[ If Akashi particularly cared for it, he would probably have stated for the record that he had not, in fact, taken a complete look through Rakuzan's basketball roster before deciding to attend the school. He hadn't particularly felt a need to — seeing the team and school culture, as well as the facilities, had been enough for him to make a decision. He knows that some people try and seek out their destined soulmates by looking through attendance lists and whatnot (he'd caught Midorima attempting to deny he was doing such a thing when they'd still been in the process of deciding what high schools to go off to), but he's always figured that things will happen when they happen.
— and so they did, when he found the next shadow player and his soulmate in one fell swoop. Still, he has priorities, basketball comes first and soulmates come second. His first business is to persuade Mayuzumi to join the basketball team, and then, well. Whatever happens, happens, he supposes.
He's always been careful to conceal the name on his right wrist carefully, to avoid drawing eyes and preventing any unwanted speculation or attention. Today is no different; he's got a wristband on and the sleeves of his school uniform pulled down: less to hide the name underneath, more because it's beginning to get chilly and he wears his uniform properly to begin with. And he doesn't particularly feel sentimental when he climbs up the stairway to the rooftop, he's as relaxed and confident as ever. Without dawdling or engaging in any other last-minute hesitation, he opens the door leading to the rooftop and walks over to where Mayuzumi's sitting, careful to keep a pace or so between them, a comfortable enough distance. ]
Mayuzumi Chihiro... right?
[ Well, put it down in the record books for the most perfunctory first words ever spoken to your soulmate. ]
[ Mayuzumi's certainly heard about people who didn't take it well when they discovered their soulmate outclassed them somehow, but he doesn't particularly care about things like that.
...Well, not that much, anyway. It's a bit irritating that the person who entirely cockblocked his avenue of possible basketball progress is one and the same as his soulmate, but he's not some pathetic, insecure loser unable to accept his own limits and get over it.
Besides, he'd never consider Akashi or anyone else superior to him just because they happen to be better than him at a particular thing. ]
A monster player like you showing up in my last year when those other three are already around doesn't leave much of an opening for someone like me to advance before I graduate.
[ Even if his chance of ever making it to a real playing position were slim to start with at such a strong school, there'd still been at least a little hope he could hold onto before. ]
There's no point wasting more effort on something that won't pay off instead of doing something more productive with my time.
[ Like catching up on what's really important in life, the latest mass-market genre fiction sensation. ]
[ That answer just makes Akashi smile — well, smirk, really. He'd come here looking for somebody who could fill the same place on the team that Kuroko had for Teikou, but he sees now that he could've dreamed more ambitiously. Kuroko always believed in doing the best for the team, about being the perfect support — Mayuzumi wants his own glory.
Akashi likes it. It's a good trait, one he understands more than Kuroko's mindset. He supposes that must be one reason that fate's decided they're meant to be soulmates. ]
If you're willing to grasp through your own efforts, then a place on the starting team is within your reach. Have you heard of the Phantom Sixth Man?
[ ... It's a bit strange talking about Kuroko like he's some kind of basketball urban legend. If things work out better, he'd prefer it if Mayuzumi gained no reputation at all.
Well, he'd also like it if Mayuzumi gained no reputation at all because seriously? How do people not notice this guy? He's built and he's attractive, all he has to do is not be irredeemably idiotic and he'd probably be acceptably desirable to 75%+ of the population. (So he thinks before he learns about how much Mayuzumi enjoys the latest mass-market genre fiction sensation, at least.) ]
[ If Akashi wasn't already the center of Mayuzumi's attention before, that curl to Akashi's mouth hooks him...along with what Akashi says. Mayuzumi may not necessarily be the most emotive guy, but his eyes do widen. He'd already laid to rest his hopes, but it seems as if Akashi just might have brought a shovel. ]
Yeah, but I always thought he was just a story, not a real guy.
[ But he's too cynical to let himself get swept up by tantalizing possibilities that fast; this isn't a story and despite the hair and eyes and fated connection, Akashi isn't really an alien heroine descending from the skies to offer Mayuzumi everything he's ever wanted.
I think you have similar potential as that person... as Teikou's sixth man.
[ Similar, but not the same. Akashi can tell right off the bat that Mayuzumi isn't suffering for certain physical attributes the same way that Kuroko is. The real mystery of this series: it's not the weird basketball moves or Akashi's existence in general, it's how can Kuroko not be in better shape when he works out every day?
Besides, he doesn't want another Teikou, he wants a different team. A better team. Possibly even a team that doesn't fall the heck apart halfway through his time there. But since that might be asking for a bit much, he'll settle for a championship team. ]
There would be a place on the team for you, if you're willing to fill that niche.
So...I could be a player like him, is what you're suggesting. A guy that specializes in passing, right?
[ It's easy for Mayuzumi to fill in the blanks. If he has that potential and it gets realized, he could be for Rakuzan what the Phantom Sixth Man was for Teikou, he could be a starter, he could participate in real matches. He could maybe even go all the way to the Winter Cup and get to play in the finals. How great would it be to come back with a win from that?
It is a tempting offer, there's no denying that. He's sure that most of his former teammates would fall all over themselves to agree to a proposition like that in a hot second.
But of course, he's himself, so he smiles. ]
That's too bad then, because I'm not interested in filling a niche. I'm going to have to turn you down.
[ It's an understated expression of amusement, but for a brief moment he can't seem to control a genuinely vicious smirk that curls at the corners of his mouth. He looks excited, in a sense, and quite pleased with something. ]
Interesting. But no, not quite... I think that you may be able to surpass Kuroko Tetsuya. As a player, he has a fatal flaw which you do not.
[ Had Kuroko remained acquiescent and played along with Akashi's wishes, then maybe Akashi would have even informed him of what that flaw was, but — here is a clearly superior option right in front of him. And that's not even taking into account the soulmates thing.
... He might circle back to that point. Eventually. After the important business is sorted out.
[ Before they met, Mayuzumi entertained the possibility that Akashi might be completely dull. After all, it takes a pretty hardcore overachiever to become student council president in his first year as well as captain of the basketball team, and it'd be easy to slot the guy as fitting a particular kind of killjoy nerdy stereotype.
But here he is with a smile more like a devil's than a perfect angel's, and Mayuzumi's not sure how that expression can be both so unsettling yet somehow attractive.
Just what kind of person is he bound to by fate, anyway? ]
...Really. And what's that?
[ Of course he has to ask, even if it undermines the rejection he just made. He's not nearly desperate enough to play in a game to agree to slotting himself into a playstyle he won't enjoy, but who wouldn't be curious to find out how they're better than a minor legend? ]
Quite frankly, Kuroko Tetsuya has an astounding lack of conventional basketball ability. When it comes to anything other than his ability to remain undetected, he may as well be considered dead weight.
