[Aso and Ayano]

(Trigger warning: if you get triggered by rape/assault/violence/harassment, then I suggest you either skip Aso's story and continue with Mujo's story, or just read the happy parts of Aso's story and skip the bad parts)

Ayano walked out of the school, checking her texts for any of her friends that messaged her while she was in the Occult club. Budo's text was a lecture of how many club activities she's missed, Osano's text was him saying he doesn't really care if she goes home with him or not, but told her to stay safe. There was a text from Kokona too. Apparently, Kizano interrogated her about who Ayano is, what she likes, what she doesn't like etc.

"I'm thirsty." Ayano said to herself. She did speak a lot with Oko.

She searched for the nearest vending machine, and when she saw it, she saw a familiar boy as well. She approached him, and he turned around when he heard footsteps behind him.

"Oh! Hey Yan-chan!" Aso Rito, captain of the sports club and probably the most athletic guy in the entire school, said energetically with his signature big smile. "What are you doing here?"

"Hello Aso-kun." She said politely. "I'm a little thirsty, so I came to buy a drink."

"Always so frank, huh...?" Aso mumbled to himself. "Well then!" He turned back to the vending machine and put in a coin. "What would you like?"

She stood there, staring at him, a little confused. "You're treating me?"

He gave her his goofy smile. "Hey, I don't see you often because I'm busy as captain and we're in different clubs. So take it as a treat of mine. It's not often I get to have you alone…" He mumbled that last part.

"What was that?" She asked.

"Nothing!" He quickly denied. "So, what would you like?"

"Just water." She replied. "You know I don't have any particular favorites."

"Got it!" He pressed the button and once the bottle was out, he handed it over to her. "Here."

She took it and quickly opened the cap. "Thanks."

He watched her gulp down the water, a bead of sweat slid down her neck, as the sunset made her features glow a little. Aso admits that there's nothing particularly weird or outstanding about Ayano, despite the fact that she tends to be neutral with everything and have no particular interests, aside from relying on physical strength. Even when it comes to her features, there's nothing that stands out. By looks, she's the most average and normal girl you could find. Yet… there's something about her that just pulls him to her. Maybe it's because they're both athletic and love physical education. But he's not sure himself.

Her mouth moved, and he realized she said something, but he didn't listen.

"Sorry… what was that?"

"I said… are you just going to stare at me?" She asked with those gray eyes that had little emotion in them.

He laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his nape. "Sorry…" Then a brilliant idea came to him. "Then for staring and not listening, let me treat you to dinner!" He suggested enthusiastically.

Ayano looked at him like was a pitiful creature. "Aso-kun… you don't have to-"

"I'm doing this because I want to, Yan-chan…" He suddenly said, with the most sincere tone she's ever heard from him. "I don't get to spend a lot of time with you because we're both pretty busy with our own lives and schedules… so-"

"Ok." Ayano said bluntly.

"Eh?"

"I said ok." Ayano repeated. "It's your treat anyways. And besides... you're right. I would like to catch up." She gave him that small smile that he only saw once, and felt the blood rush to his face.

They went to a ramen shop since that's as much as Aso could afford for the two of them. They ate in comfortable silence, and talked from time to time of what's recently happened to them. Ayano told him how her day went with Osano to her chat with Oko. While Aso told her how he got injured one time from defending a kouhai from a bully he can't remember the name of. They continued to talk until it was night and getting late. Aso of course, wasn't going to let Ayano walk home by herself, despite Ayano's insistence that she can take care of herself.

Since it was Aso's treat, he had to pay up front, so Ayano waited outside the shop for him.

Big. Mistake.

The ramen shop they were in was in an alleyway, so there weren't any people around when Ayano went outside to wait for him. Except for three middle-aged or adult men who were approaching Ayano.

"Hey there, missy." The guy who looked like the youngest of the three, said to her in a flirty smile. "Me and my friends are going to a bar right now, and our dates bailed out on us. So why don't you join us?"

"Sorry, but I'm underage." Ayano said, not showing any fear. "And just looking at you, it's no wonder your dates bailed out on you."

The three looked both caught off-guard and angry at her sudden remark.

