Hey, UknownHero here and welcome to another chapter of He Knows. Still glad to see there is support for this fic but I have to admit I'm having trouble figuring out a neutralization method for Amai. I got one for the Drama Club President, the Substitute, the Nurse, the Occult Club President and the School President but the others I'm drawing a blank. But they all have roles to fill in the story. I imagine every girl having an ability Ayano can get while Taro himself has no abilities. For example, Osoro can do actions that can damage reputation without consequences or Oka being less noticeable among other things that will come into play. Anyway, enough of my imagination, let's get this story rolling.

Load Game… Start!

Chapter 4: The Shoulder to Lean On

The lesson I learned after my encounter with the Yandere was this.

Don't take love or friendship for granted. It's the most precious thing you can have in your life. Sure, you won't notice but it's gone… you'll miss it with all your heart.

It leaves a hole that can't be filled by anything else. Maybe in time you'll find someone that will fill it, but never completely. It's not repaired… it's replaced. It may look fixed but in reality it's still there just filled in. It's not the same.

I learned that lesson as soon as Taro rejected me.

It only took until now to take it to heart.

But now I know. I know what I have to do. I know my purpose, to ensure the happiness of my friend, to stop some psycho and anyone from taking his heart.

Because Taro is mine. And everyone else has to go through me to reach his heart.

Hopefully, they don't do it with a knife.

(Tuesday)

Osana took in a deep breath, sweat running down her face.

Everything in her entire being was telling her to stop what she was doing and run. It was no longer a game anymore. It was survival of the fittest and she knew with all her heart she would probably either die or regret every day she was alive if she was to pursue her decision.

But she stood her ground. She was not going to back down. She was not going to let what happened last happen again. She wasn't going to let another steal Taro's heart, because quite literally lives depended on it.

So, after standing there like an idiot for several minutes, she walked up to the list of clubs.

Today was the day clubs were accepting new members and despite Osana wanting to spend as much time with Taro and relaxing, she knew if she wanted to help him fend off the Yandere, she would have to join a club to learn new skills like fighting or… cooking.

Osana growled, remembering that… fluffy little bitch walking with Taro to school today.

"I'm the only one allowed to do that, damn it." She growled under her breath. She looked at the club sheets and saw that Martial Arts were accepting members. It was her first choice to join, but then she realized it would take too long to be able to learn techniques and build up her strength fast enough to overpower the Yandere. She was as weak as an uncooked noodle. Plus, with her injuries she wasn't going to do much anyway. Still, the prospect of learning how to fight made it an option.

Then there was the Drama Club. Allowing her to develop acting skills and giving her access to disguises and such. She could hide herself and look for the Yandere from behind the scene. Pun intended. But… it just wasn't for her. She couldn't act to save her life and she was done lying. She lied to herself for years before admitting she loved Taro and then she lied to Taro himself about her feelings.

And look how that ended up.

The Science Club? No, those guys were freaks and she was really bad at science.

The Occult Club? Hell no. Ghosts and demons weren't going to help her in the slightest, even if they did exist. Plus, she was always creeped out by their club room.

The Light Music Club? …No. She doubted playing music would help prevent the Yandere from finishing the job and stabbing her to death.

The Photography Club, there was no point in considering. The entire club was just made for their members to goof off and she doubted they would be of much help. Though, gaining access to a high quality camera could be perfect for her to capture evidence. But… that would mean someone getting hurt. More than likely, the person being hurt would be herself or Amai.

The Art Club was also useless. She doubted some paintings would stop the Yandere.

The Sports Club wasn't that much of an option since, again, her injuries wouldn't let her be at her best. But then again, she could always use her feet and getting herself fit was tempting. But again, it would take too long for her to train up to be ready for the Yandere.

The Gardening Club? She shivered at the memory of the circular saw that almost went through her face. She had considered joining the club due to Taro's interest in plants but right now it wasn't going to help her. Maybe providing her weapons but… she wasn't a killer. She was better than her attacker and she was going to show it.

