~ Friday 8th April 2016 ~

**FINAL DAY**

My sister was right, I didn't wake up until she called me at five in the morning, to give me another tablet and some water. I was still half-asleep when she was talking to me, my head felt vacant without any worries about Yandere and my friends. For once, it was just me in my head.

"Go back to sleep, Yu-chan," Mariya whispered as she tucked me in that morning, "you'll need your energy for your adventure."

I think I nodded, but I'm not sure. No sooner had my head hit the pillow; that I was back under once more. But it wasn't scary, not in that room made of darkness. It was welcoming and warm, promised me safety. It reminded me of my mother's hugs, which backed up my theory of feeling safe. I was walking along a floor that was not water but acted like it, forming rings around the soles of my feet as I stepped.

I was wearing a white dress to my knees, almost like my pink nightdress I wore most nights. My hair was free around my shoulders, and it bounced as I moved. I stopped walking when the rings stopped forming, only to feel myself float up into the air. I lay down and was brought up a few feet, before I was looking at nothing. Something moved and I saw something mirroring me, a young girl with a single yellow ponytail. Her golden eyes were looking into my own and her smile was welcoming.

"Hi Yu-chan," the girl said, her eyes twinkled.

"Luka," I whispered, tears brimming on my eyelashes, "I miss you Luka."

"Of course you'd say that," she mumbled.

The darkness shifted and I closed my eyes, a breeze telling me things were changing. I wasn't sure if it was still my dream or something someone else had concocted. Once the breeze stopped, I opened my eyes. I was sitting on the stone wall of a fountain, the water pulsing from its centre. It was a clear crystal blue that reflected me back, and I saw wavy hair and big eyes. My lips were a cherry pink. I saw the top of my formal school uniform, the one we were told to wear for special occasions by our teachers.

I looked away from the fountain to see cherry blossom trees growing from the ground, before branching out and showing off their blossoms. A soft breeze tugged a few pink petals free and scattered them like confetti around me. Behind me was Academi High School, and its old promise of equality. I could see the lockers, and knew I would be able to pick mine out. I stepped away from the fountain and ventured around the school, glancing at the gym out of curiosity. How many times had Luka and I gone in there to talk? I walked on, not wanting to linger as I reached the cherry blossom.

This tree was at least forty years old, if not older. It was rumoured that the architect who built the school had found a sapling of a cherry blossom and planted it. But that was in the 1950s at least, so maybe the tree was in its sixties. I placed my hand on the bark, feeling the warmth the sun had given it today. There was a story about this tree, one the older years told the first years.

The story was that the architect planted the tree, and it grew. In 1976, a young couple were being chased by their families. They were star-crossed lovers and she was pregnant. They made it to the tree and the boy had told her, "tie your ribbon around a branch, and pray for us to find each other again." The story goes that she undid the ribbon in her hair and tied it on the tallest branch, praying for her love to be returned to her. A few days later, the families lost interest in the star crossed lovers, and they slipped away in the night. They were together from that moment onward. It was then said this tree was a hope tree, one young lovers pray to for their love to blossom.

As I looked up, I saw ribbons of all ages hanging off the branches, as I had for the last three years. Young love's promise. Kira had told me she and Hiro had tied a ribbon, and I could see her favourite green ribbon in the middle. I looked through those ribbons until my eyes found a familiar purple one, and I reached up to touch it. Hatsune had worn purple ribbon in her hair a few weeks ago, and come into class with her hair in a single ponytail. I had asked her about it.

"It must have been blown away," she had said as she sat down for lunch, blushing.

"Did she pray for love?" I asked the tree as I released her ribbon.

I went back towards the fountain, thinking I could sit the rest of my dream out there. I was stopped when I heard laughter, and I glanced up to see a shimmer of gold. I moved slowly, not wanting to break the illusion I hoped to see. But once I did see, I felt like crying.

Luka was sitting down where I had sat, laughing with Meiko as she held up an egg roll. Hatsune was breathless as she hunched over to catch some air. She must have been late and run from her house. Megumi was standing near Luka, her eyes on the food. She must have forgotten her breakfast, I thought to myself.

"Hey everyone!" Teto and Kira called out, "sorry we're late!"

"You walked?!" Hatsune demanded, "I ran here!"

"Oh right," Kira said, a smile forming on her lips, "I set your watch half an hour forward yesterday as a joke."

