COTE: Starting With Love Stock Market System

After sending Kushida away, Hikaru sat back down at his desk. He opened the blog page where Sakura was active as an online idol. The page was filled with her photo collections, along with numerous supportive comments from fans.

Since he'd just bought shares in Sakura's stock, Hikaru figured it was crucial to understand this side of her life. If he could find the right approach, perhaps he could significantly increase her stock value. Doing some homework now might pay off later.

But as he scrolled through the posts, something strange caught his eye.

One user ID stood out, repeatedly appearing in the comment sections. This person responded to nearly every post Sakura made. At first, Hikaru assumed it was just a loyal fan expressing their support.

But as he read more closely, the content became increasingly unsettling.

Statements like:

"I'll always be watching you, Airi-chan. Our hearts are forever connected. I'll support you endlessly."

Such obsessive remarks might have been dismissed as fan delusions, but one comment triggered Hikaru's alarm.

"Today's casual outfit looked amazing. Did you pick it just for me?"

Hikaru's eyes narrowed.

He knew that Sakura dressed plainly in school—simple long-sleeved tops and loose pants to avoid attracting attention. She never posted casual outfits online, only the stylish idol-themed looks reserved for her blog.

For someone to mention her casual attire...

"That means... this person knows her real identity."

Hikaru's mind raced. He immediately thought of the electronics store employee from their recent camera repair visit. That man had paid far too much attention to Sakura despite the presence of the far more noticeable Kushida.

"Could it be him? There's no proof... yet."

Hikaru drummed his fingers on the desk. Confronting the store clerk without evidence would get him nowhere. As school staff, the man had no obligation to answer his questions.

"Maybe Sakura can give me more information," Hikaru muttered.

He opened his phone and navigated to the friend list. One particular feature caught his eye—a location-sharing function available for contacts who had enabled it. Hikaru hadn't used it before since his usual contacts were classmates he saw daily.

But now that Sakura was in Class D, not his own Class A, this tool might come in handy.

"Let's see if she's moving around campus..."

Hikaru activated the location tracker and watched the indicator appear on the map.

"...Wait. Why is she heading there?"

Recognizing the destination, Hikaru's expression turned grim. He grabbed his bag and bolted from the classroom.

The sudden movement startled several classmates. Even Ichinose, who was packing her books, blinked in surprise.

"What's gotten into Hikaru-kun...?" she murmured, watching him vanish into the hallway.

---

Meanwhile, near a secluded alley behind the electronics store:

Sakura stood trembling before the man who had been sending her the obsessive letters. It was indeed the same store clerk who had handed her camera to Hikaru just days ago.

When he saw her approaching, the man's lips curled into a grotesque smile.

"I knew it was you, Airi-chan," he said softly. "I just knew you'd come. It's fate... destiny."

His eyes glimmered with unsettling excitement.

Sakura's heart raced. Her palms were clammy, and her breathing uneven. Yet she mustered every ounce of courage to confront him.

"I... I want you to stop," she said, voice shaking. "Stop sending me letters. Stop leaving things in my shoe locker. It... it makes me uncomfortable."

The man's smile twitched.

"Uncomfortable? But... why?" His voice trembled with disbelief. "I've given you so much! My time... my devotion... my love! We're connected. Our hearts are synchronized. I can feel it every time you look at the camera."

Sakura took a step back, fear clawing at her throat.

"How did you even know where my locker was? I never... I never told anyone."

The man chuckled darkly.

"Isn't it obvious? We're connected, Airi-chan. That's why I can find you so easily."

Sakura opened her bag and pulled out a thick stack of colorful envelopes.

"These... I don't want these. Any of them." Her voice cracked as she threw the letters onto the ground. "I never wanted any of this!"

The man's eyes flicked to the scattered letters. The false warmth vanished from his face, replaced by something far more sinister.

"You... don't want them?" His voice dropped to a growl. "These are my love letters. I wrote them for you! And you just... throw them away?"

He advanced a step.

Sakura's breath caught in her throat.

She stepped back, but her legs buckled. The growing dread paralyzed her.

"Stay... stay back!" she cried.

The man didn't listen. His eyes were wild with possessive obsession.

Sakura's vision blurred with tears. Just as the man lunged toward her, a familiar voice pierced the moment.

"Oi. Creepy old man."

The man's head whipped around. Sakura turned toward the voice.

A figure stood at the entrance of the alley, silhouetted by the faint streetlights.

"Didn't you hear her the first time?" Hikaru asked, voice low and sharp. "She said no, so... Buzz off."

"Airi-chan's boyfriend, huh?" the man sneered. "You're just a brat. Get lost."

"You first."

Hikaru surged forward. His foot shot out and landed a powerful kick directly into the man's stomach.

The man doubled over with a strangled grunt.

"Ahhh!" he gasped.

Hikaru grabbed his collar with one hand and delivered a brutal knee strike to his abdomen. The man collapsed to the ground.

Sakura stared in disbelief.

"Hikaru... kun?" she whispered.

Hikaru glanced at her and gave a small smile.

"Yeah, it's me."

The stalker groaned and tried to rise. Hikaru responded with a sharp, calculated punch to his ribs. The man slumped against the wall, gasping for air.

[Martial Arts(Master Level)] had proven to be an excellent purchase. The skill not only granted Hikaru knowledge of effective strikes but also taught him how to avoid causing permanent damage. Internal injuries were far harder to detect during disciplinary reviews.

As the stalker lay whimpering, Hikaru straightened and pulled out his phone.

He scrolled down to a contact he hadn't messaged in months.

Hashima Hikaru: "Horikita-senpai, if I beat the crap out of a staff member who was stalking a student... will I lose class points?"

Horikita Manabu: "…?"

~~~

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