Right now, in front of me is a man—the guy who's been stalking Sayama-san. I caught him tailing Sayama-san and Kawabata-san from a good distance behind.
The only reason I could track this stalker down was thanks to my Presence Detection Skill. On the way back home the first day I started guarding Sayama-san, I noticed someone following us. Using the skill, I scanned the area and found that, amid the bustling crowd, someone was keeping a constant but far-off distance from us.
To confirm my suspicion, I used the skill again yesterday after leaving the live venue. Even on the train, this person maintained a steady distance from us. At that point, I was sure it was him. So today, I acted separately from Sayama-san and Kawabata-san, specifically to track him down. And here we are.
"…For now, why don’t we move to a quieter place?"
To my surprise, the stalker himself suggested relocating. Works for me. A public disturbance isn’t ideal.
"Sure. Oh, how about that café over there? It’s quiet and not too crowded."
"…Alright."
Using Presence Detection, I ensured the café wasn’t too busy. We entered and sat at a back table where no one could overhear us. We ordered iced coffees and waited. Now, how do I bring this up?
"…You."
Unexpectedly, the stalker broke the silence first. What now? Is he about to justify his actions?
"Are you... following Yukari-san?"
"What?! No way!!"
I couldn’t help but raise my voice. What kind of question is that? You’re the stalker here!
"If you're in a serious relationship with her, that’s fine. But if you're just toying with her or trying to harm her, I won’t forgive you!"
Wait... what? Why does it sound like he’s trying to protect her?
"I'm just her hired bodyguard. I practice judo and was asked to guard her after she reported being stalked."
"Bodyguard? Then it’s Mogi, isn’t it? Or maybe there’s another stalker I haven’t noticed?"
"No, it’s you!"
Seriously, how can he not realize that?
"Me? No, that’s impossible! Look, I only started watching over her when Mogi, that costume assistant, began clinging to her. I looked into him—his parents' wealth lets him do whatever he wants, and the rumors about his relationships are all bad.
So yes, I’ve been keeping an eye on Yukari-san from afar to protect her. I made sure to stay far enough away that she wouldn’t notice me, though!"
"Hmm. But she mentioned receiving letters. Care to explain?"
"Ah, I did send her a letter. It said Mogi was unworthy and warned her to stay away from him."
"That’s textbook stalker behavior!"
A letter telling someone to break up or avoid a guy? That’s classic stalker material!
"What?! No way… Could it be that I’ve actually caused trouble for Yukari-san?"
He seemed genuinely shocked and remorseful. His reaction didn’t feel like an act—he seemed earnest in his concern for her.
"Why are you so determined to protect her?"
"If you’re also protecting her, I suppose I can tell you."
...Well, I guess that makes us allies, sort of.
"I owe her my life. One day, I was about to end it all—jump in front of a train. I’d been falsely accused of groping someone, which cost me my job.
I’ve always lived honestly, but because of my appearance, no one believed me. I lost all hope in this world and decided to die.
As I headed to the station, she approached me. There was an event at the park, and she told me she was an aspiring idol and asked for my support. She even shook my hand.
Of course, I knew it was part of her job, but it made me so happy. Someone actually looked me in the eyes and smiled.
That moment saved me. Thanks to her, I found the will to live again. I’ve since gotten a new job and resumed a normal life. It’s all because of her."
"..."
"I know someone like you—a slim, cool-looking guy—would never understand what it’s like for someone like me—fat and unattractive."
Oh, I totally get it!!
"Actually, I understand completely! When you're overweight, even if you bump into someone by accident, they give you dirty looks. Or if you pick up something they dropped, they treat you like you’re gross. It’s exhausting!"
"Huh? But you’re fit and good-looking now. Is this some kind of joke?"
"No! I used to be really overweight. Look, here’s my old student ID as proof."
I handed him my student ID with my former, much rounder self on display.
"Wow, it’s true! But how did you lose all that weight?"
"In my case, it was due to a mysterious illness that caused unbearable pain and shed the weight almost overnight. Before that, no diet ever worked—keto, banana diets, green juice—you name it."
"An illness… I see. Well, I guess that’s not an option for me. I’ve tried all those trendy diets too, but I couldn’t stick with them."
"And shopping’s tough, right? Regular stores don’t carry our size, so online shopping becomes the only option."
"Exactly! There used to be a plus-size shop nearby that sold 3XL and 4XL, but it shut down. Now I use Big One online."
"I’ve used that site too! They even sell oversized dress shirts and socks—super convenient!"
"Totally! Though..."
Wait, no! This isn’t the time for a relatable chubby guy chat!
"Back to the issue—Sayama-san is scared because she knows someone’s been following her. Even if your intentions were good, could you stop tailing her?"
"Of course. I never wanted to cause her distress. Please, tell her I’m deeply sorry."
Wow, that was easy! I didn’t even need to use intimidation skills. This guy’s much more reasonable than Mogi! Though honestly, it all started with Mogi harassing her in the first place.
"Why not attend her handshake events or lives to support her directly?"
"No way! A fat guy like me would just ruin the atmosphere. I’ll stick to quietly buying her DVDs and merchandise online."
How noble!!
Man, I can’t help but like this guy. He's sincere and far less problematic than Mogi. Still, I should get Sayama-san’s input on this situation.