Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

There were some strange things about Aishi-chan that Taro has observed. Everyone had their quirks, of course, and Taro knew that. But dating her for two weeks now, he’d taken note of some of them.

The way she seemed to always be observing, taking in information, like anything could be useful. He’d remarked that she would make a good detective, and she wouldn’t stop blushing for quite a while. For one of their dates, he took her to an escape room, and watched in fondness and awe as she easily solved it, directing him like an assistant to her aid. Even now, he sometimes called her Sherlock-chan, just to tease. In return, she gave him a mischievous smile and said ‘Elementary, my dear Watson-kun.”

Her built in ability to sense danger, like a bodyguard, was another trait. The many times where her hand would fly out to stop him, just before careless students barreled past him, almost having knocked him over. Of course, this ability had been gained from the self defense classes she’d taken in childhood, and her time in the Martial Arts Club, as she explained. Matsuda-kun already bragged on Aishi-chan near constantly as it was. He often remarked about her ability to see danger coming. “It’s her Yan-vision!” He once said proudly, after a friendly spar that he lost miserably. Ayano was modest as always about her great ability, even though Taro and her other friends thought it was incredible. Plus, being kept safe was reassuring. And... maybe he liked stronger girls. Could you blame him? Something about seeing Aishi pin someone in a spar just his heart stop.

Then was her ability to find interest in anything he liked. Every book he read to her, she always loved, and always had amazing insight on. She would offer her own unique thoughts, and start small, harmless debates. They often found themselves in the school library during time where she didn’t attend the art club, talking endlessly. She knew how to keep a conversation going, how to interest him. And in return, he tried to ask and learn about her hobbies and interests. She loved painting, and Taro thought an artistic girlfriend was a very good thing to have. She could sketch anything she saw very well. Taro noted with no small amount of pride and embarrassment that he was the subject of many of her sketches and paintings.

Those three were... actually very endearing. And her eyes always lit up. Taro loved seeing her eyes light up. Aishi had very beautiful eyes, like coal, and when she was interested in something, they lit themselves aflame with a spark of life. All of her qualities really just made Taro like her more and more. Yet, there was one quality that slightly worried him.

Her hatred of fights. Everytime they had anything more than a friendly debate, anything that could be considered a real disagreement, she instantly changed her views, and agreed with him. She instantly vowed to change, even when she clearly didn’t want to. She made herself cave.

It worried Taro. He wanted to help her grow past this. Yet he didn’t know where it was coming from. Was it her home life? She never spoke of her mother much...

All he could really do was reassure her, the very best he could. To keep caring for her. To keep admiring her lovely qualities. He’d figure out how to be a good boyfriend eventually. She deserved at least that.

Chapter Text

Intimacy was a thing that Aishi-chan seemed a bit afraid of. She clearly sought it. She lingered after every touch. Osana once huffed and made a comment that she probably wasn’t hugged enough as a child. 

(The quiet ‘probably’ from Aishi-chan caused the pigtailed girl to get very upset very quickly, and give her affection often.)

But still, platonic affection from the many friends that Aishi-chan had wasn’t quite the same as romantic affection. She tried to initiate it a few times, but she always backed off at the last minute. Taro wasn’t sure if he should take the lead or not. Would it be too much?

The last thing he wanted to do was scare her. Aishi was... a bit like a scared cat when it came to these sorts of things. She would shrink away and look as if she was going to be hit. He didn’t really want to think of the implications of that. Still, he was just too afraid of accidentally hurting her. Osana called him a coward as they were walking past the public school on their way home. Taro could only sigh, stepping around Ruto-san, who transferred to the public school a few weeks back, and always went stone stiff and pale when he appeared.

The answer came to him without his will to. It was just some heavy praise from some pink haired boy that Aishi-chan had once helped up off the ground. Yet still, seeing her smile at him so tenderly... He felt possessiveness rise in his chest. Aishi-chan was his girlfriend. What did this pink haired boy think he was trying to prove, getting so close. 

Him trying to hold her hand was the last straw. Taro grabbed the hand as he reached for it, glaring. Aishi looked up, with such a cute red face. “I’d prefer if you asked Aishi-chan, next time.” He said lowly. His voice was deadly calm, as the boy profusely apologized, and ran off.

Aishi-chan was looking up at him adoringly. It made him feel shy, and a little prideful. Prideful that he managed to get a girlfriend that looked at him like that. He... guessed intimacy was fine. As long as Aishi looked at him like that.

Though he couldn’t escape Kamenaga-san’s lectures whenever she caught him holding Aishi-Chan’s hand during school, or hugging her. One time she sat in his lap, and they got in very big trouble for that. She was always so shy when she wanted affection, and he just couldn’t resist her!

At the very least, she wasn’t scared to hold his hand anymore. And he certainly wasn’t displeased to receive more kisses and affection from someone as cute as Aishi. He was so happy, he didn’t even notice the glares he got from some of the boys at school...

Chapter Text

Aishi-chan was officially going to be the end of him. Taro had no idea she could be this dangerous. The way she held herself, he should have known...

Still, she could have told him she worked at a maid café before he caught her working while shopping! Now he was hiding, pressed against the outer wall so Aishi wouldn’t see him through the café’s window. He willed his heart to stop beating so hard, and his face to stop being so hot.

But Yamada Taro was a simple man. And Aishi-chan was unbearably adorable in her poofy maid skirt and heels. Maybe she was even wearing— ohgoddon’tthinkaboutTHAT! His face burned, embarrassed and trying not to get aroused in public. 

Osana, who’d come with him, was laughing at his face, and he hated it. He scoffed, hiding his face. He heard her walk away, and into the shop. Daring to peek in, he saw her talking to Aishi. Panicked, he took his chance to cross over to the other side of the shop, where they could continue walking. Hopefully Osana didn’t reveal his position.

“Hey, Taro! I got you something from the café.” She grinned. 

Taro grimaced. “Why did you get something to go? Most the foods there are messy, and we still have things to get!” He asked, annoyed and embarrassed.

In response, she held her phone up. On it was a picture of Aishi-chan, curtsying for the camera. The skirt was pulled up slightly, letting him see the garters she wore. He looked away quickly, face red again. Osana laughed hysterically, enjoying his suffering.