"You mean I was never late?!" Hatsune said as she dropped to her knees, "I didn't bring my lunch!"

"You can share with me," Meiko stated as she held out a small dish with the egg rolls.

"Thanks Mei-chan!" Hatsune said cheerfully.

"Hey Yu-chan, are you just going to gawk at us or come over and talk?" Teto asked and everyone looked over at me.

"Yu-chan?" Hatsune asked, "are you alright?"

"You look like you're crying, Yuki-chan," Kira whispered before dropping her satchel and walking over to me, "hey, come here."

Kira wrapped her arms around me and I looked over her shoulder at the others. I wrapped my arms around her waist and cried, dropping my eyes into her shoulder. She rubbed my back, not sure where this had come from. Someone else's arms encircled me and held me close, and one glance told me it was Teto.

"What happened, Yu-chan?" Teto whispered to me.

"I…I…" I tried to tell them "I thought you were all dead!" but the words wouldn't come out. I was scared I would break this dream's reality if I said those words.

"Hey, come on, tell us what's happening," Meiko said as I was guided over to the fountain.

"I'm sure we can help if you tell us," Hatsune whispered as she put a hand on my knee.

"I don't think this is something we can help her with," Luka said as she caught the trim of her skirt and began fiddling with it.

"What do you mean?" Meiko asked her, "a problem shared is a problem halved."

"We're not here, and you know it," Luka whispered as she looked to me, "we're alright you know."

"Why wouldn't we be?" Hatsune asked from her spot on the floor.

"Because we're not here anymore," Luka explained, "this is Yukiji's consciousness."

"So we're her dream?" Teto asked.

"God Yuki-chan, couldn't you dream something…I don't know…male?" Kira mumbled good-heartedly.

"We all know what you dream about Kira," Meiko said and we all laughed.

"We're okay, you know," Teto whispered when I looked up at her, "it's not so bad."

"We'll be hot forever!" Meiko chimed in as she held out some egg rolls to me, "so please don't cry."

"I'm alone now," I whispered.

"You're not going to be alone," Megumi pointed out, "you'll have all the guys, Mariya and your dad. You'll never be alone."

"There'll be no more girl days," I stated.

"When exactly was the last one? What…three or four months ago? I think we grew out of it before all the shit hit the fan."

"I'll miss having you to talk to," I mumbled.

"And we'll miss you, but we'll always be watching over you. Now, turn that frown upside down and go find Senpai. Tell him how you feel, and make this day something to remember. You can't stay here and wish for us to come back. You have to move on and I know you don't want to, but you have to. Now, pass the egg rolls," Luka said before grabbing a few, "go get your man!"

I was pushed to my feet where I staggered before regaining my balance. They cheered for me, telling me to move so I did, running towards the tree of hope. As I rounded the corner, I saw someone standing there. I ran forward and they turned, but with that, the dream ended without me seeing their face.

I opened my eyes, feeling the tears that had streamed down my cheeks. I put a hand up to my eyes and wiped them, knowing they were remnants of the dream. I sat up slowly and felt the blanket puddle around my waist, showing the familiar pink nightdress I wore. I glanced up and saw Mariya sitting in my desk chair, a book in her hands entitled "Teenagers dealing with grief," and she was flipping through it. She looked up as she turned the page and saw I was awake.

"Yu-chan," she said softly before putting the book down and walked over to me, "why are you crying?"

"I dreamt of my friends," I whispered as she took out her handkerchief and wiped my eyes, "and they wanted me to see the boy today."

"Of course you should!" Mariya said as she stopped wiping to smile at me, "this boy is finally going to meet the girl who loves him. You told him you were going to be there, right?"

"Yeah," I replied.

"Well, you're going to have to be there then," she said, "now come on, it's one in the afternoon. I'll heat up some ramen for you."

"Do you mind if…could I have egg rolls instead?"

"Sure," Mariya whispered as she got up to walk towards the kitchen, "mum's?"

"Yeah," I replied, "can you teach me the recipe sometime?"

"Sure thing, Yu-chan," she answered, "now, make some tea! Dad and I are thirsty!"

"What's Dad doing here?" I asked as I kicked the sheets away to follow her.

"He was worried about you," Mariya replied, "thought he'd stay home today. He has the weekend off anyway so I was thinking we could go on a car trip maybe."

