Second Chances

Chapter 2: Fighting Spirit

"Soooo...? How's it been all these years? Get yourself a cool job? And what about hobbies? Haha. Man, it's unreal to see you after so many years. This is a pretty decent neighborhood, y'know? I live not too far from here and I come to the park across from your place almost all the time to jog and take my dog out for socializing. Oh, wanna see pictures of my dog? His name is Nori and he's this cute shiba inu that I rescued last y—"

"You're rambling," Ayano curtly cuts in, bringing the cup of tea to her lips.

Budo scratches the side of his head in embarrassment. "Oh. Eheh...yeeah, I guess I am. Sorry about that."

"Mhm."

"It's just..." he trails off on a somber note. Budo feels like he's in the Twilight Zone. He almost can't believe that after all these years, he's sitting across from the Ayano Aishi, drinking tea with her, in her apartment. She looks older, more mature from the teenage girl he once knew in his Senior year. But her poise, her aloof mannerisms? She's different, but almost exactly the same as before. There's a sense of comfort in that. Like time hasn't allowed her to change from the girl he knew way back when.

Like their time together was frozen in ice until they could meet again, starting from that stopping point when they were getting to know one another in the martial arts room back at Academy High. 

He takes a nervous sip from his cup, hoping his eyes didn't convey the weakness and vulnerability he was feeling from seeing her again. His heart was pounding away, thrumming so very loud in his ears he could almost swear that Ayano could hear it. 

"Come on, Budo. You're better than this."

She gives him her same bored look as he presses on. "We haven't seen each other in so many years now. Not since you left in the middle of the year..." he drawls on, seeing her left eye twitch for a quick second.

He watches as dainty fingers pick up the tea cup from the saucer once again, taking a long and awkward drink that goes on forever. The air shifts in the room and he feels a heavy pressure emit from her, even when her body motions convey otherwise. Finally, she returns the cup to the table and holds his gaze with a sort of heated look in her eyes. It's the first time since they reunited that he really sees her show emotion beyond her default no-care attitude.

"I had my reasons," she levels with him. Like she was challenging him to question her further.

"Oh. I think I touched a nerve there."

"Uh, as I'm sure. I was just surprised is all," he remedies. "I, uh, I mean, none of us at the martial arts club didn't get any notice of it. It just happened out of the blue one day, you know? So you can imagine everyone's surprise when you didn't come to school and the teachers said you suddenly had to transfer schools."

He looks down at his clasped hands on his lap. Memories of that time come rushing in like a harsh wave crashing against his cranium, reminding him of the surprise and piercing hurt from hearing the news. Someone he was getting to know, who drew him in like no other did, had come and left his life in the blink of an eye.