This Japanese Monogatari Isn't Lame
Chapter 551 - 351. How to Deal with the Paparazzi? (Goal of 8000 words achieved)_2

Chapter 551: Chapter 351. How to Deal with the Paparazzi? (Goal of 8000 words achieved)_2

But if violence wasn’t used and only above-board relationships were employed, those tabloid reporters definitely wouldn’t quit so easily.

After all, this kind of gossip news is what they rely on for a living.

For these people, staking out for a week or even a month might just be all in a day’s work.

Their selling point is, after all, other people’s privacy.

These sticky situations couldn’t be beaten or scolded away, truly making one despise them to the bone.

In this situation, what could Beichuan Si possibly do?

Faced with the questions of two people, Beichuan Si just patted Kelian’s little head and glanced at Shinra Bell beside him, "Naturally, I have a way to take care of it."

To make those disgusting leeches feel a threat on the level of their very lives... Would they still be able to persist?

Beichuan Si was somewhat curious.

...

It was now midnight.

All was silent, the surroundings deathly still.

The Beichuan Family had long since turned off the lights, entering rest mode.

And whenever this time came around, the figures hidden around the Beichuan residence would come out one by one from the shadows, exchange greetings, and light cigarettes for one another.

They were paparazzi, drawn here by the name ’Nakajima Michika.’

Mihoro Koichiro was one of these experienced photographers.

"Man, our target this time is a lot more difficult than usual, don’t you think, Mihoro-senpai?"

Next to him, a young man with a bearded face and unremarkable looks let out a sneaky chuckle.

Normally, their target would pull the curtains shut so they couldn’t see inside, and even if they attempted to conduct a door-to-door interview, they would be sharply rejected by the homeowner.

It seemed totally watertight.

"The harder it is, the more slips out, trust me," Mihoro Koichiro said nonchalantly as he blew out a smoke ring, squinting his eyes contentedly, "Based on my years of experience, Nakajima Michika is definitely staying at this house. Haven’t you seen the young girl coming and going every day, always bringing back a boxed lunch? It’s been happening for many days now. From this, it’s clear that Nakajima Michika is definitely hiding in her house."

If Nakajima Michika wasn’t in this house called ’Beichuan,’ then why all the secrecy?

Thinking of this, he felt smug with himself.

In fact, he was the one who had previously exposed the whereabouts of Nakajima Michika online.

It was upon his return from a business trip that he happened to encounter her near the restroom.

To be honest, he wasn’t sure at first if the person wearing a hat, sunglasses, and a mask was Nakajima Michika, so he went up to talk to her.

When he detected something off in her voice, Mihoro Koichiro followed her all the way here.

During the pursuit, he even overheard Beichuan Hui Li calling out the name—

’Shihua.’

Now he was completely certain that living inside was Nakajima Michika.

First, he released the news, then skillfully escalated the hype, creating a topic worth anticipation, before he came to the Beichuan residence to stake out.

But what Mihoro Koichiro hadn’t expected was how quickly they responded.

It seemed like they had found some PR team to suppress the online rhythm, and even managed to send away several very famous music media outlets, eventually leaving only these smaller fish behind.

But the more it happened, the more Mihoro Koichiro felt he needed to uncover everything.

With famous music media gone, they had a chance to get the scoop!

When it came time to publish, he could use the opportunity to ridicule those famous outlets with this exclusive...

Wouldn’t that be delightful?

Thinking about it, Mihoro Koichiro felt he could continue camping out here.

He didn’t believe that Nakajima Michika would forever stay holed up at home, never even opening the curtains.

Don’t let me catch an opportunity!

Mihoro Koichiro had ruined the careers of several idols before by catching them fraternizing with someone outside of work, making his name quite famous in the gossip business.

This time, he believed Nakajima Michika would be no different.

Especially since today he had captured something really good.

Mihoro Koichiro fiddled with the camera inside his jacket.

Today, another boy had entered the Beichuan house and hadn’t come out yet.

Could that be Nakajima Michika’s boyfriend? He was apparently staying over for the night.

If this news were to be leaked...

Heh.

A smile crept across Mihoro Koichiro’s face as he lightly tapped another cigarette out of the pack, without looking up said, "Got a light, rookie?"

No one responded, no one answered.

Huh?

Mihoro Koichiro lifted his head in puzzlement.

Unbeknownst to when, the fellow journalists who had been smoking around him, as well as the rookie he brought with him, had all vanished into the night.

In just a sudden moment, everyone was gone.

Mihoro Koichiro looked around weirdly, "Hey? Rookie?! Where are you?"

Silence—

It was really too quiet around.

Darkness surrounded him, only the streetlamp above his head continued to emit a faint and dim light.

Shadows clung to the wall behind him, like withered, gaunt claws of a ghost.

The dead silence of the surroundings made his hair stand on end.

What on earth had happened? Just moments ago there had been four or five people around.

Mihoro Suke instinctively touched his camera.

Thank goodness, the camera was still there.

He finally relaxed a little.

"Damn it... is this some kind of prank? When I see them tomorrow, I’ll make them pay," Mihoro Suke cursed under his breath, spitting disdainfully.

It was as if he raised his voice intentionally to embolden himself.

But, unfortunately, Mihoro Suke’s voice seemed too faint in the deep, dark night.

As though at any moment, it would be completely swallowed up by the oppressive blackness of the night.

The night... grew even deeper.

The street lamps in the vicinity had all gone out, leaving only a weak incandescent bulb overhead as the sole source of light.

Mihoro Suke felt a sudden chill on his body.

A cold sensation climbed from his heels up his spine and then to his ear—

"You..."

"Will..."

"Die..."

The sinister whisper dramatically changed Mihoro Suke’s expression, "Who?!"

He swung a fist behind him.

But what could there be other than a street engulfed in darkness?

One end of the street was invisible from the other.

And the other end was invisible from this one.

A sinking feeling caused Mihoro Suke to hunch his neck.

He called out sternly, "Who?! Who is there? Stop playing tricks! Is it the newcomer? If it’s a prank, I’m really getting angry!"

In the darkness.

No one responded.

Glug...

Having said so much, Mihoro Suke didn’t think any newcomer would dare to continue joking with him.

Could there really be something else out there?

He began to suspect and scrutinize his surroundings, panic creeping across his face.

Shadows flickered, and low, chilly whispers arose.

But when Mihoro Suke turned to look back, he saw nothing.

Observing from the dark, mocking others, he had now become the observed, looking like a fool.

Mihoro Suke’s heart was filled with panic and unease.

But he didn’t want to leave the only light above him.

In this situation, Mihoro Suke finally heard it.

From the other side of the street came a sound, footsteps, one after another.

"Is it the newcomer?!" Mihoro Suke called out towards the other end of the street.

The other party did not answer, just continued walking slowly.

The monotonous footsteps kept sounding slowly.

Patter. Patter. Patter...

Mihoro Suke was about to ask again but suddenly, his body stiffened.

Whatever was on the other side of the street seemed to have noticed him, and the steps suddenly became louder and hurried

Those frantic steps, like a killer wielding a knife, made his heart pound violently!

Accompanying them was a clear sound, like dragging some metal object, clinking and clanking.

PatterPatterPatterPatterPatterPatterPatterPatter!!!!

And then—

It stopped.

Everything stopped.

All sounds vanished.

As if it had all just been a nightmare, and he had just awakened.

Mihoro Suke wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, his mouth trembling, just about to reassure himself with a laugh—

Patter.

Footsteps.

Sounded.

Behind him.

"AAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!"

Under the light, Mihoro Suke’s shriek of utter terror rang out.