Chapter Text
Akashi Seijuurou’s relationship with his father isn’t really a close one, at least not until recently when Masaomi had realized that he had been distant from his son despite giving all he could to provide only the best for his son.
He soon realizes the joy that had spread secretly upon Seijuurou’s face, his contented smiles whenever Seijuurou comes back from a day trip to Tokyo to hang out with his friends, which he had reconciled with. The laughs he heard from Seijuurou’s room whenever he passed by, he had never heard his son’s laughter before—he could barely remember the last time he had ever heard Seijuurou’s laugh, maybe when he was in elementary school perhaps? Before Shiori, the beloved mother and wife had passed away.
He had missed so much of Seijuurou’s life—of their lives together. He decided then to change his priorities, lessening the burden and expectation of his son, having more meaningful conversation with Seijuurou over dinner, maybe grab a coffee in the morning before Seijuurou leaves for school—maybe even take him to school himself or accompany Seijuurou to the train station. Which took Seijuurou by a great surprise. He was never used to such initiative from his father, awkward at most but glad by the end of the day.
What made Seijuurou realized what his father’s true intention was, was the time when Masaomi had cancel the most important meetings just to watch Rakuzan’s games all the way to the winter cup. Also that tiny moment he saw Masaomi trying to cover that tiny trickling tear gathering just at the corner of his eyes. With that Seijuurou thanked his father, and they had Maji burger that night.
“So what are your plans?” Masaomi asked Seijuurou one night as they were putting up the ornaments on their Christmas tree in the family room, just the two of them.
“What plans?” Seijuurou asked, hanging the pink crystal ornament on the tree.
“College” turning to his son only to meet the soft look of surprised. He chuckled “I know… that I had it plan for you but,” he cleared his throat. “You’re a grown man now, and you don’t need me to make plans for you. Besides, I know that you know what’s best for you.” He smiled.
“So, tell me” he said crossing his arms. Displaying his interest while keeping it serious or… what is he even doing exactly?—how does a father ask about their son’s college plans without sounding business like? Is there a guide book for that? Why is Seijuurou not blinking? Oh my god—I broke my son! Shiori is going to haunt me in my sleep!
“Well…” Seijuurou blinked—thank God. “I was thinking, a double major maybe.”
“That’s good!” Masaomi nodded rather stiffly—he was doing that ‘Akashi approved’ nod again. God damn it. Masaomi shook his head and smiled brightly.
“I mean that’s great! If-if that’s what you want.” Masaomi said wholeheartedly this time. “It’s what you want, right?” Masaomi asked again, with much concern. Not wanting Seijuurou to subconsciously make his decision based on Masaomi’s approval, which isn’t what he wanted, not what Shiori wanted.
Seijuurou chuckled behind his hand and nodded. “Yes, father” Seijuurou said without dropping the corners of his lips. “It is what I want” he assured, matching cherry eyes glittering back at Masaomi.
Unconsciously, Masaomi’s heart fluttered in a way that it hasn’t in the longest while. It was though he was seeing colors again, all shining back at him, watching the smile that touched Seijuurou’s eyes was like the first day he was born. Are you watching this Shiori?
“So, what is it?” Masaomi prompted and began to pick up one of the blue ornaments from the box.
“I was leaning a little bit towards arts and business”
“Oh—like art dealing?”
“Uh…” Seijuurou paused, eyes furrowed in deep thought. Then looked back up at his father.
“I actually haven’t thought about it thoroughly…yet” Seijuurou admittedly softly. Seijuurou had always displayed firm assurance with no sense of doubt, but this time he looked like a regular teenager, a little unsure with the lack of confidence. Which was completely fine in Masaomi’s eyes. Masaomi laughed and gave a firm squeeze on Seijuurou’s side.
“You will in due time.” Masaomi assured. Seijuurou smiled and nodded.
"What about shogi?"
Seijuurou thought for a short moment before shrugging. "It's more of a hobby"
The two marveled at their Christmas tree, standing tall and bright with the soft light illuminating the ornaments. Somehow causing them to sparkle and shine. The humble star chosen by the late wife and mother, stood bright and tall on the top of the tree.
