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ベーカリー
𝘽𝘼𝙆𝙀𝙍𝙔

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【 Tuesday 】
*

I stir as the morning light spills through the window, blinking my eyes open and rubbing my face. Glancing over at my closet, I see my uniform neatly hung up.

I head to the bathroom, grabbing my toothbrush and toothpaste.

I squeeze the paste, watching it ooze onto the bristles, then begin brushing my teeth, taking my time.

After spitting it out, I rinse my mouth with water before spitting that out as well.

Wiping my mouth, I make my way downstairs.

I grab my bag, which I had left on the couch earlier, and place my bento inside.

'There's a bakery down the road... maybe I should check it out. It should be open...' I thought, debating whether to stop by or just head straight to school.

Deciding to go, I leave early, walking down the road toward the bakery.

The bakery was spacious, and it was just starting to open.

I walked in, instantly greeted by the warm scent of fresh bread and pastries. Everything looked so tempting.

"Excuse me-" The owner jumped, clearly startled. "Oh my, you caught me off guard, dear. You're here early!" she said, laughing softly.

"Oh, sorry about that! I'm new here and just wanted to check the place out," I explained casually. "What can I get you?" she asked with a smile.

"F/D," I replied, naming my favorite dessert. She nodded and motioned for me to sit down.

I chose an empty table, pulled out my phone, and started scrolling.

"Is this seat taken?" a voice interrupted me. I looked up to find a tall, handsome brunette with mint-green eyes standing in front of me.

He wore a white button-up shirt and black pants.

"Nope, this seat's free. You can sit," I said, smiling. "You go to Akademi High, don't you? I can tell from your uniform," he said with a chuckle.

"Uh... what's your name?" I asked, intrigued.

"I'm Amao Odayaka," he said, his smile warm. "Nice to meet you, Amao. I'm Y/N," I said, extending my hand for a shake.

"Ah, you're the new girl, right? You're even prettier up close," Amao said, making me blush.

"Well, I have to head out now. It was nice meeting you, Y/N," he said before leaving the bakery.

Finally, the owner came over with my
F/D and set it down in front of me.

"Thank you," I said, smiling as I carefully placed the dish in front of me. I took a bite, savoring the flavor while gazing out the window.

I finished my dessert and made sure to thank the owner before paying. Taking my time, I strolled to school, not in any rush.

When I arrived, I spotted Ayato lurking behind a tree, watching Taeko from a distance.

Osano stood nearby, arms crossed and face turned away as he scolded Taeko for not waking up earlier, but she seemed completely unfazed.

As she turned around and spotted me, her face lit up. "Y/N SENPAI!!" she exclaimed, spreading her arms wide and rushing toward me.

"O-oh, good morning, Taeko..." I stammered, caught off guard as she wrapped her arms around my neck in a tight hug.

Ayato, still hidden behind the tree, shot us a jealous glance.

Osano appeared from behind Taeko, looking exasperated. "Senpai! Let her breathe!" he said, trying to gently pull her off me.

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Ayato approached the group with a wide, forced smile.

"Good morning, Senpai!" he said, placing a hand on Taeko's right shoulder, trying to hide the excitement of just being near her (definitely *not* in that way 👿).

Osano shot them both a heated glare before his gaze shifted to you.

Noticing you were spaced out, Osano waved his hand in front of your face. "Hey, you okay?" he asked.

You snapped back to reality, meeting his eyes. His face flushed for a moment before he quickly looked away, breaking the brief, intense moment.

A girl with bright pink hair and large ponytails passed by, catching your attention.

"Who's that?" you asked, a little too curious.

"That's Inkyu Basu," Osano replied casually. The name sent a cold shiver through you-

-'she's the one' The realization hit you hard as you recalled Info Kun's strange request.

"I'm going to... look around the campus," you muttered, scrambling for an excuse as you turned and hurried off.

Your heart raced as your mind spun with the thought of what you were about to do.

Sweat slowly beaded on your forehead, the pressure of the task weighing heavily on you.

You scanned the first floor and spotted the cooking club, the one you'd been considering joining.

You entered quietly, surprised to find the room empty. It was completely still, offering the perfect opportunity to grab the knife.

As you reached out to take it from the counter, you heard a voice in the distance-someone was making their way to the kitchen.

Startled, you dropped the knife, and it clattered against the floor. You quickly bent down to pick it up, trying to minimize the noise.

"Oh, it's you," a familiar voice called out, and you froze, preparing to explain yourself.

Slowly, you turned around, only to find the same brunette boy from the bakery standing there.

"Amao?" you asked, raising an eyebrow in disbelief. It was surprising to see him here at your school.

"Hello, Y/N. Are you here to check out the club?" Amao asked with his usual calm expression.

"O-oh, yeah!" you stammered, doing your best not to sound awkward or like you were lying.

"I must say, would you mind helping me bake a cake during lunchtime?" Amao asked, his tone casual but hopeful.

"Sure, I wouldn't mind," you agreed, watching his face light up as he clapped his hands together with a smile.

"Great! I'll see you soon, Honey," he said, giving you a nickname on the spot.

'Honey?' You blinked, surprised by the sudden familiarity.

He walked out, leaving you with a sense of relief, and you instinctively placed your hand on your chin.

'If I'm going to do this... I mean, I don't want to, but if I have to...' you thought to yourself.

'You need to get rid of the evidence and make sure there are no fingerprints...' A grin spread across your face.

'Great idea, Y/N! Thanks to Lovesick Simulator, you're a genius!' You patted yourself on the back before turning your attention to finding gloves.

Once you found a pair of gloves, you carefully hid the knife away, making sure to cover all your tracks.

You then began watching your target from a distance.