But then… at the corner of her eye and on the wall instead of the corkboard, she spotted it.

The Gaming Club.

She knew games had some real world merit. Better reaction time, an increase in aggressiveness, teaching how to defend one's self just by watching a character enough. Hell, she heard the club just got Virtual Reality equipment and had just downloaded a game that taught you how to load and fire a gun, and it was significantly less dangerous than actually wielding a real one and was currently downloading a sword combat game, all thanks to Midori spilling the beans to her yesterday.

…Osana just sighed. "You really don't wanna join a club…" She told herself. It was either the Gaming Club or the Cooking Club. "Eh, screw it. Gaming Club it is." She muttered as she signed her name, not noticing someone behind her gasp and approach her.

"Osana, are you really joining the Gaming Club!?" Midori exclaimed with joy, causing Osana to jump and turn around.

"Midori! You almost gave me a heart attack!" Osana breathed out, her heart still rapidly beating in her chest. She almost jammed her pen into Midori's eye.

"I'm sorry but…" Midori then squealed. "We aren't as popular as other clubs so someone other than Pippi, Ryuto and Mai is exciting." She then scratched the back of her head. "P-Plus… no one really talks to each other. We're either playing our games or..." Midori then trailed off, realizing that they didn't do much else.

"You… still have the VR stuff… right?" Osana asked.

"Yeah, but we can't use it." Midori answered before blushing. "I… kinda busted a few computers so I'm requesting an empty space we could use for that kind of thing. I told the principal and he told me to come back to him next year!"

…Midori was a Third Year.

Osana chose to attend the Cooking Club as Ayano looked at the list of clubs available to her before sighing to herself.

She had joined the Drama Club last week. At first, it was obtain access to masks but once they were banned, she was thinking about quitting. She did not need them anymore and the play they were going to put on before she joined didn't interest her. But then again, not much interested her anyway apart from Senpai. But then, as she was about to tell the Substitute Drama Club President that she was going to quit, she realized something.

Actors were liars.

They were able to hide behind facades, masks that allowed them to feel emotions that weren't there. Expressions with fake tears and hollow smiles. The ability to become someone else at the snap of a finger. Understand how to pull the right strings and press the right buttons to make people happy, sad or angry.

And… it was something Ayano couldn't let go of.

She… needed to understand emotions and who better than the ones that could fake it better than her. She was already an actor throughout her entire life, putting on various personas to appear normal enough but she never truly understood the meaning behind a smile or a frown and people would give her weird looks whenever she talked. She just couldn't put emotion behind her words unless it involved Senpai.

And… she didn't understand love in general.

She knew she was in love. She knew that Senpai would love her after she killed every single bitch and whore in her way but in order for her to get Senpai to be with her, she needed to understand how love truly worked.

That way, she could… nudge Senpai into loving her. Maybe with words. Maybe with rope.

Plus, the ability to make people feel whatever she wanted could be helpful in the future. Though, it would be much better if she could twist a blade into their throats until they would stop screaming.

Ayano quickly shook her head, dispelling those thoughts. Despite her mind telling her Rival's lives needed to be ended as soon as possible, she knew there were better ways despite agreeing. Her attempts at killing Osana taught her murder wasn't easy. She couldn't just walk up to those who didn't deserve Senpai and stab them.

No, she had to plan. To find an opportunity.

Following Amai Odayaka around and obtaining her schedule made her realize that she was going to be and pass through heavily populated areas of the school. It was like someone deliberately planned her daily route to be plagued with witnesses, making killing her near impossible without getting caught. No, she needed a plan. To separate her from the pack and destroy her as soon it was just her and Amai Odayaka alone.

Which meant she needed Info-chan's help.

She only sighed in resignation as she went to the bathroom, casually taking a picture of Midori and Osana's panties as Midori begged Osana to join her club.

She only hoped Info-chan accepted her own panty shots.

