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The bus rides going to games were Bokuto’s favourite.
The anticipation before a game was the best feeling in the world. His body felt awake and he couldn’t stop moving, like all the energy inside him was bouncing around beneath his skin just begging to break free.
Sometimes they had to head out super early. Like, the sun was barely up and dew still soaked the grass so that when Bokuto ran down his lawn he slipped and fell kind of early. Like, even though it was warm outside during the day, the mornings could be mistaken for winter. It didn’t bother Bokuto but it seemed like he was the minority.
He was the first to arrive at the bus aside from his coaches, and even they looked tired. There was still nearly an hour before they had to head out but Bokuto was too awake to go back to sleep and he kept accidentally waking his mom up when he was in the kitchen trying to make himself breakfast, so she suggested he head over early.
The rest of his team arrived slowly, trickling into the parking lot one by one like a leaky faucet.
“You’re too excited for this early, Bo,” Yukie complained as she leaned on his shoulder. Her hair was tucked under the hood of her sweatshirt and he could feel her shivering against him. “I barely had time to eat breakfast.”
“Is that why you’re grumpy,” he teased with a smile.
She pouted at him and pinched his arm. Bokuto hid his yelp of pain under a laugh.
“Alright, looks like everyone’s here!” his coach announced with a sharp clap of his hands. “Let’s load on the bus and get out of this cold.”
As everyone started heading towards the bus, Bokuto stayed where he was. He stared across the parking lot at the silver car that had just pulled up. His smile grew even wider as his favourite player got out.
“Hey, hey, hey, Akaashi!” Bokuto turned and ran across the lot, letting out a little bit of energy as he raced to greet his friend. He grinned as he watched the second year wave to his mother and pull his bag out of the back seat.
Akaashi stumbled up to him with bleary eyes and his curls ruffled and messier than usual. “Good morning, Bokuto-san,” was the response he got, groaned out around a yawn.
Bokuto’s smile grew. “It is a good morning, isn’t it?!” Akaashi was here and the bus was about to leave! He was awake and pumped and ready to spike some volleyballs!
“If you say so.” Akaashi’s bag was slipping off his shoulder and Bokuto had half a mind to take it himself. “It’s too early to tell.”
“Not for me! I’ve been awake for hours already!”
“I’m sure you have,” Akaashi mumbled as he nudged Bokuto back towards the bus. “Can we please get on now? I’m cold and need to sit.”
Bokuto started walking towards the bus and smiled when Akaashi fell into step beside him. Since the two of them were the last ones on, he was certain they would end up sitting together. Not like that was a rare occasion but still.
“You’re slacking there, Akaashi,” their coach teased as Akaashi clumsily climbed the stairs of the bus. Bokuto hovered behind him with wide eyes, watching and ready in case he fell backwards. “Running a little late this morning?”
Akaashi glanced up and inclined his head. “Sorry, coach.”
“I’m teasing you, Akaashi,” their coach laughed and patted his shoulder. “We’ve got a bit of a drive so take some time to sleep if you need it.” He glanced over their heads to the other players filling the seats. “That’s what the rest of the team is doing, I think.”
Akaashi nodded and Bokuto followed him down the aisle of the bus to the last set of open seats. “Do you want the window seat?” Akaashi checked, pausing before he sat down.
“Nah, you take it!” He knew Akaashi preferred the window seat but he still asked Bokuto every time they sat together. Which was a lot.
Bokuto settled in next to him as the bus driver started the engine and they pulled out of the parking lot. The fabric of the seat was cold thanks to the early morning and Akaashi shivered as he shifted in an attempt to get comfortable.
Bokuto tried not to stare at him but it was very difficult. Akaashi just looked so cute when he was tired. His eyes were all squinted and he had tucked the bottom half of his face into the wide collar of his club jacket to try and retain a bit of warmth. He’d tugged the sleeves down over his hands and crossed his arms tightly over his chest, like he was trying to physically hold the warmth against him.
“You’re not really a morning person, are you, ‘Kaashi?” he teased.
Akaashi huffed and burrowed deeper into his jacket. “I just don’t understand why I have to be up before the sun.”
“It’s not that early,” Bokuto protested. Akaashi cracked an eye open and looked at him. “See?” He pointed out the window, where the sun was just managing to push past the horizon line.
