Prequel: Daring Dog Daichi (OHSHC)

10. Daichi Gets Bad News

^Daichi's father, Yukio Akiyama (the pic is Masaoka Tomomi from Psycho Pass)

Before he knew it, Christmas break was over, and the second semester started. Daichi was early to school that Monday. His father told him he had an appointment with the school guidance counselor, and Daichi had to tag along.

While Yukio talked in the counselor's office, Daichi had to wait out in the hall. There weren't many other students there yet, and most of the ones there still looked tired. That was when Daichi spotted Kyoya across the way.

The boy bounded over, a wide grin on his face as he latched onto Kyoya from behind  in a bone-crushing hug. The taller boy sighed into the embrace, a small smile finding its way onto his lips.

"G'morning, Kyoya," he hummed. It felt like ages since he last touched Kyoya, last smelled his hair, last looked into his eyes.

"You're quite an excited puppy this morning," Kyoya noted. He let go of Daichi only so he could turn and face the boy.

"You're here," came the response. He saw how tired Kyoya looked. His hair was a little messy, and now his jacket was rumpled up. His eyes were only half open. "You're not happy."

"No, that's not true at all," Kyoya said. He grabbed Daichi's hand, letting the warmth soothe him. He was beyond happy to see his puppy again.  "I'm really just not much of a morning person. Tamaki likes to say I turn into the devil if I haven't had enough sleep."

Daichi giggled and leaned onto Kyoya's chest. God, how had he survived two weeks without this embrace? Daichi thought of Kyoya every single day over break -- when he got into fights with his cousins, when he went to bed at night, when he took a supplement pill. Speaking of --

"You look great, Daichi," Kyoya observed. The boy had managed to put on a little weight. Even if it wasn't much, Kyoya was glad his plan had worked. Daichi didn't deserve to suffer just because damn Yukio didn't know how to deal with his anger. "I have plenty more for you to take during the day, or..."

"Or what?" Daichi asked, looking up with wide curious eyes. 

"Or you take them for breakfast and dinner, and you join me for lunch."

Daichi nodded immediately. Why on earth would he ever pass up an opportunity to spend time with Kyoya? Besides, there would be no lunch football practices during the second semester since games would be starting up. He could spend every day with Kyoya now!

"Excellent. Our third periods are different, so you'll have to come by the host club when it's time," he said.

Nodding, Daichi saw his father out of the corner of his eye. Quickly he let go of Kyoya and stepped back. He couldn't see them together again. "Gotta talk to him," he muttered, saying a little goodbye to Kyoya.

Daichi walked over to his father, who was just outside of the guidance counselor's office. No one was around, and the boy was relieved and scared. What he didn't know was that Kyoya was listening from just around the corner, out of sight.

"Yes, sir?" Daichi asked his father. The man had a smirk on his face, and Daichi felt a twinge of fear.

"I've got good news and bad news," Yukio said. "The bad news is that you failed your Grammar and Literature semester exam. The good news is, since you won't be in football anymore now, you'll be working for me at home more. I expect you home at no later than 3:30. Understood?"

"Yes, sir." 

Just like that, his world came crashing down. Daichi held in his tears as Yukio walked out of the school building. As soon as he was gone, Kyoya rounded the corner and took Daichi in his arms, cradling the boy's head to his chest. That was it. Daichi couldn't hold it in anymore.