Chapter Text

Taro really had never wanted for much. His allowance kept building up, as he preferred to read from the library, and only really spent money on journals or a rare book the library didn’t have. Maybe a snack every now and then. But in the end, his satisfaction with what he already had meant that he could afford to splurge sometimes. Now that he had a girlfriend, whom he cared about very much, he could afford to take her on nice dates and get her gifts. Though, luckily for his wallet, she was satisfied with just about anything.

Still, he wanted Aishi-san to know he cared. Which brought him to the art supplies store.

Aishi loved to paint and sketch. He knew that much. He loved to lean his head on her shoulder and watch her hand sway and twist, bringing to life whatever she wanted. She was unique in the way that many of her paintings had the color red in them. It was her favorite color, after all.

He remembers going to the last school art show with her, just a week after he asked her out,and seeing all the riveting red paintings she’d made over the six weeks she’d been in the art club. One painting as a self portrait, a surrealist piece. It showed herself, completely monochrome, covered in blood red roses and ribbons, her eyes closed and head tilted down, as if sleeping while sitting up. Taro asked how she got such a close color to blood, and she just smiled and whispered in his ear.

“I make the red paint myself from the flowers in my backyard.” 

She really was amazing.

Now, what to get her? A how to draw book might be insulting... He wasn’t sure what kind of paints she was low on at home. He got her a few sketchbooks of various sizes already... Just as he was eyeing a miniature pose model, he heard someone walk closer. He turned, and saw Tsuka Geiju, the art club leader at his school. He smiled, happy to see him. He could probably give some tips.

“Hey, Tsuka-san! How are you?”

Tsuka nodded, picking up a can of colored pencils and examining them. Taro looked away awkwardly. He’d forgotten how little the leader spoke.

“Our kohai needs pastels.” Tsuka suddenly said.

“Ah, thank you, Tsuka-san! I was wondering what to get her!” Taro smiled thankfully. He grabbed a decent looking brand of oil pastels, and one of chalk pastels. He blinked when Tsuka did the same.

Taro suddenly realized that there was no real way for Tsuka to know she needed these things. After all, there was plenty art supplies in the school for their activities. Not unless... he observed her carefully. Or, unless he had asked what she needed.

The pastels in his hand told Taro the rest of the story. Tsuka was shopping for Ayano, too. The black-haired boy tried to push the worry out of his head as tallied up the prices in his head, grabbing a few pens as well. After all, Tsuka was Aishi’s sensei of sorts. The club leader. It made sense for him to care about his club members.

Tsuka was staring at him. Taro couldn’t look away, once he noticed.

“The best man will get the girl.” The artist said simply, and walked away.

Taro felt the slow horror of the situation dawn on him. He probably should have expected this, really. It was too hopeful to think that a wonderful girl like Aishi didn’t have other admirers. In fact, she was so wonderful, Taro doubted that he and Tsuka were the only ones that noticed!

...Fuck. He was fucking screwed.

Chapter Text

Tarp had never really seen Budo as a threat, or scary at all. He was this gung-ho guy who was very friendly and excitable. Really, he was like a golden retriever as a person.

Still, now that Taro was starting to become aware that Aishi-chan was entirely too amazing to not have other admirers, he could see clearly the puppy love Masuta held for Aishi. Every time Aishi was around, Masuta lit up like a lantern. He was constantly trying to get her attention, her praise, her affection. Masuta probably didn’t even realize what he was doing, of course. He wasn’t the smartest guy, as much as Taro liked him as a person.

Still, Taro felt threatened. Intimidated. So, like any other idiot high school boy trying to prove himself to the love of his life, he tried to build up his strength, so he could be cool and muscular like Budo. 

He did not consider the fact that he had never properly exercised in his life. Or how hard it would be to keep his mission from Aishi.

They went pretty much everywhere together, because Taro wanted to spend as much time with her as possible. He made himself get up early to to go over to her house and eat breakfast with her, even. He walked her to and from class and club activities, and walked her home. Actually, a lot of the time after club activities they went to his house and she stayed as long as she could before he walked her down the street to hers. After all, Aishi lived alone, and he knew that before they started dating, she’d been a bit lonely. His family approved, of course, and thought it was so gentlemanly how he escorted her everywhere. And of course, Hanako adored Aishi in every sense of the word, and was always happy to see her.

With how much time they spent together, it was hard to sneak off to train his stamina. And he was horrible at lying. So he would awkwardly excuse himself during lunch, and the sports team would help him figure out how to properly train without killing himself.

(Rito still didn’t talk to him. That was just fine by him, seeing as he still had a grudge against her.)

Of course, this all only ended in disaster. After her club, during which he’d trained hard, he was all sweaty. And Aishi finally kadedon’d him, right against the wall. She was much shorter than him, but Taro was still very intimidated and very into it.

Aishi looked up at him, hurt and sorrow in her eyes. “Taro.” She said coldly, and he felt himself shiver from his she said his first name. “Are you... cheating on me? You keep running off and coming back all sweaty and out of breath. If... if I’m not good enough, if you want me to do those things! Please tell me!! I’ll do what you want, but please don’t be with anyone else, Taro!” Tears were welling in her eyes, and Taro realized that this was the first time he’d seen her truly upset since they first started dating.

He acted on instinct and pulled her close. “Of course not!! I would never cheat on you! With who?! You’re the most wonderful person I’ve ever met, Ayano! I’d sooner die than betray you like that!” He told her frantically, meaning every word.

“Y-you... said my first name.” She whispered into his chest, shakily hugging back.

“Because I love you, Ayano. I want to be the best I can for you.”

“Then why...?”

“I...” He blushed in embarrassment. “I’ve been trying to work out so I can be muscular and fit. To try and impress you. It’s not going as well as I’d hoped. I was... scared that Masuta might steal you away because he was cool and buff and handsome. And I’m... me. Just plain old Yamada Taro.” He confessed. It was hard to be vulnerable. It always had been for him. But with Aishi, it was easier. He could trust her with his heart.

She pulled away to look up at him. “I don’t care, Senpai. I didn’t fall in love with you because of any of that. I fell in love with you because you’re you. You’re kind and sweet and thoughtful and you care about others. Even... About me... I like you just the way you are. I like the Taro who rambles about the books he’s read, and cuddles with me, and gets all blushy when I wear cute dresses. I want you, Taro. Not Masuta.” She smiled up at him. 

