Chapter Text
Sweet is well-known as a taste opposite to bitter - can be described as sugared, maybe saccharine; pleasant to the tongue. It is caused by a form or sugar, alcohol, or certain amino acids - and sometimes can overpower other tastes. Sweets are often high in carbohydrates, like glucose, which provide our bodies with fuel - pushing us to be more hyperactive or in a rush, which people usually refers as 'sugar rush'.
February 9, 2021
3AM
Akaashi feels a sting on his skin and his closed eyes - as a faint, similar voice fills up his foggy head.
“Did I do anythin’ wrong, Keiji-kun?”
“What is it? What did I do?”
He tried - he tried so hard to open his eyes; to break the painful memories of Osamu’s words that are currently repeating itself in his dream, to forget the painful conversation, to forget the whole yesterday that his brain wants to go through again, even when he’s asleep.
“Can ya tell me, so I can apologize properly?”
“Please, Keiji? I don’t want to hurt ya.”
Akaashi tried to scream just to wake himself up, to drown Osamu’s voice - but nothing came out. Instead, he’s starting to hear his own voice replying to Osamu’s - a repetition of the voice inside his head last night. A repetition of thoughts that took over his brain completely, that somehow now tastes more bitter compared to last night.
Me - the only one? Who am I to think that I’m the only one? Who do I-
An abrupt, high-pitched voice suddenly breaks his repeating train of thoughts - a high-pitched, sweet voice that belongs to his workmate, Anezaki.
“Then talk to him!”
The short sentence sends Akaashi into silence.
“have you tried to ask Miya-san about it, though?”
As if he just got slapped, Akaashi freezes & stops screaming,
And let the random, misordered memory replay of him deciding not to ask anything to Osamu and drown himself in his own thoughts last night continues.
“How’s yer tongue, by the way?”
“what if the kiss was just a dare or something?
“Can ya taste anything? Even the slightest?”
“what if it was nothing serious?”
“Nothing. Either nothing, or only bitterness.”
“What if you’ve been all bitter and brokenhearted for nothing?
.
.
.
“Guess it’s getting numb again, huh?
A faint sound of dripping IV wakes Akaashi up in a jolt - the man abruptly sits up with ragged breaths,
and also with a tongue that somehow is no longer numb; with a tongue that somehow tastes bitter again.
That dawn, Akaashi learns that numbing is way harder when you have too many regrets to live with;
and too many feelings to repress within.
***
February 9, 2021
11AM
“Akaashiiii, says ‘aaahhh’~”
“Konoha-san, sto-URGH!”
The ruckus, followed by Konoha’s erupting laughter was quickly hushed by a glare from a nurse - sending the two men bowing in shame as the nurse walked away. As the nurse disappears from their sight, Akaashi quickly pushes Konoha’s hand and turns into Konoha’s phone that is already set on his side, showing his FaceTime window with Bokuto.
“Bokuto-san, I’m sorry but really, I had enough of onigiris-“
“But those are your favorite, right? I even called the Fukurodani canteen’s madam early in the morning just to order this - the cleanest onigiri we’ve ever eaten!” answers Bokuto with a pout.
“I know, but-“
“I spent the rest of my weekly savings for this, Akaashiiii.” groans Bokuto in defeat, as he slouches and leans his forehead on his laptop’s keyboard, as shown on Konoha’s phone screen, “Come on, eat it, please?”
“We just want you to recover as soon as possible, dude. Doc’s said you gotta eat more well-nutritioned food, right? And Washio’s been pestering me to force you to eat the whole thing too through LINE.” says Konoha as he picks another grape from the fruit package that he brought to the hospital - Akaashi has been trying to ignore the fact that almost half of the grapes are already gone into Konoha’s stomach, “We need to celebrate anyway, since apparently it’s just a typhoid - well, not ‘just’, but at least no need to pump your stomach empty. No surgery!”
Akaashi raises his eyebrows as he grabs a small tangerine that Konoha brought along with the fruit package - sugar intake suddenly sounds good for his sleep-deprived body right now.
The bad dream haunted Akaashi until the sun rose - and right when he was about to sleep after a tasteless breakfast, Konoha barged into his room with bags of foods & drinks. A phone on his left hand, with a connected FaceTime screen - showing Bokuto in tears.
Seeing how teary-eyed and sad his former captain is, he just doesn’t have the heart to tell Konoha off. They spent the first hour of their visit calming Bokuto through the FaceTime instead; encouraging Bokuto to tell about his wins, his latest funny stories, even about his new crush that he really, really adores and still wants to keep a secret - that surprisingly didn’t ignite any pang of jealousy inside Akaashi at all, knowing their history.
Maybe he is getting numb after all.
Bokuto has completely bounced back into his happy self right before the doctor visited Akaashi’s room with his diagnosis this morning. He’s diagnosed with typhoid; the rontgen result did show alerting acid reflux levels, but nothing to worry about. As the doctor said, what Akaashi has to do for now is to fix his eating habit by eating three meals and two litres of water per day; to take the prescribed antibiotics and medications; and,
“..And please stop eating instant food, konbini food, or anything foul-tasted, dirty and contaminated, Akaashi-san - Salmonella Typhi came from contaminated food and drinks. I would recommend home-cooked meals or properly-cooked meals from trusted vendors or restaurants for you from now on. You need to eat properly, and watch what you’re eating, Akaashi-san - especially with your hectic lifestyle.” says the doctor,
“I believe your stomach, your tongue - no, your whole body, and also your closest ones would appreciate it a lot if you starts loving and caring for your tastebuds more.
