Sakura Airi: Unease desu

June 1st.

All students across the four first-year classes successfully passed the midterm exams, and no one was expelled.

The school updated the class points today and distributed private points to the students.

Class A: 980cp → 1080cp

Class B: 880cp → 980cp

Class C: 770cp → 870cp

Class D: 0cp → 100cp

The point gap between Classes A, B, and C was not significant.

Only Class D, with its 100 points, appeared to be lagging far behind.

Consequently, each student in Class D could only receive 10,000 private points—a sum that could barely cover a side dish during a meal.

If they were even more frugal, they might be able to afford a bottle of sauce to mix with their rice.

Looking at the massive point gap between their class and the other three, the students of Class D could hardly bring themselves to smile.

By now, the vast majority of Class D students no longer dared to dream of surpassing the other three classes.

They only hoped that their class points would increase in future exams so that they could receive more private points and live a slightly more comfortable life.

As for the current state of Class D, Chihaya Rei naturally didn't care.

The smiles hadn't disappeared from everyone; they had simply transferred to his face.

After all, the impoverished students of Class D did not include him.

Just yesterday, Hoshinomiya Chie had repaid the 1,000,000 points she owed him, and his anonymous account now held a full 4.15 million points.

As for his personal account, there were still over 100,000 points left that he had obtained from Sakayanagi Arisu.

So, he was essentially using Sakayanagi's money for his living expenses.

Thinking about it that way, he felt even more delighted when he spent money.

If this continued, Chihaya Rei felt he was truly going to turn into a thrill-seeker.

But he had all these eccentric people around him to blame for that.

"Sakura-san, you look a bit uneasy. Is something bothering you?"

Chihaya Rei turned his head to the right, fixing his gaze on this fan of his band, and asked the question.

Furthermore, after two months of getting along, he and Sakura Airi had reached the point where they could call each other by their first names.

"Eh, Chihaya-kun."

Sakura Airi's expression was one of surprise. She quickly turned her eyes toward Chihaya Rei, her nervous voice emerging from her cherry-red lips.

"Is it that obvious?"

Chihaya Rei nodded and smiled.

"Do you want to tell me? After all, you're my fan; maybe I can help you."

Hearing Chihaya Rei's friendly words, Sakura Airi's eyes brightened slightly.

If it's Chihaya-kun, it should be fine to tell him about this.

The thought surfaced in her mind.

Thus, after Sakura Airi glanced around and realized no one was paying attention to her conversation with Chihaya Rei, she carefully opened her school bag to show him its contents.

They were several letters.

Some had been opened, but Sakura Airi had left most of them sealed.

"I've suddenly been receiving these harassing letters lately, so I'm a bit scared. I don't know how to handle it..."

Sakura Airi's voice grew increasingly fragile, and her soft, beautiful face revealed clear anxiety and worry.

"I see. Airi, this matter needs to be taken seriously."

Chihaya Rei replied, his eyes turning more serious.

Upon seeing these letters, he understood.

He knew that the perverted store clerk had discovered Sakura Airi's identity as an idol and had begun to target her.

If he hadn't asked today, Sakura Airi, with her social anxiety, likely wouldn't have dared to bring this up.

"Do you have any suspects?"

Chihaya Rei asked with some curiosity, determined to test Sakura Airi.

After all, Airi couldn't be so dense that she hadn't found a single clue after being targeted, right?

"That... I do."

Hearing this question, Sakura Airi bit her lip. Her expression was clearly conflicted for a moment, but in the end, she nodded.

"It's the salesperson from the shop where I bought my camera. He's very strange..."

Sakura Airi shared her thoughts with Chihaya Rei.

Although she didn't want to suspect a stranger without any evidence, that camera shop salesperson was indeed very strange.

The first time she went there to buy a camera, the salesperson insisted on adding her contact information, claiming it would be convenient for repairs if the camera broke later.

At the time, Sakura Airi figured a new camera wouldn't break easily, so she refused.

Then, a few days ago, when she went to buy some corresponding camera accessories, the clerk asked to add her contact information again. She refused once more and left immediately.

It gave her the feeling that he was obsessed with getting her contact information.

Not only that, but while she was shopping, he kept prying into her private life, asking all sorts of irrelevant questions.

His strange gaze made her feel completely uncomfortable.

And then, starting a few days ago, she began receiving these harassing letters day after day.

She also felt like someone was following her, as if a pair of eyes were constantly watching her from behind...

It had left her feeling on edge for the past few days.

Chihaya Rei nodded in satisfaction; Sakura Airi's target of suspicion was correct.

"How about this, Airi? After school today, let's go to that camera shop you mentioned and investigate."

Chihaya Rei proposed, "What do you think?"

To bring the clerk to justice, they needed substantial evidence of him secretly photographing students.

The harassing letters in Sakura Airi's possession were likely not enough on their own.

Therefore, Chihaya Rei planned to go directly to the shop to see if he could find evidence of the clerk's crimes.

Go together?

Sakura Airi blinked, her lips parting slightly, before she quickly nodded. "Okay, thank you for being willing to help me, Chihaya-kun."

With Chihaya Rei going to the shop with her, Sakura Airi naturally wouldn't be afraid.

Instead, she found herself thinking that if the two of them went to the shopping mall together, it would be a bit like a date... which made her feel nervous and expectant instead...

"Then it's settled."

After speaking with Sakura Airi, Chihaya Rei looked up, gazing thoughtfully toward the front of the classroom.

He and Sakura Airi going alone probably wouldn't be enough for this matter.

He needed someone good at socializing and acting to go with Sakura Airi and keep the clerk occupied.

Otherwise, Sakura Airi alone might not be able to handle the perverted clerk.

He, meanwhile, would take the opportunity to find evidence of the clerk's crimes.

Chihaya Rei's gaze lingered for a moment on Karuizawa Kei, Kushida Kikyo, and Matsushita Chiaki—the three who met the criteria and might be willing to help.

He finally decided: it would be you.

Matsushita Chiaki, the one playing the fool.

As for Karuizawa Kei, Chihaya Rei decided to give her a day off; after all, continuous training could easily lead to muscle fatigue.

He took out his phone and sent a message to Karuizawa Kei, informing her that their training after school today was canceled and that she should rest for the day.

To Matsushita Chiaki, he sent a message asking if she had time after school to go to Keyaki Mall and help him with a favor.

Matsushita Chiaki agreed.