Has it been a year since the last update? Anyway, to revive my motivation for this fanfic, I need to re-read all the chapters, and when I did, I discovered a possibility that I just have to write about, and here it is! There are some hints as to what will happen in DoL that has yet to happen, there will be some changes in the actual DoL since I have yet to write the chapters, but it should be close. Do enjoy!

Pairings : AkashixYumexNijimura

Warnings : DoL Universe!

Disclaimer : I own only the OCs.


Chapter 43.5 - Dreams of Life: Between Ō and Gin for Gyoku


Rakuzan High, Kyoto.

The soft click-clack of the shōgi pieces and the wooden board has always been Akashi Seijūrō's favourite. It is one of those rare instances where his mind is at peace, without those familiar pressures pressing down on his shoulders. His smooth fingers are holding on to the gyoku, caressing it between his index finger and his thumb as his mind wanders away, to a time of what once was.

It has been six months since the decisive match between Rakuzan High and Seirin High in the Winter Cup, a match, which he, Akashi Seijūrō, lost.

A defeat, the redhead feels his lips curling in a mocking manner. That, was a word he has never thought of associating himself with. Not until that final match.

In shōgi, Akashi Seijūrō has always taken the ō, it is the one shōgi piece he tends to bring with his person. Even back in his middle-school years in Teikō, against Midorima, he has naturally taken the ō and the greenhead never did complain, even if the latter always did have that imperceptible frown.

There is just one time, when a certain brunette asks why he never considers taking gyoku for once instead of ō. He had smiled at her then. He remembered replying that ō is just natural to him, in a way the gyoku is not.

Even then, the concept of defeat had always been so far from him. It simply didn't exist. Not for him, the sole heir to Akashi Corporation, not to Akashi Seijūrō.

Ō is the representation of his mental state at that time.

"I think I like gyoku more. That means I have rooms for improvements, I like what it represents better," the brunette smiles, the delicate quirk of her lips softens her features even more.

Remembering her words from when they were second years, Akashi can't help the quirk in his own lips to form a familiar smirk. At the time when the Winter Cup had begun, Rakuzan High is certainly the ō in the board while Seirin High is the gyoku. That is probably why that insufferable girl chose to go to Seirin High despite his initial arrangements for her to attend Rakuzan High.

Years of education provided only by the best and pressured to be so, Akashi has long had perfected a method to foresee the most favourable outcomes and which path is best to take to achieve the expected result. It is probably one of the main reasons why he didn't believe himself capable of defeat, nor of making mistakes.

"Um, Akashi-kun? If...If we added Kuroko-kun to the team, I think the team can be much more versatile..."

"I-It will taste better with seaweed! Uh...p-please?"

"E-Eh? I...I think so too, but...it's not what you're thinking, Akashi-kun. Miyazawa-san and her team is good, they are good as a team."

"N-No! You can't do that, Akashi-kun! This...this no-training privilege you're talking? It...It will jeopardise the team!"

"Thank you for your consideration, Akashi-kun, really...but, I have another school in mind. I think...I think it's best if I go there. N-Not Rakuzan, at least not as I am now... I'm sorry, Akashi-kun."

It's only that particular girl, the one person that continuously challenges his decisions in her subtle, meek and weak-hearted attempts. Never before had Akashi considered the idea that there were perhaps details that escaped his notices, details, that the brunette caught on to despite his inability to see them. Times, that he found himself corrected, if only he allowed the girl her ideas.

The gyoku in his fingers feels warm, as if it emits a different temperature not like the other shōgi pieces placed on the wooden board. These days, Akashi Seijūrō finds himself carrying the gyoku instead of ō. Often, a subtle smile will appear on his face as he softly runs his fingers through the smooth surface of the gyoku.

If Akashi Seijūrō is ō, then Manai Yume is gyoku.

|王|

Streets, Tokyo.

For the newly-crowned King, Seirin Basketball Club does not, not even for a minute, allow themselves to drown in victory and let their guards drown. Okay, perhaps there's an exaggeration there, because the team did throw themselves a huge celebratory party and partied really hard following their victory in the Winter Cup, but really, they keep training as if they are facing death.

Aida Riko, the currently third-year female student makes sure none of her boys entertained the ideas of training less now that they won the Winter Cup. There is the Inter-High in the Summer, and naturally, the Winter Cup in the later months of the year. In the female Coach's books, there is only training harder.

As always, the soothing presence of their quiet manager is the balm to their injured souls from the tortures the Coach dished out ruthlessly. The concerns in her pursed peach-coloured lips as she hands them their tumblers and towels, the nervousness she can't hide as her soft lime-green eyes shifts to the first-aid box every now and then. If Aida Riko is a Demon Coach from Hell, then Manai Yume is the Angel Manager from Heaven.

