A small memorial assembly was put together for Mida Rana, the air of death hung low in the gym like a funeral home. Everyone remained silent as could be until the assembly came to a close…
Ayano and Taro were hanging out together at the fountain a bit later when Akane, dressed in her pearl white uniform, approached with caution. "Hello dears." She started in her typical sweet tones. "Would I be able to borrow you a moment, Miss Aishi?" Realising that she didn't have much choice in the matter, Ayano nodded. "I'll see you during lunch break" She departed with Akane. Taro watched on, wondering how much longer he could keep the feelings bubbling inside him at bay.
Akane opened the door to the student council room.
The room itself Ayano did not find to her personal tastes; it was dark, cluttered with unnecessary items and felt more like a courtroom. Kuroko, Aoi and Shiromi were sat down at the table by the doors. "Ah, Aishi. We were just talking about you" Kuroko spoke openly. "So much has happened in the past few weeks, we were wondering how you were... holding up?" She glanced down at Ayano's hand, now bandaged.
The scar took up most of her hand she noted, that and with summer in full swing the scar did not tan slightly like the rest of her. "It's hard." She admitted quietly, fidgeting with her neck-tie "I have nightmares sometimes, cold sweats and the nerves in that hand are permanently damaged" She attempted to close it, straining as it got halfway.
Aoi turned away, clearly uncomfortable. "It gets easier" She mumbled under her breath.
"Ayano, the reason we called you here today is because everyone here has agreed that we need to disclose some imrportant information to you. We also need to give you a warning…" Kuroko continued.
Ayano's confusion was evident. "What for?" She stammered as she sat down. Akane poured out some green tea and placed the cup by Ayano. She opened her eyes to reveal a gorgeous pair of forest green iris'. "The thing is sweetie, Megami thinks that you've had something to do with everything that's happened within the past four weeks"
Ayano paused. "The student council president? Why would she think that I did all of that?"
Shiromi stared at Ayano blankly "I don't know. You look harmless to me" She tilted her head "She even thought that you probably baited Asu into attacking you, but I doubt you would damamge your hand like that for no reason..." Aoi snapped her head around "I thought we had agreed NOT to discuss that"
Shiromi shrugged "Aishi needs to know." Kuroko shook her head before speaking. "We're telling you because we know that you had no part in the recent tragedies here but Megami is convinced. Do not give her any reason to zone in on you" A thought came into Kuroko's mind, Akane stood up and approached her hastily. "Are you sure? You want to talk about… that?"
Ayano was interested now. Kuroko nodded "She should know". Kuroko approached. "Do you remember Eimi Puresu?" That name did ring a bell, a soft spoken girl with black twin buns came into her mind. The girl had different coloured eyes which had been unusual but she had been really popular.
Eimi had been really pretty, even Ayano noticed. "Just about, I recall something happened but I… can't remember." She responded.
Kuroko nodded. "The race for the student council president was in full swing. Eimi was my Vice president and my biggest competition." Ayano's head shot up, that didn't sound right "Then, Megami decided that she wanted in on the race but didn't beat us in the popularity contest." She took a deep breath "She didn't like that. Someone prettier who got in on a scholarship, it vexed her."
"What happened?" Ayano asked softly, as if tending to a wounded bird.
"She got her father involved. Claimed that she was cheating in class so her scholarship would get revoked. Without it, she wouldn't be able to continue her education here but… Eimi found a loophole." The air in the room became thick with suspense "You see, Eimi was in her third year. She got that scholarship for a reason so she took the final exams early and graduated with the highest score in the year group.
Irked Megami to no end, who do you think drip fed information to Musume about Eimi's sister Horuda?"
She was stunned "Seriously? That's why nothing was done despite the bullying becoming obvious?"
Kuroko opened the door, Ayano stood to leave but not before Shiromi spoke again "I dunno what you've done to upset Meggy but you need to watch your back…" She said blankly, like a doll was speaking.
