Work Text:
Bokuto was grateful that his friends weren't the touchy-feely couple type, at least not when they were in someone else's company. Despite Kuroo wanting contact at all times, Kenma refused him.
Even so, Koutarou felt alone. He had already met a few people who had caused him some interest, but it ended up not working out with any of them. Some of his peers asked him how he had never dated before, saying it was "easier" for Bokuto since he was pansexual. But it didn't work out very well.
“Bokuto, why don't you invest in a real relationship?” Kuroo asked him whenever they got into the subject.
"It's easy for you to say, you and Kenma have known each other since you were 8 years old, my only childhood friends are you..."
Kenma usually didn't say anything about it, just ignoring Bokuto's dramatic crises while playing something on his cell phone. But he was sure of one thing: the white-haired one had certainly been badly bruised in one of his last attempts. The boy hadn't just broken up with him, Koutarou had been humiliated in front of most of the students.
And that's why, as soon as the holidays arrived, the three decided to travel to the beach for a month. According to Kuroo, they needed to rest and get the problems out of their heads, without school responsibilities.
(...)
“Kenma, get up from there and let's go!” Tetsurou exclaimed, stopping beside his boyfriend, who was playing some game on the phone.
"I never asked to come."
"But you came, so the three of us are going to the beach whether you like it or not." Tired and impatient, the older put Kozume on his shoulder, leaving the beach house while following Bokuto to a random beach umbrella.
"I'm going for a walk, get a grip, we're on the beach." Koutarou warned, moving away from his friends.
Until he saw... the most beautiful person in the world. It was lucky the white-haired didn't fall flat on his face, but he was certainly stagnant, not knowing what to do. And then his gaze was returned, a smile forming on the other boy's face.
"Good Morning! Do you need any help? Did you miss someone?” The boy's voice was calm, the timbre was attractive just like him and… damn, Bokuto was definitely in love, even though he didn't believe in love at first sight.
"I... what's your name?" The brunette laughed briefly, putting a hand in front of his face.
"Not a very common question to ask a lifeguard, don't you think?"
“Oh, sorry! It's just that I was just walking around and I saw you. But then, can you tell me your name? Mine is Bokuto!” The fluster in Koutarou's voice was more than evident, but he tried to keep his mentally steady pose.
“Akaashi. Nice to meet you, Bokuto. Now, what do you do here if there's no emergency?” The lifeguard smiled again, not noticing when Bokuto grinned along, completely dumbfounded.
“I just thought you were incredibly handsome.”
"Only that? Did you come alone, Bokuto?”
"Yea! I mean, no, my friends were in the sand with our stuff, but they must be kissing, so I just wanted to hang out for a bit.”
"And you want to be in the company of a lifeguard?"
“I don't regret if this is the lifesaver… Akaashi… may I ask your age?”
“Seventeen, Bokuto, how about you?” The white-haired man's eyes gleamed and he leaned on the high chair intended for the lifeguard.
“E-eighteen. How can you be younger than me and look so handsome and responsible?”
"Bokuto-san..." Akaashi laughed, turning his face away in order to hide his blush. "Do you always flirt like that when you're interested in someone?"
"I don't think any of those people were as interesting as you."
"So you've dated, Bokuto-san?"
"Oh no." Koutarou's fingers curled around the hem of his shirt as Keiji rested his face in his own hand.
“How can you never have a boyfriend being this handsome? Bokuto-san, are you sure you've never dated?”
"I do, but there's not much to do, is there?" He laughed weakly, turning to the brunette. "I don't want to disturb you, Akaashi, I think I'll have an ice cream."
“Bokuto-san.” Keiji caught the boy's attention, who looked at him again. Then the younger one bent down, holding the white-haired face.
"Any problem?"
“Later there will be a luau here on the beach. Drop by to say 'hi' to me, maybe you'll keep me company too. See you later?"
"Yup. Of course, of course, later!” Koutarou was stunned, Akaashi's lips were so close and…
“Good, Bokuto-san. See you later then." And he left a brief kiss on Bokuto's mouth, then got off the high chair and headed towards some other boys.
What had that been?
(...)
The month was almost over, Bokuto and Akaashi quickly approached. A strong friendship had developed and…okay, a few kisses were exchanged too. The eldest found himself in a more than desperate situation: maybe he was really in love with Keiji.
