Archive of Our Own

Akaashi knew this was a bad idea the second they stepped into the empty schoolyard. It didn’t get any better when they actually walked into the school, the long hallways shining in the pale moonlight as they hurried through them.

It must have been past midnight, and they definitely, absolutely, shouldn’t be sneaking in like this.

During the day, these same hallways were brimming with life. Students of all classes mixed in together as some of them hurried to have lunch, others walked into their next classroom, and others just sat against the walls, talking, holding hands, and exchanging homework notes.

Right now though, the only sound Akaashi could pick up was the sound of their own sneakers shoes across the floor.

“We’re going to get in trouble, Bokuto-san,” Akaashi whispered. He didn’t know what for, no one was there. 

No one except Bokuto, who just peeked around the corner, before he looked back and got a hold of Akaahi’s hand. 

“Only if we get caught.” He smiled and pulled Akaashi forward, running down the hall and up the stairs, dragging him along.

As if there was any need for it, Akaashi had already willingly agreed to be here on his own. He lied to his parents and told them he’d be getting together with some of his friends from the volleyball team. He had lied, sneaked out of his house, and broke into the school territory for Bokuto. He would probably follow him anywhere if he was being honest. Although having Bokuto’s hand wrapped around his own did feel nice.

“See? I told you we would make it!” Bokuto smiled as they reach his classroom, the same one Akaashi himself had spent countless afternoons sharing lunch with him or helping Bokuto out with math homework.

He let go of his hand in favor to walk around, and Akaashi found himself missing the warmth of his touch almost instantly.

“ Luckily . Why did you want to come, anyway?” Akaashi sat down at one of the empty desks, catching his breath. He saw the second Bokuto’s shoulders dropped just lightly.

“I dunno…” Bokuto scratched the back of his neck. “Today was my last day of school… I guess I’m just gonna miss it. I wanted to see it one more time. Hang out with you once more.” He admitted, finally taking a seat right next to Akaashi. His legs dangling down the desk table as he leaned forward to snoop around the notebooks someone had left in there.

Many, many times Akaashi had wondered what it’d be like if he had been Bokuto’s age. If they had shared the same classroom. Would he have been able to concentrate in the slightest during lessons or would he have been too distracted by Bokuto’s complete inability to sit still? 

“Oh, this one is mine!” Bokuto laughed as he picked up another notebook, instantly running through the pages. “I must have left it in here the other day! I ran out to grab lunch and completely forgot about it…”

Akaashi smiled. Yeah, he wouldn’t have been able to concentrate on shit . He guessed it was a good thing they were not in the same class.

“You still have to come by for graduation,” Akaashi calmly pointed out. “And stop by the gym for the small surprise the team put up for the third years.”

Bokuto’s eyes seemed to glow. “You guys put up a surprise for us?”

“Maybe,” Akaashi smiled. “Don’t tell anyone, though.”

“I won’t!” Bokuto smiled. He had ripped one of the pages from the notebook and was mindlessly fidgeting with it. “I’m really going to miss this.”

“I thought you said you were going to keep playing for a hundred years more,” Akaashi lightly teased, remembering the inspiring speech Bokuto had chosen to give that night at nationals, and how unbothered he looked by the fact that was their last national tournament together as a team.

He had seemed relaxed as if he has just known their path together wasn’t going to end after high school. That there was more out there for him, for them .

Right now, though, Bokuto seemed more like the eighteen years old he actually was, and not the star of the game that Akaashi was so used to seeing.

“I am,” Bokuto softly laughed, his eyes dropping to the pieces of paper he had folded between his fingers to make them look somewhat like rings. “But I didn’t mean I’m going to miss volleyball. I’m going to continue playing, be the greatest ace there has ever been…”

“Of course.”

“I meant, I’m going to miss this .” Bokuto’s eyes slowly went back up, the soft summer breeze coming through the open window making some of his hair fall into his face. “You know?”

Akaashi’s heart drummed in his chest. He did. He knew exactly what Bokuto meant because he would miss this too.

But before he could say so, Bokuto straightened back up on his seat and smiled as if he had just thought about something brilliant.

“I know what! Let’s promise to not forget about each other, yeah?” Akaashi watched with wide eyes as Bokuto held up the paper rings he had made from his notebook, and slipped one into his finger. “I promise I won’t forget about you…” He reached for Akaashi’s hand across the desk, gently slipping the other paper ring down his slender finger. Akaashi felt his heart drum even louder. “And you’ll promise not to forget about me.”

“Bokuto-san…” Akaashi’s eyes drifted down to where Bokuto was still holding his hand, the white paper ring hugging his finger.

