Chapter 8: No Need For Formality

Akashi wasn't desperate. Yes, he did want his relationship with Nijimura to be as it was before, but he wasn't craving it to the point of running to Nijimura´s apartment and talk to him as soon as his meeting with Kuroko was over.

This was not one of those light novels Mayuzumi-san was so fond of, after all.

Thus, Akashi waited.

He let the rest of the week proceed as if there was nothing wrong. He didn´t approach Nijimura about the subject a second time. He didn't push the other man. All he did was muster up courage, weigh the situation and –shame on him– he also encouraged himself not to hesitate at the last minute. He´d already decided when he was going to confront Nijimura, and he´d been practicing a speech in his head. Oh, he´d thought of possible outcomes as well.

When Saturday morning came, Akashi woke feeling like he was about to go to war, but he wasn't barging in unarmed.

It was as good as he was going to get.

As soon as breakfast was over, he went out and headed for Nijimura´s apartment. He wasn't the type to arrive at someone else´s home without a gift for his host, so between train stations he stopped by a small bakery store and bought three boxes of cupcakes. He wasn't sure the blackhead liked sweets very much, but the food wasn't for him… not all of it anyway. Since it was Saturday morning, Akashi had the feeling he was going to run into the mini street basketball team.

He obviously wasn't going to show up in the middle or at the end of Nijimura´s training session with empty hands. No. He was going to bring small treats for the kids, and while all the little ones ate he was going to talk to Nijimura. It was the worst plan he´d ever come up with, but he didn't want to wait any longer. He´d been hiding… um, waiting. He´d been waiting since he spoke to Kuroko, and he wasn't willing to keep quiet anymore.

Besides, having kids around would keep them both from making a scene. It was a safety barrier, nothing else, both for him and Nijimura.

Oh, who was he kidding? Even he laughed at the very idea.

"Stop overthinking; it isn't healthy for the mind," he muttered as he boarded the second and last train.

He followed his own order and watched the scenery the rest of the way.

Fifteen minutes later, he was walking down Nijimura´s common and simple neighborhood with the three boxes in his arms. He had no problem remembering where the apartment was. Maybe he wasn't the sanest person in the world, but he did have excellent memory.

As he´d hypothesized, he found Nijimura in the street court from last time. Also like he´d thought, he was surrounded by kids. By the look of things, training was just starting.

Hmm. He´d have to wait until it was over then. He was not buying time, not at all. He was merely not interrupting Nijimura´s schedule.

Being as quiet and discreet as he could, he slipped into the court, sat on the floor –Aomine would have laughed his head of to see him dusting the ground before letting his butt sit on top of it– closest to the entrance and left the boxes at his side. He would have said hi but it would have torn Nijimura´s attention away from the kids.

Again, he was not postponing the inevitable.

When he was settled, he laid his elbows on his thighs, cupped his own face and looked around.

He counted heads. There were fourteen children around Nijimura: six girls and eight boys ranging from nine to thirteen years old. They all wore sweats and similar joyful expressions. Two of the kids were rolling the basketballs´ trolley into the court. Some were toying with bright orange cones.

Nijimura stood among them all with a smile Akashi had to admit was quite stunning. Unlike when he practiced in university, today Nijimura was wearing a white tank top and straight, strangely professional sweatpants. He held a clipboard in one hand. A whistle dangled from his neck. A white cap covered his longish hair.

Wait. Cap?

Akashi went back to looking at the kids. He realized Nijimura wasn't the only one with one of those things on his head. Most of the youngsters also wore one.

He was wondering why on Earth did they have caps on when he heard Nijimura bark, "Oi, Kirito! Where´s your cap? You´ll get sunbaked without one to cover your head an eyes. I mean, just feel the heat today!"

Little Kirito answered something the redhead couldn't hear. Whatever it was, it made Nijimura shake his head, take off the accessory and place it on top of the kids messy hair.

"Anyone else forgot theirs?"

