Chapter Text
Akaashi always overthinks.
"Setter Miya bumps it up for a clean set to Bokuto who hits a sharp cross spike, finishing the game with an overwhelming lead!
"Bokuto Koutarou, MSBY Black Jackals's newest outside hitter, has been nothing but a phenomenon this season!
"We are excited to see this young man's growth throughout his time in the league, and I am almost certain he's going to have a blooming oneㅡ"
Akaashi Keiji turned the television off, as he was about to go out.
While he wanted to continue watching the commentator's praises for his boyfriend's game last night, he preferred to personally congratulate him.
The Black Jackals coach prepared a small, formal party for his team after their big win against the fan-favorite Schweiden Adlers.
I'm so proud of him. He's achieved so much, I can't reach him.
Bokuto and Akaashi had been boyfriends since high school. It was love at first sight for both males, but only Bokuto was able to act upon his feelings, confessing to the smaller man after their first national high school tournament together.
Many of their friends and family questioned their relationship. Not only are homosexual relationships unacceptable in Japan, the couple were still two to three years before their soulmate marks were to appear.
Akaashi was very distraught by all the negative attention and pressure from his family and friends, but Bokuto would comfort him. He didn’t mind that Akaashi was almost always inside his head.
He didn’t care that Akaashi always overthinks; instead he reached out a hand, and pulled Akaashi from his invasive and self-destructing thoughts. He instead held him tight to assure him that what they say don't matter, as long you’re happy being with me I’ll continue to be here, Keiji .
And Akaashi would always, always , listen to his voice until he reached the surface, ready to face the world that was against them, and the cycle repeats.
Whatever problem they faced didn't hinder their love for one another, and eventually both discovered that they are, indeed, each other's soulmates.
How? Akaashi didn't know. No amount of google searches explained how they were able to have same-sex soulmates.
"It's fate, Keiji! It's got to be fate!"
"Of course, Bokuto-san."
The pro volleyball player was very elated to discover his emerald green mark on his chest. But as per Akaashi's request, they decided to keep their relationship as private as possible.
It's just too much of a risk. I didn't want Bokuto-san's volleyball career to end prematurely because of us. Because of me.
The manga editor touched his chest area where the splash of gold has permanently appeared, right where his heart is.
Be strong. Do this for Bokuto-san.
Akaashi arrived at the huge hall where the party was being held. He adjusted his neck tie, released a deep breath of air, before entering the main room.
He immediately spotted Miya Atsumu who was talking to who seemed like a female scout from a foreign country.
It looked like they were discussing a volleyball program outside the country, but Miya seemed very uninterested about it.
So when he noticed Akaashi entering the room, he immediately excused himself and went to the manga editor.
"'Eya, Akaashi-kun! Did ya just arrive? Bokkun has been waitin' for ya! Come, I'll show ya around." Miya put his arms around Akaashi's shoulders so he could lead him around.
"Thank you, Miya-san. Congratulations on the win," he said as they were crossing the huge room towards a round table at the front.
"Sure, sure but come on! I've already told ya not to call me that!" The blonde setter was certain that Akaashi will not do so, so he didn't bother to wait for a reply. "Bokkun's in the middle of an interview, so ya just wait for him to finish."
"Thank you, Miya-san."
"Geez, yer so formal it hurts my ears." Miya gestured the manga editor to the seat next to Bokuto's, no doubt reserved for him. "Anyway, have fun!" He exclaimed before leaving.
The raven-haired looked around in search of a bathroom, and walked from their table when he saw one near the end of the hall.
As he was walking there, he heard Bokuto's voice booming from a hallway.
"Really? I hope so! But coach already has a regimen prepared and I'm pretty excited about it."
He took a peek in the hallway and noticed Bokuto talking to a woman holding a microphone. A cameraman was filming them.
"Care to share what you are looking forward to the next season?"
"I can't tell you much! But I'm practicing with setters exclusively these days. All I can say is that I'm upping my combo attacks with Tsum-Tsum so that's something to look forward to!"
The interviewer nodded, before asking her next question. "That is something. Now, for this next question, it's a little irrelevant fromㅡ"
"KEIJI! YOU CAME!"
Bokuto noticed him peeking, and immediately raised his arms above his head to wave at his boyfriend.
Both the cameraman and interviewer looked behind their backs, only to see Akaashi shyly waving back at them.
"Bokuto-san?" The interviewer asked.
