Hi guys!
I hope you are all doing well!
First, I want to thank, yochan123, for the lovely review.
I also want to thank my favourite Argentinian, AlexisHard, for the lovely review. I was glad to hear that you like her interaction with Atsushi. I just love him and I truly enjoy writing him. If you like how she and Akashi get closer and closer as the time goes by, you will like this chapter. (Well, I hope). I see it like you. Akashi is polite to everyone but also a bit distant. It takes time for him to let someone in, which isn't surprising with his upbringing. That's why I decided to write small interactions between them which would then lead to a friendship, where they both have mutual respect for one another.
I also want to thank a guest reader for the lovely review! Unfortunately, I can't address you directly with your username but I hope to hear more from you.
Thank you to all of you for following and reviewing my story. It means a lot to me. I am always open to hear your opinions and criticism. It can only help me improve my stories. Either way if you have any questions or predictions let me know!
Enjoy Chapter 27!
Chapter 27: Down the hill
After my birthday I had the impression that our group was closer than ever.
I knew I wasn't the only one who thought so too. I could feel it in the way everybody was treating one another and in the way we spent time together.
There was a lot more laughter and carefree banter than before.
I mean it was always present but now more than ever.
It could also be seen in their way they played basketball.
Not only did they play together but they also started to acknowledge the speciality of one another. In specific situations they knew who would be the most suited to handle it and I was always there supporting them alongside Momoi.
I was immensely happy having them around. But the more fun we were having the faster the time seemed to sped up.
Soon it would be time for me to leave them.
Of course, only for approximately two weeks but this felt like an eternity.
Don't get me wrong.
I couldn't wait to see my family again but it would just be hard not to see my friends. I saw them almost every day and they were part of my life and not being able to see them or talk to them would feel like a part of me was missing.
I didn't tell them that of course.
I didn't want to make it harder on me because they would immediately worry which would make the goodbye only harder.
When I thought about the goodbye, I still had no idea how everything would go down. But I had more pressing matters.
I had to think about Akashis birthday, which was on the 20th of December.
One day before I would leave for France.
I was currently sitting with Akashi in the Student Councils office while the others were getting something for lunch.
Akashi was telling me that his father was organizing a yearly party on his behalf, but what I heard from his way of telling was that it was more of a business meeting and a gathering of the most important and influential people in at least Japan if not worldwide instead of a real birthday party.
"What is troubling you, Emiyo?" Akashi asked gently when he saw the look on my face.
"Please don't take it the wrong way." I said and Akashi nodded beckoning me to continue.
"Is it that what you want?"
"It's a necessity as the heir of the Akashi empire."
I gulped.
"But it isn't something you want, right?"
His crimson red eyes were fixated on me and I remained silent waiting for him to answer.
"It isn't something I want. But it's a necessity and I can't defy my father."
I thought about what he was telling me.
"Can I ask you something?" I was looking into his eyes and he nodded.
"What does it mean to be the heir of the Akashi empire?"
He seemed definitely taken aback by my question. I immediately felt bad for asking.
"I'm sorry, Sei. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable or pry into a matter that doesn't concern me."
He chuckled.
"You're not making me uncomfortable." He said softly. "You're just the only one who has ever been brave enough to ask me up until now."
"Really?" I asked surprised.
He nodded.
"I know Shintaro is curious as well but he would never dare ask me."
He chuckled shaking his head in amusement.
"And here you are asking me directly."
"Well, it's part of you Sei." I said trying to explain my reason.
"I know it is." He said almost sounding bitter.
"But it's not the reason you're my friend." I said softly.
His eyes widened and he looked at me to see if I was joking or not.
I wasn't.
He appeared lost for words.
"The reason you're my friend is because you are the calm and collected rock everybody can depend on. No matter how hard or hopeless a situation looks you're the shining light with the answers. You're sweet and attentive. You listen and help. I am your friend because of that. Not because of your name."
He was still to stunned to say anything so I squeezed his hand gently. This seemed to take him out of his stupor.
"You don't care about my name?" He asked quietly.
I shook my head.
"Only about the pressure it's putting you under, but that's because I care about you."
Akashi looked blankly at me and I gave him a soft smile.
"I grew up surrounded by pressure." He started. "I don't know anything else."
"From your father?" I asked.
He nodded.
"He expects perfection. Everything less isn't good enough."
"But." I said looking confused. "It's impossible to be perfect. I mean you're only human."
"I need to be the best at everything I do." He said. "And I am."
I was about so say something but I closed my mouth thinking about what he had said. I had never seen him loose, but did this make him the best?
"How did you find basketball?" I whispered.
