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“KAASHI! Hey, Kaashiiiii~” Koutarou yells after his friend, shoving the rest of his stuff into his gym bag carelessly and jogging towards the door to catch up to him. “Wait for me Akaashiieeee!”
Akaashi stops walking and turns to Koutarou with an unamused expression on his pretty face. The alpha can see his lips moving, but he can't hear anything, way too busy admiring the delicate, slightly damp curls that are falling over Akaashi's captivating blue eyes, and the pretty pink blush (which reminds Koutarou of cotton candy, God, he must be hungry) that is spread over his sharp cheekbones. He doesn't know how long he has been staring at his friend like an absolute creep, but the way Akaashi's expression turns from unamused to uncomfortable tells him he has been doing this long enough to make him, well, uncomfortable.
Koutarou blinks owlishly a few times, trying to get himself out of his stupor. “Yeah, what did you say? I'm sorry I couldn't hear you Kaash.”
“Maybe you shouldn't let me distract you so much, then.” Akaashi rolls his eyes and turns back around to continue walking. “I said stop taking so long while changing. You always make me wait, Bokuto-san.”
“I- yeah. I'm sorry.” Koutarou mutters absentmindedly.
Now he's staring at Akaashi's ass without an ounce of shame as the omega keeps walking in front of him, completely unaware of those golden eyes basking in the glory of his arse. Koutarou knows if he looked in the dictionary right now, he would see his own name under the definition of pervert, but the alpha just can't help himself. Akaashi’s ass looks so good, so delicious, jiggling with every step the omega takes, and Koutarou wants nothing more than to pounce on his friend and bite the plush skin of-
“If you keep moving like a turtle, I'm going to have to leave you behind Bokuto-san.”
Koutarou swears he's going to punch himself like a sand bag when he gets home.
“Sorry, sorry!” He picks up pace, jogging until he reaches his omega friend. “I'm here see? You won't have to leave me behind now Agaasheee~”
Akaashi’s lips twitch up into an almost nonvisible smile, but Koutarou has seen his setter smile like this quite a lot times so of course he doesn't miss it. That tiny, angelic smile makes the alpha melt like an ice cream that has been left under the scorching summer sun.
“I'm glad I won't have to leave you behind.” Akaashi says with a voice sweeter than honey, and Koutarou feels arrows shooting at his heart when the omega links their arms. “I would've been very upset if I had to walk without you.”
Koutarou's eyes grow wide like saucers. “REALLY? Would you really, Kaashiiiieee?”
Akaashi meets his eyes, and the soft glow in those ocean blue orbs makes Koutarou fall in love all over again. The alpha doesn't dare break eye contact, and his lungs start to burn from the breath he's holding as he waits for his friend’s reply.
“Of course I would, Bokuto-san.” Akaashi breathes out, his voice low and gentle. “You are my best friend after all. I love having you around.”
The smile on Koutarou's face falters, and the alpha feels every bit of hope and happiness leave his body like water going down the drain at Akaashi's words. They were best friends, sure, but Koutarou had been in love with Akaashi ever since he had first seen him, and he had been wishing for the omega to share his feelings. Until this exact moment, that is. Akaashi had just made it clear as a cloudless sky that he only saw Koutarou as a best friend, and that meant Koutarou had no choice but to bury his feelings in the depths of his heart. Akaashi deserved a much better, smarter, stronger alpha anyway. Koutarou could never be enough for the perfect, angelic creature that was Akaashi Keiji.
“Bokuto-san?”
Koutarou's heart stings when he hears that melodic voice. “Huh? Sorry, I spaced out for a moment.”
“It's fine. Are you okay though?” Akaashi asks, brushing his fingertips against the alpha’s forearm tenderly. Koutarou wishes he would stop. “It's like you're demoralized all of a sudden. Did I say something wrong?”
Oh you have no idea, my beautiful Keiji.
