When Our Eyes Meet (2)

(Eveline POV)

Honestly, the concept of depending on anyone was foreign to me.

Friends? Making them was a skill I never mastered. Despite having companions willing to assist, an overwhelming sense of isolation persisted.

My life had been a series of strings pulled by my parents. They dictated my actions, chose my life path, and even decided who I should marry. Their constant refrain was 'Don't be like those bad people,' or 'You shouldn't do something like that.'

Annoyingly restrictive.

The desire to break free from their grasp simmered within, but my naivety and the obsession to make them proud hindered any rebellious action.

'When the only supporting pillar falls, the tall building will follow.'

When those pillars suddenly vanished, my life crumbled. Without them, I felt like nothing. My dependence on them left no room for personal growth.

It was a tough realization.

Everyone had expectations of me as their Commander and the Hero. Fulfilling those expectations felt like an impossible task. Seeking help seemed like the logical step, but I didn't know how to navigate that vulnerability.

Above all, trust was a rare commodity in my world at that time.

'Seriously...?'

When I finally realized that I accidentally spilled one of my pathetic secrets to Saber, I thought it would be the end of me. Ah... I said it, I could still recall this thought clearly till this day.

'Aren't you forgetting about me...?'

However, even after finding out about my secretly depressing life, that person never judged me.

Instead...

'We're friends, aren't we?'

'Friends...?'

It was at this brief moment, I became confused.

'This is probably the only way I can repay you for saving me back then. Giving you some advice from my expression that I hope that can help you.'

'From what I understand, all your life, you never wanted to bear the burden of a hero... But, it seems like you had misconceptions about your parents' actions. It's clear to me that you don't realize you're their pride and joy.'

...I was?

'You never need to do something special... They were already proud of you! Although their overprotectiveness caused this problem, you can't deny that they tried giving you a choice—to fulfill your dream.'

My choice... and dream?

'Your parents must've realized their own mistake—forcing some of their opinions on you—and tried their hardest to fix it by supporting your dream of becoming a knight, isn't it?'

Though our time together was short, he managed to etch his words deep into my heart. I couldn't forget any of our moments.

He was... Interesting.

Interesting, but weird...

'If they were here, I'm sure they will not apologize. But instead, they'll say...'

'I'm proud of you.'

Ah...

At that moment, warmth filled my heart. I finally found him, the friend I'd long sought since the beginning.

He was a true friend that I never had.

A friend I could entrust with my secrets.

A friend who I can hang out with.

And a friend I could truly count on.

Just when I finally met him... Just when I finally found someone I could finally depend on, someone took it from me...

Maximus took it from me!

However—

While staring at Saber in shock, an unfamiliar emotion welled up within me.

It was strange...

This sensation, so foreign yet oddly familiar.

Ah... Wasn't this the second time he saved me? Why does it feel so different now?

Unbeknownst to me, my face flushed in a mere heartbeat upon meeting his gaze. I quickly averted my eyes, focusing instead on his missing left arm.

"Saber..."

Now that Saber stood before me...

I couldn't lose him.

I couldn't bear losing him AGAIN.

It didn't matter who the adversary was...

Even if it were a God or Goddess...

I will K̶̦̘̫̈́̆̚ḯ̶̡͕̟̖̦͕͝l̸̟̦̗͓͊̆ļ̶͎̭̥̱͈͓͈̻͓͆̐̓̍̕͠ them.

...

..

.

