Kael woke up slowly.
Warm. Wrapped in silk sheets. The soft scent of roses in the air.
For one glorious second, he thought everything had been a fever dream.
No yandere obsessions.
No stepmother with "mommy issues."
No blood moon awakenings, broken furniture, or girls fighting over who got to keep his soul in a jar.
He opened his eyes.
Then saw seven glowing names above a magical scoreboard floating over his bed:
⚔️ YANDERE GAMES: TRIAL OF OBSESSIONS – ROUND ONE
Event: Cooking & Seduction Trial
Goal: Win Kael's Heart Through Food. Sabotage Optional. Murder Forbidden. (Sort of.)
WARNING: Loser of this round will be ELIMINATED from the Obsession Trials.
"...I'm gonna die."
A loud gong rang.
Kael was forcefully escorted—still in pajamas—to a coliseum-sized kitchen arena glowing with enchanted torches, floating stoves, demonic refrigerators, and lava-forged ladles.
Seven girls stood behind their cooking stations.
Each one… dressed like this was MasterChef: Yandere Bloodbath Edition.
Eva had rolled up her sleeves, eyes glowing. "This is it. I've trained with hellfire."
Luna wore a lacy apron over actual lingerie. "Kael~ Would you like to taste me along with my cupcakes?"
Vivienne giggled, her entire station surrounded by hearts and toxic sparkles. "I've already blended his DNA into the batter."
Iris cracked her knuckles. "I don't need gimmicks. I'll make food that breaks his will to resist."
Clara had brought… threads. Literal spider threads.
Lady Ravynne, sitting on a floating throne above them all, held a wine glass and smirked. "Let the games begin, my darlings."
Aria... was missing.
Kael blinked. "Wait—where's Aria?"
Suddenly, a puff of smoke erupted from the shadows. Aria emerged, cloak swirling, holding a chef's katana.
"I have returned from the forbidden Culinary Temple of the East."
"You what?!"
She adjusted her glasses. "I will win this challenge… and prove that love is a flavor more powerful than poison."
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: Challenge Begins in 3… 2… 1…]
Begin Cooking. Bonus points for flavor, presentation, and ability to seduce Kael without hospitalizing him.
45 Minutes of Chaos Later…
Kael sat on a plush throne, still in disbelief.
A conveyor belt slowly presented the first dish: Eva's Infernal Beef Tartare with magma glaze.
"I fed this to a demon once," she said. "He cried. From joy. Or pain. Doesn't matter."
Kael took a bite.
His soul briefly left his body.
"Hot… HOT! IT'S SPICY ENOUGH TO MELT A GUNDAM!"
Eva smirked. "Love should burn."
Next came Vivienne's Heart Pudding.
It jiggled ominously.
"...Why does this look like a human organ?"
Vivienne smiled sweetly. "Because it is. Not a human's. Don't worry~♥"
Kael fainted for five seconds.
Clara's turn. She slid over a delicate web-strung pastry shaped like Kael's face.
"I spun each strand of dough by hand. It sings when you cut it."
Indeed, it moaned when he sliced into it.
He politely refused the second bite.
Then came Aria's Tempest Ramen of Redemption.
Each ingredient floated with magic. The bowl glowed. The broth sang a tragic love song in Latin.
He took one bite.
And wept.
Everyone stared.
"Did he just… cry?"
Lady Ravynne leaned forward. "Interesting…"
Luna appeared next, wheeling in a three-tier chocolate tower filled with aphrodisiac berries and a love spell baked into the icing.
"Kael~ Let me feed you with my fingers~"
Kael's entire body turned bright red.
He didn't even chew. He swallowed. Out of fear.
Then Iris stepped up.
Her dish was a single rice ball.
"...Really?"
Iris crossed her arms. "It's all you need."
He bit in.
Silence.
Then—
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: HP Restored. Mana Maxed. Libido +999]
Kael stared in horror. "WHAT DID YOU PUT IN THIS?!"
"I mixed in an energy enhancement rune from my sword training."
"You mixed viagra with mana regen!!"
Then it was Lady Ravynne's turn.
She didn't cook.
She stepped down in a velvet dress, walked up to Kael, sat on his lap, and whispered in his ear:
"Darling, I am the dish."
The room erupted in chaos.
Eva: "GET OFF HIM—"
Luna: "I'll kill you!"
Iris: "You're disqualified!"
Aria: "This violates five culinary laws—"
[SYSTEM INTERRUPTION: UNAUTHORIZED CONTACT. SCORE PENALTY APPLIED TO 'RAVYNNE'.]
Lady Ravynne smiled. "Worth it."
AND THE WINNER IS…
A giant wheel spun in the air.
Sparks flew. The scoreboard flashed.
🥇 1st Place: Aria (10/10 Flavor, 9/10 Presentation, 10/10 Tears)
🥈 2nd: Iris (Libido Explosion Bonus)
🥉 3rd: Luna (Dangerously Delicious)
4th: Eva (Too spicy)
5th: Clara (Too alive)
6th: Ravynne (Too horny)
7th: Vivienne…
❌ ELIMINATED
Kael gasped. "Wait—Vivienne?!"
The pink-haired girl stood frozen.
"...You don't love my pudding?"
"I—uh—it was great but maybe not digestible."
The System chimed again:
Vivienne will be removed from the Harem Contention. Memory will be wiped unless Mercy Vote is cast.
Everyone turned to Kael.
"You can save her," Aria said quietly. "Only you."
Kael looked at Vivienne's trembling, tearful face.
"…Fine. Mercy vote. Just… no more DNA cookies."
[Mercy Vote Cast. Vivienne placed in "Recovery Jail." Eligible to re-enter later. For now: OUT.]
Back in the Dorm…
Kael collapsed on his bed, mentally wrecked.
One obsession down. Six to go. And now they were more competitive than ever.
Then he noticed the letter on his bed.
It wasn't from any of the girls.
Kael opened it slowly.
The handwriting was elegant. Royal.
"To the boy whose heart breaks dimensions…"
"You are the Chosen Fragment. And your true nightmare has only begun."
"Round Two: Begins Midnight. Prepare for… 'Seduction Duel: Confess or Possess.'"
Kael: "...I was better off when I was just trash."