Capture

"Suzune, there are actually a lot of details you haven't noticed."

Suzuki Tsubame's words pulled everyone's dejected emotions back.

"From Sakura's private messages, it's clear that person is extremely familiar with the school environment. That alone rules out all first-year students."

Because the filming locations Sakura chose were mostly various obscure corners of the school.

You'd have to be at the school for at least two or three years to recognize them.

Letting everyone digest that, Suzuki Tsubame continued his analysis:

"The competition at this school is especially fierce. The upperclassmen in Classes A and B are practically drained of energy trying to climb higher."

"And Classes C and D are struggling just to avoid expulsion. Under these circumstances, the probability of that scumbag being a student is very low."

Suzuki Tsubame's reasoning had solid backing.

At the Birch Shopping Center, you almost never saw an upperclassman. Shopping, eating out, and karaoke were almost exclusively first-year students.

Everyone was busy as hell, without even time to go shopping, let alone energy to harass a female celebrity.

"That's right! What Suzuki-kun said is correct."

Kushida's eyes lit up, her expression delighted:

"Every time I see senpais, they're always in a rush, looking incredibly busy."

Ike looked dumbfounded, a bit lost by the logic.

"So... does that mean that guy's identity isn't a student?"

Suzuki Tsubame shook his head, denying it:

"Not exactly. Nothing is absolute. I'm just saying that guy is most likely not a student."

After thinking for a moment, he added:

"And he's ugly, with a lecherous look. Not the type popular with the opposite sex. Oh, and he's not a teacher or management either."

Everyone nodded in agreement. After all, if he were popular with women, he wouldn't be so repressed.

"Then... what exactly should we do to find him?"

Hasebe asked impatiently.

Actually, she thought Sudo's method from earlier was decent. Now that Horikita and Suzuki Tsubame had filled in the gaps, this time it was definitely a sure thing.

"There are actually many methods. It depends on what Sakura-chan wants to choose."

"First, naturally, is Sudo's proactive approach. This method is highly efficient. The only concern is that it might alert the target, making it harder to catch him later."

"Second, wait by the tree stump. Sakura-chan can continuously release filming works at the same time and place. The rest of us wait at the intersection he must pass through, and when the suspect appears, we catch him red-handed with evidence."

"This method has an extremely high success rate, but its efficiency is a bit low. It'll take several days."

The other methods essentially boiled down to the same thing: either waiting by the tree stump or taking the initiative.

Only the details differed.

Everyone looked at Sakura, waiting to see what she would choose.

Sakura turned her gaze to Hasebe, seeking her friend's opinion.

"Airy... no matter which you choose, everyone will be with you and help you."

Hasebe patted Sakura's head.

Suzuki Tsubame had a feeling that Hasebe radiated a kind of maternal glow. Was she treating Sakura like a daughter?

"I... I'll choose the second one."

Encouraged by her friend, Sakura bravely made her decision.

Actually, Suzuki Tsubame thought Sudo's method was better. After all, knowing the original story, he was very clear on just how abstract that shop clerk really was.

Suzuki Tsubame had also considered just bringing the Student Council to arrest the clerk directly. His phone was definitely hiding other things.

But the current situation was... even Sakura herself didn't have a clear target.

Before the fight incident, although that clerk knew Sakura was from Advanced Nurturing, he didn't know which class.

He had never followed or secretly filmed her, leaving no trace at all. If Suzuki Tsubame just grabbed him outright, it would be a bit too absurd.

"Alright, then we'll do this... then this... and finally this..."

After settling on a plan, everyone left one after another.

Leaving behind a mess for Ayanokoji to pass the time.

Time arrived in mid-May.

Ike stood alone at the corner of the Special Teaching Building, his face cold and stern.

After confirming the suspect, he immediately spoke softly into the walkie-talkie hidden in his collar:

"This is Wildcat. The target has appeared."

"Repeat: the target has appeared. Over."

"Copy."

A stern male voice crackled from the walkie-talkie.

Meanwhile.

Special Teaching Building.

Third-floor corridor.

Tap tap tap tap...

Hurried footsteps approached from afar, growing closer. After an unknown stretch of time, a bulky figure... abruptly appeared in the third-floor stairwell.

"Hah... hah... my dear Shizuku-chan... where are you?"

His voice was hoarse.

It came with rapid, gasping breaths, like a worn-out old bellows.

"Shizuku-chan... hah... don't hide from me anymore. Uncle knows you're here."

The shop clerk hunched over, searching the empty classrooms one by one as he moved deeper into the corridor.

"Oh, right. Uncle is your biggest fan."

Tap... tap... tap...

His steps deliberately softened, like a jaguar closing in on its prey.

"...Shizuku-chan, come out now."

"If you just come out, whether it's points or money, whatever you want, Uncle will give it to you."

The voice drew nearer and nearer.

Finally, he reached the last classroom on the third floor.

"Bang!"

The door burst open with a kick from outside.

"Shizu—"

"I'll 'Shizu' your mother!"

What greeted him wasn't Sakura's panicked, pretty face, but Sudo's fist, big as a sandbag.