Akaashi grumbled something Bokuto couldn’t understand but turned his head to follow his pointing finger. He nodded faintly before propping an elbow on the arm rest and cradling his head in his hand.
“Why are you so tired today?” He couldn't help asking, feeling a little bit of concern poking at the edge of his mind.
“Because it’s 5:30 in the morning,” was the responding grumble. “And I was up late.”
“Doing what?” He couldn't help his curiosity. What could Akaashi possibly have been doing that was so interesting he forgot to go to bed at a decent time?
Akaashi hesitated in his answer and Bokuto could just make out the light dusting of pink on his cheeks that peeked out from the collar of his jacket. “...Reading.”
Bokuto blinked, not sure he had heard him correctly. “Reading?”
“Yes, Bokuto-san. You know, like a book.”
A laugh escaped him, not expecting the sarcasm so early. “Nerd. What book?”
“I’m positive you aren’t familiar with it.”
Bokuto puffed his chest out. “Try me!”
Akaashi tilted his head a bit in his hand to look at him better. “It is the main novel for Yamada-sensei’s English class. You would have read it last year.”
He was near certain Akaashi could hear the screeching in his mind as his memory stirred awake like an old internet modem, beeping loudly as he tried to remember but he was drawing a blank.
Akaashi blew out a slight chuckle and rolled his eyes. “I told you.” He adjusted himself in his seat, trying to find a comfortable position to lean his head against the window. Bokuto could see the mist settling on the window around his hair as the heat from his head met the cold glass. Akaashi shivered again.
Bokuto frowned at the soft shaking of his shoulders. He didn’t like it. His hands opened and closed on this lap, clenching into fists before relaxing again. He wanted to do something to fix it -- no, he needed to do something to fix it. “You cold, ‘Kaashi?”
Akaashi hummed tiredly, a soft noise that had Bokuto’s lips parting slightly. “Yes.”
“If you’re too cold, you won’t be able to fall asleep.”
“If you keep talking, I won’t be able to fall asleep.”
Bokuto pouted and immediately fell silent, instead choosing to stare at Akaashi as he shifted again to try and make himself comfortable. After a moment of forcing himself to be quiet, Akaashi cracked an eye open and looked over at him. “I’m sorry, Bokuto-san. That was rather rude of me.”
With the simple apology, Bokuto was grinning again. “You’re grumpy when you’re tired,” he teased, poking at Akaashi’s arm. The fabric of his jacket still felt rather cool.
“I can’t get comfortable,” Akaashi mumbled, so softly that Bokuto wasn’t sure if he was supposed to hear it. Akaashi was also more casual when he was tired but Bokuto wasn’t going to point that out in case he tried to crawl back into his shell.
Bokuto frowned, glancing around in a fruitless attempt to find a solution to the problem. Every shiver that wracked Akaashi’s body sent a tiny pin into his heart. It was making him uncomfortable and he decided it wouldn’t do to have both their captain and vice captain off their game.
He pushed the arm rest between them up so it was easier to slide closer and tug at Akaashi’s shoulder. He startled lightly but fell into his side easily. “Ugh, Bokuto-san, what--”
“Leaning on that cold window is only going to make your muscles cramp up before we even start the game,” he pointed out as he resisted the urge to throw an arm around Akaashi. “Can’t have my star setter hurt!”
Akaashi scoffed even as he cuddled closer against Bokuto’s arm. Bokuto couldn't decide if his heart had stopped or if it started pounding twice as fast. He thought it would be much more difficult to convince Akaashi to accept his offer.
“You’re warm,” Akaashi mumbled sleepily. He raised his hand and grabbed a fistful of Bokuto’s sleeve, tugging it close to his face.
“Um, yeah,” Bokuto managed to choke out. He was warm; his face was on fire, actually. He could feel the heat creeping up his cheeks like a kettle on the stove. “That, uh, was the point.”
Akaashi hummed softly and let out a tiny breath through his nose that was enough to fan over the back of Bokuto’s hand. Soon, his breathing grew deeper, the puffs of air stronger and the rise and fall of his chest moving against Bokuto’s arm.
Bokuto, on the other hand, was absolutely terrified to breathe in case he did so too deeply and accidentally disturbed Akaashi’s rest. The last thing he wanted to do was mess this up when he was the one who offered to help him warm up in the first place.
