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Usually he does not want it to be a long day; usually, after the bell rang, he wants to dash out to go back to his room; usually, he's not that afraid of his father; usually, he could only care any less. But today, his world seems to turn upside down. By all means, he wants this day and the following days be the longest and maybe, he does not detest school that much now, despite being pushed to have the top notching grades and maybe, he's just a little bit scared of his father.

Today for Akashi, going home means the death of Aka Hasami, which is definitely a bad thing. Before Kuroko showed up in his life, Akashi could only ignore what his father says about his dream and blindly follow all of his orders. But since Kuroko surprised him with his first message, Akashi could only do nothing but want to protect and pursue his dream for the hopeful boy.

But he does not know if he'll be able to continue with the pending lecture that would surely come this way. So he thought of something that would somehow lessen the intensity of his father's wrath.

"Shintaro, come home with me today."

Midorima stopped at wiping his porcelain frog, which is today's lucky item, and looked at Akashi; a shocked expression can be seen on his face. They are both inside their own classroom with Akashi doing the class reports to be handed to the teacher and Midorima supervising him.

"What for, Akashi?"

"Is there something wrong about spending a little time at my home? Father seems to ask me how you were doing so I thought that maybe I'll invite you over today."

Akashi said simply but the slight hint that he's lying did not go unnoticed by Midorima, but still the green head didn't speak. Definitely today, Akashi has a few loose screws. Why would he want Midorima to go home with him? Definitely, Akashi Seito would not miss the likes of him. A mere friend of his imperfect son. But nevertheless, Midorima went along with it and agreed.

"Sure, I can stop by."

Though what Midorima didn't know is that, he'll be used as protection from Akashi Seito, for the guy does not like to be humiliated in front of people, and people like Midorima are the kind that you would really be humiliated in front of.

Akashi has never been so nervous in his life. Both he and Midorima are sitting at his living room, drinking tea that was served to them by their maid. Both teens were sitting quietly, with this thick uncomfortable air surrounding them. Midorima knows that it is not just a mere 'my father misses you' thing that's why he's here but he'll never know what the real reason is until maybe the older Akashi would burst into the door.

Which he did after a few moments of pure heavy silence.

The sudden sound from the door made the both of them jump in surprise. Both of their heads snapping right at the direction of the door and there they saw a very unhappy Akashi Seito. Akashi immediately rise from his seat, Midorima took notice of his friend's face. It was full of fear and worry and Midorima knows that this is definitely something bad. But before the older Akashi took notice of this, Akashi quickly changed and composed his expression, until it becomes a blank soulless stare

He stared at both of the red heads. Father glared at son and son stared at father. Both men are giving Midorima a pretty hard time. He does not know how to react or who to speak to first; to tell Akashi to calm down and sit or to greet Akashi Seito a good afternoon.

It became too sudden for Midorima, for the next thing he knew; he heard a loud slap in front of him. Akashi Seito just open handedly slapped Akashi Seijuuro; the slap of a master to a slave. Midorima was frozen in place. He does not know what to do at this time. He looked wide eyed at the older Akashi and he saw a face full of rage, he then looked at the younger and his face is casted downwards, while he is holding his cheek that was slapped just a few moments ago. The older then decided to speak;

"You brat! How many times have I told you to quit it! You will never achieve anything! You will never become perfect like I!"

The older man put on an arrogant stance with a proud look on his face. It actually made Midorima cringe in disgust but he dare not show it even though it seems as if Akashi Seito does not see him or even acknowledges him. Akashi Seito stopped for a moment to look at his son and he's not budging from where he stood, his hand has not even retracted from his cheek and his head is still casted downwards. Akashi Seito's face showed rage when his son had not showed any expression, not even the attempt to retort something back.

Midorima saw how the older man stomped his way over to his son and he also saw how he raised his hand high up in the air, obviously wanting to hit him again. This time though, Midorima acted. He stood up and walked in-between the two Akashis. Akashi Seito was obviously taken aback by his actions; he can see it through the man's frozen hand that was still in the air. The older Akashi had not notice Midorima up until now. His mind was in circles now; someone saw him being imperfect. Someone saw him be brute and it is not something a perfect person should possess. Seito shakily lowered his hand, but the rage on his face did not cease. However, he tried to be more civilized and faked his calm voice;

"What are you doing here, Shintaro?"

Midorima did not speak immediately. He observed Seito first, seeing if he will also get a taste of that candle like hand. But then he saw how white the man's hands are from being clenched too much and how his teeth grit at the very sight of the smaller teen behind Midorima. Seito is trying hard to look as perfect as when he was not in rage. He cannot afford to let another brat see how he is in this state, considering that this green haired teen's family is also a close business partner with him. The child might tell his parents how imperfect and disgusting Akashi Seito really is and he could not stomach that.

