Chapter 12 – My Yandere Princess is Preparing Literal Murder for a Simple School Duel?!

The heavy steel claymore had just shattered the expensive marble floor. I stood perfectly still under the floating crystal boards as the massive quest room remained dead silent for exactly two agonizing seconds. Then, the entire cavernous hall erupted into absolute madness. Hundreds of elite S-Rank students started screaming at the exact same time, their angry voices bouncing violently off the high stone walls.

“He actually accepted it!”

“That pathetic baker boy is completely dead meat!”

“Elara is going to crush him into literal dust!”

I rubbed my sweating forehead with a flour-stained hand. This was legitimately the worst idea I had ever had. Elara Voss stared at me with wide, terrified eyes, her short blue hair framing a face caught between total shock and desperate relief. She had honestly expected me to walk away like a coward.

“I will not hold back against you.”

Her voice shook slightly but her grip on the heavy sword tightened. I just gave her a completely exhausted nod.

“See you tomorrow.”

I tried to turn around and leave the suffocating tension entirely behind, but Sakura refused to move a single microscopic inch. My crazy childhood friend was a literal statue of pure yandere rage. Her bright red hair started floating entirely on its own, and the ambient temperature in the room plummeted well below freezing. The magical crystal boards above us flickered and sparked dangerously as a terrifying wave of suffocating dark energy leaked directly from her small body.

“You just signed your own death warrant, you blue-haired trash.”

Her voice was completely devoid of her usual creepy sweetness. It was a flat, cold promise of imminent and brutal murder. Elara took a fast, involuntary step backward at the sheer force of the killing intent, and several burly S-Rank guys actually choked on the heavy air.

“We are leaving right now.”

I grabbed Sakura tightly by her delicate wrist and pulled her forcefully toward the massive heavy wooden doors. She surprisingly let me drag her away from the terrified crowd, but her glowing crimson eyes stayed locked on Elara until the heavy doors finally sealed shut behind us.

The walk back to our private SSS-Rank dormitory felt incredibly long. The building looked exactly like a solid gold wedding cake sitting at the highest peak of the campus. We crossed the literal water moat in complete silence before the solid platinum doors opened automatically with a soft magical hum. My cheap canvas shoes sank deeply into the impossibly soft carpet of the grand foyer.

Sakura had not said a single word since we left the noisy quest room. This absolute silence was way more terrifying than her crazy threats. We reached the golden door to our shared luxury penthouse suite. I pushed it open and stepped onto the expensive white tiger skin rug as the giant indoor waterfall cascaded loudly down the far wall.

“I am going to completely obliterate her.”

Sakura finally broke the silence with a chillingly calm declaration. She dropped her heavy leather backpack onto the floor.

“You are absolutely not murdering anyone.”

I took a deep breath and tried to project total calmness.

“This is just a simple, formal academy duel.”

She turned to face me with a look of pure, unhinged obsession.

“She threatened my precious Dylan.”

“It is just a school ranking thing.”

“She pointed a massive lethal weapon at your perfect chest.”

Sakura walked rapidly toward her three massive pink leather suitcases. They were still sitting exactly where she had left them earlier today. She popped the shiny brass latches on the first suitcase with a loud click.

“I am going to secure the entire perimeter.”

She pulled out a massive coil of heavy, thick rope.

“We live in a magically sealed penthouse on the highest floor.”

“A true royal princess takes absolutely zero chances with her ultimate treasure.”

She dragged the heavy rope toward the solid golden front door and started tying incredibly complex and highly suspicious knots around the door handle. I watched her completely block our only physical exit with thick hemp.

“Are you creating a literal tripwire trap?”

“It is a highly specialized assassination prevention tool.”

She abandoned the rope and went straight for the second pink leather bag. I knew exactly what horrifying items were hidden inside that specific luggage. She pulled out a handful of the thirty different sharp silver knives, letting them gleam dangerously in the bright light of the crystal chandelier.

“Please put the deadly throwing weapons away.”

“I am just placing them in strategic, easily accessible locations.”

She wedged a sharp silver knife directly into the expensive velvet sofa cushions and placed another one carefully behind a fancy potted magical plant.

“You are going to accidentally stab me when I try to sit down.”

“I would never let anything harm a single hair on your perfect head.”

She smiled her deeply creepy and obsessed sweet smile, but her glowing red eyes were totally manic. She was operating entirely on paranoid yandere overdrive.

“I need to check the air vents for toxic magical poison gas.”

She dragged a heavy oak chair across the white tiger skin rug, climbed up, and started peering suspiciously into the golden ventilation grates. I rubbed my temples as a massive stress headache bloomed behind my eyes. I desperately needed an escape from this absolute madness. My gaze drifted toward the massive commercial-grade baking oven resting perfectly in the corner. The shiny stainless steel countertops called to me like a glorious beacon of pure peace.