It is the only explanation why the members of Seirin Basketball Club is still alive after the numerous tortures their bodies are put through.

"Coach is even harsher with training, I wonder if I will survive this week..." Kuroko mourns his fate sadly as he greedily slurps down his cup of panacea, the Maji Burger's vanilla milkshake.

The gentleman he was raised to be, Kuroko Tetsuya never allows his friend since middle-school to walk home by herself. Not even when they were middle-schoolers in Teikō and her house is mere three blocks away from school, which is about ten-minutes on foot. As the one who has known her the longest, he walks her home without anyone telling him to. Often, if not always, his hotheaded partner, Kagami Taiga, accompanies the two.

"You will live," Kagami snorts, a basketball deftly perched on his index finger, turning about like a disco-ball.

The brunette gently pats the slightly hunched shoulder of her friend, smiling comfortingly, "Kagami-kun is right, Tetsuya-kun. Your endurance has grown by a wide margin and I know you will only get better. We don't want to lose to Daiki-kun now, do we? Sat-chan has been talking about how he has been training every time he can."

Like any able manager, the brunette knows the right method to motivate her players. Aomine Daiki is one such methods. Seirin's loss against Tōō in the Inter-High is still a sore point, even after avenging their loss in the Winter Cup. Needless to say, fire returns to the enchanting baby-blue eyes of Kuroko, the same fire that is also present in the redhead's maroon's eyes, only, his is threatening to rage and burn.

Easily returning to his calm disposition, Kuroko blinks away his determination, keeping them alive in his heart but not clouding his mind. Ever since the Winter Cup, when he had accidentally overheard his friend talking to their former Captain, Kuroko has always wanted to ask her this question and he feels like now is the time. He even sets aside his precious vanilla milkshake for it.

"Yume-chan?" he calls out, earning him an answering soft hum from the brunette. "Are you...are you going to transfer to Rakuzan High?"

Two things happened simultaneously after the phantom player's sudden inquiry: one, Kagami lost control over the basketball on his finger and two, Yume halts her steps, nearly tripping over nothing.

Quickly whirling to her quiet friend, the brunette has her lime-green eyes wide on display, surprise colouring them, her petal-like lips slightly agape. To Kuroko, her reactions are very familiar, it's like back when they were in Teikō. Even the fidgeting of her feet, it's like they were middle-schoolers once more.

"I...Where...Where have you heard that from, Tetsuya-kun?" she asks instead of answering.

The non-reply answer causes Kuroko's stomach to drop, fearing for the worse. Is that a confirmation he hears? But why now? Isn't she doing well in Seirin? Rakuzan is in Kyoto, his friend's grandparents live there, so it's only natural that she wants to live closer to her grandparents, especially after...especially after that. Kuroko can understand her reason, but he can't abate his feeling of helplessness.

"You really are moving to Rakuzan?! Why?!" Kagami is nearly spitting fire, he looks angry and frustrated, the orange basketball in his hands suffering the brunt of his anger.

It takes a while for the girl to reply. It almost seems like the three were frozen in time, neither having the indication of making the first move. Every second of silence is only grating their hearts, cracking at their hopes bits by bits.

"...No. I'm not transferring to Rakuzan. At the very least...not this year," the girl finally answers, her head hanging low as she breathes out her reply.

His heart that was originally calmed by her denial quickly rose up after hearing her last few words. Kagami can't help but harshly bark out, "Not this year?!"

Kuroko is more patient, always has been. He holds his partner back. "Kagami-kun," he warns.

The quiet reprimand from his friend manages to hold back his frustration at bay, Kagami knows there are many things he didn't know about their manager, secrets that the brunette didn't share with the rest of the team and only her friends from Teikō know of them. It doesn't change the fact that she has been with them for over a year now, that she is an irreplaceable member to the team and that losing her would hurt.

"Did Ryuji-san...say anything?" Kuroko directs his question towards the brunette, a name Kagami has never heard of before and has no idea who.

The brunette flinches, her eyes darting about. For someone as observant as Kuroko, he realises he is spot-on the mark, but he also knows that this is something his friend is not quite ready to share. Thus when the girl avoids a clear answer, he thinks nothing of pursuing the matters.

"...Nothing about Rakuzan. I...I want to enter Todai University, Tetsuya-kun. Rakuzan...is a good starting point," the brunette concedes, sounding resigned, "but...I like my time here at Seirin, with Tetsuya-kun and you, Kagami-kun, with the senpai-tachi..."

Her answer has been vague, a non-confirmation. As her long-time and one of her closest friends, Kuroko knows not to push. When the brunette decides on something, come hell or high-water, she will still do it. It is one of her characteristics that he admires most. Kuroko decides to take a step back this time.

"I understand," he says in that monotone voice unique to his person. A slight glance at his partner indicates that this conversation is over, and that the redhead too, should let it go.

