Chapter Text
“Tadashi, breakfast time is over.”
Akaashi slung his work bag over one shoulder, looking back at the dining room table as he blindly reached for his coffee mug. Tadashi was sitting on his knees at the table, humming to himself as he took the smallest bite of his banana imaginable, looking content with his slow morning. Through the front window, Akaashi could see Kuroo strapping his own kid into his car, his travel mug left steaming on the roof of the car.
Akaashi sighed, picking up Tadashi’s discarded jacket before turning back to the dining room. “Come on, Daddy’s going to be late,” he said, reaching for the banana.
“No, no, no,” Tadashi whined, pulling the banana from reach and taking another nibble. He grinned up at Akaashi after realizing he wasn’t going to make another grab for it, humming as he chewed. Akaashi let it go, wrestling Tadashi’s jacket on as he maneuvered around the banana, Tadashi not giving any protest as he switched his breakfast from one hand to the other.
“Okay,” Akaashi said as he zipped up Tadashi’s jacket, picking him up from the chair. “Shoes tied?”
Tadashi nodded from Akaashi’s arms, giving him the thumbs up.
“Homework done?”
“I don’t have any homework, Daddy,” Tadashi said, laughing as he waved his banana around. “I’m only in pre-k!”
Akaashi just kissed the side of Tadashi’s head with a smile, grabbing his superhero backpack from the foyer as they headed outside, Tadashi going back to eating his banana at a glacial pace. He scrambled in his pockets for the car keys, unlocking the doors as he heard Kuroo shout from the driveway next door.
“Howdy, neighbor,” Kuroo called, grinning over the roof of his car. “You’re pretty late today.”
Akaashi managed a short wave, turning back to buckle Tadashi in.
“Usually you’re out of here before we even think about leaving,” Kuroo said, hands on his hips. “All those kids aren’t going to have anyone to terrify them this morning if their principle’s late.”
“Tadashi had a long breakfast,” Akaashi said, finishing the car seat buckles before opening the driver’s side door.
“At least he eats,” Kuroo said. “Kei refuses to have breakfast before nine. He makes me pack it to go.” His son gave a muffled protest and Kuroo leaned down to talk to him, Akaashi taking the opportunity to slide into the front seat and shut the door. He turned on the engine, looking back at Tadashi, who was gazing out the window, banana forgotten.
“Ready?” he said. Tadashi turned to him, his eyes wide as he just looked at him. Akaashi reached back to tug on his seat belt, making sure it was secure. Tadashi kicked his feet before turning back to the window.
He backed out of the driveway, glancing at Kuroo, who had moved to the end of his drive way, gesturing for Akaashi to roll down the window.
“What?” Akaashi said, as he slowed in front of him.
“Race you to the daycare,” Kuroo said, giving him a grin.
Akaashi rolled his eyes, glancing back at Kuroo’s parked car. “It’s five minutes away.”
“I’ll still beat you.”
Akaashi just rolled up his window, ignoring him.
“Don’t drive away with your coffee still on top of your car like last time,” he said right before the window shut completely, driving away as Kuroo scrunched his nose at him. He glanced in the mirror as they headed down the street, catching Kuroo pulling his travel mug down from his roof as he grumbled.
***
Akaashi passed Kuroo’s car on the way through the daycare parking lot, shaking his head as Tadashi walked at his side, still clutching his banana. They headed inside and down the stairs, Akaashi putting his son’s backpack and coat into his cubby as Tadashi stuck by his legs, quiet as he followed him into the classroom.
“Good morning, Tadashi!”
Akaashi glanced over to see his son’s teacher at one of the far tables, squirting tiny piles of shaving cream in front of a group of children as they happily smeared it over the table top. Bokuto waved at Tadashi, giving him a big grin. Kei was already seated at the table, giving dirty looks to the children pounding the table and sending sprays of shaving cream up.
“Looks like fun,” Akaashi said quietly, giving Tadashi a small push on the back. Tadashi threw his uneaten banana out in the garbage can and ran to the far table, already reaching for a smock. Akaashi grit his teeth, heading for the lunchbox cubby.
“I guess he didn’t want his breakfast after all,” Kuroo said, laughing as he stuffed Kei’s lunchbox on the bottom shelf.
