New Beginnings
It all started with a collision, but the tremors have not stopped yet. He fell into my life like an asteroid — sudden, violent.
Even though it was the first time I had ever seen him, it felt like I had known him for years.
Somehow… I knew he was the one I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.
But clearly… I was too late.
There was a girl standing beside him.
At the far end of our wide school hallway, just in front of the stairs, they stood.
She was yelling at him — loudly, sharply, like a screeching kettle.
And with every word she spat at him, I could feel my blood start to boil.
---
Osana:
"For god's sake, Senpai! You're always making me wait!"
Taro:
"I'm sorry… I overslept. And on my way to meet you, I bumped into a girl—"
Osana:
"I'm not your personal alarm clock, you know! You can't expect me to wake you up every single day!"
Taro:
"I'm sorry... If it bothers you that much, maybe we should stop walking to school together…"
Osana:
"W-what?! No! That's not what I—Ugh, whatever!"
---
Walking to school…? Personal alarm clock…?
Who was this girl?
Why were they so close?
Were they… dating?
If they were…
It would be the end of me.
Losing him would be like losing myself.
I couldn't let that happen. I wouldn't survive it.
---
Osana:
"Anyway! I want you to meet me on the rooftop at lunch!"
Taro:
"What? Why?"
Osana:
"Stop being so difficult! Just be there! And DON'T make me wait!"
Taro:
"Okay, okay… I'll be there…"
---
This girl...
She made me discover a new feeling —
Jealousy.
I was going mad.
They were going to meet on the rooftop... but for what?
What should I do?
He lowered his head, like a scolded child, then quietly walked off.
She vanished right after him.
My mind was swarming with questions.
But the only thing I was sure of...
Was this:
He is my Senpai.
And I couldn't bear the thought of losing him —
Even though I hadn't won him yet.
---
The school bell rang, snapping me out of my thoughts.
For a moment, time had stopped… then suddenly rushed forward.
I had to pull myself together.
I started walking toward my classroom —
and joined the first class of the day...
which would soon divide the day in two.
---
The bell rang, ending our first class of the day.
I slowly rose from my seat.
Only one more class left before lunch, yet I couldn't shake the restlessness within me.
I hadn't been able to focus at all — my thoughts were consumed by him.
My feet moved on their own.
Without realizing, I found myself drifting through the wide, open halls…
toward his classroom.
I had heard things. Whispers.
His name was Taro Yamada.
My Senpai.
He was a senior, one grade above me.
I should've found this out through my own observations.
But I was too shaken… too lost in emotion to think clearly.
And just as I stepped onto the first stair leading up to his floor—
he passed right by me.
Our second encounter.
That feeling… it came flooding back, stronger than before.
My chest tightened like a sponge soaked in warm water.
I froze.
I couldn't speak.
I couldn't move.
My system shut down.
Looking at him… made me melt.
It was as if I was having an emotional overload.
A storm I had never known I could feel.
He was heading downstairs, book in hand — again.
It wasn't hard to tell he liked reading, especially literature.
My steps followed his, drawn to him like gravity.
He walked toward the school plaza,
sat on the edge of the fountain at its center,
and opened his book.
I couldn't take my eyes off him.
This had to be him — the one my mother had spoken of.
The one who would bring color to my gray world.
But then…
a vibration broke the spell.
I reached for my phone.
A message.
From an unknown number.
I hesitated.
Was it a mistake to read it?
---
?:
"Hello."
Ayano:
"Do I know you?"
?:
"I saw you earlier… following that upperclassman boy."
---
I froze.
Had I been so obvious already?
If someone else noticed…
Could Senpai have noticed, too?
What if…
he thought I was weird?
What if he started to hate me…?
---
Ayano:
"You must've misunderstood something."
?:
"Don't play dumb. I'm trying to help you.
If you'd like, I can tell you a little about the girl next to him."
---
What… was this?
Who was this person?
Why were they offering help?
---
Ayano:
"...I'm listening."
?:
"Her name is Osana Najimi.
She's in love with your boy.
This Friday, she plans to confess to him under the sakura tree behind the school.
There's a myth — if you confess under that tree, you can't be rejected."
Ayano:
"And why are you telling me all this?"
?:
"Because I'd be delighted if something unfortunate happened to Osana-chan.
And I think you're just the person to give her what she deserves."
Ayano:
"Who are you?"
?:
"Ever heard of Info-chan?"
Ayano:
"The urban legend?
The girl who blackmails students, sells secrets for money?"
?:
"That's just the tip of the iceberg.
I offer far more than blackmail."
---
Shocking…
but not convincing.
I had been caught off guard,
but something about her felt off — like a trick.
---
Ayano:
"So you're telling me… you're Info-chan?
And I'm supposed to just believe that?"
?:
"Check your phone.
You'll see a new app.
Give it a look."
---
I exited the message.
There — a strange icon had appeared on my phone.
An app I had never seen before.
I hesitated to open it.
---
Ayano:
"How…?
How did you do that?"
?:
"Nothing to worry about.
If you do a few small favors for me,
I can offer you a wide range of services —
all designed to help you eliminate Osana.
Everything you need is inside that app."
Ayano:
"And if I want nothing to do with you?"
?:
"That's fine.
Ignore me if you like — I won't take it personally.
But don't ignore Osana-chan.
You've only got one week until she confesses to your precious Senpai.
Make her suffer."
---
My head was spinning.
Could she really be Info-chan?
If so… why help me?
What kind of "favors" would she ask for in return?
Was Osana truly in love with Senpai?
What should I do?
Should I really hurt her…?
And if so, how?
Every question led to another.
I was more lost than ever.
Everything was happening so fast —
like a tidal wave crashing down on me.
I raised my head.
There he was.
Still sitting at the fountain…
reading his book.
The thought of losing him…
of Osana loving him…
It pierced my heart.
I had to act.
I couldn't lose him.
--
[End of Chapter 2]