The welcome ceremony at Akademi was about to begin, all the students walked towards the gym where the ceremony would take place to get to know their classrooms, and if they wanted to, join a club. The third-year and second-year classmates greeted each other, having already met in the past years, while the fresh students sat and watched the installation of the gymnasium in the most prestigious school in Japan. It was an adventure to be there, for anyone it would be, to be in an elite school, with such facilities, so many people to meet... for everyone but the second year girl, Ayano.
An emotionless, unfeeling, empty girl. There was no reason for her to get up in the mornings, no reason for her to feel regret, pain, sadness or happiness. There was nothing. But her only hope, was what her mother always told her:
"Don't worry, you will meet someone, someone who will make you feel alive" "don't worry, I was like you before I met your father" "don't worry, when you meet the ideal person, you will feel everything for that person".
It was so much expectation that her mom put in her head that Ayano basically lived on the hope of meeting someone who would make her feel something. That's why she pretended. She pretended to feel empathy, she pretended to feel sadness, she pretended to have hobbies, she pretended to feel something when nothing fulfilled her.
Her parents had left her alone the day before. They explained that they had to take a trip to another continent for a while, and that she would have to take good care of herself, they left her money, her mom explained how to cook to be self-sufficient, and her dad assured her that he would text her daily to see how she was doing.
And she couldn't care less. In fact, you could say she preferred to be home alone.
When she arrived at school, Ayano saw how the doors were about to close, so she ran to the entrance so she could get through first. Looking at the time on her watch, she realized that the ceremony was about to begin and it would be her first late-note. She couldn't have a bad start to the school year. Maybe it would be time to meet a classmate who caught her eye, or at least she could feel... something.
Running towards the gym, without noticing, she bumped into something. Ayano fell and her backpack.
-Oh, I'm so sorry, are you all right? Did you hurt yourself?" asked a manly voice, offering his hand in front of her eyes.
Ayano rubbed her head, it hurt a little and it was quite unexpected, but as soon as she raised her head to see who it was her dull gray eyes were filled with color.
In front of her was the boy of her dreams, with black hair, gray eyes like hers but full of brightness and life, thin full lips, and slightly red cheeks, alive.
Ayano took his hand and again felt another explosion of sensations, this one better and more intense than the other, where she felt how her organs moved, dancing inside her.
-Yes... I'm fine," she managed to say between words, still dazzled to have found the new reason for her life, what she always hoped and dreamed of.
-I'm really sorry," said the boy as he lifted her up, "let me help you," he went down and began to pick up Ayano's backpack and some things she had dropped, like her pencils and a hair tie, "Aishi-san..." he read on Ayano's pencil, "it's your name? It's very cute"- he gave a warm smile to her, who was watching him fascinated- anyway... sorry about that, I should have noticed... I must go now, or I'll be late, see you later- said the boy before handing her things to Ayano and waving goodbye before turning around in the corner
Ayano, fascinated, could barely move her hands to take her things when without realizing it, he was already gone. She couldn't even ask his name, it would be up to her to find out. And of course she would. She adjusted her skirt, her hair, took her backpack on her shoulders and before running again, she stopped in her tracks before turning in the corner . There he was!
-You always keep me waiting, you idiot, I won't wait for you again," a girl with long orange hair tied in pigtails complained to him.
-I'm sorry... if it causes you so much trouble, maybe you shouldn't have waited for me and when you saw it was late you should have gone to the gym on your own," replied the boy nervously while scratching his hair.
-No... I don't... Forget it, okay? We have to go now, or they won't let us pass because of you," exclaimed the blushing girl, while she grabbed his arm and directed him abruptly towards the gym.
Ayano perfectly noticed what happened there, that girl loved him. But not in the same way she loved him. She treated him badly, she was rude... on the other hand, she would give her life to be with that boy, she didn't know him yet and she already knew that he was the love of her life and that there would be nothing or no one that would get in her way to change that.
He'll be mine. He doesn't has a choice.
It was the first day of school, the ceremony had been a few days before, the students were already better informed of their classrooms, classmates, clubs, and activities. Ayano had pulled her hair into a high ponytail, her black, shiny, long hair looked pretty good. She put on a little blush and a pink lipstick that was barely noticeable. She wanted to start with the best possible reputation, to make "friends" to later manipulate them, ask for favors or just to get good things to senpai's ears so he would have a good impression of her.
Everyone arrived an hour before the start of classes, being the first day there was a lot of chaos everywhere, the cooking club prepared a big sale while inviting new students who hadn't joined a club yet to join theirs. Likewise, many other clubs were forming different activities to attract people and invite them to their respective clubs. Behind the big sale, there was senpai. Ayano's heart began to pound as she slowly approached him, spotting him behind a bush. He was reading a book by the fountain, alone.