Akaashi grumbled, unzipping his son’s lunchbox. “And how did you get here before us?”
“Secret passageway, according to Kei,” Kuroo said with a grin, waving his hand. “I’ll never tell.”
Akaashi rolled his eyes, pulling yogurt out of the superman lunchbox in his hands. “I’m putting your yogurt in the fridge, Tadashi,” Akaashi called across the room. “Make sure you eat it for lunch.” Tadashi barely glanced at him before going back to his shaving cream.
Bokuto patted Tadashi’s head before heading over to Akaashi and Kuroo, giving them both a friendly grin.
“I’ll make sure he remembers it,” Bokuto said, waving his hand reassuringly. He glanced back at the table of children as one of them shrieked, watching for a moment before turning back to Akaashi. “Late start today, huh? You’re usually out of here an hour ago.”
“So I’ve heard,” Akaashi said.
Kuroo grinned. “He’s a slow driver.”
Akaashi pressed his lips together, decidedly ignoring him as Bokuto laughed.
“I didn’t know you two knew each other,” he said, gesturing from Akaashi to Kuroo.
“We’re neighbors!” Kuroo said, clapping Akaashi on the shoulder. “For six years now.”
“It feels like ten,” Akaashi said, brushing Kuroo’s hand off.
“Wow,” Bokuto said, looking between them. “Long time.”
There was a scuffle outside the classroom as someone fumbled with the doorknob, his gloved hand slipping on the metal as he clutched a toddler in his arms, another boy about Tadashi’s age hovering by his dad’s side. Akaashi pulled it open for him, eyebrows raised slightly, not recognizing the parent or the child from the many daycare birthday parties over the years.
“Oh, phew, thank you,” the parent said, wrestling his two kids and their backpacks into the room. He looked between the three of them standing together, his eyes landing on Kuroo as he gave a big smile. “Ah, Kuroo, you’re here!”
Bokuto reached forward when Kuroo only waved hello, taking one of the backpacks from the parent’s hand with a smile. “You must be Oikawa! I’m Bokuto, I’ll be Hajime’s teacher.”
“Nice to meet you,” Oikawa said, twisting behind him to try to find his son hidden behind his back. “Hajime, come say hello.”
Bokuto crouched down to introduce himself to the child and Kuroo nudged Akaashi, gesturing out of the classroom with a sour look on his face.
“I can’t believe he’s here, too,” Kuroo said as Akaashi shut the door behind them, Kuroo letting out a groan as they headed up the stairs and to the parking lot.
“Do you know him?”
“He just started working at the office this week,” Kuroo said. “He asked what daycare I had Kei in but I didn’t know he’d actually choose this one.”
Akaashi made a noncommittal noise, knowing if he said anything more he’d be more late to work than he already was.
“He’s the worst,” Kuroo said, stopping at Akaashi’s car, throwing his hands up as Akaashi just raised an eyebrow. “He really is! But I’ll save it for this weekend.”
“See you then?” Akaashi said, taking out his keys.
“Yeah, see you then,” Kuroo said, kicking his feet at the gravel underfoot as he turned away. “Don’t drive too slowly!” he called over his shoulder, looking back to give Akaashi a grin. Akaashi just sighed, opening his car door.
***
Akaashi slammed his car door closed, buzzing himself into the daycare and hurrying down the stairs to Tadashi’s classroom that night, checking his watch for the hundredth time since he’d gotten out of work. He’d had to reschedule a meeting after missing it in the morning and gotten held up until six, arriving much later than he usually did to pick up his son.
As soon as he opened the classroom door, he spotted Tadashi in the middle of the room with his back to him, head ducked as Bokuto crouched down to pat his head soothingly. Bokuto glanced up at the sound of the door opening, smiling as he looked back at Tadashi.
“And look who’s here, huh, little guy? I told you he was coming.”
Tadashi spun around, his face breaking into a grin as he ran for Akaashi. “Daddy!” he said, letting Akaashi scoop him up into a hug.
“What’s the matter, ‘dashi?” Akaashi said, kissing his cheek as he noticed the tears still drying on his face. Tadashi just wound his arms around his neck, hugging himself closer.
“He missed you,” Bokuto said, Akaashi looking up to see he’d come closer, offering him a smile.