Not just a little bit frustrated, the frowns marring his face only deepens, but Kagami knows better than refute Kuroko when it comes to these matters. The phantom player is much more in-touch with these kinds of problems, so he swallows his frustration and vents his vexation on the basketball instead.

Just as the brunette allows her shoulders to fall and relax, her baby-blue haired friend had to throw another sensitive question to her face, this time, involving a person they both know very well.

"How about Akashi-kun?"

If she has been drinking something, much like Kuroko has been, Yume is sure she would have choked on it. That very name brought about such reactions from her person.

"W-What about Akashi-kun?" the stutters return so naturally at the mention of her former President and Captain.

Kuroko merely blinks, as if there's nothing wrong with his question. "He may have messaged me, asking for a training-collaboration with Rakuzan in Kyoto. Akashi-kun insists that you are aware of this and have agreed to it."

Like a thief caught red-handed, the brunette avoids the questioning gaze of her friend as well as the burning gaze of her taller friend. Clearly, she has done something and no one else has yet to discover it.

Knowing better than to lie to her observant friend, not that she would even consider doing so, the brunette whispers in a tone so soft it almost goes unheard if not for the close proximity between the three.

"About that...I may or may not have, accidentally, mind you, told Akashi-kun that Riko-senpai is planning a training camp in Kyoto this Summer, now that the school has risen our budgets..."

Clinching the hard-earned and prestigious victory in the Winter Cup with a team only established a year prior, the principal of Seirin High is undoubtedly proud. With such achievement added to the school, he can expect the increase of students applying for the next academic year. The increase of budget is a way for the school to acknowledge the basketball club's efforts.

An increase is an increase, but her friend's explanation confuses Kuroko, who seems to recall of the Coach's recent frustrated mumblings of insufficient budgets for the plans she had for the Summer training camp. He didn't happen to hear of the location as the Coach enjoys springing surprises on them, especially those relating to their trainings-slash-tortures.

"I didn't know that Coach plans for us to train in Kyoto," he eventually says, his baby-blue eyes searching.

Seeing the brunette trying her best to avoid their eyes and not saying anything to Kuroko's questioning, Kagami grows even more suspicious. If his instinct is to be trusted, then their manager has clearly done something behind their Coach's knowledge.

"Spill it. What did you do, Yume?" he almost growls, he really doesn't have the patience for this kind of stuff. The manager is good, but she often gets herself into troubles she could have avoided. It's just hella maddening.

With no way out of her predicament, the brunette can only confess her mistakes much like one does in a confession box. The girl mutters, so softly, as if she is afraid to be heard.

"I...promised," she begins, her voice meek and her shoulders hunched, "...to cook Akashi-kun a meal for the duration of the training-collaboration so long as Rakuzan shares their lodgings at no expense with Seirin..."

The world once again falls silent, where each second passing by feels like a minute has gone by. The young girl feels like she is placed in a court, waiting for the verdict, while the two boys are contemplating the sheer idiocy that is the deal.

This time, Kagami makes the first move by smacking his own forehead with his palm, teeth gritted hard. Next, Kuroko lets out a forlorn sigh, appearing as if he is done with this as he seeks comfort in his nearly-finished vanilla milkshake. The cause of these reactions is fidgeting in place, nervous at the verdict her friends are about to deliver.

"...Essentially," the phantom player sighs, his voice smoothing out to his unique monotone with a tinge of resignation, "Yume-chan...you are signing yourself to a week of slavery as Akashi-kun's personal chef to get Seirin lodgings in Kyoto?"

The brunette flinches minutely, her lime-green eyes peeking out from behind the curtains of her light-brown fringes as she meekly replies, "...yes?"

Kuroko stares at her, his baby-blue eyes uncomprehending. "Akashi-kun's?" As in, Akashi Seijūrō, our former Captain and former Student Council's President, that Akashi-kun?

"...yes," she answers, her voice softer, low enough that a slight breeze can cover it.

Another sigh, and eventually all the phantom player says to his friend, "I hope you are not regretting your choice, Yume-chan."

Followed by a whimper, "...I'm regretting it already."

Even now, the brunette isn't sure what possessed her that day when she agreed to that suspicious deal the redhead offered. She was sure it's not alcohol intoxication as she has never touched one, and she wasn't half-asleep as the call was in the mid-day. A food-coma, maybe? Did she even eat to the point of bursting then?

It's a mystery.

|玉|

Rakuzan-Seirin training-collaboration, Kyoto.

The week training-collaboration of Rakuzan-Seirin is turning out to be a great pain despite the undeniable improvements on both sides of the teams. The interactions between the two teams have so far, been nothing but friendly. There are few altercations here and there, without a doubt, started by one of the hotheads in each team, but nothing overly damaging.

One thing to note is the especially poor brunette, whose Hell returns with vengeance now that she is the redhead's personal chef for the whole week.

