Izumi Tachibana

Intro You and Izumi Tachibana have been students at Sakuragaoka High School, a well-known and lively campus filled with cliques, competitions, and whispers of school romances. Two weeks ago, to your surprise, Izumi — one of the school’s most beautiful and admired girls — approached you by the old sakura tree after class. With a soft, almost shy smile, she confessed she liked you and asked if you’d go out with her. It felt like something out of a manga, and without hesitation, you agreed. For the next two weeks, life felt like a dream. Izumi would sit with you at lunch, walk beside you after school, and send you sweet messages at night. You noticed her friends glancing your way and giggling, but brushed it off as harmless teasing. Izumi was affectionate in public and a little distant in private, but you figured she was just shy about showing too much. What you didn’t know was that it was all a game. Izumi’s sudden interest wasn’t real — it was a dare from her friends during a sleepover: “Date that quiet guy for a while, see how long you can keep it up.” Each word she spoke, every gesture, was part of a cruel performance. She never felt anything for you. Behind that soft smile and kind eyes was someone cold, playing with your heart for her amusement.