A/N: So here we are again with another chapter. Thank you again for those who review and follow this story, it makes me really happy to see that you guys are interested in this story and I will do my best with this fic. If you have any questions about this fic don't hesitate to PM me, though I will take a bit to reply back since I work a lot during the days. I will do a cover art for this one day.

Chapter 4:

("Darling, where do you think you're going?" He could feel her nails dig into the skin of his wrist, he couldn't break away; Ryoba was too strong,"Were you trying to leave. Me?!")

("I-I want to go home," he sobbed, one hand desperately clutching onto the doorknob, twisting it praying it would by a miracle open to freedom,"I want to go home!". CLICK CLICK . Michio's heart dropped; it wouldn't open. )

("But Darling," Ryoba began to forcefully pull him back down the stairs, Michio struggles in vain as he stumbles forward down the steps of the basement," you're already home. And you'll ...Never. Ever . Leave me again")

Michio woke with a start, body trembling and forced himself to still.

After a nights too many of nightmares of doors that will never budge and windows that were nailed shut, Michio would wake up drenched in a cold sweat. The first few mornings after the funeral, were spent on checking every door and window inside their home for hidden locks and nails. He really shouldn't have bothered, Ryoba hasn't nailed a window shut or bolted the doors since they moved in years ago. But Michio couldn't help it. Sometimes the dreams felt too real- and he needed to know that they could still be open.

He assured himself that the windows could be open and the doors didn't have latches on them anymore. He shouldn't over think it, he needed to calm himself, but he just needed to know.

Michio breathed in slowly calming down his nerves, his hand grasping the doorknob firmly pushing the door open, and headed down stairs -he wasn't running just speed walking- to start making breakfast for him and Ayano.

(no hidden locks; it opens)

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Michio was beginning to realize he wasn't very gifted in cooking.

Or doing laundry -he didn't mean to turn the whites pink-

Or make a simple ponytail for Ayano -Ayano had to take the brush away from him to save herself -

It seems he was only decent in cleaning but even now he can still see the coats of dust or smudges he might have missed. He wasn't very good, but as the saying goes practice made perfect. After some attempts in cooking, Michio can proudly say he didn't set the stove on fire again. He tried to make eggs this time, burning some in the process where they resembled lumps of ashy coal, that came out slightly burnt and salty, and his rice watery. It damped his mood a bit, he couldn't even make an egg how depressing, but he cheered up that the food was edible enough according to Ayano. He had to admire the poker face Ayano had mastered, she ate it all and even served herself another helping despite Michio's insistence that it wasn't good.

"You made it, it's good enough," Ayano pointedly gave him a look and shove another egg overcooked egg into her mouth. Her face never faltered from it's normal blank look, but she swallowed it with an audible gulp."S-See it's good, Dad."

Michio wanted to cry.

"Maybe I should sign up for cooking classes?" He said sulking, he ate another egg wincing at the saltiness of it," and that way I can make us food that won't kill our taste buds."

"I think mom mentioned cooking classes nearby," Ayano's eyebrows knitted together," but I don't remember where."

"I'll look for them, don't worry," Michio said, determined to search for the classes were being held," I'll do better next time for the both of us."

"Can I come too?" Ayano fidgeted in her seat, she tilted her head questioningly at him," I want to learn too."

Michio smiled at her Ayano. "Of course!" he smiled brightly, it was a great idea. This way he can watch out for her and they both learn something together. Michio paused to think about it. What if they didn't let him take her with him to attend? Surely they would let him bring her along, if not then he simply had to widen his search for a cooking class that allowed him to bring Ayano along. "I'll get us a class together, Aya-chan," he assured her,"don't worry about it, I got it covered!"

Michio peeked over the clock nearby by with a content look, before he froze and balked at the red numbers -8:15 AM.

"Oh no! You're going to be late to school if we don't hurry!" Michio jumped from his seat to grab his coat, shoving on his shoes and grabbed his spare keys. Ayano shoved another spoonful of watery rice in her mouth, before Michio picked her up from his seat, her backpack already slung across his shoulder. "Ahh! How did I forget! We'll get there don't panic!"Michio panicked.

"Sensei won't mind, he's always late," Ayano muttered, but it went unheard as her father got them though the door in record time.

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Takahashi Asahi, groaned as he staggered towards his class, glasses askew and clothes slightly wrinkled, in his hand a coffee to help him survive the day. Okay maybe he was exaggerating, but seriously he's going to kill Watanabe when he see's him again, bastard convinced him for a night of drinking and now he's paying the price for his temptations. Was it a bit unfair to blame poor naive Watanbe? Yes, but still Asahi was tempted by his friends bar tending skills and thus his current predicament. He sipped his coffee nursing it as the bitter drink slowly eased his pain, class had already started, but Asahi is lucky that his class is well behaved enough to watch out for themselves. He should get back soon to it though, just because they were his most well-behaving class didn't mean someone isn't going to stick a crayon up their nose.

Asahi threw back his head and downed the last of his drink, fixed his glasses and readied himself to go in.

"Ah! Sensei I'm so sorry I brought her late!" a voice shouted behind him.

Well he was about too. Asahi turned surprised as a man he faintly recognized as the husband of the now departed Mrs. Aishi, Michio Aishi. He hasn't seen Mr. Aishi as much as he saw Ryoba Aishi, had it not been Ryoba's constant talk of her husband during their conferences about Ayano, he would've thought Mr. Aishi wasn't real. Scratch that, he was convinced Ryoba made him up, hired an actor to play the part and there was never an Mr. Aishi to begin with, but life like to throw Asahi around and prove his crazy theories wrong. There was very little that stood out to Asahi about Mr. Aishi, he was a decent looking man, rather plain if he was going to be honest, a little over average height, with bright brown eyes and seemed to be a office working man who probably put too many hours in his work rather than at home. He wonders how on Earth this man caught the attention of Ryoba, he didn't look as special as she made him out to be much less a "perfect father". But then again Mrs. Aishi's almost obsession of her husband didn't bring her in a better lighting either; he worried about Ayano.

