A/N: You know, there really is something about starting your nursing career in the middle of a pandemic. If someone would have told me last year that I'd be in the front lines of fighting the corona virus, I would have just laughed. Now, my first job in healthcare is helping patients as we navigate through these trying times.
I will say though that self-quarantining myself when I'm not at the hospital has given me lots of time to myself. It's even inspired me to write MULTIPLE stories, including this one. I'm currently working on the next Chapter of Life As We Know It. I actually finished the chapter a few weeks ago but I'm in the middle of revisions and have already started the next one. Im trying to dish them out since I have nothing else to do at home.
This story just kind of wrote itself. It's based heavily on canon but also differentiates from canon. Think of it as an AU but in the same universe. Just some changes in events. It's a two part series. The next chapter is almost done. Just some edits need to be completed. Hoping to get it out by sometime in the middle of next week (I work the next three days). Anyway, enjoy!
Loving a Super-Star
-O-
There was something about being in love with a girl who was adored by millions of people.
Where people adored her for her charming smile, her eccentric personality, and her natural beauty, he loved her for well, just about everything else.
He loved her for her invasiveness, her brutal honesty, her infuriating denseness, her charming idiocy, her sincerity, her ability to give so much that she has nothing left for herself (though, that makes him more upset than anything). He loved her for the spitfire she was, the way she brightened the room the moment she walked in. He loved her when she was drenched in sweat from a long day at P.E. He loved her short temper and quick wit. He loved her so much that he even loved when she was so infuriated with him, she wouldn't even look at him.
Since they had met, she had always been his best friend.
Even when he had no one, he at least had her.
But being in love with your best friend, who also happened to be one of the most popular teen actors in all of Japan, had its disadvantages.
They could never enjoy time after school together because she was easily recognizable. And that's even if she showed up to school. There would be moments where she wouldn't come to school for weeks, months even. And when she did, she was in and out, hardly staying for the full day. Luckily, mostly everyone at school didn't pester her too much (thanks to him and his heavy glare).
But there was always the occasional fan here and there.
And wherever she was, her manager/ex-boyfriend/ex-pimp was right behind her.
Needless to say, loving her had never been easy.
.
The sun was out today, and Hayama Akito sighed softly in content. Winter had been too harsh, and he was definitely relishing in the spring weather. Thumping his head against the wall, the blonde closed his eyes, embracing the calmness of his lunch.
He was really not in the mood to be around everyone today.
"Did you hear?"
"Yeah, I saw the news this morning!"
"Do you think it's true?"
"I don't know. She doesn't seem like the type of person to do something like that… but you never know."
Idiots. All of them.
Even their friends were irritating him, continuing to rub salt into the wound.
"Did you read the magazine last night!?" Hisae babbled as she dropped it on Gomi's desk.
"Oh yeah! It was everywhere!" Gomi opened his mouth, adding fuel to the fire.
"I don't know, guys. This really doesn't seem like something Sana-chan would do." Mami chimed in, arms crossed in front of her.
"Well of course it ain't! Ya'll know Sana! Why even indulge in this bullshit!" Fuka snatched the magazine from his desk and marched over to the trash can, throwing it away violently.
The rest of the class remained eerily silent as they continued to squash down the vicious rumor that made headlines last night.
"I agree with Fuka-chan. Besides, shouldn't we wait to hear what Sana-chan has to say about it?" Aya nodded her head vigorously as she supported Fuka, who looked like she was ready to murder the writer of the article.
"You already know what she's going to say about it! She will say it's not true and that she's fine. Like always!" Fuka said again.
"Well, you know Kurata-san. She handles these things like a champ! Ever since we were in elementary school, she never let these stupid things bring her down!" Gomi said for encouragement, which seemed to bring the desired effect as now everyone was nodding except for Akito and Fuka.
"As her friends, we have a responsibility to support her, and shut down any of these rumors! No matter what she says!" Tsuyoshi stated and they all nodded, clearly agitated by the media and their stupid headlines. "Don't you agree, Akito-kun?"
The blond looked up from his seat at his long-time best friend and snorted. His eyes drifted back to Kurata's empty seat, her absence plain as day after the headline broke out the previous night.
Japan's Teen Sensation: Kurata Sana caught soliciting and doing drugs!? More on page 10…
He already knew that the headlines were bullshit. Fuka voiced his exact thoughts.
Kurata was a lot of things but this was a new low.
He hated this part of her life.
Akito knew she loved acting; it was her passion. But he hated the territory that came with stardom. Her life was never private, not if paparazzi and journalist had anything to say. She couldn't do anything that involved public outings because it would be all over the internet the next morning.
The bigger she got, the more popular she became, the more her privacy was nonexistent.
Clenching his fist tightly, Akito snarled and pushed himself off the wall. He checked his phone, text messages from Tsuyoshi and Fuka, and a notification from the news… about Kurata Sana.
But nothing from the girl that he actually wanted to talk too.
To: Kurata
You know where to find me.
Deciding there was nothing else he could do, Akito grabbed his school bag and headed back downstairs, down the third-year stairwell, past the cafeteria and gym, and towards his locker. He opened his locker and changed out of his school shoes back into his personal shoes.
"Where are you going?"
Akito sighed, hoping he could leave unnoticed.
"I'm going home… do you have a problem with that?"
Fuka was tapping her foot impatiently, arms crossed in front of her chest, and very angrily glaring at him.
"Actually, I do." She clicked her tongue and he gritted his teeth. "If you didn't happen to notice, we have a bit of a situation going on here that happens to involve the girl you are madly in love with."
The blond sighed roughly.
"I know that."
"Then you should be with the rest of us, planning out how we can help her."
