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Kuroko no Basuke is copyrighted by Fujimaki Tadatoshi-sensei. Give him the best regards for creating this great manga!
The OCs are mine.
Warning: Akashi x OC. Later on it will be Midorima x OC, but the main story is focused on Akashi.
Alluring Gaze
Chapter 04
Learn
Sakuya opened her mouth when Takano fed her the omelet. Her friend waited until the brown-haired girl finished chewing her food, and repeat the process again. Both girls are in the infirmary. After the incident earlier with Amamiya Yanabu, Sakuya can't move both of her arms freely because her shoulders were almost break by her senpai's strong grip. Well, she can move them actually, but her shoulders will twitch when she does so. Takano; when heard what happened to Sakuya, insisted on taking care of her for the day. She even called Higasa to inform her absence in work later; much to Sakuya's dismay. The girl doesn't like to skip work.
Sakuya's bento has been emptied with Takano's help. Takano put the bento box on the nearest table, and turned to Sakuya who's impassive as ever. The incident back then didn't bother her at all, even though Amamiya almost hurt her. Remembering the story, Takano only sighed. Just how carefree her friend can be?
"Please, Sakuya-chan." Sakuya glanced at Takano. "I don't know what will happen to me if it involves you. I almost fainted, you know…"
Sakuya tilted her head. "It's alright, Takano-san. I'm fine. It's nothing serious. The nurse said my shoulders will heal tomorrow if I relax and not do much work."
"I know that, but I'm still worried…" Takano's wrapped her arms around Sakuya's waist gently. She buried her face on Sakuya's chest. "Please be more careful, will you?"
Sensing her little friend's uneasiness, Sakuya decided to comfort her. "I will," she replied; letting her friend hugged her. "I'm sorry to worry you."
Takano shook her head lightly. "Even so, I'm glad that you're alright."
Sakuya hummed in response and gave the short-haired girl a slight smile; unnoticed by the said-girl. "If only I can move my hand to rub her head. The pain is killing me…" She sighed. "I wonder what will happen to Amamiya-senpai…"
Although she was feeling betrayed at what Amamiya had done for her, she cannot bring herself to hate the glasses-guy. Why not? He was a nice guy. Both of them have the same interest in books. He was also a dependable guy. She just never thought her senpai would feel that way to her before. She admitted, she was surprised.
"For once, I was relieved Akashi was there with you," Takano mumbled. Sakuya blinked at that. "If he wasn't there, who knows what Amamiya would do to you."
"I see. I should thank Akashi-san later," Sakuya noted herself. After all, the red-head was the one who saved her. He stopped Amamiya's sudden action and even took over the situation. But what was disturbed her was Akashi's words to Amamiya.
"A fool is a loser. A loser means denied from the world."
"Know your place."
What is it which underlies his words earlier? It is like a bitter oath, or rather, Akashi had experienced some events in his life. They were dark, cold, and somehow unbearable; which come to his self now. She even notices it; the reaction of people around him. They never dare to defy him or look at him in the eyes. Whatever he says, they will go along with it. The arrogant, fearful, absolute, yet – in her own eyes – lonely individual. She cannot help but feels the needs to pamper him, in her own way.
"There is no need to do that." The girls turned their heads to see Akashi was standing near Sakuya's bed. Speak of the devil. "Your shoulders still hurt?"
"Yes." Akashi nodded at her. "Do you need more assistant?" he asked while glancing at Takano who still hugged Sakuya.
"No. I have Takano-san here. She will stay the night at my apartment to help me out," Sakuya explained, earning a nod again from Akashi. "Thank you for the offer though, Akashi-san."
"I am just doing my responsibility as your class representative and your group leader," he reasoned, heterochromatic eyes trailed to the clock hanging on the wall. "It is near the end of lunch break soon," he remarked; warning Takano to go back to the class indirectly.
"I guess I should go back." Takano released her embrace and stood up. She then took the bento box earlier into her arm. "I'm gonna fetch you up after school, so don't go anywhere! I will take notes for you so you don't have to complain about your absence in your favorite subject, understand?"