"My mother." He said.
I gulped.
He had lost his mother when he was very young to an illness.
"It's the only thing I have left from her."
"I'm so sorry." I said. "I didn't know that."
"You don't have to be sorry about it. It's my way of staying connected to her." He said. "But if I lose my father will take it away from me."
"He can't do that." I said shocked.
"But he will." Akashi said looking directly into my eyes.
"That's why I will never lose."
"Sei how are you handling all this pressure?" I asked shaking my head in disbelief.
"I told you I grew up with it. I don't know anything else."
"And you're fine with it?" I asked quietly.
"I have to be." He said this time averting my gaze.
"I have no choice."
"You have always a choice." I said immediately.
He chuckled.
"I knew you would say that." He said. "But there isn't for me, Emiyo. Because losing isn't an option."
xXx
After my conversation with Akashi, I was more determined than ever to organize something special for his birthday.
Or at least something normal and not a fancy party with formal dresses etc.
He deserved some normality in his life.
But what could I organize? I really had no idea.
"Shin?" I asked my green haired friend sitting next to me during one of our lessons. We had currently a small break so it was the perfect time to ask him.
"Yes?" He said looking at me expectantly.
"What do you think we should do for Seis birthday?"
"Why are you asking me that?" He asked immediately.
I rolled my eyes.
"Because you're the one closest to him."
"But that doesn't mean I know what we should do. I mean Akashi has everything. It's hard to organize something for someone who is used to perfection."
"But that's exactly what I don't want." I said heatedly.
Midorima looked at me strangely.
"You don't want perfection for Akashis birthday?" He asked slowly to make sure he had heard currently.
I nodded.
"I want something normal for him." I said.
"Oh Emiyo." He said. "You have a reason why, right?"
I nodded.
Midorima groaned.
"Then think about something he maybe has never done."
My face lit up.
"Shin you're a genius." I said.
"Oh no." He said seeing the excitement. "What are you thinking?"
I shook my head.
"Not telling you." I said grinning from ear to ear. "You will see soon enough."
xXx
What I had planned was seen on Akashis birthday. We met early afternoon at my apartment.
When I saw Akashi, I hugged him tightly.
"Happy Birthday, Sei." I said excitedly.
"Thank you, Emiyo." He said.
I couldn't stop grinning when I greeted the others. They were about to take off their clothes but I shook my head firmly.
"We're not staying here." I said bouncing on the spot.
"We're not?" Aomine asked looking surprised.
I shook my head.
"Nope." I said.
"Has everyone put on warm enough clothes and brought a hat and a pair of gloves?" I asked looking around the group.
"Excellent." I said when I saw that everybody had brought everything, I had told them to.
"Then let's go." I said and walked straight out of my apartment.
They all exchanged an amused look and Akashi smiled gently at my disappearing form.
"We better follow her." He said calmly and the others nodded.
I was waiting for them at a bus station and when our bus came, we all mounted it.
"Where are we going?" Midorima asked as soon as we seated ourselves.
"You will see." I said grinning widely.
"Are you really not gonna tell us?" Aomine said.
I shook my head.
"Nope."
"You just have to be patient, Dai-chan." Momoi said.
"Is it going to be fun, Emi-chin?" Murasakibara asked.
I nodded.
"And I think it's something Sei has never done."
"Really?" He asked sounding intrigued.
I nodded.
"Hai." I said. "Or I least I hope you haven't. I want it to be something special."
"It will be no matter where you bring me." Akashi said and I smiled softly at him.
"I think I know where we're going." Kuroko said and I gave him a warning look.
He had been the only one paying attention to the passing landscape on the contrary to all the others.
"That will be fun." Kuroko said giving me an excited smile.
"What is it, Tetsu?" Aomine asked giving his friend a pointed look.
"You will all find out soon."
And not even 10 minutes later we had reached our destination.
When we got out of the bus I was smiling broadly while seeing the realisation hitting my friends.
"We're going sledging." I said excitedly.
Akashi chuckled.
"That's really something I have never done before." He said and I could see the excitement in his eyes.
"Great." I said. "Then let's go."
When we all got hold of a sledge I couldn't wait to get started.
But first we had to get up that hill.
They had Ski tows where we had to put the cord, which was attached to the sledge around it.
We were at the bottom of the hill and when I looked where the ski tow was going to take us, I was certain some of us would fall down.
Apparently, I wasn't the only one worried about how we would get up there.
"This will be fun." Akashi said and we both exchanged a look.
"Ok guys." I said trying to sound confident. "Let's try not to fall off the ski tow."
"But Emi-chan." Momoi said not sounding confident at all.