Taro’s face was completely red by now, his heart thumping in his chest. Acting on instinct again, he hugged her tight again. “You’re so cute, Ayano!! I want you too!!” He said happily. 

Ayano was surprised, but giggled and hugged him back, just as tight.

Later, they’d walk home, and Masuta waved eagerly at Aishi. She waves back with her free hand, but never let go of Taro’s. That reassured Taro that she truly was all his. She might have other friends, other admirers, but she’d never let go of him. And he’d be damned if he let go of someone as great as her. 

However, even though their love was strong, some people don’t know when to stop. 

“Thanks, Info-chan.” A more messy club leader was eagerly examining the note that he was given, listing all of Ayano’s favorite things. “How do you know all this, though?” 

Info-Chan giggled, gazing at the avatar she showed to everyone at school, so they’d never know who she truly is. Her eyes went to a framed picture of a young Ayano with another girl, both holding hands and smiling at the camera. 

“Let’s just say... I have a vested interest in Aishi as well. However... I want to give everyone a fighting chance. Good luck, Taka-san. I’ll be watching.” The line cut off. 

Taku Gema shivered, but steeled himself. He knew he had a lot of love rivals, but he was determined to win this game of love!! 

Chapter Text

Taro felt assured that Ayano would stay with him, no matter what. He was going to trust her on that. Besides, she was probably the most reliable girl he’d ever met— among Akademi students she was kinda famous for it, really. Still, he couldn’t help but be more observant now, realizing that it was incredibly easy to fall in love with Aishi-Chan. He’d been blinded to that fact, mostly because he probably fell the hardest, if he said so himself.

“Took you long enough, dumbass.” Osana had huffed, grinning viciously at him. “You seriously hasn’t noticed that basically EVERYONE has a little bit of a crush on her? She’s the school heartthrob! Maybe that’s part of the reason that Saikou bitch doesn’t like her.”

Taro pouted and picked at his food. “Shut up, I just... And don’t talk about the former student council president like that, idiot.” He sighed as Osana only laughed at him. “I guess I was just... Blinded by how amazing she is, when I first really started to notice her.” He mumbled. “And I think ‘everyone’ is an exaggeration anyway. I mean, do you have a crush on her?” He challenged.

Osana’s face turned red and she went uncharacteristically quiet, freezing in place.

“...OSANA!”

“HEY ITS NOT LIKE IM GOING TO ACT ON IT! J-JUST SHE BROUGHT ME BACK MY CAT— CAT CHARM!” Osana wasn’t looking at him anymore, sweating a little. “Y-yeah! I lost my cat charm in the maze, remember? And she found it and brought it back to me! Even though she didn’t have to...” Osana’s eyes were soft. “But you’re my childhood best friend, so I’m not gonna violate that code by pursuing her. Besides... me and Raibaru, y’know? Even if Aishi-chan’s amazing, I want to stay with Raibaru.” She smiled. It was softer, somewhat awkward.

Taro smiled. “It’s okay. I understand. Besides, I can trust you on that. Partly because I have like a decade worth of blackmail on you.”

Osana stuck out her tongue at him. “Simp.”

“Pot meet kettle.” He fired back.

They went on bickering playfully for some time.

—

“T-Taro.” Aishi was smiling at him happily, with a hint of shyness, as he approached her. “Are you walking home with us today? Midori-chan isn’t attending her club today, so she’s walking with me today. I hope that’s alright.”

“No worries, I don’t mind.” Taro’s face was already pink. He couldn’t help it. First names was something they were both getting used to calling each other. It felt extremely intimate. He liked it, and liked it more when her face went all soft and happy whenever he said her first name. It was such a pretty one, too. He stood close to her, and linked their pinkies. She made a soft little sound that might have been a laugh, leaning slightly against him. For a second, they just enjoyed the quiet.

“AYAAAANOOOOO!!!~” The two turned, Aishi quickly disconnecting from Taro in order to brace herself to catch the green whirlwind that was Gurin Midori. Midori had an inch or two on Ayano in terms of height, but she still threw herself at her, making Aishi half carry her as they both laughed happily, Aishi’s more subdued but still fond. It wasn’t as if she couldn’t carry her, anyway— Martial Arts training makes for a very strong girl.

Taro watched with clear amusement. He didn’t mind Gurin-san at all, even found her entertaining. Besides, it greatly amused him how Aishi also had a very extroverted and extreme childhood friend. Though Gurin was less aggressive and more energetic. Some found her annoying, but in his opinion, Gurin didn’t have anything on Najimi ‘kicks a vending machine in broad daylight’ Osana. What’s the worst that a girl like her could be hiding?

“Hey Gurin-san.” He greeted cheerfully, stopping their sweet reunion.

Gurin looked at him for a second, and then beamed. “Hi-hi, Yamada-senpai!!” She cheered. “You walking home with us today? Yay! The more the merrier!” She clung to Ayano’s arm as she pulled out her phone, attention on finding something. “Ooh, Aya-chan, look!~”

Taro chuckled at the easily distracted girl. He went on Ayano’s other side, sticking close to his girlfriend and watching as Gurin clung to her like lint. Actually… now that he thought about it.

Was it possible…? That Gurin might have a crush on Ayano? They were very affectionate, even more so than you would expect for childhood friends. Taro is eighty percent sure Gurin tried to get Ayano to sit in her lap before at lunch, too…

Though, even if Gurin did like Aishi in that way, he had to wonder if the green-haired girl was even aware of it. She was a bit ditzy, and he said that with utmost respect and affection. Well, at least with this one, he didn’t need to worry, then.

Taro walked Ayano all the way home and was tempted to maybe kiss her. Just her cheek though! But not in front of Gurin. He might embarrass Aishi-chan…

He settled for telling her he’d see her tomorrow and patting her head. Aishi looking up at him with awe like he’d given her the world was all the reward he needed for his slightly bold move.

Then it was just him and Gurin as they walked back to the street where they’d part. It was fine, though. Gurin was entertaining herself on her phone.

As Taro reached the street where they would part ways, his phone buzzed. He took it out and found a text from a number he didn’t recognize.

