Reborn as an Yandere : Yandere X Yandere
Gift

Inside the quiet room, after Maruti had left, everything was still… until the door gently creaked open just a little bit.

From the small opening, a thin black tail slowly slipped out.

It moved smoothly, almost like a snake, but its end was shaped like a soft heart—like a succubus's tail.

The tail carefully reached out, wrapped itself around the paper bag Maruti had left outside, and pulled it inside. Then, the door shut again with a soft click—silent and secret.

Inside the room, Kailith held the bag close and sniffed it. The familiar scent of Maruti made her body grow even warmer. Her cheeks flushed, and her breath felt heavier.

She opened the bag without wasting time, curious to see what Maruti had brought for her.

Her eyes lit up when she pulled out the first item.

“A half cape?” she whispered softly, holding it up.

It looked like a stylish black jacket that reached her waist, with shiny golden buttons and detailed silver designs on the edges. It looked elegant and strong at the same time.

Kailith quickly wore it and stood tall. Looking at herself, she felt like a commander leading a grand army.

A small, proud smile appeared on her lips. It was as if all the stress and tiredness she had been carrying for days just melted away.

Then she looked into the bag again and pulled out the second item.

It was a black choker—simple, yet beautiful. She carefully fastened it around her neck and rushed to the mirror.

She twirled in front of it, checking herself from every angle. Her eyes sparkled, and she couldn’t stop the small laugh that escaped her lips.

“This really shows how much she cares for me…” Kailith whispered, feeling a warmth in her chest.

---

Meanwhile, outside in the hallway, Maruti was walking with a relaxed smile. But then she suddenly froze, her eyes wide.

“Oh no!” she gasped and dropped to her knees.

“I gave both of them to her!”

Maruti had meant to give the black choker to Alice, thinking maybe the beastkin girl would like it. The half cape was meant for Kailith. But in her rush, she had given both gifts to Kailith without realizing.

She looked back at the hallway but sighed deeply.

“There’s no point in going back now…” she mumbled.

Too embarrassed to face Kailith, Maruti gave up on taking it back. Instead, she sat down on a bench nearby to relax and clear her mind.

With her eyes closed and her body finally at peace, she let out a soft breath.

But then—out of nowhere—a hand reached from behind and quickly locked something around her neck with a click!

Maruti’s eyes snapped open. Her hand flew up to her neck.

“A-Ah?!”

Her heart raced when she realized what it was—it wasn’t just a normal collar.

It was a slave collar.

“Yay! I’m finally your owner officially!” came a cheerful voice behind Maruti.

There was no mistaking it—it was Alice.

She jumped around like an excited child and sat beside Maruti with a wide, smug grin on her face.

But before she could enjoy her little moment of victory, something strange happened.

A small crack appeared on the slave collar.

The magical glow around it faded away in an instant.

Maruti grabbed the collar, and with a small grunt of effort, bent the metal and pulled it off her neck with ease.

“Thank God I have the Freedom Essence Stone,” she muttered with relief, tossing the broken collar aside.

Alice’s proud expression dropped instantly.

But instead of shouting or complaining, her expression shifted. Her posture changed. Her whole vibe became soft and quiet—as if a different person had suddenly taken her place.

Alice fell to her knees and lowered her head.

“I’m sorry. I’m really sorry for what I did…”

Maruti was ready to yell at her, but then she sighed. She could tell this wasn't the same Alice anymore.

“It was Arlecchino, right?” Maruti muttered, rubbing her temples with a tired look.

“That’s one hell of a trick. Do whatever you want, and then switch back to act innocent so no one can blame you...”

Alice sat back down beside Maruti, avoiding eye contact. Her energy was completely different now.

She let out a long sigh.

“My other personality used most of my money to buy that slave collar… now I’ll have to survive on the maintenance budget for the next six months,” she mumbled, her voice quiet and full of regret.

Neither of them looked at each other. An awkward silence filled the space between them.

After a few seconds, Alice finally broke it.

“I’m pathetic, aren’t I?”

Maruti blinked and asked casually, “Why?”

Alice didn’t look up. Her voice was soft, almost shaky.

“I’m too weak to stop her. I can’t control my other personality. I rely on her to survive, even though… even though she’s ruined so many parts of my life.”

She let out a bitter laugh—dry and empty.

“Like what?” Maruti asked, not because she was curious, but because she wanted Alice to feel like someone was listening.

There was a heavy pause.

Then Alice said something that made the air turn cold.

“I killed my own parents.”

Maruti’s eyes widened slightly, but she stayed quiet and let Alice continue.

“I was only six years old,” Alice said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I didn’t know anything. Arlecchino took over, and I don’t even know why she did it… but when I came back to my senses…”

Her voice cracked, and tears filled her eyes.

“I was at the edge of a cliff. My mother had already fallen. My father was hanging on by his fingers… bleeding and barely holding on.”

Maruti watched her silently, her hands resting on her lap.

“I ran to him,” Alice continued, her voice trembling. “I tried to pull him up. I really did. But I was just a kid. Even though I had the power to beat of them, I wasn’t strong enough to pull one.”

She choked on her next words as a single tear rolled down her cheek.

“I let him fall. Right in front of me… I let my father fall…”

She covered her face with her hands and whispered to herself, “I’m just too pathetic…”

Maruti sat still for a moment. She wanted to say something—anything—but she couldn’t find the right words.

After a short pause, she quietly asked, “Don’t you and Arlecchino share memories? You should know why she did that.”

Alice slowly shook her head.

“I don’t remember,” she whispered. “No matter how hard I try… I can’t remember anything from that day. It’s just… blank.”

Maruti didn’t say anything right away.

Her face looked blank, almost cold—but inside, she was feeling incredibly awkward.

“Does she want me to say something comforting? What am I even supposed to say to something like that? And why should I?” Her thoughts raced as she stared at Alice, still sitting there with red eyes and a downcast face.

After a few seconds of silence, Maruti let out a quiet sigh and scratched her head.

She finally looked at Alice and said in a calm voice, “I think… you need to train yourself more. Build some confidence. Maybe one day, you and that other side of you—Arlecchino—can understand each other. Maybe even… make peace.”

Her voice was a little dry, not exactly warm, but it was the best she could offer.

Alice looked up, her eyes slightly hopeful. “You… you think so?”

Maruti didn’t answer with words. Instead, she reached behind her and pulled out her newly-won saber.

She looked at it for a second, then held it out to Alice.

“Take it,” she said in a quiet voice. “It’s a gift.”

Alice’s eyes sparkled like a child given candy.

“For me?” she gasped, clearly touched.

But then… her behavior flipped in an instant.

She held the saber close and started licking it in a slow, weirdly lewd way, as if tasting something delicious.

Maruti’s eye twitched in annoyance.

She didn’t hesitate—smack!

She hit Alice lightly on the head with the side of her hand.

“Stop licking everything I give you, damn it!” she snapped, her face red with a mix of embarrassment and frustration.