Chapter Text
“Do you think he’ll land it this time?”
The arena was quiet for a moment, everyone waiting on bated breath as the two figures on the ice sped up, one of them suspended in the air for a moment before his skates scraped across the ice, slipping out from under him.
Oikawa clicked his tongue, pulling his hat further down his ears as he turned his attention back to his phone.
“What, like you could do any better?” Iwaizumi said.
“Definitely not,” Kuroo said, looking up from his phone. “I bet he even auditioned and didn’t make it.”
Bokuto laughed as Oikawa bristled, leaning over the railing of the bleachers to tune out his retort. The annual Nutcracker on ice had begun its practices at the college ice rink, pushing back the free skate time to later at night, but Bokuto couldn’t bring himself to being impatient like Oikawa was. There was something special about watching the tiny figures criss-cross across the rink below them, practicing for the Christmas show they would only put on once.
Bokuto leaned more heavily on the railing, watching as the two figures skated off to the side of the rink, gathering around the director. “What time does free skate start again?”
“Soon,” Kuroo said, looking up from his phone. “It’s almost ten—”
There was a burst of static from the speakers overhead, Kuroo pausing with his eyebrows raised, before tinny Christmas music started playing lowly throughout the arena. The skaters still on the rink exited, making their way down to the locker rooms.
“I guess it starts when the ice is clear,” Kuroo said, standing up to sling his bag over his shoulder, picking his way down the bleachers. Iwaizumi and Oikawa followed, Oikawa still glued to his phone, Iwaizumi ripping it from his hands as he fumbled slightly with the steps downward. At the bottom of the bleachers, Kuroo was stopped by someone with messy dark curls, his expression serious as he pulled him aside, his skates dangling from his fingers. Oikawa and Iwaizumi waved and continued for the benches by the rink, leaving Kuroo alone to talk with the boy.
“Are you staying the whole time?”
There was a clang to Bokuto’s left and he tore his eyes away, catching Suga grinning at him, his heavy bag now propped open between them.
“Yeah, why not?” Bokuto said, grinning back. He propped his feet on the seat below them, leaning his elbows on his knees as he glanced back at Kuroo and the boy, still in a deep conversation.
“Doesn’t it get boring being the only one not skating?” Daichi said from next to Suga, as he pulled a pair of gloves on.
Kuroo shifted slightly at the bottom of the bleachers, the boy he was talking to looking up at him silently as Kuroo talked, his face turned upwards. Bokuto inched closer to the edge of his seat, trying to get better view. “Boring?” he said distractedly.
“I could still teach you how to skate,” Suga said, pulling out a hat to pull over his unruly hair. “It’s not that hard.”
“I know how to skate!” Bokuto said, turning to face Suga with a huff. “I always get on the ice with you guys.”
“Doing laps holding onto the railing doesn’t count,” Daichi said, grinning as he zipped up his bag.
“Listen,” Bokuto said, puffing up his chest. “Enjoying yourself is the first step to improving.” He crossed his arms, smiling to himself for his impressive line.
“I guess you’ve been slowly improving for a year now,” Suga said, laughing slightly as he zipped up his own bag, standing up to head down to the rink. Bokuto just nodded, feeling pleased with himself. They had all met at the beginning of last year after moving into the same apartment complex close to the university, which had a small pond in the back that froze over quickly in the winter. They’d often hung out at the pond, back when Bokuto had been hesitant to even walk on the ice in his sneakers. A year later, and he felt confident enough to buy himself a pair of skates.
“Seriously,” Daichi said, pausing on his way down, Suga already almost to the bottom. “Let me know if you want any lessons.”
Bokuto hummed, letting his leg bounce on the bleachers as he waved Daichi off. Down on the rink, the ice was being cleared, the Zamboni chugging along slowly. Kuroo was sitting on the benches just outside the rink entrance with everyone else, tying his laces, the boy he had been talking to now gone.
Bokuto licked his lips slowly, scanning the arena. There were only a few groups of students scattered around the rink, as the free skate hour had been pushed back late at night for December, and Bokuto didn’t see anyone out of the ordinary. He sat there for a moment, humming along to the holiday music overhead, before shooting up quickly, clomping down the bleachers two stairs at a time, jogging over to the benches outside the rink.
