Signed, Akashi Seijuurou

by TsuntarouNoPen

{Akashi Seijuurou x OC} As Akashi signs a 'friendhip contract' on her palm, he promised to be friends with her forever. The same goes to Kotoha Chiaki who signed on his palm as well. But for how long will that contract be effective? Follow them as they go through joys, hardships, and challenges.

2. Chapter One

Xx xX

{Third Person's Point of View}

Seven years ago

Kotoha was sitting, on a bright Saturday morning, on the steps outside their house with a puppy on her lap. She was waiting for her father who's still talking with her mom about some errands he's about to do. He said it might take a while so in order to kill time, Kotoha thought that it would be a good chance to watch the skies together with her dog. "The skies are always so beautiful, right?" she whispered with admiration almost to herself, but she actually meant to say it to the cute puppy. She has always loved the skies since God-knows-when, and it seems like her love for it will continue growing as time passes by. Although, she doesn't exactly know why, out of all the things around her, it will always be the skies that she loves the most.

The dog barked at her as though it was agreeing with what she said. Afterwards, she giggled at the puppy as she rubbed her knuckles against its head—it's the only reward she could give right now. The puppy loves it when Kotoha scratches his head, that's why whenever the puppy makes her smile, Kotoha does this as his reward. Its tail wagged and it might be only Kotoha's imagination or that's just how the puppy looks like but it seemed like it was smiling at her with both eyes closed.

She continued petting her dog and from time-to-time she would also sneak glances at the skies. Her eyes once caught a sight of a plane flying across the skies along with the white fluffy clouds. "Ah, there's an airplane!" she said before realizing that, unlike before, her dog wasn't paying attention anymore, like seeing an airplane is the least interesting thing for it. Anyway, she has always wanted to ride it, see what it's like up there and know how does it feel to see your most favorite things—that seemed so far away every single time—up close. It would perhaps become one of the best experiences she would ever have. Just the thought of being able to ride the plane and being close as ever to the clouds makes her happy. What more will it be if she's already inside the plane, hundreds of feet away from the land? She'll probably be the happiest girl alive when that happens.

However, she knew she wouldn't be able to do that until she gets a job and earns money through her own sweat. She told her parents for quite a number of times that she wanted to ride an airplane, enumerating a few things on why they should agree (but also saying that her love for the skies is the main reason), and yet she still failed in the end. Her parents also have reasons: reasons that totally outweighed hers.

Kotoha snapped back into the reality when she heard voices and footsteps approaching, and it made her smile out of excitement. She lifted the puppy from her lap and put it down beside her. The door creaked open, so Kotoha turned around and saw her dad wearing his usual get-up when going for a walk—t-shirt, pants, a pair of slippers, and his usual friendly aura. Her mom was behind her dad and was giving him instructions because he was probably asked to go to the market to buy some supplies. She handed him a folded paper, perhaps a list of the things he needs to buy.

While nodding his head, her father stepped out of the house and inserted the paper in his wallet. "Okay, okay," he said and put his wallet into his pocket. "Anything else?" he asked, looking at his wife who was holding the screen door open.

She shook her head and gave him a smile. "Nothing more with the grocery, but—" This time, she looked at her daughter who was enjoying the sight of her parents talking with each other in a way that she thinks is so sweet. "Take care, Kotoha," she reminded her and gave her a smile too. "And behave, okay? I don't want to hear that you broke something in your friend's house."

Kotoha smiled and shouted a "Yes, Mom!" before she and her father waved their hands and left the house.

It has been two weeks since Kotoha met Akashi Seijuurou, the redhead boy who appeared all-of-a-sudden in the courts, and who apparently loves basketball more than anything else. By Kotoha's request, they became friends and even promised each other, through an exchange of signatures on each other's palms, that they'll remain as that forever. Or at least a lifetime, Kotoha thought.