Ayano was walking home. The rain ran along the pavement as the bite of the cold ran through her skin; Hanako had apparently made such a scene that Taro was forced to pick her up, she wasn't sure of what to think when it came to Taro's little sister, she seemed desperate for his attention in a bad way.
A small bird fluttered before landing on the wall by where Ayano stood. The bird, a cockatoo judging by its white and yellow colouring, almost appeared to stare straight into Ayano's soul 'If I had one' She thought depressingly.
"Tori! Tori!" A frightful voice rung through the fog. The bird hopped onto Ayano's shoulder, she gazed curiously at it. 'You're not the smartest creature, are you?' It raised its yellow feathers on it head, as if sensing the insult.
A young woman, soaked to her undergarments ran towards Ayano "Tori!" she cried desperately "Tori come back!" The woman stopped, her dirty blonde hair fell to her shoulders, masking a scar on her cheek. "Hey! What are you doing?!"
Ayano's head went blank, until she remember the random cockatoo on her shoulder. "She's yours?"
"Of course she is! I've been out looking for her!" The girl before her seemed aggressive in general but even more so than usual. Ayano held out her hand and watched Tori walk along it before it reach her wrist.
The angry woman softened up as Tori accepted before picked up. The girl shivered as she took a breath. "Why don't you come over to my place for a little bit? At least until the rain stops. You can warm up" The girl looked as if she wanted to insult Ayano for the suggestion but she shivered again. "...fine" She spat defeatedly.
Ayano entered her home, angry blonde girl in tow. Her mother peaked out from the kitchen "Welcome home my little mochi!" She laughed sweetly, before picking up the bath towel onto the table and wrapping it around the girl. She froze, as if unfamiliar to the affection. "Who is your friend Aya?" Before Ayano could think, the girl spoke. "…Osoro. Mrs."
Ryoba nodded. "I'm so glad you've made some friends this year Ayano! Though, the pair of you look rather wet. I'll brew some tea to warm you up" Before Osoro could speak up, Ryoba glided back to the kitchen.
The pair sat down. Ayano broke the ice.
"How did Tori escape?" Osoro smirked. "Birds, seriously clever when you think about it. Smarter than most people I think, I must have left the window open by accident…" Tori fluffed up as Osoro rubbed her head, partly closing her eyes.
Ryoba came over with tea and little cakes she had made eariler. "I beg your parden dear, but I suspect your parents must be worried. Shall I call them?" She offered. Osoro looked down, Tori cuddled up to her. "They're…" She stopped herself "I live in a flat by myself." Ryoba tilted her head, Ayano sensed something was up but she left it as Osoro nibbled on the lemon cakes.
Tori went for a bite.
"No Tori. You can't have them" Ayano had to bite back a laugh.
Osoro left about twenty minutes later, Tori firmly wrapped in a small blanket. As the door closed, Ryoba noted "She's damaged"
Ayano felt confused "What do you mean by that?"
Ryiba elaborated "When I said about calling her parents, she was about to say something but stopped herself, why do you think that she did that?" Ayano stopped to think, it made sense but…
Ryoba continued "She's welcome around anytime sweetie" before going back to the kitchen.
The next morning, Ryoba had packed two bentos for Ayano. "For that friend of yours, Sweetie. Though I suspect she'll have her own, I think she'll appreciate it. Call it a mother's intuition~"
True to her mother's words, she had initially refused it in front of the delinquents. "What are you trying to do?! Quit it!" She had roared but the moment the others disappeared, she quietly opened the box. The feeling of watching Osoro's eyes brighten as four beautifully presented Onigiri was different, not like when Taro would eat her bentos but it was still a nice feeling. She hesitantly took a bite…
Ayano knew the smell immediately, her mother's garlic soy octopus was a favourite in the house; it didn't take long for her to figure out that octopus was her dad's favourite food which was why so many of her dinners featured it. Osoro's eyes were lined with shining tears as she chewed slowly, she let the tears fall as she swallowed. "I-it's beautiful…" She stammered "It reminds me of…" She cut herself off and ate in silence after that yet the silence told Ayano everything she needed to know.