But first… she needed to get rid of those nice thoughts about killing before she went to class. People had looked at her weirdly when she subconsciously stabbed her paper, before playing it off as frustration. And… she had a nice picture of Senpai sleeping in his room which she took in the middle of the night and one of his t-shirts. And… maybe a lock of his hair.

Ayano… was becoming addicted to all sorts of love.

(After School)

"So you're Osana Najimi…" Amai Odayaka said, reading the list of new members. Osana was doing all she could to stop her eye from twitching or growl at her. She forgot Odayaka was the President of the Cooking Club. Still, it gave her the opportunity to watch her while she figured out how to neutralize her. "Welcome to the Cooking Club, I hope you enjoy your time here and learn something new."

"Thank you." Osana managed to sound thankful and bowed. "So… what are we doing today?"

"Well, actually I need help with a recipe." Amai admitted. "It's not complicated, but it does recommend two people to work on it." She then looked at the bandage wrapped around Osana's hand and the stitches on her forehead. "What happened to you, anyway?"

"I tripped." Osana replied before putting on an apron and a head cloth. "Don't worry, the bandages are clean."

"Okay. But why did you choose to join the Cooking Club?" Amai asked as she washed her hands.

"Well… a few personal reasons." Osana answered as Amai gave her the recipe. "Mostly because I… like someone."

"They do say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach." Amai said as she took out a knife and started cutting up the ingredients. "But then again, food can brighten up anyone's day."

"Is that why you started cooking?" Osana guessed as she looked for the ingredients they needed.

"Um, part of it." Amai admitted. "I just like seeing people smile. It's my dream to make as many people happy however I could. And cooking was the easiest to me."

"That's rather noble of you." Osana noted before looking around. "Where are the others?"

"Actually, all club activities are postponed for some reason." Amai said sheepishly. "I'm actually doing this for a friend. He should be coming here soon."

"Really…" Osana muttered, narrowing her eyes.

"Yeah. I invited him to eat." Amai said with a blush on her face. "I actually only met him yesterday but he really needed a shoulder to lean on. So, I'm doing everything I can to make him happy again."

"Well, I know that feeling." Osana said with a sigh. "So, who is he?" Suddenly, they heard someone running before seeing the door slide open, with Taro leaning on the door frame struggling to breathe.

"I… need… to… workout…" Taro panted out, clutching his chest. He just spent the last several minutes looking for the Cooking Club after cleaning up the classroom and he really didn't want to be late. "I'm sorry if I'm…" Taro started, only to trail off when he saw Osana staring at him. "Um… hi."

"Taro." Osana said. Suddenly, the atmosphere became really awkward.

"You two know each other?" Amai asked, completely ignoring the tension in the room.

"You could say that." Taro answered. "O-Osana. You… joined the Cooking Club?"

"Since I have nothing to do after school I decided to pick up a hobby." Osana said. Taro just winced at that while Osana was wondering why she was acting so bitter. She wanted to help him, damn it! Why was she being passive aggressive?!

"Um… well… I'm glad you're pursuing something you're interested in." Taro said. "So Odayaka-san, Osana, what are you two making?"

"Hey, I'm not spoiling the surprise Taro-senpai." Amai giggled out. "You go take a seat while we prepare the meal. Osana, I need you to start mixing."

"Sure thing, Buchou." Osana said, faking happiness before she went and started cooking. She always was a decent cook but the way Amai moved around the kitchen, it was like she was dancing. She had a flow that couldn't be broken, even when Osana would sometimes try and break it.

She was not a simply a chef. She was an artist. Born to use the various utensils like a brush. The food she used in every recipe was her paint. The plates she put out were her canvas. It wasn't a hobby, or a passion. It was her life. And when she test tasted her food, she had died and went to heaven.

Suddenly, her bento tasted like dirt compared to Amai Odayaka's cooking.

