Angel's Helping Hand

Keyaki Mall, karaoke room.

The sound of music and the laughter of Class B students blended together, creating a wave of heat so characteristic of youth that it seemed ready to spill out of the room. Inside the Class B room, the atmosphere was being pushed to a climax by a popular idol song. Colorful spotlights rotated, hitting the flushed, excited cheeks of Amikura Mako and another girl.

"--This is it! Everyone, together!"

"Oh--!"

Ichinose Honami sat in the corner, holding a maraca, smiling as she kept the beat for her friends. She had already skillfully dodged the microphone three times, positioning herself in the role of the mood-maker. As the anchor of Class B, she enjoyed these happy moments where everyone was brought together.

"Honami-chan, you're singing the next one!"

"Eh? But I'm tone-deaf..."

Just as she was waving her hands with a smile, preparing to decline once more, the personal terminal resting on the sofa lit up silently. A message popped up on the screen; the sender was--Natsukawa Sosuke.

Ichinose's smile faltered slightly.

She knew that given Natsukawa's style of conduct, he would never proactively contact her at this time after school unless it was something necessary.

She picked up the terminal and opened the short message:

"Ichinose-san, I need your help to resolve a very sensitive issue for Sakura Airi-san, involving personal safety and privacy. Can you spare a moment to talk over the phone now? The situation is somewhat urgent."

"Sorry, Mako! I suddenly have something urgent to take care of, I have to leave right away!" She stood up without a moment's hesitation and grabbed her school bag.

"Eh?!" Amikura Mako, who was in the middle of selecting a song, turned back in surprise. "Right now? Where are you going, Honami-chan? Don't tell me... it's a date?"

"It's not that!" Ichinose didn't have time for a detailed explanation and could only offer an apologetic smile. "It's true, a very important friend is in some trouble! Remember to bring the bill to me for reimbursement later, you guys keep having fun! I'm going first!"

Ignoring the "Eh--" protests from her Class B classmates behind her, she quickly pulled open the room door, shutting that world of sound, light, and color completely behind her. She walked briskly toward the elevator while dialing Natsukawa's number.

The call was answered quickly, and Natsukawa's calm, clear voice came through. Ichinose spoke while pressing the elevator's down button.

"Natsukawa-kun, it's me. What happened?"

"Ichinose-san, long story short. Sakura Airi-san is being targeted by someone within the school..."

At the same time, Natsukawa Sosuke was walking with Sakura Airi along the tree-lined path from the dormitory building toward Keyaki Mall.

On a June afternoon, the weather was already slightly warm, but Sakura Airi felt extremely cold. She kept her body tense, walking half a step behind Natsukawa, her gaze not daring to leave his back. Inside, she felt like a balloon stuffed with fear and anxiety, ready to burst at any moment. Those printed photos had become a nightmare lingering in her mind, as if the cold paper had already touched her skin.

Natsukawa Sosuke slowed his pace, keeping his stride in sync with her panicked, small steps. He didn't look back, but his voice carried clearly to her, gentle yet possessing an unquestionable sense of guidance.

"Sakura-san."

"...Yes!" Sakura stopped abruptly like a startled rabbit before hurrying to catch up again.

"After we meet Ichinose-san," Natsukawa's tone was calm, as if he were stating a mundane daily matter, "in order for her to help you as quickly and effectively as possible, we need to let her know the complete truth. This includes... why that stalker is targeting you."

Sakura Airi's footsteps stalled instantly. The blood drained even further from her already pale face.

"...Does Natsukawa-kun mean..." Her voice was as thin as a mosquito's hum, trembling violently, "telling her about... 'Shizuku'?"

This was her deepest secret, her only fragile connection to this world, and also the root of her fear.

"Yes." Natsukawa stopped walking. This time, he turned around to face Sakura's blue eyes, which were widened by fear. His gaze was gentle, without a hint of coercion, simply stating a fact.

"That private message has already proven that the other party likely knows your dual identity. If we hide this from Ichinose, she won't be able to judge the other party's motives or estimate what they might do next. That would be of no benefit to her, or to you."

He paused, his tone softening further: "However, this is your secret. You spent some time with Ichinose-san during the midterm exam tutoring sessions. Do you think she is the type of person who would look at you with strange eyes or leak your secret?"

Natsukawa didn't make the decision for her; instead, he returned the choice to her.

Sakura Airi's mind went blank. Subconsciously, she began to recall.

During that most difficult time before the midterms, Ichinose-san had sat beside her, patiently explaining those classical texts she couldn't understand at all. Her smile was always so warm, without a trace of impatience. When she couldn't finish a sentence due to nervousness, Ichinose would only smile and encourage her: "It's okay, Sakura-san, take your time, you've already worked 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 using all her strength. She raised her head, and although her gaze still darted away, for the first time, she didn't immediately look down.

"I... I trust... Ichinose-san."

In a cafe at Keyaki Mall, in a corner by the window.

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 those two familiar figures appeared at the entrance of the cafe.

Natsukawa Sosuke was as calm as ever, while Sakura Airi behind him looked as if her soul had been drained; she huddled in Natsukawa's shadow, moving inside with a stiff, awkward gait.

"Ichinose-san, sorry to keep you waiting." Natsukawa pulled out a chair.

"Sakura-san, sit here." He naturally let Sakura sit in the innermost seat with her back against the wall--a position that provided the greatest sense of security for someone with social anxiety--before sitting down beside her, isolating her from the outside world.

"It's fine, I just arrived too." Ichinose offered a reassuring smile. She deliberately avoided staring directly at Sakura, instead casting her gaze toward Natsukawa first, giving Sakura enough time to buffer. "Natsukawa-kun, what you said on the phone... the photos?"

Natsukawa nodded and took the photo paper out of his pocket. But he didn't spread the photos out; he simply placed them on the table.

"Before I explain the details, there is one thing you must know first." Natsukawa's gaze turned to Sakura, who grabbed her skirt nervously.

"Sakura-san has another identity." Natsukawa calmly dropped the bombshell. "She is a somewhat famous internet blog idol and gravure model, 'Shizuku'."

"Eh?!" Ichinose Honami was truly surprised this time. Her beautiful blue eyes widened slightly, and she subconsciously looked at the red-haired girl beside her, who looked like she wanted to shrink into a ball.