"Thanks, but no thanks." Was all he said as he shut his locker closed and turned away from Fuka. He could hear her huff and imagined the death glare she was pointing at him with her eyes.
"Aren't you supposed to be her best friend? Don't you want to help her too?"
Clenching his fist tightly again, he could feel his nails digging painfully into the palm of his hands. Gritting his teeth together, Hayama hid his eyes under his bangs, shoulders tense and aching.
"Don't tell me you believe this crap?"
Something in him snapped, and Akito turned so quickly, grabbing Fuka by the shoulder and shoving her against the wall of lockers. She yelped slightly, surprised by his sudden forwardness and brute strength, courteous of his karate training.
His eyes were blazing.
Fuka went wide eyed, Akito clearly bothered by her statement and everything that was occurring around them.
"You think this crap doesn't bother me? It makes me sick to my stomach. I want to kill the person who wrote that bullshit. I want to find him and punch him until his face is unrecognizable. I'm fucking angry."
Fuka was almost shaking underneath his hold. He realized her fear and lightened the grip on her shoulder, lowering the tone of his voice and taking a deep breath. He shook his head.
"I'm doing what I know that I can do best for her." He spoke softly.
All of a sudden, Akito felt a sharp pain over the top of his head and he cried out, frowning at the brown-haired girl standing in front of him.
"That was for throwing me against the lockers!" Fuka managed to land two more hits over the top of his head, Akito unsuccessfully dodging them. "That was for being so forceful! And that was for being a dick!"
She sighed and things remained quiet and stagnant for a few moments before Fuka put her stupid fan away and looked up at him with a small smile. "You are so in love with her, it makes me sick. You should probably tell her how you feel already."
With an uncomfortable heat at his cheeks, the blond looked away in embarrassment.
"You should probably get going. Don't want to keep her waiting, right?" Akito looked back at her and she gave him the same, obnoxious smile that Sana gave him every here and there. As different as they were, they were similar in so many ways.
He nodded and lunged his book bag over his shoulder. "Thanks, Fuka."
And Akito was off.
.
Falling onto his bed, Akito was gassed. He all but ran back to his house, hoping that Sana wouldn't already be there, waiting for him.
Of course, she would be coming back to an empty house since his dad was working and Natsumi moved out after she graduated from high school.
She hadn't been there when he got home.
Part of the reason he came back was because he wanted to offer the space to Sana if she wanted to get away or just… needed someone. The other reason… he felt suffocated at school. Everyone at school knew that he and Sana were best friends. You could hardly find one without the other. The stares he had been receiving all day were irritating as hell.
And listening to everyone gossip and spread rumors was irksome as hell.
He couldn't stay without feeling like he had to do something.
Changing out of his school uniform, Akito pulled over a workout shirt and his running joggers, pulling his hair up into a low ponytail. He flopped down onto his bed, grabbing the manga off his nightstand. In his heart, he hoped that Sana would know he was there for her, like she had always been for him.
He wasn't really sure how much time had passed since he got home from school. He got lost in the murder mystery that was his manga. Part of him was itching to look at his phone, see if maybe he got a call/text from Kurata.
But part of him also knew that she would just show up.
Maybe he should have just gone to her? Showed up at her place and take her away from the craziness that is her life.
He sighed roughly and let the manga cover his face, closing his eyes and trying to make that anticipation in his chest disappear.
"Penny for your thoughts?"
Akito sat up in his bed, the manga sliding down from his face into his lap. Sana was standing against the doorframe, looking at him with a hopeless smile and her arms crossed out in front of her.
Finally.
"I think you have enough of those." She snorted, a light spurt of laughter escaping her lips. Shaking her head, Akito felt his heart swell. Was it possible to be this in love with someone?
"I may have an extra penny or two I can spare."
"Good. Then you won't have to charge me."
She pushed herself off the frame and walked over to him, her eyes twinkling with that mischief and light that he's known for as long as he has known her. The smile on her lips never changed. It was hard for him to resist a smile of his own. He moved over on his bed, giving her room to lay down.
She sat down, staring at him with this look that made him want to take her face in his hands and just kiss her senseless.
She scrunched her nose and narrowed her eyes at him.
"What?" He asked.
"You need a haircut." Akito's hand unconsciously reached for the low resting ponytail at the back of his neck. Sana hated his hair so long. She always teased him for it and forced him to come over to her house so either she or Shimura could cut it.
He smirked.
"I guess you'll just have to do that for me, won't you?" He could see the red hue spread on her cheeks quickly, eyes tearing away from him. He couldn't help the hearty chuckle that escaped his lips as she pouted so adorably that he almost kissed her.
"Jerk." She muttered, but then a smile followed, and her laughter joined his until they died into the silence.
This had become a thing for them. Whenever something was happening in their lives, they would barge into each other's rooms and just sit together on each other's beds, talk about anything but the actual issue.
It usually involved insulting one another and taking some cheap shots, but it made them feel better and forget about their issues for a little bit.
Akito laid down next to her, grabbing the manga that had fallen between them. Her presence was enough to beat down the apprehension he had in his chest earlier.
"I almost went to school." She said, her voice surprisingly neutral.
He sneaked an eye at her. Sana was looking at the collection of karate trophies and medals that lined his top shelf.
"My alarm went off, I got up, started getting ready and then Rei barged into my room, going on this tangent about headliners and how he was going to skin them alive, you know. You know how protective he gets." She looked back at him and smiled.
I'll be standing right next to him when he does it.
Akito did in fact know how protective her ex-pimp/manager was. The glares and constant frowns were very apparent any time he was over. And he never let Sana have his door closed whenever he was at her house.
"I told him it was fine and that it was just a stupid rumor, yada, yada, yada." She paused for a minute, Akito knowing she was trying to get her thoughts together. "But then Mama stopped me and said she recommended I stay home."
