“To state the conclusion first, I’ve hypothesized that the culprit is a teacher at Yamabuki University Affiliated Middle School or High School.”
“Sudden climax!?”
The one who greeted us just as we returned from the café was the professor in lecture mode. She was wearing rimless glasses, giving off an intellectual vibe. Despite her simple clothes, she wore a thick aura, looking like she was about to start a presentation for a groundbreaking product.
“Furthermore, the account that sent the illicitly taken photos has reacted to the picture I had Mayuki-kun post earlier. There’s a high probability the culprit will make a move soon.”
In her hands were two different colored water-based markers, and beside her was a well-used whiteboard.
“Professor, were you checking Mayuki-kun’s account?”
“I had him tell me the details during our earlier interview. I’ve also received screenshots of the messages he got, just in case.”
The time of day when the culprit clinging to Mayuki-kun is looking at his posts.
Or she was probably analyzing things like their reaction speed.
The professor nodded, gesturing with her eyes for us, who were standing at the lab entrance, to come to the sofa.
“As for the action we should take… this is a good opportunity. I suppose I’ll give a lecture to my future student.”
I settled down and whispered into the ear of Mayuki-kun, who was sitting next to me.
“Mayuki-kun, things are going to get a little difficult from here, so if there’s anything you don’t understand—”
“Fwaah.”
Mayuki-kun recoiled with a start. What was that sound?
“S-Sorry, Himari-san, my ea-ears are…!”
“Sorry, I didn’t know your ears were sensitive…”
Feeling a twinge of guilt as Mayuki-kun looked up at me with teary, glistening eyes, I listened to the professor’s voice. Paying no mind to me, she began to speak at full throttle right from the start.
“First, based on the concept of ‘Six Degrees of Separation,’ a fundamental principle of SNS, Mayuki-kun is connected to this culprit through mentions, but…”
“Professor, stop, stop, stop.”
She’s going on a rampage right off the bat.
The professor is a fast thinker, so she’s a fast talker to begin with, but her eloquent speaking style and technical jargon were collaborating to cause a major traffic jam.
Just as I expected, the professor, whose explanation was interrupted, looked annoyed, while in contrast, Mayuki-kun’s eyes were darting about in confusion. This isn’t my fault, right…?
“…Six degrees of… what was that?”
I tried to offer some help by pulling the knowledge I’d learned from the professor from my brain.
“It’s a term called ‘Six Degrees of Separation.’ To put it simply, it’s the idea that if you repeat ‘a friend of a friend’ six times, you can connect to anyone in the world.”
It’s also a term used in explanations to instill the awareness that words sent out on SNS are connected to the entire world. By the way, a ‘mention’ refers to another person’s reaction to a certain post. On ‘Twitter,’ this would include replies, retweets, and likes.
“Originally, the main purpose of SNS is ‘interpersonal communication.’ However, as it permeated people’s lives, a problem arose. Himari.”
“Eh, me?”
Being called by name so suddenly made my heart skip a beat.
She was implicitly telling me, ‘Explain it for him.’ This is also her usual method.
“…Sorry, please give me 30 seconds.”
I hurriedly took out my university notebook from my desk and flipped through the pages.
“Umm… The problem brought about by the permeation of SNS is the abnormal acceleration of communication…!”
“Next time, if you can’t recite it from memory, you fail.”
“My days are a tightrope walk!?”
Paying no attention to me, who was cowering in fear of having my life and death held in her hands, the professor continued.
“As the concept of social networks permeated our lives, interpersonal communication became simplified, automated, and accelerated. Now, the penetration rate of SNS has reached over ninety percent of the entire population, and everyone casually drops personal information onto the internet… but explaining it with words probably won’t get the point across. Right, shall I give an example?”
Saying that, the professor picked up her smartphone and launched a messaging app.
“For example, the sticker function on ‘LINE.’ Good morning, good work today, hello, goodbye… and so on. All the set phrases of daily conversation can be handled with a single sticker. This can truly be called accelerated communication. Furthermore, users can also create stickers, and monetization is possible in accordance with various regulations. By establishing a systematized business model, the sticker function has been transplanted to other services, propagating and—”
She’s especially glib today… I was thinking, when.
“Ngh.”
My smartphone vibrated in my chest, and I let out a voice reflexively.
When I checked, I saw that countless stickers were being sent from the professor right in front of me.
“…Um, Professor. Please don’t spam me with stickers while you’re calmly explaining things.”
“You’re one to talk, Himari. Just because they’re big doesn’t mean you should put your phone in your cleavage.”
“That has nothing to do with this, does it!?”
The professor says something outrageous. Look, Mayuki-kun next to me is bright red!
“Or rather, I didn’t put it in a place like that! I put it properly in my breast pocket!”
“In short, there’s a lack of words in communication on SNS.”
“Demon-level ignoring skills!”
Here, the professor glanced at Mayuki-kun’s face.
She was checking to see if he was keeping up with the explanation. It’s a method she often uses during lectures.