"Well… this one has sass… don't she?" The oldest of the three commented with a smirk.

"I think she needs to be taught a lesson on how to speak to her elders..!" The last one said with a crazed smile.

"Indeed." The youngest said, before dragging her by the wrist, and the middle one putting his hand over her to prevent her from calling for help.

She thrashed and struggled, but they continued to drag her to the deeper end of the alley. Finally, she knocked her head back, hitting the guy who was covering her mouth.

"Ah!" The man yelped, clutching his nose that was now bleeding. "You bitch!" He grabbed her school top, and ribbed a piece off.

"No!" Ayano screamed, raising her hand, consequently scratching the young one's cheek, making him bleed as well.

He held his bleeding cheek and glared at her. "Now you've done it." He growled at her.

He joined in ripping her clothes as well, and the last man joined as well. She felt their disgusting hands touch her bare skin, she felt one their nails cut scratch her cheek, leaving a stinging sensation. But it was nothing compared to the hands that continued to scratch and tear at her body. She tried to run, and she tried to fight back. But it was three full-grown adults against one high school girl.

"AYANO!"

The hands stopped, and she heard someone struggling. She heard the sound of punches and kicks. She heard a familiar someone scream in anger.

Aso?

She opened her eyes, and realized she was on the cold cement floor. She recognized Aso, who was panting, his clothes a mess, standing at her feet, and the three men were running away.

"Aso-kun…" She didn't recognize her own voice.

The blonde turned around, kneeled down and put his favorite yellow jacket over her shoulders, covering her torn up clothes. He hugged her tightly, but Ayano didn't hug back. Because she felt like she couldn't. She felt empty. Emptier than she ever thought she could be. Is that really possible? To feel emptier? She knows that people that usually experience this either shake from the fear, or are so stunned that they can't move.

"I'm sorry…" Aso said, his voice breaking. "It's all my fault..!" he hugged her even tighter. It was then Ayano noticed the blood on his face and hands, but said nothing.

And they were like that for a few minutes. Aso kept on muttering apologies, and Ayano just stayed quiet. After a while, Aso knew they couldn't stay like that forever. He carried her piggy-back style, with the jacket still on her. He carried her until they reached her house, and it was then Ayano moved. But only to give him her house key. Without giving her a chance to protest, he started patching her up, as he quickly spotted the medical kit in the kitchen.

He was a little embarrassed, since a lot of her skin was showing, but he reminded himself what he was really doing. Once he was done, he asked her if she can change her clothes by herself.

"I can…" Ayano said in a whisper voice.

"…What about your uniform?"

"I have a spare." Ayano sounded better, but her eyes were still as blank and dead as ever.

Aso wanted to stay the night, to keep an eye on her, but he knows that's not exactly the right thing to do. "Do you… want me to call or do something, before I go? I can't stay the night, as much as I want to."

Then Ayano looked at him in the eye. "Aso-kun… please don't tell anyone what happened a while ago. And don't ever mention it."

The captain wanted to argue. He may not be the smartest guy, but he knows something this traumatizing should be consulted with a professional. But… with the way Ayano was now, he was afraid saying no might have the wrong effect.

"I promise I won't." He swore, holding her hand. "But… can you at least visit the nurse before classes tomorrow? Not to talk about the incident, but to check on your injuries. I don't think I did a good job…" He said as he gazed at the sloppy bandages and wraps he put on her. "It's one thing to cover up what happened, but your injuries will show. I don't want this to get worse, Yan-chan. So please…"

Ayano thought about it. Seeing the nurse would help. And she can come up with a believable lie anyways. "Ok…"

Aso smiled, as he gave her a warm hug. "You know…I'd put my life on the line for you."

[Mujo and Ayano]

Before heading to bed, she remembered that she still had to wash Kizano's cape. Although she didn't really want to, she didn't want to deal with a snooty drama king that would just not stop complaining if she didn't wash it, after promising that she would. So despite it being late, she washed it, and dried it in the dryer. Before getting to bed, her phone beeped, and she saw it was from Aso. He suggested that she should probably go to school early to avoid the crowd of students that usually forms before school starts. And he also said that he'd wake up early and go to school with her for moral support.

