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

Chapter 9

———Ayato Aishi

I fiddled with Osano's keychain, really taking in the details of the white cat charm. I held it up to the hallway lights in the school, taking one step at a time until I was nudged very lightly. "Hey-o!" I turned my head, barely being able to comprehend Aso Rito in time before he nudged me again. "Hey" I greeted, nonchalantly rubbing the shoulder that was nudged.
"What's that..?" He pointed to the keychain hidden in my pale hand, "Oh, a friend of mine lost their keychain. I found it for them." Rito squinted his eyes at the keychain with a bright smile. "Such a cute keychain, is it for a girl?" He leaned over my shoulder very slightly. "No" I responded, pocketing the key chain. "Anyway, Saiki Megamo is coming back to school today. Talk about motivational, he nearly missed two weeks of school." Aso began on a random tangent, walking down the hall with me. "And being productive, he's probably been in bed eating potato chips while watching some k-drama."
  "Maybe.." I shrugged. "But I thought his dad wanted him to stay home..? Or at least that's the rumor..." I looked down at my loafers. "Eh, who knows? Anyway, do you want to come by my club after yours ends? I wanted to stretch with you a bit." He nudged my shoulder again, a habit I assume he's picked up. "Yeah, I can come by." I responded and he smiled. "Alright, Thanks 'Yato. See ya later!" He took a sharp right to the entrance of the school, probably going to the gym. I squeezed my eyes shut at the nickname, clenching the strap to my bag before I inhaled deeply and continued my way down the hall.

  Eventually, I made my way towards the fountain, where Taeko and Osano were. Fumetsu-Chan was surprisingly not here, and Ayano.. I didn't even want to know. There was a smaller boy sitting next to Taeko, talking Osano's ear off. "Hey guys." I walked up next to them. "Hi, 'Yato!" Taeko smiled, looking up from her book. "My god.." I muttered under my breath.
  "Hey Ayato.." Osano greeted softly, the boy next to Taeko perked up. "Hello! My name is Yamada Hanako!" He outstretched his hand, "Hi Yamada-Kun." I shook his hand. "Aishi Ayato." Hanako smiled brightly, "I've met your sister! She's very nice!" He says, Osano crosses his arms over his stomach, leaning away from Hanako. He looked a bit annoyed, Hanako retracted his hand as I did mine. "I take it that Taeko is your older sister?" I asked, his eyes lit up and softened. Again. Taeko smiled at her younger brother as he rambled. "Yeah! How'd you know? Is it because we look alike! I mean, I know we do look alike considering we are siblings!" He put a finger on his chin.
  "Just a wild guess is all" I breathlessly laughed, a bit nervous. I turned my gaze to Osano, he perked up a little bit as his eyes met mine. "Hey, I have something for you.." I whispered as I joined his side, gently tapping his shoulder. He nodded and looked at the pair of curious eyes next to him, standing up and following me in the corridor. He fidgeted with his phone case as we walked outside of the entrance to the school. He took a deep breath "Well? Why am I all the way out here?" He put a hand on his hip, he seemed a little more snappy this morning than usual..

  "This cat..." I stopped in front of a grey and white kitten that had been napping near the side of the school. Osano gasped slightly and crouched down, his trembling fingers going to gently pet the cat. "You can name it.. it just.. kind of showed up a couple weeks ago. Never really had an owner I assume." I crouched down next to him, hands on my knees. Osano sighed shakily, his fingers pinching the bridge of his nose. He moved to gently sit by the cat, back against the wall and knees to his chest. I watched him, my legs crossed and my hands resting in my lap.
  "I know you've been going through a rough time right now.. I don't really know what it is but.." I said to him and unzipped my bag, bringing out the keychain and holding it out to him. His eyes dilated once he spotted the keychain and gently took it from my grasp. He bit his lip, trying to hold in the tears bound to spill from his tangerine eyes. "Um.. thank you.. thank you a lot.." He mumbled, attaching the keychain to his phone case. I did know, I knew everything that was going on with him. But I couldn't let him know, it'll spoil our friendship and he'll end up thinking I'm a stalker.
  He just stared down at the cat, petting it's fur with such care. "It's.. kind of a long story... embarrassing too.." He muttered, eyes stuck onto the relaxed cat. "I have.. a stalker.." He sounded so exhausted, I softened my eyes to show him that I was listening to him. "I can't sleep at night.. I can't eat.. I can't shower. I can't live my life without thinking that she's.. somewhere, holding a camera, taking pictures of me without me knowing." I nodded. "Are you able.." I trailed off, trying to think of the correct wording. "Are you.. being prevented from calling authorities?" I had to be gentle with him, he's not only an asshole when he's fine but an even bigger asshole when he's troubled. He groaned in annoyance, "Trust me. If I could, I would. But I can't because she has my cat." I raised my eyebrows in surprise. "Yeah exactly, she stole my cat while I was in school. How pathetic of her to do that!" He raged, hands on his knees.
  "Do you have the stalker's address..?" I asked, tilting my head. He furrowed his orange eyebrows, "No! You are NOT going over there! I'm not letting you risk it!" He yelled. "It's not for that, Najimi.." I lied, looked at the cat, Osano huffed. "I have it in my messages, she sent me the address trying to coax me to go to her house. But it's super dangerous to do that! I'll never see the light of day again!" He grumbled, angrily scratching his head in thought. "Do you have some sort of plan in mind..?" I asked him gently, he shut his eyes, digging his face into his hands. "No.. I don't even know what I'm gonna do.."
  "It's alright" I stood, my fingers running through Osano's hair as I leaned over his sitting position. "It will all work out in the end, promise.."

_____

I.C: Playing hero I see. Well, whatever the case may be, I assure you that I'll be able to assist you.

A.A: I'm sorry to bother you. However.. I do need one thing. And that's information from Osano's phone..

Status: semi-edited

I swear this chapter feels rushed but I promise it wasn't 💔