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Bokuto and Akaashi are cuddling on the couch watching Legally Blonde (as best friends do) when Bokuto has the brilliant idea that he should broaden his horizons and apply to Harvard. Akaashi giggles into Bokuto's shoulder, but when he feels the upper body of the broader man tense, he tilts his head upwards to meet his gaze.
"What's so funny, 'Kaashi?" Bokuto asks sincerely, and Akaashi feels his stomach drop. Is he serious?
After half a second of studying Bokuto's tone, body language and undiminished look of determination, Akaashi decides that yes...yes he is.
"My apologies, Bokuto-san," Akaashi quickly recovers. "What brought this on all of a sudden?"
Akaashi's cheek involuntarily nuzzles into the crook of Bokuto's neck as the latter relaxes his shoulders. The setter's skin flushes at the contact as he quickly readjusts his position. Bokuto removes his strong hand from where it lay on Akaashi's shoulder to grasp at his unruly curls. "Harvard's a prestigious school, and I'm a prestigious guy," he says while tousling the other boy's hair. "Wait," his movements stop with his words. "Did I use that word right?"
Bokuto's vocabulary has improved drastically over the last two years. He doesn't even need the help anymore━ though Akaashi doesn't mind. "Yes, Bokuto-san," he answers the ace. "And I agree with your assessment, you're both very prestigious."
"Great!" an elated Bokuto pulls his best friend into his chest. "It's settled then. WIll you help me with my video essay?"
"Video essay?" Akaashi questions, voice muffled as he glances back up with narrowed eyes.
Bokuto grips Akaashi's shoulders and pushes him away, arms outstretched. "If I'm gonna do this, I gotta go all out." His tone is deathly serious as he adds, "We're doing this 'Elle Woods' style."
Maybe it's selfish, but Akaashi isn't too keen on the idea of his best friend moving halfway across the world. He finds solace in knowing that, although Bokuto's academics are quite impressive for an athlete, the likelihood that he's accepted into Harvard is most certainly low.
Besides, Akaashi is sure the ace's future is bright regardless of the outcome of this application. The 186cm, 79 kg mass of muscle has already been scouted by many (also prestigious) universities in Japan. So Akaashi agrees to film the essay, casting all of his worries aside.
Since they don't have access to any of the local pools, Bokuto decides that they should record at the beach. Akaashi is the first to arrive onsite as he sets up a beach chair with an umbrella to wait for Bokuto.
Akaashi is fiddling with the video camera when he catches a glimpse of a large man approaching from his peripheral.
"Hey, hey, hey, Akaashi!" a voice calls from the distance.
Akaashi begins to look upward, preparing himself to greet Bokuto before his jaw hits the sand. Wandering eyes are graced with the glistening bare chest of his best friend; his gaze then meeting robust quads as it drops lower.
Good heavens, is Bokuto wearing a 𝘚𝘱𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘰?
Akaashi is hit with a plethora of emotions that he has a hard time deciphering at first, but finally comes to the conclusion that he's mostly impressed, nervous, and perhaps a little aroused at the glorious sight. He grabs the nearest towel, placing it over his lap for safe keeping. Akaashi isn't sure how long he's been staring, but knows he needs to get a grip. "Bokuto-san! You look—" though he struggles to find any words.
If Akaashi didn't know any better, he'd swear Bokuto's cheeks were flushed; but he did just run halfway across the beach, so perhaps the heat is catching up with him. Bokuto chuckles as he puts a hand behind his head. "Is it too much?" he asks bashfully.
"No!" Akaashi finds himself blurting out. "You look great. Really. Harvard's not going to know what hit them."
Somehow Akaashi survives the day, getting some really great footage of Bokuto's...assets. As he thumbs through the film, his stomach begins to churn. What if this works? What if Bokuto actually gets accepted into Harvard?
No. This kind of thing only happens in movies.
A few weeks later, Bokuto flags down Akaashi in the hallway between classes. “Akaashi! Guess what?"
"What is it, Bokuto-san?"
"A scout from Harvard's volleyball team wants to come to our next match!"
No. Fucking. Way.
"Really?" Akaashi squeaks, trying hard not to sound too surprised or disappointed. But how could he not be? A scout from Harvard is going to come watch 𝘩𝘪𝘴 amazing ace play, and no one in their right mind would dismiss Bokuto after seeing him in action.
"Are you okay, Akaashi?" Bokuto asks as Akaashi notices the sudden moisture forming in his own eyes.
A single tear falls, but Akaashi plays it off. "No need to worry about me, Bokuto-san. It's just alergies," he lies.
"Oh, okay," Bokuto squints skeptically before continuing. "Anyway, I told him not to worry about it."
"What?" Akaashi instantly perks up at the news.
"The Harvard scout," Bokuto clarifies. "I told him not to come."
"But why? Don't you want to go to Harvard?"
Bokuto replies, "I really just wanted to see if I could get in! But since I never had any real intention of going there, I couldn't in good conscious let them send a scout all the way out here just to see me play."
The whiplash from his own emotions causes Akaashi's tears to continue to fall, though the implication behind them is much different now. "I'm so glad to hear that, Bokuto-san," his voice cracks.
Bokuto reaches out to his weeping friend, pulling him into his chest. Akaashi wipes the wetness onto the cotton t-shirt that his head is now resting on as the rest of his body is encased in the other man's arms.Akaashi isn't sure how long they stay like that, but when he tries to pull away, Bokuto refuses to let go as he rests his chin on Akaashi's head.
"Thank you for believing in me, 'Kaashi," he whispers before pressing a soft kiss onto Akaashi's crown. "You're the best."
Akaashi smiles against the fabric and closes his eyes as he melts into the warm embrace.