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Bokuto couldn’t wait to be done. It felt like he’d been looking forever, and he wasn’t even supposed to practice before he finished! But now, he was nearly there. His bag was well over halfway full, and he only had one more good place to check. He’d already been to just about every other berry bush group around, and this one usually had a good yield, so long as no one had been through recently. But that had actually been the case the last few times Bokuto had been through, and he wasn’t sure why. He mulled all this over as he hurried through the woods.
As he arrived at the edge of the clearing, his attention was immediately grabbed, not by the plentiful berries growing in the bushes lining the grassy, sunlit area, but by someone in the center of it. He was a dark haired boy, a little shorter than Bokuto, and probably close to his age, calling commands to a small pokemon (Bokuto recognized it as a zorua). He was surrounded by a loose semicircle of other pokemon, though Bokuto was more entranced by their trainer. He was... good. The way the zorua listened to him showed that much. It responded to him without hesitation, and appeared to be executing the commands called to it, but not perfectly.
He called one last command to it, and it shifted into a small child. The boy laughed.
“Fine,” he said, though he didn't sound upset. “C’mon back,” he added, and the zorua ran over to him happily. He handed it a water bottle as he patted its head and said something to it, too quietly to be heard from the edge of the clearing. The pokemon hurried off with its water and collapsed in the shade, drinking, as the boy turned to the other pokemon. “Alright you five,” he started. “You can go too,” he said to all of them, and they all hurried over to sprawl out in the shade with the zorua, who was still in the form of a small child with a tail.
The boy shook his head as he grabbed a bag from a small heap of what appeared to be supplies. He then headed to the edge of the clearing and began to pick berries. Suddenly, Bokuto remembered what he’d come here for.
“It’s you!” he said eloquently, shoving into the clearing. The boy looked at him and blinked a few times.
“Me?”
“You’re the one who’s been picking the berries here, before I can!” Bokuto said excitedly as he rushed over to him. “I saw you training, you’re really good! Do you compete?” Bokuto asked in a rush.
“I apologize if me taking the berries has been an issue,” the boy started. “Thank you, and yes,” he said evenly.
“No, no, it isn’t a problem! Well, it means that sometimes I have to walk further to get all the berries my parents need, but I usually don’t mind. Except for today, because they’re not letting me practice until I get back with a full bag of berries,” Bokuto explained quickly, and the boy just blinked a few more times. “I’m Bokuto Koutarou!” he added.
“Akaashi Keiji,” the boy responded calmly, inclining his head. His eyes widened. “Stop,” he said firmly, and Bokuto tilted his head. “Sorry, not you. Zorua, drink your spring water. Do not dump it on strangers.” Bokuto turned around, and saw the small child, silently laughing while being held up to just over Bokuto’s height by a haunter, holding a half full water bottle, tilted like it was about to be poured out.
The zorua pouted, but obligingly brought the water bottle to its mouth as Akaashi sighed. “I swear,” he muttered. “Haunter, you’re awfully troublesome, you know that?” Akaashi asked as the haunter set the zorua down and it rejoined the others in the shade. The haunter turned back towards Akaashi. “You’re such an enabler,” he chastised, and Bokuto would’ve sworn the haunters grin widened before they headed back towards the shade.
Akaashi shook his head again. “Once again, I apologise if I’ve caused any inconvenience for you. I’ll let you have the berries, today,” Akaashi said, stepping away from the bushes.
“Oh, no!” Bokuto said quickly. “You don’t have to do that! Why don’t we share?” he suggested, and Akaashi stopped. “I don’t need too many more, and I bet your pokemon are tired from training, so they deserve a snack,” he persuaded.
“That's... very kind. Thank you.” Akaashi said. Bokuto nodded happily.
“No problem! How long have you been a trainer?” he asked as they began to pick the berries.
“Ever since I was young, really,” Akaashi said. “I started competing about five years ago, though, because of tournament age limits,” he explained. Wait. That meant-“You’re fifteen!” Bokuto gasped. “I’m sixteen! Where do you go to school?” he asked, excited at the sudden prospect of a new friend.
“I’ll be a first year at Fukurodani in a few months.” Bokuto gasped again.
“No way! I go to Fukurodani!” he almost shouted. “That's so coo-” Bokuto cut himself off with a yelp as he felt cold water splash onto his head.
“Zorua!” Akaashi said harshly. “I told you not to!” he continued, walking over to the now laughing small child that had just been set on the ground behind Bokuto.
The haunter was able to get away, but Akaashi gently caught the zorua’s arm as it tried to run off. It seemed much more put out than actually upset or scared. Akaashi crouched down to its level and released its arm. “Zorua,” he started, quietly and seriously. “I know pranks are fun, but you can't pull them all the time, especially not when I ask you not to,” he said. Now, the zorua was looking down, scuffing its foot lightly into the grass. Was... was he actually successfully parent-lecturing a notoriously mischievous pokemon? “I would like you to apologise to Bokuto-san, and, since I’d already asked you not to and you did, I’ll have you help me next time I need to find berries. Do you think that’s fair?”
It scuffed its foot again, but nodded glumly.
“Good. I’m not angry at you, and thank you for listening to me now, and in the future. Now, please apologise,” he said smoothly, and straightened back up. The zorua turned to Bokuto and bowed, and then quickly dashed back off towards the other pokemon. Akaashi sighed.
