Chapter 8

I couldn't pull myself away for several reasons. One, Akashi's embrace was so tight that I barely had enough room to breathe. Two, my face must be so swollen from crying that it would look horrific if I were to show it. And three, well, this one is a bit more selfish: I kind of liked the position. Consequently, I didn't budge, nor did he, for a good while.

"Hungry." One word killed the silence, and well the romance too if you considered it.

I looked up at my younger classman, and then swiftly turned 180 degrees to mask my face. I didn't escape though. His hand never let mine go.

Blinking a few times, I lifted my free hand and pointed at the other bag.

"I brought food." I tried leading him towards the dinner table, but instead, his arms snaked around me, preventing me from moving. Placing his lips right on my neck, he successfully got me burning up.

"Hungry… for you," he whispered slyly, not even taking his lips away from my skin.

Lifting my hand, I covered his mouth. Too much. No more. I took his other hand and cuffed it with my other one. We both stared at each other, locked in another awkward position. His expression had triumph autographed all over. He never changes.

I then let out a small laugh. The grin on my face wouldn't disappear no matter how hard I tried to extinguish it. I slowly removed my hand, revealing Akashi's face. A genuine smile sat perfectly on his usually stoic face.

When I couldn't bear staring straight into his mesmerizing eyes, I switched gears and pulled him over to the table.

"You never cooked for me." He took a bite, followed by another.

"That's because I don't need to. You have so many servants."

"I'll get rid of all of them."

"That doesn't mean I'll cook for you."

Akashi stopped eating and stared at me. I swallowed the piece I was chewing on and stopped too.

"Stay the night."

My eyes popped up. How did the conversation lead to this?

"No," I replied.

"I'm sick."

I gave him the is-that-the-only-excuse look before I began eating again. He casually took my hand and put it on his forehead. It was hot.

"The maids are gone. My father is away. I haven't been well for over a week. I haven't had any decent food until today. Stay the night."

"I'm a girl. I don't just stay over at people's houses."

"Just take care of me until I'm better."

I glanced at him and I think he caught onto my train of thoughts because he said this right after.

"We're not doing anything inappropriate. What's wrong with you staying over?" He leaned closer to me with a taunting grin. "Unless…you actually thought I was asking for…a bigger favor?"

I shook my head violently. To that, he chuckled and then continued eating. Laughing ever so slightly before taking the next few bites.

"So are you staying?" he asked halfway.

"No."

He didn't nod or do anything to acknowledge my answer. Before I could finish eating, he walked away to the living room, leaving me alone. Akashi returned right when I finished.

"My chauffeur is coming. Wait a while."

My heart immediately was filled with this warmth. So he wanted me to stay over because it was dark and he didn't want me to walk home alone. Sometimes this boy can be pretty innocent, but needs lots of work on his phrasing of things. Or did he intentionally do that do see my reaction…

"Yuukari."

"Hmm?"

"You cry just as ugly as you did before," he said bluntly.

I don't know why but I blushed. I wasn't even affected by his rudeness. Perhaps because his negative remark hints at the fact that he remembered exactly how I looked when I cry.

"Akashi. You aren't as cute as you were before," I retorted.

He raised an eyebrow. "You thought I was cute?"

I nodded. What else was I supposed to think? He was younger than me so if he wasn't cute, what was he?

"Chauffeur is here," he said carelessly as he turned around to walk up the stairs. He left no other words.

I assumed he expected me to escort myself out which I did. I even locked the door for him. His key, he never asked for it back. I'll return it to him when I see him. As I went into the car, I recognized the driver. I bowed my head in greeting and he smiled and greeted me back. I got home quite quickly.

Upon arriving home, no one else was home but some of the maids. That was a relief. No explanation needed. So I happily retreated back to my room, replaying every moment of today again and again. I haven't been this happy in so long.

Akashi…the source of my deepest sorrows…but also my truest happiness.

I'm thinking about you always. When do you think of me?

"Daddy! I need to go here." The brown-haired beauty shook her father's arm and nagged him further. "Here." She pointed at the Rakuzan brochure.

"Of all the schools, why this one?" her father asked suspiciously.

"Akashi-kun attends Rakuzan."

"You mean the arrogant redhead?"

"Daddy! You know how much I like Akashi."

"He plays basketball. What else is so good about him?"

"He's the best. He's like an emperor on the court and everywhere he goes. Last time when I confronted him, he sent chills down my spine. I was too scared to even speak or move so I watched him pass by, rendering everyone else around me speechless. His power and charisma was overflowing. And that was when I decided, I, Katako Umezaki, would become his lover. If he's the emperor, then I would be his fitting queen."

Katako nudged her father once more. "Please," she added with puppy eyes.

With a grunt, her father made a phone call. "School starts tomorrow for you. Don't be late."

A/N: Hey! Fast update huh? Well, thanks for coming back to read. Thank you for favoriting and following! It's good news every morning :)

New girl introduced. Well, of course. There's no romance without competition! You agree right?