Although she said she won't be able to come, she managed to arrive in Japan just in time for the 4th quarter. She gripped her hands tightly feeling very anxious of how the match will end and when it did end in Seirin's favour, the girl felt mixed feelings about the outcome. The feeling of disappointment that Rakuzan lost and the feeling that Akashi deserves to feel defeat. Soon after the match, she waited for the team to exit so she could at least give her condolences to them, especially the young captain.

When she was about to approach the team, she notice the scarlet haired boy wasn't with them. Worry filled her heart and she started to search for the redhead in the entire premise. Knowing that losing was a huge blow to him, she assumed he stayed inside the stadium area to cool himself down. Not even sparing a greeting to her seniors, the brunette looked at the places he could possibly be such as the outdoor balcony, the hallways and the males' bathroom.

The last spot she hadn't checked yet was Rakuzan's locker room. There was a 50% chance that he was still in there, regretting his defeat. She took a deep breath and prepared herself before slowly opening the door. It took a while before her eyes adjusted to the darkness and a dark figure caught her gaze. The figure hung his head low between his legs as he leaned backwards on the bench behind him. Not turning on the lights, the girl walked over to the young boy and went on her knees beside him, putting a warm hand on his arm.

"Akashi…" she said softly. "you—"

"I am an unneeded person…" the male suddenly muttered in a low, husky voice.

"eh?..."

"Winners are affirmed completely, and losers are denied completely…"

"you…what are y—"

"how foolish…I…" a low and dry laughter started to escape the boy's lips. "I said those words to others…and now I am the one who is denied…a denied existence that should just disappear from this world…"

Pang!

Akashi's dull mismatched eyes widened as the brunette landed a slap on his face. He held the throbbing area and glared rather weakly at her, mentally asking the reason of her sudden action.

"what's with that…don't give me that kind of crap!"

He flinched at the raise of voice but didn't remove his eyes from her. It was not because it was rare to see this side of her but it was because the expression felt familiar. Those cerulean eyes which were denying every logic and mindset of his looked exactly like those of a person from his childhood.

"I know this is the first for you losing but that's just how life is! You just gotta accept the way it all works rather than moping around like a little brat!"

"…you don't understand anything…" he mumbled loud enough for her to hear and gripped his red hair as his face produced a pained expression. "there is no place for the defeated in this world…"

"you're right. I don't. but…"

The redhead felt her hand gently bringing him into a hug, his head resting on her chest. Slowly, she started to caress his hair like how a mother would.

"I can try…you can tell me everything. You can show me how you really feel." She gave a short pause before tightening her hug on the young boy. "you can cry if you want. No one except me will see your tears. There is no need to hold them back…just let it all go…"

Akashi's eyes widened upon hearing those words. It was the similar words he had said to her. The words he chose to engrave in his heart ever since they were recited to him a few years back. Someone had pulled him out from the deep pit of despair he had fallen in. He felt warmth from the hands that held him. A comfortable warmth that made him unable to hold back the emotions inside him anymore. He gripped the sleeve of the girl's shirt and buried his face in her chest, allowing himself to silently cry in her arms.

Shizune gave a small smile and kept her embrace on the trembling body. She wondered, how long has it been since he actually let out all his feelings that were bottled up. The boy who was painfully mature was weeping in her hold like a small child. Before, he was the one she cried against. Now, their roles have been switched.

The young emperor's intimidating and emotionless façade had vanished. Even if it was only for tonight. Even if it was only for that short moment, he wanted to release everything he had held hidden in the darkness of his heart.

His pain…

His sadness…

His loneliness…

The female remained beside him, not letting go of her embrace on him. He needed her. Right here..Right now..He needed her. She didn't know any comforting words to say because she wasn't a gentle person but she felt that her presence was enough for him. She didn't mind staying with him. She didn't mind waiting for him to calm down. If she could at least help him during his time of need, nothing else mattered. He was just like her. Both with the same foolish logic. That night, she realized.

"sorry…for making you stay with me until this time of night…"

The redhead apologized softly as they walked back to the dorm side by side. The brunette just smiled and shook her head.

"it's okay…just think of it as me repaying what I owed you the last time"

"…is it really so?"

Shizune looked at him, rather surprised by how uncertain and scared his voice sounded. The events that night has somehow made Akashi feel insecure and it could be seen faintly in his eyes. The girl's eyes soften and she gently put her hand on his head letting out a small chuckle.

