103: はじまりの瞬間(しゅんかん)

It had been 3 whole weeks.

'She's back, look!' someone whispered.

'With that red highlights—who is she trying to be?!' another replied.

'Did you know that she poisoned Akashi-kun? Better don't get so close to her! You'll end up dying!' a girl warned.

Akashi Seijuurou tilted his head, trying to solve the Trigonometry question in front of him. His friend, Toshiyuki Hayato pouted. 'Should we cancel out the cosine? Or the sine... Then change the denominator into tangent?' Toshiyuki asked.

Akashi shook his head. 'No, if you were to make it into tangent—oh, might as well turn this into sine over cosine, only then we cancel out the cosine. That'd be easier. Pencil, Hayato.'

Toshiyuki turned around to his table and searched for a pencil frantically in his stationery case. He handed it to Akashi. 'How about the left hand side?' he queried.

'Multiply cosine,' Akashi narrowed his eyes then nodded. He shoved the pencil back to Toshiyuki's hand. 'You solve that. I'll watch.'

Toshiyuki bit his lower lip and began to work on the question. 'As expected from my prodigy friend here.' He giggled.

Akashi chuckled. 'I'm no prodigy. I just happened to know the solution.'

'Doesn't make sense.' Toshiyuki replied and after a while, showed the paper to him.

Akashi scanned through. 'Correct, and please, show how you got the angles by separating the two equations.'

'Yes, sir!'

'Akashi-kun!' someone called out. Toshiyuki and Akashi turned their heads to the caller. It was Kitamura, the class rep. She approached Akashi with a book on her hand. 'Could you help me with this?' she asked and showed the book to him.

Akashi nodded. 'Oxidation number of cuprous sulfate is +1, not 0. Add 5 more electrons on the right hand side of the equation.'

Kitamura frowned. 'Cuprous sulfate?'

'Copper (I) sulfate, Cu2SO4, see there?' he pointed at the top of the question.

'Oh!' she exclaimed and palmed her forehead. 'My bad! Careless mistake! Thank you, Akashi-kun!'

'Sure.' Akashi retorted and she went back to her seat.

Toshiyuki sighed. 'I feel stupid being around you. You're way out of my league, Seijuurou.'

'I'm not, you can do it if you want to, too.' Akashi assured him.

'Never mind,' he put up a hand. 'I'm not interested in being extra smart.'

'Oi, Akashi!'

Both turned. It was Suzuki, a random classmate. He shoved a book on Akashi's table. 'Number 7, how?' he asked.

Akashi thought for a moment as he read the question in one go. 'Simple. Work done to move the block up the plane is equal to the component of force along the plane multiplied by the distance moved. So in this case, 50 cos 30º multiply 8, equals to 346.4 Joules. Gravitational potential energy gained is mass multiply gravity multiply height; so 20 multiply 10 multiply 0.8. You'll get 160 Joules. The work done to overcome friction is?'

Suzuki blinked once, twice, and thrice. 'Ah! 346.4 minus 160!'

'Splendid. That's the answer.'

'Thanks, Akashi! You're a great help,' Suzuki grinned. 'I would hug you as a thanks but people might interpret it differently so—' he patted Akashi's shoulder. 'Thanks again!'

He returned to his seat. Toshiyuki laughed. 'You're famous.' He commented. The redhead smiled in reply.

When Akashi was in his first year, everyone had feared him. Asking him questions casually like how Kitamura and Suzuki did was something rare. He would never hesitate to bring down those who look down on him. Seven 3rd years were expelled the year before as a result from picking a fight with him.

Rakuzan lost in the Winter Cup tournament against Seirin, the infamous school. But it changed him into a better person. He chose his words carefully, he would smile, he would help anyone, and he rarely glared again. Everyone accepted his changes. They were glad. Akashi was back, now even better (this sounded like an advertisement).

'Akashi-kun, the principal asked for you!' a female student from 2-C informed him by the door. The redhead nodded and left.

-

'Akashi-kun,' the principal began. 'I am aware of your rage towards Miyamura Yuzuki from 2-E for poisoning you, so I have something to propose.'

Akashi remained silent in front of the principal. He wanted to tell him that he didn't mind being poisoned; that he didn't even want to care about her because maybe she made a mistake, but he was curious as to what the principal would propose.

'I grant you the permission to watch over her with one condition...'

A chuckle crept on Akashi's lips.

-

I rolled on my bed over and over. First day of school after suspension sucked because I was forced to complete the previous homework. Suddenly, I heard a thump and Dad was shouting something intelligible. Confused, I quickly got off the bed and slid my bedroom open. I peeked out to see but there was no one in the hallway.

So, yeah, my house is a traditional Japanese house thingy because Dad is really obsessed with the Shinsengumi stuffs so he wanted to live in a Dojo or something of that sort; sliding (somewhat paper) doors, wooden floors, a large compound and Dad's underlings' rooms around the main house, and a main gate.

I was even forced to wear Hakama and Tabi in the house. Haori is for family gatherings—dinners, lunches, breakfasts, celebrations, and others. Something was wrong—I grabbed a Bokken by the door and headed to the living hall.

'Whoa, Dad!' I exclaimed in surprise.

Dad was stretching his muscles and there were blood all over his white shirt. Behind him were his underlings, beaten but still able to stand, although slumped. And among the crowd, I saw him.

'K-Kaichou!' I gasped in horror.

He was between Aidou and Ikinoshita, both of them supporting him to stand. Of course, Kaichou had wounds all over his face and his chest part was revealed (because it was torn). He was barely conscious.

'What the hell happened?' I asked Dad.

'Well, the Yukimura decided an ambush,' Dad shrugged then turned to Aidou and Ikinoshita. 'Bring him to our infirmary, treat his wounds immediately and make sure he's alive. I'll contact Masaomi.'

