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 07

Discovery

It's 5.50 a.m. As usual, Sakuya awoke a little bit earlier than the appointed time she had set in her clock. She doesn't know why, though. She feels like she should open her eyes or she will miss something.

"And today is Sunday, too…" Sakuya muttered in her breath. At the same time, she reminisced the times when she was in junior high. Her strict dorm lady always woke up her students with her annoying, loud voice every 7 a.m. Since then, Sakuya decided to use an alarm clock to wake up before the dorm lady will; leading it to her habit until now.

The brown-haired girl turned off the clock's alarm, raised herself from the bed, and tidied up her bed sheets. She decided to take a bath. It has been a long time since she took one.

When she walked past her study desk, she noticed the calendar hanged up next to it. She inspected it for long, until she flipped over the page to a new month; revealing the text 'November'.

Sakuya sighed. "Autumn is going to end soon."

Knock!

Sakuya stopped sipping her milk tea when she heard someone had knocked the door of her apartment. She glanced to the door, then to the clock hanging on the wall. "It's still 6.35 a.m. I wonder who it is."

Yeah, for someone like Sakuya, welcoming a guest early in the morning is a rare sight. If it's Takano, she can't believe it. Her short-haired friend won't visit her apartment in the morning. Yuzume and Katagiri are included, too. The three still asleep in that time, especially weekends. For them, weekends are used to lie in the bed until noon.

Well, not for Sakuya. Habit is hard to kill, isn't it?

"Is it the postman?" Sakuya guessed. If it's her usual postman, then she doesn't have any suspicions. The girl sometimes receives letters from her relatives in England, but most of them are from her aunt in Tokyo. Although technology is already progressed greatly, they still use letters rather than emails. For them - including Sakuya - words conveyed in a letter are meaningful. "But, he always put the letters in the mailbox. Why suddenly knock the door?"

Putting her thoughts aside, Sakuya got up from the sofa and walked towards the door. She grabbed the handle and clicked it open; only to find a red-haired man wearing a black t-shirt underneath his Rakuzan's jersey, a white basketball shorts, and a pair of basketball shoes. He slings his sport bag on his shoulder. When their eyes met, a chuckle could be heard from the man's mouth.

"It seems I was right to come here first," Akashi remarked; feeling amused.

"Akashi… san?" Sakura rolled her eyes. She didn't expect the redhead to visit her apartment, especially in the morning on Sunday. However, "How do you know where I live?"

Without words, Akashi showed his phone and gave it to the girl to look. There, Sakuya found a message from Mibuchi, written, 'You want to visit Sa-chan? Her address is at XXXXX. Say hi to her for me, Sei-chan!'

"I see," Sakuya nodded to herself. Turns out, Mibuchi told Akashi her address. She returned the phone to Akashi. "Is there anything you need here, Akashi-san?"

"I want to visit your place," Akashi said. "It seems I discover something new from you today." Sakuya blinked; didn't understand what Akashi meant. "You are an early riser, Sakuya."

"It's a habit from my times in England," she remarked. "And you too, Akashi-san. Are you going to practice even on Sundays?"

Akashi nodded. "So, can I come in?"

"Ah, pardon me." Sakuya let Akashi inside and closed the door. After Akashi put off his shoes to the shoes rack and borrowed Sakuya's slipper, he walked in and settled himself in the living room. He inspected his surroundings; Sakuya's apartment is quite large, simple, and comfortable. On the coffee table, he spotted a cup of tea belonged to Sakuya. He smiled; remembering on how Sakuya really loves that particular drink. His eyes also spotted a stack of thick books near two bookshelves on the corner.

"You really love books so much, to the point you really don't know where to place them," Akashi retorted, earning a sigh from Sakuya who has placed his tea on the coffee table and sat the opposite of him.

"If I have time, I will buy a new bookshelf," Sakuya responded.

