Moonlight

Chapter 34

Tsukishima was now helping out with the table while Akiteru took his bath. Their mother finished changing Akane and went back to cooking. When he was done placing the last glass, he heard Akane scream from his room.

Akiteru heard too and rushed out of his room, forgetting to wear his shirt. He slammed open Tsukishima's door and saw the girl curled in a ball against the corner of the room.

She looked up fearfully, seemingly unable to recognize Akiteru with his hair uncombed and spiked up from being rubbed dry by the towel. 

"Please don't touch me... I don't want to---" Her voice trembled along with her hands as she held them out.

Tsukishima rushed in the room and took a look at his brother. He knelt before Akane, a fair distance between them. Both his mother and brother just looked on silently.

"Hey, shortcake." Tsukishima offered his hand for Akane to accept. But her eyes darted to the unfamiliar faces behind him, thus, she kept her hands clenched against each other.

He realized what was going on so he gestured to introduce his mother. "This is my mother. She is the one who changed you out of your wet clothes. Nobody else came in the room and I made sure nobody did."

Akane's guarded face softened but she was still alert on Akiteru's presence. 

Tsukishima grabbed a comb and tossed it to him, "You're unrecognizable with your hair like that."

Akiteru nodded in agreement and hastily combed his hair down. Then, Tsukishima spoke, "You've met my brother, Akiteru. He probably looked different since you just woke up and his hair was all up."

Tsukishima scooted closer and held an open hand again, "You're safe. Nobody from the past is here. Not your uncle, Maiko, or Leyd."

Akane's tears slipped down her face and she accepted his hand. He led her straight into his arms and stroked her back soothingly. He cajoled her with assurances. 

Akiteru observed from afar with worry on his mind. What's up with her?

"Akane-san, I've made soup for everyone. Do you want to come down and eat with us?" Akane looked up at the smiling motherly figure and her cries came back in huge waves.

Tsukishima waved them away and mouthed, "We will follow."

The elders nodded and walked away quietly. Tsukishima moved to lean on his bed while Akane continued to cry. She had finally trusted him enough like this.

Downstairs, Akiteru spoke with his mother as they shared the warm soup, "It must be something serious."

"I agree. She got that scared of you?" She asked.

"Huh? No..." Akiteru recalled the moment, "I just finished my bath and started to dress when I heard her scream out."

"Hmm." She hummed before continuing, "I seem to have heard your friend discuss about matters like this. Didn't it look like a trauma response? Why could she be scared alone?"

Akiteru nodded, "Yeah, Mina had actually taken the same path as her psychiatrist father. I did remember her saying something of actions similar to Akane's. Maybe she was scared alone in general? But we did agree to leave her lights on as per Kei-kun's instructions."

"She's had bad memories of waking up in unfamiliar rooms. Her uncle told us so. That may be the case earlier." Both elders whipped to see Tsukishima standing at the bottom of the stairs. He sat on a step.

"She won't come out?" Akiteru asked.

Tsukishima shook his head, "No, she will. She was gonna wash her face."

"Kei?" A sweet, hushed voice called out.

Tsukishima stood up quickly, "Yeah? Take a left- follow my voice. I'm at the stairs, shortcake."

Akiteru, despite his worried phase, sent a knowing look to his mother who giggled behind her glass of water. They've never heard of him call out a nickname, not even to his first friend Yamaguchi.

They settled at the table when Akane found her way and Tsukishima sat beside her. 

"I'm sorry I scared you all earlier..." Akane apologized with a meek bow of her head.

"Oh dear, it's nothing. We all care for our Kei's friends." Tsukishima's mother replied with a wave of her hand. "Eat up, okay? I made enough for these boys' appetites, you don't need to worry."

Akane nodded and smiled at her, "Thanks."

They kept their conversation light for Akane and mainly focused on the brothers' volleyball journey. They took out the unfortunate event that made a gap on the brothers' relationship. That's another story for another day. 

"...that's how I met Yamaguchi." Tsukishima finished telling about how he met Yamaguchi on the playground.

Akiteru took the opportunity to speak up what was in his mind, "Okay so... Talking about bullying, I have a suggestion for you Akane-san. It's just a suggestion, okay? Take it with a lighter tone."

Akane's smile faded at the serious voice of Akiteru, but she nodded anyway.

"I really do not know what happened earlier, what caused it, or why you were so scared of me--"

Tsukishima cut him off with a warning tone, "Nii-san."

Akiteru held a palm out, "What I'm trying to say is, if it's something very serious... Have you considered getting help?"

Everyone was silent, waiting for Akane's reply.

"D-do you mean, doctor's help?" She looked down to her hands. She never reached out for help. She always waited for others to help her.

"Yeah, like that." Akiteru replied. He is trying his best to give a gentle tone. He wants to help her, not aggravate more.

Akane shook her head, "It's difficult enough for me to talk to my family, how more with a professional... Besides, I'll be fine. It's just a few nightmares then I'll get dreamless nights again."

Tsukishima frowned at her statement. He clasped her hands under his, "Can you try to discuss this with Coach Ukai?"

Akane's eyes widened, "What? No, thank you for the concern, really. I don't want to--"

"Getting therapy is not something bad at all, Akane. It will help you help yourself. You are not making coach worry by getting professional help. Please consider it." Tsukishima spoke earnestly. He kept his eyes locked to hers, digging deeper to speak on her soul.

Akane sighed after a while and gave him a small smile, "Fine, I will discuss it with uncle."

Tsukishima smiled in relief, "That's my Shortcake."

"Never yours, Mr. Flagpole." Akane smiled and teased back.

Both his brother and mother could only melt at the exchange.