A defeat [A Yandere Simulator OC story]

A familiar figure

When I first arrived at Akademi High, I already had a vague idea of where my classroom was supposed to be, so some of my anxieties had lessened.

Even so, school always started at 8:00 am, an hour after the arrival of all the students, so I had enough time to explore around for a bit.
Just as I was walking through the gate, I observed how everyone was strangely and voluntarily separated in groups, one more eccentric than the other - not that it was weird for teenagers, people in general, to form groups, real friendships or simply coalitions, but there were so many of these herds that it genuinely surprised me. That wasn't the case for everyone, fortunately - some were peripatetically conversating with their most intimate friend, and others were alone, just like me.                                                                         

I started attending Akademi after moving back to my old house along with my parents and my younger brother after I had spent my first year in a disappointing high school. This one, however, offered an exceptional education, many learning and apprenticeship opportunities, and it was said to be attended by talented students that had various inclinations. Moreover, the tuition fees were very low for an institution of this level, and there weren't any strict etiquette rules to abide by.
I was a bit worried regarding my future performance at this demanding academy, but the vice-headmaster seemed impressed during the admission interview, so I still reserved some optimism.

 
I decided, after much useless rumination, to approach two girls in front of me that looked friendly, when everyone reached the entrance hall, filled with shoe lockers. They introduced themselves as Saki Miyu and Kokona Haruka. After a bit of small talk I complied to only out of courtesy, the first excused herself when a light-brown-haired girl with a little cutesy but humble manners, who wore a mint green kerchief on her head and a red armlet on her left arm, requested Saki's help.                                                    "Amai Odayaka. She's the leader of the cooking club." Kokona explained. And so, as my understanding of my guide's sympathetic nature grew wiser, I listened to and followed her as she showed me around the school, saving at least a mention for almost every classroom, clubroom, studied subjects, projects, opportunities that Akademi offered and, of course, every student that appeared in the endless hallways, around every corner. Her peculiar social knowledge helped me to understand how everyone managed their reputation - not that I'd believed everything I was told, but they couldn't all be lies or rumours, right?                                                                                                                                                           
That was until I suddenly noticed a girl with blue hair, and her left eye covered by an eyepatch she had kept for all that time, walking around furtively. My heart started beating faster, and I quickly looked elsewhere, the farthest possible from her, following the principle of "if you don't see them, they don't see you either". I still don't know to this day if I had the luck of not appearing in her limited field of view or not, but my new acquaintance, Kokona, didn't seem to be aware of my quick and temporary change of demeanour, so I tried to calm myself down, regaining focus on her now pointless chatter.

Apologies. I'm Saori Kihara. I'm one of the very few people who's got to know the true Aoi Ryugoku, even as children. She's my closest friend and I can say I've known her since we were both eight or seven years old.                                                                                             
I know very well how Aoi was viewed by others: a tough loner, callous, aggressive and rebellious. That's only a mask.                                                                                                                                      
I don't have a hard time reminiscing about the many things I owe to her. You see, I used to be a very stiff, obedient, timid, quiet and scared child. Even now, I hear my parents or relatives say: "If only she was more extroverted, sweeter...!".
I've always compensated for my attitudinal defects by showing off my talents in an implicit and humble-like way, mostly making use of them to help myself and others - not everyone, though. I used my grades mostly to make my parents proud, although they've never pressured me into excelling, and because I knew that was the only way to make a living for myself without relying on others.                                                                                      

I was also bullied in elementary school - the school system not doing anything about it, of course, because people who continuously ask for help are, indeed, so, so weak.                                
Well, that consequently made me develop hyperbolic insecurities, and so many coping methods.                                I, however, managed to let go of the worst problems by myself first and foremost, and then with the help of my parents and my best friend in particular, Aoi. I'll never forget the moment she stood up for me in front of the bullies, in third grade. She was very friendly, and patient enough to wait for me to open up. She was kind of disliked by most of our classmates anyways, so we shared the same experience.                                                                                       

She was, and I'm sure she still is, such a curious, adventurous person, always seeking justice when it came to others.  On the flip side, however, she wouldn't bother when it came to her own mental health, acting occasionally grumpy, not bothering to respect those who didn't deserve it in her opinion, and unable to tolerate laziness.                        
By creating precious childhood memories, Aoi brought up my bolder side, and I cherish it because it helped me change.                                     

Her downfall began when we were in middle school. I didn't want to inquire about her already delicate situation at home, since her parents were divorced, her mother working overseas, but she started to act more coldly and rudely with each passing day. 

At last, I found out that her step-mother - the last of the many women her father kept bringing home - was verbally abusing her. Making her feel worthless for existing, for being herself, for being tenacious and "acting like a boy", not fitting in the girly image the woman tried to enforce on her. 

One day, she came to school with a hurt left eye; she found it difficult to open it, and her vision was reduced. Aoi broke down in front of me. It was all because of that monster, she explained, who had reached the point of hitting her. She told her father, who didn't believe her. She tried contacting her biological mother, but her new one - who couldn't really be called "mother" - made sure to deprive her of all means of communication. Her father left with that woman, and her real mother came back, vowing to protect her child with her life if she had to.

I didn't want to leave her right in the middle of that but, alas, my mother had to urgently move away for work and I wouldn't be coming back for about a year, missing out on the chance to spend more time with Aoi, let alone attend the same school as her. 

Before I left, I tried to help her cope with the pain. It changed her for the worse - she felt hated and uncared for, like she couldn't rely on anyone, and even if her mother had come back to take care of her, the mistake of leaving her with someone such as her father had already been done.

I was the only person she wanted to see, and it pained me to see her so alone. I did my best to get her out of that situation, trying to help her bond with her mother again, finding a reason to live, but my contributions alone weren't enough.

Fortunately, I heard a lot from her via mail after my departure. She was doing well and recovering with the help of a psychologist. Her eye wouldn't be coming back soon, though. We even met a few times in person, and I cherished those moments the most because, no matter how much I busied myself with my new life faraway, I cared too much for her not to miss her. And Megami, since the both of us had become her close friends.                   

I remembered the eyepatch she was still wearing: it was the one I gave her as a gift right before my leave-taking. I specifically picked it for its design because Aoi truly had an incomparable strength, that could surpass even a dragon's one, and certainly would help her in never giving up and finding herself, her life and the happiness that she deserved more than anyone else. Seeing her still wearing it, and knowing she didn't think of getting rid of it put a smile on my face.