Before noon on Sunday, I finished getting ready and headed for Keyaki Mall. In order to loosen Sakura’s tension even a little and make her easier to handle, I ran through my scenario in my head again and again.

‘Come to think of it, this is my first time meeting classmates on the weekend for something private. Every single one of them is awkward to deal with.’

Up until now, if I spent a weekend at all, it was either with Hiyori or alone in the dorm resting. Even when I met classmates, it was by coincidence or because I’d called them out to karaoke for a midterm strategy meeting.

Well, if this is an operation, then it’s an operation. No need to overthink it.

I found Kushida and Horikita sitting on a row of benches along the mall street.

“Ah, good morning! Ayanokoji!”

We live in the same dorm so we could have gone together, but Kushida seemed oddly stubborn about putting meaning into the meeting place. Such a pointless and inefficient method. It irritated me.

“I arrived on time, so don’t complain that I’m late.”

“No, we just got here too.”

Both Kushida and Horikita look decent in casual clothes. At least they’re not dressed in anything flashy or eye-catching. If we want to persuade Sakura, we need to create as calming an atmosphere as possible.

“Somehow, meeting the two of you on a holiday feels new. It’s kind of refreshing.”

Refreshing my ass. Just looking at the suspicious look in Horikita’s eyes already annoys me. I swore that even for operations, I would never again create or participate in such meaningless gatherings.

“By the way, Ayanokoji, your sense of style is really good. Our school uniform isn’t bad to begin with, but when you wear it, it looks really high-class. Do you usually buy clothes online?”

“That doesn’t matter. More importantly… where’s Sakura?”

“She doesn’t seem to be here yet.”

“I haven’t seen her either.”

Kushida tried to continue the conversation with a compliment, but I cut her off coldly. She didn’t seem to mind. Still, it’s already time and Sakura hasn’t shown up.

No, maybe I should say she didn’t greet us.

I sighed at their answers and walked over to the person who had been sitting on the bench beside us the whole time.

“If you’re here, say something. Why were you sitting there?”

Startled, Kushida and Horikita turned to look at Sakura. Only now realizing it, I made a look of utter exasperation. Seriously, her presence is this thin…

No signs, no atmosphere, the aura of a complete stranger. I might not have noticed either if I’d only glanced over, but her uniquely tense appearance made me sure it was Sakura.

Sakura greeted us shyly, apologetic.

“I’m sorry, I don’t really have any presence… good morning…”

“No, it’s those two’s fault for not even noticing your existence.”

With a hat and a mask on, it’s true they might not have recognized her. I only did because I’m me. But in the middle of summer, a mask? It doesn’t look like a cold and it doesn’t look like fashion either.

“You look kind of suspicious…”

“Rather than suspicious, you actually stand out more.”

“I see… I guess I do stand out here…”

Apologizing at Horikita and Kushida’s advice, Sakura took off her mask. Is she just afraid of standing out? Or… no way, but…

Does she hate catching the eye of a specific someone?

“The camera repair, it’s at the electronics superstore inside Keyaki Mall, right?”

“Yeah, they should take repair requests too.”

“I’m sorry… for making you all come out here with me… Ayanokoji, it might have been a hassle…”

No no, what are you saying, Sakura. Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for this? I was so excited I woke up an hour earlier than usual to get ready.

“I had some business nearby anyway, so it wasn’t a hassle. Let’s go now while it’s not crowded.”

Following my lead, the four of us headed to the electronics section of Keyaki Mall.

Maybe because the school is partnered with them, several nationally famous electronics chains had branches inside the mall. Since their main customers are students, the shops themselves weren’t large, but they carried plenty of practical everyday electronics.

There are quite a few interesting and useful things. When I have spare private points, I should come and browse properly.

“Hmm, I think the repair counter was on the other side.”

Kushida, apparently having been here before, recalled her memory and headed into the store. Horikita, Sakura and I followed.

“I wonder if they can fix it right away…”

Sakura clutched her camera anxiously. Even assuming it’s because she loves photography, that level of anxiety is strange. Maybe there’s something important inside. For example, photos from the incident. Well, in that case she can just take out the SD card before it is repaired.

I signaled Horikita with my eyes to calm her down. Horikita looked displeased at my instruction but still spoke awkwardly to Sakura.

“It’ll be fine. I don’t know much about cameras, but I hope it gets fixed quickly.”

“Yes.”

“You must really cherish your camera.”

