Turning Pages [Keiji Akaashi]

Chapter Four

     Yukiko grumbled loudly, clutching her book tightly in her hands. "Kou, do I really have to come today?"

     Kou laughed happily, continuously shoving on her shoulders to push her forward. "Yes! It's our first practice match of the season, and I want you to watch us crush Nekoma!"

     The girl sighed loudly, waving her copy of The Son of Neptune in the air. "You're lucky I'm rereading this."

     "Rereading books?" Kou's nose scrunched up. "Why would you reread something?"

     Yukiko gave her brother a small smile. She knew he wasn't big into reading for fun, like she had been. His reactions never seemed to fail to amuse her. "I'm rereading it because the next book comes out later this year," Her eyes twinkled in the sun, as she held her book tighter to her. "I can't wait to see everyone's reaction to Percy coming back. I love this series."

     "You're weird." Kou chuckled at her. Yukiko whacked him with the book, and frowned. "Ah! I'm sorry!"

     The girl shook her head. She was sure if she distracted herself with her book, she would forget about the other people that would pile into the gym. The thought of so many people in one area made her chest tighten, but Yukiko didn't want to disappoint Kou. She wanted to support him, anyways.

     "Hey, hey hey!" Kou slid the door open harshly, and he threw his arms in the air. "Who's ready to win?"

     "Bokuto, you're too loud." Akaashi's voice flooded around Yukiko. The girl hunched into herself at the sound, and gulped loudly.

     It had been two weeks since she had last spoken to the boy. It wasn't intentional, of course. Yukiko just didn't know how to hold a conversation with him. It didn't help that they seemed to always run into each other, either.

     All of her life, she never once knew who were classmates were. It was like their faces were blurred, and no matter how hard she would stare at them, she couldn't make out a key feature about them. They would disappear, to be left forgotten in the endless void in her mind.

      But, Keiji Akaashi entered her life. It was weird. The blurriness never affected him, and his face was clear as day to her. Yukiko could always see his messy hair, with eyes she could never be sure if they were more blue or more gray. She never forgot his timid, but kind smile that would warm up her chest.

     "I'm excited, Akaashi!" Kou's voice brought her back to the present. "Is Kuroo here, yet?"

     Akaashi's eyes glossed over his friend, landing on Yukiko for a second. "Not yet." He focused back on Kou. "They should be here soon, though. It's nice to see you again, Nakamura."

     Chills ran through Yukiko's spine, before she nodded stiffly. "Yeah...uh...you too." She wanted to apologize for ignoring him, for running away whenever he would say hello in the hallways. The words wouldn't form on her tongue, though, and she was stuck.

     "Don't worry about her," Kou threw an arm over her shoulders. "She gets all shy and flustered when there's a lot of people around."

      "Kou," Yukiko whined quietly. "Don't. It's embarrassing."

     Her brother only laughed, before taking his arm away. "We'll make sure no one harasses you, or anything! You can totally just sit around and read your book. It's all-"

     "Who's this?" A voice spoke by Yukiko's ear, and she spun around to face him. Anxiety washed into her stomach, and she suddenly felt sick. "Woah, I didn't think I was that ugly."

     Yukiko almost dropped her book, her hands shook so badly. The man stood about the same height as Kou, and he had a playful smile tugging at his lips. His hair stuck up around his head, with some fringe hovering over his right eye. It looked like he had slept on his side, and his hair had a massive cow lick, but Yukiko figured maybe he liked it like that.