Phew, work is a bit crazy right now. So a little late update again, haha. And Akashi is still a bit hard to write, he is just such a mix that I'm always thinking twice if he'd say something like that or not. If you think it is OOC, please point it out immediately. That guy is going to be my death.

Thanks to Lottie, as a guest I can't send you a PM. But I'm really happy you're enjoying it!

Thank you all for the lovely follows and favorites!

I hope my pace isn't going too fast or too slow in either department, I was a bit stressed today so maybe I'll edit it a bit later on. We will see, haha.

Three

Ah.

She preferred simple flowers.

Akashi stood once more behind Hotaka as he greeted his granddaughter, the third time had truly been the charm. The old man had already smiled at him with expectation as the time had rolled by at the club. Making it look like it was normal for them to leave the building behind and walk towards Hotaka's home in the afternoon.

The red haired teen wouldn't call it something he looked forward to with anticipation. But it certainly offered him some unusual time to calm down after his studies and training. The presence of the elder was something he was able to enjoy, their interaction was calm and relaxing in contrast to what he was used to at school or home.

Just like the way his mismatched gaze travelled towards Kozue's face as her grandfather handed her a few daisies which were pearly white. A flower which didn't catch many eyes for sure, it was too simple for the taste of many. It lacked the dominance roses spread, the strong colors and rather clichéd back-story. However, he could witness how her eyes widened in delight nevertheless. Her lips forming yet another smile which looked just as earnest as the last he had seen. Maybe it was because she was related to the gentle old man he had come to known these past weeks.

Or maybe he was just used of the sight of other kinds of girls. Students from the upper-class who attended his high school thanks to their parent's fortune only. They wouldn't spare such things a second glance.

"Welcome back, Akashi-kun." The black haired girl greeted him. "How about a cup of tea?"

It felt like he had stepped into a bubble, closed off from the noisy world outside with the same voices and smells around him from his previous visit. It didn't take long until the familiar herb scent of green tea rose into the air while he sat in the living room with Hotaka. A smooth breeze was swaying into the house through the open door from the garden bringing in the odor of spring and fresh grass until Kozue returned to the living room with the warm drinks.

"How is it going?"

Her grandfather laughed, leaning forward to push his knight further forward. "I believe, I've put a bit pressure on Seijūrō-kun for a change."

The redhead merely watched the shōgi board in front of him calmly, his gaze not showing his true thoughts. But as he felt Kozue's attention laying on him he glimpsed at her from the corner of his eye. She could see him musing over his turn, and maybe she was actually able to see that he had been a bit impressed by Hotaka's last move because he hardly dared to do anything that aggressive towards the end of the match. Although that didn't mean he wasn't winning anyway.

"I do wonder, Akashi-kun." The girl murmured as she handed him his cup. "Do you attend the shōgi club at high school as well?"

"No. I am part of the basketball club, however." Not to forget his position as the student council president he has claimed since last year.

At this her eyes widened, she had probably not expected him to attend a sports club if he was obviously talented in the area of strategic board games. But instead of questioning his decision she merely blinked curiously at him.

"Basketball? That sounds interesting; I've merely watched volleyball matches at my school before."

Akashi had already noted it before. The rare clear exchange of eye contact he would share with Hotaka's granddaughter whenever they did talk. She never looked away, or escaped his piercing mismatched stare by looking at another point of his face. Always direct and genuine, a refreshing trait which didn't surprise him anymore but it was something he noticed again either way.

"It is." He replied, taking a sip of his tea.

"I didn't know that Rakuzan offered such clubs as well." Hotaka laughed lightly. "I always imagined they'd prefer more traditional kinds."

"Rakuzan?" Kozue wondered, as she turned to her grandfather for a second. "I didn't know you attended that school, Akashi-kun. It is quite a difficult one, isn't it?"

The taste of the slightly bitter tea on his tongue made him consider his next words, because for him nothing seemed to be too demanding. Not with his tight schedule and long studies, or his training after school where he made sure to keep himself fit and strong to achieve what he expected from himself. Nothing was too difficult. But the second he parted his lips to reply, his answer about to roll off his tongue to state what he thought, he was easily interrupted by a noise from the entrance area.

The front door was loudly slid to the side, a pair of feet knocked against the ground as the owner obviously hurried to shrug the shoes off to step completely inside.

"Shou-chan, I found the notebook!"

Once more he could hear the steps bolting down the corridor as the short haired girl from last time appeared in the living room. Her hair a bit messy from the running she must have done, her shoulders heaving with her breaths and for a second she seemed to only see Kozue and the older man before she realized that he was there as well. Furrowing her brow, Rie clutched her book closer, her light eyes definitely staring the unexpected visitor down with something close to curiosity with a pinch of suspicion.

"Alright." The girl beside Akashi breathed calmly, reaching for her tray before she stood up. "Let's go to the kitchen, Rie-chan, I can teach you the part there."

"Okay."

Carefully, Kozue excused herself. Smiling at Hotaka and the red haired teen before she stepped towards the exit where her friend awaited her impatiently. Akashi glanced at her as she left them behind. His right eyebrow lifting into the air as he turned his head further around to stare at Rie instead - who still actually gave him a look as if she wasn't sure if he was truly there or not. It shouldn't bother him that their little conversation got cut off like this. But she had already been the one who had called Hotaka's granddaughter away last time as they had exchanged a few words. Disturbing the little small talk the teen didn't really mind.