Hands shot up. The blackhead sighed, crouched down and pulled out of a sports bag enough caps to hand around.

"Alright. Chances of dehydration have now gone down."

Oh.

"Hmm. Of course he would not let any of his players collapse. His heart is too soft," Akashi whispered as he looked at the tree he was under. It didn't cover any part of playing territory, though. A smile tugged at his lips, but he coughed to get rid of it.

After all the kids had a cap on their heads and Nijimura made sure they´d all brought enough water to drink, warm-up began.

"Stretching first," Nijimura called when the kids had lined up. He began stretching his arms in front of him. Everyone obeyed and moved almost in unison.

Akashi blinked at the utter and complete obedience. Okay, it wasn't that impressive since they were kids, but the way Nijimura didn't impose the command on them but even followed it himself and they all obeyed… Akashi could never pull such a stunt off. Less of all with tykes. If he ordered adults around without a single problem and didn't ever consider what he said… geez. He would make a terrible children´s coach.

"Kaze, you´re continuing the warm-up."

A blonde girl trotted up to the blackhead´s side. She grinned up at him before facing her teammates and calling out the stretching exercises.

Five minutes later, Nijimura said it was enough warm-up. Akashi agreed. From what he´d seen, the children´s bodies were now limber and warm. It had been a perfect routine. However, if he were the coach he´d add…

"Now let´s run three laps around the block. No running the first one, kiddos, just trotting. The second and third I want you all to run for your lives, are we clear?"

"Yes, coach!" came the collective reply. The kids all ran for the entrance. Nijimura went after him. He saw something red out of his eyes. He turned.

Grey eyes flew wide when they saw Akashi, who held his gaze for a few seconds before waving a hand and nodding.

The message was received and understood.

With a somewhat awkward smile, Nijimura left Akashi and lined the kids again on the street.

"Three laps. Just trotting on the first one," he repeated, then blew the whistle.

The kids trotted off. A soon as the last kid had left the imaginary starting line, Nijimura ran after them much like a shepherd dog after the sheep.

Akashi almost smiled again upon seeing that.

"He still runs with his underlings, doesn't he?" he murmured.

"He´s done it since day one. He´s the only coach I know who doesn't sit back and smoke after sending the children away."

He turned at the sound of a female voice. A fortyish woman stood in front of him, shopping bag in one arm, a gentle smile on her face.

"Nijimura-san used to say one cannot ask of others what you cannot or are not willing to do yourself," he answered, and allowed his mouth to form a polite smile.

"It is one of his mottos," the woman agreed, then tilt her head sideways. "You are one of Shuuzou-kun´s friends, aren't you? I remember seeing you with him one afternoon. You were both covered in something orangey and…"

"It was cheese. An unfortunate incident in a public event. Yes, I remember the day, but I do not remember seeing you," Akashi finished.

She chortled. "I saw you passing by is all. My name Kagome Ran."

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Kagome-san. I am Akashi Seijuurou."

"Nice to meet you too. Do you go to the same university as Shuuzou-kun?"

"I do."

"Do you follow the same career?"

"No. I am studying Economics."

"I see. Well, it´s nice to see another friend of Shuuzou-kun´s visiting after so long. Kiyoshi-kun and Kotarou-kun used to visit him a lot, but not as of late." She smiled again. "If you´ll excuse me, Akashi-kun, I will be leaving. Today it´s my turn to get the food ready for when basketball practice is over."

She waved and was already leaving when Akashi asked, "Food for the children?"

Kagome Ran turned immediately. "Yes. They all have a little snack when practices is over. Shuuzou-kun used to bring popsicles, rice balls or peanut butter sandwiches for them but over time us parents have taken on that duty. Now each of us takes a weekend and we fix food for the children. Healthy one, of course, but food nonetheless. Today it´s my turn, and my son has been egging me to bring them all something sweet, so I´m heading to the store now."

