Beneath Their Devotion (Yanderes x Reader)

12. First Meeting

The sky above campus was filled with dark clouds, the moon barely peeking through to light Y/N's path. Her boots tapped against the cobblestones as she walked. She glanced at the map in her hands.

The instructions were absurdly vague for something so important. The meeting tower wasn't marked on any campus map, and the handwritten directions were cryptic at best.

She told herself she was fine.

She told herself that a prestigious group like the Obsidian Circle would be worth the trouble. Being part of it could shape her future, open doors she'd only dreamed of.

That's what she kept repeating.

But in truth, her hands were trembling and her chest felt tight.

She tried to focus on the positives. Her classes were going well. She was staying on top of her assignments. She was making her time at Thornebridge worthwhile—right? That's what she kept telling herself as she forced a smile in the mirror each morning.

Except Mika had barely spoken to her all week.

Except Yuna had stormed out of the dorms when she found out Y/N had passed the test and she hadn't when they were supposed to 'work together'.

Except Hayato wouldn't even look at her anymore, his disappointment in her decision to pursue the Circle palpable in every glance he sent her way.

She didn't want to admit how much it hurt. She didn't want to admit how lonely it felt to have her support system cracking around her.

So she wouldn't.

The chill of the night bit at her cheeks as she glanced at the instructions again.

The map had arrived three days ago, slipped under her door in a fancy-looking envelope. There was no sender—just a campus map with somewhat of an 'instruction'.

Her steps slowed as she rounded the corner, the looming structure ahead of her coming into view. The meeting tower.

The black stone gleamed under the faint moonlight, its surface veined with ivy. The doorway was lit by a single lantern, its flickering light casting long, dancing shadows.

Y/N swallowed hard, folding the map and slipping it into her coat pocket. She told herself to focus on the future, to think about what this could mean for her.

But her chest ached and she felt the sting of tears threatening to rise.

"Y/N," a voice called out, startling her.

She spun around, her heart leaping into her throat.

Haru stood a few feet away, his hands shoved deep into his coat pockets.

"You're early," he said, stepping closer. His gaze flicked to the tower and then back to her. "Didn't think you'd beat me here."

Y/N exhaled, her breath visible in the cold air. "I didn't want to get lost."

Haru nodded, his posture relaxed. "How are you feeling?"

The question caught her off guard.

"What?"

"You fainted during the test," he reminded her, his tone careful. "You look like you're about to keel over again. Are you okay?"

She opened her mouth to answer, to brush it off with some excuse about stress or lack of sleep. But the words stuck in her throat.

"Y/N?" Haru asked, his brow furrowing slightly.

She tried to say something, but instead, a sob escaped her lips. Her hand flew to her mouth, but it was too late. The tears she'd been holding back all week spilled over, hot and unstoppable.