Potions Lovers | Yandere!Male x Reader

Chapter 20 - Loveless

"Nao, why do you eat two meals for lunch these days?"

"This first meal is for brunch and this other one is for lunch."

"Oh, I see...Wait, that's not how that works."

Something's not right, you thought, and you weren't referring to Nao's logic. Your table was quiet today, save for Kenji and Nao now arguing the semantics of lunch versus brunch to your left. To your right, Ren was quietly doing his homework that was due next period, and at your front was an empty seat, giving you a full view of the lunch table belonging to the girls' volleyball team where Yumi had chosen to sit today.

Her sitting with her friends wouldn't have been concerning if they all weren't turning around to stare at you while whispering amongst themselves—a stark contrast to their usual hollering.

"Guys, I think the homewrecker can hear us. She's staring."

"Ruri, keep your voice down!" Yumi hissed at her younger classmate before shooting a quick glance behind her to confirm that you were indeed observing them. She panicked and whipped towards her friends again. "And don't call her that!"

"But she stole your man," the brunette said. Ruri was a tall sophomore with a sturdy frame, so even when Yumi sat up straight to block you from her view, she could still make eye contact with you over Yumi's head. Her blue eyes inspected your appearance and mannerisms, as if trying to visually dissect you to see what you possessed that distracted Ren from his one true love.

The cheery girl near Ruri giggled. "Not a problem for our tiny team captain. She can steal him back."

"If Ren is so easily swayed by a pretty face, is he even worth it? Tch, men," another girl spat out, though she was glaring in Kenji's direction.

"Doesn't matter. (Name) shouldn't be allowed to have him if Yumi can't-it just wouldn't be fair!" Ruri whispered loudly before turning to face her leader. "If Ren tries rejecting you later, just force him to choose between you or her. Easy as that."

"That's awful!" Yumi took another quick peek behind her. She held back a scream when she saw you and Ren staring at her table with suspicious looks, and with an innocent smile on her nervous face, she waved at you both.

"Why confess? He's not dating until he graduates. You'll get rejected like Minako did yesterday, and on the off chance you don't, you might get harassed by all his admirers," the quiet blonde at the edge of the table finally spoke up. She was a bit like Nao, only speaking when she wanted everyone to shut up. The girls all went quiet because she had a point that people loved ignoring: Ren wasn't looking for a relationship and being in one would make him a liar, wouldn't it? This sparked a collective thought in their heads.

You watched the scene unfold from your spot, your spine straightening as a chill raced down it. Those girls were more or less harmless when they were gossiping. It was when they stopped talking and started thinking that they became dangerous.

---

Sometimes, Kenji would speak and Nao wouldn't pay attention. Kenji prattled on about nonsense anyway, so Nao tuned him out, choosing to reflect on the more troubling aspects of life, such as why Yumi still preferred Ren even after Nao changed his entire looks and personality for her. Why nothing he did was enough for her. Why she was so ungrateful—

"So yeah, that's what Yumi told me after lunch today. Thought you'd like to know before you head home," Kenji finished his story and pocketed his phone. He had a feeling Nao wasn't listening, so he texted you the news at the same time, which you'd read immediately. It was nice to know at least someone wasn't ignoring him.