Welp, let's get this thing started. Enjoy.

Ayato walked down the hardened path. The wind seemed to pass straight through his clothes, sending a strange chill down his spine. But besides the chilling breeze, it was a calm and quiet morning. Well, almost quiet.

He watched as Taro ran to the corner of the street, his arms flailing awkwardly as he did so. Taro-senpai definitely wasn't the most athletic, but that didn't really matter. He stopped at the street sign, bending over to catch his breath. Ayato ducked behind a nearby bush and leaned forward. He thought about approaching, maybe even saying hi. He wanted nothing more than to be next to Taro-senpai, but just the thought of getting any closer made his face flush.

It also didn't help that there was already someone else keeping him company.

"Osana! I-I'm sorry I-"

"Did you oversleep again?! Ugh! You always keep me waiting!" The girl snapped.

"I'm sorry," he said once again, "but if it's really that much trouble… I mean… you don't have to wait for me you know. We could just-"

"What? No!" She yelped, her face glowing red. "T-that's not what I- Ugh nevermind! Let's just go! Idiot."

The pair then began their walk to the school. After they were a safe distance away, Ayato stood from behind the plant, brushed himself off, and continued his own walk to school as well.

That girl. That stupid girl.

Bitter thoughts began to fill his mind. And with the bitter thoughts came that feeling… That burning feeling.

That stupid, ugly, ungrateful, bitch. She doesn't deserve his company.

Ayato managed to put most his thoughts aside as he entered the school grounds, though the burning in his chest remained. He watched as others began to socialize, removing their outdoor shoes, giggling and smiling with one another. The students then huddled, surrounding themselves with classmates they felt the most comfortable around, and sticking to that group. It was something they did often.

"Greetings, my petite friend."

Ayato looked up from his locker. Someone was talking to him. Someone he was sure that he'd never spoken to before. An older boy, who was just barely taller than he was, beamed at him.

"What?" Ayato responded.

"Photography and Newspaper Club!" He exclaimed. "We're taking new members, you should join."

Ayato frowned, taking the small flyer the boy seemed to be offering him. It was a colorful hand-made paper with a neatly drawn sketch of a camera on the front.

"Who are you? Why are you asking me of all people?"

He smiled. "I'm asking everyone. But I'll admit it, when I saw you standing here by your locker, I felt compelled to talk to you." He held out his hand. "Call me Jonzu."

Ayato returned his smile, shaking his hand. Not because he found him interesting, or enjoyed his company, but because that was what you did when you received a friendly introduction.

"Ayato."

"Nice. I-" The school bell rang, causing the social crowds to scatter. Jonzu looked disappointed. Ayato felt grateful that the conversation was being put to an end.

"JONZU!" A student called from afar. "CLASS!"

He watched as Jonzu rolled his eyes and turned to leave. "Think about it Ayato. I'd love to see you there."

Ayato put the flyer into his bag, though he was certain that he was never going to need it. He slipped on his school shoes and walked down the hall, beginning another pointless day. He sat quietly in each class, only speaking when spoken to, laughing whenever the others laughed, standing when the others stood. At lunch and break times he often followed his senpai around, watching in agony as he continued to waste his time with that Osana. After school he would walk swiftly and silently, following senpai home, making sure he stayed safe and sound.

This was the schedule from some time. Watch senpai before, during, and after school, with mild interruptions from Dashi and other students. It stayed this way until Friday after school, when Ayato received a text from an unknown number. The following conversation… changed some things.

N/U: Hey

A.A: Do I know you?

N/U: I saw you stalking an upperclassmen today.

Ayato paused before responding.

A.A: Do you have a problem with that?

N/U: No, I wanted to give you some information about the girl he was with.

N/U: Her name is Osana Najimi.

N/U: She has a crush on him.

N/U: She believes in the myth about the cherry tree behind the school.

A.A: The myth that if you confess your love to someone underneath that tree on a Friday, they are guaranteed to accept your confession?

N/U: Correct.

N/U: She's planning to confess to him next Friday.

A.A: Why are you telling me this?

N/U: I would be happy if something bad happened to Osana-chan.

N/U: I think you might be the right person to give her what she deserves.

A.A: Who are you?

N/U: I'm the person nicknamed "Info-chan" at school.

A.A: I've heard rumors about you. You blackmail girls and sell panty shots to boys. Nobody knows your real name.

N/U: The rumors are true.

N/U: If you ever need a favor, text me a panty shot and I'll give you whatever support I can.

N/U: If you want to know personal information about anyone at our school, just send me a photograph of their face, and I'll tell you everything I know about them.

A.A: You're disgusting.

N/U: You're a stalker.

N/U: If you want my help, text me. If you don't care, ignore me.

N/U: You have one week until your precious Senpai belongs to Osana-chan.

N/U: I hope you make her suffer.

…

Ayato stood still for a moment. Then he threw the phone across the room, slamming it against his desk. His heart was pounding. His hands were shaking. What was it? What was this damn feeling? Why did it hurt so bad?

"No…"

He tore off his bag, letting all of the contents pour onto the floor, and kicked it far as he could. Anger wasn't the right word, he knew what that was.

"Not like this… It can't end like this…"

He hit the wall, scaring his poor kitten. The small feline jumped onto the desk, knocking over Taro-senpai's portrait. Ayato walked over to the picture and grabbed it, stroking the image gently. Lovingly. So gentle that the glass covering the photo began to crack. So lovingly that his hands were bleeding red with passion.

"She can't… She won't…" He nodded to himself. " I'll keep you safe… Senpai…"

…

…

…

…

"… Safe and sound."