Chapter dedicated to @Akashicchii. Hi~! Thank you so much for supporting my story! :D XD

XI.

"Why do you always play sad pieces?" A voice suddenly asked that made me stop playing Dream of Flying by Brian Crain.

I turned to look at Yukari and Eri who were giving me identical strange looks. "Oh, you think so?" I smiled then gazed at my hand that was hanging on the piano keys.

"You play dozen of pieces and almost all of them are slow and sad." Eri commented. "Why?"

I closed my eyes and chuckled. I didn't notice that almost all of the pieces I play are sad. Well, not for me. "Not really. They are not sad for me," I explained and grinned. "If anything, these kind of pieces don't seem sad for me at all. When you hear this kind of song, the first thing you'll notice is the sadness lingering. But for me, there are many more emotions." I took a deep breath and let it all out. "These type of pieces are my forte."

"So deep," Yukari remarked slowly. "Seriously, when it comes to music, you go all poetic." She chuckled.

"What other emotions, Yurika?" Eri asked, curiosity clear in her voice.

I sighed and closed my eyes. The image of a redhead comes to mind. "Passion, serenity, happiness... love." I added then positioned my fingers and played At the Ivy Gate.

They just kept silent and closed their eyes to feel the melody. That's right, just get lost to the bliss...

Akashi... what's your definition of sadness?

•••

"Seijuro-kun~!" A girl sang along the hallway. Just the mention of his name made me stop on my tracks. The tone of her voice made me frown.

"Ah, Rima-san," Akashi greeted. "What is it?"

Rima Hayase. Beautiful. Almost all of the guys in our section wants her. But one thing about her though, the beauty on the outside don't sit right with the inside.

I hid against the corner, eavesdropping. I usually don't stick my nose on other people's business but come on, I can't help it. It's Akashi for Christ's sake!

"You know..." Hayase's sweet voice echoed through my ears I swear I felt an imaginary vein spurt out of my temple. "School festival's coming and I was wondering if you are busy."

"I have scheduled meetings in the student council and some errands to run with the class discussion." Akashi informed her. "Why?"

"Oh, really?" Hayase's tone sounded disappointed and I couldn't help the smile that crept to my lips. "I'm just wondering if we could go to the cafe and have a little chat."

Akashi chuckled. "I think that would be unnecessary."

"You've been working really hard. You shouldn't push yourself too much." Hayase continued sweet talking and my smile vanished.

"Thank you for the concern but I know my limits."

My fists curled into a tight ball and my eye twitched... what the hell is happening...

"Eh, Yurika-san!" A voice cried from beside me.

I flinched and quickly turned my gaze at the source of the voice. "Misaki-chan?"

"That's my composed music sheet!" She gestured towards the paper I crumpled and I gasped in shock. When did I ever hold such thing?

"Eh? How long have you been here?"

"Just now. I just want you to check out the song I composed and you crumpled the paper!"

"I'm sorry, Misaki-chan," I gave her an apologetic smile. "I'll check if this could be a suitable song for the school festival."

Misaki Amakura is the lead vocalist of the band Charm which consists of four female members. Also a member of the music club so they sometimes use the music room for band rehearsals. She idolizes me because of my mastery of different instruments and status both in academics and extracurricular activities. And since I'm the president of the music club, she consults me regarding the songs she writes because she thought an opinion from a professional musician matters the most. I don't know where she got that idea.

Misaki-chan sighed. "What are you doing in here?"

Crap.

I gave her a nervous laugh. "You see... This wall's really comfortable to lean on so..." I laughed because I sound stupid.

Misaki-chan arched an eyebrow but then smiled. "You're weird." She commented. "But whatever, I still idolize you, Yurika-san." She grinned at me.

Virtual sigh of relief. "T-Thank you,"

"Just let me know if you like the lyrics." She winked at me. "See ya." And then she was gone.

I sighed and took a peek to the spot where I'm sure Akashi and Hayase were talking and it was no surprise that they were no longer there.

"Well then," I dismissed and started walking forward, making my way to the rooftop.

I wanted fresh air. I wanted to clear my head about what I witnessed earlier.

"Damn you, Akashi..." I groaned to myself.

When I opened the door, there was someone lying down on the bench, a light novel covering his face so I couldn't recognize him. But he had grayish hair, that'll be all I could tell.

I sighed and just went to the railings. I pulled out the paper and hang my arms on the railings as I read what was written in the letter.

I hear my heart, it's beating like a wild drum.

It's whenever you're around

I don't know why

I guess I have fallen

I must keep it to myself

Since you knew everything, it was also obvious

You tell me not to love you

I just can't

I squinted my eyes on the paper. Is she serious?

Whenever you're around, I just can't,

Tension so thick, I can cut it with a pair of scissors

Isn't it more accurate to write knife?

Because knife is too mainstream.

My reading got interrupted with the sound of the door opening. I peered over my shoulder and saw Akashi closing the door behind him. He glanced at me as a form of acknowledging my presence then went his way to the guy sleeping on the bench. I shrugged and continued reading.

