D:443;T:22:35

"Uaahh. That was fun." Yumi declared as she stretched her arms high above her head,

"It was indeed."

The two sat on a bench by the park after they left Kise's house for his birthday party. The others went to the train station to catch the last train, while they both decided to wait for their chauffeur at the park.

"Ne, Sei. I wish we could all stay like this forever, Tetsu, Daiki, Sa-chan, Atsu-chin, Ryou, Shin, and of course you, Sei. I'm really happy when everyone's around. Am I making any sense?"

"Yes, I do understand." Akashi felt a warm feeling on his chest as he heard his name, he was thinking that he was just imagining things, "I do get your point, the variety of personalities makes us a lively bunch." he added.

"I know. It's Ryou's birthday, but somehow I feel like it's mine too, or maybe not, this might even be better than my birthday celebration at home. I would definitely trade those grand celebration, filled with strangers, with this kind of party, as long as my friends are present." Yumi said while exaggerating with hand gestures. Akashi couldn't help but laugh on how childish Yumi is sometimes. "Sei~!".

"I'm sorry." the boy was still laughing when he noticed Yumi taking pictures, "That again?"

"Well, I haven't seen you laugh that way. You only grin or smirk most of the time."

"Really?"

"Hai, hai." the two looked at each other and chuckled. Akashi was surprised when Yumi stood in front of him and reached out her hand and caressed his hair as if he's a little kid.

"What are you doing?"

"Touching your hair?"

"Huh?"

"I've always wondered how you had this bright red color of yours, it's beautiful." the girl continued playing with the red locks with her right hand, while comparing and twirling her own long curls with the fingers of her left hand. "Mine's dull. Sometimes I feel like I should dye it."

"You don't have to. Yours is rather beautiful too, it suits you as well."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"If you say so. I shall maintain this then as Akashi-sama wished." the girl said while doing a curtsey

"What was that?" Akashi raised a brow

"Girls at school tend to call you Akashi-sama, I just wanted to try it." she giggled,

"You and your antics, such a free-spirited noble, ain't you?"

"So you knew?" the girl looked down and sat beside Akashi. The boy felt guilt after seeing the change in Yumi's mood.

"Sorry, I shouldn't have said that," he answered, "but yes, my father told me."

"Is that the reason why you look after me that much?" Yumi tries to keep a smile on her face while her eyes kept locked on the ground, not looking to the person she's speaking to.

"Don't worry yourself over it. I must admit, yes, at first that was the reason I approached to you, but after a few days, no, just after I've talked to you the first time, I realized that you're somehow in the same situation as myself." Akashi fixed his glance at the girl who refused to face him, "Everything I did was sincere, don't even think of other things."

"Yeah, I guess so. I'm sorry, and I'm thankful." Yumi turned to the boy and smiled wholeheartedly, "It doesn't matter anyway, whatever people's motives are for being nice to me."

"Don't say those kind of things." Akashi placed his hand on Yumi's shoulder. Yumi stood and walked around the bench and sat behind Akashi.

"Kioku nado iranai | "I don't need things like memories
Eien ni nemuritai | I want to sleep forever
Mou kono mama asa ga konakutatte ii ya?" | Is it okay if morning doesn't come?"

"Hmm.. Sei.." Yumi rested on the boy's back, "Would you be sad if I die?".

"Why are you asking me such a morbid question?" Akashi wanted to look at Yumi, but the girl's back is still pressed against his', he could smell the fragrant scent of the girl's hair flowing with the wind beside his shoulder. He decided to pat the girl's head instead, "It's a question that doesn't need to be asked, of course I will, we will be."

"Anata ni deawanakereba konna ni setsunakute | "If I hadn't met you there wouldn't have been
Mune wo shimetsukeru koto mo nakatta...soredemo" | such a heartrending clenching in my chest...but still"

"I was thinking if it's right for me to have friends, or to be a friend. I don't want to be the cause of other people's loneliness." the girl looked up the stars, only the brightest of them can be seen, the bright moonlight defeats the faint light of the small ones "However, the thought that no one would care if I die pains me as well."

"It's my own selfishness that I wanted to have friends. It's not my intention to hurt anyone. I just.. I just wanted to experience how the world works. We already accepted our fate, but sometimes, I can't help but think that I want to be normal." tears rolled down her cheeks as she wept silently, Yumi said while looking back to see Akashi's face who stood up.

"Pessimism will get you nowhere. You'll get through it, and we'll never leave you. It's not selfishness that you want friends, it's normal." Akashi sat beside Yumi and pulled her closer and rested her head on his chest, the girl couldn't stop her cries which turned to sobs, "I hate to see you cry, but I know it will make you feel better, so just for this time... cry." Yumi covered her face with the palm of her hand, Akashi wanted to comfort the girl but decided to remain silent, he knew words would make matters worse.

"I'm sorry for spoiling the mood." Yumi nodded to apologize.

"It's fine, are you alright now?" Akashi asked.

"Yes, thank you." she gave an innocent smile, while Akashi wiped off the last drop of tears that rolled from eyes. Yumi's eyes widened as she was surprised with Akashi's action. There's so many things she wanted to say but she felt her intent to say them drown from a feeling new to her.

"You can always talk to us about your worries, we're your friends afterall, you don't need bear everything by yourself." the redhead said looking straight at the silver orbs before his crimson ones, "And again, everything I did and will do, isn't because of your family or your name, but because of who you are. I'm sure the others will do the the same thing." he added.

"Thank you." Akashi's words made the girl happy, she cast aside the doubt she had and decided to trust him. Just after that, they were interrupted by Yumi's phone, her chauffeur called and was waiting for them at the parking lot. Soon after, Akashi's driver arrived too. The two went on their separate way home, satisfied knowing they're difference isn't so far off, and their similarities keeps binds them.

-Aimer: あなたに出会わなければ～夏雪冬花～

A/N: i wanted to add more but it's kind of hard doing this using my crappy phone. thanks for reading.