However, in that span of time, Kotoha hasn't seen Akashi again yet after their first encounter. It wasn't anything surprising. In the first place, Shuuko told her that Akashi's father always keeps him occupied with things that he believes can make Akashi the best person he can be in all fields. Nevertheless, it still saddens her that Akashi will not be able to make the most out of his childhood because of his very own father.

"Childhood isn't something that you can repeat when you've missed it," her beloved grandmother's voice echoed in her head as she and her father were walking the path to the courts. "Life isn't a movie where you can replay any part in case you weren't giving attention on it at first. So while you're still a child, always make sure you're making the most out of your childhood. You're not always a child, but if you had the best childhood years ever, the memories you've had when you were a kid will certainly last a lifetime."

She smiled when she remembered that. It might be a good idea to tell those to Akashi too since it isn't too late for him to enjoy his childhood anyway. She might as well help him realize that it's okay to have fun once in a while. To breathe in some fresh air when you're exposed to a suffocating environment. "Thought of something great to surprise Akashi?" her father asked, eyebrows raised.

Kotoha looked up at her dad and shook her head, grinning wider. "No, Dad. I just remembered what Grandma told me last time, and I think it'll be good to tell it to Akashi too."

"Hm, what was it about?"

"It's about why we should enjoy our childhood," she said and giggled. "Grandma said she won't waste the chance to become a kid again if ever she had."

She heard her father laugh along with her. "Certainly she would."

Both of them stopped from their tracks when they realized they've already arrived in the basketball courts. It was just a good ten-minute walk from their house. And from afar, Kotoha can see Shuuko sitting on the same bench where both of them watched Akashi and her father as they played basketball to their hearts content under the orange skies two weeks ago. She waved at Shuuko, catching her attention and causing her to wave back at her, before she sprinted to the benches.

Even though last week when Akashi wasn't able to come, Shuuko went to the court in Akashi's place to explain to Kotoha why he won't be coming. Of course, though she wasn't surprised when Shuuko told her the reason, she still sensed a wave of disappointment splashed on her because she was expecting to see him play with her father. She had everything planned out on how, in her own little way, she can help Akashi to feel a little less lonely than the usual. Like whenever Akashi's shot goes into the goal, she would shout a cheer for him. Her father tells her that he feels encouraged when she does that, so she thinks that Akashi may feel the same. But he wouldn't be coming, so her plans remained as plans.

In order to lift Kotoha's mood up, Shuuko decided not to give suspense any longer, so she told Kotoha about the good news she has in her pocket. It was effective because Kotoha's aura quickly changed, her lips suddenly lifting its edges up, upon hearing the two "magical" words. "Good news?" Kotoha asked, excitement evident on her voice that even Shuuko, whom she just met a week ago, can read it on her.

"Yes," the woman said and met her eye for a second. "Sei's mother's inviting you to their house next week." Kotoha gaped at Shuuko with her eyes widened and lips parted. She couldn't believe what she heard from Shuuko, so she plainly stared at the woman, waiting for her to explain it further. "Well, you see, I've mentioned you to Sei's mother," Shuuko continued after noticing Kotoha's confused reaction to her news. "I told her a few things about you—how adorable you are," she said and chuckled, while Kotoha's cheeks turned pink at the compliment. "And of course, I told her that you befriended Sei. But seems like she wanted to know more about you, so she asked me to invite you over next Saturday."

"Really?" Kotoha asked, but this time she looked more hyped up about the good news Shuuko brought for her. Why wouldn't she? It was her friend's mother who wants her to come over and pay them a visit. It was a special privilege for her not to grab. "She said that? That means I can visit Akashi in their house next Saturday? But what about his father?"

The girl then began bombarding her with tons of questions she didn't expect coming, startling Shuuko. She raised her hands up to motion Kotoha to calm herself down because she wouldn't be able to answer them in one go, and then both of them chuckled in unison. "Hehe, sorry, Shuuko-san. Anyway, did Akashi's mother really say that?" Kotoha asked, calmer than how she was a few seconds before that, to which Shuuko nodded. "But what about Akashi's father?" she repeated, her smile turning into a frown signifying worry. "He would discover the friendship when he's there, and I don't want that to happen," she continued with taints of fear in her voice. She may be willing to cross her limits as a friend, but, though young and innocent, that doesn't mean she's not aware of the possible consequences of being careless. She understands that it would most likely put her into danger and worse is, Akashi too.

