10. Enraptured

"You seem to be in a good spirits today, Akagi-san."

Right from the very point where Akagi had passed through the gates of her homely little abode, it was hard to not notice the merry little skip in her steps kicking against the side-walk or the additional bounce to her dark chocolate hair with every twirl and spin.

Finally falling into a halt by the shoe lockers at school, Akagi lets out a soft musing hum, "Shall I let you in on a little secret?" she says, liltingly, head tilting in an ever so teasing gesture as she flashes Kaga an impish grin, eyes sparkling with mirth.

Arching a curious brow, Kaga proceeds to shrug out of her outdoor shoes, albeit unobtrusively inching a tad closer to the brunette beside her while doing so.

"I'm all ears."

"Well," Akagi begins, clearing her throat and pursing her lips in her attempt to contain the ever-growing excitement of hers, to no avail. "A little birdie told me that plans on a summer camp has been finalized."

Kaga blinks, movements stilling. The corners of her lips twitches in amusement.

"A little birdie… Meaning Houshou-san?"

Instantly, her response has brought on a loud silencing hush, along with frantic topaz orbs darting back and forth for any signs of eavesdroppers.

"Kaga-san! It's a secret, remember?"

"Right... I apologize." Kaga murmurs, not sounding especially sorry, though her amusement is still evident from the curl of her lips. "I take it that we're heading to the usual old place again?" Graceful fingers lifts at her shoes as she pries at her locker.

"Yup, sandy beaches and deep blue oceans, here we come~" Akagi's cheerful little hum almost stops short at the sight that befalls her upon the opening of Kaga's shoe locker.

"Ah," is all the response that is elicited from Kaga as she picks at the piece of letter neatly resting atop her indoor shoes with utmost tact.

Fingers running along the smooth sheet of the white envelope, she flips it over once, then twice, eyes critically scanning for any evidence of its potential sender.

Apart from her name being written over it, there is nothing else to suggest as to who could have probably sent her this. Though, the nature of the letter is only made clear with its inconspicuous heart-shaped seal embedded on its back.

With an inward sigh, on the verge of vexation, Kaga merely tucks the letter into one of the many pockets of her school bag without so much of a second glance.

It goes without saying that it's probably some letter of confession— frivolous ideas of indulgence and romance—, things that Kaga could hardly find it in herself to entertain.

"You're… not going to read it?" asks Akagi, and despite her curiosity, there is this indecipherable glint to her eyes, her lips pressed thinly— nearly bordering on a frown.

If Kaga is allowed to, she would have probably torn the letter up into a million pieces for it to be carried away by the wind, but alas, that would have been simply impolite. Moreover, she has to acknowledge the effort and care placed into writing such a letter.

So in turn, Kaga gives a careless shrug. "If it had been of anything urgent, I'm sure the sender would have came to me personally, and not through means of some letter."

Nonchalantly slipping into her indoor shoes, Kaga shoulders her school bag and slams her locker door shut with a resounding thud. Idly, she notes the way the dancing lights in those glistening amber pools of Akagi's had seemed to still, almost hardening over in contemplation.

And there's that endearing little furrow of her brows whenever she is doing some serious thinking.

Pausing for the briefest of seconds, Kaga finds her expression softening at the sight.

"No matter, I'll read it after class." With a slight tilt of the head, she offers her team captain a small but captivating rare smile of her own. "Shall we get going then, Akagi-san?"

At that, Akagi gives short start, glazed eyes flickering back into focus before looking down to realize that she's still in her outdoor shoes.

Smirking, Kaga makes to leave, albeit only stopping at the fervent whines and protests of Akagi for her to not leave her behind.

What is she to do with that girl some times, she wonders with a sigh.

"So…" begins Akagi as she saunters up to Kaga's desk, the very second the bell for lunch break had gone off.

She does her best to still the flighty tremors of nervous energy thrumming through her fingers and clears her throat slightly, all in her attempt at feigning indifference.

Though, she is fairly sure her efforts are in vain, as made apparent by the slight arch of an aristocratic brow from Kaga.

"If it's lunch you're after, I made you bento," says Kaga, putting said-bento atop her desk without so much of a blink, fingers moving to unfurl the blue bundle.

Immediately, Akagi's mouth begins to water and before she can even stop herself, she has already slid a chair over to Kaga's desk in preparation for the wonders and goodness that comes in hand with Kaga's homemade bento.