"I don't think I will be able to do it."
"Sure, you will Momoi-san." Kuroko said and Momoi gave him a bright smile.
"Yeah, no." Aomine said shaking his head. "She won't be."
"Dai-chan." Momoi said immediately sounding highly offended.
"It will work out." I said. "Why don't you show everybody how it's done, Daiki?"
He gave me a look that told me he knew what I had done there.
"You will regret thinking I will fall off." He said quietly when he passed me.
I chuckled.
"Yeah, we will see about that." I said winking at him.
He sat down on his sledge and when the tow came, he wrapped the cord skilfully around it and held it tightly.
He was giving us a triumphant smile but he didn't expect the momentum and force the tow was going to have on him and his sledge.
A moment later he was on the ground and his sledge a few meters further up the hill. We all laughed while Aomine was glaring at us.
"I will try next." Akashi said and we were all impressed when we saw how he managed to get on the ski tow without the slightest troubles.
Midorima went after him.
Then Aomine. This time he managed to stay on.
"Sa-chan you're next." I said.
She nodded.
She looked frightened but she sat on her ledge nevertheless. I stood next to her and helped her wrap the cord around the tow. When it started to pull her, she was squealing in surprise, but she managed to stay on.
I cheered her on loudly.
Next was Kuroko.
He managed to go up the hill without any troubles. Murasakibara looked a bit hesitant to get on.
"What's bothering you Atsushi?" I asked softly.
"Will this be holding me." He said nodding towards the ski tow.
"Absolutely." I said.
"You promise?" He asked.
I nodded.
"Promise." I said while holding out my pinkie.
"What are you doing?" He asked looking at my finger questioningly.
"It's a pinkie promise." I said while wrapping my pinkie around his.
"You can't break a pinkie promise." I added seriously.
He chuckled while looking at our intertwined fingers.
We let one another go and I gave him an encouraging smile and he sat down on his sledge. Like I had promised him his worries were unnecessary.
I took the tow after his and I enjoyed the landscape while I was being pulled to the top. It was truly a winter wonderland.
As soon as I reached the top the others were already waiting for me.
"Great we made it all up safely up that hill." I said clapping in my hand enthusiastically.
I sat down on my sledge and looked at everybody.
"You ready?" I asked looking questioningly at them. They each sat down on their sledge.
"I saw on the map that there are different routes we could take." Akashi said. "Which one should we do first."
"The easiest." Momoi said immediately. "I don't feel completely secure yet."
"That might be a good idea." I said agreeing with Momoi and she looked thankfully at me.
"Then let's go." Aomine said already halfway on the route we have decided to take.
Kuroko immediately followed him.
I had the suspicion that he wanted to be near Aomine in case something would happen to him. Which quite frankly wouldn't surprise me.
I launched my sledge and I chuckled with excitement when it began to slide down the route, which was leading us through the forest.
"Emi-chin I'm coming." Murasakibara said loudly and I turned around to see him trying to pass me on my right. But our pace was so slow that it wasn't a dangerous manoeuvre.
"Oh, you're not going to pass me." I said laughing.
I leaned forward and my sledge got slowly faster.
I pumped my fist triumphantly in the air when I left Murasakibara behind.
I saw the first curve in front of me and I managed to pass it without any major problems. I stopped a bit further down with the intention of waiting for my friends.
I heard the squeals of Momoi and knew they were coming. And right on cue I saw them.
Murasakibara had already joined me but it looked like Akashi, like the gentleman he was, was helping Momoi along the path.
Midorima was with them but I could see that his patience with her was wearing thin.
"Where are Aomine and Kuroko?" Midorima asked when he reached us.
I shrugged.
"Most likely already down waiting at the bottom." I said.
"How are you doing Sa-chan?" I asked worryingly when I saw that she wasn't enjoying it.
"I don't like it." She said immediately. "I have the impression I'm going to crash at any moment."
"You won't." I said trying to calm her down.
She still didn't look convinced.
"You can join me on my sledge if you want." I proposed while nodding at it. "It's supposed to be a two-person sledge anyway."
"You sure?" She asked a bit hesitantly.
"Of course." I said nodding at her encouragingly. "I want you to enjoy it as much as possible. All you have to do is trust me."
"That isn't a problem." She said and I nodded softly at her.
"Then come." I said.
She immediately got up and walked over to me with her sledge in hand. I attached it on mine and she seated herself in front of me.
"I'm going to navigate and be in charge of braking. So just don't interfere otherwise it may get dangerous. Alright?" I asked.
She nodded and placed her feet on either side of the sledge.
"Then let's go." I said and I gave the sledge a slight push and we were off.