"I'm going to the toilet," a girl, who looked remarkably similar to her but with long purple hair and golden eyes, said as she made her way to the stall, seemingly alone.

You creep up from the back of your target, aiming the pointy sharp end towards her. You charge it right through her peircing it through her chest.

She gasped, tears falling down her cheek, and a deep sense of guilt surged through you.

'Now.. to dispose of the .. body' You quickly gathered your thoughts and carefully carried her downstairs, moving with urgency.

You glance over your shoulder, scanning the corners, hoping no one's watching. "This is way harder than I thought..." you whisper to yourself.

The bell rings, sending everyone scrambling to their classes. You quickly toss the knife, gloves, and other incriminating items into the furnace, watching them melt away in the heat.

You fish your keys out of your bloodstained skirt pocket, making sure no one notices, and head straight for the female changing room.

After quickly slipping into your P.E. uniform, you hurry back to class.

As you step through the door, you're met with the stares of your classmates. "You're late, Ms. L/N," the teacher's voice cuts through the silence.

You awkwardly rub the back of your neck, muttering an apology as her voice continues to scold you.

Ignoring her, you slide into the seat next to Ayato. He leans over, his voice barely a whisper, "What happened? Why are you late?" You give a nonchalant shrug, muttering, "Nothing," before he turns back to the teacher, as if nothing had happened.

After class, the teacher announced with a grin, "Alright, class, I won't be here for the next four months-I'm going on holiday! You'll have a substitute, so please be respectful and keep a positive attitude."

The moment she said "him," the girls' excitement was impossible to ignore. "I wonder if he's cute!" one of them whispered, giggling. I wasn't interested in the slightest.

"Y/N, where should we eat?" Taeko started, but before she could finish, you interrupted.

"I'm going to spend my time helping my new friend bake a cake," you said, offering a smile as you waved them off and made your way to the kitchen.

"Y/N!!" Amao greeted, his voice full of energy. "Ready to bake?" He tied a bandana around his head and slipped on an apron to match yours.

You smiled and did the same, grabbing a bowl from the cupboard to get started.

You sifted the flour and sugar into the mixing bowl, while Amao carefully poured in the creamy milk and cracked the fresh eggs with precision.

It was your turn to mix the ingredients, stirring them together until the batter was smooth and velvety.

Amao then added the rich, melted butter and a dash of baking powder, watching as you blended it all together.

Once the batter was perfectly combined, you slid the bowls into the oven.

"Now, all we have to do is wait," Amao said with a relaxed grin. The two of you chatted for what felt like hours, the conversation flowing effortlessly, filled with laughter and interesting stories.

As the sweet aroma of the baking cake filled the kitchen, the timer rang, snapping you both back to attention.

"Look at that, all done!" Amao cheered, excitement evident in his voice. He quickly slipped on a pair of thick oven mitts and carefully pulled both layers of the cake out of the oven-two beautifully golden, fluffy tiers ready for decorating.

With a satisfied smile, Amao began spreading a generous layer of silky icing across the cakes, while you worked alongside him, delicately piping intricate rose designs, adding the finishing touches to your delicious, two-story creation.

He added icing, and together, you guys made rose designs onto it

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"

It looks fantastic!! You know, you should really consider joining N/N. This club could use someone with your skills," Amao said with a grin, cutting a slice of cake and placing it on a plastic plate before handing it to you. You smiled and accepted it with a nod, your fork already in hand.

You pierced a forkful of cake, lifting it to your mouth. The moment it touched your tongue, the sweet, rich flavor spread across your taste buds, and your eyes lit up with delight.

"This is amazing!! You've got to try this!" you said, taking another bite and offering the fork to Amao.

His face flushed slightly as you held the fork in front of him, inviting him the chance to take a bite.

He hesitated for only a second before opening his mouth, and you fed him the cake. His expression mirrored yours, a look of pure satisfaction.

"This really is incredible!!" Amao beamed, his smile growing wider. "So, have you made up your mind about joining?" He raised an eyebrow, his voice laced with curiosity.

"I'll think about it," you replied, beginning to untie your apron.

"Perfect! If you decide to join, you'll always have a place here!" Amao said, his excitement clear.

You gave him a small nod and waved goodbye before heading out.

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Amao's P.O.V

I watched her leave, feeling the heat rush to my cheeks.

(Am I really starting to develop feelings for someone I just met?)
(Do I like her? But what about Taeko-senpai...?)

YOUR P.O.V

Police officers stood at the entrance of the school, the same girl with purple hair standing among them, now visibly crying.

A wave of dread washed over me. Did they find out? I trembled at the thought, but suddenly, I felt a presence nearby.

"You're supposed to be at home," Ayato's voice was flat as he crossed his arms, his emotionless gaze locked on me.

"Huh?" I feigned confusion, trying to play it off, but Ayato wasn't fooled. He continued without hesitation.

"Didn't you hear? Inkyu Basu's been reported missing by her half-sister. The police are investigating. Everyone was supposed to leave." His expression remained impassive as he spoke.

"What are you still doing here, then?" He shoved me aside, his voice cold. "None of your business."

I pouted slightly but walked alongside Ayato as we made our way home together. He dropped me off at the door before turning to leave.

When I stepped inside, a note on the fridge caught my attention.

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Dear Y/N and Judo,
Hello my darlings, if you're reading this, I won't be home until Saturday. Your father and I are attending a friend's funeral, and we hope you'll stay safe while we're gone. I've left $500 for both of you.
Love mum xoxo

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I heard snoring coming from upstairs, and I guessed it was Judo. With a quiet sigh, I headed to my room, changed into my pajamas, and collapsed onto my bed. I barely had time to close my eyes before sleep to over.

EDITED; 15/03/25

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