The smirks, oh, those damnable smirks! The young girl wants to fume, struggling to iron-clad her traitorous thoughts inside her mind. So far, no one has found evidence of the redhead being able to read someone's thoughts, but the opposite is also true, so she best be on guard.

What's wrong with seaweed? I like seaweed! the brunette swallows her complains, her lime-green eyes latching into the starry sky of Kyoto spread above her head.

TING!

The sudden interruption to her thoughts came from her phone, a message. She rummages her pocket for her phone and flips it open to read the new message, and as she reads the name of the sender, her lips curls into a small smile.


From: Nijimura-senpai

What are you doing? Busy?


Easily, her dainty fingers typed on her reply,


To: Nijimura-senpai

No. I'm on a break. Seirin is training with Rakuzan. We are in Kyoto right now.


Not even thirty-seconds after sending her message, the brunette is once again surprised when her phone begins to ring.

RING! RING! RING!

"...senpai?" the brunette whispers in slight befuddlement after picking up the call. This is an international call! The raven-haired former Captain is currently in the USA, which is why she is so surprised.

"Manai," his voice rings out from the other end of the line, bringing with it, a special effect it always had on her.

"What have you been doing lately?" Like every call he made to her—usually, via an application—he asks that same question, it's his way of checking-up on her.

When she was at her loneliest, there were two people who stayed with her in that strange, unfamiliar land: one was Ryuji-san, and the other...Nijimura-senpai. After it was decided that she would return to Japan, the ravenette never fails to make a weekly call to her where the two would speak for about three to five minutes, sometimes even longer.

At her senpai's concerns for her, the brunette is undoubtedly warmed, after all, he is even willing to make the expensive international call for their weekly calls.

"Seirin is training with Rakuzan in Kyoto. I...made a deal with Akashi-kun. We, Seirin, don't have enough funds to pay for the lodgings in Kyoto, the flight tickets are okay, but the cheap lodgings are full, so...yeah, a deal with Akashi-kun..."

A deal. With the devil. The shudders.

Nijimura chuckles softly, his tone gentle, "With Akashi? Brave, aren't you? You used to avoid him at any chance you got, what changes?"

"...the budget happens," the brunette says ruefully. Then again, ever since she became involved with Sat-chan, who brought along with her the basket-baka Daiki-kun, in which basketball is included in the full-package...everything started to change.

"If it gets too much, you know Momoi is always on your side. Even Akashi won't risk her fury," the ravenette reminds her in good humour. If there is someone the pinkette is protective to the point of being over about it, then it's her bestfriend, the brunette herself.

The thought of her bestfriend brings joy to her voice, "That's cruel, senpai. You know how Sat-chan is. And...I don't think I want to see Akashi-kun's and Sat-chan's confrontation for the second time...once, is enough..."

"I agree with you there. You really are Momoi's inverse scale," he replies, obviously sounding amused.

Quiet returns to the two teenagers as both simply soak themselves in the comfortable silence. It happens often between them, not because they ran out of things to speak about, but because they are enjoying each other's company even wordlessly.

"...senpai? How...how is your father doing?" the brunette eventually breaks the silence, her tone laced with anxiety.

The ravenette goes quiet on the other side of the line, which comes as no surprise to her. Ever since, since...that, the ravenette makes a point of not bringing up his father in front of her. The brunette appreciates it and she knows why he did it, she wasn't in a good place back then. She knows she didn't have anything nice to say if he was to talk about his father to her then.

"Father...he is getting better," the low voice only males are capable of sounds out from her phone, she can almost see the smile on his face as he speaks to her through the phone.

The same gentle smile that comforts her every time she sees it, and as it flashes in her mind, she can't help her own smile and this time, she can sincerely say, "I'm glad, senpai."

The quiet that returns this time seems to be from the ravenette deliberating over something, and the brunette patiently waits for him to continue. He does.

"We...my family and I are planning to return to Japan soon..." his voice is so low that it is magnetising, she can almost lose herself in it. "Will...will you...come see me in the airport when I return?"

Thump, thump, thump, the brunette can feel the fast beat of her heart in reactions to her senpai's words, as if she just had a run. Heat is crawling up her cheeks and she knows that she must be blushing heavily at this time. If she knows herself well, then her lime-green eyes should be wide-open and her lips slightly agape. Like they always do when she is flustered.

"I...I-IneedtoasktheCoach'spermissionfirst...!" the brunette inevitably throws the fastball to her brown-haired senpai, stuttering and speaking so fast that it's hard to make out her words.

A soft chuckle reverberates from the other side of the line, she doesn't want to know the expression her senpai is making right now. He sounds part-amused and part...almost...loving...?

"Okay, you should ask your Coach. And...when you get the answer, don't forget to tell me, okay?" his voice, if anything, is huskier. Too tempting!

