Obsession (Ayano x Budo)

Chapter 9

"Taro, I'd like you to meet someone. This is Ayano Aishi."

Budo smiled as he introduced them, only just managing to keep it plastered stiffly onto his lips. On the inside, his stomach was tight like a wound-up clock, ticking down the seconds before he exploded and slashed out at Taro. Because of that idiot and his Ayano.

She was more than shy in Taro's presence - that much was obvious. She clutched her trembling hands together nervously at the centre of her body, her grey eyes lowered to the floor, seeming unable to look at him directly. Budo wanted to rip her coy gaze towards himself, even if it hurt her, just to keep it on him alone. Where were her dark, cool and confident eyes he'd dreamed of? He wanted to slice through Taro's chest for messing up their relationship like this.

But instead he was forcing himself to smile.

"Oh, nice to meet you," Taro replied with a pleasant smile. He gave Ayano a polite nod, but Budo watched as Taro's eyes swept silently across Ayano's form, and saw them take in her awkwardness. He was probably thinking she was acting weird. Perfect.

"The pleasure is mine," Ayano whispered. It was as if she couldn't function with him this close. Even Budo's suggestion of introducing them had made her cool composure, her intelligent strength that Budo adored so much, unravel like thread into a mess. She was reduced to a simple, infatuated high school girl.

Not for long, Budo had to grimly remind himself. The only way Ayano can truly let go off this idolisation of hers is if he rejects her- Completely, utterly rejects her. It has to destroy her. And while she's crying off her head, she'll see that I am the one who supported her. She'll fall in love with me. I'll have to pick up the pieces afterward and mend her whole again, but she's perfect for me, even if broken.

"Oh sorry, but Budo, have you seen Osana anywhere?" Taro asked out of the blue. Ayano stiffened slightly beside him. "She didn't walk with me to school today, and she isn't here for lunch... Do you know if she's okay?"

Budo shut out the image of the dead body - her empty, dead eyes - from his mind. Right now, Osana was a pile of ash in the incinerator. He could still feel the subtle, electrifying buzz in his complaining arms.

"You sure you should be complaining?" he joked instead. "If you need someone to yell and shove you, just ask."

Budo sent him a hard pat that was probably stronger than necessary to Taro's shoulder. "Ah, ow! Okay, never mind, she's probably just avoiding me like she does sometimes."

This is stupid. I can't stand anymore of this foolish joking, or the sight of her like this. I'm starting the plan now.

"Hey Taro," Budo began casually. "Since Osana isn't here to give you the lunch she usually makes, why don't you have the extra from Ayano? I think I saw you holding two this morning, right Aishi?"

"Don't force her to share it," Taro scolded Budo playfully.

"N-No, please have it," Ayano insisted nervously, stumbling a bit on her words. "I think you'll like it."

"Oh, really? That's so nice of you. Are you sure?"

"Y-yes." Ayano blushed as she pulled out her container of extra lunch from her bag. It was a different than her plain white one - it was blue, with a clear plastic window on the top. She offered it to him with burning ears, eyes locked firmly onto the ground, and only felt the soft tug as the lunch box was taken from her outstretched hands.

"Wow, are you in the cooking club? These are all my favorite foods!" Taro exclaimed, staring dumbfounded for a second at the opened lunchbox, but smiling nonetheless, as he opened the packet of plastic-wrapped chopsticks inside. "Thanks a lot."

"It's nothing," she whispered shyly, hands returning to her sides awkwardly.

Budo's eyes were glued to the chopsticks that Taro squeezed around a bento-roll segment, following it as the roll was brought into his mouth, and he had to resist smiling in satisfaction as Taro closed his lips around it and began to chew.

"This is really good," Taro complimented sincerely as he swallowed, and Ayano's eyes lit up. Enjoy it while you can.

He began chewing a second piece, more slowly this time. After a few seconds, Taro's face  changed from pleasant surprise to confusion. It was priceless.

"... Something-" he began hesitantly, and then suddenly stood up, the lunchbox an chopsticks cluttering to the floor. He brought his hands to his mouth and was staring at Ayano in shock.

Ayano's eyes widened in alarm. "What's-?"

"Something... funny... I gotta-" was all he could manage before he ran off down the cobblestone pathway. His feet hit the ground with sudden speed and sharpness that his steps echoed loudly in the enclosed courtyard. Everyone's head turned to him, and the courtyard was filled with hushed whispers, gossiping and chatter as everyone watched him disappear round the doors into the school with obvious emergency.

Wow, I didn't think that stuff would be that effective. Maybe there was a bit too much put in.

Budo wanted to grin so badly. Had it really been that easy? He felt the uncontrollable laughter rising up in him, wanting to burst out from him as he remembered the panicked look in Taro's face. But he held it in. Budo had a role to play.

"Ayano?" he questioned with apparent confusion, turning to face her. She was staring at the doors through which Taro had left, disbelief written across her face. Her disbelief shifted, easing back into her usual, contemplative coolness.

"What... What did I do wrong?" she muttered to herself, hardly hearing Budo's words.

"Where did you get the ingredients? Did you leave any of them out?"

"No, it can't be," she replied to the floor, voice dead. "I checked them all, washed, cooked and tested them all too... No, it's impossible."

"What about-"

"What about you?" she interrupted him, casting a sharp look in his direction. Her eyes were like daggers, bitter-cold and ruthless. "Something that effective must be some sort of chemical, or poison slipped into his food. I thought your sudden offer was strange. You wanted me to stay away from him right? You could have easily poisoned it while the lunch was still in my locker."

Oh, she's so smart. And I love her all the more for it.

"No ways. " Budo answered, shaking his head. "Ask anyone in the class- I was there from the 7 in the morning straight to lunch. Probably there even before you arrived to school. No bathroom breaks."

Ayano stared him down, until even he began to melt in awkwardness to be under such intense examination. Finally, she sighed. "You're not lying." She sounded conflicted. "What was it then?"

Ayano crouched down on her haunches to begin the process of cleaning up the messed food and its container, exhaling in exasperation as she thought. As she picked up a scattered bento-roll piece, she brought it into the light of one the afternoon sunbeams, studying it silently for a few seconds.

Budo felt his phone vibrate in his back pocket and nonchalantly drew it out, turning away from Ayano as he opened up the screen. His eyes scanned the message with a mixture of contentment and foreboding.

As requested, your task is complete. Now, concerning your payment...