Chapter 1: The Perfect Girl and the Strict Boy

I check my reflection in the glass window of the school hallway.

My long black hair falls perfectly down my back, straight and shiny like an expensive shampoo commercial.

People always say I am the most beautiful girl in this entire glamorous city.

They say my petite size makes me look incredibly cute, like an expensive porcelain doll sitting on a shelf.

I am exceptionally smart, too. I always get the top grades in every single exam.

Everyone loves me.

I am the famous idol of Sakura High School.

But honestly? It is so extremely boring and exhausting.

I walk into the bustling classroom and the chaotic whispers start immediately.

"Look, it is Miko! She is glowing today!"

"Do you think she has a secret boyfriend in university?"

I just keep my eyes fixed firmly on the wooden floor and act adorably shy.

Being the shy, perfect school idol is literally a full-time working job.

I sit at my designated desk near the window and pull out my aesthetic notebook.

Suddenly, a painfully loud voice shatters my peaceful morning vibe.

"Miko-chan! You are looking absolutely stunning this fine morning!"

I look up slowly and see Taiga standing there.

He has bright orange short hair that looks like a messy fruit, and a giant, goofy grin on his face.

He is the infamous class clown, very famous for his jokes, and totally annoying.

He always flirts heavily with every single hot female in this school.

"Good morning, Taiga," I say, keeping my voice soft and angelic.

"Are you free after school? Let us go to the arcade in town!" Taiga leans heavily on my fragile desk.

Before I can formulate a polite rejection, a thick textbook lightly smacks the back of Taiga's head.

"Ouch! What is that for, Ito?" Taiga complains loudly, rubbing his sore head.

I look past Taiga's orange hair and see him.

Ito.

He has neat, short black hair and a very strict, serious expression on his handsome face.

He is Taiga's childhood best friend and next-door neighbor.

They are completely different from each other.

Ito is strict, incredibly hardworking, and extremely good-looking in a quiet, mysterious way.

He has absolutely zero interest in the girls who constantly swoon over his heroic aura.

"Stop bothering Miko," Ito says, his voice low and firm. "We have a massive math test first period, remember? Or do you want to fail again and disappoint your family?"

"You are so hopelessly strict, Ito!" Taiga whines dramatically, but he obediently goes back to his seat.

Ito looks at me and gives a small, highly polite nod.

"Sorry about him. He is a total idiot sometimes," Ito says.

"It is completely fine," I whisper, blinking my large eyes.

Ito just turns around smoothly and opens his thick textbook.

He does not stare at me creepily. He does not blush like the other boys.

He just treats me like a normal, regular human being.

My heart does a weird, uncontrollable little flip inside my chest.

Fast forward to the hot, sunny lunchtime.

I always eat alone behind the old, abandoned gymnasium.

It is my top-secret hiding spot.

I desperately need a break from acting like the perfect, flawless idol.

I reach into my designer bag and pull out my secret obsession.

It is a rare, super limited-edition plushie from my absolute favorite fantasy video game.

I love gaming intensely, but I keep it a total, absolute secret from society.

If people discover the perfect Miko is actually a massive gaming nerd, my glamorous reputation goes boom!

I hug the soft plushie against my cheek and sigh very happily.

Suddenly, a huge, aggressive crow swoops down violently from the blue sky!

"Caw! Caw!"

The nasty bird snatches my precious plushie right out of my delicate hands!

"No! Give it back immediately!" I scream loudly, jumping up in panic.

The evil crow flies up and lands firmly on a high branch of a giant oak tree.

It drops my plushie carelessly into a messy bird's nest up there.

I panic completely. I am far too short to reach even the lowest branch.

Hot tears quickly fill my eyes. I am so terribly pathetic.

"What am I going to do? My precious limited-edition item! I saved up so much allowance for that!" I cry hysterically, dramatically falling to my knees on the dirty grass.

I wail loudly, sounding exactly like a pathetic, useless goddess who just lost her divine powers.

"What in the world are you crying about so loudly?" a deep voice asks suddenly.