After a few minutes of sitting stiffly, Bokuto finally chanced a look down at his friend. He was met with a faceful of messy dark curls that smelled faintly like lavender. Bokuto glanced around anxiously before burying his nose in them and inhaling deeply. He’d never used lavender soap before but maybe he should start. It was his new favourite smell.
He’d heard Kuroo describe Kenma as a kitten so many times before but he had never understood what the hell he was talking about until right at this moment. He didn’t think he would describe Akaashi as a kitten but he definitely had those vibes.
He was aware Akaashi was younger than him but here, curled up in his side, he looked younger. Or, maybe not younger… just… He couldn’t find the word he wanted to use. Honestly, he was kind of distracted because this felt a little too good. Like, now that this had happened, Bokuto wanted to do this all the time.
He wondered what Akaashi would say if Bokuto asked him to be this close when he wasn’t half asleep. Would he reject him coldly, with a curled lip and furrowed brow? Would he reject him politely, in the charming way of his, with a nod of his head and averted eyes?
Or maybe, just maybe, he’d give the same soft smile he had on his face now, except he’d have his eyes open. Maybe he’d curl his hand in Bokuto’s fingers instead of his shirt. Maybe they would lie together comfortably on a couch with a movie and blanket instead of on a cold bus with only the passing buildings to look at.
Maybe Bokuto wanted all that with Akaashi more than he realized or maybe he had known all along.
The sun continued to rise, finally high enough to sit above the buildings they drove by. The bright glow that was softened through the window fell on Akaashi’s jacket, reflecting off the zipper and shining a small triangle of light just under his right eye.
Bokuto was pleased to see the sun shining on him, hoping it would warm him up before realizing that Akaashi had stopped shivering a while ago. His face split into a wide happy grin as he realized he had helped, after all.
When the bus rolled to a stop, Bokuto was left with the heartbreaking task of waking Akaashi up. His fingers shook as he raised his hand to hover over Akaashi’s shoulder, wondering the best way to go about it. It seemed wrong; he wanted to let him sleep for as long as possible. He wanted to scoop him up into his arms and carry him off the bus just so he could get a few extra moments of rest.
“Um, ‘Kaashi?” His voice cracked and he gritted his teeth. Bokuto Koutarou did not get nervous! He was a top ace, a star player, a brave and confident person!
Akaashi tightened his grip on his sleeve and buried his face into the gap between the back of the seat and Bokuto’s bicep all while whining.
Bokuto Koutarou was a nervous wreck! He was a soft hearted, romantic idiot who had put himself in a beautifully torturous situation!
“Akaashi, come on,” he tried again, moving his arm in panic and leaning forward in his seat.
Without Bokuto there to support him, Akaashi fell to the side. The motion jerked him awake and suddenly his eyes were open and he looked up at Bokuto. When he realized how close they were, he drew back quickly and Bokuto had to hold back his frown.
Akaashi curled a hand into a fist and he raised it to his eye, rubbing a knuckle at the corner to help dispel his lingering drowsiness. “Are we there?”
Bokuto nodded, mesmerized by the way Akaashi’s movements were still slow and sluggish and covered in sleep. “Yeah. You slept the whole time.”
Akaashi glanced away from him and pushed himself to his feet, leaning down to pick up his bag. Bokuto followed suit, thankful to have something to do with his hands. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t a very good companion.”
“You were perfect!” Bokuto knew he screamed it and, had Akaashi been fully awake, he might have raised an eyebrow in that way that he does when he thinks Bokuto is being too much and the next words out of his mouth would be “Please don’t yell, Bokuto-san.”
But he wasn’t fully awake, so he just smiled tiredly, glancing down at the floor of the bus before leaning forward to rest his forehead on Bokuto’s shoulder. He stiffened and raised his hand on instinct, gripping onto Akaashi’s upper arms to ensure he didn’t fall.
Maybe one day, he would be able to wake up next to him in a bed instead of a bus seat. Maybe it would be their bed in their house and Bokuto wouldn’t have to worry about someone from the team seeing them and teasing them about how close they were. Instead of his arm, Akaashi could be lying on his chest and his hand could be twisted into a blanket instead of his jacket. Maybe one day, Akaashi would never have to shiver again because Bokuto would be there to keep him warm. Maybe one day, Akaashi could learn to love the sunrise because he got to wake up at Bokuto’s side, safe and soft and calm.
Bokuto smiled. Definitely one day.
The bus rides home from games were Akaashi’s favourite.
