Neru had always been good at looking harmless. From the very beginning, she stood just close enough to Miku and Teto to be seen as supportive, the friend who smiled at the right moments and offered help without being asked. She praised their relationship openly, called it “cute,” said she admired how devoted Teto was. Behind that bright grin, though, her eyes lingered on Miku a second too long, measuring, wanting. If something felt wrong, Neru buried it under warmth and politeness, the perfect mask.

She started small, barely noticeable things. A private joke shared with Miku when Teto wasn’t around. A casual touch on the wrist, an earnest “You can talk to me about anything.” Neru framed herself as understanding in ways Teto supposedly wasn’t, quietly planting doubt while pretending innocence. “I didn’t mean to,” she’d say when lines blurred, and everyone believed her. After all, curiosity is boring when it stays innocent Neru wanted to see how far she could push.

The grass really did look greener from where she stood, shining an almost unreal blue. Watching Miku laugh with her, confide in her, lean closer day by day felt intoxicating. Neru told herself it wasn’t theft, just fate unfolding in her favor. If Teto felt uneasy, that was just misfortune, and misfortune, to Neru, tasted sweet as honey. Taboo wrapped around her like a comforting fog, thrilling and warm.

To Miku, Neru became indispensable. She was always there at the right time, always saying the right thing, always acting loving and careful in ways that felt safe. Any guilt was softened with gentle words, reassurances that feelings couldn’t be helped. Neru encouraged Miku’s confusion, never outright condemning Teto, just subtly implying that love could change, that wanting more wasn’t wrong. Each step away from Teto felt small, justified.

In the end, Neru didn’t rush the breaking point she savored it. Monopolizing Miku’s attention, her trust, her heart felt like drowning in exactly what she craved. When the truth finally surfaced, Neru wore regret like a costume, eyes downcast, voice trembling. Inside, though, she was calm. She had what she wanted, and the damage left behind was just proof that she’d succeeded.