Disclaimers
All characters appearing in Yandere Simulator are copyright Yandere Dev. No infringements of this copyright is intended, and are not authorized by the copyright holder.
All original characters are the property of Celgress.
A special thankful you to Lucian Naruto whose input and knowledge, of both the game world as well as Japanese Culture in general, has proven invaluable while plotting this story. Lucian Naruto is mainly responsible for coming up with the creative names I'll be using in future installments for characters that do not have formal monikers; which includes Mr. Ashi in this chapter.
Yandere Simulator A Twist Of Fate – Chapter Two Back to School Part I
Roadway, early morning
It was a rainy day, cold and wet with a heavy overcast of grey clouds. Before she changed Ayano Ashi was not bothered much by any form of inclement weather. Other than a change in wardrobe days blended together in her mind regardless of atmospheric conditions. Now, however, the pervading dampness seemed to penetrate her very soul. In spite of her warm yellow raincoat, Ayano shivered in the back seat of her father's luxury sedan.
Ayano's father Kyōhan Ashi glanced back at his daughter via the rear view mirror as they waited in the heavy early morning bumper to bumper traffic. "How are you holding up Ayano?" He asked.
"I want to go home, daddy," Ayano whined pathetically.
"You can't go home, dear. The doctors have medically cleared you to return to school. We would be negligent in our duty as parents if we deny you a proper education." Ayano's mother Ryoba Ashi said from the front passenger sear. Her tone cheerful as it always was in public.
"The doctors are wrong. I'm not ready." Ayano protested. "I can't handle going back there. Please take me home, daddy."
"Ayano, I can't,"Kyōhan said.
"If you love me, daddy, you'll take me home right away," Ayano said using emotional blackmail. A tactic she had grown adept in the weeks since her emotional awakening.
"No, Ayano," Kyōhan said with a sigh. "You need to do this."
"B-But I, I-," Ayano began to protest.
"Listen to your father dear. He's right. We only has your best interests at heart." Ryoba said.
"Don't you mean your best interests at heart, mom," Ayano snapped. "He's basically your slave after all."
"Ayano apologize to your mother this instant!" Kyōhan said.
"Daddy,-" Ayano said.
"Apologize Ayano," Kyōhan demanded.
"I apologize for being so rude, daddy," Ayano said.
"To your mother, Ayano," Kyōhan said.
"I'm sorry, mom," Ayano said with even less enthusiasm than her previous lackluster apology.
"Thank you, Ayano," Ryoba said her smile never fading. To any other observer, Ryoba presented a calm, chipper exterior but Kyōhan knew better. Ayano's constant adversarial behavior was taking a toll on Ryoba although the elder yandere would never let it show.
"Ayano there will be no more disrespecting your mother," Kyōhan said. "If I witness you disrespecting her again there will be serious consequences. Do you understand, Ayano?"
"Yes, daddy," Ayano said sulking.
The remainder of the car ride passed in stony silence. Ayano unwilling to engage her parents in further conversation. For his part, Kyōhan felt it best not to further bother his daughter least she direct another outburst against her mother. Kyōhan had never seen Ryoba take such abuse, verbal or otherwise, in all the years they had been together without retaliating against said perpetrator in devastating fashion. He could only speculate that Ryoba's deep-seated love for their daughter (people might not think so but Kyōhan knew Ryoba did love Ayano in her unique own way) was holding her more violent tendencies at bay. Kyōhan only hoped Ryoba would continue to stoically endure Ayano's abuse until Ayano grew tired of berating her mother's perceived flaws. He did not even want to consider what could happen otherwise.
Akademi High School, a short while later
Headmaster Kocho Shuyona was by nature a nervous man. Only a few short years from retirement Kocho had wanted his tenure in charge of Akademi High School to pass as peacefully as possible. Those hopes were recently shattered when a series of gruesome murders occurred on the campus. One teacher Mida Rana and two female students Musume Ronshaku and Kizana Sunobu were found butchered. An anonymous tip led authorities to arrest male student Kaga Kusha head of the Science Club. According to evidence found on Kaga's personal computer, he had been sexually abused by Mida (apparently one of many boys over the years according to Mida's own diary) which fostered within him an intense hatred of beautiful women alongside popular girls; or at least girls he perceived as being popular. Although Kaga vehemently denied the allegations claiming he was "set up" the boy had been arrested. He presently sat in a jail cell in the prefecture capital awaiting trial.