"And a few finishing touches…" Amai muttered to herself as she sprinkled in a bit more flavour into each plate before cleaning it up a little for presentation. "And… perfect. Three American-style cheeseburgers ready to eat."

"I can't believe we actually made our own bread." Osana admitted as she sat down at the dining table. "I saw we had bread in the fridge."

"Yeah, but it just isn't the same." Amai said as she placed the plates in front of Taro and Osana before taking her own seat. "If I don't make everything, it doesn't taste right to me. All food should be fresh and filled with love, not made in a factory and stuffed in cans and plastic."

"Hey, speaking of America, how was it?" Taro asked.

"It was great!" Amai replied. "I learned so much I couldn't learn from my relatives." She then sighed sadly with a smile on her face. "My parents, grandfather, grandmother, they taught me almost everything I know so it was strange to learn from other people."

"Well, it looks like it paid off." Taro said before taking a bite of his burger. Just like the food Amai cooked before, wonderful flavours exploded in his mouth. "Whoa! I've had burgers before, but this is amazing!"

"Like I said, it's better if you make everything yourself." Amai said. Their conversation continued, with Osana being slowly forgotten as she ate her burger. It… hurt to see Taro so happy. And… she wasn't the cause of his happiness.

It was almost like she was replaced.

"Taro… can you… come with me." Osana said, her voice barely audible. "We… need to speak… in private." And yet, they didn't notice. She tried to speak louder but she couldn't find it in herself to speak louder than a mouse. Sighing and finishing her burger, she got up and left the room, neither Taro nor Amai noticing. Once she was outside the club room, she made her way to the roof, she leaned her back against the wall and slid down.

All of that just reminded her how miserable she was.

It was pretty pathetic to know that all she really had was Taro. Her friendship with him kept getting her up every day. But now she was… replaced… with someone… better than her. Nicer. Friendlier. Someone who would give him a shoulder to lean on. It hurt. It hurt so much.

But then she shook her head. "No, this is for him." She told herself. "This isn't about you anymore."

"What is it about who?" Taro asked, freaking Osana out.

"Taro!? You baka, why did you scare me like that!?" Osana yelled out before wincing again. "S-Sorry… I just… why are you here?"

"Well, I noticed you disappeared and I decided to search for you." Taro said before sitting down next to Osana.

"Why didn't you let 'Buchou' search with you?" Osana asked mockingly.

"Because I think it should be just you and me." Taro answered. "Why are you crying?"

"Huh?" Osana said before feeling her cheek. There were tears running down her face and she didn't realize it until now. She wiped them off and replied. "…It's just …Taro …you know I love you."

"…I know." Taro sighed before looking at the injuries she had. "And I told you before; it is not safe to be around me right now."

"I know that but… I just can't." Osana said. "It's just that… I can't let you go so easily."

"But it's for the best." Taro said before standing up. "I don't think we should be… friends anymore. Not until-"

"Not until what?" Osana growled. "After you're happy with someone else. Not until you find whoever attacked me. Taro, you're just a student! You can't do anything!"

"I know I can't!" Taro said back. "But it's my responsibility! It's my fault you were hurt in the first place! And I can't stand you getting into this."

"I'm already in this, whenever you like it or not!" Osana called out. "You can't do this alone! This is way over your head!"

"This is over your head too!" Taro retorted. "What can you do? You just don't get there's someone willing to kill for me! I can't let this person take a life for me, especially your life. I wanna protect you."

"Don't act like some knight in shining armour!" Osana yelled out. "You're barely even a man! Taro, I love you. But don't throw your life away for me!"

"It's not about you!" Taro shouted out. "It's about everyone else! There is a psycho running around and we're here arguing when I could be out there finding her!"

"Well, you have a funny definition of investigation!" Osana said as she stood up. "You're hanging out with some girl you barely know! You aren't trying to find her; you're looking for my replacement!"

"I'm not trying to replace you!" Taro shouted out in frustration. "There's no way there'll be another Osana Najimi in my life!"

