Obsession (Ayano x Budo)

Chapter 4

Budo began walking towards the courtyard. His steps were heavy on the white tiles, echoing in the corridors, but then he realized that there were other steps coming from round the corner. He slowed his pace.

Damn, it's too late to do anything now to Taro. And Ayano is watching him anyway. That thought, of her adoring eyes on Taro, made anger start to brew inside of him. He knew that he wouldn't be able to take it much longer. What could he do?

As Budo turned the corner, he spotted the source of the other steps: Osana, marching with her bag strapped over her shoulder also towards the courtyard.

Oh, that's right. Osana likes him too. What is it about Taro that all of them like? Do my hours of practice, my strength and skill count for nothing? When all I needed was to read a stupid book all day long? Budo put that train of thought away for later.

A thought flashed through his head and Budo immediately knew what e had to do. "Hey, Osana!"

Her bright head turned in his direction, long orange twin ponytails whipping around her, and she scowled at him. "What, you fat dumbass?"

It was at that moment that Budo realized he didn't like Osana. At all. She was nothing. She was immature, annoying dirt compared to his beautiful Ayano. But he forced himself to laugh. "Haha, this dumbass could beat you anyway. But come here, I have something to tell you about Taro."

A hot burst flashed across her wide eyes, a second of surprise, so that she couldn't make a snarky comment. Budo had known that simply saying Taro's name would have compelled her to do anything. He waited as she quickly jogged up to him.

"Wha-What about Taro?" she asked breathlessly, her expression somewhat cautious. She must have realized how this must have looked, because suddenly her attitude flooded into her again. She cocked her hips and folded her arms. "What has that idiot done now?"

But Budo could still see the interest in her eyes. "Yesterday... Taro was talking about you. Before you came to us."

"O-Oh? Speaking trash about me now-"

"No, I think he likes you." Lies.

Osana was silent. Arms no longer crossed, they hung at her sides as she stared at Budo in shock. "R-really?" she asked, voice soft and hopeful. "He said he likes me?"

"Yeah, he couldn't stop talking about you. And it's not the first time." More lies, but Budo would lie any day for Ayano. And they seemed to be working. A pink blush was spreading across Osana's cheeks.

"Are you sure? You better not be lying!"

I am. Budo just managed to restrain himself from grinning. "No, he's genuine. It's just that he doesn't know how to say it, so he's decided to not do anything."

"That idiot!" she hissed between her teeth. "Always was too nervous. Geez, It's up to me then."

"Do you believe in the myth?" Budo prompted.

"About confessing on a Friday at Sakura tree?" she said instantly, as if she'd thought about it all to well. "You think I should do it?"

"Definitely. And you should have done it already. You guys were meant for each other."

"Wow, you actually..." Osana stalled, lost in thought. "Thanks."

"Anything for my best friend," Budo smiled at her. By now he'd become an expert at faking smiles. "Hey, and good luck."

"Hah, as if I need it!" she retorted, and strutted away confidently, not before giving a small, grateful wave towards him.

As soon as her long orange ponytails disappeared behind the corner, Budo felt the smile drop off his face. So now Taro wouldn't be able to have Ayano, not if he was with Osana. Budo stared deadpan at the tiles, feeling numb and drained of energy.

When had he lost all his feeling? He always used to be so chipper and energetic, and now... he was tired like a wrung-out towel. It was since yesterday, when he'd first seen those eyes. It had given him a high that nothing else could compare to, and made the entire world without it seem dead. What was it about her? Was it fate, was it something more as his dreams suggested? That was the only thing it could be. That was what an inner part of him was saying. She was right. This is how it's meant to be.

Taro can't take you, he thought as he started back to class. And if by some broken twist of chance he does, then I'll know what to do then.