Chapter Text
Kouki spent the rest of both Friday and Saturday between the couch in the living room and his bed. He didn’t want to eat, and sleep was the only relief he got from thoughts of Sei. He had turned his phone off so he didn’t have to see the names of his friends flashing on the screen with calls and messages asking if he was okay. He thought it had been fairly obvious that he was far from okay.
Still, they wanted to know how he was and he had to go back to school. He could always beg to transfer somewhere, but what good would that do? Then he’d lose everything all over again. As annoying as it was that they wouldn’t leave him alone, it was nice to know that he still had people who cared about him. Maybe when he worked through this, he could tell them what had happened.
Sunday morning, his mom came into his room and said, “Hey, Kouki, you awake?”
He turned to her and mumbled, “Mmhm.”
“Shower and get dressed, okay?”
So she had made an appointment for him to see a shrink? Therapy seemed like a pretty good option. He didn’t see any other way to go and no matter how hard things were, he had people that cared for him. He needed to try, and if that meant talking to a stranger about his issues, then so be it. Maybe he’d even get some medication that would make it easier. He didn’t know what to expect, but anything was better than feeling like he was slowly dying of heartbreak.
It still took a lot of effort to get up and he stayed in the shower longer than was probably acceptable, but moving seemed like too much work. Getting dressed was the same story. He didn’t know what was expected of him, so he threw on a plain white shirt, jeans, and grabbed his Seirin jacket. Putting it on felt a little like betrayal. He wasn’t on the team anymore, he shouldn’t be wearing it…but it was comforting. Familiar. He’d grown attached to it.
Wandering down the stairs, he found his mom ready to go. “Do you want to eat breakfast?” she asked. He shook his head and she sighed, “Then…we’ll get some food after, okay?”
He didn’t want to eat, but he also didn’t want to worry his mom more than he already had, so he nodded and followed her out to the car.
As he buckled himself in, he remembered jumping out of this same car to run back to Sei. He’d still had some hope then that if he and Sei just hid away together, their parents would leave them to be happy. What a naïve thought that had been.
He watched the city pass and his mom listened to some radio news broadcast. The streets soon passed where he was familiar with, but his mom seemed to know where she was going. She didn’t even need a GPS, she just drove.
The buildings around them got taller and the streets busier. Occasionally, his mom would shout abuse at the other drivers, but she remained pretty calm. It was fairly early in the day still, so for a Sunday, the streets weren’t too packed. Kouki liked watching the people on the streets, some hurrying from place to place, others strolling about the streets, taking pictures and smiling together. Their lives seemed so simple. They looked so happy. Of course, he had no idea what was actually going on in their lives, but he liked to imagine the best. They smiled with their friends and family, meandering about Tokyo on their days off.
And then his mom turned into a parking garage. There was a lady at a guard station and his mom rolled down the window and the woman said, “State your business.”
“We have an appointment. Furihata,” his mom responded.
The woman looked at her computer and nodded, “Go ahead.”
As the gate lifted and they drove in, Kouki noticed some fancy cars. He was more of a train guy, but he knew enough about cars to know that none of the ones parked there were in the price range for your average citizen. His mom parked in a spot that said ‘guest’ and when they walked from the car to a fancy looking lobby, he asked in a hushed whisper, “Mom, where are we?”
She ignored him and walked to the man at the front desk. “Hi, we’re the nine o’clock. I know we’re a little late, but he should understand.”
The guy nodded and said, “One moment.”
The man picked up a phone and Kouki tugged on his mom’s sleeve, “Seriously, mom, what is this? What kind of therapist are you sending me to?”
“Just be patient, Kouki, you’ll see,” she responded.
The man put the phone down and nodded, “He’s expecting you. Go ahead.”
He motioned them over to an elevator and the doors opened for them. His mom didn’t even press any buttons, the elevator just started moving up and Kouki was more confused than he’d ever been in his life. What was happening? And why did his mom look a little too sure of herself? Something was definitely not right here.
They went all the way to the top floor, which made Kouki even more uneasy. He wasn’t very good with heights. Still, he was already so confused, why not add one of his many fears into the pile of feelings?
When the elevator doors opened, his mom walked him out and down a nicely decorated hallway to a large door. She knocked and a cold voice said, “Come in.”
Okay, if that was how his shrink sounded, he was sure this was a bad idea. There was way too much authority in that voice.
He turned to her in a panic, but then she opened the door and he froze.
In front of him was a large fancy office. The office itself didn’t really matter, though. The two people in the office, however, were a different story. They were sitting on a nice long couch with another couch in front of it, separated by a glass coffee table.
Sei looked about as shocked as Kouki felt. His red eyes were wide with surprise and he was petrified in the middle of writing something. His pen was hovering over the page and apparently he hadn’t been expecting this either. He was dressed in a nice gray suit and looked ready for a business meeting.
Sei’s dad looked…emotionless. His face was completely blank. “Please sit,” he said, motioning to the other couch.
Kouki was pretty sure his mom said something, but he didn’t hear it.