"We have it secured. At least for now." The maid did her best to sound as convincing and honest as possible. She maintained eye contact with the child beside her and hoped that she'd believe her. "He goes to work on Saturdays—he leaves by 7 AM or earlier—so it's safe to come over next week. Around 8 o'clock. In the morning," she explained.

"Okay!" Kotoha uttered. Her lips formed a grin in just a blink of an eye. "I'll ask Dad if he's—" she paused and looked at her Dad who was focused on playing. She giggled and turned to Shuuko again, joking, "He said he's fine with it."

"Oh no, I didn't, Kotoha," she flinched when her father spoke, and it made her pout. He was listening to their conversation, apparently. "Yet. I'll think about first," he said and grinned teasingly at his daughter before he threw the ball up in the air.

"I thought you wouldn't be coming anymore," Shuuko kidded around while Kotoha and her father were approaching her. She stood and bowed her head, which the two did as well. "Anyway, thank you for allowing Kotoha to come and pay the Akashis a visit."

The man chuckled and shook his head as he ruffled his daughter's hair, a habit he has had ever since Kotoha's hair grew long. "It's nothing, really. She was very excited about it. I doubt it if she was able to sleep yesterday night." He laughed and patted Kotoha's head this time. "But I hope I can accompany her until there, since I want to know where to fetch her."

Shuuko smiled. "I don't actually mind. So, are we all set?"

"We're here!" Shuuko came into a halt and turned to her right, causing Kotoha and her father to do the same. Kotoha's eyes were sparkling with excitement over the idea of meeting Akashi's mother today. However, the moment they laid their eyes on the tall gates in front of them and not to mention the beautiful, majestic mansion that stood beyond the gates, she and her father were taken aback. The mansion looked so grand. It was like a palace in Kotoha's eyes, like the ones she often sees in movies and cartoons, only of modern design and a little smaller compared to them.

This is Akashi's house? Kotoha almost-shouted, but it seemed like her voice had ran away that's why her thoughts weren't able to come out of her as words. So she only stayed on her position, completely speechless with her lips slowly parting and her eyes widening out of pure amazement. W-Whoah! And if it was possible to stutter in one's thoughts, then perhaps she already did.

It wasn't anything close to what she imagined. It is true that she assumed that the Akashis might be rich in terms of money. Akashi had Shuuko (a maid) and a driver named Kawata—as far as Kotoha can remember—as his companions the first time they've seen each other in the courts. Having a maid and a driver indicated that the Akashis had a comfortable state of living in terms of material matters. However, everything went over her expectations.

Even Kotoha's father was left surprised and wordless at the sight of the Akashi residence that he had almost forgotten about the errand he's asked to do. He let out a short awkward laughed before speaking. "I didn't quite expect this." Kotoha finally heard his voice because he was silent the instant they arrived there, yet it cannot be denied that disbelief was still infused in his tone. "Anyway, I should be going,"—he looked at Kotoha and ruffled her hair—"Say 'hi' to Akashi for me, okay? And be a good girl," he said, to which Kotoha nodded, before he left, waving at Kotoha until he was already out of her sight.

She then turned to Shuuko who was asking her if they should also be going. Joy replaced her astonishment, and so she happily exclaimed "Yes!" as she let her lead the way once again. They entered the compound through the small gate, where the people walking by feet usually pass, which a guard opened for them. And surely Kotoha was surprised to know that they even have a guard. Well, considering how big the area is, they'd really need someone to ensure safety.

