Aika stood in front of us, her elegant posture making her seem like a perfectly refined lady who would probably help a cat out in the rain out of pure kindness.
But I wasn't fooled.
The moment she declared her intention of being "good friends," I knew this was a trap.
Not for me, though.
For Hoka.
And that was worse for him since he would get trapped right away.
I had two options:
Sacrifice Hoka and run. (Morally questionable but guaranteed survival.)
Save Hoka from his impending doom. (I could sleep easy at night but doing this was infinitely more difficult.)
As much as I wanted to choose Option 1, I had spent years keeping Hoka out of trouble. I couldn't just abandon him now.
Unfortunately, he wasn't making this easy for me.
"Nice to meet you, Aika!" Hoka grinned. "Want to sit with us?"
I continued kicking him under the desk for no reason in particular.
"OW! What is wrong with you today!?"
I gave him a deadpan look. "Do you want to die?"
He pouted. "You're acting weird, dude. She's just being friendly."
Friendly.
Friendly?
Friendly my ass!
This was how it started. The "friendly" phase. The phase where they wormed their way into your life with perfectly rehearsed smiles and innocent conversation about favorite music and colors. Then, before you knew it, they knew your schedule, your habits, your house address, the last four numbers of your credit card and the exact date your parents left town so they could put their chloroform to good use.
But… as much as my survival instincts screamed at me to run, Aika wasn't looking at me.
Her sharp red eyes were locked in entirely on Hoka, shining with infatuation.
It was 99.1% pure infatuation.
I narrowed my eyes.
I knew better than to let my guard down, but… maybe, just maybe, she wasn't that dangerous to me.
Obviously not, as a person who's seen enough tags, all of them will happen one way or another to my unlucky lonesome as Murphy was probably my nemesis in a past life.
Then she pulled out a small pink-wrapped box.
"Hoka-kun, I made this for you."
Oh no.
"Oh, whoa!" Hoka blinked, taking it without hesitation. "You made something for me?"
Idiot. That's how they get you, there's no way she made that in a single day of knowing you.
Aika smiled, clasping her hands together. "Yes. As thanks for earlier. You were so kind to me, disinfecting my wounds like that… It really meant a lot."
Yep, he's the target alright.
I reached toward the gift, fully intending to snatch it from Hoka and hurl it out the nearest window or trash can.
But before I could, Aika turned to me.
"...And thank you too, Aron-kun."
I froze.
Why is she thanking me? I literally did nothing.
I tensed up, waiting for the worst.
Yandere don't usually two-time but there are always exceptions.
But instead of saying something ominous, she simply smiled.
"For being Hoka-kun's friend."
...Huh?
That was it?
No sudden ominous promises? No veiled threats? No more cryptic "I hope we can get along better" speeches?
Aika had already turned back to Hoka, her entire focus on him once more.
It was as if I didn't even exist.
Slowly, I lowered my guard.
I realized something.
She truly wasn't interested in me.
Not in a "Oh, I'm playing hard to get" way.
Not in a "He's just an obstacle" way.
She simply… didn't care.
For her, I was just background noise.
A mob character.
…
Thank you to every single deity I prayed to.
I exhaled in relief, planning to burn more incense and donate to the local temple and shrine after this.
This just got a lot easier.
I didn't have to worry about dodging love confessions or waking up to someone staring at me through my bedroom window. I just had to protect Hoka.
Which was still a nightmare, but at least I wasn't in direct danger anymore.
...Probably.
Still, I couldn't let my guard down just yet.
Aika turned back to Hoka, her eyes practically sparkling. "Hoka-kun, I'm really happy we're in the same class. I hope we can spend a lot of time together!"
Hoka chuckled. "Haha, yeah! That'd be cool."
I kicked him again.
"OW! STOP THAT!"
I leaned in, whispering harshly, "You're playingwithfire."
"But she's nice?"
"Say that again when you're in a missing person's incident."
Hoka just gave me an exasperated look. "Dude, you're being paranoid."
I wasn't paranoid.
I was experienced in ways no one should be.
How have you not learned anything from our previous escapades Hoka!
But before I could argue further, the classroom door opened again.
The teacher had arrived.
"Alright, everyone, take your seats."
Damn it.
