Always a Step Ahead [Akashi Seijūrō x OC]

[ 11: emotion ]

A/N: LOL HI IM BACK.
praying this isn't crap again lol. also sorry for taking 5ever to update! i was suffering from writer's block.

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She sat at the desk, engrossing herself in the large textbook in front of her, pencil in hand and notebook beside her. The hissing of the water from the shower echoed faintly, but she blocked it out and focused on the content in front of her. Eventually the water ceased, and a few minutes later the door opened, steam easing out.

"Stop."

Tsukiko turned, face nearly hitting Akashi's bare chest when he leaned forward. "What are you doing, Sei-chan?"

The redheaded captain was clad in only a pair of joggers. His pale torso was left topless, toned muscles outlining his slim body while a towel was wrapped carelessly around his neck. His hair was darker, almost a blood red from still being damp from his shower, and he faintly smelled of chamomile and cinnamon (a/n: he's supposed to smell really good so if those two don't work together im sorry lol just pretend he smells super good).

"Check your work for calculating the grams of copper needed, again. You're using the wrong number for the mole-to-mole ratio."

"Ah." She frowned, eyes scanning her work again before sighing. He was right. As always. "Thank you, Sei-chan."

"It's only because we've known each other that I feel that I can relax around you," he answered simply. "Come here."

She did as told, walking to him and stopping right in front of him. Her eyes watched his as he looked up at her, carefully trying to read what he was going to do. His hand grabbed her wrist and he pulled her closer. "Is something wrong?"

"You're hiding something from me. I can see it in your eyes."

Tsukiko blinked at him. Of course he knows. That eye sees everything. "No," she lied. "I'm not."

He scoffed. "You're upset with me, aren't you? You're upset that I've won."

She narrowed her eyes at him, tilting her head to the side in confusion. "What exactly did you win?"

"You."

Tsukiko blinked. "Please elaborate."

"You're upset that you're now following my orders. You hate the fact that you can no longer defy me."

With a sigh, she turned on her heel to leave. She couldn't deal with his bullshit right now, not when she still had that aching feeling in the back of her mind that there's still hope he'll come back. Tsukiko bit her lip and curled her hands into fists, eyes down cast as she tried to keep her composure.

"Are you leaving already?"

She gave him a sideways glance, narrowing her eyes at how he remained indifferent. Her heart clenched at his cold eyes and she wished she could turn back time to how they used to be. "I completed my work. I don't see why I need to stay any longer."

"It would be rude for me to let you go without dinner," he answered simply.

She sighed. "I'm fine. There's no need to put Hizashi-san through the trouble."