“That one’s been trouble ever since we met. Too smart for her own good,” he muttered, shaking his head. “I’m sorry about your shirt, here, I have a spare towel,” Akaashi said, quickly moving back to where his stuff was piled.
"Thanks!" Bokuto said with a laugh, shaking his head as he followed Akaashi. "It's not a big deal though!" he added, watching Akaashi dig through a backpack. "How long have you had her? The zorua?" he asked, and Akaashi sighed heavily.
“Since I was eight,” he responded. “She managed to successfully trick my parents into thinking she was me almost a dozen times, and at that point, I was more impressed than anything else,” he added with a shrug, and Bokuto gaped.
“A dozen?”
Akaashi nodded. “She’s always been more about hiding than fighting, even for a zorua.”
“That-that's amazing,” was all Bokuto could say, and Akaashi smiled softly, gaze wandering over to where his pokemon were.
“It is,” he responded, and then shook his head, clearing his throat. “But anyway, here you go. And I’m sorry about her,” he said as he handed Bokuto the towel.
“Nah, don’t be. I think I agree with you, that’s more impressive than anything else. Did she ask haunter to lift her up, you think?”
Akaashi rolled his eyes.
“Honestly, that particular prank may have all been haunters' idea,” he admitted. “Those two only encourage each other, and I haven’t known peace since haunter joined the team.”
“Ooo, when was that?”
“A year and a half ago. One of my friends had a ghastly that accidentally evolved when it got into some rare candy. They couldn’t deal with a haunter, so they asked if I would be willing to take care of her. I agreed before I fully understood what I was getting myself into, but I believe it all worked out. It really has been good for zorua,” Akaashi explained, as Bokuto passed the towel back.
“Cool! So have you ever competed with this team?” Bokuto asked, gesturing to the small group in the shade.
Akaashi shook his head.
“No, in fact, I only caught the fomantis about eight months ago and he’s still learning,” Akaashi admitted. “And besides, the only types of tournament battles I’ve been able to compete in have been simple three-on-three matches, so far. And for those, combusken, zorua, and golduck have always done extremely well.”
“Wait,” Bokuto said as a thought occurred to him. “You’ve had her since you were eight? Is there a reason zorua hasn’t evolved?”
Akaashi drew in a slow breath. “I...don’t know,” he admitted. “It is a little strange, I know she has enough experience and strength to do so, but she hasn’t. She’s still held her own in every battle she’s fought, so I’m not concerned,” Akaashi said with a shrug.
“Huh,” Bokuto said, watching her. “What if she likes looking like you?” he blurted out, and Akaashi tilted his head.
“What do you mean?”
“Well how she looks right now, that’s what you looked like when you were little, right? But larger illusions are zoroarks specialty, not shapeshifting,” Bokuto said, and Akaashi nodded slowly.
“That’s certainly an… interesting theory,” he said carefully, and then shook his head. “Regardless, I’m happy and she seems happy, so I see no reason to try to push her to evolve,” he added with a shrug, and Bokuto nodded.
“Makes sense,” he said, and Akaashi sighed again.
“Alright, well it was nice to meet you, but I should be going,” he said, starting to gather up the bags. “I need to get these six to a pokecenter and then back home before it gets dark,” he added, glancing up at the late afternoon light falling into the clearing.
“Oh! That's perfect!” Bokuto said excitedly. “I know a pokecenter! My parents run one, I was getting the berries for them to make medicine!” he explained. “I can walk you, if you want. It’s pretty close,” he offered happily. Akaashi hesitated.
“That… would actually be very convenient,” he admitted, glancing towards the pokemon still lounging together in the shade. Now that Bokuto got a better look at them, they did look pretty tired. Bokuto smiled
“Awesome! I can carry some of your stuff if you want!” he offered, and Akaashi shook his head.
“No, no. Thank you, but I’ve got it,” he said, and then turned towards his pokemon. “Everyone!” he called, and they all looked towards him. “Time to go!” The zorua immediately bounded over happily, back in her base form, winding her way through Akaashi’s legs. The others followed at varying paces, the haunter lagging behind a bit. Bokuto watched, entranced, as they all lined up, save for the zorua, who had turned into a child again, clinging to Akaashi’s leg.
Akaashi smiled down at her as he began taking pokeballs off his belt and individually commenting to each pokemon softly, Bokuto catching praises and critiques, before he returned them to their pokeballs until only the zorua remained.
“No pokeballs for that one?” Bokuto guessed as the zorua shifted into a chimchar and climbed onto Akaashi’s shoulder. Akaashi shook his head lightly.
“Not usually,” he said as he picked up his last bag from the ground and threw it over his free shoulder. “The others don’t mind, especially after training, but zorua seems to prefer this,” he explained, gesturing to where zorua had shifted back to her base form and nestled between the top of Akaashi’s backpack and his neck.
“Awww! That’s so cute!” Bokuto laughed as he and Akaashi began walking out of the clearing. “Maybe that's why she doesn't wanna evolve. She wouldn’t be able to ride up there,” he said, watching as the pokemon snuggled up and closed her eyes.
“Maybe,” Akaashi said softly, and then Bokuto remembered something.
“Wait, you’re going to Fukurodani?” he asked, and Akaashi nodded. “Cool! Do you play volleyball? I’m in the club, and we’re really good! We’re going to nationals in a couple weeks! You should totally join if you play!” he said in a rush, and Akaashi blinked, brow drawing together as he almost leaned back a little.
“That’s a kind offer,” he started after a moment of hesitation. “But training keeps me fairly busy.” He responded, and Bokuto pouted a little.