"Sounds like a great idea," I said as I went to make tea.

Mum had made the best egg rolls when I was a child. She had added some spice to it, she told me, and had also said she would teach me when I was older. Mariya had learned while Mum was still well enough, because Mariya took over greeting duty. Instead, as I made tea, Mariya taught me. Once the tea was made and served, she caught my hand and showed me how to make them. The first batch were burnt, and inedible (though I tried to say they were only cooked well).

"How do they taste then?" Mariya had asked, her arms crossed as she smirked, "if they are cooked well, eat one."

"Maybe later," I had said, seeing the smoky mess.

"Coward," she muttered before allowing me another chance.

This one was better, and edible. The latter was always a plus as I ate the food. It wasn't exactly like mum's, but there was something there.

"I'll make you a picnic for today," Mariya said as she made more egg rolls, ramen and sandwiches, "you can eat it with him. This can be eaten cold but I'll heat it before we leave. Let me do the basics and then I'll start on you."

"Me?" I questioned as she started working.

"Yes, Yu-chan. You're not going to see this guy looking like a baby."

"But this nightdress…" I whispered as I pulled a little.

"Is a nightdress. Now, what are you wearing today?"

I thought back to my dream, and remembered the formal uniform.

"The formal uniform," I replied as I ate the rest of my breakfast.

"Sounds good," Mariya replied as she turned to look at me, "go for a shower first. I can't work miracles on you right now."

"That's just your way of saying I stink," I mumbled as I put my dish in the sink.

"You can use the rose wash I brought down from Raku's," Mariya said softly.

"Thanks," I whispered as I ran to the bathroom.

The shower was pleasant, and the rose wash reminded me of dog roses. I used my Panda Bear shampoo which smelled like strawberries and then once that was all done, I stepped out into the steam. I was as pristine as I was going to get as I walked over to the sink and the mirror.

"Don't dry your hair with a towel, Yukiji," Mariya said as she passed the bathroom door, "I know you were thinking about it."

"How the hell?" I demanded, looking at the towel I had raised to do just that.

"I'm a psychic," she shouted back.

I sighed before stepping out of the bathroom. Mariya was in her room, and all of her stuff was in there with her. She beckoned me in and sat me down on her bed.

"Now, what colour nails do you want?" she asked me.

"Do you have pink?" I asked her.

"You're in luck," she answered and found a new bottle of baby pink.

She did my fingers and my toes until they were a shimmering pink. She then found nail stickers with pandas on them and stuck those on, thinking it added to my "kawaii" factor, whatever that meant. She rubbed my hands with some sort of lotion and then my face was wiped with moisturiser.

"I think you're trying to make me look like you!" I muttered.

"Is that such a bad thing?" she asked.

I didn't get a chance to answer as she applied make-up and my lips were done in cherry pink. My ears were given her favourite diamond studs and then I was helped into my formal uniform. It consisted of the school skirt, a waistcoat, a blazer, a red bow around my throat that was allowed to hang lower and a white shirt. I located my black socks that went a little above my knee and Mariya found my formal shoes. She left those by the door before doing my hair.

"Hey Mari-chan," I whispered as she tied some hair up, "do you mind if you put a ribbon around the bobbin?"

"Em…sure," she answered as she located my white ribbon, "is this alright?"

"Yeah, perfect," I replied as she tied it in.

Well, once the hair was done, I was put in front of the mirror to look at my reflection. I didn't look like me, but I liked what I saw. I only hoped Senpai would too.

"You'll do fine, Yu-chan," Mariya whispered as she put her hands on my shoulders so we both appeared in the reflection, "he'll notice."

"You think?" I asked her.

"He'd be a fool not to," Mariya whispered as she kissed my cheek, "now, it's half four and I have food to put on. Go see Dad and I'll fetch you at quarter to."

"Thanks Mariya," I said as she stepped away.

"Mum would have done the same," she said as she walked to the door, "she'd be proud of you, you know. Of everything you've accomplished to date. She knew you were destined for big things, and Dad and I believe her. So make her proud today."

"I will," I said as I left Mariya's room and went to our sitting room.

Dad was kneeling in front of a picture of Mum, her smile welcoming as the incense swayed. He put a kiss to her face before standing, dusted his knees and turned towards the door.

