Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Bokuto – Age 18

Volleyball has always been everything. From the moment Bokuto spiked the first toss thrown at him and heard the smack of the ball hitting the opposite side of the court, he knew that was it. He had found his calling.

While his love for volleyball has never faltered over the years, his will has been tested time and time again. Growing up, nobody could keep up with him. Not with his stamina, his motivation, his passion and least of all his moods. Those moments he looked to his side to find no one there; they hurt more than he ever let on. And though he pretended he didn’t hear it; he knew what his teammates said about him behind his back. He could never shake the fear that one day, he would go up for a spike and the ball would not be there. That his team would someday deem him unworthy of effort.

He blamed himself back then because he never knew better. Couldn’t fathom that there were people out there that would not only put up with him but enjoy his presence. Bokuto is glad he was wrong. He found a team that was more like a family and partner who not only can, but wants to keep up with him.

With those thoughts in his head, Bokuto breathes out a cloud of smoke into the chilly night air. The rest of the team is bundled up in their hotel room talking, strategizing, and laughing, but he needed to get away for a moment. Even after today’s excitement, restless energy runs through his body. He stares out into the distance, barely acknowledging his surroundings. Despite the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, he focuses only on his reflections. Bokuto’s body may be still for once, but his mind is as active as ever.

“I’m surprised to find you out here, Bokuto-san,” a voice says behind him. “Aren’t you going to watch the news coverage of our game?”

Bokuto looks over his shoulder and sees Akaashi Keiji exiting their tournament lodgings and walking to stand just behind him. Akaashi. His best friend and savior. Ever since Akaashi joined the Fukurodani Volleyball Club at the beginning of Bokuto’s second year, somehow everything in his life became brighter. School and practice and home and everything in between. Akaashi is both the best setter for Bokuto and the best friend for him. Together, they create a balance. While Bokuto has the raw skills and power to stand out, he knows his journey to this moment would have been a lot more difficult without Akaashi by his side pulling out Bokuto’s best like a master puppeteer. Bokuto will be a legend, of that he’s sure. And though he knows he has enough drive and hunger to make it on his own, he hopes Akaashi will stay by his side for his rise to the top.

“I already saw it,” Bokuto says, taking in the black-haired boy. Akaashi is hunched over with his hands in the pockets of his Fukurodani windbreaker. Clearly less than willing to be outside in the cold, but willing enough to collect Bokuto. If there’s one thing Bokuto knows he can count on, it’s that Akaashi will always find him when he needs him, even when he doesn’t realize it.

“Well, yes. But I thought you would rewatch it at least a full 100 times.”

“Geez, really? What kind of guy do you think I am, Akaashi?!” Bokuto would be offended, but honestly, Akaashi has a point. “I mean they didn’t show me all that much anyway. Only 20 times was plenty.”

Akaashi pauses for a second, but he’s used to Bokuto by now, so he moves on from the comment quickly. Bokuto’s brain wanders back to what he was thinking of before. He will make it, no matter what obstacles stand in his way. He’ll overcome anything and anyone to be the best. That may be selfish or egotistical of him, but Bokuto refuses to let himself settle. He’s afraid to let the fire inside him go to waste.

“See… I’m still gonna keep playing volleyball, even after I graduate high school. Even though this is my last tournament with this team, nothing feels all that different about this time compared to all the others,” he tells Akaashi as he puts his hands on his hips and looks back to the city. “But looking back, I wish I’d gotten to play together with you guys a whole lot more.”

It’s Spring Nationals. The final tournament of Bokuto’s high school career, but it won’t be the end. Not of his volleyball career or of his friendships with his teammates. He thinks of all the memories they’ve made and the blood, sweat and tears they shed to achieve what they have. Bokuto’s ready and excited to see what the future holds, but he can’t deny he’ll miss playing with this team. Konoha, Washio, Sarukui, Anahori, Komi, Onaga, but most of all Akaashi. Though, if everything goes the way Bokuto wants it to, he’ll only be playing without Akaashi for a year.

“Uh, Bokuto-san? You aren’t going to die anytime soon, are you?” Akaashi asks with a puzzled look on his face.

“Huh?” Why would Akaashi’s mind immediately go to death?! “Heck no! I’m gonna live until I’m at least 130,” Bokuto says in a matter-of-fact way. There are so many things he wants to accomplish, and he has to leave his mark on the volleyball world. His legacy will live on forever. The world won’t be rid of Bokuto Koutarou so easily.

“Then why are you going on about all this? It’s only day 2,” Akaashi says. “There’s still round 3, the quarterfinals, the semi-finals and then the finals. We have many games in front of us yet.” Bokuto may seem extreme to others, but Akaashi is that same kind of extreme, maybe just a little more subtle than Bokuto.

“Yep,” he says as he looks over to him again. Bokuto stares into Akaashi’s teal eyes, and Akaashi meets the golden ones directed at him. “And we’re gonna win ‘em all.”