Sakuya; noticed that Takano was talking about the English lesson, smiled at her. She knows her friend doesn't like that particular subject, yet Takano will force herself to take notes for Sakuya's sake. "Sorry to trouble you, but please do help me with that."
"You can count on me!" Takano messed up Sakuya's hair playfully, leaving some strands lurking out everywhere. The green-eyed girl only frowned. "Well, rest well, Sakuya-chan!"
The culprit of her messy hair quickly left after closing the infirmary door without taking the responsibility to fix her hair, at least. Sakuya can't help it, though. She can't move her hand for a while now, so she will let her hair like that for the time being. As for Akashi, he can't help but feel sorry for her.
A sudden thought crossed his mind. "Why don't I tend your hair?" he asked in a playful manner. It's his first time trying to tease someone. He never does this before.
To Akashi's amusement, Sakuya actually shocked. But she covered it with her emotionless face immediately. "If you don't mind, then I'm grateful to your hospitality."
Akashi smirked. He thought Sakuya will reject his offer, but the girl is actually needed someone's hand right now. The girl is sensitive about her hair, it seems. "Unfortunately, I don't have a comb," he reminded her while remembering his old times back in Teiko. Kise Ryouta; his copycat ex-teammate, is a model. So the blonde-haired guy always has a comb every time he's somewhere. He uses it when he wants to style his hair, or sometimes fixes Kuroko's bed hair. The phantom player sure is unbearable in the morning. He will pop out scaring everyone with his shocking bed hair. Akashi is one of them, too. "You don't mind if I use my hand as your comb?"
"I don't mind." Before Akashi positioned himself near Sakuya, the girl added, "Because your hand is gentle, Akashi-san."
The statement stunned Akashi. He doesn't know whether he should reply or shrug it off. Her tone – still monotone as ever – sounded harmonious to him. He froze on his spot, not until Sakuya called him. "Akashi-san?"
Akashi shook his head lightly; putting away his thoughts. "Pardon me. Do not move around, then." The red-head brushed away the hair in Sakuya's face, after that turned to move his fingers along her long hair starting from the top. He can feel the softness, the silkiness of the girl's hair. Sakuya tends to take care of her hair, to the point his fingers can slide to the tip of it without getting stuck between. "I wonder how you will take care of your hair when you'll go home later."
"I'll have Takano-san helps me without being messed up again, I suppose." Sakuya looked up to Akashi who has done tending her hair. Now he's sitting on the side of her bed. "Akashi-san, could I ask you something?"
"Go ahead," Akashi remarked, though he knows what Sakuya will ask; regarding of someone's state.
"What is going to happen with Amamiya-senpai?" her question earned a sigh from Akashi. He already settled the incident back in the library with Amamiya, in addition to Hayama and Nebuya's assistance.
Amamiya grabbed his left hand in pain. Akashi's grip was still lingering within him. As expected of The Emperor. Beside his excellence in academics and basketball skills, Akashi is also the least person you wanted to mess with. Even though he is shorter than him, he's no match in strength.
Akashi put down both of his arms to his sides. He glanced back to Sakuya who was standing behind him; her back facing the wall. He inspected her thoroughly in case she was hurt anywhere. Sakuya noticed his eyes' movement. "I'm not hurt anywhere, Akashi-san."
"Except your shoulders," Akashi added, noticed her crumpled blazer around her shoulders. Amamiya had wringed her shoulders hard. He turned back to see Amamiya still on the floor; horrified. He then took a few steps towards him; towering his crouching position with his being. "I assume you know what you did back there."
Amamiya rolled his eyes. He didn't dare to look up to Akashi. He didn't want to experience the intimidating look from those heterochromatic eyes. He had enough.
"This obsession of yours only makes things complicated," Akashi continued on, this time glanced at the library's door. He then called, "Kotarou. Eikichi."
The said-men went inside the library after hearing Akashi's voice. Sakuya only blinked at them. She knew them as Akashi's teammates and also the senpais. That fact made Sakuya frowned. Akashi calls them without honorific again. In Nebuya's hand, he brought someone's school bag and showed it to Akashi. "This is his bag."