“They’re not meant to be numb and ignored, Akaashi-san.”
“I told ya lots of times already.”
“take a break. Rest. Chill out. And eat good meals everyday.”
The familiar bitterness suddenly hits his tongue again - for the umpteenth time since last night.
“If only I didn’t lose the bet with Sunarin, I won’t live in poverty like this! UGH!”
Bokuto’s whine from Konoha’s phone breaks Akaashi out of his trance - his eyes glances at his former captain who is now pouting while staring at his phone screen.
“Remember that tarot reader back when we were in highschool, saying you’ll be a gambling addict?” says Konoha as he pops another grape into his mouth, then fake a gasp, “BOKUTO! What if!”
“KONOHA-“
“Bokuto-san, Konoha-san, lower your voice, please?” mutters Akaashi after letting out a big sigh, eyes busy darting to the door where his nurse is already standing back there and staring at him with her cold, harsh glare, “And just how much did you bet until you fell to this… condition, Bokuto-san? Why?”
“An Onigiri Miya bill for 10 people. Including the drinks.”
Another drop of bitterness hits Akaashi’s tongue again as he hears the name.
“...Ah.”
“...and also the after-party drinks. And paying up for Suna whenever he hangs out with us until next year. And Onigiri Miya’s electricity bill for the next three months.” continues Bokuto as he drowns himself in his palms after putting his phone on the desk, “I swear to god, I will never, ever bet anything with Kansai men again.”
Konoha whistles. “...Shit.”
“You know what did Suna ordered at a fucking izakaya bar when we hung out on the next weekend after that? A fucking sashimi platter. And do you know what Myaa-sam ordered the next day for his yaki onigiri? A fucking air fryer. WHAT FOR?”
Akaashi clears his throat, trying to swallow the bitterness down along with the sweet burst from the tangerine, “When did it happen, Bokuto-san?”
“I think back in January?” says Bokuto as he leans back on his chair, face scrunched in despair as he fixes his Airpods and tries to remember, “Yeah, around mid-January, when EJP Raijin visited Osaka? I was about to call you during the hangout too, but you were sooo busy Akaashi, with the chapter trending again and stuff.
“I think it was on Friday.. On the day when you released that chapter where that badass Chiaki and the Little Giant went all Texas Chainsaw Massacre-shit on the grade-two zombies?“
Akaashi freezes as the next piece of tangerine that he just popped into his mouth bursts with sweetness.
“...that’s Chapter 139, Bokuto-san.”
“what if it was nothing serious?”
Akaashi tried - he tried so hard to keep his mind in its place, to stop his regrets trying to connect the vague dots from his dream earlier with a faint, deluded string of hope.
“have you tried to ask?”
“Just what kind of bet that you had with Osamu-san, Bokuto-san?” Akaashi asks slowly, eyes glued to Bokuto as he swallows the tangerine - ignoring Konoha’s raised eyebrows,
“And, did you upload any.. Instagram Stories during that day?”
“And what if he uploaded one?” cuts Konoha suddenly, a half-smile starts to pry on his lips, “You never pry into these kinds of stuff before, Akaashi.
“What’s with you and your Osamu-san, huh?”
“Oooh, Akaashi! What’s with that blush?” asks Bokuto cheekily, his eyes squinting through the screen, “did Konoha hit a bullseye-”
“Bokuto-san. The Stories? Did you post anything?” cuts Akaashi, completely ignoring Konoha’s snickers.
“Hmm, did I?” says Bokuto as he scrambles to grab his phone, completely distracted from anything that he was about to say as he scrolls through his Instagram archives, “Wait a sec-”
A faint sound of scrolling from Konoha’s phone fills the suddenly silent hospital room - Akaashi ignores Konoha’s squinted eyes, and focuses his stare on Konoha’s phone screen. It takes a few seconds until a sudden movement from Bokuto surprises both men, as the athlete shoves his phone screen in front of the camera - showing an image that has been etched on Akaashi’s mind since last month.
“Ah, I did! Here!”
Konoha lets out another whistle, ignoring Akaashi’s widened eyes. His gunmetal blue eyes stays locked on the screen, watching the familiar video that he had watched before - even though he wants to looks away so bad;
because the faint strings have finally connected the dots.
“what if the kiss was just a dare or something?
“Ah, I remember this video. I saw that video too back then, and was totally shocked.” says Akaashi, trying to sound as flat as possible,
“That’s the bet?”
“Yeah!” answers Bokuto in excitement,
“We challenged Suna to kiss his ex in front of his boyfriend. Do you know that Myaa-sam is Suna’s last ex, Akaashi?”
Huh.
“Huh?” asks Konoha with a teasing note, breaking the sudden silence, “I definitely don’t. Do you, Akaashi?”
