A/N: Hello there! Lrihgo here. Thank you for checking out this fic! I just adore Clannad too much to comprehend and there was absolutely... one hundred percent... ZERO Akio x Sanae fanfictions. I was appalled and immediately got writing on an actual chapter-based fic. Not a one shot. Not a collection of random drabbles, but a story. I was kind of intimidated to start, but I have it planned out and I'm careful about writing it.
This is a prequel to the series, obviously, so hopefully it lives up to the series ahead. I'm very well aware that ages are a bit weird in this, but seeming how most of them are just a few years apart in the actual series, I changed things around just a bit, but hopefully isn't not too noticeable or distracts from the storytelling. This will be strictly Akio's POV and I have about six chapters written so far. I tried making it as Clannad-y as possible and realistic as well as keeping everyone in character, so please, please do take the time to review once you've finished reading and show your love for Nagisa's parents!
If you haven't watched the whole series, some parts may be a bit confusing to understand at first, but for those who have seen it, extra points to you! I might even be writing this all the way up to After Story, who knows? For now, please enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Clannad. I wish I did...
Summary: Things change, fact of life. Akio is just finishing up his junior year. When things start getting hard, he still finds the will to fight through everything, for her.
Cold.
Everywhere, miles of cold stretched on. A torrent of merciless snow rushed past him, though it wasn't anything more than a soft shed of ice outside. He rushed through the way at blinding speed, panic raging through his being. His legs felt numb and frigid air assaulted his lungs, carving gaping chills throughout his whole body. His mouth was dry and every part of him ached. He panted hoarsely and found it difficult to breathe.
He didn't know where he was going and why. He couldn't see anything but white around him. He was running endlessly without an answer, and for some reason, though he didn't know where he was going, he was scared he wouldn't get there in time. He tried to push his body beyond its breaking points, but was held back against every fiber of his being as his physical state struggled to keep up with his mind.
Was he not strong enough to drive himself harder? He had to wonder.
What was going on?
Furukawa Akio turned in his futon, surprised by the airy light that goaded him from his sleep. Though the room was warmed from the floor up, he still felt a chilling presence dominate his senses. He sat up, running a hand through his unruly coppery locks, the petrifaction of his nightmare slowly wearing off. He was out of breath and it took him a minute for his body to catch up with his lungs' requirements.
He relaxed his hands behind his body and leaned onto them, legs stretching out in front of him as he pondered the ceiling. Numerous questions filled his brain and a yawn animated his features. A wondrous smell wafted across his senses and his mouth watered. All seemed a slow morning until he glanced at his alarm clock, which hadn't gone off at the correct time it should have. With a long, long stare at its blaring red numbers, he finally registered that he was going to be late.
He yelped in surprise and rose to rush into the bathroom until the futon under foot gave out as he tried to push off of it. He fell face first to the boarded floor of the hallway.
"Oh, you're finally up, Akio-kun?" A voice sounded as it left the bathroom, a snicker about it.
The young man glanced up at his grandfather and struggled to his feet. "A-ah! Grandpa, good morning!" Without waiting for a response, he threw himself into the bathroom and was out less than a minute later, teeth and hair brushed. He ran back to his room to jump into a uniform.
The older man laughed at the display. "Breakfast is ready, skipping isn't an option, see you there!"
Now, no matter the situation ever, Akio never skipped a meal. The world could be crumbling in and giant monsters could be shooting laser beams through their eyes and burning everything down and his grandparents wouldn't let him run away until he had his meals. Even when he sat and tried to stuff his face as quickly as possible, every time, he'd be awarded with a knock on the back of the head with his grandmother's favorite wok. Granted, he'd spit his food back up and would have to start from the beginning with a lecture he'd memorized by now.
"If you don't eat your food slow, it won't know where to go and it'll start cultivating in that brain of your's!" His grandmother would say, and continue on about growing up and becoming strong. His grandfather would sit back and stuff his pipe nonchalantly with tobacco, because not even he listened to her anymore.
After a quick thanks for the meal, Akio was off and out of the door. Down the sidewalk, he always found the slightly impatient Yoshino Yusuke waiting for him. With a large grin, he waved at his friend. "Morning!" Akio greeted with the usual. Yusuke shrugged and began walking along as soon as the taller man caught up.
