Giving Every Yandere Villainess Her Happy Ending!

I returned to the academy after delivering the letter, and on the way back, I ran into my brother Gavian.

It was easy to see why he was considered the pride and joy of the Brimstones. He had five women walking with him, and he was actively engaging each one in conversation without stirring a hint of jealousy among them.

We locked eyes briefly, but instead of the usual glare, he simply gave me a curt nod before continuing on his way.

From the looks of it, Father and Gavian were the first in the family to start noticing my progress.

’That’s promising...’

Maybe I’d get another allowance raise sooner than I thought.

Once I arrived back at the academy, I headed straight for the library. The clerk even greeted me now. At this point, the place had practically become my second home with how much time I’d spent there.

”Was I late?”

”No, don’t worry. I just got here myself!”

Anna smiled from our usual spot, already making space for me to sit beside her. But the way she looked at me was different now.

It didn’t take a genius to figure out why.

Oh, Lucius... you poor, stupid man.

✧ ✦ ✧

Our lessons continued as usual. Even though my mana reserves had grown so abnormally that they couldn’t even be compared to last month’s, my progress had definitely slowed.

The spells themselves were getting so advanced that the limiting factor was now my understanding, not my mana.

”You know, it’s nice to see you actually struggling for once.”

Anna teased, watching me try to maintain a spell called ’Radiant Aegis.’

According to her and the textbook, it was a high-level ward that didn’t just protect the caster. But it also automatically counterattacked with whatever spell it deemed suitable based on the user’s mana reserves.

I was honestly curious what it would choose with mine. But property damage wasn’t exactly on my to-do list right now.

”Think we’re evenly matched yet?”

”Don’t get ahead of yourself. I’m still ten pages ahead of you!”

Anna smirked, then added a quiet caveat.

”Although, when it comes to mana reserves... I think you surpassed me a while ago. Honestly, I think you’ve surpassed most of the professors.”

She whispered the last part into my ear.

It was something I’d told her to keep secret between us, partly to avoid making myself a target, and partly to make her feel special. To be the only one who knew she was training a literal legend in the making.

Well... those were the book’s words, not mine.

”Hey... Reyn?”

Anna’s tone shifted completely from her last sentence.

”Yeah?”

My voice came out slightly strained. I was still trying to maintain the spell. In times like these, I really wished a random system panel would pop up and let me invest points into intelligence.

Too bad that wasn’t an option.

”Do you think you could see me as a girlfriend? Or at least... more than a friend?”

The moment those words left her mouth, I stopped focusing on the spell and switched back to passive mana training.

”Yeah, easily.”

Anna blushed.

”Easily...!?”

”Well, you’re kind, skilled, beautiful. I could keep going, but do I really need to?”

Anna let out a nervous laugh, waving her hands in a clear signal for me to stop with the embarrassing compliments in the middle of a public library.

”Well, I suppose it makes sense, considering how you’ve been advancing toward me these past few weeks...”

”What brought this up?”

”Well... you know about the crush I had on Lucius, right?”

Know? I’d have to be lobotomized not to know. Honestly, I think everyone else on the entire campus knew about it too. It wasn’t exactly a secret. Though, since my arrival, the gossip about the two of them had definitely dwindled.

”Well, basically...”

Anna shifted closer to me, leaving no space between us as she glanced around to make sure no one was eavesdropping.

”When Lucius pulled me aside earlier today, he told me to stop spending time with you...”

Her voice was quiet, but there was an edge to it that hadn’t been there before. The same edge I’d heard in that alleyway.

”I’ve known him my whole life. He’s been my friend since we were children. But today, when he stood there acting like he had any right to control who I spent my time with...”

Anna let out a slightly manic giggle, her composure beginning to crack.

”You know what he said when I told him no? That I’d been happy? He looked surprised. Surprised! He hadn’t even noticed. A month, Reyn. A whole month, and he didn’t know I was happy until I said it out loud. But you? You notice when I’ve had a bad day before I say a word. You wait for me after class. You actually see me...”

Hating her oldest bond.

Accepting that she might have misjudged him her entire life. Her brain simply couldn’t make sense of either.

”That’s when I realized I didn’t care! That I actually hated him for it. Is that weird? Wanting to curse him out just because he was worried about me?”

Her hands found my chest, palms pressing flat against it.

”I’d say you’re more than justified, Anna. Actually... let me add something.”

I met her eyes.

”I know you already know this, but I need you, Anna. Unlike him, you’re the reason I’ve achieved any of this in the first place. You wouldn’t... stop seeing me just because he told you to, would you?”

I reciprocated her touch, one hand settling on her waist and the other at the small of her back, the same gesture I’d once seen Lucius use on her.

”You need me...?”

She breathed the words like a prayer.

”Right... you need me. How could I forget that? Unlike him, who’s too busy with that girl... you actually need me.”

I could swear I heard her mind fracturing at the edges. And it made sense. For her, the word ’need’ was practically a trigger.

And I’d spent these past weeks refining its effectiveness through every lesson, every quiet moment.

Planting seeds to make her understand that in my life, she was the center. Compared to Lucius, where she’d recently become a third wheel, background scenery to the far more talented Celeste.

”...Reyn.”

I blinked, and when my eyes opened again, hers were wide, staring as if she could see straight through my soul.

”Be my childhood friend...”

Of all the confessions I’d ever heard, that one was easily the most fascinating.

”What?”

”Be my childhood friend...”

She repeated, as though it were the most logical request in the world.

”Replace Lucius. Need me the way he once did. Treat me as if you’ve known me my whole life, please...”

I’d underestimated her. Not just Lucius, but the entire concept of a childhood friend. The weight she’d placed on it. I’d expected her to crack, but not like this.

Still...

Who was I to say no?