The brunette is helpless, even after years have passed, her senpai still manages to evoke such reactions from her, the fast-beating of her heart, the unhelpful blushes, the heavy stuttering...there must be something in his voice. Does she unknowingly have a voice-fetish or something?

"I...I understand, senpai. U-Uh, I...I think I need to go now...?" the brunette trails off, her tone unsure. No one is calling for her, but surely she has had enough break and should go see Riko-senpai before her senpai yells for her?

Nijimura responds with a low hum, and he closes their conversation gently, "Go. Oyasumi, Manai."

Yeah. There is definitely something in his voice, the brunette can still feel the heavy beats of her helpless heart, "O-Oyasumi, Nijimura-senpai."

And as a smile is hanging on her petal-like lips following the end of the phone-call, the brunette fails to notice the gaze of a certain redhead whose ruby-red eyes are filled with complex emotions.

|銀|

Akashi Seijūrō's Room, Rakuzan-Seirin training-collaboration, Kyoto.

The door to the room is closed with a soft thud as the room's owner slowly walks to the red-leathered, one-seater sofa. Placed between the two sofas are a dark-wooden table with four legs, on it is a shōgi board, the pieces are neatly arranged with but one piece missing: the gyoku.

Wordlessly, the redhead produces the missing piece from his pocket, his long fingers stroking it gently between his index finger and his thumb, a habit he has been developing lately, one he is planning to keep.

Always, he holds the gyoku in his fingers preciously, even before he truly knows the meaning behind the piece. Back when they were in middle-school, the brunette has had something going-on with the raven-haired Captain, partly due to his intervention. He doesn't regret it because he knows that it was necessary. It's just...he can't help but wonder...

Even now, is the gin still closer to gyoku? Can't it be the ō?

|王|

First Year, Teikō.

It was during the preparation days for their first Culture Festival in Teikō. The brunette was the Treasurer for the Student Council, one of the three first years in the Council. At that time, Class 1-B, the brunette's and her bestfriend's class were holding an Animal-Ears Cafe. The redhead likened the girl with the dull hair colour and pleasing lime-green eyes to a deer.

"Personally, I think a deer suits Manai-san most," he spoke, his tone laced with amusement.

It was a suggestion made after he imagined various of animals that represent her best. A deer, a seemingly harmless and plain four-legged animal with white spots decorating its brown-furred lithe body. The adorable animal that had a soothing and calming presence even as it appeared so ordinary it could easily fade in amongst the crowds.

The brunette had been annoyed then. Of course she tried to hide her annoyance at him, but he had easily seen through the twitch in her eye. He had enjoyed ruffling her feathers, the reactions only he had gotten from her. When he later saw her appearance in the full-animal get-up, he knew he was correct in his assessment that she would suit a deer.

The brunette had adorable deer-ears and tiny horns, light brown in colour with white spots. She was wearing the same colour for her top and bottom. Her lime-green eyes were glowing softly, charming as it was soothing. The healthy shades of red brushing her cheeks made her all the more enticing.

He couldn't help the triumphant smirk as soon as he saw that brown accessory on her head. Of course he didn't choose wrong. He had been so determined to get her attention and for her to acknowledge that he was right, only for a familiar voice to do so first.

"You four... It's your shifts! People were lining up, get back to work!" the voice scolded.

The brunette perked up at his voice and her gaze slid over to him, heat rising up her cheeks. And as if sensing the heat radiating off her face, the older male then turned towards her. He noticed her reddened cheeks first; nothing unusual as of then. His eyes roved up to what lied on top of her head; deer ears.

The brownish leathers with white spots coupled with mini ivory horns complimented her honey-amber tresses, almost as if they belonged there in the first place. Lime-green pools blinking at him bashfully, staring straight into his onyx orbs with clear hesitation but showing no signs of averting her gaze. Healthy shades of red brushed her pale complexion, accentuating her babyish features.

Needless to say, his former Captain was throughly surprised – a nice surprise nonetheless. The ravenette felt his own cheeks warmed as both gazed into each other's eyes, captivated. The former Captain could hear the irregular rhythm of his heartbeats, how it was abnormally slow as if time itself had slowed down. The Captain knew the cause. He suspected the reason. But he wasn't sure if it was what he thought it was.

There was an undeniable attraction between them, one he had hands in causing. An uncomfortable feelings rose within him, there was irritation when he saw the two teenagers exchanging gazes like no one else was there. He coughed to cease their moments.

Why was her reactions to his Captain so different? Before this, the redhead was satisfied with her reactions only he got to see. After this? Well...

"You took off the deer-ears, Manai-san? A shame. I say you look adorable with them on," Akashi spoke good-naturedly as good natured as he could be, a formal smile accompanying his compliment.

"...Thank you, Akashi-kun. But I have two functioning ears," she returned a courteous smile.

