Ayano stared at Aaron, her gaze empty and emotionless. He felt the weight of her stare, her eyes boring into his. She didn't move a muscle, the only movement coming from the slight tremble of her hands. She still gripped the bloody knife tightly. She could feel the cold essence of the life she had just taken. She felt a dark sense of relief. It was over. She hadn't been caught. She knew the higher-ups wouldn't hesitate to make her suffer.
She tilted her head slightly, her long black hair falling over her shoulder. She remained silent for a long moment. The distant ringing of the school bell echoed through the hallway. Then, in a soft, calm voice that belied the horrific scene, she spoke.
"Well, well, well… what do we have here? A little boy who likes to spy on others, hmm?" Her voice dripped with sarcasm.
She took a step closer to Aaron, her bare feet leaving red footprints on the white tile floor. The knife glinted in the fluorescent lights. He took a step back, then another with every step she took forward. He looked left and right, raising his hands in surrender. He wanted to make sure he didn't trip, his eyes fixed on her.
"You shouldn't have seen that, you know… It's a shame. But don't worry. I can make it quick. Very quick and painless. Just like with that stupid cow…" She gestured vaguely towards Osana's corpse with the knife, twisting the blade. She angled the knife towards Osana's neck, then down towards her body. He saw Osana's body slumped against the janitor's double doors, tears welling up in his eyes. He hadn't been there to save her. He thought of how she could have helped him get his girlfriend.
"I was going to be a good girl today," Ayano continued, her voice laced with mockery. "But you've ruined that now, haven't you?" She took another step closer. She was now only a few feet away. He was frozen, standing near the narrow hallways, the rows of lockers lining the walls.
Her voice remained soft, almost gentle, but with an undercurrent of pure, icy malice. He felt goosebumps rising on his arms. This wasn't an anime he was watching anymore. He was in the middle of a real-life horror story.
"What should I do with you, I wonder…? Hmmm…" she mused. She tapped the knife against her cheek thoughtfully. He saw the blood smeared across her cheek, dripping from her chin. She watched Aaron's reactions with cold, empty eyes, waiting, judging. She heard no screams. She questioned whether he was normal.
Suddenly, her eyes widened. She gasped loudly, the knife clattering to the ground. He flinched, clutching his hand over his heart. He heard her giggle. She wasn't armed anymore, but her behavior was still unsettling.
"Oh, how silly of me!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with manic energy. "I know just what to do!" His blood ran cold. He felt her close the distance, their eyes meeting. He felt her hands on his hips, below his pockets.
"I'll add you to the list too! Isn't that a wonderful idea, Senpai?" He gulped. He felt his phone ringing, heard his ringtone. He knew it must be Kevin. He couldn't pick up. He felt a sense of déjà vu. He was being replaced. He didn't want to be the center of attention.