Author's Note: I've had this idea since the manga ended, but after like 5 rereads and finding out that Akiyama and Nao hugged in the last tankobon, I've made enough progress to release the first part! Please let me know what you think!
It's become a habit, to check his phone during his lunch break. He wipes his forehead with the back of his hand and watches the screen light up.
I got invited to lunch on Saturday, and I said yes. I've just found out it's a mixer… Nao's message trails off with uncertainty.
His first instinct is to tell her to go. She's in college, she should enjoy herself, and after the end of a long ordeal of gambling and manipulation, she deserves to. His next thought is of Nao, sitting among faceless boys who keep refilling her glass, and it's accompanied by a sour feeling.
"Hey, Akiyama!" One of his coworkers takes a seat beside him and slaps his back. "Is that your girlfriend?"
He manages a neutral audible response. In the beginning, he protested that she certainly was not, but that only egged on the rest of the laborers. As the rounds continued and the stress accumulated, he no longer had the energy to deny it. Besides, it was convenient, just in case she ran into trouble and he had to leave on short notice. It would be easy to pretend there was a breakup, once Nao inevitably ceased texting. But she hadn't so far, and now, he was beginning to feel a little guilty that he was still continuing the facade. And that he didn't hate the thought of her as his girlfriend.
"Can't you introduce her to us sometime?"
"Not a chance." He monotonously replies as he texts back, knowing she won't interpret it harshly. You can decide what you want.
He continues to glance at his phone afterwards, but she never tells him whether she goes or not.
It's basic psychology. Adrenaline, mistaken for attraction, and the Liar Game had provided plenty of adrenaline. It's not like he can pretend he was unscathed.
Or that he was the only one. Since the first revival round, Nao's been a topic of interest, especially among the predominantly male players. Of course, intending to rescue them all from lifelong debt would endear her to anyone with a heart. But she was also young and one of the only women in the Liar Game. The idle chatter hadn't escaped Akiyama's ears, and he always itched for a cigarette when someone expressed wanting to ask her out. Nobody ever worked up the courage, which was perfectly fine, because none of them were good enough for her anyway.
He's been tempted to ask if she returns anyone's interest, to play it off as the protective instinct of an older brother or a guardian. But he's known for a while now, that his feelings fall in a different category. From the day he left prison, Nao's illuminated his life, with her genuine nature. Honest to a fault, but stubborn too. Her clumsy yet heartfelt words, her gaze becoming clearer every time they meet. It's been two months since they last did, with the end of the final round. He'll give it another season, at least. Maybe, that'll be enough for her to move on, to embrace the bright future ahead of her. Mixers included.
He works on the weekends for extra pay. A call comes in, and he's assigned to fix a malfunctioning light fixture. He enters the restaurant with his bag, and the owner directs him to the site of the issue. He keeps walking, even when his eyes catch on a brilliant red dress and its wearer.
Nao is sitting at the end of one table occupied by a group of university students. They chatter amongst themselves, but she isn't engaged, stirring her drink and looking thoughtful. She happens to glance in his direction and her eyes widen. Her lips part and she leans forward, suddenly alert.
"And I'll get the ladder for you. Thank you in advance." The owner is saying, and Akiyama remembers to acknowledge him.
"Yeah, sure." In the seconds that follow, he stares at the light, as if he could figure out what went wrong from here. Then, the ladder is set up for him and he climbs. He busies his mind with fixing the damn thing, training his eyes on the various wires.
And that's when he fumbles, dropping his pliers. Luckily, it doesn't break, but it hits the floor with a loud clatter. Before he can take a step down, Nao's reached it first, kneeling to pick it up. Was she that close? Or, as the weakest part of him suggests, was she waiting for such an opportunity?
She lifts the pliers, her gaze warm. "Akiyama-san, here you go."
They talked over the phone during the video release. However, it's completely different to hear her in person again. He really has missed her.
"Thanks." He murmurs. He could be careful about how he takes the tool back, but it's not the first time they've touched, and if his fingers brush the inside of her wrist, he doesn't mind. At all.
He focuses on the job, though he can tell that Nao is still at the base of the ladder. Distantly, he hears her friends calling out, coaxing her to return to the table. She waves them off, and they chalk it up to her altruistic spirit, lending her help to the obviously clumsy repairman. He should encourage her to go back to them. Instead, he keeps quiet, and he avoids looking down until the light is working properly.
When the last screw is in place and he turns his head, Nao is offering her hand with a grin. Inexplicably, he feels embarrassed. As if he didn't embrace her in front of everybody when the final round was over.
Slowly, he descends, one step at a time. Once she's in reach, he touches his palm to hers. Her skin is soft, and her pulse is accelerated. She doesn't break eye contact, a nervous giggle escaping her when he's finally back on the floor.
