Bonding (3)

Two hours pass and I finally wake up, groggily. I try to sit up, but Aki pushes me back down on the bed. I looked at her and she looks at me with a red face.

"Don't sit up. You're still recovering.." Aki said softly.

I looked around and notice I was laying on her bed. "How did I get here..?" I asked.

"Rena and I helped you here." Aki said.

"Oh..." I replied and turned my head, avoiding looking at her.

There was a bit of silence between us. The only sounds that was clearly audible was the sound of Aki's fan whirling and blowing cool air around the room. Aki continued to sit on the edge of the bed and looked at the floor.

"...Why did you come back to me..?" I asked.

Aki looked at me. She tilted her head slightly and just stared at me. "I couldn't just leave you there..."

"Yes...you most definitely could. After all everything that's been happening this far has been my fault right?" I said.

"Wha-"

"You said it yourself. Everything that's happened is my fault. So why did you come help me? Wouldn't it have been better to just leave me there to wallow in self pity?" I said, still not looking at her.

"But you said-"

"I don't give a shit about what I said. I only said that because I was in the moment...Now I am back in control. If you truly didn't want to be friends with me anymore, you wouldn't have come for me." I said. I felt her get off the bed and she groaned.

"You're so impossible! Ungrateful! I nursed you for two hours straight and this is the thanks I get?!" Aki yelled.

"Tch.." I scoffed.

"Is that all you really have to say..? Is that...fucking all you have to say?!" She yelled and threw a pillow at me.

Rena listened outside the room and leaned against the wall.

"What more do you want me to say? You turned your back on me." I said then sat up and groaned as another pillow hit my face.

"You asshole! I hate you! You're insufferable! Impossible!" Aki yelled and kept throwing pillows and stuffed animals at me. She was letting out her bottled up emotions. Seeing me hurt was the breaking point for her and hearing me talk like this broke the gates that kept her emotions inside.

I threw a pillow back at her face and she groaned and fell back onto her desk. She took the pillow from her face and looked at me with tears in her eyes. "I'm tired...you're not the only one suffering! I tried to fight for you and...and lost. Everything I did up to this point when we started to grow closer was for you! Where was my thanks?! I never got anything! Everything has been falling apart for me!"

Aki looked at me and noticed I was at my limit as well. Even after everything was going good, I still had a feeling that she still hated me a bit on the inside. We've grown so close and yet we still felt so far apart.

"I spent the most time with you...We've grown so close to each other and yet somehow it feels like we are still far apart. I can't help but feel like you secretly dislike me. Why can't we just end our differences..?" I asked and looked at my hands. "I fought someone and lowered my reputation to protect you because I.."

Aki looked at me and tears rolled down her cheeks. "Archer please don't.."

"Aki, I've fallen in love with you. Name one time since we've fixed things with each other where we haven't shared a smile or laugh? I'll fight Raidon for you a million times! I'll fight anyone for you a million times if I have to if it means protecting your feelings and being closer to you.." I said.

"Stop it...! I can't! I can't..." Aki said and sunk to her knees. "I can't fall in love again...all of you are the same..! You'll just grow tired of me...You'll soon hate me again!"

I slowly got out of bed and made my way to Aki then got on the floor in front of her. "The time we spent together, even if it was short...We've learned so much about each other. That's hard to deny. I grew to realize why you were so guarded, and I want to change that. I'm not like him...if I wasn't loyal I would've left you a long time ago. I wouldn't have carried you home all the times I did. I wouldn't have taken you out as much as I have. You wouldn't have allowed me to be so close to you."

Aki looked at me and I wiped her tears. "Why..? We've known each other for only a few weeks. How can you like someone who's made your life hell..?"

"I don't truly understand my own heart sometimes, but I do understand my feelings for you. Even if you're not ready, I'll still be here if you need a shoulder to fall on. We may argue from time to time, but we have our own way of bonding. I just want to be beside you...you are the only one I want.." I said.

Aki looked down. "I hate you so much..."

"I know you do and I hate you too..." I said and looked at her.

"You're so unbearable and so hard to really understand.." Aki continued.

"I know, but you're no better. I'd argue that you're even worse." I said then rose her head gently. She looked at me with a slightly red face.

"But at the end of the day...you've stuck beside me ever since we fixed our issues. Rena is right about you being loyal and even if I do push you away sometimes...even if you do express the fact you want me to leave you alone, you always remain loyal to me." Aki said then leaned forward and hugged me. "I'm sorry...for getting you hurt...I'm sorry for everything..."

I smiled a bit and hugged her back. This was the true moment where everything begins to change. We've finally come to an understanding. After releasing our bottled up emotions, our bottled up feelings, we're finally able to truly set aside our differences.

Rena smiled as she heard us. She stopped leaning on the wall then walked down the hall.

Aki and I sat in her room for the next few hours talking and getting everything off our chests. A few moments later, Mitsuki walked into the room and noticed Aki gently stroking my head as I had my head on her lap. Aki looked at Mitsuki and told her to be quiet since I was sleeping. Mitsuki nodded and quietly closed the door.

The next day arrived and I was ready for the day. I walked down the stairs and thought about what happened yesterday. I noticed Aki sitting at the table and she looked at me then smiled.

"Good morning, sleepyhead. I bet you slept good last night." Aki said.

"Whoa. What's with this energy?" I asked.

"No reason. I guess I feel good to finally just get everything off my chest, but what you said yesterday...about how you love me and stuff. I want to accept your confession, but I myself am not ready for another relationship." Aki said then stood up.

"I-"

"BUT!" She walked over to me and stood in front of me and smiled. "I know who I'm choosing for my next boyfriend. We may argue a lot from time to time, but I genuinely enjoy being around you more than any other guy I've interacted with.."

"Aki.." I said softly and smiled.

"Come on. We're gonna be late. And don't worry about anyone talking about the fight." Aki said.

"Hm? Why?" I asked.

"Because I'm gonna make sure Rin and Raidon keeps their mouths shut! I managed to stop the rumors from spreading so your coach doesn't know about it, but now I gotta clear your name...Mr. Protector." Rena said as she walked down the stairs. "I could care less if he used to be a Yakuza or is skilled in jujitsu or whatever, I'll still beat his ass because I have a black belt in handing out Ls."

"God that was so corny!" I said and facepalmed.

"Corny or not, Rena will still beat a bitch's ass for us with no hesitation." Aki laughed.

"Damn straight!" Rena nodded and crossed her arms.

I smiled at Aki and Rena. "Well alright."

"You just worry about Aki. Keep her safe and make sure she wins the race." Rena said.

"Yes ma'am!" I nodded and chuckled lightly. Aki grabbed my hand and dragged me with her to the door so we could put on our shoes and hurry on to the university so we won't be late.

The shift in energy was what the house truly needed because with Aki being happier, the other women who were either neutral or still somewhat disliked me were bound to see me in a different light now. Last night was a true heart to heart moment for me and Aki. A moment we needed to share...a bonding moment that was much needed for us to progress in our relationship.

With that said, a new chapter in our lives was bound to begin. I wondered what new challenges was going to pop up now since our relationship has become stable and better now. Only time will tell now...

To be continued...