Sweet Love

Chapter 36: A problem

Bokuto turns away from his work as Akaashi's phone starts to continuously buzz, again.

"Aren't you gonna pick that up? That's the fifth call already." Bokuto asks Akaashi as the phone goes silent.

"It's ok, let's just ignore that." Sighing, Akaashi replies Bokuto and turns back to his work.

"If you say so..." Bokuto stares at Akaashi, unconvinced.

A few minutes later, the phone vibrates once again. Irritated, Akaashi powers his phone off and tosses it into his bag.

"Akaashi, are you sure it's ok for you not to pick that up? Your father must be worried."

"It's fine. I told my mum I'll be staying out for the next few days."

"Ok then."

"Go do your work Bokuto-san. Don't think I am not aware that you are just trying to distract yourself from the worksheets."

"Awwww... You got me."

The rest of the afternoon passes peacefully in the library, with Bokuto occasionally getting distracted.

As evening falls, the two teenagers head home for a warm homecooked meal by Mrs Bokuto.

The Bokuto parents are surprised by Akaashi's sudden stayover but nonetheless happy and welcoming. Akaashi feels integrated, as if he had always been part of this family, and not part of the distant, cold family he was born in.
.
.
.
"Is it fine if I use the shower first Bokuto-san?"

"Yeah!"

Seeing Akaashi disappear into the toilet, Bokuto takes out his newly bought edition of the Shounen Jump to flip through. His reading is interrupted by the ringing of his mobile device.

The caller ID is displayed as unknown. Bokuto had been expecting the call. Taking a deep breath, he answers the phone.

"Hello?"

"Bokuto Koutarou."

"You must be Keiji's father right?"

"I am."

"Well, I've been expecting your call. It is not too convenient to discuss this on the phone so would you like to meet up?"

"Certainly. 6pm tomorrow. Sakura hotel lobby cafe. I expect you to be punctual."

"Ok-"

The caller hangs up.

Akaashi walks in just as Bokuto puts down his phone. "Bokuto-san? You can use the shower now."

"Thanks. By the way, you head home first after school tomorrow, I have a consultation session with the teacher until evening." To make things more convincing, Bokuto puts on a look of exasperation, "Arghhh. That damn Sarukui. He just decided to sign me up for that consultation too as a prank."

Akaashi walks over and sits down on the bed, reaching out his hand to pat Bokuto's head, "A consultation is good. You can clear any doubts about the subject if you go."

"But I wanna spend more time with youuuu..." Bokuto whines.

"Do you want me to stay back and wait for you then?"

"N-nono, it's fine. I'll feel realllly bad if I make you wait. Come home and wait for me here ok? It's more comfortable and quiet here."

Akaashi is a little doubtful but an innocent look from Bokuto erases any doubt he might have had of Bokuto's sudden consultation the next day as well as his insistence for Akaashi to wait at home.
.
.
.
After school, Bokuto hurries to the hotel, afraid that he might not make it on time. Fortunately, he reaches the designated location 5min early and is escorted by a bodyguard to a particular table in the cafe. Bokuto quickly sits down and looks up. Directly opposite him is an oddly familiar middle-aged man clad in a suit. It takes Bokuto a few seconds to realise that it is the famous politician -- Akaashi Ichirou. A common face on the television. He would never expect this celebrity to be Akaashi's father and much less for him to be seated just a few centimeters away.