My childhood friend got me drunk and did it with me. I think it felt really good, so I continued being with her as well. ...Yandere? what is that?

Chapter 10: A Subtle Shift

[Natsume’s POV]

The weekend following that morning with Miyuki were… oddly peaceful. Almost too peaceful.

She hadn’t pulled anything outrageous since then. No handcuffs. No surprise ‘kidnappings.’ No forced affection.

Instead, she played her part as a supportive—albeit overbearing—partner.

And, strangely, it was working.

She gave me space when I needed it, even encouraged me to keep focusing on my career, all while making sure I wasn’t overexerting myself. Meals were prepared, my schedule was somehow optimized, and despite not explicitly saying it, she always seemed to know what I needed before I even did.

It was unsettling.

But also… comforting?

I shook my head as I sipped my coffee, trying to dispel the strange warmth lingering in my chest.

This was dangerous. I couldn’t allow myself to get comfortable. Miyuki was playing some kind of game, and I had to stay vigilant.

At least, that’s what I told myself.

Work had been an exhausting drag. My team had been struggling with an upcoming project’s logistics, and the pressure was mounting. No matter how much I contributed, it always felt like we were falling behind. Meetings were never-ending, deadlines felt impossible, and my boss—well, let’s just say he had a habit of making things worse.

That’s when things started changing.

It started with a company event.

One of those networking parties where high-level executives mingled with up-and-coming employees. I hadn’t planned on attending, but my boss insisted. Apparently, our department needed to make a good impression, and I was supposed to be the face of our ‘rising talent.’

The venue was luxurious—one of those high-end hotels where the chandeliers alone probably cost more than my entire yearly salary. The air buzzed with polished conversations and thinly veiled power plays. I stuck to the edges of the room, nursing a glass of something expensive while avoiding unnecessary interactions.

Then, I saw her.

Not Miyuki.

A different woman.

She carried herself with an air of quiet confidence, her sharp eyes scanning the room as if she were assessing everyone present. Unlike most of the attendees, she wasn’t trying too hard to impress. She didn’t need to.

Reina.

I’d seen her name before—one of the key players in the business world, someone who had built her reputation from the ground up rather than relying on family connections. But what caught my attention wasn’t just her reputation.

It was the way she was looking at me.

Like she knew something I didn’t.

Before I could process it, she was already walking towards me.

“You’re Natsume, correct?” Her voice was smooth, professional, but with a hint of intrigue. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

I blinked, momentarily thrown off. “You have?”

She smiled. “I make it a habit to keep an eye on promising talent.”

I wasn’t sure whether to be flattered or suspicious.

“I’m Reina Sakamoto, Director of Strategic Operations at The Taira firm,” she continued, offering a hand.

I shook it, still trying to gauge her intentions. “Nice to meet you.”

Her grip was firm.

Then, just as quickly as she had introduced herself, she leaned in slightly, lowering her voice. “You’re wasted at your current company.”

I nearly choked on my drink. “Excuse me?”

She chuckled. “It’s not an insult. It’s an observation.”

I frowned. “And what exactly makes you think that?”

Reina studied me for a moment before tilting her head towards the crowd. “I know potential when I see it. And I also know when it’s being squandered.”

Before I could respond, she smoothly transitioned back to small talk, as if she hadn’t just planted a seed of doubt in my mind.

I spent the rest of the evening feeling oddly unsettled.

That was just the beginning.

Over the next few weeks, similar encounters kept happening.

I met a few other individuals—some well-established executives, others rising stars in the corporate world. Each conversation carried subtle undertones, small hints that my current position wasn’t where I truly belonged.

The strangest part?

All of these meetings, these introductions… they felt too well-timed. Too convenient.

It was only when I saw Miyuki casually scrolling through her phone one evening, smirking to herself, that it clicked.

“…You planned this, didn’t you?”

Miyuki didn’t even bother looking up. “Planned what, exactly?”

I narrowed my eyes. “The people I’ve been meeting. The conversations I’ve been having.”

She sipped her tea, completely unfazed. “It’s not my fault people are finally recognizing your value.”

“Miyuki.” My voice was firm.

She sighed, setting her cup down. “Fine. If you must know, I may have… subtly encouraged certain individuals to take an interest in you.”

I exhaled sharply. “You mean you orchestrated this entire thing.”

Her smile was infuriatingly calm. “I simply gave them a reason to notice you.”

I ran a hand through my hair, trying to process everything. “Why?”

She leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on her palm. “Because I want you to be somewhere you’re actually valued, Natsume. Your current company isn’t doing you any favors. You deserve better.”

“…And by ‘better,’ you mean your family’s company?”

Miyuki didn’t deny it.

She just held my gaze, silent.

“…You’re unbelievable,” I muttered, but there was no real anger in my voice.

Because, deep down, I knew she wasn’t wrong.

I had been feeling restless. Frustrated. Like I was hitting a ceiling I couldn’t break through. And yet, I had stayed, out of some misplaced sense of loyalty or fear of change.

Miyuki saw that. And, in her own controlling, manipulative way, she was giving me the push I refused to take on my own.

I exhaled, leaning back in my chair. “So what now?”

Miyuki smiled, her expression softening. “That’s up to you.”

She wasn’t going to force me.

She had set the stage, moved the pieces, and now she was waiting to see if I would take the leap myself.

And damn it…

I was starting to think she might be right.

For the first time in a long while, I wasn’t just thinking about where I was.

I was thinking about where I could be.