“It'll work out Bro, don't worry!” Kuroo's voice echoed in his head, his hands sweaty and a certain phrase from Keiji driving him crazy:
“I'm moving as soon as the holidays are over, I'm changing schools! ”
Everything was going downhill from there and Koutarou was afraid of returning home worse than he had left. That's why, on his last day of travel, he decided to take a quick stop at the beach, going to speak directly with Akaashi.
“Bokuto -san! Glad you came, I missed you yesterday.”
"I felt it too, Akaashi. I need to ask you something."
"You can talk, I'll try to answer honestly."
“Do you like me as I like you?”
"Pardon?"
"Akaashi Keiji, I like you. I want to be with you, I want to be your boyfriend. But if you want too, of course."
“Bokuto-san…”
“No need to answer!” Koutarou smiled small, bowing to the younger one. "I just wanted to let you know. Now I have to go, excuse me, Akaashi."
“Bokuto-san!”
"Don't worry about it! I really just wanted to let you know, but you're not obligated to respond." And just like that, Bokuto left, while Akaashi could only watch him.
(...)
"I know it all went wrong, Koutarou, but you need to go to training today! I don't care if I'm not there personally for you oblige, I want a picture of you in the gym.” Kuroo's voice was stern, even over the phone. It would scare anyone, except for Bokuto (and Kenma, but he doesn't express when he's afraid, anyway).
"I don't want to go..."
"But you will! Maybe getting some withdrawals will do you any good..."
"You'll buy me an ice cream on Friday, won't you?" The white-haired one made a pout with his lips, as he grabbed his bag and walked into the gym.
"Yes, Bokuto, I'll buy you an ice cream, okay? Now go train, we'll see you tomorrow."
"Okay." He sighed and rolled his eyes, turning off his cell phone right away and placing the device in the corner of the court, where the team's belongings were.
In a short time, training had started. Nothing much different, just reunion with colleagues and some new faces on the team. Until the iron door is opened with a loud bang.
"I'm sorry I was late!" The voice. That voice. Bokuto turned around so fast he felt his blood pressure dropping, but even so he focused his gaze on the figure in front of him. "I was asking where the gym was because I am..." Keiji stood up, gasping as he saw the other boy over there."...new here."
"Bokuto, this is Akaashi-kun! I hope you can help him as you are helping the other rookies." The trainer told him, putting his hand on the taller's shoulder
"Yes, I can. Let's get started!" He exclaimed, turning around and heading towards the ball cart. Things had gotten serious, and not in a good way.
(...)
"Bokuto-san!" Koutarou stopped walking, waiting for the other boy to catch up to him, "I wanted to talk to you, but I didn't expect you to be found so soon… can we talk?"
“I don’t remember having any pending matters.”
“But we do!” The brunette put himself in front of the other, making him stop walking again. "You just left and didn't show up on the beach anymore, what happened?"
"Nothing, I just needed to leave. My vacation was over, so I think it was normal for me to leave."
"But you didn't tell me anything."
"Guess I don't owe you satisfaction on that, right? Akaashi, if you'll excuse me, I need to go home. Have a good night, get back safely."
“Bokuto-san!” Keiji held the older man's face, sighing, "I didn't know what to say at the time. No one had ever liked me before and I felt so happy that I just couldn't do anything… I'm sorry."
"You're under no obligation to respond to how I feel, Keiji, I suppose you just don't feel the same way I do, and that's okay."
"But I do! I feel the same way you do, I feel good, this last month has made me happier than many things have and I really don't regret meeting you at all. I wanted you so much. I'm sorry, Bokuto-san, I never meant to hurt you or confuse you."
"Akaashi, you don't have to say that out of pity, you know, right?"
"I know, but I'm saying it because..." The boy took a deep breath, holding the smaller's face, "Because I love you. I love you, Bokuto Koutarou."
"Akaashi, are you sure? You didn't answer me, so I thought you didn't want anything to do with me like I wanted you."
“So…you don't want any more?”
“You have no idea, do you?” The taller one laughed weakly, looking at the other, "The only thing that stayed on my mind these days was you. All I could think about was you and how much I wish things had worked out."
“So, can we try yet?” The platinum laughed louder this time, taking Keiji's hands and bringing one of them to his lips, planting an affectionate seal there.
"Can I call you boyfriend now?"
"Bokuto-san! M-May. I d-like that."
"Alright then, boyfriend." Bokuto smiled, hugging the smaller one as he headed in the opposite direction, "Let's make Kuroo and Kenma hell, they deserve to know we're dating. Can we even double date, what do you think? Also-"
"Bokuto-san. ” The bigger one's attention went straight to Akaashi, "I love you."
"I love you too, Kaashi."