The speakers overhead crackled again, announcing the rink was open for free skate, and Suga, Daichi, and Iwaizumi got up, heading for the ice. Bokuto pulled out his own skates, slipping them on hastily as he watched the entrance, glancing at the people passing by onto the ice. Kuroo slid out his phone, tapping quickly next to Bokuto.
“Kuroo,” Bokuto said, dropping his bag heavily on the floor before squeezing himself between Oikawa and Kuroo. He bent over to dig around in his bag, ignoring Oikawa elbowing him out of his space as he pulled out his skates. “Who were you just talking to?”
“Hm?” Kuroo paused with his laces in hand, furrowing his brow for a moment. “Oh, that was just my debate partner for my environmental management class.”
“Really—?”
“How’s the debate research going?”
Bokuto looked up to find Oikawa had stood up on his skates, hands on his hips as he grinned down at the two of them. Kuroo narrowed his eyes, deciding how to answer.
“Takeda’s assignment is slowly killing me,” Kuroo finally said with a sigh, giving his laces one final tug before standing up as well.
“Didn’t get a good group partner?” Oikawa said.
“Nah.” Kuroo grabbed his heel, stretching out his quad. “He’s good. It’s just so much work.”
“Tell me about it,” Oikawa said, pulling his hat farther down over his ears, where it kept sliding up.
Kuroo rolled his eyes, his skate clomping back down on the mats as he dropped his heel. “You’ll probably get a perfect score while still finding time for five different clubs for the week,” Kuroo said, Oikawa just flashing them a peace sign before heading for the rink, stepping onto the ice and gliding away.
Bokuto stood up from the bench slowly, shakily trudging his way on his skates to get to the rink entrance while Kuroo followed him. “I could never be in your major,” he said, scrunching his nose.
Kuroo shrugged, waiting patiently as Bokuto stepped carefully onto the ice, gripping the wall for support. “It’s not so bad. Oikawa and I take most of the same classes.”
“But it’s so much work.” Bokuto slowly put his other foot onto the ice, letting go of the wall slowly as he straightened up, testing the slipperiness underneath him. He settled his weight on one foot, pushing off the ice to glide along the very edge of the rink.
“Speaking of work,” Kuroo said, keeping pace beside Bokuto, looking out toward the middle of the rink. Bokuto followed his gaze, finding the boy Kuroo had been talking to earlier, skating tight circles around the rink, Oikawa next to him, gesturing grandly with his hands, the boy looking politely interested. Kuroo held a hand up, waving as the two of them passed by, and the boy said something to Oikawa, breaking away to glide up next to Kuroo.
“Hey,” Kuroo said. “Is Oikawa trying to steal our final debate topic from us?”
“He might have asked me what we were planning,” the boy said, rolling his eyes slightly. He was skating at the same pace as them as Bokuto slowly worked himself up to faster laps, looking unbothered as Kuroo laughed beside him.
“And he said he’d already picked out a debate topic,” Kuroo said, shoving his hands in his pockets. “He was gloating about it the whole class.”
“He’s plotting something,” Bokuto said helpfully, slipping slightly on the ice before righting himself. The boy glanced up at him, Bokuto catching his dark eyes and giving him an automatic smile, which he returned slowly.
“My demise,” Kuroo said solemnly. They kept skating slowly around the edge of the rink, Kuroo giving Akaashi an apologetic shrug. “Sorry, Akaashi, you’re getting dragged into it.”
“Your demise?” he said wryly, one eyebrow arched.
“It’s a tough game they play,” Bokuto said, speeding up as he got excited.
“A competition for the ages,” Kuroo said.
“A competition,” Akaashi repeated.
“Only one person can have the best biology GPA at the end of each semester.” Bokuto added. “Oikawa can’t win again.”
Kuroo closed his eyes, nodding in agreement. “A vicious battle.”
Akaashi threw them a look, pushing off on his skates, gliding ahead for a moment before letting the two of them catch up. “And now you dragged me into it?”
“No,” Kuroo said
“Yes!” Bokuto took his hand off the edge of the rink, his momentum carrying him without wobbling as he pushed off on the ice excitedly. “It’s your quest now.”
“A quest,” said Kuroo thoughtfully. “I like that.”
“Akaashi,” Bokuto said, pausing for a second. “It’s Akaashi, right? You’re like the side character with the tools to help him on his quest.”
Kuroo snorted, falling behind the trio for a moment.
“Right,” Akaashi said, skating silently for a few seconds. “What happens when you win?” he said eventually.
