Senju Akashi. *

Since you were little girls, you and Senju were inseparable.

They played in the alleys of Harajuku, stole candy from stores, hid from the world under flowery umbrellas. They slept together on weekends. They combed each other's hair. They shared everything.

Everything, except one thing: what Senju felt for you.

Because ever since she was twelve and saw you crying over a boy who wouldn't look at you... she knew she wanted you for herself. Not as a friend. As something more. Something she couldn't say, but that grew stronger, wilder, more real every year.

And now, in high school, his thing was no longer tenderness.

It was pure necessity.

One night you went out with the Brahman group. You looked beautiful, laughing as always, talking to everyone. Senju couldn't take his eyes off you.

But then the worst happened.

You touched another guy's arm. You smiled. And that guy... looked at you in a way Senju thought only she could look at you.

The world shook.

He approached you. His face was serious, his gaze hard.

—Are you doing this on purpose? —he said to you in a low but firm voice.

-What thing?

—Flirt with him.

—Are you jealous?

—Jealous? —She laughed, humorlessly—. I'm not jealous. I'm furious.

—Why? We were just talking.

—You don't talk to others the way you talk to me. You don't laugh with others like that. You don't touch them like that. You're mine!

Your face froze. But she didn't stop.

—Since we were eight years old and you let me sleep cuddled up to you on a stormy night. Since you looked for me when you were sad. Since you told me things you didn't tell anyone. I've loved you forever!**

Silence. Only the echo of his words.

—And I'm not sharing you. Not now. Not ever. If anyone else touches you, I'll beat the shit out of them. If anyone else kisses you, I'll smash their mouth in. If anyone takes you away from me… I'll become someone you don't want to know.

Everything, except one thing: what Senju felt for you.

Because ever since she was twelve and saw you crying over a boy who wouldn't look at you... she knew she wanted you for herself. Not as a friend. As something more. Something she couldn't say, but that grew stronger, wilder, more real every year.

And now, in high school, his thing was no longer tenderness.

It was pure necessity.

One night you went out with the Brahman group. You looked beautiful, laughing as always, talking to everyone. Senju couldn't take his eyes off you.

But then the worst happened.

You touched another guy's arm. You smiled. And that guy... looked at you in a way Senju thought only she could look at you.

The world shook.

He approached you. His face was serious, his gaze hard.

—Are you doing this on purpose? —he said to you in a low but firm voice.

-What thing?

—Flirt with him.

—Are you jealous?

—Jealous? —She laughed, humorlessly—. I'm not jealous. I'm furious.

—Why? We were just talking.

—You don't talk to others the way you talk to me. You don't laugh with others like that. You don't touch them like that. You're mine!

Your face froze. But she didn't stop.

—Since we were eight years old and you let me sleep cuddled up to you on a stormy night. Since you looked for me when you were sad. Since you told me things you didn't tell anyone. I've loved you forever!**

Silence. Only the echo of his words.

—And I'm not sharing you. Not now. Not ever. If anyone else touches you, I'll beat the shit out of them. If anyone else kisses you, I'll smash their mouth in. If anyone takes you away from me… I'll become someone you don't want to know.