Gun!

In the west alley of an abandoned building at Advanced Nurturing High School, the towering structure blocked out the sun, casting the area into deep gloom where black, muddy sludge had accumulated between the cracks in the bricks.

This was the kind of place even school bullies would avoid, yet at this moment, someone was standing there.

"About time."

U Amakusa leaned against the wall and began to loosen up, moving his body as if he were simply warming up.

"Since you've arrived, come on out."

But after a long silence, the direction U Amakusa was facing remained completely still, as if he were merely acting out a one-man show.

"Not coming out?" U Amakusa said in a smooth, calm voice. "Kenichi Masano, male, 36 years old, formerly..."

"How do you know that!"

A roar erupted from behind the wall U Amakusa was watching, and a man stepped out slowly.

U Amakusa was very familiar with this man; he was the same shop clerk from earlier that morning.

"Heh, what does it matter to you how I know."

With that, U Amakusa elegantly pulled a pair of gloves from his pocket and put them on without haste.

Not only that, but U Amakusa also produced a variety of photographs from his pockets—all of them online images of Sakura in her role as a gravure idol.

"Don't touch her! Don't touch my Shizuku! Shizuku is mine! Shizuku is supposed to be mine! I love Shizuku so much! It's all because of you! As long as I kill you, everything will be over! You're right, I don't care how you know, you're going to die anyway!"

He finished his threat, pulled a fruit knife from behind his back, and held it with a trembling hand, his eyes filled with manic excitement.

Just kill him! Kill him and everything will be over! Shizuku is mine! No one can take her! No one is allowed to take her!

"Still haven't grasped the situation? Do you really think I'd invite you here personally without making any preparations?"

"You..."

Kenichi Masano realized something was wrong, but what did it matter? As long as he killed him, it would all be over.

U Amakusa continued.

"April 16th, 7:13 AM, you took photos from behind a tree on Sakura's usual route to school. April 19th, 3:47 PM, you posed as a security guard at the school gate to take more photos after classes ended."

"And April 22nd at 5:31 PM, April 23rd at 4:11 PM, and there are so many more. Do you want me to list them one by one, Mr. Stalker?"

"Who... who the hell are you!"

Kenichi Masano was starting to panic. What was wrong with this guy? Even he couldn't remember these times clearly, so how did this kid know them?

Is this guy human or a ghost!?

How is he more of a stalker than I am??? Could he be stalking me???

Seeing Kenichi Masano, who had been slowly approaching, come to a halt, U Amakusa felt a sense of satisfaction and took a step toward him.

"Don't be afraid, I'm human, not a ghost."

"Remember that link you clicked in the comments section of Sakura's page? The one labeled 'Shizuku Photo Collection'?"

As soon as U Amakusa mentioned it, Kenichi Masano recalled the time he had been scammed. When he clicked it, the page only displayed two words: Moron.

"Remember not to click random links next time. The moment you clicked that one, I had access to all your information: your name, age, work history, address, and even your browsing history."

U Amakusa's voice circled in Kenichi Masano's ears like a devil's whisper. This guy is no ordinary person!

Sorry, I happen to know a thing or two about hacking.

"I've known that Sakura is a gravure idol for a long time, and I've been monitoring your every move. The files on your computer will serve as evidence of your crimes. Stalking a high school student all the way into the school? You really are a degenerate through and through."

"Shut up! What do you know! You're just a brat who hasn't even grown up yet! You don't know anything!"

Kenichi Masano grew more agitated with every word, looking as if he might lunge forward and stab U Amakusa at any second.

"Right, no matter how clever you are, you're still human! As long as I kill you, it's over! Kill you!..."

But U Amakusa remained unhurried, slowly lifting his shirt and pulling a dark object from his waistband.

"Do you really think I'd come to face you without any defenses?"

The sight of the dark, pipe-like object made Kenichi Masano swallow hard, and he took a fearful step backward.

"How is this possible! Who are you! This has to be fake! Haha! It must be fake! Japan bans guns, doesn't it? This is definitely a fake!"

Indeed, the object U Amakusa had pulled out was a gun.

To be honest, even U Amakusa had been shocked when he first transmigrated; he hadn't expected to find a gun in the backpack of the person he was inhabiting! And a carry permit to boot!

"So, do you want to test it?"

"With your life."

He could tell himself it was fake, but if it were real, Kenichi Masano would be throwing away his life.

So, no matter how impossible it seemed, Kenichi Masano didn't dare to gamble.

He finally understood why U Amakusa had put on gloves at the start, and all the other preparations—U Amakusa had come specifically for him!

If that was the case, everything made sense, and the object in U Amakusa's hand was more than likely real.

Kenichi Masano felt it was better to just follow his heart; the worst that could happen for what he had done was a few years in prison.

His anger cooled the moment U Amakusa pulled out the Equalizer, as if a bucket of cold water had been dumped on a fire.

But would this really work?

"You... you've even got your gloves on. You, you aren't planning to... finish me off right here, are you?"

Kenichi Masano instinctively stumbled back several steps, staring at the gun barrel that seemed increasingly likely to be used.

U Amakusa merely smiled and pulled something else from his pocket: a tube.

Then, under Kenichi Masano's gaze, U Amakusa attached the tube to the muzzle of the gun.

It was a silencer!

This guy really is planning to kill me here! This lunatic!

Of course, U Amakusa had no intention of killing Kenichi Masano at this moment; he had no such plans, he just wanted to scare him.

After all, if he killed him, U Amakusa wouldn't be able to get away completely clean.

Even if a deranged Kenichi Masano were to rush forward and throw his life away, U Amakusa had no intention of acting in self-defense.

"Kenichi Masano."

"W-w-what! Don't come any closer!"

Kenichi Masano brandished his knife in front of him, stepping backward one pace at a time, his back soaked through with sweat.

Kenichi Masano thought through many scenarios: if he lunged, the gun was faster and he would die; if he ran, he couldn't outrun a bullet, and he would still die. Either way, it was death.

"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid. I can give you two choices," U Amakusa said, his eyes crinkling into a smile as he held up two fingers.

"What...?"

"You should know that I have control over your computer. Everything inside is evidence. Not only that, I have photos of you while you were secretly filming. All of this is evidence that could send you to prison, but I'm giving you a chance now."

With that, U Amakusa pulled a USB drive from his pocket.

"I've put all of these things in here. Besides, there are no cameras here to record your attempt to assault me today. So, the choice I'm giving you is... did you bring your phone?"