She swore, Aso was too good for his own good.

Under any normal circumstance, she woud've declined. But then that meant she'll have to face a nosy Osano in the morning if she doesn't agree. So she said yes to him, and texted Osano not to wait for her. Exhausted from the whole day, but setting her alarm to a very early hour, she finally got into bed and tried to sleep.

Fast forward to the early morning…

The pair walked to school together in a mix of awkward and comfortable silence. Ayano was the silent one, while Aso kept on trying to lift the mood. They eventually got into the school courtyard, where they had to go their separate ways.

"Make sure to see the nurse, ok?" Aso pestered.

"I will."

Ayano opened the doors to the nurse's office. "Excuse me."

"Yeee-AAAAAAAHHHH!" Before she could register it, a cute man in white and pink nurse's uniform had fallen on her. His pink curled hair at the front and matching pink eyes were both distressed. "Oh gosh, I've gone and done it again! How did we end up like this? I'm so sorry, miss!"

He was close. His face was so close to hers. Ayano actually felt herself blush at the close proximity. "Um… It's ok…"

"Pardon me, but are you feeling ok? Your face is completely red!" The man remarked, as he touched her forehead with his soft hand.

"Um… I'm fine. But can you get off me..?" Ayano asked bluntly, both embarrassed and uncomfortable the situation became.

"Oh! Right!" He quickly got up. "Sorry about that."

Ayano was now able to get a good look at the man. He looked a bit thin, but otherwise healthy, and that smile seemed to match his ditzy personality. And that uniform looks like it was made for him.

"You're the nurse, right?" Ayano asked.

He chuckled nervously, standing up, but slipped on a gauze roll that was for some reason on the floor, making him fall on his back again. He moaned in pain, his eyes looking lost. "Y-Yes… I am." He said, slowly getting up. "I'm actually the substitute nurse for the week. Nice to meet you, I'm Mujo Kina."

"Mujo-sensei then." Ayano said, helping him stand up. "Nice to meet you. I'm Ayano Aishi."

"What a cute name!" He exclaimed. "Now, what can I help you with?"

"I got into…" She searched her head for the right words. "…an accident last night. My friend helped patch me up, but he doesn't think he did a good job." She lifted her top to show him the messy bandaging Aso did.

Mujo led them Ayano to the bed where she would be more comfortable sitting, while Mujo sat on the nurse's chair. He examined her scars and scratches, taking out the messy bandages.

"It is a bit sloppy, but your friend did a decent job, at the least." The nurse complemented. "Hold on, I'm just going to get some new bandages and something to clean a bit of the scratches and scrapes."

After some more of Mujo tripping over nothing, and the clinic becoming messier, Ayano was able to have new bandages and felt just a little better.

"Thank you, sensei." Ayano said, standing up. "I'll be going now." She said, standing up and heading for the door.

"You're welcome." He said, brightly. "Oh, and Ayano-san?"

She turned to face him just when she opened the door to leave. "Yes?"

"I'm glad your friend was there for you to defend you. He must be really strong." His words and gaze were different. It was like a knowing gaze. A gaze that told her that he knew, just by looking at her injuries. "Whatever happened, don't let it get to you."

"Sensei…" Ayano wanted to say more. Maybe even talk about the incident, but then the bell rang.

"Hurry now! You're late!" Mujo said softly, standing up, walking up to Ayano and giving her a gentle push out of the door. "Take care, Ayano-san." He whispered softly in her ear, and before she could say anything back to him, he closed the door.

A/N: I can just hear Kankri from Homestuck giving me an entire lecture of the importance of trigger warnings. (W9rnings 9re very import9nt 9s to not trigger 9nyone, especi9lly with d9rk themes and content 9s the one you m9de it is highly 9ppropri9te th9t 6l9h 6l9h 6l9h 6l9h 6l9h 6l9h 6l9h 6l9h)

Anyways! Aso's story was also inspired by fanart. I know Mujo's story isn't the best, but they just met! But don't worry, he'll make a cameo in the later chapters. Next up is Mido and Osoro! And I can guarantee they'll be long stories! Hope you enjoyed and thank you for reading!