yandere fantasy

Chapter 22: Shadows of the Past

Taro-kun's eyes locked onto Sakura's, his heart racing with a mix of fear and concern. He knew that she was still under Akane's control, and he had to be careful not to trigger any of her obsessive tendencies.

"Sakura, what are you doing here?" he asked, trying to sound calm.

Sakura's eyes seemed to glaze over, and she took a step closer to Taro-kun.

"I've been waiting for you, Taro-kun," she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. "I've been waiting for you for so long."

Taro-kun's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with possibilities. What did Sakura mean by "so long"? And what was she waiting for him for?

He tried to take a step back, but Sakura was too quick. She grabbed his arm, her grip like a vice.

"Taro-kun, don't go," she whispered, her eyes pleading. "Please, don't leave me."

Taro-kun's heart skipped a beat as he realized that Sakura was on the verge of a breakdown. He had to calm her down, had to make her see reason.

"Sakura, listen to me," he said, trying to sound calm. "I'm not going anywhere. I'm here for you, okay?"

Sakura's eyes seemed to clear, and she looked up at Taro-kun with a hint of sanity.

"Taro-kun?" she whispered, her voice trembling.

"Yes, Sakura?" Taro-kun replied, trying to sound gentle.

Sakura's eyes seemed to glaze over again, and she took a step closer to Taro-kun.

"I remember something," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Something from my past."

Taro-kun's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with possibilities. What did Sakura remember? And how was it connected to her obsessive behavior?

"Sakura, what is it?" he asked, trying to sound gentle.

Sakura's eyes seemed to clear, and she looked up at Taro-kun with a hint of determination.

"I remember my sister," she whispered, her voice trembling. "My sister, who died when I was a child."

Taro-kun's eyes widened in surprise. He had no idea that Sakura had a sister, let alone one who had died.

"Sakura, I'm so sorry," he said, trying to sound compassionate.

Sakura's eyes seemed to glaze over again, and she took a step closer to Taro-kun.

"But that's not all," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I remember something else. Something that happened after my sister died."

Taro-kun's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with possibilities. What did Sakura remember? And how was it connected to her obsessive behavior?

"Sakura, what is it?" he asked, trying to sound gentle.

Sakura's eyes seemed to clear, and she looked up at Taro-kun with a hint of determination.

"I remember the man who killed my sister," she whispered, her voice trembling. "And I remember the promise I made to myself, to make him pay for what he did."

Taro-kun's eyes widened in shock. He had no idea that Sakura's sister had been murdered, let alone that Sakura had made a promise to herself to seek revenge.

"Sakura, I'm so sorry," he said, trying to sound compassionate.

But Sakura just shook her head, her eyes glazing over again.

"It's not your fault, Taro-kun," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "It's mine. I'm the one who's been living a lie, who's been hiding the truth from myself."

Taro-kun's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with possibilities. What did Sakura mean by "living a lie"? And what was the truth that she had been hiding from herself?

He tried to ask her, but Sakura just shook her head, her eyes glazing over again.

"I'll tell you everything, Taro-kun," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "But first, you have to promise me something."

Taro-kun's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with possibilities. What did Sakura want him to promise?

"What is it, Sakura?" he asked, trying to sound gentle.

Sakura's eyes seemed to clear, and she looked up at Taro-kun with a hint of determination.

"Promise me you'll protect me, Taro-kun," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Promise me you'll keep me safe from the man who killed my sister."

Taro-kun's eyes widened in shock. He had no idea that Sakura's sister had been murdered, let alone that Sakura was seeking revenge.

But as he looked into Sakura's eyes, he saw something there that gave him pause. He saw a deep-seated fear, a fear that seemed to be