Chapter 101: Stalking And Counter-tracking
Stalking…
Sakamoto Ken sighed, feeling a sense of déjà vu.
He had experienced this sort of thing many times in his previous life, and it was precisely this that led to his downfall in the end.
Especially when they all started to suspect him of secretly dating other girls, Haruna and Mio did a lot of this kind of thing.
Mio, in particular, was good at stalking and would deliberately change to an unfamiliar hairstyle and wear clothes he hadn’t seen before, so as not to be recognized from afar.
Of course, what she didn’t know was that Sakamoto Ken’s understanding of them went beyond mere hairstyles and clothing; he could recognize them by even the slightest subtle actions and characteristics.
As for Haruna, she rarely acted on her own. She would ask for help from others to stalk, which was actually more troublesome for Sakamoto Ken.
After all, with someone like Mio who acted in person, he could find a way to deal with it once discovered.
Cancelling the original plan, luring her down a different path, or blending into a crowded train station or mall to seize an opportunity to escape.
The best friends Haruna found to help her stalk were people Sakamoto Ken didn’t know at all at first. There were even times when they directly confronted him to get information.
Fortunately, at this time, she hadn’t reached the point of hiring people to stalk, especially since they didn’t have a deep relationship.
Her following him this time was more due to the influence of those memories of the future, out of curiosity?
Sakamoto Ken’s fingers swiped across the mobile phone screen, actually just switching between desktops.
When he was reborn back to 2015, he had thoroughly reviewed his experiences from his previous life, and stalking and counter-stalking were, of course, among the key points.
When Sakamoto Ken first fell into that situation in his previous life, he didn’t have much awareness of counter-stalking. He didn’t pay attention to anyone behind him when he went out, and only became alert after realizing he might be being stalked.
But by then, it was already too late.
If his counter-stalking awareness had been stronger from the very beginning, the ending would have been different.
Soon, the train arrived at the station.
Sakamoto Ken maintained a normal pace, walking and thinking slightly.
The current situation was different from his previous life. Although he was being stalked by Haruna, there was no danger to his life.
Therefore, Sakamoto Ken decided to pretend he hadn’t noticed anything for the time being and would deal with it once they were on the street.
Although it was just a completely legitimate house viewing with nothing to hide, he could even openly invite them to come along, view the house together, and then discuss which room each person would stay in.
It was a very ordinary matter, but the thought of having a little tail following him inexplicably… gave him a thrill, like an affair.
Leaving the lively main road, Sakamoto Ken turned into the residential area.
He continued to follow the navigation, heading for the house agency he had planned for, observing the surrounding environment along the way.
This area was less than 2 kilometers from Akihabara as the crow flies, but the environment was relatively quiet. However, because it was close to the city center, the houses were built quite densely.
The detached houses here were mostly small, but they were enough for Sakamoto Ken.
His plan was to use the first floor as a studio, setting up several workbenches, and the second and third floors as living areas.
The location in the city center would also make commuting more convenient for his assistants.
Sakamoto Ken had now arrived at the entrance of the house agency, but he didn’t go in. Instead, he continued walking forward.
Sakamoto Ken lowered his head to look at his mobile phone, zooming in on the map to confirm the small paths around.
Continuing forward, after passing two more intersections, he suddenly made a right turn without any warning and stepped into the alleyway next to him.
Then, he immediately changed from walking to running, made another right turn at the next corner, and circled around to the rear of the route he had just taken.
Now, Mikazuki Haruna, who had been following behind him, was in front of him.
……
“Huh?!”
Mikazuki Haruna was following a distance behind. She had only hidden behind a utility pole for two seconds. When she looked forward again, Sakamoto Ken was gone.
Haruna quickly ran forward, but looking left and right, there was no sign of Sakamoto Ken.
At this point, there were several intersections to the left and right, and she had never been here before. She had only followed Sakamoto Ken the whole way and couldn’t distinguish directions at all.
Actually, after receiving the message from the internal line at the front desk today, she hadn’t intended to come at all. After all, she already knew where A Jian’s house was and could go directly there anytime.
But after considering it, she had already paid ten thousand yen, so it felt like a waste not to come.
She had originally thought that A Jian would just go to the company to discuss work-related matters with the editor and then go straight home.
But she never expected him to come all the way to Taito Ward.
What did A Jian want to do?
Mikazuki Haruna was very curious and followed him all the way.
But now she had lost him completely!
Mikazuki Haruna anxiously peered into several intersections around her, stomping her foot in frustration. She shouldn’t have hidden behind that utility pole for that moment. She had been worried he would suddenly turn his head and realize she was stalking him.
Actually, he wouldn’t have been discovered at all!
The whole way he walked, A Jian never even turned his head. His destination was definitely very clear.
So what should she do now?
This residential area was large, with a maze of small paths. If she wanted to get out now, she could only open her navigation. As for finding Sakamoto Ken again, that was impossible.
Mikazuki Haruna pouted her lips and unhappily opened her mobile phone map, navigating to the main road outside. She planned to hail a taxi back to Shueisha; her car was still parked in the parking lot next to the company.
Haruna walked along the small paths in the residential area following the navigation. Her pace was not fast, and she kept looking around, wondering what Sakamoto Ken was doing here so suddenly.
Moreover, she had specifically chosen the main road on the other side ahead in her navigation, not the direction she came from, in case she got lucky and had a chance to run into Sakamoto Ken.
She walked forward for about five minutes like this and stopped when she saw a vending machine by the roadside.
She took out her wallet from her pocket, inserted a thousand yen banknote, and bought a bottle of Pepsi Cola.
“Clank!”
The cola dropped into the dispenser, and she squatted down to retrieve the drink.
At this moment, the change coins clattered into the change box, and she reached out to get them.
As soon as her fingertips touched the coins, a large hand landed on her shoulder.
“Huh!?”
Mikazuki Haruna was startled by the suddenness, and actually jumped up.
She quickly turned around, and instinctively raised her hand, swinging the cola bottle in her hand.
“Bang!”
With a dull thud, the cola bottle hit Sakamoto Ken on the head.
“Ouch…” Sakamoto Ken yelped in pain and raised his hand to cover where he had just been hit.
Fortunately, it was a plastic bottle of cola; it wouldn’t injure him to be hit on the head.
Mikazuki Haruna leaned against the vending machine, her eyes wide open, staring at Sakamoto Ken.
She opened and closed her mouth, feeling a bit stunned.
They were very close. Sakamoto Ken reached out and pressed himself against the vending machine, looking down at the girl in front of him.
“Saka… Sakamoto Ken?! You, how…”
Sakamoto Ken interrupted her, staring directly into her eyes, and retorted, “Miyuki Haru Sensei, what are you doing here?”
Mikazuki Haruna swallowed, her lips parted, and she felt her mouth wasn’t working very well. “I… I was just…”
Sakamoto Ken interrupted again, directly pointing it out, “Don’t tell me you were stalking me?”
Not yet 600, but it should get there. I’ll add more first!