"I was going to fight her on it, tell her it was ridiculous to let every stupid rumor keep me home. But she moved the curtains from the front window and all I saw was reporters standing outside our gates." Her voice dipped lower and Akito put his manga down, sitting up in his bed.
"It reminded me of when Mama's book came out… and my secret was revealed."
Her hands were now fisted in her lap and her eyes were off, clearly deep in thought. Sana's big reveal was hard on everyone, especially her. She tried to smile it away, saying it was okay and that everything was fine.
But when Akito forced his way into her house and found her crying with Misako and Rei standing around her with a thick tension laying over them, he knew that everything was not okay. So, he kidnapped her and took her to his house so she could get away from it, even if it was just for a day.
He wished he would have just gone straight to her again.
"So, I stayed home. And I did everything but go online and social media because well, I knew it was all fake anyway." She laughed, trying to pretend that none of this bullshit was hurting her. But he knew her better than that.
"And then I got your text." She turned to look at him and his jaw hardened.
He didn't know what it was about her, or why the look in her eyes were so damn memorizing but she was able to reel him in with just one simple look.
Sana smiled and his heart basically tore out of his chest.
You are so in love with her, it makes me sick. You should probably tell her how you feel already.
Fuka's words were ringing in his ears and all he wanted to do was tell her. Tell her that he was insanely in love with her and the words were stuck in his throat and he could feel his chest constricting and the courage was there to tell her. All he needed to do was… say it.
"I sent it during lunch."
What the fuck was that?
She laughed and elbowed him. "And then I find you here while school is still in session."
"School's overrated anyway."
"And I'm guessing that since you're here, I made the right decision to stay back today."
He didn't say anything. Akito didn't need too. She could read it off his face.
"Our entire elementary and middle school class were pissed off. Fuka was snapping at every person whispering about it and Aya, Mami, and Hisae were throwing away any articles. Tsuyoshi and Gomi were defensive too." He ranted and holy hell what happened to telling her how he felt?
She smiled in appreciation. She closed her eyes for a second, like she was making a mental note to send her friends thank you text later today.
"And you?"
The blond clenched his fist and looked away, remembering the anger and fury that filled him at school. Not only did he leave wanting to be here for her, but he left because he was going to hit someone if he heard another fucking word.
"Let's just say that I didn't want to be suspended from karate again."
She snorted and elbowed him again. Hayama suppressed a smile.
"I would have been so mad at you, you know that right?"
It was Akito's turn to snort as he laid his cheek against his palm, looking away from her, clearly annoyed by her comment. "Why do you think I'm here?"
Sana remained quiet longer than he expected her too. Obviously being the obnoxious and energetic girl, she was, she was always one to have the last word; reason why they always fought.
She swung her legs over the bed and walked over to the wall directly to their right.
Akito followed her and watched as she stood in front of their sixth-grade class photo hanging on his wall. He had dried up cement on his face after Sana pushed his face into the cement they were using for their class project. Sana had her arm hooked around his neck and she was throwing a peace sign at the camera. Tsuyoshi and Aya were hugging next to them while Gomi and the boys were snickering in the background.
He came to the edge of the bed, swinging his legs over and leaning forward on his knees, watching her intently.
"This is just as good as the barging in with the bike too." She joked; her voice unusually soft.
Though, he really couldn't blame her. Her life hasn't been easy, and she always faced everything with a confident smile and hearty laugh. She didn't break down often. But, when she did, he always tried to be there for her.
"Duly noted." He said, his voice smaller and softer than usual.
She turned to look at him and he could see the tears she was trying so hard to keep at bay form at the ridges of her eyes. Akito stood immediately, his jaw hardening, not tearing his eyes off of her for a second.
And it was like they jumped back in time because next thing he knew, Sana threw herself at him again. Her hands were clutching the front of his shirt, burying her head with the tears now falling freely.
Instead of the stupid one-armed hug he did when he was twelve, seventeen-year-old Hayama Akito placed his right hand lightly over her head while his left hand circled around her waist. He held her close to him and she didn't object as the grip on the front of his shirt got tighter and she dug her face deeper into him.
They just stood there while Sana cried, muffled through his shirt. She wasn't someone who cried loudly. Her tears were mostly silent. And if she was crying, it was mostly anger that spoke through her. He had only really seen her audibly sob once or twice. All the other times were from acting in movies or TV dramas.
So, this one hurt.
The blond tightened his hold around her, glaring at the wall in front of him.
That anger that boiled in his chest earlier today was rising again. The need to track down that idiotic journalist who dragged Sana's name through the dirt and beat the living lights out of him overwhelmed him.
He hated that someone like that, who didn't even know her, had that much power and influence over her life. And Akito knew that Sana really didn't care about the media and press. If she was out, she would stick her tongue out at someone and pull her eye lid down. Sometimes, she would even pose for them.
So, for her to break down like this, this one must mean a lot to her.
Akito could feel Sana's trembling begin to calm and her crying had turned to the occasional sniffles. He weakened the grip he had on her, allowing room for her to pull back. He could feel the auburn-haired girl take a deep breath and pull away. Her hands were still gripping the fabric of his shirt and she was staring down at the floor.
Her face slowly came up to look at him, red and puffy from her obvious tears. His jaw hardened, really fucking hating how sad she was right now. His grip around her tightened.
And then she smiled, like she hadn't just sobbed into his shirt and wiped her nose, also red from obviously scratching it against the fabric of his shirt.
"I got your shirt all wet and full of snot." A small giggle followed and Akito could feel his throat swell and he had to gulp because even in the state she was in, she had never been prettier. God damn, he was so fucking in love with her.
