The mockingbird (Akashi Seijuro love story)

Silence.

Shizuko's Pov

I growled silently to myself, still angry with my dad from yesterday. My shoulders and back ached painfully as I worked to stitch the jacket of my school uniform back together. I'd simply questioned what he would like for dinner, but apparently he didn't like my tone and snapped. In my attempt at getting away he'd grabbed my jacket and the fabric tore at the seam. He'd beat me until I passed out and I'd woken up still on the floor of the hallway at three in the night. Luckily he'd left my face alone this time, but the rest of my body still throbbed painfully.

I ignored the curious glances I got from my classmates as they flooded into the classroom before the first class. I was just about to finish when Akashi's voice startled me.

"I didn't know you could sow" I frowned immediately as he stood beside my desk. I didn't turn to look at him.

"It's a useful skill... I'm surprised you didn't know, since apparently you seem to think you know everything about me" He was quiet for a moment and didn't move. Would he just leave already? I could sense he was studying me, probably trying to locate my injuries. I stared at the cuts on my hands and knuckles as I pushed my needle through the fabric while I fastened my stitches.

"What happened?" I clicked my tounge annoyed, always sticking his nose where it didn't belong.

"It got caught in the doorway when I got home yesterday" I lied casually while using my pocket knife to cut the thread. I held it up over my desk, my arms trembling slightly in protest from my injuries but I ignored it. I studied my work in silence for a second before nodding pleased to myself. You couldn't even tell it had been ruined.

"Hm..." Something about Akashi's tone attracted my attention, he began walking towards his desk when I looked at him. I knitted my eyebrows together confused, he had a strange expression on his face, and it looked like he hadn't slept much. The expression he had on his face was one I could relate to far too well... Grief. Had something happened? I couldn't look away and ended up watching him as he sat down at his own desk. He  pulled out his books and placed them on his desk before he met my gaze and raised an eyebrow. Strange...

"Hm..." I mimicked his hum just as the bell rang and the teacher entered the classroom. I turned back to the blackboard while pulling my jacket on with a wince before finding my own book. I tapped my finger on my desk in deep thought. Why would he make a face like that?

The day progressed as usual, I made it to all my classes and actually managed to pay some attention and take notes. Even so I couldn't shake the memory of Akashi's sad expression. I couldn't wrap my head around it. He was a lot less active than usual during classes as well, and didn't make an effort to pester me during short break. Something was definitely going on.

I sat at the roof during lunch, and had just finished eating and stared down onto the campus and the students wandering around. A couple of minutes passed in silence and I looked at my wristwatch with a frown. Usually Akashi would show up right around now if he hadn't been able to bother me earlier in the day. I hummed confused, turning to look at the door behind me. He's not coming? I stared at my bag for a moment in thought. Had he finally given up on trying to get me to talk? That didn't seem like him. Eventually I sighed heavily and gathered my stuff.

"Why do I even care about this at all?" I mumbled to myself as I stood and headed inside. I went to the room where he'd brought me that time I jumped from the third floor. I frowned heavily for a moment before knocking. Why was I even doing this?

"Yes?" I barely heard him from the other side of the door and I sighed before opening the door quietly and peeked inside. Akashi sat with his back turned to me in his usual chair, leaned forward over the coffee table. He was alone.