Miyuki Mei had always been the quiet yet kind-hearted girl everyone adored. With a petite frame, long jet-black hair, and warm brown eyes, she had a natural aura of calmness that people found comforting. She was polite to a fault, always helping others without expecting anything in return, and her generosity was well-known among her peers.

It started on an ordinary day, as many strange events do. Miyuki was walking back home from the local library, her usual route passing through the bustling streets of Tokyo. It was late afternoon, and the sun cast long shadows across the pavement. She sensed something strange—an unsettling feeling, as if someone was watching her. She glanced around but saw only the usual crowd—businessmen rushing to their next appointments, students heading home, tourists snapping photos.

"Maybe I’m imagining things," she muttered to herself and quickened her pace.

But the feeling persisted.

For the next few days, the sensation of being followed didn’t leave her. Whenever she walked home, especially in the evenings, she would catch glimpses of a dark figure lingering at the edge of her vision. It was always far enough to remain inconspicuous but close enough to unsettle her. A shadow in the crowd. A face that disappeared as soon as she turned to look directly at it.

Miyuki told herself it was nothing—perhaps just her imagination playing tricks. But deep down, she knew something was wrong.

A week passed, and the feeling of being watched became unbearable. One evening, Miyuki was at her favorite café, tucked into a cozy corner with her best friends, Hana, Riku, and Takashi. They were enjoying their usual after-school chat when Miyuki's attention was drawn to the window.

The figure was there again. This time, closer.

Her heart skipped a beat. The man outside, dressed in dark clothing, stood still, his eyes fixed on her. She couldn't make out his features clearly, but the intensity of his gaze sent a shiver down her spine.

"Miyuki, are you okay?" Hana asked, her voice filled with concern.

Miyuki tore her gaze away from the window and forced a smile. "Yeah, I’m fine."

But she wasn’t. She was being followed.

Later that night, after she returned home, Miyuki received a message on her phone. It was from an unknown number, and the text sent chills down her spine:

"I know where you are. I’m watching you."

Her hands trembled as she dropped the phone. Fear coursed through her veins, but she knew she couldn't live in fear forever. She had to do something about it.

The next morning, Miyuki shared her concerns with her friends. They sat together at lunch, their faces serious as they listened to her recount the strange occurrences.

"It’s been happening for a while now. And last night, I got this text," she said, showing them her phone.

Hana frowned. "You need to go to the police."

"I know, but... what if they don’t believe me? What if it’s just some prank?" Miyuki’s voice wavered.

"Prank or not, this is serious. If someone is following you, we need to do something," Riku said, his tone firm.

Takashi, the quietest of the group, spoke up. "We’ll help you. We’ll figure out who this person is. But first, we need to gather information."

They agreed to keep an eye out for the stalker and devised a plan to monitor Miyuki’s surroundings. Riku, who had some experience with coding, offered to install a tracking app on Miyuki’s phone to log any suspicious activity or locations. Takashi suggested Miyuki change her daily routine—different routes, different times—to throw off the stalker.

But Miyuki couldn’t shake the sense of dread. She had a feeling this was no ordinary stalker.

Days passed, and the shadow continued to loom over Miyuki. She switched routes, took public transportation, and avoided walking alone, yet the figure always seemed to be one step behind her. The tension was suffocating.

One evening, after a particularly long day, Miyuki was walking home on a crowded street. Despite the number of people around her, she felt vulnerable, exposed. The sense of being watched had become unbearable.

Suddenly, she heard footsteps behind her—heavy, purposeful. She didn’t dare look back, her heart racing in her chest. The steps quickened, matching her pace. Instinctively, she broke into a run.

The crowded road blurred around her as she pushed through people, her breaths coming in ragged gasps. Panic surged through her as she heard the footsteps close in behind her. The killer was chasing her.

Miyuki darted through the narrow streets, her legs burning with effort, but no matter how fast she ran, the figure stayed close behind. In a desperate attempt to lose him, she turned into a small alleyway, her mind racing for a way out.

But as she reached the end of the alley, she realized it was a dead end.

Breathing heavily, Miyuki pressed her back against the cold brick wall, her heart hammering in her chest. The footsteps grew louder, closer. She was trapped.

But just as the figure emerged at the entrance of the alley, Miyuki’s phone buzzed in her pocket. It was a message from Riku.

"We’ve got a plan. Trust us."

Miyuki’s mind raced. She had no choice but to trust her friends. She glanced around the alley, searching for anything she could use to defend herself, but there was nothing. The figure stepped closer, his face now visible in the dim light. His eyes gleamed with a sinister intent.

"Miyuki Mei," the man’s voice was low, menacing. "You’ve been hard to catch."

Her blood ran cold. The man was the serial killer the police had been searching for. His face had been on the news recently—a notorious murderer who preyed on young women. And now he had her cornered.

But Miyuki wasn’t ready to give up.

Suddenly, a loud noise echoed from behind the man, and he spun around in surprise. It was Riku and Takashi, standing at the entrance of the alley, holding their phones as makeshift flashlights.

"Hey! Get away from her!" Riku shouted, his voice shaking but resolute.

The killer hesitated for a moment, clearly not expecting interference. That hesitation was all Miyuki needed. She bolted past him, her friends pulling her to safety. They ran as fast as they could, the killer now on their heels.

The chase led them through the narrow streets of Tokyo, but this time, Miyuki wasn’t alone. Her friends had a plan. As they ran, Riku quickly typed a message on his phone and sent it to Hana, who was waiting at a pre-arranged location with the police.

Miyuki had known all along that she couldn’t run forever. So she and her friends had set a trap. Over the past few days, they had gathered enough information about the stalker’s habits, tracking his movements with the app Riku had installed. They had predicted when he would make his move.

As they neared the location where Hana and the police were waiting, Miyuki’s heart pounded with anticipation. The killer was gaining on them, but they were almost there.

Suddenly, a police siren wailed in the distance, and the sound of approaching footsteps filled the air. The killer slowed, realizing he had walked straight into a trap.

Hana, flanked by two police officers, appeared at the end of the street. The killer, seeing the officers closing in, turned to flee, but Takashi tackled him to the ground with surprising force. The police quickly moved in, restraining the man before he could escape.

The aftermath of the arrest was a whirlwind. The police had been investigating the serial killer for months but had struggled to catch him until Miyuki’s tip. Thanks to the evidence her friends had gathered, they were able to link the man to multiple unsolved cases.

Miyuki’s life slowly returned to normal after the ordeal, though she would never forget the terror of being followed. She remained close with her friends, grateful for their help and support throughout the ordeal.

In the weeks that followed, Miyuki found herself reflecting on what had happened. She had always been the quiet, kind girl who never wanted to bother anyone with her problems. But this experience had taught her the importance of trusting those around her and relying on their strength when she needed it most.

Her friends had saved her, but in a way, she had also saved herself by refusing to live in fear.

As the seasons changed and life moved on, Miyuki Mei stood a little taller, knowing that no matter what darkness might come her way, she was strong enough to face it—with her friends by her side.