He snorted, taking his right hand off her head and pulling at his shirt where Kurata was just buried moments ago.
"I could probably sell this on Ebay for a shit ton of money." He started, a smirk spreading on his lips and Sana looked at him in disgust. "Exclusive item: Kurata Sana's snot and tears."
She narrowed her eyes at him. "That's gross."
"You'd be surprised at what people would pay for when it involves their favorite celebrity." He continued to joke with her, and she huffed, crossing her arms in front of her. Akito let go of her and headed towards his closet, grabbing another shirt off the hanger.
"You wouldn't dare."
He grabbed his shirt and pulled the back of his collar over his head, tossing it into his dirty laundry basket. Akito threw Sana another smirk as he was now standing shirtless, slipping his arms through his new shirt.
The youngest Hayama watched as Kurata Sana blushed at the sight of his shirtless torso. Her eyes trailed away immediately, Sana putting her nose in the air, quickly trying to cover her obvious embarrassment.
Akito wasn't one to show off too often but he knew that karate training has certainly helped in the muscle category and it was evident any time her removed his shirt. In the summer and on their beach trips, he has had his fair share of girls ogle him and make comments.
And he wouldn't deny how fun it was watching Kurata Sana shoo them all away with her glares or making sarcastic comments about his sudden development.
Slipping the shirt over his head and straightening it out over his chest, he sighed. "Nah, I get the luxury of keeping it."
Kurata Sana turned quickly, her face now completely red and mouth gaped in absolute embarrassment. Akito did the best he could to hide the snicker, but he couldn't help it as she struggled to find the words.
"Yo-You! GAH, you're SUCH a pervert! That part of you hasn't changed AT ALL." And that's when she wacked him over the head with her stupid hammer that he still didn't understand where it came from.
Akito was defenseless against her whacks, his defense had improved over the years, but with his snickering, he couldn't concentrate enough to stop her from giving him a few good whacks.
"People joke about that stuff all the time, you know! It's so creepy!" She continued to whack at him and Akito reached for hand with the hammer immediately and pulled her forward where she landed on his chest and she made a small squeal at the sudden tug.
They were inches away from one another, his lips hovering right over hers. He watched as she gulped, and her chest was rising heavily after the few strong swings she gave him. Akito respected Sana, he did. He was an asshole when he was a kid, with flipping her skirt and touching her chest without permission.
Of course, he didn't realize it was disrespectful and bothered her until they were a little older. And he stopped doing all that, knowing she wasn't okay with it.
But having her so close and seeing her all flustered made his feelings intensify. And he needed to step away before he did something he regretted.
"Luckily, I don't need any type of souvenir 'cause I get the real Kurata Sana to myself."
Akito watched her suck in a breath and hold it for all of two seconds. Her eyes were staring right at him with this gaze that often left him feeling weak in the knees. It was one of those moments where they both forget everything going on around them and they just sort of look at each other, neither making any sort of move.
Fuka called them out on it multiple times, saying it was their "sexual tension."
That usually warrant a few hammer strikes from a red faced Kurata and adamant denial. Fuka would just roll her eyes as Sana would fight her. Tsuyoshi would elbow him, giving him this stupid lovey dovey look. Akito would combat it with a glare.
And whenever Fuka and Akito would hang out, she wasn't afraid to say something about it.
"I really wish you two would just stop forcing us to see all of your sexual tension with one another." Fuka said, closing the book in her lap. They were sitting at the roof of the school, waiting for Tsuyoshi and Aya to show up. Kurata was gone for the day, another commercial shooting or something like that.
Akito sighed roughly.
"Why do you have to say it like that?"
"Because that's what it is! You can literally ask anyone who sees you two together. If it was up to me, I'd lock you two in a room and just let you two go at it." Fuka said, not caring how crude her honest comment was.
Akito almost choked on his water. His cheeks were bright red, eyes wide at her statement.
"What? Oh stop. Don't look at me like that." She rolled her eyes. "You're telling me that those thoughts never crossed your mind?"
He was now blushing madly, looking away, knowing he was guilty.
"That's none of your business." He muttered, his neck feeling hot around his tie.
"Oh please. There's no reason to deny it. It's just me. You can be honest with me."
It was scary how similar Fuka and Sana really were, Akito thought to himself. Both girls loved to tease him, give him a hard time. And it was so easy to get along with Fuka. It was part of the reason he dated her.
"It's weird to talk about a girl you like to your ex." He mumbled this time.
Fuka rolled her eyes again. "First of all, you don't just like her. You love her. Second, Aki, you and I are friends. I know we dated but if we're being honest, our relationship was doomed from the start. You were using me to get over Sana dating Naozumi. And I took advantage of her being gone and filming that movie. I took advantage of your vulnerability and liked you for all the wrong reasons."
Could always count on Fuka to put it bluntly, Akito thought.
"We were basically just friends when we dated. Lord knows the only thing we actually did that was couple like was hold hands and go on double dates with Tsuyoshi and Aya."
"I kissed you a few times." He defended. Why was he getting all worked up over this? This was like four years ago when they first got to middle school.
"Kindergarten doesn't count, especially on a dare." Her eyes were dark, and he snorted. Guess the truth finally came out. "And I kissed you. You never initiated it."
… that was also true.
"I kissed you back." He was still defending himself, getting slightly upset over this conversation.
"Because you felt like you had too. Not because you wanted too." She finished and Akito grabbed at the back of his neck, feeling uncomfortable with this topic.
But he knew the reason he did was because he was a bad boyfriend to Fuka. He didn't treat her like he should have or treat her like she deserved. Fuka was right. He only dated her because Sana went and fucking dated that damn Kamura Naozumi.
