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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 06
Demon King and Goddess Aphrodite
It's the appointed day for class 1-A to do their group presentation. Shirogane Eiji; the World History teacher, is observing his students' behavior. Some groups are ready, some are not. Some do the presentation well, some are disappointing. Some students know their material, while some of them don't master their parts well.
As for Akashi's group, Shirogane have to say, "I don't have anything to complain. The three of you have done well. All of you must learn from them," he preached his students.
Turns out, Shirogane praises Akashi's group. The Emperor's group had prepared the material perfectly after doing some group discussion on last Wednesday.
With that, the group task has come to an end.
But it won't stop from that.
The next day, the class has a meeting concerning the school festival that will commence next Wednesday. Each class must hold some kind of booth. And since the last day of the festival is also the Halloween's Day, each class must bring two students to represent their class and join the grand event which is still a mystery.
However, Akashi already knew it from Mibuchi. The grand event is some kind of a quiz; you must solve the riddles given to each team to locate the places where they must collect pumpkins as much as possible with the given time.
"Then, let's decide what we will do for our booth," Akashi started off. Since he's controlling the flow of decision, the class is deadly silent. They don't want to raise a voice to disturb their fearful class representative. "From what I've collected from your opinion, you mostly choose 'ghost house', 'monster café', and 'bazaar'." He then waited for his vice-representative to finish his writing on the whiteboard.
"Between these three, please choose one that you think is suitable for our class." Akashi ordered his classmates to take a piece of paper and write down their choice. "Remember. Pick one choice only. There will be no one who won't choose," he demanded again, earning shivers from them.
As students begin writing, Takano tugged Sakuya's blazer from behind. The brown-haired girl glanced to her back. "What will you choose, Sakuya-chan?" Takano whispered.
Sakuya put her index finger on her chin; pondering. "I don't have any interest to the three, so I don't know," she then complied.
"But we must choose, you know…" Takano reminded her. After all, Akashi warned already. "Just choose randomly."
"I can't," Sakuya replied. "I must choose one which picks my interest so I can put my heart into it. If I don't, I will disappoint my classmates."
"Well, you're right. And why you said that without being embarrassed at all?" Takano sweat-dropped at her.
"Please fold the paper and give them to me!" the vice-representative shouted. The students do what they were told and give the paper to him. As for Sakuya, she still cannot decide which one she will choose. Akashi who noticed her indecision approached her without being noticed by his classmates. "Still cannot decide, Sakuya?"
Sakuya looked up to Akashi and nodded. Akashi sighed, but then he smirked for no reason. "Just give the paper to me."
"But I haven't written anything…" Sakuya retorted. But Akashi managed to take her paper after he excused himself for doing it.
"Do not worry. In exchange, you have to do something for me," the red-head offered.
"What is it?"
Akashi smirked again at her. "You will know after this." Sakuya seemed hesitant, but she decided to accept his offer. Akashi went back to the front and observed the votes from his classmates. After calculating the votes, he announced the result. "It is decided that we will hold the 'monster café' booth for our class. Please prepare all necessary equipments and materials for that in two days. On Friday until Tuesday next week, we will décor the classroom," he glanced to his vice-representative. "I will let Hikaru handles all the things needed for the café," which earned a nod from Hikaru.
"As for the grand event on the last day," Akashi glanced to Sakuya for a moment before he averted his eyes to his classmates. "I will choose two of you to represent our class. So, those who are chosen, do not disappoint your class' name."
"How about the condition, Akashi-san?" Hikaru asked him.
"I just want to tell them," he smirked. "We have to win the final event. That is why you also must wear a promising costume for that."
That particular statement made all his classmates – excluding Sakuya – gasped. It means, those who will be chosen by Akashi must wear a costume. That is why it will be executed on the same day as Halloween's.
"Sakuya," Akashi called the girl's name. All heads turned to see a deadpan Sakuya. "Give your best at the last day of the school festival later."
Sakuya blinked. "So, what Akashi-san meant earlier was this?" But, since she already agreed, she doesn't have any obligation to reject that request. After all, she also feels the gazes of her classmates. They have expectations for her.
But that nagging feeling for being looked at still makes her uneasy.
"I don't mind," Sakuya implied. "Then, who will be my partner later?"
Akashi chuckled at her. "That would be me, of course."
His blunt answer shocked everyone in the class.
"Since we must wear a costume, we need to find the materials from today onwards," Akashi explained to Sakuya. Ever since Akashi decided to be the stoic-girl's friend, he always sticks with her during lunch time. The two is now enjoying their lunch on the roof; a secluded place without being disturbed by people's noises. "Have you decided what are you going to be, Sakuya?"
"I have not," she replied monotonously. She picks up her carrot with her chopstick and put it in her mouth, chewing it.
"I see," Akashi picks up his tofu and eat it.
"How about you, Akashi-san?" this time Sakuya asked him. Akashi shook his head. "So you have not, too. What should we do?"
A thought crossed his mind. "We should suggest something for each other."
Sakuya tilted her head. "You mean like giving opinion on what will suit you?" Akashi nodded.
"What do you think about me, Sakuya?" the red-head smirked. He stared at Sakuya's harlequin eyes. "What am I suited for?"
