Turning Pages [Keiji Akaashi]

Chapter Nine

     With May behind them, June came into bloom, brightening up everyone's lives with the hope and desperation for summer. But, for Yukiko, it only brought more stress and worry.

     She stood before her teacher, Mr. Fujioka, as he stared sternly at her. He held a stack of papers, each with low markings written on them in red pen. "I'm very disappointed in you, Nakamura." He started, showcasing the papers to her. "You have the most potential I've ever seen in a student, yet you have the lowest markings."

    It was true, and Yukiko knew it. She never applied herself, yet always muttering the correct answer under her breath. Her memory was sharp, and even if she was only half paying attention, she could still retain information spoken aloud. But, she hadn't been trying anymore.

     It had been a good run for her mental health, but it was slowly declining once more. It was normal to Yukiko, so she never made a big deal about it. She hadn't even spoken to Kou about how she had been feeling useless and like a waste of space. And she wouldn't either.

     "I'm aware, sir." Her voice echoed in the empty classroom, everyone enjoying lunch already. "I've just been struggling with paying attention. I'm sorry."

     Mr. Fujioka frowned softly at her. "I get it, I do. I was the same way when I was your age. It's hard, but you really need to try to put more effort into your studies." He tapped the papers against the podium, making them stack neatly. "If your grades lower anymore, I'll have no choice but to talk to your mother. You're dismissed."

     Yukiko bowed lightly, before grabbing her bag. Class had already dismissed about ten minutes ago for lunch, and she frowned. Hopefully, she hadn't kept Akaashi waiting very long. She had made plans to eat lunch with him once more, which she had been doing much more often.

     She wasn't sure why, but she had been craving more time spent with the setter. Yukiko took any opportunity she could to be near Akaashi, to be in his presence. She noticed how her anxiety always seemed to fade when she was with him, so she assumed that was why.

     As Yukiko was thinking of him, he slowly came into view. He sat on the same bench where they first sat together, the wind tossing his already messy hair around. He looked lost in thought, his eyes set on the large tree in front of him. Yukiko thought he looked beautiful.

      "Sorry I'm late." She muttered, watching his eyes fall onto her. Maybe it had been a trick of the light, but it looked as if his features softened at the sight. She ignored it, and plopped down in the seat beside him. She stared down at his unopened bento box, and furrowed her brows. "Why haven't you started eating?"

     Akaashi followed her gaze. "I was waiting for you." He spoke nonchalantly, like it wasn't a big deal. "What took you so long?"

     Yukiko sighed, as she pulled out her own lunch. It was just a simple salad, with chopped cherry tomatoes and cucumber. "I'm failing my class, so Mr. Fujioka pulled me aside." She took a bite. Swallowing, she continued. "He said he's going to call Aiko if it drops anymore, but I doubt I'll bring it up. I don't have the motivation."

     "I can help you." Akaashi suggested, taking a bite of his own lunch. "I help Bokuto from time to time, as well, so it wouldn't be a problem."

     Yukiko shook her head. "I don't want to bother you with my issues." Her voice was soft. "I'll probably just cheat on the next test, or something."

     "Honestly, I doubt that would help you." Something she noticed with Akaashi, was the closer they became, the blunter he would be. Sometimes, she hated it, like now. She grumbled, and stabbed her salad. "I know you hate studying, but you need to. You're going to fail if you keep this up."