Akashi took his tea and sipped it, while his heterochromatic eyes observed Sakuya's appearance. The girl is wearing a maroon long-sleeved V-neck sweater, a khaki shorts, and a black leggings. Her brown hair is tied in high ponytail. Akashi put back the cup on its plate. "Are you going somewhere after this?"

"Yes. I am going to visit the market to buy necessary needs."

"When?"

"At 12 p.m."

"I see. Mind if I come along?"

Sakuya blinked. "I don't mind, but Akashi-san is going to have practice later, right?"

"Yes. It will be finished at 11 a.m., so I do have much time to spent with you after that," Akashi smirked. "You do not have anything to do right now, I assume?" which earned a nod from Sakuya. "Why don't you come with me to practice and watch us, Sakuya?" Akashi offered.

"Am I going to disturb you and your teammates?"

Akashi shook his head. "You're going to watch from the bench, so you won't disturb anybody there."

Sakuya was in deep thoughts. She is not interested with basketball, but she is slightly curious with how Akashi handles his team, even though he's only a first-year. She is curious with how his teammates do whatever Akashi has told them to without questions when Akashi accompanied her to meet Mibuchi in the first gym.

She is also curious with Akashi's Emperor Eye and its uses in basketball. Why does his golden eye called the Emperor Eye, and where he has gotten it?

"I will go, then. Watching Akashi-san plays basketball is intriguing me somehow."

"Oh?" Akashi leered. "Though practice will start at 9 a.m., we're going to the school gym now. You don't mind waiting for my teammates at the gym?"

Sakuya nodded. "Then please excuse me. I will take my bag first." Sakuya got up from the sofa and hurried upstairs; fetching her bag. Akashi patiently waited for her while finishing his tea and his eyes caught two small photos near the vase. He took both of them and inspected them; one photo of Sakuya's family, the other one of Sakuya with a boy.

"Sakuya's father and mother…" Akashi eyed the couple who is hugging little Sakuya. Like Sakuya said to him the other day, her father has brown hair and her mother has green eyes. The couple is smiling in the photo, although Sakuya is expressionless as ever. "I thought she's expressionless because of her parent's accident, but I was wrong. She is already like that from the beginning, hm?"

His eyes then trailed to the next photo; a boy wearing a black beanie and black-rimmed glasses is holding hands with Sakuya. Akashi can't clearly see the boy's face because he is looking away from the camera. And as usual, Sakuya is expressionless. Akashi chuckled at that. "Is this boy the one Takano Rika mentioned? Ryouhei, hm?"

After putting back the photos to their usual spot, Sakuya descended the stair with a small sling bag and she is wearing a black jacket. The girl took the cups to the sink and washed them before wearing her brown ankle boots. Akashi put back the slippers and wore his shoes back, and the two went out from the apartment after Sakuya locked the door. The two made their way to the school by walking, since the distance from Sakuya's apartment to Rakuzan is quite near.

Like the first time they walked together, there is no conversation between them. It's because the two of them are not the types to initiate a conversation. It's awkward somehow, but for Akashi, he enjoys the silent atmosphere. As long as he is with Sakuya, he doesn't mind.

"Akashi-san," suddenly Sakuya called out his name. "Could I ask you something?"

"Go ahead."

"Where do you live?"

Akashi blinked. He doesn't expect the stoic girl to ask his place. "My house in Tokyo."

His answer earned a shocked look from Sakuya. "That is far away from Kyoto."

"Of course. I have to use train to get here," Akashi explained. "If I finish practice until late, I usually spend the night at Reo's place."

"Practice until night…" Sakuya rubbed her chin. "You really are passionate towards basketball, Akashi-san."

"Passionate?" Akashi shrugged. "I cannot say it's a passion, but rather basketball is a way to improve myself, both in physical and intellectual."

Sakuya tilted her head innocently. "Really?"

Akashi halted his walk to glance at Sakuya, who also stopped walking. "You're expecting another answer from me?"

"Not really… for now. Maybe I will ask this question again some time," Sakuya remarked honestly.

