So the problem had nearly become impossible to solve. Sakura's camera was broken, but it contained precious data. If she wanted to recover it, this was the only repair shop at school.
And the shop's clerk was some disgusting creep whose deal was anyone's guess.
Shuichi Kanda had also examined the camera. Its memory card was integrated with the camera, so there was almost no way to remove it directly. The only possible way to get it out was to take the camera apart.
But if taking it apart still didn't let them retrieve the storage device, they'd have to go back to that shop.
Damn it, they were stuck in a loop!
Forget it. They'd take it apart and see what happened. If that didn't work, they'd think of something else.
"Would you like me to remove the memory card from your camera?"
Sakura Airi froze for a moment, then shook her head.
"The storage device in this model is connected to the camera. There's no way to remove it."
Great, they really were stuck in a loop.
Shuichi Kanda began thinking about how to break it.
If the guy had already been up to no good, this would've been easy.
But since there was no proof, they'd have to make him slip up. With that in mind, Shuichi Kanda looked at Kushida.
"What are you planning?"
When Shuichi Kanda looked her way, Kushida felt a chill run down her spine.
"Kushida, go seduce the clerk."
"Huh?"
Even Kushida let out an incredulous cry, loud enough to draw nearly everyone's attention in the café.
At the same time, she instinctively stood up and stared at Shuichi Kanda as if he had to be joking.
Perhaps realizing she'd drawn too much attention, Kushida hurriedly sat back down.
"I can't do something like that! And what are you even trying to do?" Kushida wanted to kick Shuichi hard, but her public persona wouldn't let her do it in front of everyone.
"I can tell just by looking at his face that he's a bad guy. I want you to find some proof."
"Then just say that! Why say something like se... seduce..."
Seeing Kushida's expression, Shuichi Kanda realized he'd taken the joke too far and quickly apologized.
Chapter 83: Ryuen, Catch!
After discussing it for quite a while at the café, they still hadn't come up with a solution.
The clerk looked disgusting and had casually hit on a high school girl, but that still didn't prove he'd done anything wrong at the shop.
"I'm so sorry for putting you through all this trouble over my problem."
Sakura Airi's words made Shuichi Kanda feel awkward, since his own plan had caused all this in the first place.
Ashamed, Shuichi Kanda shook his head. Was he going to have to use the same trick again?
"So, please come with me to get it repaired."
They had no choice. That was all they could do.
So the three of them returned to the shop they'd visited earlier.
When the familiar clerk saw them return, he even looked smug, which made Shuichi Kanda all the more annoyed.
As the three of them approached the counter, the clerk made a slight movement. It caught Shuichi Kanda's attention.
He glanced at the row of display cabinets on his left.
Following the clerk's gaze, Shuichi Kanda immediately noticed something suspicious.
When he'd installed a pinhole camera in the cat's eye, he'd learned a bit about cameras. He was certain the camera lens on the one in the middle of the third shelf over there was turned on.
Judging by its angle, it was probably filming Kushida's... boobs.
But it'd be better to have an expert confirm it.
So, while Kushida was talking to the clerk, Shuichi Kanda quietly asked Sakura.
"Sakura, can you tell whether that camera is on?"
To keep the clerk from hearing, Kanda leaned close to Sakura's ear.
The warm breath Shuichi Kanda exhaled made Sakura's head feel a little fuzzy, but she followed Kanda's gesture and looked over.
Then she nodded with certainty.
So the clerk really was a creep. Shuichi Kanda felt relieved.
While the clerk was inviting Kushida to the cinema to watch a female idol concert that was currently showing, Shuichi Kanda reached for the black camera that was secretly recording.
The clerk, who'd been talking nonstop, froze for a moment at Shuichi Kanda's sudden movement. That was all it took for Shuichi Kanda to snatch the camera.
He immediately started checking its contents. The moment he saw them, Shuichi Kanda knew he'd been right. The bastard really was a piece of shit.
He didn't stop to consider who had installed a pinhole camera in the cat's eye in the first place.
The clerk, who'd witnessed Shuichi Kanda's every move, rushed at him like a madman. Shuichi Kanda was so startled that he immediately backed away two steps.
The clerk consequently crashed into the glass counter in front of him.
"Give it back!"
As if I'd give it back, you bastard!
But the clerk clearly wasn't about to give up. He'd even come around the counter, and Shuichi Kanda frowned.
The guy didn't look like much, but Shuichi Kanda was obviously even weaker. There was no way he could take him in a fight.
If the clerk snatched the camera back and deleted what was on it, it'd all be over. What should he do? What should he do?
Damn it, if only Miyake or Hirata were here! Sudo would do, too!
