Chapter 14
"I very disappointed in you," said Atobe, it was early in the morning and he and Akashi decided to take a morning jog along the beach while the rest of the regulars still slept.
"Because I'm not wearing a bikini?" Akashi responded. "Have you ever run with boobs strapped to your chest? They bounce and they hurt."
"Haha funny," Atobe replied. "Although I am disappointed you didn't pack one, it's fine, there are a bunch of them in stores, no what I meant was that you are on a beach with a bunch of hot guys and a rather suave looking old guy, and none have taken you swimming in the deep end if you know what I mean. Do you have some lolita complex? Is that is? Is that what's going on with Ootori? Is the helpless one your type because I think that's illegal you know-"
"Hahaha funny," said Akashi. "What do you care? You think I didn't notice you sneaking off at night to meet with those college girls? And that's illegal if you know what I mean." Atobe shrugged and smirked.
"Well, i can't help it if I'm so irrsistable," he replied.
"Urgh, you're a disgusting perv you know that?" Akashi shook her head in disappointment and sped up leaving Atobe being.
XXX
"Home sweet home," said Akashi with a sigh of relief as she entered the elevator to her apartment. She'd doubled back a few times and taken the long way from Hyotei to ditch the nosy regulars who were following her, namely Atobe and Gakuto. "Why are they sooooooo annoying?" she asked herself as the elevator stopped on the top, the doors opened, tired and sleepy she didn't notice someone was there and just as she stepped out she walked right into them. "Sorry," she said, looking up she saw Ootori smiling down at her. "Oh hey!"
"Hello," he replied, Ootori was wearing a pair of shorts, a white t-shirt and regular runners, he pointed to her apartment door. "i was just watering your plants, I thought you wouldn't be back until tonight?"
"I nagged at the captain until he gave in," Akashi replied with a smile, she pulled on her suitcase and made her way to her apartment. "Thanks for helping me out," she added. Akashi stopped outside her front door and typed in her house code, Ootori helped her carry her things into her home.
The first thing anyone would noticing entering her apartment was that it was spacious, while the place itself was already quite large taking up the entire top floor, it was also rather empty, the most prominant item was the large floor length mirror by the door, the frame was a faded teal with swirl patterns painted in gold, it looked battered and old with a distinct antique feel to it.
"Here, I'll carry, you lead," Ootori offered taking her suitcase from her, Akashi smiled appreciatively and show Ootori to her bedroom, like the rest of the house it was large, spacious and rather empty. She had a desk with a laptop on it, a large wardrobe took up an entire wall with a door that lead to an on suite bathroom. She didn't have a bed frame, just a king sized mattress on the ground with white bedsheets and pillows. Ootori looked around, he'd been to her apartment twice over the weekend to water the plants on her balcony but he'd never entered any of the bedrooms, he couldn't help but think that despite the large amount of clothes and the garden, she could pack up and leave at a moments notice. There weren't any personal items lying around, no photos, no toys, not even a poster, the one thing significant he could pinpoint was a silver pendant on her nightstand, he'd seen her wear it a few times, whenever she was nerve she'd touch, a habit he wondered if she was even aware of.
"What's wrong?" Akashi asked noticing how silent he was. "Is my house keeping that atroshious?"
Not thinking Ootori replied. "It's not like there's much to make a mess of," he gasped and covered his mouth. "I'm sorry it just slipped out." Akashi just laughed.
"Its fine, it's true anyway," she answered, noticing how Ootori was still upset with himself she said. "How about I treat you to some ice cream? As thanks," she looked at him expectingly, slowly Ootori raised his head and nodded.
XXX
"How was the training camp?" asked Ootori. The two sat outside not far from her apartment on a bench, Ootori had a large bowl of ice cream with four flavours while Akashi only had one scoop.
"Everything you'd expect I guess," she answered carefully scooping the ice cream with her plastic spoon. "Running on the beach, eating meals, sleeping, training, basically everything we do here but far far needlessly far away, Keigo got himself laid everything night with a different girl, the usual." Ootori grinned barely listening, he looked down at his ice cream with glee. Watching him Akashi couldn't help but laugh.
"What is it?" Ootori asked self consciously as he ate, Akashi shook her head but she kept laughing.
"Nothing, you keep inhaling that ice cream," she managed to say between giggles.
"It's good," Ootori replied meekly, Akashi nodded but continued to giggle.
"No I'm sorry, it's, I don't know why I'm laughing," she admitted wiping a tear from her eye. "You just look to happy and content with ice cream I just-" Akashi bursted out into a fit of giggles. Still eating Ootori started to laugh as well. "Why are you laughing?"