When Sana told them, he felt his heart drop to his stomach right then and there. She was smiling and there was a blush on her cheeks and Fuka was so happy for her. Tsuyoshi looked at him in concern and Akito knew he was slightly put off because he thought, well Akito and Sana were supposed to be together.
But, not wanting to be a bad friend, Tsuyoshi congratulated Sana.
All Akito wanted to do was throw up. He remembered his jaw steeling and his shoulders feeling so rigid. He hated seeing her so giddy and in love. It fucking drove him nuts. And then when she turned to him and said that as her best friend, his opinion meant the most to her, it was like she drove a fucking stake right through his heart.
He could have lied through his teeth and said he was happy. But that would mean he was lying and he was no liar. So, Akito just said he had something to do and left. Sana chased after him and he told her to get lost. Obviously, she didn't understand what he was talking about and he told her to back off.
Damn, that was a fucking mess, thinking back on it. He and Sana were in such a dark place, not talking to one another for months and if they were ever around one another, they either ignored each other or fought like cats and dogs.
And he was so mean to her. He was jealous and callous, heartbroken that she was dating that damn girly boy. He even gave her back the damn burucha she gave him for his birthday, saying he wanted nothing to do with it or her.
The look on her face when he dropped it in her hands and the scowl he gave her literally tore him apart as he walked away.
They went almost 5 months without talking to one another. In that time, his life spiraled. He was getting into fights again, he was picking fights with his stupid ass science teacher Sengokou-sensei, his friendships were suffering, and he was putting Fuka through hell. Even karate couldn't help the storm that raged in him.
It was the loneliest he had ever been.
He was reverting to his old ways, his eyes were so fierce and frightening, no one wanted to be around him anymore. Fuka didn't understand why he was acting the way he was, and Tsuyoshi was doing everything he could to prevent trudging up the past; his father and sister ignoring him, his sister calling him a murderer, Akito running a street gang in fifth grade, blackmailing his teachers, etc.
All stuff Kurata Sana changed for him.
After an ugly fight in the arcade, Fuka slapped him and said she didn't understand. He almost blew it then and there, barking back at her that she never would. Tsuyoshi looked petrified, like he was looking at the Hayama Akito of the past.
His relationship with Fuka deteriorated slowly and surely. He pretended that he was so happy but they both knew that he loved Sana and it was obvious in the way he treated Fuka.
In all that mess, Tsuyoshi and Aya had met with Kurata and told her everything.
The next time he saw Sana, she had caught him running through town and she looked at him with these worried eyes that started to cry. "Why are you looking at me like that?" He remembered she asked him, and he just called her a "spoiled girl."
She hugged him, whispering how worried she was, wanting to know what she could to help him. When she embraced him, all the anger and anguish he felt just sort of vanished and he felt his eyes sort of relax and he just sighed in content. He hugged her back, hard and tight because he just fucking missed her and wanted her back.
Remembering though that she was dating Kamura, Akito pushed her away, sighing roughly. Sana looked at him with concern and he told her "It's fine. Don't worry about me. I'll be okay."
She grabbed onto his hand tight, like she didn't want to let him go.
And that hurt him more than he ever wanted to admit. Pulling away was even worse. And running away from her? He may as well have carved his heart out right then and there.
Later, he found out from Tsuyoshi and Aya that Kamura broke up with her. She had mentioned it to them whenever they met up. Kamura apparently said that her "feelings just weren't there."
When she came back to school, they made up. And it was awkward for a while, learning how to be friends again after everything that happened between them. But, when Akito asked if he could have his part of the Burucha back with promise to never through it in her face again, the smile she gave him left him breathless.
Looking over at Fuka, he couldn't help but sigh.
"Takaishi makes you happy." Akito said, knowing that Fuka was now dating her old flame from elementary school.
Fuka smiled, like the type of smile a girl gets when her boyfriend brings her flowers and takes her out on a nice dinner date and movie. The smile that girls get when their boyfriends kiss them goodnight at their door and promises to text them when they get home.
"Happier than I've ever been." She said with such a bright smile.
Akito smiled, genuinely happy for her. "Good."
Coming back from memory lane, Akito and Sana continued to stare at one another, eyes just locked in this stand-off.
"Something like that." She countered in this breathy tone and Akito felt his throat go dry. His eyes went wide and he couldn't believe the words that just left her lips. Was- was she for real?
Seeing his obvious surprise, she smirked, taking this opportunity to untangle herself from his grip on her wrist. Akito blinked a few times and her smirk turned into a full-blown session of laughter as she clutched her stomach.
"You should have seen the look on your face!" Kurata pointed at him, trying to mimic the look he had and now looking at her, he could see how ridiculous it was. She sat on his bed, hitting her knee and was laughing way too hard for something so stupid. "It was ridiculous!"
God dammit this damn girl.
Akito crossed the room and reached her in a matter of seconds, grabbing her wrists and pinning her to the bed. She immediately squealed as she fell back against his pillows and he towered over her.
She immediately furrowed her brows, struggling against his hold, trying to reign her wrists free from his hold. She grunted and groaned, but Akito just applied more strength, his knee in between her legs and his face at least a foot way from hers.
"Akito, let me go!" She continued to struggle against his hold, and he thought it was really cute how she thought she had a chance against him and his strength.
If anyone walked in… well, they would think something very indecent was going to happen.
"Now who looks ridiculous?" He said in a haughty tone and she glared at him.
"That's no fair and you know it. You are much stronger than me." She huffed, her chest rising with her anger.
He came down lower, and Akito could see her eyes go wide eyed. He stopped, just inches above her lips and nose. He swore he heard her suck in another breath. Akito himself felt like he stopped breathing. Looking down at her lips, it took everything in him to not kiss her.
