For a seasoned tabloid reporter like Tanaka, the simplest surveillance methods were often the most effective. Just as he had done years ago when investigating Fukiko Kitagawa's extramarital affair, he resorted to good old-fashioned stakeouts.
Planting hidden cameras in Ryo Kitagawa's home was out of the question, so he settled for the most laborious approach—keeping watch outside the actor's apartment day and night, documenting every visitor.
Though no young women had entered Ryo's residence in the past two days, Tanaka remained patient. He even recruited a fellow reporter to take shifts, ensuring round-the-clock surveillance.
The Kitagawa siblings kept a rigid schedule. Aside from Morinaga's corporate representatives, the only visitor of note was a strikingly beautiful young woman among their staff. A background check revealed her to be Issugi Rina, a 20-year-old university student with no prior connection to Ryo—just an ordinary fan.
But days later, Tanaka noticed something odd. Issugi seemed to live nearby, possibly even in the same complex, maintaining reclusive habits. She only ventured out at midnight for convenience store runs.
As a veteran tabloid journalist, Tanaka drew his conclusion:
Either she's Ryo's secret girlfriend... or an obsessed sasaeng fan.
Shifting his focus to Issugi, Tanaka soon witnessed her breaking into the Kitagawa home—a brazen act even tabloid reporters wouldn't dare. Trespassing was outright illegal.
Cleverly, Tanaka captured distant, deliberately blurred photos of the intrusion. He remembered the cautionary tale of Kevin Carter, the photojournalist who'd snapped The Vulture and the Little Girl in 1993. Though the iconic image of a starving Sudanese child won a Pulitzer, the public backlash over Carter's alleged inaction drove him to suicide. The truth—that aid workers were nearby—came too late.
The lesson? Never get entangled in the storm you create.
After securing his evidence, Tanaka had an associate leak rumors about a celebrity's home invasion by a sasaeng. Once speculation peaked, his magazine Weekly Entertainment Truth dropped the bombshell:
"When Will Sasaeng Madness End? Actor Ryo Kitagawa Targeted by Obsessed Fan."
The print edition adopted a sober, social-commentary tone, saving two grainy photos as proof. Simultaneously, Tanaka's puppet bloggers unleashed more sensational takes:
"Teen Heartthrob Stalked: Shocking Acts Inside His Home!"
"Exclusive: Sasaeng Breaks Into Ryo Kitagawa's Empty Apartment!"
"Girlfriend or Stalker? Mystery Woman Wears 'Boyfriend Shirt' in Ryo's Home!"
Within hours, the story topped trending charts, with related keywords dominating searches. Tanaka leaned back, satisfied. How this would end wasn't his concern.
Meanwhile, at the Kitagawa Residence
"We've identified her—Issugi Rina, a temp intern at Morinaga."
"Another temp intern? Do companies just use interns as scapegoats now?" Ryo's voice sharpened. Anyone would be furious discovering an intruder in their home.
"Actually, she really was an intern—less than a month in," Mr. Izaki explained over the phone. "Morinaga claims complete ignorance, calling this her personal act. They've fired her and offered to jointly pursue legal action."
Public sentiment overwhelmingly favored Ryo—the perfect victim. His team's crisis management was proceeding smoothly.
"Trespassing carries a maximum three-year sentence. But her family's already reached out for a settlement. Her father's a Tokyo TV executive, with other relatives in the industry. Her uncle—the Morinaga manager who got her the internship—has been demoted."
"Settling isn't an option. Ruby was terrified after finding that camera in the Milk Lamb plush. She won't even touch her other stuffed animals now."
Ryo's stance was unshakable. This time, the intruder had merely stolen clothes and used the shower. But what if the next one escalated? Especially with Ruby often home alone when he filmed. Though Miyako Saitou checked in regularly, Ryo's mind spiraled with worst-case scenarios.
Until their home was fully secured, he'd moved them back to his old apartment.
After briefing Izaki, Ryo sighed. Online debates had exploded. Once his team issued an official condemnation, fans unleashed fury across comment sections, mistaking it for endorsement.
Blinded by anger, Ryo missed the subtle shift.
That Night
"Brother... I can't sleep."
Ruby pushed open Ryo's door, eyes puffy from nightmares. For a child, learning she'd been surveilled for days—through the very plush lamb she'd cuddled—was traumatic.
Understanding her fear, Ryo pulled her close, stroking her back. "Want to sleep here tonight? I'll stay right beside you."
"...Okay."
For the first time since kindergarten, they shared a bed. Ruby clung to Ryo's arm just as she used to, resting her head on his shoulder.
"You should rein in your fans," she whispered.
"Still scared of that intruder?"
"Not just her. Even the fans defending you online now... They're cyberbullying."
"Since when do elementary schools teach terms like that?" Ryo teased, though he wasn't surprised. Ruby had been internet-savvy for years.
"Many just hate sasaengs and are using this to vent."
Cyberbullying is terrifying... Thankfully, I'm on the attacking side.
Most netizens happily joined such bandwagons.
"Enough overthinking. Sleep." Ryo turned off the light.
"Honestly? I hate sasaengs too. I'm terrified they might hurt you."
Cases of stars' families being targeted by deranged fans weren't uncommon overseas. Their warped minds operated on alien logic.
Soon, Ryo's breathing steadied. He'd never been picky about beds—a trait Ruby remembered from their Miyazaki days.
But sleep eluded her.
If a sasaeng was defined by forcibly inserting themselves into a celebrity's private life... then wasn't she the ultimate sasaeng? Through sheer luck, she'd become the most important person in Ryo's world—his beloved sister.
In a way, she might be history's most successful sasaeng.
The thought pierced her heart, unearthing buried emotions.
From the start, what she felt for Ryo was never sibling love.
At its core, it mirrored Issugi Rina's obsession—a craving for his attention and affection. That was why Ai Hoshino's closeness filled her with dread.
Is my brother being stolen away...
Or is the person I love being taken from me?
As if possessed, Tendouji Sarina—no, Kitagawa Ruby—shifted closer.
The faint scent of oranges lingered as she brushed her lips against his in a fleeting touch.
A child's possessive whim.
[I took Ryo's first kiss.]
With that triumphant thought, Ruby finally drifted into peaceful sleep.
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