The redhead sighed. Just what is the girl expecting? "Trying to hide something from me, Sakuya?"

"I can't say it is hiding something." The two continued their walk. "It's… waiting for the right time to seek the answer."

The way Sakuya said it with her thoughtful eyes amused Akashi. He is really eager to know what Sakuya will seek from him. "I'll be waiting, then."

The two then arrived at Rakuzan's first gym. Akashi took his spare key and unlocked the double doors and let Sakuya inside first before closing the doors. The gym is really empty. No one has arrived yet. Akashi put down his sport bag on the bench and took off his jersey. He then gestured Sakuya to sit on the bench while he is doing some stretching.

When Sakuya was watching Akashi silently, she spotted a rack of basketballs under the ring. She then saw Akashi took one of the balls and dribbled it along the court until he shot it into the net. The redhead did the same pattern again and the ball was always in; none of his shots were missed. Sakuya was amazed. She praised the redhead's speed and accuracy.

"Sakuya," Akashi called the girl from the court. "Do you mind being my partner for passing practice for a while?"

"Passing?" With no hesitation, Sakuya approached Akashi who pointed her to stand in front of him a few inches. "Just stand there and be prepared to take my pass. You know the stance from the P.E. class, right?" Akashi demanded which earned a nod from the girl who was already in her stance; her arms in front of her chest and she bent forward. Akashi quickly passed the ball to Sakuya who received it with ease.

"Good. Now, I want you to pass the ball back to me and I will do the same to you while running. You don't need to move around in that spot. Just adjust your position."

"I'll do my best." Sakuya passed back the ball with both of her hands to Akashi and the redhead began running; circling Sakuya. He passed the ball again to Sakuya with adding a little force. The girl received it but somehow she staggered; noticed by Akashi. Before he asked if she was okay, Sakuya already passed back the ball to him. "Do not mind me, Akashi-san. I was not prepared earlier," Sakuya assured him; answering his unspoken question.

Akashi knows Sakuya doesn't like to move much; from how she dwells in P.E. lesson. The girl even admits she is at her peak when it comes to that particular subject. Although she is not very good in sports, Sakuya has a well understanding to the basics. With it, she overcomes her inability; just like now. She understands how to pass and how to receive the ball. That fact makes Akashi somehow proud of her. "Be prepared for the next one, Sakuya. I won't go easy on you."

"Bring it on," she told him monotonously, making Akashi chuckled at her blunt answer. The redhead started running again and he passed the ball to Sakuya with so much force than before. Sakuya readied herself to catch the ball, and she finally caught it.

And she fell to the floor while hugging the ball.

Akashi was sweat-dropped.

"It's important to know the basics, but you also need strength to do that…" He approached Sakuya who was still on the floor and crouched. "Are you hurt anywhere, Sakuya?"

Sakuya showed both of her palms to Akashi; they were red. "Your passes are too strong, Akashi-san. My palms are hurting."

"You should tell me if I was too forceful earlier," Akashi sighed. "How stubborn can you be?" He grabbed Sakuya's wrist and helped her lifted herself up.

"I thought I could bear the force earlier. Turns out I couldn't."

Akashi sighed again. "Wait here. I'll bring ice to alleviate your palms."

Akashi rushed to the locker room to take an ice pack and came back to give it to Sakuya. The girl grabbed the ice pack while waiting for the redness to disappear. "If you're done, just put the ice pack on the bench and wait there," Akashi demanded.

"I apologize for causing you trouble," Sakuya stated, but Akashi shook his head. "You're not troubling at all, Sakuya. It was my fault for not noticing your low strength. I forgot you're not a man, too." He said the last part with a teasing tone, since Sakuya has a deep voice similar to a man.

Sakuya blinked at that, and she gave her piercing gaze to Akashi. "Please do not tease me, Akashi-san."

