Hasebe Haruka and the others clearly grew tense at Ryuuen Kakeru's sudden appearance.

"You seem pretty free, huh? Tutoring your own class is one thing, but even helping Class D? Is one of them your crush or something?"

Yet, in response to Ryuuen Kakeru's provocation, Kaoru answered bluntly.

"All of them."

For a moment, not just Ryuuen Kakeru but even Hasebe Haruka and the others fell silent.

Airi Sakura's face burned red, and she fidgeted uncomfortably.

Then, Ryuuen Kakeru burst out laughing. "Sometimes, I really admire your shamelessness, Mitoma."

"And I admire your lack of boundaries."

"Hah, I don't quite get it. Are you upset I interrupted your little date?"

"I just hate guys hitting on me."

"..."

Ryuuen felt his orientation was being questioned.

He scoffed, silently moving away from Kaoru, then realized it was pointless and schooled his expression.

"You seem to have the wrong idea. Truth is, I am interested in you—just not in the way you think." Ryuuen Kakeru stroked his chin.

"Did you do something in the past?"

"Do what?" Kaoru looked at him strangely.

"You made a contract with the upperclassmen, didn't you? I'm curious—how does a newly enrolled high school student like you have that kind of money?" Ryuuen Kakeru recalled the events at the start of the term, trying to piece everything together.

"A minor holding several million yen is hard to believe. Don't tell me you're some Tokyo rich kid too."

"There's no need to explain that to you. Even if I were, do I really have to tell you?" Kaoru found the question absurd.

Ryuuen stared at him for a moment, looking oddly amused before flashing a satisfied grin.

"Heh. You reek of lies, just like that woman over there."

Hasebe Haruka stiffened.

What did he mean by that woman?

"Mitoma, I don't know what you're thinking, but it seems you still haven't grasped the situation. Playing house with a bunch of high schoolers here isn't exactly an easy task."

Ryuuen stood up, hands in his pockets, smirking arrogantly.

"Whether it's you, Sakayanagi, or even that guy Nagumo—you're all underestimating people. Especially you, Mitoma." He paused briefly.

"Just a heads-up—someone's after you."

Kaoru frowned.

Someone wanted him?

"Could you be a little clearer?"

"Hahaha! Beg me, then!" Ryuuen burst into laughter before turning to Hasebe Haruka and the others.

"You'd better not get too involved with him. This guy's probably gonna drop out soon, and sticking around him will bring you nothing but trouble."

With that, Ryuuen strode off, leaving everyone bewildered.

The atmosphere turned awkward, and Hasebe Haruka sighed.

"Kaoru, have you always been tangled up with people like this?"

From their perspective, Ryuuen must have seemed like a complete oddball.

"Sorry for dragging you into this."

"Ah, don't worry about it. Honestly, I can't stand guys like him—the type who glorifies violence like some delinquent."

"So Haruka likes studious people?"

"I never said anything like that!"

With Hasebe Haruka's intervention, the awkward atmosphere quickly dissipated.

Kaoru treated them to some snacks, and then the study session came to an end.

However, Airi Sakura seemed a bit down.

So on the way back, Kaoru took the initiative to talk to her.

"Airi, are you worried about the exams?"

His words startled Airi, who then lowered her head and murmured, "N-no, it's not about the exams... Kaoru-kun teaches very well."

As she spoke, the girl kept glancing around subconsciously, as if worried someone might appear.

Kaoru immediately understood and whispered, "Is that pervert bothering you again?"

Truth be told, she faced harassment daily with all sorts of perverted remarks, but Airi didn't dare say it outright.

She vaguely replied, "Same as before... I'm sorry... I still can't..."

The online idol had grown numb.

Anyone subjected to daily perverted harassment would eventually grow mentally exhausted, even wishing for everything to just end.

Yet strangely, this particular stalker felt slightly more bearable than the previous store clerk, since he never sent her weird photos.

Sometimes, he'd even critique her photography skills, scolding her that an idol who couldn't even take proper photos would never become a top star.

Oddly enough, his advice was actually helpful, and under his "guidance," Airi felt she'd improved recently.

Still, Airi felt guilty—while he was coaching her, she secretly sent those photos to Kaoru, asking if they looked good.

Though he had some useful insights, a stalker was still a stalker.

He'd constantly talk about harassing her, claiming he could "go five rounds" just by looking at her feet, demanding photos of her Mary Janes and calling them his "lunchbox."

"It's okay, Airi. You're doing your best," Kaoru comforted the idol.

He had been carefully controlling the level of creepiness—just enough to scare and embarrass her, but never enough to terrify or drive her to despair.

Airi blushed. Being called by her first name was still embarrassing.

"But we can't keep dragging this on. We need to lure him out," Kaoru said gravely.

"Some stalkers escalate when they see no resistance. He might ambush you when you're alone."

Airi's face instantly paled.

This was exactly what she'd been fearing lately.

The stalker seemed to know her movements well, often sending creepy messages—praising her hairstyle, criticizing how she drank coffee.

It left Airi feeling helpless, as if perverts lurked everywhere.

Only Kaoru gave her a sense of safety.

"W-what should we do?"

Unconsciously, Airi moved closer to Kaoru, her small hand lightly tugging his sleeve, her face full of worry.

"Let's go to your room first. I have a good plan." Kaoru didn't want her to grow accustomed to the harassment.

It was time to strike back hard.

If he didn't fight back, Kaoru suspected that Airi Sakura would forever consider being harassed by a pervert as something completely normal.

"Eh eh eh eh, m-my room!?" Airi Sakura completely stuttered, flustered beyond belief, her pretty face redder than it had ever been.

Kaoru suddenly realized—he'd never actually been inside a girl's room before?