They typically won their games -- Akaashi was realistic, not arrogant -- so the bus rides home were rarely tinged with sadness or frustration. They were just a group of tired out teenagers, too exhausted to truly appreciate the fact that they had the privilege to play at least one more game together.
The games usually ended around the middle of the evening. Like, when the sun had just begun its descent, burning dark orange as it cast shadows of purple over the parking lot. Akaashi always felt peaceful as the sun set. It was more manageable on his eyes and he typically would be curling up with a book right about now.
That wasn’t going to be the case tonight. His muscles were tired, filled with lead as he dragged himself out of the gym and outside. The cooler air felt nice against his skin, still flushed from exertion even after showering all the sweat from the game off.
Akaashi glanced around the parking lot, trying not to make it look obvious that he was doing so. The other members of his team were all accounted for save for the one that Akaashi was actually searching for. The question was on the tip of his tongue, ready to ask his coach or Konoha if he had seen him, when the door to the building opened and Bokuto walked out.
He was moving at a ridiculously slow pace with his head bowed but once he looked up and caught sight of Akaashi, he yelled out his name with no hint of exhaustion. Akaashi closed his eyes briefly before pausing his steps and waiting for Bokuto to catch up to him.
“Any slower and the bus will leave without us,” he called, hoping that might spur Bokuto to move a bit faster. All he got in response was a loud groan.
“Don’t look at me, ‘Kaashi!” Bokuto raised his hands and flattened them against his head, pressing his hair against his scalp. “My cool hair is gone!”
Akaashi didn’t even try to stop his eyes from rolling. Bokuto complained about the fact that he had to wash out the hair gel after every single one of their games and this was decidedly not the first time Akaashi had seen him with his hair down. “You look perfectly fine, Bokuto-san.”
Bokuto stuck his bottom lip out as he finally reached Akaashi’s side. “I don’t wanna look perfectly fine! I wanna look cool!”
He should be annoyed with him -- and he was -- but the pout softened the edge of his irritation instead of sharpening it. “The faster you get on the bus, the faster you can hide it from people.”
That seemed to light a slight fire under him and Bokuto finally started moving at a pace faster than glacial. Instead of walking ahead of him, Akaashi stayed at his side, trying to subtly hurry him up so they could all get going. Why this fell to him, he had no idea. Nothing in the vice captain description said he had to look after his captain like he was a child.
“A little tired out, Bokuto?” their coach laughed as they finally reached the bus. They were the last ones to board but this time it wasn’t Akaashi’s fault; Bokuto was the one who was late. “I thought you’d be excited about our win.”
“I am, coach!” Bokuto insisted, brightening slightly with enthusiasm to sound sincere. “Super stoked!”
“How about you get super stoked about getting on the bus,” Akaashi suggested, placing his hands on Bokuto’s back and nudging him forward, “so we can all get home?”
“I’m going, ‘Kaashi!” Bokuto nearly leaped up the steps into the bus and Akaahsi sighed as he followed him. When they reached an empty pair of seats, Bokuto walked slightly past them and gestured for Akaashi to sit first, taking the window seat. He nodded his thanks and hid his smile in the downward tilt of his head when he sat.
Bokuto plopped down beside him and let out a loud groan that had Konoha snapping “Shut up, Bokuto” from somewhere behind them.
“The day is done and so am I, ‘Kaashi,” he said, quieter this time so he didn’t annoy the rest of the team.
Akaashi gave him a smile and nodded. It was always funny to see Bokuto after a game, especially one that required them to get up so early. In the mornings and on the court, he was a ball of untameable energy, practically bouncing off the walls just as much as the volleyball bounced off the ground. But as soon as the game was over, it was like someone unplugged him and the energy slowly but steadily seeped out of Bokuto, like he had left it all on the court.
“I can tell,” Akaashi replied, sliding his bag underneath the seat so he could settle his legs more comfortably. He reached over and did the same with Bokuto’s, tugging it out from where he was stepping on it and pushing it safely out of the way.
When he sat back up, Bokuto wasn’t looking at him; his eyes were fixed on the roof of the bus. “I’m glad we won today.”
“As am I.” Akaashi thought that went without saying. “Did you have any doubts?”
Bokuto shook his head immediately and Akaashi smiled proudly. He loved his team and knew they were all hard workers and he was doubly glad that Bokuto, who sometimes was so unsure about things, could rely on them and their skills.
