UPDATE: I was gonna post a new chapter but the word count was too low for it to be a new chapter and it was a continuation of this chapter so I added it in this chapter itself. This chapter just got 2k words longer ayyyyye~ also, more of Akashi!
Author's Note: Wow... It feels really good to be back here. I am so sorry for being absent for so long and making you wait. I was in no condition to write. As some of you may have guessed, writing fiction work is a way for me to escape and get away from my mental health issues and problematic reality. I had a major relapse and completely lost myself in the past few months, but thankfully I started getting the help I needed and starting to find my grounds back. And thus, the writing has resumed! I wont take more of your time with my sappy story. This work is slowly taking a new turn, and I hope all of you who waited/joined the rare ship like it!
Have a great reading!~
Winter Break started peacefully and Ogiwara was elated about the aspect of no school and no random talks with a certain majestic redhead. His sister was already five months pregnant and her cravings were only getting weirder and weirder. Thank goodness they lived closed to the supermarket; the amount of time his brother-in-law had to rush to get some peanut butter ice cream and garlic bread at two in the morning to calm his sister's cravings was mind boggling. This child sure had a weirdly specific palette. At least the period of morning sickness was over now. Ogiwara sighed in relief.
It was a lazy Sunday afternoon in the Sato household and it was already getting dark outside. Everyone woke up very late but no complains were heard since they had no reason to wake up early. Christmas was in a week and the Christmas tree, courtesy of her sister's constant nagging and her devoted brother-in-law, had already been set up. It was freaking cold outside and all three of them was all too satisfied being indoors and sluggish. They have gotten all their Christmas gears out and have been rocking those holiday outfits for a couple of days now. The celebration vibes had settled in their little home the moment Sato-san decorated the Christmas tree and living room with fairy lights. Her sister had been having a growing appetite, much to the delight of Ogiwara who got the chance to keep in touch with the kitchen. Usually at this time of the year they would all be reuniting at his parent's place but given the delicate condition of her sister and the long ass drive in this cold weather, this household had been exempted from the annual gathering for the safety of the expecting person. Ogiwara was slightly sad about it at first, but then technology and Skyping with his parents made him get over it rather quickly. And also, the couple became even more hilarious in their antics as each day passed and the little brunette was always down for some domestic entertainment. The brunette kept sipping on his hot chocolate while listening to the couple trying to guess the sex of the child in the kitchen.
It was therefore no wonder that the sound of the doorbell ringing threw every single person in the house off.
The couple stopped their in depth discussion for a moment before Ogiwara yelled of getting the door. They picked up their conversation right where it got dropped almost instantly after hearing him. Ogiwara, on the other hand, tried to guess who in their right peace of mind would bother to get out of their home and knock on someone else's door when it was less that zero degrees outside. For goodness sake, it was snowing the whole night yesterday! He'd better be giving something to the intruder if they were a salesperson of some sort just for the sheer courage of going out in this weather. Without trying to think too much of the situation, the brunette lazily dragged himself of the couch and went to open the door.
It took all the living energy out his small body to resist slamming the door shut as he saw the person waiting outside.
What the fuck was Akashi freaking Seijuro doing outside their house?!
…
Akashi decided to take a leap of faith. Going completely against his calculative, meticulous self while oddly sticking to it at the same time, he decided to surprise the Sato household and present his sincere apologies for all the trouble his other self caused in the family. For some reason, he still remembered the detailed account of how well Ogiwara's pregnant sister took the uniform of her little brother. Embarrassingly enough, he also could not forget the little (too) prideful parade of the brunette around the gym in the clearly over-sized uniform he got. He still got a full body cringe at the memory, but he couldn't forget that specific scene despite trying to. His other self made a mistake at that time, and he was kind of proud to see that even Bokushi was not 100% perfect. Bokushi still doesn't agree to that but Bokushi can keep disagreeing, for he wasn't going to bother caving in anytime to his other self. Let Him pout like a kid and get ignored in a corner of his mind.
