The more she was spending time around Taro and other people, the better she was at learning to understand them and herself that little bit more than before. She was slowly yet surely adjusting her style to try and rope Taro in further. The drastic wardrobe change had shocked her parents to no end but they encouraged the change in style. Her father had even given her some extra pocket money than usual that week so Ryoba and she go do some shopping to pick out some nicer outfits, should the day when he ask her on a date arrive…
Ayano had found a hairpin which she thought would suit her well, a sakura flower with a couple of pearls hanging off the top of it. She paired it with some white socks with rosy sakura trimming, which got many a tongue waggling about Ayano's sudden change in style.
Taro's teacher had unexpectedly been absent, though it later came to light that she had been involved in a car accident. Though not seriously harmed, the headmaster had insisted she take a week off to properly recover. And then, somehow, a woman called Mida Rana was added to the mix.
Ayano was seriously concerned for Taro. Mida appeared to size up any female students who dared to approach her and… observe the male students very intently. Including Taro. Something about it all felt dodgy and gross. Taro approached her as she was checking the bento she had made for him. "Hey Ayano, what do you have there?"
"Oh…" She started, brushing her hair away from her eyes "I was thinking of you this morning and…" She pulled out the wrapped bento "I made this for you" She smiled sweetly. Taro removed the cobalt blue fabric to reveal a beautifully varnished wood box. He opened it to find teriyaki salmon and mixed miso vegetables sat on a bed of lettuce. Bamboozled by the care put into it, he eyed the salmon with greedy intent.
"Ayano, did you make this? From scratch?"
"I did. You liked the salmon my mum made for us the other night so I asked her how she did it. She taught me how to do the sauce and the vegables as well" Ayano blushed feverishly as he chewed on a miso coated carrot. He then took a hearty bite of the salmon. "Wow, this is fantastic!".
Ayano was rendered speechless "Really? You like it, Taro?"
"Like it? I love it! The salmon is juicy but the skin is still crispy, the miso vegetables are a really nice touch too. Thank you so much for this!" Taro beamed as he gobbled it down, Ayano couldn't help but watch and feel proud over it. He had chosen to wash out the bento despite Ayano protesting that she could do it when she returned home that night.
"It's the least I could do, with what you made me. I.. wouldn't mind if you cooked me bentos more often..." She was sure she caught him blushing as she passed her a washed and dried up bento box. He passed out into the plaza, but Ayano was quick to notice Mida staring at him while biting her lip and touching between her legs. The urge for confrontation burned fiercely inside her, but she stepped back and spent the time in class thinking about what she could do about it...
When she got home, the first thing she did was speak to her mother about the situation. "That's a tricky one…" Ryoba admitted "But with that being said, there are a few things you could do…"
Ayano perked up, intent on listening. Ryoba continued "Firstly, You could get a camera set up in his class or ask him to record her on his phone; if what you suspect is true then the other parents will be furious. Or you could simply get rid of her…" Ryoba slyly spoke. The idea of bloodshed did not catch Ayano's interest even still. "It wouldn't feel right." Ayano admitted. 'Interesting…' Ryoba thought. Then, an idea struck.
"I think I might have… an idea" She smiled as she pulled out her phone and started to dial a number. "Why don't I grab someone special to help us"
The phone rung…
Kei II sat down in her favourite chair as the fireplace flickered before her, the orange and gold hues dancing along the walls. Her husband sat opposite her, eating the chicken donburi she had perfected specially for his tastebuds. She was just about to bring a glass of antique rice wine to her lips when the phone suddenly rang.
She picked it up and raised her brow 'Strange, Ryoba. Just what are you up to this time?' She answered. "Hello Ryo, Unusual for you to ring at this hour. Is everything alright?"
"Oh yes, everything is just fine." Ryoba chirped down the phone in her usual tone "Although, I believe Ayano could benefit from talking to you." Now that fired up her interest. "Has our Aya found her darling then? Oh I'm so pleased" She stood up in glee, almost knocking the chair down as she did so. "How exactly can I help though? I thought you said that you had taught her everything"
"Oh yes I did" Ryoba responded "But, something has come up which not even I expected. Not after what happened while you attended Akademi…" Kei raised her eyebrow again "Many things happened while I was at Akademi, Ryo. What exactly do you mean?"