"Should have thought of that before you wanted to tease me." His voice rumbled. She looked damn pretty under him; her hair sprawled all over his pillows. His mind was trailing where it definitely shouldn't and he knew that this was dangerous, having her like this. Akito knew he should definitely get off of her and pull her up.
But god damn, this was just too fun.
"So now you're the only one who's allowed to tease?"
Holy fuck – did she just say that?
He growled slightly, his body moving on its own and came down literal breathes away from her lips.
"Not when you tease like that." He growled against her lips and she sucked in another breath.
"You do it all the time." Her words vibrated against his lips and it sent a shock so course through his body that it literally paralyzed him. Akito could hear his heart beating so hard against his chest and the blood was rushing to his head. He gripped her wrists harder and pushed her hands deeper into his bed.
"So what? You're getting revenge?" Akito really didn't know how long he could continue this without kissing her. He didn't know how much longer he could do this without doing something so very bad.
"Let's call it a taste of your own medicine." She whispered against the breath of his lips and that was all Akito needed to make the knot in his stomach explode.
Whoever said Kurata Sana was fucking dense and had no sort of sex appeal was a god damn fucking idiot. She knew exactly what she was doing to him and knew how to play him right into her god damn hands. Especially having the mother she has, she probably knew exactly what to do to him.
"I'm thinking a different type of taste." He spoke darkly, doing everything he could to stop himself from literally jumping her.
And he figured that when he said those words, she would shift uncomfortably under him and demand that he let her go and then it would just be wildly uncomfortable between them.
But Kurata Sana was always fucking great at catching him by surprise.
Especially when her voice just kind of breathed "Oh?" into his mouth like a fucking invitation and now his mind switched to instinct and he literally forgot to think.
And that was when he fucking lost it because she literally made his whole body burn with that one single word.
So, Akito, against all rationale, said fuck it and kissed her.
And of course, Sana did that little surprised squeal like she really hadn't goaded him on and acted like he totally caught her by surprise. Really, she gave him too much credit because even he had his limitations.
But now Akito was kissing her and he had to suppress the growl that was threatening to climb through his throat because he couldn't remember the last time, he kissed her, especially not like this.
And when she finally did kiss him back, he let loose a satisfied sigh and he could feel her own against his lips. And they moved with each other and Akito had to release his hold on her wrists because not only was it straining against his arms, but he wanted to hold her.
When he does, he almost toppled over, but he caught himself, nearly breaking contact with her. She laughed against his lips and he smiled lightly.
Akito really just wanted to thank whoever gave her the confidence to be so bold because for so long it was just him and now, she was kissing him, and he was over the moon.
Then one of her hands went around his neck and Akito nearly groaned as her hand threaded through the back of his hairs. Her hand felt so hot and heavy against the back of his neck and he pushed his knee up against the inside of her thigh.
A soft sigh came from her lips and he nearly lost himself.
But then he felt a harsh tug at his hair. He felt the hair tie slip off and his long hair slipped out of its tie and now Sana's hand was off his neck and he pulled away from her reluctantly. His eyes were wide as she brought her hand around and she smirked under him, dangling the hair tie in front of his eyes.
"You really, really need a haircut if you need one of these."
Sana pushed him back until he was no longer towering over her and was now sitting against his bed, breaking the tension like nothing ever happened; like they hadn't just shared a mind shattering kiss, like the "sexual tension" how Fuka liked to put it, was never there.
And he couldn't form any words, make a snarky remark because she literally left him breathless.
Kurata jumped off his bed and stretched like nothing had even happened. She was standing on her tippy toes, muttering something about being hungry. But Akito just sat slack jawed, confused and impressed at her ability to be so fucking calm.
"I'm starving. You going to take me out to eat or what?" Kurata turned to look at him with a hint of a mischievous smile, like she knew full well what she was doing.
He picked his jaw off the floor and ran a hand through his hair, muttering about what a fucking tease she was and chuckling for being him being a god damn idiot.
"If anything, you should take me out to eat. Lord knows you have the money for it. I'm broke." She glared at him, putting her hands at her hips, leaning towards him. She was actually taller than him right now considering he was sitting down.
"Excuse me, A-ki-to. But, don't you have a job now? At the dojo?"
He narrowed his eyes. "I go twice a week. And the pay is shit."
She sprung back up, still glaring with her arms now crossed in front of her.
"You don't go for the pay, though. You go because you're actually a softie and like to teach karate to little boss monkeys like you." Kurata's glare softened as the sentence continued, which ended in a laugh.
Boss monkey. Her old nickname for him. Every here and there, she would throw the word at him, to remind him of his less pleasant days.
He blushed, standing up from his bed. He grabbed her by the shoulders and turned her around, causing her to shout in surprise.
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever. Get out so I can change and go get you your damn food." She cheered, jumping up in the air like a five-year-old getting their favorite ice cream. He rolled his eyes and finished pushing her out.
"Wait for you downstairs!" She sang as she danced down his stairs. Akito closed the door and leaned against it for a minute.
He took a deep breath, closing his eyes to calm his heart.
What Akito wanted to know was how she did it. When he first kissed her in front of the whole class at their sixth-grade field trip, she freaked out. She yelled so loud he was pretty sure all of Tokyo could hear her. The second time he kissed her, it was Christmas and he caught her off guard. She stood in shock and he ran away before he assessed the damage. They were twelve then.
He didn't kiss her again till they were fifteen.
And she hardly reacted, shocked because obviously it had been 3 years since he last kissed her. They were at the beach for a summer trip with Fuka, Tsuyoshi, and Aya. They invited Takaishi because he was officially Fuka's boyfriend after Sana had the idea to bring them back together. Fuka was irritated but later apologized and thanked her for bringing them back together.