Shuuko introduced her to the guard when they've entered the compound, but Kotoha wasn't able to pay attention to his name. It was because her attention was immediately caught by the fact that the Akashi residence is a whole lot more beautiful inside. Her eyes travelled around the area and scanned everything in front of her. They have a lawn about the same area as the area of their own house, and Kotoha felt envious. She has always wished to have a lawn this wide so she'd have her own playground where she can run as much as she want. If Akashi had a fun dad, then they wouldn't have a problem where to play. There are also a few bushes artistically arranged near the walls that are surrounding the area, a few trees that provided shade if ever they wanted to stay outside the house, a big garage and cars inside it—Kotoha saw two—and a fountain in front of the most beautiful mansion Kotoha has ever seen.

"It's so beautiful here," Kotoha muttered with awe and admiration. Her dream house doesn't even stand a chance on what her eyes are currently seeing.

Kotoha felt Shuuko beside her. "Yes, it really is," she said. She has been working for the Akashis for several years, but she's still in love with how pleasing this place can be in her eyes. It was a view she should be used to already because she's there almost 24/7, but that wasn't an excuse for her to stop admiring the physical beauty of the place. "Anyway, come on. Mrs. Akashi's probably waiting for us inside," she beckoned that boosted Kotoha's excitement to its extreme mode. The lady walked ahead of her, and Kotoha followed suit, skipping the way towards the mansion in front of her.

The Akashis have quite a number of housekeepers. Kotoha has met at least five along the way, and Shuuko said she'll be meeting more when they get inside. "Will they tell Akashi's father that I visited here?" Kotoha asked curiously when they were about two meters away from the front door.

"No, no" was Shuuko's immediate response to her question. She glanced over her shoulder to meet Kotoha's eyes and she gave her a small smile to at least reduce the fear the kid's currently having, just in case she couldn't completely remove it. "Mrs. Shiori—that's her name, by the way—talked with everyone here, and gladly everyone agreed. It's safe already, okay?"

Kotoha smiled and nodded her head. She was only making it sure that it's safe for her to visit the place. "Okay! Thank you, Shuuko-san!"

Shuuko stopped from her tracks and turned around to face Kotoha. She bent down a little and smiled at Kotoha so genuinely that it was totally contagious for Kotoha not to widen her smile too. "No problem, though I think you should tell that to Mrs. Shiori instead. Anyway," she fixed her posture and turned her heels around again. They started walking but this time, Kotoha caught up with her so they could walk side-by-side. "We also want Sei to be happy like other kids around, just like how you do. And we believe you can help him, that's why..." she shrugged. "That's why we're also doing our best to keep your friendship a secret."

"I'll really help him Shuuko-san. Don't worry!" Kotoha assured her accompanied with a determined expression.

Afterwards, they arrived in front of the mansion, and Kotoha couldn't be more excited than what she's feeling right now. Especially when Shuuko opened the big front door, revealing what's inside the "most beautiful mansion" Kotoha has ever seen. Kotoha couldn't find the words to describe how grand it is inside, and for a moment, she wished she lived in a house as beautiful as this one. She wondered how it's like to wake up each morning with this kind of sight—high ceilings, beautiful wallpapers, paintings, a grand staircase, chandeliers, several rooms, maids greeting her, and her own family waiting for her in the dining room for a banquet of delicious food. She bet that would be awesome. It's only that, it's impossible, so she brushed the thought off and caught up with Shuuko's pace. "Do you like it here?" Shuuko asked before turning to a room at their left. Apparently, it was the living room.

Kotoha looked around the room and slowly bobbed her head in response to Shuuko's question. "Wow," she muttered under her breath when she saw how spacious it is inside the living room, not to mention all the extravagant furniture and ornaments she wouldn't want to break at all. "Neh, Shuuko-san, what is it like to live in a beautiful place like this?" she asked curiously.