“I missed you too, T,” Akaashi said, brushing a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry,” Akaashi said, looking back at Bokuto. “I should have called, I got held up in a meeting.”
Bokuto just waved his hand, still smiling. “It’s fine. We were coloring pictures.”
“Coloring pictures?” Akaashi said, nudging Tadashi. “Can you show me what you made?”
Tadashi nodded, perking up as Bokuto pulled a few pieces of paper from the table, the other children still talking as they picked through the crayons.
“Oh, wow, T,” Akaashi said, taking the papers from Bokuto with a quiet thank you. “They’re so nice. And wow—” Akaashi flipped through the papers, gasping good-naturedly as he got to the last one. “Are you practicing your letters?”
Tadashi smiled, taking the papers as he pointed to the D-A-D-D-Y in messy red crayon. “Me and Mr. Bokuto had a writing contest and I won.”
“A contest?” Akaashi said, poking Tadashi in the stomach. “So cool.”
“He’s already better than me at lettering,” Bokuto said, snatching up his paper and waving it around. Akaashi pressed his lips together, trying not to smirk at his laughably bad handwriting. It had become a joke between the parents when they saw each other at birthday parties—they always had trouble deciphering any handwritten notes Bokuto had made.
“Did Mr. Bokuto even try against someone as great as you?” Akaashi said, poking Tadashi again before turning to give Bokuto a raised eyebrow and a slight smirk.
Bokuto’s eye got wide for a moment before he broke into a grin, laughing as he set the paper back down. “Hey!” he said, crossing his arms. “It gets the point across.”
Tadashi squirmed in Akaashi’s arms and he set him down, Tadashi running to his cubby to stuff the papers into his backpack and collect his lunchbox. Akaashi clasped his hands behind his back, watching him for a moment before turning back to Bokuto.
“I’m sorry I didn’t call to say I’d be late,” Akaashi said again.
Bokuto waved his hand dismissively. “I kind of figured that’s what happened after you were late this morning. We were fine. Only tears in the last fifteen minutes.”
Akaashi paused for a moment, figuring he owed Bokuto an explanation. “Tadashi took forever to eat breakfast this morning after we missed our alarm.”
Bokuto laughed, the sound loud in the classroom. “He’s always the last one eating at snack time, too.”
Akaashi looked over at Tadashi, who was struggling to put on his jacket. “Yes,” Akaashi sighed. “I’ve never met a slower eater.”
“Mr. Bokuto!”
Akaashi looked over to see one of Suga and Daichi’s kids standing at the table, waving around a piece of paper.
“You said you’d play hangman with us!”
Bokuto gave Akaashi another smile before heading over to the table, offering him a salute as he walked away. “Duty calls,” he said.
Akaashi watched him for a moment before turning away, zipping up Tadashi’s coat when he ran over.
“Maybe the kids can teach you how to write your letters if you play enough,” Akaashi said in an even voice, slinging Tadashi’s backpack over his shoulder as he ushered him out the door. He looked back once as he shut the door behind him, hiding a smile as he caught the surprised look on Bokuto’s face.
***
“Did you get Oikawa’s invitation to Hajime’s birthday party yet?”
Akaashi shifted on the couch that Friday night, checking to see if Tadashi was awake and listening, but he was already asleep, a puddle of drool collecting on the cushions where he’d splayed out.
“Yes, just got one this morning.”
Kuroo took a sip from his beer, heaving a sigh. “A Saturday afternoon spent talking with Oikawa.”
“It’s nice they have something set up so soon after moving in,” Akaashi said, setting his empty bottle on the coffee table. “He must have worked hard for that.”
“Akaashi,” Kuroo said, switching to a quieter voice when Kei snored softly against Kuroo’s knee. “You never pick my side.”
“You really don’t like him,” Akaashi just said, reaching for the remote to shut off the movie they’d been watching with the kids.
Kuroo leaned back on the sofa, heaving another sigh. “Yeah,” he said, ruffling Kei’s hair absentmindedly. “Come on, I’ll tell you about the stupid pretty boy after we get these idiots to bed.”
Akaashi stood up as softly as he could, picking Tadashi up from the couch, Tadashi murmuring slightly before falling right back asleep against Akaashi’s neck. Kuroo groaned as he picked Kei up, Kei protesting grumpily at the interruption in his sleep.