Mayuki-kun himself, while looking slightly awkward towards me, was taking in the professor’s words with a serious expression. I wonder if it’s because I made that weird noise. I feel apologetic.
Perhaps judging it as a passing grade, the professor raised the corners of her mouth and began to speak about the heart of the problem.
“The distance between users is close. But words are insufficient. In interpersonal communication where you can’t see faces or hear voices, understanding the context is paramount. However, there are far more functionally illiterate people in the world than we imagine, and interactions on SNS are prone to creating misleading statements and misunderstandings.”
“Functionally…?”
“Functional illiteracy. It’s the inability to accurately understand the meaning or content of text, even if one can read the characters.”
“Eh… But the words used on SNS aren’t that difficult, are they…? If anything, I have the impression that words you’d learn in compulsory education are often used…?”
“Correct. We who use social media are, on a daily basis, tantamount to unconsciously and continuously solving the ‘reading comprehension problems’ we learn in elementary and middle school language classes. And naturally, there’s also a segment of the population that cannot solve such reading comprehension problems. This isn’t limited to SNS; for example, there’s a certain number of people who can’t read product manuals or real estate contracts.”
“The professor’s explanation is long, so I’ll cut it short, but basically, it means ‘there are a lot of idiots on SNS’.”
It’s an extreme expression, but it should be mostly correct. A world of mutual misunderstanding, where the sender and receiver have different interpretations. In the process of permeating people’s lives, social networks have brought the existence of ‘people who cannot accurately read words’ to the forefront.
“In addition, in social life, humans usually communicate by picking up on essences other than text. If you speak directly, you can observe the other person’s expression. Even on the phone, you can perceive the intonation of their voice, their tone, their gaze. Interpersonal relationships are built through this comprehensive non-verbal communication. However, this does not apply to SNS, which uses only text as a means of information transmission.”
A text only makes sense when there is a mutual, common understanding. A text without common understanding is nothing more than a symbol—the professor often says this in her lectures as well.
Despite the means of communication being limited to text, its meaning and interpretation can be conveyed to the other party in an unexpected way. As for what happens as a result—it’s not hard to imagine.
“With the explosive spread of SNS, many from the generation that had previously engaged in non-verbal communication as a matter of course also joined in. The methodology is fundamentally different, and while some people were able to adapt to this—others were not.”
The professor peered into Mayuki-kun’s face and asked.
“Now then, Mayuki-kun. How did you reply to the mentions attached to your photos?”
“Now that you mention it… I more often than not didn’t reply at all. And even when I did, I tried to keep my replies simple. I thought it might be strange to get too close…”
To the downcast Mayuki-kun, the professor softened her tone of voice.
“I’m not blaming you, so please don’t worry. Regardless of the number of followers, responding to every single mention is time-consuming. The troublesome part, however, is when the other person perceives it as being ignored.”
Having said that, the professor closed the cap on her water-based marker.
She continued her explanation while waving it like a conductor’s baton. It’s one of the professor’s quirks.
For example, ‘leaving someone on read’ or ‘ending a conversation with a like’ are accepted as normal communication by people in their teens and twenties who grew up with the spread of SNS.
However, the generation that came into contact with SNS after their personalities had formed and they had gained life experience—in other words, the middle-aged generation—cannot gauge this unique sense of distance, yet because they have accumulated age, their attitudes tend to become arrogant. Therefore, the risk of them running wild is high.
The same thing was written in my notes. Cringey old guys sending mentions, people who turn any post into a story about themselves, a certain number of those types of people exist.
“Let’s look at a case study.”
She pulled out a well-used file from her desk and flipped through it.
Eventually, on the page she opened, I could see a scrapbook clipping with the terrifying headline ‘Stalker Murder’.
“It was just about three months ago. The victim was a female underground idol. The culprit was an unemployed man in his 40s. The motive for the crime was the extremely childish reason that ‘she kept ignoring the messages I sent.’ It was a topic covered on news programs and online news, do you remember hearing about it?”
After confirming Mayuki-kun’s repeated nods, the professor once again turned the page of the scrapbook.
“The victim of this assault case was an ordinary woman. A company employee in her 20s who posted about her daily life and selfies on SNS. One day, she suddenly received a direct message from a man she didn’t know asking her out. When she refused, the perpetrator flew into a rage, and a series of harassing messages followed, such as claiming to have identified her address and knowing her workplace. As a result, his actions were recognized as ‘stalking behavior’ and he was arrested. The perpetrator was a single man in his 40s, and he had apparently figured out her residence from the location information attached to the victim’s posts.”
I can’t help but wonder what drives a stalker that far, but human emotions are infinitely varied, so I can’t fathom it. Not that I want to understand, though.
The professor closed the scrapbook and placed it carelessly on the corner of her desk. Ahh, I’ll have to put it back later… As I watched while thinking that, the professor, having finished explaining the cases, began to summarize.
