She's all mine~

Chapter 9: Hanako Yamada - The Little Sister

The Overprotective Sibling

Hanako Yamada was different from every other rival I had faced so far. She wasn't trying to steal Lilith's heart romantically, but her bond with Lilith was just as dangerous. Hanako wasn't just Lilith's younger sister—she was her shadow, clinging to her at every opportunity. Whenever Lilith was around, Hanako was never far behind, constantly pulling her into family matters or insisting on spending time together.

The problem was simple: Hanako was taking too much of Lilith's time and attention.

Lilith loved her sister, and because of her kind nature, she never turned her away. But Hanako's presence was suffocating, preventing Lilith from forming meaningful relationships outside of her family. As long as Hanako was always by her side, I couldn't get any closer to Lilith.

But Hanako wasn't like the others. I couldn't eliminate her through fear, manipulation, or violence. Not only was she too closely connected to Lilith, but harming her would break Lilith's heart in a way that could never be repaired. Instead, I had to find a way to gently pull her away from Lilith's life.

That's when I noticed something about Hanako—something important.

She was lonely.

The Perfect Match

While Hanako seemed content to spend most of her time with Lilith, it became clear that she was missing something. She was protective, always worried about Lilith, but I could see it in her eyes—the longing for someone who cared about her, not just her older sister. She needed attention and affection of her own.

That's when the idea struck me: I wouldn't need to eliminate Hanako through violence. I could simply matchmake her with someone else. If Hanako fell in love, her focus would shift away from Lilith, giving Lilith the freedom to live her own life—and allowing me to get closer to her without interference.

But I had to find the right person for Hanako. Someone who would capture her attention completely.

And then, I found Hazu Kurotaki.

Setting Up the Match

Hazu Kurotaki was perfect for Hanako. He was quiet, reserved, and a bit awkward, but he had a kind heart. He admired girls like Hanako from afar, always too shy to approach them directly. I could see it in the way he watched her from a distance, his eyes lingering on her whenever they crossed paths in the hallways. But he lacked the confidence to make a move.

That's where I came in.

First, I needed to get Hanako and Hazu into the same place. I started by planting the idea of Hazu in Hanako's mind, subtly mentioning his name when I spoke to her. "Hazu is pretty talented, you know? I've heard he's good at art," I'd say casually, as if it were just an observation. Hanako didn't respond much at first, but I knew she was listening.

Then, I orchestrated opportunities for them to meet. One afternoon, I "accidentally" bumped into Hazu and Hanako near the art room, introducing them to each other in a way that felt natural. Hazu, as expected, was nervous, but I encouraged him to talk to her, reminding him that Hanako was kind and approachable.

Hanako, to my relief, seemed interested. She wasn't used to boys paying attention to her, and Hazu's shy, respectful demeanor seemed to put her at ease. As the days went by, I continued to push them together—arranging small moments where they would cross paths, helping Hazu build the courage to ask her to spend more time with him.

The Relationship Grows

It wasn't long before Hanako and Hazu began spending more time together. At first, it was just casual meetings—helping each other with school projects or walking home from class. But soon enough, I could see the change in Hanako. She started looking forward to her time with Hazu, and she smiled more often when he was around.

Lilith, being the caring older sister she was, noticed this shift as well. She seemed happy that Hanako had found someone who made her happy, and although she was still close to her sister, she started giving Hanako more space, encouraging her to explore her own life and relationships.

Hazu, too, began to grow more confident. He no longer hesitated when speaking to Hanako, and I could see the way he looked at her—like she was the only person in the world. It was only a matter of time before he made his feelings clear.

The Confession

The day finally came when Hazu decided to confess his feelings to Hanako. It was a quiet afternoon, and I watched from a distance as Hazu nervously approached her near the school gates. They had just finished walking home together, as they had done many times before.

"H-Hanako," Hazu stammered, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly, "I've been meaning to tell you something for a while now..."

Hanako tilted her head, curious but patient. "What is it, Hazu?"

He took a deep breath, then looked her straight in the eye. "I... I really like you. I mean, I've liked you for a while now, but I was too nervous to say anything. I think you're amazing, and I'd really like to spend more time with you... as more than just friends."

For a moment, Hanako stood there, stunned. Then, her cheeks flushed pink, and she smiled—truly smiled in a way I had never seen before.

"I... I like you too, Hazu," she replied, her voice soft. "I've been waiting for you to say something."

Hazu's eyes lit up, and Hanako laughed, a light, joyful sound that echoed through the empty street. From that moment on, they were inseparable. Hanako's attention shifted almost entirely to Hazu, and she began spending less and less time with Lilith, focusing instead on her blossoming relationship.

The Aftermath

As Hanako and Hazu grew closer, Lilith found herself with more time to focus on other things. Her younger sister no longer clung to her every moment, no longer pulled her into every family event. Hanako, for the first time, had a life of her own, and Lilith was happy for her.

And I? I was relieved.

Hanako had been successfully removed from the picture, without a single drop of blood spilled. Her bond with Hazu kept her occupied, leaving Lilith free to pursue her own life—and allowing me to get closer to her than ever before.

Nine rivals down. One more to go.