[ Harsh truths from Akashi Seijuurou, delivered in the same tone that one might expect a teacher to explain an objectively true theorem about how the world works. Water freezes at 0 degrees Celsius, the sum of one and one is two, and Kuroko is not actually good at standard basketball. It's not insulting, it's just true. ]
If he uses his distinctive play-style to compensate for his lack of skill, then it presents an unfortunate paradox for him. His talent is to remain undetected, but by expanding his repertoire beyond simply passing, he'll end up drawing attention to himself. In other words, he's turning his only weapon into a double-edged sword... Do you see what I mean? You are different. You can play at a standard level and avoid falling into that self-defeating trap... no, maybe somewhat above the standard.
[ It's just that the standard is abnormally high at Rakuzan, all things considered. It depends, Akashi thinks, on whether he wants to judge Mayuzumi on average average or Rakuzan average. ]
So even if I had a choice between you or Tetsuya to put on the team... I would definitely choose you. There is no debate as to which is the superior option.
[ It's a long-winded explanation, perhaps, but Akashi doesn't mind giving it at all. If anything, he feels like he has to give Mayuzumi his due respect for sticking to his convictions: if Mayuzumi wants to play on his own terms, all for the better. That's the kind of team that Akashi prefers anyway, the kind that's mostly united for one purpose, victory as self-satisfaction. ]
[ Who knew that the rumored Phantom Sixth Man is actually lousy at basketball except for one special ability?
Even for someone as guarded as Mayuzumi, it's pretty flattering to be told he's inherently superior to a (sort-of) legendary player by another legendary player; the potential avenue opened to him just becomes that much more tantalizing. ]
In other words, I could be a more versatile player than this Kuroko guy, by taking advantage of what I can already do and combining it with that kind of passing ability.
[ A playstyle that's different and wouldn't relegate him to just a one-note role, building on his own solid fundamental strengths but adding something new to make him entirely unique...
It's almost too good to be true, really— and that possibility does occur to Mayuzumi; what if Akashi's just buttering him up because they're soulmates, what if Akashi's offering him an opportunity because they're soulmates, what if Akashi's pride demands Mayuzumi be on the team because it'd be unacceptable to him as a player of his caliber for his soulmate not to be?
But if that were the case, Akashi's approach has been completely, hilariously wrong; the guy's barely even acknowledged that a connection between them exists at all. Even with that offhand flattery, Akashi's explanation feels too grounded and detached an assessment, a captain's objective viewpoint rather than something emotionally compromised.
And maybe a small part of Mayuzumi beneath all the cynicism wants to trust, wants to believe his soulmate would know instinctively just how much he'd despise being handed something he's worked for without really deserving it.
I guess I really am kind of a sentimental guy, huh.
It all ultimately earns a grin, maybe not so different from the one Akashi showed him a moment ago. ]
...Heh. You know, I have to admit that does sound pretty interesting.
Is interesting really all you have to say about it?
[ It's a slight break from the serious, even tone he had taken before, the sort of inflection one might expect from a particularly patient teacher — this is equal parts playful as it is challenging. ]
I'd say that serendipity may be at play here. Fate, perhaps, if you're the type to believe in it. I hadn't anticipated at all that I would happen to find the person whose name I carry in the player that I want to round out Rakuzan's starting line-up.
[ If so, fate knows Akashi Seijuurou well enough, having him find his soulmate while trying to accomplish a goal when he's never intended on looking for his soulmate in the first place. Then again, somebody who couldn't prove themselves capable in some way could never be Akashi's soulmate to begin with. ]
Interesting's what matters to me, though. It'd be meaningless to get to play in a game if I wouldn't be having fun doing it. [ Mayuzumi's aware of how self-centered that sounds, and it is, but he won't apologize for putting his own enjoyment first when it comes to something like this.
He didn't want to believe it, and still doesn't, but this really could be the chance of a high schooler's lifetime that he never expected to have and thought only ever happened in fiction. Maybe Akashi Seijuurou really is the mysterious heroine of Mayuzumi's light novel-fueled daydreams, stepping straight out of the pages to open the door to a whole new world up for him in more ways than one. And on the school's rooftop no less, the ideal backdrop for destiny to do some double-duty magic if there ever was one.
Even if Akashi's a guy, albeit a redheaded, odd-eyed, almost too attractive to be real guy. ]
So maybe fate really is on to something here, because this does have potential from my perspective, too.
[ He straightens and turns to face Akashi properly. ]
Alright, fine. If I can really become that kind of player and get to play how I've wanted, then I'll give the basketball club another shot.
[ It'd be meaningless... if I wouldn't have fun doing it. That's so well-adjusted; Akashi finds it positively fascinating. Akashi supposes he was expecting somebody similar to Kuroko in personality, given their similarity in other personal traits, but Mayuzumi's so different that it's striking — both in the way he thinks about the world, and the fact that he is tall, dark, and handsome.
... Which are really all just even more points in Mayuzumi's favor. ]
Good. Then I'll just pretend I never saw your resignation form. I suppose you wouldn't be prepared to show up to this afternoon's practice... but if you have time, come anyway.
[ Time to get schooled in the ways of misdirection, Mayuzumi. ]
I'm looking forward to it.
[ That's not a phrase he uses often, not for somebody who considers most of his life in various levels of inevitability. ]
I didn't really have anything else to do, so I suppose I can stop by. [ It seems Mayuzumi's switch to the Going Home club has ended up being short-lived, but he can't say he really minds.
What isn't, though, is what else is between them besides high school athletics. ]
But I'm curious, though.
[ He takes a step closer, book and hand both casually slipped into his pocket. ]
Is playing basketball the only thing you're looking forward to after meeting me?
[ The sweep of his gaze over Akashi is more deliberate rather than suggestive (although it is also certainly that), because he's looking for something more specific that he can't help but really want to know, even if Rakuzan's uniform makes it pretty much impossible to tell at a glance.
Where is Mayuzumi's name written on Akashi's body, exactly? Intellectually he might take Akashi being his soulmate at face value, but there is a more visceral desire to actually see the proof of it with his own eyes that he can't quite shake off.
And maybe not just see it, because he's heard things about that, too, overheard in classroom gossip and locker room bragging and mentioned as a clinical sidenote in sex ed pamphlets and seriously, what healthy teenaged boy isn't going to wonder about that kind of thing when his soulmate's finally appeared before him? ]
[ Well, he's glad that Mayuzumi's the one who's brought this up so that he doesn't have to. He would've done it anyway, but it's nice he didn't have to, in a sense. Akashi's mirroring of Mayuzumi's once-over is not quite deliberate — but he's definitely curious as to where his name might be. Most people don't have their soulmate's name posted in a terribly obvious location (truly, though, he does feel for the rare few who have something so uncomfortably intimate on their face), so he mostly is playing a mental guessing game.
