Author's Note: I am sorry this is over delayed. i update late again, I know. I am sorry. i just felt like I hit rock bottom when it come to writing. I totally forgot what this chapter was supposed to be about and i just write where my fingers lead to. I'm sorry if this is crap. i'll write better next time.

Beta by AokazuSei and based on Amehanaa's Love at First site.

cover art by Takucchi (did i spell it right? tell me if i didn't)

Disclaimer: Knb is owned by Fujimaki Tadatoshi

Chapter Five

Jealousy

"We'll make pretend that you and me

Live ever after happily"

-House of Gold (Twenty one Pilots)

It was noon the moment I woke up, the digital clock indicating that it was near 1pm. I lied down for a while, squeezing my pillows in a tight hug, not wanting to get up. My body was sluggish, and my eyes felt like they were burning, yet despite the tiredness in my body, I felt elated.

My mind recalled on all of the things that happened last night, or should I say this morning; the poem Akashi made, and the voice message he made me do. It was embarrassing, especially when it sounded like a love confession. True, I do like him, but it hadn't crossed to the point of love nor would I ever plan on confessing to him. I'm happy with the relationship we have, and I don't want to ruin it, even if I have to stay beside him as a friend; I don't mind.

I would have continued lying down for a couple more minutes, but I heard my stomach protest and reminded myself that I still haven't eaten yet. Heaving a sigh, I sat up slowly, did my morning routine before heading downstairs.

Maria greeted me on my way down, worry in her eyes. "Young master, I'm glad you're up. I tried waking you earlier, but you didn't respond. How are you feeling?"

I replied simply. "I'm fine. I just slept late last night."

"Is that so? Are you hungry? I already made lunch for you, young master."

"Thank you Maria. I'm starving," I gave her a small smile, though Maria looked at me as if I grew horns.

"Did something happen, young master?" She asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I don't mean to pry, but you look...happy today." Maria said. Memories of last night suddenly flashed in my mind, making me nod slowly.

"I guess so," I murmured.

Maria smiled at me. "It's nice to see young master smiling. I'll go and serve you lunch now."

I barely comprehend what she had said and just followed her as she led me to the kitchen where the music of her old radio resonated. She arranged my meal in front of me, watching happily as I smelled the sweet aroma.

"It looks delicious," I complimented, tearing a piece of bread before nodding in approval. "It tastes good too."

"Thank you, young master. I'm glad you like it," She walked towards the fridge. "Would you like to have some juice as well?"

"Yes please." Maria nodded and prepared the juice, handing it to me once she was done. And like the usual routine, I thanked her before she excused herself to do the other chores.

I continued eating, but my thoughts were all jumbled from remembering my conversation with Akashi to my parents. Should I try talking to them? Just thinking about the idea was uncomfortable, but nothing would change if I didn't do something, and it wasn't as if I would know what would happen if I didn't try.

My parents wouldn't be home until after their business trip which was the weekend; whether by coincidence or thorough planning, they would be home by my father's birthday. It was still rather uncertain whether he would decide on celebrating his birthday with a party or with a family dinner, but if he chose the latter, then I'll try and talk with them; if they still don't change after I tell them my feelings, then I guess I'm not really important enough.

Or was that all wishful thinking? Even when I told myself that, I didn't know if I could do it.

I sighed before finishing my meal, a little heavy hearted, but all of the bad feelings were chased away once I thought of Akashi. It was amazing how my mood instantly changed. I wondered what we would talk about today.

After logging on and checking the group chat, I was a little sad to fine Akashi nowhere in sight, though I still dropped a "hi", and everyone greeted me back. I chatted with them for a few minutes before I heard a ding, notifying that I had a private message. I was a little excited, thinking that it might be Akashi, but as soon as I opened it, I was slightly disappointed; it was Kise.

"Hi Kurokocchi," He said, followed with a smiley face.

"Hello Kise-kun." I politely replied.

"In case you are wondering where Akashicchi is, he told me to tell you that has a school project to do, so he might not be on for tonight." The message made me feel sad; why didn't he tell me instead?

"Thank you for informing me Kise-kun." I said.

"It's no problem. Don't worry, knowing Akashicchi, he will try to get online as soon as he could."