Ryo gasped "Oh! Don't tell me you've already forgotten about the scandal relenting to a certain Sensei Oba." Kei recalled the woman. Sensei Oba had been a decent teacher, pretty with her black hair and blue eyes. If only she didn't have to suggest private tutoring with her darling Sato. It had riled Kei up so much at that age. She choose to spread rumours that Sensei was trying to seduce several male students, things spiralled and soon male students started claiming that they had slept with her to boost their own egos. Sensei Oba, despite being completely innocent, was sacked pretty soon after and even arrested.
Unlike Ryoba, she had chosen to dispose of her four rivals with no bloodshed involved. A transfer student had been first, a thin and shy American girl with parents in the military was easy to befriend; Sensei Oba had been the second; The girl next door to Sato was the third, nothing a little manipulation couldn't handle and a budding astrologist had been the last; a little help with her essay and she was offered a place with NASA.
Sato was hers. She relished it.
"A teacher? Again? Why doesn't she do what I did? It worked after all"
Ryoba sighed "Its worse than that. From what Ayano is telling me, it appears that this vile woman is actually attempting to sleep with some of the male students…"
Kei connected the dots "...and her beloved so happens to be a target. I see why you called me now" Ryoba giggled on the other end of the phone "Still as sharp as mother's old blades I see. You can see how this is a bit of a problem" Kei sat back down in the chair, thoughtfully. She clicked her tongue pensively "I'll speak to Ayano if she is awake at the moment" She offered.
"Of course, my little KeiKei. I'll pass you over to her now…" Some muffled sounds could be heard on the other end of the phone until a familiar voice spoke up from the other side "Auntie Kei?"
"Hello my little Aya, how has the academy been recently? Your mother says that you finally found your beloved. I hope you haven't been getting into too much trouble." She giggled at the thought, though it sounded sharp. She would be interested to learn if Ayano had taken after her mother or her aunt.
"To be honest, no. Not really. Though, mum told me that you could help with something" Ayano was always straight to the point, not flowery like Ryoba which Kei honestly found refreshing. "I could indeed. Now tell me, do you remember what I do for a living?"
"You were a teacher. A mathematics teacher but mum said you got something else. another position"
"That's right. I'm now part of the school board for the Buraza district. So, the question remains. How do you intend on removing this… pest?" She practically spat. Since gaining some emotion, she learnt that things could be tricky with children. Especially when abuse of some kind was involved. It had not been the first time she had to talk herself out of killing a parent or another teacher when such things were exposed.
"I want justice. My senpai, he isn't the only one that thing has eyes on. This woman disgusts me in a way I've never felt! I want her away from my Taro; No, I want her away from everyone." 'Well, I can most certainly work with that' Kei hummed as she drank her rice wine.
"Well" She thought as she twirled her long moonless black hair between her fingers. She giggled evilly to herself "I have an idea but it would require proof..."
Adding the small camera to Taro's desk would not be an easy task for sure, but that could wait until the day ended. Ayano was blushing so brightly that Taro would laugh after he ruffled her hair. Ayano breathed deeply. "I don't want that damn woman touching you" She hissed in a bad attempt to stop her temper flaring up.
Taro simply patted her head some more "I strongly doubt she'd actually try to touch me, but I appreciate the thought. I was tempted to call in sick but my mother wouldn't tolerate me slacking off at school…" He awkwardly admitted. "That being said, she would kill that teacher is she thought that she was trying anything funny business with me"
Ayano hugged him tightly. "You… don't mind what I think we should do? Right? I know how you are.."
Taro sighed tiredly "As much as I don't like destruction of property, I think this time the school would let it slide and even I would…" She slipped a gift box into his bag as he left, she hoped that maybe he would gift her a paper crane with the origami paper set she had gifted him…
A pungent scent of orange blossom made the room feel strangely cold…
The time was just after 7PM, when she went to class 3-2. It felt eerie to be back in the building alone to say the least but she had a job to do. She picked the locks on the classroom door and slipped inside. Opening her bag, she looked over the contents: a power drill, sand paper, small camera and switch so Taro could turn it on and off.
The plan was simple, record proof of Mida sexually harassing the male students and send it to her Aunt Kei so she could show the Buraza school board. Mida would go to prison and would be on the sex offenders list. That would mean that she would not be allowed near any male below the age of adulthood, let alone her Taro. She would never be allowed to teach again...
She looked around the classroom, noting that it would have to face Taro or the side rather than the front, before beginning her work. The drill made a lot of noise, she could feel her heart beating in her head as the anxiety ramped up. Wood shavings dropped onto the plastic sheet that she brought with her. Finally, the drilling was done and she sanded it down so that way it wouldn't be too noticeable unless someone was actively looking for it. She cleaned her mess and placed the camera with the switch inside.
