March 14, White Day.

Back in my past life as a corporate slave, I positioned this day as a major project that tested both my sales ability and my human skills.

For obligatory chocolates, I would absolutely prepare tasteful department store sweets that the recipient would enjoy, returning them at triple value.

This was the iron rule for maintaining smooth workplace relationships and, in turn, making my own job easier.

And now, in this life.

Despite being a six-year-old girl, I opened the door to Class 1-1 while carrying a massive paper bag nearly half my height in both hands.

"Morning. Everyone, got a minute?"

Before the morning homeroom began, as I called out, all the girls in the class turned toward me at once.

"Nanase-san, that huge bag is?"

"Oh, this? You all gave me chocolate last month, right? I was really happy, so this is my return gift. It’s White Day, after all."

I took out neatly wrapped small boxes one by one from the bag and went around handing them personally to each girl at their desk.

Inside were assorted financiers (small almond cakes) and madeleines (small french butter cake) from a super famous Western confectionery shop that I had my mom order online.

Of course, it was a masterpiece funded by pouring in my entire fortune—my New Year’s money.

"W-What... return gifts!? For us!?"

"No way... In this world, receiving a return gift on White Day... and something this high-end..."

The girls’ hands trembled the moment they received the boxes.

As if they had been granted a ‘miracle’ that shouldn’t exist.

And that made sense.

With a 1:15 gender ratio, in this world of overwhelming scarcity, there was no way to expect the spoiled boys to have any sense of giving back.

Valentine’s was simply a one-sided day of offering.

Even dreaming of receiving something in return was considered presumptuous.

Even exchanges between girls were usually finished on the same day.

In this world, the concept of White Day returns had already become hollow, something that only existed in fiction.

Yes, it had become a fantasy.

"Thanks, everyone, for always being nice to me. Let’s keep getting along."

As I flashed my full salesman smile and winked, girls all over the classroom collapsed, covering their faces, letting out cries like "Hya!?" and "Nanase-saaaan..."

Alright, perfect.

This completely greased the wheels of classroom relationships.

"Oh, Yuuma. This one’s for you. That limited-edition tokusatsu hero keychain you said you were collecting."

"S-Shizuku-oneesama... To bestow such grace even upon someone as worthless as me! I shall enshrine this keychain in my household shrine as a family treasure!!"

"No, just put it on your backpack like normal."

Then I walked over to Suzuki-sensei, who was clutching a bottle of stomach medicine at the teacher’s desk.

"I always appreciate you, sensei. This is a set of high-end caffeine-free chamomile tea that’s gentle on the stomach. It’s relaxing if you drink it before bed. Please don’t overwork yourself."

"...At this level in first grade, your future is terrifying... but I’ll gratefully accept it."

With tears welling up, Suzuki-sensei accepted it, and I lightly patted her shoulder before letting out a satisfied breath.

Perfect.

This is what you call the composure of an adult.

But my main targets were still left.

* * *

After school.

Near the shoe lockers, I stood facing Anju.

"Anju, here. This is your return gift from last month. It was seriously good, so I put some effort into mine too."

What I handed her was a small deep red velvet-style box.

Anju received it cautiously, eyes wide.

"Th-This is... It’s not sweets?"

"Go ahead and open it."

With a soft click, she opened the box.

Inside was a beautifully crafted antique-style compact mirror, with a small ruby-like red stone embedded in the lid that matched her hair color perfectly.

"Wow... it’s so beautiful..."

"You always keep yourself perfectly put together, down to every strand of your hair, right? I think it’s really cool how you put in that effort as a Hojo lady. But—"

I leaned in slightly and lowered my husky voice.

"From my perspective, you’re always perfectly cute even without looking in a mirror. So think of this like a charm. It also means I like you just the way you are, so don’t push yourself too hard."

Anju’s face turned even redder than the ruby stone in the mirror.

Her mouth opened and closed as she completely lost the ability to speak.

"See you tomorrow."

With a small chuckle at her frozen state, I lightly patted her head and headed toward the school gate for my next meeting.

* * *

Outside the gate, Aoi came running up from her school, her randoseru bouncing.

"Shizuku-chan! Sorry to keep you waiting!"

"Hey. No need to run, I’m not going anywhere. Here, this is your Valentine’s return gift."

I took out a navy blue box reminiscent of the night sky.

"Eh... For me?"

"That star-shaped chocolate was seriously my favorite. I ate it little by little every day. I could really feel your feelings in it. So I looked for something I want you to always have with you."

With trembling hands, Aoi opened the box.

Inside was a delicate silver bracelet with a small star charm.

"It matches the star barrette I gave you at Christmas. The barrette goes in your hair, so you can’t see it yourself, right? That’s why this one’s for your wrist. I want you to feel like I’m always with you, even when we’re apart."

I took the bracelet out and fastened it directly onto her slender wrist.

"Alright, perfect fit. Silver really stands out on your pale skin. It suits you."

"Ah... Shizuku-chan...♡"

Feeling my fingers on her wrist and seeing the sparkling charm, Aoi barely managed to stay standing as she clutched the bracelet to her chest.

"This was the best I could do with my allowance, but I’m glad you like it. Let’s head home. I’ll walk you back."

Out of habit, I naturally took her free hand and started walking.

...At that moment, I had no idea how deeply my ‘triple return’ escort had dragged their hearts into an irreversible abyss.

* * *

[Anju’s Perspective]

Late that night.

In her room at the Hojo mansion, lit only by moonlight, Anju sat seiza on her bed, staring intensely at the compact mirror Shizuku had given her.

...You’re always perfectly cute without a mirror... I like you just the way you are...

Shizuku’s husky voice echoed endlessly, melting her mind.

With trembling fingers, she opened the compact and looked at her flushed reflection.

'...No. Shizuku said I’m fine as I am, but there must be a deeper meaning behind giving me this mirror...'

Her overly capable—yet completely misguided—mind reached a terrifying conclusion.

'...That’s it! Shizuku is saying I don’t need makeup to appeal to any man but her! The reflection in this mirror is hers alone... In other words, this is a sweet command from an absolute ruler to remain beautiful only for her...'

"Hyaauu...♡"

Anju writhed and pressed her heated lips against the cold surface of the mirror, envisioning Shizuku’s violet eyes within it, swearing to dedicate her beauty to her.

* * *

[Aoi’s Perspective]

At the same time, at the Hoshikawa house.

Aoi’s room was filled with an even more eerie atmosphere.

Still in her pajamas, she sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the star bracelet on her wrist with dark eyes.

'...Shizuku-chan put this on my wrist...'

The star barrette from Christmas was for her ‘head.’

This time, it was her ‘wrist.’

Through Aoi’s yandere interpretation filter, there was only one meaning.

'...Handcuffs.'

"Hehe..."

In the darkness, the blonde angel let out a low laugh.

'Shizuku-chan put these on me so I can never escape. My wrist belongs to her forever. No matter where I am, even if we’re apart, I’m her pitiful and happy prisoner...'

She opened her drawer and took out a thick red satin ribbon.

Threading it through the bracelet chain, she tightly tied the other end to the bedpost.

'...Ahaha. Look, Shizuku-chan. I won’t go anywhere. I’ll let you bind me to this bed forever with the chain you gave me...'

A seven-year-old trembling with joy, bound to her bed by a red ribbon.

The ‘accessory’ given with pure intention by an oblivious salesman had completely severed the yandere childhood friend’s soul from reality, creating an irreversible ‘prison of heavy love.’