Seijuurou then began gathering the empty boxes scattered on the floor. Masaomi who had just remembered something snapped his fingers, and began searching through one of the drawers. He took out a small box and opened it, showing them to Seijuurou.
“Christmas cards! These are one of your mother’s favorite designs.” Masaomi said, Seijuurou’s eyes sparkled at the new stacks of Christmas card, still unopened from the transparent packaging.
“We still have these? I haven’t seen this since…”
“Our last Christmas together.” Masaomi nodded. Before he starts reminiscing their beloved Shiori, he cleared his throat—he has been doing that a little too much as Seijuurou noticed.
“I was thinking, that this year we open our house this Christmas. Just our close relatives and maybe some of your friends?—no company partners, CEOs, just friends and family.”
Oh no, he’s not blinking again—I surely broke him this time.
“You mean, here? Like our house?” Seijuurou asked finally.
“Yes, our house, here. We’ll have lots of food, and desserts—whatever you want. Invite your friends over, Midorima, Kuroko, Kise—and that tall one…what’s his name again?“
“Murasakibara?”
“Yes… that one—and all of them—if they can’t afford a ticket here, don’t worry, I’ll cover for it. Just tell me how many of them.” Masaomi grin widely.
“Here, so you take this half.” Masaomi gave Seijuurou about two to three stacks of the cards. “Then I’ll take this half. Now you, go ahead and write to your friends, and I’ll handle the ones for our family, alright?”
Seijuurou only nodded, as Masaomi trailed off talking about which ones of their relatives he is inviting. Seijuurou smiled at his back before turning to his heels.
“Oh and Seijuurou,” Masaomi called and Seijuurou turned back.
“You could also bring a date too if you want” Masaomi said. Causing Seijuurou to halt his breathing, internally swallow his brain all the way to his stomach—metaphorically of course, and no he wasn’t blinking.
Masaomi would guarantee that he had broke his son again.
“Or if you don’t want to, or—you know what, do whatever you want” Masaomi waved his hand dismissively and left the room.
Seijuurouhad only repeated those words all over again like a mantra in his mind. Bring a date, bring a date, bring a date—bring . a . date.
All the way to his room, he had absolutely no idea how to go from there.
Akashi Seijuurou, doesn’t have a date. Not that it bothered him but it’s not something that came across his mind, dating isn’t one to have ever come across his mind.
All he could think about was his friend’s lovers who are also his friends, and they have a date, which is completely fine. But Akashi doesn’t have a date, he couldn’t even think of a single person he would want to date or bring to the party as a date. It didn’t bother him, as he analyzed his thoughts. Anyone in particular that spiked his interest? Not a single one either.
He only shook his head, not that his father actually insisted that he invites a date over for Christmas, only if he has one, which he doesn’t. With that conclusion he brush the thoughts aside, and took out his fountain pen from his drawer and began unpacking the Christmas cards.
They looked as beautiful as new, it’s amazing how his father had kept his mother’s Christmas card so well after all these years. Now that they are using it, it felt as though Shiori was still with them.
Akashi begin writing down on each one of the cards, starting with Midorima’s, being his long time friend. Then to Takao, Midorima’s partner who strangely he grew fond of, he chuckled at the thought of these duo, it’s be a great sight to have these two over for Christmas.
Takao’s bright smile and friendly nature would light up the Christmas party instantly. He then proceed to the others, and their teams as well that they have all grown very close to.
By the time he was on his last card, a knock came twice to his door.
“Come in” Seijuurou said without stopping what he was doing. The door clicked open and heard his father’s light footsteps approaching.
“I see you already have a lot people on the list.” Masaomi said as he scanned the neat pile that was done on one side of the study table. Seijuurou turned around and looked up.
“I hope that’s not too many, are you—“
“Oh no” Masaomi chuckled and shook his head. He patted Seijuurou’s shoulder. “The more the merrier.” Masaomi assured and Seijuurou smiled, turning back to finish his current invitation card.
“Furihata Kouki?” Masaomi read the name that was neatly written on the envelope.
“Huh, isn’t that the boy that went against you a couple of times? Number 12 was it? from Seirin?” Masaomi asked. Seijuurou paused his hand and looked up at his father.
