In the end, Furihata still came to the library. The cowardly part of his mind was trying to convince him to walk out of there that instant to avoid be seen with the student prisedent and stop the issue, but the mere thought of Akashi's stoic visage made him rethink about his decision. Despite his unwillingness to meet the other, his rational side wanted to do so to discuss the tricky issue. If they won't do any action, this rumor will be spreading widely hard enough to stop.
Becoming popular with girls will always be one of a male's dream, especially him who never once experience the notion of dating. But never in his life did he wish it to be like this - linked to someone whose very own reputation scarce ones life. A scary one and a GUY to boot.
Fukuda's suggestion wrecked his mind for a moment. As tempting as it sounds though, he couldn't create a good reason as to why he would cancel their meet up, especially if his initial plan of doing this will be put in vain. It made him think twice. How can he stop Akashi if he's not with him?
Help his friends or stop seeing Akashi to cease the rumors? Both are crucial.
Lately though, he didn't notice any interruption from Akashi expect from that one time where he invited Kuroko over something while the bluenette was on a date with Kagami. Kagami had been quite furious retelling him what happened. He could see he was livid. Inspite that, his friend could've mistaken. He wasn't sure if it was one of the president's scheme or just a mere coincidence.
It was very confusing but one thing he recalled Kuroko saying was that Akashi has his way of knowing things no matter how hard a person would try to hide it. And that is really bothering.
Which supplies to his next predicament. If Akashi knows everything then the redhead might already have knowledge about his plan, and was scheming a rebuttal of it. Although it was quite impossible given no one was aware about it except himself. He didn't speak to anyone to avoid complication.
His safety maybe compromise but he'd started already, so it will not likely to back out. He should just erase his doubts. If he back out now Akashi might notice something amiss and the outcome is likely undesirable for his own life.
"...Furihata," a firm voice jolted Furihata from his raging thoughts that he didn't realize the presence of the person in front of him. His eyes widened in surprise upon recognition, then blinked. Akashi was sitting across him, fingers clasped on the table.
"How long have you been there?" he asked smartly.
Akashi merely pressed his lips together.
"I could say long. I advertently let myself settle in this seat and wait for you to wake up from your thoughts."
He had the urge to feel embarrass and blush at the moment for being caught spacing. "You should've announce yourself sooner Akashi-kun," he mumbled under his breath, scratching the bridge of his nose to somehow cover his blush from the redhead.
"No need to be embarrass," Akashi's lips curled slightly upward, "Your expression was doing a lot of alteration that I really do not want to duel further but I just wanted to ask, are you worried about something?" the redhead's stare held his as if trying to penetrate his entire system. His red eyes gleamed under the bright light coming the window.
Discreetly gulping, he was the one to break the eye contact.
"Uh, it's nothing."
A smile pasted on Akashi's face didn't really help Furihata's nerves as he answered, "Your expression says not nothing. But if you really don't want to talk about then shall we go to my place?"
Hesitant but nodded.
They decided to do their study in Akashi's apartment for reasons that Akashi didn't further explain except that he have books that they will be needing for their study, which made him agree although a bit reluctantly. He was still afraid of what will happen to him when stepping into the house.
He eyed around. He knew they were looking at them. By 'they' he meant the crowd who specifically labelled his and Akashi's relationship as 'dating'. Akashi doesn't seem to be bothered and just stood up for the door, minding less to his surrounding.
He caught the eyes of a girl who dumped her phone quickly on the table when she saw him eyeing her. She avoided his gaze and continued reading the book on her table. What she did to that cellphone? He doesn't want to know.
Furihata ignored the eyes then, letting them be elated over something that didn't even exist. He will be the one laughing in the end when they discover that all of their belief were false and extinct. He bit his lip to restrain the laugh that was willing to come out.
Shrugging, he followed the redhead who had stopped at the entrance of library.
When outside, they walked in silence. Just when he was about to turn to where the train station was located he was stopped by a black car halting in front of them, startling him. He almost let out a sigh upon the remembrance of Akashi having his own car and driver to drive him fro and back to school. A guy Akashi called Keito-san open the door for them and Akashi stepped inside. While he reluctantly did as well. Man, this is so awkward. Why the heck with this redhead be so rich?
"I'm sure you will answer me this time Furihata, is something bothering you?" a firm tone with a hint of nothing woke Furihata up from his thoughts, again.
Brown eyes took its gaze to the redhead beside him. The other wasn't facing his way but his tone specifically doesn't want no for an answer.
He chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck, "I'm just kind of nervous, is all."
"Don't be. Just be yourself like you usually are. I don't have the patience to talk to someone like a broken tape of a stuttering mess," he said pleasantly, if the calmness will be based off. Furihata bit his cheek from releasing a scoff at the insult. "I would rather talk to you like usual."
Though, that answer lifted it.
"Ah...haha," he chuckled as normal as he could possibly act but the nerves still got his tongue tied, "I-I, er, yeah I will Akashi-kun."
He heard the redhead chuckle with amusement, if his ears wasn't decieving him.
"You laughing about me didn't really help Akashi-kun. It sound insulting," he complained playfully. If he was a child he would be pouting but refrained, and instead frown with a smile.
"I don't think so. You seemed to be speaking well now."
A little part of him wanted to argue but stopped himself because the redhead was right. He was a bit relax than he was before he came inside the car.
"Alright, it's still insulting though. I'm not a stuttering mess. I never did."
Akashi's eyes looked straight at his brown eyes. Clear amusement was evident on his eyes.
"I wanted to argue with that," but didn't say more. He just smiled and watched the scenery outside.
Furihata did so too.
But his head pivoted 180 degrees to the guy as he heard Akashi says, "But I'd rather say I enjoy your presence despite that."
Amused red irises met with surprised brown orbs.
"No need to look so surprise Furihata. I wouldn't have offered teaching you if I don't find you interesting. I wouldn't even let you come any closer to me."
That's true. If he were to ask, Akashi would've ignored him for all he did and put him to stop as quick as possible that day when he asked him for dinner but instead the guy agreed to go with him.
At one point, it was scary to be with Akashi, but a little part of him felt elated at the fact that one of the famous person in their school found him rather interesting.
A little blush found its way to his cheeks and a boost of confidence caught him smiling at the redhead.
"Thanks. I'm not sure how to react. I never expected you to see me as interesting." He expected nothing and found no reason to think of it, but never interesting and liking his presence.
Akashi let his head fall slightly at the back of the car-seat he was leaning to not break the eye contact.
"You are, why would I find you any less?"
"Most people won't think so," he cracked a chuckle, shaking his head. "Boring...is what they'd say. Not interesting."
"I will think otherwise. You're degrading yourself Furihata. You're more than what you think you are. Don't let others' words describe your personality. They're more fit of that description than yours," his tone firm and serious.
"If you think so..." he replied a bit bashful.
"I sense potential when I find one."
And his tone was final, more of a dismissal. Furihata didn't want to argue more as he himself was overwhelmed at Akashi's impression of him. He didn't know what to think about this confession. It was a shock.
He silently slid on his side of the window as he let himself succumbed at the mirthful feeling that was bubbling inside. Yeah, he was actually happy. Very. Akashi can be good, sometimes. A small grin slipped his lips as he turned to the image outside the window.
—
"Are you seriously saying you live here alone?" he stared at the high cieling and 'wowed' at the amazing place he was in. He was standing in the middle of Akashi's house. Antiques and paintings were found on different part of the house. He was living alone in this huge house?
Alone?
"Yes, I live here alone since my parents were in Kyoto and I just stayed here for school. Now, close your mouth Furihata," he stated matter-of-factly.
The brunette immediately shut his mouth upon the reminder. He kept quiet. Akashi instructed some of the housekeeper to bring them some snacks upstairs in his room before they went there.
Furihata still awed, gawked at the redhead's room. Man, his room looks like a bathroom compared to this. Or does the bathroom much bigger than his bedroom? He has yet to know. He staringly stood at the door, afraid he might damage something that would seriously be a big trouble.
Akashi's room was totally him. Elegant and classy. A queen size bed was laid in the middle of the room next to the wall with nightstands on both side to occupy lampshades and a telephone. His bedcovers brown hue complimented the light brown curtains that decorated his windows. A few feet away from his bed was television that he wasn't very sure how huge its measurement. A little sala set on the left corner in front of a fireplace.
"I told you to close your mouth not to keep quiet and stand there like a statue. Why don't you sit down and talk," Akashi emerging from his walk-in closet and was now in his casual clothes said while beckoning him to come closer with his hand.
Still awed, he followed, slowly stepping at the black carpeted floor "Is there a difference between keeping quiet and closing mouth? I thought they were quite similar," he jibed jokingly.
"Well, I prefer for you to close your mouth and stop gawking at the house. Talking is never an issue."