Nebuya opened Amamiya's bag and threw the contents to the floor; shocking the owner's bag and Sakuya. Inside the bag were books, stationery, a camera, and a file-holder with photos of brown-haired girl. The girl in those photos was indeed – as Akashi predicted – Sakuya, in her daily routines at school. Hayama then took the camera and browsed its memory card. "How scary. He even keeps her photos too in here-" Hayama's eyes rolled. "He also took a picture yesterday, too?! Holy sh-"
"Kotarou." Akashi's low tone silenced Hayama before the orange-haired guy finished his swearing words. His eyes then noticed Sakuya approached Hayama. However, he couldn't see her expression right now. How she will react, he wondered.
"Excuse me. Could I see the photo?" Sakuya's voice shook Amamiya in fear. He definitely doesn't want his special girl sees the photo.
Hayama peered behind her shoulder to see Akashi nodded at him; allowed him to give the camera to Sakuya. Hayama gulped and reluctantly brought the camera to her. When Sakuya wanted to take the camera, she winced in pain again. The pain sourced from her shoulders. Everyone – excluding Akashi – was panicked. "Hey, are you alright?" Hayama asked her in worry.
"I'm fine," Sakuya reassured him, though Hayama still didn't believe her. "Please let me see the photo."
"Alright, but don't move your hands!" Hayama turned the camera's monitor so the green-eyed girl could see the photos. Her eyes observed the photo; Sakuya was reading a book in an odd position in her class. The photo was taken from the corridor's view. The date listed in the photo indeed was yesterday.
"So the one who watched me yesterday is Amamiya-senpai…" Sakuya muttered. She looked down to the crouched Amamiya who was all tensed up. This time, Akashi could see her expression; sour. It's his first time seeing her with that look, but at the same time he loathed it. That sour look didn't fit with her.
Akashi felt it's time to settle down right to the matter. He glanced up to Nebuya. "Eikichi. Bring the library committee president to Reo. Bring also his bag along with the contents."
Nebuya nodded to him and put in all the things to Amamiya's bag (after snatching the camera from Hayama's hold, too) and abruptly pulled Amamiya's collar and started dragging him out from the library. After the two were out from sight, Akashi turned to look at Hayama. "Kotarou. Bring Sakuya to the infirmary. Avoid taking any intact with her shoulders."
"Then," without much effort, Hayama lifted Sakuya with bridal-style. The girl gasped at the sudden action, but she let it go. "Sorry, Reo-nee's girlfriend. I'm gonna bring you to the infirmary, so be a good girl and let me carry you like this, okay?"
Sakuya blinked. "I'm not Mibuchi-senpai's girlfriend, um… Hayama-senpai?" She tried to remember Hayama's name; vaguely remembering Mibuchi called the orange-haired guy Hayama.
"Save the complaint for later!" Hayama replied cheerfully. "Akashi! I'm off!" He dashed out to the said destination immediately. Akashi only sighed at Hayama's energetic self.
A while later, someone called him. Akashi took out his red cell and answered after he looked at the caller's name. "What is it, Reo?"
From the other side, Akashi could Mibuchi's enraged breaths. "Sei-chan, what is this supposed to mean?"
"Are you referring to the man brought by Eikichi?" Akashi leaned to the wall behind him. "…I guess Eikichi already explained it to you, so I don't need to clarify again."
"And why I didn't know about it? I even heard the bastard hurt Sa-chan!"
Ah. Akashi forgot to skip the 'incident' part to Nebuya. Alas, Akashi couldn't help but let it be. It's amusing, after all. "I'm sure you know what to do with him, Reo. I leave the rest to you."
There was a slight pause, until Mibuchi's dark tone echoed in the red-head's ear. "Alright, Sei-chan. Thank you for considering me as the finishing touch~"
Before Mibuchi ended the call, Akashi asked, or rather ordered him, "Do not kill him, Reo." Mibuchi replied him with a dark chuckle and the call ended with someone's voice screamed in horror.