And for a brief second, she nearly forgets her original intention of approaching Kaga in the first place.

Nearly.

"So, Kaga-san," starts Akagi once more, albeit only after indulging herself in a giant mouthful of rice and delicious karaage chicken. She is somewhat thankful for the food as a pleasant distraction from her subpar act of nonchalance. "Have you read the letter yet?"

Though, at the mention of the dreaded letter— the dreaded love letter— the food in her mouth had almost turned a stale, bland bitter. Even when she had carefully avoided referring it as such, her stomach still churns at the thought.

"No, I've not," murmurs Kaga after a short moment of pause, as if she had to mull over it for a second. Eyes straying over to her school bag sitting by her desk's side, they had narrowed imperceptibly, a frown thinning at her lips. "I suppose it can wait." She says with a resigned sigh, her gaze softening into something tender as it flickers back to Akagi. "For now let's just have lunch in peace."

For some reason, a constant nagging thought at the back of her mind has been telling her that Kaga is, in fact, doing her best to drag this on as long as she can, but just how is Akagi supposed to go about confronting her that?

Definitely not when she's looking back at her with that gaze, so damned earnest, soft and filled with much fondness for her, looking as if they were imploring her to just let the entirety of the matter go.

And who is Akagi to deny her that?

She's probably far too gone to deny her anything at this point.

"You can stay around when I decide to open it later," adds Kaga, ever so off-handedly, taking a casual bite out of her bento, chewing at it languidly. Ambers shift to meet topaz, and in it, Akagi notes the barest sliver of amusement shining in them, the edges of her lips curling into a faint teasing smirk. "If it's to sate your curiosity, of course."

At that, Akagi is unable to stifle the embarrassment that floods her cheeks, pooling in the darkest shade of crimson.

"T-that is…" She stutters, eyes wide and darting.

Kaga lets out a chuckle then, hiding it behind a dainty fist, her stoic façade shattering for the briefest of seconds.

It's a pretty sound, thinks Akagi, though it's a pity that she doesn't hear it all that often.

She merely looks to Akagi with a smile, eyes light and soft, unbridling with affection.

Huffing, Akagi purses her lips into a small indignant pout, casting her eyes away from the girl before her. That is… until she feels the warmth of gentle fingers ghosting over the corners of her cheek in the faintest of touch. She looks up sharply at her partner, surprise coloring her features when the sight of a crooked grin greets her.

"You've got a grain of rice on your face," is simply Kaga's humorous response as she fleetingly shows Akagi the offending object before slipping it into her mouth with the lithe grace of a panther.

Again, the entire notion sends Akagi into a flushing mess, the tips of her ears coloring a bright pink.

And this time, Kaga cannot refrain herself from laughing.

"Akagi-san…"

Amidst the rapid clicking of her footsteps against the shiny smooth tiles of the locker room as Akagi paces about within the confines of the small room, the call of her own name had honestly sounded more like a faint whisper in the distance— like a buzz in the air that one would hardly even notice unless they paid attention.

Back and forth. Back and forth.

"Is everything… alright?"

Akagi only pauses briefly in her steps to glance up at a particularly concerned-looking Souryuu. She duly notes that the locker room is of a dead silent and all eyes appear to be fixed solely on her with expressions varying from curiosity to worry. With a breath, Akagi puts on what is intended to be a reassuring smile.

"Yes, everything is..." She swallows down the bitter bile that is quickly rising up her throat, and slaps on a convincing smile. "Fine."

Though probably not convincing enough for Souryuu who only frowns deeply at her.

And without missing a beat, Akagi resumes her pacing, her hair, all bound up in a messy little bun, bobbing furiously behind her.

Waist buried deep in worry, the repetition of the entire notion only sets to calm her down, albeit somewhat. It keeps her whirring thoughts from straying and the nervous twitches of her muscles at bay. In a way, it keeps her grounded.

In a way, it keeps her in control.

"I don't think we've ever seen you this anxious before. Not even during the finals of Nationals." Hiryuu remarks, wryly from across the room, the tiniest hint of amusement ringing in her voice, as she smooths at the creases of her gym uniform.

Akagi decidedly chooses to ignore her, pacing harder than before, determined to drown everything out with the pounding of her footsteps.

Back and forth, back and forth.

"Speaking of which, Akagi-senpai, where's Kaga? Isn't she always tagging along wherever you go?"