“Oh. Well,” He said, and then he got an idea. “What if you came to one of my tournaments?” he asked. “Then you could see how cool it is!” Akaashi glanced away.
“I don’t see how that would change how busy I am,”
“It doesn’t!” Bokuto blurted out, and Akaashi sighed before facing him again.
“I’ll make you a deal, since you seem persistent and I’ve had a long day. If I come to one of your tournaments, you have to come to one of mine.” Akaashi countered.
“Deal!” Bokuto almost shouted. Heck yeah, that actually sounds like tons of fun! Bokuto thought to himself. Akaashi blinked, actually leaning back a few inches this time, the only sound coming from the cars on the street they were walking next to.
“Really?” Akaashi asked after a moment.
“Of course! When's your next one? Oh, do you wanna just exchange numbers?”
“...My next one is in a few weeks,” was all Akaashi said, and then they were pushing open the pokecenters front door and stepping into the clean, brightly lit lobby lined with plastic chairs.
“There you are!” Bokuto’s mother called as the door fell shut behind them, and Bokuto’s head whipped towards her voice
“Huh?” he said, tilting his head. He wasn’t that late. Was he?
“Koutarou, you were supposed to be back a half an hour ago. What happened?” she asked.
“Oh! I met Akaashi!” he said enthusiastically, gesturing to Akaashi as he stepped inside and inclined his head.
His mother’s brow furrowed.
“Why- Nevermind,” she said, shaking her head. “You’re late, and you know what that means, so get going.” Bokuto felt his stomach start to sink.
“Oh c’mon, not tonight! Please! I wasn’t even that late, the sun’s still up!” he protested.
“Sorry. Rules are rules,” she said flatly, and he groaned.
“Whyyyyyyyyyyyyy?”
“Koutarou, there’s a customer behind you. Can you postpone the tantrum?” Bokuto felt his face heat up as he all but stomped out of the way, allowing a confused-looking Akaashi to head to the counter and hand his pokemon over. Bokuto watched him gently wake the zorua, and put her in a pokeball.
“Thank you. They’ll be back out to you in just a few minutes,” Bokuto’s mother said pleasantly. “And what’re you waiting for?” she asked, casting a backward glance to Bokuto as she headed into the back.
He groaned again.
“Fine!” he complained as he started off, heading out back. He sighed in frustration as he shoved the door open, leaving a perplexed Akaashi behind him without even noticing, his frustration overtaking his other thoughts. He shook his head bitterly. The quicker he got through it, the better. He still groaned as he stared at the closet full of mops and brooms. How were his sisters always so punctual? He’d had to be the one to do the final cleaning four times this week! It wasn’t his fault practice ran late that night, he thought angrily as he grabbed a broom and started. Or that he’d met Akaashi, tonight. Or that he’d seen that cute little cat in the park and stopped to play with it two days ago.
He got so lost in his thoughts that he didn’t even notice Akaashi’s exchange with his mother, or the way Akaashi’s gaze lingered on him as he aggressively cleaned. The only thing he did notice, and it wasn’t until he was done cleaning, was a note. It was sitting on the chair closest to the front door, and had Bokuto’s name written on it. His brow furrowed as he picked it up and opened it. It had a date. And a string of numbers, and Bokuto’s brain almost short circuited when he realised what they were.
---
“You’re distracted,” Oikawa announced flatly as he dropped down next to Akaashi on the soft grassy bank that jutted out onto the lake a bit, almost like it was a small peninsula. Akaashi glanced at him out of the corner of his eye, and Oikawa continued without waiting for a response. They both knew he was right. “I know this isn’t about the tournament, so is it high school stuff again?” he asked. “You know you’d do really well anywhere. You’ve got the brains and the extracurriculars to go anywhere, too,” he added, and Akaashi sighed.
“I’m well aware of all of that.”
“Well don’t keep me guessin’, Keiji-chan, what’s on your mind?”
“I…” He started thinking back to the new contact in his phone, an already extensive history for just four days. “I’m just thinking about an engagement I have in a few weeks,” he said, staring out at the lake. He saw Oikawa raise an eyebrow as he glanced at him, but Oikawa stayed silent as Akaashi continued. “I’ve agreed to go watch the national boys highschool volleyball tournament,” he admitted, and Oikawa made a small noise of surprise.
“Why? Didn’t you quit in middle school?” Oikawa asked. Akaashi looked away, remembering his move to Tokyo a year and a half ago.
“I... met someone,” Akaashi responded. “We made an agreement. I’m going to watch nationals, and he’s coming to the spring tournament.”
“What, exactly, was this agreement?”
Akaashi sighed.
“Long story shor-”
“Oh no, no, no,” Oikawa said quickly, starting to grin as he shifted to face Akaashi. “I want the longer version. The longest one you got, just-”
“Ok I get it,” Akaashi snapped. “I won’t leave anything out, but I’m not dragging it out, either,” he said, and Oikawa’s grin only widened. “You’re incorrigible,” Akaashi muttered, shaking his head.
“And you love me for it.” Akaashi just rolled his eyes as he nodded.
“It was on Tuesday, I was training,” Akaashi started, launching into a detailed but efficient recounting of his encounter with Bokuto, Oikawa listening attentively (and cooing over zorua when it got to the part where she’d dumped water all over a near complete stranger).