Akashi studied the woman, then he nodded at cake boxes. "I believe there is no need for you to take such a trip. I brought some small tokens for the children and Nijimura-san."

"Eh?"

He went to retrieve one of the boxes and held it open. Kagome Ran´s eyes flew wide. One of her hands came up to cover her mouth.

"Akashi-kun, do you know how much cakes cost in that bakery, no matter how small?" she whispered.

Crimson eyes went down to the treats, back to the woman´s face. "Does it matter?" he said with obvious confusion.

"Um, not really. I mean, if you brought these as gifts the whole block will thank you for it, but isn't your walled screaming? Like I said, these are all very expensive…"

"Hey, what are you doing here?"

They stopped talking when they heard Nijimura´s voice. Akashi turned around, the box still in his hands. The elder had returned from his first lap around the block. It wasn't surprising. With how intense practice was in university three laps around a block was nothing.

"I am paying you a visit," the redhead said.

The blackhead didn't hear the answer because his attention went to the cupcakes. His eyes widened as much as Kagome Ran´s had.

"Why do you have a box full of expensive cakes?" he said.

"It is a gift for your children. I need to talk to you, and I did not think you would mind if they enjoyed themselves after they had finished practicing and we talked."

"Um…" Nijimura also ignored the 'children' comment and frowned. "They wouldn't mind at all. They have snacks every Saturday when we´re done, but you better have stuff for everyone because otherwise…"

Akashi pointed to the other two boxes on the floor.

Nijimura let out a hiss. Kagome Ran said, "Oh my."

Akashi didn't speak, only kept his eyes on the blackhead, who rubbed his temples before saying, "Akashi, I am so going to have a talk with you about money and different brands of food. For now," he looked down the street, where the first kid was arriving from the first lap. "I have a job to do. Why don't you go over to Kagome-san´s apartment to get the cakes to a better environment?"

He raised an eyebrow.

Nijimura did the same. "Fine. Do whatever the hell you want," he muttered, nodded at Kagome Ran and went back to running with the kids.

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Akashi would have loved to leave and take the cakes with to give Nijimura a lesson. He never allowed anyone to mock him like the blackhead did with his last comment. He didn't have to stay there and wait like Nijimura had told him to wait…

But he´d already come this far. He´d made up his mind, and he would not back down.

Instead of leaving, he went with the woman to an apartment very similar to Nijimura´s except it was way roomier.

After leaving the cupcakes in the kitchen table, Akashi had hoped he could go back to the street court to watch how the training session came along, but Kagome Ran didn't let him. Instead, she made him sit with her and then even help her out while she prepared some cold lemonade and then made sandwiches for the children.

Somehow, Akashi let himself be sucked into her small talk and also helped her. Truth be told, he learned how to make a decent and simple lemonade that day. As a child his mother might have prepared the beverage in front of him, but he didn't remember. When she died, Akashi never entered a kitchen again unless it was to tell the cook what he wanted to eat or to ask where someone else was. Even now with his housekeeper he went to the dining room and waited for the woman to bring him his food.

Geez. He was such a spoiled brat.

Sooner than he thought, the practice session was over. He heard infantile chatter outside the apartment door.

"Oh dear. They´re already here. Would you please open the boxes of cakes and step back, Akashi-kun? I don't want you to get hurt."

Red eyebrows went up. He did as he was told. As soon as he´d done it, the front door burst open and all the kids poured inside. There was a collective gasp as they saw the special treats… then sweaty hands shot forward.

"Oi, oi, oi! Hold it right there every single one of you!" Nijimura´s voice boomed all through the room.

Time stopped until the blackhead said, "You´re going to touch your food with those filthy hands? Come on. Your parents raised you better than that, didn't they?"

Akashi watched almost in awe as the children went off in search of the bathroom to wash their hands.

When it was only Kagome Ran and the two of them in the kitchen, Nijimura reached for a cupcake himself.

"Shuuzou-kun," the woman warned.