“Yes, yes he is.” Seijuurou nodded “He was their new captain actually.”
“Interesting.” Masaomi said, rubbing his chin with interest “You know, I heard from your friend Aomine, while he was sitting beside me during your match with Seirin, he told me that this boy was shivering like a chihuahua in front of you on the first time, was it true?”
“I guess” Seijuurou then held back a chuckle. “Well, he fell actually… I didn’t even do anything.”
“Not that I’m putting him down or anything—now don’t get me wrong, he’s rather… skittish? Compared to the others, I mean a thug would take one look at him and feel sorry for him, maybe even buy him a sandwich to not make him cry.” Masaomi laughed. “But I gotta say, he has a strange vibe to him. He is not one to back down easily, let alone facing you a couple of time—now Kagami going against you is one thing. But uh… him? That takes a whole lot of back bone.”
Seijuurou nodded “Well, he is a formidable player, and honestly I do respect him as both point guard and captain.”
“I see” Masaomi nodded and gave another pat on Seijuurou’s shoulder.
“Well, I’m going to bed. Don’t stay up too late, okay?”
“Yes, Good night, father.” Seijuurou said. Masaomi smiled by the door and nodded. “Good night.” And closed the door gently.
Seijuurou finished his current card and sealed it in the envelope before placing it to the completed stack. He paused upon Furihata Kouki’s invitation card. Took the card in his hand and stared at it for a moment.
There was something about this particular card that seemed…. Empty? He was sure he had written all the cards in his neat handwriting, with well friendly wishes, with no formalities to make it less uninviting. But there was something this particular card that felt like it needed more.
He brushed the thoughts away and began stacking the sealed cards neatly, arranging them and separating them by groups and people, and which are the ones he needed to post and which to give by hand.
He stuffed them in his bag neatly before turning off his desk lamp and head to bed.
❄
“I’m heading out.” Seijuurou said to his father after he finished his warm cup of tea. Masaomi looked up from the newspaper.
“So soon?” he asked, watching Seijuurou wearing his winter coat and wrapping his scarf around his neck neatly.
“Yes, it’d be best that I go now, I need to head to the post office first to drop the invitations, and then to the train station to Tokyo.” Seijuurou adjusted the strap of his bag over his shoulder.
“There’s no need to come with me. I’ll be back for dinner.” Seijuurou informed his father who only nodded.
“Okay then. Be safe.” Masaomi smiled and Seijuurou smiled back before turning to leave, bowing his head lightly to the maids.
When Seijuurou was out of sight, Masaomi turned to the butler standing beside him, pouring more coffee into Masaomi’s cup.
“Did you see that? He smiled at me.”
“Indeed, Sir.” The butler smiled.
❄
Kuroko Tetsuya : I’m sorry Akashi-kun, but I’m on a date with Kagami-kun today.
Came in Kuroko’s reply after Akashi had sent him a message upon his arrival to Tokyo. Akashi looked away from the window of the train and began tapping on his phone.
Akashi Seijuurou : It’s no problem, Kuroko.
Kuroko Tetsuya : Unless you wanna join us?
Kuroko’s text came in instantly.
The new text message from Kagami swooped right in.
Kagami Taiga : Don’t. Please.
Akashi chuckled and switched back to Kuroko’s conversation.
Akashi Seijuurou : I don’t think we would like that, Kuroko.
Akashi Seijuurou : Actually, I just needed to hand you guys something.
Kuroko Tetsuya : Well, we could just meet some place and just hand it to us?
Akashi Seijuurou : That’d be great.
Kuroko Tetsuya : Maji Burger. 7PM?
Akashi Seijuurou : I will meet you two there.
Akashi replaced his phone back into his pocket and looked back out at the window, resting his chin on the palm of his hand. The cities begin to look a little lot like Christmas. Akashi smiled at the thought of the remaining invitations in his bag for his friends in Tokyo.
Unfortunately, Akashi’s friends in Tokyo already had plans of their own—mostly due to dates. While the ones in Kyoto and other cities had their invitation sent by mail, and hopefully it reached to them safely.
However, Akashi only needed one minute of their time for the ones in Tokyo. Since he doesn’t know the addresses of his friend’s teammates, he might as well just hand them their invitations and in the process handing the other invitations for them to pass on to their respective teams.
