Sakura: Careful, or I'll tell on you to Big Sis Kikyo

"What do you mean, Sakura? You got a threatening message?"

After school the next day, Sakura came to Ju Ji for help and showed him the messages on her phone.

They were all things like, "Shizuku-chan, I've found you!" "Shizuku-chan, we'll be together soon," and "Shizuku-chan, I love you."

This seemed more like a stalker than a threatening letter...

"This is a stalker, isn't it? When did your phone number get leaked?"

"I don't remember, but it was probably when I was shopping. Some places ask you to leave your phone number. I'm just not sure exactly where..."

Ju Ji vaguely remembered this incident, but only vaguely. He could recall that it involved an employee at a digital camera store, and that after Ayanokoji took a picture of him, the man was sent to prison. He couldn't remember any other details.

"Then why not call the police?"

If this had happened to Sakura in the past, she would definitely have avoided going to the police because she didn't want anyone to find out she'd been a gravure idol in middle school. But that was no longer a burden for her. Ju Ji couldn't think of a reason she wouldn't report it.

"His behavior is a little extreme, but he's still my fan. I believe I can persuade him if I talk to him properly. But I'm a little scared to go alone. I was hoping you could come with me, Ju Ji. Don't worry, I won't do anything to betray Big Sis Kikyo. Or are you worried you won't be able to control yourself?"

That way of thinking was very much like an idol's. After changing her image, her thoughts had started to shift toward those of an idol. He couldn't tell whether that was a good thing or a bad thing.

"Enough. You don't have to use such a cheap provocation to get me to help. We're friends, after all. So what should I do?"

Sakura did have a great figure, but he was all burned out at this point. So he wasn't looking at her through any kind of colored lens. Yes, in this state, he was invincible.

"You don't have to do anything. Just walk around town with me. Since he sent those messages, he'll probably come looking for me soon. And today, I noticed a different sort of gaze watching me."

"No, isn't that pretty normal? You have such a great figure, Sakura."

"It wasn't that kind of lecherous gaze. You really have a nasty personality, Ju Ji. Careful, or I'll tell on you to Big Sis Kikyo."

"Please, spare me."

Kikyo had always been very friendly toward Sakura. It felt as if she saw her as a little sister. If Sakura told on him, even Ju Ji wouldn't escape Kikyo's punishment.

"Is walking around town really all we have to do?"

"I think so?"

After that, Ju Ji and Sakura had spent about an hour wandering around near the shopping street. But no suspicious person had shown up. Maybe he was hiding in the crowd. Or maybe he'd already left.

"Could he have left already?"

"No, I can still feel that gaze, like it's trying to devour me. He should still be nearby."

"Then let's try going somewhere more secluded. With so many people around, he probably wouldn't dare make a move."

Since it was after school, plenty of students were still on the shopping street. If they kept this up, they'd get nowhere. So they headed into an alley off the shopping street. There were fewer people here, and it was a shortcut to the dorms. If the stalker wanted to make a move, he'd surely choose this place.

Even if he didn't try anything, it would be hard to stay hidden in a place with so few people. After all, he was only a stalker. Sure enough, when Ju Ji looked back, he spotted a furtive figure.

"Come out. We've already spotted you... You—"

When he heard Ju Ji's warning, the other person seemed to realize there was no point hiding anymore. He stepped out on his own, but instead of the middle-aged man Ju Ji had imagined, a high school student appeared.

"Ah~ I didn't think you'd catch me. I guess secretly following you was too much for me."

"Ichinose, what are you doing here?"

"I saw little Ju Ji with another girl and thought I might get to see something interesting, so I followed you. Forgive me."

Honestly, Ichinose had apologized so sincerely that Ju Ji couldn't stay angry with her. It wasn't as though she'd done anything wrong. And she might even be able to help with this.

So Ju Ji told her about Sakura's experience with the stalker.

"I see. So you're the gravure idol Shizuku... Sakura Airi. I'll call you little Airi. Leave this to me. I have an idea..."

As the saying went, three heads were better than one. After discussing it, the three of them finally came up with a suitable plan to draw out the stalker and resolve the matter.

Though most of the ideas had come from Ichinose... All right, the entire plan had been hers. Ichinose was the brains of the operation. Ju Ji would owe her one this time, and he'd pay her back someday.

After a while, Sakura was walking down the street, and she felt that same unusual gaze that had been watching her before. It seemed to be following her as she moved. When she walked into the alley again, a middle-aged man wearing a store uniform appeared at the entrance.

"Sir, why are you following me? We don't know each other, do we?"

Since Sakura had insisted on talking to this fan, Ju Ji and Ichinose were hiding in a nearby shrub. That was why Sakura had the courage to face him alone.

"Shizuku-chan, I'm your fan. I've finally met you. I love you, Shizuku-chan. Let's be together forever."

"I'm sorry, sir, but we don't know each other. And there's no way I'd be with you. I'm happy to hear that you're a fan, but that's all it is: a fan's affection. Please don't bring things from the internet into real life. Your behavior is interfering with my life. Please leave me alone."

After saying all that, Sakura felt she'd expressed everything she wanted to tell this fan. Surely he'd take the hint and back off. Then she'd be able to enjoy her school life in peace.

But because she thought like an idol and loved all her fans, she'd overlooked the possibility that one of them might be an extremely unstable person...