Let the Bullets Fly for a While

The actions of Sakura Airi and Ichinose Honami, just as Natsukawa Sosuke had anticipated, successfully deceived the stalker lurking in the shadows.

The next day, Sakura Airi continued to maintain ordinary contact with Ichinose Honami while remaining tense. They simply went to the cafeteria together during lunch and returned to the dormitory building together after school. There were no Class B students tailing them, nor did they deliberately investigate any locations. Everything appeared calm and peaceful, returning completely to the state the stalker had hoped to see.

The stalker was ecstatic to discover that Sakura Airi had truly obeyed his instructions and withdrawn the group of Class B students from Ichinose's side.

In his view, this proved that his threats were effective. Sakura Airi's fear of being exposed to the public eye was the most powerful weapon in his hands. Although the pretty girl Ichinose Honami was still following Sakura Airi, what danger could a little girl possibly pose? This "plain Jane" from Class D was completely within his grasp.

Consequently, he immediately began to harass Sakura Airi even more aggressively online.

Sakura Airi's blog private message interface began to be flooded with dense, morbidly possessive text.

"You've done very well, Shizuku-chan. Uncle likes obedient children the best."

"That Class B girl isn't worth trusting. Only I can truly understand everything about you."

"The way you walked with your head down in the hallway this afternoon was so cute. But you should hold your neck up a bit higher; it's not good for your cervical spine."

These messages were filled with a sense of omniscience and a desire for control. He kept proving to Sakura Airi that he was always watching and that he was everywhere.

Seeing these dense, cloying, and sinister words, Sakura Airi still felt waves of nausea churning within her. She tried to take deep breaths, recalling Natsukawa Sosuke's encouragement: "You are much braver than you think you are."

After school, she returned to her dorm and sent a message to Natsukawa Sosuke.

"Natsukawa-kun, he... he has escalated. Now... the harassment is even worse."

Natsukawa Sosuke replied quickly: "I see it, and I also see your bravery and growth. You aren't crying on the phone anymore."

Sakura blushed when she saw the message, but she still asked: "Then... what should we do?"

"You don't need to do anything right now," Natsukawa Sosuke said gently.

"Eh?" Sakura Airi was a bit confused.

"For now, we just need to let the bullets fly for a while," Natsukawa Sosuke said, speaking in riddles again.

Sakura Airi gripped her terminal tightly. Although Natsukawa's reply was brief, it possessed a power that put her at ease. She knew that Natsukawa Sosuke meant his plan needed time to be set in motion.

"However, Sakura-san, I can't let you bear the pressure of this waiting alone," Natsukawa's message followed. "If you really can't stand it, I can ask Ichinose to come to your room and stay with you tonight. After all, she is your friend, and since you are both girls, it will be more convenient."

Sakura Airi's cheeks immediately flushed with a faint blush again. She didn't refuse immediately; she was indeed afraid of being alone, and she couldn't stay the night in Natsukawa's room.

"I, I'll ask Ichinose-san..."

Subsequently, Sakura Airi sent a message to Ichinose Honami.

Upon learning of Sakura Airi's current situation, Ichinose Honami didn't hesitate and came straight to Sakura's dorm.

When Ichinose Honami knocked on the door of Sakura's room, Sakura Airi's blue eyes were filled with gratitude and relief.

"Sakura-san! Are you okay?" Ichinose Honami asked with concern as soon as she entered. She felt a sense of comfort as she looked at Sakura Airi's face, which, while slightly weary, was much calmer than it had been a few days ago.

"I, I'm fine... Sorry to trouble you, Ichinose-san."

Ichinose Honami pulled Sakura Airi to sit on the edge of the bed. She didn't check the private messages on the terminal; instead, she chatted with Sakura Airi in a casual tone.

"Sakura-san, what do you think he will do next?" Ichinose asked.

Sakura Airi's slightly sluggish thinking was guided by Ichinose's words and began to stir.

"He... he wants to see me afraid," Sakura Airi whispered. "He thinks he has won, so he will want to make me submit even more."