Kocho fidgeted in his chair. He would rather be anywhere else right now than meeting with the Ashi family about readmittance of Ayano Ashi to Akademi High School. He detested and frankly feared the Ashies especially Ryoba. While Ryoba publicly projected an image of the perfect homemaker he knew better. Ryoba was a master of deception and very likely a psychopath. He could not prove it but Kocho suspected Ryoba was responsible for the series of brutal slayings at Akademi which dominated his unfortunate first year on the job. A trauma that had made him into the shell of a human being he was today. While something of an enigma Kocho suspected Kyōhan Ashi was equally unsavory. Kyōhan was the favorite attorney of the local Yakuza, or so rumor had it. Besides who takes the family name of their wife? Then there was Ayano. The girl gave Kocho the creeps she had from the first moment he saw her. Ayano's eyes were like a doll's eyes so blank, so lifeless. Why me he asked himself. Kocho wished he could sneak a drink from the flash of hard liquor he kept hidden in a secret compartment of his desk. He needed fortification if he were to deal with these dangerous degenerates.
"While we could pursue legal redress for our daughter's life-threatening injury due to negligence on the part of this institution. We are willing to forego such action in the interest of harmonious cooperation." Kyōhan said in full legal eagle mode. Separated from Kocho by his desk the Ashies sat from left to right Kyōhan, Ayano and Ryoba.
"And we thank you for your generous willingness to waive any issues of liability.," Kocho said forcing a smile. 'I hate lawyers.' He thought. "I assure you Mr. & Mrs. Ashi the roof is no longer accessible to anyone save maintenance staff. The entrance has been triple locked. A future accident of the sort that befell your daughter has been rendered all but impossible."
"Make no mistake our willingness to not exercise our full legal rights stems primarily from a desire for daughter's well-being. Her doctors want her to resume a normal school routine as quickly as possible." Kyōhan said paying Kocho no mind. "Ayano is not to suffer from any further undue stress. I assume you and your staff will make certain Ayano's environment is stress-free, within reason."
"Of course," Kocho said while his smile grew wider. "Moving forward your daughter is safe in our capable hands."
"I sincerely hope so," Kyōhan said.
To Kocho's horror, Ryoba leaned across his desk. Her elbows rested on his various papers with no care of the mess she was causing. she spoke sweetly. Her eyes never left contact with Kocho's own much to his dismay. Ryoba's stare was extremely intimidating. Even as one of his students in the late 1980s Kocho could barely stand to hold eye contact with Ryoba for more than a few seconds at a time.
"We thank you for your understanding Headmaster Shuyona. Do you mind if I tell you something personal?"
"N-N-Not a-at all Mrs. Ashi." Kocho stammered.
"I had a difficult time conceiving our daughter, Headmaster. I think this is part of the reason why I'm so very attached to my dear Ayano. If anything were to happen to my little angel. I don't know what I might do to those I held responsible for her injuries or dare I say worse. Who knows I could just snap. Wouldn't that be simply dreadful?" Ryoba said taking pleasure when Kocho visible flinched. Ryoba continued after a short pause to let her words sink in. "Tee hee hee, sorry Headmaster I don't know what came over me. I would never hurt a fly. You know that, right?"
"I-I d-do," Kocho stammered.
"Good," Ryoba said sitting back in her seat. "I would hate to think my outburst frightened you."
"If everything is settled, we'll be leaving our daughter in our capable hands," Kyōhan said. He got out of his seat followed closely by Ryoba.
"No, don't go!" Ayano said on the breaking out in tears.
"Ayano we have to," Kyōhan said.
"I'll be outside at final bell to drive you home, Ayano," Ryoba said.
Ayano hugged her father tightly who happened to be closest followed by her mother. "I love you both." She sobbed.
"Dry your tears baby," Ryoba said gently wiping her daughter's face which she turned upwards. "Everything will be fine. Mother will make certain of that. Do you trust me?"
"Yes mom," Ayano said looking up at her mother's loving face.
"Go to class and enjoy yourself," Ryoba said.
"I'm sorry mom. I've been dreadful recently. I-," Ayano said after biting her bottom lip.
"Hush, none of that," Ryoba said. "Run along now."
"Okay," Ayano said reluctantly departing with her school bag.