At 1:43PM. Akashi met up with Midorima and Takao at a café.
Takao waved vigorously at Akashi in the crowded café, Akashi smiled and chuckled at the sight of exasperated looking Midorima sitting beside Takao.
“Sei-chan!” Takao greeted him.
“Takao-kun,” Akashi greeted back, and gave a nod to Midorima.
“So what brings you all the way here?” Takao asked excitedly. Akashi took out a few stacks of the sealed invitations and handed them to Takao.
“My father and I are inviting you and your team to our Christmas party, it’d be great if you could come.” Akashi said and Takao was this close to jumping off from his seat as he reached out to the stack of cards. The envelope was no ordinary looking envelope; it was white with elegant gold vines drawn onto the corners of the envelope, with two turtledoves meeting in the middle, holding onto mistletoe in between their beaks. Along with their names calligraphically written on the middle.
Midorima lift his head up lightly from his hand and stare at Akashi.
“Your father?” he asked a little surprised.
Akashi nodded.
“Yes. He personally told me to invite whoever I wanted, he’d be happy to have you over too, and if you any of you can’t afford the ticket to Kyoto, do let me know, my father offered to sponsor two way tickets.” Akashi said and Takao’s face brightened brightly. Midorima smiled gently as Takao handed Midorima his invitation card.
“I see your father has come around.” Midorima said and Akashi nodded.
“Yea, that he has.”
“Well, we’ll be there”
“Oh~ I will definitely be there!” Takao clicked his fingers.
At 3:30PM. Akashi met up with Kise and Kasamatsu in downtown Tokyo, in one of the most happening shopping districts. Kise wasn’t specific to where to exactly meet the couple, the only clue he got from Kise was a picture of a puppy sitting on a sidewalk. So instead, Akashi decided to observe the ground and the structure of the pavement to roughly identify the approximate area of the crowded district.
Akashi had been strolling for about half an hour, looking at the pavements and comparing them to the picture. Then he heard a familiar voice calling for his name at some distance.
“Hey!!! Akashichii!” Kise yelled as he mindlessly push himself through the crowd, Akashi could see Kasamatsu being pulled by Kise like a ragdoll.
“Akashichii! Hi!” Kise greeted Kashi once they’ve meet in between.
“Yo” Kasamatsu greeted him.
“I’m sorry for bothering you on this day, I know you two rarely see each other ever since Kasamatsu went to college.” Akashi said and Kasamatsu scoffed.
“Rarely is barely an understatement—he crashed into my dorm most weekends. Don’t sweat it.”
“Well, I only want to hand these to you.” Akashi said as he handed out a few stacks of the invitation to the couple. Kise grin widely, like watching fireworks blasting into the skies.
“This is so pretty! What is this?” Kise asked, eyes glittering at the envelopes.
“Thank you, Kise. They belonged to my late mother, one of her favorite designs. I’m inviting you to my Christmas party at my place.”
“Christmas party? At your place? Really?” Kise squealed, hugging onto the stacks.
“So we will be going to your place? Like in Kyoto? Like in your house? Like with you in it? You in your house?”
“Yes, Kise. I only have one house.”
“Oh! I always wanted to visit your house! Yes! Yes! I’ll come—we will all come! I’ll make sure to pass these to the others!” Kise nodded enthusiastically. And Kasamatsu gave an assuring nod to Akashi.
The couple then left Akashi as Kise dragged Kasamatsu along to one of the dessert shops.
At 4:00PM. Akashi met Momoi at an address, which she had given, according to her; she had to baby sit her little cousin while the parents was away.
Standing by the gate, Akashi made sure he was at the right house number before pressing the doorbell. He waited patiently and heard squeals of little children.
“Akashi-kun!” Momoi called as she got out from the front door and jogged her way to the gate.
“So what is it you want to give me?”
Akashi handed Momoi her invitation card.
“This is so pretty! What is this?” Momoi asked and began to unfold the envelope and took out the card where Akashi had hand written everything.
“A Christmas party—in your house? Oh this is so wonderful!” Momoi pressed the card against her chest, happy tears gathering at the corners of her eyes.