"Hi Dad," I said to him as he looked at me.

"Is that you, Yukiji?" he asked as he walked towards me, "you look beautiful…not that you weren't always beautiful…"

"Good save Dad," Mariya called out as I blushed.

"And this is for a boy?" he asked and I nodded, "well, he must be something special."

"He is, Dad," I whispered.

Dad gave me an awkward hug, as he didn't want to wrinkle my uniform and ruin my make-up. Mariya came to fetch me as Dad walked over to the TV. He found a small box and walked back to us.

"Here," he said as he held out the box to me, "I think you should have this."

I opened the box and saw a small charm bracelet within. Mum had worn this for years as a teenager, adding charms that her parents, friends and Dad bought her.

"Maybe," he said as he fastened it around my wrist, "you can add charms to it."

"Thanks Dad," I whispered as I hugged him tight, "thanks for being there for me when I needed you most."

"I always will be, Yukiji, now and forever," he said as he put his head on mine, "I hope you know that."

"Yu-chan, if you want to be there on time, I suggest you leave now," Mariya said.

"Thanks Dad," I repeated.

"Good luck," he called as I put on my shoes and ran out to Mariya's car.

The drive was quick, and we were at the school at ten to. Mariya parked in the teachers' lot and turned to me.

"Good luck, little sister," she whispered as she held out the small picnic basket, "and wrap your ribbon tight, you don't want your hope flying away."

"Thanks Mariya…for everything," I whispered.

"No problem. I'll be here for the next hour so come back if he doesn't show…or scream if something goes…wrong…okay?"

"Will do," I replied.

I knew she was talking about the murderer, and I was thinking of Yandere. I had a feeling the two of them were linked but there was nothing I could do about it. I got out of the car and walked slowly. The cherry blossoms were beautiful, like in my dream as I walked between them. Some petals snagged my hair but I took them out without undoing Mariya's work. I walked to the gym and took a left, towards the cherry blossom. It was there I saw all the ribbons girls had put through it, hoping for a future with the love of their life. Hatsune had put one up there, as had Kira. Mariya might have, but hers may have blown away. I remember one boyfriend before Raku being mean to her. Maybe she wanted me to be aware of it. Dad had once told me that Mum had tied a ribbon here as well, before Mariya was born.

I looked to my watch, and saw it was nearly five. Please let him show…please…please…

(Yandere POV)

I closed my locker, seeing the notes that bitch had left him in his locker. Couldn't she understand he was mine? I switched my shoes and looked back towards the stairs, seeing that girl group talking as if they were still there. It had been easy to pick them apart, and the last two hadn't been much of a problem. I mean seriously, they did the work themselves. What was that girl's name? Was it Gami? No…that wasn't right…Gemi?

I shook my head. It didn't matter anymore, she wouldn't be bothering me anymore with her too cheerful smile. Her and that other one…Luka. That was her name, and she had called me crazy. I clenched my hands into a fist, and took a deep breath. I didn't need to get worked up, Senpai was mine. There was no other girl in year 3, I had taken care of them all. It had been too easy actually…and that was surprising in itself.

"Hey Senpai, you walking home?" some guy with green hair asked.

"No Aki," Senpai answered, "I'm meeting the girl I was telling you about."

"That admirer?" a boy with red hair asked.

"Yeah, she said she'd meet me at the cherry blossoms behind the school today," he said with a smile.

"Is there anyone left?" a boy with purple hair asked, "I mean, are you sure it's even our year?"

"I can go see," Senpai replied, "what's the harm?"

"There's a murderer walking around," the blue haired boy stated plainly, "and you're walking alone?"

Oh, Senpai had no need to worry about the murderer. I mean, why would I harm the one I loved with all of my heart? That would be counter-productive.

"Good luck anyway," a guy with yellow hair said.

"Thanks," Senpai said as he glanced at his watch, "its five now. She might be waiting already."

"You want backup in case this is some stalker deal?" the purple haired guy said.

"Nah, I'll take my chances," Senpai said as he lifted his satchel, "talk to you all Monday."

A chorus of goodbyes echoed as he left. I followed behind a few feet, my heart racing in my chest. Wow, this is what it felt like to be in love. I'd tell Senpai I loved him, we'd talk under that stupid hope tree and tie a ribbon. Wasn't that what Hatsune was always muttering about from the basement these days?

