Chapter 13 ~ Starting from Scratch
(Part 1)
(Kagamis POV)
The sun was up in the sky and its heat was making Kagami's face and arms burn.
He had been walking for almost fifteen minutes, when he finally arrived at Akira's house.
He knew he had to be there and he also wanted to.
He had to apologize to her for his awful behavior.
He didn't know Akira was mad at him even though she had every right to be.
After their conversation the other day, he realized he was the one at fault.
He was the one who needed time to accept his failure.
All he did after the match, was go to the gym and push himself to his limits so that hell get stronger and without much thought, by focusing only on that, he didn't provide Akira the attention she deserved.
He wasn't the only one who had failed that day but his loss had been all that mattered, when it shouldn't have been.
He was so devastated, that he didn't even notice when Akira didn't come back with the team.
So devastated that he didn't call her when he went home, neither on the day after the match. He wasn't the only one who needed to accept the failure, but he was the only one to act selfish. Because of that selfish behavior of his ,he had walked all this way to her door.
He was now standing outside the house's door.
He'd always walk Akira home after their dates and hes always watch her go through that glass door, but he had never dared to go knock by himself.
He had heard from coach that their dad was strict and that he'd even threaten those who came close to his daughters.
He wondered what he'd do if a guy asking for his younger daughter, came knocking at his door.
But even with all these scary thoughts going through his head, he found the courage to knock and to his luck, a woman opened the door.
She had long brown curly hair and green eyes like Akira's. A smile formed on her lips, realizing how nervous the boy in front of her was.
"You must be Kagami-kun she said with a calm voice and a closed eye smile.
"Yes!" he muttered nervously, bowing his head.
"I'll call Akira... just a minute" she said and closed the door.
He watched the woman going inside until she disappeared.
He then heard her calling Akira, her gentle voice and tone revealing her tenderness and love.
'She looks a lot like Akira' he thought and he sat on the stairs next to the front door of their house.
He couldn't help but think at how many people truly loved her, himself included.
Her parents adored her...
Her sister adored her...
Her classmates adored her...
Of course he did as well...
'How could I hurt her like this' he thought, their fight flashing in his mind again.
His heart broke at the memory of her crying because of him and he had sworn to never make her cry again.
He looked inside the house when a figure appeared at the glass door.
It was Akira. Her hair was messy and tangled and she still wore her pajamas.
She stepped outside, still looking a bit sleepy and blinked at the sudden sunlight that touched her face.
"Yo" he said with a faint smile.
"What are you doing here?" She asked with a confused smile.
Her green eyes sparkled in the sun, as she looked at him, making his heart start pounding.
"I came to apologize about yesterday, I hope I didn't wake you up..." He admitted, not daring to look her straight in the eyes.
Akira didn't speak, so Kagami turned and looked at her.
She was looking back at him, intensively, waiting for him to explain, her green eyes looking darker.
She looked like she didn't want to hear anything he had to say.
"You were right...I needed time to accept my failure and in the process I was ignoring you " he said with an apologetic but honest smile.
His head felt light, but his chest was heavy, his pounding heart leaving him breathless as he spoke.
Her look was also not reassuring in the least.
She wasn't facing him and her troubled eyes were focused on his crimson shirt.
He kept looking at her, waiting for an answer, but she wouldn't speak.
She instead moved forward and shoved herself in his chest, hugging him tight.
Kagami just stood there for a second, shocked, but he hugged her back, finally letting go of that heavy breath he had been holding.
He felt good for once...
Her hug made him forget the cold look she wore and he finally let himself relax.
Ever since Akira had been busy with the competition, he hadn't really felt their connection.
It had felt like he was loosing her.
But it was there now and his heart finally felt at peace.
He hugged her tight and breathed in her scent, his body remembering the way he held her and the kisses he had given her.
"Taiga..." She whispered, her trembling voice revealing worry and stress.
He broke the hug and looked at her.
She looked dead serious, even more troubled than before, like she didn't feel the things he felt during that hug.
Like she didn't feel a thing at all.