He raised his clean hands. "I washed them on the way here." Without waiting for either the woman´s or Akashi´s consent, he took one of the small treats.

"Not the healthiest snack after having run around, but I´m not going to complain," he said. He walked to where the lemonade was and poured some into a glass.

"You are terribly comfortable, are you not?" Akashi asked in a soft tone.

The blackhead shrugged. "Not the first time I visit the neighborhood after practice, is it, Kagome-san?" he said, then took a long sip.

She shook her head and smiled.

Akashi crossed his arms. "Do you need to be here for the meal as well? Or are you able to leave?"?

Nijimura took another sip. "So you really came here to talk to me?"

"I would not have stayed otherwise. It is…" Akashi frowned, searching for the right word. He settled for saying, "It is important."

"Important?" Nijimura didn't sound too thrilled about it. He looked defensive all of a sudden. The held a staring contest while Kagome Ran stared between them. After a few seconds the elder nodded.

"I´ll be going now, Kagome-san. Thanks for everything," he said, emptied the glass and washed it. He picked up another cupcake before going to the tiny hallway and yelling, "I´ll see you all next Saturday, kiddos. Good work today!"

He nodded to the woman before walking out. Akashi said his respective goodbyes as well before following him outside.

"Will you eat both cakes?" he murmured as they made their way up to Nijimura´s apartment. The Kagome family lived in the same building.

Nijimura looked at him out of the corner of his eyes. "No. This one is for you." He held out the decorated pastry.

Akashi shook his head. "I do not fancy sweets, Nijimura-san."

"I don't like sweets either, but the bakery you bought this in is legendary for its amazing cakes."

"Both you and Kagome-san had quite amusing reactions when you saw the boxes."

"That´s because these cakes are delicious but they cost an arm and a leg. Do you have any idea how many yen you spent on the three boxes you brought?"

No. To be honest Akashi had no idea how much money he´d spent. He wasn't used to worrying about prices, so when he entered the bakery all he did was pick out the food he liked best, take it to the counter and then hand over his credit card. When younger he did prefer to use cash, but as of late cards had become easier to use.

"Money is not an issue for me," he said, and took the cake.

Nijimura hummed as they reached his own door. "I´m sure it isn't. Thank you for bringing the kids such a tasty and special treat, by the way. I really appreciate it. The best we can afford on our best days are banana splits." He opened the door.

"And that is healthy food?" Akashi asked as they both stepped inside.

"… Touché."

"And you have nothing to thank me for. I thought it would be inappropriate to show up with empty hands. Since I was aware you held your training sessions Saturday mornings…" He let his voice trail off.

"Why did you come here in the first place? This is not what we agreed to do."

"Oh, I am here to change that very agreement, Nijimura-san." Crimson eyes flared. "I do not like it, and I will not tolerate it any longer."

The blackhead didn't look surprised. He looked cautious.

"Why don't we talk in the terrace?" he suggested. "That way, in case you tear me apart again, I have some fresh air to breath and you can exit in a more dramatic way."

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Akashi closed his eyes and inhaled. His lungs filled with pure and fresh air, product of the many plants that filled the terrace and curled around the rusty, old and overall shabby gazebo. Nijimura had told him this place was the landlord´s garden and the gazebo served as a toolshed, but it was open to the public. It was a very nice place to talk, quiet and calm.

"You have not changed at all. From what I could see of your training session you are still as stern yet fair and considerate to those under your responsibility," he said without opening his eyes.

Nijimura, seated next to him, just stretched his legs out in front of him. He stared at his tennis shoes. "I do my best," he murmured.

"You do more than your best, Nijimura-san. You look after them as if you were their father."

"Don't be so mean. I´m not that old."

Akashi opened his eyes. He tilted his head and stared at the elder´s serious profile. "Big brother, then. Whichever term you choose the idea is the same. You are more than a trainer. You even warm up and run with them when you absolutely do not have to. You used to do the same with us in Teikou."