"You're right, I'll wait for him until he gets on," I replied still heaving a sigh.

"Don't be sad Kurokocchi. I'll entertain you for the meantime."

"Aren't you busy with Aomine-kun?" I asked. I don't want to be a bother to them.

"The idiot told me he's heading to bed since he got early morning practice tomorrow." I can only imagine Kise pouting as he typed. "And here I thought I could talk to him."

"Don't be sad Kise-kun, I'll keep you company." I said trying to cheer him up.

"Yep! That's a good idea."

"It must have be a pain to keep a long distance relationship," I typed.

"Yes, you are right. It's very painful. I keep on wishing to meet Aominecchi soon."

"When do you plan to see him again?" I asked curiously.

"I don't know, probably after I graduate. My parents don't like me traveling far alone," Kise replied. "And a trip to Tokyo would be so expensive."

"I see."

"How about you Kurokocchi?"

"Me? What about me?'

"Do you plan on meeting Akashicchi?" I instantly felt my cheeks heat up at the thought. What would it feel like, meeting Akashi in real life?

"I don't know," Glad that I didn't misspelled since I felt my hand shook a little.

"Eh? Why not?"

"I'm not sure if my parents will let me meet a stranger I met online. But I do want to meet him someday." I answered. I could easily book a flight to Japan, but I doubt my parents would agree.

"I know you two will meet. Akashicchi really likes you." I was surprised by Kise's words. Akashi liking me romantically? As if that could happen. I was probably overthinking about this; Kise probably meant in a friendly sense.

"Like me?'

"Yes! He wouldn't stop talking about you. His dear ghost reader that kept on intriguing him."

"I intrigue him?"

"Pretty much. Out of all his readers, you're the only one who doesn't try to talk to him, and you were on the same group chat on that site. Akashicchi is a really observant person you know and he told us that your name is familiar."

"He told me that." I said. "Did Akashi-kun ever stalk me?" I was busy looking at the keyboard that I didn't realized a new private chat popped up. It was only when I hit sent, that I noticed that the message had been sent to the wrong chat box, and to make matters worse, of all people it could have been, it was sent to Akashi! I panicked, trying to find ways to undo the message or delete it, so Akashi couldn't read. But, alas, it was futile. The read sign below the message popped up, and my heart started to beat so fast and my cheeks heat up in embarrassment at the thought of Akashi reading that.

"If I answer yes, would you be creeped out?" What? It made me wonder, but the effects of embarrassment were in full throttle.

"I hope you didn't stalk me before we even met."

"And if I did?"

"No you didn't."

"I wouldn't call it stalking honestly. I just checked you out of mere curiosity at first, but Tetsuya kept intriguing me for some reason. That's why I often checked your profile." My eyes were wide as I stared at his reply. My racing heart wasn't helping me either.

"No way..." I replied.

"It's true. Even if your profile is very bare, I checked it out." I blushed at his words. My fingers trembled slightly as I composed a reply.

"I guess we're even then..." I admitted.

I could make out that he was smiling as he typed. "I figured that you do."

"Of course you will!"

I smiled at his reply. Suddenly, another chat popped up. "Kurokocchi? Still there?" I forgot that I didn't reply to him yet.

"I apologize Kise-kun, something came up." I lied.

"It's alright, don't worry." I felt bad that I had ignored him for a while, though it was unintentional. "Were you talking to Akashicchi?"

I instantly blushed. I'm very glad that Kise couldn't see me now. "I am."

"Don't abandon me Kurokocchi!" The message followed by a crying emoji.

"I won't Kise-kun." I said.

"That's good!" He typed.

I heard another notification and went to check it out. It was Akashi.

"Busy?" he asked.

"Nope. I was just talking to Kise-kun. I'm keeping him company since Aomine-kun's not on," I replied. Akashi didn't reply for a while, so I changed tabs and talked with Kise.

It was entertaining to talk to him, and strangely, I found his presence quite comforting. Kise was really talkative, but surprisingly, I enjoy listening to his random stories; it had gotten to the point that an hour had passed. I was so enthralled in the conversation that I didn't notice the red mark on Akashi's private message.