Could he hand it over to some other shop clerk nearby? What if they covered for each other?
Just as Shuichi Kanda was frowning and trying to figure out a way out, a vaguely familiar red figure appeared in the corner of his eye.
Shuichi Kanda was overjoyed. He tossed the camera straight at him and shouted, "Ryuen, catch!"
Ryuen jumped at Shuichi Kanda's sudden shout, then saw a black object flying toward him.
Why did this scene feel so familiar?
Still, he reached out and caught what Shuichi Kanda had thrown.
Good thing I played baseball in middle school, or who knows what would've happened.
The clerk, who had just rushed out from behind the counter, immediately turned his attention from Shuichi Kanda to Ryuen, who now had the camera.
Ryuen looked like trouble, but if the contents of the camera came to the school's attention, the rest of the clerk's life could be ruined.
As the camera's owner, he knew all too well what kind of incriminating material it contained.
Ryuen was utterly bewildered when he caught the camera. What was going on? Who was this mad dog in front of him?
Before he could think any further, the mad dog was right in front of him, trying to snatch the camera from his hands.
But just as the clerk was about to succeed, a huge black fist came crashing down on his face, sending him flying.
After hitting the ground several meters away, the guy still struggled to get back up.
Seeing this, Shuichi Kanda breathed a sigh of relief. Ryuen, you really showed up at the right time.
He also reflected that next time, he couldn't be so reckless. He had to remember that he was a weakling!
Kushida and Sakura seemed to be completely stunned.
After giving them a look to reassure them, Shuichi Kanda walked over to Ryuen. Ryuen also came toward him.
The two groups met on either side of the fallen clerk.
"Kanda, what happened?"
As he spoke, Ryuen raised the camera in his hand to indicate it.
"Why don't you check what's on it first?"
Taking Shuichi's advice, Ryuen turned on the camera and saw all sorts of boobs covered by clothes.
"I see. This belongs to that guy?"
"Who else?" Shuichi Kanda shrugged. "Consider it a gift. If you hand it over to the Student Council, you should get some kind of reward. That's payment for helping me out."
"You actually used me."
Ryuen smiled and didn't refuse. He felt he deserved it.
The commotion immediately attracted the mall's security guards, and it wasn't long before they arrived.
"What happened here?"
Two people Shuichi Kanda hadn't expected to see appeared as well: Horikita Manabu and Akane Tachibana, both dressed casually.
Wow, it was the Student Council President and secretary on a date.
"Perfect. Saves me a trip." Ryuen walked over with the camera. "This scumbag seems to have done something he shouldn't have."
Horikita Manabu glanced at Ryuen's smiling face, then at Shuichi Kanda beside him. He immediately felt a headache coming on. Had these two teamed up?
Shuichi Kanda was speechless, too. President Horikita, why hadn't you shown up sooner? If you'd arrived earlier, I wouldn't have had to give Ryuen the reward!
Chapter 84: So, You Run into a Lot of People on Saturdays
After taking the camera from Ryuen, Horikita Manabu looked at it only once before handing it to Akane Tachibana.
Then Horikita Manabu took out his phone and showed them his Student ID.
"I'm Horikita Manabu, the Student Council President of this school."
After Horikita Manabu introduced himself, the Shopping Street security guards verified his Student ID and immediately became serious.
"Take this man into custody immediately and wait for further instructions."
The security guards immediately carried out Horikita Manabu's order.
That was right. It was an order.
At that moment, Shuichi Kanda and Ryuen understood once again just how much power the Student Council President had at this school.
He could even take direct action over something like this. Impressive.
"So, who discovered what happened?"
He really wanted to claim credit, but never mind. It wouldn't be great to offend Ryuen like that, and more importantly, it wouldn't be right.
"Actually..."
"Half and half."
Horikita Manabu frowned. "Half each?"
Seeing Ryuen put it that way, Shuichi Kanda kept quiet. If Ryuen was willing to give him a share of the credit, he couldn't very well refuse.
For Ryuen, it was a free bonus. Besides, he'd also seen that Shuichi Kanda seemed even more capable of stirring up trouble than he'd expected.
So giving him some face seemed perfectly reasonable.
"Very well." Horikita Manabu didn't make a judgment on the spot. He planned to consider the matter after returning.
Akane Tachibana, standing beside him, looked unusually stern and seemed furious.
"President, we absolutely can't let that guy off lightly this time."
Clearly, Akane Tachibana had seen what was on the camera and immediately put in a word against the clerk.
After asking Ryuen for the details, Horikita Manabu left with Akane Tachibana. Once he was gone, Shuichi Kanda and Ryuen Kakeru looked at each other.
Then Ryuen praised him.
"Not bad. You can get things done."
Before you continue