They got lost from the rest of the group after Fuka dragged Takaishi to some local markets and Tsuyoshi and Aya got lost in their own world. It was getting late, but it was still warm outside. Sana had been wanting shaved ice all day and finally annoyed him to the point where they walked along the shore to the rumored best shaved ice cart in the local area.
With his hands in his pockets, his sandals dangling from his pinky, tank top sticking to his skin after a long day in the sun and hat settled backwards over his head, he was feeling kind of sluggish from the day. Looking over at Sana, she was still a ball of endless energy with her pale blue dress swaying in the wind and her sunglasses settled on the top of her head.
Akito never thought she looked prettier.
He let her ramble about work and acting and some new TV drama position she was offered. She was really excited for it. But looked at him with a somber face when she said that she would need to miss school again.
"I took a break from acting because I missed school! Don't look at me like that. I actually like learning when math isn't involved okay?" Akito scoffed, kicking the sand under his feet.
"And I missed y- I mean everyone! I miss everyone!" Akito side eyed her, raising a brow. Her cheeks were painted red. "But, now I'm ready to get back into it again. I've just really missed acting and the rush it gives me. So, when Rei came barging into my room, saying I had a few offers, I couldn't just give up the opportunity."
She stopped walking, looking down at her feet that were buried in the sands under them.
"Are you okay with that?" Kurata looked back up, her voice uncharacteristically low and soft.
His heart jumped at the thought of her even thinking she needed some type of affirmation from him. She was silly for thinking that he had any say in her career choices.
"It's not like you're dying, right?" Her brows scrunched together, clearly not liking his response. "And I'm not planning on dying anytime soon."
Kurata's jaw dropped and the confused look on her face made him smirk. She was about to explode on him, he could tell with that way her cheeks puffed and the redness in her cheeks blossomed and her shoulders went tense and ridge.
But then he smiled at her, which deflated her anger immediately.
"So, I'll be here when you get back."
Her entire face went red and she looked away again, muttering something about him being an idiot and baka and how much she hated him and marched away furiously ahead of him.
Akito chuckled and ran to catch up to her.
"Hey! Isn't that Kurata Sana!?" Both he and Sana froze immediately at the sound of recognition.
"Oh yeah! That's definitely her!"
Though there weren't that many people around them, people were stopping in their steps and looking right at them.
"Oh crap." She said, a sorry look crossing her face as she looked up to him. He glared as people started surrounding them, a reminder of really fucking hating this part of her life.
Quickly, Akito snatched the glasses off her head, which caused her to flinch and yell in pain as they were tangled in her hair. He hung them over the front of his shirt and snatched the hat right off his head. Shoving the hat over her head quickly and pulling the bill down, he threw an arm around her shoulders and glared fiercely at the people behind them.
"You got the wrong girl. Back off." His voice laced with poison, he reverted back to his 6th grade days for a quick minute and scowled at the people around them.
He pushed Sana ahead of him, ignoring her protests and shouting as he walked away from the crowd of people, still glaring back at them so they wouldn't follow.
When they were a good distance, he turned back towards Sana, ignoring the small comments they were making like "Couldn't be her. She doesn't hang out with guys like that" or "Nah, she's not as pretty as her," which that one almost made him turn around and club that guy in the face.
The one that really pissed him off though was "Sana couldn't have gone from Naozumi to him. So, not possible."
That one made him grip Sana's shoulders tighter than he intended. When she called out to him, her voice straining, he realized his mistake and let her go immediately.
At a safe distance, neither teen said anything. Akito muttered some obscenities under his breathe, cursing her ability to be so recognizable.
Kurata's hand slipped her hand into his, which made him still immediately. His eyes searched for her and she was standing in front of him with a smile that encompassed her entire face. At some point, she turned his hat backwards on her head and he almost stopped breathing right then and there.
His lungs felt like they were caving as she wore his hat, looking really fucking cute in it.
"Thanks for the save. I owe ya!" She gripped his hand tighter and his throat just stayed dry. He knew his cheeks must have been red because he could feel the heat on them.
"Yeah, whatever." He mumbled, not looking at her.
But then Sana was suddenly leaning towards him and he stepped back as she stepped closer and stepped on her tippy toes and reached above his head with her free hand. Her hand found its way into his hair and she smirked.
"Your hair's a mess. Hold still for a second." And Akito couldn't breathe with how close she was standing next to him. Her hand was in his hair, which she gave a cute ruffle before she began to fix the crazy hat hair. Her tongue was sticking out in full concentration as she ran her fingers through his hair and her hazel colored eyes were so bright and her cheeks were tinted red.
It took everything in him to not lean forward and kiss her.
Her eyes lit up when she finished, and she padded down over the top of his head. "There! All done!" Kurata released his hand and she leaned back on the balls of her feet. His hat was still sitting on top of her head and he swallowed hard.
"Thanks." He mumbled again, standing awkwardly in front of her.
"Now! We have to continue on this journey to find the shaved ice cart!" She grabbed his wrist with both her hands and immediately pulled him forward. He almost fell face forward into the sand and she laughed sheepishly and apologized as she dragged him forward.
And eventually they did find it and the line was long but Kurata was so excited and jumpy in anticipation that Akito didn't mind waiting in line if it meant spending more time with her.
When it was finally their turn, he ordered a basic combination of lime and blue raspberry, but she had the crazy idea of doing something like chili mango and spicy watermelon. And even though she fought him on paying for it since he "saved her butt" or something like that, he managed to get the money out first.
Sana found an empty part on the pier where the wood was low enough on the tide to stick your feet in the water. Of course, she ran over and almost spilled her shaved ice, but there they were sitting side by side as she splashed her feet around.