We were slowly increasing in speed but this time she seemed to feel a lot safer and started to actually enjoy the ride.
"How slow are you guys?" I said to the boys behind me.
I was trying to taunt them a little. Their attitude immediately changed and I laughed when I saw that their speed was increasing as well.
Akashi passed us and he winked at me while I tried to make the sledge go faster.
"Be careful, Emi-chan." Momoi said but she was giggling so I didn't slow down. In the end we were the last reaching the bottom of the hill.
"You two already here?" Akashi asked in a mocking tone and I nudged his side playfully.
"Where are Aomine and Kuroko?" Midorima asked.
"You know Mido-chin. Someone could get the impression that you miss them."
I snorted hearing Murasakibaras comment.
The look Midorima was giving him only increased my amusement.
"No but seriously." Momoi said also looking for her childhood friend and the ghost she had been afraid of for the last couple of months.
"They are nowhere to be seen."
"They are coming." Akashi said nodding towards where we had been riding a few moments earlier.
"How come we passed them and not noticed?" I asked confused.
"I'm sure we're about to find out." Akashi said.
We all observed the two familiar figures coming towards us. When they reached us, Kuroko greeted us in his usual calm demeanour but something was sparkling in his eyes.
It was amusement.
I looked at Aomine and was surprise when I found him quieter than usual.
"What happened?" Momoi asked immediately walking over to her best friend and checking if he was alright.
"Nothing." Aomine said rather defensively.
Which of course caught the attention of everybody present.
"What did you do?" Midorima asked sounding highly amused. "Fall down the path or what?"
He had said the last part in a sarcastic way but when we saw Aomine blush and Kuroko looking even more amused than before we all realised that that was exactly what had happened to them.
"You actually did?" Midorima asked laughing hard.
Aomine formed a large snowball in his hands and shot it at him, which immediately caused Midorima to stop laughing.
"Aomine-kun was too fast when the first curve came." Kuroko said blankly and everybody broke out into laughter once again.
"Tetsu." Aomine said sounding betrayed.
"What?" Kuroko deadpanned. "It's the truth."
"Yeah, but they weren't supposed to know."
I chuckled and this caught his attention.
"How about we go again?" I asked and everybody nodded.
"And this time try to stay on the path you're supposed to take." I said the last part teasingly to Aomine.
He looked like he wanted to get up and throw me in the snow but then he seemed to have changed his mind.
We all got up the hill again and this time we took a different route. Momoi was still on my sledge and the more often we rode the sledge the more comfortable we all got.
Soon each ride ended with us racing down to the bottom. I mean how else would it end?
I laughed sounding a bit out of breath when we reached the bottom after what felt like the hundred time.
"I think I have enough." Momoi said while getting up from the sledge.
"You sure?" I asked.
She nodded.
"Yeah. I think I will go drink a hot chocolate or something."
"Should I come with you?" I asked but she shook her head firmly.
"Oh no." She said. "No need for you to do that."
"Alright." I said and I looked at the boys who looked like they were ready for another round.
Especially Aomine who hasn't won a race yet.
"Emiyo." Akashi spoke up.
"Yes?" I asked looking at him while smiling brightly.
"I was wondering if you would like to ride with me." He said calmly.
"Sure." I said immediately. "Can I give you both our sledges Sa-chan?"
"Sure." She said while taking hold of them and I walked over to Akashi.
"So, I'm navigating, right?" I said grinning at him.
He raised an eyebrow at me but I knew that he knew that I was only joking.
"Kidding." I said and he rolled his eyes at me.
"You ready?" I asked the remainder of my friends.
They nodded and we walked over to the ski station.
Akashi and I were the first one to get on the ski tow. I was already sitting on the sledge and when the tow came, Akashi grabbed it, wrapped the cord around and then sat down behind me while his arms were on either side of my body.
Our sledge moved forward and soon all I could hear was his breathing. Otherwise, it was total calmness.
"I wanted to thank you, Emiyo." He said. "Not many are able to surprise me. But you managed just that. I just spent the best birthday I had in a long time."
"I'm glad you're having fun." I said quietly. "You certainly deserved it."
"Thank you." He said.
We stayed silent for a while enjoying the landscape around us when he spoke up once again.
"You excited to see your family?"
I nodded.
"I am." I said.
"But?" He said and I chuckled.
Of course, he realised there was more to it.
"I will miss all of you." I confessed. "I never thought I would have such a hard time leaving you. Even if it's only for two weeks."
"You will be missed." He said and I felt warmth spreading inside of me.
"They will be a handful without you around."
I began to laugh.
"You will be able to handle them without me just fine, vice-captain." I said and he chuckled.