Every emotion he’d ever felt rushed back to him in an overwhelming flood. He didn’t know what to feel. He felt everything. He was shocked to see Sei and his dad, angry at his mom for not telling him, horrified that the person his mom had probably been yelling at was Sei’s dad…the list went on and not a single emotion stuck out more than the others. He felt dizzy. His mind was racing and his hands were already trembling.
“Kouki, come on,” his mom said, taking his hand.
She pulled him to the other couch, but every step he took made him feel more and more like he just wanted to throw up and maybe fling himself from one of the huge windows. Yeah, that seemed like the easiest way to sort his emotions out. His eyes darted from Sei to Sei’s dad and back again. Nothing made any sense.
When they got to the couch, he sat across from Sei and gave the redhead a confused look—a question to see if maybe he knew what was going on.
Sei just dropped his pen and looked back at him with the same level of confusion. This didn’t help. If Sei didn’t know what was happening…
Sei’s dad took a deep breath and said, “Look, I…have been informed that I may have—“
“No,” Kouki’s mom said, her voice cold. She just interrupted Sei’s dad! “That’s not good enough. It’s not ‘may have’, Akashi,” she spat the name with venom.
Sei’s dad actually looked down in shame. Kouki was past thinking. He had no idea what to think. He didn’t even know what to feel. Sei, on the other hand, seemed to pull himself together a little. He looked between the adults and asked, “Dad, what’s going on? Why…?”
“Well? Tell them,” Kouki’s mom said, crossing her arms and leaning back in the couch. She looked about ready to explode, her sudden anger rolling off of her in waves.
Sei’s dad nodded and looked down at some paperwork lying on the table. Clearing his throat, he said, “I’m sorry.”
“Sorry?” Sei asked, looking at his dad like the man had just caught fire. “You’re sorry? Now? After so many years?”
“I let my pride blind me, but…it has been pointed out to me that I made a grave miscalculation when—“
“Trying to run from the fact that your son is interested in men is not a miscalculation,” Kouki’s mom interjected again. “Look, I know it’s hard for you, but your apology here isn’t sounding sincere. As a mother, I will sit here all week until you do this properly if I have to. Don’t test me, my son has gone through hell because of your ignorance and so help me if you don’t fix this, I will burn your company to the ground, do you understand?! You’re not five years old and you know that Shiori would be very disappointed in you.”
At the mention of the name Shiori, Sei’s dad got a sad and distant look on his face. It clicked then that that was Sei’s mom’s name. The man looked up at Kouki and Kouki was about ready to pass out. Nothing made sense anymore. “My wife…before she died, she told me that I had made the biggest mistake of my life by sending you away. I just…I needed to protect my son, and—“
“That’s an excuse,” Kouki’s mom said.
“I know, but Seijuro’s life would be easier if—“
“If you ripped happiness away from him at every turn? He’s a child, your child! I get trying to do everything you can to help your baby, but this isn’t about him, it’s about you not wanting to accept it! You can’t just wish away a part of who he is!”
Sei nodded, “She’s right. You can’t change who I love, dad. I understand that this must be hard for you, but I love Kouki and we both promised mom we wouldn’t give up.”
Sei’s dad sighed in defeat and shut his eyes, “Look, this goes against everything I have ever learned, but…” He looked over at his son and gave Sei a sad smile, “I will try. I won’t get in your way, just please promise me you will be careful?”
“Dad, you know I can handle myself,” Sei responded.
Kouki’s mom smiled at Sei and said, “Well, this is progress. Now, Kouki hasn’t eaten in days, so we adults will go grab you kids something to eat and I will explain the difference between ‘try’ and ‘do’. You boys have fun now. Come, Akashi-san.”
She got up and Sei’s dad followed her. The man looked defeated. Though, after being chewed out by his mom, Kouki could understand. When she got angry, nothing stopped her.
Once the adults left the room and the door shut behind them, Kouki’s eyes turned to Sei and he asked, “W-what just…was that real? Tell me I’m dreaming.”
Sei shook his head, “I…honestly don’t know.”
Kouki was still stuck being pelted by different emotions. He didn’t know what to think or feel… “Now what?” he asked.
Sei looked up at Kouki with hope in his brilliant red eyes. “I…D-do you…I mean…if you don’t want to talk about it or anything, that’s fine, I just…I still love you, Kouki, and if the last few minutes actually just happened, I think…I don’t think my dad will be an issue anymore.”
Kouki’s flood of emotions finally let one stick above the rest and he was suddenly crying. Judging by the immediate concern on Sei’s face, the redhead hadn’t been expecting that. Either had Kouki. He wiped at his eyes and shook his head, “S-sorry, I just…I l-love you too.” The knot that had been twisting in his stomach seemed to disintegrate into butterflies and he was still pretty sure he was dreaming, but as he cried, he was somewhere between elated and terrified that none of this was real. “P-please don’t leave me again! Sei I missed you!”
