Chapter 3

As the last bell rang, students gathered their belongings and headed home. Kokona and Saki stayed awhile, trying to convince Ayano to join the cooking club. Ever since Ayano somehow managed to clear her father's debt, Kokona wanted to be friends with Ayano. She wanted to return her kindness by being there for Ayano whenever she needed help.

Even long after they had already settled on the payment: Kokona had to give up on Taro-senpai. Kokona was forever grateful to Ayano for saving her and her father's life, so giving up on Taro-senpai was the least she could do. But with the condition that she would forever take good care of Taro-senpai. Ayano agreed and thanked her for her cooperation.

Kokona laughed remembering that day. Ayano was a bit weird but she was a very nice girl.

"Aishi-chan, ano... won't you join the cooking? I'm sure Aishi-chan will really love it." Ayano looked at Kokona's desperate face, it made her feel satisfied somehow.

"Gomenei, I recently joined the martial arts club". Ayano said as she got up from her seat.

"Oh." Kokona was a bit disappointed. "I guess I should have asked you sooner. Well good luck then." Kokona waved as Ayano left. Saki could see the disappointment on her best friend's face.

"you know you still ask her to eat lunch with us." Saki said as she patted Kokona's soft purple hair. She loved Kokona dearly, she was too innocent and pure. But she hated it when guys would make fun of her chest size.

Saki was also grateful of Ayano's help. Because of her, her best friend was saved and Kokona had become more open to her about her problems.

"Make some of your yummy onigirls she's sure to love them."

Both girls laughed as they headed to the cooking club.

Ayano didn't exactly go to the martial arts club just yet. She had two hours to kill and she would use every second to watch senpai. Everyday senpai would stay after school and would just sit outside next to the fountain. Sometimes his friends would come and talk to him. She had made sure that Taro-senpai had absolutely no female friends.

Ayano stayed silently behind a tree watching senpai chatting with his friends. Even from such a distance she could still hear their conversation.

"Taro-kun how come you don't have a girlfriend yet? It's weird since most of the girls at this school are after you. I think even a teacher was too."

"Don't be silly." Taro nudged. "And besides not a lot of girls talk to me for some reason."

Taro-senpai seemed a bit embarrassed to share this information and blushed. His friends whispered to each other and nodded. But Ayano wasn't paying attention to them. Her face turned pink too, she had never seen senpai's embarrassed face before. And she wanted to be the first to see all of Senpai's expressions.

"Come on, what about Osana wasn't she your childhood friend or something?"

"I haven't seen her for a while and she doesn't pick up her phone or ever answer her door. I think she may have moved back with her parents and forgot to tell me." Senpai said as he scratched his head, he looked worried.

"But if a girl ever confessed to me, I'll give her a chance." Senpai and his friends laughed at that.

"Senpai…" Ayano whispered.

Before she realized it she had spent over two hours watching senpai talk about his love life. But Ayano didn't care, she would spend the rest of her life listening to whatever senpai had to say and never get bored. But Ayano was determined to get rid of Osoro, so she left and ran towards the martial arts club.

From the school's rooftop, Osoro had been watching Ayano since the moment she walked into the school's courtyard. She gritted her teeth in anger and squeezed the railing she been leaning on. Her strength in her hands alone bended the railing. "Osoro-san?" one of her followers came up to the rooftop looking for her. She looked down and saw Ayano as she was leaving. Delinquent-chan felt sorry for her leader. Only she knew what Osoro felt in her heart.

In the martial arts club, Budo was getting everything getting ready for their daily club activities. Every now and then Budo would peak out into the hallway and scan for Aishi-san but she was nowhere in sight. Dejectedly Budo went back inside to get a new gi out for Ayano. At that moment he heard the sliding door open. Her charcoal eyes scanned the room before meeting his eyes.

"Aishi-san, glad you could make it." Budo said as he smiled

"Thank you again for inviting me to join your club." Ayano bowed at Budo. It was one of her little acts to show that she was respectful. Budo chuckled "Absolutely, I know you will do great things as a martial artist. I believe in that." He said as he scratched the back of his head. He felt a bit embarrassed saying something cheesy as that.