Bokuto’s mouth moved but at the same moment, the bus roared to life, the engine sputtering and the wheels turning, taking them home. Akaashi paused for a moment, waiting to ensure all the noise quieted down before he asked Bokuto to repeat himself.
“Did I play good?”
He wasn’t looking at him, instead fixed his gaze on his hands in his lap that were tapping out an uneven pattern on his thighs. Akaashi furrowed his brow as he took in the shifting eyes and the way Bokuto’s bottom lip was pulled between his teeth.
“Yes, Bokuto-san,” he answered, smiling lightly at the way Bokuto craved praise from anyone willing to give it. He just so happened to spend a lot of time with Akaashi, so he was typically the one to deliver it. “You played very well.”
At his words, Bokuto perked up immediately, straightening his back and turning to face Akaashi more directly. “Thanks, ‘Kaashi!” He hesitated briefly, like he couldn’t decide if he should say the next thing on his mind. Akaashi waited patiently, knowing Bokuto would eventually decide to speak. “I felt really bad during that second game.”
Akaashi nodded. He had noticed that and had been in the middle of trying to think of the best way to combat it when Bokuto managed to snap out of it on his own.
“How did you…” he trailed off awkwardly and gestured vaguely, uncertain how he could put it into words.
Bokuto understood and answered anyway. “I dunno. I was just feeling really good this morning and focused on that.”
Akaashi scoffed and raised an eyebrow. “Did you have a fun bus ride over while you were the only one awake?”
He meant it as a joke but Bokuto was suddenly looking nervous again. “Ahh, yeah. You could say that.”
He didn’t get what he meant but he could tell that Bokuto was very hesitant to talk about it so he didn’t push. “Okay, weirdo.”
Bokuto laughed at that before he shifted down in his seat and snuggled back into the cushion. He gave Akaashi a brief smile before his blinking started to get slower. His head drooped once, twice, before it finally fell all the way to lean against his chest.
“Have you finally tired out?” Akaashi teased. “Energy levels sank to zero so quickly?”
“I was up early,” Bokuto replied, the exhaustion clear in his voice. “And I played all day!”
“So did I.”
“That’s different,” Bokuto insisted. “I-- I was up way earlier than you!”
That was a fair point, he supposed. He knew Bokuto’s excitement sometimes got the best of him and woke him up earlier than he needed to be awake. That’s when he would text Akaashi complaining, sometimes waking him up when he still had a couple hours of sleep left.
Truthfully, Akaashi barely remembered anything that happened today before their first game at ten o’clock. It was a miracle his mother had managed to get him in the car and at the school before the bus left without him. He couldn’t even remember what drills they had practiced before the first game. Despite feeling so tired this morning, he was rather awake now.
Akaashi had been on many a bus ride with Bokuto but it somehow never got less fascinating to watch him succumb to his exhaustion. The strong arms that were normally waving around with energy had stilled, hands stuffed in the pockets of his track pants. His eyes were closed and his head had fallen forward again, his chin resting in between his collarbones as he was lulled to sleep by the gentle bumping of the bus.
Akaashi frowned as he continued to watch him, tracking the way Bokuto’s brow twitched and he constantly shifted in his seat. He looked terribly uncomfortable and Akaashi was overwhelmed with the sudden need to do something about it.
He sighed heavily, putting on an exasperated front even though there was nobody there to see it, and he nudged Bokuto to get his attention. His eyes squeezed shut before blinking open slowly. “‘Kaashi~ What do you want?”
“You’re going to hurt your neck if you keep sleeping like that,” he chided, reaching a hand over to tug at Bokuto’s hair and lift his head up.
“Ow,” he whined, batting his hand away with a heavy swat. “‘Kaashi, that hurt.”
“Don’t be a baby, Bokuto-san.” He barely pulled his hair enough for it to hurt; he was careful about that, actually.
“It’s not like I can lay down or anything,” he continued petulantly. “Since we’re on a bus.”
Akaashi sighed heavily, unimpressed by the childish behaviour but he knew it was mostly because Bokuto was so tired. He shifted away from the window and closer to Bokuto, leaning on the arm rest between them. As he predicted, as soon as he got close enough, Bokuto fell against him, resting his head on his shoulder.
“Can I sleep here?” Bokuto asked even though he surely wouldn’t listen if Akaashi said no. And with the way that he was pressing his face into his neck, why would Akaashi ever say no?