The said-girl stops her eating and thinks for a moment. Akashi patiently waits for the girl's reply.
"Demon King."
Akashi raised his brows; gesturing Sakuya to explain further. "You have this authoritative aura, Akashi-san. The fact that you are the class representative and the captain for basketball team supports it. I think it suits you best."
"I see. But why must it be a demon, then?"
Sakuya stared at Akashi's heterochromatic eyes, and pointed them. "You have those beautiful eyes, Akashi-san."
The compliment took Akashi off-guarded. Sakuya said his eyes are beautiful?
"Your eyes are sharp. The colors are brilliant, too," Sakuya continued on. "Those eyes are perfect for the role of a demon. All we need is to dress you up in a long cloak, dark attire, and make a pair of horns for you."
Akashi chuckled at her. He does feel his eyes are like demon's, but at the same time it's just because he has unique features just like his ex-teammates. "Alright. I'm going to be a demon king, then."
Sakuya nodded at him. "How about me, Akashi-san?" she pointed herself. Akashi stared at her for long; observing her appearance.
The first time he met her, Akashi commented that Sakuya is a plain-looking girl and has no redeeming qualities. However, when he spends more time with her, he notices there are things that he misses. Sakuya is actually quite pretty, although not as pretty as Takano. She belongs to the 'tall females' group in his class – her height is 170 cm, 3 cm shorter than him. She has a slim figure, although she covers it with her uniform. Aside from those, her eyes are alluring; the eyes that always stun him whenever she expressed herself happy or annoyed. He only experienced her three gazes - joy, cold, sour - and he needs more.
"It's quite difficult since you are difficult to read," Akashi muttered. "However, I can picture you to be a Greek goddess, though I don't know which one."
"Greek goddess?" Sakuya blinked.
"Give me a moment," Akashi asked. This time he needs to consider his decision. Since Sakuya has given him the best suggestion, he too must repay her back. Akashi glanced at Sakuya who is smiling so suddenly. "Why are you smiling?"
"Well, it's just… to be a goddess is too appealing for me," Sakuya smiles, this time revealing her other expression. It's a brilliant smile to Akashi; her eyes narrowed a little, her lips curled upwards. And what makes him said that because the smile is directed towards him. "You are praising me too much, Akashi-san."
"Smile…" he muttered. The red-head then remembers some poets regarding of a goddess' radiant smile. Her smile is addicting, like you are consuming some kind of drugs. You want to crave more and more until the end of your life. A name slipped his mouth.
"Aphrodite."
That name makes Sakuya blinked. "So it means I am going to be Aphrodite?"
Akashi smirked. "You heard me well."
"Then it all settled," Sakuya smiled again. "Demon King and Goddess Aphrodite."
"Well, Aphrodite maybe depicted nude, but that doesn't mean Sakuya-chan won't wear anything!" Takano yelled to her other two friends; the three were discussing on what materials will be used to create Akashi's and Sakuya's costumes.
"I know, Rika-chan. I'm just joking…" Yuzume waved her hand in front of Takano. Since her mother is a designer, Yuzume decided to ask her mother to make the costumes. Takano and her other friend; Katagiri, came along with her. Behind them, Akashi and Sakuya followed the group. They have just gone home not until Takano suggested the pair to visit Yuzume's mother office in Kyoto. The pair agreed to it. Akashi has been cancelling basketball practice until the end of October so his teammates can focus on helping their class' booth and Sakuya has been going straight home since Higasa closed her bookstore until the renovation is finished; making the two didn't have anything to do after school.
Akashi just let his 'successive team' to handle their costumes; the three girls always led him and Sakuya to visit different stores first to pick up some materials and accessories before arriving at Yuzume's mother place. Their actions somehow similar to his past days in Teiko, where Kise, Aomine, and Kuroko always lead the way (Kise is the most one doing it) while he, Midorima, and Murasakibara only follow them from behind. Sometimes Momoi Satsuki tags along; clinging to Kuroko.
The images of rainbow-colored-heads flashed along his mind. Ah, he missed those days.
"I found it! The wig store!" Katagiri shouted, making Takano and Yuzume rushed inside the said-store along with Katagiri. Akashi only sighed at their antics. As for Sakuya, she still as deadpan as ever. She doesn't mind their behavior, or in other words, used to it. Yuzume and Katagiri are also her friends, although the two are closer with Takano.
"You're not going inside?" Akashi asked the girl beside him, who is looking at an antique store next to the wig store. Sakuya seems interested to look inside, as her eyes always inspect the displays. "Do you want to check inside that store?"
Sakuya stared at Akashi, and nodded once. "I need to find something in that store. Could I excuse myself to visit inside for a moment?" she asked Akashi.
"I don't mind. They will be long after all," he said while glancing to the wig store. "I'll go with you."
"You don't need to accompany me, but thank you," Sakuya thanked the red-head gratefully. The two went inside the antique store which is full of vintage things; varied from accessories until utensils. It's not a long time for Sakuya to find the thing she desired. The brown-haired girl picked up a golden decorative mask with pearls sliding under its nose bridge. When Sakuya tried on the mask, she showed it to Akashi. "I found it, Akashi-san."
Akashi observed the girl with the mask on. Sakuya looked different with the mask; the girl becomes mysterious and hideous. "What will you do with the mask?"