Suddenly, as Ayano sat near a tree watching senpai, a boy from the cooking club approached her to offer her food.
-Hi, would you like to try some?" asked Shoku, the club substitute lider.
-Ayano was annoyed at being interrupted, but she didn't want to be rude because she didn't want to start off badly with the new reputation she had to form.
-I notice that you don't have any club symbol... if you allow me, I would be very happy to tell you about our club, we make food, everyone makes what they like, we sell it in the mornings and in lunch time, and at the end of the day we prepare something together to eat it in the club. If you are interested, you could make many friends by offering them food, not to mention that we would be yours, haha!-The young boy explained while enthusiastically proposing Ayano the option of joining his club. Ayano was not interested at all, but he said something important. She had to start making friends. In the same way, it was something she had to think about, she had to see the other clubs and also, know in which one senpai would join to do the same and have the opportunity to get closer to him little by little.
-It's good," said Ayano while tasting the sample of food he offered her-"I'll think about it, thank you.
-All right, come visit whenever you want! For now, our leader is not here, but she will be back next week. If you want to come in before that, look for me, see you later," -kind boy smiled before leaving to offer food to other people, by the time Ayano turned her attention back to Senpai, a young man with black hair, defined musculature under his uniform and a bandana on his head, was already talking to him. Ayano approached, pretending to go buy something at the big sale, while trying to listen to what they were talking about.
-All you do is sit there all day, reading a book, why don't you join my club," said the unknown boy as he touched Senpai's shoulder.
-Why would I do that?" asked Senpai, a little offended by the book situation.
-Because it brings benefits! You'll be able to beat anyone, you'll be able to defend yourself, you'll gain everyone's respect, you'll be in shape...".
-I'm sorry Masuta, but I have to say no," senpai interrupted .
-Why? Why do you reject every club that approaches you? - asked the young man, a little annoyed
-Because I like reading books and I have no interest in joining any club!" senpai closed his book tightly, a little annoyed already.
-Hey, calm down, it's okay- said the boy with the bandana- I just wanted to tell you the benefits of being in my club, plus you would be with your friend- he pointed to his chest with his thumb- but, I guess I'll see you later then- he said while he turned to see other people with the same bandana as him.
Senpai went back to open his book and read again, while Ayano thought about what the young man said. Those benefits would help her a lot to get rid of the girl she had seen the other time with Senpai. That morning, although she arrived a little late, she still saw how they talked in the bushes, she didn't hear everything but she offered him to spend lunch together. It was obvious that she was after him, and according to an unknown girl who texted her over the weekend, she was about to confess her love to him on Friday. She had until then to somehow get rid of her.
She came back from her thoughts when she heard the crowd start to leave, those in the cooking club were picking up the stuff from their sale, those in the gardening club were putting away their tools and arranging the plants they had previously watered back in place, those in the drama club were dropping off bulletins for their new play, among others. Ayano checked her phone, classes were about to start. She took a picture of senpai before he took his book and walked to his classroom. Ayano didn't know anything about him yet, other than what that mysterious girl had told her, but she didn't even know her and didn't know how reliable her information could be, so she decided to check Senpai's classroom on her own. She got up, and started to follow him. Once she reached the third floor she knew that he was older than her, as the girl nicknamed "info-chan" had told her. In the same way, she stood looking out to see what he was doing. Her classmates were starting to arrive, they didn't notice her, and just like everyone else, Senpai was using his phone while waiting for the teacher to arrive. At that moment, the bell rang, officially signaling the start of classes. Ayano, a little frustrated cause she wanted to stay and see him more, said goodbye in her mind to him, before turning and running down the stairs to her classroom, when without noticing and at a corner she bumped into a body. automatically Ayano reflexively felt that she should hold the person she bumped into and tripped him before he fell down the stairs. Without any apparent effort, she grabbed him by the arm and his suit and pulled him towards her.
Surprised was a Budo Masuta, the leader of the Martial Arts club at such reflexes, and above all, at the fact that she effortlessly pulled him to safety.
-I... I'm sorry, I should have taken a better look," he began to stammer as he adjusted his bandana and uniform, "Are you okay? -He asked, as he turned to see the girl's eyes. They were gray, he could see his reflection on them, her long black hair matched perfectly with her light skin and her pink cheeks, she was very beautiful.
-Yes, I'm sorry too- she said empty, dry, while she adjusted her skirt and put her hair behind her ear- See you later- Ayano started to go down the stairs again, now without running, she didn't want to run into any other human being that wasn't Senpai for now.