“What am I feeding you, big guy? You’re way too tall for my old bones to carry up the stairs,” Kuroo said.
“I don’t want to go to bed,” Kei said, yawning as he struggled against Kuroo’s hold.
“Come on, yes you do,” Kuroo said. “I brought the dinosaur sleeping bag. We’re having a sleepover with Tadashi.” Kuroo looked over at Akaashi carrying a sleeping Tadashi as Kei whined against his neck, rolling his eyes. “Wanna trade kids?”
Akaashi snorted, heading up the stairs with Kuroo on his heels, tucking Tadashi into bed. It took a while longer to get Kei situated, but eventually his sleepiness won out as he curled up in his sleeping bag at the foot of Tadashi’s bed, clutching a borrowed teddy bear.
“Another day done,” Kuroo whispered as Tadashi’s bedroom door clicked shut behind him, the both of them heading down the stairs as quietly as they could. Kuroo helped himself to the fridge as Akaashi settled back on the couch, picking up the remote and clicking aimlessly through the channels.
“It pisses me off that Oikawa has a kid the same age as ours,” Kuroo said, startling Akaashi as he plopped down on the other couch, sliding another beer over the coffee table for him. “It’s just my luck.”
Akaashi picked up his beer, taking a long sip before bothering to look over at Kuroo. “Why do you hate him?”
“I don’t hate him,” Kuroo said, kicking his socked feet up on the cushions. “I hate how he waltzed in with his fancy hair and nice clothes and got to work on the new marketing deals right away. I mean.” Kuroo took another sip of beer, gesturing for Akaashi to stop clicking through the channels as he swallowed hastily. “Stop, I like this show. But now I have to work personally with a new guy after I’ve been working for years to get where I am.”
Akaashi put the remote down, a cooking show playing quietly in the background. “You’re mad he’s better than you.”
“He is not.” Kuroo held his bottle to his lips, looking scandalized.
Akaashi leaned his head back on the couch, folding his arms. “Mm.”
“He’s not!” Kuroo threw one of the couch pillows at him, Akaashi watching it land a solid few feet away from him. “I’m just annoyed Boss is making me work in an independent group study with him,” he said, making air quotes.
Akaashi picked at the label on his bottle. “I’ve never seen you this fired up,” he said dryly.
“Shut up.”
They lapsed into silence for a moment, the both of them glancing at the stairs as they heard a quiet thump overhead. When one of the kids didn’t appear, Akaashi leaned back on the couch, watching as somebody tried to make ice cream on screen.
“And he’s so mean to me!” Kuroo added, as if he’d been silently stewing. “He’s always making some stupid jab.”
“Maybe it’s because you’re so rude to him,” Akaashi said offhandedly.
“I’m nothing but pleasant.”
Akaashi looked at him for a moment with heavy eyes before going back to picking at the label on his beer. “You barely said hello to him the other day at the daycare.”
“That’s rude? What about how you treat the kids’ teacher?” Kuroo grinned, shaking his beer disapprovingly at him. “Now that is stone cold.”
Akaashi raised his eyebrows, taking another sip before answering. “I am not rude to my child’s teacher.”
“Oh, really?” Kuroo smirked. “What was the last thing you said to him?”
Akaashi bristled slightly, trying to think back. “Probably a polite goodbye.”
“No, I mean, had a conversation with. Do you even do that?”
Akaashi sat back, tapping his index finger absentmindedly against his bottle. “Something about his handwriting, I think,” he said after a moment.
Kuroo snorted into his beer, giving him a look. “Seriously?” he said, his eyebrows arched. “You did not insult him about his handwriting.”
“I wasn’t insulting him.”
“From you?” Kuroo gave him another look. “That’s definitely how it came off.”
Akaashi opened his mouth, ready to retort, when the floorboards creaked overhead, another soft thump coming from upstairs. They both looked over, Kuroo sighing before putting his beer down on the coffee table, groaning as he stood up.
“I’ll go check on them,” he said, stretching as he headed for the stairs. “With my luck the little booger probably woke your kid up.”
“Tadashi sleeps like the dead,” Akaashi said.
“Did I tell you about the last time I babysat for you?” Kuroo turned around, grinning. “Kei lured Tadashi downstairs to read books at midnight. How did I raise such a nerd?”
