Chapter Text
“We're really glad to have you here, Akaashi-kun."
Akaashi followed the man through the hallways, absently watching the curl in his silvery-grey hair bounce as they walked. "We were in a bit of... trouble on the conductor business; we have one of course, but no back up other than me, and he's new and young so I have a feeling it's hard for him sometimes. He doesn't really mesh with some of our musicians... to say the best."
"I'm happy to be of service, then," Akaashi said bluntly. What was he even doing here? He didn't particularly enjoy conducting; he supposed he had been drawn in because he needed the money whilst he was studying and this was an excellent symphony orchestra, so it payed well.
And his parents.
They had always wanted him to continue music, but never wanted him to focus on conducting. He knew that they had only paid the tuition for him to be transferred here because of the orchestra. Akaashi wondered, not for the first time, if he had taken the offer to go here from Konoha because he actually wanted to continue music, or just out of spite.
Sugawara giggled, a dimple creasing the cheek under a mole beneath his eye. He was cute, but Akaashi wasn't here for anything like that.
“You're so serious, Akaashi-kun. Loosen up."
As if he could. He hadn't conducted professionally for years. He could feel his chest getting tighter with each step closer to the concert hall.
“Ah, sorry Sugawara-san." Suga smiled knowingly. Clearly, this stony, serious, and unenthusiastic Akaashi Keiji wasn't going to be softened so easily. But he pushed that thought aside as they heard muffled music leaking through the thick doors leading to the concert hall.
"Sounds like they're still practising! Perfect, you can watch!"
Suga smiled at a member of security, showing his ID, and he opened the door for them.
Akaashi was flooded with noise.
It boomed, fast and loud around him, filling the entire hall with a sharp sound that made the hair on the back of his neck prickle. The musicians worked quickly, violinists drawing their bows across the strings with vigour as the sounds of trumpets died out. This overwhelming aura hit Akaashi like a tidal wave, but he couldn't help but let his focus be drawn to the man sitting in the grand piano to the left of the conductor.
He looked small and thin, with bright orange hair that bounced as his fingers flew over the keys. His piano was sharp and fast and loud, catching and stealing the attention of anyone listening. His extravagant movements looked excited as he played, moving in an intense focus that almost looked fun. Akaashi's heart beat quickly as the small pianist played faster and faster, seemingly letting all his swift and loud passion out into the concert hall; wild and free. With a closer look, he saw that the young man was wearing earbuds. He might not even be able to hear the orchestra around him. He was astounded at the pianist, but Akaashi wasn't dumb. With great effort, he turned his eyes to the conductor.
He was a man that hardly looked much younger than Akaashi, but he was incredibly serious. He looked as if he was scowling as his hands waved strictly in front of him; but he was just focused. Akaashi was shocked that he allowed the redhead pianist to drag the music along so quickly, but he was even more astounded when he realised what the young man was actually doing.
He seemed to be raising the speed of the entire concert hall, increasing the tempo of the very music, as he pushed the pianist higher. Drew attention to him. Dimmed the violins to let him shine. The conductor grinned as the pianist played faster, letting him drag up the speed for the pianist to play a simple but incredible solo as the trumpets and bass died out almost completely.
Akaashi gaped as the small pianist shone, smiling wide, and that conductor pushed him even higher, every flick of his wrist precise and careful. Strict. He couldn't seem to find his breath, but managed to gather some words, his eyes never leaving the redhead.
"Trouble with conductors?" he mumbled, hardly believing it. "He's a prodigy."
Suga grinned, swelling with pride, but then cringed as the music faltered a bit. Akaashi gave a surprised blink as the sound broke apart, going out of sync with the speed. After the conductor struggled to bring it back together, he just put his stick down, stopping the music with a scowl.
Musicians groaned, and Akaashi caught a violinist put down his instrument with a wince, rubbing at the tips of his probably stinging fingers.
"Oi, King." he looked over to the voice, noticing a tall young man prop up a large cello angrily. "Ever considered taking your time?" the young man snapped, pushing his glasses up his nose. The conductor scowled.
"Don't call me that." he said gruffly. "And it sounded better faster anyway."
"Oh, no, you're right." the musician with the cello's voice dripped with sarcasm. "Don't worry, we can all go as fast as that tangerine, we'll catch up."
It looked like the conductor was going to retort but the pianist was suddenly right next to him, tugging excitedly on his sleeve. Akaashi noticed that he had taken the earbuds out and shoved them in his pocket.
"Oohhhaaa!!! Kageyama!!! That was so amazing! Your conducting is so good! The music was so fast and it went waaah! And then right at the end it was all whhooo! You're amazing, Kageyama-kun!!!"
Akaashi caught the conductor, Kageyama, freeze up, embarrassed as the pianist practically vibrated with excitement and thrill next to him. He yanked his arm from his grip.
“S-shut up, idiot. Your arpeggios in bar 33 were all over the place. I was only covering for you." The pianist gave an 'urk' sound and stepped back.
"S-shut up, idiot~" The cello player mocked him quietly, and Akaashi saw a double bass player snicker a few seats away. Kageyama whirled around, angry.
"HEY-"
"Alright, that's enough!" Suga suddenly walked forwards, snapping Akaashi from his daze. "Kageyama, learn to take feedback from your musicians, they aren't your slaves." The cello player smirked, but it faded fast as Sugawara turned to him. "And watch your tongue, Tsukishima. Stop winding him up on purpose."