Despite the completely contrasting move to what his other self, and even his own usual self at this point, is used to doing, he decided to raise the white flag and show his sincerity in the apology and friendship he wish to pursue with the brunette. If that involved kissing some ass, namely the Sato family's collective ass, then Akashi reluctantly decided to wipe his lips clean and make an unexpected move. To be completely honest, he was also a bit interested in the way his little surprise would be taken by the little brunette. It took him quite a while to realize that, but he eventually came to admit his own personal amusement and slight satisfaction at catching Ogiwara off-guard with no witty comeback, or emotional meltdowns in some cases. His other self took pleasure in dropping bad bombs, but he could just try to elicit such reactions on a more positive note from now.
He caught it, the off-guard moment when Shigehiro took notice of him without his usual guards up.
Seijuro had to actually fight not to smile or smirk. He managed to keep his usual poker face on, but he was almost sure his eyes must be slightly glistening from him fighting this sudden urge to smile. Shigehiro stared at him for a couple of seconds, seemingly debating over whether to acknowledge his presence on the other side of the door frame. A couple of blinks after, Akashi could see the change happening, just like a fuse he set up. The little brunette took a deep gasping breath while widening his eyes, still keeping eye contact with his red eyes. He was anticipating the verbal reaction of Ogiwara, but before the latter got to speak, Akashi heard someone else yelling from the back.
"Yaaaa, Shige, I can feel the cold air travelling to the kitchen ground. Who the fuck bothered to leave their house in this goddamn weather?," the redhead could hear the voice increasing in loudness, indicating that the little woman was approaching.
"If it's a salesman, just give him a piece of bread and shoo-," Shiori finally saw who was at the door and reacted instantly, just when Ogiwara was getting out of his initial brain-fart moment.
"OHMY! FOR-THE LOVE-OF-SANTA-PIMP-AND HIS LITTLE STRIPPER ELVES," the yelling peaked. Akashi internally raised an eyebrow at the expressive words of the pregnant lady.
"Don't surprise me like this! I almost dropped my baby," Shiori kept rambling as she took notice of their totally unexpected guest. She dramatically placed a hand on her chest and the other on her very prominent belly while quickly approaching the door, shoving her little useless brother aside.
"Come inside quick, I can feel the amniotic fluid in my belly turning colder," the pregnant lady grumbled while reluctantly inviting the redhead inside.
"Excuse me for the intrusion," the Akashi heir politely said as he got inside. The little lady quickly rushed to close the door and sighed.
"Okay, I don't wanna sound rude, but why are you here?" It seemed like Ogiwara finally found his speech back, and was genuinely confused at his surprise better. Well, that's definitely better than having the door slammed shut on my face, the heir thought. After the little commotion, the assistant coach made his way to the entrance and got there just in time to hear Seijuro's answer.
"I am here to personally apologise for my previous misconduct," the Akashi heir, freaking same but not the same anymore god-complex Akashi, said to the pregnant lady while bowing. "I hope you would be generous enough to forgive my offensiveness towards your brother," he continued.
Takuo-san spit his coffee when he finally took notice of the redhead bowing to his pregnant wife.
What an interesting day this was turning out to be.
Akashi could see the obvious confusion present on everyone's face the moment he stood up straight after apologizing. His assistant coach was sporting a ruined shirt from the surprise spat (Akashi was not really surprised at this one), Shigehiro seemed to be having another speechless moment, and the fury pregnant lady seemed to be the first person to get over the shock. At least, from the way she narrowed her eyes once Akashi met her gaze, the redhead assumed. Of course she would still be wary of him. Akashi knew that it would take much more than simple words to convince this particular household of his sincerity. They were all as stubborn as a mule, he could tell that much from first hand experience.
"And why should I believe your words?" the pregnant brunette asked carefully, with curiosity and a hit of suspicion.
Now this was what the redhead was more used to. Akashi was fully expecting this wariness from the brunette's sister. In fact, he was a bit surprised that the questioning was happening in the house, to begin with. He had prepared himself for more resistance before being able to get inside. This was a not too bad start already.
"You don't have to," the heir replied automatically. "I hope to convey my intentions clearly through my actions," he continued while keeping eye contact with the little woman.
"Well… I'm not blind," the woman replied and sighed.
"That's why you're inside the house right now. Thank the freezing weather outside, for a start," Shiori crossed his hands over her chest while grumbling.
