Chapter 33: A Web of Deceit

Haruka’s direct, schoolyard offensive was a failure. My public indifference was a fortress wall she couldn't seem to scale with simple flirting. But Haruka was a strategist. She understood that if you cannot break down the front gate, you must find a secret passage. My weakness, she had correctly surmised, was not flattery; it was my unwavering, all-consuming devotion to Ectiqa. And that was the passage she intended to exploit.

A few days later, a grand announcement appeared on the main page of the Ectiqa Alliance website. It was a professionally designed banner, full of glittering stars and elegant fonts. The project was the 'Ectiqa Alliance Grand Tribute Photobook.' The post, authored by the user 'Hime-Hime,' was a masterpiece of fan diplomacy. It proposed a community-wide effort to create a deluxe, hardcover art book to be presented to Ectiqa as a surprise gift, commemorating her Grand Prix victory. It would feature the best fan art, cosplay photos from other fans paying tribute, and heartfelt letters of support from the community.

"Dude, this is actually amazing!" Kenji said, showing me the post on his phone as we were walking home. "You have to admit, for a total viper, Hime-Hime has some pretty fantastic ideas. This is an epic project!"

I read the post, and a reluctant admiration mixed with my deep-seated dislike for its creator. It was a brilliant idea. It was unifying, positive, and a genuinely wonderful way to honor Rina's victory. My duty as a fan, and my secret duty as her brother, made it impossible for me to oppose it. In fact, a part of me felt compelled to contribute, to ensure the final product was perfect.

The trap was baited. Now, for the snare.

That evening, a private message notification popped up on my laptop. It was sent to my long-dormant Starlight_Knight_01 account. My heart skipped a beat just seeing the legendary name in my inbox. I still checked it out of habit, a connection to a part of myself that now felt like a distant memory.

Hime-Hime: Starlight_Knight_01-san. Haruka Ito here. I know you've been inactive for some time, but I felt I had to reach out to you directly. Your voice and your standards are legendary in this community. I am trying to put this tribute book together, but I am overwhelmed. I want it to be perfect, a gift truly worthy of Ectiqa-sama. I could desperately use your guidance. Your opinion on the submissions, your ideas for the layout… your involvement would guarantee its quality. Please, consider helping me. You must do it, for her.

It was a perfectly aimed arrow, striking me right in the heart of my devotion. She wasn't asking for a date. She was asking for my help, appealing to my role as the ultimate fan, as a guardian of Ectiqa's legacy. My personal feelings about Haruka suddenly felt petty and irrelevant in the face of such a noble cause.

But I couldn't reply as the Knight. That part of me was a ghost, a secret that had to remain buried. So I devised what I believed was a clever workaround. I created a new, completely anonymous account on the forum- 'ProjectHelper7'- and replied to her.

ProjectHelper7: Starlight_Knight_01 is a friend of mine and is no longer active on the forums. He asked me to reach out, as he is aware of the project's importance. I have some experience in project management and print design. I would be willing to offer some anonymous consultation on the tribute book.

The reply from her came in less than five minutes. It was a private message to my new, sterile account.

Hime-Hime: Thank you so much for reaching out! Your friend spoke highly of you. This is wonderful. Honestly, it would be so much easier to discuss the details in person. There are so many moving parts, and text can be so impersonal. Would you be willing to meet? There is a quiet little cafe in Shibuya, perfect for a planning session. We could go over the submission portfolio tomorrow after school.

I stared at the message. My gut was screaming at me that this was a bad idea. Rina’s panicked warnings were echoing in my head. But my sense of duty was stronger. How could I refuse to help with a project for Ectiqa? It would be a betrayal of everything Starlight_Knight_01 stood for.

"I have to meet someone for a club thing after school tomorrow," I told Rina that night. I tried to sound as casual as possible, but my voice felt stiff and unnatural.

She instantly stopped what she was doing. She was sanding a piece of prop armor, and the rhythmic scraping noise ceased. She turned to face me, her eyes narrowed with immediate suspicion. "What club thing?"

"It's… for the Alliance," I said, the half-truth feeling heavy and sour in my mouth. "We are planning a project to celebrate Ectiqa's win."

"With who?" she pressed, her gaze intensifying.

I hesitated for a fraction of a second too long, and I knew she saw it. "Just… some of the other members." I couldn't bring myself to say Haruka’s name.

"You are a terrible liar, Onii-chan," she said, her voice quiet but trembling with a mixture of anger and fear. "You are going to meet her, aren't you? Haruka."

"It's not a date, Rina!" I snapped, my defensiveness making me sound even guiltier than I already felt. "It's for a fan project for Ectiqa! It's important!"

"Anything that involves Haruka Ito is a trap!" she insisted, her voice rising. "Can't you see that? She is trying to get to you to hurt me! She is manipulative and evil!"

"You're being paranoid and possessive," I shot back, turning to leave before the argument could escalate further. I felt like a cornered animal. "It's just a meeting. I can handle myself."

I walked away, leaving her standing alone in the living room, her face pale with a mixture of anger and a terrible, chilling premonition. She knew her enemy. She knew this was not about a fanbook. It was a calculated move in a much more dangerous game.