“Yes… is that strange?”

“Not at all. It’s a healthy hobby. Much better than the type who uses others to profit.”

This woman still hasn’t given up on trying to take me down after everything. Horikita isn’t someone who’ll change with just one comment. Soon… I’ll educate you again.

“I found the repair counter.”

“Ah…”

The repair desk was at the very back of the store, but for some reason Sakura stopped walking. Her face showed open disgust. It was the same look I give incompetent people.

I immediately followed her gaze and scanned the store. Nothing in particular stood out.

“What’s wrong, Sakura?”

“Did you see something unpleasant?”

Asked in worried tones by Kushida and Horikita, Sakura looked like she was about to say something, then shook her head and took a deep breath.

“It’s nothing…”

I was certain. Something in here is shaking Sakura’s resolve. Something here is making her refuse to stand out as a witness.

If it interferes with my plan, I’ll eliminate it right away.

We reached the repair counter and each did our part. Kushida called the clerk and requested the repair, while Sakura stood beside her answering the clerk’s questions. Horikita observed Sakura’s condition as I had instructed.

And I searched for the object of Sakura’s disgust with sharp eyes. Then my gaze landed on the repair clerk and at that moment I noticed Sakura clinging excessively to Kushida.

Well, an introverted girl talking to a man is already unnatural.

Looking closely, the clerk’s energy was far too high. He kept actively talking to Kushida without pause and from what I could hear, it sounded like a date invitation. Listening more carefully, he seemed to be inviting her to a female idol concert at the movie theater.

I don’t have prejudice against otaku culture, but being that serious about female idols… hearing about gravure idols from a man like that makes me sick. And with a face like that, having such tastes. What a mood killer.

From what I can tell, Kushida is inwardly uncomfortable but doesn’t show her dislike. For the first time since entering this school, I felt sorry for Kushida and signaled Horikita to cut him off.

Horikita, apparently fed up too, urged Sakura to take out the camera. The clerk opened it and confirmed that a part had broken from the impact, causing the power not to turn on. Thankfully, since it was bought after enrollment and still under warranty, it could be repaired for free.

At that moment, Sakura’s expression was strange. She had to fill in the mandatory fields on the repair form.

“Sakura?”

“Are you okay?”

Horikita and Kushida asked. She hesitated.

And…

The clerk, who until now had been engrossed in talking to Kushida, stared at Sakura. The other three were looking at the paper and didn’t notice, but his gaze was creepy enough to make anyone shiver.

‘So it’s you, the one blocking my chess piece from advancing.’

The situation is obvious even without looking. I immediately stepped forward and snatched the pen from Sakura’s hand.

“Ah? Ayanokoji…”

“Contact me when the repair is finished.”

“W-wait, student. The owner of this camera is that girl, isn’t it? That’s…”

“The manufacturer’s warranty is properly proven with the store and purchase date and you checked it yourself a few seconds ago. I see no legal problem. Is there any issue if the purchaser and user are different?”

“Ah, no, but…”

The clerk looked flustered at my sharp tone contrasting my pretty face. I didn’t even wait for his reply and wrote down my name and dorm number.

“Or is there some other reason it has to be her?”

I lifted my head and stared at him. Fear showed on his face. I glared at him with a warning in my eyes that I knew everything and he’d better not try anything stupid.

“What are you doing? Take it.”

“Ah… understood.”

It seems it’ll take two weeks. With our business done, I left the store without even saying goodbye and the others followed.

“That clerk was intense… he kept talking nonstop and it made me anxious.”

“More than that, the atmosphere felt creepy.”

“…It was unpleasant, wasn’t it?”

“Ah, don’t misunderstand. What was unpleasant was that clerk.”

All of them agreed he was unpleasant. Seeing Sakura nod slightly, it seems she’d met him when buying the camera and his strange stalking-like behavior started after that.

“Ayanokoji, how did you feel?”

To Kushida’s question, I answered immediately.

“He was gloomy, talkative and rude, spewing disgusting information no one asked for. I think the owner who hired such an incompetent person must also be incompetent.”

“Haha, you really are blunt, Ayanokoji.”

If Sakura had written her room number or phone number on that paper, it would’ve caused trouble. It would’ve been best for Kushida or Horikita to write instead, but there was no justification to order them, so I wrote my own info. I don’t care if that incompetent gets my information.

The moment he tries to approach me, I’ll show him what hell looks like.