"Oh! Sorry, he's an important person, and he's my setter in high school!"
The interviewer nodded, not even trying to hide her indifference, before proceeding with the interview.
"Bokuto-san, you are now 24 years old. And many have been wondering if you have found your soulmate already?"
Akaashi felt his breath hitch at the question, his heart clenching nervously.
The volleyball player must have noticed it too, and tried to play it off.
"Hey, hey how is this related to volleyball?" Bokuto asked, releasing a laugh to lighten the mood.
The girl was unbothered by her interviewee's obvious discomfort.
"You are a public figure, Bokuto-san. Surely your fans would want to know some of your personal life," she defended professionally.
Bokuto looked at his boyfriend, who was becoming visibly distraught by the second.
"Sure, but not all of my private things!" The spiker jokes.
Akaashi, on the other hand, was rubbing his palms nervously, waiting for the dual haired man to answer the question.
She's right, Kou. You’re a star. I can’t hold you back. Not when you’re having a hard time answering a simple question because of me. I don’t even know why I was invited here. What if someone notices our relationship? What if ㅡ
"Then are the rumours true? About you already knowing, and in fact, living with your soulmate?"
Akaashi felt himself become smaller, stomach churning unpleasantly. His shoulders jerked to his ears, and he ducked his head, avoiding any eye contact from anyone, even from his boyfriend.
Just lie for now, Bokuto-san. I understand. And I’ll totally understand if you want to break up later.
The volleyball player was stuttering, opening and closing his mouth, looking for the safest answer to the question.
When the editor noticed his boyfriendㅡ soon ex, Akaashi thoughtㅡ looking back at him, he realized that answering the question with him at earshot would be totally awkward for both of them, so he decided to step away from the hallway.
I’m sorry, Kou.
He heard Bokuto trying to call him. "Keiji! Keiji, wait pleaseㅡ"
"Do you keep her a secret? Is she a friend from high school? Where did you meet her, Bokuto-san?" The interviewer blocked the volleyball player's path from the hallway, bombarding Bokuto with more questions.
The manga editor continued to walk towards the other end of the hall where the back exit was located, not bothering to wait for the older man’s answer.
He felt his breath shorten at the thought, his body almost palpitating.
Calm down. People will see , he chastised himself.
As he was walking towards the door, he heard a call of his name.
“Akaashi-san! Did you find Bokuto-san?”
Akaashi took a deep breath before facing Hinata Shoyou, MSBY’s wing spiker.
“I did. He was doing something, and I didn’t want to interrupt with work,” he said with a surprisingly steady voice.
Finally, something I can’t fuck up .
Hinata’s confused voice brought him back. “Work? Today’s just a chill partyㅡ Are you okay, Akaashi-san? You look a little pale.”
Nope. You’re still fucking up.
Before Akaashi could respond, the loud sound of Bokuto dramatically entering the hall made them turn their heads. Bokuto was searching around the room and his amber eyes widened when it landed on emerald ones.
He started walking towards Akaashi and Hinata, who was looking confused by the second. “Akaashi? Why’d you leave? I’m really sorry about what happenedㅡ”
Akaashi raised a hand before Bokuto, averting eye contact. “Bokuto-san, it’s fine. I’m actually tired, is it okay if I leave a little early?”
He didn’t call you ‘Keiji.’ He definitely hates you now.
Bokuto held Akaashi’s hands, thumbs rubbing his hands affectionately. “Akㅡ Keiji, seriously. Do you want to go somewhere quieter? Let’s talk about it? Keiji?” He was bending a little, scanning to look at Akaashi’s downcasted eyes.
“No, it’s okay, Bokuto-san. I should just go. Please." Akaashi announced, still looking down. “I’m just gonna go,” he said as he removed his hands from Bokuto’s grip.
It’s so cold.
Bokuto looked so hurt, he almost looked torn. He let go of Akaashi’s hands, unwillingly, and feels a frown forming as Akaashi starts to turn towards the door. “Keiji, pleaseㅡ”
Suddenly, the interviewer was heard approaching Bokuto and Hinata. “Bokuto-san! Your answer?”
“Wait, what’s happening?” Hinata asked. The girl didn’t seem to notice him, solely focused on Bokuto’s answers.
Bokuto still had his back turned to them, looking with sad eyes as Akaashi leaves the premises, his eyes never leaving the ground.
“Bokuto-san?” The woman asked once again, expectant.
But Bokuto was only staring as the door closed behind his boyfriend.