Sei was suddenly there on the couch next to him. Two strong arms pulled him into a solid warm chest and if Kouki hadn’t already been overwhelmed, the feeling of Sei next to him would have done it. The redhead ran a hand through coarse brown hair and said, “I missed you too. I’m never leaving you again, I promise.”
Kouki clung to Sei and his sudden fit of crying began subsiding. Sei was there with him. His Sei. Beautiful and strong and absolutely perfect. He wiped the last of his tears away and hugged Sei tight. His heart was pounding and he was pretty sure Sei could feel it, but that didn’t really matter.
He couldn’t believe it. Sei was back in his life again and this time for good. With a sudden realization, Kouki felt his face heat up as he asked, “W-wait, does this make us boyfriends?”
Sei leaned back enough to look Kouki in the eyes. With a smile, he said, “I certainly hope so.”
Kouki smiled back and said, “Wow nobody’s gonna believe this.” He hadn’t been this happy in years. Everything just…it actually seemed to be working out for once.
“Believe what?”
“That I’m lucky enough to have someone as incredible as you for a boyfriend.”
Sei huffed, “I’m the lucky one.”
Before he could stop himself, Kouki said, “Have you seen yourself? You’re practically a model.”
“And you’re an angel. I think I win.”
Kouki felt his face heating up in embarrassment, “That was really cheesy, Sei.”
“I know, but it’s true.” Sei’s hand came up to Kouki’s cheek. Red eyes locked onto brown and Kouki was really sure he was dreaming.
…but if it was a dream…might as well make it a good one?
Heart pounding, Kouki leaned in slowly and gave Sei a soft chaste little kiss.
Before he could back away and probably die of happiness right there, Sei pulled him back in and Kouki hadn’t been expecting it, but this wasn’t like any other kiss they’d previously shared. There was a tenderness to it that sent Kouki’s mind spinning and his heart racing.
He couldn’t quite help himself when he grabbed Sei and pulled him closer. There was a drive in him that he was pretty sure translated into desperation, but he didn’t care. He needed Sei. Needed him like he needed air.
There was a spark between them that he knew couldn’t be one-sided. Being with Sei was electrifying. Every nerve in his body was actively screaming for him to never let Sei go again.
Their lips parted, but they stayed close. There was a blush on Sei’s cheeks and Kouki grinned. “I love you.”
Sei grinned back and said, “I love you too.” Giving Kouki another quick kiss, he said, “I can’t wait to face you again on the court. You were so cute I had to stop myself from running right to you the moment I took back control.”
With an awkward chuckle, Kouki said, “Yeah…I’m not sure if Coach will ever let me near our team again. I sort of…quit and she didn’t take it well.”
“You quit basketball?” Sei asked, raising a brow.
Looking away, Kouki mumbled, “Y-yeah, well, I thought I couldn’t see you again, so…”
“That is unacceptable. You need to un-quit.”
“If it were that easy,” Kouki grumbled. “You haven’t met Coach, she’ll murder me if I go back to her days after quitting and ask to be back on the team.”
“Then let’s call a team meeting and explain the situation. I have the rest of the day off and I was going to see Kuroko anyway, I wanted to thank him for keeping an eye on you for me.”
“H-he was?” Kouki asked.
“He’s the best person to, yes, though…he’s sometimes a little too sparse with his words. He should have told me you quit the team, but his last update to me was that you were still sad. In retrospect, he’s probably not a very reliable spy.”
“If he described the state I was in Friday as ‘sad’, then yeah. And I don’t actually have the authority to call a team meeting.” Rushing on, Kouki said, “Besides, I…I don’t want to see anyone else today.”
With a brilliant smile, Sei said, “Then today will be just about us. I’ll be back in town again next week, though.”
“Then if I live until then, we should definitely hang out if you have some free time.”
“Absolutely. I wouldn’t dream of visiting Tokyo without coming to see you. You are my boyfriend, after all.”
“I love the sound of that so much.”
He was about to kiss Sei again when there was a knock on the door and Kouki’s mom asked, “Hey, we’re back, are you decent?”
“Oh my god, mom!” Kouki screeched.
As he melted into a puddle of embarrassment, dropping his forehead on Sei’s shoulder, the redhead laughed and answered, “Yes, we are.”
The door opened and Kouki’s mom walked in with Sei’s dad in tow, bags of food between them. “I didn’t know what you boys were in the mood for, so I got a bit of everything. Now, I will be going home now, you boys enjoy and behave yourselves and if he,” she pointed at Sei’s dad, “Gives you any trouble, you call me and I will once again remind him that a mother’s fury knows no bounds. Have fun!”
As she left and they were left alone with Sei’s dad, Sei said, “We’ll go eat in the break room.”
His dad nodded stiffly, “Right. Good idea.”
Sei grabbed some food bags at random and took Kouki’s hand, “We have a lot of catching up to do.”
Before they could leave, Sei’s dad said, “Kouki?” The boys turned and Sei’s dad sighed, “Please take care of my son. He…seems happier with you around.”
Kouki couldn’t help the dopey grin on his face as he squeezed Sei’s hand and said, “I will.” Things had actually worked out for them for once.