Chapter Text
Chapter 1
A nice Monday off to his first day in high school on his bike painted silver, trees adorned with the colors of early spring adorning each leaf. Akaashi Keiji’s life had been simple and tame. He was not miserable, but he could also say he was not living extravagantly either. He grew up with nice parents, he liked playing volleyball, and he topped his classes, got a decent amount of love letters from his former fellow students at his old middle school too.
There was always something missing from his life, he knew this, but at the same time he didn’t.
Entering the gates of Fukurodani High school, he watched students, some in pairs, some in groups, others walking alone, like him. He liked the solitude, since he was often swept by it, but he did also wish for someone he could call a close friend. Not a classmate, or someone he knew, or an acquaintance, but a friend. He didn’t mind. He never did.
And just like that, his first week at Fukurodani High went normal.
As a first-year high school student, his week started off just like he suspected it to be, nothing out of the ordinary. His classmates were decent; he greeted them just as politely as he did the teachers. He was rather mature for his age, or so a handful of people had said before, and he now noticed his new surroundings thought the same. Heck, even his old volleyball team had thought so too.
Oh, right, volleyball. He needed to sign up for a club. Well, volleyball was not the driving force for Akaashi's life, but it certainly was a somehow big part of it. He wasn't keen or hyperfixated on anything in particular, okay maybe vollleyball is somewhat if not excluded from that personal fact. He just never found the fire in his heart for the things he does on a daily basis. But it didn't make him unmotivated to live. Somehow, it made him live, to find that one thing in his life that could wake him up. Even if he doesn't know it yet.
Right now on this very morning, he was on his way to his school's gym. His p.e uniform blending in the array of other freshmen willing to try out for the volleyball team. He has been hearing rumors and stories about how there was an awesome second-year that was "ace-material". Hw was never the gossipy type though, but he found himself listening to the words that flew past him.
"Did you here about that senior?"
"I heard he kept scoring that it was impossible for the opposing team to have a deuce with them!"
"He's so handsome, and a star-player too"
"That second-year, you think he'll be the new ace of the team?"
"Man, he's cool. He'll become a legend for sure in the sports world!"
Ace, star, legend, it all intrigued Akaashi. How did this second-year manage to have everyone blabbering about him, it was odd for the boy. He found himself asking about two people about it. Introverted as he is, he isn't shy.
"Excuse me, who is this...Second-year everyone is talking about? Is he a young professional?"
One of his fellow freshmen replies, "Oh uh, far from it. But everyone mistakes him to be! His skills, his talents? Amazing! Even his seniors are impressed"
The other one follows, "It's true, I actually saw one of his matches in middle school. He was so active, he practically took over his side of the court. Makes you wonder why he isn't famous as hell yet"
"I see"
Akaashi says, and simply going back to walking silently. He forgot to ask their names, but it didn't seem important. He forgot to ask that second-year's name, but he thinks he'll know soon enough.
He now entered the gym, the faint smell of rubber and sweat mixed with the ventilation of the vast inside of it. And it just so happens that there was an on-going match happening right in front of him.
"Nice serve, Bokuto!"
He sees the man called Bokuto jump, basically flew for only half a second as he spikes the ball to the ground, the impact of it ringing through the room along with the many gasps of the freshmen watching. Akaashi noticed him. He heard him. His eyes landed on him. And they stayed glued on him. They stayed glued on him even more when, for a milisecond, their gaze connected. But it wasn't a small thing for Akaashi.
That must be him.
There it was. He hears the voices again. The unexplained voices that came along with his dreams at night every once in a while.
~"Those seconds, half seconds, that the line of our gaze connected, were the only moment in my day that I felt anything at all"~
He shook of the voices again. But, for the first time in his life, he agrees. It was the only moment in his day that his heart beated faster, his eyes glistened, his body still. All because of him. Bokuto. Who was he? He didn't know, but like a moth drawn to a flame, he wanted to.
He suddenly though to himself, "Maybe I love volleyball after all"