The two stood a little meekly as people began to clear things away for the evening. Akaashi stood nervously in the hall, not even realising that someone was talking to him until they had tapped his shoulder.
“Hey. Hey. Hello? You dropped this."
Akaashi startled and turned around to see a short man that looked around his age hold something out to him. Ah, a piece of paper had fallen from the notebook Akaashi was holding. He took it back and the man averted his eyes nervously, tucking dark hair that looked as if it had been dip-dyed blond behind his ear.
“Thank you," Akaashi said, and the young man shrugged, once again curling up on the seats of the concert hall and picking up a Nintendo switch.
"No problem," he mumbled. Akaashi wondered vaguely what he was doing here, but he didn't have time to ask when Sugawara called him over again.
He straightened his back and walked over as calmly as possible to the gathering group of musicians. Suga smiled warmly.
“Everyone, this is our newest member, Akaashi Keji. Don't be mean to him." A chorus of hellos echoed around as people waved, and Akaashi bowed respectfully.
“Pleased to meet you. Thank you for having me."
The musician from earlier, Tsukishima?, mumbled something about being uptight, which earned him a jab in the side from Suga.
Akaashi felt a little uncomfortable, all their eyes were on him, eyes he didn't know, and he had never really been great at making friends. He didn't care, all he needed to do was attend this orchestra until he graduated from this university.
But someone bounced up to him, taking his hand. Akaashi looked up, surprised, as he recognised the small redhead from before. He was even shorter up close.
"Ah, the pianist..." he mumbled, and the boy's eyes lit up.
“You saw me?!?! Was I good?? Secretly it's because Kageyama lets me play fast." He pointed to the conductor. "But don't tell Tsukishima or he'll laugh at me. I'm Hinata Shouyo by the way!!! What do you play???"
Akaashi couldn't help but feel less nervous as Hinata looked up at him, his excitement was infectious.
"Oh, I don't play anymore. I conduct." Suddenly the young conductor was right beside Hinata, bowing almost aggressively.
"Hello! I'm Kageyama Tobio." He looked at Akaashi with eager but intense eyes. "How long have you been conducting? Which orchestra did you go to before? How many times have you orchestrated?"
Hinata also bombarded him.
“You conduct?? That's so cool! Why don't you play anymore though?? What did you used to play?!?!?"
Just as Akaashi began to feel very overwhelmed, Sugawara and another young man with freckles and a nervous glance pulled the two away.
“Oi! Don't overwhelm him, you two!" Suga scolded them. "He's your senior you know!" Hinata gasped and spun back around.
“Aghh! I'm so sorry Akaashi-san!"
"I- it's fine..."
A few people were laughing quietly and Akaashi bit his tongue, but Suga gave him a soft smile.
“Don't worry, Akaashi-kun. You'll be friends with people in no time." Akaashi somehow doubted this. "Now all of you go home!! Or to your dorms or whatever!!"
A general rumble of goodbyes and thank yous was said as people cleared out of the hall, carrying various instruments with them.
Akaashi sighed, and walked back to the seats where he had left his notebook. The man with the dyed hair was still sitting there, but now he was talking to a tall man with spiked black hair who looked like he had just rolled out of bed. Akaashi frowned, he didn't really wanted to talk, so he tried to grab his notebook quietly and quickly leave.
"Hey, Pretty boy-kun!" Akaashi's heart dropped in his chest as the spikes haired man called him out, and he turned around.
“It's Akaashi," he said simply, and the man grinned.
"Nice to meet'cha. Glad to have another conductor with us again. Been a speedy nightmare since Atsumu graduated."
Atsumu... where had Akaashi hear that name before? Ah, Miya Atsumu, he was another prodigy conductor. Akaashi doubted he could ever live up to that kind of easy control.
"Thanks for having me..." Akaashi found it a little difficult to talk to the man even though he seemed relaxed, but the small man sitting in the seat sighed.
“Shut up, Kuroo." He glanced up at Akaashi as Kuroo looked mildly insulted. "I'm Kenma Kozume, and this guy's Kuroo Tetsurou. Don't mind him too much, he's stupid."
Kuroo gave an annoyed grunt, but Akaashi smiled and loosened a bit. Kenma seemed nice, and didn't really seem to care, which was surprisingly relaxing.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Akaashi Keji. Do you not play here?"
Kenma shook his head.
"Nah, I'm a tech student. I just come to listen because I dorm with this guy, so he gives me a ride back. Ours is on the other side of campus."
Kuroo folded his arms.
"Ken, you forgot to mention the part where we've been friends since childhood." Kenma gave Akaashi a look that told him he had most certainly not forgotten to leave it out. Kuroo sighed, but looked over to Akaashi.
“Yeah, I'm Kuroo. I play double bass." He held out a hand for Akaashi to shake, and seemed more sincere that before. Until he winked. "But I also play guitar and cello if you're interested." Akaashi just shook his hand and his head at the same time. Kuroo looked like he was going to say something, but Kenma interrupted.
“Can we go now?"
He hoped up and walked away, and Kuroo had no choice but to trail after him.
"See you tomorrow I guess, Akaashi-kun," Kenma said, not even looking up from his videogame.
Akaashi gave a soft sigh. He felt exhausted, it had been a long day. He finally left, saying goodbye to Sugawara and passing the security guard on his way out of the large hall.