The morning air in Tokyo was crisp, the city already alive with commuters and coffee in hand. But within a small, high-end apartment complex nestled between the rising towers of Ren's business district, the silence was broken only by the sound of shifting paper and the quiet humming of a girl… alone.
Saki Minazuki stood barefoot in her living room, her long hair cascading over her shoulders, dressed in nothing but a black silk robe. The room was elegant, almost sterile—filled with minimalist furniture and untouched designer appliances. It was cold. Empty. Lifeless. Just like the ache she couldn't erase from her chest.
The walls were lined with photo boards. Candid photos she had secretly taken. Blurred shots of Ren walking alone at night. One of Aoi smiling under cherry blossoms. Another of the two holding hands from a distance—on a campus bench, at a cafe, walking down the street. Always far away. Never hers.
She clutched a frame in her hands—an older photo from their college group project. Ren sitting beside her, explaining code with that calm look in his eyes. Back then, she had believed that with enough time, he would eventually look at her that way. The way he looked at Aoi.
But now…
"He married her," Saki whispered.
Her grip tightened around the photo. The glass cracked under the pressure.
Days Since the Wedding
Saki hadn't been invited, of course. But she had been there—hidden in the back of the chapel, cloaked in a simple black dress and large sunglasses. She had watched them exchange vows. Seen the ring slide onto Aoi's finger. Seen Ren smile in that warm, tender way she had dreamed would be hers.
And then, that night… she followed them.
When they drove back to their home. When they entered that new, beautifully built country-style house tucked in the quiet edges of the prefecture. She had stood outside in the rain, watching their silhouette through the curtains. Laughing. Embracing. Kissing.
She had almost walked up to the door. Almost knocked.
But she didn't. Not yet.
Now
Back in her apartment, Saki placed the broken frame gently on the floor, sat down before her laptop, and began typing.
SEARCH: "How to erase marriage records in Japan"
SEARCH: "Legal loopholes for annulment"
SEARCH: "How to make someone fall out of love"
Her finger hovered over the keys. Her lips curled into a hollow smile.
"They all think it's over," she whispered. "But it's not."
She walked toward her vanity, opened a drawer, and pulled out something small and glittering—a gift she had once bought for Ren and never given him. A silver keychain shaped like a gear, engraved with his initials. She kissed it softly.
"I'll save you from her, Ren-kun. Even if I have to burn the world down around her."
Elsewhere — That Same Evening
Ren, unaware of the darkness growing in the city, sat beside Aoi on the couch, his arm wrapped protectively around her shoulders. They were talking about final honeymoon plans, laughing about how both of their companies had granted them generous leave for being newlyweds.
But then, as the wind brushed the curtains and the city lights flickered outside, Aoi paused.
"…Did you feel that?" she asked softly, eyes narrowing.
Ren turned to her. "Feel what?"
Aoi sat up a little, gaze drifting to the window. "…I don't know. Just for a second… it felt like someone was watching us."
The Cracks Beneath Her Smile
In the dim light of her small Tokyo apartment, Saki's eyes flickered, glowing faintly from the reflection of her phone screen. Her fingers hovered above the display, heart thumping with a mix of rage and desperation. She couldn't sleep. Not after seeing them — Ren and Aoi — exchange vows, rings, and smiles meant only for her in her dreams.
Her search history was a haunting reflection of her mind.
SEARCH: "How to make someone fall out of love"SEARCH: "Ways to make couples fight without knowing"SEARCH: "How to destroy a marriage silently"SEARCH: "How to make them divorce each other"
Her hand trembled slightly, but the fire in her eyes didn't waver.
"Ren... you were mine before she even looked at you. She stole you... but I'll steal you back. Quietly. Sweetly. Even if I have to break her heart first."
She bookmarked shady psychological forums and manipulation blogs. Her mind raced through plans — some twisted, some clever, all increasingly dangerous. She would show up again. Not as a crazy ex. But as a concerned, smiling friend.