With no other choice, I dragged Hoka to the back of the classroom and plopped down beside him, my brain working at max speed.
I needed to strategize.
I needed to fix this.
Because if I didn't, by this time next year…
Hoka wouldn't just be calling her a friend.
He'd be calling her his girlfriend.
And after that?
Well…
I would have to put missing photos of him around the city…
…
Once class was over (I practically learned nothing as I try to lower my presence around walking disasters as much as possible), I wanted to take Hoka with me to the cafeteria as fast as possible so we don't meet Aika during break.
However, Hoka was somehow nowhere in sight.
I lay my face flat on the table for a while to recharge (daydream) and he is already gone.
I sat there, staring blankly at the empty seat beside me.
Hoka was done for.
Just like that.
…This was pretty bad.
I rubbed my temples, forcing myself to think logically.
Where would Hoka go?
The cafeteria? Possibly but not without telling me.
The restroom? Unlikely—he'd usually tell me first (I made him instinctively tell me after the (Playboy) tag incident).
Then…
Did Aika already take him?
Hoka was, for lack of a better term, a tag magnet.
I still remember him almost befriending someone with the (Closeted Arsonist) tag in 6th grade.
I then became his friend until 7th grade where he moved schools for a while due to family needs. So, during that time I was able to limit school damage to a mysteriously burnt trash can…
I grabbed my bag and quickly scanned the classroom, hoping Aika was still here.
Most of the students were still chatting, but Aika was gone.
I clenched my jaw.
Of course she was.
There was a 99% chance Hoka left willingly, but that *who* he left with was the problem.
I had to find him. Fast.
Stepping into the hallway, I looked around, keeping my ears open.
New students on the first day crowded the halls, some heading toward the cafeteria, others toward their clubs to sign up for activities or the courtyard to check the school's top-notch facilities. But no sign of Hoka doing any of that.
I took a deep breath.
Think.
Hoka had a tendency to help people. If someone so much as sneezed, he'd be offering them a tissue before they even realized what happened.
So, logically…
I glanced around, searching for any signs of distress.
A dropped notebook? A fallen lunch tray? Someone carrying too many books?
Nothing.
I clicked my tongue in frustration.
From the end of the hallway.
I heard a familiar, soft, delicate voice.
"Hoka-kun, you're really too kind."
Aika.
I snapped my head toward the source.
There. Near the lockers.
Aika stood with perfect posture, smiling sweetly.
Hoka stood beside her, scratching his cheek sheepishly. In his hands was a bunch of books, with their factory sealed plastic wraps still covering them.
Oh, for the love of—
I strode forward immediately.
"Hoka."
He turned, blinking. "Oh, there you are! I was just—"
I grabbed his wrist and started walking.
"Whoa—dude, what are you—"
"Borrowing him," I said flatly.
Aika's smile didn't waver. "Oh my. You two are very close."
I didn't reply in fear of getting dug six feet under.
I just kept walking, dragging Hoka with me.
Once we were a safe distance away, I released him and turned sharply.
"You. Are. An. Idiot."
Hoka frowned. "Dude, what's your problem? She just asked for help carrying some of the new edition books to the library-"
Hoka, if your parents and you weren't my neighbours when I was forced to be independent at 7, I would have strangled your goldfish brain right now.
I pinched the bridge of my nose. "And you just happened to be in the right place at the right time?"
"Well, yeah?"
I exhaled through my teeth. "Listen to me, Hoka. This isn't a coincidence. This is how it starts. First, it's casual conversations. Then, it's 'accidental' meetings. Then, it's her knowing exactly where you are at all times*—"
"Dude, you're being ridiculous, all the weird people have probably grown up after middle school." Hoka groaned. "She's just nice!"
I pointed a finger at him. "That's what she wants you to think."
Hoka sighed, shaking his head. "Look, I get that you're overprotective and paranoid due to that sixth sense of yours, but you're acting like she's some kind of stalker or something."
She is.
I didn't answer that out loud.
Because I knew exactly what was going to happen, step by step during the time Hoka left my middle school briefly. The hard way.
But I couldn't just tell him that.
If I said, "Hey, your new friend is tagged as a (Yandere), which means she's going to develop an unhealthy obsession with you and possibly murder me and anyone who gets too close," he'd either laugh it off due to seeing only the good in people or think I needed another round of therapy.
