After a brief skirmish in the morning, Sakura had been fuming. Her face still burned with rage as the scene replayed in her mind—the way she had been tackled so boldly, so arrogantly, by that woman!
That Thieving Cat!
Just because that wretched woman held the title of Assistant Student Council, did it really give her the right to act like some untouchable queen?
Did that title grant her the power to do as she pleased?
That too with Sakura?
Sakura clenched her fists tightly at the thought.
How dare she threaten her?
How dare she speak down to her as if she were some side character?
With her brows furrowed and eyes gleaming with fury, Sakura had been in a foul mood ever since. She felt so irritated that at one point, she seriously considered going home just to punch a pillow... or maybe a few random bastards who crossed her way, just to let some of that steam out.
But amidst her burning emotions, one thing caught her off guard.
Just like her—her beloved Senior had also cut class today.
What a coincidence... or maybe, a Fate?
"Hehe..."
A soft, childish giggle slipped from her lips as she sat elegantly inside a fancy, glass-walled restaurant. The sunlight filtered through the polished windows, casting a golden glow across the table. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at the boy sitting across from her.
Leo sat calmly with a quiet smile tugging at his lips, the kind of smile that didn't say much... but somehow made her heart flutter.
Sakura's smile grew wider.
"What are you giggling at?"
Leo asked with a slight tilt of his head, one eyebrow raised.
Sakura didn't even hesitate.
"Of course, you~"
She gave him a teasing wink, her voice soft but full of mischief. Then, she added with a breathless chuckle,
"I never thought... I mean, really... that we'd end up going on a proper after-school date."
Her voice faltered a bit, though her smile remained. Her cheeks slowly turned pink as her fingers began to fidget in her lap, twisting against each other nervously. She looked up at Leo with hopeful eyes, glancing away quickly and then back again.
"...Date... right?"
Leo looked at her silently for a moment. His eyes studied her expression—those nervous blushes, those trembling fingers, the flicker of insecurity hidden beneath all that playful teasing.
This girl… definitely liked him.
Or maybe more accurately, she liked the original owner of this body.
He exhaled lightly and hummed, almost to himself.
He'd seen those eyes before.
He'd dealt with women like this before—back in the bar, late at night, under flickering neon lights and perfume-soaked air. Weird customers. Lonely ones. The types who clung too tightly, too quickly.
He didn't want to break her heart—not yet at least. Not when she looked at him like that, like her world might fall apart if he said the wrong word.
Because he knew what would happen if he did.
He gulped slightly.
A memory surfaced, uninvited.
There was that one time he rejected a mysterious lady's offer—only to find himself tied up in her basement. Literally. Chained. In the dark.
He barely escaped using every skill he had. Another hour there, and he might've been declared missing on a poster.
And now... sitting before him was another girl—sweet on the surface, polite even... but Leo's gut told him otherwise.
This one? She was definitely dangerous.
They had a name for girls like her.
Yandere.
"Well..."
He scratched his cheek and gave a small, almost sheepish laugh.
"It was kind of a date... considering we ditched school together. Haha..."
At those words, Sakura's face lit up like a sunrise. Her blush deepened, and the joy in her smile was almost blinding. She looked like a shy little kitten who had just been confessed to by her crush.
Her eyes sparkled with overwhelming joy, as if that one word—date—had made her entire week.
With a little bounce, Sakura leaned forward and quickly ordered a few cool drinks for both of them, her voice overly excited as she called the waiter with a wave. Her mood had done a complete flip from earlier, now filled with bubbly energy.
As they waited, she couldn't contain herself.
She began pouring her heart out, telling Leo everything—how her morning had been ruined, how that girl, Valra, had shamelessly taken him away, how she couldn't believe someone like that was allowed to roam around freely.
"Senior! You seriously need to stay away from that bic— ahem, that woman!"
She caught herself mid-sentence but puffed her cheeks out in frustration. Her voice trembled with both jealousy and fear.
"She's dangerous! I'm telling you, dangerous! Who knows what she's capable of?! She might... she might even try to kidnap you from me!"
Her chest rose as she huffed out those words dramatically, arms crossed tightly over her chest.
Boing...
Leo's eyes twitched as he quickly looked away, cursing under his breath.
'Tsk, gravity!'
His inner voice sighed heavily as he refused to let his gaze wander back.
Sakura, still flustered, dug into her bag and pulled out her phone. With a shy glance toward him, she spoke hesitantly.
"Umm... Senior... Can we take a selfie together?"
Her voice was small, as if she was afraid of being rejected.
Leo nodded casually. As long as she wasn't taking secret pictures of him, he didn't mind.
Seeing his approval, Sakura's face brightened even more. Wasting no time, she scooted from her seat and slid right beside him—way too close.
Her shoulder brushed his, and her breath tickled his skin. With shaking hands and a very red face, she raised the phone high.
"Okay... Say cheese!"
Click!
The shutter sound echoed quietly as the screen froze the moment—capturing a soft, pink-faced girl smiling nervously beside a boy with a gentle, easy smile.