You are so beautiful I swear it hurt

I love you so much I swear it hurt

So would you do me a favor?

Love me.

Kiss me, kiss me, kiss me

Kiss me until I bleed

I wanna be loved by you

I wanna be loved

Kiss me, kiss me

Oh, I just can't resist

Will you just kiss the pain away?

The pain of not having you

'Cause I can't take this anymore

"Yurika," I flinched at the voice behind me.

I peered over my shoulder and I was surprised to see that the bench was vacant. Alone once again with the redhead. "Oh, Akashi," I gave him an awkward smile. "Hello." I greeted.

He smiled at me. God, don't smile... I'm melting.

"What are you reading?" He asked as he went beside me.

"It's just a song." I shrugged and lent him the wrinkled paper. He read the lyrics for a while and later on, he smirked. "What is there to laugh about?"

"I'm not laughing," He denied. "I just find this lyrics..." He trailed off.

"Cheesy?" I filled out for him.

His smirk stretched then shook his head. "Laudable." He stated.

I frowned then he returned the paper to me. I scanned it again. How is this laudable?

"Who wrote that?" He inquired.

"The lead vocalist of Charm," I informed him.

"Misaki Amakura," He mumbled. "I see."

"Do you think this would be a good song for the last day of the school festival?" I asked him.

"You're the president of the music club, you decide whether it's good or not."

I pouted. "But as fellow musician, do you like the song?"

He was silent for a few moments. "Yeah,"

This was the most normal conversation I had with Seijuro Akashi so far.

There is still a month left to prepare for the school festival and Misaki-chan always write songs. This was the fourth song she had written for this month.

"You heard our conversation." Akashi made it more like a statement. My head snapped back at him and he was smiling. I blushed and averted my gaze. My silence gave him the answer and he chuckled. "You really are easy to read."

I feel my blush getting deeper and I bit my lower lip again. It has fully healed and here I was, trying to cut it again. "Akashi,"

"What?"

"I hate you..." I whispered but loud enough for him to hear.

He chuckled again. "No, you don't."

"I hate you." I repeated, a little louder this time.

He inched himself closer, our arm touched. "Look into my eyes and say it again."

Oh, my God. I think I heard this somewhere.

I swallowed hard and looked into his heterochromatic eyes. "I..." I trailed off.

"Oh, it's Akashi and Yu-chan!" Kotaro suddenly screamed in excitement but then frowned when they saw our position. Let me rephrase that, how close we are.

Reo cried out, completely worried. I don't know why. "Yuri-chan!"

"I think we just disturbed something." Eikichi said awkwardly but then laughed.

"I just wanted fresh air, turns out-"

Kotaro's sentence was cut midway when Akashi gave them a sharp look that made them flinch.

"Sorry!" Kotaro laughed nervously and pushed Eikichi and Reo out to the doorway. "Take your time!" And then they're gone.

I sighed in relief. Thank you for disturbing us.

"Um, we should go back." I beckoned and faced him.

Akashi looked at me. "Yeah,"

•••

"I'll give you all one activity before you all get busy with the school festival." Honda-sensei declared. The whole class whined. "Come on, it's not that bad. Besides, I'll give you all a partner."

I huffed out a breath and waited for the pairings. Honda-sensei called out the names and partners and I realized that my name hasn't been called yet.

"And finally, Yurika Sendo..." He squinted his eyes towards the paper.

Which reminds me, Akashi's name hasn't been called either.

"You are paired up with Seijuro Akashi."

Virtual face palm. The class whined again.

"Sensei, they are both top students!"

"What's the problem with that?" Honda-sensei raised an eyebrow.

"They surely can do the project without effort!"

I frowned at that. I am not completely a robot, to be honest.

"Or rather, they could do the job alone!"

"Quiet," Honda-sensei demanded. "These pairings are final."

We will report on the cause and effect of World War and the difference of all the other wars and which one caused most destruction.

But do you know what the worst part is? Deadline is tomorrow.

"Honda-sensei is a monster..." I heard someone mumble to himself.

After class, I approached Akashi who was getting ready to leave.

"Akashi," I called out and he looked at me. "Do you have basketball practice?"

He nodded. "Yes,"

"Um, when are we going to work on the report?" I asked.

"After practice." He answered nonchalantly.

"Okay," I tucked a loose of strand strawberry hair behind my ear.

Okay, what am I going to do for the time being? The music room is probably occupied at the moment.

Akashi, as if reading my mind, just smiled at me. "Would you like to watch us practice?"

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I'm sorry for leaving a cliffhanger but letting ya know that Yurika agreed. XD

Yup, I listened to Brian Crain's pieces while writing this chapter that's why I made Yurika play it. I can imagine her playing it on the piano.

Next chapter will have a 'little bit' of MOE to make up for this chapter.

3 days left. Deym. :3

THANK YOU FOR READING! OHMAYGAD YOU GUYS DON'T KNOW HOW URESHII YOU MADE ME! :3

Feel free to comment/vote! Let me know your thoughts in this story! :D

Thank you again and I'm taking my leave ~!

I love you guys. :D