The afternoon sun bathed the city in gold, casting soft glows on glass buildings and polished sidewalks. Aoi walked out of her office building, one hand lightly resting on her growing baby bump and the other holding a bottle of juice. Her coworkers had begun treating her like sothing delicate—kind, but cautious—and while she appreciated the concern, sotis she missed the fire of her old days.
She sighed, stepping toward the waiting BMW parked across the street—Ren had insisted on personally picking her up now that she was nearing the third trister. But today, as she crossed the final intersection with the pedestrian signal blinking red, she felt it.
Eyes.
Soone was watching her.
She turned quickly—reflex more than instinct—and that’s when she saw her.
Saki.
Standing across the street, blending among the crowd, dressed in a long beige coat, holding a single flower in her hand. Her hair was loose and flowing, her smile too gentle, too still.
"Saki..." Aoi’s voice trailed off, caught between surprise and cold instinct.
The woman who had once been her rival, her classmate, and her shadow, was now just... there. Like a ghost refusing to be forgotten.
Saki tilted her head slowly, and in a voice too calm for comfort, said,"Congratulations on your baby, Aoi. A girl, isn’t it? I’ve been watching over you... from nearby."
A chill ran down Aoi’s spine.
"How do you know that?" Aoi narrowed her eyes, stepping slightly back, hand resting protectively on her belly.
Saki just smiled. "I hear everything, Aoi. And I still rember how Ren used to look at before you ca. Before you took everything."
"You’re sick." Aoi’s voice lowered, the yandere edge bubbling beneath her otherwise composed exterior.
Saki didn’t flinch. She stepped closer. "And yet... you seem so tired. So vulnerable." Her gaze flicked to Aoi’s belly. "What would happen if you tripped, just once?"
Aoi clenched her fist. "You won’t get near again."
Just then, Ren’s car pulled up beside them, the passenger door unlocking with a soft click. Aoi backed away without breaking eye contact.
"I’m not scared of you," Aoi said firmly.
"You should be," Saki whispered. "Because I’m not scared of anything anymore."
Ren stepped out from the car the mont he saw her tense face, his voice calling out to her urgently."Aoi!"
She turned and quickly slipped into his arms, her heart racing. Ren’s arm encircled her instantly.
Aoi looked back over her shoulder—
But Saki was already gone.
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