Tokyo Yandere Girlfriend

Chapter 7

Bzzt-bzzt.

Her phone buzzed out of the blue.

Maybe it was because they'd just been talking about him, but Takahashi Mio felt her stomach tighten as the caller ID lit up.

Ahem.

She cleared her throat, steadied herself, and hit Accept.

"Hello? Shiratori Seiya?"

"Yeah, it's me. Where are you?"

The abrupt demand made Mio bristle—like she was being called to account.

Her gaze flicked away. Instead of answering, she asked, "What's up?"

"Nothing strange about a boyfriend asking where his girlfriend is at night, is there?"

"I'm at a café, talking with... a friend." She paused, then added on impulse, "The new place—Newbet."

"All right. Get home early and rest. Tomorrow, 9:30 a.m. sharp—I'll wait at the school gate."

"..."

The school gate?

Mio blinked, about to refuse, but Haruno Reika's stiletto pressed down hard on her foot.

"Ow!"

Mio's eyes shot open; she sucked in a sharp breath and glared at Reika, who mouthed unmistakably:

Say yes.

When no reply came, Seiya said, "I know you're free tomorrow. Anything else on?"

Lightning quick, Mio improvised, "Um... some friends heard I'm dating and want to meet you. Any chance you'd come along sometime...?"

Seiya went silent. He hadn't expected the girl who loved showing off to admit she was in a relationship. Unexpected—but not bad; it would save him trouble later. He had no problem meeting her crowd. Since freshman year he'd seen enough big stages to fill a yearbook—geniuses, leaders, prodigies. The boyish awkwardness was long gone; he had nerves of steel.

"Pick a time and place—this weekend works, no classes." He paused, then repeated the main point of the call. "Don't forget our date tomorrow."

"Okay... um..." Mio lowered her lashes, knees pressed together, staring at the tabletop.

"What is it?"

"I mean... would you mind meeting them? They're harmless, but they can get rowdy. If you'd rather not, we can forget it..."

Seiya was surprised all over again. Playing hard to get? A performance? Yesterday she'd been bossy; today she was demure. He couldn't read her, and he wasn't about to try. After last time he'd sworn off investing feelings—time and effort were enough.

"Not that mysterious. Meeting them might head off any future rivals."

"Oh."

His casual claim of ownership sent a complicated flicker across Mio's eyes. She still hadn't wrapped her head around actually being in a relationship. They'd met once—no sweet nothings, no whirlwind romance. The conversation stalled.

Seiya asked if there was anything else, got a soft no, and hung up.

The dial tone hummed. Mio stared at the dead phone.

Across from her, Reika stubbed out her cigarette and smiled. "Classic Mio, the push-and-pull. And you've never even dated before."

Mio shook her head, slipping the phone into her purse with a sigh. "It just feels... unfair to him."

She'd never had a boyfriend, yet her friends swapped partners like seasonal outfits. Whenever someone debuted a new guy, they'd drag him to group meetups—teasing, grilling, hazing. And judging from yesterday's first impression, Seiya wasn't the easygoing type; he'd been downright blunt... If things turned ugly, nobody would know how to back out.

Reika frowned as if Mio had sprouted a second head. "You need a doctor."

Mio flushed, explained her worries. Reika sipped her coffee and said, "Tell them beforehand, ask them to play nice. Don't overthink it."

"Mm." Mio nodded; that sounded reasonable.

"So, ready for tomorrow?"

"How ready can I be?" she muttered, twisting her fingers. "Probably just lunch or something. He won't try anything... right?"

First date ever, with a boyfriend she'd met once—absurd.

"Piece of advice."

"What?"

"Don't lie to him." Reika wiped her mouth, checked her watch, and stood, towering over Mio. "Fool a dummy all you want, but with a guy you can't read, honesty's the only safe bet."

"Oh, and you're paying today."

With that, Reika headed for the exit.

"Hey—where are you going?"

"Work. No one's offering to keep me yet."

Mio opened her mouth, closed it, and watched Reika disappear. She lowered her gaze to her coffee, a small, smug smile blooming on her lips.

Being kept didn't sound so bad after all...

Friday, 7:00 a.m.

Mio rose with the sun—earlier than any day this year. To look her best, she'd gone to bed before ten. The dark circles were barely visible; a dab of concealer erased them entirely.

After a shower and careful makeup, she tore through her closet, finally settling on an outfit she held up and studied in the mirror. She practiced smiles and poses, rehearsing lines for Seiya.

She still felt nervous, but she had a plan: if he was going to dominate, she'd play the gentle foil. Pity she'd botched the first impression...

Every time she remembered railing at him on the rooftop, she winced.

If only she'd left him with the impression of a perfect lady...

Still, surely anyone would've acted the same way under those circumstances?

He probably didn't think much of it.

Please let him not think much of it.

There's no pill for regret, so Takahashi Mio consoled herself with that thought.

After more than a day to cool off, she had made up her mind: as long as Shiratori Seiya wasn't some depraved weirdo with shady ulterior motives, she would absolutely not let him slip away.

The memory of Haruno Reika's envious stare last night—and the jealous words that followed—made her chest swell with satisfaction.

As for love, that could be cultivated later; she'd just leap first and look later.

She refused to let go.

Of course, she hadn't forgotten the advice from that dating guide:

To capture a man's heart completely, you have to stay absolutely clear-headed and calm.

Don't give him nothing, but don't hand everything over at once—especially not your body.

That, she knew, was what Shiratori Seiya wanted most.

With her own private love rules now in place, Takahashi Mio flashed a flawless smile at the mirror, as if victory in this sudden romance was already hers.