“I am going to bake some bread.”

“I must fiercely protect you while you cook!”

“I am literally just walking ten feet away into the open kitchen.”

She jumped down from the oak chair with terrifying athletic speed, landing completely silently on the soft fur rug. She closed the distance between us and grabbed my left bicep tight. Her grip was totally unyielding.

“I am coming with you.”

I sighed a very long and heavily defeated sigh.

“Fine.”

We walked awkwardly together toward the professional bakery setup. I opened the giant industrial refrigerator, which was still fully stocked with blocks of imported premium sweet butter. The cold air washed over my sweaty face, providing a tiny moment of absolute chill vibes.

“This butter is incredibly high quality.”

“I will poison her pre-duel water supply with a lethal tasteless venom.”

“We are talking about baking ingredients right now, Sakura.”

I grabbed two blocks of the premium butter and a large bag of fine wheat flour, carrying them over to the cold stainless steel counter. Sakura refused to let go of my arm. She clung to my side like a highly dangerous, red-haired barnacle.

“It is extremely difficult to knead heavy bread dough with only one free hand.”

“I can easily knead the dough for you using my terrifying raw physical strength.”

“Baking is a precise and peaceful science, not a combat exercise.”

I gently pried her slender fingers off my aching bicep and pointed directly at a tall metal stool on the other side of the counter.

“Sit right there and watch me.”

She pouted dramatically but actually listened to my strict command. She climbed onto the metal stool and rested her chin on her hands, her bright crimson eyes tracking my every single movement with predatory intensity. I focused all of my chaotic energy onto the pile of white flour. I measured the dry yeast perfectly and added the exact amount of warm water needed for a proper rise.

The familiar, comforting smell of damp flour and yeast filled the kitchen, instantly grounding my spiraling panic. I pushed my calloused hands deep into the sticky dough, folded it over, and pressed down hard.

“You are incredibly handsome when you are totally focused.”

“Please do not make this weird.”

I continued kneading the heavy dough with rhythmic, forceful pushes. I pictured the arrogant S-Rank elites from the quest room, along with Elara Voss and her massive, glowing blue claymore. I channeled all my intense daily stress directly into the stubborn gluten structure.

“If she actually hits you with that stupid sword, I will burn her family tree to ash.”

“She is not going to hit me.”

“I can sneak into her basic dorm room tonight and shatter her kneecaps.”

“I explicitly forbid you from breaking anyone’s kneecaps.”

I formed the smooth, elastic dough into a perfect round ball, placed it gently into a large glass bowl, and covered it with a damp cloth.

“Now we just have to wait for it to rise.”

“I do not want to wait.”

Sakura hopped off the tall metal stool. She walked around the counter and immediately wrapped her arms completely around my waist, pressing her soft curves completely flush against my flour-stained uniform shirt. Her unnatural body heat radiated directly into my chest.

“I just want to keep you safe and warm and totally mine.”

Her voice dropped to a highly intimate and secretive whisper. I stood perfectly still in the quiet kitchen, letting the rushing water from the indoor waterfall provide a constant, loud background noise. I honestly did not know how to handle this extreme level of physical closeness.

“I am perfectly safe right here.”

“You are my absolute favorite person in the entire world.”

She buried her beautiful face directly into the crook of my neck, inhaling deeply to take in the scent of yeast and cheap cotton. My heart hammered like crazy in my chest. This crazy girl was going to literally be the death of me long before the actual duel.

The rest of the evening blurred into a highly stressful waiting game. Sakura refused to leave my physical presence for even a single second. When I pulled the fresh, warm bread out of the massive commercial oven, she was holding my waist. When I ate a slice of the perfectly crusty loaf, she watched every single bite I took. She constantly checked the heavy ropes on the front door and nervously adjusted the silver knives hidden around the luxury living room. By the time midnight finally rolled around, I was utterly and completely exhausted.

“We need to get some sleep.”

“I will stay completely awake and stand guard over your sleeping body.”

“You need to sleep too.”

I pushed open the heavy solid oak double doors leading to the master bedroom. The giant king-sized bed sat perfectly in the center of the dark room, and the fluffy white mattress looked like an absolute dream. I kicked off my cheap shoes and collapsed directly onto the incredibly soft silk sheets.

Sakura immediately crawled onto the bed right next to me. She did not even bother changing out of her academy uniform. She just wrapped her thin, pale arm tight around my waist and pressed her back completely flush against mine. Her grip defied her delicate appearance entirely.

“Mine.”

She murmured the highly possessive word softly into the dark room. I did not even have the energy to fight her terrifying, unyielding grip anymore. I just closed my heavy, tired eyes and let the darkness take over.