“Don’t forget about me, ‘Kaashi,” Bokuto softly smiled, his fingers dancing lightly on Akaashi’s hand. “Promise?”

Akaashi’s eyes went from Bokuto’s face, down to their matching rings. Uneven, and a bit chunky, and (at least for him) setting a bit loose around his finger, but perfect nonetheless. A small token of their promise to each other.

“I promise,” Akaashi finally spoke, daring to look back up at Bokuto’s face, just to find him looking back at him in a way he still couldn’t understand what it meant.

For all he knew every one of Bokuto’s weaknesses, thoughts, and strengths, there was something behind the way Bokuto always looked at him– directly, softly, never turning away or looking back, that he was too blind to really see.

He could figure out what it meant some other day. Bokuto was graduating anyways, whatever feelings he might raised when he looked at Akaashi could wait. It’s not like those feelings were going to last past graduation.

Surely they were going to die down eventually.

Surely .

Probably.

Yeah… those feelings did not go away. In fact, Akaashi was pretty damn sure they have only grown to something bigger. Something that he had chosen to ignore for the sake of his own sanity, and their friendship.

But it was there. Beating alongside his chest, tugging at his lungs, clouding his mind. Burning and shining brightly every time Bokuto came to visit him at his college dorm. Which was nothing more than a tiny, neat room containing a small bed, a desk, and a window that faced the college campus, and yet, it seemed to be so much more whenever Bokuto was in town.

It was the place they’d set up Akaashi’s laptop and watch bad movies just for the sake of it. It was the place Bokuto would stay whenever he was in town helping his coach scout new players, sleeping on the futon by Akaashi’s bed as he went on and on about what he did that day and how much he missed Tokyo. 

“And you, ‘Kaashi,” Bokuto would whisper in the small room. “I miss you the most.”

It would always make Akaashi smile.

“Go to sleep, Bokuto-san,” He’d say, instead of admitting he missed him too. “We gotta wake up early tomorrow.”

“It’s just like old times, isn’t it? You nagging me to go to sleep. Going to the same class.”

Akaashi wouldn’t call it a class, they were going to the gym because MSBY was holding tryouts in Akaashi’s college, and he had agreed to go with Bokuto.

Still, he smiled.

“Go to sleep.” He said again and heard Bokuto chuckle.

“Good night, ‘kaashi.”

“Good night, Bokuto-san.”

That small college dorm had seen Akaashi slowly realize that maybe, just maybe, his feelings for his friends were more than just platonic . Not that Akaashi would know the real difference between platonic and romantic just yet, those two tend to blend in one blurry line whenever Bokuto was around.

Much like in that exact moment.

“I’m sorry, Bokuto-san,” Akaashi apologized again, closing the door behind Bokuto. He had come visit for their monthly catch-up date , as he’d like to call them. But between the coming up final exams and assignments, Akaashi had completely forgotten about it. He had thought it was next week, not this one. “I have a paper due tomorrow morning and…”

“‘Kaashi…”

“I completely forgot you were coming today,” Akaashi continued, not noticing he was very much pacing up and down the small room. “I didn’t even get dressed or put your futon out. God, you probably had this whole day planned out and I completely ruined it. I’m so sorry, maybe tomorrow…”

“ Akaashi… ”

“Maybe we can go grab something for lunch tomorrow or–,”

Akaashi only stopped pacing when Bokuto held him by the shoulders, making him stop dead in his tracks.

“ ‘Kaashi ,” He repeated again, and this time Akaashi did listen. “It’s okay. I didn’t have anything planned for today. I just wanted to see you.”

Bokuto was very, very good at many things. Lying wasn’t one of them.

“You’re lying.” Akaashi softly pointed out.

“I’m not! I really wanted to see you.” 

“I meant the part of not having anything planned for the day.” Akaashi clarified, to which Bokuto just smiled, and let go of his shoulders to lay back on Akaashi’s bed, stretching his arms up and around, his big torso covering the small bed frame almost entirely.

“I mean it! I had nothing planned for today.” Akaashi watched him with an amused look as Bokuto made himself comfortable on his mattress. “We can just stay in. We could do something tomorrow after your classes.”

Akaashi chuckled, looking down at Bokuto, who looked like an overgrown dog trying to fit in a bed that was a bit too small for him. Akaashi really had to go get the futon out if he was going to stay the night.

“But you hate staying in.”

“I promise I don’t,” Bokuto said, stretching out a hand. “This way we can catch up. I haven’t heard from you in days.”

