Time flew by, and once again, school was ending. My "uneventful" day finally found a brief moment of peace.

The melodious bell rang across campus. I quickly stuffed my textbooks back into my bag. Today, I’d been so anxious about guarding this bag that it never left my side.

After a swift goodbye to Guangchen, I hurried out of the classroom. For other students, after-school meant pure relaxation. For me, it was the start of another battlefield.

Learning from yesterday’s failed tailing attempt, I’d devised a new plan. Now, standing on the school rooftop, I held my phone and scanned the grounds below, waiting for my target.

In my other hand, I gripped a fist-sized drone—borrowed from a buddy in another district. This toy-like gadget could fly for hours, capturing crystal-clear footage from dozens of meters up, even showing pores on a face. Its tiny size and near-silent flight made it perfect for stealthy recon.

"There she is! Operation begins!"

Spotting Komari waving to classmates as she exited the building, I tapped my phone app to activate the drone’s camera. I adjusted the feed, locking onto the girl with orange hair.

"Calibration complete! Hong Kong Reporter drone, launch!"

I triggered the custom drone. Its small frame hummed to life, propellers spinning fast as it rose steadily. The blue-white paint camouflaged it against the sky—nearly invisible unless you knew where to look.

Once it reached altitude, I zoomed the camera until Komari’s face filled my screen. High-tech tactics were ideal: low detection risk, plus I could eavesdrop on her conversations.

During gym class today, I’d slipped a tiny bug into a corner of her bag. Paired with the drone, its battery lasted an hour—plenty of time. To uncover her address and personality quirks, this expense was nothing.

As Takenori Akagi, Japan’s legendary basketball center, once said: "With enough intel, no girl is un-winnable. If it fails? Gather more intel."

"Huh? A man?"

On-screen, a suited guy approached Komari, greeting her. I jammed on my earphones, activating the hidden bug.

"Eh? Onii-chan!~"

Her playful voice hit my ears the moment I put them on. Just her brother...

"No overtime tonight?" she asked.

"Hmm! Rare day off—I came to pick up Komari," a gentle male voice replied.

...Their sibling bond seemed warm. If only my sister Ruri were this sweet to me...

Watching them chat and laugh on my screen, I felt a pang of envy. Wait—her brother works but lives with her? Where are their parents?

"Onii-chan!~ What’s for dinner?"

"...Curry rice okay?"

"But Komari wants steak!"

...Listening in, I nodded slightly. Their talk revealed plenty: Komari lived alone with her brother, under his care.

—Huh? That’s just like me... Her brother might be my perfect in. I pushed up my glasses, deep in thought.

My strategy was forming. Next, I just needed their address to set it in motion. I pulled out my black coded notebook, jotting down useful details while watching the feed.

Under surveillance, the siblings reached a two-story apartment building and climbed to the second floor. So they lived in a modest place like this... I scribbled their address in my notebook and tucked it away.

Unnoticed, a tiny lace edge of panties peeked from my bag as I stuffed the notebook back in.

Once Komari and her brother entered the apartment, my screen went dark. I powered off the phone, grabbed my bag, and headed to retrieve the drone—while scouting the neighborhood.

"Komari!~ I’m hooome!~"

Her excited shout blasted through my earphones, nearly making me drop my phone.

Ah? So the flawless high-schooler Komari acted like this at home... Not unusual. Many people switch personas between school and home. Like Ruri—ice-cold to me at home, yet wildly popular at school.

CRASH—

A loud thud echoed in my earphones. I yanked them off, rubbing my ears. Sounded like a bag hitting the floor...

Putting them back on, I heard only static. I fiddled with the phone volume—no change.

What happened? Had the bug broken in that crash? Probably...

...Whatever. I had their address and tons of intel. Mission success.

I dashed out of school toward that simple apartment building.

—Phase one of my plan begins!

Find a way to meet Komari’s brother. Befriend him. Then, get inside their home.