But of course he doesn't let Akaashi know that, because it's not his fault that he doesn't like Koutarou the way Koutarou likes him. It's not like Koutarou had ever gotten his hopes up because honestly, who would want someone so foolish like him as their alpha when they could have much better? He had always wished Akaashi would like him back, yes, but he never let himself build castles in the sky. Akaashi was a kind, smart, talented, all in all perfect omega. And Koutarou was just Koutarou. He was never enough, not in school, not in his family and friendships and not even in volleyball. How could he ever be good enough for his Akaashi?
“No, Kaashi.” He mumbles so quietly he hardly hears himself. “You know you could never say something wrong and hurt me. You're just amazing like that.”
Akaashi clicks his tongue in what Koutarou assumes to be annoyance, because the omega has a tendency to do this whenever he's annoyed or frustrated. “Don't lie to me, Bokuto-san. I know you a lot better than you think I do.”
The alpha opens his mouth to speak, but he realizes he has no idea what to say to that. Thankfully he doesn't have to fret about it for too long, because Akaashi's house comes into view soon after, and Koutarou lets out a long (way too long) sigh before withdrawing his arm.
“I promise I'm okay.” He wears his biggest, brightest smile, hoping Akaashi won't notice he's faking it. “I'll see you on Monday, Kaashi. Have a nice weekend!”
And without waiting for the omega to answer he turns and dashes forward towards his own house, wanting to get as far away from Akaashi as possible. If only he had stayed for ten more seconds, he would've seen how the omega had opened his arms to give Koutarou his goodbye hug, and how his beautiful face had fallen when he had been ignored by him.
It takes Koutarou only five minutes to reach his own house with how fast he's walking, and when he gets there he spots his best friend Kuroo waiting at his door. As if he had sensed Koutarou's presence, Kuroo looks up from his phone and their eyes meet.
“Oya?” Kuroo shouts, grinning at Koutarou like a cheshire cat. “You look confused bro. Don't tell me you've forgotten about movie night, that would break my heart.”
Movie nights with Kuroo is one of Koutarou's favorite things. They always eat lots of snacks and watch amazing movies and talk about Akaashi and Kenma and how they're crazy in love with them and it just makes Koutarou beyond happy. But this time he finds himself dreading movie night with his best friend, because he doesn't have an Akaashi to talk about anymore. Because Akaashi doesn't like him back, and he considers him just a friend, and it wouldn't be appropriate if Koutarou talked about him like the omega is going to be his mate in the future now that he knows he doesn't feel the same way about him.
“Sorry bro.” Koutarou says, pulling Kuroo in a tight embrace. “I just have a lot on my mind right now, it must have slipped.”
Kuroo pulls back from the hug and grabs Koutarou by the shoulders, studying the alpha's face intently. “What the hell happened, Bo? You don't look like yourself right now.”
Koutarou sighs. “I'll tell you. Let's get inside first though.”
He walks past Kuroo and takes out his keys from his gym bag to unlock the door, moving aside to let his friend enter first.
“You go to my room. I'll bring us some snacks, bro.” Koutarou says as he takes off his shoes and makes his way to the kitchen.
The alpha rummages through the cupboards, gathering a few random snacks in his arms as he thinks about Akaashi. He realizes he always thinks about Akaashi, he only ever thinks about Akaashi and nothing else, and it breaks his heart into tiny pieces that no matter how much he thinks of him the omega will never like him back. How is he ever going to move on from Akaashi? How is he ever going to find someone else when Akaashi is the only thing on his mind? When Akaashi is the only person he needs and wants...
Get it together, Koutarou. You have to forget him. Bury him deep in your heart. You have to do this if you truly love him. For his sake.
Unable to carry any more snacks, Koutarou groans and walks towards his room to join Kuroo and tell him how he has decided to give up on Akaashi. Kuroo is going to be so mad at him for giving up so quickly, so easily, but Koutarou knows he has no other choice so he's going to have to convince his friend that this is the only way.
“Start talking immediately.” Kuroo says the moment he steps inside the room.
“Dude, chill out.” Koutarou drops the snacks onto his bed and sits cross-legged on the floor, leaning his back against the side of the bed. “I'll tell you. But promise you won't cut me off.”
