Anime Multiverse: Building a Pantheon from Scratch

The moment his hand was grabbed, Luo Shu instinctively focused his gaze on the square-shaped school bag in his right hand. Inside were the suit uniform and SIG P226 handgun he'd previously received from Chisato Nishikigi. At the same time, his thoughts sharpened, preparing to manipulate the wind element at a moment's notice—just in case.

But all those defenses melted away the instant he heard that familiar voice.

"Mira Tsubakihara-san?" Luo Shu asked cautiously, slightly turning his head to glance at the woman holding his wrist.

She wore light, unobtrusive makeup that highlighted her gentle and refined features. Her eyes were a striking shade of bright ocean blue. She stood relatively tall—likely over 165 centimeters—and with her heels on, her head could easily rest against Luo Shu's shoulder.

Which was exactly how she was standing now: arm linked with his, her head gently leaning against his shoulder. Her orange-blonde hair, cascading over the khaki-colored blazer she wore, brushed softly against his arm due to the closeness. A faint, refreshing fragrance—possibly her shampoo—lingered in the air around them with every breath he took.

Mira Tsubakihara. Resident of Unit 302—right next door to Luo Shu's apartment. According to what Luo Shu had once heard from his parents, she was around 26 or 27 years old and ran a family-owned jewellery business. A true single aristocrat—the kind of stunning woman Luo Shu's father would've looked at one second too long, only to get teased relentlessly by his mother afterward.

Because she lived next door and Japanese custom dictated new tenants bring gifts to greet their neighbours, Luo Shu had met Mira a few times before. They weren't exactly close, but she wasn't a stranger either.

[Notice: Host is currently engaging with a heroine.]

'Heroine?' Luo Shu was momentarily stunned. He hadn't expected it at all. He had no idea which anime or storyline Mira might belong to—but this clearly wasn't the time to calmly think it through.

Just then, Mira, still clinging to his arm, spoke in a hushed voice, "I'm being followed. Please, help me."

While the statement might have shocked someone else, Luo Shu wasn't particularly surprised. After all, this was Japan—land of the unpredictable plotline. A stalker tailing a beautiful woman? That was almost normal.

And a heroine who practically walked into his arms? Luo Shu wasn't about to turn that down. What—say no to points?

"I understand. Just act natural now."

Luo Shu turned toward her with a gentle smile, playing the role of a boyfriend caught off guard by a sudden embrace. He even leaned in, whispering near her ear as if teasing her affectionately.

Then, sliding his arm around her shoulders, he led her toward the apartment building's first-floor lobby. She stiffened slightly at his touch, but he acted like it was second nature.

"No security in this building, right?" he asked in a low voice as they approached the elevator.

"There's not," Mira whispered back, her tone slightly resigned. "But there's a police box about 100 meters away, and patrol units operate 24/7 nearby."

"Still," she added, frustration creeping in, "in stalking cases like this, all they do is issue a verbal warning. That's about it."

Luo Shu nodded knowingly. Unless the stalker outright confessed or got caught placing a tracking device or committing a clear act of harassment, the law couldn't do much. Which meant...

"We'll have to take care of this outside the system, then," he muttered. "When we get in the elevator, look out the glass and tell me who's following you. Let's at least confirm who it is."

"Okay," she agreed softly.

Together, they arrived at the elevator. Mira pressed the button, and with a ding, the doors opened immediately.

Luo Shu nodded slightly and led her inside, then turned around with her. As the doors remained open for a few seconds, Mira casually glanced through the glass wall toward the street beyond the lobby, scanning quickly.

"There," she whispered urgently, just before he hit the button.

"At the entrance, by the curb. Carrying a briefcase. Black suit. Blue-striped tie. Wearing a black mask."

Hearing that, Luo Shu pressed the button for the fourth floor while casually raising his eyes to look outside.

And just as she described, there was a man—business attire, briefcase in hand, short black hair, black mask, blue-striped tie. A classic office worker look.

But when their eyes met for just a split second, the man immediately turned his head, feigning disinterest, and walked past the lobby like nothing had happened.

As the elevator doors finally shut, Mira exhaled slowly in relief.

"Are you sure it's him?" Luo Shu asked.

"I used my compact mirror while pretending to fix my makeup on the train," she explained. "He's been tailing me since I got off."

That was an eight-minute walk from the station. If he had followed her that whole way, then yeah—he was a stalker alright.

"I'm really sorry for dragging you into this, Luo-kun," Mira said, looking apologetic.

"It's not a big deal," Luo Shu replied with a shake of his head. But then he frowned slightly. "Still, there's one thing I want to clarify."

"Huh?" Mira blinked, a little confused, as he continued:

"You don't actually think he's going to stop just because he saw you with me… right?"

The color instantly drained from Mira's face.

If the guy had followed her all the way from the station and now knew where she lived, chances were he wasn't going to back off. If anything, his obsession might escalate.

Of course, it didn't help that Mira had led him right back to her residence, either…

Luo Shu glanced at her briefly. Just then—ding—the elevator stopped.

"Eh? Why did you press the fourth floor?" she asked, pointing at the elevator display in confusion. Both she and Luo Shu lived on the third floor.

Taking her hand gently, Luo Shu simply said, "Come with me."

He led her out of the elevator and walked straight to the stairwell. Peering down through the railing, he kept his eyes sharp and alert.

"Wait, what are you doing?" Mira whispered, clearly puzzled by his actions.

But Luo Shu had already spotted something: a flash of a black-suited shoulder moving in the hallway below.

"He came inside," Luo Shu stated calmly.

Mira went pale on the spot.