No need to keep beating around the bush; he's done his duty as basketball captain already. He slides the wristband he's wearing off, holding up his arm to reveal the name underneath, in a dark gray color: Mayuzumi Chihiro. ]
I take it you mean this, right? I have to admit, I am curious...
[ Surprisingly, Akashi does happen to believe in some form of fate. Not in a particularly deep way, perhaps, but he does believe that it could not possibly be a complete coincidence that 6 certain people all were born so close in age, who all happened to dedicate their talents to the same sport, to go to the same middle school together — the same way that it seems like it may not have been a complete coincidence that two soulmates would choose to go to the same high school without even taking into account the soulmate thing. ]
If I can ask a question. [ He's going to ask it anyway. ] What do you think of the concept of soulmates?
But he doesn't say it, too fascinated by the characters inscribed on Akashi's skin. He leans in to examine them more closely, not really paying attention to the distance between them closing to border on the intimate in the process; it doesn't matter that he's seen these plenty of times in real life and on tv, it's entirely different when it's his name. He's never felt his heartrate speed up like this in response to seeing the strokes that make up his name's kanji before, that's for sure.
Of course, that may also have to do with the realization that he should be reciprocating. ]
Yeah, mine's...uh, inconvenient to show you here.
[ He's way too fast to move onto answering Akashi's question. ]
About soulmates, though? It's just how the world works, I guess. You don't choose whose name you get just like you don't choose who your family is. If you're that type, I suppose it's a romantic thought to have someone out in the world you're connected to by destiny that's supposed to be perfect for you.
[ Mayuzumi doesn't know about calling it love at first sight like they do in fiction, but already Akashi's face and hair and wrist and the sound of his voice and all the rest of him's burned into Mayuzumi's mind. He can't pretend that he doesn't find Akashi intriguing and highly attractive on a purely physical level; the temptation for Mayuzumi to wrap his fingers around Akashi's wrist and pull Akashi closer or press his mouth to his inscribed name, the sign that Akashi's meant to be completely and rightfully his, does exist even if he isn't acting upon it.
Even if so much else about Akashi's still unknown territory... ]
But fate is what you make of it too, isn't it? Destiny links people together but the rest is all really up to them.
[ Mayuzumi gets away with his insistent of inconvenience temporarily, if only because Akashi's interested in what he has to say about destiny — it's an interesting topic to begin with, but naturally, when it's coming from somebody who you've been tied to by some unknown entity of fate, then of course it takes on a whole new dimension. Akashi's not terribly surprised to find that their views on it are fairly similar, though. ]
The comparison to family is apt, I'd say.
[ Then again, you're really not supposed to find your family members hot unless you're playing Fire Emblem: Fates, so perhaps not all that apt, considering Akashi's wondering in the back of his head what the texture of Mayuzumi's hair would be like if he ran his hands through it — it looks light and fluffy, seeing as it blows back in the breeze so much; he imagines it'd be a nice feeling.
... It's a distracting side thought, to say the least. Back to preying on that very fast leap at Akashi's question, maybe it'll be a good distraction. ]
What did you mean by inconvenient, though? I'd really like to see your own mark.
[ He smiles in an ultra-polite sort of way at this, it probably screams something like this is where it would probably be most effective to form this expression, so here I am. ]
I mean that I'd have to undress a bit to show it to you.
[ Any normal person would understand at this point, right? Mayuzumi would have to partially strip up here on the school rooftop where someone else might wander on up at any moment...even if hardly anyone ever comes up here except for him, one of the other reasons why he uses it as a hangout spot to begin with.
It really doesn't help that his thoughts already started drifting in a questionable direction between just how good-looking Akashi is and speculating about Akashi's mark. Mayuzumi's mouth goes dry at the thought of doing something that feels more than a little illicit considering where they're at, more than a little intimate because of just where on his body Akashi's name is located.
And then there's the possibility that Akashi might try to touch it, and...
Suddenly Mayuzumi feels like this destined encounter is threatening to veer into a scenario from the kind of fiction that belongs more in the adults-only section. ]
[ That is the normal response you expect from a normal person, right.
After all, the way Akashi sees it, (1) nobody is likely to come up here and be a witness to all of this, and (2) if he showed his, then Mayuzumi has to show his. That's how it works in the world of little kids learning about how boys and girls are different, and that's how it works for soulmates too. Duh. ]
I won't be bothered, I assure you.
[ Because what's at question here is clearly Akashi's comfort. ]
Good to know that you won't have a problem with it.
[ Yes, Mayuzumi's clearly very glad to be aware of Akashi's lack of discomfort.
Although, he supposes it's not a bad thing at all that his soulmate doesn't have any problems with him undressing. He just didn't picture that it would happen quite like this. He'd figured it would be something a little more mutual in that area, more like—
...He really, really needs to get a handle on those kind of thoughts before he ends up showing off something way more embarrassing than the name on his thigh. ]
[ Hell, take it all off. Akashi doesn't have a problem with that either. He can, ahem, assess the state of Mayuzumi's muscle development. That's important for him to know, after all. Because he's the captain of the basketball team. Also, reasons and stuff.
This is a good first meeting, he feels. It's certainly memorable, if nothing else, and thus far Akashi has gotten everything he wanted out of it. ]
[ It can't be helped, it seems. It's obvious he's not going to be able to get out of this, particularly since he was the one that got them onto this particular topic to begin with. ]
But let's do it over there. I'm not interested in potentially flashing half the school.
[ "There" being around the side of the stairwell enclosure so they won't be immediately visible from the rooftop access door just in case someone does decide to come up, and far enough back from the railing to not be seen from below.
Just you, his baser instincts complete his statement automatically, but at least not audibly.
Irritated, quick steps in time with the racing of his heart propel him forwards and past Akashi, until he stands in the shadow of the building and there's concrete at his back, assuming that Akashi will follow since he's the one who wants to see this.
Maybe the shade will mask that heat that seems to be creeping up Mayuzumi's neck at the prospect of doing this... ]
[ The muted rush of excitement of getting his way despite initial resistance coupled with the fact that he has somehow successfully gotten a hot guy to take his pants off upon their first meeting is immensely satisfying. The soulmate thing is certainly contributing to the building sense of anticipation, but honestly, Akashi can generally just appreciate somebody attractive stripping.
... Admittedly, his standards tend to be pretty high, though, so it's not like he can think of that many people he'd like to see take their pants off. Mayuzumi should probably be flattered, in the most roundabout of ways.
But Akashi's going to play it cool and not rush to follow or anything; he just goes steady, at his own pace. It's not like Mayuzumi is going to make a break for it, right? That would be incredibly awkward, given then Mayuzumi will either have to see him again in the afternoon, or ditch the meeting. ]
Out of curiosity...