"What a tiring day…" Akashi remarked; pinching his nose bridge.
"Reo will take care of the matter." Akashi then noticed Sakuya's piercing gaze again. This time, he decided to counter it. "Are you still going on with my way of addressing Reo?"
Sakuya frowned. "It's rude and impolite, Akashi-san. I think you know that."
Akashi chuckled. "I know that. But this is how I address them all and they do not mind it."
"Even so, it's ru-" her speech was cut off when Akashi leaned towards her; his index finger placed on her pink lips, pursing it. "I told you already. That is how I address all of them. Reo, Kotarou, Eikichi," Akashi mentioned his teammates one by one, and the next name stunned her a little. "Sa-ku-ya," Akashi spelled her name in whisper. Sakuya can feel his breath from how close they are. "Will you still retort, Sakuya?"
Instead of giving him her answer, Sakuya only stared at Akashi's heterochromatic eyes. Of course Akashi noticed this and he also stared back. They were engaged in staring competition. The moment Akashi observed her eyes again, he realized the color is not green, but harlequin. He also realized those eyes don't reflect anything like fear, terrified, or nervousness.
No. He's wrong. Actually, he doesn't know what is reflecting in her eyes now. It's like Sakuya won't let someone read her. She's closing herself, much to Akashi's annoyance. "Care to tell me why you won't let me read you?"
Sakuya blinked in confusion, and Akashi still continued with his questions; not giving any chance for the girl to think. "Why are you so difficult to read? Why did you defy me? Why you didn't follow my order? And why do you dare to look me in the eyes?"
Akashi still kept his finger on Sakuya's lips. It's his intention to not let Sakuya speaks. He even trapped her in the bed so she won't run away. He shortened his distance with Sakuya's impassive face. "See? Even when I did this to you, you're still calm. I wonder why, Sakuya."
It's her first time in her life that she wants to do this. She must to.
Sakuya bites Akashi's finger, much to Akashi's surprise. The red-head stepped back and inspected his finger. Sakuya's bite didn't hurt too much, but it leaves her teeth mark around his index finger. He frowned. He didn't think the stoic girl would do something like that.
After regaining her composure, Sakuya apologized. "I'm sorry, Akashi-san. I don't know what else I must do to stop you, so I chose that decision earlier. Is it bleeding?"
"No. Your bite didn't harm me much to the point of bleeding," Akashi reassured her. "Though, I must ask you why you did it."
"Before that, I will answer your questions earlier." Sakuya took a deep breath. "I don't understand the 'let me read you' part, so I will skip it; I don't have the answer. The second one, I also don't have an answer. The 'difficult to read' part is confusing."
"Are you kidding me? You don't have the answer, yet you try?"
"Please let me finish." Sakuya took another deep breath. "As for your third, fourth, and fifth question, could I know based on what facts you asked me that?"
Akashi chuckled. "I guess I should tell you about myself, then." He crossed his legs and arms; eyes glanced at Sakuya's well-being. "I did mention about Teiko, hm?" Sakuya nodded at that. "In that case, let me also introduce you to the title 'Generation of Miracles'."
Since Takano already mentioned the name Generation of Miracles briefly yesterday, Sakuya only blinked at the title and waited for Akashi to continue. "I told you I was also in the regular team back at Teiko? That's where I and my ex-teammates gained the title. People said we were prodigies in basketball; each of us has our own unique ability." He then mentioned his ex-teammates names. "Kise Ryouta, the copycat. He can copy every technique he has seen with more power than the original. He joined us in the second year, unlike the rest of us. Midorima Shintarou, the three-point shooter. He was my vice captain and like I said earlier, he excels in shooting three-point shots from any range. Aomine Daiki, the ace. Although he was hard for me to handle, but he has the strong skill and agility, unusual speed, and his formless shot. Murasakibara Atsushi, the tallest among of us, is the center. He has no passion in basketball, but he's talented in it. Somehow I cannot believe at how many snacks he eats every day. You will see him eats snacks all the time. Our quiet Kuroko Tetsuya, the phantom player. He doesn't have much presence and basically weak, but he excels at passing. He went beyond my expectations."
