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I stared absentmindedly out into the night, letting the day’s events wash over me. I was torn between this absolutely giddy feeling of happiness and an alarming amount of nervousness.
I was happy because I was going to be meeting Akaashi, alone, right here, in front of the hotel, at the fountain. I felt my heart start pounding away in my chest. I closed my eyes and took some deep breaths. I didn’t want to pass out with excitement before I saw him.
At the same time, I felt my stomach clench with nerves. The anticipation of the unknown made my legs feel weak. I continued taking deep breaths, I really, really needed to get it together. Having a crush on the vice-captain of the boy’s volleyball team was going to be the death of me.
I had met up with Akaashi earlier, after Fukurodani’s game in the sub-arena. I went down to congratulate Yukie, Kaori, and the players on their win and to hopefully speak a bit to Akaashi as well. I considered it the highlight of my day whenever I would get to spend some time with him, no matter how long we got to talk.
It hadn’t taken long for Akaashi and myself to become close. I really wasn’t certain how we had gotten so close. Our personalities were rather different with mine being more or less the exact opposite of his. Yet, we had found ourselves drifting closer and closer as the months had worn on. Eventually, I developed feelings for the calm and collected setter.
It would always make me laugh how he would say something so blunt while being so polite about it. Akaashi normally had a witty comment or two to throw out that made me smile, usually about Bokuto, but sometimes about his other teammates, or even their rivals.
I chuckled, remembering his remark today about how depressed Bokuto had been during the match. Akaashi had told me it was because Bokuto had wanted to play in the main arena and how Akaashi had to think fast on his feet to get the ace back in the game. Apparently, it had been a lucky coincidence that one of Karasuno’s middle blockers had shown up when he did.
Then my heart did an impressive summersault in my chest when he had asked what I was doing later. When he found out that we were staying at the same hotel, he had asked to meet me in front of the fountain so that we could talk some more.
Which is how I found myself here, now, trying and failing to keep my emotions in check before I made an absolute fool of myself in front of my crush. For all I knew, he just wanted someone to listen to him vent about the games, or about Bokuto, or even just life in general. There was no reason for me to get my hopes up right now. At least, that was what my head was telling me, my poor heart, on the other hand, had different ideas.
I scuffed my feet against the ground, hoping that it would help my toes find a warm spot somewhere in my socks. It was a lot colder than I had planned for even though I was bundled up. I briefly thought about running inside to the lobby to warm up but then that meant there was a chance, a slim chance, that I would miss Akaashi and I definitely didn’t want to do that.
As I was standing there, debating with myself whether to risk warming up inside or not, I heard a voice right behind me say, “I’m glad you came.”
I whirled around, my heart beating a thousand miles a minute before I saw Akaashi behind me, with a small smile on his face.
“Akaashi! Don’t sneak up on me like that! You scared me!”
“I thought you knew I was coming since I was the one who asked you out here?”
I scowled at him, “Of course, I knew that, but I didn’t know when you were getting here.”
“I did say around 10, did I not?” He tilted his head a bit, a slight smile on his face.
I squinted at him. He was teasing me! My heart started pounding away in my chest for a whole new reason. I felt a blush start to heat my cheeks and I shook my head a bit, hoping to dispel it.
“Ok, yes, but still. You could’ve called out or something.”
He gave me a warm look, sending butterflies spiraling in my stomach before he said, “So what were you so deep in thought about that you didn’t see me or hear me approaching you?”
“So you did call out?” I bit my lip at that. I had been daydreaming really hard if that was the case.
He laughed, “I did. But you didn’t answer my question.”
“Oh, uh…” I trailed off, thinking hard. I did not want to tell him that I was so caught up in thinking about him that I had completely zoned out. I darted my eyes around, frantically trying to find something I could use when my gaze landed on the entrance to the hotel. “I-I was thinking about going inside to warm up!”
He blinked, “Warm up? How long have you been out here?”
Crap. I had been out here for a good while, not wanting to be late. Something else I didn’t want to admit to him.
