Disclaimer: I own nothing; I'm just a random fangirl who fell in love with those two. Who wouldn't?
Warnings: Spelling and grammar mistakes. English isn't my native language, and I'm not really good at it.
Summary: Akaya is trying hard to figure his complicated feelings. If there's something the devil wasn't aware of, it's what you call... Affection.
A low sigh escaped Akaya's lips, before he turned his gaze away from the two figures standing not far away from him. Ever since his double match with Shiraishi he couldn't get the older boy out of his mind, nor could he keep his eyes away from him.
He grunted silently, really, it was frustrating! What is so special about him to occupy his mind all the time?
He knows for sure, everything about Shiraishi is so special.
He was glad he could still act normally around the others like he was always doing, but he knows his mind wasn't the same, and his feelings weren't the same. Something had changed for sure, but he couldn't put his finger on what it was.
It wasn't because Shiraishi had complimented his hairstyle, no, but the fact that he was able to drag him out of his devil mood before he could cause any damage, aside from what he did to Shiraishi's arm.
He felt guilty about what he did, he had apologized again later that day, and Shiraishi just laughed it off saying he was glad he could feel his arm so light again. Aside from what he said, Akaya knew he was still regretting not being able to keep the promise he made to his Coach.
Everything about that match looked like a dream, he couldn't believe he was actually smiling and his play was perfect without him going into that devil mood. Angel mood they called it? He couldn't believe that.
It's true he was shucked the first time Shiraishi complimented his hair, and the second time he felt fluttered. It was merely stupid, but it's the first time someone had actually complimented him on something.
He doubted that he would be able to use the new mood with another person, no, he was certain he won't be able to use it.
After all the thinking he had done, he knew he hated it. He hated the changes Shiraishi caused in him with just simple words, because he was scared, he was scared of his unintentional reaction.
He also hated the feeling, when someone knows something about yourself you have no idea about. Maybe it was just a coincidence, but Shiraishi knew where his wound is, and pressed on it. He knew he was being paranoid, Shiraishi wasn't anything like that, all he wanted was to drag him out of that mood, and he was lucky, that's all.
He was just... Good in dealing with people. Yeah, that what it was, nothing special.
He glanced at the tow figures again from the corner of his eye; Shiraishi was chuckling on something Kikumaru had said. What would be so funny that makes Shiraishi chuckles like that? He rarely chuckles; he usually just smiles, or rather smirks.
He sighed heavily when he noticed that he started to get annoyed, no it wasn't because Shiraishi was actually chuckling with that stupid red-head boy! And no it has nothing to do with the fact that Shiraishi didn't pay him enough attention after their match together!
He hastily walked away, why he feels so stupid?!
Walking slowly in the dark corridor, he turned to where the kitchen was. He was somewhat edgy today, thus he escaped dinner to avoid having fight with anyone, and decided to do more practice instead. It appeared it was a good idea, for he felt more relaxed than before after all those exhausted trainings.
He stooped on his track when he heard footsteps walking in his direction in the silent hallway. He gulped, it's impossible that it would be the same ghost he saw before, right?
Gulping again, he slowly moved his frozen body and leaned on the wall behind him. He wasn't going to repeat those stupid embarrassing words he said before, maybe he was dreaming at that time...
Closing his eyes, he held his breaths when the sound of the footsteps has gotten closer. He bit his lower lip painfully when the footsteps had suddenly stopped.
"Kirihara-kun?"
He hastily opened his eyes, and stared wide-eyed at Shiraishi's confused look.
"Sh... Shiraishi-san! What are you doing here?!"
A light frown appeared on Shiraishi's sharp features, before he eyed him closely "That's my line." He smirked knowingly before he continued "Why are you so pale? You look like you have just seen a ghost"
Akaya relaxed slightly, and scratched his head while he was smiling nervously "Nothing, I was on my way to the kitchen"
Shiraishi raised a prefect eyebrow at him, his smirk still in place "Oh? Skipping dinner then sneaking into the kitchen when everyone is asleep. That seems like something you would do, Ki ri ha ra -kun"
His eyes widened slightly, so Shiraishi had noticed his absence in the dinner after all?!