“If you really think it’s that comfortable,” Akaashi mumbled, trying to will his face to stop blushing.
“It is,” Bokuto assured. “Besides, you owe me.”
Akaashi had no idea what he was talking about but decided not to question it and simply let Bokuto fall asleep. He deserved the rest, especially if he had fought off an emotional breakdown in the middle of the court; Akaashi knew how tiring that could be.
On the bus rides home, Akaashi typically liked to look out the window, entranced by the variety of colours that danced across the sky as the sun set. He liked the way the lights dimmed and everything seemed to grow quiet, a collective agreement to turn in for the night and allow everyone some peace and quiet.
He couldn’t focus on it tonight, however. The weight on his shoulder was a heavy reminder of how close Bokuto was sitting. The one thing that made the sunset even more beautiful was the way the light fell on Bokuto’s face and how the dark shadows made his features look even sharper.
Akaashi traced the shapes of those shadows with his eyes, following the slant of his nose and the curve of his cheeks. He adored Bokuto’s endless energy but there was a sweet kind of intimacy when he was tired and sleeping. It felt like a secret, because Bokuto usually only chose to show this side of himself to Akaashi. He couldn’t remember seeing Bokuto acting like this with anyone else and it made him feel strangely smug.
Bokuto’s hair was soft against his neck, still slightly damp from the locker room shower. Every time Bokuto complained about it without the gel and every time Akaashi nearly had to sit on his hands to stop himself from running his fingers through it.
His chest rose and fell steadily and he had laid his hand over top of Akaashi’s on the arm rest. The left side of Akaashi’s body was warm and helped to push away the chill on his right side from the window. He liked Bokuto all the time but he especially liked him like this, soft and sleepy against him, like he trusted Akaashi to take care of him. It was quiet, intimate in a way that Akaashi held close to his heart.
When the bus rolled to a stop, Akaashi regretted that he was being dropped off first. As his street came into view, he tapped Bokuto’s hand gently. “I need to go home, Bokuto-san.”
To his surprise, Bokuto stirred awake immediately and straightened up. Akaashi reached under his seat and pulled his bag free. Bokuto followed his movements with half-lidded eyes and Akaashi gave him another smile. “You played well, Bokuto-san,” he told him as the bus slowed to a stop. “I’ll see you back at school.”
As he shifted past into the aisle, Bokuto stood up and grabbed onto his jacket.
“What are you doing?” Akaashi asked, frozen in place.
Bokuto looked up at him as he reached for his bag with his other hand. “Can I stay at your place tonight, ‘Kaashi? ‘M too tired to go home by myself.”
“Your house is the next stop, Bokuto-san,” Akaashi told him, trying to tug his jacket out of Bokuto’s grasp. “It’s not that far.”
“Pleeeeease, ‘Kaashi?” Bokuto lolled his head back. “I’m so sleepy~”
Akaashi sighed. Bokuto was insufferable, truly. It would not be a big deal for him to ride the bus an extra few minutes to get to his house but…
“Alright. Let’s go, then.”
Bokuto grinned at him and followed behind him as he left the bus. Once they were side by side on the road, Bokuto flung a heavy arm around his shoulders, causing him to stumble and nearly fall. “Bokuto-san! Are you trying to knock me over?”
As he regained his balance, Bokuto laughed loudly. “I wouldn't let you fall, ‘Kaashi. Relax!”
“Yes, well…” He cleared his throat and readjusted Bokuto so he was at least supporting a little bit of his own weight.
Thankfully, Bokuto wasn’t awake enough to catch the blush on his cheeks; Akaashi hadn’t prepared to be so comfortable in his arms but he found himself looking forward to sleeping in close proximity to him again tonight.
Maybe one day, he would be able to fall asleep next to him in a bed instead of a bus seat. Maybe it would be their bed in their house and Akaashi wouldn’t have to remain perfectly still in fear of nudging him too harshly and accidentally disturbing his rest. Instead of his shoulder, Bokuto could be lying with his head in his lap and their hands could be properly entwined or threaded through his hair. Maybe one day, Bokuto wouldn’t have to ask to stay over because they would live together. Maybe one day, Bokuto could learn to love the sunset because he got to fall asleep in Akaashi’s arms, safe and soft and calm.
Akaashi smiled. Certainly one day.