Protection Not Needed

Fireworks Festival

Chapter 21- A.C.T

    I stood nervously in front of the school gate. It’s 8p.m right now and I was told to wait here by Akashi. He instructed me to wear a yukata which I don’t like but I obeyed him anyway.

    My yukata is black in colour with red blood flowers on it and the sash is red. I didn’t tie my hair into a bun or ponytail cause I was rushing just now. Plus, this yukata is too tight I couldn’t actually breathe properly.

    And then a car pulled up in front of me. Akashi got out of the car and stared at me like I’d turned into a kitten. The car drove off but he didn’t move from the spot where he stood when he came out of the car. I stared back at him, eyebrow raised. He was wearing a black yukata with red sash. Almost the same with mine. Except that his yukata is plain black.

    “What ?” I asked, breaking the silence. He looked away and cleared his throat. For a moment, I thought he was blushing but his calm expression remained when he looked at me. “So, care to explain why I am here ?” I asked.

    His eyes went bright then he took my hand and started walking to where he was heading which I don’t know. His hand is cold probably from the air-con inside the car. I was having a hard time walking so fast like him since I’m not used to walk in yukata.

    “Akashi, slow down. I can’t walk so fast in this and you didn’t answer my question !” I told him. He didn’t care to turn around to answer me, instead, he just slowed down and continued walking. I pouted. He’s always like this.

    We walked for about 5 minutes and my feet is killing me but as I was about to give up, I was surprised by the sound of crowds and hundreds of people flooding the place. Wait—this month is summer so....

    “Fireworks festival ?!” I let out a small scream. Akashi finally turned to me and chuckled.

    “Then why do you think I ask you to wear a yukata ?” he asked.

    I blushed in embarrassment. “Ugh ..” I grumbled. We walked into the crowds and I think I’m drowning in an ocean filled with homosapiens. My eyes shone brightly when I saw an ice-cream stall. While I pulled Akashi towards the stall, Akashi pulled me towards the cotton candy stall. We did a staring contest for about half a minute when I admitted defeat and followed him to buy the cotton candy.

    We sat on a bench near the river. “Why must that ?” I asked, staring at the beautiful river gleaming as the light of the moon reflected on it.

    “Why must what ?” he questioned.

    “Why must cotton candy ?”

    “Because you don’t like them .”

    “What ?!” I turned to him, annoyed.

    He giggled cutely which made my heart skipped a beat. I looked away before I started squealing. “Come on, try one .” he put a hand on my shoulder.

    “No !” I refused.

    “Ryuuki .”

    His voice made me melt but since I’m angry with him, I refused to turn to him. “What ?” I asked.

    “You mad ?” he asked.

    “No, I’m quite happy .” I answered nonchalantly. Well obviously I’m not happy. Me and ice-cream can never be separated. My revenge for foods can go on for 7 generations. He touched my hair.

    “What are you doing ?” I asked, still not turning to him.

    “Stay .” he said. I did as I was told. His hands worked on my hair. He was tying it. After a while, he told me it’s done. My hand reached for my hair. It was tied into a bun but how did he—

    “Akashi ?” I asked and turned to him.

    “You looked like a ghost when you let your hair loose like that .” he answered, looking away and I saw his cheek turning red eventhough it’s night time.

    “Th-thank you ....” I thanked him nervously.

    “By the way I used the cotton candy’s stick to tie your hair .” he added. I laughed and ruffled his soft, red hair.

    “Stop it !” he stopped my hand and frowned. I giggled.

/(^o^)\

    I played all 20 games in total and I can see that Akashi was exhausted following me around, hearing my comments and riddles (which he could answer each one of it perfectly without second try). I laughed a lot while he kept his calm expression.

    “You tired ?” I asked as we walked to the fireworks spot cause it’s about to start soon.

    “Isn’t it obvious enough ?” he asked back.

    “Sorry .”

    “Stop apologizing for everything. I’ve done much exhausting stuffs than this one so it’s no big deal .”

    “Okay .”

    We settled down on the grass and I hugged my knees. I am tired too. “Thank you for everything, for inviting me here, for making fun of me, for following me around, for enduring my hyper acts, for everything .” I said as I buried my face onto my knees.

    I couldn’t hear his answer cause the fireworks began shortly after I said it. It was pretty. But I was too exhausted to watch it till the end.

Akashi’s POV

    21 games in total. She played 21 games tonight. The 21st is the game she played with my heart. She was cute from the moment I stepped out of the car which made me stunned by her. I tied her hair cause I wanna see how she looks like with a bun. I purposely annoyed her cause I love seeing her red, angry face. I followed her everywhere cause I don’t really care about the festival or fireworks or anything, I just wanna see her. Her face, her hair, her eyes. The day after tomorrow would be the last day for her to be here.

    I stared at the fireworks. My heart skipped four beats when she thanked me. After 5 minutes, it ended and I turned to her. I wanted to say “let’s go home” but believe it or not, she was sleeping soundly on the soft grass. Her hair in a mess but the bun remained.

    Everyone was about to leave and I reached out my hand to hers. I shook her body. “Ryuuki, wake up .” I said. She didn’t budge. In the end, I had to carry her. I took the shortcut to my house.

    I don’t know if she’s dreaming or what but her hand suddenly wrapped around my neck and she hugged me tight. I stopped walking and glanced at her. She’s dreaming I guess.