???: Watch your back.

Taro: Who is this???

???: Oh, me? I’m Info-Chan. You may have heard of me.

???: But enough of that. I wanted to deliver a message.

???: There are a few boys who like Aya-chan and want to steal her away from you. And I sold them the materials they need to make it happen. Or at least to try.

???: I’d say I’m sorry, but I’m not. Don’t misunderstand my intent, though. I have a vested interest in Aya-chan. I want her to be as happy as she can. And you need to prove that you can make that happen. Anyway, bye bye~

Taro stared at the message, shellshocked.

“Yamada-Senpai? You okay?”

Taro nearly jumped three feet in the air. Gurin was still here?! Indeed, the green haired girl had looked up from her phone and was watching him curiously.

“I’m… fine. I’m fine. But I should get going. Be safe getting home, Gurin-san.” He smiled, hoping he didn’t look as stressed as he felt.

Walking off, he felt determination build. He might not be the smartest, fastest, or most interesting guy, but he really did like Aishi. And if some boys wanted to challenge him for her, he’d fight to the end.

Chapter Text

More than ten weeks ago, Ayano would smile for Midori and everyone else until the moment the door to her house shut behind. Then her mask would fall, and it’d be back to how it always was. She felt nothing. She’d never felt much of anything. A twinge of pity for her father, a twinge of hatred for her mother, but mostly… nothing.

Ever since she won Senpai’s heart she hasn’t been able to stop smiling. She hasn’t been able to stop giggling. She doesn’t know who this person is that’s come and replaced the girl she’s actually been all her life. But she thinks this person is a culmination of all her masks, finally made real.

She did it. She won. Those ten weeks are past, and Senpai, no, Taro, belongs to her. Being a girlfriend is more difficult than she thought. But she’s adjusting, and he’s kind enough to wait for her. He’s adjusting too. It’s so endearing. He’s so endearing.

She wasn’t going to say it until he did, but she loves him. Seriously loves him. Aishiteru loves him.

There are many words in the Japanese language for expressing love. Most are subtle. Taro had told her daisuki a few times. It was a pretty big word for love, acceptable for a high school relationship, but still one that was casual. You could say daisukiabout books, and he in fact has said that a few times. Ayano finds that cute.

Aishiteru is something you only say when you’re one hundred and ten percent sure that you love them. It’s not something you say lightly. Married couples don’t even say it often, and you should never say it in public. Mother had told her once that for English-speakers, Aishiteru was equivalent to saying ‘Until death do us part’ and meaning it.

Ayano loves Taro in the aishiteru way, and she knows she always will. He brings light and meaning to her life. With him, she can finally be a whole person. She can hug her father and mean it, she can tell Midori she cares and mean it, she can have friends and actually have them mean something to her. Ayano loves Taro for that with her whole being. But she won’t say it, because that might scare him. Even though she’s won, she has to be careful.

Though sometimes, she still will find herself unable to stop thinking about what she had to do to get here. It’s a countdown in her head, calming and unnerving at the same time.

The first one befriended, the second match made, the third expelled, the fourth driven away, the fifth transferred out, the sixth killed, the seventh fired, the eighth framed, the ninth won over, the tenth ruined.

All in her way were taken out of it, one way or another. She cared more about making Taro happy, so she tried not to choose senseless violence when she could. She didn’t want poor Senpai to be scared.

Nontheless, whenever she felt that brand new fear that she might lose him, she repeated the details in her head like a mantra. After all, she’d gotten this far. She’d gone through ten rivals, and she could do it again.

—

One befriended, a cat rescued, a stalker found dead in his basement. No one cared about his death, though, because he soundproofed the walls and no one could hear him scream. Ayano knew from the start that Osana would take nuance, because it wasn’t like she could just get rid of Senpai’s childhood friend. He’d be heartbroken. Also, Raibaru was genuinely terrifying. Plus, it turned out Osana had no interest after all, and instead became determined to help Ayano win him over. Osana was a boon, and with all her new emotions Ayano could feel properly grateful to have her as a friend.

One match made with that delinquent boy who secretly liked cooking. It was part of a slow plan in place to dismantle the delinquents so they wouldn’t interfere with her later. If she needed to hide bodies later, they would be severely in the way. With Osana’s help, Ayano asked Senpai for help finding a book, and started to talk to Senpai a little. He said it was nice to have someone to talk about books too. Ayano didn’t tell him she only started reading recreatively because of him.

One expelled. Kizana has a surprising amount of dirt on her, and Info-Chan proves useful. Ayano gets a discount, and decides not to question why. She trades some information she got from bugging the school for classified student information and says the right words to the right person. She’s done by Wednesday. Ayano joins the martial arts club, and makes the bullies all turn on each other in the meantime. No bullies means no delinquents, and no delinquents or bullies means she has easier access to the incinerator and the school as a whole.

One driven away. Rito liked Senpai, alright, but after an entire week of things going wrong between them and arguments started, Senpai had gone from not knowing who she was to thinking she was out to get him. And after getting harshly rejected, her confession taken as a sick joke, Rito started to despise him too. They stayed away from each other, and that was good enough for Ayano. Senpai vented to her about it, and that was how she knew she’d both won his trust and won this week.

One transferred out. It was a surprise conclusion to a different plan. Oka Ruto wasn’t a hard person to make people hate. Ayano just wanted to make her so dangerous-seeming that Senpai wouldn’t want to be with her. But on accident, she made Ruto think that Senpai had hexed her and transferred out to get away from him. It all worked out. Senpai didn’t even notice Ruto existed.

One killed on the way home. That nurse had bad intentions with the students, and the way she feigned ditziness and clumsiness in order to get close made Ayano sick. She fought back, but Martial Arts club paid off. Her dead body was found, but no evidence to the killer was ever traced.

One reported and fired. That teacher was just as bad as the nurse, but the school body was already shaken by the news of the nurse’s death. Again, Ayano didn’t want Senpai to be scared. Besides, it was laughably easy to set up and record an incident of sexual harassment of a student. Ayano felt a little bad for Matsuta-kun having to be used as bait, though. Luckily he was just as disturbed by the behavior as her and was happy to have it reported. It all almost wasn’t worth it to not kill her, because Taro had told her that week that if she needed anything, if she was ever scared, to come to him. He said he’d protect her, and that set her heart on fire.

