Chapter 2: I Want to Awaken Dependent-Type Talent — Step 2: Finding a Way to Get Close

Now, I’ve realized she might be hiding dependent-type talent, but what do I do from here?

Even though I love yandere, that’s in the two-dimensional world. For me, who’s never actually seen a yandere, awakening that talent makes me a complete amateur.

Anyway, before worrying about yandere talent or whatever, I need to get close to her first.

If we don’t get close, I can’t learn about her personality and past, making it difficult to find the seeds for awakening her yandere talent.

I’ll go with the approach of getting close first, then supporting her so her talent can flourish.

First, I set getting close to her as my primary goal.

Getting close—this is perfect. After all, I have experience I’ve cultivated.

Hmm, first become childhood friends… impossible. Become unrelated family members… also impossible. Save her from a molester… impossible. Accidentally see her changing… also impossible.

This is strange. My experience is completely useless.

Wait, romcoms aren’t useful references for reality?

That’s right—I have no friends of the opposite sex.

Until now I’ve only been interested in 2D, and my friends are all the same sex.

In other words, all my experience with getting close to the opposite sex comes from romcoms.

I’ve hit another obstacle here too.

What a disaster!

Who knew getting close to someone could be this difficult?

I’ve never thought I needed to get close to the opposite sex in my entire life, so I have no idea how.

Why didn’t I gain that experience?

To think it would hinder my yandere plans…

I deeply regretted it.

However, I didn’t give up.

My love for yandere isn’t something I can abandon just because I lack experience.

My life is on the line.

What I haven’t experienced, I’ll experience from now on!

From there, I was fast.

I frantically researched methods for getting close to the opposite sex online and in books.

How to get close to the opposite sex?

Making friends ~Opposite Sex Edition~

Even monkeys can build relationships with the opposite sex

And so on.

Looking through them, important commonalities emerged.

First, greetings.

Every source mentioned this.

Certainly, this is important.

Greetings can be said in one word, few people can ignore them, and most importantly, they’re easy to do. Even a beginner at making opposite-sex friends like me can manage this somehow.

Also, common topics. This was written about quite a bit too. What does she like?

Oh, come to think of it, she’s always reading.

Maybe it’s a tool to distract from being alone, but it might be conversational material.

And if it goes well, maybe I can make it a common topic!

Alright, tomorrow I’ll not just greet her—if she’s reading, I’ll try talking about the book she’s reading.

Other things… praising her, inviting her out.

These seem better after advancing the relationship a bit.

Alright, I’m starting to understand what to do. I’ve never researched or considered methods for getting close to someone like this.

What a mirror of yandere devotion I am.

Alright, I’ll work hard to become someone who can maximize her charm!

Chapter 3: I Want to Awaken Dependent-Type Talent — Step 3: Starting with Greetings to Get Close

Alright, first I’ll greet her.

I arrived at school and kept taking deep breaths.

Until yesterday I was fired up thinking I’d do this, but honestly, talking to a girl in the morning—or rather, talking to someone without any business—is unfamiliar territory.

Frankly, I don’t want to.

But this is a necessary process for bringing yandere into this world.

For yandere… for yandere…

I chanted that in my heart as I stepped into the classroom.

Several students were already in the classroom, and Sugisawa Akane was among them.

She’s reading a book as usual.

Alright, I’ll say it. I’ll say it.

“G-Good morning.”

I greeted her.

But nothing came back.

Ugh, my heart’s breaking.

Not getting a response to a greeting really hurts. Especially with an unfamiliar person.

There’s absolutely no way I can call out, “Hey, don’t ignore me…”

Is my plan going to fail at step one?

I was about to give up.

But then—

“Ayu-chan, good morning!”

I heard a different classmate’s voice.

That’s it! If I add her name, she’ll definitely know I’m talking to her.

Surely no one would ignore that.

Please! Answer me with this.

“S-Sugisawa-san, good morning.”

Ah, my voice shook. But I added her name and said it in a fairly loud voice. How about it? Please respond.

Then she looked up from her book with a surprised expression, and quietly—

“G-Good morning.”

She responded.

Wow, she responded. Thank goodness.

