Underneath the Moonlight: REBOOT! || Osorō Shidesu x OC

!!29 - The Taro Yamada Mystery: SOLVED!!

Week 6

I spent the rest of the day contemplating two things: how best to tell Senpai about his stalker... and how best to turn him down when he tried to confess to me. Eventually, I realized, if he was actually going to confess, the worst thing to do would be to tell him that his stalker is going to kill me because of it. So I focused on just trying to turn him down gently.

Right before the drama club meeting, I ran to the cherry blossom tree hill, where Taro Yamada was waiting for me, holding his hands behind his back. I decided to at least do him the honor of listening to his confession, since he tried so hard to work up the nerve.

"Athena-sama..." he started. "I-I don't know how else to word this, so I'm just gonna come out and say it: I like you. I've spent these past six weeks getting to know you, and... you're a wonderful person, inside and out." He handed me an envelope, sealed closed by a heart sticker. "Will you accept my feelings?"

I sighed, and offered him a sad smile. "Listen, Senpai... I'm flattered. I really am. But sadly... I don't feel the same way. I have someone else in my heart. I'm sorry, Senpai. You're a wonderful person, too, and I enjoy being friends with you."

His face fell, but his smile remained. "I understand. I appreciate your honestly, Athena."

I nodded. "Of course. I'd be a bad friend if I lied to you."

He nodded, too. "Right. Well... I'm sorry if I made you feel awkward."

I shook my head. "No, absolutely not. I still think of you fondly, Senpai, I just don't feel the same way."

"I think of you fondly, too, Athena-sama. I'll need some space before I can enjoy your friendship again."

"I understand, Senpai. Take all the time you need. Now, I've gotta get to rehearsal."

I hoped, as I hurried down the hill to catch my limo with the drama club to the stage we'd rented out for our play, that Taro's stalker was watching — and was satisfied enough with that display.

*~~*~~*~~*~~*

It wasn't enough.

As I left to walk home, waving goodbye to the drama club, I was aware of... something, or someone, watching me in the shadows, following as I walked the path towards my estate, which was near the theater building in town. Thunder crackled above me, and I lifted my purse over my head. I didn't have an umbrella.

Then, behind me, I heard footsteps and whistling... approaching me.

I lowered my purse and turned to face a girl with menacing dark eyes and her dark hair pulled into a high ponytail. I was surprised when I actually recognized who this girl was. "Ayano... Aishi?"

She smiled creepily. "Oh, wow," she said, her voice monotone as she shyly swayed, holding her hands behind her back as if she was feeling bashful. "Should I be honored? The Goddess of Akademi remembers my name."

The way she'd said Goddess of Akademi... like she was disgusted, not enamored by me. It hit me then that Ayano... must be Taro's murderous stalker.

"You're the one leaving those notes in my locker, aren't you?" I demanded to know.

Ayano let out a heavy sigh, her smile slipping as she revealed a throwing knife from her skirt pocket. She looked incredibly bored, while the hairs on my arms stood up, and I took a step back, a horrifying chill running down my spine. "Wow, this would've been more fun if you were just some dumb, ditzy blonde, but I guess this is the part where you run, and I chase and kill you, isn't it?"