"It's him?"
Kure Ragna blinked, momentarily thrown off by Sakura Airi's words.
From the beginning, he had assumed the culprit would be someone from their school—probably a classmate. It made sense. Airi, despite her quiet demeanor and simple clothing, wasn't exactly unnoticeable. She hunched in the corners, keeping to herself, but if someone took the time to really look… they'd see her delicate features, her soft, pink twin ponytails, and—well, let's just say that in Class B, no one outmatched her in certain aspects.
Even Chabashira Sae, despite her years of experience, couldn't compare in that department.
So if someone had noticed her and developed an obsession, it wouldn't have been a stretch. And considering how first-years rarely interacted with upperclassmen outside of clubs or the student council, the list of suspects should've been small—less than a hundred people.
Yet, against all expectations, Airi had pointed to someone completely different.
"The receptionist at the digital store?"
It felt like a case straight out of Detective Conan. A murder happens in a shopping mall bathroom, the police interrogate three customers, only to find out the killer was the janitor.
Unexpected? No.
Illogical? Absolutely.
Kure sighed, rubbing his temples. "Sakura, why him? Did he do something specific?"
Airi, sitting on the clean floor with her hands resting on her knees, hesitated before nodding.
"I… don't have solid proof. It's more of a feeling." She lowered her gaze. "I've always been timid, so I'm very sensitive to how people act around me. I might not know exactly what they're thinking, but I can usually tell when someone has… certain intentions."
She glanced up at Kure nervously, her voice shrinking.
"For example… you and Karuizawa-san aren't actually dating, right?"
Kure Ragna froze.
First Kushida, and now Airi? Were his acting skills really that bad?
Airi must've mistaken his silence for anger because she immediately waved her hands in a panic. "S-Sorry! I didn't mean to overstep—!"
Then, as if realizing she had already spoken too much, she quickly shifted the topic. "A-Anyway! That's why I think it's him… I just… have a bad feeling about it."
Kure sighed, deciding not to press further. "Alright. If we go by your theory, this guy must have recognized you when you bought your camera. He found out your name through the payment information and has been leaving you those letters ever since."
Airi fidgeted, nodding slightly. "M-Maybe..."
"Do you still have the warranty card for the camera?"
"Oh! Y-Yeah, here!"
---
Inside the Shopping Mall
On weekdays, the mall was much quieter. Kure Ragna rarely came here—his time was usually spent in the gym, drowning in physical training.
But today was different.
He walked straight to the digital store.
As luck would have it, only one person stood behind the counter—a male receptionist, watching the store with a blank expression.
Kure approached casually, setting the camera and warranty card on the counter. "Hey. I accidentally bumped this camera, and now it won't turn on. The lens looks fine, but I think it might be a power issue. It should still be under warranty. Mind taking a look?"
The man, seemingly in his thirties, had dull eyes, an out-of-shape body, and a slightly swollen face with two messy, shapeless mustaches. His short hair was at least somewhat tidy, but his overall appearance screamed a man beaten down by life.
A complete contrast to the obsessive stalker type Kure had imagined.
Still, he watched closely as the receptionist checked the warranty, then examined the camera.
"Hmm… yeah, the lens is fine. Probably just a disconnected power component…" The man's voice trailed off.
He frowned.
Kure leaned in. "Something wrong?"
"Ah… no, nothing. It's within the warranty period, so it should be fine. Just write your name and phone number here."
The man slid a ballpoint pen and the warranty card across the counter.
Kure picked up the pen but hesitated just before writing his phone number. Instead, he put the pen down and smiled. "Actually, I don't have my phone with me. The battery died before I left, and it's charging in my dorm. Can I get your number instead? I'll call when I get back."
"Oh, sure."
Without thinking twice, the receptionist scribbled his number on a piece of paper and handed it over.
Kure folded it and tucked it into his pocket. "Thanks. What's your name?"
The man answered automatically.
Kure tilted his head, pretending not to hear. "Sorry, what was that?"
The receptionist repeated himself.
Kure frowned slightly. "Ah… I'm not great with Japanese names. Could you write it down for me?" He handed the man a blank piece of paper. "I don't want to mispronounce it."
Without hesitation, the receptionist wrote it down.
Bingo.
Casually, Kure glanced at the man's phone, still lying on the counter. The screen showed an open gallery app—displaying multiple pictures of a certain someone.
A pink-haired girl. Twin ponytails.
Sakura Airi.
A cold realization settled in.
Still, Kure kept his face neutral. "By the way, ever heard of the idol Shizuku?"
The man's demeanor changed instantly. "Of course! Shizuku-chan is amazing!"
Kure feigned interest. "Really? Never heard of her. Who is she?"
The receptionist's face lit up as he launched into a passionate explanation, even pulling out his phone to show pictures.
Kure barely had to look to confirm it—it was Airi. Different styling, a slightly different atmosphere, but undeniably her.
The receptionist continued rambling for nearly ten minutes, gushing about his beloved idol.
Finally, he added, "Oh, and fun fact—your camera is the same model Shizuku-chan uses!"
"Oh?" Kure's brows rose in mock surprise. "You even know that?"
The man puffed his chest with pride. "Of course! I even helped her pick it out myself."
Kure nodded, standing up. "Well, thanks for the help. I'll give you a call later."
"No problem!"
As soon as he stepped out of the store, Kure pulled out his phone and dialed a number.
"Horikita-senpai, are you free? I've got something interesting for you to see."
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