Akaashi took a look down at Bokuto’s hand, and sighed, holding it as he got up into the bed. It was a small, one-person bed. Made to hold one person at most, definitely not made for two six feet tall men. One of them being a professional volleyball player, and weighing enough to make the bed break if they weren’t careful.

It was a tight fit, but it was not the first time they had cuddled, and just like many times before, they made it work. With Bokuto laying on his back, and Akaashi fitting just right against his side, their legs dangling just above the edge of the bed.

Akaashi hadn’t been this comfortable in a long time.

“There isn’t much to tell,” Akaashi softly admitted it, his eyes fixed on the ceiling. “It’s exam season. Whenever I’m not in classes, I’m studying here or at the library, or writing papers after papers. It’s… a lot, and not fun at all.” 

His chest felt lighter as the words left his body, as he had finally admitted to himself that he was tired . Fuck, he was so tired and he didn’t realize it until now. Until Bokuto took him in his arms, quite literally, and made him take a second just to talk.

Still, he was pretty sure he was very quickly killing the mood. Bokuto probably didn’t travel all the way to Tokyo to listen to his friend complain about college.

“Sorry,” Akaashi quickly added. “That was a lot. You probably don’t want to hear how boring college life is.”

“Don’t apologize, ‘Kaashi,” Bokuto said, and Akaashi felt his weight dipping the bed as he turned around to lay on his side, facing Akaashi. He couldn’t hide from his big, amber eyes looking directly into him. “You are under a lot of stress, aren’t you?”

Akaashi softly chuckled, they were so close, he felt like they were sharing the same air. “You could say that.”

“We could talk about it if you want to.” Bokuto offered, but Akaashi shook his head.

“Thank you, Bokuto-san, but really, there isn’t much to talk about. College has been kicking my ass, that’s about it.”

“But you’re still stressed…” Bokuto murmured.

“Nothing I can’t handle.”

“Let me help you then,” Bokuto whispered, making Akaashi look up to meet his eyes.

“How?” 

Akaashi watched a smile spread across Bokuto’s face as he opened up his arms to him.

“Come here.”

Akaashi’s eyes went from Bokuto’s arms, up to his face. Almost as if asking really? but Bokuto just made grabby hands at him, that easy smile still on his face, and much like everything that involved Bokuto, Akaashi had no other choice but to follow along.

Almost instantly, a strong pair of arms pulled him into a firm chest, keeping him pressed safe and sound there, his cheek squishing against Bokuto’s shirt so tightly he could hear his heartbeat. Bokuto threw one of his legs over Akaashi’s, and his arms looped to wrap around his back in a hug.

He was completely surrounded by Bokuto.

“I read somewhere that hugs are a good way to lower down stress and regulate your body pressure or something,” Bokuto’s voice sounded muffled from where Akaashi was trapped in a bear hug. “I figure it would work better if I just… hugged you with all of me,” He chuckled, and Akaashi felt the laugh rupture through his chest, vibrating softly against his cheek. It was the best feeling in the world. “Did it work?”

Akaashi breathed in, the lingering scent of Bokuto’s cologne mixing with the air as it went through his lungs. He allowed himself to snuggle closer to him, his own arms coming to wrap loosely around Bokuto’s waist.

“I don’t know yet. I think you’ll have to hug me tighter.” Akaashi murmured, and almost instantly, he felt Bokuto tighten his arms and legs around him.

“Did it work now?” Bokuto asked again, tilting his head down to catch a glimpse of Akaashi against his chest.

“Yeah,” Akaashi breathed out. “It’s working, Bokuto-san.”

His feelings were growing a little too big for such a small dorm room, Akaashi realized. Too big.

“Coming through!” Bokuto shouted as he made his way through the door, carrying two heavy pits of paint, one in each hand. “Where do you want these?”

Akaashi stepped down the small ladder he was using to put up the protective paper around the window frame of his home office, not even taking a look at Bokuto as he pointed to the left corner of the room.

He had just moved to his new apartment about three days ago and had been getting everything together on his own. He didn’t have much just yet, just a small table, his bed, a couch Bokuto kindly gifted him as a present, and his brand new desk that had just arrived last night, almost at the same time Bokuto knocked on his door, carrying one small bag, announcing he was here to help paint.

So far, they had managed to finish up the living room and were starting to work on Akaashi’s home office.

“Over there, please, Bokuto-san. And careful with the desk.”

“Got it!” He heard Bokuto walk behind him, and the gallons being placed on the floor. “This place is coming together really nice, don’t you think?”