-Hey, I'm Budo! Budo Masuta!" -shouted Budo after getting out of the transe that the beautiful girl had caused him. Ayano turned around giving him a small fake smile to let him know that she had heard him, before disappearing and heading to her classroom.
Budo was totally amazed by that girl, he had never seen her before, and he wanted to see her again. Blushing, he headed upstairs to enter his classroom.
-Please try to make it to class on time, take your seat"-his teacher called Budo's attention, while he sat next to Senpai, who turned to look at him.
-Where were you?"- he asked curiously, while glancing at the teacher, so they wouldn't be caught talking.
-Some new people wanted to join the club and I was late giving them their uniform"-explained budo. Actually, it was true, that's what happened, but it didn't take so long, what took him so long was to bump into that girl, who hadn't been a bother at all, on the other side, she was the best thing that had happened to him in a long time and he wanted to know her better.
I don't even know her name.
I should have asked her name, I don't know anything about her
She was going down stairs, and on the second floor was when she started going down the hall, so she was a second-year. He just had to find out what class she was in and slowly make a coversation with her.
Immersed in his thoughts Budo spent the class thinking about Ayano, how he could approach and talk to her.
Suddenly, he tucked his club captain's sash on his arm.
That's it!
I'm going to offer her to join my club. Surely she doesn't have a club, when I saw her... she wasn't wearing any red flowers from the drama club, no apron from the cooking club, plus I hadn't seen her at the big sale, or watering plants in the garden club, or with a red ribbon on her arm from the gaming club...
Although that was obviously a perfect excuse to approach her, it would still be nice to have new people with her potential. Picking him up in the air like that, as if nothing, and not even flinching was not an easy thing to do, she had the perfect qualities to be an apprentice of his.
Meanwhile, Ayano was still taking classes, pretending to take notes, thinking only of Senpai and how perfect he was. How furious she felt to see that orange-haired girl next to him. Who happened to be sitting next to her. In her same class... she had to eliminate her, soon.
The bell rang, starting lunch time. Ayano casually glanced at Osana, who was putting her things away while a girl with light orange hair, wearing the same garters as her, approached her.
-Ok Osana, it's your time, you can do it,"-said Osana to herself, while the girl who approached her grabbed her shoulders.
-Come on, you have this Osana,"- encouraged the girl.
Her name is Osana... Info- Chan told the truth.
Everything she told me is true
-Come on Raibaru- Osana directed her gaze to Raibaru, making Ayano in the same way, learn the name of her friend. Osana and Raibaru hurried to leave their classroom and go to the rooftop, where they had arranged to meet with Senpai, Ayano followed them from afar listening to them talk about the plan. In short, Osana was in love with HER Senpai, she had to die.
When Senpai arrived he was already there, waiting for Osana. Raibaru patted Osana on the back before going to sit next to them, but separated by the wall. Osana approached Senpai nervously, and after talking horribly to him (for Ayano) gave him a bento. Ayano sat on the other side of the wall, spying on them.
-This is delicious Osana, thank you," -Senpai thanked her, tasting Osana's food.
-Of course it is!" she said proudly, "You know, I wouldn't mind cooking for you every day of our lives..."- she confessed quietly.
-What did you say?" -asked Senpai
-Nothing! Eat!" -She ordered, blushing as she went back to her food.
Great, what Ayano was missing, a tsundere.
Ayano took out her food, while trying to eat. Actually she was only pretending to do so, people were starting to come up to the rooftop, and it would look suspicious for her to just watch.
Meanwhile, Budo was looking for Ayano. He went out a little late and when he go downstairs, there was no sign of Ayano in any of the second year classrooms.
-Hey, Budo," -greeted the young apprentice of the Martial Arts club, Juku Ren, "won't you eat with us?"- the young man pointed to the other members of the club, including the new ones, who had already been told that if they wanted to, they could eat with them outside the club.
-Oh, yes, I'll be right there," said Budo with a smile before turning around and looking for Ayano, before being interrupted.
-Are you looking for something?" asked the curious young man, "It's the second year classrooms," he teased.
-Oh... you're a second year- Budo said to himself, "Hey, by any chance, do you know a girl with ponytail, black hair, gray eyes...? - he asked, describing Ayano. Maybe, being from the same year, he would know her.
-Mmm...- Juku touched his lips with his fingers while trying to remember- Black hair... Oh! I know, you mean Aishi-san?"- he asked almost sure, triumphant with his answer.
-I don't really know her name... but yes, I think so," said budo a little disappointed.