In the end both girls left the living room, walking down the corridor towards the kitchen which wasn't far away. Although the dirty blond haired girl had quite a loud voice and it wasn't hard to hear her speak until they had stepped into the other room.

"Why is he here again?"

Quite a ridiculous thing to complain about as a guest herself, he mused. She appeared to be nosy and loud, as if she was living here as well, claiming the right to decide whether the guests are acceptable or not. Akashi's eyes narrowed slightly at the exit before he turned back around to the wooden board in front of him. It was still his turn after all.

While the teenager reached for his shōgi piece, his opponent smiled at him. Always calm and amused by something around him.

"Rie-chan can be a bit harsh." The older man laughed quietly. "It is rare to have such a young visitor here besides her after all."

"...I suppose."

That didn't excuse her behavior though, Akashi thought. She acted out of line, the complete opposite of Kozue who more than likely knew how to have manners and treat other people. The red haired teen blinked absent-minded at the little battlefield in front of him. His face frozen into place as he watched one of Hotaka's pieces beat his silver general. A little trap. Which had been successful in the end. Akashi leaned forward to reach for his knight, easily invading the older man's side of the board.

"Ōte."

"Hah...I see." Hotaka scratched his beard, smiling brightly as he took in the form of their match. "Not bad, Seijūrō-kun."

"I've seen this strategy in a competition before, I wondered how it would work out in a match..." Quietly Akashi reached for his cup, weighing the warm tea in his hands while his opponent mused over his next move.

"Does Iijima-san prefer bitter tea over sweet?"

Hotaka looked up from the shōgi board, glancing at the teen in front of him a bit surprised before he realized what he had said. They've been on first name basis for a long time, so it must have surprised him to suddenly hear his last name once more from the teen's lips. But it didn't take long until he understood that it hadn't been him he had asked about. With a light smile he reached for one of his gold generals, protecting his king from the attack with a single strike.

"She does. But only tea." The older man breathed a laugh as he returned to one of his favorite topics. "She loves sweets though."

Akashi's mismatched gaze watched the warm eyes of Hotaka crinkle, the wrinkles in his face increasing as his smile grew in size. It was easy to see that his shōgi opponent enjoyed to talk about his granddaughter, just like he had always loved to do when they were at the club.

"I see."

It was a polite smile which grew on the teenager's face. Weak but strong enough to suffice as their match continued, ending in Akashi's win like always. Although that never bothered the elderly man anyway, Hotaka always only laughed. Praising the redhead and offering to start another match, probably to pass the time until dinner came around.

Akashi wasn't even really asked anymore if he wanted to stay or not. He had wondered if that question would ever occur that day. But as Kozue appeared in the living room, telling them that the meal was ready, her grandfather looked up in surprise. He had been too absorbed in their game, merely smiling at his young opponent as he wondered if Akashi wouldn't mind staying.

And he didn't.

The atmosphere was too calming to leave it right away. The meal was quickly set onto the low table in the living room, a mix of grilled fish, rice and soup. Once more something the redhead hadn't eaten in a long time because the personnel at the mansion tended to keep everything a bit extraordinary. But it was something which smelled good anyway.

It all felt nearly like the last time he had been here. The quiet noise of shifting people, chopsticks clicking against bowls...everything. If there wouldn't be this certain pair of eyes which had been staring at him intently the second he had sat down at the traditional table, that is. Akashi calmly grabbed his pair of chopsticks, picking up a bit of rice to eat while his piercing gaze landed on the girl which sat on the other side of the table.

The very one which apparently didn't have to leave yet either.

But the moment Rie noticed his cold stare she looked down at her meal, frowning at the fish as if it had been at fault that he noticed her glare. What childish antics...she acted like a little five-year-old, he thought. Too narrow-minded too understand how obvious her act was.

"I hope you like the soup." Kozue said suddenly as he reached for his bowl. "I'm not very confident about it because I tried a new recipe this time."

Akashi's gaze turned towards her as he took a sip of the warm liquid. "It is good."

The black haired girl's face lit up at the compliment, her smile warm as she nodded in relief. The Tempura last time had been good too, he remembered although he hadn't clearly said it. It wasn't comparable to the expensive cooks and their styles. It had a different flavor, a complete different taste to it which was probably traced back to the fact that it was cooked at home. In another environment than the meals he ate at the mansion on daily basis.

"It is delicious!" The dirty blond haired girl exclaimed suddenly with a loud voice, gaining the attention of the others. "Shou-chan, it is very good. Don't be self-conscious."

Kozue blinked at her friend in surprise before she started laughing lightly. "Thanks, Rie-chan."

Satisfied her smaller friend nodded eagerly, huffing a little breath before she grabbed her rice bowl to shove a bigger portion into her mouth. Hotaka merely smiled in amusement, the sight of a lively Rie probably something he was used to. But for Akashi, who had stopped eating for a second to just stare at the dirty blond teen in front of him, it had become obvious what she had done.

It was on purpose.

His mismatched gaze narrowed slightly as he calmly continued to eat his meal.

It wasn't like he really cared but...

"Iijima-san." Akashi offered her his cup because the pot of tea stood on her side of the table.

And quickly Kozue's blue colored orbs travelled from her friend to him as she immediately moved to refill his tea with a smile. They didn't really talk, merely exchanged a glance. But after the black haired girl leaned back, setting the pot aside once more, Akashi found himself glimpsing at Rie out of corner of his eye. Only to find her grimacing as if she had witnessed something terrible.

Satisfied the red haired teen closed his eyes and took a sip of his drink, only to realize that it was fruit tea like last time.