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“can you guys quit screwing around? we need to warm up.” sakusa glowered. atsumu stopped dancing, placing his hands on his hips.
“omi, this is our warm up, now stop bein’ all gloomy and join us!” it was the first day of the new volleyball season, three out of the msby4 deciding to have a ‘welcome back’ dance session in the gym.
“yeah sakusa! don’t fight the feeling!” hinata teased, twirling his hips. sakusa’s left eye started to twitch, making atsumu laugh. he walked over to him, gently taking his hands into his. the blonde whispered into his ear, the sulk immediately melting into something softer.
“what’d you do? promised onigiri from your brother?” a mischievous smile played on atsumu’s lips.
“something like that.” bokuto laughed, taking in a deep breath. he was glad to be back playing, off seasons were always the worst. nothing to distract him from the feeling of hopelessness that had made it’s place in the depths of his mind. but when he was busy playing volleyball, he was able to stifle those feelings, replacing them with the positive feelings he got when he felt the ball connect with his palm and soar through the air. volleyball was his own personal shield, hiding him away from the weight of the world.
—
the dreamscape was always slightly cloudy, the clouds creating a gentle haze over bright ivory colored moon. the night sky was an ombré, going from a light to dark teal, stars glinting against it. that same rough teal that had haunted bokuto in the form of a pair of wistful eyes for as long as he could remember.
the floor of the dreamscape was on a slant, covered in a plush grass that never itched. and laying in that grass was a simple red string, that stretched out as far as the eyes could see. one end of the string was tied to bokuto’s pinky, the other was tied somewhere completely unknown to him. countless futile attempts trying to follow the thread were made by him, the grassy field never seeming to end and whoever was tied at the end never seeming to get any closer.
he had given up chasing the other side a long time ago, coming to the conclusion that the someone on the other end probably didn’t want to get found. so he put his focus to the conscious world, leaving the dreamland behind. but it was hard to stay afloat sometimes, the people surrounding him had already found their companions. atsumu and sakusa had found each other during a training camp during their first year of highschool, after constantly seeing each other’s polar opposite hairstyles in their respective dreams. hinata and kageyama had found at each other at hinata’s first and final middle school volleyball game, after seeing kageyama’s inky blue eyes deep in his slumber.
and although he was happy for his teammates and friends, he couldn’t help but feel like there was something wrong with him. he’s tried soulmate apps and getaways, but the effort was always in vain. his dates would usually end up getting drained from his boisterous personality and passion for volleyball. he was exhausted of always wanting but never being wanted, so he shut those emotions away and put all his concentration into his favorite sport.
now he was in the big leagues, playing alongside people he had known since highschool. there was no time to focus on anything else. so he kept that bright smile on his face and pushed forward, keeping all his melancholy feelings about love hidden away in a mental box.
—
bokuto hummed, trudging down the steps of his apartment complex. another early morning practice. he watched the doors swoosh open and close, people from all walks of life entering in and out.
the double doors opened again, this time bokuto watched as multiple boxes piled onto a cart were dragged in by some burly men in uniforms. they were followed shortly after by a slim man with glasses, carrying a box almost as big as him. putting the box down with a thud, the man put his palms on his back, stretching for a moment. then he turned his head, his eyes meeting bokuto’s own.
bokuto used to think time only slowed in the movies, but his surroundings started to blur as the stranger’s stormy eyes flooded him just like a turbulent sea. those same eyes that had resided in his dreams for as far back as his memory could take him. it was him, he was here and bokuto wasn’t ready. so he left hastily, refusing to look back.
—
“bokuto, we need to talk.” hinata said, coming up to him one day after practice. bokuto was taken aback, for his usually bright manner was replaced by something serious.
“have you been getting enough sleep lately?” the redhead questioned, eyeing him. bokuto gulped.
“yeah, why?” before hinata could answer, a non convinced voice drawled from behind them.
“no ya haven’t liar. yer playing style has been all sloppy, and yer eyes are completely bloodshot. ya look like a fuckin train wreck.” atsumu stated, his hands on his hips. sakusa didn’t look persuaded either, but stayed quiet. bokuto sighed.
“it’s just..some stuffs’ been going on, that’s all.”
“anything we can do to help?” bokuto shook his head.
“no, but i’ll figure it out and get back on my game. i promise.” hinata nodded sternly.
“alright, but please remember we’re all here for you, whenever you need us. okay?” bokuto smiled softly.
“thank you.” atsumu slapped him on the back.
“no problem bo, now buck up and stop screwin’ around before i kick yer ass.”
—
the dreamscape was warmer than bokuto had remembered, a temperate breeze billowing his shirt and rustling the grass that he was sitting in. he looked up to the moon, hugging his knees close to his chest. it felt nice to be back, knowing he was finally sleeping properly again. he felt relaxed, almost forgetting about the situation at hand.
until he felt a tug on his pinky.
his stomach lurched as he sat up straight, completely alert as the red cord started to shift in the grass. he looked out towards the vast field, his eyes straining to see. then they widened, his breath hitching.
it was him.
he was running, sprinting towards him. bokuto scrambled to get up, his legs trembling as he got closer. the man stopped a couple feet in front of him, his lips parted.
“it’s you.” they said simultaneously, the breeze that was blowing turning into a rowdy wind. the red string of fate had gathered in the center of where they were standing, the side that bokuto had been going after for so long tied to the stranger’s pinky. the person he had been longing for was standing right in front of him, eyes hopeful and bright.
