Chapter Text
Akaashi Keiji was everything Y/N ever wanted and more. But why does it seem like she’s missing out on a lot of things. Sighing, she slumped back on the bar stool reading her take home work for the day that she volunteered on since she has nothing much going on for her anyway.
It was tax season, her boyfriend cannot be expected home til God knows what time. So might as well wallow outside than on the kitchen counter, right? Shrugging the thought, she filed her papers neatly inside her bag and began ordering her beer and yeah, maybe some sake to go with that just to make sleep more accessible tonight.
“I’d take it easy on the beer since it’s a work night, Karasuno’s manager” turning around, toffee locks in the dim lit bar greeted her sight. Looking up and studying his features, she might have an idea who this party pooper is.
“Yaku-senpai…?” she looked at him brows furrowed.
“In the flesh!” spreading his arms out. She all but tapped his shoulder to acknowledge him and offered the seat next to her.
Yaku was lugging around a trolley and a duffle bag. This got her curious and wanting to ask but she felt it was too personal. They weren’t awfully close to begin with and she always had this feeling of worry whenever he was around. She’d steer clear of him, feeling that he is too much for her to handle, which explains why she’s distant. She doesn’t wanna get wrapped in his crazy.
“Gin on the rocks please.” Calling out to the bartender
“And for the lady?” turning to her. Tapping the rim of her bottle to signal she was fine with her drink, which earned a nod of approval.
“Well, the night is young.” Yaku took off his coat and hung it on his bar stool.
One bottle. She’ll just have one bottle tonight and be on her way. That’s it right? One bottle.
Laughter was erupting from the bar. Beer bottles and glass with ice started piling high on the counter. Looking at her watch, it was getting late. About 10 o’ clock. This was the latest she’s been out that’s not work related. This was fine. Akaashi won’t be home til midnight anyway. Maybe she could ask him to fetch her and they can walk home together. Cheeks flushing bright red, she pressed send and placed her phone back in her bag.
“You know, I was jealous of Karasuno for having women managers” she smiled at him. Why wouldn’t anyone be? There’s Kiyoko-senpai for administrative duties, Yachi-san for Marketing and all those really eye-catching pub mats. They were indeed at the top of their game in all aspects.
“Yes! Kiyoko-senpai and Yachi-san are the absolute bestest!” raising both her arms, she beamed. She was so proud! Why wouldn’t she be?
“Oh, it’s also because they have someone like you, Y/N” this was unexpected.
“You tutored those freak duo first years so they can come to training camp” taking another sip of his gin “Convinced that middle blocker to improve, and not to mention, you have been running all over the place during spring interhigh back and forth in the middle of the match. Tending to your team and calming Fukurodani’s setter in the locker room”. Y/N froze.
How did he know that? He was supposed to be on court that time? Playing? Trying to get the ball up. What liberos usually do.
“If you ask me, I’d kill to get that kind of attention” not being able to stop his thoughts from spilling, he looked up to find her staring at him.
“FOR MY TEAM! For my team of course” not so good save there, Morisuke. “Just the amount of support you give everyone is amazing” taking a huge gulp.
It was the least Y/N could to for everyone. She wasn’t particularly good at anything that would be beneficial for the men’s volleyball team except her running around making sure they got to where they were going in one piece and without casualties.
“So, how’s the setter treating you?” God. Don’t tell her he knows about her and Akaashi. Oh right, it would make perfect sense, he was close with Kuroo-senpai.
“Guy didn’t get in the pro-league?”
“I’m afraid not” it made her wonder why. She would have supported him.
“What a waste. Fukurodani’s setter was immensely talented. Could’ve gone pro in no time”
“He is talented” no doubt about that “But he wants to stay here in Japan. Start a life here”
“What about you? Kuroo mentioned you wanted to study abroad? or get out at the very least” Kuroo-senpai has been insanely updated with everything going on with her. Too many updates for her liking.
“Uh yeah but not now, I guess”
“Then when?” he practically jumped from his stool in disbelief. Feeling extra gutsy she challenged “I’ll tell you after we drink all of these” pointing at the bottles in front of them. Nodding, they began drowning themselves in alcohol.
And Y/N never did answer his question. The bar was already on its last call. Checking her phone for messages and there it was: disappointment.
“I’ll be home by lunch. Bokuto-san needs me”
Y/N downed her whole mug in ten seconds and ordered the biggest size the bar has. That’ll help her sleep her sadness. The day after tomorrow was the Adlers game and Bokuto-san was able to pass the selection last time she heard. So him needing Akaashi this much made sense. This wasn’t new. Bokuto needing him every now and then. Letting it go, she decided to just enjoy the night a little more and shoved her phone back in her bag and pulling her sleeves up, and unbuttoning her shirt. It was hot. Must be the alcohol.
This was a good time to freshen up before heading home. Pushing her stool and sliding to the edge of her seat, she waited for her heels to touch the wooden floor. A moment came by, nothing. Was she floating? Hands grabbed her arms while the stool beside her fell.