"That´s what a fair captain does. You can´t ask the other to do what you don't do yourself. The same applies to being a coach, in my very personal opinion."

The redhead nodded. "I remember. Also, you are strict with them like a father would be."

"I couldn't let them eat with their hands dirty. They could get sick or something"

"You treated the basketball team in a very similar meaning."

Nijimura frowned. "Any reason you´re pointing all of this out?"

"Other than admitting you are still the Nijimura Shuuzou I once knew –much more mature and improved, mind you–, no. all I am doing is buying time."

"For…?"

Akashi took a deep breath. Okay. He was here. He and Nijimura were alone. He had the latter´s whole attention. The mood wasn't the best to voice such a crappy and incomplete confession, but Akashi had to say it. In order for them to be like he wanted them to be…

"I like you."

The words spilled out of his mouth in a calm and accepting tone. He sounded as if he were in control of the situation right now when it wasn't the case at all.

"Thanks. I like you too."

At Nijimura´s glum answer, Akashi looked at him harder.

"I said…" he began.

"I heard you, Akashi, and I answered you. I like you too." He sighed. "Why did you say that? Because you want to cut off what little interaction we have now?"

"If I wanted to do as you have said I would not be this nice about it, would I?"

"How the heck should I know?" Nijimura glared at the floor, then he buried his face in his hands and groaned. "Akashi, look, don't come here and play with me. I´m having a hard time giving you your space, so if you want to keep it don't come here to visit me and then just speak without…"

"I want that space gone."

"Huh?"

"I want that space gone," Akashi repeated. He tilted his head backwards and calculated his words. Being honest was the only choice he had right now if he didn't want Nijimura to misunderstand him again.

"I enjoy your company, Nijimura-san, and very much so. You make me feel comfortable. I am never bored when I am with you, unnerved and confused maybe, but never bored. You are an anchor to the real and common world, and you have always helped me stay in it. I want all that back. I despise our current agreement and I honestly wish we can return to what we had."

The redhead hesitated when he got no reaction from the other man, but damn it. He was Akashi Seijuurou, and he wasn't going to stop talking when he was already halfway through.

"I am pretty sure you are thinking I have no idea what I am talking about, but you would be wrong, Nijimura-san. I understand what that type of attention means, and I say again: I want it. However, I do wish to receive it form anyone else except you."

A few tense heartbeats passed, then the blackhead lifted his head. He stared at Akashi.

"Do you really have any idea what you´re asking for?" Nijimura verified. He looked more cautious than ever.

Akashi looked up at the gazebo´s roof for a split second before nodding. "I told you before. If I ever dated I could only envision myself with one person. You."

"You also said you didn't want any type of romantic relationship with anyone. Even me," Nijimura put in, empathizing the last words.

"I will not deny it. I said as much, but…" the redhead pursed his lips. He took a deep breath. Okay, if he wanted to fix things he had to man up and confess. He had to something that shook and questioned his very existence. He had to… he had to…

Swallowing hard, Akashi hung his head and said the most difficult set of words in his whole life.

"I was wrong, Nijimura-san. I made a mistake and… yes, I was wrong."

There. He´d said it and he was still alive. Okay. Okay. He could do this.

"Don't look so shocked, Akashi. People make mistakes all the time; it´s a normal human trait," Nijimura said. He frowned. "You were wrong. Fine. What are you saying, exactly?"

"I have been very precise, Nijimura-san."

"No, you haven´t. You´ve been dancing around a certain subject all this time. You´ve been giving off hints but you haven't been direct with me." Grey eyes flashed with defiance. "So whatever you want to say… say it to my face loud and clear. I don't want to misunderstand you again, since it looks like I did before."

"… You love to provoke me, don't you?"

"Ha. I was about to say the same thing."

Akashi wrinkled his nose. He stared up at the roof for the second time in less than five minutes. He took a deep breath. Well, if he´d admitted defeat already he had no problem saying he liked Nijimura.