He swiftly shoved that thought away, and made his way to the kitchen while faking his anger "I didn't intend to do that! I was training"
He prevented himself from smiling like an idiot, he was so happy that Shiraishi had noticed his absence to the point that he wanted to...
"You don't seem like you had just finished training"
He glanced briefly to his side and noticed Shiraishi had caught up with him, and was now walking beside him "I don't like wandering in sweat, so I took a shower"
"Mmm... I see" He heard a hint of enjoyment in Shiraishi's voice; he knew he was smiling but for some reason he couldn't look at his face.
His footsteps slowed down when he entered the kitchen, before he came to a halt.
Now to think of it, it's so natural for Shiraishi to notice his absence, as well as everybody else. Sure their group would notice because they usually sit near each others, and that doesn't change the fact that Shiraishi didn't come to look for him, just like everyone else.
Nothing more.
"Kirihara-kun?"
He silently lifted his unfocused gaze to the frowning boy in front of him.
"Is something wrong?"
He forced a smile, before shaking his head "No"
He feels stupid, why does he want that attention from Shiraishi anyway? It's not because he was kind to him, and that he wanted him out of the harm way.
It's not like Shiraishi was concerned for his own safety, he just didn't want him to harm the others. That besides what Shiraishi had said at that time, Yanagi asked him to do it, but why?
His teammates were always provoking him to enter that mood, it's true that Yanagi always tells him to not lose himself, other than that they did nothing but pushing him into it.
From the taller boy's doubtful gaze, he knew Shiraishi didn't believe him, but he said nothing.
Walking silently towards the fridge, he opened it while glancing at the other from the corner of his eye. Shiraishi was serving himself a glass of water, he seemed deep in thought.
He held a sigh and grabbed the milk, he had lost his appetite.
"Not going to eat?"
He turned his gaze towards Shiraishi, who was leaning on the wall "I'm not hungry"
"Hmm"
He drank his milk slowly, he was fully aware of the older boy's gaze on him, and it started to get on his nerves.
When he finely finished drinking, he put the cup on the table with a little force. He lifted his cold glare to the un fazed figure some feet away "What are you staring at?"
He noticed Shiraishi's serious features. His glare didn't waver when Shiraishi started calmly "Kirihara-kun, you seems upset, did something happen?"
Closing his eyes, he ran his hand through his hair "No, it's nothing. It's just..." He opened his eyes and kept his gaze on the floor. Lowering his hand from his hair, he sighed before continuing "Maybe all I need is rest"
His eyes widened slightly, when he noticed Shiraishi suddenly standing in front of him. He lifted his wide eyes to meet the other's observing ones "Yeah, maybe you should"
He leaned his head back slightly, Shiraishi seemed a little too close for his own comfort, and his eyes seemed to bore inside him. He felt exposed at the moment, there's nothing he could hide from Shiraishi if he continued like this, but what's there to hide?!
That's the question.
He turned his face to the side, and mumbled nervously "I'm not that short, you don't need to lean that much to be on my eye level!"
He nearly sighed in relieve when Shiraishi straightened and stepped back, but he stared surprised when he heard him chuckling "What's so funny?"
He asked hesitantly, was he making fun of him?
"It's just... You" Shiraishi answered between his chuckles. He stared at the taller boy with a light frown on his face, what about him?!
He pursed his lips, and stared at Shiraishi waiting for an answer.
He waited patiently till Shiraishi cleared his throat, and said with a soft smile "I was wondering why your teammates love picking on you, now I understand, it's actually so fun!"
He grimaced and turned his face away, that's not what he wanted to hear at all! "Good for you then"
"You know..." He returned his gaze back to the other, when he heard the seriousness in his calm voice "I thought you put a hard work on your hair to make it looks like this, but now..." His eyes widened slightly when Shiraishi lifted his hand to his hair, and curled a soft strand on his finger "I see it's pretty natural. Some people would die for it"
He felt his heart stopped, and his mouth felt dry, this is so damn embarrassing. He lowered his gaze, and fought back the hot feeling on his cheeks "It's not like I wanted it to be like this, I always wanted a straight hair"
"Because you are stupid." He blinked at that statement. At the same time Shiraishi released the dark strand from his finger, and walked to the door "It makes you look so cute. Good night"
With a wave from his hand he disappeared from the doorway, leaving Akaya dumbfounded.
