New Project, A New Girl
The second week at Meiyo University began like any other — lectures, practicals, and club sign-ups. Ren had quickly made a name for himself among the tech professors. His coding speed and elegant solutions made even the seniors turn heads. So, when the Software Development Department announced a mentorship program, it was no surprise that Ren was chosen as a lead assistant for a second-year student's AI research.
But what surprised him was who he was assigned to help.
"Saki Kurokawa," said the project head. "She's bright, but a bit of a mess when it comes to practical implementation. We're hoping you can balance her out."
Aoi, standing beside Ren, raised an eyebrow. "Saki Kurokawa? That idol-looking girl from orientation?"
Ren nodded, uncertain. "Yeah… I guess."
Later that day, in the computer lab, Ren met her.
Saki was undeniably beautiful — tall, silky black hair with violet highlights, piercing green eyes, and the kind of presence that made a room feel smaller. She was charismatic but clumsy, always dropping her stylus or misplacing her notes. But behind that chaos, there was brilliance in her logic.
"Oh, you're Ren, right?" she asked, smiling warmly. "I've heard a lot about you. They say you're the fastest coder on campus."
He scratched his neck shyly. "I'm not that fast."
She giggled. "Humble. I like that."
From then, they began working together every other evening — long hours of debugging, structuring logic flows, and coffee breaks filled with nerdy banter. Ren didn't notice it at first, but Saki's gaze lingered on him more than necessary. Her questions extended beyond tech — into his hobbies, his life, and eventually, into Aoi.
Aoi Watches From Afar
Aoi had noticed the changes.
Ren came home later. He had texts with weirdly timed emojis. And once, he returned with a small band-aid on his neck.
"Oh, that? Saki accidentally poked me with a soldering iron," he explained.
Aoi smiled.
On the outside.
But inside, a storm was brewing.
She wasn't just jealous. She was… threatened.
That night, she stared at her phone screen for hours, reading and re-reading the club announcement that Saki had just joined — Ren's AI club.
"She's getting closer," Aoi whispered. Her grip on her phone tightened. "Too close."
The First Confrontation
Three days later, Aoi waited for Saki outside the club room.
Saki arrived early, surprised but not scared. "Oh, Aoi-chan! You're Ren's… friend, right?"
Aoi smiled sweetly. "You know, you're really pretty. The kind of girl every guy notices."
Saki blinked. "Uhm… thanks?"
"But you know what's funny?" Aoi continued, stepping closer. "Some things look too good to be true. Like a butterfly near a fire. They get drawn in. Burned."
Saki's smile faltered. "Is that… a warning?"
Aoi leaned in, voice low and icy. "It's a fact. Ren is mine. And I don't share."
Saki's Realization
The confrontation left Saki shaken… but it didn't stop her.
In fact, it made her think more about Ren.
His kindness. His awkward little smiles. His brilliance. She wasn't sure when it started, but… she had fallen for him.
Aoi scared her — terrified her, even — but part of her wanted to fight for what she felt.
So the next evening, after Ren helped her solve a major bug, she looked at him and said:
"Ren… I like working with you. I like being with you."
Ren froze.
"I know you're with Aoi, but… even if it's just as a friend… can I stay close to you?"
He didn't know how to respond.
He respected Saki. But in that moment, he thought of Aoi.
Yandere in Love
That night, Aoi curled into Ren's chest on their couch, arms wrapped tightly around his waist.
"You're quiet," she murmured.
"Just… thinking."
"About her?"
He didn't answer.
"I won't let her take you from me, you know," she whispered, her voice syrupy sweet — and dangerously low. "You're mine, Ren. Every little piece."
He looked down, catching her eyes. They were fierce. Unblinking.
Strangely… it made his heart pound.
"I know," he said, brushing her bangs back. "And I don't want anyone else."
Aoi smiled — that twisted, yandere grin that made something stir in Ren.
She leaned in and kissed him deeply, possessively.
And Ren kissed back.
Fire Beneath the Calm
In the following days, Saki remained respectful, but it was clear to everyone — including Yuna and Hayato — that something dangerous lingered between the three.
One girl had fallen for the boy.
One girl had already claimed him.
And the boy?
He was strangely excited by the chaos.