[ Ah yes. We absolutely must make idle conversation as one of us takes their clothes off. That somehow makes this entire situation less absurd. ]
I've heard that people are more sensitive to when their name is touched when it's their soulmate doing it. Do you think that's true?
[ Congratulations, Mayuzumi. Congratulations. You're the harem protag now. ]
[ Waiting for Akashi is excruciating, but Mayuzumi keeps his expression as blank as he can considering how hot his face is starting to feel. It's only when Akashi's standing before him that he moves to undo his belt, gaze directed downwards. He isn't deliberately being slow about it; stripping around indifferent people in a locker room is just way different from doing it in front of a really hot guy (his soulmate!) who wants to watch.
He's never felt like his stomach's turning inside out when changing after practice like he does from having Akashi's eyes on him when his pants slip down to pool at his feet, that's for sure. Especially when that absurdly cliche leading question Akashi just asked circles around in Mayuzumi's head like a dog chasing its own tail. ]
That's what I've heard too, yeah. I guess it could be true.
[ His shirttails are in the way, so he slides them up with one hand, revealing a hint of bare abdomen as well as hips and everything else swathed by the snug dark grey of his boxer briefs. Basketball's helped him get into decent shape, so really, there's nothing about what Akashi's getting an eyeful of currently that Mayuzumi feels insecure about him seeing.
Even so, he does hesitate for a split-second on whether to pull his underwear down too, instead tugging the leg up with his other hand to reveal Akashi's name, the deep red characters inscribed on Mayuzumi's inner thigh perversely close to his dick. He tilts his hips and spreads his legs a little to show it off clearly, trying not to think about just how lewd a pose he's in at the moment and failing miserably.
He swallows, shoulders resting against the wall. The destination Akashi's question guides them both to is obvious, and Mayuzumi's skeptical that it's not on purpose; he really shouldn't say it, not here, not now. Not when they've only just met and are near total strangers who barely know each other beyond their matching names and the most superficial details. Not when they could end up the topic of juicy gossip if someone were to interrupt them. Not when it's almost guaranteed things will go downhill if he says it. ]
...Do you want to find out?
[ But in defiance of all common sense is how Fate works, doesn't it? ]
[ Akashi's probably not helping the atmosphere with his blatant staring. Akashi's probably not helping by being the instigator here in general, but he understands very well that there's a certain tension that comes with being watched. Although honestly, "ogled" might be a more accurate descriptor for what Akashi's doing.
... He supposes it's somewhat rude to keep making the comparison, but it was hard to not assume that somebody with a similar talent as Kuroko would be very similar in other ways, but it's nice to see that Kuroko's singular ability to work out for hours a day and somehow totally resist working up muscle mass is just a Kuroko thing. Again, Akashi has to wonder how it's possible that people find it difficult to notice Mayuzumi; he doubts that this could just be a matter of oh, that's my type (tall, dark, and senpai). People are so blind, but at least it all works out to Akashi's advantage here.
Anyway, he needs a moment to be surprised his blatant propositioning went over a lot better than he was expecting. He's far from disappointed, of course, but he only just starts thinking about the fact that the name on his wrist isn't unbearably sensitive generally speaking, but it's in a bared enough location that he feels the need to hide it from being touched often. If the rumor has some truth to it, this could end up being a serious double-edged sword, but — he'll cross that bridge when it comes to it. For now, he's really too intrigued by the offer and the implications involved.
Instead of answering with words, he just tilts his head slightly and smiles in a way that suggests "cat got the canary" before stepping forward, closing the space between them and reaching out to gently trail his pointer and middle fingers along the characters that make up his name with delicate precision. Akashi thinks he has a nice name — poetic, even. It looks even better on another person. ]
[ Mayuzumi realizes he's made a major mistake the second Akashi's fingertips brush against his skin; even if it was his unmarked thigh it would be pretty sensitive to touch him there, especially after all of Akashi's staring, but the contact with the name is like lightning crackling through Mayuzumi's nerves. At least he's able to keep his response to a shuddering gasp rather than something much more vocal and embarrassing, fingers curling under and going white-knuckled, hips twitching, a sudden wave of light-headedness hitting him from blood rushing down in his body. If Akashi keeps touching him like this his body's reaction will get really visible, really quickly.
His head bows, hair shading over his eyes, strands brushing against cheeks that feel incredibly warm. And speaking of warmth, Akashi's so close that Mayuzumi can feel the heat of his body even beyond the fingers that burn his skin, close enough to kiss. ]
It's, ah, i-it's...
[ He licks his lips, struggling to articulate; stringing words together's causing him some major trouble. Any possible doubts that Akashi's his soulmate just got entirely erased, and it's starting to really hit home just how binding this connection between them really is...and just how far control of the situation has slipped away from Mayuzumi, just how caught up in Akashi's pace he's gotten to bring them to this shamelessly inappropriate point. ]
[ If Akashi could have disclaimered this entire incident, it would be with something like: Seriously, The Endgame Wasn't Supposed to be Public Indecency, I Just Got Carried Away. But he's not complaining about where this had led to in the least — if anything, the fact that he didn't expect the connection to be so immediate has made the entire thing all the more exciting, and all the more interesting. After this is all done with, there's going to be a lot of "in retrospect, I should have expected this from somebody who is literally my soulmate" — but for now, there's just this budding sense of self-satisfaction that's rather pleasing, mixed in with a sort of comfortable ease that he normally doesn't feel immediately around other people.
Maybe it's because Mayuzumi hasn't minced his thoughts with Akashi at all. His words themselves might not lend much for comfort, but the fact that he's so bluntly truthful is.
Akashi's smile widens as he brushes his fingertips against his name again, in the opposite direction this time, retracing his steps backwards. ]
It's... what, exactly? I'm afraid that's somewhat unclear to me.
[ He probably shouldn't tease so heavily, but he can't help it. For some reason, he really wants to test his boundaries right now. ]
[ It's not any easier to take the second time; if anything, it's worse when Mayuzumi's still reeling from that first pass. He has to bite his lip to muffle a groan, still stubborn about not vocally humiliating himself even when teenage hormones and the soulmate bond work against him. It's impossible to hide that he's starting to get hard thanks to how pleasant the sensation of Akashi's fingers on his skin is; and it's not even just the touch is in itself, but the illicit thrill of exposing himself like this to the hands of a guy who's frankly smoking hot, of engaging in something so intimate where they could get caught.
That someone can wreck Mayuzumi's aloof front so easily and make him so vulnerable so fast is exhilarating and infuriating and a little terrifying, a mixed reaction that's kind of like how he finds Akashi's pleased-with-himself grin both tremendously sexy in its confidence yet so obnoxiously smug he wants to wipe it off the guy's face, particularly after that teasing verbal prompt.