"I know that." He said. "But it feels different when you're not around."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"I don't know how I should explain it. It's just it feels like the balance is off."
"That's sweet of you to say." I said smiling softly more to myself than to anybody in particular.
"When will you say goodbye?" He asked.
"Later."
"Then let's enjoy this day and we worry about you leaving when the time comes." He said trying to make me feel better.
"Hai." I said.
We reached the hill and when the rest of the boys joined us, we raced down.
I was immensely pleased when Akashi and I won.
We high fived and the other seemed to be sulking, which only increased our amusement.
They demanded a rerace but we won over and over again.
The end of the day was slowly getting nearer and after we reached the bottom one last time, we gave back the sledges and got on the bus which took us back to my apartment.
There we lit the candles on the cake I had baked for Akashi and after we had sung happy birthday and he had blown out the candles, he got his presents.
I was impressed by the boys.
They had actually managed to buy him stuff, which he would be happy about.
From me he got the obligatory frame with pictures of our group. I additionally bought him a novel from a famous French writer in French.
Because guess who could speak French?
We had talked about it a couple of times so it was only fitting for me to get it for him.
Soon it was time for them to leave.
Too soon for my liking.
They were all putting on their coats and gloves and I was quietly observing them.
I felt a lump forming in my throat when I saw them joking between themselves.
God, would I miss them.
Akashi was the first one to turn to me.
He immediately took me in his arms and hugged me tightly.
"Be careful." He said and I hugged him even tighter. "And enjoy your time with your family."
I nodded not able to speak because I was afraid, I would start crying if I would try and form any words.
The rest of the group was looking at us and I could see on their faces that they had momentarily forgotten that I would leave tomorrow.
Akashi let me go and gave me a soft smile before he stepped aside to let the others come say goodbye.
Momoi immediately wrapped her arms around me but she managed to almost suffocate me.
"Have a safe flight." She said and I only managed to nod while Kuroko slowly lifted her arms from me.
"Have a good Christmas, Masako-san." He said while hugging me.
I nodded.
"You too." I whispered.
Murasakibara was next.
He was standing in front of me and he gently put a hand under my chin and forced me to look up at him.
"I will miss, Emi-chin." He said and I smiled softly at him.
"I will miss you too." I said quietly before my voice almost broke.
I wrapped my arm around his waist and he placed his arms around my body. When he let me go he said
"You will come back, right?" He asked looking intensely at me.
I nodded.
"Promise?" He asked and to my surprise he held out his pinkie.
"Promise." I said while wrapping my pinkie around his.
He seemed satisfied and he patted my head gently before he stepped back to let the others say goodbye.
Midorima was the next in line.
For some reason he looked like he had a hard time forming his words. Every time he looked like he was about to say something before he closed his mouth again.
I smiled softly at him and he held out his arms. I immediately jumped into them.
"Just come back." He said so quietly so that only I could hear him.
I nodded and he let me go and immediately walked away.
The only one missing was Aomine.
He looked at me and I was about to walk over to him when he turned his attention to our surrounding friends.
"You guys go ahead." He said slowly. "I will catch up with you."
Momoi was looking like she was about to say something which would most likely upset Aomine, but luckily Akashi was already guiding her out of my apartment.
"Merry Christmas, guys." I said deciding in the last minute I needed to say something to them.
"Merry Christmas." They said back to me, before they began walking away.
I closed the door and turned to the last remaining person, who wasn't looking at me.
"Daiki?" I asked slowly.
He looked up and our eyes met.
He took a couple of steps towards me and immediately his arms were wrapped around me.
"Am I selfish for wishing you wouldn't go?" he asked in something that was barely a whisper.
I shook my head.
"Part of me wishes I wouldn't." I said quietly. "But I miss my family."
"But you have us." He said.
"You have me."
I hugged him even tighter and I could smell his scent.
I tried to take in deep breaths and trying to memorize what he smelt like for the next two weeks.
We both remained like this for a while. Neither one of us wanted to let go.
"Em." He said quietly.
"Yes?" I said.
"Come back to me, alright?"
"Always." I said.
We let one another go.
I was looking into his blue eyes and when I saw what was reflecting in them it made the goodbye only harder. He leaned towards me and then he kissed my cheeks softly.
I immediately blushed totally taken aback by what he had just done.
"So that you don't forget me." He said smiling softly at me.
"I could never forget you." I said returning his smile.
He placed his arm on my cheek and his thumb caressed the outline of my face.
"Good." He said.
He gave me one last look before he left.
When I couldn't see him anymore, I closed the door.
Why did this have to be so hard?