Then, as a distraction, she added another gift onto the desk. A bonsai tree onto the desk so Taro would receive it the next morning. She nodded, pleased with her work.
Then, the door opened. Mida stood, grinning. One word went through Ayano's mind 'Fuck...'
"Oh my, what are you doing here so late sweetie?" She spoke in a sickly sweet tone. She approached the desk and Ayano moved away as if Mida were a walking disease. "Ah~ A little gift for your loved one? I do hope its something naughty. I do rather like that Yamada boy myself." She blushed, Ayano felt her temper rise. She needed to calm down.
Mida leaned in. "I do hope that you're not planning on getting to him first~ I would have to remove you from the school entirely to get what I want. I mean, I've done it once and I'll do it again if I have to~" She bit her lip, Ayano blinked confusedly. 'Did she just threaten me? The audacity of the bitch!'
"Of course" She put her hands on the wall so Ayano couldn't back away. Letting her cleavage show, the younger girl grimaced. "It'll take more than just a… flat chested little angel to beat me" The voice sounded akin to wine that had been poisoned. Ayano shivered.
Two knocks rung from the door. Mida took her hands off the wall. "Another student, at this time? This could be fun~" She spoke softly. The feeling in the room was awful, like she could smell a dead animal. Ayano backed away as far as she could. The door knocked again, more franticly. Mida went to approach but the banging became more desperate, before it suddenly stopped. Mida too stepped back, unsure of the event that had just occurred.
Silence.
Before the door slammed opened. In the dark, the silhouette of a girl with long hair approached. That stench of Orange blossom was back.
Stepping into the moonlight, the girl's chest looked like it had been put into the shredder. Bits of ribs poked out from ruined flesh, the stench of decay had gotten so strong that Ayano thought that she was going to puke. Two hollow eye sockets looked at the pair before reaching out. The dead girl opened her mouth, twisted in permanent agony.
Mida grabbed Ayano by the hair, making her yelp loudly with pain, before throwing her in the direction of the spirit. She tripped and slammed to the floor. Feeling utterly helpless, she curled up and begged inside her mind to to the spirit to let her live. The thing that resembled a student peered down at her, cocking her head as if she was thinking. Ayano could see her shrivelled up lips purse before shaking her head. The thing turned its attention to Mida, who was trying to open the door with her brute strength.
Ayano could see the orange bow in the hair, matted with what could only be blood like her hip length mousy hair.
It approached slowly, as if revelling in Mida becoming increasingly desperate to get away. Mida panicked and started to break the door down before being flung to the ground. The grin on the spirit;s face was hellish to say the least.
The spirit stood over her as she rapidly begged to be spared. Even offering Ayano as sacrifice. Ayano needed to run, but it was like looking at an unfolding train wreck; she couldn't rip her eyes from the scene. Then spirit appeared to nod and fade with a sinister smile on her face.
Mida looked completely confused until she heard the bones in her wrist shatter.
Gritting her teeth, she fell back to the floor. She screamed, screamed as the skin on her body ripped and stretched. Her eyes bulged and bled as her irises began to turn from dark brown to pretty amber. Ayano was forced to watch. 'Kizana' was the only name going through her mind.
But, just when it appeared the transformation was done Mida's skin began to rot and fall off. Eyes melted into her skull and she collapsed for the final time. Ayano bolted away from the scene. Not needing her auntie's help after all…
Kei would be disappointed.
The report came in that Mida had suffered a heart attack and that, in the heat of the night, her body had decomposed at a horrifying speed. Megami was not pleased at all with this. Everything so far had not gone her way, why?
She was the best at everything, she was great at everything she tried even on the first attempt. Why was some common girl by the name of Aishi ruining her life? She had hoped that the teacher may have… made Yamada more susceptible to her own manipulations but it was proving more tricky than she had anticipated. She looked at the sheet before her, Osoro was returning to school next week.
This girl was problematic herself.
She figured that Aoi would probably take care of it if Aishi didn't. Then, her eyes fell onto a single application form. Hanako Yamada.
She read it closely. The girl into the photograph looked pliable enough though her relationship with her brother was edging on troubling, judging by what the private investigator was saying. That and, having heard about Aishi spending time with her brother, had made a scene in front of her classmates which only embarrassed her in the long run. Now she needed to change schools and Akademi Academy was her first choice.
Girly, dependant Hanako. The pieces were falling into place just as she had hoped as she picked up her burner phone...