Hello, people all over the internet! UknownHero here and welcome to 2017 and another chapter of He Knows! Let's hope 2017 will be a much better year and hopefully I finish React Watch Believe Yikes which has been officially moved to AO3. Anyway, I hope all you guys had a good time on New Year's Eve and I hope all the presents and love you receive has satisfied you until next December.
And now, to start off this year… with LOVE AND MURDER! And depressing stuff, I guess.
Load Game… Start!
Chapter 3: The Cooking Club President
It was… hard to turn down Osana.
She is… maybe was now… my friend, my only friend since my first year at Akademi. And… now that I really think about it, I guess I do harbour some romantic feelings for her. Deep down, maybe I was slowly falling in love with her without even knowing it.
Despite her flaws, her treatment of me, I still love her.
A lot of people only see the worst side of her, but I'm the only one who see the other, much kinder and somewhat more insecure side that she makes sure no one sees, even me. But I still her as the same girl I knew since we were starting to learn what love is.
But it doesn't matter now.
There's someone after me… after my affection that I'm not sure I can give. And… this person is going to hurt people, kill them if they get in her way or even think about pursuing a relationship with me. I can't just let this happen. I can't let this Yandere kill just for me.
My classmates are in danger. The school staff are in danger. The police won't help unless there's enough evidence for an arrest. My parents are just gonna make it worse. Anyone after my heart… are going to die unless I do something.
This is my burden. Because I know.
(Friday)
The sky was cloudy with dark clouds looming over the school. It was going to rain for sure so many students had started making their way home before they all got wet. It came out of nowhere, the forecast not being able to predict the sudden appearance.
But Osana knew maybe it was God taking pity on her.
She was sitting underneath the sakura tree on top of the hit, the petals slowly falling upon her body as she stared at her bandaged hand. It was a reminder, a scar of her broken heart. Although she was physically fine enough to attend school, nothing could heal the hole left by Taro. She cried a total of six times throughout the school day and when she wasn't she was completely tuned out, unable to pay attention to any of her classes especially when Taro was there, consciously avoiding her and avoiding any sort of interaction or eye contact, and all the students wondering if she was alright or how she got injured. At least she was aware enough to warn the school councilor about someone using one of the masks in the school to hide their identity when her attacker tried to kill her. Next week, all masks would be banned from the school. Sure, the Drama Club would have complaints, especially with a play coming up, but she really didn't care anymore.
She wondered to herself why she even came here. It only made her want to cry even more. But she couldn't go home unless she wanted to be even more miserable. She had dreamed of this moment even since she learned about the myth.
It was supposed to be bright and sunny. Clear blue skies as she patiently waited for Taro to come. She would've put her confession letter, which she would've finished if she didn't almost die, in his locker, asking him to come. She would see him walk up the hill, that stupid goofy smile she loved on his face. He would ask her why she wanted him here. She would confess to him, pouring her heart out, letting her feelings known to him. She would go on to tell him why she loved him, how long she yearned for him and more importantly, ask if he could go out with her.
He would say "Yes".
They would kiss.
Their fates and lives would finally intertwine into one.
It would've been the happiest moment of her life.
It would've been.
And yet, she was here alone, cold and miserable as a human could be. She was attacked, she was almost killed and at the end of it all her Knight in Shining Armour abandoned her at the hospital. Maybe it was karma for something she did, maybe her treatment of her crush, but it didn't matter now.
Her life had lost all meaning as soon as Taro said "No".
She was just about to cry again when she heard footsteps coming towards her. She looked up, hoping to every single God she knew that it was Taro. Instead, she decided to cry when she saw it was just some girl.
Ayano had been expecting Osana to be under the sakura tree. There weren't any witnesses in the area as they've all surely gone home, allowing her end the pitiful life of Osana Najimi, and maybe even Senpai if it was too late. Hell, she was ready to kill them both and commit suicide on the spot as soon as she saw some sort of sign that indicated that they were in a relationship. She had brought her sharpest knife for a reason.
And yet, she couldn't find any.
When she wasn't in classes, she was st-observing Senpai as much as she could. There were no signs of them in a relationship. Hell, best case scenario was that he hated her now. And how couldn't he? Najimi was weak. Incapable of providing the love she would give him. Her love was fake.