"To cover my face in the last event later," she declared, earning an arched brow from Akashi. "People won't recognize me with this mask on. They will think I am somebody else, with addition of the wig."
The Emperor wanted to retort, but he remembered what Takano had told him last Wednesday. Sakuya dislikes people's gaze onto her. "You really don't want others to know you, Sakuya?"
"Yes."
Akashi narrowed his heterochromatic eyes. "You really are uncomfortable when people are looking at you, aren't you?"
Sakuya blinked at Akashi. She doesn't know Akashi realizes about her disadvantage. "How did you know, Akashi-san?"
"Takano Rika told me. I asked her about how did you two met and somehow ended up telling me your loathness," Akashi remarked. For some reasons, however, he closed his eyes while talking. He doesn't want to look Sakuya and he doesn't know why. Is it because he doesn't want to see her reaction, or he doesn't want the girl to hate him because he sticks into someone's secret? He cannot choose which one is clarifying his action.
Much to his surprise, Sakuya only muttered, "I see." Akashi snapped his eyes open to meet Sakuya's softened gaze behind her mask. "Then please take care of me on the last event, Akashi-san."
"You didn't angry at me for being nosy?"
Sakuya shook her head. "It's not called nosy, Akashi-san. It's a slip-of-mouth." She then took off the mask and paid it to the cashier. The two exited the store and found the three girls also exited the wig store, with a new bag in Takano's hand.
"Now, off to Yuzume's mother place!" Takano shouted, earning more shouts from Yuzume and Katagiri. The three take the lead again, making Akashi sighed again at their antics.
"Girls these days…" Akashi glanced at the three and then turned to Sakuya, who noticed his stare. Sakuya stared back; their eyes locked. "Is there something on my face, Akashi-san?"
"No." To Akashi's surprise, he does something that is rarely occurred from someone like him. The red-head raises his left hand and caresses Sakuya's cheek, making the girl widens her eyes for a moment but decided to let Akashi's fingers feels her smooth skin.
"You're not going to ask why I do this to you?"
"Should I?" she asked back. Akashi chuckled at her. "Let's just say this is my way to pamper you."
"Pampering me?" Akashi repeated, but he decided to leave it unanswered. He thought if he knows the answer now, it won't be amusing again.
The group arrived at the appointed-place and Yuzume's mother welcomed them all with glee. The aged-woman took Akashi's and Sakuya's measurements after she drew the designs for the pair's costumes. She promised the group that she will finish the costume in a week, so her daughter can bring it on Tuesday next week.
Another week has passed.
Rakuzan's school festival has begun. The festival will be held for four days.
After preparing their booth from Friday until yesterday, class 1-A Monster Café is officially opened. The class got a lot of visitors, since it is Akashi's class. They were curious, after all. It's The Emperor's class, so they are expecting the goods. Just like Mibuchi, Hayama, and Nebuya. The three Uncrowned Kings are also curious. They are sitting in one of the tables provided by the waiter.
"Sei-chan is nowhere to be found," Mibuchi muttered after looking around the café. "Speaking aside, I can't see Sa-chan around, too."
"Maybe she's handling the cooking? It means she is behind those curtains," Hayama responded and pointed out the falling curtains behind him.
"Just shut the hell up and order something, will you?" Nebuya snapped. He waved the menu book to both of them. "If we are here only to look around, someone will kick us out."
Hayama laughed. "It can't be helped, Eikichi! Reo-nee wants to meet his girlfriend, after all!"
A tick mark appeared on Mibuchi's forehead. "How many times do I tell to not call me that?!" he snapped while lower his voice so people around them won't hear his yell.
However, Hayama ignored Mibuchi and called the waitress, who is wearing a witch hat; who also happened to be Takano. The short-haired girl recognized the three immediately, since they are also well-known like Akashi. But she shrugged it off and took her notes to write down their orders. "One plate of 'Slimy Prawn' and a glass of 'Bloody Rain', please!"
"I'll go with 'Crunchy Eyeballs' and 'Sunset Tears'," Mibuchi ordered next.
"Which one is the meat?" Nebuya asked. The menu's names are all unique, and he can't picture the ones involving meat.
"It's 'Reddish Corpse'. It's some kind of steak," Takano explained. Nebuya hummed and ordered, "I'll take that. Three servings. As for the drink, just bring anything cold."
"Three servings?" Takano sweat-dropped at Nebuya's big appetite. After she confirmed their orders, she went behind the curtains and told her classmates who are in charge with the cooking the orders. "Jeez. We are really busy with the business, huh? Many people always pop out," she retorted.
Sakuya who is wearing her Rakuzan uniform approached her friend. "Takano-san. It's time to switch."
"Okay!" Takano gave the notes and her hat to Sakuya who wears it immediately. "By the way, Mibuchi-senpai and his friends are here."
"Mibuchi-senpai? I see." Sakuya nodded at Takano. The short-haired girl then took her leave to take a tour around the school with her other friends.
Her classmates have finished their cooking some minutes later and Sakuya decided to bring the servings to its customers. When she had taken one plate, a hand took over another plate. She glanced behind her to see Akashi without his Rakuzan's blazer and he is wearing a pair of horns. Without words, Akashi also took away the plate in Sakuya's hand which earned a shocked look from the girl.