She could not afford to catch a cold in this condition, especially when the doctor had warned them that she could not be taking any sort of cold pills. That was the main reason why she threw a little fit when she felt the cold breeze. She, obviously, did not expect the great almighty Akashi Seijuro to be the one knocking on their door, but hey, she had to do what she could to stop the cold air from getting in. If that involved dragging a certain stuck-up spoiled brat inside the house, then so be it. She was trying her best not to kick the visitor out at this very right moment, solely because his husband told her about how the red brat pulled the strings to get Kuroko and Ogiwara back to talking (as well as pranking apparently) terms. Maybe, just maybe she could use this as a chance to make the red heir have a taste of his own medicine. Ohhh… so many ideas started popping up in her head all at once. Shiori could fell her inner devil self grinning at this given opportunity. So the rich brat forced her little brother into those hideous basketball uniforms huh..?
Oh the sweet, sweet taste of revenge.
Takuo could almost feel the switch in his pregnant wife's vibe. From the slight glint in her eyes, he could tell that his oh-so-darling wife was up to something, and low key pitied the basketball captain for what he just signed up for. Oh well, he was not going to intervene much. He was not going to infuriate his pregnant darling and put his balls in danger, oh no. Let the redhead face the bullying extreme teasing for today.
"I am still unsure what to think of all of this and you," Shiori chose her words carefully, "but you might as well come in, for now," she invited the teen reluctantly.
"So, did you just wake up today and decide to pay us a visit?" Ogiwara and his blunt honesty, Akashi did not get to reply before the poking questions and bickering picked up.
"What is this?" Takuo asked while eyeing the plastic bag in the red heir hand. Please don't let this be a miscalculated gift, he silently prayed. He had enough of a hard time placating his wife from the basketball uniform stunt.
"This better not be basketball related," Shiori quickly chirped in, warning clearly made in her tone. "I can feel my tension rising just from the thought of it," cued in the dramatic flairs of the pregnant lady.
"Calm down, honey," Takuo played along her wife's antics. "Give the poor lad a chance to talk."
"Poor-" Ogiwara snorted. What a joke, addressing the only person in the room who was actually wearing a dress shirt and suit as poor.
"Lad-" Shiori snorted right after his little brother. Akashi Seijuro? Lad? What was wrong with her husband today?
Takuo wanted to face-palm himself at his poor choice of words, but at least some of the tension in the air dissolved. It seemed like the red heir would be the end of each joke today.
"I brought Christmas Pudding," Akashi quickly intervened.
His other self had an unflattering was of giving them gifts, admittedly. The heir could see from where his usual etiquette of not visiting someone's place empty-handed could cause such a reaction and quickly followed up to prevent further misunderstandings. Hence why, he chose something simple and related to this time of the year. He also knew of the little brunette's kitchen endeavors to satisfy the cravings of his pregnant sibling, and assumed that the household would not really be opposed to such a classic dessert. He was contemplating between getting some glass jelly, but because of the extreme weather conditions, he had to change his plans last minute since most of the good places were closed. This pudding was home-made by his chef, using the best ingredients. As an Akashi, he could never settle for those cheap, convenience store cakes to give as a gift. He had standards.
"Ohh." Shiori and Shigehiro were genuinely surprised, while Sato-san sounded weirdly relieved. All three made way for him to get inside, properly. His assistant coach actually started dragging him to the living room, much to his amusement.
From the collective expression, it seemed that he had no reasons to worry about his gift being appropriate enough. He was slightly right to think that the best way to get into their good books was through their bellies. Akashi was entertained, for sure, but not surprised.
...
Takuo Shiori was turning out to be quite an unpredictable woman.
Akashi did some pre-reading about the proper etiquette and how to deal with pregnant (furious) ladies before knocking on their door but whatever he read beforehand seemed to be not enough. Barely ten minutes into this unique household's company, and the heir already figured out that he was probably more unprepared and misinformed about how to deal with this eccentric lady. The family seemed bizarrely welcoming, despite the heavy weigh of hostility and wariness in the air. They even accepted his gift without much friction, which took him by surprise. They were now all seated in the very festive-looking living room. The assistant coach even served him a cup of hot chocolate after getting changed. The tension in the room was almost palpable, but Akashi had gone through enough interviews to be used to such situations.
