Beyond the trail bordered by tall, delicate and full Sakura Trees, with their bright pink flower petals raining onto the walkway, stood the bold, strong structure of the Akademi High School, just on the other side of town. It had been known as one of the top schools in the country, for its excellent fundamentals and education standards. A place with an abundant group of individuals who strived for success every day.

Only a few minutes remained until the bell rang for class to begin and Ayano was rushing towards the entrance. The double doors seemed so far yet she was determined to get through them before the clock could strike 8:30. She picked up the pace as she approached the doors and busted through, noticing that no one was out in the halls. They were most likely in their designated classrooms by now. She was going to be late. Her teacher was also going to be disappointed again with her attendance and she couldn't afford that. She ran up a flight of stairs and had to go up another set to reach the second floor. Just as she was going to get to the door of her classroom, the intercom rang a soft dinging tune to alert the building that they are making an announcement.

"Attention students and teachers, our morning pep rally is about to begin. Please make your way to the gymnasium at this time. Thank you and have a good day," they spoke in monotone.

"W-What?! Oh my god I forgot!," she panicked out loud.

She had forgotten that the pep rally was that very morning. For what reason? She didn't care. She never cared for any of those events related to school, but she knew that if she skipped it, the teacher could potentially track her down because some of the faculty roam the halls during certain events to search for lingering students who claimed to have better things to do than to attend interesting gatherings. She had a teacher escort her back once when she chose to not participate and she was not too happy with it.

To avoid any other distractions and confrontations, she had to scurry back down the stairs. As she almost got to the bottom of the first floor again, she caught a glimpse of something familiar and hid behind the wall of the stairs. Her heart skipped a beat and her face flushed with shades of red. She took another peek and it was him. Senpai. What was he doing here?

It appeared to her that he too was in a rush to make it to the pep rally at the gym. Goodness, her legs became weak once more. She didn't want to act foolish around him by falling off the last steps of the stairs, so she quickly and carefully stepped down onto the flat floor, still trying to remain hidden. Ayano watched as Senpai ran towards the side to the doors that lead to the courtyard. Not wanting to lose sight of her beloved source of admiration, she chased after him as stealthy as she could to avoid him spotting her from behind him. In actuality, since they were heading for the same location, she didn't consider it stalking.

Meanwhile, a good distance from the courtyard doors, a hidden camera that faced the opening of the stairs and a bit down the direction the duo went captured their every movement. A red light flashed every other second, indicating it was recording at the time Ayano ran after Senpai, meaning something, or someone was watching.

So the pep rally was very lively but boring at the same time. As the Science Club were discussing and demonstrating their prototypes to the entire student body at the stands, Ayano had something else of interest in her eyes. She sat in the back row, far enough to not be peculiarly close to her Senpai. As much as she wanted to be right next to him, wrapped in his strong, warm and comforting arms, he didn't know her very well. Not to mention, that girl he met up with earlier was with him instead. She despised her so much during that time period. She never left her sight, along with Senpai. Something was boiling inside her. Something deep down. She grinded her teeth together as she saw the orange pigtail lightly glide against Senpai's arm. She did sit awfully near him on the bench.

Look at her… How dare she be next to my Senpai. I should be with him, not her… What is this I'm feeling towards her? Why am I so angry? It's almost like… I want to... Maybe…

"Alright! Let's give a round of applause for the Science Club, who will be competing against other schools in this year's Science Competition. Good luck guys," the Headmaster announced, clapping with the crowd and dismissing the club members and their gadgets.

As the clapping continued, Ayano eventually lost focus of her crush and his female friend, distracted by the loud noises that surrounded them. The club walked to the side and the Headmaster, along with a few members of the faculty stood on the floor peering towards the school's participants, ready to say the next thing.

"Alright. I'd like to thank the clubs today for demonstrating their new exciting plans to keep Akademi High as the best school in the region," they said proudly, "And now this concludes our morning pep rally students. Everyone report to your classrooms at this time and thank you again for being here to support your classmates and your school. Go out there and make this school a better place!"

Everybody gave the final clap session then rose from their seats to head for the exit of the gymnasium. It felt very crowded for Ayano to even stand from her spot. She didn't feel like getting up right away. The less amount of people, the better to move out, but he didn't want to lose sight of Senpai, especially since he was with that girl. Who knew what she would do to him if she wasn't keeping an eye on them two. He must not disappear from her view.

Senpai and his "friend" both got up from the bleachers below and make their way with the others to their classrooms in the other building. Ayano almost lost them and hurried to catch up without being noticed. She stared hard at the back of his head; his black hair flipping as he turned his head to the side. She clearly couldn't contain herself. She lightly bit her lip while she was close enough to her crush. He was so irresistible.

Oh Senpai… I want to be close to you… But if only you would notice me… And not look at… Her…

She continued to stalk him through the courtyard and the hallways, up until he stopped right in front of his classroom, where a couple of female classmates passed him up in order to enter the room. His pigtailed friend paused as well, surprised that he wasn't following her.

"Um, hello? Taro," she called him snobbishly.

"His name is Taro?," Ayano thought silently from beyond the hallway.

"What is it, Osana?," he asked inquisitively.

"Um, aren't you forgetting something?"

"I-I don't know what you're talking about?"

She gasped and shoved him with moderate strength.

"Uh, hello?! Aren't you going to walk me to my class? Like a gentleman," she complained loudly.

Ayano wondered why this girl was acting like such a-! Well, a jerk to him. She really hated seeing him being disrespected by her, but what she was more jealous of, was the short distance between her and him. If only she could be in her shoes, right then and there.

