CHAPTER ONE: Senpais & Sisters

A/N: I hope that you enjoy this story! Feel free to review and note that I don't mind suggestions. In fact, please give me suggestions because I've been having writer's block lately! Anyways, here goes the first chapter of One Last Rival! -wavesorcerer14

My shadow was covered by the dark milieu of midnight. My senpai had previously roamed the plaza of Buzara Town for a while and was now walking back home. I slid across the nearest wall, eying my senpai with great attention. Suddenly, he stopped walking. Holding my breath, I tried to squeeze myself against the wall and froze. Silence. I was hidden by the shadows of Akademi High's gates.

"I know you're there, Ayano," Senpai calmly said and turned around, revealing his dreamy black eyes. My heart started pounding.

"Uh… Uh… I- I… Was…" I started, but passed out due to my anxiety.

I woke up feeling sore. Where am I? I wondered, noticing the ropes restraining me from moving my arms and legs.

"Oh, I see that you're up, Ayano. Perfect." Senpai chuckled.

"W- What are you doing?!" I frantically cried, discovering a new emotion. Fear.

"I've been watching you, Ayano," Senpai started. "Don't think that I haven't seen your shadow lying on the ground, or your ponytail slip around corners, or your reflection staring at me in mirrors you haven't noticed. You are a peculiar girl, Ayano. I can tell that all of your "warm smiles" and "compliments" are fake. Should I even get started on Kokona-Chan and Saki-Chan's deaths?" My heart immediately started thrashing around. "I've been watching you. I know better than to just let a creep like you stalk me. In return, I've been following you back in return. I saw what you did to Saki-Chan in your basement. Her screams and looks of horror still haunt me to this day. I know you broke her. Kokona-Chan and Saki-Chan were two of my few friends. Do you really think that I can forgive you for that? What do you have to say to that, Ayano?" He finished and stared at me, his now cold, black eyes piercing into my heart.

"I- I'm sorry, Senpai!" I wailed, bursting into tears. Clearly this was not the reaction Senpai had expected, as his mouth opened in shock. "I did it all for you! I wanted to become your one and only girlfriend! I- I just wanted you to love me back!" I sniffled. "But clearly you never will… Just kill me! A horrible demon like me doesn't deserve to live in a world with someone as perfect as you! I just want to die! Please just end my suffering! Take me out of my misery, Senpai!" I pleaded, a sea of tears gushing out of my eyes.

Senpai seemed torn. He obviously didn't know what to do. Finally, a sly grin curved into his face. "How about this," Senpai announced. "I will forgive you under one condition."

"Please!" I begged. "Anything!"

"Good." He smirked. "Then kiss me."

My eyes widened. Tears stopped streaming down my face. "R- Really?"

Senpai answered me with a nod.

I leaned in, my heart about to explode. I had only dreamed of this moment. Finally, it happened. His soft, smooth lips collided with mine. He wrapped his arms around me and I could tell that my face was as a red as a tomato. We finally lifted our lips off of one another. I was just a part of the most spectacular moment in history. Replays of the kiss went on in my head countless times. My mind couldn't take it any longer. I swooned and fell onto the hard ground. I was unconscious.

I woke up, feeling the warmness of my covers surround me.

Was that just a dream?! I thought, praying that it was not. My heart finally stopped pounding like a drum when I saw a note on my nightstand.

"Pleasant dreams, Ayano! Love, Taro." The note spelled.

I blushed and quickly got ready for school. Today was going to be a great day! I decided.

I skipped out of my house, feeling the emotion 'joy' for the first time in my life. While my senpai had given me color, there will still plenty of emotions I still hadn't felt. I was relieved to finally not pretend to be normal, hiding the broken parts of me. Even though I had killed a few people, like that petty Osana, I finally felt normal. I made my way towards Senpai's house, humming with every step. Putting on my biggest, most lively smile, I knocked on Senpai's door, waiting to see his dreamy face in front of mine any second.

"Ugh, what do you want?" I heard. That was not the response I had expected. And why was there a petite girl with black hair and eyes as dark as coal standing at the door, rather than my Senpai?!

"Um, who are you?" I asked, trying to sound as polite as possible.

"Sakura Yamada," she groaned. "Just tell me, what do you want?!"

How could someone as… yuck… as her be related to Senpai? He was perfect in every way, while she was just… horrid!

"Uh, is Sen- I mean Taro here?" I questioned Sakura.

"Onii-Chan," she called to Senpai, using a tone that was the complete opposite of how she was speaking to me. "Some girl wants you. I wouldn't trust her, though. She looks homeless."

"Excuse me?!" I glared. "Homeless?!"

"I think she bites, too!" Sakura called out to Senpai again.

My hands balled up into fists, but I managed to take a deep breath. I couldn't kill this brat if Senpai was around!

Finally, Senpai arrived at the door.

"Oh, hello Ayano." He winked.

"Good morning Senpai!" I practically sang, making sure that the word 'Senpai' stuck out. Two could play at this game! My hatred instantly dissolved into thin air as Senpai grabbed my hand.

Sakura suspiciously studied us, noting that something was odd. Before I turned around to walk to school with Senpai, I saw a flicker of fire ignite in Sakura's dark eyes.

Do I have a new rival? I wondered, but only to have my thoughts interrupted by Senpai.

"What do you think of my sister?" Senpai asked me.

"Oh, she's… really something!" I replied, not wanted to lie to my senpai.

"Is that a good thing?" Senpai responded.

Biting my tongue, I managed to nod. I could have lied all day to everyone else, but it was a different story with Senpai. I didn't want to lose all of these colors in my dark, grey world if Senpai somehow found out the truth. I didn't want to lose the one thing that made me happy. He knew what I had done to a few... unfortunate students of Akademi High, so his trust in me meant more than ever before.