I am so sorry for the super late chapter guys! I don't know if you guys know but my laptop died and took everything away from me. EVERYTHING.

So yeah, I actually didn't think I'd get to post this. I'm glad even though this is quite different from the original chapter.

Forget-Me-Not

Chapter 8: In Which Nijimura Worries

The problem, he realized, was that everything was going too well that something was bound to go wrong.

Nijimura closed his eyes and sighed. He had just gotten off a phone call from his mother. According to her, his father had just suffered a major relapsed and that they had lost him for a few seconds. Nijimura had never felt so stressed in his entire life, even though he had his stupid, rainbow brats to take care of.

Nijimura glanced inside the basketball club's office where Akashi continued watching their opponent's past matches. He was feeling guilty. He barely had time for Akashi recently and whenever they were together, he was either too tired to have a proper conversation or they were too busy doing their own assigned jobs. He had considered telling Akashi about his father's current situation but he really didn't want to worry the redhead. Knowing him, Akashi would make sure to do more work than usual just to give him more time and that was not something Nijimura wanted Akashi to do.

He knew that Akashi had been feeling pressured lately, especially with what was happening with the team. Akashi could resolve this easily but he knew that it would need to be handled delicately or else things might get worse. The two of them had been discussing this but with everything that had been going on with his father and Akashi with his own father, well, they hadn't been able to address the situation.

Nijimura closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose. He really didn't want to leave Akashi early today but... He couldn't help but sigh. He might as well get over this. He would inform Akashi about his father soon enough.

The next day, Nijimura felt a lot better. His visit with his father yesterday was cut short when his father noticed how tired he looked and forced him to return home saying that it would make him feel better if it wasn't death who was taking care of him. His father could be an ass sometimes but he was a smart, old man that he loved seeing as he woke up feeling quite refreshed.

So, to make Akashi feel better, because he knew that Akashi had been worried about him, he made sure to mess with him more than usual. Hearing Akashi's responses, he knew that everything was alright. It helped that Aomine came to practice looking better than usual. Whatever happened between him and Kuroko seemed to be resolved, for now at least.

He wasn't an idiot. Nijimura knew that he would need to discuss the future with the coach soon. After all, what they feared seemed to be coming true. Every move that they would do now would require more caution.

"It seems that we were right." Nijimura informed the head coach. Coach Shirogane sighed behind his desk and honestly, he looked older than usual, although Nijimura kept that thought to himself.

"Are we going to do something?" Nijimura prompted as started tapping his food, feeling a bit restless.

Shirogane laced his fingers together. "I will have a talk with Aomine, I know what's plaguing him. I'm more concerned about something else." he gave Nijimura a pointed look.

Nijimura briefly closed his eyes before responding. "Akashi."

Shirogane nodded. "You're observant, Nijimura. I'm positive that you've noticed compared to the others..."

"...Akashi's falling behind." Nijimura finished with a heavy heart.

"And if we take into consideration his personality and upbringing, there would be issues." Shirogane mused, "You're also graduating soon and he's the number one candidate for captainship."

"He'll be an excellent captain." Nijimura couldn't help but announce because it was true. Akashi would be excellent just like in everything he did.

"Provided, of course, that he'll be able to handle the workload." Shirogane countered. "I was already worried when I appointed him as vice-captain. As the heir to the Akashi Conglomerate, he would be more focused with their business. Add the fact that the Akashi family is very strict with their performance levels, I had doubts that Akashi would be able to do the job as vice-captain well."

"And yet, you still appointed him the position." Nijimura pointed out.

"And yet, I still appointed him the position." Shirogane repeated as he nod his head, smirking. "Well, I can't deny the fact that Akashi is certainly excellent in whatever he does, everyone in their family is like that."

"Speaking of that, you seem well-versed with them, Head Coach." Nijimura observed, reclining from where he was seated on the sofa.

Shirogane pressed his lips together as he felt his brow twitch. "Let's just say that I know his father well." he replied dryly.

Nijimura raised a brow and decided that he didn't want to know anymore. "Anyway, head coach, do you want me to talk to Akashi?" he asked, bringing back the topic at hand.

Shirogane leaned back in his chair. "No, there's no need for that. Talking to Akashi would have the opposite effect." he narrowed his eyes. "Let's observe for now."

Nijimura nodded even though he was unsure with this decision.

Nijimura stared at his bed with a raised brow. For some reason, Akashi decided to go home with him. If he recalled correctly, he had Akashi stay at the living room because he was going to shower but apparently, waiting was too much for the redhead who decided to barge into his room and monopolize his bed.

Nijimura approached his bed, still dripping. "Are you wearing my shirt?"

Akashi merely smirked as he leaned back on the pillows. "Is there a problem with it?"

"Yes, because I need it." Nijimura retorted as he extended his hand, silently asking for his shirt.

Akashi ran his gaze up and down Nijimura before replying, "Well, I certainly don't have any problem whatsoever but if you really wanted me to be naked, well now, who am I to resist?" he smirked, playing with the blanket that was covering him.

Nijimura narrowed his eyes. "Are you..."

Akashi merely smiled.

Nijimura panted as he settled down the bed, Akashi immediately attaching himself to his side, running a hand up and down his chest. Well, Nijimura certainly didn't expect that to happen but he couldn't say that he didn't like it. Still, he need to talk to Akashi.

"Hey..." he started.

Akashi turned his head to him and responded. "Yes, Nijimura-san?"

"I need to talk to you." Nijimura informed him.

Nijimura stared at the door, wincing as it closed with a loud thud.

Well, that went well.

I only have two chapters left to write...which I can't start on because, again, I don't have a laptop and I don't write using my phone.

So, please wait!