Akaashi put away the ladder, turning around to find an almost naked Bokuto marveling at the first patchy layer of paint he had managed to put on the night before. 

Okay, fine , maybe Bokuto wasn’t exactly naked. But compared to Akaashi, who was wearing his ugliest, oldest high school shirt, now covered in paint, and some old gray joggers, Bokuto wearing nothing but a denim overall tied down at his hips was pretty much being butt ass naked, as far as Akaashi was concerned.

“I… yeah, really nice.” He choked down, quickly looking the other way. Anywhere else but at Bokuto’s chest. “W-we should… hm, start painting these walls now.” 

He scrunched down to open the paint pit, but Bokuto was instantly next to him. 

“Let me help you with that!” He offered with a dashing smile.

“Careful, Bokuto-san, you can get paint on your…” Akaashi started, but then he was a little too lost on the way Bokuto’s bare arms flexed as he took the cap off the bin, and certainly grabbed it with his whole hand, getting blue paint all over his— “ Fingers .” Akaashi finished up with a sigh. 

“ Oh .” Bokuto looked down at his now blue palm, a soft blush taking over his face. “It’s okay! There’s nothing to worry about. I’ll just—,” 

“Wait— Bo—,” 

Akaashi tried, again , getting back up at the same time Bokuto did, watching as he spread his palm over his abs and tried to wipe it off clean against his skin. 

Of course I didn’t work. This was heavy oil paint, and the only thing Bokuto managed to do was smear paint all over his chest, and abs, and—

“Oh, shit, sorry, ‘Kaashi, I’ll go to— ‘Kaashi?” Akaashi’s eyes snapped back up then, and he saw the exact same moment Bokuto’s face went from worried, to flirty. A smile appeared across his face as he stopped rubbing paint on himself. “‘Kaashi… you okay? You’re all red . Is it the heat?”

Sure, it was the middle of the summer and his apartment wasn’t too big and the sun was shining brightly outside and there was only one window where the wind could flow in and grace them with a bit of relief, but no… he wasn’t fucking blushing because of the heat .

“No,” Akaashi tried his very best to sound calm. “I’m fine. Let’s just get to—,” 

“But you’re all hot,” Bokuto smiled, the palm of his hand coming up to feel Akaashi’s temperature on his forehead. He was probably smearing blue paint on Akaashi too, but surprisingly, he found he didn’t care. Bokuto’s voice was as sultry as the air coming through the window. “Are you sure is not the heat?” 

Akaashi made the horrible, terrible mistake of looking down then, meeting the sight of Bokuto’s body. He looked straight out of some 90’s poster gay fantasy. With splashes of blue paint across his bare shoulders, and the thin layer of sweat across his pecs and his stupid, firm abs, down to the absurd v line on his lower– 

Bokuto lifted an eyebrow when Akashi’s eyes snapped back up after basically staring down at his torso.

“Or maybe is it something else that’s got you like this?” 

Oh, he was teasing him. 

Bokuto Koutarou was teasing him . 

“It’s probably the strong smell of the paint,” Akaashi cleared his throat. “That must be it.”

“Are you sure?” Bokuto grinned, stepping back as he held his arms up. His stupid biceps glistened in the sun coming through the window. “You know, ‘Kaashi, there’s nothing wrong if you just happened to be looking at me.”

“I was not…” 

“Really, ‘Kaashi,” Oh, Bokuto was having a little too much fun with this. “There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. You can even touch if you’d–,”

“Bokuto-san, wait, you’re going to–,”

He saw it all happen in slow motion. Bokuto showing off as he leaned back against Akaashi’s brand new white desk, the only thing in the room he hadn’t covered up. He saw the way Bokuto hit his hip with the edge of it and threw back his blue-covered hand to stop the upcoming fall. The handprint of Bokuto’s hand forever immortalized in blue paint on a white wood canvas.

There was exactly a second of silence before Bokuto turned around, looking at Akaashi with wide eyes. 

“I’m– I’m sorry, ‘Kaashi. I’ll– I’ll get you a brand new one, I just–” Akaashi could swear that if Bokuto was a dog, his ears would be glued to his skull right now, hidden in shame. “I’m so sorry…’Kaashi?”

Akaashi didn’t say a thing, he just walked to where the blue pit of paint was, and carefully dipped his left hand in it. He could feel Bokuto’s eyes glued on him as he walked toward him.

“ ‘Kaashi ?” Bokuto was the one blushing now as Akaashi came right in front of him, and leaned closer. His golden eyes sparkled up at him. “W-what are you doing?”