“I will definitely come! I just need to look for my dress though—anyway, did you invite the others?”
Akashi nodded “I’ve mailed the ones out of the city, including Nijimura-senpai. I just thought I’d give the ones in Tokyo by hand. Actually,” Akashi then dug inside his bag and fetched a few stacks of the invitation.
“Could you perhaps hand these to the Touou team? Not that I don’t trust Aomine with these… actually I don’t.”
“Of course!” Momoi gladly took the cards and held onto them tightly.
At 6:15PM. Akashi waited for Aomine and Sakurai at the cinema in the mall. They said that they had bought tickets for a movie premier which was showing at 8:30PM and they could meet up for a short while before the movie starts. But the couple was nowhere to be seen, until Akashi heard someone running and panting.
“Akashi-san!” Sakurai panted lightly and bowed. “I’m so sorry! You must have waited so long!”
“Actually… it was just one minute.” Akashi said.
“I’m so sorry—we are sorry”
“No I’m not” Aomine blurted out carelessly, stuffing his hands in his winter coat. Only to be elbowed by Sakurai.
“Here,” Akashi said as he held out each invitation card in each hand.
“What’s this?” Sakurai asked and the couple took the envelope from him.
“It’s an invitation. To my Christmas party.”
“W-wow—I’m sorry—I mean thank you!”
“I’d be really happy if you’d come” Akashi’s eyes darted briefly at Aomine, observing his reaction.
“You know, your dad’s a pretty cool guy.” Aomine said. “Not like how we’d imagine he would be.”
“Ye-yes, he was very kind. He asked us a lot of questions too during your game.” Sakurai nodded. “He really cares about you, Akashi-san.”
Akashi stared at him for a brief moment before sighing a smile.
“I’m glad to hear that from you, Sakurai. Thank you.”
“Well, I think I should take my leave now. Enjoy your movie.”
“Movie!” Sakurai jerked at the sudden realization and grabbed Aomine’s hand. He took one last look at Akashi and bowed in a hurry.
“I’m sorry! We’re late! Thank you Akashi-san!” Sakurai pulled Aomine along towards the queue to the cinema halls.
“See you at party!” Aomine waved while being dragged by Sakurai.
At 7:00PM. He met Kagami and Kuroko as promised in Maji burger. He found the couple sitting at their usual table by the window, both chatting away with their burger—or rather Kagami’s burgers, and Kuroko’s milkshakes.
Akashi approached the duo and they welcome him with a smile.
“So, what’s up?” asked Kagami, unfolding his second or third burger.
“Akashi-kun” Kuroko greeted him after a slurp from his milkshake.
“Thank you for making the time to meet me, I know it was all of a sudden.”
“Not a big deal—but thanks for not joining us though.” Kagami winced at the sudden kick on his shin from under the table. Shooting a brief sharp glare at Kuroko who ignored him.
“You said you have something for us?”
“Yes I do” Akashi said and handed Kuroko the last invitation stacks from his bag.
“My father and I are hosting a Christmas party this year. I’d like all of you to come.”
And Kagami almost choked on the chewed patty, he swallowed before opening his mouth to say “And your dad is okay with this?” Kuroko handed Kagami his invitation. He glanced over the pretty envelope and smiled at his name written elegantly.
“Thanks I mean—I just thought he’d consider us as a bunch of goons… you know, with how Aomine and I acted the first time we saw him… or he saw us…”
“Yea well, he found you all rather pleasant. And fairly impressed by the way you play.”
“Thank you, Akashi-kun.” Kuroko smiled up at Akashi. “I’ll be sure to hand these to the others, we’ll be looking forward to this party.”
“I’ll be going now. Enjoy your dinner.”
“Wait, Akashi-kun. Are you going back to Kyoto?"
“Yes.”
“Well, it’ll be late by the time you reach to Kyoto, why don’t you crash in my place for the night?” Kagami offered, and to Kuroko’s pleasant surprise—Akashi saw the little glint of glitter, shining in Kuroko’s eyes as though Kagami was a Knight.
“Thank you for the offer, Kagami. But I promised my father I’d be home for dinner.”
“Well in that case, have a safe trip.” Kagami grinned.
