Bitter Sweet Rivalry Chapter 10: Asano's Denial
Onii-chan tell your boyfriend to stay!
Asano sighed running his fingers through his hair.
(Why did I have to go over to that buffoons home today...do the gods really hate me that much that I would be paired with Akabane?) The boy cringed at his earlier reaction to the small girls command.
Remembering the heat on his face upon hearing that word…
Boyfriend
Akabane wasn't Asano's friend muchless a boyfriend! At least, he didn't consider the devious redhead a friend. No that would be ridiculous!
"Asano what's the matter?" The boy looked up from the kitchen counter as his father entered. Why was he always dressed in some sort of suit?
"Nothing father." He replied with his manipulative smile he gave his classmates. Although it had no effect on his father who just smiled to himself. He paced over to the fridge opening it,
"How was your date with Akabane?" Asano nearly broke the glass his fingers were wrapped around. The way his father spoke, a date, at this point he much prefered the way his father behaved before this year started.
"It was no such thing father, merely two classmates working on a project against their will.."
"Is that so? You seemed rather flustered just a moment ago, are you sure the two of you were just working?" The man spoke taking a container of milk from the fridge. Asano bit his lower lip as if it would control the burning sensation on the tips of his ears.
"I'm disgusted you would assume such a thing." Asano shot back still holding his smile.
"You are a healthy sixteen year old boy Asano, I've come to expect such things."
"Not with Akabane.." The boy growled under his breath.
"What was that?"
"Oh I was just saying how redicious your accusations are father; Even by your standards." The man chuckled putting the container back in the fridge.
"Nonsense, someone of Akabane's caliber is more than worthy of your affection. Besides, it seems he's already affected you in someway."
Asano raised his eyebrow.
"What is that supposed to mean father." His fingers wrapping tighter around his glass almost cracking it.
"Well, correct me if I'm wrong Asano, but this is the first time I've seen you so worked up, and over Akabane nonetheless."
Asano smiled showing his teeth a little trying with every fiber of his being not to walk out of this conversation. Because honestly that would just prove his father was right.
"You have it all wrong father. I would never lose my composer over someone like Akabane. I'm simply dreadfully tired from having to visit his horrible home."
His father raised his eyebrow in question. He hummed turning away from his son,
"Well, if it were to come to that, I would be more than welcome to give you both my blessing."
You could practically hear the screeching sound of Asano's teeth as they smashed together. The cringe level on his face going over 9,000.
"It shall never come to such ridiculous things…." Asano stated his previous smile dropping into a cold glare that his father could feel, however he was not the least bit affected by it.
"We shall see." His father commented.
"Father are you really saying I would fall for such a fool?"
His father turned to his son, a smile planted on his lips.
"No, Gakashuu, I'm saying you already have, and it's merely a matter of time before you break from this state of denial and realize that."
"What you are saying father is completely hysterical." The boy said still in a calm tone now standing up from the counter.
His father chuckled and offered no more words only turning away from this conversation and making his way cheerfully into another room.
Asano grinded his teeth together slamming his fist into the marble counter causing his glass to tip over spilling the remains of the water he had in their previously.
(Dammit….even here Akabane's corrosive behavior is corrupting my life! )
...Monday came faster than Asano would have liked it to. Their presentation was due that Thursday. And whether the two liked it or not, they would have to meet up again to finish it. Asano would have done it on his own, but because of his absence he was...rather lost. He didn't want to go to other students for help either due to his reputation. And there was no way in hell he was going to invite his rival, Akabane over to his home. Not with the nonsense his father had been spatting lately.
~ The following Monday ~
Asano was sitting at his desk, his chin resting on the back of his hands, leaning forward in his chair, his eyes closed wishing today, just for today, he could not be Asano, because Asano had to deal with this, any other student did not!
"Asano," He heard a voice beside him. He opened his eyes looking to his side. He was pleased to see that it wasn't Akabane rather that it was Ren. A wave of relief washed over Asano but it hardly showed as he responded with,
"Hello Ren. What can I do for you?" He looked a bit uneasy, Ren, that didn't make Asano feel any better about things. If anything it added more wood to the flames of his concerns.
"People are sayin' you were hanging out with Akabane over the weekend; Is that true?"
Asano swallowed his heart but remained calm.
"Ah, you must be referring to the project."
"Project? Don't tell me you actually got paired up with that psycho"
"Unfortunately, yes." Asano paused looking around noticing a few people where watching the two of them.