'How interesting,' Kocho thought. This certainly wasn't the Ayano Ashi he knew. Maybe the girl's head injury caused a change in her? He could not help but wonder if Ayano's change was for the better or the worse?
"Part of me is happy you witnessed Ayano's fragile emotional state first hand, Headmaster," Kyōhan said. "I trust you now better understand our concerns?"
Kocho nodded before he said. "I assure you we'll do everything in our power to smooth her transition. Your daughter is in good hands."
"We'll be watching," Ryoba said. Her words sent a shiver down Kocho's spine.
Once he was alone Kocho pulled his concealed flask from his desk. He took a long drink. Kocho closed his eyes. This was going to be one long school year.
Lunch Break, several hours later
"What's wrong Midori? Do you not like the card I got you?" Ayano asked her "best friend" as they sat across from each other enjoying their meals. The card was to go along with her apology out of guilty because her old self had labeled Midori a "useful bimbo".
Midori muttered something to herself then said "It's just you've never apologized for anything before, Ayano; including the time you punched me in the mouth when we were nine chipping one of bottom teeth. You said I was 'clumsy' and that I 'bumped into your fist'. I remember my parents were really mad when your mom later laughed about it and your dad refused to pick up my dental bill." Midori frowned before she continued. "Are you sure you're feeling okay, Ayano? Maybe that bump on your head did more damage than the doctors thought? Should I call your mom, tell her to come get you?"
Ayano laughed patting the other girl' hand."I'm fine silly. Oh, and sorry about the tooth. That was my fault."
Ayano looked away for a moment. She did not want Midori or anyone else to see the pained expression on her face. In the hours since her return, Ayano had already earned an unfortunate new nickname propagated chiefly by the clique of social media obsessed female students called "Phone Addicts". They started calling Ayano "Crybaby Chan" because of her propensity to break out in tears at any moment. Her old self would have brushed off such harassment but Ayano's new self was deeply bothered by the cruel moniker. Why were they being so mean to her? Perhaps it was karma? Could it be the Universe was getting even with her for... No, she could not think such a thing. The girl she had been was gone. She was innocent bystander, wasn't she?
"I'm glad we're still friends." Midori blurted out a moment later. "When you didn't contact me after you left the hospital I thought you might have had enough of me. I know I can be dense sometimes."
"Don't say that Midori," Ayano said. "You're my best friend. You'll always be my best friend, no matter what. If anything I'm the one who doesn't deserve you as a friend, not the other way around."
"Thanks," Midori said. "Not the part about you not deserving me as a friend. I think you're awesome. I mean the part where you said we'll always be friends."
"You're welcome Midori," Ayano said with a giggle.
"Did you hear about Kokona Haruka?" Midori said when they were about finished their meal some minutes later.
"What about her?" Ayano asked.
"She had a mental breakdown. Other than attending classes she won't leave her house." Midori said. "Everyone thinks she was one of Kaga's intended victims but she escaped somehow. Isn't that horrible, Ayano."
Ayano past self would have admonished the green haired girl for spreading gossip. Current Ayano was no fan of gossip either. But Ayano barely heard Midori's words. All she could think of is what she had made Kokona do and what that had done to the poor girl's psyche in turn.
Ayano had basically manipulated Kokona into helping her kill Musume Ronshaku after tying Musume up to chair in the basement because she heard Musume talked about how "cute" Taro was. Ayano motivated Kokona by reminding Kokona that Musume's father was extorting high-interest payments from Kokona's father via his shady loan agency. After careful prodding on Ayano's part Kokona snapped and violently beat Musume with a metal baseball bat (which Ayano supplied) after Musume called Kokona a slut and suggested Kokona was "putting out" for every male student and teacher/staff member on campus to get money for her struggling father. Musume had also called Kokona "a busty bimbo". Ayano had jumped in and stabbed Musume to finish her off. Later the pair disposed of Musume's body in the incinerator (although enough apparently survived to later prove the girl's murder took place).
'How can I make amends when I've done so many terrible things and destroyed so many lives?' Ayano thought.
Ayano knew Kokona held the key to her destruction. At that moment Ayano did not care. She vowed she would help Kokona recover no matter the personal cost, somehow.
To Be Continued
Author's Note -
I know in the game Kocho has only one year left but I chose to state otherwise here in case I want to keep Ayano & co. In school for longer than that (I haven't decided yet).