One expelled again. Her plan to reform the delinquents came surprisingly in handy. After Ayano got rid of the main threat and helped them integrate back into the school, they didn’t want back in with Osoro, and all Ayano had to do was provoke and purposefully loose a fight in front of the school in order to paint Osoro as a violent individual who viciously attacked an innocent first year who was just trying to get by to class. Osoro’s horrible reputation worked against her, and no one believed her when she said it was provoked. Ayano had been nothing but helpful to everyone for the past eight weeks, doing dozens of favors and painting the perfect picture of an innocent girl, just in case she ever got sloppy. She had massive amounts of people willing to vouch for her. Midori, Kokona, Osana, the other martial arts club students, and various people outside all of that vouched too. The best part of it was that Masuta had finished it all off by making a huge show of coming to save Ayano from Osoro at the end, and breaking down crying over her beaten body. He did it all on his own, too, as a pleasant surprise to all her planning. With his unknowing help, no one would ever think she was anything more than a victim of the school’s neglect. She was out for a few days with injuries, but Senpai visited her every day and helped her with makeup work. He was shaken by how hurt she got, and it made her so happy to know he was concerned over her.

One won over. Osana’s friendship proved to be just what she needed to stay ahead of the game. Or, in this case, to convince a very overprotective little sister that she was good enough for Senpai. It was easy, though. That good reputation paid off. One word about how she wanted to be better friends with Hanako and Ayano’s friends jumped to give her rave reviews to the girl. It was nice to have friends who were so loyal. Especially two in particular. Ayano said ‘jump’, and Midori and Masuta would ask how high. It made her a little sad to quit the martial arts club, but the art club would prove more beneficial right now. Plus, it’s not like her muscles would magically disappear. Masuta understood, and asked to keep being friends. Ayano accepted, because he has proved himself extremely useful as a bodyguard. Plus, she genuinely cared about him with all these new emotions. Ayano spent the whole week with Hanako, and by the end they were close as could be. Senpai even scolded Hanako when he thought Ayano wasn’t listening for ‘hogging’ his kohai. That was nice.

Then there was the tenth one. Megami. If Midori knew anything about this, Ayano was sure she would call her the ‘boss fight’. However, this boss was on easy mode. Ayano was popular and well liked, so no one believed her when the heiress suddenly said Ayano was dangerous. However, the student council was on top of Ayano that week, too, constantly watching her every move. Ayano got inspiration from the way the student body uneasily watched Megami prey on what to them was an innocent underclassman who’d just violently been attacked a few weeks earlier. Ayano would take these burdens and make them the nails in Saikou’s coffin.

It was an elaborate plan that she collaborated on with Info-Chan. Tons of blackmail was turned into tons of favors, all with that interesting ‘discount’ that Info-Chan always gave her. Replace recordings, delete records, stop paper trails. First, Ayano lead Megami to believe that she was planning Kokona’s murder. Then, she made the purple haired girl sick after school using an secret emetic slipped into her drink so she’d stay home. Finally, she was seen covered in red, painted a portrait, and watched as Saikou announced to the whole school that she’d found Ayano guilty of murder and called a squad of policeman up to the school only for it to turn out to be red paint. And surprising Ayano again, Kokona’s father called the school during investigations to let them know she was feeling better and would be back tomorrow. It was the perfect final nail in the coffin.

Ayano sealed that coffin shut by crying over how Kokona was her best friend, and how she was horrified that Megami would ever think she could hurt her.

Megami tried to get evidence, but it was all replaced with perfectly spliced clips. Her precious student council’s paper trail had mysteriously disappeared. Budo, Midori, Kokona, Osana, and even Senpai all got fed up with the treatment Ayano was facing and made a petition to take Megami’s bias to the school board. The student counselor, who had watched Ayano befriend and change the delinquents for the better, actually took the petition seriously and sent it to the school board.

Megami was done for. Everyone thought she was insane, a privileged rich girl who cried to her daddy to let her stomp around the school and cause mayhem. All the things she’d done to keep the school safe, all the people she’d pushed around, all the threats she’d given the school principal, it all came back to bite her. And then student council, with all the rumors surrounding them, went toppling like a house of cards with her. Only Kamenaga-San barely escaped with her reputation still mostly in tact, but she was still under heavy scrutiny. She would never be seen with as much reverence as she had, and as for the other three, they would never be able to crawl out from their newfound headstone of being nothing more than Saikou’s goons.

By Monday of week eleven, the entire school was under investigation. Class still happened, but there were detectives everywhere. Ayano was questioned lightly, but was regarded totally as a victim of classism, a girl in the wrong place at the wrong time. One detective even patted her head and told her she reminded him of her daughter, and that he wouldn’t let anything happen to her. He was a nice detective, and Ayano enjoyed the special treatment he gave her while he was there.

Ayano planned to confess on the Friday of week 12, and spent the whole of week eleven with Senpai, finally able to spend some time with him and get him some presents. It was so nice to be around him without worry.

On Friday of week eleven, she got a note in her locker, asking her to come to the cherry tree. She went, expecting to turn someone down, and instead found Senpai.

On a sweet summer Friday, in his eyes, Yamada Taro worked up the courage to confess to an underclassman he’d admired for a while.

Or, in the eyes of the girl he confessed to, on the eleventh week of school, Ayano finally won.

Chapter Text

Okay. So. Taro officially had an indeterminate amount of love rivals who wanted to steal his girlfriend. That’s… something. Yeah, something. But he’s not going out without a fight.

And the best place to start is with the one he already knew about.

Taro really did like Masuta. He would consider him a friend. So Taro trusted that maybe they could talk this out. Hopefully. God please don’t let this end with him getting suplexed or something.

It started with Taro deciding to join him on a bench while Budo rested from his practice sparring on the rooftop. Budo perked up when Taro sat by him. “Oh! Yamada-kun, what’s up? You want me to move?”

“Ah, no, it’s fine. I wanted to sit by you. You don’t have to move.” Taro told him, smiling softly.