“I’m just adding the finishing touch,” Akaashi said, leaning right over Bokuto to plant his hand along with the handprint of Bokuto’s one. He stepped back, smiling. “See? That’s much better.”

Akaashi couldn’t help but chuckle at the way Bokuto was just looking at him as if he had gone completely mad. Mouth slightly open and both eyes wide with shock. 

“You’re not mad?” Bokuto softly asked, and Akaashi really couldn’t help the smile on his lips now. 

“I’m not mad, Bokuto-san,” Akaashi assured him, daring to wipe his hand clean on Bokuto’s bare chest. He enjoyed the little gasp he pulled from Bokuto a little too much. “I don’t mind a little mess, and I liked how it looks.”

“‘ Kaashi… ” Bokuto breathed out with a smile as if he was saying his name for the first time. He turned around then, and Akaashi watched him carefully trace the outline of their handprints over the white wood with his clean hand. “Your hand is so big…” He marbled in a hush. 

Bokuto probably didn’t mean for Akaashi to hear, but he did, and he was grateful Bokuto was not facing him, or he’d see the very obvious blush on his face too.

“Let’s get clean up,” Akaashi cleared his throat. “We still got a lot to paint.”

Bokuto turned around, nodding enthusiastically. 

“Yes, sir.”

As they walked out of the room, Akaashi couldn’t help but shoot a quick look at the desk, and at their handprints. It would be a fine desk to set up his laptop, his mechanical keyboard, and keep the paper ring he still carried with him from that summer night they sneaked into the school.

His heart squeezed in his chest. He wondered if Bokuto still keep his ring with him, just as he has kept his promise all these years.

He hoped he did.

“So you’re telling me, you make Akaashi travel all the way to Osaka, just ‘cuz you can’t cook for shit?” Konoha burst out laughing. “You have to be kidding me.”

Akaashi felt Bokuto’s knee bump into his own as he leaned over the small table they were all sharing.

“I don’t make him!” Bokuto’s voice lifted over the music and chattering of the izakaya. “He just comes by to help me sometimes. Right, ‘Kaashi?”

“That’s right.” Akaashi smiled, taking a sip of his beer. “I even help him with his taxes too.”

“ Taxes ,” Konoha laughed, then reached out to playfully smack Bokuto on the shoulder. “Bokuto, you dumbass! You gotta stop bothering Akaashi.”

“I do not!”

“You ask him to cook for you.”

“I don–”

“And to do your taxes.” Konoha interrupted him.

“That’s because–”

“You have to learn how to do things on your own, Bo.”

“ Without Akaashi.” Washio calmly pointed out.

“It’s not like I make him!” Akaashi couldn’t help but laugh at the way Bokuto almost pouted. “Those are things friends do for each other. Not that you guys would know about it.”

“Bo,” Konoha said, slowly leaning forward. “That’s not something just friends do.”

Akaashi almost choked on his damn beer right then.

“‘Kaash–,”

“L-look!” Akaashi coughed, putting his beer down. “Our food is here!”

He was incredibly grateful for the momentary distraction and made sure to keep the conversation going literally anywhere else but at them as the night went on. He also made sure not to pay much attention to the way Bokuto’s eyes settled on him every once in a while, making his heart skip a beat every time.

“I think it’s time for me to go,” Akaashi finally announced about two hours later. “Some of us have work tomorrow.”

“Some of us do too, but are choosing to ignore it,” Konoha gave him a loopy smile. “Take care.”

“See you soon.” Washio waved him goodbye, alongside Onaga and Yamato.

Bokuto almost tripped and tipped the whole table upside down as he stood up. 

“Wait for me! I’ll go with you.”

“You don’t have to go just because I’m going, Bokuto san.”

“I know,” Bokuto said, smiling. “But I want to walk you home.”

Akaashi could hear Konoha drunkenly shouting have fun you twooo! as they exited the izakaya, the warm, humid night welcoming outside. 

He could feel the heavy clouds looming over them, and the absence of wind on his skin. The sky was as dark as ever, with no stars in sight. The streets were almost empty, except for some couples walking here and there.

And them. Walking right next to each other, their hands dangling between them, almost touching, but not quite there yet.

“You really didn’t have to walk me home, Bokuto-san,” Akaashi said, his eyes still fixed on the sky. “It’s going to rain, you should go back to the bar.”

“It’s okay,” Bokuto smiled. “The train station is near your house, and I have to catch the last train to Osaka, remember?”

Stay. Akaashi wanted to say. Stay with me tonight.

“Hmm,” He hummed instead. Their fingertips brushed as they rounded around a corner, and keep walking down the street.

