Chapter Text
Akashi Seijuro was having a terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad day. Not that he would ever admit it, even to himself. There was no such thing as a bad day in the Akashi dictionary, because the universe folded itself into order to ensure the Akashis experienced nothing less than perfection. And until the Winter Cup, this had been true. Now, Akashi was learning, troubles never came singly.
He thought wearily, somewhere in the back of his mind, that perhaps school festivals needed to be written out of the Japanese curriculum. It had started in the morning when Yukimaru threw a shoe during their morning run. Nothing majorly damaging, thankfully, but now he wouldn’t be able to ride her for a while until the farrier came in from Okinawa. Then he’d gotten to school and promptly been buried under a mountain of paperwork, literally, as the student council secretary tripped carrying in files for him to sign. He’d dodged out of the way, but hundreds of sheets had filled the air like a flock of doves taking to the sky. After reordering those and actually getting them stamped, he’d had to deal with the endless barrage of questions related to the upcoming school fest.
Yes, the dance club could have extra hours in the practice room, but they had to lock up and return the keys to the teacher.
No, class 2-1 could not do a beach-themed café with everyone in swimwear. And before it was asked, school swimsuits did not make it any more acceptable.
If the seniors wanted to throw a farewell party that was fine, but it had to be on the last day. The student council would be monitoring in case anyone thought spiking the punch was a good idea.
More work just kept coming. The company providing the sound and lighting equipment had suddenly become unreachable. Akashi promptly put an end to that with a call via his father’s corporation.
The basketball team needed a new regime to work on, given that their opponents had scaled up. New recruits needed to be scouted as well. He made a mental note to tell Reo to put up some flyers at the fest.
Then the council treasurer came down with the flu and couldn’t make it for a week. Akashi sighed internally. Now he’d have to find some time to look over the budget and allocate appropriate funds. As he ran over a checklist of remaining tasks, his eye caught on one particular appointment and he nearly considered retiring to a remote island. The schedule read:
9.00 P.M. Dinner with father and the Touma Corporation.
Brilliant. Truly, all I needed to add to the insurmountable pile of tasks for today is a high-pressure meal with my father and a major conglomerate full of razor-sharp businessmen. On whose friendship Father is depending to clinch that merger. This dinner could seal my future in club activities as well, considering recent…developments.
On the heels of this cheery thought arrived a phone-call. A glance at the phone knotted Akashi’s stomach up even more.
Trust Father to disturbingly invade my thoughts and my life at the same time.
“Hello, Father. Is there something I can do?”
Please say that dinner has been cancelled and I can get a blessed few hours of silence.
“Seijuro. It’s about the Touma Corporation. Their secretary called, and both the C.E.Os, Touma Masaki and Touma Kyouhei, are attending. I was only expecting the older brother, but it seems there’s been a change of plans. Director Kyouhei is as sharp as a blade, so you’ll need to be on your best behaviour tonight. Any slip-up on our part and that man will latch onto it immediately. Do not disappoint me.”
Akashi closed his eyes in resignation and bid a tearful farewell to any last thoughts of a peaceful evening.
“Yes Father. I understand.”
“Be sure this performance will go a long way towards my evaluation of whether or not you get to continue your…extra-curricular activities. Your last match was a disgrace, and you have not yet redeemed yourself.”
His fingers clenched around the phone, turning white. He tried to stamp out the fury that bubbled in response, knowing it would do him no good.
“I will see you in the evening, Father.”
“No need to state the obvious, Seijuro.”
There was a click as the call disconnected. Akashi tried to take deep breaths, calm down. His other self, the dark tyrant, had largely faded into the background after the Winter Cup, but sometimes…Sometimes he would pop back up.
Without thinking, Akashi twisted on his heel and threw the phone across the room, just as the door opened.
His eyes widened in shock and his last thought was that by some grace of fate, he hadn’t thrown the scissors on the desk.
The unsuspecting victim of the attack, who Akashi was sure would need his lawyers to pacify them after he broke their nose, did something unexpected. They stepped sideways, tilting their head out of the way and smoothly caught the phone.
What? Who has that kind of reactive speed?