The man in question shakes his head, while still holding his breath - letting the lingering sweetness of the tangerine mix around with the bitterness on his tongue, “No.”
“But they’re all good now. Too good even - that they cooperated to milk my wallet dry!” answers Bokuto, “damned Kansai men.”
“Wait, boyfriend?” asks Konoha - his sudden investment in the conversation sending alerts into Akaashi’s head, “whose boyfriend that needed to watch the bet, Bokuto?”
“Oh! Definitely not Myaa-sam’s - he’s still single, as far as I know.” says Bokuto excitedly, sitting comfortably in the middle of his apartment’s balcony at Kobe, completely unaware of Konoha’s prying and Akaashi’s internal screaming, “Suna’s been dating Komori since December - the libero of EJP, you know the cute-looking guy! Washio didn’t tell you?”
“what if it was nothing serious?”
Ah.
“Now I remember the day - because I remember that Myaa-sam talked a lot about you that night, Akaashi!” Chirps Bokuto happily, still completely oblivious of Konoha’s understanding smirk and Akaashi’s frozen stature, “About the trending chapters, about how hardworking you are, about our friendship - he talked about you a lot. But I barely remembered what I said because I was sooo wasted. I only remembered saying ‘I don’t know you guys have been keeping in touch with each other!’”
“He did?” Asks Akaashi, ignoring Konoha’s squinted eyes and focusing on Bokuto’s enthusiasm instead, trying to drown the faint sweetness in his tongue that’s starting to thickens, “Do you remember anything, Bokuto-san? About the questions that he threw, or anything that he said about me that night?”
“What if you’ve been all bitter and brokenhearted for nothing?
Ever since last night, with each passing hour that he’s been spending in this room, Akaashi’s motivation to jump out the window has been growing higher - to go alone, to leave whoever is talking to him right now, to start everything anew; just so he can numb the thickening bitterness on his tongue. To ignore and leave the present, to find another distraction, to let himself get used to his own tongue.
This time, the want is still there - but instead of wanting to leave so he can start everything anew, Akaashi wants to leave the hospital so badly just so that he can chase; so he can ease the bittersweet taste on his tongue, so he can take another sip,
so he can take everything that he blew off back.
But then again,
Who does he think he is?
Who does he think he is, wanting to crawl easily back to Osamu - as if he didn’t just hurt the man’s heart last night; or even, since the past month? Who does he think he is to Os-
Konoha snorts before clicking his tongue, turning Akaashi’s and Bokuto’s heads towards him in an instant.
“So that’s how it’s going, huh.” says Konoha with a smirk, as he takes another grape - eyes glinting, staring at Akaashi’s confused ones, “You wanna ask about what your Osamu-san thinks of you, Akaashi?
"Why don’t you ask the man himself then?"
Konoha let out a half-smirk, as if he knows,
“I saw his car at the parking lot earlier.”
“What?!” asks Bokuto with raised eyebrows, utterly in surprise - just like Akaashi; but without the bright red blush on his cheeks and crazy, uncontrollable heartbeat like Akaashi, “Myaa-sam in Tokyo? How? When?!”
“Of course, it’s not hard to locate an Onigiri Miya-stickered SUV.” continues Konoha before popping the last grape into his mouth, “it’s not hard to spot a hunk sleeping soundly with his windows open, while snoring really loud too.
“Seems like someone spent the night at the parking lot.”
This time, Akaashi really wants to jump out the window.
He didn’t know what took him over, it honestly felt like a sugar rush - he doesn’t even realize the sting from the cold floor on his bare feet when he jumps down from his bed and the sting on his skin from tug on his IV as he tries to walk out of his bed; before Konoha tugs him back with a yell, as Akaashi sees his world spinning in instant.
Just like a sugar rush.
“Hey, dumbass! The hell?!” says Konoha angrily as he pushes Akaashi back to bed, “you’re still sick! You can’t even stand properly - man, I don’t care how much you like him or whatever happened between you, but don’t act rashly!”
“B-but-”
“Akaashi.”
The heavy voice from Konoha’s phone screen turns the gaze of the two men back to the phone - staring at Bokuto, who is staring at the camera with wide eyes and furrowed eyebrows,
“What is happening between you and Myaa-sam?”
***
February 9, 2021
10.30 AM
A faint sound of drizzle wakes Osamu up in a jolt - the man abruptly sits up with ragged breaths at the driver’s seat of his SUV, along with the start of a loud ring from his phone.
“Hello-”
“Where the fuck are ya?!!”
Osamu grunts as he pulls his phone away, way too irritated to hear Atsumu’s loud noise in the morning. He didn’t have a good sleep - how could he if he’s sleeping on an uncomfortable driver’s seat anyway? He’s hungry, his body aches real bad, and his mood is even worse than all those three combined.
As if he can have a good mood after what happened last night.
“Samu, yer still in Tokyo for real?” continues Atsumu, “I don’t fucking get it-“
“Calm the fuck down, okay? Lemme grab a breakfast first,” says Osamu as he pinches his eyes closed - before he closes his windows and walks out the car, to the nearest vending machine, “yes, I’m in Tokyo. Told ya I got work to do.”