"I want to talk to you about some things" she said with a serious voice and opened the door that was behind her.
She stepped inside, holding the door open and with a nod, she gave him permission to enter.
(Part 2)
(Akira's POV)
Kagami followed closely behind Akira, looking around the house.
He looked nervous, both about entering her house and about what she wanted to talk about.
He seemed shocked and rather sad when she told him she wanted to talk.
She showed him inside the piano room and waited for him to enter, to close the door behind them.
Kagami sat in front of the piano, but his eyes were focused on her at her.
She gave him a faint smile and sat beside him.
Akira was staring at the piano keys, trying to put the things she wanted to say in an order.
Was it the correct time to make that decision?
Would he understand?
Would she break his heart?
She didn't know what to say or how to say it...but she knew she had to do something.
She looked at Kagami, who also looked at her impatiently, waiting for her to talk.
She took a deep breath and put her hands on the keys.
She couldn't face him...
She couldn't talk...
She just started playing in hope he'd understand...
She played for a while, not looking at all at Kagami, the melody pouring out of her, as if she spoke to him through it.
It was a sad and nostalgic piece.
She had been working on it ever since she decided to stop competing. Kagamis absence along with Aomines sudden confession, had been a great inspiration for it.
She had realized she just couldn't stay away from music, it was her life after all...
"Weren't you going to talk?" asked Kagami, when Akira's melody became softer.
She knew he wouldn't understand...
She knew her melody would tell him nothing at all, even if she'd just told him everything that's been going on in her head.
Akira stopped playing and turned to Kagami, looking at him with her eyebrows raised.
"Taiga...this is my life, what I wanna do..."she said exhaling, pointing at the piano.
Kagami looked at her confused, with his eyebrows raised.
"I've been composing..."she explained and also told him of her duet with Takahashi Koshouke.
She had been thinking of joining the music club ever since she entered Seirin and wondered if the time to do it had finally come.
"I've also decided to join them from next year..." She admitted looking at him straight in the eyes.
"You mean leave the team?" He asked, looking surprised.
She nodded.
Kagami looked disappointed to hear the news, but he didn't seem to care much.
"If that's what you want then do it Akira!" He finally said with an encouraging smile, his eyes suddenly looking brightened.
She smiled.
It was a smile that hid her pain and suffering.
A smile she put on out of cowardice...
She hid her true intention so that he wouldn't get hurt...
'I knew I couldnt do it...' she thought.
"I've also decided not to come to the summer training camp" she admitted, with a shy smile.
"Why not? It's gonna be really fun!" Said Kagami, now the disappointment visible in his crimson eyes.
It would have been really fun indeed. They would have the time and the freedom to do whatever they wanted...
Akira though, wouldnt feel complete...
She'd miss her piano...
She'd miss her alone time...
And she'd Aomine
She'd never answer his messages when Kagami was present...
At least not after things got complicated with him
Not being able to talk to Aomine, would feel like being in prison...
She also needed time to think and going to the camp wouldn't allow it.
I feel like I need time for myself..."she explained with a smile, but the question remained in Kagami's face.
She kept looking at him, only to see his disappointed expression change into a smile.
It was a sweet and true smile, that made her understand how much he loved her.
He seemed willing to sacrifice so many things for her and let her do the things she loved, even if it meant her not being part of the team.
"I understand" he said, his voice soft and sweet.
He moved closer to Akira, touching his forehead to hers.
"If it makes you happy, then Im more than fine with it." He whispered, a flirty smirk slowly appearing on his lips.
He moved closer and closer to her and with every inch closing the space between them, Akira's heart melted even more.
When their lips finally met, it felt like she had found a missing piece of her.
How was she supposed to choose between them...
How could she leave this wonderful boy that stood beside her...
How could she resist Aomine, who had stolen her heart and made her feel alive...
'These feelings should make a great piano piece' she thought.
She was once again at stage zero, trying to put her self together from scratch.
Her feelings were once again out of control...
When she had started to believe that she was a step closer to finding her true self, she couldn't have been more wrong...