Beaten Up

"Um..." Sakura Airi's voice was even softer than usual. Her fingers tightened around her backpack strap. "Could you take a look at my camera?"

Yamamoto Ichiro turned around, immediately putting on a professional smile. "Of course. What seems to be the problem?"

Sakura Airi took a digital camera from her bag and offered it to him hesitantly. "It's the sound it makes when taking pictures. I want to turn it off."

She paused, then added, "I've used the same model before, so I know how to do it, but the method doesn't work on this one."

Yamamoto Ichiro took the camera, running his fingertips lightly over its body.

He pressed a few buttons, then turned it over to check the model label on the bottom.

"Ah, I see." He tapped the camera with a finger. "You tried adjusting it yourself, right?"

Sakura Airi nodded, unconsciously biting her lower lip. "Yes. I thought it would be the same as before..."

"I see." Yamamoto Ichiro suddenly smiled, the corners of his mouth curling into a subtle arc. "But at Advanced Nurturing High School, some things aren't quite the same as they are outside."

Sakura Airi looked up, confusion in her eyes. "What's different?"

"Well..." Yamamoto Ichiro set the camera on the counter, lightly tapping the surface with his fingertips. "You'll have to figure that out for yourself."

He paused, then pointed at the camera. "I'd need to remove a component inside and then reset the software. Three thousand points. Is that all right?"

"Three thousand points?" Sakura Airi's voice rose for a moment before she quickly lowered it. "When I was outside, it only cost a thousand yen..."

Yamamoto Ichiro's expression didn't change. He simply tapped the back of the camera. "This isn't an ordinary procedure. If anything goes wrong, the camera could easily be damaged."

His gaze lingered on Airi for a few seconds.

"You're a first-year, right? This is already a very reasonable price."

Sakura Airi bit her lip, her gaze shifting between the camera and Yamamoto Ichiro.

In the end, she nodded faintly.

"All right. Please."

Just as Yamamoto picked up the camera and started to turn away, he suddenly glanced back.

"By the way, you look familiar. Have we met before?"

Sakura Airi twisted her fingers together. "I bought this camera here last week."

"Ah, that's right."

Yamamoto Ichiro patted his forehead, his smile broadening. "I'm sorry. There are so many students on campus that it's easy to get them mixed up."

He took an antistatic mat from the counter. "This kind of delicate work requires special tools. Please have a seat in the waiting area."

As he spoke, he turned and took a toolbox from a drawer, then suddenly stopped.

"Ah, this kind of precision work is best done in a dust-free environment. Could I borrow your camera for five minutes?"

Sakura Airi hesitated, then nodded as she watched Yamamoto Ichiro carry the camera into the repair room, which was separated off by frosted glass.

Through the blurred glass, she could see him remove the back cover, then perform a series of procedures.

Light shone through the glass, outlining his moving silhouette. His hands seemed almost too practiced.

Yamamoto Ichiro quickly disassembled the digital camera and removed a component.

When his fingers touched a particular part, a strange glint suddenly flashed behind his glasses.

Less than ten minutes later, Yamamoto handed the repaired camera back to her.

"All done."

"It won't make a sound now. Would you like to test it?"

Sakura Airi took the camera.

She pressed a few buttons, then finally relaxed when she confirmed it was silent. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." Yamamoto Ichiro straightened up, but his gaze stayed fixed on her. "If you have any problems in the future, feel free to come see me."

He handed her a business card. "Just ask for Yamamoto Ichiro."

Sakura Airi took the card, quickly tucked it into her bag, and walked away faster than she had on the way in.

When she left the shop, she didn't notice Yamamoto Ichiro watching her the whole time, a thoughtful look on his face.

"That's what happened that day."

After hearing Sakura Airi's account, Tanaka Yukishin nodded.

There was no need to think any further.

Based on what she'd told him, the answer was obvious.

The stalker was the employee from the electronics shop.

"Then let's continue with the plan we discussed yesterday."

"Lure him out, then deal with him directly."

"Do you need me to tell you what to do once you've drawn him out?"

Sakura Airi nodded, her eyes shining with trust and determination.

"Then... what should I do?"

Tanaka Yukishin suddenly leaned in close, near enough to see Sakura's eyelashes flutter.

A playful smile tugged at his lips. "It's simple. Ask him if he's the one following you, and then—" He deliberately drew out the pause.

"Act weak."

At Tanaka Yukishin's suggestion, Sakura Airi's brows furrowed slightly, confusion flashing in her eyes.