“By the way, could you possibly prepare some savories for the party? If that’s not too troubling.”
“Sure, but I can’t promise anything fancy though”
“You do you.” Akashi chuckled “I’ll see you guys around.” He waved made his way to leave.
Kuroko smiled at Akashi’s back and flip through the invitations once he had left. There was someone missing, if Kuroko wasn’t mistaken and he flipped through the invitation again, searching for mysterious one.
“What is it?” Kagami asked, noticing Kuroko’s searching frown.
“Furihata-kun… doesn’t have an invitation”
❄
The winter night was cold and dry. Akashi pulled his scarf to cover his nose before stuffing his gloved hands into his coat. He looked up at the starless sky, it didn’t look like it was about to snow anytime soon despite the minus temperature. When the pedestrian light turned green, Akashi brought his head down and crossed the crowded street.
It was one of those quiet nights for him when he would have his mind to himself, taking in his surroundings, feeling the still cold air against his face. It was a refreshing feeling, an ease that he had rarely felt while he was not in his own state of mind.
The city glim with Christmas light of all colors and shapes, creating stars for the people when the sky was empty. The decorations of the holiday spread across in all shops and cafes, employees cheerily greeting customers as they walk by. Christmas music could be heard from the stores. Children laughing and excitedly pulling their parents to small toy stores, teenagers whispering their plans, and then there were some white collars talking exasperatedly on their phones and Akashi only hoped that his father had consider to give the Christmas week off for the company’s employees—Akashi smiled from behind his scarf, he remembered catching his father sleeping by his desk to sign 700 letters to announce the week off for the holidays, plus more from that came from.
Akashi glanced at the convenience store and stood there, staring at the familiar looking employee behind the window. Smiling brightly, and bowing to the customer as he handed them their goods in a bag.
“Furihata-kun…” Akashi whispered behind his scarf.
“Thank you! Have a great holiday!” Furihata greeted the customer cheerfully after he received the payment from the customer. He split the bills and organized them into their own respective compartments in the cash register.
“Welcome to Happy mart! Will that be all?” Furihata’s hand were like clock work, reaching out the small coffee beverage and scanning it, he didn’t even look up to see the customer until a velvet voice responded “Yes, that will be all.”
With a tiny start, Furihata looked up, his already wide grin grew wider upon seeing the familiar face which he was once scared of—but that was just a high school freshman story.
“Akashi-kun!” Furihata greeted the customer. Akashi smiled back. With that surprise, Furihata laughed.
“So you work here?” Akashi asked and Furihata nodded.
“Yes I do, part time of course.”
“Busy night?”
Furihata snorted “You have no idea” the duo laughed lightly “so that will be 900 Yen!” and Akashi dug into his wallet and handed Furihata a 1000 Yen.
“Here you go!” Furihata handed Akashi his change.
“I’ll see you around, Furihata-kun”
“Yes! Have a great holiday, Akashi-kun!” Furihata waved at him. Akashi smiled and nodded, leaving with his coffee. Akashi stood outside of the mart and held the single invitation card in his bag.
The only card that was left in his bag and he had no idea why, but something didn’t felt right so he didn’t give Furihata’s invitation with the stacks for Seirin to Kuroko.
He looked back and see Furihata cheerfully greeting customers, receiving their payments and greeting them a wonderful holiday on their way out.
There was something that was tugging him and he wasn’t sure what. Without a second thought, he went back inside the mart.
“Thank you! Please come again!” Furihata greeted the customer.
“Hello, will that—eh” Furihata was met with Akashi once again. He smiled and took the Fuji water bottle on the counter and scanned the item.
“Forgot something?” Furihata chuckled. For the first time in a while, Akashi found his mind to delay by a few miliseconds. As though processing in coming words.
“Uhh….yea.” was all that Akashi could muster at this point. He wasn’t quite sure why his mind seemed cloudy—or empty? He was lost and he wasn’t sure what his body was actually doing.
“Well, have a wonderful day! Akashi-kun” Furihata smiled and Akashi left, with a Fuji water bottle in one hand, a coffee in the other. For some unknown reason, Akashi found his feet turning again into the store.