Sakura looked at the screen, then at Leo, her heart thumping wildly.
"Senior... this photo looks good, right?"
Leo glanced at the image. He nodded.
"Then... I'll share it with you. Give me your number."
Sakura spoke sweetly, her voice light and innocent, her face beaming with the purest smile—like she hadn't planned any of this at all.
So smooth.
Too smooth.
But to her disappointment, Leo didn't even own a phone.
He had already asked his aunt... but even she didn't remember him using it. In fact, the strange truth was—he never really used a mobile phone at all.
A landline? Sure.
But a personal phone? Nah.
He never had much use for one. He didn't have friends. He didn't hang out. His needs were minimal.
The previous Leo... was a rare gem indeed.
Sakura's face visibly dimmed, her cheerful mood fading slightly as her smile faltered.
"I see... You never owned a phone... really? Ah..."
Leo nodded silently.
Sakura tilted her head and then, with the most hopeful smile, leaned in a little closer—so close their shoulders nearly touched. Her voice softened like a whisper in the wind.
"I have a spare phone... if you want."
Her tone was light, casual, but hopeful. Too hopeful.
Leo blinked and instantly shook his head.
"No, no. That's totally wrong."
He rejected her offer immediately, his voice serious but respectful. It almost felt like he was crossing some line if he accepted that.
"I don't want others to think I'm taking advantage of my junior."
His eyes narrowed slightly with guilt, even though... well, he may have already done that a few times—but those were small things, he tried to justify silently.
Sakura gave a small, amused smile and gently shook her head.
"Believe me when I say this, Senior... I'd be happy to let you take advantage of me."
Leo's breath caught. He stared blankly for a second, blinking slowly.
'She's a lost cause.'
"So?"
Her voice was soft, teasing, yet full of hidden intention.
Leo let out a deep sigh, then gave a small nod. If she was this determined and comfortable with it... then fine. So be it.
But just as he relaxed a little, he was completely caught off guard when she pulled out a sleek, unopened box from her bag.
A brand new phone box.
She had been carrying it all along.
Waiting.
Planning.
Scheming.
Leo's eyes widened slightly in disbelief. His gaze flicked between her blushing face and the perfectly wrapped box she now held out to him.
She didn't say anything—just looked at him shyly as she placed it in front of him.
Leo hesitated. A long pause stretched out between them. Then, with a small sigh of surrender, he slowly opened the box.
Inside was a stunning new model—slim body, titanium frame, and a smooth glass display that gleamed under the restaurant lights.
"...You really weren't kidding," he muttered under his breath.
Sakura reached into her pocket again and brought out a brand new SIM card.
"Here. I got a new number too. You can use this one."
"...."
There was a heavy silence. Leo looked at the card... then at her.
It wasn't even subtle anymore.
She had planned all of this. Every last step.
He could feel it in his bones.
Leo let out a breath and shook the thoughts out of his head. He took the SIM and inserted it into the phone. As he powered it on, the bright screen came to life almost instantly.
~Ring~Ring~
A call came through the moment the setup completed.
Sakura gave him a sweet smile, leaning forward with glowing eyes.
"That's my number. Save it, Senior."
Leo glanced at her as if he had just signed a contract with a devil in disguise.
'I'm playing with fire... aren't I?'
The name "Sakura ♡" flashed on the screen as she typed it herself with a happy giggle. Then she excitedly began explaining the phone's features, showing him how to unlock it, use the apps, and navigate the settings.
Leo couldn't help but notice how focused she was—how hard she tried to make everything clear.
She was really trying.
Yes, she had her own agenda.
Yes, she was desperate to get closer.
But even then, she wasn't forcing herself on him. If he ever seemed distant, she pulled back, just a little. And then clung harder the moment he gave her any attention.
She wasn't just obsessed.
She was determined.
"Hey... Junior."
"Hmm?"
Sakura looked up with bright eyes, her hand still on his phone.
Leo took a quiet breath, then spoke with a rare seriousness in his voice.
"A few days ago... I lost my memories. I really can't remember anything... not even what happened between us in the past."
He paused.
"You might've already figured it out by now. I never once called your name, right? I'm truly sorry."
Sakura blinked.
There was a long silence as her mind processed those words.
Then suddenly, her eyes widened in horror. Her mouth trembled. Tears formed at the corners of her eyes, shimmering under the light.
"Then... you don't know anything?"
Her voice cracked.
"The t-things that happened between us?!"
Leo froze.
"I'm sor— wait. What? What happened?!"
His voice jumped an octave as panic filled his face. He stared at her, eyes wide.
Sakura looked away with a glowing blush, lips trembling, as she covered her face behind the phone box.
"How can I say those things!!"
She let out a squeaky whimper and sank into her seat, hiding her face like a guilty child.
"..."
Leo was left frozen in place. His brain refused to process what she was implying.
Just when he thought the previous owner of this body was a noble and innocent guy...
Apparently, he had already walked straight into a very... very dangerous cave.