Akise Aru smiled at Yuno from across the table. He smiled in spite of the intensity of the glare she seemed to be attempting to burn into him. It was a little funny how things had turned out. Mao, Hinata, and Kousaka had all managed to be late and Yukki excused himself to go to the restroom, most likely to escape the tense atmosphere created by Yuno and Aru being in the same room. Yuno had tried to follow Yukki, but he assured her over and over that he would be right back so she reluctantly sat at the table alone with Aru.
A rivalry over love was a funny thing in Aru's mind. It wasn't as if he ever really thought of himself as a person Yukki would love or be with, it wasn't as though he was really competition at all for Yuno in that respect. Still, ever since he'd made his feelings for Yukiteru clear, Yuno had stared at him with all the hatred she could muster.
"You seem upset Gasai. Is something wrong?" His smile grew slightly condescending as he spoke. Yuno's eyes narrowed, but she refused to speak. Still, he was satisfied to have hit a nerve, regardless of how easy it might have been. "If you're feeling under the weather, I could walk you home."
Yuno opened her mouth to reply; the look on her face being one of utter disgust, but her disposition was forced to change when Yukki returned to the table. "Yukki!" She said with forced cheeriness.
Yuki smiled and apologized for taking so long before sitting.
"I don't think Gasai's feeling well." Akise said.
"What? Yuno, is that true? Are you okay?" Yukki turned to her looking concerned.
"I'm fine Yukki! Really! Akise's worried about nothing!" The last few words came out a bit more venomously than they should have. Her fist was clenched so tightly now, that Aru could see her knuckles turning white.
The look of concern on Yukki's face didn't ease. "Are you sure?"
Aru didn't feel quite like giving up today. He continued to smile at Yuno, enjoying getting on her nerves much more than a person as logical as him should enjoy such a thing. He stood up and walked around to the other side of the table, being so bold as to press the back if his hand against Yuno's forehead. "She feels warm. I knew it. You should go home and get some rest Gasai."
Yuno's face turned red with anger, but Yukki piped in and said, "You look pretty red Yuno… Maybe you should go home."
"I'll walk her home for you Yukiteru." Akise smiled, almost impishly.
"A-are you sure?" Yukki felt a little uneasy all of a sudden.
"I'd rather-" Yuno started to say, but Aru cut her off.
"You stay here. The others are bound to show up eventually. I'll be back once I make sure Gasai is home safe and sound."
"Okay." Yukki smiled and nodded at his suggestion.
Yuno wanted very badly to protest, but she was already on thin ice with Yukki. The last thing she wanted to do was misstep and lose him. Gritting her teeth, she forced and grateful smile and walked out of the small cafe with Aru. They only walked a few steps before her expression dropped and she wore a quite unpleasant grimace.
"Yukki seems to want the best for you." Aru observed.
"Shut up." Yuno hissed.
Akise, to Yuno's surprise, laughed jovially at her reply. "You know. I'm almost tempted to say that you're cute Gasai."
Yuno stopped dead in her tracks and glared daggers into Aru's back. "Don't mess with me." She spat in a deep and serious tone.
"I'm being honest." Akise said, paying her glare no mind at all.
The urge to kill him swelled up inside her, but she and Aru both knew that Yukki would not be pleased if he turned up dead after leaving alone with her. Yuno's anger even showed in the short sharp way she was breathing. He had trapped her. He was messing with her. The nails of her hand, which was still balled into a tight fist, started digging into her palm.
"Follow me Gasai. I have to get you home safe~" Aru called to her from up ahead.