"Is something funny?" He asks.
"It's just that I've never seen you at work before. It's different." Her smile is sweet. They're still holding hands.
Then, the restaurant owner approaches with the envelope of his bonus. It seems that's his cue to go, and Nao's party is preparing to head out. As her friends look towards them, he releases her fingers and disappears into the background, finding the closest exit. He walks down a side street, a detour since he has to wait for the next bus. The weather is temperate, and piles of dead brown leaves are strewn about.
Meeting her was an utter coincidence, but…if she'd texted where she would be today, would he have accepted the job?
"Akiyama-san!"
That's the only warning, before she runs straight into him. It's ironically like how they first met. This time, they don't fall to the ground, but they awkwardly spin, like a precarious dance. His hands are on her waist and shoulder to steady her, as she tightly grips his shirt. For a second, he stares down into her large dark eyes.
"You ran in those heels?"
"I wanted to catch up to you." She's out of breath, and he guides her to the adjacent brick wall. They lean against the cool surface, a comfortable silence falling over them.
He speaks first. "What about the mixer?"
"It's fine, I said I was leaving early. It wasn't going well for me, anyway."
"Hm." It's their loss. He's very pleased.
"I'd rather spend time with you. We really haven't, not since the final round. It ended late, and not much happened after you…" She mumbles.
"Huh? I did what?" He can't resist teasing her.
"Y-you hugged me." Her face is bright red, and she looks endearingly cute. "And I can't forget it."
I can't either. The words are on the tip of his tongue, and he bites them back. That moment's haunted him. Why did he do that? Wasn't it because he was happy that they'd won and he was immensely proud of her? Hadn't he sworn to make sure she'd live in peace? And why couldn't he stop himself from craving more of her touch, her scent, her everything?
He averts his gaze, unable to directly look at her, not with this tangle of emotions. "...Have you heard of the suspension bridge effect?"
"Oh, yes. I learned about it from my psychology class, earlier this semester. The response to fear is interpreted as arousal, in a dangerous situation."
"That's right."
"Why are you bringing it up?"
He scratches the back of his neck, speaking without inflection. "That was a possibility for why."
To his shock, Nao laughs. "Akiyama-san, you really don't know anything about women's feelings!"
"You've said that before." He grumbles. The Liar Game rarely caused her to laugh, and so, he can't be blamed if he watches her closely, to commit her expression to memory.
"Yes, and you haven't changed in that aspect!" She plants her hands on her hips. "If it truly is the suspension bridge effect, it doesn't matter to me. That doesn't make it less real. Also…I wouldn't be upset if you're attracted to me." Her breath catches, as her voice falters again. "I'd actually really like that…"
"Nao." Her name aches in his throat. "Are you sure of what you're asking?" He knows, but he has to hear it from her.
She nods. "I think a lot about you, and I thought about that moment over and over. You wouldn't have hugged me, if you really did believe it was the suspension bridge effect. I can tell you're conflicted, that you think I deserve better. And like always, you're trying to protect me, that associating with an ex-convict will affect my future."
"Well, I am-"
"I don't think what you did was bad. You took down that corporation because you loved your mother, there's nothing wrong about that." She's misty-eyed now, her voice trembling. "You helped me, when nobody else would, and even though the Liar Game was so scary, you helped other people too. I don't want to be like strangers. I know you're good and kind and warm. I want to protect you too, to continue working together with you. Akiyama-san…don't disappear from me."
He knows better than anyone else, how incredible she is at moving people's hearts. And she's done it to him, from day one. He draws her in, tucking her head under his chin. Her gasp tickles his neck, as he hushes her. "Don't cry. I really don't like seeing you cry."
"You're the reason this time." Her accusation is a warble, but he can tell she's already recovering. Her tears never last for long.
"Yeah, sorry." He pauses. "I can't erase my crimes, and even if I could wipe the slate clean, I don't know if I'd take that opportunity. But I'd like to find a job that suits me better, work my way up some more. You also have your studies."
"I understand. I just want to learn more about you, outside of what we went through these past few months."
"That sounds good to me." And he smiles at her. He wipes away a stray tear with his thumb, one little selfish act. "You can pick the time and place. I'll be there."
"Okay."
"After your midterms."
Her jaw drops. "How'd you know when they are?"
"I have my ways." He smirks at her incredulous expression and grabs her hand. "Come on, I'll make sure you get home safely."
Without letting go, she strides ahead of him. "There's a park across from my place. We can stop there on the way back. It's such a nice day, it'll be fun!"
A crisp wind blows past, ruffling her hair and dress. Yellow gingko leaves float down, decorating the path ahead. Someday, when she graduates and if he finds a steady line of work he tolerates, they can have a deeper conversation about what's next. For now, he's content to reunite with her. He clasps her hand tighter and follows her lead.
