He really missed her. Who says he didn't regret anything? But it's for the best, anyway.

Akashi slumped in his seat and let out a sigh. He was playing shogi by himself in a dark room. The heartbreaking part is that he could imagine Lia in front of him, biting her lip while trying to think of a move to beat him. That was his imagination. That was it. He moved one of the shogi pieces to the left, until he suddenly slammed his hands on the table and flipped over the board. He looked at the pieces and he could have sworn he saw Lia picking up the pieces one-by-one like what she did before…

He clutched his head in pain and sat on the floor. "I will endure this." He commanded himself. He had no idea where such pain came from anyway. Why doesn't he know? He's the great Akashi; the captain of the Generation of Miracles. He stood up and walked past the living room, not minding his solitude inside the villa. Summer is over. It's already the Winter Cup. Why does she keep on popping from out of nowhere? He walked towards his room and sat on the chair right in front of a desk. There was nothing on the desk but a folder. He looked at the folder and opened it.

Lia's drawing of him was inside – the one he picked up in the auditorium – and right beside the drawing was his drawing of Lia. He tried to prevent himself from smiling at the lovely sketches, but he failed. "It's no use trying to pretend." He mumbled to himself. He stood up and grabbed a pen and paper and wrote something in it.

Suddenly, the door to his room burst open. He turned his head and saw her. She was panting heavily and she looked distressed. "Hey… my sister told me everything." She stomped towards him confidently. He blinked innocently, as he was actually expecting for this to happen. "I know." He told her calmly. Lia suddenly started rubbing her eyes due to the tears. "You left me in mid-air just because you're scared of yourself?" She said in the midst of her sobs. Akashi stood up and just watched her. He did not dare say anything. What would he tell her?

If he told her about how many times she comes into his mind, she wouldn't stay away. If he told her that he was scared of hurting her, he wouldn't stay away. If he told her about how he became too attached to her in just a short amount of time, she wouldn't stay away. If he told her he loved her, she wouldn't stay away. If she wouldn't stay away… he'll hurt her. He just kept an emotionless, silent look on his face for fear that if he showed emotion; she would keep on haunting him forever.

He couldn't even hear her anymore. He was too busy thinking of what to tell her, thinking that if he said something wrong, then he would not be the same Akashi who was never wrong. If he was going to be wrong, then she wouldn't try to find him anymore. If she wouldn't find him or look up to him or try to beat him anymore… he wouldn't have his Lia back. He's scared of coming close to her and burning her from the insides of her heart, but he was also scared of losing her. "Hey! Look at me when I'm talking!" Lia touched his face with both of her cold hands and turned his head to look at her. Akashi winced at the sudden contact. He was subtle about it, though.

She was still saying something, but Akashi's memories were slowly coming back to him. He couldn't pay attention. He was too distracted to even listen to the painful present when the past was so much better.

"My name is Lia Chavier Xelestine. I came from France. I am 150 centimeters tall. My eyes are central heterochromatic. My inner irises are gold and my outer ones are midnight blue. Specifically, midnight blue. My hobbies are drawing, playing the piano, singing random songs in the shower, cutting my own hair, and turning hamsters into mermaids."

His name is Akashi Seijuro. He was born in Japan. His eyes are also heterochromatic. The first time he saw Lia, he knew that she would make a drastic change in his life.

"I won't bring you down, but… I will defeat you."

She doesn't need to. He was already defeated by her smile. It was as easy as that. Akashi will never dare say that out loud. He knew that he would just be lying especially when his 'other self' hurts her. She would hate him…

"I'll just have to make myself equal to you."

Those were her words back in the auditorium. He didn't need to hear that. He already knew. She was already equal to his heart. There was nothing else she needed to do. "Don't say anything anymore, Lia." He suddenly snapped. Lia suddenly stopped sobbing and calling his name. Her eyes widened and she looked horrified. Akashi held her shoulders tightly. "This is… an order, Lia." He stuttered, but tried not to make it noticeable. He bowed down his head and sighed quietly.

Lia hugged his neck. His eyes widened at her movements. "Don't be afraid... no matter who you are, I'll love you. I'll be here for you so calm down." She whispered. "I won your heart. You said so! Your heart's right here, so don't ever feel so alone anymore…" She smiled and lay her head on his shoulder. Akashi felt his tears coming out of his eyes. Was he… crying? Why did he cry? It blew off his cover. How was he going to protect Lia from himself now? Protecting Lia… from himself.

"I am in no position to tell you the same." He coldly said, although his voice faltered. "Give up on me…" He suddenly pushed her away and glared down at her. Lia felt her skin crawl at his cold glare. He stormed out of the room and left her there, speechless. She stood up weakly and started crying her heart out. She sat down on his chair, still crying until she saw what was on the desk. This was her drawing, right? Beside it was… Akashi's drawing? This is… her, right?

She blushed at the sight of the two portraits. Beside it was a note. She picked it up and read it, making her heart beat faster than usual. Her hand covered her mouth, trying to prevent herself from bawling out loud. She couldn't say anything and was unable to process what she had just seen. She closed her eyes, ignoring the crack in her voice and spoke loudly.

"I do."

Akashi had his back on the door. It appears that he hasn't left yet and was hesitating to go back in. He sighed and wiped his wet face, trying to make himself look presentable before meeting with his team mates downstairs. He was about to walk away, when he remembered that he wrote something in a piece of paper back in the room. He looked back at the door.

Deciding that it won't change anything, he just walked away silently. "Will she?" He mumbled.

Lia read it over and over again, thinking that it must be a dream.

Don't hate me… I'm doing this to protect you but when I come back at the right time and at the right place…

I'll keep my promise. Not now… but someday. In the meantime, don't come near me. Just wait for me. Will you marry me, by then?