Her cheeks instantly flushed—not from embarrassment, but from surprise and discomfort at the suggestion.

Noticing Sakura Airi's suddenly flushed cheeks, Tanaka Yukishin chuckled and added, "But when it comes to acting weak..."

He suddenly reached out and pinched Sakura Airi's soft cheeks, gently pulling them apart. "Airi-chan doesn't need to learn how."

"Mm... Let go!"

Sakura Airi protested, waving her little fists, but with her cheeks being pulled, she could barely speak clearly.

Only then did Tanaka Yukishin let go. Seeing her rub her cheeks indignantly, he couldn't help laughing again.

Maomao was so cute. He really wanted to keep her***.

Sakura Airi glared at him, then noticed a glimmer in his golden eyes—a look she had never seen before.

The following day, after school.

Sakura Airi left the classroom with her digital camera.

Following her usual route, she stopped at a convenience store and bought some snacks girls liked and a few bottles of drinks.

The plastic bag rustled in her hand.

As she turned past the school building on her way back to the dorms, the back of her neck suddenly prickled. That feeling of being watched had returned.

The stalker had appeared again, watching her from the shadows.

It was different from the last few days.

Tanaka-kun said he'd be following me. Why am I still so scared...?

Sakura Airi's heart pounded.

Fortunately, Tanaka Yukishin had anticipated this in the plan he gave her yesterday.

Sakura Airi fought off her discomfort and headed toward the residential area.

When she reached the shopping district, the bustle of the crowd helped her relax a little.

Then she took out her student ID terminal, opened her contacts, tapped Tanaka Yukishin's profile, and opened the map.

She looked at the red dot, which was very close to her on the map.

She secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Her fingers trembled slightly as she put the terminal back in her pocket.

Now that she had some reassurance, Sakura Airi took several deep breaths where she stood.

She clenched her fists and gave herself a pep talk.

You can do this, Sakura Airi.

Just do what Tanaka-kun told you.

Believe in yourself.

Remembering the person she'd been a few days ago, and with that unsettling gaze at her back to help, Sakura Airi perfectly played the part of her former self.

As she quickened her pace, the buildings around her seemed to fly past.

After turning two corners, the area grew gradually quieter.

Sakura Airi could even hear the footsteps behind her drawing closer, and the soles of shoes scraping against the ground with a soft, shushing sound.

When she stumbled into a secluded dead end, the stalker following close behind finally stopped hiding.

It was Yamamoto Ichiro.

He wasn't wearing his work clothes today.

He was wearing a tracksuit.

His gaze was burning as he looked at Sakura Airi.

"Shizuku, I'm your fan!"

"So you're the one who's been following me these past few days. Please stop this disturbing behavior."

"What are you talking about, Shizuku? Didn't you come to this school for me? I love you so much!"

As he spoke, Yamamoto Ichiro suddenly moved closer, reaching out to grab Sakura Airi by the arms.

"Stay away from me!"

Sakura Airi swung the plastic bag in her left hand at him. The drinks inside struck Yamamoto Ichiro's hand and knocked it aside.

"Why are you rejecting me?"

Interrupted before he could get any closer, Yamamoto Ichiro grew furious. His eyes looked crazed now, in addition to their burning intensity.

He reached out again, trying to grab Sakura Airi.

She swung the bag once more, but this time Yamamoto Ichiro was ready. He slapped it with his right hand, using enough force to knock it right out of Sakura Airi's grasp.

The drinks and snacks scattered across the ground.

"It's okay. I won't hurt you."

"I'm just telling you how much I love you."

Yamamoto Ichiro's expression twisted, his mouth stretching into an exaggerated grin.

His breathing grew ragged, his pupils dilating until there was almost no white left in his eyes.

Sakura Airi backed away in fear.

Her foot caught on a drink, and she fell backward.

Her hands instinctively braced against the ground, but pain still shot through her body from her buttocks.

Her palms were scraped on the ground, a patch of red spots faintly showing beneath the skin.

But Sakura Airi couldn't worry about the pain just then. She grabbed a bottle of drink and hurled it at Yamamoto Ichiro as he approached.

The attack came straight at him with no more force than an ordinary girl could muster, and Yamamoto Ichiro caught it easily.

He raised his left hand and grabbed it.

"Shizuku, you're offering me a drink?"

Yamamoto Ichiro laughed maniacally.

"I knew it. You love me too."