue eyes, magnified by heavy glasses, were staring intently at her mailbox slot, pupils slightly dilated, as if she had seen something unclean.
Several printed photos were scattered at her feet. The photos were in color and the images were clear—her reading with her head down in the classroom, her eating alone in the Cafeteria, and even her walking with her head down in the Corridor. Each photo captured her in her most unguarded, least noticeable moments.
"Na-Natsukawa-kun...?"
Hearing Natsukawa approach, Sakura's body trembled violently. The extreme fear only eased slightly upon seeing him. She practically ran toward him, instinctively grabbing his arm just like yesterday, her fingertips icy cold.
"W-What should I do..." Her voice was low and trembling.
Natsukawa ignored the photos on the ground. He knew that Sakura's heart was currently being completely shattered by the shock of these pictures. Unlike online messages, paper photos were physical proof; they demonstrated that the "shadow" was right beside her, able to reach her at any moment.
"Take a deep breath first, Sakura-san." Natsukawa's voice was steady and strong, pulling her out of the mire of panic.
"Let's leave here first. I will handle these photos."
Natsukawa transferred his body warmth and sense of stability to her through his arm. He bent down and quickly picked up the photos on the ground, gathering them along with the rest inside the mailbox. He didn't look closely, simply stacking them like playing cards and stuffing them into his pocket.
He led Sakura away from the First-floor Lobby and sat down on a relatively secluded bench.
"Sakura-san, think carefully right now." Natsukawa didn't rush to offer a solution, but first guided her rationality. "Do you think this latest action must have been carried out by the same person who sent the private messages before?"
Sakura Airi was momentarily stunned by his question, and the mind that had been dominated by fear began to be guided toward analysis.
"I... I don't know..." She shook her head.
"I know you feel uneasy, but we need a chain of evidence right now." Natsukawa's tone was gentle, yet extremely guiding.
"Candid photos alone cannot directly confirm that the stalker is responsible. If he wanted to completely control you, he wouldn't use a method that might expose himself. This mass distribution of photos seems more like a provocation or a pressure tactic."
Sakura Airi's blue eyes were filled with confusion and anxiety.
"This action could be from him, or it could be from someone else who wants to exploit your secret." Natsukawa offered a seemingly ruthless deduction, yet it was the judgment most consistent with the rules of this school.
"Therefore, we cannot act rashly right now," Natsukawa decided. "However, we absolutely must seek help for this matter."
He decided to bring in his next target—Ichinose Honami. The two had already become acquainted through After-school Tutoring, and Ichinose not only possessed a powerful information network and connections, but more importantly, she had a sense of justice and responsibility toward her comrades that matched her own capabilities.
Natsukawa immediately took out his terminal and quickly sent a message to Ichinose Honami.
"Ichinose-san, I need your help right now to solve a very sensitive problem for Sakura Airi-san, involving her personal safety and privacy. Could you spare a moment for a phone call now? The situation is somewhat urgent."
Less than a minute after sending the message, the terminal rang, displaying "Ichinose Honami" on the screen.
Natsukawa answered the call and briefly described Sakura Airi's situation—being secretly photographed, receiving physical photos, and potentially being continuously targeted by someone within the school—using the most concise language.
On the other end of the line, Ichinose Honami's voice instantly shifted from its usual energetic cheerfulness to seriousness and calm.
"Natsukawa-kun, I understand. This kind of behavior is extremely malicious, and I cannot ignore it." Ichinose's voice was resolute. "Please reassure Sakura-san. I will definitely help with this matter."
"Let's meet now at the Coffee Shop in the Keyaki Shopping Center to discuss the details."
Natsukawa: "Understood. We'll be there right away."
"Ichinose-san... will she really help me?"
Natsukawa stood up and turned to look at her. "She will. You know she is always an upright and reassuring person, right?"
"Let's go. To Keyaki."
Sakura Airi nodded softly. The helplessness stemming from fear still lingered, but at this moment, she no longer felt completely alone. Her gaze was firmly locked on Natsukawa's sturdy back, and she followed him step by step. She knew that as long as she followed him, she would not fall into deeper darkness.
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