Stopping by Yamazaki’s room for his digital camera, we headed outside, walking quickly through the town.

It was an early May afternoon. Although it was warm in town, there were few people outside.

“Where are we going?”

Without answering, I kept trudging forward.

On the way, I ducked into a convenience store and bought a disposable camera, which I gave to Yamazaki. I then continued to hurry toward my destination, Yamazaki in tow.

It was three o’clock in the afternoon. The best time possible.

“A digital camera and a disposable camera? What in the world do you want me to use this for?” Yamazaki asked, out of breath.

When I reached my destination, I answered, “Take a picture of me.”

“Why?”

“Well, do you know where we are?”

“Hm. This looks like the front gate of an elementary school.”

“Right, the Ikuta Elementary School, a public elementary school with about five hundred students. And I’m going to hide in the shrubs in front of the gate. Yamazaki, you hide, too. Hurry up!”

“Huh?”

“The end-of-the-day bell will ring soon. When that happens, the students will come pouring out of this gate.”

“That’s true. So?”

“I’m going to take pictures.”

“O-of what?”

“Of elementary school students.”

He didn’t say anything.

“I’m going to take some great pictures of beautiful little girls, using your state-of-the-art digital camera.”

Silence.

“You understand, Yamazaki? I’m going to sneak some pictures soon. I’ll hide and take pictures of little girls in the spring. I might even ‘accidentally’ take some panty shots. It’ll be fine. If we stay still and hide in these bushes, no one will find us. I’m going to photograph these elementary school students. I’ll take as many pictures as I can—only of the cutest girls, of course.”

The bell rang. In a few minutes, the students would come through this gate.

“Yamazaki, you take pictures of me with that disposable camera. Take as many pictures as you can of ugly me, the filthy lolicon guy, while he’s taking pictures of elementary school kids! You understand? This is the only way we can escape from lolicon! You see that, right? You understand? It’s an ugly picture. However, at the same time, this is your appearance, too. You need to burn this disgusting, pathetic, dirty appearance onto that film. We’ll develop it together and objectively look at our own ugliness, dirtiness, and unsightliness. And then, we’ll be able to escape from lolicon and return to normal.”

The voices of the little girls echoed out from the entrance to the stairs. I readied the digital camera. Only a little more…

“Ready, Yamazaki?! I’m going to take the pictures. In just a moment, the first girls will arrive. I’ll secretly take their pictures! Then, you take my picture! You get it? If you understand, answer me, Yamazaki.