COTE: Horikita Is My Childhood Sweetheart

Chapter 124: The adults' hearts are dirty!

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Rin Matsuoka told the honest-looking clerk the work number he had written down and explained the reason for his complaint.

The wretched appearance and poor attitude of the man in front did not bother Mirai much, but when she heard the word "Stalking," her expression darkened immediately.

Sakura also heard the word "Stalking." Her delicate body trembled slightly, the blush on her face faded, and a trace of pallor appeared.

She hadn't expected that the disgusting clerk with droopy eyes would follow them...

"No wonder Matsuoka-san just said not to look at him—it would ruin your appetite. So, that man has been following us."

Fear and relief filled Sakura. She was grateful to still be with Rin Matsuoka. If she had faced such a terrifying situation alone, she wouldn't have known what to do.

"Rin, please wait a moment. I'll check this person's work number. Also, please let me know your current location so I can review the nearby surveillance footage to confirm if he really followed you," Mirai said seriously.

"Alright. We're currently at the Kusaka Restaurant in the Keyaki Shopping Center. We walked here from the camera store in Area D. The timeframe is roughly between 12:10 and 17:00," Rin replied.

"So, Madam, you just need to check the surveillance footage for this timeframe and along this route."

Mirai, who was entering the work number to identify the employee, smiled and said, "Great, Rin. That's very clear and organized—it's a big help."

"Not at all. Even if I didn't tell you, you'd still ask me for this information when checking the footage," Rin said casually.

"True, but me asking and you providing it proactively are two different things. I found the employee you're complaining about, Rin. His name is Tsukishiro Ryu... Huh? Wait a second—isn't he related to Tsukishiro Tsunesari?"

Mirai's tone was filled with surprise, as if she recognized the droopy-eyed employee.

"Who? Who is Tsukishiro Tsunesari?" Rin asked.

"Tsukishiro Tsunesari, like me, is one of the board members of this school. And the employee you're complaining about, Tsukishiro Ryu, is his relative," Mirai explained.

"..." Rin Matsuoka twitched his lips. It turned out the droopy-eyed clerk was related to a member of the school's board of directors.

No wonder Rin showed an expression of sudden realization.

"Ah, so that's why," he muttered.

"What do you mean by that, Rin?" Mirai asked curiously.

"Nothing," Rin replied, brushing off her question.

He had just cleared up a lingering doubt.

It made sense now why Rin had felt uneasy around the seemingly honest clerk. That man had hidden something from him all along.

Tsukishiro Ryu likely bullied the other employees because he knew he had backing and support.

Moreover, Tsukishiro Ryu probably assumed that if Rin found out about his connection to the board, Rin wouldn't dare to file a complaint.

Thus, the clerk had intentionally concealed his ties to Tsukishiro Tsunesari.

Tsk, that guy may look honest, but he's far from it. He's full of petty schemes.

Adults' hearts are filthy.

"Madam, if this man's relative is on the board, will our complaint be ignored? Will he just get away with stalking students?" Rin asked, his voice steady but pointed.

"Today, he dares to follow students. Tomorrow, he might ambush them, and who knows—he could eventually kill someone and dispose of the body! If this isn't handled properly, how are we supposed to feel safe studying in this school?"

Sakura's body trembled visibly, clearly frightened by Rin Matsuoka's ominous words: "kill someone and dump the body."

Rin quickly covered the phone receiver and turned to Sakura Airi, speaking gently to comfort her. "Don't be afraid, Sakura. I'm just trying to scare her a little."

"Hmm..." Sakura Airi nodded timidly, though her unease lingered.

"Rin, don't exaggerate things so much," Mirai remarked, clearly exasperated.

"In any case, don't worry, kid. This school won't tolerate employees of such low quality. No matter their background or connections, if they make a mistake, they'll face the consequences."

"Then I'm relieved," Rin replied with a smile. "I trust you, Madam. I believe you'll uphold justice for the students and put an end to any potential harm."

"You're such a sweet talker. Alright, I won't say any more. I'll contact someone to check the surveillance footage now. I'll call you back in a few hours with the results. Just wait for my update."

"Okay, you've worked hard. I'll come to your store for a drink when I'm free."

"Alright, I'll be waiting for you. Hanging up now."

"Mm."

Rin ended the call with Mirai, and Sakura immediately asked, "Matsuoka-san, you mentioned the man is a relative of a board member. Do you think the complaint will go smoothly?"

"Judging by the manager's tone, she seems to take this matter seriously. She'll probably handle it properly. We just need to wait," Rin reassured her with a smile.

"Yeah!" Sakura Airi nodded, visibly relieved.

If, by chance, the issue couldn't be resolved, Rin knew he could escalate it to Sakayanagi Narumori, the school chairman. With authority surpassing that of the board members, the chairman upheld school rules and would undoubtedly deal with any staff member caught stalking students.

Rin's gaze shifted from Sakura Airi's lovely face to Tsukishiro Ryu, who was hiding behind the stone pillar on the right.

Before long, Rin's complaint seemed to take effect. The school acted swiftly and called Tsukishiro Ryu directly.

Ryu, answering the call, turned pale, his expression growing increasingly grim. He shot Rin a glare full of anger and resentment before hastily walking away.

The sight left Rin satisfied. "It seems the school does value students like us. That guy must've received a warning and is already retreating."

"That's a relief," Sakura Airi said with a visible sigh of relief and a faint smile.

Rin rested his chin in his hand, thoughtful. "I hope the school fires him once it's confirmed he followed us. He shouldn't be allowed to stay here."

"Isn't firing him a bit too harsh?" Sakura Airi asked hesitantly.

"Why are you being so soft-hearted toward this guy? He followed us with bad intentions. Who knows what he might've done if left unchecked?" Rin countered, his tone firm.

"Um..." Sakura Airi murmured, unsure how to respond.

With the unpleasant and creepy Tsukishiro Ryu finally gone, Rin and Sakura enjoyed a delicious lunch at the restaurant, spending a total of 6,300 personal points.

Sakura insisted on paying, and Rin didn't argue with her.

Gathering her courage, Sakura Airi spoke up. "matsuoka-san, now that lunch is over, let's go take some pictures and test out the camera you just bought."