"Seriously, thanks a ton, Ayanokōji!"

As soon as we left the student council room, Shibata jumped onto me.

His face was overflowing with a grin.

"I get it, so stop hugging me. It's summer and it's hot."

"Don't be so cold about it!"

"But he really was dependable. We made the right decision leaving this discussion to Ayanokōji."

Kanzaki praised me as well, looking somewhat proud.

"Seriously! If it were me I could never have convinced the student council president like that and your guidance was so natural that even I didn't notice it!"

Ichinose seemed excited.

With an even more energetic voice than usual, she praised me along with Kanzaki.

After a while, I separated from them.

It was time to talk with the MVP of this case.

"It looks like everything worked out... I'm glad..."

Of course, it was Sakura Airi from Class 1-D.

Without her video evidence and testimony, we would have been forced to use the backup plan.

Thanks to that, I now had two people who could be used as spies whenever necessary.

"It's all thanks to you, Sakura. Without you, we might have been in serious trouble."

"That's not true! I can't even speak confidently like you can, Ayanokōji-kun."

"That's not the only thing that determines a person's worth. You're a gravure idol under the name 'Shizuku', right? I couldn't do that and Ichinose doesn't do it either. That's your originality. Be confident."

"Ayanokōji-kun is amazing... why would you say all that to someone from another class like me?"

"Let's see... if I had to say, it's to repay a debt. I've said it many times already, but we would have lost this case without you. So I want to repay that debt even a little. Including this."

As I said that, I held out my terminal.

Displayed on the screen was the total of the 100,000 points Ichinose had given me earlier combined with the points I originally possessed.

"This is?"

"100,000 points. I'm paying them to you. As compensation for your cooperation."

I couldn't deny that it hurt a little.

But it was necessary to show sincerity.

Besides, leaving a favor unpaid isn't in my nature.

"I can't accept that much! I didn't do anything."

"Then consider it payment for your testimony and evidence. If you find a camera you like someday, I can go with you to buy one."

I looked straight at her.

Trying to convey sincerity as best as I could.

"Thank you. You've helped me so much, Ayanokōji-kun."

Sakura smiled faintly, a fragile smile that looked like it might shatter at any moment.

It was nearly impossible to read what she was thinking from that expression.

"I don't think I've done anything that impressive..."

"Even so. Thank you. I'll try to be brave."

"...Well, alright then. Do your best. I'm rooting for you."

"Yeah!"

I didn't know what exactly she meant by being brave.

But I hoped she would succeed.

I hate selfish and unpleasant people, but I like good people.

From other classes, the only ones I've met so far are Hirata and Sakura.

"And one more thing. It's true that you and I are in different classes. But class boundaries don't matter when it comes to friendship. The moment you cooperated, you became my friend and my benefactor. If you ever have trouble, tell me. I'll help you."

It was strange.

When we first met, I thought our connection would disappear once this incident was over.

But now I was the one rejecting that idea.

"...Thank you."

Sakura smiled faintly again.

After silently wishing her well, I turned on my heel and left.

* * *

That night.

I was using the laptop I had bought with the Private Points I had saved.

In fact, the day I went to the electronics store with Sakura, I spotted it at Keyaki Mall and bought it on impulse.

Why?

Because Watanabe kept going on and on about how great laptops are.

Anyone would start wanting one after hearing that.

It's not my fault.

Yeah, the blame lies with him for putting those ideas in my head.

‘...What does this button do…’

I tapped the keyboard as I experimented with it.

By the time I finally finished all the settings and could use it freely, it was already past ten at night.

‘What should I do now…’

According to Watanabe, there are games you can play for free.

He plays a shooting game where you fight using guns.

Oh right... it was 'Shizuku', wasn't it?

I decided to look up Sakura's identity, which had been on my mind.

Of course I could search for it on my phone, but I wanted to see it on a bigger screen.

‘Let's see... Shizuku... so S I Z U K U.’

Still unfamiliar with the keyboard, I typed using only my index finger and pressed Enter.

Watanabe had said doing it forcefully makes it look cool.

‘...Nothing's coming up.’

Searching only 'Sizuku' didn't work.

The screen was filled with pictures of raindrops.

‘Oh, I'm missing a keyword.’

So I searched for 'gravure idol Shizuku'.

This time photos of a beautiful girl with pink hair and an incredible figure appeared.

Some showed her lying on a beach, others gave off an intellectual atmosphere.

Even I had to admit—

"She's cute..."

I murmured unconsciously.

It was the same feeling I had when looking at Ichinose or Amikura.

Incidentally I feel it when looking at cats or dogs as well.

‘Oh, she runs a blog too…’

Apparently Sakura also had a blog.

Admirable.

If it were me I would get bored and quit after three days.

‘Hm? What's this…’

There was a user who left comments on every single post Sakura made.

And they were quite intense.

Do you believe in destiny? I do.

Our eyes met today. It must be fate.

I love you. I adore you.

Those lines were written over and over.

The sheer creepiness gave me goosebumps.

‘What the hell is this... that's disgusting.’

But perhaps that was the problem Sakura was dealing with.

If so, it would be difficult for someone as shy as her to resolve it alone.

It might be none of my business, but perhaps I should step in as her self-proclaimed friend.

* * *

The next day.

"Sakura. Thanks for coming."

I had called Sakura out to talk about that issue.

Naturally somewhere out of sight.

"W-what is it, Ayanokōji-kun?"

"Stalker. That word ring a bell?"

Sakura couldn't hide her shock.

Which was natural.

Someone had just intruded on a problem she had been dealing with alone.

"H-how did you know?"

"Last night I got curious and searched about you... about Shizuku. I found your blog and those creepy comments."

"I see... I told you about it after all... but what about it?"

"This might be meddling, but I can't ignore it. If you want to resolve this situation, I'll help you. If you truly don't want my help, say so now."

I looked straight into her eyes.

Just like before.

"...It really won't bother you?"

"Not at all. This is nothing more than my own selfish satisfaction."

"Then... I'd like to ask for your help. I don't trust people easily, but I feel like I can trust you, Ayanokōji-kun."

"Then I promise I'll do everything I can."

* * *

The next day.

A certain news story was broadcast that morning.

The headline read: A suspect arrested in the act for attempted sexual assault against a female student inside Advanced Nurturing High School.

Reporters swarmed the criminal's home and journalists also gathered around his former classmates from middle school and high school.

Of course—

Ayanokōji, who cornered the criminal and Sakura, the victim, knew nothing about it.