It had been a year since Akihiko had come to stay at the cottage on the castle grounds. A year and his writing had improved, and so had his well-being. He usually spent his days following Misaki like a shadow. He knew what today was, remembering the conversations back at the shop when they had first met. Celebrations had been going all week, keeping Misaki busy, causing the rare instance of Akihiko being alone.
He made his way towards the lake where they spent most of their time together, away from the prying eyes of everyone else on the grounds. He wasn't sure when Misaki would be free from the festivities, or if he would get to see him today, but figured that the lake was the best spot to go to if he wanted to be found.
In his hands was the necklace that he had been working on for the better part of most of the year. A small wooden pendant with a sleeping bunny carved into it; he had learned the woodworking skill among various houses, it was something to keep him busy before boredom would set in. He didn't plan on making anything to give away at first - but as he worked on it, it turned into something more-it was one of his better pieces and he wanted to give it away as something for someone to remember him by.
The boy appeared in his mind again, he couldn't fathom why he thought about him so often. The words he had spoken repeated themselves over and over, asking for his name, teaching him to write, and coaxing him along-giving him something to look forward to...to keep going. He didn't act like the others around him, he simply... noticed him, and acted...like they were equals.
He was nervous to present the pendant and kept fidgeting with it-twirling it around in his fingers until he finally set it down back in its box as he waited at the edge of the lake. He sat down in the grass and picked up the pen and paper he brought with him and started writing.
The sound of Misaki's voice made him jump. He looked up and realized who it was, then relaxed as the boy sat down next to him. "Whatcha writing?" the boy asked, to which Akihiko shrugged. It wasn't that interesting of a story to share just yet. One year. One year since they met...since he was able to write and communicate when and if he wanted. One year and he was still searching for the right story.
"Can you believe it's been a whole year since I met you?" Akihiko stared at him, wondering how it was they could be thinking about the same thing. He wondered what that year meant to Misaki, and how Misaki viewed it in his eyes. Then he remembered the pendant, burning a hole in his mind. Suddenly, the nervousness reappeared as he second-guessed himself, wanting to give it away while also wanting it to be...something more.
Before he changed his mind, he swiftly grabbed the box that held the pendant from the ground and stood up quickly, trying to get the better of his nerves. He glanced once at Misaki then looked away and thrust his hand out towards him.
Akihiko waited for the response, barely able to look at Misaki as he opened it. Then he saw Misaki hold it up, the way he admired it.
"Did you make this?" he asked as Akihiko looked down at the grass and nodded, hoping it wasn't too apparent how hot his face felt right then. "It's beautiful," Misaki whispered, causing Akihiko to look up in surprise. Beautiful, he hadn't heard that word related to him in any way since he could remember-he liked that word, the way Misaki said it; he made a mental note to try to figure out how to spell it in the future. "Help me put it on?" Akihiko blinked in surprise, wondering if the boy really liked it.
"I love it," Misaki stated, assuredly.
As Akihiko helped him put it on, a sudden flash of an image appeared in his mind - of him kissing the boy. Picturing his fingers trailing along the boy's neck, his collarbone, his cheek as he turned Misaki to face him, tilting his chin up towards him, Akihiko leaning down and softly brushing his lips against Misaki's, parting them as the kiss became deeper, Akihiko's hands wrapping around Misaki's waist, pulling him closer to him as Misaki wrapped his arms around his own neck.
As quickly as the scene had come into play, it just as quickly faded out as he snapped back to reality. He pictured two scenarios in response to this action, one was Misaki actually kissing him back (yeah, right). The other scenario that played out consisted of Misaki acting in anger because of it, and all Akihiko could do was acknowledge the possibility of losing the only person to show him kindness in a long time. So he pushed those feelings deep, deep down, resolving that it was best to just be able to be by his side, where he could wear a mask of indifference.
"I'll never take it off," Misaki stated, the pendant lay smoothly against his skin.
Yeah, Akihiko thought to himself, me neither.
End of Act 1.