"Well, there will never be another Taro Yamada in my life too!" Osana shouted out as well, leaning in closer to Taro's face. "It may be one of the most common names in Japan, but damn it! Why won't you listen!? I love you, Taro Yamada! Get that through your thick skull, baka!"

"Well, clean out your ears because I love you too, Osana Najimi, you damn baka!" Taro yelled out, leaning in closer to Osana's face as well.

"Are we clear about that at least!?" Osana called out.

"Yes!" Taro loudly replied.

"GOOD!"

"GOOD!"

And then it became awkward as they realized what they just said.

"Um… so… are we…?" Osana tried to bring up the elephant in the room but couldn't find the words.

"A-After I-I-I de-d-deal with t-th-the Yan-Ya-Yandere." Taro said. "Then… maybe… we could…"

"I told you, you can't do this alone." Osana said before smiling a little. "But… I would like that."

"Well, we're probably worrying Odayaka-san by now so we should probably head back." Taro suggested.

"Y-Yeah." Osana said before they started making their way back. "You know… I admit I thought it would take longer to convince you to let me help."

"Well, you would just try and help anyway. With my permission or not." Taro pointed out.

"Yeah but…" Osana trailed off as she noticed someone crawling into the Cooking clubroom. "Huh? There shouldn't be anyone else here. Club activities were postponed today…"

"What are you talking about? I never heard of anything like that. I was running around and most of the clubs are still…" Taro said before realization started dawn upon them.

Amai Odayaka was in danger.

Without another word, they ran as fast as they could, just in time to see the Yandere raise the kitchen knife she stole from the kitchen from behind Amai's back as the Cooking Club President was playing with her phone. The Yandere was wearing bandages she stole from the Nurse's Office to conceal her face and medical gloves to hide her finger prints. Both of their bodies moved before they thought.

"AMAI! WATCH OUT!" Taro yelled out before jumping onto the Yandere's back, trying to disarm her and take her down. He would not let her get away this time.

But Yandere-chan spent her Sunday playing a fighting game, other than observing Senpai.

Remembering a move from it, she drove her elbow into his stomach and, with a burst of strength, grabbed his arm and flipped him over her shoulder and onto the table.

"AH!" Taro yelled in pain. He was in too much pain to move now.

"TARO!" Osana shouted out before attempting to tackle the attacker, only for her to miss, hit the table, hit a chair and then hit the floor face first. Ayano then stabbed her in the thigh, to both show Amai she wasn't afraid to drive a blade into her heart and as revenge for trying to protect the whore who must die.

"Taro! Osana!" Amai exclaimed in concern before realizing the attacker was approaching her. "H-Huh? P-Pl-Please… n-n-no… d-d-d-d-don't hurt me…" Amai sobbed out.

Ayano knew this was her chance. She could end her pitiful life right now.

Sadly, however, it just wasn't her time. Yet.

Killing her was too messy. Too complicated. No, it would be much better if she feared her. Make her realize the consequences of her actions should she pursue Senpai.

"Stay away from Senpai." Ayano threatened, her left eye peeking through the bandages promising never-ending suffering. "He. Is. Mine."

"Wh-What are you-" Amai was too scared to form words. Someone… had tried to kill her. And was still going to at this rate.

"Stay. Away." The Yandere reiterated with a growl before running away. Amai, unable to process what just happened, started to cry as Taro fell to the floor and picked himself up before crawling his way over and started comforting her.

"It's okay… you're safe… you're safe…" Taro whispered into her ear. Amai only sobbed and clutched onto him as students started to approach the scene, leaning on his shoulder.

Unknowing to everyone at the scene, this was the start of something no one could've predicted.

It was the beginning of how Amai Odayaka would fall in love with Taro Yamada.

Save Game… Quit!

Whew! Done! I felt like I rushed it a bit but I'm just going with the flow at this point. Oh well.

UknownHero signing off, my friends!