There again, Furihata met Akashi, this time with a strawberry pokey box. Furihata chuckled and scanned the item, receiving Akashi’s payment for the third time, and this time he watch Akashi leave the store, he was about to watch Akashi’s movements but the following customer had placed their item on the counter and Furihata had to turn away.
This time a chocolate pokey box was place on the counter. Furihata looked up and saw Akashi… again. Who was avoiding eye contact.
“I… don’t like the strawberry one.” Akashi said, almost muttering. Furihata laughed.
“Too sweet?”
“Too sweet” Akashi agreed dishonestly.
By the time Akashi had filled his bags with snacks and drinks he didn’t need, he found himself by the counter again—for times he had lost count and this genuinely entertained Furihata.
Furihata watched Akashi again, walking out from the store and then standing there for mere seconds before walking back into the store.
Furihata snickered to himself as he scanned the customer’s items. Akashi was there, again, in front of him with a can of coca-cola.
“It’s cold outside.” And Akashi felt his heart throb by Furihata’s soft laughter, cheeks that somehow had a blush to it as it wrinkles to his eyes.
“I…” Akashi found himself lost of words, his mind somehow boggled into an empty space and not a single explanation could utter from him, absolutely nothing.
“Not cold enough.” Akashi blurted out, and then mentally slapping himself.
‘Not cold enough? Not cold enough? It’s -5 Celsius out here’ Akashi mentally yelled at himself.
This went for awhile until Akashi had a bag full in one hand.
Furihata chuckled as he took the cup noodles that Akashi placed on the counter and scanned them.
“You know,” Furihata said, holding onto Akashi’s change.
“My shift ends in five minutes. Would you like to hang out for a while?” he asked and then blushed immediately after realizing what he had just asked Akashi. “I-I-I- mean if-if you wa-want to! I mean—“
“I’d like that” Akashi cuts in “I... could share” he held his bag full of goods. Furihata chuckled and nodded.
“Five minutes.” Furihata said as he handed the change to Akashi.
Akashi waited outside of Happy Mart, with one hand holding onto the bag of goods, while his other holding onto the invitation card, looking at it in deep thought.
Furihata Kouki, he had written, so elegant and neat just like the rest of the cards that he had posted and handed out. So why did Furihata’s one looked less… meaningless? Was it too plain? Had he written an error inside the card? Akashi wasn’t sure, just as he wasn’t aware when Furihata got out from the store.
“Akashi-kun.” Furihata called. Akashi stuffed the invitation card into his bag in one swift motion. He turned around and smiled at Furihata who was oblivious of Akashi’s action.
“Sorry I kept you waiting, so, where shall we go?” Furihata asked, adusting his scarf around his neck, tugging them neatly under his winter coat, and then snug his face lightly under the scarf.
If Akashi could rewrite the moment Furihata got his famous Chihuahua nickname, he’d give him the hamster, because he looked like one burrowing for warmth, plus his warm mousy brown hair looked just as fluffy and soft like a hamster’s… perhaps he could run his fingers over—“I don’t know” Akashi said stopping his thoughts from roaming elsewhere.
Furihata tapped his chin, eyes darting up, thinking of places they could go to.
“Ah!” Furihata snapped his fingers. “I know a nice quiet place.” He said and gestured Akashi to follow.
If anyone had told Furihata years ago that in the future he’d be walking side by side with Akashi in a winter night, guiding him to a place where they’d hang out and share the snacks that Akashi had bought. He would have plot a way to fly out from the country and to never come back—maybe change his name too.
Furihata then chuckled into his hand at the thought. Akashi turned to him with a questioning look.
“What’s the matter?"
“Oh, nothing” Furihata breathed and looked down at the ground; their steps were slow and steady. Their legs sync identically too, right, left, right left.
They came a long way, Furihata thought. They weren’t close, neither actually even hold a conversation. Well, Akashi had tried to and approached him most of the time.
He had been shivering in cold fear whenever he faced Akashi, not because he was really scared of him—well Akashi was very intimidating, and he had a strong presence that just make you want to squirm to the ground and beg for mercy despite having no sin to confess.
He had been very comfortable with the others, even hang out with Kise, Midorima and Aomine occasionally since their schools were nearby.