Akashi pointed to his left eye. "Lastly, I, Akashi Seijurou, the captain. This is my ability, the 'Emperor Eye'. I can see the smallest details of a person's movement and with it I can prepare what actions I will take to stop my opponent's actions."
"I see. There are six people in the Generation of Miracles, and Akashi-san is the captain," Sakuya processed the information to her head, not slightly interested with the abilities mentioned. "So? What is the connection between your title and your questions?"
"The connection? No, there is none. I only tell you about my past in Teiko," Akashi stated. "Let me tell you another fact, then."
Akashi furrowed his brows and glared darkly at Sakuya. The aura around him changed drastically, but Sakuya shrugged it off. She didn't get disturbed by the sudden change. "Winning is everything. Until now, I've never lost at anything, and I won't in the future. Since I always win, I'm always right. If you oppose me," Akashi grabbed Sakuya's chin and forcefully made her to look up to him. "I will kill you, no matter who you are."
"I'm sorry?" Sakuya – although she was being threatened – had the guts to give Akashi her cold gaze.
"You dare to look at me as I speak? The only ones who are allowed to look at me in the eye as I speak are those that serve me. No one that opposes me is allowed to look down at me," Akashi tightened his grip on her chin, making Sakuya twitched. "Know your place, Sakuya."
If it's other people, they will swear they won't do that again. As for Sakuya, she didn't waver and counter him. "I believe I can answer your questions now." She withdrew herself from Akashi's grip before speaking. "I didn't defy you. I didn't follow your said orders. I'm free to look at you in the eyes. I'm just simply doing what I think is right. No one will chain me with that fact. After all, there is no law about looking into someone's eyes and it's a wrong thing if you do that."
Before Akashi retorted, she added, "The last question, it's because I know you won't hurt me. You are a gentleman. You won't do anything bad to women, and I believe that because you respect us; girls."
Her statement, or rather, compliment, stunned Akashi. She was referring to the way he trapped her in the bed and their faces were an inch closer. Yet she said he is gentle and he respects women.
"Oh. Also, I bit your finger because I couldn't move my hand to push you away and you won't let me answer the question one by one."
He could only smile and pinched his nose bridge. "You really are not scared with me, aren't you?"
"Why should I?" Sakuya asked while tilting her head, harlequin eyes spark innocence. "You are not a scary person, Akashi-san. Even with how you handle things in your own way, I think it's because you care for others."
And again, Akashi stunned. Another honest remark comes from the stoic girl. He doesn't know what will happen to him the next time he's with her. He can't discipline her after all. Sakuya's actions are totally nullified his being, especially her eyes.
Now, he realized it for sure. Last time he wanted to ignore it, but now he has to admit the truth.
"However, I still don't like how you address Mibuchi-senpai, Hayama-senpai, and *Deka-senpai," Sakuya muttered, face still expressionless. The girl doesn't know the big dark-skinned guy back in the library, so she chose to call him 'Deka-senpai' since he is bigger than the other two males she mentioned. Akashi chuckled at Nebuya's nickname.
"It's Nebuya Eikichi," Akashi told her, which the girl immediately rearranged her words, "I don't like how you address Mibuchi-senpai, Hayama-senpai, and Nebuya-senpai without honorific."
"I cannot do that. It's my way to call them."
"Then please change it immediately."
"I refuse."
"You have to accept it."
"I cannot."
"You can."
Their non-stop arguments paused by the ringing bell. Lunch break is over. It's time for Akashi to go back to his class. He sighed and stood up from the bed. "I shall return to my class, then."
Akashi walked to the door and opened it. Before he closed the door, Sakuya shouted to him. "Thank you very much for saving me, Akashi-san. And please change your way of addressing your upperclassmen."
Akashi only smirked at her and closed the door.
Once he is outside, he walks to his classroom. When he was walking in the hall, he took out his cell and texted someone. After he sent the text, he put it back to his pocket and proceeded again.