His friend doesn't really look like he wants to make that promise, but he nods anyway. “I promise, bro. I'll just bust your butt when you're done!”
“Shut the fuck up, Kuroo!”
Kuroo throws his head back and laughs cheekily, and Koutarou feels a sudden urge to wrap his hands around his friend's neck and choke him hard.
“Alright alright!” His fellow alpha puts his hands up in surrender. “Sorry. Tell me what's bothering you bro.”
Koutarou takes a deep breath. “Akaashi and I were walking home together, you know, like we do everyday. I was walking a little slowly, because I was busy staring at his ass but don't tell him that, and then he told me to walk faster or he would leave me behind and I did. Then he said he would be very upset if he had to leave me behind and we were just so close like almost nose to nose and I thought something was gonna happen between us but then he said-"
Koutarou stops talking abruptly, feeling a sudden pang in his heart when he remembers what had happened between him and Akaashi earlier. How his beautiful setter had called him his best friend when Koutarou had expected him to confess to him, because what was he supposed to expect when Akaashi had looked into his eyes with so much... love in his ocean blue orbs?
“Bo?” Kuroo nudges him with his foot. “What did he say that's got you so down, man?”
Koutarou looks down at his calloused hands, and he thinks about how delicate, how soft Akaashi's hands are compared to his. Even his hands weren't good enough for the omega.
“He said I was his best friend, man.” He says to Kuroo, aware of how hopeless he sounds but he can't do anything about it. He is hopeless. “He only thinks of me as his best friend and nothing more. He will never be my boyfriend. We will always stay friends and then he will find another alpha and they will get married and have kids and I'm gonna have to-"
“Bro bro bro! Shut the fuck up!” Kuroo interrupts his babbling, getting up on his feet and looking down at him as if he has lost his mind. “What in the ever loving hell are you talking about? Those things are not gonna happen. Akaashi likes you back. I'd bet money on it.”
Koutarou also gets up. “He doesn't, Kuroo! I just told you what he said to me. He called me his best friend. He doesn't like me back.”
“Were you really expecting him to confess just like that?” Kuroo says. “Of course he would call you his best friend. Because he thinks just like you. He thinks you don't like him back. Fucking hell, you two are so stupid.”
Koutarou scowls at his friend offendedly. “Don't call Akaashi stupid!”
“But he is!” His fellow alpha slaps him on the back of his head. “And you are too, you dumbass! You two are literally insufferable.”
He then takes out his phone from the pocket of his pants and starts typing furiously. “I'm putting an end to this bullshit right now. I've had enough.”
Koutarou’s heart starts hammering against his chest at his friend's words and he leaps forward in a panic, trying to snatch the phone from Kuroo's hand. Kuroo manages to dodge the unexpected attack though, and Koutarou ends up falling flat on his face, groaning in pain when his nose hits the hardwood floor of his bedroom.
“Damn you, Kuroo!” He grits out, holding a hand over his nose to check if it's bleeding. It's not, thankfully. “What the fuck did you just do?”
He can see Kuroo tossing his phone on his bed and then his friend crouches down beside him. “I texted Akaashi like any sane person would. I'm sorry bro, but I can't let you guys do something so stupid when you’re both crazy in love with each other.”
Kuroo reaches forward to check on his nose, but Koutarou slaps his hand away. “Did he reply to that stupid text of yours? Please tell me he didn't.”
“He said he’s on his way.”
“Fuck you, Kuroo.” Koutarou curses, and he sits up quickly to punch Kuroo in the stomach, making his friend grunt. “Why would you do that? Now he's gonna hate me. He’s gonna fucking hate me, man!”
“He's not gonna hate you, Bokuto.” Kuroo says reassuringly, rubbing a hand on his stomach as if he's trying to ease the pain. Koutarou can swear he didn't even hit him that hard. “Let's just wait until he gets here and then you guys can talk it out. Chill out for a second.”
Easy for you to say you dumb cat.
