Bonding (1)

I sat in Aki's room and helped her stretch. "I'm still sorry for this morning...and sorry for not showing up at the track."

"Why are you apologizing..? I did more damage than you could ever cause. If I hadn't told Raidon...you wouldn't have gotten hurt even more." Aki said then felt me add more pressure onto her back. "Nngh! Archer..!"

"What made you think it was a good idea to tell him?!" I raised my voice.

"I didn't mean to! Can you get the fuck off my back?! This hurts!" Aki yelled back.

"There they go again...arguing again. They literally argue more than Suki argues with Archer. What does he find in her that makes him stick with her?" Momoko asked.

"I mean Aki is pretty loyal. She stepped in front of him, stopping Raidon from hurting him even more. This is what I mean by them being off and on." Rena said. "Just give them space. The more we intervene with their quarrels, the less they can get done on their own."

"Fuck Aki! Do you ever think before acting?!" I yelled.

"Do I ever fucking think?! Bitch, you're the one waltzing into the bathroom without knocking! Did you even see the light on, dumbass?!" Aki yelled back and stood up.

"I got assaulted twice today. Both in which YOU fucking caused!" I yelled and pointed at her.

"Why the fuck are you blowing up on me prick?!" Aki pushed me back and I stumbled against her desk.

We both looked at each other and the tension was high in the room. It all started so peaceful, but I just let my emotions get the best of me. Aki also let her emotions get to her.

"Aki I-"

"Archer I-"

We spoke at the same time then grew silent after hearing each other speak at the same time. I looked away and took a deep breath.

"Look I'm sorry for going off on you." I said.

"Archer...why do you keep playing this nice guy act..? It's honestly pissing me off!" Aki yelled and held her arm. "I deserve more than what you're letting me have...You should've let me take the punishment alone, you should've just went home without me, you should've just stayed away from me so why do you keep being nice to me?"

I looked at Aki and walked to her then held her shoulders gently. "It's because we are a team. You are my friend also."

"Stop it with that friend excuse! I'm a terrible friend...I dragged you down with me. It's been two weeks and I've literally done nothing but make your life inconvenient. I try to better myself because it's what I promised and I always seem to mess something up! Like today..." She said and looked down.

"You're absolutely right about something. I do need to blow up more." I started.

"So why won't you..?" Aki asked and looked at me. Her eyebrows were furrowed, and she looked upset.

"If I blew up on you like I did before we set aside our differences, it would lead us nowhere except back to square one. What would I benefit from blowing up on you Aki? You say you deserve more than what I'm letting you have, but I say you've suffered enough like I have." I said.

She shook her head. "You don't know that."

"I know enough about you to know that me yelling at you won't accomplish anything." I said and let her go. I walked over to her desk and placed my hand on the desk. "All I'm getting from it is...nothing."

Aki looked at me and sat on her bed. She looked down at the ground then looked away. There was silence in the room. Aki obviously felt really bad for what happened to me and I didn't want to add more pressure than what she already has to carry.

"Look.." I said then turned to look at Aki. "We are going to work this out. The only way we can work out our differences is if we spend more time with each other in and outside the house. So I have a request."

"What is it?" Aki asked.

"Allow me to sleep in your room." I said.

"EHHH?! Y-Y-You want to sleep with me in MY room?!" Aki asked surprised.

"Yeah, I'll sleep on the floor." I said. "I can grab some pillows and my blanket from my room, bring them her and we can just...I don't know...sleep?"

The idea of us sleeping in the same room had Aki bewildered. "Of all the ideas for bonding...you chose the most insane idea?! I don't want to sleep in the same room as you!"

"I understand that and frankly I don't either-"

"Why suggest the idea?!" Aki said, blushing madly.

"It's the only way we can learn more about each other. We barely interact at home and we barely talk to each other at school until after classes. Come on, it's not the worst idea in the world." I said.

Aki hugged herself. "F-FINE! But we will set down some rules! You can not come NEAR my bed, you are to only be in my room when I'm in here FULLY DRESSED! You have to KNOCK on my door and state your name-"

Aki went down a list of some good rules and some complete bullshit rules. After she finished stating her rules we came to an agreement. I left her room to go get a few pillows and a blanket from my then walked back to her room. I set up my station on the floor. I even brought my laptop just in case I needed to do some homework.

"What time is it?" Aki asked.

"It's 6:45 PM." I said as I checked my phone.

"Mmm...Mitsuki didn't cook today. It was a fend for yourself day." Aki said.

"Wanna go out and grab a burger or something?" I asked.

Aki looked at me and blushed slightly. "I mean...sure whatever."

I stood up and Aki did as well. We both left the room then made our way downstairs. Rena and Sayaki noticed us and wondered where we were going. I explained and they let us go. I grabbed my keys and we walked to the front door and put on our shoes then left the house.

We made our way to the train station together and waited for a train to arrive.

"So...Raidon is an Ex-Gang Member." I started.

"Why is this the topic?" Aki asked.

"Because Rena mentioned it. I am just pretty curious. I never knew that about him. Rena seems to hate him also." I said.

Aki rolled her eyes. "Yeah he is an Ex-Gang Member. So what of it?"

"You dated a Yakuza? That's pretty impressive not gonna lie, but what made you choose him?" I asked.

"Can you not ask these types of questions?! I'm already not proud of my decision! The last thing I need is for hidden memories to come back to light." Aki said and held her arm. "Besides why do you care?"

"It doesn't hurt to be curious about a person who beat me up over a misunderstanding. I've never seen him look at me with such anger...almost like jealousy. He took it like I intentionally walked in on you." I said.

"Why didn't you hit back? You just kinda let him beat you up." Aki said.

"Fight back and get my ass handed to me? Listen, I'm skilled in fundamental fighting. What he did to me wasn't in my skill set so I have no idea how to fight against it. Besides, it doesn't matter now. I know he is gonna try something tomorrow. I'm already prepared for it." I said.

"How do you know he's gonna do something?" Aki asked.

"It's not hard to decipher a guys plan. Especially when that guy still likes you. He's too scared to go toe to toe with Rena, but he won't let me get away without going unpunished. He 100% won't be alone either." I said. "I've been in a situation like this once before my senior year...minus the bathroom incident. I got beat up badly. The buises might've faded away but the memories haven't."

Aki looked at me. "Why do you keep being nice?"

"Because I have no real reason now to be bitter. Yeah a couple weeks ago I might've had reasons, but other than that...I don't have a reason to be mean." I said then watched the train pull ahead then stop.

I stood up and helped Aki stand up. We took the train to a plaza and got off. We noticed the neon lights and looked around. It was the first I'd ever come here. Aki and I walked together down the street and looked at the scenery. Street performers, people selling items, fundraisers, the plaza was full with different things happening. We decided to watch a few performances together. I could tell Aki was really enjoying herself with watching the performances.

We soon made it to our destination and grabbed a burger together and ate together. Although Aki and I were alone, it didn't feel too awkward. After all we were friends.

After spending another 30 minutes at the plaza, we left to go back to the station. Aki was growing tired and I was too, but not as tired as she was. She was still feeling the tiredness from her after school training. We took the train back to our neighborhood and got off. I carried Aki home the only way I knew how, a piggyback ride. Aki looked more peaceful, more defenseless, more...comfortable around me. It made me feel good on the inside to see her slightly breaking out of her shell.

I walked into the house and got our shoes off then closed and locked the door behind us. I carried Aki upstairs and walked into her room. I laid her down on her bed, tucking her in. I turned off the lamp light and got on the floor then laid down on the station I set up. I drifted off to sleep and soon enough I was out like a light.

To be continued....