Written as part of Akian week prompt day-1: "The first kiss."
It took me a lot to make them kiss, but they hopefully, do kiss. Hope you enjoy it!! <3

I've actually written it a week prior so I'll probably edit out some minor things if I see need :D

––––––

Akito simply stared with his olive green eyes without his usual spark, all the while his two hands grasping on the night sky haired girl's shoulders.

"Hey…Akito…? What's the sudden gloom for?"

The guy in front of her was in such a pathetic and inwardly, a rather cute expression unbecoming of Akito that even her face was frowning a little now by the possible seriousness of the matter.

"An…I love you–"

"Eh–? Eh….?? Ahhh..!!? Really what's gotten into you today!? Here, let me check your forehead~~!!"

An leaned closer to Akito to touch his forehead, but unfortunately she was still firmly held by his arms and as if the closeness was being a bit too cruel for his beating heart, he gently pats her hand away from his face, albeit bashfully.

"Oii…. And why do you act so annoyingly surprised when I confess my love for you, huuh…? Don't go on mocking me…"

Akito knew it wasn't her fault if she was this shocked when he was being so uncharacteristically frank with her, flowering words of love and affection pouring onto her, which he very well might agree that he always felt this way with her all these past six months of dating, but he must come to a painful agreement that he is by now, far too desperate for the one thing he's been very patient for…

"An… I love you. We've been dating for the past six months now… And as a boyfriend I think it's…don't you think it's time? Can I kiss you now, An….?"

"I-I love you too…I get it, but…It's just that I'm not ready at heart yet. Sorry, Akito."

An apologetically embarrassed expression came on An's face, Akito heaves a sigh, thinking that it's be bad if he didn't respect her feelings.

But he quickly saw her expression lighting up, giving him a smidge amount of hope:

"Hey, Akito, uh… since I'm not properly ready yet, how about we play a game to gradually close our distance…? Like, how about you can hold my hand if you won the first round…? Well, I can hold your hand obviously too!! Akito, sounds good right?"

"Wah…wait. Come to think of it, we've never gone beyond holding hands… but, nope, it's not trash at least! But you left behind the important detail– what game do we play for!?"

An then showed Akito a sheepish smile, followed by a sheepish chuckle.

"...That I haven't actually decided yet. Hehe…"

"Wha–?"

-

And with just that last minute consideration, it was decided that the first round of the game would be an easy, fair one for Akito– That is to win a soccer match.

Akito readied himself while glancing back and forth at his teammates, and then to his opponents. A mighty grin plastered on his face, when the opposition was already sweating in defeat much before the match could even begin.

("Akitoo! Go for it!")

An even came to see him at recess, waving her hands. Above all, he had to hold those pretty hands today no matter what.
….

"You said you don't like soccer anymore, but you're still plenty good you know?~"

Holding both of Akito's hands towards her, An chuckled.

"Tch. It's just all the practice I did as a kid still paying off. It's nothing."

"Oooh, stop acting so cool when you've literally destroyed them! It gives me the creeps!"

His grasp on her soft  hands suddenly tightens,

"Why you-"

-

Basketball. It was An's expertise, but quite promising for Akito nevertheless. When he said he'd help out their club, the members were slightly taken aback, and he realized they weren't nearly as nervous at him as the soccer team was.

"Our teams have quite the nerve… would you able to stand against them… Aki~to?"

An teased him while fidgeting, her back leaning against a wall far side from the crowd.

"And by the way you're fidgeting… so I think you can't wait for the hug?"

Akito walks up to her while looking at her eye level, and that caused it… The girl takes one attentive look at him, and hides her face when she reddens. Maybe this was incredibly pleasant for him, as he lets out a light hearty chuckle.
….

"Hey, An, what's up? Hm? You're watching this thing so seriously?"