“Nah, yer not. I asked Daigo. He said ya haven’t visited the kitchen at all since last night.”
Osamu curses his way-too-honest staff under his breath.
“Tell me the truth, dimwit.” Atsumu spits, “Why are ya in Tokyo - in the middle of a parking lot - that I’m guessing is a fucking hospital parking lot because I can hear the car call noises?
“Why the fuck are ya still visitin’ Akaashi Keiji?”
Have a twin, it’ll be fun - they said. They’ll understand you in no time, they said.
They didn’t say anything about the invisible twin telepathy, or whatever it is that can make your twin know you like the back of their hand without you telling them.
“What’s yer problem-”
“What’s my problem? What’s YER problem!” hisses Atsumu, “Ya told me last night that he didn’t want to fucking see ya - told ya to go off, and to not visit him anymore. Then why the fuck are ya still there?”
Osamu presses the vending machine in a sigh, as he bows down to pick up a milk bread and a canned coffee while answering to his twin.
“...Because I wanted to.”
“That’s fuckin’ useless, Samu.” continues Atsumu, even way more irritated than earlier, “For what? What would ya gain from Akaashi Keiji, huh? And what did he give ya, anyways? Ya told me he’s been ignorin’ ya - yer food, everything that ya gave. And yer still doin’ all of these for him? Aren’t ya just clinging’ onto false hope?”
“Fuck, no.” cuts Osamu as he slams his body to the empty bench beside the vending machine, and opens the coffee can, “Told ya, I knew I must’ve done somethin’ wrong that made him avoids me like a fuckin’ plague. That’s why I came here to also apologize. But I still have no fuckin’ clue what I did I do wrong-”
“Was the sex that good? That good, until yer willing to do anything for his fuckin’ forgiveness?”
“Yer a fuckin’ jerk. It’s not about that-”
“Then what?” asks Atsumu again,
“Ya like him that much?”
Osamu lets the coffee can hang on the edges of his lips, the liquid inside is threatening to spill as he freezes - bracing himself for the bitter answer that he’s been trying to deny since last night.
“..And what if I do, asshole?”
A grippling silence fills up the phone - as Osamu sips on his coffee, and Atsumu lets out a deep exhale.
“Because then, we gotta do some work, Samu.” continues Atsumu - this time, he doesn’t sound irritated.
His voice sounds like despair.
“Ya know about him and Bokuto, right?”
Osamu takes another gulp of his coffee - this time, a big one.
“..Yeah.”
“I’m sending ya somethin’.”
With furrowed eyebrows, Osamu pulls away his phone and taps on the notification from his brother - to a blurred picture that is still downloading. Osamu quickly taps on the photo.
It’s a mirror selfie of Atsumu, showing him lying on the bed while taking his picture on the mirror wall on his side - definitely not Atsumu’s bed and Atsumu’s room. From the mirror’s reflection, Osamu can see that it’s a big, luxurious room - there’s a balcony behind Atsumu, with its door open and a blurry figure standing at the balcony.
Atsumu sends another photo. It’s a zoomed version of the previous photo, but it was zoomed to the balcony.
Osamu can clearly see the silver-black highlighted hair of the guy who is currently standing on the balcony, facing outside - letting his bare back that is decorated with scratch marks exposed to the camera.
Osamu wants to scream.
“YA FUCKING THIRSTY ASS IDIOT, HOW COULD YA FUCK YER OWN SPIK-”
“THAT’S NOT THE FUCKIN’ POINT!” hisses Atsumu, “Ya know what’s the first thing Bokkun did when he woke up today at 8 and saw the text from Akaashi’s friend about him being hospitalized? He sulked. So bad. I never saw him sulk like that - even during shameful losses.”
“Then?”
“I tried handjob, blowjob - nothin’ works. He kept callin’ this friend of his, I don’t know who - and ever since that guy picked up Bokkun’s call like around 10, he’s been standin’ there on the balcony, callin’ that guy. Now he even turned on his laptop and had a fucking FaceTime call on laptop. Leaving me all alone and fuckin’ wrinkly.”
“And yer point?” asks Osamu as he massages his own eyes, trying to erase the image of half-naked Bokuto from his mind.
“They still got it goin’, that must be it.” continues Atsumu, “And I fuckin’ hate it.”
“So yer pissed, Tsumu? Yer jealous because Bokuto’s attention is not on ya?
“I’m fuckin’ boiling.”
“Dumbass.” mutters Osamu as he takes a bite of his bread, “Even though I’m kinda surprised that ya haven’t eavesdrop on him or anythin’, since ya always gets so nosy when it comes to yer crushes.”
“NO.”
“YES.”
“Fine. I’m moving closer to the balcony and putting on my Airpods.” says Atsumu, as Osamu can hear the rustling sounds and faint kissing sound - he tries so hard to not throw his phone away to the asphalt - and now, he can hear the faint sound of Bokuto and his laptop’s speaker.
“You know what did Suna ordered at a fucking izakaya bar? A fucking sashimi platter. And do you know what Myaa-sam ordered the next day? A fucking air fryer. WHAT FOR?”
