Looking for a Miracle
Chapter Twenty-Three
Fall

I couldn't help but notice this time around, the holidays were a lot quieter.

School had finished for the term - the third years had all graduated from their clubs, leaving the basketball club with Sei and the others the only regulars remaining.

The holidays weren't the basketball club, though, and we didn't meet up every weekday to practice. I didn't see much of Momoi and Aomine - Momoi was spending as much time with her childhood friend as possible, and the others were busy. I did see Kuroko often, though whenever we spoke we strictly avoided the topic of basketball so as not to bring up anything sensitive.

Unsurprisingly, the person I saw most of over the holidays was Sei.

The holidays were a time when we had so school or club responsibilities to worry about, and I could tell how much of burden was left off Sei's shoulders for the time being, and I was determined that he could relax and enjoy as much time of this limited time as possible.

From movie marathons, to days I spent baking while he talked and 'helped' which ended with both of us eating a little bit too much (though he'd initially point out how bad the food was for a basketball player before he relented and ate as much as his stomach permitted), to shopping, to just sitting outside and enjoying the views - anything I could think of that would allow Sei to enjoy himself, I planned and we did together.

That day, we were out walking together in a large park with heaps of huge trees. It was a long journey, but definitely worth it. The area was quiet and tranquil, and it was nice to just talk while we walked.

I'd gaze at Sei on occasion out of the corner of my eyes, and only a few times I saw him looking at me. I'd look hastily away whenever this happened.

Eventually we came to a stop and sat on a bench together, just talking. I grew restless soon enough, and decided to climb a tree to relieve my boredom - there were plenty of trees worthy being climbed around here, and I was wearing leggings.

"Are you not the slightest apprehensive?" he questioned, lips pressed tightly together.

"I've been climbing trees for years." Always behind my parents' backs, of course. I beckoned to my friend. "Come on, Sei."

"I'd rather keep both my feet on the ground."

I shrugged. "Suit yourself."

I grasped a branch and began to haul myself up. The process was methodical, but I enjoy it - I loved the view from high up in the trees.

"Aren't you going a bit high?" Sei called a few minutes later, when I passed halfway.

I paused while climbing, glancing down at him, a smile on my face. "Relax, Sei, I've done this a thousand -

The branch under my feet snapped and the smile slid from my lips.

Oh shoot.

I had a moment of fleeting panic, and then all pressure was on my arms, and my fingers were screaming at the pressure. Sei was yelling, and I tried to grip tight on to the branches, but my hand slipped and I was falling, a scream ripping through my lips as I landed hard on the grassy ground.

I screamed again - there was a crack, and a flare of pain from my wrist as I landed on it awkwardly. My breath came to me in short, sharp breaths and black spots appeared in my vision.

Oh lord, oh good lord...

"Akane!"

Sei was kneeling next to me. I groaned, the black spots thickening, so I was only to make out a few features of his face.

"Sei... wrist..."I moaned.

And then the pain my my head and wrist overcame me, and I passed out.

*          *          *

When I came to, I wasn't still lying on the ground, nor was I in any room that was familiar to me.

One quick look around was enough to tell me where I was: a hospital room.

How long had I been here? I shifted on the bed, and noticed a pressure around my wrist. I glanced down and saw a cast over my wrist - the wrist that had caused me agony when I passed out. I moaned as I moved; my body was aching. I was sure I had bruises on my back.

"Akane. You're awake."

I looked around and saw Sei had pause in the entrance to my room - he'd sounded incredibly relieved. He walked inside and sat by my side.

"Your parents just stepped out to get something to eat," he informed me. "Everyone else had phoned about you."

"What happened?"

The words blurted from my lips. Sei frowned.

"Well, you fell. And you hit the ground hard. You hit your head pretty hard, too, and your wrist... well, I believe the cast is self-explanatory."

Broken wrist. 

I breathed out. Well, that was annoying. At least it wasn't my writing hand.

"Shoot," I muttered. I forced a bout of dry, humourless laughter. "Well, I don't think I'll be climbing trees for much longer - ouch!"

My laughter had caused dull pain to rise through my body. I pressed my lips tightly together and grimaced, breathing deep to

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah..." I forced a smile, though I could detect tears of pain in my eyes. "My body just really hurts..."

Not a surprise, considering I hit the ground hard, I guess.

"Oh, Miss Hirai, you're awake!"

A nurse passing by the room stood in the doorway, and was now bustling into my room.

"I'll leave you be," Sei said quietly, standing up.

I wanted to tell him to stay, not to leave, but the nurse was already fussing over me and asking endless questions - what was my name? What date was it? I pulled a face at Sei behind the nurse's back, and he shook his head at me before he left.

Not before I saw his face fall, sadness crossing his every feature.

*          *          *

He never thought he'd see Hirai Akane so weak, so much in pain.

Hirai Akane, to Akashi Seijuro, was a girl filled with fierce determination, who held her head high no matter what happened. She was always seeking to look on the bright side, managing to smile even when things were difficult, walking through life with the same hard, tough resolve.

She was a girl who had been there when no one else had. She knew things about him he wouldn't tell anyone else, and vice versa. For Akashi Seijuro, Hirai Akane was a tower of strength he could turn to whenever things became too difficult.

A part of him had believed that Akane would always have the same strength, throughout her life.

But now he realised, there were moments that caused even Akane, his most trusted friend, to break down.

He realised now that he couldn't rely on Akane to be strong always, and there were times when even she couldn't be there.

And when he realised this, the last string holding him together snapped.

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ahaha bye akane means so much to sei it's not funny

and you can see where it's going to go from here

this is going to be fun :))))))

who's ready for seikane and gom angst????