“Careful” her senpai muttered under his breath. Realizing she could have slid under the counter by getting off her seat the way she did, it was a signal for her to accept the help and grabbed onto his forearms for support and slowly stood up. Thanking him, she half sprinted to the restroom and splashed her face with cold water. Someone got carried away. Calming herself, she continued to remind that she cannot by all means get wasted. She has to get on a train, a bus, and walk two blocks. That’s not gonna be ideal when she can barely stand. This is fine. Just one last drink and she will be on her way. Besides, she still needs to pack for her trip to Miyagi tomorrow.
This was a bit lonely though, considering she was supposed to go with her boyfriend. Oh well, it can’t be helped. Disregarding the feeling she started towards the bar where her senpai was buttoning his shirt up and putting on his coat.
“They’re closing now and I need to book a hotel, so if it’s not too much, can we leave now so I can walk you home. It’s getting late” reading his expression, she didn’t find any hint that he was kidding. Convincing herself that he was serious, Y/N sighed and thought she could just continue this little drinking party at home on her own.
Returning to her stool with her bag propped on it, she began searching for her wallet, she needed to settle her bill
“We’re paid” he said and moved to her side “Is this yours as well?” he picked up her folder full of papers. Nodding, she remembered she still needed to work and submit everything before lunch. Shit. Ok drinking is out of the table. Giving up she got her bag and trailed behind the libero and his luggage.
They made it in time for the last train and bus that took them two blocks from her house. The trip was awfully silent on her head. Yaku continued rambling about matryoshkas and drinking vodka to warm himself on early morning practices. Y/N had no contribution to the conversation at all except giving updates about the team which he seems to be aware of.
“This is you” he smiled while handing her bag and folder. Walking past her gate she saw him fixing his coat, and checking his watch before waving goodbye and started retracing their path.
“Yaku-senpai” she called out in a loud and controlled voice trying not to wake the neighbors “You can stay over. Akaashi won’t be back until noon anyway” walking towards the gate opening it wide enough so he can enter with his luggage.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes! It’s late and there are no trains and buses running this hour and since you haven’t booked a hotel yet, which I highly doubt you will since its peak season, unless love hotels are your thing” she unlocked the front door and stepped inside.
This. This is exactly why he envied Karasuno and Fukurodani. This unparalleled mindfulness. Those trusting eyes. All he could do was nod and follow her inside the house. The place was something. Akaashi IS an accountant and Y/N is a paralegal of course this place was an easy catch for them. Though there seems to be no trace of Akaashi, or her or them. It was a cold and plain house barely lived in. Turning on the lights he was met by his host at the foot of the staircase.
“Uhm, so you can sleep in my room. It’s the first door on the right. The bathroom is across and if you need anything, I’ll be downstairs” she explained handing him a stack of fresh bath towels.
“Where will you be sleeping?” looking at her all puzzled.
“Oh I won’t be sleeping any time soon. I have work to do”
“It’s almost 1 am” this wasn’t normal.
“This is normal Yaku-senpai” she smiled assuring him.
There was no arguing with her and he was already dead tired from lugging his suitcase around. A hot shower would be nice. “Do you need help with your bags?” this snapped him out of his thoughts, “No! It’s alright. First door on the right.” he repeated and began his ascent.
Nine hours on the plane despite being in business class took its toll on Yaku Morisuke. The bath did its job but not well enough to put him to sleep. Pacing the room back and forth, stretching, looking at her bookshelf and pulling out a black leather-bound spine without a title. It’s a photo album.
Beginning to browse the first few pages, it was Miyagi’s landscape. It was gorgeous. It made him want to see it in person . Good thing he was heading there anyway. The next pages were Karasuno’s gym. Moves frozen and captured on time. Nishinoya and his exam score he barely passed but was good enough for him to not take summer courses. He smirked.
Flipping the pages, he recognized his school. The sun setting over its grounds. Practice match outtakes between Fukurodani and his team, Gym 3 boys practicing their blocks. Kuroo’s smug look. The frustration in Tsukkishima’s eyes, everything perfectly caught in that frame. Browsing further, he came across a montage of photos from the dumpster battle, it was a spread of both teams, then it became all too familiar, he recognized his save, the look he has a millisecond before receiving perfectly. Remembering everything it was like he was watching the whole match unfold before his eyes all over again. Most of his shots were at a floor level. That must have been difficult for her. His heartbeat accelerated realizing who took those photos. He needed to calm down. Tea. There was a vending machine a block away from her house. Putting on his Nekoma jacket and slipping his trusty coin purse in his pocket he made his way down.
Faint blue light emitted from the kitchen, he should probably tell her he’d be going out for tea. The kitchen was empty save for a pot of hot tea on the counter with a note. It was for him. She figured he’d need it as per the note. Pouring on his mug, he believed that a thank you was in order for all she had done for him in the last hours and say good night as well. Following the blue light to its source which was her laptop on the coffee table in the living room, he found her fast asleep in her work clothes.
Wanting to wake her up to help her move into a comfortable place, the site flashed on the screen caught his attention. Sighing he put the laptop on sleep after saving her files, took off his jacket and placed it over her tired frame.
Once in the room, he pulled out his phone for a call, drinking tea during the whole ordeal and ending the call on a seemingly satisfied note, he drifted to sleep.