Lost in a Pursuit

"Akashi-kun, do you want to try it?"

"Oh my goddd they have blackforest cake!!! It's my first time actually eating this!" I said in awe before taking a huge bite, filling my mouth with cakey goodness. A few more humongous bites, and the cake's already churning in my stomach.

"Be ladylike," Midorima chided.

He'd make a good teacher, I commented in my head.

Even before I finished swallowing my food, I turned to the table for more cake. It was just then that I realised, the design on the boxes were quite familiar. Especially the name of the bakery imprinted on it.

Now, where have I seen it before... where... where... where-- OH! It was the one with the piano!

With my mouth puffed with cakes, I asked, "Aren't these cakes expensive?"

Akashi answered, "Yes, apparently, since they're from a first-rate cafe." Meanwhile, Midorima just clucked his tongue in disapproval of my dining etiquette.

I swallowed everything. "Woah, wait," I almost choked, "and... you just treated me to these... expensive..." My voice trailed off as I eyed both Akashi and Midorima. I headed towards my schoolbag. "I'm sorry, how much do I have to pay you?"

"No, wait," Akashi stopped me with his arm and stood right in front of me. "Let me explain. That cafe has a piano inside, and Midorima occasionally performs for the customers. The waiters and waitresses there are thankful for him, so they give us free cakes as a token of gratitude."

"Oh...? Really? I see..." I glimpsed at that green-haired guy. "Wait, he can play the piano?!"

"Yes," he said sharply, trying not to sound offended.

My mouth formed an 'O' shape as I gasped, amazed by the fact. "Then, Akashi-kun?"

"Of course," Akashi confirmed, "we even play duets too, though it happens once in a blue moon."

***

After I had finished all the cakes, and I mean, ALL, by myself, with a fair amount of Midorima lecturing me on my inaccurate dining etiquette, I was about to leave for home when I felt my phone vibrate violently in my bag. I took it out, realising that my mother had sent me a message:

From: Mom

Ichigo-chan, please stay in school for a while more, there are people busy fixing our broken air-conditioner. It'll be a bit of a bother if you come home now.

"... Okay, where and how am I supposed to spend more time in school..." I mumbled, peeved at my mother.

"Is there something wrong?" Akashi asked in concern. Midorima had already left earlier on, perhaps he couldn't stand the sight of me.

"Eh..." I was tongue-tied. "... Do you have any plans after this?"

He looked to his left, as if contemplating about something. "No, actually, today the basketball club is having an off day. Why, though?"

I searched my mind for the list of valid reasons to answer his question. Some embarrassing ones flashed through my mind, for example, to spend time together with you, which caused me to bury my face into my hands and groan maddeningly.

"Shizuko, are you okay...?"

"Yes I am most definitely okay," I simpered. Hmm, what do I want to do after exams?

After asking myself that question, I had finally reached the most appropriate answer. (To me, at least.) With a twinkle in my eye, my upbeat voice seemed to catch Akashi off guard, "Let's go to the playground!"

***

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Akashi questioned me from behind with heavy doubts. I walked quicker and quicker with lighter steps in front of him, eager to visit the children's heaven called 'playground' which was situated fifteen metres away. He continued with an admonishing tone, "I need to get back home by six, and it's already four thirty. My house isn't anywhere near. I have a curfew to follow, Shizuko."

I stopped and whirled around to face him. "I thought you didn't care about rules and whatnot back in the music room?"

"That's... well... in a sense, different," he furrowed his eyebrows. "We wouldn't get caught easily."

"Well, okay," I adjusted my spectacles and frowned. "Then what's wrong if you're late by five minutes or so? Exams are over, dude, it's time to relax and play!"

He stared at me wide-eyed, in a way that could be considered rude. But that was when I saw it in his eyes---a momentary shimmer that veiled the surface of his eyes; something had told me that he was enlightened.

"W-What?" I tried to snap Akashi back to reality. "Well, we'd faster get going, since you have a curfew to follow." Ignoring him, I advanced forward hurriedly with the playground as my aim. My footsteps' rhythm was irregular.

"I apologise," I heard him say.

But then again, I was very particular about school rules, but lesser of that for house rules. Akashi was the opposite, as I had just realised. After all, he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, so his household must be extremely strict... I wouldn't want to imagine it.

We arrived at the playground five minutes later. Upon spotting an unoccupied swing, instantly and recklessly, I tossed my schoolbag to the ground. Ignoring Akashi(again), I bolted towards it and quickly settled myself down onto the seat. Then, I took a few steps backwards, gathering enough gravitational potential energy so that I could oscillate back and forth, like a pendulum bob, without losing kinetic energy easily. (A/N: I apologise for the use of Physics here.)

My feet lifted off the ground.

I thrust myself forward.

I looked up into the cloudy sky and landscape filled with trees, enjoying the exhilarating moment each time when I reached the peak of the two ends. I turned my attention to my right, where Akashi was now standing a metre away from me, watching me with amazement, bemuse and a dash of disbelief. In one of his hands, between his fingers, was my schoolbag.

"I don't understand why and how this is fun. There are children here. Kids at a tender age," he emphasized on the last part.

I understood where he was coming from. "I don't care about my age, this is fun! Have you not played the swing before?!"

Very slowly, he looked away. "Yes."

"What, really?!" I continued swinging. "What happened to your childhood!"

"Well... Shizuko, it'd be better if we don't talk about that..."

"S-Sorry." Oops. Then, I dragged my shoes along the floor while swinging, attempting to use friction to slow me down. When I stood up, I offered, "Akashi-kun, do you want to try it?"

---End of Chapter 6---

A/N: Next chapter will be on next Saturday(24/10)!