Kanzaki Sou’s usually gentle expression was somewhat stiff now, and his brow furrowed slightly.
“Even I — even if I saw you at the livehouse and met your friends — certainly wouldn’t be able to name every single one of you.”
“Normally, an ordinary person who isn’t familiar with you would, at most, write that they saw a few girls from Starlight Academy, rather than writing such a detailed list like this.”
“But this person was able to point out your specific names.”
Kanzaki Sou slowly explained the part that concerned him.
“It’s more like… the other party knew who you were from the start. In other words, they know you…”
As he finished his sentence, the smile on Kanzaki Sou’s face vanished without a trace.
His gaze locked onto the cold, anonymous letter on the screen, his words filled with hesitant doubt.
“Although the report letters received by the Student Council are mostly anonymous, it’s usually because students don’t want to reveal their identities when offering opinions.”
“That in itself isn’t strange, but…”
“— Miura, do you have any idea who the complainant might be?”
Kanzaki Sou suddenly turned the conversation toward Xiao Chun Miura.
Xiao Chun Miura bit her lip.
She knew Kanzaki Sou was worried about her.
The content of the report letter was too detailed, making it hard not to wonder if someone close was watching her and the others.
And it was someone who knew them.
If they hadn’t encountered anyone else that day, it meant the sender had seen them from a shadow they hadn’t noticed.
If the person had no ill will, it would be fine.
But if that gaze hidden in the dark was intentional…
A chill ran through the girl’s heart.
A sense of deja vu quietly surfaced.
‘Being silently monitored by someone in the shadows, with no way of knowing their identity.’
The feeling made her skin crawl.
…Was Kiyono Arisa’s situation the same?
“…I don’t have any clues,” Xiao Chun Miura said slowly.
Kanzaki Sou waited silently for her to continue, and Xiao Chun Miura voiced the words they both understood.
“— I’m certain we didn’t encounter any students we knew that day.”
Kanzaki Sou nodded.
“I see. I understand.”
“It seems a classmate of Miura’s coincidentally ran into you in Sakuragicho, discovered you went to a livehouse, and then reported it to the Student Council.”
To Xiao Chun Miura’s surprise, Kanzaki Sou’s tone softened considerably.
“They were probably worried about your safety and feared you would be upset if they revealed their identity.”
The boy spoke words to put Xiao Chun Miura at ease while closing the page containing the anonymous report letter.
“It’s fine, Miura. I’ll handle things here at the Student Council. If you want to go to a livehouse again in the future, there shouldn’t be any problems as long as you’re accompanied by a guardian.”
“Eh… ah, yes.”
Xiao Chun Miura replied blankly.
Although Kanzaki Sou’s words sounded normal, she could roughly understand what he meant.
…Was he looking out for her feelings?
Because he felt that revealing the hidden implications behind the incident would make her uneasy, he deliberately avoided the topic and comforted her, saying everything was fine.
Xiao Chun Miura’s fingers, resting on the tabletop, curled slightly.
‘What is this…’
Her heart felt a strange itch.
It wasn’t the time for this.
No.
“Is the person… targeting me?”
Xiao Chun Miura shook her head and then laid the question out plainly on the table.
Kanzaki Sou’s gentle expression didn’t change, and he didn’t answer immediately.
He stood up, walked to the window, reached out to pull the curtain aside, and then opened the window of the Student Council room slightly.
Sunlight instantly flooded in, dispersing the gloomy blue light that had filled the room.
In the play of light and shadow, the boy’s tall figure appeared exceptionally imposing, yet also somewhat blurred because he was backlit.
“— Don’t worry, Miura.”
Kanzaki Sou turned his head, his gentle profile outlined by the sunlight.
He looked at the anxious Xiao Chun Miura, his voice carrying a warmth that could soothe one’s heart.
“School is a safe place. The teachers and the Student Council will protect the students.”
Kanzaki Sou walked back to her side, his gaze firm.
“— I won’t let my friend be harmed, either.”
Xiao Chun Miura fell silent.
In the quiet room brightened by the sun, Kanzaki Sou’s firm and gentle statement gave her a sudden illusion —
…As if no matter what happened, he wouldn’t let anything happen to her.
Then, as if possessed, the girl made a reaction she couldn’t even understand herself.
Xiao Chun Miura tightened her grip on the paper cup that had already gone cold.
In that brilliant morning light, she showed a timid yet grateful smile that even she couldn’t tell was real or fake.
“Thank you… Kanzaki.”
‘Was it just politeness?’
It felt like more than that.
But… could it be a sincere thank you?
Just because Kanzaki Sou said that? Was she so moved that she couldn’t help herself?
Xiao Chun Miura couldn’t distinguish it for a moment.
……
The conversation in the room came to a temporary end due to Kanzaki Sou’s active shift in topic.
Kanzaki Sou sat back in front of the computer and began to skillfully archive the documents.
His movements were efficient and composed; every single sheet of paper in his hand seemed to know exactly where it belonged.
Xiao Chun Miura unknowingly began to help out.
Although Kanzaki Sou had asked if she still needed to go to the library, Xiao Chun Miura said it didn’t matter if she went a bit later.
Kanzaki Sou didn’t press further; he just smiled and accepted the girl’s assistance.
Standing to the side, Xiao Chun Miura watched Kanzaki Sou’s profile.
With that serious attitude, it was hard to associate him with any shadows or darkness.
His upright appearance was enough to provide a sense of security, but…
“Um… Kanzaki.”
Xiao Chun Miura spoke with some hesitation, breaking the brief silence.
“Don’t worry, Miura.”
Kanzaki Sou seemed to sense her anxiety, and his voice became even softer.
“Just live your life normally, as you always do.”
He lit up the screen again. Amidst the blue light that seemed a bit dazzling due to the incoming sunlight, he whispered a final sentence.
“Leave the rest to me.”
……
Once the work was finished, Xiao Chun Miura said her goodbyes to Kanzaki Sou and turned to leave the Student Council room.
“Then… I won’t disturb your work anymore, Kanzaki. I’m going to the library now.”
“Mhm. Be careful on your way home from school.”
Kanzaki Sou waved his hand, and the keyboard soon emitted that rhythmic, steady clicking sound again.
Xiao Chun Miura stepped out of the room and closed the wooden door behind her.
When the silence of the corridor enveloped her again, she didn’t leave immediately. Instead, she leaned against the cold wall and let out a long breath.
She glanced down at her mobile phone.
In her LIME list, the avatar named “ALISA” was still grayed out.
And above it, the “SS” chat box sat there quietly, as if reminding her that everything that had just happened was not a dream.
“Who exactly is it?”
Xiao Chun Miura murmured, a trace of gloom flashing in her eyes.
……
Inside the room, Kanzaki Sou’s glasses reflected the light from the screen, hiding his eyes.
…Until the very end, Kanzaki Sou had not asked about the details of why Xiao Chun Miura and her friends went to the livehouse.
Out of respect for others’ lives, the boy never commented further on such matters.
What he cared more about now was…
Whether his friend was encountering something dangerous.
‘There have been unidentified outsiders wandering around the school lately.’
That was no laughing matter.