"You've taken quite an interest in befriending my dear little brother," Shiori said, while carefully sipping on her own hot chocolate.
"I won't deny that," the heir replied promptly.
"And you want me to accept your apology for mistreating him," the lady followed up.
Shiori would be lying if she said that she was not enjoying this little questioning. She had heard a lot from her husband, but to see the actual change in the heir's demeanor was still intriguing.
"Anything it takes in my immediate capacity for you to do so," Akashi agreed, and instantly noticed the small, almost invisible smile curling on the face of the pregnant lady just before she took another sip of her drink. He was going to have to entertain her to get in her good books, and he was more than willing to do so. He was also slightly curious as to what the lady had in reserve for him.
"May all the odds be in your favour," Ogiwara muttered under his breath, though the redhead caught his words.
"I still don't get the point of you doing all of this just to be friends," the brunette shrugged at the effort Akashi was putting in this whole act.
Maybe it was not an act? That was a possibility that was slowly becoming more real with every little thing the redhead was doing, and it freaked Shigehiro out a bit, to say the least.
"Don't get any weird ideas, darling," Sato quickly chipped in as she took notice of his wife's glistening eyes.
Lesson #1: Do not call out your pregnant wife on any of her ideas, especially if she hasn't made any mention of or acted on said ideas. Takuo was still struggling to learn this particular lesson, from the glare that Shiori threw at him. Akashi made a mental note to carefully pick his words in the presence of the lady in the future.
"Shut up. My ideas can't be any weirder than those baby names you keep suggesting," the pregnant lady quickly rebuked and provoked the assistant coach.
This marked the opening of a banter that Ogiwara has had to listen through enough times already. If he had to sit through this one more time today he was going to pack his bag and move back with his parents. It was all cute and all in the beginning, when the couple were actually taking his very, very nice suggestions, but that seemed to stop abruptly as the expecting duo browsed through the net. It did not help at all when his brother-in-law decided to get creative with the name. The names he kept coming up with sounded more ancient than the tombs of their ancestors.
"Oh sweet Jesus, can you both stop about this?" the little brunette relented. If they started arguing about those god damned baby names again, he was going to lose his mind and go bald.
"It's been two freaking hours and you're still going on about the names. The baby isn't going to pop out anytime soon! Just keep those discussions for later. We have a guest," Ogiwara emphasized on the last word while throwing a pointed look at the redhead.
Akashi quickly translated that look into 'don't you dare get comfortable yet'. This household was turning out to be quite domestic, and domestic is a completely foreign territory for the young heir. He was not really used to such banters and for a moment, he got slightly concerned with his lack of experience in conversing in such relaxed manner. For the first time in a long while, the heir was worried about being a stick in the mud. He was not sure when to speak and what to say. They all seemed to have a habit of talking over each other. The heir was trained to speak in turns, and this particular house seemed to have a kick for useless bantering. It would probably be best for him to speak when addressed to, at this point.
"I think I'm still a bit in denial about the fact that Akashi Seijurou is sitting in my living room," the assistant coach said to no one in particular. Akashi felt weird to be the topic of a conversation in his own presence without actually partaking in said conversation.
"Same," Ogiwara seconded.
"And you just had to spit coffee on yourself when you saw him at the door. What a warm welcome," Shiori followed up in a disapproving tone.
"Excuse me. I'd rather spill some coffee on myself than yell about santa pimp and his stripper elves in front of a guest, thank you." Takuo snorted. He was not lacking in the sass department while replying to his wife.
Akashi almost choked on his drink while hearing the man snap back. He could tell that the teacher picked this habit from his wife. Sipping on his hot chocolate while listening to the ongoing banter turned out to be not so unpleasant after all. He could probably get used to that, if not for the constant pointed glares that the little brunette on the other side of the room kept throwing at him. Ogiwara was not amused at his sudden visit, but was clearly trying to be civil and holding his tongue back. The redhead silently mused how long the the latter would be able to keep his calm. He looked like he was already exasperated by his bickering siblings.
"Why do you want to be friends with Shige-chan though?"
