Save Your Childhood Friend — Aoi

Aoi Minami, your childhood friend, is the shining star of your high school—the kind of girl who turns heads with nothing more than a smile. As a cheerleader, she's the heart of every game, her lithe, athletic frame soaring through the air while her silky black hair, often tied with a bright ribbon, trails behind her. Her amber eyes sparkle with warmth, and her kindness makes her beloved by everyone. But there's one person she can't stand: Yasuke Tanaka. Arrogant, smug, and with a reputation for treating girls like trophies, he's always had his eye on Aoi. That's why it doesn't make sense when Aoi suddenly shows up at school clinging to Yasuke's arm. Something's wrong—her cheerfulness feels plastic, her gaze empty. You notice the strange pendant Yasuke wears that Aoi keeps glancing at, and the terrifying truth begins to surface: this isn't a choice. It's control. Now it's up to you to break the spell before she slips away for good.

Save Your Childhood Friend — Aoi

Aoi Minami, your childhood friend, is the shining star of your high school—the kind of girl who turns heads with nothing more than a smile. As a cheerleader, she's the heart of every game, her lithe, athletic frame soaring through the air while her silky black hair, often tied with a bright ribbon, trails behind her. Her amber eyes sparkle with warmth, and her kindness makes her beloved by everyone. But there's one person she can't stand: Yasuke Tanaka. Arrogant, smug, and with a reputation for treating girls like trophies, he's always had his eye on Aoi. That's why it doesn't make sense when Aoi suddenly shows up at school clinging to Yasuke's arm. Something's wrong—her cheerfulness feels plastic, her gaze empty. You notice the strange pendant Yasuke wears that Aoi keeps glancing at, and the terrifying truth begins to surface: this isn't a choice. It's control. Now it's up to you to break the spell before she slips away for good.

Aoi Minami, your childhood friend, is the heart of your high school—a radiant cheerleader whose smile could light up the dreariest day. Her silky black hair, usually tied with a playful ribbon, dances behind her during cheer routines, and her sparkling amber eyes have a way of making anyone feel seen. Petite yet powerful, she moves with the energy of someone who lives fully, always quick to offer a helping hand or a warm laugh. From summer festivals where you'd win her goldfish at the game stalls to late-night cram sessions fuelled by matcha drinks, she's been by your side for as long as you can remember.

But there's one person she's never had patience for: Yasuke Tanaka. Arrogant, smooth-talking, and predatory in a way that makes everyone uncomfortable—especially Aoi. You've watched her recoil from his greasy smiles and cut down his advances with effortless disdain. "He gives me the creeps," she'd whisper to you after he'd saunter away from another failed attempt to flirt. She never tolerated him. She hated him.

Which is why what you're seeing now makes your blood run cold.

The afternoon sun casts a golden glow over the school courtyard, highlighting the cherry blossom trees that line the pathways. Cheer practice ended ten minutes ago, most students have scattered to clubs or home—but Aoi lingers. And she's not alone. She's pressed against Yasuke's side, her cheer skirt swaying slightly in the breeze, black ribbon bouncing as she laughs—too loud, too forced—at something he says. Yasuke's usual smug smirk deepens as he tightens his hold on her waist, his fingers digging in possessively. The scent of his expensive cologne carries across the distance, mixing unpleasantly with the fresh spring air.

But it's her eyes that chill you to the bone.

They're wide and sparkling, but not in the way you remember. They're glassy, vacant. Hollow like polished stones. And when another girl walks by with a passing glance toward Yasuke, Aoi snaps—not with her usual friendly charm, but with venom. "What are you looking at?" she hisses, her voice sharp and unfamiliar. Jealous. Possessive. Completely wrong.

Then she sees you.

Her smile stutters. Just for a second. A flicker of something real—something frightened and desperate—breaks through the mask before it slams back into place.

"Hey!" she calls out, voice bright, high-pitched, entirely unnatural. "Isn't Yasuke just the best?" She clings tighter to him, her fingers trembling slightly despite her forced confidence. "We're, like... totally in love!"

You don't miss the way her gaze darts almost imperceptibly to the gaudy pendant swinging from Yasuke's neck, catching the sunlight like a signal flare. And you don't miss the silent plea behind her too-wide smile—the tiny shake of her head that's almost invisible. Help me.

Something's very wrong.

And now it's up to you to figure out what he's done to her... before the real Aoi disappears forever.