...Which is what makes his hand shoot out to grab Akashi's just below where his own name's inscribed and tug the younger guy closer firmly enough that their chests bump into each other; doing anything subtly is kind of beyond Mayuzumi's self-control at this point. ]
Find out yourself. [ Mayuzumi pants out near Akashi's ear, hand slipping up and pushing up Akashi's sleeve with it, his thumb traversing the three characters on Akashi's wrist in a bolder swipe than the touch he's been subjected to.
It's only fair for this to go both ways too. And he wants to know if Akashi will be just as affected as he is, or if he's going to be at a major league disadvantage when it comes to this kind of thing. ]
[ To say that Akashi's knees go weak is honestly an understatement; it's more like the only thing that that stops him from buckling entirely is sheer last-minute force of will kicking him and absolutely refusing to allow himself to literally get tripped up in front of somebody he's just met. Even worse is the fact that he lets out this stupidly breathy sound at the touch, something that's just a little too close to a moan for his tastes — it feels like he might lose at his own game, and if there's one thing that Akashi is fundamentally incompatible with, it's the idea of losing.
Once he's regained enough composure to look up, he gives Mayuzumi his best attempt at a self-assured smirk, although he might have to bite a bit at the inside of his lip to make the expression come out mostly right and attempt to slide his wrist out of Mayuzumi's hold with as much subtlety as he can manage. ]
It... certainly is a sensation that needs to be felt to be understood.
[ Akashi feels like it should be taken as quite impressive, the fact that he managed to deliver that full sentence smoothly, because his heart is still going a mile a minute and he can practically feel the adrenaline rushing through his veins. It'd be dangerous to get hooked on this feeling, but very much tempting, and —
Maybe he should find a way to secure the name on his wrist more carefully. He really doesn't want Mayuzumi using this against him at inopportune moments, when grabbing somebody by the wrist is so much more innocuous than him just kind of... reaching in between Mayuzumi's legs and touching his thigh, which looks just as blatant as just going straight for his dick to begin with. Speaking of which, seeing as his hands are in the general vicinity, Akashi chances upon "accidentally" wandering a bit, moving down Mayuzumi's leg a bit as a totally blatant decoy before honing in on Mayuzumi's crotch in a way that has to be completely deliberate, given the fact that he doesn't just touch but strokes. ]
[ That sound Akashi makes is just as effective as a touch in turning Mayuzumi on; suddenly he completely understands where that uptick in Akashi's smugness a moment ago came from. Getting under someone's skin enough to provoke a less than guarded reaction is damned exciting, especially when it's not just any hot guy, not even just his soulmate, but someone who has that confident aura that suggests he's used to things going his way.
Has anyone else experienced a split-second of vulnerability like that out of the famed Generation of Miracles captain? A surge of possessiveness so strong and sudden that it catches him off-guard sure hopes not. Mayuzumi wants to keep something that fascinating entirely to himself.
And since Akashi's his soulmate...Mayuzumi kind of can, can't he? He's outright entitled to feel that way, because isn't that how this fated connection, someone-exists-just-for-you thing is supposed to work?
The younger guy trying to play it off as if he didn't just respond in an incredibly sexy way kind of irritates Mayuzumi though, making him want to push further instead of relent and the fingers brushing over Akashi's wrist more stubborn. Akashi's palm sliding so blatantly against his rapidly growing hardon doesn't do a thing to make common sense kick back in, either; instead he really can't help but quietly groan, experiencing a major setback in his own internal battle of pride versus arousal.
...But it feels too good to be touched like this for him to get choked up about that for long, even if his eyes are narrowed and his flushed face clings to frowning. ]
Yeah...but how about this one?
[ He doesn't even think twice about it, leaning in with a tilt of his head to steal a kiss; he's not the most accomplished at this seeing as how he's...never made out with anyone else in his life and it means their mouths press together too hard at first, but the desire he's been stubborn about expressing verbally is all there and it makes that contact downright fiery. ]
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[ Mayuzumi's certainly heard about people who didn't take it well when they discovered their soulmate outclassed them somehow, but he doesn't particularly care about things like that.
...Well, not that much, anyway. It's a bit irritating that the person who entirely cockblocked his avenue of possible basketball progress is one and the same as his soulmate, but he's not some pathetic, insecure loser unable to accept his own limits and get over it.
Besides, he'd never consider Akashi or anyone else superior to him just because they happen to be better than him at a particular thing. ]
A monster player like you showing up in my last year when those other three are already around doesn't leave much of an opening for someone like me to advance before I graduate.
[ Even if his chance of ever making it to a real playing position were slim to start with at such a strong school, there'd still been at least a little hope he could hold onto before. ]
There's no point wasting more effort on something that won't pay off instead of doing something more productive with my time.
[ Like catching up on what's really important in life, the latest mass-market genre fiction sensation. ]
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Akashi likes it. It's a good trait, one he understands more than Kuroko's mindset. He supposes that must be one reason that fate's decided they're meant to be soulmates. ]
If you're willing to grasp through your own efforts, then a place on the starting team is within your reach. Have you heard of the Phantom Sixth Man?
[ ... It's a bit strange talking about Kuroko like he's some kind of basketball urban legend. If things work out better, he'd prefer it if Mayuzumi gained no reputation at all.
Well, he'd also like it if Mayuzumi gained no reputation at all because seriously? How do people not notice this guy? He's built and he's attractive, all he has to do is not be irredeemably idiotic and he'd probably be acceptably desirable to 75%+ of the population. (So he thinks before he learns about how much Mayuzumi enjoys the latest mass-market genre fiction sensation, at least.) ]
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Yeah, but I always thought he was just a story, not a real guy.
[ But he's too cynical to let himself get swept up by tantalizing possibilities that fast; this isn't a story and despite the hair and eyes and fated connection, Akashi isn't really an alien heroine descending from the skies to offer Mayuzumi everything he's ever wanted.
Right?
Experience with reality makes him cautious. ]
What are you getting at?
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[ Similar, but not the same. Akashi can tell right off the bat that Mayuzumi isn't suffering for certain physical attributes the same way that Kuroko is. The real mystery of this series: it's not the weird basketball moves or Akashi's existence in general, it's how can Kuroko not be in better shape when he works out every day?
Besides, he doesn't want another Teikou, he wants a different team. A better team. Possibly even a team that doesn't fall the heck apart halfway through his time there. But since that might be asking for a bit much, he'll settle for a championship team. ]
There would be a place on the team for you, if you're willing to fill that niche.
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[ It's easy for Mayuzumi to fill in the blanks. If he has that potential and it gets realized, he could be for Rakuzan what the Phantom Sixth Man was for Teikou, he could be a starter, he could participate in real matches. He could maybe even go all the way to the Winter Cup and get to play in the finals. How great would it be to come back with a win from that?
It is a tempting offer, there's no denying that. He's sure that most of his former teammates would fall all over themselves to agree to a proposition like that in a hot second.