"Cause you are," he admitted.
"We're both idiots," said Akashi with a content sigh, she smiled and dug her spoon into her ice cream.
"I don't see anything wrong with that," Ootori replied ruefully, Akashi gave him a playful shove. Her mobile started to ring, putting down the ice cream she reached for her mobile in her pocket.
"Hello?"
"Hello, Akashi-san?"
"Yes."
"It's Haruma, Haruma Yumi, I'm a nurse at Kanai general hospital and-"
"I remember you," Akashi interrupted.
"I'm glad, it's been a while hasn't it? I remember when you were younger you used to race down the halls on a wheel chair with Misaki's son-"
"Is something wrong with my last check up or-"
"What? No, I was calling regarding the new wing at the hospital, we're having an unveiling party next Sunday and as the wing's largest contributor I was hoping you'd come."
"Next week? I'm sorry, I'm a little busy right now and I'm not too sure I'll make it."
"I understand, but do try to show, we're having a tribute for Misaki, she truly was a wonderful person and her death, it was just so sudden."
"It was," said Akashi tensely, notching this Ootori put down his ice cream as well and placed a hand over hers.
"You okay?" he asked quietly. Akashi smiled back at him and nodded.
"I'll do my best to show, next week sunday?"
"Yes, at twelve noon, please come, I've already invited Masaharu-kun, he's agreed to say a few words in his mother's honour."
"Has he? Well, then I guess I'll have to go now, won't I?"
XXX
"You okay?" asked Sanada. He and Akashi sat together at a small coffee shop, it was a sunny and bright day and he was excited to see her, since Akashi moved at the start of the year and between school and club activities they only managed to meet in person anywhere from one to five times a fortnight.
"I'm fine, just tired," Akashi replied. "I haven't been able to get a good night sleep for the past few days."
"The beach for a training camp…I thought you hated the beach, given what happened," Sanada remarked thinking back to when they were in their first year Rikkai had a training camp at the beach, a sophomore at their school had with humour, pushed Akashi off a small cliff and into the ocean, unknown to everyone but Niou, she didn't know how to swim.
"Yeah," Akashi smiled to hide her embarrassment. Niou had jumped in after her and pulled her to shore, having all group of teenage boys around her while her clothes were now see through was not a fun experience, she was just grateful she was wearing a swimsuit underneath. "Nishiki-senpai practically became my slave for the next two years."
"He was the one who pushed you in," Sanada pointed out, Akashi smile and nodded. "You got away with a lot of crap while he was around."
"I did," Akashi admitted. "Although most of them were Haru's messes and I was just cleaning up."
"That explains a lot," said Snada now looking back on the past couple of years in new light. "I always wondered how he got away with half the stunts he pulled." Akashi shrugged, Sanada noticed the tension in her hands, they were treading on a sensitive topic. "Speaking of babysitting, my brother is having kid, his wife is pregnant…again," he said trying to change the subject.
"You're an uncle?" Akashi exclaimed causing him to laugh.
"Of course that is what you take from it, not the joy of life but another thing that makes me old."
Akashi laughed. "Sorry, but I honestly didn't know you were an uncle, how old is little…?"
"Sasuke," said Sanada, he reached into his pocket for his phone and showed her a photo of his nephew and his bob hair cut.
"Wow, he a tiny cute version of you," Akashi remarked taking the mobile from him to get a closer look, she smiled and the photo but then sighed.
"What's wrong?" asked Sanada.
"I feel like I don't really know you," said Akashi handing back the mobile. "It makes me sad is all, I might as well have just met you and call you Bob."
"Bob?" Sanda echoed. "Ah yeah, I'm Bob and I work at the umm, the bank around the corner, yeah real boring job," he added sarcastically, Akashi smiled.
"You know, I go there you know, for my umm deposits, I thought you looked familiar, I'm…I'm Joan by the way."
"Joan? Well nice to meet you Joan," said Sanada moving closer towards her, Akashi started to giggle. "Well is something the matter? You look upset."
"My boyfriend is a poo," Akashi replied. "The only things I know about him are the things I observe, he never talks about himself. He's distant and really uptight, he never holds my hand and let's forget about kissing in public."
"Is that how you feel? Well, I'm sure the lucky guy had no idea," Sanda said seriously. "But if he knew he'd tell you that he's sorry, and that he didn't realise it was upsetting you."