“As a result, the spread of SNS has brought into relief the adults who cannot understand how to grasp a sense of distance. The psychological phenomenon of ‘virtual sense of competence’ is related to this.”
It’s the psychological state of overestimating one’s own abilities and looking down on others with contempt.
“In the previous case, the culprit, by persistently sending messages, harbored the distorted feelings of ‘I am right’ and ‘I want her to know me’ towards the underground idol he liked. And… such feelings sometimes run wild, transform, and drive humans to commit cruel acts.”
“Cruel acts…”
“The professor is talking about extreme cases, so don’t be too scared, okay?”
Wanting only to dispel the anxiety of Mayuki-kun, who was trembling with fear, I hugged him tightly again.
The professor paid us no mind and finally got to the heart of the matter.
“In the first place, the list of potential culprits is narrowed down by the fact that they know your address, Mayuki-kun. All that’s left is to apply the profile of the culprit that has emerged. By the way, Mayuki-kun, what is your family structure?”
“…My parents are divorced, and I live alone.”
Mayuki-kun averted his gaze, his eyes looking a little sad.
“Understood.”
The professor said so matter-of-factly. It might seem blunt, but she’s originally someone who doesn’t show much interest in other people’s circumstances. What’s important is the relationship. Shirasagi Reika is moved to act by the connection of ‘Professor’ and ‘student’.
I quietly got up from the sofa, headed to a corner of the lab, and switched on the electric kettle.
“The Act on Regulation of Stalking and Similar Acts—commonly known as the ‘Anti-Stalking Act’—was enacted about 20 years ago. The point of contention, ‘stalking behavior,’ refers to the repeated act of pestering at a person’s residence, workplace, school, or other places they are usually located. For details, refer to the Six Codes.”
“Professor, you’re jumping topics again.”
“At the time it was established, the internet was not that widespread, but after several revisions, things like blog comments and SNS messages have also been added to the definition of ‘stalking behavior.’ So, ordinarily, this is a situation where the police should be taking action—but they’re probably just underestimating the seriousness of the situation. That’s why my word alone isn’t enough to make a difference. Such a passive approach won’t improve things.”
Completely ignoring my comment, the professor’s argument moved towards its conclusion.
“Looking at the state of the damages, it’s almost certainly a lone culprit. It’s within a range we can handle with our own power.”
At that, the professor took off her glasses and settled down with a “phew.” It seemed the lecture was over. When I promptly offered her a steaming mug, the professor silently took a sip of coffee.
“The legal regulations have been established, but their comprehensiveness is not sufficient. The damages you’ve suffered include suspicious items being put in your mailbox and illicit photography. Even with just that, there are cases that meet the requirements of the Anti-Stalking Act, but what’s important is repetitiveness, and if that is deemed insufficient, it may not be recognized as stalking behavior.”
“Um, Professor.”
I couldn’t help but interject.
“How do you know the culprit is a teacher at the affiliated school?”
“That is merely a hypothesis I’ve formed—hmm. I’ll explain after we move.”
“Move? Right now? To where?”
“It’s obvious. To Mayuki-kun’s home.”
Unable to keep up with the professor who spoke as if the conclusion was already set, I tilted my head in confusion.
Meanwhile, the professor drained her coffee and took out her car keys, which she had stored in her desk.
“If we are to contain the situation with minimal damage, we must always act while assuming the worst-case scenario. The problem here is if the stalker really is a teacher at the affiliated school.”
“And what does that mean?”
“…Please tell us.”
When I asked, Mayuki-kun also leaned forward.
The professor stood up from her chair and continued while stretching with a “hnn.”
“Although it’s an issue between a teacher and a student, criminal penalties will of course apply. However, if a decisive requirement is not met and the gravity of this case is not conveyed, the police will likely seek a resolution within the school corporation.”
“So, instead of being judged by the law, it’ll be settled with a disciplinary dismissal… something like that?”
“That would be the better outcome. In the worst-case scenario, it might end with just a reprimand for the teacher in question…”
“No…”
There are several types of disciplinary action.
A reprimand is a ‘verbal warning’. In other words, it’s the lightest punishment.
If that happens, Mayuki-kun will end up living his daily life with this anxiety.
Realistically, nothing will have changed.
“If… if that’s true, what should I do…?”
“Hmm.”
Even upon hearing Mayuki-kun’s strained voice, the professor’s tone didn’t change.
That’s because she already had the answer.
The theory, the action, its validity—the professor had already considered everything.
“What do you think is the quickest way?”
Mayuki-kun shakes his head.
Of course, I have no idea either.
It’s only natural. It would be harder to understand.
The person known as Shirasagi Reika is someone who has published numerous innovative papers in academic circles, serves as a university professor at the exceptional age of not even 30, is frequently approached by the media for her knowledge and beauty, and sometimes even appears on TV shows as a commentator.
Truly, a talented woman straight out of a picture.
But there’s a fine line between a genius and a… you-know-what.
The conclusions that geniuses come up with often have a screw loose.
“A citizen’s arrest.”
