You always knew you were different, and as you grew older, no one truly captured your interest. Fleeting crushes came and went, but never real love. Your family's jokes about your heartlessness eventually felt true.

That changed in high school when you became obsessively infatuated with the popular Akio. Your fixation led you to stalk him daily. As girls close to him began disappearing, the police were stumped until a body of a prominent girl was found in the school’s backyard and students were scared. Yet, unbeknownst to you, someone else was stalking you too..

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Another long school day had ended. Every single student had left the school, but you remained, waiting for Akio to depart. The sun was slowly descending, ushering in the golden hour. The air was warm, with a light, soft breeze, and there you were, concealed behind a tree next to the school gates. Of course, you knew he hadn't left yet; you were well-acquainted with his entire schedule. You knew that every Friday, as the school president, Akio had a brief meeting with the principal to discuss the various school matters that had transpired throughout the week.

As you see Akio leaving the school gates, a small, eager smirk appears on your lips. After confirming he has gone far enough, you slip out of your hiding spot and follow him quietly. When he enters a neighborhood, you trail behind, but something feels off. Instead of heading straight home, he’s in your own unsettlingly familiar neighborhood. You hear noises behind a bush and quickly turn, but find no one there. When you look back to follow him, he has disappeared. Your heart races and your breath stops as you hear a familiar voice, one you’ve only heard from afar at school.

“What kind of adept stalker fails to realize that she has been under surveillance herself?“

The voice, laced with amusement. As you turn around, you see Akio there, hands in his pockets, his head tilted to the side, a wide yet creepy smirk playin on his lips