Checking the Surveillance Footage

After school the next afternoon, Hoshino headed to the club building alone.

His destination was the Student Council office on the top floor of the club building.

After seeing the contents of the love letter Sakura had received, Hoshino realized that this had to be resolved as soon as possible.

Something like that was no longer something a mentally sound person could write.

Though it was filled from beginning to end with declarations of "love," it only made anyone who read it feel sick. The writer's distortion and fanaticism were plain to see.

Being targeted by a pervert like that was no laughing matter.

The letter itself had not left behind any clues. The only way Hoshino could think of to find that person was through the act of placing the letter in Sakura's shoe locker.

For the purpose of monitoring students' daily behavior, surveillance cameras had been installed extensively throughout the campus, including near the shoe lockers.

The authority to access the surveillance footage belonged to the Student Council.

When he reached the top floor of the club building, Hoshino stopped before a door in the secluded spot at the end of the corridor. A sign on it read "Student Council Office."

He raised his hand and knocked. After a brief wait, someone inside called, "Come in."

"Excuse me," Hoshino said as he opened the door and entered. The office was about the size of a standard classroom, with several desks arranged inside. A few inquisitive gazes shot over from behind the desks, paused briefly on Hoshino, then immediately withdrew.

The visit of a first-year student was nothing unusual and did not draw much attention from the staff members.

A boy near the door stood up and said to Hoshino, "This is the Student Council office. What do you need?"

Judging by his voice, he was the one who had just called out for him to enter. Hoshino gave the boy a quick look before saying, "Hello, Senior. I'm Hoshino Akira from first-year Class D. I would like to apply for permission to view the surveillance footage."

"Surveillance footage?" The boy frowned. "Why are you applying for that permission?"

"I'm sorry, Senior, but I don't wish to say."

"Hm?" For a moment, the boy did not even react. This first-year spoke with perfect politeness, yet the content of his words was anything but courteous. "You—"

"That's enough, Mitsuyama. Leave this to me."

A gentle voice came from the side. Mitsuyama turned toward the newcomer, and his expression immediately became respectful. "Yes, I understand, Senior Tachibana."

After saying that, Mitsuyama returned to his desk and resumed working. Hoshino naturally shifted his gaze to the person who had just approached. She was a slender girl, and the color of her ribbon indicated that she was a third-year student. Her light purple short hair was tied into two buns atop her head. She wore a gentle smile on her cute face, while a pair of large, lively eyes watched Hoshino.

"I'm Tachibana Akane, the Student Council secretary. You said you wanted to apply to view the surveillance footage?"

Hoshino was slightly surprised. He had not expected this senior who looked like the girl next door to be the Student Council secretary. That was a high-ranking position in the Student Council, second only to the president and vice president.

"Yes."

Seeing his calm, neither-servile-nor-overbearing expression, Tachibana Akane thought a little more highly of him. After some consideration, she said, "The Student Council can indeed process applications to view surveillance footage. However, only the president, vice president, and I possess that authority. Neither president is here right now, so I'm the only one with the authority."

"Then—"

"However, the school regulates this matter very strictly. Ordinary students are not allowed to view surveillance footage without a special reason." Senior Tachibana's tone was completely businesslike. "So, Hoshino, could you tell me why you wish to apply to view it?"

After thinking for a moment, Hoshino nodded. "Since that is the school's rule, I will explain. However, this matter involves someone's privacy, so I can only tell you, Senior."

"Of course." Senior Tachibana nodded. "There's a smaller storage room next door. No one will be able to overhear us there."

Under Senior Mitsuyama's resentful gaze, Senior Tachibana led Hoshino out of the office and into a room adjoining the Student Council office.

This storage room was slightly smaller than the Student Council office. Large cardboard boxes sat on metal racks along the walls, stuffed messily with all sorts of things. A long table and several chairs stood by the window, with a potted plant on the table. It seemed the room was regularly maintained as well.

"All right, you can tell me now." Senior Tachibana gestured for Hoshino to sit wherever he liked, then took a seat opposite him. She opened her notebook on the table and looked at him seriously. "Whether your reason is approved or not, I will keep it strictly confidential. You can rest assured of that."

"Of course I trust you, Senior." Hoshino took a crumpled envelope from his pocket and placed it on the table. "This is a 'love letter' received by Sakura Airi, a classmate of mine."

Senior Tachibana's delicate brows furrowed slightly. She unfolded the letter and had read it for less than ten seconds before she could not help saying, "How is this a love letter? This is practically..."

"Yes. I suspect Sakura has been targeted by a perverted stalker."

Suppressing her anger, Senior Tachibana read the entire letter from beginning to end. Then she slammed it down on the table and said furiously, "Someone like this is absolutely disgusting."

Hoshino smiled faintly. This senior who seemed so upright had not disappointed him.

Senior Tachibana's ability to act was no joke. She immediately took Hoshino to the surveillance room. After logging in with her authorization, she quickly identified the suspect who had placed the letter in Sakura's shoe locker based on the time and location Hoshino provided.

"This person... doesn't look like a student."

Senior Tachibana frowned at the surveillance image. On the screen was a short man dressed in black. The troublesome part was that he wore a baseball cap that obscured his face.

"It was a little after six in the morning. Students should not have arrived at the classroom building at that time, right?"

"No..." Senior Tachibana pondered for a moment before saying, "Some clubs hold activities in the morning and arrive at school very early. As far as I know, the classroom building opens at six."

"Is that so..." Hoshino did not sleep in much, but he generally did not head to the classroom too early after waking up.

"Still, thinking that just wearing a hat would hide your identity is far too naive." Senior Tachibana sneered. "Just watch me drag you out!"

She smoothly entered a series of commands. Before long, she had pulled up all the surveillance footage along the man's route before he arrived at the classroom building.

This showed just how thorough Advanced Nurturing High School's surveillance network truly was.

Senior Tachibana examined it carefully once more, then looked up at Hoshino. "We can confirm that this person set out from the dormitories where school staff live."

Naturally, the school had more than just students and teachers. Advanced Nurturing High School had exceptionally comprehensive facilities, and those facilities required a large number of staff members. Their residences were located separately from the teachers' and students' dormitories.

"A staff member..." Hoshino considered it for a moment. "Senior, can the Student Council's authority influence staff members employed by the school?"

"Um, well..." Senior Tachibana shook her head. "The Student Council's authority is mainly concentrated in areas related to educational activities."

"But when students' rights and safety are being violated, the Student Council should also have the responsibility and authority to intervene, shouldn't it?"

"Of course." Senior Tachibana answered without hesitation.

"Then that settles it." Hoshino grinned. "Leave finding this pervert to me. After that, I'll leave the handling of the matter to the Student Council."

"I'll report this to the president as soon as I return." Senior Tachibana said seriously, "Hoshino, are you sure you want to find this person yourself? It could be dangerous."

"Don't worry, Senior. Just wait for my news."