Asahi smiled politely at the man, taking in the fact he was carrying his daughter in arms face, red from running. "Mr. Aishi, nice to finally meet you," Asahi greeted the man, curiously looking him over," I'm sure you're well aware of what time Ayano-chan is supposed to be here I presume?"

"A-Ah! Yes, I'm very sorry Takahashi-sensei," the man stammered as he lowered his daughter onto her feet, he smiled sheepishly at Asahi," I guess time passed by so quickly I didn't realize it was getting too late. Sorry about that, I'll get her here early next time."

"Please do," Asahi said, then kneels down to Ayano's height," Ayano-chan why don't you go ahead and go in, I'm just going to speak to your father for a bit"

Ayano gave him a calculating look, Asahi was taken back by the look he received from one of his most quietest students but simply smiled at her and nodded his head towards the door. "Promise you it won't take too long," He said, pushing his glasses upwards giving them a gleam," I just wanted to get to know your father."

"Sensei you're already late," Ayano said bluntly, gray eyes narrowing as they took in his messy appearance," later than usual, you overslept again didn't you."

Asahi spluttered in shock as Michio jaw slacked at the accusation. "Pfftt! Ahaha! Ayano-chan, whatever do you mean? Sensei's always here early!" Asahi laughed in a false cheery tone, already pushing Ayano towards the door of the classroom; he turns to Michio waving at poor man with a too wide bright grin,"Well Mr. Aishi I guess we'll talk another time! Don't forget to pick her up after school!" And with that the door shut behind the two with a thud, leaving Michio all alone in the hallway.

"I'm... going to look for a cooking class now," Michio said to himself, he glanced at the door unsure, before walking off huffing out a small laugh. "pfft 'overslept again', Aya-chan is too funny.'"

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After her father had left and Takahashi-sensei had ushered her into the class to start their already late lessons, had Ayano begin to feel the stares on her back. She brushed it off, not paying attention to it as she was already used to it, trying to keep her attention on the board until a harsh voice whispered from behind her "Freaky Ayano". A

yano ignored it, instead she kept focusing on Takahashi-sensei as he started their History lesson. The girl behind her began to subtly kick her seat making it scrap against the floor. Ayano took notes on the lesson. A sharp jab at her shoulder, Ayano shifted away from the pencil as much as she could. Sensei answered questions from her classmates and Ayano felt a sharp yank at the back of her head.

Ayano dutifully payed attention to Sensei and stayed quiet as she usually did even when Yui began to pull at her ponytail.

(She learned early on saying something never ended up in her favor.)

"Who can tell me when Japan had begin to open it's borders?" Takahashi-sensei pushed his glasses up, dark eyes looking across the classroom. Ayano felt the grip on her hair lessen when Sensei looked over to her side. Ayano raised her hand and already felt Yui stare burn into the back of her head.

"Ah Ayano-chan would you like to answer?" Takahashi-sensei waited patiently for her to answer.

"Hai Sensei." Ayano gave a textbook answer and Takahashi-sensei praised her. The second Sensei turned away to write on the board again, Ayano felt the sharp tug on her ponytail again.

"Freak."

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Ayano already knew what was to come the second they were let out for recess.

(She didn't want to face this right now, she wanted to be alone.)

She wasn't surprised when she found herself herded away from the rest of the students, where teachers couldn't see them. She wasn't even surprised as Yui shoved her to the ground and the giggles of the girls that stood behind Yui, crowding around her with Ayano right smack dab in the middle of them.

"See I told you she doesn't do anything!" one of the girls nudged another," you can push her and she won't say anything at all!"

"She doesn't even cry! My mom said so!" a girl with bright yellow hair said in a matter of fact voice,"Her mom died and she didn't cry! She doesn't even care!"

That surprised Ayano. Ayano stilled at hearing that and tried to get back on her feet, already feeling the words ready to come out until she was shoved over onto the ground once more, scarping her right knee on the ground. "You're horrible!" a girl spat at her, voice high as any other ten year old but still held a strong tone of anger," can't you even feel anything at all?! You're mom died and you don't even cry? You're a monster!"

A chord struck in Ayano when she heard that. She wasn't a monster. She wasn't a monster. She pushed herself up again but Yui's group didn't let her. It was like a weird game, Ayano thought, where she gets up and everyone takes turns to push her again. This was something Ayano was used too. She didn't get it, why they always keep doing this, she didn't do anything wrong. She might not have felt like them, be like them but that didn't mean ….

'I'm not a monster.'

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A/N:-waves shyly- Hey you guys , I'm very sorry for the long wait for this chapter to come out. Still alive! I wanted to say right now that after much thinking that I will include some of the male rivals in this fic. Some will show up earlier than others some might show up near the end of this fic or some will only appear in cameos. I find it a little difficult how to incorporate all of them, but I think I can manage. However, it all depends on how this goes on, depends on female rivals themselves, and of course Ayano's own growing up in this fic alongside Michio. Michio will be our main focus for a while before we start getting into some crazy stuff. And by that I actually mean plot. Also some OC's will pop up occasionally, however not many will be making frequent appearances , and some help with character growth like Asahi will.

Also I kinda want to say this now: I don't hate or dislike Taro in anyway, I actually like him so to speak.

I'm still okay with answering any questions you or concerns you may have about this fic, PM with your worst dad joke please!