Campus Live ≪13≫

Episode 13

"What are you planning to do with so many smartphones?"

Yui stared at Kento with wide eyes.

"I prepared them because I thought we'd need them to track the culprit!"

Kento looked around with a confident expression.

"With the current Campus Live, we only know the rough location of who is in which area."

"Doesn't that mean we can't identify the culprit in a crowd?"

Kento grinned.

"That's where these smartphones come in. If we increase the number of sensors and calculate the signal strength of the radio waves they catch, we should be able to get more accurate location information!"

"I see. You've thought this through, Kento."

Machida ruffled Kento's hair.

"And even though they attacked with ransomware, the culprit will be wary of being tracked, so this is our only chance."

Kento analyzed the Campus Live logs again and determined the approximate location of the device thought to be the culprit's.

"They're in the cafeteria right now!"

"But how do you plan to add these sensors?"

"Well... I guess by having everyone hold them and stay in the designated spots..."

Kento's voice suddenly became quiet.

"But with just the four of us, how can we..."

Yui stared intently at Kento.

"Don't be so distant. I'll help too."

Kamoi-san stood up.

“Kamoi-san, you look kind of cool today!”

Misaki exclaimed, covering her mouth with both hands.

“I’m sorry... We’ve been together for a long time, and I trust you regarding the backup, but just to be safe, could you let me check your device?”

Machida requested, looking down.

“It’s an important check, I get it. Here you go. It’s a random MAC address, so check the one for the university Wi-Fi connection.”

“Thank you. ...Yes, there’s no problem!”

Kento gave a thumbs-up in front of his face.

“Even so, that’s still only five people... We need more allies, don’t we?”

Yui muttered apologetically.

“That’s right, let’s get Nakayama-san, Hashimoto, and Aihara to help too!”

“Wait, Kento. You saw the management chat earlier, right? The possibility is low, but we can’t say for sure that the culprit isn’t among them. How are you going to distinguish those who aren’t here?”

At Machida’s warning, Kento looked down and fell silent.

“That’s it... BeReal!”

Kento looked at Machida straight on again.

“A notification came about an hour ago. The culprit’s device at that time was... at the Information Center! If the location data from Nakayama-san and the others’ BeReal map feature isn’t at the Information Center, that’s an alibi!”

“True, they shouldn’t be able to lie about that. But don’t get the wrong idea. All this tells us is that there’s a high probability they aren’t the culprit themselves. It doesn’t rule out whether they’re an accomplice.”

“I see... But we don’t have time. Let’s bet on the possibility that it’s a lone culprit and give it a try!”

“The only thing left is whether everyone has posted on BeReal.”

“They’ve been into it lately, so it should be fine. Look, everyone has posted! Nakayama-san doesn’t have location services turned on, but... this image is definitely the club room! The location is fine too!”

Then, let's reach out via LINE call. Kento, you contact Nakayama. Yokohama, you contact Aihara. Kobuchi, please contact Hashimoto.

Got it! What about Machida?

I'm bringing in a helper. The more allies we have, the better, right?

That helps. Alright, let's meet at the cafeteria in 15 minutes.

The members gathered in front of the main entrance of the cafeteria. Students on their lunch break were being sucked into the glass-walled cafeteria one after another.

Everyone's here, right?

Kento looked up while still clutching his smartphone.

Nakayama, Aihara, and Hashimoto had also arrived.

Only Machida's helper had yet to show up.

Alright. It looks like the culprit is still inside the cafeteria.

Kento muttered while staring at his screen.

Machida, where's the helper?

They're on their way. It's someone I can trust. Let's get started.

Machida answered briefly.

Okay, I'm connecting to Discord. I'll give instructions while we're on the call, so let me know once everyone is in position.

Kento opened his bag and started handing out the smartphones he had prepared.

Are these all yours, Kento?

Nakayama laughed in disbelief.

Yes, I gathered them from second-hand shops and flea market apps.

Your persistence is scary.

Misaki narrowed her eyes as she looked at Kento.

I'll take that as a compliment.

Kento checked everyone's positions while operating his device.

Aihara, you're in the center. Hashimoto, by the window. Nakayama, please take the return counter.

Kento gave instructions while looking at the cafeteria floor plan. He had spread the personnel out to surround the entire cafeteria.

Hashimoto headed to the counter seats by the window, and Aihara wove through the tables in the center row. Kamoi-san sat down at the outdoor terrace seats. Yui and Misaki headed toward the emergency exit, and Machida leaned against a pillar near the ticket machine without a word.

This is Nakayama. I'm in position.

A calm voice echoed through the earphones.

I'm good too.

Idiot, say your name, Yokohama.

If you already know, then it's fine!

Aihara, I'm in position. It's kind of like a game, I'm excited.

This isn't a game.

Machida warned in a low voice.

Once he confirmed everyone's positions, Kento displayed a new screen on his laptop. A floor plan of the cafeteria. A red icon appeared in the center of it.

Alright, it's displayed.

Kento's voice trembles slightly.

"There's about a ten-second lag from reality. But, they are likely in the area to the right of the main entrance right now."

"That's near Hashimoto."

Machida reacts immediately.

"Hashimoto, is there anyone suspicious?"

"No... There are too many people, I can't tell."

Hashimoto's voice is also laced with anxiety.

"Or rather, everyone looks suspicious."

At that moment, the red icon moves.