“So, I’m just going to nationals to say I did, and then when he sees me compete, he’ll understand that doing both would be too much work,” Akaashi finished with a shrug. Oikawa was silent for a moment, finally looking away from Akaashi, and out to the lake.
“Why?” he asked eventually, breaking the quiet. Akaashi tilted his head slightly.
“I need more than that.”
“Why?” Oikawa repeated, shifting to look at Akaashi again. Akaashi arched an eyebrow.
“Why what?”
“Why? Why did you give him your number? Why did you agree to go? Why can’t you do both?” he said, and now it was Akaashi’s turn to fall silent and look out onto the water. He sighed a moment later.
“Both would be too much. There are only twenty four hours in a day,” he said softly.
“But you get to pick what you do with those twenty four hours,” Oikawa observed.
“I’m not you, Tooru. I can’t handle that much,” Akaashi said with a shrug.
“You know better than anyone that I’m nothing special,” Oikawa said with a snort. “It’s not about a special talent or something that I have. The reason I do both, the reason I can do both,” he continued, “is, dedication, I’d call it,” he said with a shrug. “All I’m saying is that, if it turns out you want to do both, you don’t necessarily have to give one up.” Akaashi shook his head as he spoke.
“You really are something else, and one day, that dedication might just come back to bite you.” Akaashi noted before sighing again. “I’m just going to a game,”
Oikawa laughed.
“Maybe you’re right,” he said with a smile. “However, you only answered one of my questions,” he pointed out.
“And why do you think that is?”
“Oh c’mon, now you have to! Seriously, why’d you give him your number?” he asked again.
“Are you really going to keep pushing this?”
“Are you really gonna keep side stepping? Cause, Keiji-chan, you know what happens when you sidestep.” Oikawa said, his eyes glinting dangerously. Akaashi’s narrowed.
“You know you won’t win. I alwa-” and then Oikawa was moving forward, head low as he wrapped his arms around Akaashi’s waist, sending both of them the rest of the way to the ground. Oikawa's hands moved faster than Akaashi could as Oikawa began tickling him, a weakness he’d discovered when Akaashi was ten, and Akaashi couldn’t hold his laughter back.
This was just fighting dirty. However, as soon as his mind caught up, Akaashi managed to get his leg over Oikawa’s waist, and twist, shifting them closer to the water's edge and pinning Oikawa.
“Fine then, keep your secrets,” Oikawa conceded, staring up at him with a smile.
“I will,” Akaashi stated as he moved to let Oikawa up. “And like I said, you never-” Akaashi felt Oikawa’s hand around his wrist a half second after he saw Oikawa’s smile shift to something more conspiratory, and realised he’d walked right into a trap.
The next thing he knew, Oikawa was rolling, bringing Akaashi with him as he splashed into the water that Akaashi had put him closer to.
“Tooru, I’m going to -” Akaashi started, but Oikawa was laughing too loudly to hear him as they sat up, hair and shirt’s already soaked from the splash, the water up to their waists. Akaashi just rolled his eyes and splashed some water towards Oikawa, resulting in a shriek as Oikawa splashed back. After what turned into a ten minute water fight on the lake's edge, a truce was called, and they waded out of the lake, grabbing towels and beginning to dry off and wring their shirts out, having noticed the setting sun.
“When’s your next visit out here?” Akaashi asked as he started drying his hair.
“The next tournament,” Oikawa responded, though it was muffled by the towel he was using to dry his face. “Iwa’s coming with me, too, since we’re going to his aunt's wedding - and we’re gonna stay with them, or I would’ve shacked up with you. It’ll only be like three days, though.”
“I understand,” Akaashi said. “I was just curious. There's no need for you to feel guilty if we can’t meet up outside of the tournament.”
“No, we will,” Oikawa assured as he grabbed his phone out of his backpack. “It just might have to be like, getting a coffee or something. And Iwa might be there, but I don’t think you mind that?” he said, raising an eyebrow as he glanced from the screen up to Akaashi, who shook his head.
“Of course not. He’s the only other person I’ve met who could handle you,” he said, letting that hint of teasing in, and Oikawa rolled his eyes.
“Yeah, yeah, whatever, mom,” he said, sticking his tongue out with a grin. “Alright guys!” he called loudly, and then, a half second later, a dozen pokemon were converging around them, some coming up out of the lake, some leaving the forest behind them, and some simply seeming to materialize out of nowhere.
Akaashi watched as Oikawa’s six came to him. The monferno he’d had since he was ten, a musharna, a vaporeon, an umbreon, a makuhita, and a torterra. Akaashi hadn’t always gotten along with Oikawa, he remembered, watching him with something like admiration now. If he was honest, he couldn’t stand him when they first met at a youth volleyball camp when he was eight. But time, understanding, and both wanting to be trainers had brought them closer.
Akaashi began to truly consider him a good friend around the time he was ten, when they both got their first pokemon - even more after Akaashi had moved two years ago, right around when Akaashi turned thirteen.
It had hurt him more than he liked to admit. It hadn’t seemed like anyone else really looked at things the same way Oikawa did.
“Hey, where’d you go?” he heard Oikawa ask, and Akaashi shook his head.
“The past,” he said, rubbing his eyes. “Sorry. Are you ready? I can walk you to the train,” Akaashi said quickly, crouching down and beginning to put his pokemon back into their pokeballs, complementing them as they went. Oikawa tilted his head.
“Good memories, I hope? And sure, sounds good,” he responded, and Akaashi sighed as Zorua climbed up onto his shoulder and he put the last pokeball away.