Besides, it wasn't like saying he loved Nijimura, right?

"Nijimura Shuuzou, what I am trying to say is that I like you in a way I do not like anybody else. I am willing to try being with you in a way I have not been with anybody else before. I said what I said a few weeks ago because I was disgusted by what I saw. I do not wish to behave like Hayama and Sanada-san. I do not want a corny love life because I have never one had one before and it is an alien concept."

He looked down and met Nijimura´s eyes. "However, I am willing to try with you. I trust you not to push me and yet I trust you to teach me what romance really is. You are my friend and while I value your friendship I find it insufficient. I want more… with you."

Nijimura´s breath ran out in a whoosh. He threw his head back and extended his arms along the back of the bench-like structure they were both sitting on. One of his arms was directly behind Akashi´s shoulders.

Silence took over for what felt like an eternity. Nijimura didn't move a millimeter. Akashi´s eyes roamed all over the terrace, coming bac, from now and then to the elder´s face.

"You know," Nijimura said finally, while he kept his head tilted. Even so, the redhead caught the amused tone. "You didn't have to give me this long, formal monologue of yours."

The redhead stilled.

"Hey, don't get me wrong. I´ll treasure it until the day I die because you have no idea how proud and happy it made me to hear it, believe me, but…" A chuckle came out of Nijimura´s throat. "You could have come and just say 'Hey, Shuuzou, I´ve missed you these past few weeks. Turns out I like you too and I´m willing to give you an opportunity to win me over'." Another chuckle. "It would have worked fine. I´m not the romantic you first took me for."

Those words baffled Akashi, who gaped at Nijimura before glaring at him.

"You are so ungrateful," he muttered, balling his hands into fists. He sounded offended.

"I am not being ungrateful. I´m happy." One of Nijimura´s arm –the one that had been behind the redhead– rose and wrapped itself around Akashi´s shoulders, making the latter look at it in confusion.

"Nijimura-san?"

"If we´re going to do this you have to stop the formalities." Nijimura leaned in closer. He smiled, and up close his smile was both dazzling and gentle. "And you really are going to give me a chance, Seijuurou, don't push me away," he added, then pressed his lips against Akashi´s.

Nijimura didn't open his mouth, and neither did Akashi, but both pairs of eyes closed. The first because he knew that would be inappropriate; the second because he was too surprised.

The touch was gentle, innocent, sweet. Their mouths barely moved over each other. Neither opened their eyes. It was a moment where time froze for both of them.

Nijimura was the first one to pull back. He stared at Akashi without letting him go. He was about to ask whether the redhead wanted to kill him or not, but all words died in his throat when he saw the redness in those pale cheeks.

Akashi was blushing?

"Seijuurou, are you…?"

One of the redhead´s hands balled into the front of his tank top. The other pressed up against his cheek.

"What sort of first kiss was that?" he said, and the redness in his cheeks grew. His tone, though, remained steady. Their gazes met, and Nijimura couldn't hide his surprise.

"Your first…?"

"I am not a child, Ni… Shuuzou-san." Akashi had the nerve to look both defiant and even curious. "I know you can do better."

Silence took over once more, then Nijimura barked a laugh. "Don't back out on me, Seijuurou, or I´ll make you regret it this time," he said.

"Don't make me back out," Akashi replied, then threw his dignity out the window and leaned forward for another kiss.

"I know you won´t answer me, but I love you, Akashi Seijuurou," he whispered.

"I won´t answer you today, but we still have the future," Akashi said.

Their mouths met, and the redhead´s hand tightened on his shirt. Nijimura´s heart skipped a beat.

The future, huh? It sounded way too promising.

To be continued…

Hi! So here is chapter eight. Almost five thousand words… phew! :O Well, I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it, even if it came out way too sweet and corny. Still, I had a lot of fun messing with Akashi and tormenting Nijimura even if it was for only a couple of paragraphs. XD Thanks for reading!