While looking through my files from the previous chapter I realized that I'm still listening to Green Day. How funny.
This chapter belongs to Hayami, I particularly like her and the friendship she has with Suki and Murasakibara.
Then that's it. I'm not sure when I'll be back, but when I have inspiration like today, a new chapter will come out.
[Kuroko No Basket belongs to Tadatoshi Fujimaki]
[English isn't my first language, so please be kind]
College Arc
Restless Heart Syndrome
Hayami got off the plane feeling exhausted and sick. She was used to long trips, but trips to the hospital scared her, and it was in the hospital where she spent the last week away from her friends. She had to leave as soon as the basketball game ended and she knew she had let Akashi down with her attitude, but what could she do? Her family was small, consisting of just her and her father, and she needed to be present as a responsible adult at times like these, even though she didn't feel like one.
There was a car waiting for her at the airport exit, but Hayami had to sit down after getting her suitcase. She had also taken a small backpack with her, so she looked for the books that had kept her company this past week. Hayami didn't usually read science fiction, but Murasakibara had recommended a book to her to pass the time, and she was surprised even in the bookstore, when she read the first twenty pages, that she had become interested in the story. She finished the first book while on the plane to Switzerland, and had bought the other two at a bookstore near the hospital where her father was admitted. As the atmosphere of the place, no matter how welcoming it tried to be, was still a hospital, Hayami found herself increasingly interested in the story in those pages.
- You're here, Ha-chin.
Hayami looked up when he heard Akashi's voice. She didn't have time to say goodbye to him properly before leaving, as the basketball team went to a celebration. Hayami sent Akashi a text message saying that she needed to travel due to a family emergency, and she was only able to speak to him after arriving in Switzerland. Based on the number of missed calls on her phone, she was grateful to have missed them all.
- Did you have a good flight? I see you couldn't sleep... - Akashi sat next to her and touched her face carefully.
- I'm fine - Hayami closed his backpack - I can sleep after class.
- Are you sure you want to go to class today? You know I can explain the situation...
- I've already lost a week, Seijūrō - Hayami sighed, she felt irritated, but not with him, just with the rest of the world - we have an important test today, I can't miss it.
They headed to the car that would take them to college. Akashi asked if Hayami wanted to eat something, but she refused. The driver would leave Hayami's bags at the apartment right after dropped them off at college.
Akashi had brought her a bag with some materials for today's test, prepared by Suki with Hayami's help over the phone.
- Is your father okay? - Akashi asked as soon as they got into the car.
- Yes, he's just having a midlife crisis that led him to ski dangerously to impress a woman who was too young for him - Hayami lay down on the car seat, resting her head on Akashi's lap - he broke some bones, but he's fine. Everything is fine now.
- My father wanted news, but I couldn't talk to you properly... Why did you...
- Seijūrō - Hayami lifted her head, looking Akashi in the eyes. They had an eerily familiar look, like something that should have been cured by now - I was on the plane for fourteen hours and we have a test later today, I'm tired.
Akashi was still angry, Hayami felt it, but he respected Hayami's wish for some peace. He held her in a hug as she rested along the way.
xxxxx
Hayami woke up as soon as they arrived at college. She had calculated the flight time and knew she would arrive on time for the test, so she changed her clothes on the plane and chose a knit sweater, jeans and leather square rhinestones shoes, whose beading gave them a more luxurious look.
Suki had put the things she asked for in an ivory shoulder bag, so Hayami took one of the books she was reading out of her backpack and decided to take it with her around college. The book didn't fit in her bag, but it wouldn't hurt to carry it around for a few hours. She could distract herself with the book, then take the test, and finally go home where she could sleep.
Since classes started, Akashi had stayed by Hayami's side all the time, making their relationship soon public. Since they wore promise rings, it didn't take long for their classmates to guess that they would get married as soon as they graduated.
Hayami didn't mind the fact that everyone knew, she just felt a little uncomfortable that Akashi wanted to be by her side all the time. She wanted to have other friends, talk to other people, but it was difficult, because everyone in her class already knew that Akashi and Hayami were a couple and felt shy about breaking that bond.
- I'll buy you coffee - Akashi patted Hayami's head, they were already inside the classroom, but they would have a quick lesson before the test. He also wore a knitted vest, it was as if they unconsciously matched each other.
- Thank you - Hayami said, coffee would really help.
As soon as Akashi left, some girls approached her with a small wooden box.
- Hayami, I'm glad you're back! - despite the smiles, the girl in front was the only one who spoke, her name was Aeri.
- Ah, thank you - Hayami made a small bow with her head in gratitude, she didn't expect anyone other than Akashi to miss her.
- We are deciding the groups for the next group project of the semester, you know how important it is, but the teacher thought it would be fairer if we randomly selected the groups - Aeri took a deep breath, then glanced at the door. She was probably responsible for passing on the teacher's message, but she was afraid of Akashi's reaction - but since you and Akashi are always together, then...
This time it was Hayami who looked at the door, Akashi hadn't returned yet.
- It's okay - said Hayami. She reached into the box, pulling out a folded colored paper - it says I'm in group two.
- Oh me too! - Aeri looked surprised, but excited at the same time - There are already three of us, I'll add you to the group chat, okay?
- Of course - Hayami nodded - who is the third one?
- That boy who sits in the last row - Aeri pointed to the end of the room - his name is Jun.
Aeri then went back to making the rounds of the classroom, making the students draw their groups.
Hayami looked back, the classroom was shaped like an amphitheater, and she had to lift her head to find the boy Aeri spoke about. To her surprise, Jun was looking at her, looking surprised, but Hayami didn't remember where she knew him from.