"idiot. I was just joking. You don't have to take what I said so seriously"

"..you have become quite feminine, haven't you?"

"wha-" she felt her eye twitch. "well forgive me for not-—"

"let's hurry and return."

The redhead resumed walking. The girl blinked a few times and let a small smile form on her lips before catching up to him. As soon as the two entered the dorm, Akashi was greeted by Mibuchi's bone-crushing-motherly hug. And the guy was crying. Legit tears.

"Sei-chan! Thank goodness!"

"R-Reo…"

"I was so worried! I thought you might not get over it but thank goodness you did!"

Mibuchi cried, failing to notice the brunette beside him. Akashi let out a content sigh and pat the larger male's head then muttered a "sorry for making you worry". The raven-haired male released him from the hug and smiled sweetly at him.

"it's okay, Sei-chan~ ah, Shizu-chan!" he exclaimed, finally realizing the girl's presence. "sorry for not noticing earlier…I didn't know you have returned from America"

"ah, I forgot to mention…"

"and?~ why are you with Sei-chan?~"

"I.." found him depressed in the locker room so I let him cry in front of me…no way I can say that! "bumped into him on the way here"

Mibuchi, of course, saw through the lie but just nodded, smiling and informed the two that they were going to return to Kyoto the next day then retreated to his room which the duo did so too. While curling up in the futon, a thought flowed through the female's mind.

What will happen when Akashi returns to the mansion?

Will his father ignore him?

Or…will he chase him out?...

The next morning, Rakuzan Basketball Team grouped at the station to wait for their ride back to Kyoto. Well, except Nebuya who went off to feast at the new ramen shop somewhere in the station even though it was almost time for the shinkansen to arrive. Mibuchi was fuming because of that and almost all of the members stayed away. Hayama was snoring on a bench, leaning on an annoyed Mayuzumi's shoulder. They were all acting like their normal selves even after a one night period for recovery from their lose.

"…by the way, where is Kudo?"

Mayuzumi asked, shifting his gaze from his light novel to the noisy juniors of his in front of him.

"she went to get Eikichi"

"..I see.."

"Ne-bu-ya-sen-pai. We're gonna be late for the shinkansen so could you please forget about that ramen and return to where the others are?"

Shizune tried her best to get the tanned senior away from his ultra-mega-super-large gekikara ramen but he remained rooted at his seat, slurping the food happily. After getting tired of her pestering him to return to the others, Nebuya made her wait outside the shop saying that he'll be done in a few minutes which she reluctantly did.

"..they're not gonna make it, are they?"

"d-don't say that, Hayama. I'm sure they will!"

"but, the shinkansen's going to leave soon"

"geez Sei-chan, please become more positive!"

"ah, there they are!"

Hayama pointed to the duo running at full speed toward them in the shinkansen. Mibuchi let out a relieved sigh when the two jumped in and stopped to catch their breaths, exhausted from all the running.

"haa…haa…made it…!"

Nebuya declared between pants and Shizune glared at him.

"no thanks to you…you took too long to eat, senpai!"

"yeah, yeah…"

"alright, you two. Get to your seats."

Shirogane said and the duo hurriedly went to their seats which was beside Hayama for him and beside Akashi for her. The shinkansen left the station and the teens started chattering with each other while their coach took a snooze. Their manager was about to do the same but was interrupted by a soft poke on her cheek.

"need something, Akashi?"

"about last night," he moved in closer to make sure only she could hear. "make sure you keep it between us."

She blinked and had to stifle her laughter so that the others wont inquire what was so funny. "of course I will." She said with a grin.

Giving a short nod, he then returned to his staring outside the window and she closed her eyes to take a nap, feeling quite happy. After a while, Akashi got bored of the scenery outside that he could barely see and he turned to the female beside him by reflex. She was sleeping rather peacefully that she didn't even wake up when the train made a slightly sharp turn causing her head to rest on his shoulder. A small smile formed on the captain's lips as he looked at her.

If only she was always this quiet…

Akashi's eyes then widened slightly in surprise when an image of a young girl with matured cerulean eyes, short dark brown hair and a frown on her face overlapped the brunette's figure for a split second in his head. The girl was someone from his past and if looked closer, Shizune was oddly familiar to her.

"don't tell me…"

thanks for reading!