Chapter Text
Akaashi could have sworn his heart had shattered. That was not the news he’d expected to hear on a Sunday afternoon at lunch with his captain, Kuroo and Kenma. In fact, he’d rather have gone without ever hearing those words. The two captains….were dating?
Well, he couldn’t say he was entirely surprised. They were very very close friends, often being mistaken as dating anyway. But for it to finally be made official, well, the idea of it made his chest ache painfully. In all honesty, he was thankful to leave an hour later – under the guise of needing to do homework.
As he hurried home, he contemplated the plausibility of the newfound relationship. Of course Bokuto was interested in Kuroo; the other captain was just as energetic as him and complemented his personality perfectly. Nothing like the quiet setter.
But he wouldn’t let himself dwell on things he couldn’t change. If they were happy together then that was all that mattered, right? He could hardly make a fuss, that would be far too selfish. And what would come of it anyway? Losing two of his friends, and possibly Kenma if he followed Kuroo. All for unrequited feelings that he had decided to act upon and come between two people who clearly loved each other.
Struggling to push the raging jealousy out of his head as he walked into his empty house, he decided to settle down in his room and try to focus on his schoolwork. Hopefully it would be challenging enough to warrant his complete attention.
“If x is this, then by doing this….y should be…” He spoke out loud to himself, finding it was much more effective in distracting his mind from the unexpected and entirely unwanted news he’d just received.
Despite his attempts to concentrate on his work, the violent buzzing of his phone brought him out of his reverie – glancing over at the screen and seeing the ever-increasing mass of texts from the reason for his inner turmoil.
Seeing the name the other had given himself in his contacts usually made him smile just a little bit, he’d never changed it back beforehand. Why would he? It was endearing in every sense of the word. But now it just made his heart clench uncomfortably in his chest, a slight hitch of breath coming through his lips from the heart that would never be next to his own name in Bokuto’s contact list.
No, that spot was solely reserved for Kuroo now clearly.
From Bokuto The Owlmighty <3 [14:57]:
Akaaaaaaaaashi
From Bokuto The Owlmighty <3 [14:57]:
Akaashi, I’m bored
From Bokuto The Owlmighty <3 [14:58]:
Come out and toss to me?
From Bokuto The Owlmighty <3 [14:58]:
Akaaasssshiiii Keiiiijiiiii
From Bokuto The Owlmighty <3 [14:58]:
Hey hey hey
From Bokuto The Owlmighty <3 [14:59]:
Why do you never answer your phone??
From Bokuto The Owlmighty <3 [15:00]:
Are you actually doing homework????????
From Bokuto The Owlmighty <3 [15:01]:
???????????????????????????????
From Bokuto The Owlmighty <3 [15:03]:
Fiiiiiiiine then
Reaching out to pick up the intrusive device, he still didn’t reply to the messages – instead going on the contact profile for the ace and typing out a new contact name. He changed the picture, originally a selfie that the other had taken with his phone (he really needed to put a passcode on this thing) of the two of them after a game, all sweaty and happy from their win.
They had their arms around each other, Bokuto’s cheek pressed against the setter’s as he grinned widely. In turn, the younger had a look of mild annoyance on his features, though anyone could see the fond amusement as he glanced at the other from the corner of his eye. It was a cute picture, and he quickly deleted it so he wouldn’t have to see it anymore.
As he set the phone down, ready to go back to work after setting it to silent, he noticed the screen flash up with one more message.
From Bokuto Koutarou [15:07]:
I’ll see you at practice tomorrow, Akaashi!! Don’t be late ;) ;) ;)
Of course, he couldn’t avoid the happy couple forever. He’d still have to hang around with the ace twice a day at practice and, with the knowledge that he was taken and didn’t have an inkling of a change now, that would be all the more painful.
He could suck it up and deal with it, he thought – work long forgotten as he leaned back on his bed – or he could take himself out of the situation that would inevitably ruin him.
He mused it over while making himself dinner, sitting alone at the lonely dinner table in his lonely house. It was too big for the four members of the Akaashi family (plus their dog) together so him being by himself made it feel all the more expansive and vacant.
He had no idea where his parents were, or even where his younger sister had run off to and he didn’t particularly feel like calling up to check. Luckily Chiyo was still home, so he could vent to his puppy freely without risking being interrupted or made fun of for acting so lovestruck and heartbroken. He valued the solitude of the house most days, but sometimes a living companion is much more reassuring than your own thoughts.
Eventually he managed to drag himself off of the couch and up to his room once more, closing the door once Chiyo had curled up by his bed and lying back on the soft covers, one hand slowly running over the pup’s back.
