He had only been absent from the club for a couple days. Ultimately his father had let him stay in it - after a drastic decline in his academics, the area he valued with most importance. During those couple days, he had texted Nijimura a lot, even letting the death of his mother slip. With that, so much tension seemed to dissipate between them. Of course, when he was allowed to play again, things only got better. Not to mention, Nijimura would be back in Japan by the end of the week. However, the following day was the funeral.

That was the day they met up. They hugged for at least a solid two minutes and Akashi had even received a kiss to his forehead. The younger held his hand for the entire service. Then there was a dinner, and they were just as inseparable. (Even when one went to the bathroom, the other would linger just outside of it.) It was late by the time everyone started to head home, and Akashi stayed at the raven's hugging him tightly all night.

In the morning, Akashi got to talk more properly with the Nijimura family over breakfast. It was a bit disappointing he never got to meet the father, but it was nice to meet Shuzo's younger siblings. The topic of his own mother came up again, and the slight tension began to drift away; the younger kids weren't so distant and their mom only seemed to grow fonder of him.

"You're welcome to stay another night," she smiled sweetly at the redhead.

He returned the smile though he was doubtful of fulfilling her proposal. "I'd have to talk with my father about it."

She nodded and the conversation carried on.

After the meal, Shuzo and Akashi returned to the former's bedroom, resuming their snuggling.

"Midorima mentioned something about you coughing up blood."

The redhead nodded. "I believe it's stress-based. It hasn't happened for a little while."

The taller pulled him closer. "It better stay that way." He pressed an affectionate kiss to Akashi's forehead and the smaller smiled. He lifted his head to look up at his boyfriend and pressed a soft kiss to his lips.

It had gotten heated within only a few short moments. The gentle kiss had led to another and another and then Nijimura was hovering over his kouhai and placing more on his neck. The redhead willingly tilted his head back and ran a hand through the other's coarse, dark locks. He hadn't realized how much he actually missed it until then. However, it seemed entirely different from those other times in middle school. When Nijimura's hand grasped his shirt and suddenly froze as he pulled his head back to look down at him, Akashi understood why.

"Do you want to stop?"

Akashi pulled his lips down onto his as response. Nijimura grinned and began to lift his shirt.

…

His father had gotten a hold of him first. Ultimately he had to go home because he had other duties to attend to...but if so desired, the other teen could spend a night in their home...with separate bedrooms. The offer was gladly taken up and, with flushed faces, they began returning to their prior activities.

Nijimura nipped at Akashi's jaw. "Guess he's smart to make us sleep separately."

Akashi pinched him. "It didn't help you kept touching me while I was on the phone with him." Nijimura only chuckled and the redhead pulled him down for a forceful kiss.

…

And this makes for the conclusion. Probably not worth the long wait but perhaps I can make it up somehow. Let me know. Also, I recommend you don't take four honors/A.P. level classes and participate in four clubs. They say junior year is the worst, right?