A/N: This one's a little more angsty than the others.
Akaba Hayato x Kobayakawa Sena
#41 - #60
41. Fork in the road
Life really does head off in all directions, Akaba mused as he ran his fingers gently through Sena's hair. But he found that he didn't mind so much: life with Sena was one that he found so harmoniously peaceful, as if a legato* had joined all of their days together into a composition of beauteous sound.
42. Start
As much as Sena would like to say that it all began when Sena had summoned up the nerve to blurt out his feelings to Akaba that night seven years ago at his high-school graduation ceremony, Akaba knew that for himself… it all started when he caught sight of Sena's eyes after their first match against each other, and he wondered at how his heart had jumped into a nervous presto*.
43. Nature's Fury
Akaba agreed with the sentiment that there was no such fury as a woman scorned. He also agreed that Sena wasn't anything like a woman – and he rather liked him being the way he was, with flat planes on his chest and a solid presence at his side. But nonetheless, he found himself comparing Sena's temper with that of a woman's, a smile playing on his lips as he weathered the storm that was Sena.
44. At Peace
He never really had been one for music, but Sena loved to listen to Akaba singing softly as he played his guitar late at night.
45. Heart Song
The mornings were what Akaba enjoyed the most, when they could both stay in and wake up slowly and at their own pace, too lethargic to move away but all too aware of each other's wakefulness. He would often curl his arm tightly around Sena's waist, rest his head against the other's chest, just over his heart, and listen to the music of his pulse.
46. Reflection
Perhaps it was just a reflection of his own twisted mind, but Akaba thought that Sena looked adorable in that cat suit.
(Too bad it was an actual cat suit, as in one of those mascot outfits. While he appreciated how tiny the mascot outfit made him look, he was sure that Sena would've looked much better in tightly fitting clothes.)
47. Perfection
Sena thought that Akaba was perfect in all ways—apart from one. He couldn't dance even if it would save his life. Or cook, now that he thought about it.
48. Everyday Magic
It wasn't every day that Sena would pick up a guitar and practice his (admittedly shaky) chords, but Akaba truly savoured these moments—and he never failed to remind Sena just how much he loved sharing his passion with his lover.
49. Umbrella
The patter of raindrops against the fabric of his umbrella was a surprisingly soothing staccato* to his ears despite how loud it was, but what Akaba enjoyed the most was the feeling of Sena curled up against his side, warm and solid in the midst of the autumn rain.
50. Party
Sena wasn't really the type to enjoy large and loud parties like Akaba, so when Akaba walked into their apartment to find out that Sena had it crowded with their friends and family all screaming a cheerful "Happy birthday!", he'd been more than a bit surprised by his little lover.
But in the end, he found himself agreeing to Sena's sentiments when the last of their straggling guests left their home, allowing them to celebrate a little more… privately.
51. Troubling Thoughts
The rumours that kept flitting around over his head was a cacophony of noise that was starting to bother Sena extremely—especially when these rumours concerned his boyfriend and his various past conquests. He'd have to rip the truth out of Akaba's lips himself if he wanted to put at rest these troubling thoughts…
52. Stirring of the Wind
When he ran, clouds of dust would be formed behind him, and the wind would stir and push him further forward, making him faster and faster until you'd lose sight of him if you even blinked.
But for Akaba, when it came to Sena, he would never take his eyes off of him to look away at some other person or object—there would never be anyone else for him.
53. Future
A future together didn't seem so imposing when he had Akaba at his side, waiting for him to fall to help pick him up again.
54. Health and Healing
When Akaba found out he wouldn't be able to run again, his world had shattered into irreparable pieces.
No longer able to play football, no longer able to connect with the one of the few things that he'd loved passionately—he found himself resenting Sena for his ability despite knowing that Sena had no fault in this. It hadn't been Sena who had shattered his knee, and it sure as hell hadn't been Sena who revealed his condition to him.
Yet despite the vitriolic way he treated Sena, his only way of coping with the bitterness, it had been Sena who'd reminded him that football wasn't the only thing he had in his life. He still had his music, and he still had his friends. He still had Sena by his side.
55. Separation
Kilometres away from each other, the only way they could reconnect was through faulty phone lines and shitty video calls, but Sena treasured these moments nonetheless. It was his confirmation that Akaba missed him.
56. Everything For You
He was a famous musician now, known for his sultry voice and skill with the numerous instruments he could play. Sena didn't like how he had to share Akaba's voice with the public, but when Akaba had addressed him directly during one of his concerts, red eyes pinned on his doe-brown ones, Sena couldn't help but flush in embarrassed pleasure.
"Without my love, I wouldn't be here today. This song—all of this—is for you, Sena," Akaba murmured, eyes gleaming behind his glasses as he strummed his guitar softly, playing notes that were so familiar to Sena, that he fell asleep to every night.
57. Slow Down
In all honesty, their relationship wasn't one that had moved too fast. It had been slow, even. They had started to address each other by their first names only after five months, and they'd moved in together after two years of courtship.
And honestly, Sena wouldn't have wanted it any other way.
58. Heartfelt Apology
Akaba's attempt at an apology made Sena smile instead, unable to keep a straight face at the reason why he was saying sorry.
It wasn't like Sena minded that Akaba had ruined the frying pans: at least he'd tried to cook him breakfast, and that was saying something about his devotion to Sena.
59. Challenged
Sena took his words as a challenge, his eyes flaring up with excitement. Taking a firm step forward, he grabbed Akaba by his wrist, tugging him over to the kitchen.
"I'll teach you to cook rice, if that's the last thing I'll ever do!"
60. Exhaustion
He was tired of living, too pained to want to even breathe or think or exist, and he was too lonely to want to carry on. He crawled into bed and curled up on Akaba's side of the bed, desperately trying to remember what he smelt like and how his skin would feel under his hands. It was the only thing that would hold him together while they were far apart.
He missed Akaba so much.
* legato – Italian term meaning "tied together." A musical term for connected, smoothly played notes.
* presto – musical term for an "extremely fast" tempo (200 beats per minute or above).
* staccato – musical term for a series "detached" notes: typically sharp and short notes.
A/N: Well, I actually headcanon that in their future together, Akaba would lose his ability to run properly and turn to music instead for his future career. It's not the same, but music had been his first love, and Akaba realises that if he'd lost his music or Sena instead of football…