Chapter 34: The Trap is Sprung

The cafe in Shibuya was exactly as Haruka had described it- generic, loud, and crowded. She was already in a corner booth, a fortress of folders and printouts surrounding her. She looked up as I approached, and her face lit up with a smile that seemed almost genuine. She was in her school uniform, playing the part of a diligent, hardworking fan to perfection.

"Rui-kun! You made it!" she said, her voice full of warmth.

"ProjectHelper7," I corrected her gruffly, sliding into the booth and immediately establishing a wall of professional distance. "Let's just get to it."

"Of course," she said with a knowing little smirk that I chose to ignore. "All business. I like that."

For the first thirty minutes, I almost allowed myself to believe that Rina had been wrong. Haruka was the model of professionalism. She had detailed spreadsheets of potential printers. She had a surprisingly good eye for art, pointing out subtle details in the fan submissions that I had missed. She asked for my opinion, listened intently, and actually incorporated my suggestions into her notes. We were, for all intents and purposes, collaborating effectively. The noise of the cafe was a dull roar in the background. My guard began to lower, my suspicion lulled by her competent facade.

Then, just as I was starting to relax, she made her move.

A group of rowdy high school boys took the table next to ours, their raucous laughter and shouting making it impossible to hear. Haruka let out a theatrical sigh of frustration, pressing her fingers to her temples.

"Ugh, this is impossible," she said, her voice strained. "We can't get any real work done here. The acoustics are a nightmare. How can we be expected to create a perfect tribute in such a chaotic environment?" She began to gather her things with a sense of decisive purpose. "I know a much better place. It is completely quiet, and we can spread all this stuff out properly without being disturbed."

"Where? Another cafe?" I asked, a fresh prickle of unease beginning to form at the back of my neck.

"Something like that," she said, her voice a little too vague. She slid out of the booth, her bag already over her shoulder. "A friend of mine has a private studio space she lets me use for projects. It's just a few blocks from here. Totally secure, with a big work table. It will be perfect for this. Come on, we can get so much more done."

The lie was plausible. My own sister used a private studio space. But my internal alarms were finally starting to ring. 'A few blocks away' was a classic lure. However, my desire to finish this awkward meeting, combined with a stubborn, prideful refusal to admit to myself that Rina had been right all along, overrode my better judgment.

"Fine," I said, grabbing my bag. "Lead the way."

At the same time, across town, Rina was in her own personal hell. She was in her room with Miki and Hana, supposedly working on her next costume, but she couldn't focus. She was pacing the floor like a caged tiger, chewing on her thumbnail.

"He's been gone for over an hour," she said, her voice tight with worry. "A 'group meeting' should not take this long."

"Rina-chan, you have to trust him," Hana said gently, trying to be the voice of reason. "Rui-senpai is smart. He won't fall for any of Haruka's tricks."

"You don't know her like I do," Rina insisted, her eyes flashing. "Haruka doesn't play games; she sets traps. And my brother, my sweet, naive, clueless brother, just walked right into one." She stopped pacing and looked at her friends, her expression one of grim resolve. "I can't just sit here. I'm going to Shibuya. I have to make sure he's okay."

"Rina, no!" Miki said, standing up, her expression serious. "That is the worst possible idea! You are going to make everything a thousand times more complicated!"

But Rina was already pulling on her shoes, her face set with a stubborn determination. "I am not just going to sit here while that viper tries to sink her fangs into my Onii-chan! I am going to find him."

Miki and Hana exchanged a look of pure dread. This was going to be a disaster.

I was following Haruka through the crowded streets. She kept the conversation light, pointing out shops and talking about a new anime season, keeping me distracted. Then, we turned off the main boulevard. The noise of the city faded, replaced by the quiet hum of side streets. The bright storefronts gave way to discreet, strangely decorated buildings. Hotels. With signs advertising hourly rates and featuring names like 'The Crystal Palace' and 'Lovers' Lane.'

I stopped walking. Every warning siren in my head was now screaming at full volume. "Ito-san," I said, my voice dangerously quiet. "Where exactly is this 'studio'?"

Haruka turned to face me, and the mask of the diligent fan finally dropped. In its place was a look of pure, predatory triumph. She gestured to the glowing, heart-shaped sign of the building right next to us. The 'Starlight Inn.'

"We're here," she said, her voice a low purr. "Much more private for our little collaboration, don't you think?"

The trap was sprung. The fanbook, the cafe, the entire charade- it had all been a lie. And I was standing right in the center of it.