"This is neither your job nor your role. I told you to stay in the back, didn't I?"
Sakuya was quiet. She is actually being prohibited to help out with the café by Akashi. However, the girl thought she must help out, too. She lied with Takano and the others so she can give a hand to them. But Akashi found her out. "I'm sorry, but I can't stand watching the others doing their things when I am the only one who doesn't do anything."
Akashi sighed. He knows Sakuya is the type of person who likes to help others without being told first. But he prohibited her for a reason, too. "Stay, Sakuya." He told her with his demanding tone.
"I cannot." To his dismay, Sakuya defied him.
"I said you must stay, Sakuya."
"I cannot."
"Sakuya," he called her name once again, this time with more suppression. "Listen to my request only this time. Stay."
Harlequin eyes stared Akashi thoughtfully. Not too long, however, Sakuya nodded. "I will, then." Her hands took a tray with three drinks on it. "After I bring these to Mibuchi-senpai's table."
Akashi sighed again. The girl is stubborn sometimes. But at least, she promised she will stay after that. Akashi followed Sakuya with a tray of foods in hands and approached his teammates' table. Hayama is the first one who spotted the two.
"Akashi! Reo-nee's girlfriend!" the orange-head exclaimed, earning another yell of 'do not call me that' from Mibuchi. Akashi put down the foods on their table, followed by the drinks. When Sakuya wants to go back, he quickly grabs her wrist to make her stay.
"Eh? So Sei-chan and Sa-chan are waiter and waitress?" Mibuchi asked. For him it's unusual for Akashi to be a waiter. He doesn't mind Sakuya is the waitress, though.
"Not really," Akashi remarked. He glanced to Sakuya who gave him a confused look briefly, then turned to Mibuchi. "Reo. Take Sakuya around the school after you are done here."
"Take around?" Mibuchi was confused, but he quickly regained his composure. After all, he will be with his favorite girl later. "I gladly accept it!"
"I know you will," Akashi smirked.
"Then, if Reo-nee has a date later, I will tag along, too!" Hayama exclaimed, earning a dark glare from Mibuchi. The black-haired man doesn't like someone else disturbing his moments with Sakuya. It is his chance to get close with her, after all. "How about it, Eikichi? You want to come, too?"
Nebuya only snorted. "I dun… really… fahve," he told Hayama with his mouth full.
"Please finish your food first before talking, Nebuya-senpai. It's impolite."
Sakuya's usual deadpan preaching silenced the three Uncrowned Kings. The three looked to the girl in disbelief. They won't raise a word for a long time until Hayama burst-out laughing while smacking Nebuya's back; making him choked his food. The students in the café are looking at the orange-head with confused look on their face. "T-t-the way you said it with such expression was… PFFTTT! TOO DAMN CUTE!"
Mibuchi also laughed. "Oh, Sa-chan! It's the first time someone preaches Nebuya and he cannot retort it! What a feel!"
Well, yeah. For Mibuchi and Hayama, seeing Nebuya was dumbstruck when someone's preaching him is indeed a rare thing. The dark-skinned guy usually ignores the sermons involving his rude attitude; mostly from Mibuchi.
"But still! The way she said it… it was so serious but in the same time… PFFT!"
Nebuya snapped at the two. "Can you two stop laughing?! And Kotarou, STOP SMACKING ME SO HARD!"
Akashi cleared his throat. The three stop their bickering abruptly and looked up to their captain. Akashi was smiling, a really sweet smile. "Enjoy your food calmly, will you?"
For the first time, the three Uncrowned Kings sync together.
Akashi Seijurou really is like a demon in disguise.
"Is there something wrong with that?" Sakuya broke the ice. She tilted her head, making Mibuchi flushed. The black-haired man then waved his hand. "No, it's nothing wrong, Sa-chan. I will fetch you after I finish the meal, okay?"
The brown-haired girl only nodded and let herself being dragged away by Akashi. When they arrived at the back, Sakuya decided to ask her inquiry. "Why did you say that to Mibuchi-senpai, Akashi-san? I even didn't make any arrangement with him," she implied on when Akashi told Mibuchi to take her around without even gave the time for the girl to think about it first.
"It can't be helped. If I let you stay in here, you will probably do things without my permission like before."
"But I already promised you."
"And will end up helping out again," Akashi retorted, which earned a frown look from Sakuya. He guessed it right. "Just spend these three days exploring the school. Leave the booth to our classmates. After all, I already let Hikaru to handle all of them. We only need to focus on our last event."
In the end, Sakuya only nodded reluctantly. Akashi chuckled at that. He raised his hand and caressed her cheek. "You don't have to be that dejected, Sakuya."
"Am I?"
Akashi moved his hand to pat Sakuya's shoulder. "Yes, you are."
"Is that so?" A moment later, Sakuya then took her cell from her blazer pocket. "Excuse me. Could I take a photo of you, Akashi-san?"
Akashi blinked. Why on earth Sakuya wants to take his photo? "Before I say yes, can I know the reason why?"
"Because you are wearing your horns," there was a slight pause, until Sakuya continued again. "And you're looking dashing right now."