At that, Akagi stumbles, losing her footing. Her pacing ceases completely for the first time that day.

"Zuikaku!"

The sister of the younger girl shoots her a reproachful glance, before turning to Akagi with a look of sheepish embarrassment. A look that is quickly dismissed by Akagi with a tired smile and a deep, almost resigned, sigh.

The captain of the team drops herself down heavily onto the nearest bench, just as the multiple pairs of eyes trail after her, boring deep into her skin.

She leans back on her palms, kicking at her feet heedlessly and adorns on a small pensive smile.

"Kaga-san, she's... "

And she recounts to her teammates the happenings of the day, keeping her tone as calm and factual as she can.

"So let me get this straight," begins Hiryuu, clearing her throat as all attention in the locker room fall upon her. "The reason for your pacing is all because of Kaga-san receiving a love letter and now she's late because she'd gone to rendezvous with whomever had sent it…?"

"It's not a love letter," denies Akagi, with an unexpected surge of fervor. Quickly catching herself, she dips her head low abashedly, mentally chastising herself for her slip. "At least it didn't say it was..." She mutters lowly, determined to ignore the pitiful looks of her fellow teammates.

Because seriously. Just who is she trying to kid?

Herself, that's who.

A deep sigh breaks the brief silence of the room.

"To be honest, Akagi-san, I don't get why you're even worried. I mean, we all know that Kaga-san is far too—"

"Kaga-san, you're back!"

"Speak of the devil." Hiryuu rolls her eyes, not exactly pleased at being cut off, as she watches the captain of the team flits past the entire huddle of the team for the newcomer who has barely even entered the locker room, with a hawk-eye.

"How did it go?"

"As expected, it turned out to be a confession of sorts," sighs Kaga, smoothly gliding past her team for her locker by the corner. Without it being said, Akagi trails after her closely.

"O-oh?"

Instantly, she catches Hiryuu's eye and apparent look of deadpan from across the room that practically spells 'I told you so', which she pointedly decides to ignore yet once again.

Though, try as she as she might, a frown escapes her.

"Though, she ended up being a rather sweet girl, so we chatted a little."

Akagi stops short then, and nearly does a double take. "'She'…?" she asks tentatively, eyes narrowing.

Pausing to glance up at Akagi after having squeezed into her gym clothes, Kaga sends her a nod, expression as impassive and unfazed as ever. "Yeah."

Right from that point, the silence almost seem to drag on— agonizingly so— as Kaga proceeds to take her time at arranging her school blazer and blouse into immaculate piles by the bench before neatly placing it all into her designated locker.

And this leaves Akagi to linger awkwardly by her side, struggling to string her thoughts into words during the short lapse of time.

It's an odd feeling, but if she doesn't know any better, it is almost like Kaga is deliberately giving her time to organize her thoughts. But that would just be silly. After all, everyone knows how particular Kaga is with her belongings.

Though, if only Akagi had been paying attention she would have noticed Kaga's imperceptible quirk of the brow in amusement.

"So, um, did you…" Akagi trails off, wringing at her hands sheepishly; unsure to how exactly she's supposed to proceed from here on out.

Kaga's locker slams shut with a deafening metallic thud that rings out through the entire locker room.

For the first time since entering, her attention is focused wholly on Akagi, and Akagi alone.

And it's times like this that Akagi curses her for ever being so difficult to read.

An unreadable spark flashes past those alluring liquid amber pools.

With the faintest twitch of the lips, Kaga turns to look away as she fiddles with her hair, tying it into its usual trademark side-ponytail.

"It goes without saying that I turned her down— gently— of course." She says, softly, fingers fussing at her mid-length locks. She passes the team's captain a fleeting sidelong glance. "Why do you look so relieved, Akagi-san?"

It is only then does Akagi really notice that the crushing weight against her chest — that has been out to smolder her the entire afternoon— has been lifted at long last. She wonders just how much her relief really shows on her face to have illicit such curious response from Kaga.

She rolls at her shoulders, a breezy smile playing on her lips.

"I was worried for a moment there that someone was going to steal you away from me."

Kaga makes a soft hum in amusement, releasing her hair tie with a resounding snap, ponytail swaying with the impact.

"Oh? I'd like to see anyone try." She says, glancing over to her most valued partner, amber pools shining, alit with a strange spark as a wry smile curls at her lips.

"Well, isn't someone confident?"