After all, Saber was only �̸̛̻͛͆̄̇̾͐͋͒͐̊͘�̷̢̼͉̹͚̝̘͎̆̄̋̈́̊͒̐̈́̿͑͛̆̍̈́̽̐̾̏̓̔̒̽̍̋̿͗̓͠�̸̨̡̧̧̞͓̥̬̤̭̙͕̻̭͇͙͍̪̦̝̘̜̻͇̫̦͉̝̰̳̼̥̥̙̾̎͆͊̍̋̊̽̃̉̏̈̀̀͌̅͗̄̂̓̈́̎̐͑̏̏͘͘͜͜͜͝͝�̸̡̡̨̨̧̛̠͕̫̼͎̰̗̰̼̪̝̠̈͗̓̂͑̄́͌͆̄̊͌̄̽͐͛̇̋̐̄͑̕̚͠͝͝�̷͔̼̠͋͒̊̋͆̏̃̍͒̃̑͒̾͆̉̽̉̈́͒͊̊͂̂̏͗̔͆̈́̚͘̚͘͜͠͠ͅ�̶̡̡̨̦͍̦̫͙̗̣͉̤͙̪̘̱̮̜̩̟̖̗̪͇͍̦̺̳͙̪̋̅̄̋͂͜͝�̵̛̛͎̰͕̖̋̋̈́̆̊̓͋͌͂̽̎̆̊͑̋̐̈̆̇̏̏̓̓̈́̉͊̄̎̋̈͘͘͠͝͝͝͝͝�̷̯̭̟̰̮͕̪̦͇̯̥̮̳͉͎͎̘͔̺̩̫̮̋̃̾͛...

M̷͓͗̎̃̄̚i̵̡͎̦̽̔̿̓̏̔̕n̶̠͙̰̦̦̟̋͋͛ͅe̵͚̗̯̿͆

***

(Saber POV)

How does a story create or introduce a yandere?

If there are four stages of grief, then it requires five to make one.

Stage 1 : According to the novels and animes I've seen, every yandere character often starts with them always feeling alone. More often than not, these people appear innocent on the outside, but have the tendency to lose on their feelings. It may be due to loneliness, depression, jealousy or inferiority.

Stage 2 : Their interaction with the main character stirred something inside them. They never knew what it was until it began building up. For now, they will cover this feelings with a lie called "Interest".

'That person is interesting, isn't it?'

Stage 3 : At this point, the feeling inside them that had been long sealed will eventually begin to leak. They will slowly, but surely, become obsessed with the main character. Just losing sight of them will cause the yandere in panic.

Stage 4 : Is the crucial point. A small stimulus. Something that will prove as an evidence into their obsession. That's all they need to break that one single point to insanity. It can be something like falling again to the four feelings above, as long as she's in her most vulnerable.

Stage 5 : Comfort. The main character will often comfort them alone like how they usually deal with the other woman beside him. Make the yandere feel special! Make them need him.

This will continue until, eventually, it will break.

They will gradually be consumed by their feelings.

"Saber..."

"...?" My attention slowly returned to Eveline, who was gripping on my clothes tightly. Her eyes met mine again and we both locked at each other's gaze for a moment.

Right...

"You can't leave me again..."

I'm sure of it...

"...This is stage 2, isn't it?"

Guwarruuu—!

Upon hearing the howl of the beast in front of us, my gaze locked onto it, but my thoughts lingered on Eveline.

Her eyes... I've seen those kind of look before.

There's no doubt about it... Her gaze is similar to my master's little sister whenever I mention wanting to meet other woman.

However...

Why does it feel more intense?

"S—Saber?"

After shaking off my reveri, I offered her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, I'm... Fine."

"But... your arm!"

...I guess she snapped back.

"It's just an arm... Your life matter more than this."

I'm not lying... Eveline is truly necessary in the future.

She is necessary to prevent junior—my death from happening.

...That's how important she is.

If she died today, I might as well die with her.

"...?"

A familiar chill crawled over me again.

Not again.

Shaking off these thoughts, I turned my attention back to the wolf.

The monster hopped away, arrogantly chewing the piece, its eyes locked onto me provocatively.

My grip on Eveline's shoulder tightened. Rather than feeling uncomfortable with our closeness, she remained silent, panic in her widened eyes as she observed my annoyed expression.

"Why are you here...?" I couldn't help but ask Eveline.

She took a moment to reflect before answering. Eveline whispered to me, "Some of the other heroes, myself included, entered the city to find survivors. While exploring, I noticed this area was blocked—"

"And you've destroyed it?"

"..."

That would explain the reduced number of monsters here.

"Help the other heroes deal with the Boss outside." Saying this, I gently released my grip on her and refocused on the monster.

"But! You can't fight alone!"

"Who says I'm alone?"

She should be finished reloading by now...

Bang—!

Abruptly, the monster from earlier received a shot to the head.

"I have those GIRLS with me."