When the person I used to admire, turned out to be a Yandere!

Emiko was feeling helpless.

It has already been morning but she has yet to get a wink of sleep. It has been like this for some time now.

After returning from Kyoto, she barely knew how her days were passing. She has been dragging her life in wait for some miracle to occur and for her Haru-kun to return to her.

She just wanted that one-and-a-half months they spent blissfully in this apartment to return. She never wished for something more than that.

After she told Naomi to announce her decision about her retirement from the modeling world, she seriously didn’t intend to gain Haruki’s attention.

She just felt….tired.

All her previous life, popularity, limelight, and stardom were the only things that she cared about. In this life, she became popular because of her fondness toward modeling, and also, because she wanted to make an impression on Haruki. She wanted him to admire her so he would accept her as his lover.

However, with time and the circumstances which unfolded recently, she began to think:

Was all that worth it?

She didn’t know why but she couldn’t remember the reason for her intense passion for modeling. She couldn’t remember why she was so obsessed with it in the first place. Her popularity also became the reason why Haruki was pushed to the brink of death. Then why should she cling to such a harmful obsession? For her, the obsession she carried for Haruki was what mattered the most. As such, she didn’t need another passion in her life anymore.

….however, Haruki got mad at her.

She couldn’t remember if he had ever talked to her in that manner before. They used to bicker a lot in the last life, mostly because of Emiko’s quirky nature, but yesterday was different.

Not only was Haruki agitated because of her….he also seemed utterly defeated and disappointed.

Her heart clenched upon remembering that sad smile he wore when he was about to leave.

Emiko… disappointed him again. She couldn’t live up to his expectations.

The goal she envisioned was not only hers. Haruki has given his support in every way possible as well. If Emiko worked hard for her dream, then Haruki used to take care of her other necessities. If she failed or lost hope, he remained there with her; consoled her, and motivated Emiko to start again.

The world saw only the perfect Emiko she transformed into, while Haruki was the one who saw her through her every phase and loved them all.

And in return…

*RUSTLE*

“How long are you going to sob, Emiko? It’s already eight.”

Emiko groaned and tried to pull the blanket back…but to no avail. Naomi was just too strong.

“Leave me alone for today…I can’t get up….” It wasn’t that she was, by choice, staying in bed. Emiko knew, that even if she got up she would only fall in a daze at random points—that’s why she decided to coop up for today.

However, “No can do, my lady. You have to get up and have breakfast for starters. Your father is already too worked up because of your mother’s condition. Think, how he will feel to suddenly hear his daughter admitted to the hospital.”

Emiko grumbled as she hugged the pillow close to her; reluctant to abandon the bed.

Naomi sighed as she sat down and asked Emiko,

“What have you decided, Emiko? About Haruki?”

Hearing that name urged her to open her eyes, but she didn’t turn to look at her and replied in a heavy tone,

“Isn’t it clear already? He hates me now….and I deserve it….”

Although Naomi wasn’t aware of the whole situation, Emiko’s continuous self-blame and also the way Haruki reacted yesterday, it seems, it was Emiko in the fault.

However, Naomi wasn’t here to see Emiko’s white flag of defeat,

“Don’t you want to get back with him? Are you sure you can live without him for the rest of your life? Are you sure you would be fine seeing him getting consoled by some other girl and for her to snatch him away? Tell me Emiko, are you letting go of Haruki?”

“Then what am I supposed to do?!” Emiko got up and nearly shouted those words.

Her beautiful emerald eyes were blurred because of her tears.

Her heart clenched at the thought of seeing Haruki with someone else. Her mind went chaotic thinking that they wouldn’t be united again. Her body felt lifeless without his warmth. Her life felt meaningless without his presence….but what can she even do?! He hates her! And he has all the right to do so.

Naomi wiped Emiko’s tears with a soft smile on her face before she took out her phone and asked Emiko, “Are you sure about that? Are you sure that Haruki hates you….since after watching this video I don’t think that’s the case.”

Emiko frowned hearing those words before her eyes traveled toward the video Naomi was showing.

The person in the center of the video was undoubtedly Haruki with dozens of beer bottles around him and the person lazily swaying in his seat.

Emiko snatched the phone from Naomi before she played the video her expression morphing into a worried one.

[…..you really are a great friend Ha-hick-yato~ Thanks for inviting me here and always being there in my desperate time~Cheers~]

As Haruki said in a drunken voice, he clanked his beer bottle with Hayato’s—who seemed comparatively fine.

“This is from yesterday, after he left,” Naomi informed but Emiko’s focus didn’t waver from the video even once as Haruki again spoke up.

[You know…I went to meet her today?]

Emiko’s heartbeat hastened to hear about yesterday….in a drunken state, he was going to let out all his frustration…all his hatred for her.

A part of her wanted to curse Naomi to make her see this and a part of her was eager to know what he actually felt about her now….

….that how much displeasure she has caused to him.

However, her expectations were betrayed when Haruki opened his mouth and began blabbering his true feelings,

[…..you know *hick* I have never seen her so helpless…so sad before….it….it just broke my heart, Hayato….broke my heart….]

Haruki clutched his chest as he spoke those words with a pained expression.

Tears welled in her eyes as she heard him continuing,

[…she wanted my support the most yesterday….buy what I did? I just vented all my frustration and left her alone…ehe~ain’t I the worst Hayato?]

“N-no…you are not Haru-kun….” Although she knew it was a recorded video and Haruki could listen to her words, Emiko still wanted to tell him that he did nothing wrong.

She thought…he hated her, but….but…

[…you know Hayato…I have never wanted to hug someone as much as I felt hugging Emi yesterday. I just wanted to embrace her and tell her, ‘I am here for you’.]

“*Sniff* Haru-kun….” The urge to just throw away everything and rush to his side elevated significantly as Emiko wiped her tears and somehow stopped herself from wailing out loud.

Her Haru-kun…still cared for her. He hasn’t abandoned her…

[Then why didn’t you hug her? I am sure she wouldn’t have minded.]

Hayato asked, in a clear voice, unlike the slurred tone Haruki had.

Haruki’s face fell as he replied,

[…I can’t do that….not until Emiko doesn’t sort out her feelings. She has hurt me and now…she doesn’t even try to patch up….]

The emotion in his eyes vividly expressed the sorrow and anger he carried because of Emiko.

The video paused but Emiko kept staring at the screen while trails of tears kept on sliding down her cheeks.

Naomi sighed seeing that before she hugged her friend from the side and asked, “Do you understand now? Haruki doesn’t hate you, he is just hurt.”

Emiko didn’t say anything instantly but just held Naomi’s shirt and cried like a child.

Naomi held her for a long time while rubbing her back to calm her down.

The giggles and laughter that once echoed in the house were now overtaken by the wails and cries of sorrow.

It took some time but Emiko finally calmed down.