Always a Step Ahead [Akashi Seijūrō x OC]

[ 02: beginning ]

The sleek, black limousine of the Akashi household pulled along the curb a little ways away from the entrance to Teikō Middle School. Akashi's chauffeur stepped out and hustled over to the door for those who sat in the back, opening it and allowing the young redheaded teen to step out.

"You don't need to pick me up after school," Akashi told him as a small whiteheaded girl followed him out.

"But young master, your father told me-"

"It's alright," he interrupted. "I have after school activities anyways." He tilted his head to shoot his chauffeur a small smile. "At least let me have some freedom while I'm at school."

"Sei-chan, hurry hurry!"

Akashi bowed slightly. "I'll be on my way then." He strides over to the impatient girl.

"Geez Sei-chan," she pouted as she took hold of his free hand, "you're too slow!"

He frowned and flicked her on her forehead. "And you're too noisy."

The pair continued to walk together towards the chaos of the clubs who tried to gather new members. Tsukiko's eyes glistened in awe as she looked around. "There's so many clubs..."

"Of course there are," Akashi replied.

"Hey, Sei-chan," she turned his way again. "What club are you going to join?"

He smiled with such confidence. "You should know already, Tsukiko."

"Ah," she giggled, "of course it's gonna be basketball. Maybe I should be a manager!"

He chuckled softly. "Are you going to follow me forever, Tsukiko?"

She flashed him a bright smile and clung onto his arm. "Of course I will!"

Akashi could only shake his head with a smile as they continued to walk.

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Tsukiko looked around classroom 1-B nervously. It made her uncomfortable with the way everyone was talking in their own little cliques. Quietly she scurried over to a lone seat by the window and sat down, pulling out a book and trying her best to become absorbed in its content.

'I bet Sei-chan's not having any trouble making new friends,' she thought bitterly.

The girl was always uncomfortable being left alone despite the fact that she was left alone by both parents. Her mother left the hospital after giving birth to her and left no traces, while her father was far too busy with running his company to even pay any attention to her. She was raised by the maids and butlers in her home all her life until Akashi's mother introduced the two and treated Tsukiko as her own daughter. So with Akashi being her only friend, it was inevitable that the girl would develop a sort of separation anxiety whenever she parted from him.

A few minutes passed and Tsukiko found herself enjoying the book Akashi recommended her until a few squeals from the girls snapped her out of her paradise. Looking up, she saw a tall blonde who was actually rather handsome.

'Stop it, Tsukiko!' she scolded herself. 'Don't be like those improper girls who throw themselves at any handsome boy they see! Sei-chan told you not to!'

"Um, excuse me?"

Tsukiko looked up only to be met with a pair of honey brown eyes and a beautiful head of blonde hair.

"Is this seat taken?"

She shook her head slowly, cursing at herself when she felt her cheeks burn. "N-No..." she whispered quietly.

He flashed her a smile. "Great!" he exclaimed as he set his butt right in the seat beside hers.

"U-Um... Not to be rude but... May I ask why you are sitting next to me...?" Tsukiko slumped in her seat as she felt the eyes of envious girls on her.

"I wanted a place quiet and you seemed to be the only quiet one here," the blonde stated bluntly. "Ah! I forgot to introduce myself!" He shoved a hand in her face. "I'm Kise Ryōta."

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Lunch time came far too slowly for Akashi. He had already memorized his new classmates and had already figured out who were the smart ones and who were the stupid ones. After the bell rung, Akashi slowly rose from his seat and took his belongings.

"Now then... Classroom 1-B-"

"Sei-chan!"

"...Nevermind."

He turned his head towards the source of the high pitched shriek. Tsukiko quickly ran to him, throwing her arms around his shoulder while shedding crocodile tears.

"I was so lonely and scared without you, Sei-chan," she cried out.

He sighed. "Let's go eat, Tsukiko."

They sat outside on a bench in the courtyard underneath the cherry blossom trees (requested by Tsukiko of course). Akashi frowned when another stray petal landed in his rice.

"Tsukiko did we have to sit here? I keep getting petals in my food..."

Tsukiko glanced over at his bento. "Sei-chan you actually asked for a bento today? I thought you were going to ask Hisaki-san to bring you a full course meal."

"That'd be too embarrassing."

"Since when were you embarrassed about anything?"

"Tsukiko shut up and eat before I leave you here."

She frowned at him and pushed her bottom lip out into a pout. "You're so mean," she mumbled as she popped an octopus shaped sausage into her mouth.

Akashi wiped his mouth with a handkerchief and set the bento box to the side. "So did you honestly not make any new friends?"

She shook her head. "Not exactly... But I talked to someone!"

He sighed. "Tsukiko I won't be able to be there for you everyday. I'm going to run for student council president and I'm trying out for the basketball club today."

"I'll run too then!" She jumped up from her seat, eyes glimmering with a spark of new-found hope. "And I told you I'll be the manager!"

He looked at her, unamused at her excitement. "Those both involve social skills which we both know you don't particularly have."

"Rude," she huffed with her arms crossed. "I can do it! Watch me!"

He smirked at her, red eyes gleaming with mischief. "How sure are you that you'll prove me wrong?"

She returned the smirk back, flipping a few short locks of white hair off her shoulder. "Don't I always manage to amaze you, Sei-chan? Remember, I'm always right."

His smirk only grew as he responded with, "That's my line." Akashi stood up and stepped over to his white-haired friend, placing a hand atop her head gently and looking at her with kind eyes. "You'll do great things, Tsukiko," he murmured softly. "This is just the beginning."

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A/N: Wahh I'm getting new followers! Here's chapter two everyone! I hope you're enjoying reading this story as much as I enjoy writing it. I apologize if I made Akashi too OOC but I'm trying to show how he was before the whole incident where his eye changes colors. So I'm assuming he's nice and gentle while still holding that "obey me" thing. Idk. Just please bare with me lol.

Please support me and happy reading!