That compliment sure makes Akashi stunned. The fact that Sakuya always speaks out her true feelings with her blank face, he always feels butterflies flutter in his stomach. What an absurd feeling indeed.
"So, can I?" she asked again to make sure. Akashi nodded at her, which the girl immediately snapped a photo of him. Sakuya inspects the photo, and nodded to herself. "It turns out very nice."
"Let me see the result." Akashi asked and Sakuya gave her cell to the red-head. There he can see himself wearing his horns and an unexpected look coming from him.
Akashi is smiling proudly.
But he noticed that smile was formed not because he was being photographed. His heterochromatic eyes then stare at Sakuya's harlequin eyes.
Ah, that feeling again, he thought.
"Akashi-san?"
"I can't say it for sure." Akashi gave back the phone to its owner's hand. "Do not dare to delete that picture, Sakuya."
"Why should I do that?" the girl tilted her head innocently. "I will always treasure the pictures I take, including yours too, Akashi-san."
Akashi can only chuckle at Sakuya.
"How honest and straightforward lady you are."
"Oh, by the way," Akashi gestured Sakuya to continue. "I told you many times before; please respect your senpais, Akashi-san. It's impolite to call them without honorific."
He chuckled again. For no reason, Akashi doesn't get bored of getting the well-mannered girl's preaching.
Three days have passed. The monster café turns out to be a great success due to its fast service, comfortable place, and delicious menus provided. With that, it's already being settled that The Emperor's class will win 'The Most Favorite Booth' title that will be announced on the last day of the school festival. People can't picture his class won't win; after all Akashi is Akashi. He always wins at everything.
Today is the 31st October; meaning today is a Halloween's Day. Since it's also Saturday, some of the student's relatives are visiting Rakuzan to enjoy the remaining events that will last until dusk; one of the events is including The Next Miss Rakuzan. As for the grand event itself, it will be commenced in the afternoon at 1 p.m.
Akashi who has wore his demon king costume is waiting patiently for Sakuya to finish changing with the help of Takano, Yuzume, and Katagiri behind the curtains in his class. The time is 12.20 p.m., still much time before the event begins. When he spotted his reflection on the big mirror borrowed from the drama class, he can see himself is wearing the same horns like the ones he has on Wednesday, a long black one-piece with gold Baroque details on its chest and the tip of its long sleeves, a long black pants, a pair of black leather shoes, and a pair of black gloves. All of his garments are black - including his cloak – with some gold details. His fiery red hair matches perfectly with the dark color. He smirks. Yuzume's mother really did a pleasant job designing his costume.
A moment later, he heard the girls' scream from the other side, and followed by Sakuya's preaching about 'do not yell loudly to me'. It seems Sakuya has done changing. His guess is clarified when Takano and Yuzume drag Sakuya out and let the girl see her reflection in the mirror.
Sakuya is in her goddess costume; a long, sleeveless white gown reaching her feet made from silk, a pair of brown gladiator shoes, in addition with gold accessories on her arms. She is also wearing her long, wavy snow white blonde wig reaching her waist; which blends well with her pale skin. Some small *red roses are tucked in her wig. Her appearance is contrasting to Akashi's dark attire.
"You're so stunning, Sakuya-chan!" Takano exclaimed. The short-haired girl hugs her friend and more squealing echoing inside the classroom.
"It's cold here," Sakuya muttered. She is wearing a sleeveless gown, after all. And it's autumn already.
Akashi approached his partner to look more closely to her face. Sakuya is wearing a light makeup; only a bit of mascara on her eyelashes and a gloss of nude pink lipstick on her small lips. Her face is also covered with the decorative gold mask she bought at the antique shop last Tuesday.
"Ah, Akashi-san," Sakuya turned her head to see the red-head. She cannot move around because Takano still hugs her.
"Just bear with it for a while," Akashi told her; implying to her complaint of the cold air. A moment later, he chuckled. "You are indeed beautiful with that outfit, Sakuya."
"Thank you," Sakuya responded with gratitude, still with her deadpan expression. "You are also handsome, Akashi-san."
Katagiri then rushed in with a camera in her hands. "Let me take a picture of you two!" she exclaimed in glee.
Akashi chuckled again. "Shall we?" he offered his gloved hand to Sakuya who accepted his hand nonchalantly. Takano released her embrace to give space to the two, and she rushed behind Katagiri and Yuzume's side.
"I don't know what kind of pose you want me to use, Katagiri-san," Sakuya implied.
Katagiri shook her head. "Just act naturally with Akashi-san."
Sakuya then feels herself being pulled into Akashi's embrace. The taller man encircles her waist with his left arm while the other hand grabs her chin; pulling her head upwards a little. The girl gasped when Akashi closed the distance between their face, but quickly covered it with her blank look.
"Is this how we act naturally to each other, Akashi-san?"
"Of course not," he replied. "Why not use this opportunity to feel the personality of our own role?"
Sakuya gave him a thoughtful look. He continued again, "Aphrodite is sure loved by many; gods, humans, or maybe demons, too." He then smirked. "The Demon King is powerful, ruthless, and will do anything to gain what he wants. Right, my impassive Aphrodite?"
Another squeals echoed in the room, practically from Takano and Yuzume. The two flushed seeing the scene before them. As for Katagiri, she can only snap her camera to her content. It was an interesting material, after all.