"Exactly," Ichinose Honami agreed with a smile. "Then what would he have to do to make you 'submit even more'?"

Sakura Airi fell silent, and she began to rack her brain.

She thought of the stolen photos and her fear of public places.

"He... he would want me to go to a place alone, or... do something embarrassing in front of many people..." Sakura Airi's voice was very soft, yet it accurately grasped the stalker's psychology.

Ichinose Honami didn't provide the answer, only looking at Sakura Airi gently. She knew Natsukawa's underlying intention: to make Sakura Airi use her own mind, shifting her thinking from fear to contemplation, rather than wallowing in fear and self-depletion.

The two didn't come up with any specific countermeasures, but Sakura Airi's heart was greatly comforted and encouraged by this exchange.

The next morning, Sakura Airi's blog private message interface welcomed a new "surprise."

This time, it was an increasingly presumptuous order from the stalker.

He was no longer satisfied with verbal harassment and began demanding that Sakura Airi meet him offline alone.

"My dear Shizuku-chan, Uncle misses you a little. Tomorrow at four in the afternoon, come to the rooftop of Keyaki Mall alone, and let's pour our hearts out to each other. Let's have a date that belongs only to me and you, your biggest fan who loves you the most."

Shortly after, Sakura Airi received a second set of stolen photos in her personal email. This time, the photos were even clearer than the last.

Looking at these two new threats, Sakura Airi's instinctive physical reaction was still to tremble. However, in her blue eyes, there was no longer the loss of composure she had shown before.

In her mind, Natsukawa Sosuke's resolute guarantee instantly surfaced: "I promise you, Sakura-san. I will absolutely not let you fall into that situation."

That unconditional trust instantly shattered the remaining fear in her heart.

She didn't contact Ichinose Honami, but instead sent a message directly to Natsukawa Sosuke.

"Natsukawa-kun, he is demanding that I meet him on the rooftop of Keyaki Mall tomorrow at four in the afternoon."

"I have an idea..."

Sakura Airi sent over the "fishing plan" she had conceived. She decided to take the risk of keeping the appointment and then have Natsukawa Sosuke carry out the capture from the shadows. It was a high-risk plan; if anything went wrong, she could truly have the mask she had always wanted to hide behind ripped off, or even face an even worse situation.

Natsukawa Sosuke replied to the message quickly: "Sakura-san, are you sure? What if I can't make it in time?"

This was not a question, but Natsukawa Sosuke's final confirmation of Sakura Airi's resolve.

Sakura Airi took a deep breath and replied: "I, I am sure. I believe in you, Natsukawa-kun, you will definitely be able to do it."

This was her most thorough, most unconditional trust in Natsukawa Sosuke. She had transformed from that weakling who only knew how to hide into a fighter who dared to face danger head-on. She knew that Natsukawa Sosuke had been waiting for her to make this decision all along.

Natsukawa Sosuke replied quickly, his tone carrying a hint of faint approval.

"Very good, Sakura-san. You have already exceeded my expectations."

"However, there is no need for so much trouble."

Sakura Airi was a bit confused. No trouble? What was he going to do?

Natsukawa's message followed immediately: "You will know in a moment, and do not be alarmed by the messages you are about to receive. No matter what you see, do not reply, and do not call me. You only need to tell Ichinose the news and have her go to the Student Council."

Just as Natsukawa Sosuke's message finished sending, several new private messages suddenly popped up in Sakura Airi's blog chat interface.

This time, they were once again from that obsessive fan.

"My dear Shizuku-chan, listen to your uncle, remember to be on time tomorrow at four in the afternoon. The meeting spot has been changed to the electronics store where I work. If you don't come, I'm going to spread Shizuku-chan's real identity and the photos I took earlier."

"In that case, your high school life will surely be very exciting, and the expression on your face at that time will definitely be very delightful!"

Sakura Airi stared at the messages on the screen, her large eyes filled with deep confusion.

Is this what Natsukawa-kun was talking about? The bullet... has it already arrived?