It took a bit for conversation to be started up, since Akio was long since out of breath. They always found something to talk about, whether it was Yusuke's music or maybe the new installment of Gundam that had aired the week before or new ideas for fundraising with the approaching school festival. Junior year was almost over, and though it went unspoken, both students were looking forward to the challenges of finishing the year out strong in their little friendly rivalry.
"I got a gig at the café down the street from Ishino-kun's house." Yusuke announced like it wasn't a big deal, and Akio always had to find something to counter him with.
"When is that going to be coming up?" He inquired offhandedly, his stunning amber eyes wandering.
"Next week, on Sunday."
"Ah, that's pretty cool. I've got a pretty big Theatre Club rehearsal that day. Maybe we can work out times, I guess I can drop by and see you."
"That's funny, I wouldn't do that for you." Yusuke said half to himself.
Akio gritted his teeth and put on a fake smile, reaching up dramatically to take the smaller man by the neck and pulling him into what would appear a friendly gesture, had it not been so forced. He gave a booming laugh. "Ah well, you know! Trivial things keep you busy, I mean, hey! Even I can pick up a guitar and pluck a few notes, eh?" He raised his book bag to his chest after letting him go and pretended it was a guitar, rewarding him a roll of Yusuke's eyes. "Too bad you can't realize the true importance of taking the identity of an idea on paper and making it come to life on a stage, such a shame too! I'd think that much more important over a few high notes and a swish of hair, don't ya think?"
Yusuke gave a small laugh in return, though it was genuinely sour. "Acting over music? Music makes acting come to life; don't you think films would be boring without it? Don't forget that the first motion pictures didn't have actor's voices, just music playing in the background. All actors had to do was throw their body around in over exaggeration, I don't think that takes skill at all."
Akio laughed sarcastically, a twitch at his eye. "Why, you…" he murmured as the last slope of the hill came and their school was in view. With the sun rising behind them, the illuminating cherry blossom trees made their reaches towards the skies, their newly sprouted petals raining across the wind sparingly and with absolute grace.
An air of ease washed over all that arrived, and it was stunning to behold. He stopped at the stoop of the hill and took a glance backwards, the endless stretch of trees they climbed seeming to hold up the town that was dotted above it. When he glanced off into the trees of the outback, he could think of nothing else but the white swirls of suffocation that held him hostage in his sleep. Yusuke had long stopped to peer questioningly at his friend.
"Something wrong?" His inquiry tore him from his deep thoughts.
"Ah, it's nothing. I was just wondering if I could come over after school." He covered as he turned back to his azure-haired friend, awarding him a shrug of the other's shoulders.
"Why not?" He continued to walk on, deciding not to delve further into Akio's spacey behavior.
The other guys greeted the two as they passed through gates and onto the campus. They had a fun little group they hung out with; they were the most outgoing people in school. They were all open with each other and they had the best of times. They were all about the fun of now while keeping in line as the good kids. Generally, they were well liked and everything seemed so easy. It was days like this when Akio walked with his friends and watched them with a smile as they teased each other and fought over who had the better bento and realized that things were good.
Everything seemed so small now, so simplistic, that Akio couldn't find himself not making the most out of the tiny things while they were, well, small.
The group made their way to class and gathered around the seats in the back, breaking off into idle conversation as the class filled. Akio engaged himself immediately in a "who would win versus who" fight concerning some of the boys' favorite Gundam characters. He didn't realize how much he had gotten into it, because before he knew it, he was standing with one leg up on a chair while furiously animating the battle, almost shouting. "So a malfunction would result in the loss of your loser bishounen wanna-be because he wants to get cocky and try to use his ultimate weapon when the situation calls for more strategy!" And with a cross of his arms and a satisfied series of nods, a small round of applause was given to him.
"Now that's nice, Furukawa-san, but class has started, so please take a seat…" The homeroom teacher interrupted as he was about to continue on with his reason, awarding him some laughter from his classmates. Since he wasn't the type to get embarrassed easily, he enthusiastically took his seat with a thumbs up.
"Go sensei!" Akio cheered as he began to take roll, another wave of laughter flowing through the students. The teacher rolled his eyes, seeming to be embarrassed in turn and continued on with roll.