*LAST APRIL*
*CAFETERIA - NIJIGASAKI HIGH SCHOOL - ODAIBA - TOKYO*
*P.O.V - AYUMU*
Our high school years are supposed to be the best of our lives.
For the entirety of our first year, Aki wasn't happy. His wall of ice stood stronger than ever.
Sometimes, I thought about giving up. If I had already snapped him out of it twice, what if this third time was permanent?
No, I had to break him free. I wanted to get my best friend out of his shell.
When our second year in high school started, I tried doing little things, stuff like making him his favorite rolled eggs. But it didn't work.
It's all so frustrating...
Electric Town, Akihabara, in the Chiyoda district, was undergoing a lot of modern development. With all of the bright lights, billboards, arcades, and maid cafés you could find.
Surely a place like that could help Aki return to normal.
AKI: "..."
AYUMU: "You could at least wear the uniform; you'll get in trouble."
AKI: "If they don't punish Kuroda and his gang, then the school won't punish me."
AYUMU: "..."
AKI: "..."
AYUMU: "Why don't we check out Electric Town?"
AKI: "What's an Electric Town?"
AYUMU: "It's in Akihabara. You know, the anime capital of the world."
AKI: "I stopped watching that stuff."
AYUMU: "Come on i,t'll be fun! A day trip to Akihabara, just you and me!"
AKI: "I'm not sure..."
AYUMU: "Huh? Why?"
AKI: "I need to practice this section, or else I'll never get it right. Also, I have to revise my English lessons and study up on political theory."
AYUMU: "You're always so busy again lately... I hope you're not overworking yourself."
AKI: "Huh? No, I would never..."
AYUMU: "Come on, just this once? You never know what could happen in Akihabara."
AKI: *Sigh* "Fine, just for you I'll do it, Ayu. Don't blame me if I fall asleep on the train from cramming my studies in the night before."
AYUMU: "I'll be there to wake you up, silly."
...
*APRIL 14TH 2020 - DAY OF DISCOVERY*
*AKIHIKO'S ROOM - SUZUKI RESIDENCE - KOTA CITY APARTMENT BUILDING - ODAIBA - TOKYO*
Like Aki said he would, he crammed all his studying into that night.
He was quickly becoming a workaholic, like his dad.
When Aki gets into work mode, he often forgets about other things. Stuff like eating, sleeping, or even locking his balcony door.
It always makes me so worried about him.
AYUMU: "Rise and shine, sleepyhead!"
AKI: "Zzz... Wha-? What are you doing in my room?"
AYUMU: "You left the door unlocked again, silly."
AKI: "That doesn't mean you should barge right in."
AYUMU: "Oh... But you told me to wake you up."
AKI: "Did I?"
AYUMU: "Yes!"
AKI: "Oh, I forgot... Sorry."
AYUMU: "Don't worry about it. Come on; it's time to get dressed. We've got a fun day ahead of us!"
AKI: "Fine. Wait outside."
AYUMU: "I thought maybe I could help you get ready."
AKI: "Outside. I'm not a kid anymore."
AYUMU: "If you say so. Then I'll wait in the lobby."
AKI: "Sure."
...
*ENTRANCE - KOTA CITY APARTMENT BUILDING - ODAIBA - TOKYO*
AYUMU: "All ready?"
AKI: "Yeah."
AYUMU: "You look tired."
AKI: "No shit. That happens when you're trying to function with two hours of sleep."
AYUMU: "Only two hours..."
AKI: "Yes, two."
AYUMU: "Yesterday it was three. You're getting less and less sleep every night. I'm worried about you."
AKI: "Forget it. You're the one who wanted to go to Akihabara today, so lead the way."
AYUMU: "Okay!"
...
*TRAIN - ODAIBA TO AKIHABARA STATION*
The moment we took a seat on the train, Aki fell asleep.
Finding a seat on one of those trains is rare; it sends shivers down my spine thinking about what would have happened if we didn't find some.
Aki would have fallen asleep standing up and collapsed.
Eventually, our stop arrived. Unfortunately, Aki was still asleep. So I had to wake him from his slumber for the second time that day.
AYUMU: "Aki...wake up!"
AKI: "Zzz...huh? What now?"
AYUMU: *Giggle* "You fell asleep sleepyhead."
AKI: "Yeah I did, but only for like 2 minutes."
AYUMU: "You've been asleep since we left Odaiba."
AKI: "Oh... Really? Why didn't you wake me up? We could have missed our stop."
AYUMU: "I didn't want to disturb you, you looked so peaceful."
AKI: "Ugh... How long until this train reaches Akihabara?"
AYUMU: "We're already at Akihabara."
AKI: "What?"
AYUMU: "Let's go!"
...