It's okay to lose business partners, but if the reason is for him being imperfect rather than the other way around, then he definitely would not let it go.

Akashi Seito is too perfect to be imperfect.

Midorima tried to be as calm as before, but finds it hard with the dagger like stare Seito is giving him, or rather, at the object near his back. He gripped his lucky item for the day and adjusted his glasses before looking up at the older man' face,

"I am here because Akashi and I are talking about things regarding our school duties and upcoming projects."

That was an easy lie. He could not tell that the reason Akashi requested for his presence is because Akashi intended him to become a shield from Seito. Midorima just knows that that is the main reason why he' s at the Akashi's but what he does not know is why Seito suddenly poured his rage onto his son. What could've Akashi done?

Akashi Seito did not bother replying Midorima and just nodded while making his way past the green head and in front of Akashi. The older of the two obviously still has those rage filled eyes but he tries to suppress it. He then reached out his hand to his son,

"Give me your cellphone, right now."

It all makes sense for Midorima now. The sudden realization is a shock to him. He spun around and saw Akashi give his phone to his father without reluctance. He thought that Akashi took all the extra care not to get found out and Midorima trusted Akashi that he would not get in trouble anymore but then how come? But what baffles Midorima more than what he recently found out is that Akashi did not hesitate to give his father his phone. It's the only thing that he has that can be used to reach to Kuroko as Aka Hasami. The only thing that binds him and Kuroko together as Author and Fan.

As soon as Seito got a hold of Akashi's cellphone, he smashed in on the floor and stepped on it. Midorima tried to look at Akashi and he's surprised that the red head does not show any amount of pin on his face despite the fact that the only connection that he has with Kuroko is ruined. As soon as Seito was satisfied with how the cellphone looked from under his heel, he scoffed at Akashi and turned around to leave the house once again, while slamming the door shut in the process.

Akashi sighed once his father was out of the house. He then knelt down and picked up the broken pieces of his phone,

"I'm sorry that you have to witness that, Shintaro. But thank you for shielding me, it could've been worse."

Akashi said while he was still on the floor. Not soon after, Midorima then knelt down too and helped Akashi pick up the pieces of metal the cellphone once has.

"Aren't you even just a little bit sad? This is the only thing that binds the both of you—"

"This is not that cellphone, Shintaro. This is the one that I barely use. The phone that belongs to 'Akashi Seijuuro', not 'Aka Hasami'."

Akashi said before standing up and throwing the remnants of the phone into the trash bin, Midorima doing the same afterwards, but before doing so, he looked at the cellphone pieces in his hand, and sure enough, it isn't the phone that Aka Hasami possesses. He then sat down on the sofa again, with Akashi on the opposite of him, calmly drinking his tea that has gone cold.

"I thought that you would be more careful this time around, Akashi."

Midorima finally commented. The person addressed stopped sipping his tea and looked at his companion in front of him. He then placed his cup down on the coffee table and grabbed something from his bag that was on the floor, it was a newspaper. Akashi puts in on the table too and then slides it towards Midorima's direction with the headlines facing front.

Midorima raised an eyebrow for a moment. What does a newspaper have something to do with their current situation, but then when he raised the newspaper to his face and read the headlines he now knew why,

"I don't know if I should be happy for you or not."

Was what Midorima managed to say. All of the earlier happenings became so much more clear to him now but then he thought; has Akashi not took action to stop this-?

"They already printed that newspaper when they called me and told that I won a prize. It seems that telling the publishing company that I was Akashi Shintaro, Akashi Seito's nephew and that my uncle refused to have his morning newspaper both at the house and at the office did not work so smoothly. I guess I still really have no control over the things that I badly want to control."

Midorima might not have said anything yet, but Akashi knows that his friend wants to know whether or not he has taken precaution upon receiving the news that his name will get published in the daily newspaper.

Midorima looked over at Akashi and at the newspaper again before speaking up;

"Are you going to the rewards' night?"

Akashi looked at Midorima as if he grew another head. He sighed and shook his head.

"Of course not. I happen to be lucky today since all I get was a slap, but if I were to attend that ceremony, I think it might be the death of me the moment I stepped into this home."

Akashi stated as a matter of fact. Now it was Midorima's turn to sigh,

"Of course. Well then, I will take my leave."

Akashi nodded but he did not move from his spot. Midorima gathered his things and headed out for the door. When he was outside, Midorima took his phone out and dialled a familiar number,

"Hello father? There is something that I want to tell you,"

Once he heard the door firmly shut, Akashi lets out a long breath of relief. It's a good thing that his father hates humiliation and his new phone really did come in handy, but he guessed that he'll not use his other phone for a while and keep it inside his closet for the meantime. He ran his hand through his hair and clicked his tongue,

"I'll find a way through this."