Ayano felt a strong pain in her heart. But she stood still, she didn't want nobody to notice any weakness from her.

As the pain went away all she could think of was 'what the hell was that?'

"here's your gi and club's headband. You can wear it during school to also show off your club's pride." Budo really did love his club.

Budo handed her the uniform and showed her the two changing stalls that were placed on the opposite side of the room.

In the stall Ayano slowly took off her skirt and folded it neatly to hide her knife. She couldn't risk it falling on her while the whole martial arts club was there. She then took off her black stocking and her school shoes. But as Ayano took off her shirt she looked into the mirror that was in there with her. It could see all of her deformities. The person she saw in the mirror was laughing at her, and she couldn't do nothing about it. She was someone she couldn't kill.

"shut up." Ahahaha

"shut up…" AHAHAAA 'You can't stop me.'

Ayano quickly put her gi on and left the stall. She had composed herself before coming out. But Ayano realised as she tried putting the headband on her hands were trembling.

'pull yourself together.' Ayano tried again but she still couldn't do it.

"son of bitch, stay on."

Budo noticed that Ayano was struggling and offered his hand to her. She looked up at him and gave him the headband.

"It's hard at first but you'll get the hang of it soon." Just as Budo pulled the headband into place, his eyes trailed down to the back Ayano's neck. Her ivory skin complemented the darkness of her hair. His eyesight became impaired and his mouth was slowly inching closer to Ayano's neck. The light in his was gone and his mind was blank, all he wanted was her. He could taste her warmth in his mouth. And yet she had a sense of coldness in her that made him want her even more. Budo was about to caress her when Ayano turned around.

"Masuta-senpai?"

The light in Budo's eyes returned again as he quickly snapped out of it. 'What the hell was I doing?'

At that moment Sho Kunin, a second year,walked in.

"Hey is this the new girl you were talking, Masuta-senpai?" Kunin asked as he put his gym bag down. Budo cleared his throat. "yeah her name is Ayano Aishi."

"Nice to meet you, I'm Sho Kunin, if Budo-senpai ever gives you any trouble come talk to me and I'll kick his ass for you." he smiled as Budo spat raspberries to him. Kunin was always looking for a reason to fight Budo. He really wanted to see how strong his club leader actually was.

Soon first years Shima Shita and Juku Ren came in. "we're here. Ren said as he started taking his school jacket off. Shita gasped as she saw Ayano.

"you're Aishi-senpai right?."

"Yes. Its me." Ayano smiled at her.

"You're even prettier than I thought. It's good to have another girl in the club. I hope we can get along!"

Ayano saw her facing turning pink from trying to say too much. But even though she was catching her breathe she still smiled. "I apologize in advance, she gets too hyper about everything. Please don't get offended if she does something weird." Ren said as he flicked Shita on her cheek. "itai!" Shita's eyes became watery as she caressed her hurt cheek.

"It's quite alright. It's healthy to be happy and chipper."

Shita looked at Ayano with admiration "waa! Senpai is so nice." Shita was about to hug her when the sliding door opened. She stopped herself to see who it was. Ayano sighed in relief. She did not want to know what she would have done if that girl had hugged her.

Mina Rai had walked in. Her brown eyes met Ayano's black ones. She was rumored to be the second strongest club member amongst the second years. Rai carefully examined Ayano up and down. When she was finally satisfied she smiled at her."Nice to meet you, I'm Mina Rai. Let's get along nicely." Ayano could see past Rai's fake smile. She wanted to see if Ayano was any competition. But Ayano didn't give a shit. She smiled back coldly. "Im Ayano Aishi, please take care of me from now on."...

They started their practice with high kicks as Budo yelled out inspirational quotes,

"Do not pray for an easy life. Pray for the strength to endure a difficult one!"

All the while Budo was mesmerized with Ayano's perfect high kick. Her eyes showed her desperation and determination to overcome whatever problem she was going through. He felt… admiration for her. He'd never seen a girl make that move seem so powerful and elegant at the same time.

..."If it only had been just that, so would I be doing all this...for her?"...