"Wait, so did you go over to his place or somethin'?"
Asano couldn't answer that, not here. He didn't need to encourage the gossip going around, mild gossip was hardly worth fretting over. But when that gossip was about the guy who basically ruled the school and the delinquent it was bond to grow with even the tiniest information into a wildfire.
"It's not important." Asano simply said holding his composer.
When you were always wearing a mask and your friend knew it they were bond to pick up on small hints.
So when Asano gave Ren a look he understood that right now was not the best time to speak about this.
"Well I must be off to class. If you'll excuse me." Ren said making his exit.
Apart of Asano wished the boy could have stayed. Today he was feeling a bit anxious, which wasn't normal. That and he kept looking at the door.
The door slid open causing Asano to jump a little. He calmed down when the teacher entered.
"Good morning class." The man greeted.
Asano briefly glanced at the empty desk beside him.
( That fool will be late no doubt.)
But as the clocks hands moved and the hours passed the redhead…..
Never showed up.
Asano was the only one who realized this. Everyone else was focused on the lesson. But he couldn't focus; his eyes kept glancing back at the empty desk.
"Asano," the boy blinked realizing he was daydreaming. He looked around, everyone was staring at him. He looked back at the teacher who was waiting,
For what, he….didn't know.
"Are you going to read?" The boy felt his cheeks grow warm feeling a little embarrassed.
"Uh-r-right. Of course,"
But he couldn't, he didn't know where they were currently at. His face was growing warmer.
"I'm sorry I must excuse myself." He said shooting up from his desk as he made a mad dash for the door he heard his teacher calling his name.
….Asano turned the faucet off having splashed water on his face. He was the only one in the restrooms so nobody could see the mental breakdown he was currently having.
He looked into the mirror, leaning over the sink. The only color in his face was that of his rosy red cheeks.
"What the hell is wrong with me? Since when have I concerned myself with Akabane?! The cold weather must be getting to me, yes that MUST be it." The boy leaned his burning face against the cool glass.
Being alone, having a moment to himself finally. Nobody watching, no need to wear the mask. It was this that made him realized the racing pulse of his heart against his chest.
( Why can't I get that damn idiot out of my head? ..No...no...no it-it can't be that I-that's foolish! My father's hysterical blabbering must have gotten in my head, I mustn let him get to me. )
Asano smiled to himself sure that was it. He stood up straight, fixing his tea, combing down his hair with his hands.
"I am Asano Gakushuu, I am the leader of this school. I have no time to concern myself with such mindless things." He told himself in the mirror.
He turned away, heading for the door. He made his way back to his classroom,
…..Now, standing outside the door he already had an excuse in the back of his mind as to why he had left in such a rush. He wasn't feeling well and had to get some water, but he was alright now. Yeah that would more than suffice.
He reached his hand out for the latch but….
He….
Couldn't bring himself to open it. He couldn't move his hand any further, his body would not listen to him. He bit down on his lip,
( No….no I refuse! I refuse! I-I won't….) He sighed out to himself retracting his hand.
"I can't do this," He muttered finally being honest with himself. Asano eyed the classroom door, his mind told him to stay, to go back to class like the good little boy he was. Because that was what he was made for, why he was here, but….
His heart,
Told him otherwise.
He knew it would be ridiculous….to do so…that he should stay here,
But right now,
He didn't care what his mind said.
Ignoring the logical side of him, telling him to go to class he turned on his heel and bolted down the empty hallway not bothering to stop or think more on the matter.
….He ran and continued, he hadn't stopped even though all these thoughts in the back of his mind shouted at him, told him-yelled at him to stop this instant and turn back right now told him,
This is nuts,
Your crazy,
Get a hold of yourself!
But he ignored them, ignored the cold freezing wind that blew against his bare arms, his ears, and neck, it felt like small needles. He ignored the burning pain in his legs and chest, telling him to stop, to at least rest,
But he did not, he refused.
He finally stopped heavily panting, leaning on his knees for support. His breath was visible in the cold december air. He hadn't stopped to grab his jacket, or coat. No, he was merely in his white dress shirt and that black tie with those dress pants he always wore around school. He hadn't even stopped to grab his grey blazer.
His heart thundered in his chest as he stood up straight, looking at the familiar door. No his heart wasn't in his chest it was in his throat. He was practically choking, he looked down at his hand, it was trembling….was it because of the cold?
