Keyaki Shopping Center, karaoke room.
The sound of music and the laughter of Class B students mingled, forming a unique wave of youthful energy that almost overflowed the room. Inside the Class B karaoke room, the atmosphere was reaching a climax with a popular idol song. Colored spotlights rotated, hitting the excitedly flushed cheeks of Amakura Mako and another girl.
"—Now! Everyone together!"
"Oh—!"
Ichinose Honami sat in the corner, holding a maraca, smiling as she kept time for her friends. She had skillfully avoided the microphone three times, positioning herself as part of the atmosphere-creating group. As the unifier of Class B, she enjoyed these happy times when everyone was together.
"Honami-chan, you're up next!"
"Eh? I'm tone-deaf..."
Just as she was smiling and waving her hand, preparing to decline again, her personal terminal on the sofa lit up silently, and a message popped up on the screen. The sender was—Natsukawa Sosuke.
Ichinose's smile faltered slightly.
She knew that, given Natsukawa's way of doing things, he would never proactively contact her at this time after school unless it was something necessary.
She picked up the terminal and tapped open the brief message:
"Ichinose-san, I need your help to resolve a very sensitive issue for Sakura Airi-san right now, involving personal safety and privacy. Can you spare some time for a phone call now? The situation is somewhat urgent."
"Sorry, Mako! I suddenly have an urgent matter and must leave immediately!" She stood up without hesitation, grabbing her school bag.
"Eh?!" Amakura Mako, who was selecting a song, turned back in surprise. "Now? Honami-chan, where are you going? Don't tell me... it's a date?"
"No, it's not!" Ichinose didn't have time for a detailed explanation, only offering an apologetic smile. "It's really, really important; a friend is in trouble! Remember to find me for reimbursement for the bill later, you all continue to have fun! I'm leaving first!"
Ignoring the lingering cries of "Eh—" from her Class B classmates behind her, she quickly pulled open the karaoke room door, shutting out the sounds, lights, and colors completely. She hurried towards the elevator, simultaneously dialing Natsukawa's number.
The call was answered quickly, and Natsukawa's calm and clear voice came through. Ichinose pressed the elevator down button as she spoke.
"Natsukawa-kun, it's me. What happened?"
"Ichinose-san, long story short. Sakura Airi-san has been targeted by someone from within the school..."
...Meanwhile, Natsukawa Sosuke was walking with Sakura Airi along the tree-lined path from the dormitory building to the Keyaki Shopping Center.
It was a slightly warm June afternoon, but Sakura Airi felt very cold. Her body was tense, walking half a step behind Natsukawa, her gaze unable to leave his back. Her heart was like a balloon filled with fear and unease, ready to burst at any moment. The printed photos became a lingering nightmare in her mind, as if the cold paper had already touched her skin.
Natsukawa Sosuke slowed his pace, matching his stride to her hurried, small steps. He didn't turn back, but his voice clearly reached her, soft yet with an undeniable guiding force.
"Sakura-san."
"...Yes!" Sakura stopped abruptly like a startled rabbit, then caught up again.
"After we meet Ichinose-san." Natsukawa's tone was calm, as if stating an everyday matter. "For her to help you as quickly and effectively as possible, we need her to understand the complete truth. This includes... why that stalker targeted you."
Sakura Airi's steps instantly froze. The color drained even further from her already pale face.
"...Natsukawa-kun, do you mean..." Her voice was as faint as a mosquito's buzz, trembling violently. "To tell her... about'Shizuku'?"
This was her deepest secret, her only fragile connection to this world, and the root of her fear.
"Yes." Natsukawa stopped. This time, he turned around, looking directly into Sakura's blue eyes, which were wide with fear. His gaze was gentle, without any coercion, merely stating a fact.
"That private message has proven that the other party likely already knows about your dual identity. If we conceal this from Ichinose, she won't be able to determine the other party's motive, nor predict what they'll do next. That's not good for her, or for you."
He paused, his tone becoming even softer: "But this is your secret. You also spent some time with Ichinose-san during the midterm exam tutoring. Do you think she's the kind of person who would look at you strangely or leak your secret?"
Natsukawa didn't make the decision for her; instead, he returned the choice to her.
Sakura Airi's mind was blank. She instinctively began to recall.
During that most difficult period before the midterm exams, Ichinose-san sat beside her, patiently explaining the classical Japanese that she couldn't understand at all. Her smile was always so warm, without a hint of impatience. When she couldn't speak a complete sentence due to nervousness, Ichinose would just smile and encourage her: "It's okay, Sakura-san, take your time, you're already trying very hard."
Ichinose-san... is an "angel." Natsukawa-kun... trusts her.
In that cold, dark, fear-filled inner world, a faint light pried open because of these two realizations.
"I..." Sakura Airi took a deep breath, as if expending all her strength. She looked up, and though her gaze still darted away, this was the first time she didn't immediately lower it.
"I... I trust... Ichinose-san."
...A corner by the window at the Keyaki Shopping Center coffee shop.
Ichinose Honami held a cup of warm black tea in both hands, her brows slightly furrowed. She had been waiting here for five minutes, constantly running through various possibilities in her mind.
Until the two familiar figures appeared at the coffee shop entrance.
Natsukawa Sosuke was as calm as ever, while Sakura Airi behind him seemed to have had her soul drawn out. She was huddled in Natsukawa's shadow, almost shuffling in with her hands and feet moving in unison.
"Ichinose-san, sorry to keep you waiting." Natsukawa pulled out a chair.
"Sakura-san, sit here." He naturally guided Sakura to the innermost seat, with her back against the wall—a seat that offered maximum security to those with social anxiety—and then sat beside her himself, isolating her from the outside world.
"It's alright, I just arrived." Ichinose offered a reassuring smile. She deliberately avoided looking directly at Sakura, instead directing her gaze towards Natsukawa first, giving Sakura enough buffer time. "Natsukawa-kun, what you mentioned on the phone... photos?"
Natsukawa nodded and took out the photographic prints from his pocket. But he didn't spread the photos out; he just placed them on the table.
"Before explaining in detail, there's one thing you must know first." Natsukawa's gaze turned to Sakura, who nervously clutched the hem of her skirt.
"Sakura-san, she has another identity." Natsukawa calmly dropped the bombshell. "She's a somewhat well-known blog idol and print model online,'Shizuku.'"
"Eh?!" Ichinose Honami was genuinely surprised this time. Her beautiful blue eyes widened slightly, and she instinctively looked at the red-haired girl beside her, who wished she could shrink into a ball.
..
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