“When you win,” Bokuto said, putting a hand over his heart. “You win.”
Akaashi turned to Kuroo, trying to hide the small smile tugging on his lips. “Do you really compete for the best grades every semester?”
“Yeah.” Kuroo shrugged. “It makes it easier to study.”
“Oikawa-san is very good at studying.”
“Akaashi,” Kuroo said in a hurt voice. “Are you saying I’m not good at studying too?”
“You’re good at studying, Kuroo-san.”
Kuroo gave Bokuto a look before turning back to Akaashi. “But not very good.”
“You’re not going to beat Oikawa with that attitude,” Bokuto said.
“We’re supposed to be together on this project,” Kuroo added.
Akaashi pushed off on the ice, turning around to skate backwards. “We’ll do well on this debate, Kuroo-san,” he said.
“Are we still meeting tomorrow?”
Akaashi just nodded, giving them a polite wave before skating off, Bokuto watching him glide towards the center of the rink, catching up with a few people.
“That reminds me,” Kuroo said after a few moments, turning to Bokuto as they continued around the edge. “Is it okay if I have Akaashi over tomorrow night? The library is always too crowded on Sunday nights.”
“Sure.” Bokuto perked up, pushing off the edge of the rink to skate without support. “He can come for dinner if he wants! I’m cooking tomorrow.” He wobbled a bit on his skates as he gestured, steadying himself on Kuroo’s elbow for a moment before going back to holding onto the edge.
“Okay,” Kuroo said. “Sounds like a plan—”
Kuroo cut his sentence short with a strangled sound as someone skated up behind them, draping an arm over both his and Bokuto’s shoulder.
“Getting the environmental law student to help you with your debate,” Oikawa said playfully, pulling them in closer as he leaned more heavily on their shoulders. “Very sneaky for an environmental management class.”
“Smart, not sneaky,” Kuroo said, shrugging Oikawa’s arm off. Bokuto threw his arms over Oikawa’s shoulders instead, laughing as he clung to the back of his shirt.
“Oikawa’s just worried he’ll lose,” Bokuto said, clutching Oikawa so tightly he was getting towed across the ice.
“I’m not worried,” Oikawa scoffed, flashing them a grin as he dragged Bokuto behind him. “Bring it on.”
Oikawa sped up, skating away from the edge of the rink, Bokuto hooting as they took a lap around the ice, breezing past Suga and Daichi. Kuroo followed close on their heels, kicking up a spray of ice as they rounded a corner. Bokuto closed his eyes for a moment, humming along as the music over the loudspeakers changed to another holiday song.
***
Bokuto watched his breath curl above their heads, drifting off into the cloudy night sky as they headed back to the apartments. Kuroo was at his side, playing a puzzle game on his phone, their shoulders bumping together every now and then as they walked. Ahead of them, Suga and Oikawa talked excitedly about the Nutcracker show, their voices drifting back to them in snatches on the sidewalk.
“Are you staying long enough to see the play this year?” Bokuto asked, as Oikawa’s voice exclaimed about Clara’s performer before drifting off again. Every year, the Nutcracker showed at the ice rink the day after finals ended, when most of the college students had gone home for the holidays and the locals could enjoy it. Since Kuroo was the farthest from home, he’d left early last year, the rest of the group going to see the play without him.
Kuroo sniffed in the cold, clicking his phone screen off before shoving it deep into his pocket, letting his breath puff out in front of them.
“I’m not sure,” he said. Ahead of them, Iwaizumi’s and Daichi’s silhouettes were moving on the sidewalk, black against the bright Christmas lights from the houses on either side of the quiet lane. Oikawa’s tall figure stopped for a moment, his hand waving as the two of them caught up to him, Suga’s voice calling out in the night. Someone sang a few notes of a Nutcracker song, Daichi yelling gruffly for them to be quiet on a residential street.
“Aw,” Bokuto said, scrunching his hands to fists in his pockets. “I thought you wanted to come this year.”
“I do.” Kuroo sniffed again, wiping his nose with a gloved hand. “It depends how quickly I can get this debate done. If I finish early I’ll have time to shop and pack and study and everything before the show.”
“That’s almost a whole month from now!”
Kuroo just hummed in agreement.
Bokuto sped up slightly on the sidewalk, standing up taller as he glanced around them. The Christmas lights of the house next to them flickered around them, throwing everything in a blue glow. “Then I’ll just help you pack,” Bokuto said, pleased with his plan. “So you have one less thing to do.”
