"You don't have to come, you know?" she tries for the umpteenth time.

"I know."

"No, I mean like- you really don't have to. Come on, my friends will be there."

"Which is precisely why I'm coming." Her brother's answer prompts a groan from Aisha. She loves him, really, she does. But at times, talking with him is like pulling out teeth, only with less screaming - if not any less pain.

"Bro, I told you-" Repeatedly, at that - "-my friends aren't murderers."

"Well, somebody from your school is, and before they're caught I'm going to make sure nothing happens to you." She scoffs, because yeah right- as if he could keep track of her 24/7. Besides, it's one thing to know there's a killer among the students, but hell will freeze over before she believes that one of her friends is it. And yes, it's scary shit, and she's grateful for having Brian stay with her on Wednesday after the murder took place, and even yesterday, but for crying out loud! It's Friday, and it's not like she was friends with the murdered girl, so as to need moral support. She's not in mourning, it's just been... shock. Shock at how that sort of thing happened in her school, right beneath everyone's noses, just a few dozen feet away from her while she was sitting in class, being told off by the teacher, doing jack to help.

But she got over it, life goes on and all that. An incompetent bunch they may be, but, for once, the police seems to be putting their all into solving the case. Maybe they will actually catch the murderer for a change. They do have a limited number of suspects, after all. Well, the quicker the better. Having Brian following her everywhere is getting old real fast.

Knowing there is a murderer in her school isn't doing anything to put her mind at ease either.

But! At least the school is closed so she doesn't have to worry about that at the moment. And it will remain so for at least the next week, which is... well, great. Yet at the same time, it leaves Aisha with an ashen taste in her mouth. Enjoying a break because of somebody's death feels kinda wrong. Still, nothing she can do about it, so at the very least,she might as well make the effort to distract herself. And while Brian might be intent on embarrassing her in front of her friends, she doesn't get to spend that much time with him, and hey, he'll be paying for her so that's a plus. Think positive!

...Yeah, it's kinda hard when she can already imagine the holes her brother will be drilling in everyone's back with his eyes. Hell, scratch imagination, he's doing that right now! Scouring the perimeter like some sort of-

Wait, is that Ayano by the cafe table? It is! With some other girl, too. And there's... something wrong with her face, she realizes. Namely, that there's a smile on it. Now, not to say that the girl doesn't smile, but very rarely does Aisha get to see her sporting that sort of wide, dare she say, joyful grin currently adorning her features. She wipes at her eyes to make sure she's not seeing things. Nope. It's still there. Okay, she might have plans, but Aishi behaving like that begs further investigation.

She immediately sets a course towards the pair, plastering a grin onto her face.

"Hm? Weren't we going to the theatre?" her brother asks, once he catches up.

"Yeah, yeah, I just saw someone I know."

"We're already late."

"Please. The ads take like, twenty minutes before other movie trailers even start." They both wince at the mere thought of the last time they were forced to sit through three Coca-Cola ads in one sitting.

As they approach her schoolmates' table, she takes in the appearance of the teen Ayano is sitting with. She doesn't have much going for her in the looks department, with the sort of body that can't seem to decide if it wants to pass into adulthood or remain a teenager for a few more years - tall, very tall for a girl, but with no curves whatsoever. Her way of dressing does her no favours either, dark greens and greys, not quite baggy but far (far) from form-fitting. Hmm, she seems familiar now that she- ah. Of course she seems familiar, they sometimes pass each other in Winslow halls.

"Sup." She greets the two, making the taller one jump in her seat while her friend blinks a couple of times, with the sort of wide-eyed expression one has when brought out of their own little world. It's the first time Aisha has ever seen it on Ayano's face and it's... uncanny, in how normal it would be on anybody else's. In how it just doesn't fit the mental image of the girl in Aisha's mind.

Some vile magics must be at work here.

"Hi." Ayano finally answers after rebooting, her tone faintly annoyed, while the other girl only gives a small wave as a greeting.

"Your friends, I take it?" Brian joins in, his voice level but with a level of underlying tension that only his sister catches.

"Maybe~" She answers in a sing-song voice before sitting down by her classmate, not missing the tick of her eye, and extends her hand to the other, still silent teen. "Name's Aisha." The girl's eyes snap away from her brother.

"Taylor," the scrawly girl mumbles. Okay she's... quiet, almost subdued.

"And that hunk over here is my brother. Brian, say hi to the girls." He rolls his eyes at first but nods his greetings before taking the last seat by the table, immediately hogging the attention of Ayano's companion again. Heh. It never ceases to amaze her how can he remain so oblivious to the obvious ogling he's so often the subject of.

Her grin slips for for a moment when she glances in her friend's direction to see a withering glare directed her way, only to return with a truly shit eating quality once the realization clicks in her mind. Because come to think of it, she's never seen Ayano as much as annoyed, ever. Not at the school, not at the teachers, not at others- nothing. And now this whole new expanse of reactions shown in this girl's – Taylor's - company?

The very same girl who is damn near undressing her brother with her eyes. Oh, this is gold.

"Sooo," she begins, wiggling her brows at Taylor - "what are you two doing here?" - who ducks her head when she spots the three sets of eyes looking at her, nervously wringing her hands.

"Ah-"

"Just hanging out." Ayano tersely cuts in, her expression having mellowed into a touch less hostile one.

"Just hanging out, huh?" She completely ignores the way Ayano's eyes narrow at her tone. Come on, she's not about to pass up an opportunity to screw with her friend like that. "Say, wanna hang out together?" Ah, there it is, another eye twitch. "We were on our way to watch a movie with Ernest and Cass, plus a few others."

"I wouldn't want to intrude." Oh, really? A blind man could see Taylor wants to intrude on Brian's day in spite of her words.

"I'm not sure if I have the time," is Ayano's response.

"Didn't you say you have the whole evening?" Aisha has to curb her snort at Taylor's question to her - well, date, for all the girl doesn't seem to be aware of it.

"I just remembered I have something, I can stay half- maybe an hour, sorry." Aaand gotcha.

"Oh, the ads go on for at least half an hour. We can wait and go with Taylor, you know, not to leave her out on her lonesome. What do you say?" She asks the lanky girl.

Brian's groan is a long and suffering sound, one born of experience of knowing that he can't really change his sister's mind without ruining their outing. Taylor, in the meantime, shoots an uncertain look in his direction while biting on her lip.

"I- I mean I guess if Ayano is going, then I'll come with you guys, if you're sure it's no trouble."

"Actually!" the Asian girl starts. "I think I'll stay after all. What you can put off till tomorrow, do tomorrow, right?" Aisha can almost smell the plastic making for Ayano's smile.

"I don't think that's how the saying goes," teases Taylor, cheer palpable in her voice in spite of her words.

"More realistic, sure." Aisha butts in.

"Well, if you're coming with us, then come on. You still need to get your tickets." Brian states before standing up. His sister barely holds herself from cackling when Ayano abruptly stands up with a screech of her chair to strategically position herself between Taylor and the boy.

This day just got a lot more interesting.