My eyes widened as I saw his abdomen soaked red. 'Was he stabbed?!' I panicked and withdrew my phone, ready to call 119.

'No, wait, Yuzuki,' Dad cut me off. 'He's stabbed, yes but we can't send him to the hospital. It'd be far too dangerous for him to go on a ride even in an ambulance guarded by us. This is Yukimura's chance to finish Seijuurou off.'

I glanced at the president. 'I'll help Dr. Sumire.'

Dad nodded and I followed Aidou and Ikinoshita to the infirmary, away from the main house. 'How did it happen?' I poked Aidou's arm lightly.

'Yuzuki-sama,' he bowed his head slightly. 'We were watching him from afar as he got out of school and a student went past him. He was stabbed and we rushed to his aid but that was the moment Yukimura clan ambushed us. We were outnumbered but we got away thanks to Takato-sama's help.'

Ikinoshita slid the infirmary door open and peeked in. 'Dr. Sumire! A patient is here!' he called out. Running footsteps were heard and Dr. Sumire appeared.

'Wha--? OH! Oh my handsome young man—bring him in, please!' Dr. Sumire panicked and then she saw me. 'Ah! Yuzuki! Help me lay this futon for him!'

'Yes, ma'am!' I saluted her and got to work.

-

I stifled a laugh when I saw the cleaned up Kaichou on the futon, sleeping soundly. 'Did Dad force you to make him wear this?' I pointed at the white Hakama, white Montsuki Kimono, simple white Date Eri, and white Juban Kimono, with a black translucent Haori Kaichou was wearing.

Dr. Sumire grinned. 'Traditions.'

I sat beside the lad and examined his features. 'He's handsome.' I commented.

'That's quite straightforward.' Dr. Sumire muttered.

'How is he?'

'An almost fatal stab on his abdomen but this is Dr. Sumire we're talking about and your father was fast so he's all fine now. He needs more rest. I think he plays a sport—volleyball? Basketball? God knows but he should rest from it until his wound is closed properly.'

I frowned. 'How did you know he plays?'

Dr. Sumire let out an evil laugh and smirked. 'I touched him.'

'You mean?'

'I touched the muscles all over his body and oh! How splendid it was—is what I'd like say but no I didn't touch him. I'm prohibited from making any other physical contacts except the wounded parts, towards my patients.'

I giggled. 'So, I'll go and make dinner. Do I have to make special meals for this young man?'

Dr. Sumire shook his head. 'Hmm, I don't think he'd wake up any time soon; so don't bother giving him foods to eat. Just prepare him some—'

'Tofu.' A voice said.

She nodded. 'Yes, Tofu would be fine too, I was meaning to say Miso actual—'

We blinked at each other and slowly looked down.

'WHOA! SINCE WHEN ARE YOU AWAKE?!' I yelled and fell back. Kaichou groaned and cradled his head as he got up slowly, wincing. Dr. Sumire helped him up.

'I thought you said Tofu.' Dr. Sumire told me.

'I thought I said Tofu.' I replied.

'The doctor's right. I don't think I'll be having dinner,' Kaichou spoke. We watched him as he examined his clothes. 'May I ask why I'm in a Haka—' he stopped himself and looked at Dr. Sumire and I.

'I don't think I should ask. It's obvious why.' He added and sighed then lied back down, covering his eyes with his right forearm. He fell asleep soon after.

5 seconds, 15 seconds, 30 seconds, 45 seconds, 58 seconds, and... 'I'll go prepare dinner.' I stood up and left.

-

'I'm so going to throw this basin on your head, Dad.' I murmured to myself as I struggled washing the dishes using a basin of water instead of a sink because Dad wants to keep the house as traditional as possible, even the people inside.

Considering that I'm one of the few females there, I had to make meals (sometimes Dad's underlings would help me) and do the dishes. Everyone else was busy with his or her business. I clicked my tongue in annoyance and groaned loudly as the plate I was holding slipped from my hand and fell into the basin of water.

The water splashed at my face. 'Patience, Yu.' I told myself and picked it up. The sun was almost up at my head so I was planning to finish the dishes in speed demon mode.

'Fancy washing the dishes with a basin of water?'

I jerked my head up and turned around. 'Kaichou! You can get up already?' I exclaimed.

He frowned but smiled at the same time. 'Stop calling me Kaichou.'

'What's your name, then?' I asked and continued the dishes. He stood behind me, looking elegant in the Hakama Dad provided. He was pale and he looked tired.

'Akashi Seijuurou.'

'Akashi it is, then. Seijuurou is such an ugly name.'

He chuckled. 'You're too honest, my friend.'

Oh did I just—'I'm sorry!' I bowed slightly. 'There's a devil by my lips.'

'It's fine.'

I resumed my work. 'How long is Dad going to keep you here?' I asked.

'Until my father returns from his business trip.' He answered. 'You don't mind, right?'

I shook my head. 'Of course not! I live in the same house with Dad and his 15 underlings. Thank God the other 500 are all over Japan or my house would become a hotel. A traditional one at that.'

'Thanks for the Tofu soup. It was... not bad.'

I squinted my eyes. 'You could've sugarcoated your words, young man.'

'Are you working under your Dad?' he changed the topic. 'Like, you are given the order to protect me as well?'

'Nope! No such thing! I am ordered to protect myself. I certainly am not joining my father in his business. I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up in jail some time in the future. Besides, I'm not fit the protection program job because of personal reasons.'

'That explains it.' He murmured.

'Now that you're at it, would you mind lending me a hand?' I queried.

He raised a brow and turned away. 'I'm heading back to my room. Good luck, Miyamura.'

'Tch!' I groaned and rolled my eyes. 'Name's Yuzuki by the way you lazy president!' I called out and pouted.