Obsession (Ayano x Budo)

Chapter 44

The sunlight felt so good. 

It was warm. Even though Ayano had not yet even opened her eyes, as her body gradually stirred from its deep sleep, she could feel a gentle, encompassing heat radiate through her skin, and it made her feel... content. Somewhere within that drowsy waking, Ayano was surprised by her enjoyment of such a simple thing. Usually, the sunlight was nothing more than something that was a convenient source of light. When had her view on that changed?

So when Ayano finally opened her eyes, she did nothing but stare blankly at was was before her. What she had thought was a patch of morning light - the fountain of such a comforting warmth, was, in fact, Budo's body heat.

Perhaps it was because she was still busy waking up, but Ayano couldn't muster the energy to jump out of bed. She should have probably done what any sane girl would have done - jerk upright, scream, run away... Instead, her sleepy eyes squinted at Budo's face - the face of someone who was absolutely passed out. It was probably quite close, and yet she didn't feel bothered, instead content to survey him.

Mouth open, eyebrows relaxed, and limbs sprawled out, in fact, one arm over her. She could feel it, over the sheets, keeping her closed in like some sort of security that prevented anyone from getting in, or preventing her from leaving.

The cogs in Ayano's mind started to turn. Hadn't they agreed last night that he was supposed to sleep on the couch? Her senses were starting to wake up as well - she became aware of the sound of the wind outside, blowing the fallen leaves along the ground, and the smell from inside the room, warm air, tinged with the slightness of sweat. 

Budo needed a shower. As soon as she thought it, she realised something else. She probably did too. Especially after the fun they'd had last night with a certain somebody-

Ayano's memories of the night before flooded in all at once, bring along with them an electric stream of energy that spread throughout her body. The corpse. They needed to incinerate it today. Before school-

Ayano turned her head slightly upwards, and her eyes glanced to the window that was above her. Through the half-opened blinds, she could see the misty, icy-blue sky outside, its clouds heavily grey. It was still very early, and that was good. Her body must have woken up by itself. Even so, she should take advantage of the extra time to get started on the work that awaited her. Right, time to get up.

Ayano tried to pull up her hands from were they were pinned beneath the sheet by Budo's arm - Only for Budo's body to start twitching. She froze. Only her eyes moved while she watched, as still as a statue, as Budo's chest then fell and rose more aggressively, just for five seconds of disruption, before settling again into a calmer rhythm.

Ayano considered waking him up - it was his fault anyway for causing this trouble for her... But she hesitated. She felt inclined to let him rest. There were light blue shadow beneath his eyes, like blue crescents, and he looked exhausted. Ayano felt slightly guilty. Who was she to disturb him, after everything he had done for her?

Ayano tried again, this time slowly peeling back the covers from the side of the wall, inch-by-inch. She glanced over now and again at Budo, somewhat anxious that each rustle of the duvet was too loud, but he remained still, sleeping obliviously.

After some patience, Ayano had removed the covers from her side. She sat up slowly, got on her haunches, then crept along the wall, feet edging along the side of the bed, until finally she climbed off at the foot of the bed. The bed sighed as her weight was lifted off of it, and gave a long, satisfied stretch.

Without looking back, she walked out of the room, and into a hallway. The other doors along the passage were shut, and the only light that waded through the darkness was the dim blue sunlight coming from the bedroom behind her. She looked left and right, brain busy determining her next course of action. Her bare feet were beginning to feel cold. She should just grab her things and go, and yet...

Ayano was curious about something, or rather, she was... suspicious of something. Something that was probably best that she checked while Budo was sleeping.

And so, she turned left into the hallway, her eyes fixed on the hatch that was at the end of it.

And at the same time, Budo watched her figure flow out of his doorframe.