Bitter Sweets

Chapter 1 - Sweet Deception

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In Japan, spring days have always had a special charm. Cherry blossoms painted the streets in soft pinks, making every corner look like a living painting. I was attending a prestigious high school in Kyoto, living a peaceful life filled with the quiet comfort of my relationship with Kai and the warmth of my close-knit group of friends. I had no idea that behind this perfect picture, a shadow lurked, Ayako.

I don’t remember exactly when Ayako Takashima started getting close to me. She had always been a quiet girl, a second-year kouhai who, in my eyes, seemed kind and friendly to everyone. When she began joining our group activities, it felt natural to welcome her. I never suspected that every one of her actions was carefully calculated.

Ayako had a natural talent for baking, especially pastries. During group study sessions or school trips, she always showed up with a tray of homemade treats. Her cookies were perfectly soft, and her chocolate cakes became the highlight of our gatherings. At first, she shared her sweets equally among all of us, joking that she wanted to help us forget the struggles of studying with a little sugar.

But over time, Ayako started focusing more on me. She brought treats she knew were my favorites, like dorayaki filled with smooth matcha cream or soft lemon keki, and she seemed genuinely happy to give me special attention. I remember her laughing as she said:
"Ikari-senpai, you always inspire me with your elegance. Let me spoil you, just a little!"
I smiled at her, touched by her sweetness. It was hard not to trust her, she was younger, adorable, and seemed so sincere.

Before I knew it, Ayako became a constant presence in my daily life. Besides the sweets, she started suggesting we study together for exams, knowing we shared some difficult subjects. As the weeks went by, the line between acquaintance and close friend blurred. We began hanging out outside of school, shopping in Kyoto’s trendy boutiques or sipping tea in traditional cafés. She always had something kind to say, and every moment with her felt genuine. I remember one particular outing when she excitedly told me:
"Ikari-senpai, your style is unbeatable! Can you teach me how to find clothes that suit me the way everything looks perfect on you?"
Her words were so simple yet flattering. After all, who wouldn’t love having a kouhai who admired them so much? I eagerly shared all my fashion tips with her, how to choose outfits, apply makeup, everything. I had no idea I would later regret it.

As time passed, she stopped bringing sweets for my other friends. She explained, with a tone that almost sounded apologetic:
"I don’t want the others to think I’m trying to please everyone. I’d rather bring something just for you, Ikari-senpai. You’ve been so kind to me, and I want to thank you in a special way."
It never even crossed my mind to be suspicious. I was used to believing the best in people, and Ayako had never given me a reason to doubt her intentions.

Weeks went by, and we became inseparable. We shared secrets, laughed at the silly things that happened at school, and confided in each other. But she often asked about Kai, questions that, at the time, seemed like nothing more than innocent curiosity.
"Kai-senpai is so perfect for you," she’d say with a warm smile. "How do you manage to keep such a wonderful relationship? I don’t think I could ever do that..."
Looking back, I should have noticed the slight shadow in those words. But the sincerity in her eyes always threw me off.

In hindsight, I should have realized that everything was part of Ayako’s plan. She was carefully laying the groundwork, building trust that she would later use to her advantage. But back then, the thought that someone might be plotting against me never even crossed my mind. Her attention, the sweets that kept arriving without fail, the time we spent together, it all seemed so genuine. So perfect.


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Main Characters
Name: Ayako Takashima

Height: 5'4"
Weight: 120 lbs
Skills:
Cooking
Baking
Lying
Ma nipulation
Bio:
Ayako is a charming yet manipulative kouhai with a passion for baking. She appears kind and innocent, but secretly harbors feelings for your boyfriend. Her ultimate goal? To ruin your relationship, and make you gain weight in the process.

Name: Ikari

Height: 5'7"
Weight: 127 lbs
Skills:
Intelligence
Beauty
Charis ma
Bio:
Ikari is a beautiful, intelligent, and confident girl with a caring boyfriend. Recently, her kouhai, Ayako, has started showering her with sweet treats, secretly plotting to sabotage her relationship and make her gain weight.

Name: Kai

Height: 6'2"
Weight: 175 lbs
Skills:
Athleticism
Loyalty
Confid ence
Bio:
Kai is Ikari’s loving and supportive boyfriend, deeply devoted to her. He has no idea that Ayako is scheming to break them up, or that she’s trying to make Ikari put on weight as part of her plan.