Hayami waved, then showed the blue paper in her hand. Despite being in distant seats, Hayami saw how the boy turned red and hid behind his backpack. She looked at the paper to make sure there was nothing else written there, maybe a mock sentence, but everything was normal.
xxxxx
The test went well, and Hayami felt grateful that she had studied everything in advance before receiving the news of her father's accident. She still had two classes today, but she had decided to skip it and go home, maybe she would even stop by Suki's building to see her quickly first.
Akashi was the first to finish the test and was waiting for Hayami outside, but when she arrived she noticed that he was arguing with someone. Poor Aeri had probably talked about the group draw for the new semester project, and Akashi hadn't liked it at all.
- But Hayami already participated - Aeri tried to explain herself. She wore a silver tiara on her head.
- I don't believe...
- She's right - Hayami interjected into the conversation before Akashi could go too far.
His expression soon changed from anger to disappointment and sadness, as if Hayami had committed a serious crime.
- I'm sorry, Aeri - Hayami apologized - can I choose a team for Akashi?
Aeri nodded, holding out the wooden box.
- Group five - Hayami said as she pulled out the green paper.
- Very well - Aeri sighed - my work here is finished.
Hayami handed the paper to Akashi, then threw the empty coffee cup into the trash can.
- What's happening to you, Seijūrō? It's just a group project.
- How many guys are there in your group?
- One, but Aeri said there is still one member missing.
Akashi rolled his eyes, leaving Hayami even more incredulous. He was actually upset that she was in a different group. No, it was more than that... He still didn't trust her.
- You know that I won't fall in love with any guy who is kind to me, right? They're not like...
Hayami bit back her words. She was about to say a forbidden name. She hoped Akashi hadn't noticed, but he was acting too strangely for her to be sure of anything.
- Look, I'm going home, okay?
- Are you sure you don't want me to accompany you?
Akashi approached her, and all the tension seemed to leave her eyes, giving way to care and concern.
"How strange", Hayami thought, "he hasn't changed like this since...".
- No need - she said - I'll just read a little on the bus and sleep when I get home.
Akashi nodded, they were alone in the hallway, so Akashi held Hayami's waist and brought her close in a quick but intense kiss.
- I'll apologize to Aeri - Akashi said - I know this will make you happy.
xxxxx
Hayami doesn't remember what she did after he returned home, but when she woke up, the first face she saw was Murasakibara's.
- Wow, you're already on the third book - Murasakibara said while chewing chips. He was sitting on Suki's bed wearing a sweatshirt set that fit his size, making him look like a huge, blue stuffed animal. His hair was loose and messy.
- I think I liked the story more than I thought I would.
Hayami sat down on the bed, then stretched out his arms. She had slept with wet hair and now her pillow was damp.
- What time is it?
- Eight at night - Suki said as she entered the room suddenly holding a hairdryer - you slept for ten hours.
Suki and Hayami wore matching sunflower pajamas that they had seen at a random store down the street. She shouldn't have worked the night shift today to be home.
- Come, I'll dry your hair - Suki said, plugging the dryer into the socket near the bedside table that was between the beds - you can get the flu like that, you know?
- I don't really care - Hayami said, still yawning - Murasakibara, I didn't really understand what the main character does in the second part.
- Oh, it's very simple - Murasakibara approached the edge of the bed, the bag of chips seemed small next to his hands - I'll explain to you, in science we...
- Please, no science talk here! - Suki grunted - I can't believe you're reading these stupid books too...
- They're not stupid books! - Hayami and Murasakibara said at the same time.
- Whatever - Suki sighed, her hair seemed to have grown back in just a week, but Hayami figured it must just be how much she missed her - Akashi is in the kitchen making your dinner, he said you haven't eaten anything all day.
- How horrible - Murasakibara said, then looked at the chips that were gone, so he left the room, probably to get more food
- I brought some desserts from the store for you to try later, I had to hide some at the back of the fridge so Sana wouldn't eat them.
- You should have let her eat - Hayami smiled.
They heard a noise coming from the kitchen, the sound of some dishes falling.
- Akashi will be fine - Suki said, now she was drying Hayami's bangs - Atsushi knows how to cook, he's keeping an eye on him.
When the beauty session ended and Suki collected the hairdryer, she cleared her throat to get Hayami's attention before she left the room.
- Did you know that, when you were out, there was a boy asking for you in the store?
- A boy?
- Yes! - Suki nodded - He always sits in the corner, in the same place, I thought you knew him, and he even showed me his student ID from our college, so...
Hayami thought for a second, but soon understood who Suki was talking about. From Jun's reaction earlier today in the classroom, it had to be him.
- Don't worry - Hayami said - I know him.
- Good - Suki breathed a sigh of relief - I was feeling guilty for talking to a creep guy.
Suki's reaction made Hayami smile and soon Murasakibara called them to eat Akashi's masterpiece, which was obviously a joke.
- I think it's seventy percent good - Akashi said while Hayami tasted a piece of the omelet burned in the middle.
- Seventy per cent? Are you sure? - Murasakibara looked at the food strangely as he tried to take a large piece.
- Atsushi! It's for Hayami, not you.
- Ha-chin doesn't care - Murasakibara grumbled.
The apartment would be empty if it weren't for them and Hayami didn't get the chance to ask where the others were. The only news Suki told her was that Aimi and Aomine had broken up.
- Actually, I care - Hayami said.
Murasakibara blinked incredulously.
- It's very tasty - Hayami pulled the plate closer to her and started eating the omelet - thank you, Seijūrō, I see you added a little mushroom too, I love it.
- Of course I did - Akashi nodded, proud of himself, and his expression became soft and joyful, alarming Hayami. It was already the second time that day that his emotions seemed conflicted, revealing a pattern the girl feared would return - I know everything you like, I'm going to do another one right now.
- Less burnt this time - Murasakibara said - not everyone can lie like Ha-chin.