Someday {Akashi Seijūrō}

d a y t e n

"..."

"Just as I thought."

~~

Mistakes are what helps one learn.

You're still here...

Of course.

Still, who are you?

There was no reply after that. After I had made it home, I received another notification. It was like everything else: some cheesy message, and then nothing else when I ask who it is.

Not long later, I heard that Rakuzan won the Inter-High. Akashi was given an interview of why he didn't play, but I didn't think to watch it. Because of their placement in the Inter-High, Rakuzan would be able to make it straight into the Winter Cup, which means they skip the preliminary rounds.

I drapes my arm over my eyes and shut off the light.

~+~+~

I stood frozen at the door, looking skeptically at the person in front of me. Slowly my skepticism slowly turned into confusion. "Um... where's Akashi-kun...?" I asked.

The black-haired male only smiled. "My guess is as good as yours. Sei-chan just told me to step in and tutor you this once."

".... What would your guess be, then?"

"Hmm.... Sei-chan probably got called in by his father would be the most likely."

His father? My thoughts got cut short when I noticed that Reo was still standing outside. I hastily stepped to the side and gestured for him to enter. "Sorry," I apologized. "You can come in."

"Don't mind it... [Last Name]-chan, right?"

"Yeah."

"I've seen you at basketball practice."

I flushed with embarrassment for a second before saying, "Reo-senpai. Am I correct?"

"Yes, that's me."

I shut the door and started up the stairs, pausing on the second step, so Reo could follow me. He did. "Sei-chan usually tutors you in your room? Reo asked.

"Yes."

I opened the door to my room and gestured Reo to follow me. He did. Once we were in my room, I said, "Well, shall we begin?"

~+~+~

"[Last Name]-chan, are you listening?"

"What? Yes."

Reo looked at me skeptically. "You know, you've been like this for a while..."

"I have?"

He sighed, "... Well, for the tutoring to get through, we need you to focus, don't we?"

I raised an eyebrow, not knowing where he was going with the conversation.

"Tell me what's on your mind, we can get on with the tutoring, then."

I blinked, "What?"

"You're thinking about something. What is it?"

He was pretty sharp. But then again, it probably wasn't a large feat that he was able to figure that out. My actions were as exaggerated as ever. We were silent as I battled in my mind whether or not to tell him anything. He sure as hell wasn't going to say anything until this problem was solved, so I might as well. "Knowing Akashi and his to the point attitude, wouldn't he have told me he wasn't coming...?" I confessed.

"Hmm..." Reo rested his chin on the palm of his hand. "By any chance, [Last Name]-chan, do you like Sei-chan?"

"What?"

"Do you like Sei-chan, [Last Name]-chan?" he repeated.

His question processed in my mind. Do I like Akashi? Do I like Akashi? Do I like Akashi? There was no way I could feel anything for that asshole, I believed. He was arrogant, demanding. There wasn't anything to like about him on my part. But he was afraid of something, and that made him a little more human. So, do I like Akashi...? I shook my head quickly, clearing the thoughts. Why was I even considering the fact? Maybe it was just all the time spent with him during the tutoring sessions.

"No! I don't like him!" I exclaimed.

"That was an awful long pause, [Last Name]-chan."

"I was just thinking about how bad his attitude is and how it's impossible for me to like him," I crossed my arms.

".... Impossible, huh?" Reo mused. "Whatever you say, [Last Name]-chan. In any case, we should continue."

I nodded.

The rest of the time was spent studying. There was no talk about Akashi, and I was careful not to let my mind wander too much. It was time for Reo to leave later.

When it was just me in the house, I fell backwards onto my bed. What Reo had said still stuck with me, stubborn. Do I like Akashi? The thought floated around my head. There was no real answer, yet.

Do I like Akashi?

I shook my head in hopes of the thought flying out of my memory.

There's no way.

~~