Lost in a Pursuit

Freedom

A/N: Okay, first off, I would like to say that if anyone hasn't noticed yet... since the beginning of the story, Akashi's always been Oreshi, not Bokushi. This is just a little heads up if you thought he was Bokushi! :p

Akashi blinked at me. Sighing, I took my schoolbag from his hands and requested, "I'll hold your bag for you. Just...go."

"... Well, I don't understand how swinging back and forth is enjoyable," he looked at me with doubt.

"Then this experience will teach you. It's fun, I promise. Just imagine you're flying in the sky..."

Oh wait, I thought. I'm not nervous talking to him...?

Akashi hesitated for a while, seemingly nervous about something. I knew he was supposed to be a "heir to a distinguished family" and had to study and study and study or whatever it was, but he was the one who taught me to find something I love to do; to not be constrained by schoolwork!

But my level of maturity had told me to let him off if he really didn't want to, so I just shrugged and said nonchalantly, albeit a little disappointed, "Okay, fine, if you don't want to..."

"Wait," he called. "Why are you insisting that I ride on the swing?"

"Because," I said almost too loudly, "riding on a swing is fun. It gives me an exhilarating sense of freedom. When you reach the peak of the two ends, it feels like I'm flying, soaring, like a bird into the sky. Since birds are always used to symbolise freedom, I'm kinda using the swing as a metaphorical example."

He stared at me for a few seconds. "Then, how does it apply to me?"

I faced away from him, embarrassment eating away me. "... Ugh, must I say it?"

"Yes."

Taking a deep breath, my mind automatically organised my words into coherent sentences and I opened my mouth, "It's just...that...during the exam season, you seem a bit too...stressed. And, well, every time I walk past the basketball club's first string's gym... You look the most happy when you play basketball. So I figured, together with your family status, that you must have very little freedom in your house... Oh wait! Forgive me if I'm wrong. It's all based on my assumption... I'm sorry..."

I just wanted to make you feel happier... After all, I respect you the most and you treated me to cakes and even gave me a phone strap...

My eyes swept down to the floor, together with my head lowering itself. There was this ripping sensation inside me; I had the urge to throw away everything in my hand right now. Biting my lips, I realised how embarrassing my words had been, and the only thing to do now was to bang my head on the wall repeatedly.

A hand was placed onto my right shoulder. Something tensed inside me. I looked up, only to see Akashi smiling with his eyes closed. He used his other free hand to wipe away a small tear that had formed in his eyes.

H-He's crying?! W-WHAT?! I never-- How did things turn out like this-- Oh god--

Quickly and silently, I wiped my sweaty palms on my skirt.

"I never thought anyone, other than my mother, would notice this..."

I inhaled deeply and looked at his face. His eyes were now open. Gazing into his eyes, until now, I had never realised how much bitterness were hidden under that handsome-cool-popular-and-grade-A-student facade of his.

All of a sudden, I felt a terrible pity towards him.

"I was on the verge of crumbling. Of course, I had attained first in level for every single subject, but the process was tiresome. I was about to snap, however, when I saw you beam with pride at the first test we had aced, I laughed to myself. Why would anyone be happy if they aced a test or exam? Are they blind to the fact that they have more pressure on them now?

"But then you looked at me. With determination and motivation, you vowed to overtake me in the official examinations. Since you deemed me as a worthy rival, I couldn't let you down, could I? And that was when I knew, I had fun going up against you, especially in Chemistry. You have never let me down, and I hope you never will.

"Thanks for bringing meaning to my grades."

Akashi lifted his hand and turned sideways. "Let's be friends."

My brain tried its best to process every one of his words, meanwhile I was on 'Not Responding' mode. Only one thing came to my mind.

"Hey, uh... Akashi? I guess we have... chemistry, huh," my lips formed a suppressed smile, which soon gave way to uncontrollable laughter. "Pun intended! Hahaha!"

It took me a good five minutes to stop my laughter. After all, I haven't let my best laughter out in a few months. I swear it sounded majestic, but I guess it sounded like an evil witch's cackle, huh? Meanwhile, Akashi just stood there, perhaps dazed by my pun.

"You are the first person this year to make me laugh like this. Be honoured," I coughed deliberately at the end of my laughter. "We're basically best friends now."

"... Shizuko, teach me the art of puns," Akashi requested all of a sudden, looking at me with dead seriousness in the eye.

"What? Why?"

"I can't make funny jokes..."

"Akashi, please, this has got to be the most ridiculous weakness, EVER."

And I laughed heartily at my words. He simply smiled, I can't help it.

Just then, my phone buzzed continuously and I fished it out quickly. It was my mother!

"Ichigo-chan, why aren't you home yet? The air-con service crew have long left and it's five thirty-seven already!"

"Oh! Sorry! I'll go home this instant!"

I ended the call and turned to Akashi. "Um, it's already five thirty-seven. We should really head home now."

"Half an hour isn't enough for me to get back home," he stated, checking his phone and narrowing his eyes.

"Accurately speaking, it's twenty-three minutes," I corrected him. "I don't think my mother will be very mad at me, but if it's your family... well, let's hurry up and go now!"

"Then the best option is to run."

"Why?! My stamina is low--"

Before I could finish speaking, Akashi grabbed my wrist and pulled me along with him, doing a two-hundred metre sprint to the train station.

This was the first time a guy touched my wrist like that. Feeling extremely awkward and embarrassed, I couldn't help but start laughing again. Yep, I'm weird.

"You know, compared to your classroom attitude and appearance, you're like a normal girl to me now!" he called out.

The feeling of cool air rushing towards me as I kept willing my heavy legs to move forward... Gasping repeatedly for fresh air in my lungs, I stared at Akashi's back.

---End of Chapter 7---

A/N: Hope you guys enjoyed it~ I had fun writing this chapter, since I treat this chapter as sort of a climax. Next chapter is tomorrow(25/10)!