But of course, he's himself, so he smiles. ]
That's too bad then, because I'm not interested in filling a niche. I'm going to have to turn you down.
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[ It's an understated expression of amusement, but for a brief moment he can't seem to control a genuinely vicious smirk that curls at the corners of his mouth. He looks excited, in a sense, and quite pleased with something. ]
Interesting. But no, not quite... I think that you may be able to surpass Kuroko Tetsuya. As a player, he has a fatal flaw which you do not.
[ Had Kuroko remained acquiescent and played along with Akashi's wishes, then maybe Akashi would have even informed him of what that flaw was, but — here is a clearly superior option right in front of him. And that's not even taking into account the soulmates thing.
... He might circle back to that point. Eventually. After the important business is sorted out.
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But here he is with a smile more like a devil's than a perfect angel's, and Mayuzumi's not sure how that expression can be both so unsettling yet somehow attractive.
Just what kind of person is he bound to by fate, anyway? ]
...Really. And what's that?
[ Of course he has to ask, even if it undermines the rejection he just made. He's not nearly desperate enough to play in a game to agree to slotting himself into a playstyle he won't enjoy, but who wouldn't be curious to find out how they're better than a minor legend? ]
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[ Harsh truths from Akashi Seijuurou, delivered in the same tone that one might expect a teacher to explain an objectively true theorem about how the world works. Water freezes at 0 degrees Celsius, the sum of one and one is two, and Kuroko is not actually good at standard basketball. It's not insulting, it's just true. ]
If he uses his distinctive play-style to compensate for his lack of skill, then it presents an unfortunate paradox for him. His talent is to remain undetected, but by expanding his repertoire beyond simply passing, he'll end up drawing attention to himself. In other words, he's turning his only weapon into a double-edged sword... Do you see what I mean? You are different. You can play at a standard level and avoid falling into that self-defeating trap... no, maybe somewhat above the standard.
[ It's just that the standard is abnormally high at Rakuzan, all things considered. It depends, Akashi thinks, on whether he wants to judge Mayuzumi on average average or Rakuzan average. ]
So even if I had a choice between you or Tetsuya to put on the team... I would definitely choose you. There is no debate as to which is the superior option.
[ It's a long-winded explanation, perhaps, but Akashi doesn't mind giving it at all. If anything, he feels like he has to give Mayuzumi his due respect for sticking to his convictions: if Mayuzumi wants to play on his own terms, all for the better. That's the kind of team that Akashi prefers anyway, the kind that's mostly united for one purpose, victory as self-satisfaction. ]
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Even for someone as guarded as Mayuzumi, it's pretty flattering to be told he's inherently superior to a (sort-of) legendary player by another legendary player; the potential avenue opened to him just becomes that much more tantalizing. ]
In other words, I could be a more versatile player than this Kuroko guy, by taking advantage of what I can already do and combining it with that kind of passing ability.
[ A playstyle that's different and wouldn't relegate him to just a one-note role, building on his own solid fundamental strengths but adding something new to make him entirely unique...
It's almost too good to be true, really— and that possibility does occur to Mayuzumi; what if Akashi's just buttering him up because they're soulmates, what if Akashi's offering him an opportunity because they're soulmates, what if Akashi's pride demands Mayuzumi be on the team because it'd be unacceptable to him as a player of his caliber for his soulmate not to be?
But if that were the case, Akashi's approach has been completely, hilariously wrong; the guy's barely even acknowledged that a connection between them exists at all. Even with that offhand flattery, Akashi's explanation feels too grounded and detached an assessment, a captain's objective viewpoint rather than something emotionally compromised.
And maybe a small part of Mayuzumi beneath all the cynicism wants to trust, wants to believe his soulmate would know instinctively just how much he'd despise being handed something he's worked for without really deserving it.
I guess I really am kind of a sentimental guy, huh.
It all ultimately earns a grin, maybe not so different from the one Akashi showed him a moment ago. ]
...Heh. You know, I have to admit that does sound pretty interesting.
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[ It's a slight break from the serious, even tone he had taken before, the sort of inflection one might expect from a particularly patient teacher — this is equal parts playful as it is challenging. ]
I'd say that serendipity may be at play here. Fate, perhaps, if you're the type to believe in it. I hadn't anticipated at all that I would happen to find the person whose name I carry in the player that I want to round out Rakuzan's starting line-up.
[ If so, fate knows Akashi Seijuurou well enough, having him find his soulmate while trying to accomplish a goal when he's never intended on looking for his soulmate in the first place. Then again, somebody who couldn't prove themselves capable in some way could never be Akashi's soulmate to begin with. ]
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He didn't want to believe it, and still doesn't, but this really could be the chance of a high schooler's lifetime that he never expected to have and thought only ever happened in fiction. Maybe Akashi Seijuurou really is the mysterious heroine of Mayuzumi's light novel-fueled daydreams, stepping straight out of the pages to open the door to a whole new world up for him in more ways than one. And on the school's rooftop no less, the ideal backdrop for destiny to do some double-duty magic if there ever was one.
Even if Akashi's a guy, albeit a redheaded, odd-eyed, almost too attractive to be real guy. ]
So maybe fate really is on to something here, because this does have potential from my perspective, too.
[ He straightens and turns to face Akashi properly. ]
Alright, fine. If I can really become that kind of player and get to play how I've wanted, then I'll give the basketball club another shot.
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... Which are really all just even more points in Mayuzumi's favor. ]
Good. Then I'll just pretend I never saw your resignation form. I suppose you wouldn't be prepared to show up to this afternoon's practice... but if you have time, come anyway.
[ Time to get schooled in the ways of misdirection, Mayuzumi. ]
I'm looking forward to it.
[ That's not a phrase he uses often, not for somebody who considers most of his life in various levels of inevitability. ]
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What isn't, though, is what else is between them besides high school athletics. ]
But I'm curious, though.
[ He takes a step closer, book and hand both casually slipped into his pocket. ]
Is playing basketball the only thing you're looking forward to after meeting me?
[ The sweep of his gaze over Akashi is more deliberate rather than suggestive (although it is also certainly that), because he's looking for something more specific that he can't help but really want to know, even if Rakuzan's uniform makes it pretty much impossible to tell at a glance.
Where is Mayuzumi's name written on Akashi's body, exactly? Intellectually he might take Akashi being his soulmate at face value, but there is a more visceral desire to actually see the proof of it with his own eyes that he can't quite shake off.
And maybe not just see it, because he's heard things about that, too, overheard in classroom gossip and locker room bragging and mentioned as a clinical sidenote in sex ed pamphlets and seriously, what healthy teenaged boy isn't going to wonder about that kind of thing when his soulmate's finally appeared before him? ]
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No need to keep beating around the bush; he's done his duty as basketball captain already. He slides the wristband he's wearing off, holding up his arm to reveal the name underneath, in a dark gray color: Mayuzumi Chihiro. ]
I take it you mean this, right? I have to admit, I am curious...