"Let me spill the fact. There are no demons mentioned in Aphrodite's legend." Sakuya remarked monotonously.
"I said maybe earlier, right?" Akashi released his embrace. "We should go to the school hall to join the other participants." The red-head offered his hand again to Sakuya. "Shall we go now, Aphrodite?"
Sakuya accepted his hand the second time impassively. "Yes, *Maou-sama."
Sakuya read the paper she received from one of the committee. It is consisted of ten riddles indicating the exact places of where the pumpkins she and Akashi must find in an hour. Much to her surprise, Akashi knows the answer easily and she lets him leads the way. The two already found seven pumpkins from the seven riddles given, meaning they must find the remaining three said-pumpkins.
"We are the only ones who find seven pumpkins in twenty minutes," she said, earning a nod from Akashi who is beside her. While they are walking, they passed some people who are in awe with the two's appearance. They are fascinated with Akashi; who is already good-looking from the start and in addition of his Demon King's role, he is more dashing. But they are also curious with the girl beside him. They don't know she is Sakuya they are talking about. The mask and the wig sure are covering her identity. Even Mibuchi who handles the grand event didn't recognize Sakuya first, not until the man looked twice; shocking him.
"What is the next riddle, Sakuya?"
"Hm…" Sakuya read the eighth riddle aloud so Akashi can hear her. "'You cannot find me, because I am covering myself with myself'. What does that mean?"
"It means there are many 'me' and the real 'me' is beneath them," Akashi explained with ease. "If you notice from days before; when you were taking a tour with the others for the last three days, you will find a class with their bazaar booth, I assume?"
"Yes," Sakuya replied. "That means it's in that class? But they already cleaned up from yesterday, didn't they?"
"No. What I want you to realize is one of the things they put on their main display for three days."
"One of their things they put for three days?"
Akashi and Sakuya then arrived in front of storage building located behind the school's main building. The door is still closed; meaning no one has reached the eighth riddle yet. Akashi opened the door and let Sakuya inside after he turned on the lights. The storage room is full of boxes and some gears from clubs. Sakuya inspected the room until she found out what Akashi has meant earlier.
"A *Matryoshka." Sakuya showed the medium-sized doll made from wood to Akashi. The red-head nodded in approval. "So that is why Akashi-san wanted me to take a tour around the school since Wednesday. He knows I have sharp observation."
"They put a Matryoshka on display, but they never sell it because the committee asked them," Akashi explained again. "Open it, Sakuya. Find the pumpkin."
Without words, Sakuya opened the doll; revealing another doll inside, but smaller. She opened it again and again until the tiniest one left. When she opened it, a small gold-colored pumpkin was inside. She took it and showed it to Akashi who smirked.
"A golden pumpkin means… double points?" Sakuya remembered the rules given by the committee before the event started. If they find a golden pumpkin, the total pumpkins they got in the end will be doubled.
"It seems the eight riddle is a special case, then." Akashi remarked.
"But, why must it be in the storage room? You also seem to know the Matryoshka was put in here, Akashi-san."
"It's because storage room is the place people rarely visit, thus it's a perfect place for hiding, and I know everything."
Sakuya gave Akashi her blank gaze. "Akashi-san, you are too full of yourself, you know?"
"I told you before, right?" Akashi smirked. "Since I always win, I am always right."
The girl decided to shrug it off. Sometimes she doesn't understand Akashi at all. "The ninth riddle, 'You are not allowed to go inside. I said, you are not allowed to go inside!'." Sakuya looked to Akashi. "Is it the restroom?" She guessed her answer, which earned a nod from Akashi. "Which restroom?"
"Try to read the sentence again and you will find out."
Sakuya reread the riddle again, and she finally figured out the meaning. "The boy's restroom, I assume?"
"Great," Akashi praised her. "The 'you' is said in how a man addresses others, while the 'I' is said in how a man addresses himself. Since he said it twice, means it's the boy's restroom on the second floor."
"Then we shall go there."
After Sakuya put back the Matryoshka on its place, the two went out from the storage building and walked their way to the main building. They ascended the stairs, passed some people, until they arrived to their destination. Akashi stepped inside while Sakuya waited for him outside. Not too long, Akashi found the ninth pumpkin inside a sink and went back to fetch Sakuya.
"The last one, 'Emily Brontë, seventh from the right'." Sakuya read aloud the last riddle. This time, Akashi let his partner to guess the answer. He knows Sakuya understand the riddle well, since she is a member of library committee, thus the answer is, "The library, huh? The next one is in the 'Gothic Fiction' section, between the sixth and the eighth books from the right."
Sakuya entered the library, followed by Akashi behind. The red-head watched Sakuya walked to one of the sections of the shelves and browsed the books one by one. The girl then found an empty space between the books and found another pumpkin lying around. She picked it up; and now they have collected all the pumpkins faster than the other teams.
"Since we have collected the tenth of them, should we go back to the school hall?" Sakuya asked Akashi who had put off his long cloak. The redhead approached Sakuya and without words, put the cloak around the girl's small shoulders. His action earned a confused look from Sakuya.
"Aren't you cold without your cloak, Akashi-san?"
