*Author's Note: I got a comment asking for another fight scene between Budo and Ayano but where Taro sees, I've done my best to fit it in with the story so I hope you enjoy!*

Her blood boiled as she glared down at the photo she had took of her senpai and new-found rival, holding hands and laughing away without a care in the world, that should be her holding Taro's hand. It should be her that's comforting Taro and hugging him, not that damn martial artist. If it wasn't for the 'invincible' Raibaru and her keen senses, Budo would be a burned corpse right now, dumped in the sewers for no one to find.
Ping!
Her phone went off, suddenly, a notification from her 'partner in crime', Info-Chan.
'Hey, trouble in paradise, Ayano Aishi?'
The text read, Ayano scoffed.
'I'm not in the mood, Info-Chan.'
'I only wanted to tell you, the clock is ticking Aishi and you still have two rivals to eliminate~'
Damn it, she was so focused on Budo she completely forgot about her more dangerous rival, Megami Saikou.
'It's funny, really, I didn't expect Budo of all people to fall for Taro so easily- I guess Taro just has that charm on people?~'
She breathed heavily as she unlocked her door to her house and went upstairs to her bedroom.
To others, her bedroom could have been something from a horror movie but to her it was one of the most valuable and magical things in the world.
Her walls were plastered with photos of Taro, there was a cork board of her rivals, red string attached to other people that all led back to Taro, like a messed up puzzle.
In the corner of her room was a case, her shrine you could say; disgusting 'relics' all related to senpai, half eaten apples and bits of chewed gum Taro had thrown in the bin that Ayano stole and took home as some creepy, gross way to 'connect' to him.
She had printed off the photo she took earlier in the day, along with a picture of her new rival, and pinned the two photos onto the cork board, now, she was just thinking on what to do next.
Sneaking up on him clearly didn't work, neither did electrocuting or burning.
...
Drowning, maybe? Of course she would have to find out what Budo cared most about to get him to meet her, but that wouldn't be difficult.
Then she could get him to meet her at the fountain at lunch, just like she did with Hanako.
And then that would be it for Budo, she could leave him there, drained of life for someone to find.
She couldn't afford to get messy with her kills now, but, she was so, so close to finally getting what she deserved- her sweet, wonderful senpai.
Soon, she reminded herself, soon.
'Info-Chan, I need a favour- what is Budo Masuta's dark secret?'
—————
Budo walked into the school with Taro, laughing and joking before they separated so they could both go to their respective lockers.
"Huh, what's this?" Budo asked himself quietly.
Budo Masuta, I'd like to talk to you about your crush.
Please meet me at the fountain during lunch, I hope you'll be there.
His crush? Budo didn't have a crush, unless they meant..him? No...it wasn't a crush, Budo just really admired Taro's strength and courage and wanted to protect him is all! He...he loved Taro, but not like that of course! He...He knew the consequences of loving Taro 'like that'..
"Maybe I should meet them...just...just to clear thing up of course!" Budo spoke to himself worriedly.
"What's wrong, Budo?" Taro asked, startling Budo.
"No-Nothing! Don't worry about it!" Budo smiled and quickly tucked the letter into his back pocket.
"Okay, why don't we go hang out?" Taro was curious but didn't want to pry.
"Yeah, sure." Budo replied.
—————
After lesson, Budo began walking down the stairs, ready to go to the fountain and clear things up with whoever had written that note.
"Budo! Where are you going?" Taro asked, trying to catch up with him.
"Oh! I'm just going to the fountain to meet someone, they wrote me a letter. I'll only be a few minutes!" Budo rushed out.
"Oh, alright! I'll be eating on the rooftop, see ya!" Taro replied happily.
Budo couldn't stop the feeling in the pit of his stomach, that same feeling he felt when she last attacked him.
"Alright...uhm, Taro? If...it takes longer than 5 minutes, come get me, yeah?" Budo whispered.
Taro was silent for a moment before he agreed.
"Yeah, sure!" Taro said before walking back upstairs to go to the rooftop.
Budo continued his journey downstairs and to the courtyard, breathing in deeply.
He couldn't stop the nagging feeling that something was wrong but he tried to ignore it as best he could, finally he made it to the specified spot and waited, not noticing the dark presence behind him.
He waited in front of the fountain, on his phone, not really paying attention to anything in particular, when suddenly he felt someone grab his head and push him down towards the water.
"Huh...wha?!" He yelled as he tried to break free, kicking air; trying to land a hit on whoever was above him.
When he broke free, a fist made hard contact with his cheek- causing his vision to go fuzzy for a second before he lunged at the attacker and they lunged at him back.
"I...I won't let you hurt me!" He screamed.
—————
Taro was getting worried, it had been a while after Budo said he would be back...did something happen?
Taro stood up from his seat and travelled down the stairs hurriedly, worried for his friend.
"Budo? Is everything okay? It's been a while since-" Taro's sentence was cut off at the horrific display before him.
A girl, her face hidden by one of the drama clubs masks clumsily pushed Budo's head down into the fountain water angrily, Budo being too weak to fight back anymore.
Taro screamed, catching the attention of the girl,
"What...What are you doing!? You...You monster! Get away from him!" Taro cried as he ran towards the two.
"Senpai...?" The girl mumbled, frightened at how angry and upset Taro looked, she let go of Budo's head which allowed Budo to lift his head quickly, breathing in as much air as possible along with coughing up all the water he swallowed.
Before Taro could do anything else, the girl scurried off- leaving a shocked Taro and a coughing Budo.
"What happened!? Who...Who was that?" Taro asked as he held Budo after he finished his coughing fit.
"I...I'm not sure..." Budo mumbled, he knew, he knew very well who it was, but he shouldn't tell Taro about her; it seems like the only thing holding her sanity together is him- he dreads to think what she'd do if Taro knew her identity.
"Let's...Lets get you to the infirmary..." Taro said but before he could lift Budo up on his own two feet, Budo grasped him tightly and held him.
"Budo, what's wrong?" Taro blushed slightly.
"Just...Just for a few moments...please." Budo pleaded, closing his eyes.
Taro breathed in and held Budo as well.
"Sure...then the infirmary..."
"Then the infirmary.." Budo breathed out.
The two held each other in each other's arms until the end of break, they both felt safer with each other.
As long as they had each other, they'd be okay, right?
Right.