Chapter 18: The Obsession Deepens
As the days passed, Sakura's obsession with Taro-kun only grew stronger. She would follow him everywhere, watching his every move, and studying his every expression.
Taro-kun, on the other hand, was getting more and more uncomfortable. He would try to avoid Sakura, but she would always seem to find him.
One day, as Taro-kun was walking home from school, Sakura appeared out of nowhere, her eyes shining with an unnerving intensity.
"Taro-kun," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I've been thinking... maybe we could study together? Just the two of us?"
Taro-kun's eyes widened in alarm as he took a step back.
"Sakura, I don't think that's a good idea," he said, trying to sound firm but polite.
But Sakura just smiled, her eyes glinting with a manic energy.
"Oh, come on, Taro-kun," she said. "It'll be fun, I promise. We can study together, and then maybe... maybe we can do something else together too."
Taro-kun's heart skipped a beat as he realized that Sakura was not going to give up easily. He tried to think of a way to get rid of her, but his mind was a blank.
Just as he was starting to get desperate, Kuroba appeared out of nowhere, her eyes flashing with anger.
"Sakura, leave him alone," she said, her voice firm.
Sakura's eyes narrowed, her expression twisting into a snarl.
"Mind your own business, Kuroba," she spat. "This doesn't concern you."
Kuroba's eyes flashed with anger, and for a moment, Taro-kun thought she was going to attack Sakura.
But then, she seemed to calm down, her expression softening into a look of concern.
"Sakura, listen to me," she said. "You're scaring Taro-kun. You need to back off and give him some space."
Sakura's eyes seemed to glaze over, and for a moment, Taro-kun thought he saw a glimmer of sanity in her expression.
But then, her face twisted into a snarl, and she turned on Kuroba.
"You don't understand," she spat. "You don't know what it's like to love someone as much as I love Taro-kun."
Kuroba's eyes flashed with anger, and she took a step forward.
"Sakura, that's not love," she said. "That's obsession. And it's not healthy."
Sakura's eyes seemed to bore into Kuroba's soul, and for a moment, Taro-kun thought he saw a glimmer of madness in her expression.
But then, she seemed to calm down, her expression softening into a look of sadness.
"You don't understand," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I just want to be with him. I just want to make him happy."
Taro-kun's heart went out to Sakura, and for a moment, he felt a pang of guilt. Maybe he had been too harsh on her. Maybe he should try to be more understanding.
But then, he remembered the way she had been acting, the way she had been stalking him and watching his every move.
And he knew that he had to be firm. He had to make it clear to Sakura that he was not interested in her, and that he wanted her to leave him alone.
"Sakura, listen to me," he said, his voice firm. "I appreciate your feelings, but I don't feel the same way. I want you to leave me alone and give me some space."
Sakura's eyes seemed to glaze over, and for a moment, Taro-kun thought he saw a glimmer of sadness in her expression.
But then, her face twisted into a snarl, and she turned on him.
"You'll regret this, Taro-kun," she spat. "You'll regret rejecting me."
And with that, she turned and ran, disappearing into the crowd.
Taro-kun let out a sigh of relief as he watched her go. He was glad to be rid of her, and he hoped that she would leave him alone from now on.
But as he turned to Kuroba, he saw a look of concern on her face.
"Taro-kun, I don't think this is over," she said. "Sakura is not going to give up easily. We need to be careful."
Taro-kun's heart sank as he realized that Kuroba was right. Sakura was not going to give up easily, and he needed to be careful.
But he was not going to let Sakura's obsession control his life. He was going to live his life as he saw fit, and he was not going to let anyone - including Sakura -