She's all mine~

Chapter 2: Amai Odayaka - The Sweetheart

The Sweet Girl in the Way

Osana was gone. It hadn't been easy, but her defeat was total. After the rejection, she slinked back into the shadows, leaving me room to grow closer to Lilith. My plan was working, but it wasn't enough. There were still others.

A week had passed since Osana's elimination, and just when I thought I could get closer to Lilith, another rival appeared—Amai Odayaka.

Amai was different from Osana. Where Osana was brash and headstrong, Amai was gentle and kind. She was the president of the cooking club, always eager to help others, always with a warm smile. She didn't seem like a threat at first. In fact, Lilith admired her, often visiting the cooking club to sample Amai's latest treats or chat during lunch breaks.

But I saw the problem almost immediately. Lilith loved food. She was drawn to Amai's warmth, her nurturing nature. Slowly but surely, Amai was building a bond with Lilith, one that threatened to grow into something more. Amai's affection for Lilith was obvious—every time she saw her, her face lit up. I could see it, and I could tell Lilith noticed too.

I wasn't about to let another girl steal Lilith from me. It was time to act.

Learning Her Weaknesses

Amai was well-liked around school. That was going to make things harder. I couldn't rely on fear or bullying tactics like I had with Osana. People trusted Amai, respected her for her skills and kindness. If I attacked her directly, it would only draw suspicion toward me. No, I had to break her from the inside, use her own strengths as a weapon against her.

I joined the cooking club under the pretense of wanting to improve my own skills. Amai welcomed me with open arms, happy to teach me everything she knew. She didn't suspect a thing.

For days, I studied her, watching how she interacted with others and how much effort she put into her club. She cared deeply about making sure everything was perfect. She was a perfectionist—something I could use to my advantage.

But more importantly, I discovered something interesting: Amai was insecure. She hid it well, but whenever she received even the slightest bit of criticism, I could see her smile falter. It didn't happen often, but when it did, she would obsess over it, redoing recipes for hours, trying to prove herself.

It was perfect. I would make sure Lilith lost faith in Amai—not through force, but through doubt.

Planting the Seeds of Doubt

I began slowly, subtly. Every time I saw Lilith visit the cooking club, I would be there too, hovering just in the background, listening, watching. Amai always gave Lilith her best dishes, and Lilith loved them. But one day, I made my move.

Lilith had just finished tasting a plate of cookies that Amai had made. She smiled, as always, complimenting Amai on how good they were. But before she could say more, I casually approached.

"They're good," I said, forcing a smile, "but don't you think they're a bit too sweet?"

Lilith blinked, surprised. "Too sweet?"

"Yeah," I nodded, picking up a cookie and taking a bite. "I mean, they're fine, but maybe Amai used too much sugar. It kind of overpowers the flavor, don't you think?"

Lilith frowned slightly, looking at the cookie again. She was hesitant, not wanting to criticize Amai, but the doubt had been planted. "I guess... maybe a little."

I glanced at Amai, who was watching us from the corner of the room. Her expression didn't change, but I could see it in her eyes—the flicker of insecurity.

The first seed of doubt had been sown.

Sabotaging Amai's Reputation

Over the next week, I continued to undermine Amai's reputation in subtle ways. Each time Lilith visited the cooking club, I would point out tiny flaws in Amai's dishes. "The sauce is a bit runny." "The bread's a little undercooked." "Don't you think the presentation could be better?"

Lilith, being the kind person she was, didn't want to hurt Amai's feelings. But the more I pointed out, the more she began to notice. Slowly, Amai's perfect image started to crack.

Amai, of course, tried to compensate. She started spending more time in the club after hours, trying to perfect her recipes, running herself ragged. She was always tired, always stressed. It was exactly what I wanted.

But I needed to go further. I needed a way to ruin her in Lilith's eyes completely.

The Final Blow: Poisoned Reputation

I waited for the right moment, and it came one afternoon when the cooking club was preparing for a school festival. Amai was in charge of providing the food for the event, and she was working harder than ever to make sure everything was perfect. This was my chance to deliver the final blow.

I had already earned Amai's trust by helping her in the club, so when she wasn't looking, I tampered with one of her dishes—a batch of curry that was supposed to be the star of the festival. It was a small change, barely noticeable. But instead of adding the usual spices, I substituted them with an ingredient that would make the dish taste strange and slightly bitter.

The day of the festival arrived, and everything seemed to be going smoothly. Amai proudly presented her dishes to the students and staff, and as expected, Lilith was one of the first to try the curry. I watched from a distance, waiting for the moment when she took her first bite.

Lilith's reaction was immediate. Her face twisted in confusion, then disgust. "What is this?" she whispered, glancing at the bowl in her hands. "It tastes... off."

Several other students who had tried the curry began murmuring, some even spitting it out. Amai rushed over, panicked, as the complaints started pouring in. "What's wrong? Did I do something wrong?"

Lilith looked at her, disappointment written all over her face. "Amai, this isn't like you. What happened?"

Amai stammered, trying to explain, but it was too late. The damage had been done. Her perfect reputation, the one thing she had worked so hard to maintain, was crumbling before her eyes. The students who had once praised her cooking were now whispering behind her back, questioning her skills.

And Lilith... Lilith looked heartbroken. She had always admired Amai's talent, but now that admiration was tainted. She didn't see Amai the same way anymore.

Amai's Defeat

Amai tried to recover after the festival disaster, but it was no use. Her confidence had been shattered, and the students had lost faith in her. Even Lilith, who had once looked up to her, stopped visiting the cooking club as often.

One afternoon, I overheard a conversation between Lilith and one of her friends.

"I feel bad for Amai," Lilith said quietly. "But... I don't know. Something's changed. I don't feel as close to her as I used to."

Her friend nodded. "Yeah, it's like she's not the same person anymore."

I smiled to myself. Amai had been eliminated—not through violence or force, but through doubt, through the subtle destruction of her reputation. She had been undone by her own insecurities, and now she was no longer a threat.

Lilith's attention began to shift away from Amai, and once again, I was there, waiting for the opportunity to get closer to her.

Two rivals down. Eight more to go.