“Not bad memories,” he answered as he straightened up and grabbed his bags, ignoring that they’d get slightly wet from his still damp shirt.
They walked quietly back to the train station together, fortunately now just damp and not dripping wet from their impromptu swim. They arrived with about five minutes to spare and Oikawa glanced over at Akaashi.
“Hey, you honestly don’t have to tell me, but in all seriousness, why did you give Bokuto your number?” he asked, absently stroking zorua’s head, as she had hopped over to ride on his shoulder about halfway through the walk. Akaashi hesitated, and then sighed.
“You already have a very, very, good guess don’t you?”
Oikawa smiled apologetically. “Yeah. But it’s just that if you decide not to tell me.”
“Knowing your track record, it’s most likely correct,” Akaashi noted.
“I guess that's true. Doesn’t change any of the other statements though.”
Akaashi sighed again. “I-” he tried.
Honestly, it was a question he’d been asking himself since he did it. It really wasn’t like him. “I think you already know, and probably better than I do,” he admitted, and Oikawa laughed.
“I guess we’re both better at other people than ourselves, aren’t we?”
Akaashi let a small smile flicker onto his lips as he lightly punched Oikawa in the shoulder, and left his arm there, zorua scampering across it to Akaashi’s shoulders. “Why else would we be friends?”
Oikawa fake gasped, and leaned back a bit. “Keiji-chan! I happen to think that I’m a fantastic friend with many redeeming qualities!”
“So you admit you need to be redeemed?”
“I never said I was perfect,” Oikawa responded with a shrug. “But I know what you mean,” he added, softening. “It’s nice, having someone who…”
“Knows you better than you know yourself?” Akaashi suggested, and Oikawa sighed.
“Something like that,” he agreed, but his nose wrinkled up a little. “I just don’t like that phrase- Ah, that’s mine,” Oikawa said, interrupting himself as a train pulled into the station. He placed a hand over Akaashi’s that was still on his shoulder.
“So I’ll see you next month?” Akaashi asked, not phased as Oikawa’s grip shifted, holding Akaashi’s wrist and then pulling him into a hug.
However, he needed to stop growing. He was already almost eight centimeters taller than Akaashi, and only a year older.
“Yup. And Iwa, if that’s okay,” Oikawa said.
“I believe I already told you it was. We’re friends too, you know,” Akaashi pointed out, and Oikawa ruffled his hair before pulling away.
“I know, shorty,” he confirmed with a smile.
“Careful, saying that,” Akaashi started. “I’ll be catching up to you soon, just you wait.”
“Sure ya will,” Oikawa responded. “See you next month, Keiji-chan,” he said, and Akaashi let himself smile as he raised a hand.
“See you next month Tooru.”
And from the soft, understanding look on his face, Akaashi knew that Oikawa knew why Akaashi had given Bokuto his number. Akaashi sighed, his hand dropping once Oikawa's back was to him, lightly rubbing zorua’s head as he started slowly walking out of the train station. Now, if only Oikawa would tell him, that would be great.
---
Bokuto could hardly believe it. Akaashi had actually given him his number! And texted him back! It had been like a dream come true! Well, except for the part about Akaashi still saying he didn’t plan on playing volleyball, but that was why Bokuto just had to train extra hard to look extra good and make the sport seem extra appealing and show Akaashi just how extra cool it really was!
“So,” Kuroo asked, elbowing Bokuto gently. “Why are you so insistent on getting this guy to join anyway?” he asked, and Bokuto blinked a few times, coming back to himself as he looked around the gym.
Oh right, he’d been talking to Kuroo about Akaashi, now that they’d both finished their first games at nationals!
“He’s awesome!” Bokuto said immediately. “He’s a really good trainer, and he’s really smart, and he’s really nice,” he listed. “Oh, and since he’s going to Fukurodani, it would be another person I know on my team. But, I’m not sure what position he’d play if he did,” he added, trailing off a bit.
“Wait, he’s never played volleyball?” Kuroo asked, and Bokuto nodded.
“Well, he never actually said he hasn’t, but he hasn’t said that he has,” Bokuto corrected. Kuroo blinked a few times, and then sighed.
“Dude, I feel like it’s my responsibility as your friend to tell you that you're probably getting your hopes way too high.”
“Oh, I know!” Bokuto responded, and then sighed. “I mean, I’d be bummed if he doesn’t wanna play, but honestly, after texting him more, I kinda just... want him to still be my friend after all this. I guess that’s why I wanna work so hard,” he added.
“Geez, you're just full of surprises today, aren’t you?” Kuroo muttered, before sighing as well. “Do you really think he’d just stop talking to you after you go to each other's tournaments?”
“I mean, I wanna say ‘no’,” Bokuto started, unlocking his phone. “We've talked a lot and he seems to, I don’t know, mind my me-ness less than other people?” he said uncertainly, seeing the last text he’d sent to Akaashi, over an hour ago.
He’d sent it before his last game. Still no reply. He sighed.
“But maybe he does,” he muttered with a groan, and then he felt Kuroo’s hand on his shoulder.
“Hey, c’mon, you don’t know that.”
“I don’t not know it, either.”
“That… that just doesn’t even make sense,” Kuroo responded. “Look, whether this guy’s here today or not, you just have to play your best, right?”
“I guess.”
“And isn’t that what you’d do, normally?”
“I guess.”