And though I haven’t heard it much, what a lovely voice.

With this voice, what if she said:

You belong only to me, right?

Stay by my side forever.

Oh, how wonderful that would be.

I can’t stop the goosebumps and fantasies…

W-Wait, no.

My mission today isn’t just this.

She’s reading right now, so I need to use books as a bridge for common topics.

Alright, do your best, me.

It’s okay. This courage will lead to tomorrow’s yandere.

“U-Um, what book are you reading?”

I hurried to call out before she went into the book world.

She had a surprised face again, as if she didn’t expect me to talk to her more.

And she also looked a bit suspicious.

This is bad—was it too sudden?

I’ve never talked to her before…

“U-Um, short story collection. It has various things like romance and friendship.”

She answered.

Thank goodness, she answered again.

This wariness while still answering is also good.

Talented. Yeah.

“I see, sounds interesting. I’ll read it too.”

I said.

Then, with a slight bitter smile, she returned to her book.

It’s hard to keep talking…

Yeah, I don’t know if I did it right, but I managed some degree of conversation. Yeah.

For the first day, isn’t this pretty good?

Yeah, I worked hard, worked hard. Good job, me.

I want to pat my own head. There, there.

Anyway, today’s mission is okay.

So, on my way home today I’ll buy the book she was reading, go home and read it…

Then tomorrow I can talk more about the novel, and surely make it a common topic. Yeah.

Ahh, thinking that these small actions are nourishment toward yandere makes me feel like I’m devoted to her.

The best. I’ll work hard tomorrow too.

Chapter 4: I Want to Awaken Dependent-Type Talent — Step 4: Getting Close Through Common Topics

Today is day two of the operation.

Today too, I must greet her and talk.

Yesterday, I bought and read the novel she was reading. I only read it hoping it would be conversational material, but it was unexpectedly interesting so I finished it in one night.

Even if it wasn’t interesting, I could lie and convey my impressions to her, but I wanted to avoid lying as much as possible.

I couldn’t bear lying to a yandere candidate.

The only one who should be lied to is me.

When I entered the classroom, she was already there.

Good, she’s reading a book again. Easy to approach.

“Good morning! Sugisawa-san. I bought the novel you told me about yesterday and read it! It was really interesting. It used things like word chains.”

I talked all at once. How about that! Too much?

Then she showed a surprised expression again, but—

“G-Good morning. I’m glad, I like this one too.”

She responded.

Yes! I feel like her face is more relaxed than yesterday.

Thank goodness.

From there we were able to talk a bit more than yesterday.

Neither of us could aggressively keep talking, but little by little, we talked about the novel.

From that day, we gradually got closer.

In the morning, we’d greet each other, I’d convey my impressions of the novel she told me about the day before, and she’d share her impressions too.

Then she’d tell me about a new novel.

The time we talk isn’t exactly long, but I think we’re definitely getting closer.

Little by little, she’s starting to open her heart, and I can see her smile now.

And most importantly, she’s started greeting me first.

This can be called a big step.

And today, after those days continued, I have a big goal.

“Exchange contact information.”

What a huge wall this is.

Asking the opposite sex for contact information feels like it conveys you have at least some romantic interest.

But I can’t hesitate over something like that.

However, I’ll say it.

Nothing will start unless I begin here.

That’s right, I’ll say it. I’ll say it.

I steeled myself and stepped into the classroom.

Then—

“U-Um, I’d like you to give me your contact info, Takashiro-kun…”

She asked me for my contact info first!

What is this?

Amazing!

“Of course! I was thinking of asking too. You can contact me anytime. Even in the middle of the night, totally fine!”

I happily responded.

She laughed, saying she wouldn’t do that in the middle of the night, as we exchanged contact info.

I’m not joking though.

When I got home, I savored the fact that we’d exchanged contact info.

Honestly, I’m excited.

Exchanging contact info means—she might contact me.

Which means—she might contact me continuously, or call me late at night…

Yeah, this is dangerous. Thinking calmly, I’m getting a nosebleed.

Alright, first goal cleared.

From tomorrow, I’ll start supporting her toward awakening her yandere talent.