Shangguan Che

"Student, you're saying someone sent you harassing letters, knows a lot of your personal information, and often posts inappropriate messages online. Is that right?" After Sakura finished speaking, Mashima-sensei gently summarized what she had said. His voice was clear and firm.

Sakura clutched the hem of her clothes and gave a slight nod. The small gesture came with obvious nervousness. "Mm... The letters even mentioned the places I often go to take photos, and the comments online are strange too."

Shangguan Che's eyelid twitched as he listened from the side.

Well, he'd been hoping Sakura's voice was quiet enough that Kamuro Masumi couldn't hear her from the doorway, but Mashima-sensei's recap had practically broadcast the whole thing.

He grumbled inwardly, Lady Luck just kicked my unrealistic fantasies to pieces.

"Show him the evidence, Sakura." Shangguan Che pushed down his grumbling and reminded her softly. The most important thing now was to get the matter officially reported. If they couldn't even get past this step, then they'd really be in trouble.

Sakura hurriedly took the six harassing letters out of her bag and handed them to Mashima-sensei with both hands.

Mashima-sensei picked up the topmost letter, opened it, and read it carefully. His brows gradually furrowed.

When he finished, he nodded to the two of them, his tone serious. "This can definitely serve as key evidence. The personal information in it is highly specific."

"So you'd like the school to help find the person harassing you, correct?" Mashima-sensei set the letter down and looked from one of them to the other.

"Mm!" Sakura answered more firmly this time. Perhaps Mashima-sensei's serious attitude had put her more at ease.

"I'll report this to the Student Affairs Office first. I'll also request the surveillance footage from the places Sakura often visits—for example, the library, the area around the Photography Club, and the roads near the school entrance." Mashima-sensei took out a notebook and carefully made a note. "Send me the username that posted the messages online too. I'll contact the technical department and have them trace the IP address."

He paused, then looked up at Sakura, his expression reassuring. "The fact that someone managed to slip the letters precisely into your shoe locker means they're either a student or staff member at the school, or possibly an outsider who knows the campus well. Don't worry. As your teacher, I'll investigate this thoroughly. I won't let you suffer any more."

Those words were like a reassurance, and Shangguan Che instantly breathed a sigh of relief.

That was exactly why he'd gone to Mashima-sensei to report the matter. They spoke almost at the same time. "Thank you, Mashima-sensei!"

"By the way, Sakura, try not to go anywhere deserted when you head back. It'd be best to go to and from school with a classmate. Don't go alone." Mashima-sensei gave her another reminder, then turned to Shangguan Che. "Shangguan, as a boy, keep an eye out and help protect Sakura."

"Don't worry, Sensei! I'll make sure to protect Sakura!" Shangguan Che thumped his chest in a promise, but caught Kamuro Masumi moving out of the corner of his eye.

Looks like she was getting ready to leave.

"I'll keep the letters as evidence for now. I'll notify you as soon as I have any news." Mashima-sensei put them into a folder and gestured toward the door, clearly seeing them out.

Kamuro Masumi started walking first and slipped away down the corridor without a sound.

Shangguan Che quickly stopped Sakura, who was about to stand, and gently patted her shoulder. "Go wait outside for me. Your face is bright red. I'll ask Sensei for his contact information so we can stay in touch."

Sakura touched her cheek. It was indeed burning hot. Embarrassed, she lowered her head and nodded, then quietly left the office.

Once only Shangguan Che and Mashima-sensei were left in the office, Mashima-sensei put down his pen. A hint of curiosity showed in his eyes. "Shangguan, you and Sakura are both in Class D, right? Why did you come to me, the Class A homeroom teacher, to report this?"

Shangguan Che had been prepared for the question, but put on an earnest expression. "Mashima-sensei, you're well-known at school for being responsible. We thought we could trust you with this more. Besides... Chabashira-sensei has been busy dealing with Sudo's situation lately, and we didn't want to give her more trouble."

Mashima-sensei smiled without calling him out on his little ruse.

He'd recognized Shangguan Che long ago and had even given him his contact information, saying, "If you have any other questions, feel free to ask me."

Now Shangguan Che was asking for his contact information again. It was clearly an excuse to stay behind.

"Go on, what else is it?" Mashima-sensei leaned forward slightly. "You went out of your way to send Sakura away. You must want more than just my contact information."

Shangguan Che didn't beat around the bush. He took a folded sheet of paper from his pocket and handed it over. "Mashima-sensei, I've compiled some clues about the person sending the harassing letters. The person probably showed up near Sakura's shoe locker last night. The surveillance footage caught a man in a gray coat lingering near the school building. His build looks a lot like that of the clerk at Sakura Electronics."

He dared to share these clues because he'd already figured out what kind of person Mashima-sensei was.