In another class, Mibuchi who is sitting calmly on his desk felt his phone vibrating. Someone texted him. He opened the message and after reading the content, his eyes blinked in confusion.
From : Sei-chan
Subject : The Bet
You have won, Reo. Congratulation.
After the last bell rang, Takano immediately packed up her things and sprint to the infirmary while bringing Sakuya's belonging along, too. When she arrived there, the said-girl already stood from her bed, waiting for her arrival. The girls then exited the infirmary and together walked to the school gate. Their walk was interrupted with Mibuchi's arrival; calling Sakuya's name from the direction of the first gym. Both girls looked up to the taller man who is already in his sport attire.
"Are you going to work, Sa-chan?" Mibuchi asked in his gentleman mode. He has to use it when facing the girls, after all.
"'Sa-chan'? Is he referring to Sakuya-chan?" Takano glanced to her friend beside her. "But to think Mibuchi-san calls her affectionately… Just what did you do, Sakuya-chan?"
"Unfortunately, no. Today I must excuse myself to rest at home," Sakuya replied monotonously. Her answer made Mibuchi frowned.
"Did Amamiya Yanabu hurt you that bad to the point you can't even work today?" he asked darkly. Takano realized the Uncrowned King is in rage. He mumbled, "I should have killed him…" although unnoticed by Sakuya minus Takano; who was sweating.
"It's not that bad, Mibuchi-senpai. I only need rest for the day and tomorrow I'll be fine," Sakuya reassured the black-haired man; earning a sweet smile in result. "If you say so, Sa-chan… Rest well, okay?"
The harlequin-eyed girl nodded. "You have practice today, Mibuchi-senpai? Then please do your best."
"Yup, and thank you, Sa-chan." Mibuchi then remembered something. "By the way, Sa-chan. I want to ask you something."
"Yes?" the girl tilted her head, making her looks cute to Mibuchi. The guy blushed but quickly returns to the main point he approached Sakuya. "Did you do something to Sei-chan?"
Sakuya blinked at his question. Practically, she was confused. "I'm sorry, but I don't understand what you mean."
"Well, how should I put it…" Mibuchi scratched his cheek. "It's like… it's the first time I saw him unlike his usual self. When I asked what happened, he told me to ask you instead."
Takano turned to her friend. "Hey, Sakuya-chan. What did you do to Akashi?" she whispered. "Did you make him angry?"
Sakuya shook her head. "I believe not. I didn't do anything to him. I just chatted with him, that's all."
"Is that so?" Mibuchi sighed. "Alright~ Take care on your way home. See you tomorrow, Sa-chan."
Both girls nodded at him and waved, then turned their heels and continued to walk by the street. After the girls are out of his sight, Mibuchi rubbed his chin and thought. "Just what was Sei-chan meant when he sent me that text? What bet? I never make any bet with him…"
Because he hasn't got any straight answer, he decided to let it be and went back to the gym.
"Which reminds me, why Sei-chan got a bite mark on his finger?"
"Your place is the same as ever the last time I've been here."
Sakuya ignored her friend's compliment and let Takano dried her hair. She had just taken a bath with her friend's help. Sakuya is wearing her white loose shirt and long pants with her peach sweater, while Takano borrowed her T-shirt and blue pants. Takano then brushed Sakuya's hair, put down the comb and hairdryer back to the drawer, and went to the kitchen. "Is curry alright for you?"
"I don't mind."
Takano searched through the plastic bag she brought home. Before the two got there, Sakuya asked her to visit the market first. She agreed and they bought a lot of foods there. When she found the thing she needs, the short-haired girl prepared everything to make curry.
While waiting, Sakuya only sat on her couch. She still can't move her hand much; her shoulders will twitch. Her harlequin eyes observed every object in her surroundings, until her eyes locked to the two photos placed near the vase on the coffee table. One photo of her and her family taken when she was still nine years old and her parent were still alive. The three of them are smiling – although hers still expressionless - and hugging each other. Sakuya only smiled at that particular memory. The other one was a photo of herself – she was eleven - and a boy around her height wearing a black beanie and black rimmed-glasses. The photo was taken when she and the boy were in a park. Little Sakuya was looking at the camera, while the boy beside her was glancing to the other side; didn't want to join. She smiled again reminiscing her past with the boy whom she knows as her childhood friend. They met after her parent's death, and he had given her his support to keep her going. They've been together until Sakuya moved to England to live with her relatives.