So they wait for Akaashi in complete silence, well, half silence for Koutarou, because his thoughts just won't shut up and leave him alone. He's scared, so damn scared of what’s going to happen when Akaashi gets here, and all he wants is the ground to swallow him whole before the omega tells him he hates him and he doesn’t want to see him again. Koutarou knows there's no way Akaashi will return his feelings, so he tries to prepare himself for the worst, for the words I hate you he will be hearing from the omega, for the humiliation and heartbreak he's going to have to endure.
But it’s worth it for Akaashi. Everything is worth it for my beautiful Akaashi.
Koutarou isn't even sure if his heart is even beating when the doorbell finally rings. His entire body starts trembling in nervousness, and anxiety bubbles up in his stomach, and Koutarou feels like he's about to fucking die.
“Go open the door for your beloved, stupid.” Kuroo murmurs right beside his ear, and he pushes Koutarou out of the room. “I will be waiting here. You guys talk in the living room.”
He shuts the door in Koutarou's face before the alpha can even open his mouth. It's not like Koutarou could’ve said anything with the lump he has in his throat anyway.
The doorbell rings one more time, and Koutarou flinches in his place, gulping nervously as little droplets of sweat start to form on his forehead. He doesn't know what he's waiting for, what’s happened has already happened and Akaashi already knows how Koutarou feels towards him (courtesy of the ever stupid Kuroo Tetsurou), and he's going to have to face the omega eventually if not now. So he takes a deep breath and holds it until he makes it to the main door, exhaling slowly while turning the handle. He closes his eyes so he won't have to see the pitiful, disgusted look on his Akaashi's beautiful face, and opens the door all the way in one swift move.
Damn the consequences.
If anyone had told Koutarou that Akaashi would be slapping him, punching him in the face, kicking him in the groin or yelling at him in hatred, Koutarou would have believed them. But he would've never believed in a million years that Akaashi would be wrapping his arms around his shoulders and burying his face deep in his neck in desperation. Never.
“Why didn't you tell me?” The omega whispers into his neck, and Koutarou can tell he's crying both from his voice and the way his shirt is getting wet. “Why didn't you tell me before, Bokuto? Why did you keep it from me?”
Koutarou wishes he could give him an answer, but he’s at a loss for words. He can't believe Akaashi is here, can't believe Akaashi's arms are wrapped around him, can't believe the omega is crying into his neck as if this is what he had been waiting for his whole life. Koutarou can't believe his beautiful, perfect Akaashi is hugging him, completely aware of Koutarou's feelings, when he had expected the omega to never look him in the face ever again.
Akaashi sniffles sharply. “Why? Why, Bokuto?”
Koutarou somehow manages to move his hand, placing it on the back of Akaashi's head to stroke those silky black curls he loves so much.
“I’ll tell you.” He whispers back before pressing a quick kiss on the omega's forehead. He doesn't miss the way Akaashi leans into his touch. “I'll tell you. We'll talk in the living room.”
Koutarou shuts the door and they both move to the living room, taking a seat on the big, fluffy couch. Akaashi slides his hands into Koutarou's warmer ones after wiping a few tears from his face, and the alpha's heart flutters in his chest when he feels the omega's soft skin against his. Koutarou doesn't know how long he has wanted to hold Akaashi's beautiful, delicate hands, but he knows one thing for sure now and that is how it feels for a dream to come true.
“Bokuto.” Akaashi mumbles. “Say something. Tell me how you feel about me. I want to hear it from you, Koutarou.”
Koutarou's breath catches in his throat when he hears his given name coming out of Akaashi's mouth. He had always guessed it would be a blissful feeling to hear the omega say his given name, but this was beyond his imagination. Koutarou feels like he's died and gone to heaven and an angel just talked to him.
“Koutarou?”
He looks up and their eyes meet, and the alpha hands his heart over for the millionth time.
“I like you, Keiji.” He starts, but then he decides like is such a weak word for the way he feels towards the angelic boy sitting in front of him. “No, not like. I love you, Keiji. I'm truly, madly, deeply in love with you. I love you more than anything and anyone. I'm crazy for you. I love you with my entire heart, Keiji, ever since the first time I saw you.”
