Operation Catch the Stalker! (Part 1)

Today’s UN Training --- Always be aware of your surroundings

What does it mean to be 'aware' of one’s surroundings? Many things, actually. If you go on a hike in a forest atop a mountain, it would be foolish not to be 'aware' of potentially falling off a cliff. It would be equally foolish not to keep a keen eye out for a bear that could eat you. 

Akihiro Tani won’t be going on a hike any time soon, but he exists within a different life threatening environment that calls for similar vigilance.

For the politician, or for the world’s leading diplomat, being 'aware' of their surroundings means always knowing what people around you are doing at any given time. The world of politics is a brutal one after all, no one gets to the top without stepping on a colleague in the process. One must operate under the assumption that their enemies, and even their supposed friends are chomping at the bit to take advantage of the slightest slip up.

'Awareness' is a pivotal rung on the ladder to the top of the world, and at this moment, Tani is hyper 'aware' of a certain someone that has tailed him ever since he started the Languages club. The problem is that he's only halfway succeeding, because he doesn't know who this person is.

Since Principal Togashi has been ruled out, he's done his best to wrack his brain for clues.

Who would want to be following him unless it’s someone he’s done wrong by? Unfortunately, he has done wrong by more people than he can count, it could be anyone.

Instead of dwelling on finding out the identity of the stalker within his mind, he'll have to do it by catching the person in the act. This situation is the perfect training ground for him to test his skills, preparing for what’s to come in the future. If he wants to continue on the path to the top of the world, he must be 'aware' enough to unveil the identity of this person now.

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Lunch time in Kokusai high school’s library is a unique experience for the middle class students. Though most of them spend their break in their respective classrooms with their friends, the smallest friend groups and the completely friendless students spend it amongst the bookshelves and enclosed computer desks. This large reader's paradise has become an oasis for the outcasts to escape the pressures of break time social interactions.

Tani doesn’t ever spend his lunch break here, solely because he doesn’t mind being alone in his own classroom. But since the arrival of Anita, the two of them had been spending it up on the roof with the upper class students.

So the two of them sitting so casually on one of the large desks in the center of the library is drawing a lot of attention, which is exactly what Tani was hoping for.

Presenting a detailed map of the library’s floor plan by sliding it on the table, he lets out a small villainous laugh.

“Kukuku, so that’s the plan I’ve formulated to get this creep. Operation 'Catch the Stalker', commence!”

Anita, sitting across from him on the long rectangular desk, salutes him as though she could understand anything he just said.

“Tani-senpai, could it be that you’re having a manic episode? I can’t tell if you’re joking or not.”

Emilia is sitting next to Anita, a gentle tilt of her head is all she uses to project her skepticism.

“This is no joke, my tiny kouhai, my life could be in danger!”

Emilia tilts her head even more.

“Wait a second, where did you just come from?? I didn’t even notice you there!”

“I spend all of my lunch breaks at the library since I have no friends. Am I not allowed to join my fellow club members when I see them in a public space?”

Tani clears his throat, “I suppose I’m alright with that. In fact, you can be of use to me. My brilliant plan will work better with more people involved.”

"I would rather not enable your delusions.” 

“This isn’t a delusion! Just ask Anita, she saw the perp too!”

“Ah alas, my titular main character is both a tsundere, and also suffers from paranoia.” Charl says while writing in his notebook.

Tani almost falls off his seat when finds that the tall French lad is sitting right next to him.

“Uah! What are you doing here!?”

“Come now, Akihiro-kun, I’ve been here the entire time.”

Tani has an abrasive flashback to earlier this morning at the shoe lockers when Charl said the exact same thing.

“No that’s impossible, maybe you are actually the culprit!”

Charl chuckles and replies, “I spend all my lunches here as well. Though I have a few friends, I prefer to be amongst the books. So many stories to find inspiration for my manga.”

“I don’t care about that, just stop sneaking up on me!”

“Hehe, but you’re cute when you’re flustered.”

“...Maybe getting you to pass your English class isn’t worth the trouble of having you around.”

“Even though your brilliant plan would work better with more people involved?”

Tani puts his hand on his chin and ponders, “Hmmm...” He then tilts his head back in consideration. “...Hmmmmm.”

Charl smiles at him seductively, and this makes Tani want to refuse.

However…

“Okay you’re in.”

When our deviant high schooler wants something done, he’ll suffer through anything to make it happen.

He presses his hand on the floor plan spread out on the desk, looks at Charl and Emilia and says, 

“Analyze this very well you two, we have 20 minutes to pull this off.”

Today’s UN Lesson --- To be continued!!