*AKIHABARA STATION - AKIHABARA - TOKYO*
The commotion at Akihabara Station was livelier than other days. It indicated that an event was going on in the area.
To avoid getting him lost, I grabbed onto Aki's wrist tightly to guide him through the crowd, until we emerged on the other side.
AKI: "Thanks..."
AYUMU: "I should be thanking you Aki."
AKI: "Why?"
AYUMU: "Thanks for coming with me today, I really appreciate it."
AKI: "Took you some convincing. It's not like I wanted to go or anything."
AYUMU: "We managed to get matching train pass cases too! I can't wait to use them again tomorrow."
Just the little things like that make me smile.
AKI: "Great... I can't wait to face the tough crowds tomorrow. Again."
Dragging him out there that day was hard enough, there was no way I could make him go a second time.
So, I tried my usual routine of tricks to make him open up. Small jokes being one of them.
AYUMU: "Aki in Akihabara, sounds quite fitting don't you think?"
AKI: "Not really."
AKI: "So, what now?"
AYUMU: "I'm a little tired. Is it okay if we buy some drinks and sit down?"
AKI: "Sure."
Suddenly, the crowd we had fought our way through had caught up to us, and we were swept away by the current.
AYUMU: "Huh? What's going on?"
STUDENT 1: "Hey come on, we're gonna miss it!"
STUDENT 2: "Don't worry, I wouldn't miss it for the world!"
*BUMP*
A boy in a bright orange happi coat accidentally bumped into me.
AYUMU: "Ah!"
STUDENT 2: "S-Sorry!"
AYUMU: "Th-That's okay."
That should have been the end of it. But when Aki has his wall of ice up, he's not just protective of himself...
AKI: "You should have watched where you were going. If you know what's best for you."
STUDENT 2: "S-Sorry! I'll leave!"
If I didn't know better, Aki could have punched that boy there and then.
AKI: "Did he hurt you?"
AYUMU: "N-No, I'm fine."
AKI: "Good. Idiots..."
AYUMU: "But what is all this commotion about?"
AKI: "Who cares? They're probably gathering under that screen to watch the latest trailer, or something."
AYUMU: "Should we check it out?"
AKI: "Sure, but I'm not buying what they're selling."
The usual pessimistic response. I was determined to turn that frown upside down. So, this time it was my turn to grab Aki by the hand and drag him into doing something I wanted.
I was curious, and I dragged him into the large crowd gathering under the big screen outside Akihabara Station.
That's when Honoka and Chika appeared on the UTX screen. The Aqours/μ's Joint Live Show was about to begin.
HONOKA: "Thank you all for coming to see our show. We're gonna sing our hearts out!"
CHIKA: "All of us on stage, all of you here, and everyone watching the broadcast. We're all connected!"
Looking at Aki, I could tell that something about those girls caught his interest. But he denied it and tried to walk away.
AKI: "UGH!"
But he was distracted and bumped into a UTX student.
Well... It wasn't just any UTX student.
TSUBASA: "Oh, sorry there! You all right?"
AKI: *Sigh* "Sorry. I couldn't see from all this commotion. What are these people getting so crazy for?"
TSUBASA: "You don't know? μ's and Aqours are having a Joint Live Show, and it's being broadcast all over the country! Did you two not come here to see it?"
AKI: "u's? Aqua? I'm not sure what you mean..."
AYUMU: "You mean the school idols?"
AKI: "School...idols?"
I had heard of them briefly before, about how they were picking up momentum around the city.
Although, it wasn't something I was interested in at the time.
TSUBASA: "Yeah! Looks like you guys are really lucky. This screen is the biggest you'll see them on, so please watch it if you've got time. You'll love it, I guarantee it!"
AKI: "Right... Whatever."
AYUMU: "Should we stay?"
AKI: "Not interested."
AYUMU: "Oh come on, please? It could be fun!"
AKI: "Fine... We can stay for one song."
I'm glad that I asked him for us to stay. Because μ's and Aqours did the rest of the job for me.
AKI: "Wh...What the...?"
...
*ONE HOUR LATER*
AKI: "Wow..."
AYUMU: "Hey, you alright?"
I was worried that he was feeling light-headed from the heat.
AKI: "Wow..."
AYUMU: "Um...Earth to Aki, are you okay?"
AKI: "Oh, sorry Ayu, I was just kind of...overwhelmed. Just the show, and everyone was cheering, it was all just so..."
AYUMU: "Yeah, I know what you mean! It really felt like we were all in it together!"
Then Aki stopped. He looked up at the TV screen and stared blankly.
If only I could know what was going through his head at the time, but slowly I could see the light return to his eyes.
AKI: "THIS IS AMAZING!!!"
Aki was back. And then the rest is history.
Well... Until exactly ten months later.
While the 14th of April brought Aki back, the 14th of February took him away.