Budo’s cheeks went a little red, beaming at him. “Cool! It’s good to see you! I’d hug you but I’m all sweaty, aha…”

Taro nodded. He was well aware that Budo was an affectionate person, especially since they were friends. Taro was already very used to the sudden claps on the back the martial arts leader gave that could make the knees of the unprepared buckle. “If you don’t mind, I wanted to talk to you about something.”

Budo’s eyebrows raised, but he kept smiling. “Sure thing. I’m an open book, you can ask me anything! Especially cause it’s you.”

Well now Taro felt a little bad for what he was going to ask. “Well… Uh. Budo… do you have a crush on Aishi-chan?”

Budo froze, cheeks going pink. He looked away, laughing nervously. “A-Ah… Jeez… am I that obvious?” He rubbed the back of his neck in a boyish, shy kinda way. It was sort of endearing, actually.

“Just a little.” Taro said delicately, unable not to smile a little, to try and ease the tension.

“Well… yeah. I do like her. Really like her. But you’re my friend, and you asked her out first. I’d never want to betray you by pursuing your girlfriend. It would be totally dishonorable! It goes against everything I stand for.” He crossed his arms, quite gung-ho about the subject. “Plus, I want her to be happy, and I know she’s happy with you. She had a huge crush on you before, did you know that? She joined martial arts because she wanted to impress you. She worried over what you liked and didn’t like, and worried if you would ever notice her. Don’t get me wrong, I think I might seriously love her, but I knew from the start that it was probably doomed. I couldn’t be you.” Budo’s cheeks were getting red again as he sighed, looking off to the distance.

“Y’know, I honestly admire you, Taro.”

Taro blinked, shocked. “Huh? Me?”

“Yeah! You have perfect grades, you’re super focused, you know everything there is to know about everything, and you have a sorta vibe around you that makes people feel welcome. I honestly wish I was more like you. You’re amazing.” Budo’s looking straight at him now, with a soft kind of smile that makes Taro’s chest flutter a little. “You’re good for Yan-chan. You’ll make her feel loved. So don’t worry about little ol’ me. For what it’s worth, I’m no threat to you, and you have my full blessing! Just promise me you’ll take her on lots of dates for me, haha!” Back to his boisterous self, Budo slung his arm around Taro’s shoulder, and for the first time ever Taro felt his cheeks heat a little from the familiar action.

—

Taro’s face was burning.

“A-Ayano?” He asked, nervously. She made a small noise to show she was listening, and looked up from her book. He couldn’t meet her eyes though. His mind was still stuck on his conversation with Budo earlier.

“Um... I... I’m not saying this because I want to break up or anything, god, I’d rather die, b-but... Is it okay if I like... girls *and* boys?” He asked, rubbing the back of his neck with embarrassment.

“Ah? Of course it is. I do too, kinda.” She said lightly, her face pretty neutral and unbothered by the topic.

“Kinda?” Taro asked curiously.

“Mm... Well, I’ve never really been in a relationship with anyone... You’re the first person I’ve ever liked this way. But I only started to like you after I formed a connection with you. And... I’m pretty sure that nothing would change if you were a girl, you know? I’d still love you.” She said easily, shrugging.

“Ah, that makes sense... I’ve had other crushes before, most of them dumb, never one as serious as you, but.. I think I’m about the same. I can’t just be attracted instantly. A-and... Well...” His face was getting red again.

Ayano blinked. “Did you realize you had a crush on a guy?”

Her bluntness caught him off guard, burying his face in his hands with a whimper of distress. “Y-yeah. I’m not gonna act on it or anything, of course, you’re my number one priority— But...”

“It was Budo, wasn’t it?” Once again, Ayano’s bluntness came through and sniped Taro’s heart.

“Gyahhh... Am I that obvious?” He peeked through his fingers, face scarlet, but only found her smiling in amusement.

“I think I’m just good at reading you. T-to be honest, it does make me a little nervous to hear you admit a crush... But that’s mostly my issues. My worry that you’ll... find someone better. I want to trust you though, Senpai.” She gave a weak smile, but it was soon cut off as she was lifted and plopped in his lap, him wrapping his arms around her tightly.

“No way! Never! There’s no one I’d rather have, Ayano! I just... wanted to be honest with you.” The last part was an embarrassed mumble.

She giggled, and kissed his nose. “It’s okay. I’m glad. If we’re being honest, then... I don’t know about a crush, or romantic stuff... But I’ve always admired Budo-senpai. I think he’s pretty great. Before I fell in love with you I sort of thought that if I never fell in love, then I’d be perfectly happy to just be with him anyway.” She admitted.

Taro couldn’t help but feel a little jealous, thinking of Ayano and Budo that way, but things were way more complicated now, because as soon as he added himself into the fantasy, imagined all three of them going on dates...

“Senpai, you have a really intense look on your face...” He felt a soft hand on his scarlet cheek. “A-are you feeling sick?”

“A-ah!! No, I’m fine, s-sorry for worrying you Ayano!” He said, completely flustered. Teenage hormones were hell as it is, now he had to face the fact that he found himself attracted to both Ayano *and* Budo. Apparently, his type was people who could kick his ass. He didn’t know exactly how to feel about that, besides knowing that Osana would cackle at him like a witch if she found out.

“W-well... I’m not sure about anything yet... But, maybe in the future, i-if you start to feel those feelings, I wouldn’t mind... Um, going on a date with both of you?” God, he felt like he was going to faint with all the blood rushing to his face. On the bright side, his utter humiliation prevented blood from rushing to *other* places, notably the place where Aishi was still sitting.

“Mm... I think I might be okay with it...” She had her knuckles pressed to her lips in thought. It was adorable. “A-as long as I’m not feeling left out or anything.”

“Oh trust me,” Taro chuckled tiredly, thinking of the combined force of Budo’s adoring puppy love for Aishi and Taro’s own borderline-obsession over her, “I don’t think either of us would leave you out.”

Chapter Text

“I’m so sorry!” That was the first thing out of Taro’s mouth when he saw that he knocked a poor first year on the ground because he was late for opening ceremony. He reached out his hand. “Are you okay? I’m so so sorry, I promise I’ll make it up to you.” He kept apologizing profusely.