I needed to approach this carefully.
"Hoka," I said slowly. "I'm just saying… be cautious. Don't get too close too fast, alright?"
He raised an eyebrow. "Why do you care so much when theres no so called 'cannibals' anymore?"
Because I didn't want to see his face on a missing person poster.
Because I didn't want to end up as collateral mixed into his soup.
Because I truly knew how these things played out.
But instead of saying any of that, I simply muttered, "Call it intuition."
Hoka rolled his eyes. "Alright, alright. If it makes you feel better, I'll be a little more cautious."
I narrowed my eyes. "Promise?"
He smirked and mimicked a certain figure. "Scout's honor."
I wasn't convinced.
But it was the best I was going to get.
Fortunately, that was all that really happened today, I had dark circles on my face by the time the school bell rang at 4.
….
I followed Hoka back to his apartment before using my secret pathway to get to my own apartment.
This was because for some miracle, a themed cafe had recently opened up on my usual route, even worse, it was a 'lucky' place.
I only noticed it when the cafe started to get more traction, with somehow every employee there having a tag, with last months tag being (Acting: Tsundere), which explained all the weird customers with a multitude of tags I saw lining up there.
It changed themes and people every couple months as mostly university students work part-time there, but the amount of tags in that street never changed.
…This is gonna be a hellish 3 years isn't it.
After making sure Hoka wasn't going to be kidnapped—at least not today—I finally had time to focus on something else.
Namely, work.
I checked my phone. My shift started in an hour. If I left now, I'd get there with just enough time to change.
Slinging my bag over my shoulder, I sighed. I wasn't exactly excited about working a part-time job after school, but money didn't just fall from the sky. Besides, it kept me busy, and I needed all the distractions I could get.
Grabbing my worn out, totally functional bike, I set off towards the store.
…
The convenience store where I worked at wasn't anything special—just a small shop tucked between a laundromat and an old bookstore. The pay wasn't amazing, but the hours were flexible, and the manager, Mr. Aragnocci didn't ask too many questions, a robber could probably come here, gun in tow and he would still not budge from his office...
As I arrived, the automatic door chimed, and I was greeted by the sight of my co-worker, Kaede, leaning against the counter.
"Yo" she greeted, barely looking up from her phone.
"Hey," I muttered, heading to the back to change.
"You look more exhausted than usual," Kaede called after me.
"What happened? Did Hoka adopt another stray cat or something?"
I sighed. "Worse. He made a new friend."
Kaede snorted. "Wow. What a crime."
I didn't respond as I pulled on my uniform, just a simple blue polo with the store's cat logo. When I stepped back out, Kaede was still giving me a questioning look, knowing just how much trouble Hoka usually attracts.
"So? What's the problem with him making a friend?"
I leaned against the counter, lowering my voice. "She has a concerning obsession."
Kaede raised an eyebrow as my serious tone kicked in. "Oh boy. What kind of concerning?"
I hesitated before muttering, "...Yandere."
Kaede's smirk vanished.
She slowly put her phone down. "Yeah. That's a problem."
"Exactly."
"And Hoka is...?"
"Already walking straight into it."
Kaede winced. "Oof. He's doomed."
"I know."
Kaede trusts my 'sixth sense' more after a couple close calls with unsavory customers, making my statements easier to digest.
Shaking her head, Kaede sighed. "Man, you really have your work cut out for you, huh?"
I crossed my arms. "I need more information on her. I don't like going in blind."
Kaede hummed, skillfully balancing the gum she chewed haphazardly with the boxes of fragile bentos on her hands. "Social media?"
It was worth a shot.
Pulling out my phone, I typed in the name Aika Fujisaki. A few accounts popped up, mostly private though.
Makes sense, most Yandere's don't just show themselves to the world like that.
"I'll go search her up if you cover my shift"
"We both know It'll be a lot faster that way, you always try to over speculate these things even when the answers are pretty cut and dry."
I stood still for a moment, grabbed some detergent stock for an empty aisle before giving her a slight, almost invisible nod, Kaede seems to be aware of it as she proceeded to go back to the changing room, phone in tow.
Well, at least nothing can get worse from here on out.