I freeze completely in terror. I turn my head very slowly.

Ito is standing right there, holding a neat bento box in his hands.

"Ito!" I gasp loudly, wiping my wet face frantically.

He looks at my messy, teary face, then looks up curiously at the tall tree.

He spots the colorful plushie stuck awkwardly in the high branches.

"Is that a magical fantasy gaming plushie?" he asks, raising one dark eyebrow in suspicion.

"No! I mean, yes! Please, I beg you, do not tell anyone in school!" I beg desperately, my face turning bright, embarrassing red.

I fully expect him to laugh cruelly at my nerdy secret.

Instead, Ito just sighs very deeply, sounding like a tired old man dealing with a nuisance.

He carefully puts his bento box down on a nearby wooden bench.

He walks purposefully over to the massive tree trunk.

He grabs the rough bark and easily pulls his strong body up.

He climbs higher and higher with intense agility.

"Be careful up there!" I shout anxiously, my heart pounding violently against my ribs.

Ito does not say a single word. He just focuses intently on the mission.

He reaches the high branch, stretches out his long, muscular arm, and grabs the soft plushie successfully.

He climbs down very quickly and lightly jumps safely to the green grass.

He casually hands the plushie back to me.

"Here," Ito says strictly. "Next time, do not play with expensive toys outside like a careless child."

I slowly take the plushie back. My soft fingers accidentally brush against his bare hand.

His hands are incredibly warm and shockingly strong.

"Thank you so much," I whisper softly, looking down shyly at my expensive school shoes.

"You are extremely clumsy for someone who is supposedly perfect all the time," Ito remarks dryly.

It is a very strict comment, but his tone is surprisingly gentle and caring.

He does not mock me maliciously. He does not judge my secret gaming habit at all.

He just swoops in and saves me from total disaster. Like a true, gallant hero.

I look up slowly into his deep, dark eyes.

Boom.

That is the loud, undeniable sound of my heart exploding into a million pieces.

He is so incredibly cool. He is so genuinely kind.

I feel a strange, intensely burning sensation deep inside my chest.

I want him.

I want him all to myself, forever and ever.

I do not want any other girl in this entire city to ever see this amazing side of him.

Ito calmly picks up his bento box and starts to walk away.

"Wait a minute!" I call out desperately.

He stops walking and looks back over his shoulder.

"I... I am Miko," I say awkwardly, sounding completely stupid because obviously he already knows my famous name.

"I am Ito," he replies flatly, showing zero emotion. "See you later in class."

He leaves the area without looking back again.

I stand there silently, hugging my rescued plushie tightly against my racing chest.

A dark, dangerously sweet smile slowly creeps onto my pretty face.

He is absolutely perfect for me.

He is definitely going to be my boyfriend.

No matter what it takes.

Even if I have to brutally eliminate anyone who dares to get in my way.

He just does not know it yet.

Later that evening, I am sitting alone in my large, glamorous bedroom at home.

The city lights sparkle beautifully outside my giant window, but I do not care about the view at all.

I am aggressively scrolling through my phone, searching for any digital information about Ito.

I need to know everything about him immediately.

What are his favorite foods? What are his hobbies? Does he like the beach or the jungle more?

I bite my thumbnail nervously.

He is definitely not active on social media. His profile is completely blank.

"He is so mysterious," I giggle to myself, rolling around happily on my huge, soft bed.

My parents are always away working in the city, so the house is totally empty and quiet.

It gives me plenty of silent time to plot my ultimate romantic strategy.

Tomorrow, I am going to make my first big move.

I will make him notice me. Not as the famous school idol, but as Miko, the girl who belongs exclusively to him.

I hug my pillow tightly, pretending it is Ito's warm, strong chest.

"Oh, Ito," I whisper into the dark room, my eyes wide and obsessed. "You are going to love me so much."

I let out a loud, slightly crazy laugh that sounds a bit too much like a comedy villain.

My yandere mode is now officially fully activated.

Get ready, Ito. Your peaceful school life is permanently over.