Pseudo Shadows
06 _Talisman

"My memories are with you, not the amulet."

.

Matsuo and the rest of the basketball team made their way to the dugout after the team qualified for the semi-finals. The look on Matsuo's face was as harsh as Kekai's, they kept silent in their respective minds. Akihiko was there too, his look was different from the others, his look more like someone who was frustrated.

"Don't make your problems the reason for your unfocusedness in the match earlier." The chestnut finally made a sound, his tone heavier than usual. It proves that Kekai is holding back anger.

Akihiko also knew, he had made a mistake. He could not focus on his match, as his thoughts continued to be on Aihara who arrived away from him after that night he hugged her at Wahana Bianglala. Even Akihiko did not see Aihara present in the audience seat today. Akihiko also did not know why he was so worried about Aihara that it even made him seem to lose consciousness.

Akihiko sighed softly, bowing his gaze at the bracelet on his right wrist. It was Aihara's bracelet that day, she said it was a good luck charm for her. But Akihiko did not feel that way, because if only Keki did not take advantage of the last time for them to put the ball into the ring, then it was in Make sure that the score of his team and the opposing team to be a draw. Whereas if Akihiko really serious about doing the match, he can collect more points in a short time.

"It's hard to believe. For this time, I'm disappointed in you, Kio." Matsuo patted Akihiko on the shoulder before he changed the direction of his path.

Actually Matsuo was happy when Akihiko and Aihara were able to get close to each other, only if it caused an effect of this magnitude from Aihara's absence in the audience seat like that, Matsuo would also feel annoyed at Aihara. He did not understand the girl at all, suddenly he became so foreign to her when they accidentally met in the cafeteria yesterday. Aihara glanced at him, but the girl walked away without greeting him. It succeeded in making Matsuo so annoyed at him.

Matsuo walked towards the bus the students used to take them to the match venue. He just wanted to check, maybe there were students left behind.

The tech!

Matsuo pulled the bus door until it opened perfectly. He then went inside and found a girl who was also looking curiously at him. Matsuo immediately hardened his countenance after he saw Aihara who then lowered his gaze again.

"It turns out you're really here." The man sat himself in a chair adjacent to Aihara.

"......"

"Why not go in? Kio really fucked up today."

As soon as I heard Akihiko's name coming out of Matsuo's mouth, Aihara was instantly alarmed. "D-He, is he okay?"

"I told you it was a mess! And it's all because of you!! You idiot!" Matsuo said all the grunts that had filled his mind. "I know, you actually admire each other. Then why are you avoiding him?!"

Aihara remained silent. He also admitted that he did admire Akihiko, but he could not decide arbitrarily. Aihara no longer wanted to make mistakes, she no longer wanted to make someone feel sick. Because even Aihara did not know, whether he really loved Akihiko or just ordinary admiration.

Matsuo is startled by Aihara who awakens him and walks out without saying anything to him. "Where are you going?!" Matsuo then got off the bus and grabbed Aihara by the wrist. "What are you doing?!!"

"I want to see Kio." Hearing that and seeing Aihara's expression instantly become very bright due to her small smile, Matsuo's annoyance became slightly lessened. The man turns to smile and then next to his arm embraces Aihara's shoulder before he invites her to go see Akihiko.

"Actually why did you stay away from Kio? Did you guys fight?" Matsuo asked more kindly.

"Eung...," Aihara thought she shouldn't have told Matsuo about her problem. Although she knows him well, Aihara also believes that Matsuo can be a good listener and may be able to keep his secret. But for now he could not entrust his circumstances to Matsuo.

"If it's something that's privacy, there's no need to say it." Matsuo and Aihara had already arrived at the rest room, the door of the room was also already wide open. After he entered the dugout, all eyes suddenly fell on them, especially Kekai and Akihiko.

"Aihara! Come here!" The order of Kekai with its already adorned look a small smile. While Akihiko was still staring at Aihara expressionlessly, even though his heart was getting warmed up after seeing her presence.

Aihara chose to stand beside Akihiko, while Matsuo occupied himself beside Keki.

"You just arrived?" Ask Keki.

"That-"

"So he just sat quietly on the bus!" Reply Matsuo ketus, making Akihiko blink his eyes.

"Sorry." Aihara felt guilty, she should have come and supported them.

"Because you weren't in the audience seat, Kio really felt frustrated."

Aihara's reflexes turned towards Akihiko who was still silent, she then pulled a small smile while looking down again.

"Kio, I'm sorry."

