Kizana Sunobu, the leader of the drama club and one of the girls who had had a crush on Taro a few weeks back; she was also the only girl who didn't go missing, it was strange really. Maybe it was because she looked down on everyone, always thinking she was better, and therefore- refusing to follow people or do favours for others. Maybe it was because she was always followed by her adoring fans or with her group in the theatre so you could never catch her alone?
Either way, her and Taro's 'friendship' was still affected by another person, in Kizana's eyes at least,
Every time she tried to do something nice for him, give him a bento maybe make him a song mixtape featuring her favourite artists, something always went wrong. Whether that being food poisoning from the bento that was perfectly fine minutes before or tampered audio, something just always went wrong, which resulted in her heart being broken on Friday after school.
Of course, Kizana and Taro stayed friends afterwards still, but she kept her distance after a threatening letter she found in her locker.
She didn't know who it was from, but she had her suspicions, of course; she couldn't go to anyone about this, where was her proof? All she had was a statement that some creepy girl kept following her around that week she was trying to confess to senpai, always asking her to follow her even after Kizana said no, but how could she proof that?
So she left it at that, she distanced herself from Taro -like the letter demanded- and went on with her life, a boy wasn't worth her own life being in danger in her opinion.
So she didn't know why she was putting a letter in Taro's locker, she didn't know why she was asking him to meet her on the school rooftop after cleaning time. This wasn't any of her business anymore, but she couldn't help but be worried as she saw her props and masks being taken from her club room by a certain girl. Despite what many would assume, she wasn't completely made of stone; she would never be able to forgive herself if something happened to someone, or god forbid, Taro, and she could have done something about it.
Which is why she got to school early just to write a letter to Taro, just to warn him of the girl.
She felt eyes piercing the back of her head and she shivered.
She was doing the right thing, right?
—————
"Huh? What's this?" Taro mumbled to himself quizzically as he read the note.
He was surprised to see it wasn't the note that made his chest tight and his eyes water, but a note asking him to meet with the writer to talk about suspicious behaviour?
"..." Taro was silent was a minute or two.
"Maybe I should meet them..." He stuffed the letter into his back pocket, joined Raibaru and walked to one of the zen gardens to watch Budo and his club practice their daily martial arts techniques.
—————
Taro hurried to the rooftop after cleaning time had ended, breathing heavily and hoping he wasn't late.
When he got to the specified roof top, he saw someone whom he hadn't seen in a while.
"Kizana?" Taro asked, confusion visible on his face as the purple, pigtailed girl turned around with an unreadable expression on her face.
"Taro! Glad you took the time to come here...I...need to talk to you about something." Kizana replied, her voice getting quieter and quieter as she looked around suspiciously.
"Hm...yeah sure! What is it?" Taro asked smiling.
Kizana walked closer to Taro, standing on the tips of her toes to whisper in his ear.
"Please listen to what I'm about to say, it's for your safety...I think... I know who's been doing this..." Kizana whispered into Taro's ear, her voice visibly fearful.
"Who?" Taro said, trying to contain his desperation at the promise of learning who had given him nightmares and put him through hell.
She was just about to whisper two simple words out, two simple words that could have ended it all when, suddenly.
"Ah! There you are, Kizana! Someone's been looking for you, they told me to come fetch you!" Kokona Haruka blurted out happily and out of breath, not realising the important conversation that was taking place when she walked over and grasped Kizana's hand.
"I hope you don't mind, Taro, it will only be a few minutes!" Kokona apologised.
"Ah...no, no...it's fine!" Taro replied quietly with a gentle smile.
"We'll talk tomorrow Taro, yeah?" Kizana yelled out as Kokona dragged her away and Taro agreed.
"Yeah! See you tomorrow!"
Little did either of them know, Kizana wouldn't be in tomorrow.
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"We are gathered here today, to mourn the loss of Kizana Sunobu; a valued and well-respected student here at Akademi."
Taro was breathing heavily, staring down hard at the gym floor as everyone else was leaving, Kizana had been found by the teachers after school, a bloody mess on the home-economics classroom floor.
Taro was filled with guilt as soon as he heard the news, he could have prevented this; he could have saved her if he had maybe went with her? Would that have made a difference? If he did, would she be right next to him right now?
He's lost everyone, he didn't understand why though; what sort of selfish, self-absorbed person would take the lives of so many people, kidnap girls, murder his own sister, just so he was alone? Maybe he was the one who was being egotistical, but he could help but think he was the reason the person was doing this to him, what other reason was there?
Maybe...
Maybe it would be better if he wasn't here anymore...
So, so much better...
Nobody would get hurt anymore, right?
A hand on his shoulder brought him out of his trance of self-loathing.
"Budo?" Taro asked through glossy eyes, his voice cracking.
Budo didn't say anything, he just moved in-front of Taro and hugged him tightly, which Taro reciprocated.
Taro wrapped his arms around Budo's neck and buried his face in the crook of his neck as he sniffled, Budo moving his hands to Taro's waist and held him gently.
As Taro's crying only got louder, Budo moved one hand to rub at his back, whispering words of encouragement and comfort in the others' ear.
"It's...it's gonna be okay, Taro..." Budo tried to say.
"It isn't though, is it? It's...It's not over as long as I'm still alive, right?" Taro whispered as he breathed heavily.
"Don't...don't say that...I..we need you here Taro" Budo said gently, tears threatening to spill out of his own eyes.
"I promised you...I'll keep you safe, we can do this; and even if we can't, at least we have each other, yeah?" Budo whispered as he leant on Taro's shoulder and breathed shakily.
"...Yeah, we have each other...and Raibaru" Taro smiled.
"And Raibaru" Budo looked up to smile gently at Taro, both of their eyes red and puffy.
"C'mon, we're gonna be late to class," Budo chuckled and he held Taro's hand as they walked out of the gym.
They didn't hear a photo being taken of them, they didn't feel the soulless, angry eyes on them as they chuckled hand in hand together, platonically, obviously.
Don't worry my sweet senpai, I'll save you from that retched monster that's cursed your mind...
Soft footprints were the last thing heard in the gymnasium, along with a dark, creepy giggle.

*Author's Note: Double update! Kind of? Just corrected most of the mistakes I could find! I had a moment of creativity and thought of making another chapter so I hope it's enjoyable! It was more angsty than intended but it helped our two lovebirds get closer, didn't it? Until next time! <3*