The worst part about this was that the girl was really cute. She had long, silky black hair with two cute little pieces that stood off to the sides, almost like tiny wings. Her face was elegant and angular, and she was short but sturdy. And as she accepted his hand and let him pull her up, Taro made the mistake of meeting her eyes.

They were the deepest, darkest black that Taro had ever seen, like the night sky in the city: no stars, no lights, just endless empty voids. They were gorgeous, and Taro’s breath caught, finding himself getting a little lost, unable to not stare. And then, sparks of light lit them up, so suddenly, and it was like seeing the stars for the first time in your life. Her eyes were suddenly a galaxy, and Taro couldn’t look away, now simply holding her hand and gaping as she stood in front of him, looking at him with surprise. This girl was… the most beautiful person he’d ever seen.

“Taro! Hurry up!” Osana’s voice called from afar, and he was snapped out of his trance.

He looked down at their joined hands and her surprised expression and realized that he’d been silently staring at and holding the hand of a first year who had no idea who he was. Y’know. Like a total creep and weirdo. He went red, mortified, and dropped her hand. “Oh my god, I’m so sorry, I didn’t realize— I swear I didn’t mean to, I swear I wasn’t being weird—“ ‘that’s exactly what a weirdo would say!’ His mind yells at him, cutting him off, and Taro shuts up before he digs himself into an even deeper hole. He bows as low as he can, mutters another ‘so sorry!’ and sprints after Osana, accepting that he just completely blew his chance with having anything with this girl by acting like a creep.

As he finally catches up and follows behind his extroverted best friend like the lost shy puppy he is, he sighs at himself. The worst part about the whole encounter was that… well. She looked… normal. Not in a bad way! It’s just…

Taro’s been at this school 2 years, and, well… everyone is the main character of their own story, he guesses would be the nicest way to put it. All his classmates are either exceptional prodigies in their field or weirdos to the max (in a good way). Or both at the same time. They were all 1000s all the time 24/7 and Taro was like a 1. He’d never won any awards, he was never top of his class, he’d never participated in any after school activities or big projects, he’d never done anything to be known for. And honestly, he didn’t want any of that. He liked being simple and unknown. He liked quiet places, reading anything he could get his hands on, and classical music, and that was it, and he was perfectly happy with that.

The problem was if anyone else in the world would ever want to hang out with someone like him when in his class alone he had at least three people who were semi-famous for something. Who would want to be friends with him when he was the most boring person in this whole school?

After all, the only friends he really had was Osana, Hanako, and Masuta. Hanako was literally his sister and they’d been inseparable for years so legally she had to like him even if he was boring. Osana was his best friend from childhood and they grew up together so she also had no choice but to like him— she was practically his second sister. And Masuta had the personality of a shiba so he would like anyone no matter what they were like.

And so, he felt lonely, because he had no one who really chose to be with him for him. No one who was average and down to earth like him. No one to be a 1 with.

But this girl with the endless black eyes looked like she might be that. She looked like she might not be at a 1000 every second of the day. She looked like maybe she’d be down for just reading together, or just watching the chaos and drama of their classmates.

Maybe he was assuming too much, though. It’s not like it mattered. He blew it all by being a weirdo in the bad way.

Sometimes he wished he could be more weird in the good way, like his classmates. But he knew he wouldn’t really be him then. He’d just be pretending to be someone he’s not.

He realizes he spaced out through the entire opening ceremony. Not like it matters, though. The school speakers sucked so he had no hope of hearing what the hell the principal was saying, even if he didn’t have hearing problems.

He tried to psyche himself up for the school year. ‘Come on, Yamada! One more year and you’re done! You won’t have to deal with high school ever again and can get a regular job where your coworkers don’t all act like shounen anime protagonists!’ He told himself. It calmed him down a lot, actually.

Plus, the past two years of school here had been completely normal, at least in terms of things happening to him. What’s the weirdest thing that could happen this year?

Chapter Text

“Come over tonight. My mom isn’t home and my dad is making dinner. I want you to meet him.” Ayano told him. Taro was busy worrying over love rivals, but honestly? He could use a break. Also he was starting to realize that he probably would never be able to tell Aishi-Chan ‘no’. Y’know, because he loved her and wanted to make her happy. He would go to the ends of the earth for her.

He’s just worried about what Ayano’s father would think of him. He’s not exactly the most impressive student in school, after all… sure he’s got perfect grades, but in a school with a painter with several art school scholarships, a literal martial arts master who became leader of the club in his first year because he was that good, a baker who won a nationwide competition with her cooking, a mysterious anonymous school cryptid who collects blackmail, and many others more… he’s worried that he’ll be seen as the boring option. Or worse, as not being good enough for someone as exceptional as Aishi-Chan. Oh god, what if her father is super overprotective like in the movies?

But he’d rather die than run away from Ayano or tell her no, so he smiles and tries to pretend he’s not a little terrified. “Sure thing, that sounds nice.”

--

The first impression he gets of Aishi-san is that he really likes cooking. When they come in, he’s in the kitchen, smiling to himself as he fries chicken for chicken katsu. Ayano gravitates towards him like a magnet, completely letting herself be carried away from Taro. Even though usually she’s attached to his hip. (In the best of ways.)

Wordlessly, she stands next to him, taking the rice out of the rice cooker for him just as it beeps. Together, they work in total sync, plating the food together, pouring the plum sauce.

Taro imagines they’ve done this together a million times. And he imagines each time it’s been just like this, both silent but softly smiling.

They must be very close.

Aishi-san wraps an arm around his daughter as they finish, talking very lowly to her. Taro can hear bits of their conversation from where he stands transfixed at the entrance, not even having taken his shoes off.

“Did you have a good day at school?”

“Yes.”

“Is this that boy you like so much you checked out ten library books in one day and got me a call while I was overseas?”

“...yes.”

Aishi-san chuckles. “He seems nice.”

Soon enough, they bring over the food.

“So you’re this Yamada Taro I’ve heard so much about?” Her father asks. “Ayano’s told me quite a lot about you. You’re a third year, yes? And you like reading and classical music?”

That was one of the most complimentary ways he’d heard himself described. “Yes, that’s me.”

“May I ask a few questions about your relationship? You have nothing to fear from me, it’s simply that I’m a little nosy when it comes to my daughter. I want her to be happy. She’s my little demon.”