Akaashi's ocean blue eyes glisten with fresh tears, and they spill down his flushed cheeks when he speaks. “I love you too, Koutarou, oh my god. I love you so much, so much. I can't explain how much I love you. I can't believe you feel the same way, can't believe you decided to keep your feelings hidden instead of just telling me.”
“How was I supposed to tell you?” Koutarou cups Akaashi's face and wipes the small, sparkly teardrops on his cheeks with his thumbs. “Have you seen yourself, Keiji? Do you have any idea how amazing, how perfect you are? How was I ever supposed to tell you I loved you, when you’re the most perfect creature and I’m just me?”
“That is not true at all.” Akaashi places his own hands over Koutarou’s bigger ones. “You're the amazing one, the perfect one, Koutarou. You're the one with a bright future ahead, with so many amazing people around you. I had convinced myself I had no chance with you. Not now, not ever.”
Koutarou can't help but laugh, kissing the tip of Akaashi's nose just because he can. “Kuroo was right. We're both so stupid.”
“He's the most stupid one for not telling me about this sooner.” Akaashi brings one of Koutarou's hands to his lips and kisses each of his fingers softly, keeping eye contact the entire time. “I love you, Koutarou. No matter what you think, what you made yourself believe, I love you. And this will never change.”
Koutarou brushes his thumb against the omega's cheekbone. “I love you too, Keiji. Even if I become the most popular volleyball player in the future with millions of fans, I will still love you the most. You will always be my number one, the only love of my life.”
Akaashi chuckles, leaning in closer to the alpha. “Does that mean you're going to man up and ask me to be your boyfriend?”
“Keijiiiiiiiii~” Koutarou whines. “You ruined the moment. But yes, I'm gonna. Will you be my boyfriend, Akaashi Keiji?”
The omega brushes his lips against Koutarou's, his warm breath tickling the alpha's skin. “Yes, Bokuto Koutarou. I will gladly be your boyfriend.”
They seal the deal with a soft, loving kiss. Koutarou's heart bursts out of his chest the moment their lips come together, a feeling of pure happiness surrounding his entire body. Kissing Akaashi feels like finding water in a desert, feels like being able to breathe in space and seeing a flower grow on the dry surface of Mars. It feels miraculous, surreal and Koutarou decides all he wants to do for the rest of his life is to kiss Akaashi.
Just as Koutarou wraps his arms around the omega's waist and tilts his head to the side to deepen their kiss, he hears the door opening and immediately breaks the kiss so Kuroo won't get a chance to see them sucking face.
“Oh my god, I think I'm gonna cry.” Kuroo says dramatically, wiping an imaginary tear from his eye. “You two have finally decided to get your heads outta your asses. This is a historic moment.”
Koutarou takes one of the pillows and throws it at his friend, hitting him straight in the face. “Shut the fuck up, Kuroo.”
“Ouch! I get you two together, and this is how you thank me?” His best friend cries. “You wound me, Bo. You break my heart into so many pieces I can't count.”
Akaashi lets out a hearty laugh, and Koutarou thinks he has never heard something more beautiful than this before.
“Thank you, Kuroo-san.” The omega takes hold of Koutarou's hands once again, giving the alpha a small but genuine smile. “Thanks to you I gained something so amazing, so wonderful today. I will forever be grateful for this.”
Koutarou can't believe just how gorgeous Akaashi looks when he smiles.
“For real, bro, thank you.” He gives the omega's hands a soft squeeze. “I would've lost my most precious gem, the love of my life if it weren't for you. Thank you so much for this incredibly stupid thing you've done for us.”
That last sentence wipes the smile off Kuroo's face, and he picks up the pillow Koutarou had thrown at him a while ago, letting out a very loud war cry as he lunges forward.
And the only thing Akaashi does when his boyfriend gets hit on the head with a pillow is throwing his head back to let out an even louder laugh.