Atsumus hisses in annoyance. “Is this about that kissing bet ya got with Suna? Ya fuckin’ asshole, so that’s why he hasn’t brought me any fucking gifts-”
“Shaddup.” mumbles Osamu, “I got three months of electricity free. If Bokuto wants me to blow Suna in front of him for six months, I’ll do it.”
“Can relate.”
“I know, right?”
“And, did you upload any.. Instagram Stories during that day?”
The faint baritone voice tastes like an electricity jolt on Osamu’s skin - getting him all up and aware. Instagram Stories on that bet day? Osamu is never an Instagram person - he only opens his Instagram like once a week, so he definitely missed any updates related to that hangout.
But the sentence does get him thinking. Was there any video related to him that has been spreading around from that night?
He didn’t want to jinx it - but was there anyone who took a video of him and Suna kissing?
“And what if he uploaded one? You never pry into these kinds of stuff before, Akaashi.”
Osamu never heard that voice before - which he assumes belongs to Bokuto’s friend.
“What’s with you and your Osamu-san, huh?”
Osamu tries so hard to not smile at the sentence.
“He’s into you so fucking bad, ya fucking dumbass.” whispers Atsumu,”ya waited too long.”
“How the fuck should I know, he fucking ignored my messages-”
“Hmm, did I?”
“Wait. Did he?” asks Osamu - he can feel his heart racing from sensing something that he feared is coming true,
“Did Bokuto.. fucking upload that video-”
“What? He did. Of course he did. I saw it.” answers Atsumu.
Osamu didn’t even realize that he had smashed the coffee can on his left hand with one grip.
“What?” whispers Osamu, boiling, “Shit, yer fuckin-”
“Ah, I did! Here!
“...kiddin’ me.”
This time, a thick silence fills the speakers - and Osamu can feel his pupils dilating to the point where it almost explodes.
Akaashi saw it?
“Ah, I remember this video. I saw that video too back then, and was totally shocked.”
“Wha- oh.” says Atsumu, finally realizing the situation “Oh. Oh shit. He did? He saw it? He saw ya kissing Suna?
“Was that when.. He started turning all cold towards ya?”
Osamu didn’t know what happened. He didn’t remember how he blasted away from the bench, now running towards his car - breaths ragged, heart beating so fast it almost jumps out of his chest; as if he’s rushed by his own body chemicals, pushing him to act fast. Now.
Before it’s too late.
“Fuck.” mumbles Osamu, phone’s on his ear, “Fuck, Tsumu, I’ll call ya-”
“Hey, hey Samu hold yer horses!” cuts Atsumu, starting to panic as well, “Wait a bit, they haven’t finished-”
“No. Fuck. I gotta go back - talk to ya later.”
“Asshole, wait-”
Osamu slams his car door closed, before throwing his phone to the passenger’s seat and blasts the air conditioner on - both hands now gripping his steering wheel, eyes glaring at the empty parking lot.
It doesn’t take long before he pulls his hands away, to drown his face on his own palms as he leans on the steering wheel, ears listening on the stable buzzing voice of the car’s air conditioner - a habit that he took ever since he got his own car whenever he’s panicking and needs to think.
It scares him - how everything suddenly makes sense in a matter of seconds right when the rush hits. How everything suddenly connects, how information and understanding flows through his body the moment he understands the whole situation,
How the regret sinks in deep and fast,
And how his mind screams to act now before it’s too late.
Osamu exhales as he straightens his clothes - eyes peeking at the rear mirror to check his own appearance before turning off his car and steps outside again. Right after he locked his car and checked his appearance for the last time on his car’s window, Osamu presses another number on his phone.
“Hello, Daigo?
“Ya got Anezaki-san’s number?”
***
February 9, 2021
12PM
[12.01] miyaosamu: hey
[12.01] miyaosamu: im coming up
“Shit.”
Konoha leans towards Akaashi - trying to peek into Akaashi’s phone a.k.a the source of his best friend's last curse.
“Ohhhh.” says Konoha in a teasing tone, “you know what to do, Akaashi.”
Akaashi glances at him in doubt - before glancing back at his phone, to type a response.
[12.03] akaashik: ok, osamu-san
“Okay, our cue.” says Konoha as he claps both of his hands, “Come on, Bo - says bye.”
“‘Kaashi, I know you can do this! Just say whatever comes into your heart - don’t hold back!” says Bokuto, even more excited than earlier, “Just, don’t think too much just-”
Bokuto’s screen suddenly went black - followed by a loud rustle, before it suddenly lights up again. Yet this time, the one’s sitting in front of the camera is not just Bokuto.
A blond guy is now leaning beside Bokuto - with no shirt on, his golden eyes glares at the camera.
“Akaashi-kun, right?” says the blond guy, “hey. I'm Miya Atsumu, in case ya forget or sumthin'. I just wanna say, following my dear Bokkun’s words,
“just fuckin’ tell my brother ya like him too, for god’s sake!
Konoha chokes on his tangerine.
"I had enough of him moping because ya refused to eat his cooking and replying his messages, I really do, Akaashi-kun.” continues Atsumu, ignoring Bokuto's pale face - probably because the secret crush that he just told Akaashi & Konoha few hours ago is now visible to everyone's eyes.