In the meantime, An noticed Mizuki walking beside her as they shot her a long look. An shakes her head.
It wasn't like she was even serious about the game itself, and it's not like they couldn't hug anytime soon! And yet she couldn't help her heart racing every time she remembers Akito's annoying face looking right through her amber eyes, the smirk that he gave her when he called out her obvious anxiousness–

Her face reddens, as her wide eyes focused everywhere other than the guy himself. As if in attempt to hide her embarrassment, An clamped both of her hands on the face shut.

Mizuki finally let out a "hmm" in understanding as they giggle and pat their poor friend's head.

"I see. I see! Ahahha…it's about lil' bro."

"Hmm? What's with that look on your face Mizukiii…"

The way Mizuki laughed so pleasantly and the sort of motherly expression they were giving made An think that they almost, or probably completely saw through her inner turmoil. She wouldn't put it past Mizuki, that damn friend of hers, after all.

Anyways, being exposed by Mizuki was far better than if Akito found out about something so embarrassing. That guy…exactly what kind of reaction will he give her? Smile? Laugh? Or just being an irritating prick like always.

"Hey, An. Lil' bro, even if you act shocked, is your boyfriend, isn't he? If you really feel like it, then what's stopping you from telling him about it?"

An pops out from her stupor, before hanging her head to give a conflicted expression, Mizuki frowned.

"Hey… Is Lil' bro really annoying you? If so, then don't forget that me and Ena are always by your si–"

"Wha!? No! No! He's nothing like that, really~ rather he's being really sweet to me right now… I like it. A lot! But…it's the exact same thing thing that's bothering me… Ahhh…how could I explain it to you without being too embarrassing?"

An's bashful, sort of down-casted dazed face met Akito's beat-up face as sweat trickled down to his cheeks, he still confusedly gives her a smile as if asking if she was alright, that idiot. That idiot with a bad mouth, who she can't help but get into fights after fights with.

But he's smiling at her, right now, and has been as long as she can remember. She returns back a complicated smile but looks like it had been taken nicely, seeing as he joyously closes his eyes. That idiot… he's always caring towards her but what if it just got sweeter because he was intentionally buttering her up for the kiss? Just like how she gave him this game, he's also being strangely convincing by being so affectionate more than the last six months. Was he always this adoring when he got down to stare at her eyes like Akito did before the basketball match started?

An's heart felt like skipping a beat, and it skips four other beats when she quickly realizes the rapid pace of the game– the fiery turn of events– a well chance for Akito to win… and them to hug.

"Oiii An!! We're almost up!"

Akito's yells out with a strong, energetic voice. He secretly hopes it could make An's conflicted look go away if he could be cheerful. After all, if he had to hug her then she must look happy with it. He wouldn't like it in any other way.

A sigh escapes from him, if he's that worked up over a hug then what'll happen if he actually gets to kiss her? The soft, round pinkish lips he saw when he stared at her, and the cute reaction An gave him still plays on loop in his head. His heart is skipping too many beats he feels. And that's not good for his heart–

God damnit he must come back and focus on the throwing this darn ball on the basket if he had to get her!

"Oii…!! Okazaki, we aren't going to lose!!
You hear me?"

"Yep! Don't you worry Shinonome! Even if no one is, I'm here with you!!"

The onlookers gasp. An's face shifts from a dejected look to a surprised look as she remain focused on it. And very soon, with that very surprised face, her hands started to clap softly before Mizuki's and the rest's loud applause roars.

An's heart raced, she felt like running towards him and hugging him at that instant, but she forced it away thinking it won't be a good idea as what she really wanted was what he–

"Yo! An!"

An's mind goes blacks out before the vivid colours return back as warmth from his firm hands resounds and the side of her cheeks being tickled by the few smooth hair strands of his.

You can't find a better timing, can you!? My breath almost stopped there for a second!

Instead of stopping, Akito giggled as though he could hear what An said and patted her head softly before running his hand through her hair. She could hear the others chatting, but none of the words were getting through her. This might be the first time An felt aware of the PDA that she constantly showers her boyfriend upon.