"Do not mind me," Akashi said while wrapping the cloak to cover Sakuya's bare collarbone. "You are the one who is cold. You always rubbed your arms and shoulders absentmindedly when we were walking."
"Did I?" Sakuya titled her head.
"Yes, you did." From that close distance, Akashi can smell vanilla emitted from the girl. "Are you wearing a perfume, Sakuya?"
Sakuya shook her head. "I see," Akashi remarked. Bluntly, he leaned closer to Sakuya to smell the vanilla again. "What a sweet fragrant."
Making him wants to crave her smell more.
"You are too close, Akashi-san."
"Pardon me." Akashi leaned back. "You smell so sweet, makes me want to devour you, Aphrodite."
His teasing tone only earned a sigh from Sakuya. "Maou-sama is really eager to consume me that bad? Unfortunately, I have to refuse. I am not edible."
Akashi chuckled. Oh, how cute can the girl be? "Sakuya," Akashi caressed the said-girl's cheek with his gloved hand. "After this, do you mind me being your official friend?" He stated. He felt he needs to ask her now.
Sakuya gave the Demon King her confused look. "What do you mean, Akashi-san?"
"I want to know more about you," Akashi honestly remarked. "You always amuse me in every ways possible, Sakuya. You know me so well, but I do not know much about you. I need to crave whatever is hidden in those eyes of yours."
"I am addicted to your gaze, Sakuya."
"You're wrong, Akashi-san. I do not know you that much, too," Sakuya retorted, still with her expressionless look. "I don't know what you mean about 'amusing you', however I do not mind being your friend, Akashi-san."
"I see," Akashi grinned. For some reasons, he feels satisfied. "Then, be prepared to bare every secret you hide from me, Sakuya."
"I'm sorry, but I never hide any secrets from you, Akashi-san."
"You actually did," Akashi gestured Sakuya to follow him. He decided to go back to the school hall and wait for the other teams to finish. "To the point is the first time I failed to notice your redeeming qualities."
The school festival has reached its end.
Turns out, class 1-A indeed earns the title 'The Most Favorite Booth', in addition with Akashi-Sakuya team won the last event without any difficulties. The students of class 1-A cheered for the two's winning after Akashi received the prize from the committee. The Emperor smiled proudly. He is absolute, so he too must win in this particular event, too.
"Sa-chan! Congratulation!" Mibuchi approached his favorite girl and raised the girl into the air. They spun around until Mibuchi stopped and still hugging Sakuya's waist to his chest. Sakuya supported herself by pinning onto her senpai's shoulders. "I know you and Sei-chan will win!"
"Thank you, Mibuchi-senpai," she smiled, making Mibuchi blushed.
"Oh~ How can you be so cute, Sa-chan? I feel like I want to hug you more~"
"Is that so?" Sakuya then landed on the ground after Mibuchi put her down.
"Jeez," suddenly, Katagiri whined. She is holding a camera. Behind her, Takano and Yuzume were all flushed. "Urenomiya, you should be longer with Mibuchi-senpai, you know? I want to take your picture being hugged by him!"
"Oh. You want to take pictures?" Mibuchi asked and earned a nod from the three girls. The man smiled afterwards. Without warnings, Mibuchi encircled his arms around Sakuya's waist from behind. He bent forward to lean his face near Sakuya's. "Do you mind if I do this with you, Sa-chan?"
"I don't mind-" Sakuya was interrupted when the black-haired man gave her a kiss on her left cheek; making the girls squealed. Katagiri quickly snapped her camera to take as much photos as she likes until Mibuchi withdrew his lips from the girl's soft skin and smiled brightly.
"I'm sorry, Sa-chan. You're too adorable. I can't help myself to give you a kiss."
The said-girl raised her left arm and put it on her cheek; feeling the warmth of Mibuchi's lips still lingers. Not too long afterwards, she can feel both her cheeks are getting warmer.
Sakuya is blushing.
That expression made her three friends gaped. Of course, for Takano, Yuzume, and Katagiri, seeing the deadpan Sakuya blushing is such a rare sight. Mibuchi, too, also shocked to see it.
As for Akashi, he can only smirk from afar. "So she can show that kind of expression, too."
"Eh? What happened?" Hayama who is near Akashi along with Nebuya noticed the slight change in the girl's look.
Akashi shook his head. "We should not interrupt Reo's time with Sakuya." He warned Hayama who wanted to approach Mibuchi. Hayama ended up pouting.
"Oi, Kotarou." Nebuya grabbed Hayama's collar to not make him escape. "Just let them be, will you? Anyway, let's grab something to eat."
"But I'm not hungry…" reluctantly, Hayama tagged along with Nebuya. After the two were out of his sight, Akashi decided to go change into his uniform. It's already dawn, after all.
"Sei-chan!" From behind, Mibuchi called his captain. Akashi turned around to see Mibuchi is walking towards him with Sakuya in the man's embrace. It seems Mibuchi carried her along the way. "Are you going to change?" Akashi nodded at him. "Then, Sa-chan will, too. I'm going to send her home after that."
"There is no need for you to trouble yourself sending me home, Mibuchi-senpai," Sakuya retorted, but only received a shook from Mibuchi. Sakuya sighed. "Thank you, Mibuchi-senpai. And, could you please put me down? I can walk by myself."