Both Akaashi and Konoha blinks, still in surprise - eyes still stunned for a few seconds before Akaashi breaks the silence, “M-Miya-san?”
“Got it? Now stop gobbling my Bokkun and fuckin’ confess already!”
“TSUM-TSUM?!”
Click.
Both men now stares at the blank screen again - before Konoha exhales and pats Akaashi on the head.
“You know what, I’m leaving. You know what to do.” says Konoha as he stands up and walks towards the door, “Just remember Bokuto’s and Bokuto’s boyfriend's words, okay? And text me once you’re free.
“W-Wait, Konoha-san-” says Akaashi as the panic creeps in when Konoha reaches the door knob, “can you ple-”
A sudden push from outside knocks Konoha back - before the door slowly pushes open, showing a tall, black-haired figure standing in front of the door; with huffed breaths.
Osamu blinks.
“O-oh. Bokuto’s friend.”
“Oh?” asks Konoha as he tilts his head with a smirk, “you know me?”
Three men stares at each other in awkward silence, before Konoha lets out a chuckle.
“It’s okay! I’m just leaving. Come in, Miya-san, please. Akaashi’s been waiting.” says Konoha with a smirk, as he pulls Osamu inside - even though receiving a little bit of resistance from the latter, “Don’t worry, don’t mind me - come, come- just fucking get in- ”
With another final push, Konoha steps outside then shoves Osamu inside - before closing the door tightly.
A silence follows the click from the door, as both black-haired men stares at each other without blinking.
“Hello, Osamu-san.”
“Hi, Keiji.”
Slowly, Osamu walks forward, and it pricks Akaashi's heart - how his stride is somehow less confident than last night.
“You look..”
“Horrible? Of course.” says Osamu calmly, before he sits at the chair beside Akaashi with a half-smile - staring back at Akaashi who is now looking at him from the top to bottom - while pushing his chair closer to Akaashi. Akaashi’s IV bottle and bed frame are the only things that separates both of them right now.
The man on the bed sighs.
“Don’t sleep at the parking lot again, Osamu-san.”
“H-how-”
“Onigiri Miya-stickered SUV and a snoring hunk are not hard to spot, my friend said.” answers Akaashi as he puts in another tangerine inside his mouth, before offering Osamu one.
“Ah.”
“Why did you do that?” asks Akaashi again after swallowing the tangerine, “You could just go home.”
A sound of peeled tangerine’s skin fills up the room - as Akaashi stares at Osamu, who is now chewing a piece of tangerine while staring at the rest of tangerine on his hand.
With no warning, the grey eyes lifted itself up from the tangerine - now staring at Akaashi deeply;
And somehow, this time - it doesn’t taste bitter like last night’s.
“Because I still got something left to say, Keiji-kun.”
It’s suffocating - Akaashi finds it hard to breathe with crumpled words clotting inside his throat, begging for him to cough it out. The choking silence becomes more unbearable in a matter of seconds, as Akaashi lets his lips slowly slip open - not realizing Osamu’s doing the same.
“I’m sorry-”
Both men fell silent - eyes staring at each other, lips still barely open after speaking the exact same sentence.
“What?” whispers Akaashi with furrowed eyebrows, breaking the silence, “No, what are you apologizing for, Osamu-san? I was the one who went all rude last night and also just now; I’m not supposed to-”
“And I’m the one who made ya feel horrible and used and... whatever it is that made you avoided me.”
Akaashi falls silent after Osamu’s cut - as he lets himself drown in Osamu's stern eyes; staring at him so hard as if he doesn’t want Akaashi’s gaze to falter.
“No, you didn’t.” says Akaashi slowly, “I was okay-”
“I just found out today, that Bokuto uploaded a video from that day. From that bet.” cuts Osamu before sighing, “...and I also just found out that ya already saw it.”
“..Osamu-san, it’s okay.” Akaashi mutters slowly, tongue slowly rolling - unconsciously trying to get used to the new, foreign taste, “That video doesn’t matter - you did nothing wrong. I saw it, and I swear I’m fine, I’m okay with-”
“Stop saying yer okay when I knew yer fucking not, Keiji-kun.” cuts Osamu as he grips on Akaashi’s bed frame,
“If yer okay with me kissin' Suna, then why the fuck are ya ignoring me and tryin’ so hard to turn all numb on me right after ya saw it, huh?”
Is it the tangerine? Or the apple? Or the bland milk pudding that he ate for breakfast today - Akaashi doesn’t know. He doesn’t remember.
He doesn’t remember since when did the bitterness on his tongue fades away to the extent of almost disappearing completely - he doesn’t remember when did the taste on his tongue have completely changed; into something foreign, that sends rushes and adrenaline flowing inside his body - followed by sparks inside his mouth.
“I’m not dating Suna, he’s my ex. We broke up a year ago.” continues Osamu as he stares at Akaashi’s IV-injected hand, “We ended things on good terms, Suna’s already so whipped for Komori-san anyway - we got nothing between us anymore. The bet was so tempting - I guess ya already knew what prizes that Bokuto offered that day.”
Akaashi stares at Osamu in silence - trying so hard to ignore the wild beating of his heart and rushing blood flowing onto his face and ears.