Damn, he must be so flustered by me… 

"Ah…Akito… I'm so glad…"

Akito feels An trying to circle her arms around his back, loosely hanging below. He pats her back warmly before breaking the hug.

"I'm really glad too."

An's face lits up in front of him. Her rosy cheeks somehow looked so red, and what's this? You're the one who was flustered but now you're pouting? And for what?

Akito averts his gaze.

"And I'm really glad too~ No waay, Lil' bro is actually being a good boyfriend for once wooah woah!"

"Kyaaa– Mizukiiii?"

"What the fuck are you acting surprised for? They've been watching us since the beginning."

The ginger scoffed to which the the certain pink-haired nudged him to their side. Mizuki quickly whispered to him before running away,

"Lil' bro just don't avert your gaze I hope you look at An firmly…Whatever game you're playing, it's already reached the boss level you see? It's for An too! Best of luck!"

"Huuuh? Akiyama the fuck does that mean?"
–

The backside of the school yard is rarely visited, which is why it's got a rumour about lovers hiding there. Now, An would be skeptical if that wasn't truly the case; look at her, being called by Akito to meet up at this place, she expected it though. Her mind was running cold yet she felt excitement racing. She kept a hand over her beating chest, thinking that this all started because of that guy's request.

"Oh? An. Sorry, had I kept you waiting?"

"Uh…nah. Not really."

An clutches the both of her hands, before clearing her throat.

"Then the next round of our game would be tomorrow…. That's actually for a kiss at the han–"

Then Akito cuts her off saying something just so abrupt out of the blue,

"–The game, actually, we don't need it anymore. You can throw it away."

An blinks her eyes once, twice and thrice.

"Huuuh? What's this bold claim?"

Akito smiles, a bit smug,before ducking down to kiss her hand like a true gentleman. An was bewildered, but a bewilderment she warmly welcomes anytime. The smug, annoying grin is definitely Akito…but the way he's kissing her hand is…most definitely! Akito!

"Your hands are soft and pretty. I always like them, when you hold microphones to sing… I like it a lot too. Hmm."

"Wha–"

Now this was getting too much! An was already flabbergasted, now with him saying all this with a genuine smile on his face…all the while holding her hand was…
Too sweet. It sent her through a shocked state.

Waving his hand over her face, Akito says,

"I hate doing half-assed things. And I certainly won't say those types of sweet stuff to butter you up."

Akito gently cups his hands on her cheeks, An's face relaxes at the careful touch and his caring voice.

"But you sometimes butter me up for  eating pancakes and cheesecakes, though?"

"Gaah… I know, I know. But this is different. Commitment is in the business. I can't half-heartedly just tell you whatever. Whatever I say is from my heart.
Love isn't a simple walk in the park, after all."

Akito gives An a sharp look, a look so determined yet spoken out so casually like it's nothing. It reminds her of how the boy talks about surpassing Rad Weekend.
….An senses the restlessness slowly vanishing.

"Ahhaha! Akito? You really are so serious, aren't you!? Hahaha."

"Why you–"

"Waaah– stop squeezing my cheeks like that

"Not until I get what I want. Or what we want. C'mon let's stop this."

An quickly rubs the tears formed from her laughter, she felt like a huge weight just left her shoulders, and she could finally melt down into his arms.

She wraps her arms around him much more freely and passionately than before, bringing him closer to her rosy face. Akito holds just the side of her cheeks and ear, closing the gap. Neither of them closed their eyes still, for all this painstakingly long time they were wishing for this…

An knows Akito is sweet, he presses her lips as gently as he can and as softly as not to overdo it for her first time, even if he was greedy.

But it was also perfect for Akito. She's his first real rival, and first real crush– He couldn't be any happier just to cuddle a little. Even if he wanted to be greedier, these soft lips that were sealed were already amazingly pleasant. He felt like everything was worth it if he could at last meet her adorable reactions.

Just behind the school yard, the two lock up and melt into their feelings through the first kiss for just a little while, hoping and praying for all the happy and fun times they are soon looking forward to.