“Not…long…” I said, lamely. I knew I was blushing now. I could feel the heat emanating from my cheeks as the cold air hit my face. I looked away from Akaashi, hoping against hope that it was dark enough that he wouldn’t notice.
When he didn’t say anything, I risked a quick glance at him. He was staring at me intently, an eyebrow raised. I swallowed.
“Half an hour,” I mumbled and I watched as both his eyebrows rose to his hairline.
“You’ve been out here for that long?”
I winced a little and looked down at my shoes, “I know, I know. I just…I mean-”
I was cut off abruptly as Akaashi enveloped me in a very warm hug. At some point, he must have unzipped his jacket because he had maneuvered my arms under his jacket so that I was wrapped around him. When he was satisfied that I wasn’t letting go, he placed his hand on the back of my head and guided me to rest my face against his very warm chest, then proceeded to wrap his arms around me in a tight hug.
After a few moments of silence, I heard and felt him ask, “Are you warm enough?”
“Uh, ye-ah,” I heard my voice crack slightly so I cleared my throat and tried again. “Yes. Thank you, Akaashi.”
I felt him hum in approval as it rumbled through his chest causing my poor heart to speed up. I prayed that he couldn’t feel how fast it was beating since we were so close together and that thought made those pesky butterflies dance in my stomach. I felt hot all over and I knew it was because I was blushing from head to toe.
“You never answered my question.”
“Huh?” I pulled away enough to look up into his face, my shock evident in my voice.
He chuckled, making his features soften and my heart melt into a puddle in my chest. That was better than galloping away at light speed where he could feel it.
“I said, you never answered my question.”
“Oh…what question was that, again?”
“What were you thinking so hard about out here?”
I swallowed and looked away from his gaze, instead, looking at his chest. He used the opportunity to tuck my head back against him. I took a deep breath, inhaling his scent, and decided to take the plunge.
“You, actually.”
“Say that again?” I heard Akaashi’s voice above my head.
I resisted the urge to snuggle my face into his chest and instead pulled away slightly so that I could look him in the eyes, “I said, you, actually.”
My face felt like it was on fire as I peered up at him, watching his expression as he processed what I had said. When he just stared at me, his mouth slightly open in shock, my heart began speeding up again, waiting for him to say something, anything, and I swallowed hard. Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything. I started to pull out of his embrace when I felt his arms tighten around me, holding me in place.
“Akaashi?” I blinked up at him, cautiously.
He was staring at me still, an odd look on his face. I felt my own brows dip in confusion and I opened my mouth to ask him what he was thinking when I felt one of his arms gently grab the back of my head and press my face back against his chest, his other arm was still wrapped tightly around my waist preventing me from moving. Then I felt him lightly rest his head on the top of mine and when he let out a small sigh, I went perfectly still.
I wanted so desperately to ask him what he was thinking, but I didn’t want the moment to end. Half of me hoped that this was what I thought it was and the other half didn’t think that I could be so lucky.
“Do you know why I asked you to meet me out here tonight?” I heard him ask softly, his head still resting on top of mine.
I swallowed, my mouth suddenly dry, “Umm, n-no.”
“I wanted to tell you how I felt about you. How much I like you.”
My chest constricted, all the air in my lungs suddenly whooshed out at his admission. I gently pulled my head back, dislodging him, but I had to see. I had to see his face.
“Say that again?” I stared at his face, his eyes so full of adoration that I thought I had to be dreaming.
He gave me one of the sweetest smiles I had ever seen, “I said, I like you. A lot. And I was hoping that I could ask you to be mine?”
I gaped at him, “You- I-yes! Yes! Absolutely yes!”
Akaashi grinned at me before he leaned down and placed a kiss on my forehead. His lips were warm and soft against my skin. It was brief, but it left a tingly sensation when he pulled away.
“Come on, let’s go inside. As much as I enjoy warming you up, I don’t want my girlfriend to catch a cold.”