But, she needed confirmation. She just hoped the makeup on her bruised cheek would prevent Najimi from discovering that she was her attacker.
"Is there a reason you're here?" Osana asked, tears still running down her face. "I want to be left alone." Though it was obvious enough that Senpai had broken Najimi's heart, she needed to make sure she wouldn't pursue him any further, unless she wanted to die. Putting on one of her various personas she had developed over the years, she decided the best way to interact with Osana Najimi was to act like she cared for the bitch who deserved to die.
"You seemed you need a friend." Ayano said as she sat next to her enemy. "Something happen?"
"It's none of your business." Osana growled. "Leave me alone."
"It's Friday and you're under the sakura tree. It seems that you were expecting something." Ayano pointed out.
"Well I'm not anymore." Osana sighed as she wiped away a few of her tears. "Something came up and… he won't return my feelings."
"…Are you going to try and change his mind?" Ayano asked as her hand slowly went under her skirt to pull out her knife just in case. Meanwhile, Osana had a flashback to how she almost died and shook her head.
"…No." Osana answered after a bit of thought. "I might still love him… but what's the point? I… He's better off without me anyway…" She said with a sniffle while looking at the ground.
Ayano's pupils shrunk when Osana said "I still love him".
She still loved Senpai. The bitch won't concede and let his one true love go after him. She could kill her right now. She wasn't going to make the same mistake. No one was around and she could easily dispose of Osana's body, get rid of all the evidence and none would be the wiser.
But then she stopped herself.
No, it would be unprofessional. Osana would not continue to chase after Senpai. Her heart was completely broken by him and would stay broken as long as she lived. Osana was miserable, hollow and killing her wouldn't do anything. If she was missing would get suspicious and despite everything, she couldn't deny that she was still Senpai's friend and that if she were to die it would cause more than a few problems in the future. And despite the little voice inside her head, she was suffering enough.
Osana Najimi, a Rival for Senpai's heart, was officially eliminated.
So without another word, she left, leaving Osana to wallow in her misery.
(Monday)
To say that Taro was miserable would be an understatement.
Although he knew it was necessary in order to protect Osana from the Yandere, it didn't help his loneliness. He had been avoiding her all Friday and Saturday last week and stayed in his room all day. Hell, he even went to school much earlier than he would've just to make sure he wouldn't see Osana. He couldn't stay friends with Osana as long as there was some crazy person out there willing to kill for him. He had to stop this person before anyone was killed.
Still, it was going to suck.
It could take a few weeks, a few months, maybe a couple of years before he could find out who Yandere is. He wasn't a detective. He knew he should've gone to police but due to some murder case back in his parents' days in high school, the police weren't exactly the most useful people he could go to. Hell, he was sure that they wouldn't even bother to station a few cops around the just in case. He knew he was way in over his head, but he was the only one with the power to stop the Yandere.
Well, at least he hoped.
Anyway, it was lunch and he was sitting at the fountain alone. It seemed everything was normal. The students were talking about the latest piece of gossip in their own little social groups and other junk he was starting to lose care about. After seeing that there could be a murderer in the school, things like idols and rumours were the least of his worries.
"I might be going cynical…" Taro groaned to himself. "And so early in the year too…"
"Are you alright?" A feminine voice coming from in front of him asked. He jumped and looked up. The first thing he saw was her stockings, which were white with green stripes around it.
"H-Huh?" Taro let out. He didn't recognize the girl at all but from the apron, the basket filled to the brim with pastries and the red armband, it looks like she's part of the cooking club. The President of it even. "Oh… sorry."
"Hey, it's alright." The girl said kindly as she sat next to him. "You seemed lonely. Are you okay?"
"Erm… not really…" Taro muttered out. "I uh… Well… I kinda-"
"Hey, you don't need to talk about if you don't want to." The girl said before getting something from her pastry basket. "Maybe a little comfort food will brighten your mood. Cupcake?" Taro's stomach decided to growl at that moment, causing the Cooking Club President to giggle as Taro blushed in embarrassment. "Maybe you're just cranky from an empty stomach." She joked.
"Um, thanks." Taro said as he took the rather tasty-looking cupcake and took a bite. Suddenly, the favour of the cupcake exploded in his mouth. It was much better than he was expecting. He could only describe it as… heaven. "W-Wow… this is really good!"