Akashi was finally being addressed to. That didn't take long. Shiori was quite direct with her question. She proceeded to babble out praises or what could be interpreted as words of compliment, about her little brother. The heir was not sure if he would feel particularly complimented by the lady's choice of words about her brother, but to each their own standards. And vocabulary, apparently. Ogiwara for sure did not look quite amused by the words of his sibling.
"I mean, I get it that he is quite a brave little tw- young man, kind of a loose mouth with a few funny bones. But it's kind of hard to see what you would see in him to want to befriend him so bad," the lady mused.
They were all still struggling to picture Akashi and Ogiwara in a friendly relationship. In fact, even Seijuro was not sure how a friendship with the fiery brunette would be. While he could picture himself as a brooding lion, Ogiwara was more like a shamless, flamboyant flamingo. They are not even of the same species of spirit animals, from what his thoughts can gather. But that was another good thing about it; Shigehro was nothing like what he was used to. He was a breath of foolishness and freshness in his strict routine of a corporate and regal life, someone that he still was not sure if he needed, but he definitely wanted around.
"It's a challenge, I do admit," Akashi noticed Shiori's eyes narrowing slightly at his honest reply, and quickly back-pedaled. He did not want anyone to think that this was a game for him, since he was being as sincere as he could be.
"But I want to get to know him more. He is a genuine person." Akashi could feel the brunette's eyes on him after he spoke.
"Are you okay with revealing yourself in exchange?" Shiori asked, with a hint of challenge.
This question threw him off. Akashi was used to the whole business of give-and-take. That was what he spent most of him doing outside school in those business meetings his father kept plugging him in. A lot of the deals that had been made were through the exhausting process of finding the perfect balances, a point of comprise. Making concessions was part of what Akashi was trained to master. He could assess the pros and cons, the risks and responsibilities involved in making a decision in the blink of an eye, and he had made quite a few professional and strategic gains from this skill. This was the first time he was been asked to do the same thing he has been doing in a personal level.
Asking him if he was okay with revealing his own weaknesses in order to learn about the other? He was someone who was raised to never show any weakness; he seriously doubted the existence of any weakness in him until Bokushi happened. How was he going to reveal himself to someone else when he himself was not exactly sure of what was buried in the twisted mechanisms of brain chemistry? But that was what friendship was about. It doesn't have to be now, it doesn't have to be ever, as long as he could accept the possibility of having to reveal bits and pieces of himself. No one had to know exactly what was going on in his life.
"It would be hypocritical of me refusing to do that." The heir answered in a blink, earning his first smile from the pregnant lady.
"Hello? Can you both like, stop pretending I'm not here and listening?" Ogiwara commented. He was still in the same room, and that sudden question of his sister was too deep for this Christmas season. He did not want to engage in a friendship and reveal his struggles to the red brat! Akashi probably knew more than he should know, courtesy of his late golden eye. He was not interested in revealing more about his pathetic younger self and those stupid tantrums he threw before, not at all. He had to admit to himself though, he was a bit curious about the next heir of the Akashi Corp.
"Ahhhh Shige-chaaaan!" The doting sister exclaimed and sprang from one couch to the other to hug the pouting brunette and constantly patted his head. Skinship seemed to be a thing in this household, Akashi dully noted.
"Oni-chan is sorry for neglecting you. Lemme get lunch ready to make up for it," she continued while slowly standing up. Takuo immediately got next to her to help her stand up. The couch did seem to be quite low and comfy, the heir lately realised.
"I believe we have company for lunch today." The lady announced while looking at the redhead, who simply nodded.
"You don't mind having chicken katsu curry and tofu stir fry, ne Akashi-kun?"
Did the pregnant lady just mentioned tofu stir fry? "I'll gladly take that, thank you," Akashi smiled in response, slightly hoping that it was Ogiwara's tofu dish. He still marked the memory of the little brunette denying him his tofu during summer camp. How the tables have turned, the redhead mused. He was going to be fed tofu in said brunette's home.
"You're unbelievable," Shigehiro shrugged. Someone shoot him in his head already, he silently pleaded.
A/N: I hope you liked it so far! Rates and reviews will be much appreciated~