#hadleysfraser

On that afternoon, Akashi pulls him aside to scold him. It feels oddly familiar, even though Ryouta isn’t one to piss off Akashi often - he knows better - and he pouts and looks away. 

“Let me see that,” Akashi demands, gesturing to Ryouta’s hand.

Ryouta lets him examine his wrist and he tries his best not to wince as Akashi turns it around and it throbs. Akashi’s sharp eyes don’t miss the flash of pain in Ryouta’s expression. He really did it this time. 

“I know you and Aomine have this dumb rivalry going on,” Akashi says sternly. “But I’m drawing a line. If I catch you being reckless and hurting yourself needlessly like this again, I’m benching you.”

“You’re not the coach, Akashicchi!” Ryouta protests.

Akashi’s unimpressed look is enough of a responde. Ryouta and everyone else knows damn well Akashi can and will decide which players are allowed in his court.

“Come on, I’m going to bandage you up,” Akashi says, pulling Ryouta with him to the locker room.

“Wha- I can just go to Momocchi! Or the nurse!” Ryouta protests.

Akashi ignores him. Ryouta shouldn’t be surprised. Akashi can be a weirdo sometimes.

And that’s how he ends up straddling a bench in the locker room with his captain wrapping bandages around his wrist to make sure Ryouta won’t get anymore hurt. It’s stupid, but Ryouta feels like a little boy being scolded by his older sister again. 

And the worst part is that he knows that he got hurt because of his own stupidity. It’s been a rough week and he took his frustration to the court with him. It was a mistake. He sighs.

“Done,” Akashi says proudly. 

Ryouta checks his wrist. Of course Akashi did a better job than the nurse. Akashi is good at every damn thing.

“I’m sorry, Akashicchi,” Ryouta says, defeated. “I’m going to be more careful. Thank you.”

“You’re one of my best players, Kise,” Akashi says, calmly. “It’s only natural I take care of you. No need to thank me.”

Ryouta smiles a bit and, without thinking, leans in and plants a kiss to Akashi’s cheek. 

Both boys stand silent for a long moment. Realization finally dawns and Ryouta gasps in horror.

“Oh my God! I just...Did I-- I’m sorry, I wasn’t- You remind me of my sister???”

Akashi’s eyes go doe wide. 

“No, I mean... not literally, but she used to bandage me up and out of habit, I just- Akashicchi!”

But Akashi is openly laughing now. “That’s so cute, Kise” he teases. 

“UGH!” Ryouta stands up to leave.

Ryouta pouts, whines and overreacts in general, but Akashi keeps smiling as though that was the funniest thing to ever happen to him - or maybe he did really find it cute. He has a playful smirk on his lips that looks very familiar.