“bokuto, it’s so nice to finally meet you.”
but he wasn’t ready.
—
msby made a stunning defeat against their game with the alders, but bokuto could barely even concentrate. after the match, he said his goodbyes and went straight home, leaving the others to wonder what was really going on. he took a cold shower and crawled into his bed, lying face down on his pillow.
for the rest of the day he fought sleep, even into late hours of the night. but he was defeated, falling into an unpeaceful slumber.
he awoke lying in the grass of the dreamscape, much to his dismay. he reclosed his eyes, taking in and letting out deep breaths. maybe the stranger wouldn’t show up, and bokuto could finally have some peace of mind.
“hi bokuto.” his eyes popped open as he almost jumped out of his skin. the stranger was sitting a few inches beside him, a soft smile on his face. bokuto’s lips thinned into a line as he pulled his knees up to his chest.
“i came to watch your game today, you did amazing.”
“thanks.”
“my names’ keiji akaashi, you can call me any of those if you’d like.” bokuto didn’t reply and akaashi continued.
“i work as an editor for a shonen manga magazine, and i moved here because i got a job offering. it’s definitely fate that we just happened to be in the same apartment complex now.” bokuto stayed silent and akaashi let out a soft sigh, looking out towards the moon.
“apartment number 54, if you ever want to come visit.”
—
from then on bokuto and akaashi would sit in the dreamscape, akaashi having one sided conversations while bokuto sat with his knees to his chest. akaashi didn’t mind though, he was just glad bokuto had stop trying to avoid him, and he enjoyed the quiet company.
one night after one of bokuto’s games, he entered the dreamscape, immediately being met with a buzzing akaashi.
“bokuto, you were amazing today! that line shot was incredible!” he exclaimed, his cheeks rosy and his eyes bright. bokuto stared at him, a smiling starting to grow on his lips.
“did you see that cut shot too?” akaashi nodded excitedly.
“it was surreal!” they started to reminisce over the game, bokuto engaging in a conversation with akaashi for the first time since they met. but when he watched as akaashi laughed at something he said and saw that his eyes gleamed brighter than any star in the sky, he digressed. he quickly curled into a ball again, cutting off all interaction once more. akaashi was taken aback, disappointment and hurt swelling up inside him.
“bokuto,” he started. bokuto’s heart clenched at the sound of his dejected voice, slightly looking up from his knees.
“i’m sorry if i’m not the type person you wanted your soul to be bounded to, i’m sorry if i disappointed you but-“
“akaashi, i’m not disappointed.” bokuto suddenly said, cutting akaashi off.
“then why are you treating me like this?” bokuto looked away.
“i’m just..uncomfortable.” he mumbled.
“well i’m sorry that i’m made you uncomfo-“
“akaashi you didn’t make me uncomfortable!” he exclaimed, exasperated. a completely confused look made itself present on akaashi’s face while bokuto searched his brain for the right words to say.
“it’s not you, it’s the idea of you. it’s the idea that there’s someone literally fated to me, soul to soul. i’m fucking terrified, because you long for them all your life and then they come and what if it’s everything you didn’t hope for? i’m not really the dateable type apparently, i’m loud and fiery and all i talk about is volleyball. i don’t want you to get burnt out…i’d rather leave you hanging on, than pushing me away.”
“bokuto, look at me.” he begrudgingly obliged, his heartbeat picking up speed as akaashi’s eyes picked his soul apart piece by piece.
“i knew you were my soulmate the first time i ever saw you play volleyball at the spring nationals in your third year. i knew it was you the second i saw those eyes glow like a million stars in the sky as the lady interviewed you. i’ve been chasing after you ever since, but at the same time, i was terrified too. i thought that someone as extraordinary as you wouldn’t want someone as extra ordinary as me.” bokuto furrowed his brows.
“you’re not extra ordinary akaashi, i think you’re pretty cool. you’re a big time editor for a shonen manga magazine, you’ve won awards for your photography skills and..and you sat here and waited for me to come around. how’d you know i was going to?” akaashi shrugged.
“i wasn’t planning on leaving you till you did.” his words hit bokuto hard, almost knocking the wind out of him.
“i’ve been searching for you for my entire life, i’m not gonna throw it all away. i want to get to know you bokuto. you can’t sit here and tell me you haven’t been looking for me the same, i know you have.” he said, voice firm and steady.
bokuto stared wide eyed at akaashi, absolutely speechless until akaashi’s face grew red as a tomato. but before either of them could say another word, bokuto disappeared.
akaashi scrambled to stand up, looking around frantically. the dreamscape fizzled out as he woke up in a panic.
“did i just lose him..?” he thought to himself, his heart beating violently. but his racing mind was interrupted by a knocking on his apartment door. he swung it open, immediately being embraced by his predestined one and only.
“thank you akaashi.” bokuto said softly. akaashi melted, hugging him back tightly. he buried his head into his shoulder, taking in his scent.
after a few moments, akaashi pulled away just enough to look bokuto clear in the face. he placed his hands on his cheeks, his heart swelling when bokuto nuzzled into his palm.
“you’re too good, you’re too good for me you know.” he mumbled.
“but..it was etched in the stars that we were made to be together, so i need to at least try.”
“i’ll try my hardest not to let you get away.” akaashi wrapped his arms around him again, looking firmly into those golden eyes that he sought out for his entire life.
“you won’t have to try too hard bokuto, we finally found each other.”
“i’m not gonna let you get away either.”