Akaashi smiled at the fondness in his voice, taking another sip from his beer as he watched Kuroo head up the stairs.
***
“Am I forgetting anything in this aisle?”
“Eggs.
“We already have eggs,” Akaashi said, starting up the cart again. Tadashi just smiled, kicking his feet as he sat in the front basket, clutching Akaashi’s phone in both hands. Akaashi tapped the screen on, Tadashi holding the phone down so he could glance at the grocery list he’d made.
“We need more milk and orange juice.”
“Milk and orange juice,” Tadashi repeated in the same tone, kicking his legs out again.
Akaashi stopped at the milk and turned to open the fridge doors, trying to remember anything he might have forgotten.
“Mr. Bokuto!”
Akaashi turned at the sound of Tadashi’s voice, straightening to find Bokuto in front of the yogurts, basket in hand, smiling wide as he spotted Tadashi.
“Oh, hey, little guy!” Bokuto said, waving as he came closer.
“Hello,” Akaashi said, offering a polite smile.
“Mr. Bokuto, are you buying yogurt for the classroom?”
“No!” Bokuto laughed, shaking his head. “I’m buying yogurt for myself.”
Tadashi grinned, looking from Bokuto to Akaashi. “Whaaa~aat?” he said with wide eyes, laughing when Akaashi smiled at him.
Bokuto ruffled Tadashi’s hair, his cheeks reddening slightly as he looked back up at Akaashi. “Imagine running into you guys here, huh?”
“Yeah,” Akaashi said. “Small world.”
Bokuto rubbed the back of his neck, grinning sheepishly as he straightened up again. “Well,” he said after a beat, giving another smile to Tadashi. “I’ll let you guys get back to shopping.”
“Bye, Mr. Bokuto!” Tadashi said, waving.
“See you Monday,” Akaashi said.
“Yeah, see you Monday!” Bokuto turned to go, looking over his shoulder once more after Akaashi had started to push the cart away. “I’ll be sure to practice my lettering so it’s up to par with the kids!” he said, his voice teasing, before flashing one more grin.
Akaashi watched him leave the aisle, pressing his lips together.
“Mr. Bokuto said we’re learning the letter S next week,” Tadashi said, still clutching Akaashi’s phone in his little hands.
“Really?” Akaashi said, finally looking away from the spot Bokuto had disappeared from.
Tadashi nodded. “S like spiders…and sock. And, sun…”
Akaashi pushed the cart over to the frozen vegetable aisle, Tadashi continuing his list as they went.
***
“Ryu!”
Tadashi struggled to break free of Akaashi’s hold as he zipped up his jacket, sighing as he let go and Tadashi ran off, jumping at the back of Ryu’s jacket. It was Monday again, Akaashi still tired from the start of the work week.
“Ryu, be careful,” Suga said, coming into the classroom laden down with backpacks and jackets, a stray glove falling to the floor. “If they aren’t your siblings don’t kill them.”
Ryu barely lifted a hand in acknowledgement before jumping onto Hitoka, his sister only punching him off before turning back to her blocks, Shoyo and Tadashi coming up behind to pounce on him.
“No Daichi today?” Akaashi asked, bending down to pick up the forgotten glove. Suga smiled in thanks, stuffing it into one of the jacket pockets before dumping everything onto a table.
“Nah, he’s working late today,” Suga said, folding his arms as he watched Shoyo climb over Ryu’s shoulders, Tadashi scrabbling to follow. “And I made the mistake of picking up Ryu first.”
“I don’t how you do it,” Akaashi said, retrieving Tadashi’s empty lunchbox and zipping it into his backpack. Suga and Daichi had their kids in the daycare since Tadashi was a baby, Akaashi still unable to imagine the chaos the family brought wherever they went. Ryu was the oldest, eight years old now, while the twins, Shoyo and Hitoka, were Tadashi’s age, each five years old.
Another shriek sounded and Akaashi looked over to find Shoyo pinned to the ground, Ryu laughing as Tadashi looked on from the sidelines. Bokuto was watching from the carpet, looking torn between amusement and concern as he struggled to keep one of the other kids occupied with the toy cars. Suga stood with his hands on his hips, a grin on his face.
“So, you still in for babysitting this weekend?” Suga said, laughing as Shoyo shrieked again. “And right after Hajime’s party, too.”