Akashi trotted to one of the door inside, and opened it. There were three doors inside the room. He knew one is the walked-in closet, the other one of those probably is a bathroom, and he wasn't sure about the last one.
Upon getting himself inside, his question was answered. It was a study room. Books were lined orderly on the shelves surrounding them while a desk was placed on the right corner near the open window.
"Is this a room or a library?" he thought.
And later then realized he had voiced it out. Akashi didn't respond though.
Akashi walked out again and came back with a bag in his hand, placing it on the desk as he sat down. "Shall we start?" Akashi offered, placing a chair beside him.
He could only nod and sat down.
—
Furihata stared as he watched the blinds in front of him, covering the cold breeze outside.
"You favored color brown," his out of the blue comment startled even him.
He sputtered to look at Akashi, smiling. A bit afraid that the other might think he wasn't doing his work seriously, but he was. It just caught his eyes. Brown seems to be the redhead's favorite color. He was expecting it to be red.
Akashi stopped from writing on his own notebook. "You're not taking this seriously," the comment was simple but the behind meaning made him shiver. The brown haired sophomore was answering some quiz made by the other.
"I am!" he bursted a bit hurriedly, making the redhead looked at him straight, face bare of emotion. Smiling, "Sorry. It's just that I noticed that most of your things were colored either brown or white. But mostly brown. So I come up with the conclusion of you liking brown. I was really expecting of you as a red person but I assumed wrong," he explained, looking at the blinds again.
Akashi followed his line of sight, "I really don't have any color that I favored but if you put it that way, probably yes. I rather enjoy the color of brown...It's quite calming," Akashi said no more afterwards. But the tone he used made the brunette look back at him. It was serene and...sincere. A very impossible occurrence to happen and hear from the redhead.
But it must be just his imagination since the moment he faced him the redhead already resumed his work, face devoid of any emotion. He did not notice the slight glimpse Akashi had thrown at him before resuming his work.
Despite that, the brunette was really happy. He wasn't really expecting an answer but hearing it was nice. Knowing a few information from the great Akashi Seijurou and told him a few things he likes himself was really...warming.
Brown was not his prefered color, more likely a white and blue, which really resembles the color of the sky. It was enchanting ang beautiful, couldn't help but wonder what's beyond that atmosphere.
When the light and darkness was fighting over the sky, the duo finished their session. Furihata was quite proud of himself of what he learnt today. Akashi was a very efficient teacher that he could easily explain and make him understand things that even their very own teacher hardly discussed the topic with clarity. Akashi just easily gave him a few key points and techniques for him to get the comprehension he really needed. And it's all thanks to the redhead.
Though, he still needs a lot of subjects to learn for him to get his desired score.
They went outside of the room after the brunette finished packing his things on his bag.
"Thank you so much Akashi-kun. Topics I find so hard to understand before just easily went up to my head when you explain them. I never knew it could be that easy," he blurted suddenly out of greatfulness, grinning at him fully. He was out of the study room while Akashi closed the door.
"It was my pleasure for helping," Akashi answered upon facing him. Returning a smile, he simply stalked his way straight to the sofa in his mini living room, giving him a hint to follow. Furihata did.
Upon getting closer, he noticed a set of snacks that consist of cookies, a slice of cake, a cup of tea, and a soda was placed on the coffee table.
Timidly, he settled on the left end of the sofa, placing his bag on the floor. The sofa was made out of soft brown colored material that felt really nice to be sitting in. Akashi was on the other end of him.
"Enjoy yourself Furihata," Akashi spoke in his somewhat smooth voice as he took the cup into his lips, sipping.
"Thanks," chuckling awkwardly. He wasn't one to be embarrassed when it comes to free food, but somehow got the nerve of shyness when offered by someone who had already helped him, a lot. It should be the other way around. However, Akashi was expecting him to accept it without any question. Furihata didn't want to fight into any useless argument that he would likely be losing.
He copied Akashi's action prior and drank on his bottled soda, emersing on the cold feeling it was giving his throat.
Picking up a cookie, he bit on it with enthusiasm. He could sense eyes on him and turned directly to it. He couldn't help himself but feel a little sheepish as the red haired president look at him intently, amusement swirling his expression.
"Uh, haha...this-this cookie is great. Where'd you buy this? I'll probably stop by to bring some for my mom she usually enjoyed this stuff," he laughed softly. His sweet tooth was aching at the taste.
Upon the mention of his mother, Akashi's eyes somewhat softened yet clear amusement never leaving his visage. "We have our own patissier. I'll tell them to pack something for your mother."