It appeared his teasings elevated several levels. Surely if he continued to elicit such reactions from her, it must meant he was special to her?

After all, he was the one who told her that she would suit the deer-ears. Not Nijimura-san.

|王|

Rakuzan-Seirin training-collaboration, Kyoto.

The sun rising signals the beginning of another day, for the basketball players from both Rakuzan and Seirin, it's another day of hard training, for a certain brunette? It's another day of serving as the personal chef to a redhead-devil.

First thing to-do on the list: check-in with Rakuzan's Captain.

As with the other days, the brunette tidies herself up before stopping by the redhead's room, greeting everyone she met on her way there. Like always, the redhead is already awake and after the first series of knocks, his steady voice will answer her wordless inquiry.

"Come in," the redhead calls from inside the room, his voice, despite being muffled by the walls, is clear.

Inhaling briefly, the brunette slides the door open as she steps inside, closing the door behind her. The moment she does that, she can see the redhead is sitting on one of the two one-seater sofas in the room. A wooden board in neatly placed on the table between the sofas and the shōgi pieces are readily arranged for a match.

Not unsurprisingly, the redhead is sitting on the sofa on the side of the ō on the shōgi board. For a moment there, the brunette can feel her eyes transfixed at the charming figure of the young man. She has always been aware since the first time she saw him, that his appearance is extremely pleasing to the eyes, including hers.

This moment, however, is broken when the redhead lifts his gaze away from the board. There is nothing wrong with his mesmerising ruby-red eyes. It's that irritating, hardly-ever-missing smirk.

"Manai-san, have a match with me," he says casually, completely wiping out whatever fascination she may still have on his dashing good-looks.

It's no secret that the redhead enjoys a good game of shōgi, even back when they were in middle-school. There was a time when Sat-chan held a Shōgi Tournament just for Akashi-kun, that, and her bestfriend was just wanting some fun. The end to that tournament? Apparently, her bestfriend was one hell of a strategist, Midorima nearly lost his spot as Akashi-kun's shōgi-buddy that day.

As for herself...the brunette had never played shōgi until the redhead insisted on teaching her the rules. Even if losing every time she played against the redhead does nothing good to her confidence, she still does it anyway. After all, it's true that he is a master of this particular board game. Playing a game with him will only get her to his level sooner, even if she would never quite reach his level of mastery.

"Sure," the brunette replies as she easily slides into the opposing sofa, taking her place on the other side of the board.

Clearly, she has came a long way since the time when she was his Treasurer of the Student Council in their first year of middle-school. Back then, his sole presence was more than enough to mess up her nerves. It's better now, at the very least, the brunette isn't about to run away at the first chance available.

It is only when the brunette has settled herself that she realises the oddity on her side of the board. She is missing two shōgi pieces: the gyoku and the left gin.

It's not like Akashi-kun to set-up the pieces wrong...is there anything more to this? the brunette can't help but think, her eyebrows furrowed in her confusion.

Wordlessly, the brunette raises her soft lime-green eyes to his stunning ruby-red eyes, the pair of eyes that has never failed in entrancing her. Just as quiet, the redhead reaches into his kimono to bring out one of the two missing pieces, the gyoku, clutched securely between his index finger and his thumb.

To the brunette's knowledge, keeping a shōgi piece on his person has always been a habit of the redhead. As the Treasurer of Student Council, she had worked closely with former President. Naturally, she was in the know of the few habits he had back then. She recalled that he used to bring out a shōgi piece to be held between his index finger and thumb, caressing the wood as he delved into his thoughts.

The odd thing here, is the fact that particular piece is usually the ō and never other pieces.

Now that the gyoku is before her eyes, the redhead keeps his silence as he gently strokes the wooden piece on his fingers, making no sign of giving her the piece. His movements are so gentle, almost like caressing a child. This unexpected sight tickles at her heart. For once, that brilliant pair of ruby-red eyes is narrowed in a way that is not threatening.

In fact...within those beautiful ruby-red eyes, she finds...dare she says...affections?

Akashi-kun...? she fidgets, unsure why the redhead is not giving her the gyoku so they can play the match. The soft emotions in his eyes is freaking her out for all the wrong reasons. Reasons, she would never have associated with him before this display of vulnerability.

Manai Yume is proud to say that her understanding of arts and its beauty is higher than average, for that reason, she acknowledges that the features of the redhead is one of perfection. No one can deny that Akashi Seijūrō is handsome, to the point of resembling the statue of a Greek God, even if no one will hear such coming out from her mouth. However, a statue of Greek God is still a statue. One to appreciate, but certainly not one to consider as boyfriend-material.

The brunette has always thought of the redhead as such, but today? This Akashi Seijūrō before her eyes, with moving emotions reflected in his charismatic ruby-red eyes? For once, he doesn't appear as a statue more than he is a living person. Which is...troubling. For her heart, at least.