Kaga shrugs, fingers tugging at a couple loose strands falling out of her ponytail here and there.

"Though, I suppose maybe I should be the one to worry instead." Her movement stills for a split of a second, hands gradually returning to her sides. A pause. "After all, it's not like Akagi-san doesn't have her fair share of love letters and confessions." And she turns to look Akagi squarely in the eye.

In it, Akagi sees a flicker of emotion stirring in them.

But before she can even make anything out of it, it's gone in the next second in which she blinks as Kaga drops her head, soundlessly slipping out of her indoor shoes to fit into her gym shoes. A frown mars her aristocratic features.

There's an evident shift in the air.

Akagi is not exactly sure why but there's this sudden odd need to explain herself, and she does so by sucking in a breath, words poised at the ready, when the shrill voice of Souryuu cuts through the air abruptly.

"Kaga-san, Akagi-san! We're, um, gonna' head out now. See you two soon!" With much nudging and jostling, Souryuu ushers the rest of the team out of the locker room with a particularly nervous smile.

She waits till the last of their teammates scurries out the room, the door closing soundly behind them before sinking into the spot on the bench beside Kaga who has finally long since moved on from fiddling with her hair.

"You knew?" she asks, quietly— tentatively — watching her Vice-captain closely for any imperceptible shift in her ever so stoic expression.

Kaga merely breathes a quiet sigh, eyes trained onto her fingers that are methodically tugging at the laces of her gym shoes.

"So long as it concerns Akagi-san… I tend to notice everything." A beat. She lowers her eyes down onto an invisible speck on the ground, amber pools dulling rapidly. "Though regretfully, it looks like I have worried you unnecessarily over this whole matter. For that, I apologize."

But of course, Akagi waves it all off with a flippant smile and a reassuring pat on her back, "It's alright, it isn't your fault anyway."

Raising her head, Kaga sends her a small rueful smile.

"You know, Hiryuu was right when she said that you have nothing to worry about."

Akagi blinks, perplexity coloring her features as Kaga pivots herself in a way to face her fully, leveling her an earnest gaze, blazing with much ardor and fervor that ignites a deep-seated emotion and warmth within Akagi.

"I will never leave your side, not ever." She pledges solemnly, voice filled with a quiet intensity as her eyes never once leave Akagi's. Though after a short lapse, the flinty resolve in them almost seem to soften. Tilting her head at Akagi, she asks, voice soft with thinly veiled uncertainty. "Unless you want me to?"

Akagi smiles then.

Unable to contain her need for some form of physical contact, her fingers tentatively creep, hooking over Kaga's curled fingers resting atop of the bench, relishing in its gentle warmth. Leaning forward slightly, she rests her forehead against the edge of Kaga's slender shoulder.

Being so close to her like this, listening to the soft rise and fall of her breathing with their fingers all twined up in warmth, Akagi feels her chest swell, brimming with emotions that send a pleasant tingle throughout her entire being.

She releases a soft contented sigh.

"Dearest Kaga-san, I'm sure you know that I would never ask to you to leave my side. And even if you do, I will just selfishly cling on to you and never let go."

As if to make her point, she tightens her grip over Kaga's fingers as Kaga sends a soft squeeze back in reciprocation.

"Like a koala bear?"

Akagi glances up at her Vice-captain in amusement, a lopsided grin splitting at her face. She gives a fervent nod.

"Like a koala bear."

Kaga laughs, and it's like pretty bells ringing in the distance.

She watches as the setter rises to her feet, despite them still being joined at their fingers. "It's best that we don't keep the others waiting." Kaga tugs at their joined hands, squeezing at Akagi's gently. "Shall we get going then, Akagi-san?"

And in the next second, she's enraptured by the rare beatific smile bestowed to her by a certain Kaga.

It takes her a short moment to snap out of it before swiftly hopping to her feet with the help of Kaga lugging her up.

She flashes her Vice-captain a glowing grin.

"Yes, we shall."

A/N: Haha, hope you guys enjoyed the mindless fluff of this chapter. This was originally meant to be a Valentine's Day chappie, but uh, shit happens and I wasn't fast enough in finishing it. :/ Welp, anyway just sit tight and enjoy all them fluff for now, things will be getting heavier later on. And, hopefully I'll see you guys soon for the next chapter and update. Thank you all to those who have reviewed, favorited and alerted for this fic. I really appreciate it! :)