Shuuko offered her to sit on the sofa, and Kotoha gladly accepted the offer, before she spoke. "It's so nice to live here, actually, but—" she paused and looked at Kotoha, only to see her overjoyed aura, so she thought this might not be a time to tell her about things she shouldn't think about yet. "Never mind. Anyway, can you stay here?" Kotoha nodded. "Perfect. I'll be going to call Mrs. Shiori, so kindly wait here, sweetheart. See you later," she said and waved at Kotoha before leaving the room.

After Shuuko has left the room, being the curious little child she is, it crossed her mind that it may actually be nice to look around the room. Plainly sitting on the sofa doing nothing else totally bores her, so she rose from her seat and strolled around in search of framed pictures. She saw a few displayed on top of a small cabinet near the windows, and so she went there to see them up close. The first one to her left was probably taken decades ago since the picture was still black-and-white in color. It is a family picture where the parents are seated in the front row, while their children (all grown-up, two sons and a daughter) are standing behind them, all of which are wearing the traditional Japanese attire. But no matter how formal they are, they nevertheless looked so happy in the photograph—everyone's smiling in front of the camera—and Kotoha assumed that they were also a fun family like the one she has.

She transferred her eyes to the picture frame next to it, and seeing the picture made her giggle. It was a picture of Akashi's family, all three of them, when Akashi was still a baby. She can't help but giggle harder because Akashi's undeniably cute when he was a baby. His cheeks were chubby, and Kotoha wished she could travel through time so she could pinch his puffy rosy cheeks. A woman was carrying him and basing on her looks, there was no doubt she is Akashi's mother. From her eyes, her red hair, her face, and her sweet smile, she was like the grown-up female version of Akashi. "Akashi looks like his mother very much," she whispered to herself. "And she's beautiful."

Then, Kotoha observed the man standing beside Akashi's mother, and the first thing she noticed is that, she wasn't sure if he was smiling or not. Perhaps he was smiling, though it wasn't anything near to being obvious. Maybe that's just how he smiles—lifting the edges of his lips by a few millimeters—or he wasn't actually smiling. That Kotoha doesn't know.

Her thoughts about Akashi's father were interrupted when she heard a faint music coming outside the room. It wasn't clear enough for her to identify what type of instrument's being used, and as if her feet have their own minds, she started walking towards the origin of the music. Determined to identify what it was, she forgot what Shuuko told her a while ago, letting the music pull her. And as she took more steps away from the living room, she can hear the music get clearer and clearer until she arrived in front of a room where she thought where the music is coming from. The door was slightly opened, and when she crouched down and leaned her ears near the small space, she can hear a pleasant music that she was now sure is produced using a violin. The one playing the violin is doing great, hitting the notes perfectly even if it wasn't an easy piece. But more than anything else, the way the person was playing the piece is completely heartfelt, and Kotoha could feel her heart twitch a little while listening to it.

Curious as to who is playing it, she opened the door in the most careful way she can so as not to produce a creaking sound that would ruin the music, and of course, not to be caught by whoever's inside the room. She managed to open it a little more, creating a wider space, without disturbing who is inside, and there she saw a woman in her late 20s sitting on a chair near the windows with a paper, presumably a music sheet, held by her hand. And in front of her was Akashi, his eyes closed while he's playing the violin. There was a music sheet placed on a stand in front of him but he wasn't really looking at it as if he has memorized the whole piece by heart. Her eyes widened in amazement, because though they were in the same age, Akashi's far talented and skilled than her already. "He's amazing," Kotoha mumbled as she watched Akashi continue the piece. It was soothing and Kotoha wouldn't mind listening to it all day long.

It came into a beautiful stop, and Kotoha found herself clapping silently along with the lady who's possibly Akashi's teacher. "Job greatly done, Seijuurou. I think you're so much better than me already." It was not clear but her words are still audible regardless of the distance between them and Kotoha. "And I'm sure you'll be improving more in the next few days."

"Thank you, sensei," Akashi said as he bowed his head in front of the lady.