"We-Well, I-I-I'm st-still learning so I'm n-n-nn-ot as g-g-good as I'd like t-t-to be…" the girl stammered out with a blush on her face.
"I hope you get there soon." Taro said with a smile before holding out his hand. "I'm Taro Yamada. Third Year."
"O-Oh. I'm Amai Odayaka." Amai introduced herself as she shook Taro's hand. "Second Year and President of the Cooking Club."
"Nice to meet you Odayaka-san." Taro replied. "I haven't seen you around the school though last week."
"Oh, well, I was still overseas in America when school started. I only got back yesterday." Amai explained. "So, you're a Third Year right? I guess that makes you my Senpai."
"I-I guess." Taro said. Then, the bell rang. "Oh… um, we should head to class."
"Okay." Amai said as they both stood up. "I'll see you around, Senpai?"
"Just call me Taro." Taro told her. "And yes, I'll see you around Odayaka-san."
"Hey, if you ever need someone to talk to, I'm always available." Amai told her Senpai. "Well, good-bye Taro-senpai!"
"Bye, Odayaka-san." Taro replied before heading in different directions. Halfway to class, he realized there was a warm feeling in his chest, kind of like the one he had with Osana when she kissed him, but just not as strong. But, he also had this strange feeling he was being watched. But he shook his head and ignored those thoughts.
He didn't want to deal with all this stalker stuff or his drama with Osana or even acknowledge the existence of his love life.
Right now, all he wanted was someone to talk to.
Meanwhile, Ayano was shaking in rage as her phone vibrated. She growled before picking it up. "Hm… looks like your Senpai is with another girl. And after all your hard work with Osana-chan…" Info-chan said sarcastically.
"Do not patronize me." Ayano said as she watched Amai head to her classroom before sending the photo she took of her next target to Info-chan. "Who is she?"
"Let's see… ah, here we go." Info-chan said. "Amai Odayaka. Sweet and gentle, just like her name implies. President of the Cooking Club. Notable traits include having a rather impressive cooking ability for a high school student, possibly even better than some professional chefs. Looks like she's getting rather friendly with your Senpai. Considering his mental state for the past few days, I saw he will fall in love with her by Friday."
"He is not allowed to love anyone else." Ayano growled. "He. Is. Mine."
"Well, you better get to work Yandere-chan. And I advise not to repeat what happened last Thursday." Info-chan said before hanging up. Ayano turned off her phone and stared at Amai in contempt before heading off to class, making a promise in her head.
'I will not make the same mistake again. Amai Odayaka will die.'
In class, Osana was resisting the urge to yell. She was pissed. 'Taro! You stupid, freaking baka! You break my heart and now you go off with another girl you barely even know!? You stupid… IHATEYOUIHATEYOUIHATEYOUIHATEYOUIHATEYOUIHATEYOU!' Osana thought, her page of notes now filled with scribbles of Chibi-Amai getting beaten up by Chibi-Osana and Chibi-Osana making out with Chibi-Jerkface. She couldn't hate Taro but seeing him with another girl was just another wound in her heart.
'But he's doing this to protect me from that attacker…' She thought a little bit more calmly. That damn knife and demonic mask was still haunting her dreams. 'He… said he loves me…'
Suddenly, it hit her.
"He said… he loves me…" Osana whispered out. "And… he's trying to face my attacker… on his own."
"I'm sorry. You're my childhood friend, and maybe I do love you. But… you're also someone worth protecting." Taro explained as he stood up. "And I can't let you get dragged into this."
For the seventh time today, she sniffled before looking out the window and to the sky. 'It's too late Taro.' Osana thought with a small smile. 'I already got dragged into this. You can't face this on your own.' With a new resolve, she had a goal in mind. And she was willing to sacrifice everything she had to ensure Taro's happiness and maybe even her own if she was lucky enough.
Stop the Yandere.
And she already her first objective: Neutralize Amai Odayaka before it's too late.
Except… she didn't have any skills, wasn't that smart, was barely passing P.E. and lacked any connections that would help Taro in any way possible.
She promptly slammed her forehead into her desk. It was going to be a long week.
Save Game… Quit!
Whew! First chapter of the year done! Well, see ya next time!
UknownHero signing off, my friends!