"Mines better than yours, Hayama." She teased as she put a spoonful in her mouth.
"I don't think you can go wrong with blue raspberry and lime." He defended.
"No, but it's basic. Got to get out of your comfort zone!" She jabbed him with an elbow, and he narrowed his eyes.
"Alright, let me try yours then." He reached forward, trying to get a taste but she immediately ripped it away from reach, glaring at him.
"Nah uh! Should have gotten it yourself, you jerk!" She insulted, sticking her tongue out at him.
Akito rolled his eyes.
"Why would I do that when I can just have a taste of yours?"
Sana shook her head again. "Nope! You snooze you lose, Akito."
He didn't really want hers all that much but teasing her was the most fun. He shrugged his shoulders.
Forgetting that they were even bickering, Kurata almost spilled her shaved ice again when she saw a seal in the water, and he swore he almost had to hold her back from jumping into the Pacific Ocean to chase it.
When he told her to leave it be, she angrily stuffed more bites of her shaved ice into her mouth but made somewhat of a mess of herself. Sana had some of her shaved ice hanging on the corner of her mouth and his eyes fixated on it.
She was saying something about their friends and school but Akito could care less about it. He couldn't take his eyes off the corner of her mouth, which lead to staring at her lips. When did he last kiss her?
When they were 12? 13? He scrunched his nose, realizing that Kamura Naozumi was the last person to kiss her.
That wouldn't do.
Not at all.
"-kito? Hey, you in there?" She said looking up at him, her eyes big and round and full of life and curiosity.
His mind was made up and Akito leaned down, Sana's eyes going wide the closer he got.
Watching her, Akito pressed his mouth against the corner of her mouth, his tongue licking away the now melted shaved ice. He could feel the sharp intake of her breathe as she still under him. He looked up at her and saw that her eyes were now scrunched close.
He pulled back slightly, still hovering just above her. He looked down at her, admiring her and her simple beauty and taking advantage of this moment that he had alone with her.
Because there weren't very many that they shared these days.
Akito leaned back forward and pressed his lips against her again, this time over her entire mouth instead of just the corner. Just like 6th grade and Christmas, she didn't react from shock and he pulled away, eyes opening to look at her.
Watching as she fluttered her eyes open, their eyes found one another in seconds. Shock was evident and she looked at him with wide eyes and her cheeks were the same color as the sky above them. Her mouth was slightly open, like she was trying to say something, but the words just didn't come out.
"Not bad." He said, smirking. And her entire face went dark red.
"Ex-excuse me!?" Kurata sputtered, clearly thinking he was referring to the kiss.
"The shaved ice. You said it was better than mine. And I say not bad."
Akito watched as her face went through an assortment of changed faces. First, it was shock, then it conjured into her mouth falling open and then her eyes scrunched together, and then absolute mortification crossed her features and now he was running down the pier with her chasing him with her stupid hammer.
He smirked as she continued to yell "BAKA!" "IDIOT!" "PERVERT!" down the pier and beach until she got tired. She managed a few hard swings and even though he managed to defend a few, the bruise on his head was definitely worth it.
When they finally met up at the hotel with the rest of their friends, she crossed her arms and huffed away with Fuka and Aya, announcing she needed time away from him and girl time with them.
He shrugged his shoulders and smirked, walking back into the boys room, but not before looking back at Kurata, who's room was across from theirs (girls room), and she smiled at him with a glint in her eyes that made his heart just about burst from his chest before she closed the door behind her.
Knowing Kurata was probably wondering what was taking him so long, he changed into some jeans and maroon long sleeve t-shirt. Even though it had warmed up, Akito grabbed a light zip up just in case. Smirking, he tied his hair back in a low ponytail.
As he made his way downstairs, he found Sana leaning against his couch, staring into her phone. She was laughing at the video she was watching, eventually snorting.
When he grabbed his keys off the basket hung on the wall, the jingle broke her concentration. Kurata looked up at him and smiled. Putting her phone away, Kurata followed behind him.
"Took you long enough!" She teased and he snorted and rolled his eyes. He opened the door, allowing her to go outside first. She eyed him carefully, almost like she didn't trust him.
Before he closed the door, Akito saw one of his hats hanging on their coat rack. He almost scoffed, recognizing it to be the same hat from their beach vacation two years ago. Knowing that there was a possibility of recognition, Akito didn't think twice and grabbed it, stuffing it with his jacket.
After closing the door behind him, he found Kurata looking up at the cloudy sky, a smile gracing her lips again and he almost smiled too.
A/N: So, a little different from canon I know but I really like this idea of Sana and Akito basically dating but not dating. And playing this will they or will they not? game. I've also thought about it and I feel like Akito and Fuka would actually be really good friends after dating. I mean, there is a reason that Akito liked her outside of her reminding him of Sana. He genuinely likes Fuka and he even says it in the manga. He doesn't "hate her." So, part of me likes to think that when Sana is gone, the two bond, mostly over her and Fuka loves to tease Akito about her.
I also think that Sana and Akito have a lot of... tension between them. I mean, we saw Akito's perverted side at 12 freaking years old. Obviously, something like that doesn't fly now because we are older and understand that it's actually not cute to harass a girl no matter the age (which is why I made him apologetic about it). And while yes, Sana is dense, she isn't stupid. I mean, she wanted to have sex with Akito in the manga... like that isn't denseness to me. And when they were reunited, she was willing to let Akito touch her had he asked. So, I 100% believe Sana is fully capable of being bold and forward.
Anyway, after a long author's note, I hope you all enjoyed this! Part 2 is coming soon (next week!) along with the next chapter of Life As We Know It! As usual, reviews, thoughts, and comments are always welcomed!
Until next time!
- Dark Waffle