“Good. So stop worrying and don’t get sad. Just get out there and trash the other team with your killer spikes,” Kuroo said, letting go of Bokuto’s shoulder to shove him lightly. “Unless you have to go up against us, then you’re goin down,” he added with a grin that Bokuto returned.
“Nuh uh! You’re going down!” he countered. They went back and forth like that as they aimlessly wandered the gym, looking at merch and watching games when they could.
Bokuto let himself relax a bit and refused to check his phone. Kuroo was right, after all. He had to play his best whether or not Akaashi was here. It would just be a, uh, bonus if he was! But he still couldn’t help the disappointment that tinged his entrance onto the court about an hour later, texts still not responded to.
---
After everything that had happened over the past week, Akaashi was really looking forward to something familiar, and at this point, the hustle, bustle, and noise of the trainer area at a tournament, was just that. The energy, the slight chaos and touch of panic, managed to soothe his nerves. He had done this before. Yeah, maybe not one exactly like this, but things close enough to it that it felt like something he’d been doing his whole life. He drew in another deep breath, and then an arm was being slung around his shoulder.
“My, my, Keiji-chan, you look as unaffected by game day jitters as ever,” Oikawa declared cheerfully, and Akaashi sighed, but, once again, was secretly grateful for the sheer normalcy of it.
“Of course,” he responded calmly. “Panicking does no good,” he said simply, shrugging a bit. Oikawa’s hand moved to ruffle Akaashi’s hair.
“I know!” he assured with a grin. “Honestly, I’d be more freaked out if you did seem freaked out,” he admitted.
“You’re not supposed to attack the other contestants before the tournaments, crappykawa,” Akaashi heard a rough, and once again, familiar, voice call. Oikawa only tightened his grip around Akaashi as he spun around, taking Akaashi with him, facing the speaker.
“Iwa-chan!” he called brightly. “This doesn’t count as attacking! And besides, we're talking as friends, not competitors.” Iwaizumi sighed.
“I told you not to call me that here, didn’t I?” he muttered, glancing away, face going slightly red. He shook his head and looked back up, this time at Akaashi. “Well, what do you say about it? Is it attacking or not?” he asked, and Akaashi smiled faintly.
“Not attacking,” he said after a moment. “Just harassment,” he decided, and let his grin grow as Iwaizumi smiled.
“At least that's about par for the course for that one,” Iwaizumi responded, and Oikawa huffed.
“Fine, fine,” he said, taking his arm off and stepping away.
Akaashi and Iwaizumi both blinked, looking at each other for a beat, and then to Oikawa. Now this was... not familiar. Normally, he’d respond to their teasing with dramatic pouts, or sharp retorts of his own. Iwaizumi and Akaashi both went to respond, but a loudspeaker cut them off, announcing that it was only fifteen minutes to the first match - and would all competitors please report to their designated precompetition areas, and all spectators make their way to the stands. Iwaizumi’s brow furrowed as the loudspeaker cut off, and he glanced towards the stands, hesitating.
“Should we,” he started, much more uncertainly than usual for him. “Should we talk? When you finish?” he asked, and Oikawa shrugged a little.
“Sure. If you want,” he said, but it held that slight note of tension.
Iwaizumi looked like he wanted to say more. But just nodded once, and then headed out, back up towards the stands as Oikawa and Akaashi began the trek to their shared designated area.
“What was that about?” Akaashi decided to risk asking after a few moments. Oikawa sighed.
“Nothing a little conversation and a few solid sets and hits can’t fix,” he responded, gaze fixed firmly forward. He shook his head after a beat. “But enough about me,” he started, glancing towards Akaashi. “How about your charming spiker? Is he here?”
And now it was Akaashi’s turn to keep his eyes fixed forward.
“I don’t know,” he said honestly. “I haven’t had much time to check my phone today,” he admitted with a shrug.
“And you’re not the least little bit curious about if he’s in those stands, just waiting for your battle?” Oikawa asked. “Not even wondering at all if he’s gonna be watching your every move out there?”
“Phrased like that, he sounds like a stalker,” Akaashi said flatly. “Of course I’m curious. But ultimately, it doesn’t matter if he’s here or not,” Akaashi started. “I still have to just do my best today, and hope that’s enough to get me on the podium.” Oikawa laughed.
“You’re more than good enough for the podium,” he responded. “I can’t help but wonder, though, when you talked about the game you watched,” he continued, and Akaashi recognized that tone. “You didn’t give many specifics. What do you think of him?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I’ll cut to the chase since it’s you, and doing anything else would just waste both of our time,” Oikawa said. “What do you think of him? As a player, and as a person?”
Here, Akaashi let himself think for a moment. About their texts, their meetings, the volleyball game he’d watched.
“He,” Akaashi started carefully. “He’s very energetic. And he’s passionate,” Akaashi answered. “He’s good, too, as a player. He seems to get on very well with his team, and his technical skills seem... fantastic, if somewhat unreliable,” he admitted. Oikawa waited a moment before speaking again.
“That's it?” he asked after a beat.
“I have only known him for a month,” Akaashi pointed out. “So yes, for now, that’s it.”
“Huh,” Oikawa responded. “Well, you know you can always practice with me and Iwa to get your skills back to where they need to be before the season starts,” he said, shaking his head.
“Tooru, I haven’t decided yet,” Akaashi reminded him, and Oikawa grinned a little.
“Sure, sure,” he said, and Akaashi rolled his eyes. It didn’t matter what he thought, Akaashi remembered, shaking his head. Akaashi had bigger things to worry about, like his first match, which was in less than ten minutes now.