Blinking, he shook his head to refuse the offer. Damn, rich bastard. "No need Akashi-kun. You've given me a lot already. I don't want to add more trouble."
"It's no trouble. My mother likes to bake and eat sweets so much that I and my father never really understood. The sweetness of the pastries don't agree with my taste despite how many times she wants me to try it."
Furihata then confirmed that Akashi wasn't as inhuman as they all initially though (except Kuroko). The warm expression on his face while speaking about his mother said so. It was a shock for him to witness such warm emotion from the other. And he knew from the bottom of his heart it was real. He must love his mother very much.
"But sweets are life," he cackled his comment.
"Never," Akashi placed his cup on the saucer.
"You can try it again maybe you'll like it this time," wagging his eyebrows with a grin, pushing a cookie to the silent red head.
"No," Akashi respond with firm tone.
Honestly, it didn't falter Furihata's eagerness but refute anyway. Next time, probably. He grinned evilly inwardly.
He finished the cookie in hand, eyeing the snacks then back to Akashi.
"Why served all the 'sweetness' then when you obviously mention it's not to your preference?" he asked out of curiosity, but a bit play of his words won't be bad.
Akashi ignored his teasing, "Tea is enough. Eat all you want."
And he did as was told finishing the cake, humming whenever his taste buds met the delicious treat. It was very delicious. When done, he looked at Akashi sheepishly. Man, he didn't realize he had gulped everything that was on the table.
"It's goo, no, super good," he said softly to break the silence, and grinned.
Akashi only nodded with a smile. The president stood up from his side of the sofa and to the telephone beside the bed. He let him then, drinking his soda. Probably calling someone important.
When the redhead came back, he was on his last drop of soda.
Before anything long, Furihata had then remembered something totally important that he wants to talk to the guy with.
He picked his bag off the ground and fished out the newspaper. Smoothened it from being folded before he offered it to the other without any words. Akashi stared in question but took the paper nonetheless.
"I'm not sure if you knew about the news but I want you to be aware of it," sighing, "...for us to find solution. It's weird to think but it's there. I don't know what to say at all," he said a bit warily.
Akashi was busy reading the newspaper. Furihata sank deeper on his side, leaning his back on the back rest while waiting for the other's reaction. He thrummed his fingers on his legs, bag returned to its former position.
Akashi's face were blank that the brunette almost believe he wasn't reading and became a statue, but the slight flicked of his eyes say otherwise.
Akashi closed the paper after some time. He took it as a cue to speak.
"I doubt what I say will be different but I sure don't know what the other people were thinking by linking us both," he didn't intend to sound complaining but his tone said so, "They say we're dating," he continued to Akashi who seemed to be silently processing the idea of the news.
"Don't let it bother you Furihata."
"Aren't you? They specifically mentioned that we are together and indirectly said that we are homosexuals? Didn't it bother you? It could ruin your reputation."
He grumbled. It was frustrating that he was being the talk of their school without even doing anything. He doesn't even know that he has a 'boyfriend'.
"That picture was probably taken when we were in the restaurant. That is terribly wrong. Everything has gone wrong," he continued to mumble to himself. And it seems like Akashi didn't mind in the least, yet he was so against with Kuroko and Kagami's relationship.
"Don't let this rumor get to you. You know the truth. Don't let it bother you." Akashi countered with a regal gaze at him.
Red eyes sharpened as it stared at two chocolate ones. Akashi's gaze were cold that he felt a shudder ran down his system. He gulped and looked away. Despite that, it doesn't seem Akashi was angry at him. That sudden chill was not being directed to him, but that doesn't mean it could relax him any less. He was just afraid for the person behind all this.
"You're right Akashi-kun. I'll stop thinking for now. But it doesn't mean it was any less frustrating." he murmured.
"We will let them be," Akashi only said as finality while Furihata doesn't have an idea what to do. "Let me handle it."
That last sentence didn't really was said calmly and devoid of any emotion, but the meaning behind them...he could not think about it.
Later that night, Furihata went home by Akashi's car. He told him that he would take a train but the man wouldn't take no for an answer. Thus, ending him with a car ride and a box of pastries that Akashi insisted to bring for his mother despite his refusal.
Thinking back on his day. There are a lot of things he dicovered about the student council. Akashi enjoyed the color of brown. He was scary as hell. He doesn't like sweets, and lastly Akashi was affectionate when it comes to his mother. And for him, a child who love their mother are not bad. They're not bad.
Right?