A Painful Melody

Chapter 19- Announcement

3rd person POV

Akashi slid open the doors to their homeroom, and let Akagawa pass through the doors with him following closely after. The reason for this, was because no matter how much he hated a person, there is still a part of him that forces him to act absolute at all times.

"What is Akagawa-san doing with Akashi-sama?"

"I thought he hated Akagawa-san?"

Shuichi met up with both red heads, sending dagger glares at Akashi but his expression changed softly once he looked at Akagawa. He pushed a strand of Akagawa's red hair behind her ear, "Riga, we might be forced to choose a club today due to future events." He whispered in her ears.

Akashi glared at Shuichi, not knowing why but decided to ignore it. He sat down in his seat, which was next to Akagawa and rubbed his temples. Akashi had only 5 questions. He will make them count.

The teacher walked in the class and tapped his desk with the textbooks. He had a bright orange envelope and only he and Akashi knew what was in it. Akagawa felt shivers down her spine, she felt like what was in that envelope will only change the next month.

"In three weeks, Rakuzan will be going to Okinawa and we will be staying in a hot spring hotel. You may want to bring swimming wear because this trip will be one of the last days of summer." The teacher spoke, giving Akashi the orange envelope.

Akashi didn't need words to tell, he was absolute. The unnecessary effort wasn't worth it with him. As he was passing them out, he put a hand on Akagawa's shoulder. "You may want to hear what comes next." Shuichi glared at how close Akashi was to Akagawa.

"Did everyone get one? The routes and tours will be based on your electives-" the rest of the teacher's speech was blocked out from Akagawa's mind. Akashi knew this.

Akagawa sighed, that feeling she had earlier wasn't exactly wrong. There certainly was a reason why Akashi decided to talk to her first thing in the morning. Though Akagawa didn't want to assume, it was situations like this that made her shut out of the world.

Akagawa didn't like the uneasiness she felt, knowing that something was going to happen. Especially since Shuichi mentioned something about electives today. Akashi was the captain of the basketball team. Akashi started actually talking to Akagawa after the basketball match.

She wanted nothing to do with basketball.

****

RING!

Akagawa stretched her arms up, she had gym next. After sitting for so long in homeroom, Akagawa needed it. Ayaha met the red head at the door, she was holding her bag and as ready as Akagawa. She caught a lot of glances though.

Shuichi went up to Ayaha first, "Yumi-san, what elective are you in?" He asked. Ayaha's grip tightened on her gym bag. She didn't really have an elective. The director knew her circumstances and her value, which gave her some privileges but a lot of restrictions. Ayaha didn't want to choose an elective because she didn't want attention or to be close with anyone.

"I don't have one. I didn't want to interact with people." Ayaha smiled softly. Shuichi hummed, he didn't really know what Ayaha liked. Her hobbies. Also if Akagawa was going to choose an elective, there was a high chance that Ayaha would follow.

When Akagawa stood up, her wrists were gently pulled and when she looked, she saw Akashi holding her wrists. He smirked, "You don't have an elective. Join the basketball club." Her expression darkened at the term 'basketball'.

"I must politely decline." Akashi brought her hand up to his lips and gently kissed the back of her hand. Akashi himself knew she wasn't going to submit, not matter what he did. He merely took a different approach.

Akagawa sighed, "Even if you act like a gentleman, I refuse to join the basketball club." Akashi smirked in amusement, Akagawa surely knew how to disobey him without having Akashi get mad. No one defied him. Yet here Akagawa was.

Her whole existence defied Akashi.

Her voice that was the same as his mother's, the same hair color, her elegant movements that printed into his mind, the way her hair gracefully followed behind, and her unknown upbringing. Those beautiful eyes that Akashi wished to see again.

"Do you hate basketball?" Akashi let go of Akagawa's hand, his smirk fading.

"Yes." Akagawa said nothing else and passed Akashi, joining Shuichi and Ayaha's conversation. Shuichi sent a glance towards Akashi, his guard higher than when he is against the men in black. Akashi sent a smirk in return.

Shuichi ignored the smirk, "Let's get going." He grabbed Akagawa's things despite her complaints. Ayaha chuckled, they were so close. She wanted to be just as close with Akagawa as Shuichi was.

****

"What did Akashi-san need earlier?" Ayaha asked Akagawa, passing the basketball.

Akagawa shot the basketball perfectly, "He wanted me to join the basketball team. I'm not sure whether he meant as a manger or a player though." Ayaha's eyes sparkled.

"Of course! You're really good after all!" She smiled and rebounded. Ayaha quickly dunked the ball right after, making Akagawa smirk.

"You may not be the best basketball player in the girl's class, but you certainly can't be underestimated." Akagawa raised a hand, signaling that she wanted a pass.

Ayaha passed the ball to Akagawa, "Thank you." The coach blew the whistle right after. Akagawa passed the basketball back to Ayaha and Ayaha put the basketball away. Akagawa made the biggest mistake going to Rakuzan.

More than 90% of the gym activities had something to do with basketball. Akagawa sighed, if Ayaha wasn't here then Akagawa would have transferred already. Ayaha saw Akagawa's black orbs burdened with uncertainty every time she touched the basketball. She wanted to know why but just like everyone else who wanted to know more about Akagawa, the red head said nothing.

"Sorry I had to keep making you put the basketball." Ayaha shook her head. She didn't mind. It was actually making Ayaha happy she had some use. Everything Akagawa has done, really impacted her.