According to past Student Council records, Mashima-sensei had been a Class A homeroom teacher for several years and was officially recognized by the school as its "best teacher."

Although the school encouraged competition between classes, it strictly forbade teachers from interfering. As a "model teacher," Mashima-sensei would certainly respect that boundary.

In short, Shangguan Che was taking a gamble.

He was betting that Mashima-sensei wouldn't pull a stunt like Wang Mang or Sima Yi, risking his lifelong reputation to pull off something "against all reason."

If he lost the bet, he'd just have to accept it. At worst, he'd have to put in more effort and keep an eye on that clerk himself.

"I'll get going, then. Sorry for the trouble, Sensei. Goodbye!" Before Mashima-sensei could respond, Shangguan Che turned and headed for the door.

Sakura was still waiting outside. He didn't want to leave her alone for too long.

The reason he'd hidden the source of his information from everyone was simple.

If his Clairvoyance ability was exposed, the school might treat him as an "anomalous individual" and study him. Getting dissected sounded absurd, but in this strange school, no one could say for sure.

As for sending Sakura outside, first, he was afraid she'd see him "keeping secrets" and read too much into it. Second, he wanted to guard against Kamuro Masumi.

He suspected that Kamuro Masumi had overheard them not because of some habit of "listening in on private conversations"—after all, her profile didn't mention one—but because of a woman's intuition.

If Kamuro Masumi happened to turn back halfway on a hunch and saw him talking alone with Mashima-sensei, she might read too much into it. Then his carefully planned scheme would become a joke.

If Sakura waited outside, even if Kamuro Masumi came back, seeing her would make her hesitate for a moment. That would give him enough time to say what he needed to say.

When he stepped out of the office, he saw Sakura obediently waiting at the far end of the corridor, clutching the hem of her clothes and glancing toward the office from time to time.

Shangguan Che walked over with a smile. "Let's go, Sakura. I got his contact information. I'll send it to you when we get back."

"Mm, okay." Sakura nodded, her voice still soft.

They walked side by side toward the stairs. Looking at Sakura's visibly more relaxed profile, Shangguan Che suddenly spoke. "Sakura, don't worry. I'll protect you."

Sakura stopped in her tracks and looked up in surprise. "Eh?"

"I wasn't just saying that to appease Mashima-sensei, and it wasn't a spur-of-the-moment promise." Shangguan Che stopped and looked her in the eyes, his expression serious. "For the rest of our three years of high school, I'll protect you. I won't let you be troubled by anything like this again."

As soon as he finished speaking, Sakura dropped into a crouch with a thump, covering her face with both hands as her shoulders trembled slightly.

Shangguan Che was startled and quickly crouched beside her. "Sakura? What's wrong? Did I say something wrong?"

Sakura didn't speak. She only shook her head. The tips of her ears, visible between her fingers, were so red they looked ready to drip blood.

Only then did Shangguan Che realize what had happened. His words had been too ambiguous. Sakura must have been embarrassed.

He thought with a rueful smile, I meant to put her at ease, but I just made her blush.

The sky was getting darker, and the school building would close in half an hour. He reached out to help Sakura up. "Don't crouch here. We should hurry back, or the dorms will lock their doors."

But when he tugged, she didn't budge.

Sakura was crouched as firmly as if she'd taken root.

Shangguan Che was at a loss. How come my '7-point strength' can't pull up a girl? I must be holding back because I'm afraid of hurting her! If I really used my strength, it'd be like pulling up a radish. That'd look awful, and there are cameras in the corridor!

Shangguan Che could only crouch beside her and wait patiently. "Then stay there for a bit. We'll leave when you feel better. No rush."

Sakura crouched for about a minute before slowly lifting her head. The blush hadn't faded, but her eyes sparkled. "Shangguan... did you mean what you said?"

"Of course." Shangguan Che smiled and nodded. "When have I ever lied to you?"

Sakura nodded firmly, then finally stood up on her own. In a quiet voice, she said, "Then... thank you."

"No need to thank me." Shangguan Che ruffled her hair. "Come on. If we don't leave now, we really will get locked out."

They hurried toward the dorms. Shangguan Che felt much more at ease.

With Mashima-sensei helping with Sakura's situation, it should be resolved soon. As for Kamuro Masumi, there was still a risk, but at least for now, he could spare Sakura from having to live on edge.

At that moment, in the teachers' office, Mashima-sensei looked at the note Shangguan Che had left behind, his gaze growing profound.

He took out his phone and called the Student Affairs Office. "Hello, I need you to look into someone—the clerk at Sakura Electronics... Yes, focus on his recent movements and any records of contact with students at the school."

After hanging up, he picked up Sakura's harassing letters and turned them over thoughtfully. This case seemed more complicated than he'd imagined.