Mibuchi laughed. "I'm sorry, Sa-chan." The man put Sakuya down, much to the girl's relief. "I'll be waiting for you at the gates, Sa-chan!" He waved to Akashi and Sakuya who are walking to their classroom to change.
After they arrived in their classroom, Sakuya immediately rushed behind the falling curtains. The girl doesn't want to make Mibuchi waits for her too long. As for Akashi, he silently took off his costume one by one and put on his uniform completely with his tie and blazer. After he put off his horns, Sakuya went out from the curtains with her uniform, too. She brought a plastic bag in her hand, probably her costumes and wig. She also already took off her mask, too, revealing her bare face.
"Here's your cloak and a plastic bag for you," Sakuya gave Akashi the cloak with another plastic bag to put his costumes inside. Akashi muttered a 'thank you' and put in his costumes tidily.
"I heard you're going home with Reo?" Akashi asked, ignoring the piercing look from Sakuya.
"Yes, I am. And please use honorific when addressing your upperclassmen, Akashi-san."
The redhead only chuckled. "Pardon me." He raised his bare hand to caress her left cheek. "How did it feel? Being kissed by Reo earlier?"
For the second time, Sakuya blushed again. Remembering that particular memory makes her cheeks red. She doesn't know how to react that time. "It's… a little soothing and gentle at the same time."
"Is that so?" Akashi smiled to her. "Your cheeks are brightly red, you know?"
Sakuya immediately backed away from Akashi and covered her face with her palms. "Please don't tease me, Akashi-san."
"I am not teasing you. In fact," Akashi took a step forward and pulled away Sakuya's hands from her face; revealing her flushed look. "You look endearing when you're blushing like that."
Sakuya keeps silent. She doesn't know if she should retort or let it be. The man in front of her is smiling proudly to her; Akashi is telling his honest remark. Much to her ignorance, her cheeks are getting redder and warmer. Akashi chuckled at her. "You are not used with being complimented, Sakuya? It's contrasting to how you always complement people with that expressionless look of yours."
"I apologize. I don't know how to react with that," Sakuya remarked honestly.
"I don't mind." Akashi patted Sakuya's head. "Should you be going now? Reo is waiting for you at the gates, isn't he?"
Hearing Mibuchi's name, Sakuya regained her composure and nodded to Akashi. She grabbed her bag and went to the class door. "I shall take my leave. See you on Monday, Akashi-san."
"However," Akashi waited for Sakuya to continue. "Please use honorific when you address Mibuchi-senpai, Akashi-san."
"This again?" Akashi shook his head.
"Also, thank you for today, Akashi-san." Sakuya bowed to Akashi. When she straightened herself, she gave the redhead her grateful smile. "I have a lot of fun these days with you and the others. Thank you."
Akashi nodded at her, and the girl immediately left the classroom; leaving Akashi alone. Akashi couldn't hear her light footsteps again. He then peered over the window; seeing Mibuchi welcomed Sakuya's arrival and the two walked together to Sakuya's place.
He sighed. He leaned to the window and crossed his arms. He was tired from all these festival days, but at the same time he felt something nostalgia; something that he hasn't felt for so long.
"I have a lot of fun these days with you and the others. Thank you."
Sakuya's voice echoed in his mind, along with her smile. He reminisced about his discovery on Sakuya's another traits; her brilliant smile and her embarrassed look, and her different appearance by being a goddess.
He also discovered another thing about himself, too.
"It's… a little soothing and gentle in the same way."
The way he caressed Sakuya's cheek, the way he embraced her, the way he smelled her scent; all of them without his consent…
"I, too, feel the same way with you, Sakuya."
For the first time, Akashi Seijurou feels glad he becomes Sakuya's friend. Official friend.
Author's Note:
*red roses = Aphrodite is usually symbolized with roses. And since she's with Akashi, I choose the red one
*Maou-sama = the Japanese for 'demon king'
*Matryoshka = a set of wooden dolls of decreasing size placed one inside the other
Happy Halloween's Day!
This special chapter is longer than the others, huh? Also, too many days have passed with only this one chapter! Hoho, maybe because it's a special event? I will be making this special chapter in the future, too. I have fun writing the story.
Speaking of which, I spent a week reread my chapters, and I realized I have a lot of mistakes to the point some parts are confusing (I even forgot that Mibuchi called Sakuya 'Sa-chan', and somehow I changed it to 'Saku-chan' absentmindedly). Forgive me for that. I fixed the chapters, so if you have time to reread all of that, I'll be glad. Hope some parts won't confuse you!
Turns out, Akashi and Sakuya are officially friends! Congratulation for you two! But, it's just the beginning, dear Akashi Seijurou. You will experience more and more unexpected things in the future… or not. And Mibuchi, you're so sly, aren't you? Taking your chance to kiss Sakuya, hohoho!
Anyway, I give my grateful thanks to KHRLover1997 for giving me your wonderful suggestion! Thank you very much, dear! Also, thank you for those who favorite and follow Alluring Gaze this far! Thank you for the reviews, too!
The next chapter will be up soon. I don't know how fast the 'soon' is, well… all I can say is just wait, okay?
Have a nice day, everyone! Please review if you have time!