“Pass.”
Bokuto put his hands on his hips, his skates clanking in the bag resting on his shoulder. “Kuroo!”
Kuroo just snickered, tripping a bit on the sidewalk as Bokuto shoved him forward.
“I’ll try to make it,” he said after a beat, burying his nose in his scarf. “I want to come with all of you this year.”
Bokuto swung his arms a little faster as they walked, smiling as the Christmas lights glowed around them.
***
The next night Bokuto found himself on the couch in front of the TV, ignoring his textbook as Kuroo fiddled with his phone beside him. There was a soft knock at the door and Bokuto shifted under the blankets, trying to wriggle free from the cocoon he’d rolled himself into on the couch.
“I’ll get it,” he said, the tip of his tongue sticking out slightly as he managed to worm one arm out from the blankets. Kuroo just laughed, the couch springs creaking as he got up instead, turning the TV off as he headed for the front door.
“Hey,” Kuroo said, opening the door to reveal Akaashi bundled up on the front porch, his nose buried into his scarf to block the chill of the night. A gust of wind blew through the living room before Kuroo could shut the door behind Akaashi, Bokuto shivering on the couch.
“Ready to work on this debate?”
Akaashi slipped off his backpack, taking a quick look around their tiny apartment before setting it down at the foot of the couch. “I’m ready,” he said.
“Akaashi, this is Bokuto, by the way,” Kuroo said. “My housemate. I don’t know if you remember him from the ice rink yesterday. Bo, this is Akaashi Keiji, debate partner and Oikawa crusher.”
“Just debate partner,” Akaashi said, pulling his gloves off and tucking them into his jacket pockets, giving Kuroo a look before turning to Bokuto. “Nice to meet you.”
“Hello!” Bokuto pulled his other arm free and kicked off the rest of his blankets, springing up to shake Akaashi’s hand. His fingers were still cold from outside, Bokuto wishing he could transfer him some heat as he glanced down at Akaashi’s red cheeks. “It’s okay if you can’t crush Oikawa. Kuroo’s already been trying for two years now.”
Akaashi’s eyes flicked to Kuroo. “Maybe I should pick a debate partner who can actually win.”
“A fair point,” Kuroo said.
“No, no, no!” Bokuto looked at Kuroo in horror, who just smiled and shrugged as if it didn’t matter either way. “Listen,” he said, putting a hand on Akaashi’s shoulder, steering him down the short hallway to the kitchen. “You have to keep Kuroo as your partner. I know he may not seem like it, but he’s the best choice for you.”
“Really,” Akaashi said.
“I’d love to hear why,” Kuroo said as he slid into the kitchen behind them, taking a seat at the table, three plates already waiting around the dinner Bokuto had made.
“I mean, Case A,” Bokuto said, hopping into his own chair and gesturing for Akaashi to do the same. He ripped off the tinfoil from the dish he’d made in the oven earlier, ladling himself a heaping plate. “You get great brain food before you have to start working,” Bokuto said, as if they were discussing taxes, or the plague.
“True,” Kuroo said.
Bokuto gestured for Akaashi to hand him his empty plate, ignoring the dribble of food that fell onto the table as he served him. “You can’t get this at the library,” Bokuto said, waving off Akaashi’s thanks. “And that’s where Oikawa lives.”
Kuroo shook his head in mourning and Bokuto snickered.
“And what’s Case B?” Akaashi said.
“Eh?”
“You can’t have a Case A without a Case B,” Akaashi said, picking up his fork. “Why else should Kuroo be my debate partner?”
“Wow!” Bokuto chewed quickly, slamming his fork down on the table. “You already sound like a good debater!”
Kuroo cracked up, helping himself to a plate. “Case B, you’ll be showered in praise the entire time we work on the project.”
Bokuto glared at him briefly before turning back to his plate, taking a large bite. “I’m trying to sell you here,” he said, talking around his food. “I want you to get this debate done so you can go to the play!”
“Bokuto-san,” Akaashi said, talking before Kuroo could open his mouth. “I won’t pick another partner. You don’t have to worry about Kuroo-san.”
Bokuto beamed, watching Akaashi take a huge forkful of food.
“It’s because of my cooking,” Bokuto said to Kuroo. Akaashi just raised his eyebrows, looking away as Kuroo snickered.