Mina looked at Budo. He was staring too long at Ayano. 'God Budo just because she has a good kick doesn't mean anything. I will make you realise who's the person you should be looking at Masuta-senpai.' Rai looked at Ayano from the corner of her eye. At that moment her eyes widen. Although Ayano's face showed no emotion, her eyes had the intent to kill. 'something's not right with her.'

Before they knew it practice was over. The sun had gone down much earlier that November afternoon. "Goodbye everyone, nice practice." Budo said as his tired members left. They were always too tired to say goodbye to one another. Except for Ayano. She looked perfectly fine. "Are you not tired from practice today?"

"No. Should I be?" Ayano asked monotonously as she finished putting on her school shoes. Budo laughed. The club members would always complain to him that he pushed them too hard. "No it's nothing. Be safe going home now. I still have to stay and clean up." Budo said he was putting away some boxes on the shelves. Ayano walked passed him with a blank expression. "Thank you for your training Budo-senpai. Be safe on your way home too." She said before she left.

"Thank you Aishi-" Budo looked back but she was already gone. "san?"

Ayano speed walked out of the school. She had hoped that she could catch up with senpai since he usually goes home at this hour.

But most of the students had already gone home. Including senpai. Dejected Ayano was walk out of the school she heard footsteps coming from the side of the school. Osoro and her followers had been waiting for her.

"Fuck." Ayano said under her breathe. At least no one else was around.

"I thought I told you to stay away from him!" Osoro clenched her fists in anger.

"You will never get between me and my senpai. Even if your bitches were to jump me. I will always find a way back to senpai." Osoro was startled to hear the quiet sweet Ayano say something like this.

"You know I pity you." Ayano began walking closer to Osoro. "Taking out your hate and sadness onto other people, just because your parents didn't care about you. Because they left you to rot in the streets."

Osoro furrowed her eyebrows. Delinquent chan covered her mouth. "How do you know that?" Osoro asked, her face unchanged.

"I have my sources. Honestly I really do pity you." Ayano's face darkened as she giggled.

"That's enough, we won't allow you to speak to our leader like that. Osoro can kick your ass right now." one of the delinquents said as she readied her bat. Osoro's bangs covered her face from showing any emotions she had on her face. "Do it. Just remember no hospital." Osoro quietly disappeared behind the school, delinquent-chan tailing her from behind. She gave Ayano a worried look. She probably didn't want her delinquents to get in trouble because of her.

As soon as Osoro left the delinquents looked at one another. "you know Osoro has become soft. I think we need to remind her what we really are." They nodded their heads together.

But Ayano stared at them blankly waiting for them to move.

"Get this little bitch." A girl with a red streak of hair said. Two girls went at Ayano while two others guarded the gate and the last three went inside the school to keep an eye out for any teachers. One girl swung at Ayano's head with a crowbar. But Ayano easily dodged it. The delinquent's movements were slow but she could tell that she could hit hard. The other one wasn't as strong as her partner but she was quicker. She tried punching Ayano but Ayano grabbed her arm and threw her backwards to the wall of the school with all her might. As the girl fell to the ground everyone could see the hole that she had made when her head impacted the wall. Ayano was sure the girl was dead. Ayano's face remained expressionless as the delinquents at the gate became aware of what just happened. They rushed to help their fellow delinquent.

"You're so going to regret that." The three girls jumped Ayano together. She could dodge and hit them back but they soon began to overpower Ayano and she fell to the ground. The delinquents didn't give her a chance to get back up so they started kicking her. But instead of feeling any pain Ayano felt annoyed and snapped. She bit deep into one of their legs, earning a scream as she broke her leg in two. Ayano's mouth was filled with the blood.

"Ahh!" The delinquent's scream send chills down her partner's spine. Ayano punched the delinquent's knees back bending them backwards. The delinquents watched in horror as they saw their friend fall the ground, but Ayano wasn't done yet. She pulled the girl by her hair looked into her eyes. The delinquent was too scared to say anything.