Akaashi sighed, turning his attention back to his son’s backpack. “Happy to return the favor,” he said dryly.
After spending a few years going to the same birthday parties and school events, Suga and some of the parents had struck up a babysitting deal. If one of the parents needed a date night or vacation day, they could dump their kids on one of the other parents—with the knowledge that they’d return the favor soon. Akaashi had agreed to take Suga’s kids the following Sunday night, knowing Kuroo would probably be around the neighborhood to help corral them.
“Yuu, no—”
There was a screech as Asahi’s kid broke free of Bokuto’s hold, Yuu running for Ryu with enough speed to bowl him over, both the boys laughing hysterically as they rolled around.
Suga sighed, walking over to heave his son up from the carpet. “Alright, Ryu, let’s get your brother and sister out of here without any broken bones. Now apologize to Mr. Bokuto.”
“Oh, don’t worry about it,” Bokuto said, holding Yuu around his waist as he struggled to break free. “Yuu’s always up to something, huh, buddy?”
“You’re too kind,” Suga said, letting Ryu go and pushing him towards the door, scooping up Shoyo as Hitoka scampered after him. Ryu picked up the backpacks and coats from the table Suga had abandoned them on, struggling to carry them all in his arms.
“Well—you know me,” Bokuto said jokingly, his voice muffled as Yuu turned around to throw his arms around Bokuto’s neck, hugging him with enough force to choke him. He heaved himself off the floor, Yuu still clutching onto his neck. “Oh, Akaashi!” he said, his face breaking into a big grin as he finally spotted him in the corner. “I didn’t see you come in!”
Suga looked from Bokuto to Akaashi, about to open his mouth before his gaze slid over to Ryu, who was struggling to open the classroom door.
“Ryu, you can’t carry their jackets, they have to put those on—”
Suga rolled his eyes, giving them all a quick wave goodbye as he ushered his kids out the door, still calling out for Ryu as he headed up the stairs.
Bokuto watched them go, looking amused as Yuu still clung to his neck. “I can’t believe they got twins after Ryu,” he said, grinning as he looked back at Akaashi.
Akaashi hummed in agreement, glancing at Tadashi, who’d wandered over to the carpet to play cars with Oikawa’s son, not caring that he already had his puffy winter jacket on.
“I love Ryu,” Yuu said from Bokuto’s arms, his wide eyes almost sparkling.
“You have a lot of love for such a little guy,” Bokuto said, laughing as his poked him in the side. Yuu shrieked in laughter, leaning in to give Bokuto a wet smooch on the cheek, hugging his face close to his.
“I’m not a little guy, I’m five,” Yuu said loudly.
“You’re right, you’re right, how could I forget?” Bokuto said, giving Akaashi a grin as Yuu kissed his cheek again.
Akaashi looked down, running the strap of Tadashi’s backpack through his hands. “Did you have Ryu as a student here, too?”
“Oh yeah, I get the whole family,” Bokuto said, waving his hand. “He was in the first class I had.” He leaned closer, covering one of Yuu’s ears with his free hand. “I had no idea what I was doing.”
Akaashi’s lips twitched. “Very reassuring.”
“Live and learn,” Bokuto said with an easy grin, dropping Yuu to the floor as he started struggling to get down. He let out another shriek, Akaashi wincing as Yuu ran over to the toy cars, bumping into Hajime as he collapsed next to him.
“I should have given you ear plugs for Christmas instead of the travel mug,” Akaashi said tiredly.
“Aw, but I loved the mug,” Bokuto said, retreating to his desk before coming back with the sparkly pink ceramic mug, the lettering on the side spelling Keep calm and sparkle on.
“You’re using it,” Akaashi said flatly.
“I couldn’t believe it was from you when Tadashi handed it to me. I thought he’d grabbed the wrong gift or something.”
Akaashi regarded it for a moment, the white lid already covered in coffee stains from continued use. “Tadashi picked it out. He wouldn’t let it go.”
“It’s hilarious. Your son has great taste.”
Akaashi clasped his hands in front of him, biting his lips against a smile. He was about to open his mouth to respond when Tadashi ran up to him, clinging onto his leg as he looked up.
“I’m hungry, Daddy,” he said, tugging on his pants. Akaashi smiled, picking Tadashi up and letting him hold his backpack.