“You know, ‘Kaashi… I don’t want to bother you.” Bokuto murmured, making Akaashi stop dead in his tracks.

There wasn’t anyone in that small street other than them, not even the stars shining in the sky.

“What are you talking about, Bokuto-san?”

He watched as a shy smile came on Bokuto’s lips. He wasn’t facing Akaashi as he said:

“I don’t want to be a bother.” He repeated and took a big breath before he did raise his eyes to him. “I… I know how to cook. And Kuroo has been teaching me how to do my taxes, too.”

“Bokuto-san–,” Akaashi tried, but Bokuto shook his head.

“I just wanted to hang out with you.” He admitted then, and Akaahi could swear his heart skipped a whole beat. “The cooking, the taxes, me asking for help when I moved to my new apartment, those were just excuses, Akaashi. I just wanted to see you.”

Akaashi has never, ever had anyone confess his love to him. In his twenty-two years of age, no one, ever, has come up to him and told him they liked him. But he was pretty damn sure, this, right then, was a love confession.

Bokuto might have not said the words I like you out loud, but Akaashi knew– in all of his inexperience, he knew that this, right now, Bokuto was–

“I’m sorry if that bothered you,” Bokuto suddenly said, bowing. Little pieces of hair framed his face when he raised back up. “I never meant to–”

“Bokuto-san, you could never–,”

“I didn’t want to annoy you! Or- or make you travel all the way to Osaka. I know it’s such a long trip and I was so selfish, I–”

I like you too, Akaashi wanted to say.

I like you, so much, Akaashi wanted to scream.

Instead, he took a step forward, closing the distance between them.

“ Bokuto-san ,” Bokuto shut right up. This was the closest they have ever been since that night Bokuto had cuddled him. Akaashi guessed this was it. He was going to confess. Finally. He looked right into Bokuto’s eyes. “I did all of those things because–,”

“ Oh ,” Bokuto whispered then, looking up. “It’s raining.”

“What? No– it’s not. Bokuto–,”

But then Akaashi felt a single drop of cold water land on his cheek, startling him. Followed by another by his forehead, and soon enough, the sky was pouring down on them, washing Akaashi’s attempt at a confession away.

He blinked up, then down, trying to wash the droplets away from his face. Really ? It had to rain right now? Was the world against him or something? 

“Bokuto-san, listen, I have to…” He tried to snap Bokuto’s attention back to him, but it was pointless.

“You’re going to get wet! C’mon, ‘Kaashi, here,” Bokuto took off his jacket, using it to cover Akaashi up. The rain stopped drenching his clothes.

“But you are going to–,”

Bokuto flashed him a smile as warm as the sun, heating Akaashi up from inside out. “Don’t worry about me. C’mon!”

Rain splashed around them as they made a run to get cover, which wasn’t easy, considering most shops were closed already. They squished together under the jacket, Akaashi fitting right under Bokuto’s arm as they hurried under a small ledge that was barely enough to cover them both.

Akaashi plastered himself to the wall as much as he could so Bokuto could squeeze in too. Without realizing it, they had ended up face to face, Akaashi cornered against the wall as Bokuto covered him from the rain with his own body.

His heart gave a fucking flip on his chest.

“Bokuto-san…”

“Oh, shit, a car,” Bokuto said under his breath. Akaashi barely managed to spot the car racing down the street, before Bokuto glued his body to his, covering Akaashi from the upcoming splash.

He was stuck there, between a wall and Bokuto’s warm body, with the sound of rain all around them, and his heart absolutely racing, begging him to make a move. To take the lead. To do something .

“That was a close one,” Bokuto laughed as he slowly pulled away, resting his forearms on the wall on each side of Akaashi’s head. He peered down at him with a smile. “You okay, ‘Kaashi?”

Akaashi sighed, dropping his face on Bokuto’s chest. The faint scene of his cologne mixed with the rain.

“I am.”

That moment kept replaying in Akaahsi’s head as he got to his house that night and dried himself off. He kept thinking about it when he woke up the next day, and as he went to bed the night after. The memory of Bokuto’s face inches to his, of his warm hand around his waist, how for a small moment it was only the two of them, and no one else but the rain around them.

The way he absolutely, masterfully lost his one chance to confess his love for his best friend poked at him during the night. Kept him awake until ungodly hours. He had so many opportunities to do so. Before it started raining, as they were running, when they were literally chest to chest trying to cover from the rain. And what did he do? He let the moment slip away.

Akaashi sighed, dropping his head back against the train seat.