He took a deep breath hoping that would ease the anxiety he was feeling right now. He drew his hand near the buzzer, as his finger pressed against the rubber hearing it chime his pulse quickened.
He heard the door knob shift almost immediately. He heard the movement of a lock being undone before the door opened…..he had expected to see the little girl again but instead he saw….a rather, interesting sight.
Akabane, still dressed in his pajamas, but he looked anything but comfortable. He had a blanket draped around his shoulders, his hair was a complete mess, and he was deathly pale. His usual sharp eyes looked hazy and out of focus.
Asano noticed all of these things, he took note of how slow Akabane's reaction time was too. It had taken him nearly two minutes to realize just who he was staring at. Asano had thought Akabane was staying at home, being lazy. But….he wasn't.
By this image alone that wasn't the case at all.
"Asano…? What….what are you doing here?" Karma said genuinely confused and still dazed, he was swaying a little like he'd topple over any moment.
( No joke?) Asnao noticed.
Asano opened his mouth to explain but realized, for the first time ever, he didn't have one. He didn't know why he'd basically just skipped school only to run here, to Akabane's home. He didn't know why he'd been staring at his desk all morning or why he couldn't get the redhead out of his mind!
So when Karma asked Asano again still dazed and clearly out of it, all Asano could say was,
"I…..I don't know."
Karma groaned suddenly holding his head,
"Are you alright?" Asano seemed to blurt out, surprising himself and even Akabane a little.
"Huh…" It took a moment for his rival's question to register. "Y-yeah...my fucking head just hurts."
( Is that why he's not in school? )
"Are you sick?" One might say Akabane just had a headache but it didn't take a doctor to know that Akabane was seriously sick.
"It's nothing serious" The redhead responded.
"Akabane you should see a doctor." Asano said making no attempt to hide the concern on his face. If Akabane hadn't been feeling like shit he would have pointed it out but he hardly noticed.
"Shouldn't you be in school Asano?" Akabane questioned changing the subject.
(He didn't even call me by that dumb nickname?)
Before Asano could explain himself Akabane suddenly swayed losing his balance and falling right on his ass.
As if it were an instinct Asano was by his side in mere seconds helping the redhead sit up from the carpet.
"Thanks.." He muttered,
"Why didn't you go see a doctor? Your clearly in no condition to care for yourself."
"I told you it's nothing…" Akabane grumbled rubbing his forehead again,
Asano sighed, Akabane started to shiver, the strawberry blonde looked over his shoulder at the opened door. The cold air flooding in, he stood up suddenly closing it and locking it again.
"I didn't exactly invite you in…" Akabane attempted to joke with a pained smirk.
"Go lie down on the couch." Asano ordered,
"Whaaaat? I don't recall you being the boss of me." Asano bit his lip trying not to lose his temper.
"Akabane just go lie on the couch!" He yelled causing Akabane to wince, he instantly felt a little bad for raising his voice.
"Uh...fine…." The redhead groaned he got up from the floor still off balance, he fell onto the couch sighing. "I still don't get why you're here." He commented.
"Where do you keep your thermometers." Asano questioned,
"I don't have one," Akabane said meeting the boys concerned eyes, his face straight, pale and void of any humor like his tone.
Asano sighed running his fingers through his hair. He looked around like that would help, he moved sitting down on the couch beside his rival.
When he brushed his forehead against Akabane's the redhead's cheeks grew warm.
"Uh-um...A-Asano what are you doing?" His rival didn't respond, after a moment he took his head away ignoring the racing pulse of his heartbeat. "You have a high fever."
Akabane raised his eyebrow giving his rival a questionable look.
"How….do you know that?"
"It's a trick my maid did with me when I was small. Our thermometer broke one day, so she put her forehead to mine, depending on how warm or hot it is corresponds with how high the fever is, if they have one."
"Oh," Akabane said slowly a bit amazed.
Asano stood up glancing at Karma, trying to think.
"It would be best if you changed into some cooler clothing." He suggested, he drew his eyes from Akabane's the tips of his ears were pink. "I'll…...make you some soup."
"Wow~ the rich boy can actually cook."
"Just shut up and go change." Asano growled.
"Fine...fine…" Akabane muttered. Asano hesitated watching him get up from the couch and making his way to his bedroom.
"D-do…..you need my assistance?" Akabane looked at him, a smirk on his lips.
"No nurse." Asano rolled his eyes turning his head away from the redhead.
….still wondering…
( Why did I come here? )