Akashi only chuckled. "Pardon me," and he caressed her cheek. Somehow that action becomes a habit for the redhead. "I just love to tease you, Sakuya."

Without words, Sakuya leaned away from Akashi's hand and she went back to the bench; cooling her palms. Akashi smiled to her again, and he continued his dribbling and shooting practice until his teammates come.

Sakuya thought back to yesterday, when she and Akashi wore costumes for the grand event of the school's festival.

For some reasons, Sakuya thought she was right to suggest Akashi to become a demon king. Other than his leadership aura and beautiful, sharp eyes, Sakuya implied another fact to one Akashi Seijurou.

The fact that his teammates were almost dying from the hellish training given by their captain.

"I was right. Akashi-san is really suitable to be a great Demon King," she muttered. She was impressed, but at the same time, felt sorry for Akashi's teammates. Right now they are taking a break from the training and sweating endlessly. They are also still trying to catch their breaths. Her eyes then trailed to Akashi who is standing near her holding a board with a paper on it; probably the list of menus they will execute later. The man is also sweating, but not as tired as his teammates. She moved her gaze to the three Uncrowned Kings who assembled together in semicircle. The three are also sweating, but not as tired as the others. As expected of the regular team of Rakuzan. The four's stamina are monstrous.

Speaking of team, where is the fifth man?

"Sa-chan~" Mibuchi waved his hand to Sakuya and smiled brightly when the girl looked at him.

Akashi smiled at the particular reaction shown from Mibuchi. The black-haired guy really likes Sakuya that much. "Reo likes you so much, Sakuya."

The said girl blinked, but when she wanted to retort, Akashi quickly cut in before she will preach him about honorific. "Why don't you talk to him for a while? He seems eager to spend his time with you."

Sakuya shook her head. "There's no need. I will talk to him after practice. I don't want to disturb his break time."

"Really?" When Akashi turned his head, he saw Mibuchi approached the two with a wide grin across his face.

"Sa-chan. Are you bored?" Mibuchi asked his favorite girl. He leaned forward so he could hear her low voice.

"Actually, I am," Sakuya stated. The girl doesn't find the fun watching the basketball practice, since she is also not interested with that particular sport. "I'm only watching the rest of you practice, and now I know something."

The black-haired man blinked. "You know something? What is it?"

As impassive as she is, Sakuya deadpanned, "Akashi-san and the term 'demon king' are alike."

Suddenly, the gym was filled with silence. The aura around the members of basketball team was tensed up. No one dares to raise a voice. They only sweat and pray that they will come out from the gym alive after practice, while in the same time shouting in their head, "JUST WHAT DID YOU SAY TO AKASHI, GIRL?!"

"S-Sa-chan…" Mibuchi cried in his mind. He knows Sakuya is the type to speak out her mind, but he never thought that it will be that blunt. "I shouldn't ask earlier…" the man lamented.

Sakuya who felt the atmosphere suddenly changed, tilted her head in confusion. "Did I say something wrong?"

"YES, YOU DID!" All the guys in the gym shouted in unison in their head.

Akashi then sighed, making his teammates paled. They lowered their head, not wanting to see what will happen next. It's risky.

"Sakuya," Akashi called the girl with his dark tone. Everyone was panicked. The moment they heard that kind of tone, the result would be… worse.

"Yes?" Sakuya turned her head to see Akashi was looking at her with an unreadable expression. Mibuchi who was still standing near the two recognized that look; Akashi was scheming something. The black-haired guy froze on his spot, waiting for the outcome.

Much to Mibuchi's surprise, his captain smirked and responded, "If you keep faltering me, I won't be able to hold myself to devour you."

"Sei-chan?" Mibuchi was confused. What did Akashi mean with his words?

"I already told you yesterday, Akashi-san. I am not edible," and that was the reply Sakuya provided to the redhead. Akashi shook his head, and absentmindedly caressed the girl's soft cheek without uttering any words. Mibuchi was dumbstruck. He didn't believe the scene before him.