For sometime, Furihata stopped being scared of Akashi’s presence—still intimidated but not shivering in cold feet or tripping over air. He could talk to Akashi without stuttering or fainting or excusing himself, just so he could breathe because he forgot how to breathe automatically—also one time Akashi had almost given him mouth to mouth CPR one summer, but something jump started him and he rolled out, resulting to Akashi facing flat on the floor.
Those were freshman stories, Furihata would say. Just awkward times in the first to two years in high school that you’ll look back and make a joke about it.
They arrived in a park, where it was quiet and peaceful. Only a few people strolling and jogging. They sat on a bench, facing the lake.
“Are you hungry?” Akashi asked.
Furihata scratched the tip of his nose shyly and nodded. “Yea, a little.”
“I have four cup noodles to choose from. Take your pick” Akashi displayed the four different flavors of instant noodles in his hands.
He could see the bashfulness of the other and decided to choose the flavor for him instead. “Take this one,” he handed Furihata the egg tofu flavor. Furihata blinked at the cup noodle.
“Or, you can—“
“N-no, it’s fine. Egg tofu is o-one of my favorites too” Furihata said as he took the chosen noodles.
Furihata poured hot water from his flask into the two cup noodles on the bench between them.
“So, what are you doing here in Tokyo?” Furihata asked while tearing the seasoning packets. Akashi froze for a bit, remembering his purpose in Tokyo and that Furihata was not included… yet.
“I-uh… sightseeing.”
Furihata paused and looked up. Akashi could feel Furihata studying him with his observing eyes.
“Sightseeing?”
“There have been a lot of changes here in Tokyo, I barely had the chance to walk around.”
Furihata chuckled and nodded.
While waiting for their noodles to set. Akashi took his phone out and began texting his father.
Akashi Seijuurou : I’m sorry, I won’t be joining you for dinner tonight.
Akashi Masaomi : That’s alright. I’ll have your dinner set in the fridge.
Akashi Seijuurou : Thank you, father. I will be home shortly.
He pressed his phone to lock and the sudden buzz of his phone stopped him from replacing it.
Akashi Masaomi : Are you on a date?
A sharp air caught in between Akashi’s throat and chest. His eyes were wide by his father’s new text—which began to come in rather quickly.
Akashi Masaomi : You can tell me if you are.
Akashi could feel a strange feeling that he had never felt before—but by the feeling of growing expression, he could imagine that he looked like Aomine when they were all teasing him about his relationship with Sakurai.
Akashi Masaomi : I really don’t mind at all.
He doesn’t hate his father. He had got angry and disappointed towards him numerous times, however this feeling was rather different.
Annoyed?
Embarrassed?
Is this those ‘dad jokes’ all of his friends talked about?
Can he finally relate to them.
Akashi Masaomi : There’s no need of my approval for anyone.
Akashi just wanted this stop—wanted his father to just shut up and just maybe have one of their maids to throw a soap at his face or something.
So what Akashi did next was by reflex—an impulsive reflex which he did not realize he had until he realized he had threw his phone into the lake just like that, beeping once more right before it hit the freezing waters.
Furihata noticed some sort of rock or item flying passed his vision—into the lake with a soft plup.
He looked up at Akashi who only threw him an oblivious smile.
“What was that?”
“What?”
“That…” Furihata shook his head and chuckled “Never mind. I must be seeing things” he begin stirring their noodles.
Akashi found himself staring down at Furihata. He was aware of this but he couldn’t turn away even if he wanted to. There was a soft blush right under Furihata’s eyes as he smiled down at their noodles, stirring the seasoning and dried condiments together.
He had been physically close to Furihata, mostly in the court and that one time he had tried to give him CPR—much to his disappointment, facing flat on the floor. An embarrassment, mostly disappointment from his expectation.
However he had never been this close to actually observe him. It felt almost intimate.
Furihata sat up straight and Akashi had to make sure his posture was straight as well and not leaning towards the other.
“It’s done. Let’s eat!” Furihata took the cup noodles and handed Akashi his cup.
“Yes. Let’s eat.” Akashi took the cup, their hands brushed slightly, and much to Akashi’s disappointment, his hand were gloved. God damn it.