"you should have earned a perfect score. How disgraceful."

"but father—"

"no buts! Get out and reflect on what you have done."

A young scarlet haired boy at the age of 9 ran out of the gorgeous mansion and went to a park named Beika Park then sat on an empty swing. The sun was already starting to set. The boy touched the purplish-blue bruise on his cheek and felt tears threatening to fall out of his eyes.

It had always been that way. Ever since his beloved mother died by illness when he was 5, his father changed and started to raise him as a perfect son to inherit the family business. Teaching a small child to act like an adult. It was cruel and unfair. But to make his dear father's proud, he learnt more than he should. He acted more maturely that he should. He did everything that an adult would do. Just for his father.

A single mistake wasn't allowed. A punishment will follow if a mistake is committed. The boy was aware of it so he worked hard. Worked hard to please his father. But whatever he did, it wasn't enough. It was never enough.

The boy rubbed his eyes and suppressed the tears that were dying to flow out. He then decided to apologize to his father for his test marks and put some ice on that bruise of his but a part of him didn't want to return. He wasn't sure how to face him. Was he still mad? If he was, what should he—

"hey, you okay?"

He looked up to the source of the voice to see a girl about his age with mature looking cerulean orbs and short dark brown hair standing in front of him with a drink in her hands. Although mature, her eyes were filled with childish curiousity and they looked very observant.

"…yea. Just leave me alone…"

"are you crying?"

why won't she leave..? "no."

"but you are—"

"father said boys shouldn't cry so I'm not, okay? Now leave me alone…" He tried his best not to raise his voice because he wouldn't want to hurt the girl. His words had a rude tone to it causing the girl to visibly frown and click her tongue.

"are you an idiot?"

"wha—"

"boys shouldn't cry? seriously?" she scoffed. "There's no one here. If you wanna cry, just do it. I won't judge."

"but…"

"I don't know what your dad said but..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! Understand?"

The young redhead stared at her figure with his eyes wide. She looked angry but there was only sympathy reflected in her eyes. Though she made his need to cry increase, his pride prevented him from doing so. He solemnly shook his head and said while getting off the swing that he should return home before his father worries.

"wait."

"..what do you want?"

A cold sensation was felt on his cheek when he turned to face her. At first it hurt but the coolness felt good on his skin and the pain on his cheek slowly went away. He let out a content sigh and the girl smiled seeing his reaction.

"I'll let you have this." She said handing over her drink to him. "just think of it as an apology for shouting at you just now. You need something cold for that bruise anyway"

"th-"

"ah, I gotta get back now so bye!"

After the girl ran off, the boy looked at the drink in his hand and took a sip from the straw. His face instantly scrunched and he started coughing like a sick person. It was extremely bitter! He opened the cover of the drink and almost threw it from anger.

"ice coffee!? What kind of kid drinks this!?"

He blinked a few times, realizing he actually got mad and was close to doing a certain action that was out of his character. He sighed and started to walk home, drinking the iced coffee which taste he adapted to. Every time his cheek started aching, he put the drink on it and the pain would slowly disappear. He was thankful to the girl and he felt happy that someone cared for him. It was the first time he felt that way.

Ever since his mother died, no one actually cared for him. No one said it was okay to cry. No one…had ever attempted to treat his wounds. Even with the number of maids in the household, he had always treated his own cuts, burns and bruises. He didn't really mind but having someone care for him was very heart-warming.

"that reminds me…I didn't ask her name or even thank her…oh well. If we meet again someday, I'll just do it at that time" He chuckled to himself, fondly holding the iced coffee in his hands.

"Akashi. Oi, Akashi. Wake up."

The red haired boy's eyes fluttered open and the first thing he saw was the brunette's face close to his. She backed up and gestured towards the window.

"we're reaching in a few so try and freshen up a little."

"...I thought you were the one sleeping.."

"I was. But a text came and it woke me up. Then I saw you sleeping oh so innocently next to me."

"I see.." he hummed in response, ignoring her little comment. "who was it from?"

"it was…just a wrong number."

"is that so…"

Akashi could sense a lie in her words but chose not to pry into it. She looked slightly troubled when she answered him but it disappeared as fast as it appeared. She had a reason for not wanting to tell him about it and who was he to judge? He himself hid a lot of things from her and he knows how uncomfortable it is when someone insists to know something you don't want others knowing. But, what is it that she wanted to conceal from him?

"by the way, what kind of dream did you see?"

He was snapped out of his thoughts and he responded with a emotionless tone, "pardon?"

"you looked kinda happy while sleeping so I'm sure you saw a nice dream. What did you see?"

"…were you watching me sleep?"

"that's not the point!"