He hadn’t had the courage to lean up and kiss him. To tell him he liked him, for fuck’s sake. To tell him that he has probably liked him ever since that time in middle school when they entered that old gym and he saw him jumping across the air to score a point. That he knew they belonged together ever since that one match in high school when they had been the protagonist of the world.

Akaashi lost his chance that night, and now Bokuto was going away to the south of the country to play a couple of games for the next two weeks.

Two whole weeks .

He didn’t think he could hold in his feelings for that long. What happened if he somehow managed to convince himself that he didn’t need to say anything? That they could continue as just friends? What happened if he lost the little courage he had gathered, and things just stayed the same?

Akaashi didn’t want to continue being just friends. 

So that’s why, before he could talk some common sense into himself, he grabbed his back, sprinted out of his apartment in the dead middle of the night, and caught the last train to Osaka.

It was an impulsive decision, he knew that. Bokuto would be leaving the next morning, Akaashi would barely make it on time before he left, but he had to tell him. Even if Bokuto didn’t reciprocate his feelings, he had to tell him. Although something, maybe delusion, maybe hope, told Akaashi that Bokuto had already accepted his feelings, he just hadn’t really noticed yet.

His heart was drumming against his chest as he got off the train and walked (or more like, ran ) to Bokuto’s apartment complex. He was lucky the doorman at his building already knew him, or it would have been a little too embarrassing to wake Bokuto up to announce that his friend was suddenly waiting for him down in the lobby. It was definitely way less romantic than what Akaashi had planned.

Which, now that he stood in front of Bokuto’s door, he wasn’t entirely sure it was all that romantic. It was almost one in the morning, he was panting with all the running he had to do, and Bokuto would probably be just downright confused to see him there.

Maybe… Maybe he should wait. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to just confess like that.

“No,” He murmured to himself. He made all the trip to Osaka, he was going to confess tonight.

Before he could talk himself out of it, Akaashi rang the bell to Bokuto’s apartment, and to his surprise, Bokuto opened it almost instantly.

Oh , okay. Bokuto had always been a night owl, Akaashi shouldn’t be too surprised he was awake.

“‘Kaashi?” Bokuto asked with a loopy smile as he opened up the door. “What– what are you doing here?”

It wasn’t a “ what the hell are you doing at my door in the middle of the night ” type of what are you doing, but more like a “ Is this a surprise? Am I dreaming? ” type of what are you doing here, and that somehow gave Akaashi the courage he was missing.

“I’m sorry to show up like this,” Akaashi lightly bowed. “But there’s something I need to tell you, Bokuto-san.”

“Sure, ‘Kaashi, but why don’t you come inside fir–,”

“N-no,” Akaashi shook his head. “I need to tell you this first.”

“Oh, okay.” Bokuto stood up a little bit straighter. “What is it, ‘Kaashi?”

“I like you, Bokuto-san,” Akaashi said in a single breath. The worlds he had been holding for way too long were finally out, and he was vibrating with the feeling rushing through his veins. “I love you, actually. I’m pretty sure I always had, ever since the day I met you. I just didn’t know it because you have always been there. I… I thought what I feel for you was just how friends feel for each other but I know– I know that’s just not it.”

“‘Kaashi…”

“And I’m not good with feelings, okay?” Akaashi continued, his heart absolutely racing. “Mine are always messy and complicated when it comes to you. It… It makes me feel like I’m complicating things. That we should stay as friends because we work like this, but– but I don’t want to.” It was freeing to admit that to himself, to Bokuto. His eyes moved up, meeting Bokuto’s. “I don’t want to be just friends, anymore.”

Akaashi felt empty, as if he had poured all of himself into those words, and now there was nothing left, except whatever Bokuto might have to say.

Except that the second Bokuto was starting to say something, Akaashi panicked .

“Keij–,”

“Never mind,” Akaashi interrupted him, fighting the knot forming in his throat. “Don’t– don’t say anything. God, I can’t believe I just said all that . You’re probably just fine being friends. I shouldn’t have complicated everything like–,” 

Bokuto pulled him in a hug, cradling Akaashi against his chest.

“Akaashi Keiji, shut up .”

Akaashi fell silent , his cheek squeezed against Bokuto’s pec as his arms came to wrap tightly around him. He could feel his own body slowly relaxing, and he had no other choice but to lean against him, taking a deep breath.

Bokuto pulled away just enough to look at him. There was the faintest smile on his face.

“Will you let me talk now, please?” Akaashi just nodded, he didn’t trust himself to open up his mouth to even say yes .