“I.. didn’t mean to give ya false signals, or playing games with ya. I really didn’t. I like ya, Keiji-kun, fo’ real.” continues Osamu, his eyes slowly moves up,
“I haven’t dated anyone since Suna. Too busy with Onigiri Miya, anyways. Never got interested in anyone as well.
“Until I met ya.”
Akaashi stares at Osamu’s eyes while holding his breath - his tongue slowly rolls inside his mouth, trying to get used to the sweet taste that just bursts inside his mouth with no warning; while also preparing his reply.
This time, he knows what to say, what to reply, what to ask, what to tell.
“...I’m sorry, Osamu-san.”
Akaashi can sense how Osamu goes still - how his hopeful grey eyes turns somber in seconds as Akaashi panics and cuts in,
“N-No, I mean.. I’m sorry for making all these things so complicated, Osamu-san - when actually, all that I should is just ask. I should just tell you what I felt.” continues Akaashi as he reaches out to his bed frame, to have a grip as he turns his body to fully face Osamu,
“It’s just that, I’m too used to doing everything on my own - taking all the decisions on my own; I didn’t realize that I’ve been seeing you wrong, because of my own defense mechanism. I’m sorry, because I know this is all my fault, I know-”
Akaashi can feel Osamu’s soft grip on his fingers, along with his soft voice, “Hey, Keiji-”
“I care about you a lot, Osamu-san,” continues Akaashi, eyes still staring at his own fingers that already have Osamu’s on top of it, gripping it tighter than before - ignoring his own trembling voice,
“I like you a lot, I truly do. To the point where anything that you do will always leave a lingering taste on my mouth - either it’s good or bad. And it tastes bad - it pained me when I saw that video, then it pained me more knowing that I hurted you when I tried to put up a distance-”
“Hey, hey, Keiji? Hey,” says Osamu abruptly as he presses his hand on Akaashi’s cheek - caressing it before his thumb and index finger lifts Akaashi’s chin so that they can stare at each other,
“No, I don’t blame ya at all, Keiji - this is also my own fault; but now, it doesn’t matter who’s at fault, okay? It already happened anyway.” Osamu mutters, as his thumbs moves in circles around Akaashi’s chin.
“But if I just asked, I wouldn’t have to hurt you, I wouldn’t acted so stupid and dumb.” answers Akaashi, “You wouldn’t have to cook so many food for me, to sleep on a parking lo-”
The moment he felt pressure on both of his cheeks, Akaashi fell silent. His hands are now free - instead of his fingers, now all of Osamu’s fingers are on his face; cupping him softly like a fragile candy, that can break in one soft push of a thumb - caressing it softly with his thumb.
“Keiji, Keiji - Keiji. Look at me.” says Osamu as he stares at Akaashi - a sweet, longing stare that Akaashi swears he can stare back for days, “Listen.”
“Keiji, I don’t mind.”
“As long as we understand each other at the end - as long as we’re together at the end, whose fault it is doesn’t matter.
“If it’s for ya, I really don’t mind doin' anythin’.”
Akaashi doesn’t know that a hospital room can be so warm. It’s drizzling outside, the sky is way too dark for an afternoon - but it still amazes him how the soft breaths from Osamu that he can feel lingering on his lips makes him feels so warm. So warm, he longs for it - he leans for it, as his fingers starts trailing across Osamu’s jaw.
As both lips crawls closer, to finally touch each other again after days and weeks,
..a loud voice of The Imperial March fills up the room once again.
Akaashi snorts when he hears a loud ‘bang’ underneath his bed - probably Osamu kicking it out of anger, before he turns to the desk and passes Akaashi’s vibrating phone to him while biting the insides of his mouth. The latter lets out a small snort before pressing the green button - his free hand still lingers on Osamu’s cheek, just like Osamu’s on his.
“Hello, Mamoru-san?”
“Akaashi-kun! How is it? Feelin’ better?”
“I still can’t move out from bed,” answers Akaashi, “but my laptop should be-”
“Ah yes, yes, it’s okay - it’s fine, please just rest for now, so that you’ll heal fast, yeah? Hahaha!”
Akaashi lets out a formal fake laugh, as he jokingly flicks Osamu’s cheek when the latter snorts, “is there anything that you want to talk about, Mamoru-san?”
“Oh, yes! About your Kyoto promotion! The mangaka, Akira-san wants an introductory meeting, and I was wondering if we can slip it into your schedule - probably a 2 days-1 night Kyoto trip?”
“That should be manageable once the hospital discharges me, Mamoru-san.”
“Of course, of course! I was wondering if maybe we can slip it into your annual leave request next week-”
“Sorry?” cuts Akaashi in confusion, his fingers paused its trails on Osamu’s cheek “Annual leave?”
“Yes, I received the request from Anezaki-san this morning!” continues Akaashi’s Editor-in-Chief, “She said you’re planning for a holiday at Kyoto next week, which is why you’re requesting 5-days leave? I personally found it kinda hard to approve, but if we can slip on the meeting, we can just cut it into 3 while you get extra out-of-office days-”
Akaashi quickly pulls away his phone and the mumbling Mamoru-san away from him - before averting his gaze at Osamu who is staring at him with a satisfied smile.