[ Surprisingly, Akashi does happen to believe in some form of fate. Not in a particularly deep way, perhaps, but he does believe that it could not possibly be a complete coincidence that 6 certain people all were born so close in age, who all happened to dedicate their talents to the same sport, to go to the same middle school together — the same way that it seems like it may not have been a complete coincidence that two soulmates would choose to go to the same high school without even taking into account the soulmate thing. ]
If I can ask a question. [ He's going to ask it anyway. ] What do you think of the concept of soulmates?
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But he doesn't say it, too fascinated by the characters inscribed on Akashi's skin. He leans in to examine them more closely, not really paying attention to the distance between them closing to border on the intimate in the process; it doesn't matter that he's seen these plenty of times in real life and on tv, it's entirely different when it's his name. He's never felt his heartrate speed up like this in response to seeing the strokes that make up his name's kanji before, that's for sure.
Of course, that may also have to do with the realization that he should be reciprocating. ]
Yeah, mine's...uh, inconvenient to show you here.
[ He's way too fast to move onto answering Akashi's question. ]
About soulmates, though? It's just how the world works, I guess. You don't choose whose name you get just like you don't choose who your family is. If you're that type, I suppose it's a romantic thought to have someone out in the world you're connected to by destiny that's supposed to be perfect for you.
[ Mayuzumi doesn't know about calling it love at first sight like they do in fiction, but already Akashi's face and hair and wrist and the sound of his voice and all the rest of him's burned into Mayuzumi's mind. He can't pretend that he doesn't find Akashi intriguing and highly attractive on a purely physical level; the temptation for Mayuzumi to wrap his fingers around Akashi's wrist and pull Akashi closer or press his mouth to his inscribed name, the sign that Akashi's meant to be completely and rightfully his, does exist even if he isn't acting upon it.
Even if so much else about Akashi's still unknown territory... ]
But fate is what you make of it too, isn't it? Destiny links people together but the rest is all really up to them.
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The comparison to family is apt, I'd say.
[ Then again, you're really not supposed to find your family members hot unless you're playing Fire Emblem: Fates, so perhaps not all that apt, considering Akashi's wondering in the back of his head what the texture of Mayuzumi's hair would be like if he ran his hands through it — it looks light and fluffy, seeing as it blows back in the breeze so much; he imagines it'd be a nice feeling.
... It's a distracting side thought, to say the least. Back to preying on that very fast leap at Akashi's question, maybe it'll be a good distraction. ]
What did you mean by inconvenient, though? I'd really like to see your own mark.
[ He smiles in an ultra-polite sort of way at this, it probably screams something like this is where it would probably be most effective to form this expression, so here I am. ]
no subject
[ Any normal person would understand at this point, right? Mayuzumi would have to partially strip up here on the school rooftop where someone else might wander on up at any moment...even if hardly anyone ever comes up here except for him, one of the other reasons why he uses it as a hangout spot to begin with.
It really doesn't help that his thoughts already started drifting in a questionable direction between just how good-looking Akashi is and speculating about Akashi's mark. Mayuzumi's mouth goes dry at the thought of doing something that feels more than a little illicit considering where they're at, more than a little intimate because of just where on his body Akashi's name is located.
And then there's the possibility that Akashi might try to touch it, and...
Suddenly Mayuzumi feels like this destined encounter is threatening to veer into a scenario from the kind of fiction that belongs more in the adults-only section. ]
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[ That is the normal response you expect from a normal person, right.
After all, the way Akashi sees it, (1) nobody is likely to come up here and be a witness to all of this, and (2) if he showed his, then Mayuzumi has to show his. That's how it works in the world of little kids learning about how boys and girls are different, and that's how it works for soulmates too. Duh. ]
I won't be bothered, I assure you.
[ Because what's at question here is clearly Akashi's comfort. ]
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[ Yes, Mayuzumi's clearly very glad to be aware of Akashi's lack of discomfort.
Although, he supposes it's not a bad thing at all that his soulmate doesn't have any problems with him undressing. He just didn't picture that it would happen quite like this. He'd figured it would be something a little more mutual in that area, more like—
...He really, really needs to get a handle on those kind of thoughts before he ends up showing off something way more embarrassing than the name on his thigh. ]
But I'll have to take my pants off.
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[ Hell, take it all off. Akashi doesn't have a problem with that either. He can, ahem, assess the state of Mayuzumi's muscle development. That's important for him to know, after all. Because he's the captain of the basketball team. Also, reasons and stuff.
This is a good first meeting, he feels. It's certainly memorable, if nothing else, and thus far Akashi has gotten everything he wanted out of it. ]
So please, don't hold back on my account.
[ Read: awwww do it yeeah. ]
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[ It can't be helped, it seems. It's obvious he's not going to be able to get out of this, particularly since he was the one that got them onto this particular topic to begin with. ]
But let's do it over there. I'm not interested in potentially flashing half the school.
[ "There" being around the side of the stairwell enclosure so they won't be immediately visible from the rooftop access door just in case someone does decide to come up, and far enough back from the railing to not be seen from below.
Just you, his baser instincts complete his statement automatically, but at least not audibly.
Irritated, quick steps in time with the racing of his heart propel him forwards and past Akashi, until he stands in the shadow of the building and there's concrete at his back, assuming that Akashi will follow since he's the one who wants to see this.
Maybe the shade will mask that heat that seems to be creeping up Mayuzumi's neck at the prospect of doing this... ]
no subject
... Admittedly, his standards tend to be pretty high, though, so it's not like he can think of that many people he'd like to see take their pants off. Mayuzumi should probably be flattered, in the most roundabout of ways.
But Akashi's going to play it cool and not rush to follow or anything; he just goes steady, at his own pace. It's not like Mayuzumi is going to make a break for it, right? That would be incredibly awkward, given then Mayuzumi will either have to see him again in the afternoon, or ditch the meeting. ]
Out of curiosity...
[ Ah yes. We absolutely must make idle conversation as one of us takes their clothes off. That somehow makes this entire situation less absurd. ]
I've heard that people are more sensitive to when their name is touched when it's their soulmate doing it. Do you think that's true?
[ Congratulations, Mayuzumi. Congratulations. You're the harem protag now. ]
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He's never felt like his stomach's turning inside out when changing after practice like he does from having Akashi's eyes on him when his pants slip down to pool at his feet, that's for sure. Especially when that absurdly cliche leading question Akashi just asked circles around in Mayuzumi's head like a dog chasing its own tail. ]
That's what I've heard too, yeah. I guess it could be true.
[ His shirttails are in the way, so he slides them up with one hand, revealing a hint of bare abdomen as well as hips and everything else swathed by the snug dark grey of his boxer briefs. Basketball's helped him get into decent shape, so really, there's nothing about what Akashi's getting an eyeful of currently that Mayuzumi feels insecure about him seeing.