Since when did Akashi act gentle towards Sakuya?

And finally he realized it. "Don't tell me…" Mibuchi muttered; noticed by Akashi. The redhead smirked to him in satisfaction.

"That is why I told you to ask Sakuya about it, Reo. Although," Akashi moved his hand to pat Sakuya's head gently. "She didn't have the answer that time. She is that type of girl, after all."

"What did you mean, Akashi-san? I don't understand." Sakuya retorted. "And please use honorific when you're addressing Mibuchi-senpai."

Akashi chuckled. "Pardon me."

For that instance, Mibuchi Reo finally found the answer for the 'bet' he indirectly made with The Emperor. And with that realization, the black-haired man smiled in relief.

He was glad Akashi met Sakuya at that little incident.

"Sa-chan, why don't we play basketball?" Mibuchi offered. "Don't worry. You won't disturb me and the others. We'll play at the other court in the next gym."

"But how about your training, Mibuchi-senpai?"

"I'm finished with it. After all, Sei-chan probably wants you to do something, too. Right, Sei-chan?" Mibuchi glanced at Akashi who gave him a nod.

"But I can't play basketball, Mibuchi-senpai."

"I can teach you!" the man exclaimed in glee. After Sakuya thought for a while and agreed to it, Mibuchi grabbed her hand and escorted her to the second gym next to the first one. Akashi only sighed seeing his teammate was excited to play with the stoic girl.

After the two gone from his sight, Akashi turned to see his teammates who were still silent. He cleared his throat and spoke up, "If you have done with your break, let us continue our training, shall we?"

With that one order, his teammates quickly assembled themselves and resumed their trainings.

Akashi sat contentedly on his chair while sipping his drink. Opposite of him, Sakuya also did the same. The two were at a restaurant near the market after Akashi had done his practice and changed into his light purple shirt and white long pants. The said market is located quite far from Rakuzan, so they used bus to get there. And since the two were also hungry, Sakuya suggested having a lunch first at the nearby restaurant.

The waitress then came bringing their ordered food and put them on the table before excusing herself. An *unadon and a tofu soup for Akashi and a *kamameshi for Sakuya. The two grabbed their chopstick and started eating the dish. While eating, Akashi observed the girl in front of him. Sakuya ate her kamameshi with such a graceful manner, like how a proper lady should. Akashi was somehow amazed with that. The girl sure was educated in many aspects, including the etiquettes for eating. But what Akashi spotted was how Sakuya ate her food slowly while closing her eyes; tasting the flavors of her dish.

That attitude sure made Akashi amused.

The moment Sakuya opened her eyes, she noticed her partner's stare. She stared back at him with her blank gaze. "Is there something on my face, Akashi-san?"

"No. I was aghast with how you eat your food, Sakuya."

Harlequin eyes studied his heterochromatic eyes for a while. "My late mother told me," Sakuya took the chicken with her chopstick. "That we must enjoy our food; savoring the flavors and the feelings mixed inside," and she put the chicken into her mouth, chewing it slowly while closing her eyes again.

"Feelings?"

Sakuya nodded while swallowing the chicken, and opened her eyes. "The chef who cooks the dishes for us with their choices of seasonings and various ingredients, and the moment we swallow the food we can feel the effort and the passion they have put into it, and the fact they make it to make us feel contented." Sakuya's gaze softened; remembering her late mother's words. "Of course, when she said that, she was referring to herself; the chef, and wanted me to realize that she cooks our foods with love."

The brown-haired girl's lips perked upwards slightly. Her gaze was filled with warmth. "And she did; I have been realizing this time that she has cooked our food with her love. I miss her cooking."

Akashi could not retort to that cheesy statement. He was perplexed.

The way the girl said it with sincerity in her monotone voice and those eyes of hers filled with emotion towards her late mother…

"You really love her so dearly."

"I am." Sakuya quickly covered her face with her usual deadpan expression. "How about your mother, Akashi-san?"