They ate the rest of dinner quickly, Akaashi thanking him for the food as Kuroo grabbed his bag from the living room and they headed upstairs to start researching. Bokuto stayed downstairs, shoving the plates into the dishwasher as he looked out the kitchen windows, Christmas lights twinkling out of students’ apartment across from them.
***
Bokuto sunk down lower on the bleachers a few nights later, watching his breath curl above him as he sighed deeply. He had a textbook open on his lap, but he ignored it, instead idly watching the end of the youth’s league ice hockey game before free skate was supposed to begin. He was supposed to meet Kuroo and the rest of the group to skate, but his class had let out early and he’d ended up at the rink pretending to study. Down below him, parents chattered closer to the ice, occasionally calling out a player’s name in cheer.
“Bokuto-san.”
Bokuto jumped, looking behind him to find Akaashi leaning against the railing, a bag slung over his shoulder and a pair of skates dangling from his fingers.
“Akaashi!” Bokuto said, scooting over to make room as Akaashi climbed down the bleachers. “How are you?”
Akaashi stopped beside Bokuto, setting his bag down carefully as he shrugged. His scarf was still pulled over his chin, the tip of his nose bright red from the cold outside. Bokuto pressed his lips together, trying not to smile at the fact that his nose matched the color of his hat and scarf almost perfectly.
“I’m okay, Bokuto-san,” he said, sitting down next to Bokuto. “How are you?”
“Studying hard,” Bokuto said, gesturing to his abandoned textbook, Akaashi smiling slightly and shaking his head. “Are you here for free skate soon?”
Akaashi nodded, propping his feet up on the seat below them. They were quiet for a moment, watching the rink below them as the smallest of the kids slipped on the ice, her stick sliding away from her, one of the parents visibly wincing.
“Oh, man,” Bokuto said, pointing as she got back on her skates. “That little one is a trooper.”
Akaashi followed Bokuto’s finger, watching her speed off towards the rest of the players. She tucked herself tighter, barreling through the players towards the puck.
“I wish I learned to skate when I was little,” Bokuto said wistfully, watching her speed around the ice. “It’s so hard learning now.”
“Skating is easier when you’re younger,” Akaashi agreed, propping his elbows on his knees.
“Did you skate when you were younger?” Bokuto asked. “You skate really good, I remember from the other day!” Bokuto paused for a moment. “Really well,” he corrected.
Akaashi turned to him for a moment, his dark eyes catching his, and Bokuto found himself smiling automatically.
“I used to live next to a pond that would freeze over in the winter,” he said, shrugging. “My older sister taught me to skate.”
“Hey!” Bokuto said. “Just like the pond outside our apartment complex!”
Akaashi blinked, his eyebrows knitting together for a moment. “We can skate on that?”
“Of course! Me and Kuroo and everyone used to all the time last year.” Bokuto paused, tapping his chin for a second. “I mean, we’re probably allowed. Nobody stopped us.”
The crowd of parents by the ice rink cheered and they looked back at the game, the little girl pumping her fists as she skated around the goal, her teammates cheering her on.
“She’s really good,” Bokuto said.
Akaashi hummed, clasping his hands in front of him.
“You know, I heard it’s supposed to get really cold starting this week.”
Akaashi turned back to him, his lips parted slightly in question. Bokuto couldn’t help but notice the very tip of his nose was still red.
“Cold enough for the pond to freeze over,” Bokuto added. “So we don’t have to wait until free skate at the rink so late at night.”
“Really?” Akaashi said.
“Maybe then I could get better at skating,” Bokuto said, resting his elbows on his knees. In front of them, the final buzzer sounded, the smallest player zipping around the rink one final time, pumping her fists excitedly.
Akaashi rubbed the tip of his nose, folding his arms across his chest before giving Bokuto a smile.
“Akaashi!”
Bokuto’s foot slipped off the bench beneath them and Akaashi started at the sound, the both of them glancing below them to see Kuroo waving at them, pointing at his laptop and gesturing for Akaashi to come down.
Akaashi picked up his bag, slinging it over one shoulder before hesitating, turning slightly towards Bokuto on the bench.
“Kuroo-san is working really hard on our debate,” Akaashi said, glancing below them before looking back at Bokuto. “I’m sure I’ll see you around.”
“Yeah,” Bokuto said. He shut his textbook, the smile on his face too big as Akaashi turned to head down the bleachers. “Good luck!”