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For all he could remember, Akaashi had his whole life planned.
Ever since he reached middle school he had meticulously planned out how he would live his life.
At high school, he'd join the advance class, the student council, and the Volleyball club (any sports club would do he'd just need anything that would look good in papers). After high school, he'd enter college in the prestigious Tokyo University using the credentials he had built in high school. In 3-4 years he'd finish college, get into an internship and get the job of his dreams. And by the time he's in his early 30s he'd marry, have kids, and live a normal life till he grows old, have his children pamper him, and die. It was a simple foolproof plan. He'd live a satisfying and normal life. Planned, worry-free, and no spontaneity that could throw his whole life into a frenzy that'll get him in debt.
Middle school ended and everything was going well for Akaashi.
He got into a well-known school in Tokyo, got in the advanced class, and got a position in the student council. Everything went according to as he had planned. All he needed to do was sign up for a sports club. Finding a sports club to join was easy for Akaashi. With Fukurodani being a powerhouse school in volleyball, he wasted no time signing his name neatly on the audition paper.
"Hello, my name is Akaashi Keiji. I played setter in Mori Middle School." Akaashi was calm as always while the audition went on. He had complete confidence in himself as he tossed the ball during the match.
It was no surprise to him when he got accepted.
The team welcomed him warmly, all of them donned a sincere smiles on their faces. They were easy to talk with, Akaashi noted. They all had the air of confidence but it was obvious that they didn't let it get to their heads. They were good but also humble. They spoke joyously but still quite intelligently.
All but one.
Bokuto Koutaro.
Akaashi knows him. He is one of the rising stars in the field of volleyball. The star player of Fukurodani High School.
Bokuto stared at him blankly. His eyes reflected that of a lost child, cast aside in a sea of people. This unnerves Akaashi. Does he not like him? Does he doubt his skills to set for him? Questions ran through his mind, letting all his bottled-up anxiety rise.
"Don't worry about Bokuto. He does that all the time," one of his seniors says, "he'll warm up to you soon. I gotta warn you tho that he's one hell to handle when he gets loud which is all the time."
His senior was right. After a day into official practice, Bokuto went on and befriended him. His blank staring replaced by a wide and owlish staring that screamed of "praise me, Akaashi."
Bokuto was loud, emotional and was just the entire personification of an energy drink. He was the complete opposite of what Akaashi was trying to live. Being stressed and constantly bombarded by a tall, buff and athletic high school boy who was a child at heart was definitely not a part of his plan. Akaashi doesn't mind tho. Bokuto can always be exempted. For Bokuto, Akaashi can adjust. He guesses that's just how things work.
The next school year rolled on quickly and the next thing he knew they were already preparing for nationals. Akaashi doesn't point it out but it was obvious that everyone was tenser than usual. Especially the third years.
"It's our last year after all," one of the third years says. That's right. Akaashi almost forgot. Bokuto's graduating this year. This will be the last year he gets to toss for him. Akaashi tries not to dwell on it but the more he ignored it, the heavier his chest felt. Bokuto was annoying and was a complete handful but above all that Akaashi felt happiness and warmth as Bokuto sticks to him like a toddler.
"Ahgasshi!!!"
Bokuto never pronounced his name right.
"Agasi"
Bokuto never spelt his name right. But despite all that Akaashi, who spent his entire life being a perfectionist, never felt the need to be angry at him.
"Why do you never pronounce my name right, Bokuto-san? Are you having trouble with japanese?"
"Agaasi, I'm japanese why would I have trouble with my own language?" Bokuto then smiles at him, "besides, why would I need to say it right? You'll know I'm calling you and no one else."
The smile Bokuto sent that day made Akaashi completely speechless.
They didn't win nationals.
Despite the extra practices that they pulled after school and matches. Despite the extra effort that his seniors have placed into the match. They still lost.
"Damn. That Sakusa just have to be too good doesn't he?" No one replied but they all let out a bitter laugh.
"I'm sorry," he whispers to Bokuto.
"Why?" Akaashi tries his best not to cry. Tries his best to keep his calm facade.
"i-" He doesn't get to finish. His tears chokes him and for the next few minutes, he was unable to speak.
Bokuto does nothing as he cries. He just smiles calmly and solemnly at him and says "it's not your fault, Akaashi."
"Besides all that matters is that we all gave it our best. I enjoyed every single moment of it. I'd never want it in another way."
Akaashi cries some more and Bokuto didn't mind. They continued to sit there not speaking, alone with their thoughts and the regret and the pain that came with losing.
Weeks passed by quickly after that. Akaashi barely notices the time that passed and only remembered that his time with the rest of the third years will come to an end. The next time Akaashi felt the heavy feeling in his chest was during the third years' graduation.
He watches alongside the rest of the volleyball team as the third years receive their diplomas. Smiles were pasted on everyone's faces. Parents hugging their cloaked children. Chatters of universities spilled throughout the entire venue. But even with all the noise and camera shutters, Akaashi could still clearly make out Bokuto's laugh. It was a loud, confident and flamboyant laugh befitting of Bokuto. Akaashi liked it. His laugh. It was just so Bokuto.
"Aghaasi!" Bokuto waves.
Wasting no time, Akaashi congratulates him. Speaking his wishes for him to do well in whatever he planned.
"What do you plan doing then, Bokuto-san?"
Bokuto smiles.
"Nope. No plans for me?"
"What?!"
Surprise was etched on Akaashi's entire being at that moment. How could anyone not have a plan?
"What do you mean you don't have a plan?"
It was stressful to even think about. A future you haven't prepared for was such a troublesome thing.
"I don't know. Maybe I'll get scouted to play in a team maybe not. I'll think about it when I get there."
Silence between them lingered after Bokuto shrugged his question. Akaashi wanted to be frustrated, to scream at Bokuto, to pull out his laptop and make a spreadsheet of why what he was saying was totally unacceptable. He wanted to scream at him and say things all the line of 'you'll be eaten alive' or 'is this your bye-bye world course of action?'.
Akaashi stops.
He realises that he was overreacting a little bit. Who was he kidding? This is Bokuto. This was bound to happen. Akaashi removes the frown and stress visible on his face and instead smiles at Bokuto.
"Good luck, Bokuto-san."
Akaashi never met up with Bokuto after graduation. He hears that Bokuto was being scouted by many teams and was currently becoming a volleyball superstar. It was a year without Bokuto and his antics. It was a less fun year he suppose but he was glad it was over. It was now his turn to graduate.
"Keiji," his mother calls, "what do you plan on doing for college? Do you need mom to phone some people?"
A small hum escaped Akaashi's lips.
"No, it's fine."
"Are you sure? I heard it got a lot harder to enter Tokyo University this year."
He hums again.
"I'll be fine. If I don't get in then I don't."
His mother raises an eyebrow at his statement.
"That's so unlike you, Keiji. You used to be so obsessed about being on schedule."
Akaashi only smiles and his mother stops prying. He stopped caring about it a long time ago. Maybe longer than he would like to admit. His plan that he had set up and calculated ever since middle school doesn't mean anything anymore. He has a new one. A better one. A much simpler one. He plans to stay and follow Bokuto wherever he goes. It was a simple plan. He plans to be happy.
And being happy meant being with Bokuto and that's all that matters.