Akashi Seito obviously, undoubtedly, absolutely despised being criticized as imperfect, that's why he tries his best to be the best possible person there is to everybody he meets and part of that is not introducing his imperfect son to his peers. What would people say to him then? He does not have a perfect scion and it is obviously going to be the end of him someday. And if there is anything else that he hates besides imperfection and his son, then it has to be surprise visits from his business partners. He cannot get ready in time and they would obviously see the messy interior of his office that he likes to keep perfect when visitors are inside, but it seems that something will go against his way again today,

"Sir! Mr. Midorima is at your office and wishes to talk to you!"

Akashi Seito pulled up a disgusted and worried face at the same time. Just as he arrived inside the Akashi Corp.'s building, his secretary came rushing to him and told him about Midorima's sudden visit. Seito's face has the obvious signs of fear and worry, maybe that Shintaro told his parents already and now Mr. Midorima wants to cancel the trade between them.

No! That can't be! Definitely it is just another business proposal from him!

Akashi Seito's strides became longer and faster as he was walking towards the elevator, one inside he immediately pushed the button that would lead to his floor. Just like him, his secretary is a mess; he probably had to arrange things in his office before actually letting Mr. Midorima inside the said room. Akashi Seito was so absorbed into thinking of the theories and possibilities why Midorima was at his company that he overlooked the fact that he looked terrible as of now. His usually slicked back hair, sticking out into random direction, his powdered face is now oily, his wrinkle free face is now showing the signs of aging, his crease free suit is now covered in wrinkles and has a little bit of coffee stain of the dress shirt. If only the elevator's interior wasn't all glass, then he wouldn't know how terrible he actually looked.

As Akashi Seito was trying to fix his appearance, the elevator door opened and he dashed out along with his secretary. He spun around to face the other man and with a worried looked, asked if he looks okay, to which the younger replied that it will do. Seito took in a long breath before opening the double doors that leads to his office. There he saw, sitting at the couch was Mr. Midorima while holding and reading today's newspaper. Seito cleared his throat and it is successful in getting the other man's attention. Much like his son, Mr. Midorima has dark green hair and is also wearing a pair of glasses.

"Good day to you Seito."

The man greeted courtly as he stood up and offered his hand, to which Akashi Seito grabbed and shook before sitting on his usual seat behind the desk.

"Good day to you too, Mr. Midorima. So, what's with the sudden visit?"

Seito tried to be the very best that he is, but he finds it hard because of the thrumming sounds his heart is making because of nervousness. Mr. Midorima sat down again on his seat and grabbed the newspaper before placing it on the other man's desk with the headlines facing front. Akashi Seito broke down into a cold sweat. He has the gist of what would happen next and he dreads that it would happen.

"I've heard from my son that Seijuuro is actually this, Aka Hasami in the headlines? If he is then..."

There. That bastard is seriously going to be the end of the contract between the two companies and it is because that his damn imperfect son even tried to befriend the green haired teen. Akashi Seito gritted his teeth. Seijuuro will seriously get a lot when he got home. He better be good at hide and seek or else it will be the end of him. If only he had been a good boy and did his orders then maybe the company wouldn't be in trouble—

"...I would like to congratulate him!"

"...What?"

Seito was taken aback with what the older man in front of him said. Why would he congratulate Seito's son with his filthy piece of work? For all he knows, that prize is not even worth anything.

"I said, I would like to congratulate him. Oh, tell your son that I will be present at the awards' night! I want to see him there!"

Mr. Midorima said as he stood up and places the newspaper to where he got it from earlier. He then waved at Akashi Seito once more before disappearing behind those huge double doors.

Akashi Seito could only sit there with his eyes staring wide at the double doors. How could someone feel happy with that filthy work of his son? How could they even acknowledge it? He does not know, but he knows one thing;

He feels something light inside him when Mr. Midorima said that he looks forward to seeing his son at that ceremony. It made him feel like, a proud father.

A/N OHHHHHH~~~~ Seito acknowledges his son~~~ IN YOUR FACE SEITO! SOMEONE SAID GOOD THINGS ABT YOUR SON'S WORK! HA!

Anyways guuuuuyyyysss!~~~ Thank you for the reviews~~~ Chapter 9 has received the most reviews from all of you and like, I can't believe it has that impact! To tell you guys the truth that chapter was the make it or break it chapter for the whole story, and I'm happy that it's a 'Make it' not a 'Break it'!~ I love you guys so much! Oh to those that have not voted in my poll yet, please vote! I really need your opinions!~ Thank you again, have a good day guys!~ R&R!