A Painful Melody

Chapter 24- Bullied

3rd person POV

Many of the basketball players could get their eyes off Akagawa. She was beautiful and obviously athletic. For her to get a recommendation from Akashi is amazing in its own way. Though she had such a bad vibe that not many of them had the courage to go up to her.

Ayaha on the other hand, guys were free to gape and stare. The black hair, all the way to her shapely calves was seductive. Ayaha wasn't planning on it, but she couldn't help but be blessed with great genes. The guys could drool over her any day. She was uncomfortable from their stares, but she didn't want to be away from Akagawa. For, Akagawa is her cousin and first friend.

"Line up!" Akagawa yelled. The members heard bang her voice almost immediately and sloppily walked towards her.

They lined up, sweating and panting. Akagawa smiled, "This may be the first day, but I hope you'll put up with me for the rest of the year." Akashi looked away.

"Of course! It will be our honor, you're so cute." A male ruffled stepped out of line and ruffled her hair.

"Hmpf, she's just making up the regimens to make us suffer." A muscular male tched.

Akagawa smirked, "Perhaps, but no pain, no gain."

Ayaha chuckled nervously, "W-Well then, you guys are dismissed." She yelped and slightly hid behind Akagawa as the guys headed towards the locker room.

"As expected, well done." Akashi spoke as he walked past Akagawa.

"Of course, It's me after all." Akagawa spoke, making him smirk in return.

Shuichi wiped his sweat with a towel as we watched the two red heads. The silvered haired male felt a pang in his chest as his eyes became slightly clouded. He stood up and dropped the sweaty towel into Ayaha's hands. Though instead of feeling disgusted, Ayaha started to die in the inside.

Akagawa walked into Ayaha fangirling though, "Should I give you and the towel some space?" Ayaha paused and her face reddened.

"Ah, yes. I mean no, er yes I'm fine." Steam poured out of her ears and she sat down on the floor and covered her face from embarrassment.

Akagawa kneeled to her level, "Oh my." She patted Ayaha's head.

"Leave her alone!" A male ran out of the locker room and stood between Ayaha and Akagawa.

Akagawa raised an eyebrow, "Leave her alone? Indeed, it truly is a mystery of what goes through your small brain." She stood up. Even though he was taller, Akagawa didn't care.

"Do you have a problem with Riga?" Shuichi extended an arm in front of Akagawa. He was so focused on the situation that he forgot the honorifics in Akagawa's name.

"Shuichi-kun, you may have proven that you have skills but I will not allow this." His eyes looked down into Akagawa's black orbs. Though he immediately felt intimidated by her gaze, but decided to not back down. Akagawa didn't have any muscles, she was a frail girl.

"Eikichi, stand down." Akashi's voice echoed in the gym, scaring the male.

"B-but she-"

"That was due to your misunderstanding based on your hatred towards Harigae." Akashi glared.

Ayaha stood up, "Really, I wasn't being bullied. Hari-san was only patting my head." She finally mustered the courage to talk. The whole situation intimidated her.

"Okay, calm down now. You muscle head, Aka-chan won't do such a thing." Akagawa chuckled slightly.

"Why thank you, Mibuchi-senpai." The male turned his head and smiled.

"Just Reo is fine." He smiled sweetly towards Akagawa, but smacked Nebuya's head roughly.

"Don't mind us, I'm only going to scold him for his manners." Mibuchi pinched Nebuya's ears and began to drag him across the floor. The muscular male yelled at the pain, and clawed the floor hoping to slow down.

"Reo-kun, acts somewhat like a mother." Shuichi whispered softly into Akagawa's ear, after seeing her puzzled expression. She awed, then began to laugh. Shuichi smiled.

"I feel like I'll get along with him then. Another person to help look after a bunch of grown babies." Akagawa whispered back, with a smile on her face.

Shuichi nodded in return, the soft smile on his face not fading. Ayaha walked up to the two and gave Shuichi his towel back, "Sorry I made you hold that." Shuichi grabbed the towel, the tips of his fingertips touching Ayaha's.

Ayaha nodded, no words coming out of her mouth. Akagawa gasped, just realizing why Ayaha behaved the way she did around Shuichi.

"You're pretty slow." Akashi's voice suddenly rung in her ears.

"I'm more surprised by the fact that you know what I was thinking about."

"I'm absolute."

"Sure, you are." Akagawa grabbed her bag, and walked towards the locker rooms to say her goodbyes.

Shuichi and Ayaha were left having small conversations. Even though Ayaha was stuttering, the conversation was rather...

Comfortable.

Akashi met eyes with Shuichi, as if the two males had their own conversation with their eyes. Neither intended to lose.