Ayano licked the blood she had on her lips and swallowed it. The girl screamed for her friends to help her but they stood there in fear. Ayano proceeded and twisted her neck backwards and threw the lifeless body on the ground. The two delinquents were horrified. "monster!" One of the delinquents yelled and ran out of the school. "Baka! Where are you going?" But the delinquent showed no sign of coming back any time soon. Ayano was no longer there but yandere-chan. Her laugh quickly bought the delinquents from inside the school out. Ayano was laughing hysterically. The delinquents saw two of their friends on the ground next to the entrance of the school. One of them had her neck twisted backwards and the other's head was cracked open. They looked back at Ayano and drew their knives. The last four tackled her slicing her arms, legs and parts of her stomach. Ayano was about to grab her own knife when...

"Aishi-san.!" Budo saw that Ayano was getting jumped by the some of the female delinquents,but he didn't realized that they were stabbing her. Ayano quickly returned to normal. She couldn't risk having someone with the heroic personality see what she had done and report her to the police. But she didn't know what else to do. She was losing too much blood.

Ayano's vision began to blur when Budo dropped kicked one of the delinquents right in front of her. The other delinquents backed off.

"we can't have him snitching, we'll get in trouble." one of them said.

"But what about…"

"What about those two? They were too weak anyway."

Budo heard Ayano get up from behind him. "What the hell are you guys doing?!" Budo asked, concerned for Ayano. "Only cowards jump together on a defenseless person. And its unforgivable!" Budo was infuriated but the delinquents came at him. He no longer cared of they were girls. He tackled them all at once. Ayano was regaining her vision when she saw a delinquent readying her knife to stab Budo in the back.

"Like hell I'm cleaning up an extra body." Budo noticed the girl behind him readying her knife but the others didn't give him enough time to defend himself.

"Fuck." But a shadow appeared above him. In the moonlight Budo could see Ayano, her lifeless charcoal eyes opened slowly as she performed a perfect drop kick to the delinquent's jaw knocking her out cold. Budo looked back at Ayano and realized she had blood oozing out her already bloodied body.

"I have to act quickly or she'll die."

The three remaining delinquents were in shock. They had never seen someone like Ayano before. Relentless and beyond evil. Budo felt their grip lessen and headbutted the delinquent who was in front of him. He quickly pulled Ayano's hand and pulled her up in the air. Ayano gasped taken by surprised at the sudden action but she landed safely in Budo's arms. Budo ran out of the school but the last two delinquents hadn't given up. They chased them out of the school but Budo knew this town by heart so lead them on to dead end alleyways.

When the delinquents were no longer insight Budo slowed his pace. "please put me down." He looked back at Ayano who was not too pleased to be carried bridal style. In her head Ayano was thinking 'only senpai. ONLY SENPAI!'

"Are you crazy? You're still bleeding."

Ayano wasn't having this shit and pushed herself off Budo and landed perfectly fine on her feet. She began walking, she realized that Budo had brung her to her block.

"Where are you going? We need to take you to a hospital. You're still bleeding."

"I don't need to go anywhere. I can go home and bandage myself up."

"You could have died back there, at least let me help you home as a thank you for saving your life."

"I didn't ask for your help."

'I don't need anybody.' Those words were so familiar to Budo.

But at that moment Ayano's knees gave in. The loss of blood made her lower half weak. She wouldn't make it home in time to stop the bleeding. She looked back at Budo with a not so happy face. "My house is only three doors down. The one at the end of the street. The key is under the doormat." Budo sighed in relief and picked Ayano up. "Got it." Budo replied as he ran to her house. Ayano saw his determined face. 'Why couldn't it have been senpai.' 'Senpai should be doing this.' Ayano was slowly closing her eyes. She knew she wasn't dying. She has been through worse. But she was just so tired.

"Keep your eyes open Aishi! Don't die on me."

Ayano looked up at Budo and she could see him fighting back tears, 'stupid.'

Ayano leaned against Budo's chest. She could hear his heartbeat it was beating so fast.

Ayano looked up the street lamps but they were just blurs of yellow light. It must be from the lack of blood that made them blurry.

"Thank you." Ayano said, no one has ever gone out of their way to save someone like her.

Budo smiled warmly at her as they reached Ayano's house.