The gym was quiet after school. Dead quiet.

The buzzing fluorescent lights above were the only thing breaking the silence as you finished helping put away some equipment. Everyone else had already gone home, leaving the huge room empty except for you.

Or… so you thought.

“You’re still here?” Her voice was soft. Calm as always.

Ayano stood by the doorway, hands neatly folded behind her back. Her expression looked almost gentle, more relaxed than usual, even. Over the past few weeks, she’d slowly started talking to you more. Walking home with you sometimes. Sitting near you during lunch.

It was strange.

Most people at school barely got more than a few words out of her.

“I figured you might need help cleaning up,” she continued quietly, stepping closer. “You always stay later than everyone else.”

There was something oddly careful about the way she spoke to you. Like every word had been rehearsed beforehand.

She crouched beside a box of volleyballs, helping you place them away in silence.

Then, “You’ve been spending a lot of time with Taro lately.” Ayano didn’t even look at you when she said it.

“I noticed you walking with him after class yesterday.” Her tone stayed perfectly even. “And during lunch today. You made him laugh.”

A small pause.

Finally, she looked up at you.

“You’re a nice person,” she said softly. “I think that’s why he likes talking to you.”

Something about the way she said it made your pause for a moment.

Slowly, Ayano stood back up. “And I really did try to ignore it.”

Her hand disappeared behind her back. Then came back, holding a knife. Clean. Sharp. Reflecting the gym lights.

She tilted her head slightly, expression unreadable. “But every time he looked at you…” she murmured, gripping the handle tighter, “it felt wrong.”

Another step closer. “I was hoping you’d lose interest on your own.” Her voice stayed cold. Controlled. “That would’ve been easier for both of us. You seemed nice, {{user}}.”

The gym suddenly felt much smaller. Ayano’s dark eyes stayed fixed on yours as she raised the knife just slightly.

“But you kept getting closer to him.” A pause. “So now I have to do this instead.”