All On My Own

Suspicions are always needed

It wasn't a normal day, Ayano knew that. She had fallen in love, hard. It was unlike anything she ever experienced before. She felt joy, and sorrow both at once. A fear of him rejecting her set in, but she couldn't be happier. She tugged on her ponytail, and then placed a hand over her beating heart. She had emotions! She would tell her mother tonight. Ryoba would be overjoyed for her! She was overjoyed, something she'd never felt before. She quickly became overstimulated and had to sit down, her emotions taking a toll on her body. That's when she saw Osana Najimi, a girl with childish orange pigtails down to her ankles, and eyes that portrayed her love for Taro Yamada. "Who is that?" she whispered to herself. A new feeling filled her stomach, swirling uncomfortably in her gut. Jealousy, and a mix of something she immediately knew was anger. It was bloodred fury, blood boiling rage! It was beyond something she'd ever experienced; she was hot, and her eyebrows were down, and she couldn't get rid of a snarl that was painting her face. This feeling was so pitiful and weak. Ayano loved feeling these new things, but this was something she could live without. But these feelings were motivating, that's for sure. Ayano could see how people would get so lost in the miserable pit of jealousy or sadness. She now knew what it felt like to get lost in fury, and she understood her classmates a hell of a lot better. She still didn't care for her classmates, but she now knew she wasn't so different from them. Her mother said that as soon as she started feeling, she couldn't stop. Whether or not she was around Ayano's father didn't matter, she loved her father, and she had the feelings to back it up, to prove it. Her father opened up a whole new world for her mother, and she knew what that felt like now. She could have friends she actually cared for, she could react appropriately and actually feel it when bad things happen to the ones, she was close to, and she could finally have hobbies that she could share with her friends. She could feel things like a normal human being. That was the greatest privilege of all. So many people took their feelings for granted, Ayano thought at least.

Kokona tapped her shoulder, frowning. "Yan-chan? What's got you so upset? Are you sick?" her 'friend' fretted. She shook her head and stared at Kokona. "No, I'm fine. I just, felt a little sick, that's all." Kokona giggled. Ayano felt herself smiling, and she knew that she would never mind Kokona's presence. Woah! This was what friendship felt like. "I see. Well, I was just checking in on you. I have to get to the drama club before Kizana kills me. Text me later." she called and rushed of for her morning practice. "They're having practice in the morning?" Ayano asked aloud. "Yeah, poor girl. Kizana runs them into the ground." A voice said from behind her. It was Raibaru. She felt a soft jolt and Raibaru laughed. "Sorry, Yan-chan. I've never scared you before." Ayano, feeling her first jolt of fear, laughed a little nervously. "It's fine. I just think that Kizana-chan should be a little more sympathetic to her club members." Ayano expressed. "Me too, I feel you there. She once made Kokona cry by yelling at her." Ayano closed her eyes and shook her head. "How cruel." she replied. "I know. Well, anyway, I have to get to Osana. I'll see you." she waved, and Ayano waved back. Raibaru was nice, but knowing how tough she was, how strong she was, and how close to Osana she was made Ayano uneasy. If she was to get rid of Osana, she'd have to be extra careful of Raibaru, who was the strongest member of the martial arts club. After Budo Matsuda beat her in a fight, she let him take over the club, using it as a reason to get out. She no longer found the club enjoyable.

It turns out, Taro is actually in some of her classes. Ayano took her notes as normal, but kept her eyes trained on him even as her hand moved. He rolled his eyes quite a lot at Osana, she noticed. Perhaps she could drive a wedge between them? That was a bit complicated, and if Raibaru were to find out, she'd expose her to Taro. It was kind of scary to think about, how quickly she could be exposed for her already murderous thoughts. She just had to go home and ponder on what to do. She could eliminate her rivals peacefully, but where's the fun in that? She wanted to have fun, she wanted to kill, it was an instinct to her for some odd reason. She just had to get home and call her mother.

As she was walking out of the school, she felt a buzz in her pocket. She instinctively reached for her phone and raised her eyebrow as she stared at the text. 'Hello.' it read. 'Do I know you?' she texted back, and she started walking faster. 'No, but I know you, Ayano Aishi' the person replied. How ominous... 'Who are you, what do you want from me?' Ayano replied, her heart beating in her chest. She was still getting used to the feeling of it, trying to adjust to the feelings she'd only acquired this morning. 'I know you want Osana gone. She is planning to confess to your Senpai by the cherry tree this Friday. You have to stop her. I've installed an app on your phone. It has my advice on it. I'm called Info-chan.' Ayano knew the name. A girl who was so powerful not even the principal could stop her. He gave her the room she uses in the school and she's pretty famous for airing students' dirty laundry. She teams up with anyone who can help her, and then possibly exposes them for helping her, making her seem innocent. Ayano opened the app and gulped. "Fuck." she murmured as she stared at the contents. On there were dozens of tips on how to eliminate Osana, including but not limiting to: Drowning, decapitating her, stabbing, and setting Osana on fire! An odd thrill settled in her bones. "This is..." she didn't even have the words. Exciting, informing, shocking. How the hell did she get this stuff? All these tips, how does one just "know" this? They don't, Ayano realized. She knew teaming up with this "Info-chan" was too dangerous. It could put her, or the boy she fell for at first sight at risk. She wouldn't-couldn't put her beloved Senpai at risk. She sighed. She powered her phone off completely and then called Kokona using her home phone. "Yan-chan? What's up?" Kokona asked. "I have something to ask you. Do you know anything at all about Info-chan?" she inquired. "Oh, loads on her. She's some journalist's daughter, at least that's the rumor. The one your mother exposed; I think. She blackmailed our principal into giving her a room in the school, she's literally in our walls. I also heard that she gets panty shots and sells them. She's awful, Yan-chan. Why?" Ayano just swallowed. "No reason. Do you know anything else?" Kokona paused. "She orchestrated that suicide last year. When that kid fell off the roof. That's all I know." Ayano smirked a genuine smirk. So, this is what it felt like to have power over someone! It felt great. "That's plenty, thank you." she said. Now she'd have to get to work, but that wouldn't be so bad. Ayano Aishi is not the type to go down without a fight. She would not let this stop her from getting her way, this was just a minor setback.

One word document of all Info-chan's crimes later, Ayano leaned back into her chair. She took it upon herself to catch this criminal. She asked several students, and they all said the same things as Kokona. Many had stories of her helpers doing nefarious things to them. She compiled all of that in a document, along with the messages encouraging her to kill Osana. "There. I'm sorry, but it's way too risky to work with that damned journalist's daughter. He caused a world of pain for my mother." Ayano murmured. She got up and turned her phone back on. She screenshotted the messages and emailed them to herself. "You're going to be caught in the act." she grinned. She had no conflicted thoughts sending all her evidence to the police. She called her mom, ate a little, showered and went to sleep. The next day would be chaotic, but it would all be worth it. She'd work alone, thank you very much. She woke up feeling better, confident that her plan worked. She went off to school in a good mood, she even had a little chat with Taro, who smiled widely at her.