"O-Oh! I-I'm sorry Osana. I guess I assumed we were going our separate ways since your class is just across the walkway. I can do it if you wan-!," being cut off by her hand in his face.

"I don't wanna hear it! Go on! It's not like I really wanted you to be there for me or anything! It would've been nice if you…"

"W-What?"

"N-Nothing! Forget what I said! I'll go by myself! Just meet me after school so we can walk home! Baka!"

She stormed off from point A to point B, her hands were curved into fists as she stomped to the other side to go to her class. Senpai stood in confusion as his short friend left from the picture. Ayano, hidden in the sidelines, was pleased with this, very, very much. She smiled to herself, happy to see her beloved Senpai while he exhaled some of his breath away from the doorway. She melted a little, imagining about the pleasure of feeling his light breath on her skin. It tingled down her spine and it gave her goosebumps. She wandered a few steps backwards and sighed out of love. She really had a thing for that boy, but didn't know him very well. At the same time, a little voice in her mind, said she might not need to know a lot to figure that she was deeply, unbelievably, in love with him.

At least, that's what it seemed…

When she returned to her spying spot, Senpai vanished. She wondered at first, where he went all of a sudden, but then recalled that he was right by his classroom, so he must've went inside by now, because school was about to finally start, and then she snapped to realize that she too needed to head to Mrs. Rino Fuka's class, who was her teacher. So after she determined that her job was done, she ran off to the set of stairs to get to the second floor, where her classroom was.

Classroom 2-1 was Ayano's destination. She busted inside, noting the other classmates were already at their desks, ready for a session.

"Ayano! Why are you late?," teacher Rino Fuka questioned with a mildly annoyed tone.

Ayano made it to her seat and removed her handbag from around her, "I'm sorry Rino Sensei. I was talking to another teacher about somethings I needed to take care of."

Hoping the lie would convince her, she sat down calmly and made eye contact with her from four desks away. Rino appeared a little skeptical towards her, but dismissed if by pulling an opened book from her desk and adjusting her glasses.

"Alright, but please. Make it to class on time."

"Understood Sensei."

"Now, open your books to page 22."

1:00 p.m. rang lunchtime. All the classes were dismissed for meal time. Ayano was the last person to leave the classroom, not in a rush to store away her handbag in her locker so she can go outside for lunch. Before she did so, she walked to the nearest bathroom down the hall to take a break. She entered and no one else was inside. She liked peaceful restroom breaks. She got into one of the phone vibrate from her skirt. She pulled it out and saw that she received a text message, but from a number she didn't know.

?: Hey.

Ayano was uncertain about replying, but decided to go with it.

Ayano: Do I know you?

She sent the message and waited only several seconds for the next text to emerge.

?: I saw you stalking an upperclassman today.

"Huh? How? Who the hell?," she mouthed in shock.

Ayano: Do you have a problem with that?

?: No. I just wanted to give you some information about the girl he was with. Her name is Osana Najimi. She is a childhood friend of his and she has a crush on him. She believes in the myth about the cherry tree behind the school.

Ayano was having difficulties trying to take it in all at once. This bad yet juicy info was unbelievable to her. But her mind clicked when she read the part of the cherry tree myth.

Ayano: You mean the myth that if you confess your love to someone underneath that tree on a Friday, they are guaranteed to accept your confession?

?: Correct. She's planning to confess to him next Friday.

"Next Friday? That's… So close," her heart started racing, and not in the good way. She thought she was going to have a panic attack reading the texts.

?: You know, as unfortunate as it may sound, I would be more than happy if something bad happened to Osana-Chan.

Ayano froze with the phone still in her hands. Her fingers couldn't move for a moment. What was this person saying? She couldn't believe her eyes.

Ayano: Why are you telling me this?

?: I think you might be the right person that can give her what she deserves.

Ayano: Who are you?

?: I'm terribly sorry, where are my manners? I'm the person nicknamed "Info-Chan" at school.

"Info-Chan?," she whispered. Then it hit her like an acorn to the head.

Ayano: Oh. I have heard rumors about you. You blackmail girls and sell panty shots to boys. Nobody knows your real name.

?: The rumors are true.

A pause before the next message popped up.

?: If you ever need a favor, text me a panty shot and I'll give you whatever support I can. If you want to know any personal information about anyone at our school, just send me a photograph of their face and I'll tell you everything that I know about them. You will not be disappointed in my work.

"I can't believe this girl," Ayano said alone.

Ayano: You're disgusting.

?: You're a stalker. Don't deny it, because I can see EVERYTHING. If you want my help, text me. If you don't care for it, ignore me. But just keep in mind, you have one week until your precious Senpai belongs to Osana-Chan.

That last sentence really got to her good. She couldn't grasp the idea of someone else taking away her so called "true love". Her heart ached in pain from the image of Senpai being in love with another girl, other than her. Tears welled up in her eyes and she chocked a little. Then she received the last text message from Info-Chan that sparked something devious in her mind.

?: I hope you make her suffer.

Ayano refused to respond and gulped deeply. Suddenly her hands were shaking uncontrollably. She held onto that phone so tight, if she allowed, it could shatter into pieces in her abnormally strong grip. Her mind was scrambling.

What must I do? What do I…?

A group of voices gradually made their way into the bathroom and snapped Ayano back into reality, trying to restore her breathing patterns. She put her phone into her skirt again and resumed her original business in the stall before she wasted anymore time during lunch.