Chapter Text
It had been a while since Aishi Ayato transferred to Akadmi High after being asked to go home to Japan from America by his own mother to accompany his dear sister, Ayano, so she would not be alone. It was okay for Ayato to be home after studying abroad for 3 years. It was like a breath of fresh air for him and a wave of nostalgia. Things have changed in the town he is in but for him, change is always good anyway.
The corridors of Akademi High School buzzed with activity as students hurried to their classes, their laughter mingling with the soft murmur of conversation. Among them, a lone figure moved with hesitant steps, his eyes darting nervously from side to side. Ayato's never been one to be good at socialization. His mother said that it was normal and that she was just like that when she was a younger. With those reassuring words, he never thought too much of it.
Ayato, as a transfer student all the way from Amerika, felt like a fish out of water amidst the sea of unfamiliar faces (the only one being his sister but she was in another classroom). Clutching his books to his chest, he kept his gaze trained on the floor, hoping to go unnoticed in the crowded hallway.
He doesn't. Being known as a transferee will always get him stares, but with the additional fact of being from the states, it sure gathers much more looks than need be.
Ayato sighs as he navigated the labyrinthine corridors, he couldn't shake the feeling of being watched, a sensation that sent a shiver down his spine. Glancing up, he caught sight of a group of students huddled together, their eyes fixed on him with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. Just feeling and looking at his situation amkes him even more uncomfortable. He shakes his head. Ignoring their stares, Ayato quickened his pace, his heart pounding in his chest. All he wanted was to blend in, to disappear into the background and avoid drawing attention to himself.
But fate had other plans in store for him that day.
Just as Ayato turned a corner, he collided with someone, sending his books tumbling to the ground in a chaotic mess. With a startled gasp, he stumbled backward, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "I-I'm so sorry," he stammered, scrambling to pick up his scattered belongings, one by one.
The person he had collided with crouched down beside him, their hand reaching out to help. Ryota's breath caught in his throat as his fingers touch the latter's. Their eyes immediately meet, looking up into a pair of piercing silver, borderline icy blue, eyes, framed by light lashes and a mop of tousled white hair. H-handsome..
Ayato's met his fair shares of beautiful faces, but this was one truly embodying of the word handsome. He had a regal appearance of a white and shining ice prince. His persona was filled with grace and power. Though his aura is cold, he can see warmth in the person's eyes. Ayato cannot deny, he felt his heart race for the other and his cheeks flush for their appearance.
"It's alright," the stranger said with a warm smile, their voice like music to Ayato's ears. "Accidents happen."
With their help, Ayato managed to gather his books, his cheeks still burning with embarrassment. As he rose to his feet, he found himself face to face with the person who he bumped into and still came to his rescue - a boy who exuded an air of confidence, power and charisma that left Ayato feeling breathless.
"I'm Saikou Megamo," the boy said, extending his hand in greeting. Ayato gasped in recognition of the voice. "O-oh! You're the-" the boy chuckled and nodded his head. "Yes, I'm the student council president. Nice to meet you." Ayato hesitated for a moment before tentatively reaching out to shake Megamo's hand and then bowed. "I'm Aishi Ayato."
A spark of recognition flickered in Megamo's eyes, as if he had been expecting Ayato's arrival. "Aishi..?" Ayato could hear the hint of excitement in the other's voice, he just couldn't figure out why. But before Ayato could dwell on it further, the bell rang, signaling the start of the first class.
"We should get going," Saikou Megamo said, flashing Ayato with a dazzling smile that he doesn't really show others. "I'll show you around at lunch."
As they walked together down the crowded hallway, Ayato couldn't shake the feeling that his life was about to change in ways he could never have imagined. His mind buzzing with a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. Despite his initial apprehension, he found himself drawn to Megamo's charm and magnetic presence.
As they reached their first class, Megamo turned to Ayatp with a bright smile. "Here we are. I hope you'll like it here at Akademi High. You're always welcome to come to me if you have any trouble and if you have any questions regarding the school. Don't be shy to ask. You can also find me at the student council office." Ayato nodded, returning Megamo's smile with a shy one of his own. "Thank you for showing me around. I really appreciate it."
Before Megamo could respond, the classroom door swung open, and the teacher stepped in, signaling for the students to get in their seats and settle as the lesson is about to begin. With a final nod, Megamo slipped out of the classroom, leaving Ayato standing there alone. As he took his seat, he couldn't shake the feeling that his encounter with Megamo was more than just a chance meeting. There was something about Megamo that drew him in, something he couldn't quite put into words.
After the another bell rang, signaling that it was time for lunch, Ayato gathered his belongings and made his way towards the room that his sister resided in. Just as he reached the door, he felt a hand on his shoulder, stopping him in his tracks. Turning around, Ayato found himself face to face with Megamo once again, his heart fluttering in his chest at the sight of him.
"Hey, Ryota," Megamo said with a warm smile. "I was wondering if you'd like to join me for lunch." Ayato's heart raced at the prospect of spending more time with Megamo, but a nagging sense of apprehension tugged at the corners of his mind.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Saikou-san. But I can't today since I promised my sister that I would spend my lunch with her today" Ayato said, pointing at the door of the room he was going to enter while trying to keep his voice steady. Megamo's smile froze, his eye twitched. "Really?"
"Yes, so if you'd like, we can just spend lunch together tomorrow?" Ayato offered with a reassuring smile. Megamo sighed softly, bowing his head for a second before lifting it up with a smile on his face. "Of course, I would love that." such a response made Ayato smile brighter than before which helped lift Megamo's mood. "I also have something I want to tell you tomorrow.."
"Oh? What is that?" curiosity couldn't help but be evident in Ayato. That made Megamo chuckle, he was so adorable. Megamo's smile widened, his eyes twinkling with excitement. "I'll tell you tomorrow. It's a surprise." Unable to resist Megamo's infectious enthusiasm, Ayato nodded eagerly. "Okay, see you!"
With a final smile, Megamo bid Ayato farewell and disappeared into the crowd, leaving Ayato standing in the hallway, his mind swirling with anticipation. He couldn't help but to already daydream about what would happen tomorrow. His little heart doing flips as he thinks about what they would talk about and how he could flirt with his new crush.
All of his thoughts were broken when he heard someone call him. "Ayato, what are you standing there for?" he looked at his sister dumbfoundedly before rushing to her. "A-ah, nothing!" He didn't quite want his sister to worry about him as she always does, she's always a bit more overprotective towards him which doesn't make sense because he's the brother. Though he does admit that she is stronger than he is.
He starts ranting to her all of what he could possibly think off, everything apart from Saikou Megamo-san. Ater all, his sister might dissuade him in meeting the other or start being around him more often to shoo away Megamo-san. He doesn't want that!
Even as he yaps away, Ayano listens and sometimes gives commentary when she can but continues eating anyway. These are one of the times he's grateful to be home. He can be himself whenever he wants without holding back when he is beside his sister. And this happiness leads him to overthinking back again to Saikou Megamo and their little date tomorrow.
Can it be called a date?
Little did Ayato know, his lunch date with Megamo would be the beginning of a journey into the depths of obsession and desire, where the line between love and madness would blur beyond recognition. Where his only option was to continue the dark path he didn't know he was taking.