"Um. What exactly did you do?"
Okay. Time for the nice girl act. "I was only trying to throw some trash into the incinerator, but Osoro and his friends were there, and they wouldn't let me through to throw out my trash, and it was getting late, and I didn't want to go home in the dark, so…" Her words tumbled out in a rush, then trailed off. She glanced at Budo briefly to make sure he was buying her story. It wasn't a total lie – Ayano had to make sure that if Budo confronted Osoro at some point, his account of the incinerator incident wouldn't expose her as a liar or worse. Now time to bring it home. She took a breath to 'collect herself,' then slowly, "I may have um, just left the trash bag there. In front of him."
Budo nodded and gave Ayano's shoulder a reassuring pat. "You must've been pretty scared, all by yourself out there."
No way. "Yeah."
He sighed, his expression growing troubled. "Still, I can't believe they'd harass you over something that small. Good thing I was with you. They wouldn't dare mess with me – and if they tried, I'd beat 'em down in a matter of minutes." Budo punctuated the point with a punch.
Ayano smiled up at him. "I'm glad you were there with me. I don't know what I would have done without you." Go ahead, Budo. Feel flattered. Like me more. It'd be better for both of us if you were on my side.
Budo brightened. "Anytime!" He seemed to realize something, and looked back at Ayano with a lopsided grin. "Hey," he started, "wouldn't it be safer if I walked with you every day? I mean, it doesn't look like Osoro's going to give up anytime soon. I could even walk you in the mornings, just in case that jerk's still hanging around." Shit.
"Oh, you really don't have to!" Ayano said quickly. She couldn't have Budo sniffing around her at all hours – he'd eventually see something he wasn't supposed to, or worse, she'd have to keep up this stupid act forever. "I always leave really early, and I'd hate for you wake up earlier just for me. And besides, I don't really think Osoro and his friends are going to get up at the crack of dawn just to hassle me at the gate. No offense to them, but they don't exactly seem like the punctual type." She put on a lighthearted smile to try and put Budo at ease.
"It's really no trouble! But you're right, I doubt they go to class at all." He laughed good-naturedly. "Still." His voice was serious now, "I really think I should at least walk you home until they back off. I just- I hate to see honest, hardworking students like you get pushed around by trash like that. I can't stand by and watch that happen." Ayano could tell he wouldn't back down from this – not without a fight, at least. She sighed.
"I suppose… I wouldn't mind you walking me home for a while." At least he gave up walking me in the mornings, but I'd better leave earlier than usual tomorrow. I wouldn't put it past that boy scout to try and walk with me anyway. "At least until I get enough practice in the club to win against you."
"You'd better work hard, 'cause I won't go easy on you!" He punched her arm playfully.
The pair continued along like that, Budo talking about the judo techniques she should study to take down taller opponents, and Ayano feigning interest as best she could. Before long, they reached her house.
"Is this really your place?" Budo asked incredulously, then added, "It's uh, got a really… natural vibe?" The house itself looked normal enough, if a little small – it was the garden in the front that struck Budo as strange. The plants were completely overgrown, thick vines of ivy crawling up the side of the house and spilling over and around the front gate. It looked like the house was being strangled, the white siding barely visible through the vibrant green leaves. Is it really so odd?
"Oh, that's- my parents have been working overseas for a while, and I guess the gardening kind of got away from me." Ayano tried to laugh it off, hoping her explanation was enough for him. She really didn't want to be the school's next hot topic of idle gossip. Digging through her bag, she quickly found her key and started toward her front door. Ayano needed to end this conversation before Budo started asking any especially nosy questions. "Thanks for walking me home." And with that, she promptly closed the door, leaving Budo standing confused in the street.