Akashi blinked at that question. He composed himself. "What did you mean?"

"Ah. I apologize. What I meant earlier was do you love your mother?"

The redhead thought for a while. Until now, he never knows what kind of person her mother is. He never meets her nor hears about her. His father; who raised him to be mentally called deserving in their household, also won't bring that topic around. It's like a taboo in his house to utter that word.

"Unfortunately, I never know her in my entire life. I cannot say I love her," Akashi stated without a hint of sadness in his eyes.

Sakuya tilted her head in confusion. When he noticed that, Akashi continued on. "I don't know her face. I don't know her personality. Since I was a child, I never see her. The one who takes care of me is my father." Akashi then crossed his arms. "I asked about her to him once, but he didn't give me an answer. He even didn't show me her photo when I asked, too."

Akashi turned his head to the window and looked through it; seeing something which is not there. He sighed. "Bluntly speaking, I don't know if she is still alive or not."

And bluntly speaking, this is his first time telling someone about his family.

Though he feels it is fine telling it to Sakuya. He doesn't mind the girl knows about it.

"I see," Sakuya muttered. "Then, your father is such a great man; for raising you to be this splendid gentleman as you are now."

Hearing that complement, the redhead turned his head to see Sakuya who is smiling to him. He rolled his eyes when his eyes locked with hers.

That feeling again.

Whenever those eyes stare at him, Akashi always feels that sensation in him; a weird sensation.

Yet at the same time, soothing and gentle.

Akashi smirked. "Yes, he is."

He noted that he should thank his father later for raising him well.

All the contents in the plastic bags were placed inside the fridge. It's 1 p.m., and Sakuya just got back from her shopping. After she put all of them in their appropriate place, Sakuya went to the living room to accompany Akashi who decided to stay a little longer at her place. The said man is sipping his tea calmly. When the man noticed the girl's presence, he put down his tea on the coffee table.

"Which reminds me," Akashi remarked. "I don't find a television in your place." The first time he stepped his foot inside, he couldn't find the television anywhere.

Sakuya nodded in approval. "I always spend my time reading books or doing homework. I never intended to buy a television in the first place since I moved here, because I rarely watch TV anyway."

"Of course. Your interest is only reading books," Akashi stated. "Would you mind if I borrow one of your books to kill time?"

"I don't mind. I will go upstairs to take my book then."

"You'll be back here later, right?"

"Yes. I cannot let my guest being left alone in the living room." Sakuya walked upstairs after that.

Akashi walked to the corner and found the two bookshelves leaning to the wall. He browsed the books which are divided into their own genre. Akashi smirked. He knows Sakuya will do that. The girl likes to arrange all things into their respective group, including books.

"Hm?" The redhead browsed the 'Mystery' section and noticed a book different from the others. When he took it, he realized it is a sketch book the moment he read the title. "She can draw?"

Akashi decided to see its content. He flipped the cover, and he saw a rough sketch of a girl who is smiling. Beside it, he read Sakuya's handwriting, 'I saw this girl on the way to Kyoto. She has a cute smile.'

He flipped the next page, and he saw a sketch again, this time a boy with a wide grin. A handwriting was written beside the sketch, 'I met this cute little boy when I searched for a place in Kyoto. Turns out he is my neighbor's son now. Every time I said he is such a good boy when he has done something good, he would always give me this proud smile.'

On the next page, he saw a sketch of an elderly woman who is laughing. Like the two pages before, Akashi found a handwriting beside the sketch, 'I met this nice lady who owns the place I am staying now. I love her laugh every time she jokes.'

Every pages he flipped, he always found the same pattern; a sketch of someone with a brief description. Sakuya drew them in *realism – amazed Akashi with how 'lively' the sketches are – and they have the same expression; happiness. Sakuya described them about when or how she met the people and the joyful look they have.

"She drew them so accurately. She uses her sharp observation for nothing, after all."