Thump...thump...thump, the sensations of her heart beating against her ribcages is nothing new, but for her heart to behave this way because of the redhead? Now that, is something new.

With a certain ravenette, she has almost expected it every time they met. It's a familiar feeling, one that is both sweet and exciting. This? This one is different. It's...almost scary. Like something, or someone, is after her...?

Why is Akashi-kun being so weird anyway? Is this a new form of teasing? the brunette grumbles inwardly. Does he want her to ask him for the shōgi piece, or something? As always, the things he does, escapes her understanding. The redhead seems to enjoy holding out on her, a fact that has never changed from their Teikō days.

Unable to watch in silence any longer, no more than she can restrain the loud beatings of her heart, the brunette eventually asks the the redhead, "Akashi-kun, can you hand me the gyoku now? And where is the left gin? We can't play a match like this."

Instead of answering, the redhead seems to be reminiscing, his ruby-red eyes misted over, seeing past the board and to a time of once was.

"Do you remember the time when I taught you the roles of each piece? You were learning how to play then," he speaks softly, his voice low yet clear. If monotone is a voice characteristic unique to Kuroko, then clarity is Akashi's.

Of her memories involving the redhead, there were only a handful few that were truly enjoyable, where he wasn't teasing her and was seriously imparting his knowledges on her. When her cheeks weren't burning hot like they were on fire and that her lime-green eyes were neither wide in surprise nor twitching in annoyance. One of such memories was of him teaching her how to play shōgi, a game which was important to him.

"I do," she replies just as soft. There is just no way she would forget. It was the day when she learned, that the redhead-devil actually has a slight dimple on his right cheek.

Likening her friends to the shōgi pieces, the brunette once told him this: if he is the irrefutable ō, then Midorima is the kyō, Kuroko the kaku, while Kise is the kei, and Aomine the hi, with Nijimura as the gin and finally, Momoi the kin. The ō is the farthest from the gyoku, kin is the closest, gin is next, then kei, ended by kyō. The kaku and hi shares the same rank.

Returning to the present, the redhead still has that smirk on his face, one that suits him better than a smile ever could. Now that her heart is calmer after the short flashback, some of her initial irritations returns to her heart. Whatever that was that caused her heart to thump wildly must be a momentary illusion.

"Can you play without the left gin, Manai-san?" he levels that smirk at her, that infinitely-annoying, damnable smirk.

Without the left gin? Then what about the gyoku he is holding hostage? the brunette is finally frustrated with his nonsensical behaviours. She is seventeen now, no longer the awkward young girl she was back in Teikō where she was only fourteen. Just when is he going to stop with his teasings?

"Are we going to play, or not?" she huffs, clearly annoyed, "I have things to do, Akashi-kun. Riko-senpai will be looking for me soon."

Akashi chuckles, a sound so familiar but different, it is deeper than what she remembered. She can see from where she sits, his chest reverberating from his chuckling. Seeing him like this, the brunette is somewhat relieved. The redhead is no longer as burdened as he was back when they were in middle-school. His shoulders are now loose, not as taut. His eyebrows still carry with them the dignity, but with less of expectations.

The redhead reaches out for the ō placed on his side of the board, "We are going to play shōgi," he intones slowly, "...but not on this wooden board."

Not just a little bit confused with his cryptic messages, the brunette gazes up at him with questions in her lime-green eyes. Akashi says nothing else as he plucks out her right hand—rather forcefully she might adds, although she doesn't really resist because you just don't refuse the devil—places it palm-up and puts the ō on her palm before he closes her fingers around it.

On a side note, the feel of his fingers brushing against her palm is more than just a little ticklish. There may be a bit of a jolt, almost like that of a sudden shock from the electricity. There is a slight lingering of warmth, his body-temperature on hers. The brunette even unconsciously registers the difference of softness between her fingers, and his. Each and every sensations are distracting her from her thoughts.

Without leaving her time to ask him what this is all about, the redhead stands up to leave, fingering the gyoku as he glances at her sideways, his ruby-red eyes brighter than they had ever been. There is something new burning in that pair of enchanting eyes, one that sets her heart back thumping just a bit faster, and heat creeping up her neck, to her cheeks, even up to her ears.

"Be ready, Manai-san. I never lose in shōgi," he declares confidently, and she doesn't doubt his statement, not even a little bit.

The point here is...is there a new rule to shōgi that she doesn't know about? One where the match takes place not on the board but elsewhere?

Seriously, the brunette is still in a state of confusion minutes later after the redhead left his room, her lime-green eyes focusing at ō resting peacefully on her palm. What is that all about?

|玉|

Bonus: Two rocks and a hopeless case.

