As expected, she couldn't sleep.

She didn't want to think too highly of herself. After all, she doesn't have anything worth being interested on. She was an average joe. If she were to be a character in a book, she'd probably be a side character mentioned briefly in somebody else's story.

But she couldn't shake this feeling of strangeness.

She couldn't help but think that this wasn't just her imagination, nor mere coincidence.

Come to think of it, it all started when this senpai approached her in the cafeteria and confessed.

She'd wondered countless of times about his real intentions, but she would always get distracted.

However, she wouldn't get swayed anymore!

The world is a dangerous place. While it's only a one-in-a-million chance, what if this senpai was insane?

A creep? Stalker? An obssessive fan? A... yandere¹is a portmanteau of two Japanese words. The first is yanderu, which means “to be sick,” and the second is deredere, used here for “lovestruck.” A yandere is often sweet, caring, and innocent before switching into someone who displays an extreme, often violent or psychotic, level of devotion to a love interest.?

She couldn't help but feel chills from her back.

If her guess really turned out to be correct, what could she do then?

...should I put the cops on speed dial?

***

"Why does it even have to be me though?!" She couldn't help but ask herself out loud.

It really didn't make any sense.

"Shuuya, what are you shouting about." Her mother frowns at her once she entered the kitchen and saw her daughter standing by the sink.

"Nothing," Shuuya forces a laugh before proceeding to feign washing hands.

Great, because of that guy she wasn't able to get even a wink's sleep.

Okay, maybe she was a bit too paranoid, but could she be blamed? Nobody paid her much attention like this before. Even her current friends doesn't know these little things about her. This senpai's advances was all new to Shuuya—and they haven't even known each other for too long.

"Is Maeda-senpai abnormal?"She couldn't help but ask out loud once again.

"Who's abnormal?"

Shuuya couldn't help but jump at said young man's voice.

Oh. She didn't notice that she was already out of the house—and she was even two streets away.

"...you're just hearing things," Shuuya did her best to avoid meeting his eyes.

Yuma could only laugh at her poor attempt of covering up.

As they walked side-by-side, Shuuya had a brilliant plan in her head.

An investigation. That's what she should do.

Since, she couldn't stop him from doing what he wants anyway, she should use this to her advantage and gather evidence. If she were to sue him in the future for something, she'll have plenty cards in her deck.

She sneaks a glance at him.

Tall and refined at first sight. His dark, peach-blossom eyes were slightly red at the corner. Even his cheeks has a light tint of red in them since his complexion was too light.

She has never focused on his face before, so it was only now did she notice these little things about his appearance.

He looks like a doll, she compliments truthfully in her mind. Even Yuma's beauty mark under his left eye contributed to his charm.

She now realizes that this person wasn't really an average person. There was a reason why he was really popular after all.

And this guy was always secretly loitering in this street just to wait for her, a nobody.

"...Maeda-senpai?"

"Mmm?" he smiles as he peers down at her.

"Are you a stalker?"

"..." He didn't expect her to ask this.

Seeing his dark face, Shuuya quickly changed her question.

"Are you a fan of mine?"

Yuma had an expression that looked like he wanted to vomit out blood.

"..." Only now did she realize this question was just as worse.

Yuma scratched his head before answering.

"I'm none of those."

Oh really? "Then why did you confess to me back then?"

That was one of the mysteries she was dying to know ever since. Confessing to her then settling to become her friend? What was he thinking?

"That was a mistake on my part."

"A mistake?" Shuuya frowns. How can it be a mistake?

"Yeah." He says nochalantly.

So you're saying you realized I'm too undeserving for you? Shuuya scoffs. Sorry I'm not as pretty or popular as you or your ex,

"Then why do you want to be my friend?"

"I want to protect you."

"..."

In her opinion, she doesn't need protection. She wasn't a child, nor was she in need of one. She was perfectly fine by herself.

"Aren't you mistaken?" she asks him seriously. Was there something she did that rubbed him the wrong way? 

"I'll do everything I can to protect you, and give you a good life. Just....trust me."

...wow, what a player, if she didn't know any better, she would've fallen for his words by now.

Now she was convinced. He probably wants something from her!

You might not want to say it for now, but I'll eventually find out. She laughs darkly under her breath. He's probably underestimating my IQ.

Meanwhile, Yuma, who was beside her, could only smirk amusedly.

She hasn't changed even one bit.

He was even more determined to preserve this smile of hers. He'd much prefer for her to always be this cheeky and energetic than be hurt and in pain.

"By the way, you look good in a ponytail." he compliments her genuinely.

"Stop talking nonsense,"

Tsundere²is a Japanese term for a character development process that depicts a character with a personality who is initially cold, temperamental, hotheaded before gradually showing a warmer, friendlier side over time. The word is derived from the terms tsun tsun and dere dere. Shuuya was always cute.