It was when I heard a notification go off that I noticed and immediately opened the tab. The majority of the messages Akashi sent were asking if I was still there. However the last message caught my eyes, and I could only frown as I read it.

"Have fun talking to Ryouta." It made me feel weird, but it wasn't a good.

"Is something wrong?" I asked. It took a little while before I received a reply.

"No nothing. Go ahead. I'll just go back to doing my school project. I'll chat with you tomorrow. Good night." He said, and immediately after, he logged off. I felt bad. Did I do something wrong? Did I upset him?

He must still be busy, he said so himself, but there was an ugly feeling inside me that I couldn't explain.

I went back to my chat with Kise. "I think I made Akashi-kun upset."

"Why? What happened?" I could feel the concern interlaced with his reply.

"I didn't notice that he was messaging me. I was engrossed with our conversation." I replied.

"Oh my god it's my fault! I'm very sorry Kurokocchi!"

"No need to apologize Kise-kun. It was my fault for not paying attention."

"Don't be too hard on yourself Kurokocchi," Kise said, but I couldn't help it. I upset Akashi, and now he doesn't want to talk to me.

"Geez. For Akashicchi to be jealous like that, that's a first."

"Jealous?"

"He's obviously acting like a jealous boyfriend. Aominecchi acts like that whenever I don't pay him much attention."

"But why? Kise-kun is just my friend."

"Akashicchi can be hard to understand sometimes. Don't worry, I'll talk to him about it if he's online."

"Alright. I'll just be off for now. I'll talk to you later Kise-kun." I typed.

"Okay, bye bye."

I exited the chatting website and went to the reading website. I had hoped that reading several stories on the web would get my mind off of Akashi, but it always wonders back to him. Giving up, I lied down on my bed and stared at my ceiling. What did I do? Why was he upset?

"He's acting like a jealous boyfriend," But why would he? It's not like he likes me.

I paused. Does Akashi like me? My face suddenly burned at the thought. That can't be right. I'm just a friend to him. Maybe last night's events are making me think of strange things. I just curled up on my bed, staring at the walls before accidentally falling asleep.

It was in the middle of the afternoon when I woke up, and as soon as I did, I opened my laptop and logged in on the reading site. I just read several fictions again, trying to get my mind off Akashi. But not even the dread could go away even after rereading the poem he wrote to me.

Unable to relax, I logged in on the chatting website and decided to make my status offline. I stalked the group chat, and I saw Akashi on. He was openly talking to everyone like nothing happened. I opened our private chat, but he didn't even send me a message. I almost felt like crying.

Is he was mad? There was gnawing feeling inside my chest that I couldn't only describe as hollow.

I decided to type a message, though my fingers fumbling a little. My eyes were suddenly blurry with tears. "If I did something bad, I'm sorry. I didn't want you to be mad. Please don't ignore me Akashi-kun." I hesitantly pressed send and waited for his response. "Talk to me."

I waited for about thirty minutes before I saw him read the message. I also waited for his reply which came out shortly after.

"I should be the one apologizing for my childish behavior earlier. I'm sorry Tetsuya. I shouldn't have said that."

"Akashi-kun doesn't need to apologize."

"It was irrational of me to act like that. I was overcome with my jealousy with Ryouta."

"Jealous?"

"Yes. You seemed to prefer talking to him than me."

"No no no!" I instantly replied. "I prefer talking to Akashi-kun. I was just distracted by Kise-kun. I look forward to talking with you every day."

"Same for me too." He said. "Let's just move on and forget about it."

"Agreed." I reply. I really don't want to make a big deal out of it.

"So what are you up to today?" He asked me.

"I found out Akashi-kun is like a jealous boyfriend, and a stalker to boot." I joked.

"Those are interesting findings Tetsuya," I can feel Akashi laughing at me.

"So how's your school project doing? I heard it from Kise-kun."

"A little tiring but I'll live."

"You should finish it instead of chatting."

"It's nighttime here already."

"Then you should sleep early."

"No I won't. I'll be making up with Tetsuya."

"We already made up."

"I want to talk with you more."

I sighed. "Same for me too."

"Stay up with me."

"It's still afternoon here." I informed him.

"Oh right, time zones. How could I forget?"

"You shouldn't forget about it."

"Tetsuya always make me forget about everything."