"Huh...?"

Kento's expression changes.

"They're moving. This is bad, they're heading toward the main entrance."

"Are they trying to escape?"

"Could it be that they've figured out our movements?"

As everyone speaks rapidly, Nakayama-san says quietly,

"If they really had noticed, I think they would have turned off their device. We're still okay."

Kento gasps and stares at the screen. The red dot is slowly approaching the entrance side.

"Everyone, stay in your positions."

Kento stands up.

"I'll wait at the entrance."

Are you planning on going alone?

If I break up everyone's formation now, the location data will get messed up.

Leaving those words behind, Kento dashed out through the side exit. Contrary to the tension he felt, the mild warmth of the autumn afternoon sun bathed him. He ran along the side of the building and circled around to the main entrance.

Please...

Students were coming out from behind the glass doors one after another. Groups talking and laughing. A boy walking while looking at his smartphone. A girl still wearing her earphones. Everyone looked suspicious.

This is bad... I can't tell.

Just as he was about to give up, his eyes met those of a man. A black hoodie. A downcast gaze. But the moment he saw Kento, his expression stiffened slightly. The man immediately looked away and headed toward the exit at a brisk pace.

Could it be...?

He thought that, but he had no certainty.

At that moment, a short electronic beep echoed in Kento's earphones. It was a notification that the sensor had lost the target. Kento did not miss the fact that just before that, the man in the black hoodie in front of him had taken out his smartphone and the screen had gone dark.

Hey, you!

Kento shouted. The moment he reached out to grab the man's shoulder, the man started running without even looking back.

Crap, he's running!

Kento also reflexively started running.

I'm chasing the culprit now! A man in a black hoodie. He's heading toward Building 9!

Kento, don't you dare lose sight of him!

Machida's voice echoed through the earphones.

I'm heading your way now!

Kento kicked off the ground with all his might. The back of the black hoodie was sprinting down the tree-lined path leading to Building 9. He wove through the crowd, dodging students on their lunch break.

Wait!

Even though he shouted, the person didn't look back. Static crackled deep inside his earpiece.

Kento, what's your position?

It was Machida's voice.

The slope heading to Building 9! I just passed the central street!

He clutched his side. Bitter memories of long-distance running in high school PE class flashed through Kento's mind. He had always been bad at running.

The black hoodie forcefully squeezed past a female student walking ahead.

Eek!

S-sorry!

Kento apologized reflexively as he overtook her. The distance was about twenty meters, but he was slowly losing ground.

So fast...! No, I'm just slow...

Just then, a voice suddenly flew in from the side.

Kento, to the right!

Machida had caught up to Kento.

That guy is heading for the connecting corridor up ahead! He's planning to take a shortcut!

Kento turned the corner, gasping for air. In his line of sight, the black hoodie slid into the narrow passage beside Building 9.

“Found you!”

The passageway, enclosed by concrete walls, had bicycles parked along the side, leaving only enough width for one person to walk through.

“There’s no escape!”

It was the moment he thought that. The person in the black hoodie suddenly kicked over the row of parked bicycles.

“Whoa!”

The fallen bicycles collapsed in a chain reaction, and the sound of metal clashing exploded in the narrow passage. Kento instinctively put his hand against the wall and avoided falling. However, in that instant, the distance between him and the other person opened up again.

“Damn it…!”

His breathing was labored. His legs felt heavy. A metallic taste spread in the back of his throat. Even so, he did not lose sight of the black back ahead of him.

Through his earphones, Nakayama-san’s calm voice echoed this time.

“Kento, are you heading toward the West Gate?”

“Ah, yes!”

“If they get out into a crowded area, it’s over. Hashimoto, can you block the west staircase side?”

“I-it’s impossible! I’m heading there now, though.”

“What about Aihara?”

“I can probably get ahead of them!”

Aihara’s ragged breathing was mixed in.

The person in the black hoodie passed through the connecting corridor and ran down the stairs. Kento and Machida followed. The next moment, the person turned around. For just an instant, their eyes met. What was floating in those eyes was not impatience. It was hostility.

The person in the black hoodie tried to take something out of their pocket. Kento’s feet nearly stopped.

“A knife!?”


That was when the worst-case scenario crossed my mind. Heavy footsteps echoed from the floor below.

“Machida! Is that him!”

A low, resonant voice. The next moment, a large young man appeared on the stair landing. Short-cropped hair. A well-trained body visible even through his university jersey. Despite his sharp gaze, there was a strange sense of calm about him. The person in the black hoodie stopped in his tracks.

“Sorry, but that’s as far as you go.”

The young man said quietly. But the culprit turned around, trying to force his way past him.

It happened in the next instant. The young man’s arm flowed to grab the opponent’s shoulder, and he slammed him onto the floor. A dull thud echoed through the landing.

“Guh…!”

“Don’t struggle. You don’t want to get hurt, do you?”

His voice was calm. There was no wasted movement in his actions.

“Thank you, Katakura. You’re only reliable at times like this.”

Machida, out of breath, said with a scoff.

“What do you mean ‘only at times like this’!”

The helper retorted immediately.

“Machida, who is this?”

Kento asked, feeling slightly intimidated by the large young man.

“He’s the captain of our club.”

Machida patted the young man on the shoulder.

“Oh, the karate club. I see, that explains why he’s so reliable.”

A laugh escaped Kento involuntarily.