He immersed himself to the sketches not until Sakuya appeared behind him. "What are you looking at, Akashi-san?"

"Ah, she got back." Akashi turned around and showed the sketch book to Sakuya, who widened her eyes shortly. "Your drawings are excellent, Sakuya."

"I only draw when I feel like it," she commented.

"Is that so?" Akashi chuckled. "I was wondering why you draw people with their contented looks, though."

Sakuya rubbed her chin; deep in thoughts. "Maybe because I love their happy expression?"

"Maybe?"

"Actually, I don't know the reason why," Sakuya revealed. She took the sketch book when Akashi gave it back to her. "It's just that I love it; when they are smiling or laughing. Including yours too, Akashi-san."

Akashi was stunned. Did the girl also draw him? "Well well, it's kind of unexpected. You love my smile?"

Sakuya nodded once again. To prove her answer, she opened the book she brought with her from upstairs and took out a piece of paper. She let Akashi to inspect it, and the man rolled his eyes. He saw a sketch of himself in his Rakuzan uniform, and of course, smiling. He doesn't believe it, though. Did he smile like that? He then noticed Sakuya's handwriting and read it.

'Although I know Akashi-san from the first day of entering Rakuzan High, I actually met him eye-on-eye in the second floor corridor on my way to see the student council.'

His heterochromatic eyes read another passage below it.

'Every time he caress my cheek, pats me, and teases me, in the end he will show me his smirk.'

His eyes then landed on the last sentence of the neat handwriting.

'I love how he smiles like that.'

"Sakuya," Akashi called, making the girl looked up to him. "I really, really want to devour you right now."

"I am not edible, Akashi-san."

"I know," the taller man chuckled. He encircled his arms around Sakuya's small waist and pulled her closer to him. From that closeness, he could smell a sweet aroma; probably vanilla. Absentmindedly, he bumped his head with hers and won't mutter any words.

He wants to feel the girl's presence, and he doesn't know why he should embrace her. It is very rare for him to do that.

But one thing Akashi knows, he was pleasant. The redhead closed his eyes; enjoying the silent moment between the two.

"Akashi-san?" Sakuya asked worriedly, although her blank face betrayed it. She thought Akashi was sick when his forehead touched hers. It felt warm. She nonchalantly raised her hand and put her small palm over his forehead, feeling his temperature. Akashi opened his eyes when she did that. "Are you feeling unwell?"

"No. What makes you said that?"

Sakuya moved her hand to his cheek. "Ah," and she brought her other hand to feel the other cheek. "Your cheeks are warm, Akashi-san."

His cheeks are warm? "Is that so? But I feel fine, though."

Sakuya shook her head. Silently, she released herself from Akashi's embrace and dragged the man to the sofa. "Please sit here," she asked. "You should rest, Akashi-san."

"I told you I am fine, Sakuya," Akashi demanded.

"No," Sakuya countered with her stern tone, silencing Akashi. It's the first time the redhead hears the girl uses that tone. Her harlequin eyes narrowed. "This is because you pushed yourself accompanying me after practice. If you were tired, you should say so, Akashi-san."

"I have told you already. I am fine."

"No, you're not." Sakuya once again touched both of Akashi's cheek. "They are still warm. It seems you're going to have a fever."

Akashi sighed. He really feels fine. He doesn't feel like sick, after all he has a great immunity. However, he found that being worried by Sakuya was not so bad at all. "If you say so, Sakuya, then I will rest. However, I want you to do something for me."

"What is it?"

Akashi sat on the sofa and he patted his hips a few times. "Let me embrace you."

His blunt remark got a confused look from Sakuya. "I'm sorry?"

"Let me embrace you," Akashi repeated. "While you sit on my lap."

The brown-haired girl pondered for a bit. "I'm afraid I will hurt your hips. I'm heavy."

Akashi chuckled. "Which means you agree?"

The girl sighed. "Why do you want me to sit there, Akashi-san? I can sit next to you like we did at the library the other day."