The piercing sound of a magical alarm bell shattered my peaceful slumber, and I woke up completely trapped. The absurdly soft silk sheets were tangled tightly around my legs. Sakura was still clinging to my back exactly like a terrifying, gorgeous leech, her bright red hair spilling wildly across my neck and the expensive pillows. Her breath ghosted warmly across the sensitive shell of my ear.

“Good morning, my precious treasure.”

Her voice came out husky and low, thick with sleep and overwhelming affection. I carefully tried to shift my weight away from her intense body heat, but her iron grip tightened instantly. She pulled me even closer, completely shutting down my escape attempt.

“Today is the big day.”

I groaned loudly and let my head fall back against the soft pillow. The formal duel with the desperate, blue-haired girl was happening in just a few hours, and the entire elite student body would be watching my every single move. My yandere princess was probably going to try and murder the referee.

I stared blankly up at the high, expensive ceiling of the SSS-Rank penthouse. I really just wanted to stay home and bake another batch of fresh bread. I gently peeled her slender fingers off my chest one by one.

“I need to actually get out of bed now.”

“The outside world is full of highly dangerous and totally annoying bugs.”

“I cannot skip an official, formally accepted academy duel.”

She pouted, her crimson eyes narrowing slightly at the sudden loss of direct physical contact. She rolled gracefully out of the massive bed and landed lightly on her feet. In the blink of an eye, she crossed the short distance and locked her hand securely onto my bicep again.

“I will personally ensure you do not suffer a single scratch.”

We walked out into the massive, lavish living room. The giant indoor waterfall was still rushing loudly over the smooth stones, and the heavy ropes were still tied in crazy, complex knots around the golden door handle.

“I need you to untie the highly paranoid door traps.”

“They are totally necessary security measures.”

“We literally cannot leave the room to attend the duel.”

She sighed deeply and walked over to the barricaded platinum doors. She rapidly untied the thick hemp rope with practiced, almost scary efficiency. I walked over to the stainless steel kitchen counter to grab a quick bite.

The leftover loaf of artisan bread sat there looking perfectly crusty and completely innocent. I sliced a thick piece and spread a huge chunk of the premium sweet butter across it. The rich, creamy butter melted instantly into the soft, warm crumb. I took a massive bite and closed my eyes in pure, genuine bliss.

“This is literally the only good thing about my entire life right now.”

Sakura walked up behind me and rested her chin on my shoulder again.

“I am the absolute best thing in your entire life.”

I chewed the delicious, buttery bread slowly and refused to answer her crazy statement. My stomach was tied in anxious knots about the upcoming physical confrontation. Elara Voss was legitimately terrified but completely determined to prove herself. She had that massive, glowing claymore and years of intense magical combat training. I just had the raw physical muscles built from kneading sticky dough for six hours straight.

I swallowed the bite of bread and grabbed my cheap canvas backpack.

“Let’s just get this completely ridiculous nightmare over with.”

Sakura smiled that stunningly gorgeous but undeniably dangerous expression. Her hand slipped down to rest permanently on my waist. She squeezed my side tightly, her magical aura flaring just enough to make the air vibrate.

“I will gladly destroy the entire world if she hurts you.”

I pushed the heavy golden doors open and stepped out into the velvet-lined hallway. I was completely exhausted, and the day had literally just started. The hallway outside our penthouse was completely silent. The four massive and heavily armored royal knights were nowhere to be seen, meaning Sakura must have entirely banished them to secure our absolute privacy.

We walked past the solid golden door belonging to our highly annoying next-door neighbor. Leo’s door was literally plastered with glowing magical wards and splashing holy water.

“He is a complete and utter paranoid idiot.”

“You literally tied our front door shut with thirty feet of heavy hemp rope.”

“My methods are grounded in highly practical and lethal reality.”

I decided not to argue with a psychotic princess who carried thirty silver knives in her luggage. We reached the grand platinum elevator at the end of the expensive velvet hallway. The doors slid open silently, and we stepped inside the mirrored box. Sakura immediately backed me into the corner of the elevator car. She pressed her body flush against mine, her crimson eyes staring deeply into my soul.

“Remember the absolute most important rule of this duel, Dylan.”

“Do not die horribly?”

“Do not let her touch you.”

Her voice was a dark, terrifying whisper that echoed in the small enclosed space.

“If her filthy hands touch your perfect skin, I will cut them off.”

I swallowed hard and nodded my head slowly.

“I will actively try to avoid getting hit by the giant, lethal sword.”

The elevator chimed a soft, magical bell tone, and the doors opened to the ground floor. The morning sunlight poured through the massive diamond pillars of our dormitory lobby. The bright light did absolutely nothing to chase away the dark dread pooling in my stomach. I just wanted to be a normal guy who baked normal things. Instead, I was marching toward a brutal arena fight with a literal yandere death god clinging to my arm.