Ahem, I'm not cheating on Shinji x FemC - I don't actually ship Aki x FemC. I wrote this 'cause I thought it'd be good practice for me to write out Akihiko's character. He's the most difficult one to characterise, in my case. The focus here is how shy and awkward he is around girls. (not so much in this chapter, I plan to make this multi-chaptered) I never actually got Akihiko in the lovers' path, so just be aware this isn't going to be an accurate portrayal. I hope that you Aki x FemC fans enjoy this. (despite how baad it is.) I know I should really stop writing new stories and focus on my other multi-chaptered ones, but... well... I guess I'm just easily distracted, hah. This is a lot shorter than my usual work, and I'm really sorry about that. I had to type this up in a rush: I'd say a span of 10-15 minutes. I'll try and properly proof-read this later when I have enough time.
Disclaimer: I own... nothing. :D
Akihiko marched along the packed school hallway on his way to the boy's changing room. As usual, he was the last to finish today's session so he walked alone. Well... not exactly as alone as he would have liked - the fact that he was drenched in his own sweat, and that the only thing he wore was a small towel wrapped around his neck had left his toned, bare... and... slippery... sexy... body exposed to the hungry eyes of his horde of fangirls.
"Waaah! OH, MY, GOD! It's Akihiko-senpai! And he's... he's naked!" Fangirl no. 374928452524 swooned.
Half-naked! Akihiko corrected, though not outwardly. It was useless to say anything. By the starry expression on her face, he could tell that she was too busy daydreaming a version of her own 'naked' and completely out-of-character Akihiko. Not to mention that acknowledging their existence automatically meant 'Yes! I'll go out with you!' in fangirl code.
No words were enough to describe just how much he hated the attention he got from these random girls. It was too loud. Too noisy. He loathed those judging eyes, they were always watching him as if he were some kind of million dollar prize. Making all kinds of assumptions, when in fact they didn't know the first thing about him. However, it didn't really matter how he felt about it - he was already too accustomed with the attention to even care about their advances. It just felt like another day. It was nothing out of the ordinary, just the usual boring routine.
He heard someone calling out to him amidst the sea of faces - though the tone of voice didn't hold that annoying high-pitched squeal that most of his admirers had. He decided to see who it was. It could be Mitsuru, and he didn't want to do anything he might regret later. He didn't want to have to feel the wrath of another one of her (he mentally gulped) executions.
But then, Akihiko smiled genuinely and politely after seeing who it was. "Hey Kaori."
"Hello, senpai." She bowed with respect. "Uh... is there somewhere else we can talk?" She added after eyeing the large group of fangirls hoarding around them. Akihiko noted that she also looked a little scared, though he wasn't really sure why. They were just normal, albeit very annoying, girls... just like her. What could they possibly do?
"Yeah, sure." He grabbed her by the arm and dragged her with him to the school roof. It was particularly nice and windy today, leaving a cool sensation over his body. Not that he particularly minded, as his session in the gym left him rather hot and humid. He was actually okay with the breezed, refreshing feeling.
"So...?" Remembering why he was here in the first place, he looked at the brunette in front of him. "What do you need to talk to me about?"
"Uhm... I just wanted to tell you that we're not going to Tartarus tonight. Sorry, I know how much you want to train but I've got tests next week."
"Of course, I understand. You've got things you need to do!" He laughed. "Sheesh, you make it sound like I'm some kind of maniac that's obsessed with training."
"Oh, umm..." Kaori tapped her feet against the floor, red eyes downcast. Akihiko didn't really understand why she didn't laugh along with him. (Especially since he was trying to improve his socialising skills. Their coach had already given him another lecture to try and be more of a 'team player' this week.) Wasn't it supposed to be a joke? "Sorry, senpai. I wasn't trying to offend you. I didn't mean it like that."
"No, don't worry. You didn't do anything wrong. I wasn't offended." He scratched his damp silver head, feeling a little disappointed with himself for his lack of manners. Maybe he had sounded a lot more serious than he hoped. "It was supposed to be a joke!" He lamely added.
"Oooh! Ha.. haa... Right!" Kaori looked genuinely surprised, forcing a laugh. "Sorry, senpai. I guess I'm just not that good with jokes..."
Akihiko appreciated the gesture, but it was painfully obvious who was wrong here. She didn't have to cover up for his mistake.
"Well, okay. Stop apologising so much." He smiled kindly, giving her a pat on the shoulder. "If there's nothing else you need, then I should probably get going. I'll see you back at the dorm, alright?"
She looked away all of a sudden... her cheeks looked a little pink, too. Akihiko couldn't help but feel a little concerned. Maybe she wasn't feeling too well?
"R-right...! See you, senpai!" She ran away from him, avoiding his gaze. The silver-haired, half-naked young man was left alone to wonder if he had said something weird again.
After ignoring a few more lingering stares and swooning fangirls, Ahihiko sighed with relief as he finally reached the boy's changing room. He was met by the strong musty smell of cheap men's perfume. It was still pretty crowded and quite busy, even though boxing club had already finished half an hour ago. His team mates stole a few glances in his direction, but then carried on with their normal conversation about whatever girl they were going to ask out straight after.
He shrugged with dismay, he had honestly hoped that the room would be empty by the time he got here. It wasn't that he didn't like his team - though it's not as if he had an obligation to be in their company, either. He didn't exactly consider them as... 'friends'. He merely saw them as a group of people that he had to see during practice. Sure, he exchanged pleasantries (one small nod or an occasional "Hey, how you doin'?" would do.) with them whenever he ever saw them walking around the school. However, he didn't see the club as some sort of social network like his other team members seemed to. He saw boxing as a sport, so that he could fight for himself... to avoid that powerless feeling and push away the guilt... for Miki's sake. It was something he had to do alone, and he didn't need other people to accomplish it.
"Yo, Sanada! Wanna group date?" He was taken aback by the sudden question of a fellow team member, someone he recognised in his own class.
"Nah. Sorry, I'll pass." He shrugged dismissively, completely aware that it was going to hinder with his 'try to be more of team player' action plan. He knew exactly what a group date meant, and the last thing he needed right now was more fangirls ogling over him. "I've got some training to do."
"Come on, captain!" It was a younger student this time. "Loosen up. You're only young once. Go out there and get yourself a girl!"
"It's okay, I don't really need one." He put it plainly and simply, hoping that they wouldn't try to push it further. "Thanks for offering, though." Akihiko added just to be polite.
"Ah! Well, that's too bad then. Maybe some other time, huh?" They finally said, now making their way outside of the boy's changing room.
Maybe they thought they were out of earshot, but they must have been so disappointed as Akihiko could loudly hear them talking: "Man, I know he's the captain of our team and I respect him and all... but what a wierd guy. The girls in our school are so smoking hot! Who wouldn't want them?"
"Wierd... huh." His fist tightened painfully. "I just don't need to be burdened with that sort of thing."
Don't ask me when the next chapter will be posted up, because I don't know either. :|