“How did you…”
The enigmatic figure stepped out of the shadow of the doorway. Akashi’s breath hitched as a pair of dark, intelligent eyes, swept their gaze up to him.
“Pleased to meet you, Akashi-san.” You calmly held out the phone in his direction. “Is this how you usually greet your treasurer?”
He stares at you in shock for a couple more seconds. His brain was trying to process what he’d just seen and heard. You raise an eyebrow at him when he doesn’t respond.
He clears his throat and takes the phone from your hand, fingers brushing against yours. “My sincere apologies, I had no idea you were outside the door. I hope you’re not hurt.”
You take in the piles of paperwork, his rolled-up shirtsleeves and the fatigue that shadows his eyes. Looking up to meet his ruby gaze, you nod at him and speak. “I’m fine. You seem to be having a difficult day, so I understand if you were tempted to throw the occasional cell phone.”
Akashi smiles slightly. “I assure you, it’s not a habit of mine. I’m happy you’re unhurt, though I admit your reaction took me aback. You have reflexes I’d be hard-pressed to find in basketball players.”
You give a quiet smile and dismiss it as an exaggeration, but do not make any attempt to explain. Akashi narrows his eyes at you, analysing. Altogether, your reactions were rather unusual. The girls he usually met stammered, blushed and couldn’t look at his feet, much less his eyes. Of course, the average girl didn’t exactly catch projectiles out of the air like a ninja either.
A thought resurfaces, something you said previously. “Did you say something about a treasurer?”
“Ah yes. That’s why I’m here, actually. Shinohara-san said something about the student council needing a hand?”
“Yes, Takanashi-kun suddenly came down with the flu and we’re an accountant short. It would be a great help if you could assist us.”
“Poor Naota, catching all of a sudden…Sure, I can take a look at the files, though I don’t know how much help I’d be. Is there anything that needs immediate attention?”
Akashi moved over to his desk and you joined him, following his movements as he stacked the appropriate files together. While he gave a concise, clear explanation of what needed to be done, you nodded, your expression thoughtful.
“Yes, I can do that. By when would you like the papers done?”
Akashi mulled it over. It was quite a lot of files, and you had just been given the job. No need to overburden you. “By tomorrow evening, or the morning after, at the latest.”
You were mildly amused. “I can hand them in them tomorrow afternoon, if you’d like. It won’t take me that long.”
Akashi was taken aback for a second time that day. You had said it so calmly, no hint of pride, just stating a fact. It seemed like he had underestimated you, again. Interesting. His eyes sharpened a bit and his smile widened a fraction.
“Why, that would be perfect. I’ll see you at lunch, then.”
You inclined your head at him and reached out for the papers. He handed them over to you, this time deliberately stepping in close so you had to tilt your head back to look into his face. Your cheeks flushed a little at the sudden proximity but you didn’t step back. Mostly because he smelled heavenly, like pine forest, citrus and wood smoke. When were you likely to be this close to a divinely attractive male again?
Akashi’s expression doesn’t change, but there’s definite predatory edge to it now. This interaction with you kept getting more and more interesting. An extended observation was definitely in order. What other reactions could he draw from you?
You break out of daydreams involving your nose in his shirt and step away towards the door. “I’ll see you tomorrow then, Akashi-san. Good afternoon to you.”
He smirks at the abrupt exit. Indeed. We shall be seeing each other quite often, I think.
Just as you’re almost out the door and away from his distracting eyes, his voice rings out again.
“I almost forgot. You haven’t introduced yourself, new treasurer.”
Some small part of you, the mischievous bit that wants to keep his gaze on you for a little bit longer, takes over. You turn your head slightly in his direction and smile.
“Trying to take away my air of mystery, Akashi-san? It would be no fun if I didn’t tease you little for forgetting to ask for my name. Why don’t you find out and tell me? Take it as a little exercise to mould your mind, cultivate a vigorous spirit. I’ll give you a hint: I’m in a sports club.”
With that, you walked away. And for the third time that day, Akashi was left feeling surprised, and more than a little intrigued. His eyes glowed in anticipation.
“Challenge accepted, lady of mystery.”