He lay in silence for a long while; the only sound breaking the monotonous quiet was the occasional scrape of too-long claws across the hard floor as the Shiba Inu shifted position under his hand.
Lost in his thoughts, he only came out of them as he heard the front door open and the bustling sound of his parents coming in with loud laughter and the clinking of wine bottles that they’d no doubt drink that very night.
Glancing over at the door from his clock (which showed the time was 21:34) and praying that they wouldn’t come up to check on him, he spoke softly – having made his resolution in his moments of contemplation.
“Chiyo…I’m quitting volleyball.”
Bokuto frowned in mild frustration as all his messages were ignored, despite knowing that, in all honesty, he hadn’t actually expected Akaashi to respond. Though the smaller boy did let him spam text first before responding only when he was sure there would not be another onslaught of excited texts. Though it was exactly 17 minutes since his last one, and there was no reply still.
“I don’t get it, Kuroo! Normally he responds eventually!” He whined, draping himself over the other captain’s bed as he watched him play one of his games upside down.
Despite not even looking away from the screen, the bedheaded boy responded straight away. “Dude, he’s probably busy. Let him study or whatever he said.”
“No one’s paying attention to me, I’m so unloved.” Fukurodani’s number 4 exhaled dramatically, watching the other from the corner of his eye to see his reaction. Like he expected, the black haired one shut his console off and turned to face him with an unimpressed look. “Bullshit, you know I love you, bro.”
“Bro, you mean the world to me, bro.” He pretended to wipe away a tear, meeting the other’s eyes.
“I know, bro.”
“Hug me, bro.”
“That’s gay.”
“We are gay.”
“Touché.”
A moment of cautionary silence, before the wing spiker snorted a bit and poked the other’s cheek.
“So’re you gonna hug me or what?”
Without even taking the time to think of a witty response, Kuroo just jumped onto the smaller boy – pulling him close against him and nuzzling his cheek. “You’re like the warmest person ever.”
“Your personal space heater owl, glad to be of service.”
“You’re the best.”
“I know.”
“Honestly how are you so warm?”
“Cause I’m so damn hot.”
“True shit, bro. You’re the hottest.”
“Nah, you are.”
“Can you two stop being gross, I’m trying to play.” Kenma’s voice sounded from across the bed, reminding the two taller boys that they were, in fact, not alone and that this was originally a study session for the four of them. At least before Akaashi bailed to study alone, and Kuroo and Kenma were distracted by their games.
Pulling away in embarrassment, Bokuto laughed nervously and rubbed the back of his neck as he sat up, lightly shoving Kuroo to one side as the taller let out a small huff of indignation. “Sorry, Kenma. We’ll stop.” He promised, fixing up his slightly mussed up hair from where he’d been crushed just moments before.
Kuroo, on the other hand, just crawled over to where Kenma was seated – knees drawn up to his chest and PSP clutched tightly in his hands as his gaze was focused on Monster Hunter – and pushed his way onto the others lap, laying his head down on the now outstretched legs of his childhood friend as he stared up at him.
“Don’t you wanna get involved, Kenma? Or is voyeurism more your thing?” He teased, grinning at how his friend’s cheeks tinted pink at that comment before yelping as the youngest of the trio flicked his forehead in annoyance.
“Don’t be disgusting. I’m not into threesomes.”
“You sure? I’m sure Bo won’t mind…”
“Uhhh, Kuroo…”
“I’m kidding, babe, you’re the only one for me.”
“I better be.”
“Kuroo…”
“Yes, Kenma darling?”
“Get off my lap.”
The protest was loud and drawn out, only interrupted by the impact of the pillow against his face – hurried apologies being spoken as he sat up and moved to the safety of his boyfriend, cuddling up to him instead and bringing up a new topic of conversation without a second thought.
Though Bokuto wasn’t really paying attention, staring at his phone as he awaited a response that wouldn’t come for the whole evening – not even as he was tucking himself into bed a few hours later after a rowdy dinner with the rest of his family.
No goodnight text or a reminder to get enough sleep before morning practice. He sent another text, hoping this time the other would respond.
To Owlkaaaaaashi <3 [21:36]:
Night night Akaashi!! Sleep tight, early start tomorrow morning!!!
As soon as he sent it, a shiver crept up his spine. It was a foreboding feeling, though he couldn’t quite place why it had happened. Surely there was nothing to be worried about!
Putting it down to the increasingly cold weather, he stood up and closed his curtains before grabbing a hoodie to wear. Surely he was just cold.
He settled down to sleep pretty quickly after that, knowing that Akaashi would be mad if he turned up to practice with dark circles and a clear lack of sleep. Passing out almost immediately, he curled up under his sheets – the feeling of the hoodie tight against his chest, maybe a little too tight, as he slept soundly.