They hold each other’s gazes for a moment longer. Bokuto with a dazzling smile on his face and Akaashi with stars in his eyes. Akaashi finally breaks eye contact to tug on Bokuto’s sweater and direct him to the hotel entrance.

“Let’s hurry back inside. And please don’t wander around in that thin shirt. You’ll catch your death of a cold. The flu is going around.” Bokuto looks behind him while Akaashi continues to push him with both hands at his lower back. “Don’t underestimate how vicious January can be.”

“Huh? What about January?”

“Never mind,” Akaashi sighs. “Let’s just go in. We need to rest.”

The duo walks through the hotel lobby, breathing a sigh of relief as the warmth of indoors soothes their chilled skin. Bokuto reaches behind himself and grabs one of Akaashi’s arms to pull the younger boy to his side. He then throws his arm around Akaashi’s shoulders in a familiar motion that the other rolls his eyes at.

“Say Akaashi,” Bokuto says. “What’s next? After we win it all, what comes after?”

“Finals,” Akaashi responds. Bokuto jerks Akaashi a little because of the remark.

“You know what I meant,” Bokuto says with a huff, though he continues to smile at Akaashi.

“What’s got you pondering the future right now?”

“I guess now that we’re finally here, and we’ve played our first game, I’m realizing this really is my final tournament of high school,” Bokuto says. “It all feels the same, but with the end so near, it’s forcing me to think about what comes next.”

Bokuto reaches forward to press the button for the elevator with the arm not hanging onto Akaashi. The players are both quiet for a moment. The elevator dings as the doors open before them, jolting Akaashi from his thoughts.

“Nobody can know for certain what comes next Bokuto-san,” he says, shaking off the older boy’s arm to step into the elevator and press the button for their floor. Bokuto is quick to follow, repeatedly jabbing his finger into the close door button.

“Come on, you have to have some ideas!”

“Well,” Akaashi starts while he pulls Bokuto away from the buttons by his sweater. “You’ll graduate and keep on training with the ridiculously extreme regimen you’ve curated for yourself. Then, you’ll try out for V.League teams and certainly make one.” Akaashi begins to go off on a little tangent. He’s been unusually invested in Bokuto’s recruitment. “I’d wager on division two or likely higher. Though who knows which team exactly. They’re probably all chomping at the bit to get you.”

“And you’ll become Captain of the Fukurodani Volleyball Club,” Bokuto interrupts. “You’ll lead the new team to another national title, making it two in a row for Fukurodani. You’ll get all the recognition you deserve for your hard work, and you’ll probably be interviewed constantly by reporters. You know they love talking to the captains of powerhouse teams.” The certainty with which Bokuto says it seems to make the younger uncomfortable. “And we’ll always cheer each other on.”

Bokuto can tell Akaashi has concerns for next year, but he also has complete faith in him. If Akaashi could learn and navigate his mood swings and help Bokuto lead the team to nationals this year, he knows Akaashi can handle anything. After all, while Bokuto may have the title of captain, Akaashi’s done a lot of the work to pull the team together and make them perform like a well-oiled machine.

The elevator arrives on their floor, and they exit to walk down the empty hallway to the team’s room. Their steps are slow, neither eager to leave the easy atmosphere that exists between the two of them alone. Bokuto loves that he can relax around Akaashi. He never has to watch his words or actions with the younger boy, because he knows Akaashi doesn’t judge him.
“I guess we’ll just have to wait and see,” Akaashi finally says as they come to a stop in front of the door. It’s quiet inside, most of the team has probably gone to sleep. “Though, let’s try to focus on the here and now.”

They make their way into the room, navigating around splayed-out teammates in the dark of night. They get to the far corner of the room where their futons are laid out together. Akaashi immediately burrows under his blankets, his body facing Bokuto’s futon, and closes his eyes. Bokuto will probably stay up a little later, admittedly to watch the news coverage of their game one more time. Maybe he missed something earlier.

Bokuto lays down on his stomach and plugs his earbuds into his phone to rewatch the newscast. His mind returns to the same demanding thoughts again as he scrubs through the coverage of the other matches. Bokuto knows he has to be something. He will be something. He can’t let the words others have spoken about him become the truth. And yes, he’ll do it alone if he has to. Though he doesn’t think he will.

“Akaashi.”

“Hmmm,” he mumbles without moving or opening his eyes.

“We might not be able to know what the future holds, but I think I’ll be fine as long as I have you as my best friend.”

“Don’t let Kuroo-san hear that,” Akaashi says.

“I’m being serious Agaashi!”

“Shh. I know,” Akaashi says. He’s quiet for a moment. Bokuto’s almost convinced that he fell asleep. “I’ll always be in your orbit,” Akaashi finally whispers.

Bokuto rises to his elbow and flashes a blinding smile towards him, even though the other boy still isn’t looking. Bokuto will be a legend. He’ll climb to the top and he’ll have good company there.

“Goodnight Bokuto-san,” Akaashi says, turning over to dissuade Bokuto from talking to him again. “Don’t stay up much longer.”

“Night Kaashi.”