---
“C’mon, please! I told him I’d watch! Just this one match!” Bokuto practically begged. Just his luck that the one tournament his oldest sister couldn’t be at for pokecenter duty was the one tournament Bokuto had promised to attend as a spectator
“Not right now! We told you already! Now help me with these!” his mom said, shoving an armful of pokeballs at him. He groaned in frustration, but obliged, quickly taking them back. Technically, he did still have some time before Akaashi’s match, but if he didn’t leave early enough, he ran into the problem of not being able to find a seat, and things like that. He quickly finished up and carried the pokeballs back to his mom. He’d just have to try harder, then. And so, for the next forty minutes, he did everything he was told as fast as possible.
The next time he glanced at the clock, there were only about seven minutes until Akaashi’s match.
“Mom, can I plea-” he started.
“Yeah. Go,” she said simply, a grin spreading across her face as Bokuto’s eyes widened.
“Really!?”
“Yeah, don’t give me time to change my mind,” she quipped, and he was off at nearly a dead sprint, yelling “thanks” over his shoulder as he weaved out of the back area and took off through the numerous people buzzing about outside the stadium pokecenter.
His mind began to move almost as fast as his body was. Ok, since he was sprinting, he could get to the stands in five minutes, which gave two minutes to spare, not really enough to find a seat, but he could probably make it to the walkway between the railing that kept spectators from falling into matches and the front row seats. As long as he stayed along the part of the railing that was in front of the stairs, and not front row seats, he should be able to see the match and stay out of other spectators' ways.
He nodded to himself. That would work. However, just as he finished flinging himself up the stairs, the loudspeaker announced the competitors and their starting pokémon. And Bokuto’s eyes widened as he heard the words:
"... Versus Akaashi Keiji, starting pokemon: Zorua!" Bokuto sprinted to the best vantage point along the railing, any regard for being in other spectators' ways gone from his mind. He finally stopped, as close as possible to Akaashi, and stared down at him, still panting from his sprint, feeling his hair starting to fall, and not even caring. They had just sent their pokemon out, and Bokuto's eyes widened even more. Sure enough, there was zorua, in the form of a small, dark haired child. Bokuto hardly even registered her opponent as Akaashi began calling to her, and the match truly got underway, the zorua shifting fluidly between several forms as the battle progressed.
Before Bokuto knew it, the opponent's second pokemon was being sent out. And then their third. And it was only on the opponent’s fourth that Akaashi's next pokemon was sent out as he pulled the zorua back before she fainted. The rest of the battle passed in what seemed like an instant, Bokuto hardly able to look away. And as Akaashi was announced as the winner and turned to bow to the crowd, Bokuto couldn't even cheer. Because a realization hit him and froze him to the spot. Akaashi looked so happy. Sure, it wasn't a big expression, he wasn't grinning from ear to ear or anything - it was only the first round after all - but his eyes shone, and the smile he wore was the brightest thing Bokuto had ever seen. Somehow, his stomach fluttered and sank simultaneously as he came back to himself enough to start clapping and cheering loudly for Akaashi.
Bokuto knew what he had to do. He took off at a dead sprint again, this time back to where he'd come from, and again, miraculously, didn't run into anyone as the next match started.
"Is he here, yet?" Bokuto nearly shouted as he screeched to a halt in front of his mom. She raised an eyebrow.
“Why don’t you turn around and see if you need to ask again,” she responded. Bokuto whipped around, and there he was.
“Akaaaaaashi!”
“Bokuto-san.”
“You did really, really good!” Bokuto exclaimed.
“Thank you.”
“You shouldn’t play volleyball!” Bokuto blurted out, and Akaashi’s brow furrowed. “I-I mean, you’re such a good trainer! You shouldn’t give up something like that just because I asked you to,” Bokuto explained, as he felt his face start to heat up. Akaashi was silent for just a beat.
“Ok,” he said simply, shrugging slightly.
And Bokuto nodded, feeling that same sensation of his stomach being filled with butterflies as it sank to the floor.
“Right! Good!” he said, and he wasn’t quite sure where to go from here. And then he heard a laugh and a muffled half-snort as someone with brown hair, a bit taller than Akaashi, even slightly taller than Bokuto, was throwing an arm around Akaashi’s shoulders, using his free hand to cover his laughter.
“Keiji-chan, quit being mean,” he said, and Akaashi rolled his eyes, but made no move to remove the other person from his space.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he responded, but a bit of a glint began to creep into his eyes. “Bokuto-san,” Akaashi started, acting like the taller person halfway draped over him was totally normal. “You’re correct. I shouldn't give up something that I love and something that’s such a part of me for someone else,” he stated, and Bokuto nodded, but felt the sting of fear from nationals.
“But can we still be friends? I get that you can’t play, but we could still hang out? Go to each other's competitions maybe? I-” he rambled, knowing that his relationship with Akaashi had started to mean more to him than he had been expecting.
“Bokuto-san,” Akaashi cut him off. “You didn’t let me finish,” he said with a sigh, and Bokuto tilted his head, snapping his mouth shut. “I’m not giving training up, and I’m not making any decisions solely because of you,” he explained. And... was there about to be a ‘but’? “But,” Bokuto felt something suspiciously close to hope begin to kindle in his chest. “Watching you play, your team play, and being at nationals, it... reminded me why I played in the first place,” Akaashi said, expression softening fondly as he continued.