"Hm." Akihiko did not understand, why he could not refute Kekai's words. He just kept quiet and seemed to say that it was true, even though in reality it was true that he felt frustrated because Aihara was avoiding him.

"You guys here?! Woah congratulations on your victory!" Hanna and another girl entered the break room and carried a bag of drinks. Hanna was so happy that the team from their school finally went to the semi-finals, but after seeing Aihara sitting next to Akihiko made her feel upset at once.

"A-Aihara.., are you here?"

Seeing Seta's surprised look and Aihara's sharp gaze that led to him successfully invited the gazes of everyone who was there.

"Oh, you guys know each other?" Matsuo.

"No, I don't know him at all." Aihara felt one arm land on her shoulder. He knows it's Akihiko's arm.

Seeing his lover who immediately lowered his gaze, made Kekai confused. But he was sure something had happened between Seta and Aihara.

"She's Seta, my lover."

"Oh."

As if understanding Aihara's current state, Akihiko awakens her body and invites Aihara to leave. Half an hour later their basketball team will be called, Akihiko thinks he can use the rest of their break to chat with Aihara elsewhere.

****

"He's part of your past?" Ask Akihiko. They chose a canteen to be a place to chat.

Aihara nodded with her blank look. "Eong."

"You want to tell?"

"He used to be a bully in my life. That's it." Akihiko frowned after Aihara raised her head again and smiled at her. "For what I said the other day, please forget it."

"Hm?" Though Akihiko was already very happy when he heard Aihara Tempo's request today. But after Aihara asked her to forget that, she became a little disappointed.

"Kio, do you have someone you love?" Aihara's question suddenly made Akihiko a little offended. Of course, Akihiko was putting her heart to someone, someone who was in front of her at the moment.

"Hm."

Aihara lowered her gaze, "Me too. I have someone I love more than anything." He smiled sincerely behind his blank gaze, "But since there is a bully among us, it makes me continue to worry about losing him. My excessive worry makes me a possessive and jealous person." Aihara's smile turned wry and her gaze became faint, "Until I can't control my Speech and make it go away."

Akihiko's hands clenched tightly, his countenance also slowly hardened. It would be a lie if Akihiko felt good right now. He was quite happy because Aihara was willing to tell a story, but when he found out that Aihara loved her ex-lover so much it made Akihiko jealous. Probably very jealous.

"There is no point in regretting something that has happened. But taking a lesson from something you've been through, you have to do it." Whether conscious or not, Akihiko slipped the child's hair on Aihara's forehead into her ear and looked at her gently. "If someone who has gone is inciting a wound in your heart, then let someone new heal it and heal it."

Their eyes seemed locked on each other. The sincerity that emanated from Akihiko's highlight was able to create a warm wave in Aihara's heart, until her eyes felt so hot because of haru.

"A-kihiko.."

"Let me heal your wound Aihara."

Wait, why does her chest feel so tight? Akihiko why do you have to say it now? Don't you know that Aihara is still struggling to forget her past?

"Sorry."

Akihiko was ready for that. A painful rejection, he was already very prepared to accept that. But why, at this time his heart seemed to be burning, why was he so angry when he heard Aihara's rejection?

"Why? Has anyone else healed your wounds?" Akihiko's gaze instantly sharpened, his heart already beating so fast from anger. But instantly everything came back empty when he found Aihara again shed tears.

"S-In a minute, Kio. Just a minute." After Aihara really let go of Roki, wait a little longer until Aihara is sure that she really loves you. Please wait a minute.

Whether conscious or not, Akihiko immediately buried Aihara's head in her chest. I don't know, Akihiko seemed to be feeling something. Deep sadness, trust me Akihiko is very jealous of the man who has been able to make Aihara lonely like this.

They finally returned after a while. Akihiko's team again stands on the field with the opposing team, this is the semi-final that will determine who deserves the most to get the first champion. Akihiko had a few glances at Aihara who waved her hand at him. Akihiko was still in a state of burning heart.

There are people who say that if someone is overwhelmed with anger he will do everything brutally, it turns out that the expression is true. Akihiko with his unrivalled skill scored several points in less than five minutes. It seems that Aihara's refusal to feel Akihiko has a useful effect, because that way Akihiko looks so obsessed with continuing to put the basketball into the ring, until the time comes for Akihiko's team to become winners.

But once again, Akihiko's victory did not find any appreciation from Aihara, the girl looked gloomy and kept bowing. What's wrong with her?

#BBC#