“Let’s get you home so Daddy can start dinner, then,” Akaashi said, looking back at Bokuto, who was still grinning. “The mug suits you,” he said quietly, turning to go when Bokuto’s eyebrows shot up.
***
“All that cake was a bad idea.”
Akaashi took a sip of his lukewarm tea, looking out at the play area as the kids jumped around. Oikawa had organized his son’s birthday party at the trampoline play place most of the kids had been to before, Hajime running around with his new classmates in a cardboard crown. As he watched, Hajime took a running jump into the ball pit, Shoyo and Tadashi following close behind with shrieks of laughter.
“Inevitable,” Akaashi said, looking back at the circle of parents he stood with. Oikawa was beaming as he watched Hajime play, his toddler resting on his hip with a bored expression.
“They’re having a fun time, aren’t they?” Oikawa said proudly.
“It’s a knock out,” Suga said, taking a sip from his Starbucks cup, humming in appreciation as Daichi nodded at his side. “Give them sugar and the opportunity to kill each other and they love it.”
“I’m so glad Hajime is making friends,” Oikawa said, watching fondly as Hajime bounced and landed on top of Yuu, yelling in triumph. “Poor Kentaro is jealous of his brother. Aren’t you, little mad dog?”
The toddler turned his head away as Oikawa cooed at him, frowning and crossing his tiny arms when Oikawa laughed and kissed the top of his head.
Kuroo snorted. “Your son’s personality really matches your sunny disposition.”
Akaashi tried to step on his foot in a quiet demand to behave, Kuroo sidestepping him neatly.
Oikawa lifted his chin, looking amused. “He is a little hard headed thing, isn’t he?” he said, poking his son’s side as he continued to ignore him. “Sometimes I think if he keeps frowning like that his face will freeze that way.”
“Ryu was the same way,” Daichi said, shaking his head. “He always wanted to fight everything that moved.”
“Why are we using past tense?” Suga said, elbowing Daichi in the gut. “He still does.”
“I don’t know how their teacher deals with them all,” Asahi said, looking terrified at the prospect.
Suga took another sip of his drink, licking his lips. “I know how he deals,” he said, cutting his eyes at Akaashi with a grin. “He has some eye candy he looks forward to seeing every day.”
Kuroo looked between Suga and Akaashi, a giant smirk on his face. “You don’t say?”
Daichi rolled his eyes. “Do not share your theory again—”
“He smiles like an idiot every time Akaashi comes in,” Suga said, waving his hand.
Akaashi took a sip of his tea, his expression neutral. “He does not.”
“Is that why you act like you hate him?” Kuroo said, still smirking. “That’s your version of flirting.” Kuroo nudged him when Akaashi didn’t respond.
“I don’t know what you mean, Suga,” Akaashi said, his expression flat. Oikawa was looking between the three of them, pure joy on his face.
“Well!” Suga put his hands on his hips, grinning. “When I went to pick up the kids the other day he was ecstatic to see Keiji-kun. He wouldn’t stop smiling.”
“Oho, he’s smitten,” Oikawa said, hitching his son up higher on his hip.
“He’s a friendly person,” Akaashi said. “He said hello.”
“I don’t remember him ever giving me a charming, ecstatic smile before,” Kuroo said.
Akaashi sighed. “I don’t remember Suga using the word charming.”
“You’re playing hard to get,” Oikawa lilted from his other side, Kuroo snorting before realizing who he was consorting with.
“You’re both terrible,” Akaashi said, taking another sip of his tea.
“Suga started it,” Kuroo said smugly.
“Please,” Daichi said. “I’ve heard that out of the kids’ mouths too often.”
“Y’know,” Kuroo said, grinning. “Daichi, you’re trying to squash a gentle, loving romance before it even starts—”
“Oikawa-san,” Akaashi said smoothly. “Would Hajime like to have a playdate with the other kids tomorrow? I’ve already volunteered to watch Daichi’s kids and Kuroo will be there if you need to discuss work related things.”
“A playdate?” Oikawa brightened, bouncing Kentaro on his hip. “He would love that.”
Kuroo stomped down on Akaashi’s foot, Akaashi finishing his tea as he tried not to wince from the pain. Oikawa watched the exchange, grinning as he winked at Kuroo.