"That girl will tie that fecking ribbon! And he'll be hers forever! Mark my words you psycho bitch!" Hatsune had snapped just this morning when I had told her what I had to do.

Now that I think about it, wasn't she the last surviving girl? I couldn't really remember any others off the top of my head. Well, it didn't matter now. Senpai would see no one standing under that tree, he'll wait and nothing would happen. He would then walk home and maybe I'd bump into him and we'd talk. I think I could manage to say more than "hi" like a tweety bird today.

He took to his left when he left the school building, heading towards the gym. His upset was only getting closer, and it made it all feel worthwhile. I didn't wish him any pain, but I wanted him to know I was the only girl for him. He looked at the gym before taking another left. The cherry blossom tree would take a few metres to see fully, and the fact it would be vacant would also become apparent.

I stepped into the shadows and made my way slowly behind Senpai, knowing he was worried about no one being there. Well…it only helped me…what the?

There, under the cherry blossoms, was a girl. Her hair was wavy and had caught some of the petals off the flowers. She was wearing the formal uniform, her arms outstretched and holding a basket. A ribbon fluttered around a bobbin as she looked down at her feet.

"Yukiji," Senpai said, which got the girl to look up.

It was indeed the class rep. She had been out all week! I was certain it couldn't have been her! And yet, here she stood with a stupid ribbon in her hair!

"Oh hi," she said as Senpai stood about ten metres from her, "I hope this wasn't too much of a surprise."

"Yukiji," Senpai repeated as he dropped his bag and moved closer, "I never thought it would be you."

"A lot of people said that," she replied.

"And you're…the girl who wrote the notes?" he asked and she nodded, "wow."

"I really couldn't tell you on a piece of paper how I felt. I wanted to tell you face to face, and hoped you would be here. I'm glad you came to meet me."

"So…you like me?" he asked.

"Yes," she replied, her face aglow in the setting sunlight, "I've liked you since you helped me when I got lost. You helped me get gum out of my hair once that Aki put in it by…"

"Cutting it with safety scissors," he said and the pair laughed, "it looked horrible."

"Dad thought someone had hacked my hair," she laughed.

"Well, I kinda did," he replied and she stopped laughing to smile.

"Do you want to try this?" she asked him gently, "I don't mind if you say no, I mean, this is all rushed and I can understand with the week that it's been if you don't want to-"

He cut her off with a kiss. Her hands were locked around the basket before she dropped it between them. His arms wrapped around her waist and she held his face carefully. When they pulled apart, there was something there. What the hell was she playing at? Kissing my Senpai?!

"Wow," she said softly.

"I would like to try this, Yu-chan," he said to her, "and I want to try this with you."

"Thank you, Senpai," she said and they kissed once more, this one deeper than the other.

They separated and went to work assembling the picnic. It looked nice, something I hadn't considered someone making for a first meal. Yukiji stood at one point as did Senpai. She turned her back to him, and he raised his hands to undo the ribbon in her hair.

"No," I begged.

"You want to tie this to the tree?" Yukiji asked Senpai, "to pray for us?"

"I think most people do," he replied as he wrapped it around a branch that had a few more flowers than the others, "I think the pair have to hold it as it's tied."

She held on and helped him tie that white ribbon around the branch tight. Yukiji then stood on her toes before Senpai held her up.

"Kiss it for good luck?" he asked her.

With a soft giggle, she kissed the ribbon and he set her down. They ate the rest of their picnic before packing up. I heard their plans for the funeral, but I couldn't make myself move to follow them. So this was what it felt like to have your heart broken? And to think, before he saw her, I was certain I had killed my rival. I had been so sure…

"That girl will tie that fecking ribbon! And he'll be hers forever! Mark my words you psycho bitch!"

Hatsune's words echoed in my head as I watched the couple leave.

"I can never confess my feelings to Senpai now…" I whispered as I realised that I was…

Heartbroken

The End

Hi everyone, thanks for reading this story. It was fun to write and I hope you liked my OC Yukiji :) This story was based on a game called Yandere Simulator which is only 5% completed at the moment. Here's a link in case you want to check it out :) (Put in dots . after the words)

www yanderedev files wordpress com

Let me know what you think and please leave a review. If you have any questions, just PM me and I'll try to answer them :) Talk to you all soon :)