Sitting innocently on the brunette's open palm is the ō a certain redhead placed there earlier in the day. Somehow, the mere sight of it is taunting her, reminding her of the odd declaration of the redhead. There is definitely something more to it, she had been asking around for the rules to shōgi that she might have not known about, but there was nothing relating to a match not played on the board, unless it was a substitute board, which was still a board nonetheless.

The older brunette who is in the middle of stripping herself bare of her clothes so she can soak herself in the onsen notices the absentmindedness of her kōhai, and she takes it upon herself to shake the younger brunette from her self-induced stupor.

"Manai-chan? What's that? A shōgi piece? Why did you bring it here?" Riko raises a questioning eyebrow at the now identified object on her kōhai's palm.

Instead of answering her senpai, the brunette sighs heavily. With her eyebrows furrowed in concentration and her lime-green eyes narrowed in contemplation, the young manager stays quiet for a while, confusing her senpai even more. When her peach-coloured lips are pulled taut and her lime-green eyes are raised to stare sharply into her senpai's caramel eyes, the older brunette can tell that she is being scrutinised.

Frankly, Riko begins to feel uncomfortable from her kōhai's scrutiny, and she is about to speak when said kōhai seems to reach a decision.

"Riko-senpai," her usually meek kōhai begins, her tone of voice unsure, "if someone who is skilled in shōgi invites you to a match, then he takes the gyoku while giving you the ō, and tells you that the match is not going to be on the wooden board, what could he possibly mean?"

An accomplished Coach of basketball, Aida Riko is, but these shōgi terms suddenly thrown at her out of nowhere? Safe to say, the female third-year is not getting it. To help her senpai gets the situation, the younger brunette divulges her discussion with the opposing team's Captain, word for word, even if not the exact wordings.

And with the story cleared, Aida Riko has an epiphany:

"I see... It's clear now," the older brunette speaks slowly, her expression grave. Her caramel-eyes are steadily levelled at her kōhai's lime-green ones and her tone low, "Akashi-kun..."

The brunette parrots her senpai's word, extremely curious of what her senpai realises that she doesn't. "Akashi-kun...?"

"He is..." the senpai trails off, increasing the suspense.

"...he is?" the brunette pushes for answer, she can almost feel her heart beating loudly.

Inhale, exhale. Inhale, exhale. The older brunette then explodes, "He is clearly trying to recruit you into Rakuzan! The nerve of that boy! So what if he is the Generation of Miracles' Captain?! That doesn't allow him to do this! Trying to poach from us?!"

P-Poach?! Akashi-kun is...? B-But, it makes sense! Even after the Winter Cup, Akashi-kun is still trying to convince me to transfer to Rakuzan...!

"I-Is that it? Akashi-kun...he wants me to transfer to Rakuzan? But...I have already refused his offer before..." the brunette mutters weakly, no longer knowing what to believe.

It's easier for Riko. "W-What?! You mean he tried once already?!" she panics, her arms moving around wildly, "This is not good! That sly fox! Listen to me, Yume-chan," the older brunette grasps on to the younger girl's shoulders, "you have to stay far, far away from Akashi-kun! I just know he won't be playing fair!"

Fair or not fair, this is Akashi-kun we are talking about. I have no chance of winning either way! The only choice left is to run! Riko-senpai is right!

The brunette nods gravely, her lime-green eyes no longer hesitant, "I-I understand, Riko-senpai!"

Mission starts: stay away from Akashi Seijūrō!

|角|

The other side of the room...

A certain phantom player has accidentally heard the two girls from his team conversing, and at the conclusion both arrived in, he can't help sighing. Two girls on the team, and both are rocks, dense to a fault in the matters of romance. Kuroko really pities his friend and senpai.

Then again, Akashi-kun is being vague on purpose, he muses to himself as he folds his shirt, if Akashi-kun straight out tells Yume-chan he likes her, I believe she will run away, to the USA most likely...after she confirms with a doctor, that yes, her hearing is in no way damaged.

"So...that bastard Akashi is still trying to get Yume transfer to Rakuzan?!" the hotheaded redhead is about to roar, only the presences of the two females on the other side of the room mutes his volume. If the Coach notices that they were eavesdropping...let's just leave it at that.

Kagami expects his partner to be just as frustrated and angry as he is, but the only response he gets from Kuroko is a blank stare, a sigh and nothing else as the phantom player finished folding his clothes, storing them into the drawers, then he wraps his towel around his waist as he walks past the changing room to get into the onsen.

"Kagami-kun...you are hopeless."

Three words not including his name is enough to lift the volume restrictions the redhead places on himself so as to not alert the two females on the other side. Once a loudmouth, always a loudmouth.

"Hah?! What did you just say?! Kuroko, you bastard! Get back here!"


So yeah, how is it?

Reviews are very much appreciated!

Next time, hopefully it's going to be Chapter 44...or maybe 43.6?