“Uh-- yes! But... demon?” Taro asks.

“Oh, it’s an old nickname. When she was younger she had these two big tufts of hair that stood up from her head like devil’s horns. And she and Midori always got into such mischief. Of course, now those tufts have calmed down into little wings.” Mr. Aishi chuckles. “Now... I wanted to ask, has she been pressuring you to do stuff?”

“No, she doesn’t pressure me at all. Really, I worry I pressure her sometimes. She always does whatever I want to do when we’re together, which is fine, but a lot of times I have to remember to try and ask what she wants to do because she won’t tell me unless I ask.”

“And when you ask she dismisses herself and insists on doing what you chose?” Mr. Aishi said with a slight smile.

Taro smiles a little as well. “Yes, but she’s getting better about it. Besides, it’s not a problem. I just want to make sure I don’t take advantage of her.”

“That’s Ayano for you. I’m glad she’s starting to break the habit. She’s done that all her life with pretty much everyone, even me.” Mr. Aishi laughs. “Have you noticed if she’s… done anything for you?”

“Well, she reads whatever I’m reading at the time so we can talk about it together. And she’s really good at pulling me out of the way of danger if I’m not paying attention. And when I’m feeling nervous she grabs my hand and squeezes it and that makes me feel better. She’s also draws me a lot and has been cooking me lunch a lot lately, which is really nice.”

Mr. Aishi sighs in relief. “I’m… so glad. I’ve been worried about Ayano. I know she’s a good kid, but her mother expects her to be something she’s not, and I worry about how she takes that pressure.”

Taro tenses a little, and takes Ayano’s hand under the table. “Can I ask you a question, Aishi-san?”

Ayano’s father nods.

“…What is Ayano’s mother like?” Taro asks cautiously.

The temperature in the room drops straight into Hell. Father and daughter share a glance. Ayano looks visibly nervous, looking down at her plate.

Mr. Aishi stares down at his as well for a moment. “She… I’d rather not touch on that topic too deeply. Ryoba is… she’s very determined to get what she wants. She’ll stop at nothing to get it. She can be… very forceful when she wants something, and doesn’t care about the consequences. Ayano… Ayano is different, and I couldn’t be happier. Ayano cares about how people feel. She wants to make them feel safe and happy, even if it doesn’t benefit her in any way. Her mother… doesn’t like that. That’s why I can be a little bit nosy when it comes to my little Aya’s life. I want to make sure she’s happy. That others make her as happy as she makes me.”

“I see...” Taro considers this. It’s a lot to take in. “Well, I want to make her happy. Happier than anything else in the world. I’d like to be with her as long as I can.” He admits.

“Even when you graduate this spring?” Her father asks.

“If she’ll have me.” Taro answers without hesitation. “I know things will get complicated then, as I’ll be off to college, so we’ll probably have to be long distance for two years, but I’m determined to make things work if she is.”

Ayano’s eyes light up like the galaxies. “I am too!” The loudness of her voice surprises everyone, even her. “I mean... I also really want to stay with you for as long as possible. I don’t mind going long distance if you don’t mind waiting for me to graduate. I think I’d like to go the same college as you, anyway.”

“I’ll be happy for both of you, then.” Aishi-san smiles sweetly at them both. “You seem to make each other very happy.”

The conversation moves on from there.

“Oh, by the way. Aishi-san, is it fine if Ayano sleeps over with me tonight? I have a sister who adores her, so you don’t have to worry about anything, I won’t sleep in the same room as her.” Taro asks at the end of dinner.

“I’d be fine with that. Just return her in one piece tomorrow afternoon, okay?” He said easily.

Taro was a little surprised he agreed so easily, but excited. “Oh, great, thank you!”

“Of course. Aya-chan, go pack your bags. You can go with her if you like.” Aishi-san tells them.

They head up to Ayano’s room. It’s a bit plain, but she has an impressive manga collection, and some video games. On a shelf near her bed there’s a bunch of framed photos of him and her friends, along with some ticket stubs and other memorabilia. He recognized a lot of souvenirs from their dates, and her old headband from martial arts club.

Taro helps her pack, and is amused when she decides to take her plush crow with her, which has the tip of its beak stained brown.

“It’s... not silly to bring him, right?” She asks quietly.

“Of course not. I think it’s cute.” He assures.

As they head back down, Ayano goes to talk with her dad, and Taro goes to wait for her by the door.

Taro doesn’t mean to eavesdrop, as he goes to the front door. He’s getting his shoes back on, and he glances over to see Aishi-san pull his daughter into a tight hug, talking to her in a low voice.

“Don’t worry about me. I’m proud of you. I named you in hopes that this would happen, did you know that?” Ayano’s father tells her, tilting her chin up lovingly.

Ayano shakes her head, brows furrowed and frowning, shaking just slightly, clinging to her father tightly.

“She wanted to name you Kagami— mirror. But I convinced her to let me pick. And I picked hoping you would really become ‘my design’— that you’d be more of me than her. And you are. You’re more than I could ever wish for. Go have fun and be happy, okay? That’s all I need to be okay.” Aishi-san tells her sweetly, and kisses her forehead.

Ayano crushes her father in a hug, holding him tight as possible. “I love you, tou-san.” She whispers fervently.

Her father chuckles and pats her head. “I know. I love you too. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Now go be the best thing that ever happened to that boy you care for so much.”

Ayano pulls back from the embrace, finally, and walks towards the stoop, where Taro pretends he heard nothing. “Ready to go?” He asks with a smile.

“What do you think of me? Now that you know. About my mother, that is.” Her voice is quiet and unsure.

“… To be honest, I already had my suspicions that everything wasn’t great at home for you, Ayano.” Taro tells her solemnly, taking her hand in his and using her first name to show how much this meant to him. How much she meant to him.

He walks out the door with her, keeping her hand tightly in his. It’s late enough that the stars are out-- though none of them compare to Ayano’s eyes.

“But nothing has changed about how I feel about you. Daisuki.” He continues, glancing at her with a smile. “I’m just... concerned. Very concerned. Your mother... you’ve hinted that she wasn’t great, but this is...”

She bumps her head against his shoulder. “I... I know. She pretends to be nice on the surface but...” Her voice goes to a whisper. “She’s rotten to the core.”