Bokuto’s warm hand came up to cup Akaashi’s face, his thumb softly rubbing his cheek.

“I love you too, ‘Kaashi,” Bokuto admitted as he looked into his eyes. “I have known it for a long time, probably longer than you.”

Akaashi’s hand came up to touch Bokuto’s one still holding his face.

“Why didn’t you say anything, then?”

Bokuto smiled. “Because I was just happy being your friend and being around you. I would have probably been content with just having you around. I love you that much.”

Tears came out flooding Akaashi’s eyes then. Bokuto had said it so simply as if there was no doubt in his mind. No question about the love he felt.

“So you want me too?” Akaashi choked out.

He felt Bokuto’s thumb carefully wipe a tear away.

“Keiji, I want everything with you,” He said with a soft smile that melted Akaashi away. “I want your complications, your dreary Mondays, your sleepless nights, all of you. The good, the bad… I just want you.”

Akaashi burst out laughing then, his face falling forward to rest his forehead against Bokuto’s. All this time, all these years being so close yet not close enough, wondering if Bokuto felt the same way, and he has, he did .

“You should have told me sooner,” Akaashi whispered as he closed his eyes. “We could have been high school sweethearts.”

He felt Bokuto’s laugh shake his body before he cupped his face in his hands again.

“We can be sweethearts now, we’re still young.” He said, and Akaashi saw the way Bokuto’s eyes slowly took his face in before he said, “I’m sorry it took me so long.”

Akaashi smiled. “It’s okay, we just have to make up for the lost time.”

That made Bokuto grin, who leaned forward and kissed Akaashi’s forehead, his lips pressing ever so lightly over his skin.

“Let me start right now then. One kiss because you had a long night…” He murmured as he gave the top of Akaashi’s nose a kiss. Akaashi couldn’t help but smile.

“Bokuto-san, what are you–,”

“Another kiss so you know everything will be alright,” Bokuto continued, kissing both of his cheeks. That counted as two more kisses, but Akaashi wasn’t about to complain. Then he stopped, cupping Akaashi’s face with both hands. He held down a breath as Bokuto’s eyes settled on his lips. “And another kiss, because I waited my whole life for this.”

If Akaashi could bottle up the feeling that rushed through his body when Bokuto’s lips pressed gently against him, he would. The rush, the way his whole body relaxed into it, how his heart fluttered. Everything. But for now, he just enjoyed it. He reached for Bokuto’s shirt and pulled him closer, enjoying the way Bokuto smiled against his lips as he deepened the kiss. 

God, Akaashi hoped no neighbor thought of coming out of their house right now.

He sighed when Bokuto pulled away. Not too far away, though, just enough to gently tilt his chin up and smile at him.

“Would you come inside now? Or do you want us to keep kissing in the hallway?”

Akaashi didn’t reply– not with words. He just pushed Bokuto inside the apartment and launched for his lips the second the door closed behind him, losing himself in the moment. In  them .

“‘Kaashi! dinner is almost ready! Are you re–” Bokuto came storming into his office, wearing nothing but a long apron and shorts underneath. He smiled when Akaashi looked up at him. “You’ve still got those?”

Akaashi picked up the paper rings. He had gotten distracted looking at them when he was supposed to finish up organizing his desk. He would have to continue tomorrow.

“These old things? I like to look at them every once in a while.”

Bokuto stepped closer, leaning over Akaashi as he took a look at them.

“Ahh, they still look the same! I can’t believe you still keep them around. I thought they were like, all messed up by now.”

Akaashi laughed, carefully placing them down on his desk, right by the tiny owl ornaments Bokuto had gifted him for their third anniversary. “Look,” he had said. “They look just like us!” He made sure to leave them right where he could see them before he stood up.

“You know, I married you with those,” Akaashi said, turning around to loop his arms around Bokuto’s waist. “I love shinning things, but I married you with paper rings, Kou.”

Bokuto’s arm wrapped around Akaashi’s hip.

“That was a really romantic thing on my part, wasn’t it?” Bokuto smiled as he leaned down to stole a kiss. He was way too proud of himself.

When Bokuto proposed, he had done it with paper rings. To memorize that one time he ‘first proposed’ in middle school, when they were just teens. He later on pulled out the real diamond ring and slipped it into Akaashi’s finger, but he still kept the paper rings around, on his desk, alongside their handprints for all those years ago.

“It was,” Akaashi admitted, smiling against Bokuto’s lips. He gave him a quick smack on the butt. “Let’s go eat before it gets cold.”

Bokuto smiled.

“You’re gonna love what I cooked today, ‘Kaashi…”