Even so, he does hesitate for a split-second on whether to pull his underwear down too, instead tugging the leg up with his other hand to reveal Akashi's name, the deep red characters inscribed on Mayuzumi's inner thigh perversely close to his dick. He tilts his hips and spreads his legs a little to show it off clearly, trying not to think about just how lewd a pose he's in at the moment and failing miserably.
He swallows, shoulders resting against the wall. The destination Akashi's question guides them both to is obvious, and Mayuzumi's skeptical that it's not on purpose; he really shouldn't say it, not here, not now. Not when they've only just met and are near total strangers who barely know each other beyond their matching names and the most superficial details. Not when they could end up the topic of juicy gossip if someone were to interrupt them. Not when it's almost guaranteed things will go downhill if he says it. ]
...Do you want to find out?
[ But in defiance of all common sense is how Fate works, doesn't it? ]
no subject
... He supposes it's somewhat rude to keep making the comparison, but it was hard to not assume that somebody with a similar talent as Kuroko would be very similar in other ways, but it's nice to see that Kuroko's singular ability to work out for hours a day and somehow totally resist working up muscle mass is just a Kuroko thing. Again, Akashi has to wonder how it's possible that people find it difficult to notice Mayuzumi; he doubts that this could just be a matter of oh, that's my type (tall, dark, and senpai). People are so blind, but at least it all works out to Akashi's advantage here.
Anyway, he needs a moment to be surprised his blatant propositioning went over a lot better than he was expecting. He's far from disappointed, of course, but he only just starts thinking about the fact that the name on his wrist isn't unbearably sensitive generally speaking, but it's in a bared enough location that he feels the need to hide it from being touched often. If the rumor has some truth to it, this could end up being a serious double-edged sword, but — he'll cross that bridge when it comes to it. For now, he's really too intrigued by the offer and the implications involved.
Instead of answering with words, he just tilts his head slightly and smiles in a way that suggests "cat got the canary" before stepping forward, closing the space between them and reaching out to gently trail his pointer and middle fingers along the characters that make up his name with delicate precision. Akashi thinks he has a nice name — poetic, even. It looks even better on another person. ]
So... how is it?
[ That self-satisfied smile widens. ]
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His head bows, hair shading over his eyes, strands brushing against cheeks that feel incredibly warm. And speaking of warmth, Akashi's so close that Mayuzumi can feel the heat of his body even beyond the fingers that burn his skin, close enough to kiss. ]
It's, ah, i-it's...
[ He licks his lips, struggling to articulate; stringing words together's causing him some major trouble. Any possible doubts that Akashi's his soulmate just got entirely erased, and it's starting to really hit home just how binding this connection between them really is...and just how far control of the situation has slipped away from Mayuzumi, just how caught up in Akashi's pace he's gotten to bring them to this shamelessly inappropriate point. ]
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Maybe it's because Mayuzumi hasn't minced his thoughts with Akashi at all. His words themselves might not lend much for comfort, but the fact that he's so bluntly truthful is.
Akashi's smile widens as he brushes his fingertips against his name again, in the opposite direction this time, retracing his steps backwards. ]
It's... what, exactly? I'm afraid that's somewhat unclear to me.
[ He probably shouldn't tease so heavily, but he can't help it. For some reason, he really wants to test his boundaries right now. ]
no subject
That someone can wreck Mayuzumi's aloof front so easily and make him so vulnerable so fast is exhilarating and infuriating and a little terrifying, a mixed reaction that's kind of like how he finds Akashi's pleased-with-himself grin both tremendously sexy in its confidence yet so obnoxiously smug he wants to wipe it off the guy's face, particularly after that teasing verbal prompt.
...Which is what makes his hand shoot out to grab Akashi's just below where his own name's inscribed and tug the younger guy closer firmly enough that their chests bump into each other; doing anything subtly is kind of beyond Mayuzumi's self-control at this point. ]
Find out yourself. [ Mayuzumi pants out near Akashi's ear, hand slipping up and pushing up Akashi's sleeve with it, his thumb traversing the three characters on Akashi's wrist in a bolder swipe than the touch he's been subjected to.
It's only fair for this to go both ways too. And he wants to know if Akashi will be just as affected as he is, or if he's going to be at a major league disadvantage when it comes to this kind of thing. ]
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Once he's regained enough composure to look up, he gives Mayuzumi his best attempt at a self-assured smirk, although he might have to bite a bit at the inside of his lip to make the expression come out mostly right and attempt to slide his wrist out of Mayuzumi's hold with as much subtlety as he can manage. ]
It... certainly is a sensation that needs to be felt to be understood.
[ Akashi feels like it should be taken as quite impressive, the fact that he managed to deliver that full sentence smoothly, because his heart is still going a mile a minute and he can practically feel the adrenaline rushing through his veins. It'd be dangerous to get hooked on this feeling, but very much tempting, and —
Maybe he should find a way to secure the name on his wrist more carefully. He really doesn't want Mayuzumi using this against him at inopportune moments, when grabbing somebody by the wrist is so much more innocuous than him just kind of... reaching in between Mayuzumi's legs and touching his thigh, which looks just as blatant as just going straight for his dick to begin with. Speaking of which, seeing as his hands are in the general vicinity, Akashi chances upon "accidentally" wandering a bit, moving down Mayuzumi's leg a bit as a totally blatant decoy before honing in on Mayuzumi's crotch in a way that has to be completely deliberate, given the fact that he doesn't just touch but strokes. ]
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Has anyone else experienced a split-second of vulnerability like that out of the famed Generation of Miracles captain? A surge of possessiveness so strong and sudden that it catches him off-guard sure hopes not. Mayuzumi wants to keep something that fascinating entirely to himself.
And since Akashi's his soulmate...Mayuzumi kind of can, can't he? He's outright entitled to feel that way, because isn't that how this fated connection, someone-exists-just-for-you thing is supposed to work?
The younger guy trying to play it off as if he didn't just respond in an incredibly sexy way kind of irritates Mayuzumi though, making him want to push further instead of relent and the fingers brushing over Akashi's wrist more stubborn. Akashi's palm sliding so blatantly against his rapidly growing hardon doesn't do a thing to make common sense kick back in, either; instead he really can't help but quietly groan, experiencing a major setback in his own internal battle of pride versus arousal.
...But it feels too good to be touched like this for him to get choked up about that for long, even if his eyes are narrowed and his flushed face clings to frowning. ]
Yeah...but how about this one?
[ He doesn't even think twice about it, leaning in with a tilt of his head to steal a kiss; he's not the most accomplished at this seeing as how he's...never made out with anyone else in his life and it means their mouths press together too hard at first, but the desire he's been stubborn about expressing verbally is all there and it makes that contact downright fiery. ]