Bite the hand that feeds one || Ayato Aishi/Male Rivals

Chapter 7

———Oko Ruto

  I saw him. That boy. He just waltzed into the maze as if he knew it like the back of his hand. At first, it was just curiosity. His demeanor was different from others. It wasn't dark, however it wasn't very light either. It was just.. dull. Eventually, after days of him living rent free in my head, curiosity transitioned into pure interest. I would catch myself daydreaming about him. I would be so close to approaching him and then my confidence would slip away from me, like water. When I was feeling confident, I was feeling guilty. I wanted to stay loyal to my crush on Taeko. She has a promising future with me, that I know for sure, and I don't even know this guy's name.
After the interest phase, I became a little obsessed. Who was this guy? What does he like? What's his social life like? Will we be compatible?
  I clutched my occult book to my chest. Should I go in there? Should I stay? I want to talk to him so bad. Eventually, I decided on hiding behind the side of the maze and wait for him there.

  After ten minutes of fiddling with my button up, I could hear his footsteps getting louder and eventually he walked out. As graceful as it was, I was dumbfounded by how fast he found his way out, it would take me an hour or two but I'm never in there anyway. He held something in his hand and he stared at it, for a long time.
I quietly got up from my spot and he turned. We made eye contact. He had a faint startled look to him and I almost didn't notice it if it weren't for his grey, piercing eyes.

  He turned back around and started his walk away from. My legs froze and I watched him walk with unending disappointment.

____

I slipped my black robe on over my uniform, Taeko by my side as she took a look inside the occult book. "So you think 'Yato was.. blessed..?" Taeko gave me a quizzical smile, "I do. How else is someone born with such.. features?" I smiled back. "Well, he could've just won the genetic lottery. Personally, I'm into people with cleaner faces." She glanced back down at the book, I took the time to admire her. Surely it was okay to have two crushes..
"I think I like both clean faces and covered. Ayato.. he's... He has a lot going on in his face, it's nice to look at. Every tanned freckle, every mole.." Taeko perked up. "Mole? He doesn't have any moles. Ayano has moles though, maybe you got them confused, they are twins after all." I furrowed my eyebrows down at her and before I opened my mouth, my club mate, Supana, spoke up. "No, no.. that's wrong, Taeko." She spoke gently. "Aishi-Kun is almost a year younger than Aishi-Chan." Taeko's eyes widened as she shut the book. "Wait really..? I always thought they were twins! Wow! Ayato must be super smart to be graduating when we are then!" She put a finger on her chin as Supana smiled gently. "Oko didn't tell you this..?" Taeko shook her head. "No.. why.."
"Well Oko tells me-"
"Ahem! I just tell her what I think about.. students..." I nervously laughed, playing with the hem of my robe.
"Oh? Well, what do you think about me then?" Taeko teased, giving me a wink, my pale face transitioned into a weak blush.
"O-Oh! Um- well-" I stuttered and Taeko giggled, "I'm just kidding, Oko." Supana joined Taeko's soft laughter. I sighed shakily and grabbed the book out of Taeko's hands. I don't think I could handle her today..

"Are we ready to start the ritual?" Shin walked up behind us, in a robe of his own, Chojo by his side holding a three-headed candle. Supana nodded, "Yeah. Everyone places" Supana announced. My Occult club members, including Taeko, formed a circle formation around the seven pointed star rug. I liked that rug, it was different from most six pointed rugs but the design was absolutely beautiful. Every point had been occupied except for the spot directly in front of.. me. "Hey, where's..." I trailed off, confusion lingered, Chojo looked to the empty spot. "Oh.. I guess Daku chickened out.. again.." He said and Taeko groaned, Supana next to her. "At the last minute..." Kokuma mutters as she stands, her robe slipping off her shoulder from how big it was.
I glared at the spot Daku was supposed to occupy, he should've been here, he said he would be here. There goes my plan to impress Taeko.. even if our interests were the complete opposite. I was about to slip my robe off before we heard a knock. It was a gentle knock. Kokuma walked over to the club doors and opened them, "Excuse us. We are partaking in activities.." She spoke in a solemn voice. I couldn't see who it was, Kokuma's big head blocking my view. Taeko immediately stands though, "'Yato-Kun!" She squeals in excitement and opens the doors further, her robe engulfing her body. I stand slowly, my heart pounding in my chest. My two crushes? In the same room as me?

I didn't realize the dorky smile on my face until Shin nudged me. I was quick to wipe it off, walking behind the two girls. I was tall, very tall, so I towered over them, and Ayato. My heart skipped a couple of 'cute' beats when I saw Ayato in the cooking club attire, a pink flannel bandanna with a matching apron. "Hey Taeko. I didn't know you liked the Occult.." Ayato managed, his voice trembled very subtly, most likely from exhaustion of the school day.
"Oh! I don't necessarily FAVOR the occult! But I don't hate it y'know?" Taeko laughed gently and Kokuma just gave her a blank stare. My eyes trailed down at Ayato's button up, the two top buttons were unbuttoned, my sight trailed lower to the plate of Halloween themed cupcakes. 6 to be exact. One for each of us minus Daku. That's what he gets for not being here.
Ayato nodded at that, "I have some treats for you guys. We had some extra time on our hands, so we planned a little something extra for the clubs." He held out the silver circular plate with his pale, cold hands. He had sharp fingernails, very beautiful ones, almost as sharp as mine. But mine were dark purple, with cobweb patterns on the them. Kokuma narrowed her eyes and she grabbed the plate gently, "Your donation is greatly appreciated." She spoke and handed the plate to me in one motion. She put her hands on the handles of the door but Taeko stopped her.

"Hey wait!" Taeko suddenly smiled brightly, that same smile that made my knees awfully weak. "You have some time right, 'Yato?" Ayato's beautiful face scrunched, the light freckles on his face wrinkled subtly. "Sure.." He shrugged and Taeko clasped her hands together, "Great!" She grabbed Ayato's hands happily, Ayato didn't react that much. "We're missing someone from the club and need a filler! You'll do great!" Without letting the poor guy respond, Taeko dragged him, gently pushing past me and Kokuma. Supana stood, her hands clasped, "I'll get you a robe." She spoke in that same solemn tone Kokuma spoke in, running to Daku's chair. I gently placed the cupcakes down on the table that held the three headed candles and the skull decorated with a knife inside it.

I turned back, Ayato's face was tinted red as his body was engulfed in the robe. My chapped lips parted, god he looked... divine. "Places everyone..." Shin spoke, gloomily taking a seat at his point. Everyone returned, including myself. Ayato looked around, a little embarrassed before he managed to spot the point in front of me, sitting on his knees.
  We both made eye contact and my heart practically melted. It was true, I've liked Taeko for much longer but.. I've gotten used to being around her, her personality, her glances, everything... Ayato was different..

  He was.. divine.

Status: unedited.