"I told you, enough with the sensei," she told him. "So, can you give it another shot before we end our session?" Akashi agreed. "Okay then..." his teacher trailed off when her eyes darted at the direction of the slightly opened door. Her eyes met Kotoha, and Kotoha suddenly began panicking. "Hm, looks like you have a visitor, Seijuurou."

Akashi looked at Kotoha's direction too, and despite wanting to hide from him, she recognized the fact that doing so would be totally useless because she was here to visit Akashi in the first place. So she stayed in her position, just smiled widely at Akashi, and gave him a somehow loud applause this time. She saw Akashi's orbs widen for a matter of seconds, and she was happy because her plan to surprise him actually worked out. She gave him a thumbs-up and mouthed a "you can do it again" to him, although it was pretty a given that Akashi would play the piece perfectly. It moved Akashi to smile at her back before he faced his teacher and asked something Kotoha wasn't able to hear because his voice was soft. The teacher nodded her head, and that seemed to motion Akashi to walk towards Kotoha with his violin on his right hand and the bow on the other. Kotoha blinked as he approached her, not having the least idea why Akashi wasn't starting yet.

When she sensed that Akashi wasn't going to start yet and was thus approaching her because he possibly wanted to talk with her, she rose from her position and fixed herself. That's when she felt the strain crouching for quite a while had caused on her legs. Akashi pulled open the door fully, a waving Kotoha greeting him. "Hi, Akashi," she greeted him awkwardly, knowing that what she did a while ago is a "don't" for a visitor like her. "Sorry if I disturbed you."

Akashi chuckled and shook his head. "It's fine. Didn't quite expect to see you, though."

Kotoha grinned at him and laughed. "Of course. This is a surprise visit, Akashi!" she said.

That lifted the edges of Akashi's lips into a smile. "Anyway, my teacher said you can come inside, in case..." Akashi faltered off when he realized he was actually asking someone to watch him play. He's used to inviting his mother, but it was new for him to invite someone else. But trying something new and unfamiliar isn't always bad, is it? "In case you want to hear me play the same piece."

Even Kotoha was surprised, but she didn't have the guts to protest because she can feel the strain in her legs already. And besides, wouldn't it be a whole lot better to watch Akashi play in front of her and not by merely peering through a small space? "Who wouldn't want to hear it?" she encouraged him, giving him another thumbs-up. "It's beautiful and relaxing and I wouldn't mind listening to it all day, so don't worry, Akashi."

It took Akashi a few seconds to react since he was taken aback, before he mumbled something that was so faint that Kotoha didn't understand it at all, and then he asked her to enter the room. Her eyes roamed around the room, and realization hit her that it was actually a music room, not Akashi's. There's a grand piano at the center of the room near the windows, but other than that, the rest of the room was pretty empty. Nonetheless, despite being almost vacant, Kotoha found the room as a perfect place to stay in during leisure times. It's quiet and the view through the windows was pretty relaxing.

Upon seeing Akashi's teacher, she bowed as a greeting (and so did the lady) before she sat on the chair by the grand piano.

Akashi returned to his position, facing Kotoha, and began playing the violin. And it was still as perfect as his performance a while ago. The melody continued to flow inside the room, into Kotoha's ears then straight into her heart. It touched her and it was as though Akashi was speaking to her through the notes he's producing through his violin and bow. She doesn't know much about Akashi yet since it was only the second time they got to meet each other again. They're still on the process of becoming close friends, though they were already friends in name. But the fact that Akashi was playing the violin for her somehow made her feel that he's also viewing her as a friend already.

By the end, Kotoha didn't stop herself from applauding. She planned to clap for him in every successful shot he makes when he's playing basketball, and she's glad she got to do it today though it's basically for the great performance he executed. Nonetheless, though it's a different situation, it serves the same purpose. That in her own simple way, she can help Akashi's heart grow happy.

Xx xX

Note:

Hi! Sorry for a late update. It took me a week to gain my writing vibes back, and another week to finish this chapter. I'll try to post chapters 2-4 this approaching week. Hehe. Thank you! ; u ;