Unbeknownst to them both, Umeji had watched the interaction…
He approached Ayano alone the next day.
"Look, um…" He stammered. "I saw you witth Osoro yesterday and… She's clearly hiding something." He looked awkwardly to the ground "I don't want to upset her and, you seem to make her open up somehow. Could you...talk to her? Whatever it is, its clearly bothering her…"
Ayano sighed "I'll… try"
Umeji nodded and walked away.
Managing time between everyone, her budding relationship with Taro and the Occult club was difficult but she seemed too manage it fine. Osoro didn't open up much more until after-school on Friday, The delinquents had approached Osoro while she was talking to Ayano.
"Osoro, we've know each other a long time." Umeji started "We all revelled in your story of beating up that gang outside of school last year. W-we were so fragile and broken, we were ready to-" He cut himself off but Hayanari continued "We were ready to end it all. Together. You were our beacon of light in this grim, foggy life. You still are." He tried to sound reassuring but Osoro wasn't convinced.
"What do you mean by all of this? Ayano, do you know what they're saying?" The tone sounded much like a scared, wounded animal. She knew to tread carefully.
"I think what they are saying is, they know that something is bothering you. If there is anything I know about problems, its that by talking about them it helps your emotional state. Your mental health needs help sometimes, just talking to a friend can help." She softly spoke.
Osoro appeared to deflate slightly, but the longing to run was still written on her face.
Umeji spoke again "You need to talk. Please, talk to us" He held her hands, causing her to blush "Whatever it is, we're here for you"
Osoro choked on her sobs, hugging Umeji tightly.
"I just wanted a normal life! Normal family, normal friends, normal school!" The tears poured as hailstones pattered down, a ting noise ringing from the incinerator each time it landed. "My own mother was stabbed in front of me! I was five! She was stabbed fifteen times and the police didn't do a damn thing! I was passed around like an object because nobody wanted a damaged child. Those who did tried to-" She choked. A terrible chill rose through Ayano's back. "They tried to use me. They only stopped trying after I beat the life out of them. I fled Osaka and came here but someone mugged me and scarred my face as soon as I left the station!"
Osoro took a deep breath. "I only got here as a showpony. Some poor kid to parade saying that even poor people can be a success, if they follow the whims and wishes of rich pigs like the Saikous!"
She took another deep breath, as if on cue the hailstones stopped. "I feel… free" She admitted "I feel liberated. But, surely I should be feeling-" Ayano cut her off. "Don't. Don't ever call yourself that. I couldn't have lived through all of that and still find time to smile. You need to speak to the counsellor, she could arrange for something to help you. No wonder you resorted to violence…"
Ayano paused. Osoro wiped her eyes…
"I'm… not sure I could have admitted this. Without you. Your mother, she reminds me of my own." She removed her wallet from her bag and took out a picture. A young woman with an identical face to Osoro beamed happly, the baby on her lap (Which Ayano knew was Osoro straight away) trying to reach for her curly pink hair. She was wearing a simple grey and white jumper. Ayano genuinely smile at the photo, she'd love to have a baby one day.
Genka was understandably horrified, when Osoro told her the story. So much so that she personally phoned her own mother: Mae, who had now progressed into professional counselling, to give her the counselling she needed free of charge. Genka was very insistent on that part.
The week ended with Osoro inviting Ayano around her place for a drink and to play with Tori. The figure of a re haired girl could be seen out of the corner of Ayano's eye.
In an abandoned temple, a red haired girl spoke before the group.
"She's definitely changed. What we are seeing is the best possible outcome for her." The pink haired girl smiled as if to say 'I told you so'
"The next one will be the real test" The one with purple hair admitted "She may break yet. I will personally watch over her next week "…