Akashi's POV

I looked at Tetsuya with a shocked expression. "Quit? Why does he want to quit even though we've like won numerous times with him and Daiki working together? I don't understand." I thought. But he should have a reason for handing the resignation letter up. Guess I'll just listen to his reason first.

"Why do you want to quit?" I started.

"Because my studies hasn't been good and I thought that I should focus on my studies for now. Nationals are over isn't it?" He replied softly, but seemed to be hoping I would accept his resignation letter.

"I can coach you." I then replied. "If you loved basketball, why would you quit? I know you never skipped trainings, and even trained after school till very late at night. Why now all of a sudden?" I have no idea why, but I feel like I'm empty without Tetsuya. Though we still can win without him, but it's just…

"I feel that we are all lacking something. Something very important." Then he paused for a while. "I don't want to be dragging all of you down now, you guys are all prodigies. I can't help much during the game." He said sadly, tilting his head low.

"You are of a great help to us. You are good at passes, you are able to use misdirection, and you and Daiki are a great duo together. You two can score many points even without us. So what's the problem now? If it's about studies again, I can always coach you." I said, patting his head.

It's not that I really don't want him to leave, it's just that, without him, I just feel that the team lacked something. Especially since I asked Haizaki leave our team because he was just too much. I tolerated his nonsense for a very long time and I figured that Ryouta was much better than him. But still, I don't want Tetsuya to leave.

"But…" He started. I cut him off and tore the resignation letter into shreds. "Don't leave me Tetsuya, I feel that we are all lacking something if you leave." He looked away, doesn't seem to have anything in mind to reply my sentence.

Then I hugged him.

"Akashi-kun, I know you don't want me to leave, but unless you solve the problem I'm facing, I can't stay."

I looked down, as I don't have anything in mind to reply him, but I hugged him even tighter, hoping that he'll get the idea that I don't care what happens, I just don't want him to leave.