Akaashi had played volleyball?!
“I’m not giving up training permanently, but my love for volleyball has been... lets say, reignited,” he said, “I want to join Fukurodani’s volleyball club.” Bokuto’s stomach had finally risen back to it’s normal place, maybe even higher as it continued to buzz with those same butterflies.
“Are you sure?” was out of his mouth before he could think about it. “I mean, I would love that! But, don’t do it for me. I don’t wa-” he rambled, and the brown-haired person laughed again.
“Bokuto, this is Keiji. He doesn’t say things he doesn’t mean,” he started with a grin. “You’ve rehooked him. And besides, he’s still going to compete in the lower circuits during high school, which a lot of people do anyway since there are free competitions during the school year that way.” he added with a shrug.
“Exactly,” Akaashi interjected, looking up at the taller person with fond annoyance. “I’m not abandoning training. I’m just rearranging my priorities for the next few years,” he explained. “So I’ll have a lot to do, but-”
“But he has me to help him through it!”
“And who are you?” Bokuto asked, and the brown-haired person laughed again.
“I’m Oikawa Tooru. I’ve known Keiji-chanfor six years,” he said with a grin. “We played on the same team when we were in elementary,” he explained. “But he moved when middle school rolled around, and stopped playing volleyball in his second year, focused on his training.”
“I’m perfectly capable of explaining our relationship,” Akaashi deadpanned, and Oikawa only grinned wider.
“That, you are! But if I let you do it, you might leave out all the good stories about younger you! Oh hey, would you mind if I got your number from Keiji-chan?” Oikawa asked Bokuto with a grin, and Bokuto shook his head.
“Nope! That’s fine! If you’re friends, then we can try being friends, too!” he said. Akaashi’s eyes widened, almost imperceptibly, and then he sighed.
“Weren’t you going to talk with Iwaizumi before your next match?” he said, shifting his attention to Oikawa. “And wasn’t it important?” Akaashi said, and it wasn’t quite a threat, but it definitely seemed stronger than a friendly suggestion.
“Wow, running me off, are you?” Oikawa asked with a grin, but he untangled himself from Akaashi. “But, you are right,” he admitted with a sigh. “I’ll see you after. We’re-”
“Tooru. You’re out there again in fifteen. Go talk to Iwaizumi,” Akaashi interrupted, and Oikawa stuck his tongue out with a grin.
“Fine, fine!” he said, and then he was striding out of the room.
Akaashi groaned lightly, hand coming up to his face, and Bokuto laughed a little.
“He’s never going to change, is he?” Akaashi muttered softly, shaking his head before looking back towards Bokuto. “Anyway, I have another match in just a few minutes, too,” he said, and, like on cue, Bokuto heard his mom’s footsteps.
“Akaashi?” she called, and Akaashi hurried over to her, taking his pokeballs back and quickly thanking her as he headed back towards Bokuto, replacing them in his belt.
“So you’ve played before?” Bokuto asked before he could stop himself, and Akaashi smiled.
“Yes. I’m excited to start again. I didn’t realise how much I missed it until I watched you play.” Bokuto grinned and felt his chest do a funny thing.
“Really!? That's so cool! I’m so happy! What position did you play?” Bokuto asked quickly. Akaashi shook his head lightly, but his eyes were shining again.
“Really,” he confirmed. “And... it is, isn’t it?” he added, and then the loudspeaker crackled to life, announcing the next match, and Akaashi cursed under his breath. “I have to go,” he said.
“Ah, wait,” Bokuto started, though he wasn’t sure why.
He had gotten everything he wanted, and probably even more. Well, except for Akaashi’s position. Akaashi raised an eyebrow.
“For what?” he asked, and Bokuto looked down.
“For me to ask you when the next time we can hang out is?” Bokuto settled on, after just a moment of thought. Akaashi softened slightly, and got a little bit of that glint in his eyes.
“How about as soon as the tournament ends,” he said flatly, and Bokuto’s eyes widened. “I was already going to eat with Oikawa and Iwaizumi after. You’re more than welcome to join us,” he offered, and Bokuto nodded enthusiastically.
“Yeah!” he said immediately. “That sounds great!” Akaashi nodded once.
“Good. I’ll see you after, then,” Akaashi said as he headed back towards the arena
“Good luck!” Bokuto called after him, feeling that same warmth in his chest again.
Man, could today have gone any better? Bokuto didn’t think so. Well, maybe if Akaashi had told him what position he played. But hey, the mystery was pretty cool, too. All of a sudden, his phone chimed and he checked it.
‘Yahoo! Oikawa here! I got your number from Keiji-chan since he told me he was gonna invite you tonight! You in?’
Bokuto smiled as he responded, ‘Yes!!! Very in!! I can’t wait!’
He only had to wait another moment for Oikawa’s response. ‘Good! Btw, if we all get along, which I’m sure we will, we should all practice together. I set, and Keiji-chan used to, and Iwa-chan’s a spiker like you.’
Bokuto actually gasped a little.
Really, what was his luck today?! This was incredible!
‘That sounds awesome! But let's check with Akaashi first, too!’
‘But of course! I doubt he’ll say no, though. It’ll help him shake the rust off. You know, I’m pretty sure that with just a little extra practice these next few months, he could really be a powerhouse player.’
Bokuto almost laughed out loud. Yeah, he was gonna like these new friends of his.
'If his pokemon training is anything to go by, I was thinking the same thing!’