He thought for a moment before deciding it was okay to tell her. "it was something about the past..about," he looked out the window. "my first love"

The other was silent and wasn't giving any response so the redhead looked at her at the corner of his eye. His words seemed to cause a huge shock to the female because she was gapping at him. Then, unable to control her voice, she shouted a long toned "what!?" followed by "your first love!?" which was cut off half way by Akashi covering her mouth.

Hayama, who was seated in front of them, turned to ask what was wrong but was dismissed by the redhead. He then removed his hand from the girl's mouth and told her to keep it down since it would disturb the others in the train. Shizune muttered an apology and before she could inquire more about the topic, the shinkansen reached the station and Shirogane ordered in a loud voice— to wake up those who were still sleeping —the students to take their belongings and get off the train.

After a few farewells, the Rakuzan students went back to their respective homes except for the AkaKudo pair. They, or rather Akashi, weren't sure on how to return to the Akashi Mansion because they were sure that his father would not be happy to see him. Planning to waste their time until they're prepared, the duo walked around the streets with their bags over their shoulders. They arrived at a park where they stopped by and got a canned coffee each from a vending machine.

"this park…"

The brunette suddenly muttered as they sat on a bench.

"something wrong with it?"

"no…it just looks similar to a park near my place in Tokyo."

"Beika Park?"

"yea. If I remember correctly at that time…"

She trailed off and chuckled. Akashi raised an eyebrow and asked what was the matter.

"ah, well you see…" she started, wearing a fond smile as the can she opened produced a 'pssh' sound. "A few years ago in Beika when I was on my way back from school, I saw a kid my age sitting alone on the swings. He looked kinda depressed so I approached him. After a small exchange of words, he told me to leave him alone and said something about boys shouldn't cry then I got annoying and shouted at the kid making him wanting to leave."

" 'course I didn't let him leave just like that because it made me feel guilty so I gave him the ice coffee I had in hand— ah, I liked ice coffee even though I was a kid at the time —then I left him 'coz I wanted to get back home. The face he made when I gave him the coffee was real cute, y'know? It was like he was confused and happy at the same time!" she laughed remembering how the boy's face was.

On the other hand, the scarlet haired boy beside her looked surprised by her short story. His mismatched eyes were wide and his lips were slightly parted as he stared at her. His can was held firmly as he processed what she had told him. He did suspect it but he didn't expect it to be true. The girl called out his name causing him to stop staring and faked a cough to compose himself.

"…sounds like something from out of a manga"

"what kind of comment is that..?"

"it's already dark. We should head back."

"you sure?"

"…yes."

So the two walked slowly back to the Akashi residence though the female was still hesitant whether to let him return or not. When they reached, they were greeted by a maid and was told that Shuusaku was currently having dinner outside with his business partners. It was a sign of relief but it didn't last long.

"Seijuro." The red haired man asked while looking emotionlessly at his son as he entered through the main entrance, not even caring that there were others currently watching them. "what are you doing here?"

"you didn't say I was forbidden to return home, fath-" he stopped before finishing the word and lowered his gaze. The words he told him still rang in his head and it was hard to forget.

"I do not want to see your face. Even if we are under the same roof." Shuusaku finished, entering his study and letting the door close with a rather loud slam making those at the scene flinch. The maid that was with them excused herself and the duo went upstairs to retreat to their own rooms.

It was a few minutes before midnight. Shizune was reading a manga Hayama lent her while pondering over something when a knock was heard on her door. She opened it and blinked confusingly seeing the one in front of her. The person that stood at the door was none other than Akashi. At first, she was puzzled at what was it that made him want to come to her but then she realized the reason and she proceeded to give a gentle smile to him.

"couldn't sleep?"

He nodded once and let himself in. The brunette noted how his personality has slightly changed as she watched him sit beside the bed on the floor and leaned on it. He seemed more dependent. Or was that just her imagination? She went beside him though not sure of what to say. The two stayed in the usual silence they always encountered when together until the boy broke the silence with a soft murmur.

"—you"

"hm?"

"…thank you."

It took a moment before she could register and react to his words. He was thanking her? Why in the world— "for what, Akashi?"

For 7 years ago… "figure it out yourself. You're a detective, aren't you?"

She let out an annoyed huff. "Just tell me. What's the use for thanking someone when that person doesn't know what—"

Her eyes widened. His and her distance was practically nonexistent. His cold ruby and gold orbs looked at her cerulean ones as the warm contact between their lips didn't part. Her cheeks were slowly painted by faint pink and she gripped the fabric of her shirt trying to stay in control of herself. It felt like eternity even though it was only a short one. The boy backed up slowly and muttered a goodnight before heading back to his room. He immediately locked the door and laid on his bed with his eyes fixed on the ceiling.

Why did he do that?

Sure she was his first love but…

Why did he choose to strike?

"damn it…"

due to the guilt of letting Akashi doing such things, I just had to change some things in here- ;w;
I'm sorry for always torturing you Akashi!
Thanks for reading!