"He'll say that will he?" asked Akashi. "Well then tell him it's not enough, he needs to-" before she could Sanda kissed her, when they finally broke apart there was a slight flush to Akashi's cheeks. "Honestly Bob, why can't my boyfriend do that?" Sanada gave a rare laughed as he kissed her again.
XXX
"What does one usually wear to a hospital wing opening ceremony thingy?" asked Akashi as she and Atobe sat alone after club activities in Sakaki's office planning the prefectural rooster.
"Umm, a dress or a casual suit, why?" replied Atobe sitting on the coach beside here. "What about Oshitari?" he asked holding up the third year's club profile.
"No, he's not really a leader, besides, without Gakuto going as well he'll say no-"
"Not if you ask," Atobe muttered to himself putting the sheet of paper down.
"-and that's two out of three regular spots filled, and I don't trust those two without you there."
"Well then just send me in then," Atobe replied.
"But you said you wanted Kabaji to go," Akashi pointed out. "I don't need four regulars, it's the prefecturals not the Kantou."
"If you're going as well then you won't need me, they'll listen to you," said Atobe. "Why are you asking about clothes?"
"Yuushi maybe, he's reasonable enough, but Gakuto is a…"
"Pain in the arse," Atobe finished for her.
"Yeah, and I don't want to put up with his attitude. I got invited to an opening thingy, and I've never been to one."
"Mukahi isn't that bad, just a little cocky."
"That's cause he listens to you."
"Hmm, I guess, you could send me, Mukahi and Kabaji?" Atobe suggested helpfully. "Which thingy?"
"Maybe, but Gakuto is a doubles player, I doubt he'll willingly work with a sub or pre regular. Umm, the Kan-something hospital, a nurse invited me."
"Kanai general?"
"Yeah that. How'd you know?"
"Ootori's family owns the place, my family's also a major sponsor so I'm going also, we can make it a date, did you tell her you'll go?"
"No."
"Then why are you asking about clothes."
"Cause I'm going."
"What?"
"I told her I'm not going, but I'm going."
"Is this one of those inception things? Cause I never understood the movie. So just yes or no, are you going or not?"
"I'm going."
"Then we can make it a date, just us…three since puppy is probably going to be there also."
"Yeah…" Akashi cheered unenthusiastically. "A Monkey king and Clifford."
"You're lovely, you know that?" replied Atobe sarcastically. "How about Shishido?"
"Who?"
"Long haired boy, the one Ootori's in love with. Your rival for his affection and attention. The-"
"Yeah I get it, la di da, I'm in love with Choutaro but it's forbidden cause he's a kid which makes me a pedo, haha very funny," Akashi interrupted. "Shishido's a singles player right?"
"Yeah."
"You trust him?"
"Kinda. Shall I pick you up at 11?"
"Good enough," said Akashi writing his, Atobe's and Kabaji's names down. "No thanks, I'll meet you there. That's three, Hiyoshi as well, but…"
"You don't trust him in a singles positions? Speaking of trust, why not?"
"Not really, Hiyoshi's is stronger than Choutaro, for the prefectuals I was thinking… here," Akashi scribbled down a rough draft of the roster they'd made on a bit of scrap paper and showed Atobe.
"I don't see Ootori's name anywhere."
"Coach just made him a regular," Akashi explained. "And I practically spend nine hours a day, six days a week with you and your hoard of monkeys, I'd like some privacy. Honestly, I spend more time with you than my own boyfriend."
"What? When?"
"Today, he's telling him tomorrow. And I had no say in the matter," she added before Atobe could respond. "I recommended Hiyoshi but he wanted someone who was a team player, in other words, someone who won't throw a hissy fit in doubles."
"I was going to say good for him. No I mean your boyfriend, and do you know who the coach is dropping?"
"Either Taki or Natsume," replied Akashi. "They haven't exactly been performing well since they were made regulars. And no, my private life is private."
"Arrogance," said Atobe although Akashi wasn't sure if he meant her or the regulars, he took a closer look at the roster. "Hmmmm, I guess that's alright then, but for the finals, do you really need Kabaji for doubles? I'll find out who you're dating, regardless of your efforts you know that right?"
"Why?" Again there was confusion to what Akashi was referring to.
"There's no real point considering our opponent, how about we just have Shishido singles 3, Kabaji singles 2 and me singles 1." Akashi frowned in thought. "And because I want to know."
"You sure? Don't you think that's underestimating them a bit too much?"
"Nah, we'll be fine."
"You're an arrogant prick you know that?"
"For what? The prefectural finals or my confidence in finding out who you're dating?"
"Both."