The moment his hand was taken, Luo Shu instinctively focused his gaze on the square school bag in his right hand.
Inside were the suit uniform and SIG P226 pistol he'd previously obtained from Chisato Nishikigi.
At the same time, Luo Shu concentrated on his ability, ready to manipulate wind elements at a moment's notice if needed.
However, upon hearing that familiar voice, he halted all defensive preparations.
"Miss Mira Tsubakihara?" Luo Shu tentatively asked, his head slightly turning to observe the woman holding his wrist.
She wore subtle, light makeup, her delicate and gentle features accentuated by bright blue eyes.
Relatively tall, she must have been over 165cm, and with high heels, her head could easily rest on Luo Shu's shoulder.
And that was exactly what she was doing now—holding Luo Shu's arm with her head resting on his shoulder.
Her orange-golden hair cascaded over the khaki-coloured suit on his shoulder, with several strands brushing against his arm due to their close proximity.
With just a normal breath, Luo Shu could catch a faint, pleasant fragrance, likely from her shampoo.
—Mira Tsubakihara.
The resident of apartment 302 next to Luo Shu's. From what he'd heard from his parents, this lady was only 26 or 27 years old, running a family-owned jewellery shop—a highly eligible 'single aristocrat'.
Well, to put it simply, she was the kind of stunning beauty that would earn a teasing remark from Luo Shu's mother if his father so much as glanced at her twice.
Since they lived next door to each other, and because tenants in Japan would bring gifts to greet their neighbours upon moving in, Luo Shu had met this Miss Mira a few times before.
While they weren't exactly familiar, they weren't complete strangers either.
[Alert: Host is making contact with a female lead.]
'A female lead?' For a moment, Luo Shu couldn't contain his astonishment.
But he couldn't immediately recall which anime Mira Tsubakihara was the heroine of, and the current situation clearly didn't allow him time to calmly think it through.
Just then, Mira Tsubakihara, who was clinging to Luo Shu's arm, whispered: "I'm being followed. Please help me."
Though she said this, Luo Shu wasn't particularly surprised that Mira Tsubakihara was being stalked.
After all, this was Japan, where all sorts of plotlines could happen - it was quite normal for a stalker to follow a beautiful woman.
Moreover, Luo Shu had no intention of rejecting a heroine who came to him of her own accord.
Why would he turn down money (points)?
"Understood. Please act naturally now."
Luo Shu turned his head and smiled at Mira Tsubakihara, putting on the act of a man whose name was suddenly called by his girlfriend when returning home. He even whispered in the lady's ear as if teasing her.
After doing this, Luo Shu reached out and put his arm around Mira Tsubakihara's shoulders. Feeling her stiffen uncomfortably, he guided her into the apartment building's lobby.
"There's no security in this apartment, right?"
As they walked towards the elevator, Luo Shu asked in a low voice.
"None, but there's a 'koban' police box about 100 metres away with officers on duty 24/7."
Mira Tsubakihara whispered while holding Luo Shu's arm, though her tone carried some helplessness:
"But for this kind of stalking, the police can't do anything beyond warning the perpetrator."
Luo Shu suddenly understood. With stalking cases, unless the perpetrator confessed, it was impossible to press charges. Unless the stalker clearly harassed the victim or installed tracking devices, there was basically no solution.
'In that case... we'd have to take matters outside the law...'
Thinking this, Luo Shu whispered:
"In that case... when we turn around after entering the elevator, point out who's following you so we can confirm their identity."
"Alright." Saying this, Mira Tsubakihara walked arm-in-arm with Luo Shu to the elevator and pressed the button.
With a ding, the elevator doors on the ground floor immediately opened.
Luo Shu nodded and led Mira Tsubakihara into the elevator, then turned around.
At that moment, Mira Tsubakihara pretended to casually glance through the lobby's glass doors, quickly scanning the area outside until her eyes locked onto a figure.
She immediately whispered a warning before Luo Shu could press the elevator button:
"By the roadside near the entrance. Carrying a briefcase, wearing a black suit with a blue striped tie and a black face mask."
Hearing this, Luo Shu pressed the button for the 4th floor while looking outside.
In that instant, he spotted a 'salaryman' carrying a briefcase, dressed in a black suit with a blue striped tie, wearing a black face mask and sporting messy short hair.
Just as Luo Shu looked at him, the man glanced back before naturally averting his gaze and continuing to walk past with his briefcase.
At that moment, the elevator doors closed. Luo Shu turned to Mira Tsubakihara, who had just sighed in relief, and asked:
"You're sure it was that person just now?"
"I secretly watched him through my makeup mirror on the subway." Mira Tsubakihara explained how she'd confirmed the stalker's identity: "He's been following me since I left the station."
'The subway station is an eight-minute walk from here, so it's highly likely to be a genuine stalker...' Luo Shu thought to himself.
Having recovered somewhat, Mira Tsubakihara now looked at Luo Shu with an apologetic expression: "I'm sorry for causing you trouble, Luo-kun."
"Don't mention it." Luo Shu shook his head, then frowned as he said: "But there's one thing we need to confirm."
"Eh?" Mira Tsubakihara blinked in surprise, only to hear Luo Shu continue:
"You don't actually think the stalker will give up just because he saw me with you, do you?"
At these words, Mira Tsubakihara's face instantly turned ashen.
Someone who'd followed her from the subway station all the way home, who now knew her address - the chances of him giving up were slim indeed.
'Though admittedly, this young lady has been rather careless, leading him right to her residence... '
Luo Shu glanced at Mira Tsubakihara just as the elevator dinged, arriving at the fourth floor.
"Eh? Why the fourth floor?"
Mira Tsubakihara pointed at the floor display in confusion. As neighbours, they both lived on the third floor - this was clearly the wrong level.
At this moment, Luo Shu took her hand and said:
"Come with me first."
He led Mira Tsubakihara out of the elevator directly to the stairwell, then peered down through the gaps in the railing.
"What are you..." Mira Tsubakihara was still puzzled by Luo Shu's actions when he spotted a black-suited shoulder flash briefly between the railings.
In that instant, Luo Shu calmly stated:
"He's inside the building."
Hearing this, all colour drained from Mira Tsubakihara's face.