A Painful Melody

Chapter 30- Bus ride

3rd person POV

Akashi looked at Akagawa, her eyes were still puffy and red but it wasn't too obvious for anyone but him. She covered it well. Even in shock, Akagawa didn't hesitate to carry out her job as manager.

"Hayama-kun, shift your weight onto the other leg. I don't know how you made one of your legs sore when we've been exercising them equally." Hayama pouted at Akagawa's remark.

He listened anyway and as if he got a major improvement, his legs managed to go faster. Akashi smirked at how she was able to realize Hayama needed to balance his weight instead of putting it all on one side.

"Harigae, how are you holding up?" Shuichi stopped in the middle of his practice match against Nevuya and went to Akagawa's aid.

Akagawa sighed, "Tadao, we are only talking. Go back to your match." She put her hand on his shoulder and unwillingly, he went back.

"I'm doing better than yesterday." Akagawa slightly smiled.

Akashi lightly tapped her head, "Don't force yourself."

He walked past Akagawa to continue practice and Akagawa glanced at Akashi's back. Not only was the sight for measurements, but she felt hollow and empty at the sight of his back.

He asked his questions, they kept each other company, she attended Akashi's party and there she almost got exposed. Why he was still in Akagawa's mind was a mystery to her. He gave her a hint of adventure, as if she didn't have enough.

Akagawa clapped her hands as Ayaha blew the whistle, "Everyone gather 'round! We have a practice match against Shutoku tomorrow, be prepared and if we lose..." Her black orbs hid most of the glint, but her mischievous thoughts couldn't be contained.

The whole team gulped and Akashi sighed, "What's wrong?" Akagawa asked, once all the members went to chance because Ayaha gave them permission.

Akashi shook his head, "I'll be going against Shintaro." He admitted.

Akagawa raised an eyebrow, "Your not going to lose with your eyes." Akashi ran his hand down his red hair.

"It's not me that I'm worried about, I'm more concerned about you." Akashi grabbed her by then chin and stared into her black orbs. Akagawa smacked his hand away and tched.

"I'm not that careless, I'm not going to show my eyes for a foolish practice match." Akashi smirked, that's all he wanted to hear.

Akashi turned to walk towards the locker room and once again, Akagawa looked at his back. She couldn't shake the empty feeling away and Akagawa felt like she should stop him from walking any further.

****

As the basketball members loaded the bus, Akagawa stood outside the bus. She was taking count, and the only one left was Hayama. Akagawa saw a blonde in the distance and rolled her eyes, she checked his name.

The red haired female went to take her spot in the bus, next to Akashi. With a smirk present on her face, "Close the doors in 5 seconds, ignore if an animal is running." Akashi chuckled softly.

"Sadistic much?" He spoke.

' We don't want to hear that from you! ' The rest of the team thought in unison. Of course, excluding Shuichi and Ayaha because they joined when Akagawa took over.

Hayama nearly missed the bus, the doors closed right behind him. Ayaha started at Akagawa in awe, those 5 seconds were enough time. Shuichi yawned, the ride was going to take a while.

"Let's go!!" Hayama yelled cheerfully. He was way too excited for the match and surprisingly he regained stamina from running towards the bus.

"Shut up." Nebuya groaned, it was way too early to be ear raped by a high pitched brat.

"Let's play a game!" Hayama sat down next to Mibuchi.

The bus order was Akashi sitting next to Akagawa, and Ayaha and Shuichi across. Shuichi and Akashi had the window seat, with both girls in the middle and the aisle separated Ayaha and Akagawa. Behind Akashi sat Mibuchi and Hayama, with Nebuya and Mayuzumi across.

The coach, Shirogane, was beside the bus driver so he could avoid all the noise. He was taking a nap until the match and left the red heads in charge.

"Want some pocky?" Ayaha held the box out, for anyone to grab.

Akagawa took one, while the others basically devoured it. "You ate 5 sticks! I only had 2!" Hayama yelled at Nebuya, who was holding the box now.

Mibuchi sighed, "Stop being children, be glad Aya-chan even gave you both any." Though his words became ignored because the two were still arguing. He gave Mayuzumi a glance, and the two knocked the arguing children out.

Hayama was kneed in the chest and Nebuya was chopped in the neck. Akashi sighed, "Finally there isn't anymore yelling." Akagawa nodded her head in agreement.

Shuichi yawned, "If you're getting tired, you can use my lap as a pillow." Ayaha's voice rang in his ears. Though Shuichi was indeed tired from yesterday, he didn't want to lay on her lap for many reasons. Instead, he leaned his head on top of hers.

Akagawa chuckled and grabbed a blanket out of her bag, "Yumi-chan, use this to cover both of you." She passed the black haired female the blanket.

She mainly covered Shuichi because it would have been too hot if she would take some of the blanket. Akagawa zipped her bag up and Akashi wrapped his arm around her waist. She grabbed his arm and tried throwing his arm off.

Though, Akashi was half-asleep and using Akagawa as a stuffed animal. Akagawa groaned, "Are you serious?..." his grip was steel and the poor girl had no way of escaping.

"Mom..." Akashi mumbled, his voice was faint enough that only Akagawa heard it.

Akagawa felt sympathy for him and stopped attempting to escape. She began running her hand down his silky red hair, pressing pressure points that made Akashi fall further into peaceful sleep. He felt her warm fingers graze his scalp, due to Akagawa's technique all the exhaustion that Akashi neglected came back and he fell asleep.