She sighed. She misses him. She wonders how is her childhood friend doing right now, how much he has grow, and hopes she can meet him again. However, they don't know each other contacts because both of them didn't have cell phone that time. They used to write letters or visited each other's house. They were always together; walked home together, ate dinner together in their house alternately, spent time in library together, sat together in their class, everywhere they were together. Their schoolmates even teased them, saying they were couple, but both Sakuya and the boy ignored it. Oh, how she misses those precious time…
"Why are you smiling?" Takano asked with her brows arched. She brought two plates of curry in her hand and already put it on the coffee table. Sakuya can smell the aroma of the curry. "Smells good."
"Of course," Takano grinned. She scooped a spoon of curry and fed Sakuya. After swallowing the food, Sakuya smiled at Takano. "It's delicious, Takano-san."
"Great!" Takano continued to feed Sakuya until her plate is empty. "By the way, I noticed you were looking at that photo." Takano glanced to the photo of little Sakuya and the boy. "Oh. Reminiscing about your childhood friend?"
Sakuya nodded. "Anyway," Takano took the photo and inspected it. "You two looked cute together. See~" she then turned around the photo so Sakuya could see it, too. "Even though your friend looked away, he was still holding hands with you. Isn't that cute?"
The boy was indeed holding little Sakuya's hand. Their small fingers entwined. "It can't be helped. He was going to take me somewhere, but my aunt already snapped the picture before he did," Sakuya stated, smiling again.
"I wonder what your friend will look like when you meet him somewhere," Takano muttered, and also smiled. "I guess he will be a great guy, huh?"
"Who knows." After Takano put back the photo, Sakuya mumbled. "Will I recognize him? How about him? Will he recognize me too?"
"Hey-hey! Don't think like that, Sakuya-chan. Of course you two will! Both of you have known each other so well to the point you were recognized as couple back then, right?" Takano tried to cheer Sakuya, although she didn't know if the harlequin-eyed girl was sad or not. "You both lived in Tokyo, right? When holiday is coming, why not take a vacation there and maybe you will see him? A fateful encounter or something like that."
"Maybe." Sakuya looked back to the photo. She observed the boy once again. Her childhood friend likes to wear beanie wherever he goes. She doesn't know the reason why, though. "I remember his face, especially his eyes. He has these sharp, beautiful eyes," Sakuya explained to Takano. "Then which parts does he remember about me? Do you have any thoughts, Takano-san?"
"Hm…" Takano glanced to the photo, and back to Sakuya. "I think it's your eyes, too. Your eyes are still as blank as ever, you know. He'll probably remember you with that hint."
"I see." Sakuya closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Takano stood up and excuse herself to the kitchen to clean up the plates. In her thoughts, she remembered again the boy's voice, eyes, and name.
"I miss you, Ryouhei-kun."
Author's Note:
*Deka means big in Japanese. The opposite of chibi.
Well, screw with the mid-term tests! I can finish the chapters for Alluring Gaze anytime I want! You're not going to get in my way, exams!
And finally, chapter 04 is out. I can't believe I finished this chapter for two days. Wow, I really have so much time, huh? (No time to study at all, haha!)
Akashi finally declared that he lost the bet. Which bet you asked? The one where Mibuchi told him he was wrong about Sakuya. Well, it was an unspoken bet, so Mibuchi was confused. This means there will be a lot of unexpected occasions between Akashi and Sakuya (though I don't really know if it's unexpected…). Akashi will be frustrated, haha!
Thank you for the reviews, too, dear readers! I was touched when I read them. Thank you for the suggestion, too! I'll be more careful.
Then, have a good day, everyone! Don't forget to give reviews if you have time, okay?