Well, actually she was right. She doesn't need to sit on his lap if he wants her presence around. But that was the problem. Akashi wanted to embrace the girl a while longer. He wanted to inhale that sweet scent again. He wanted to feel her warmth.

All that things he wanted to do makes him puzzled. How can he think of those towards Sakuya?

The Emperor then smirked. Urenomiya Sakuya can make him ridiculous sometimes.

"Let's just say," Akashi grabbed Sakuya's wrist and lightly pulled the girl closer to him, turned her around, and made her sat on his lap. Surprisingly, Sakuya is not heavy at all. She is very light. Before the girl ran away though, he immediately encircled her waist from behind, making the girl gasped. "I want to do it this way. You don't mind, Sakuya?"

"Actually, I don't want this…" Sakuya muttered. "Since you had already hugged me like this, I can't help but get along with it. I'll just finish my readings then."

"Take your time."

Sakuya opened the page she read the other day and immersed herself into the book; completely ignoring the fact Akashi embraced her. As long as she is not disturbed, she doesn't mind his behavior.

As for Akashi, he was glad Sakuya didn't struggle when he forced her. From her shoulder, he could see Sakuya was reading a novel – a mystery novel to be exact. The text is written in English, but he understands the language.

The redhead then glanced to the clock hanging on the wall. It's 1.20 p.m. now. His train operates next at 2.25 p.m., which means he has forty minutes to stay in the apartment and ten minutes to walk to the station, since it's near Sakuya's apartment.

"Forty minutes is enough time to enjoy this blissfulness," Akashi thought. "Ah. Why did I say that? How unusual of me."

The next unusual thing he did, he rested his head on Sakuya's left shoulder. He narrowed his eyes, thinking again of how unusual he is today towards Sakuya and how Sakuya let him do whatever he wants. For the sake of curiosity, he decided to ask the girl. "You don't want to know why I'm doing this now?"

Sakuya didn't turn her head. She kept focusing on the book she was reading, but still responded his inquiry. "Just rest, Akashi-san. I won't move around so you can take a nap with this position."

"Even though it will make your shoulder numb?"

The girl nodded. "Honestly, I want you to lie on the sofa if you want to sleep, but for now I will let you do things you think comfortable for you. Please keep in mind that I will wake you up at 2 p.m. so you have time to get to the station."

"I see." Satisfied with her response, Akashi completely closed his eyes and started dozing off. Before he fell to his dreams, he whispered, "I owe you one, Sakuya."

"It should be 'thank you', Akashi-san."

Akashi ignored the girl's words and let himself fall slowly into deep slumber. For the second time, he was glad he is Sakuya's official friend.

The Emperor will witness more amusing and unusual experiences in the near future involving a certain stoic girl who is in his embrace now.

"Ah, I cannot wait for tomorrow."

Author's Note:

*unadon = a big bowl of steamed rice topped with broiled eel with vegetables.

*kamameshi = rice topped with vegetables and chicken or seafood, then baked in an individual-sized pot.

*realism = the general attempt to depict things accurately, from either a visual, social, or emotional perspective.

I don't know how much efforts I have done to finish this particular chapter. I even have difficulties finding the fitting title for it.

Anyway, chapter 07 is out! This couple has discovered a thing or two about each other. I decided to make Akashi's mother status is 'unknown' since Fujimaki-sensei didn't mention the whereabouts about her, thus I made Akashi doesn't know anything about her. And yes, he lives alone with his father. I will mention Akashi's family in the future chapters.

For the next chapter… I don't know. Since this story had set in November, it means the Winter Cup will also commence, too. I will include the battle between Rakuzan and Shutoku, but I still find ways to make Sakuya appears there, too. Maybe watching the two teams play against each other or something, so she will meet Midorima later. Ah, I need to arrange the storyline, yet I haven't got any inspiration…

Guys, motivated me in your own way~

Also, have a nice day. Please review if you have time!