-She goes in my classroom. If you want I can introduce you to her, I don't know her very well but today she was late for the first class, she apologized and when she passed she picked up my pen that I had thrown away- Juku smiled.
-Would you do that? You would do me a big favor- Budo sighed a little relieved, at least he wouldn't spend all day looking for her
-Sure, let's go, I'll see you guys now," -said both of them waving goodbye to their club members.
-I think I saw her go to the roof, what did you need her for?"- asked Juku, curious, Budo knew everybody, and everybody knew him, he was totally one of the most popular guys in the school. It was weird that he wanted to see a person, and he didn't even know her
-I... bumped into her before class started, I wanted to apologize," lied Budo, nervous and blushing.
Although Juku didn't believe a word of his lie, being Budo a lousy liar, he didn't want to insist if he didn't want to tell him, so the way up the stairs remained silent.
-There she is," Juku pointed out after opening the door, "it is the girl sitting against the wall, if you mean her," he asked Budo, turning to look at him.
-Yes... it's her," Budo said admiring again Ayano, who was eating alone on the bench,- "Thank you! I'll catch up with you guys in a second, ok?
-Well; we'll wait for you,"- finished Juku before leaving downstairs.
Budo slowly approached Ayano, he didn't want to disturb her while she was eating, his mind was filled with doubts, what if it wasn't the right time, what if she got upset, what if she wasn't interested, what if she wasn't in the mood?
When he realized, he was already a few steps away from her, in front of Osana and Senpai. Ayano heard someone approaching, so she peeked out to see the person. It was the same person she bumped into in the morning. A little annoyed, she went back to her Bento and continued eating.
-Hey budo, what are you doing here? I didn't know you liked it up here,"- Senpai greeted.
Ayano instantly wanted to turn around, but she preferred to keep her ears open, she didn't want to be noticed spying. She knew they were referring to the boy with the bandana, because he had introduced himself after bumping into her.
He lied, nervous, he didn't know if Ayano could hear them.-I was looking for new ones to join my club"-
Raibaru who was on the other side looked at Budo, they had not spoken since she left the club because of the rumors between them, and although they were just friends, she missed their friendship very much.
Ayano who had heard everything, already knew that there were rumors of Budo and Raibaru, even Info-Chan had let her know that Budo was the best way to get rid of Raibaru for a while and take care of Osana.
-Hello...- greeted Budo suddenly, pulling her out of her thoughts-I'm Budo, I wanted to apologize again, for this morning- he said as he sat down next to Ayano.
-No problem- replied Ayano, again, cold, without any sparkle in her eyes.
Budo started to get nervous, she was really making things very difficult for him, maybe, she didn't even like him and he was just bothering her.
-I wanted to ask you, do you have a club yet?" -said Budo analyzing her in search of any object that would answer his question.
-No, I haven't yet… I haven't looked for the one-And yes, Ayano wanted to take the time to look for the one that caught her attention, but mainly, the one that would give her the best benefits.
-Well, I am the leader of the Martial Arts Club, if you are interested we have a place for you, you will learn to defend yourself in a fight, you will win it, you will be strong, you will be in shape... and if you like, you can spend the breaks with the members of the club, and with me," he finished, blushing and bowing his head, while scratching his head.
-Sounds good- Ayano said as she put away her food- I should think about it- She said as she gave him a cold look, and then composed it with a fake smile. She had to keep pretending to be a good girl and gain reputation, who better than the popular leader of the martial arts club to help her?- Thank you very much, and again, it's no bother what happened in the morning, Budo-Senpai".
She sounded pathetic pretending to be shy.
Budo blushed even more as he watched every detail in her face, her gray big eyes, her long black eyelashes, her pink cheeks and her thin lips smiling at him.
-It's okay, I hope you can join, you would bring a lot to the club," -he said before getting up, "let me know your answer. ...-
-Ayano, Ayano Aishi," she finished.
-Aishi-san- he repeated, he already knew it thanks to Juku,he just wanted her to tell him- then... look for me whatever your decision is, and if you decide not to join, you can still spar with us- said budo, trying to convince her even more. He really wanted her to join. Finally he turned around and left, just before the bell rang again, for everyone to start going to their classrooms.
Shit, I didn't eat breakfast. He said to himself, while still blushing and trying to calm down, he went downstairs.
Ayano, who watched him as he left, clearly noticed the young man's nerves with her. It was strange, he was very popular, a year before she had seen him talking to other people and he didn't act like that. Anyway, she didn't give it any importance, and gathering her things, she went to her classroom, but not before saying goodbye to Senpai from afar.