"Don't make it sound like I'm a drug."

"You are my drug."

"Shut up!" I typed furiously my cheeks felt hot.

"So how's your school project?" I asked in an attempt to change the subject.

"I'm halfway through it," he replied.

"Are you going to finish it tonight?" I asked.

"I won't, it's really late. Probably tomorrow."

"Then go to sleep already. You'll sleep in class if you don't."

"I can't sleep yet. I still want to talk to you. I have been horrible to you today."

"Don't worry about it, I forgive you."

"So have you talked to your parents?"

"Not yet, they are not around. I'll probably talk to them this weekend when they come home."

"So you are alone in your house?"

"Not really, Maria's still here but she'll go home in an hour."

"Then would you be alone?"

"Do the bodyguards count?"

"Tetsuya…" His tone almost reprimanding, but I could only smle.

"Aside from the guards near the gate and outside the house. I'm alone in the house."

"Why do you have bodyguards?"

"Security purposes. My parents are afraid I might get kidnapped or something."

"I see. You must be a rich brat."

"I am not a brat." I frowned, no one else have ever called me that.

"I'm just kidding."

"I'm not the one who has a butler." I retorted. "Does he call you bocchama, Akashi-kun?" I added with a smirk.

"I made him call me by my name now. How about you? They probably call you young master?" I pouted a little because it was true, and since Maria and I barely talk, I don't know if she would call me by my first name.

"They do…" I hesitantly reply. "Not like I can do something about it. They are just trying to be formal." I replied.

"I'm just teasing you. No need to be so serious, love." I instantly blush at the nickname.

"Don't call me love!" I immediately hit send. I can feel him smirking at me now.

"Why not?"

"Because it's embarrassing, and people might get the wrong idea"

"Oh c'mon don't be like that, I know you like it"

"No I don't!" I blush intensely. How can he be so embarrassing all the time!

"Alright, I'll drop that nickname, sweetie pie."

"That's even grosser!"

"Babe" he's just teasing me now.

"Stop it!" I couldn't help but smile.

"Alright alright, I'll stop. But seriously, don't you like those nicknames? What if your lover wants to call you that?"

"Then I'll tell them to stop"

"What do you prefer to be called then?"

"My name would just be fine."

"Your name?"

"Yes."

"I'll settle with Tetsuya then." I felt my heart racing. How could I not when it feels like he's implying we are lovers or something. I immediately shook my head. Akashi couldn't possibly be thinking about something like that. This was all in my head. Akashi was a kind person, and he talks to a lot of people, surely he had done something like this to them before.

I was interrupted with my thoughts when I saw him sent me a message. "What's it like in your place?"

"Peaceful," I answered. "My parents chose to live here in the countryside rather than the city, so it's pretty peaceful here."

"Have you been to the Buckingham Palace?"

"I have once, with my grandmother. I was very young then and we just recently moved in here."

"I see."

"What about you Akashi-kun? What kind of place do you live in?" I asked.

"Same as yours. Though, where we live is not really in the countryside but just a little far from the main city."

"I want to meet you," I suddenly typed and hit send. When I realized what I did, I immediately flushed. Though Akashi's reply made my cheeks feel hotter.

"Same for me too."

"Why do we have to live so far apart?"

"I ask the same thing. But I promise, one day we'll meet in person." I smiled as I saw the reply.

"We better." I chuckled and hit send.

It was another night with Akashi again, and as we continued to talk, I learn more and more things about him. It was a bit frustrating that the friends I have are miles apart from me, but it's better than nothing. I'm happy to have a friend like him. Akashi gave a color to my very dull world, and I will always be truly grateful to him.

"I want to hear your voice" I told him.

"That's right, you haven't heard mine. Don't worry, this weekend, I'll go shopping and buy a headset."

"Promise?"

"I promise."

"It's pretty late, go sleep. You have to be early for school tomorrow."

"You're right. I'll go sleep then. Good night Tetsuya."

"Good night. Sweet dreams." I sent to him.

"Thank you. I'll make sure I'll dream of you. Good night." Akashi logged off after that, and I could still feel my heart beating out loud.

To be continued

End Notes: Tell me what you think. any suggestions is accepted.

love lots,

Shiori