“What did you do?” whispers Akaashi flatly.
The man in question only smiles wider.
“Just say yes, Keiji-kun.”
“Ah, yes.” answers Akaashi slowly, his squinted eyes are now staring at Osamu’s satisfied, suspicious smile, “Sure, I think we can manage it, Mamoru-san - but maybe after I recover a bit-”
“Ah yes, yes, sure! Hahaha! Okay, I’ll try to set the schedule first and will follow up on you later once I’m done and once you’re discharged, okay? Now you take rest! Get well soon, Akaashi-kun!”
“Yes, thank you, Mamoru-san. Goodbye.”
A soft beep fills out the silent hospital room - as Akaashi stares at his phone; eyebrows furrowed, before turning his head to Osamu.
“Fucking corporate leech. Having an undisturbed annual leave is your right, he can’t fucking do that.” says Osamu as he opens his phone.
“What did you do, Osamu-san?”
“Hm?” asks Osamu as he lifts his eyes from his phone, “Oh.
“Just planning and preparing my apology - which is our first proper date at your favorite place in Japan. And also, giving ya a fucking rest - which Anezaki-san quickly agreed to help.”
Akaashi blinks, as he lets himself frozen - and the butterflies inside his stomach takes over.
“How did you know Kyoto’s my favorite city in Japan?”
“I asked Anezaki-san, remember?” answers Osamu with a proud smirk, “and from the moment I saw ya eating my matcha cake in bliss the first time we met, I just knew I should bring ya somewhere with lots of matcha.”
Akaashi isn’t sure he can handle another sweet, unexpected burst on his tongue after this. The last one already made him want to jump out of the window with Osamu, and kiss the man underneath the rain.
“Our main mission will still be treating yer tastebuds with all the tasty things in the Kyoto-Kobe-Osaka trail. Including my place, of course.” continues Osamu as he locks his phone, before putting all of his attention and fingers back on Akaashi’s awe-strucked face, “just finished bookin’ our hotel at Kyoto and Osaka.”
“By requesting my annual leave without me knowing?” asks Akaashi with a chuckle in disbelief, “What about my work, and my other responsibilities?”
“Yer boss just said he’s okay with that. I don’t see the problem. And my guess, ya won’t take any leave without anyone forcin’ ya like this.” answers Osamu as he caresses his thumbs on Akaashi’s jaw again, slowly pulling Akaashi closer to him.
“But then my other work partners would be-”
“Do I look like I care?” cuts Osamu - right when their noses finally touch each other after so long. The touch of the tip of their noses feels like a light, awakening jolt on Akaashi’s senses - leaving him breathless as Osamu leans closer; his breath and words lingers around the edge of Akaashi’s lips, clouded in smirk and soft affections that Akaashi has been missing.
“Yer the only one that I care about - as long as yer good, happy, and healthy, I don’t give a fuck about anyone else.”
Akaashi can taste another sweet burst on his tongue - this time, it's stronger than the previous one; almost overpowers the rest of his slowly healing tastebuds.
Yet this time, he find them enjoyable - filled with hope, and reciprocated expectations that made him feels whole.
“Where did you learn all those sweet words?” asks Akaashi as he leans closer - their lips are now only centimeters apart, “I don’t really like sweets. Except matcha.”
“What, ya don’t? I thought ya do.” answers Osamu with a chuckle and raised eyebrows - it tastes sweet and warm as it envelopes Akaashi’s soul, “Who would be my dessert partner later if it’s not ya, then? I already got our Kyoto sweets daytrip planned, y’know - including the non-matcha ones.”
“Guess those nights and sleepovers at your rented apartment didn’t count as dates for you, huh?”
“T’was different - it was booty calls, and testing the waters.” answers Osamu with a smile, “this one is gonna be the first proper date, where I can truly treat ya with my best - and show off what kind of a perfect boyfriend material I am.”
“Isn’t that gonna be too extravagant for a first date?”
“I never do things half-heartedly when it’s about food and getting close to someone, Keiji-kun.”
Akaashi snorts as he holds his laugh, before leaning closer into Osamu - ignoring the creeping blush on the latter's defined cheekbones.
“I told you a few times already, Osamu-san.” whispers Akaashi, “Don’t put so much effort on me.”
The one in question only smiles, as he lets his lips fall open.
“And I told you a few times already too, Keiji-kun,” answers Osamu with a grin,
“Yea, I know - but I wanna.”
A light, tasty chuckle escapes both of their lips - as their noses snuggles into each other once more.
“Go on, Keiji-kun,” whispers Osamu, before fully closing the distance between them that have been hanging for too long,
“It’s safe. Have a taste.”
The moment they finally tastes each other once more - devouring each other’s lips sweetly in intangible flavors that Akaashi can only describe as flavorful, Akaashi lets himself drift away. To get lost in the taste of Osamu - to finally relax, to finally have a taste.
And again, for the first time after so long, Akaashi can taste the sweet expectations - along with hope on his tongue and lips from Osamu;
and again, for the first time after so long, he couldn’t wait for more with Osamu.