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When Keiji first woke up this morning, he felt excitement growing inside of him. Today was the day. Today, Keiji entered the Fukurodani Academy, his dream school since he watched their volleyball match at the national on TV and saw his star, Bokuto Koutarou shining in the sky. Since Keiji saw the game last year entering the academy had become his new goal, he dreamt of playing alongside Bokuto Koutarou, and most importantly set for him but Keiji was realistic, there was no way a first-year student could become the starting setter of the team and deep down, Keiji didn’t care. At least he will be part of the team and watch Bokuto-san shine closer than on TV.
He just hoped he wouldn’t make a fool of himself in front of him.
Keiji ate a small breakfast, thanks to the anxiety, he didn’t feel hungry. Then he quickly walked to the academy, Keiju arrived thirty minutes earlier and took the time to visit the school.
He was walking in the hallway on the second floor of the main building when through the window his gaze got caught by a student with black and white hair walking or more jumping toward a gym.
Keiji jolted when he heard someone cough. He turned his head and saw a student, probably a third-year student smiling at him. “Sorry, I didn’t want to scare you, I’m Riku, the volleyball team captain, we’re looking for new teammates, and if you don’t have any other obligation-”
“I want to play with you!”
Riku was startled by his burst and Keiji blushed. He bowed furiously, “I’m sorry for interrupting you.”
Riku chuckled, “It’s fine don’t worry,” he handed a paper, “this is the form you have to fill, you can give it to me this afternoon. We practice after school at the second gym.”
Keiji nodded and took the paper. “Thank you so much senpai.”
Riku smiled. “You’re welcome, what’s your name and what position do you play?”
“I’m Akaashi Keiji and I’m a setter.”
“Really, that’s great, Kenzo, our only setter is a third year and I was getting worried about not finding a setter for next year.”
The bell rang announcing the first hour of the day was about to start.
“We should go, see you later Akaashi.”
Keiji nodded and waved at Riku as he walked away. He couldn’t wait to meet the team and Bokuto-san.
— — —
Keiji was standing in the school’s second gym. He and two other first-years, Eiji and Chouko were listening to Coach Yamiji with the team's captain by his side.
In the corner of his eyes, Keiji could see the second-year and third-year students already stretching and Bokuto-san.
Keiji jolted when he heard the coach clapping in his hands with a smile. He had been so absorbed by Bokuto-san’s presence he had forgotten to listen to the different instructions.
Like the other first-years, Keiji started stretching and once they were done waited on the bench.
“So, we’re going to do a three versus three. Akaashi will be the setter with Bokuto and Washio while Eiji and Chouko will play with Kenzo.”
Keiji felt his cheeks burn. He hadn’t thought he would play with Bokuto-san this early. He felt his hands shaking and clenched his fists. He needed to calm down, and quickly. He couldn’t make a fool of himself in front of his star. Keiji refused.
He stood up and walked in the direction of Bokuto and Washio. Only Washio was talking while Bokuto’s gaze drifted from his teammate to Keiju. Then Bokuto smiled at him. If Keiji’s face wasn’t red it was definitely now. Keiji bowed his head. “Akaashi Keiji, nice to meet you.”
Washio nodded while Bokuto greeted him with a slap on the shoulder. “Hey, hey, hey! Nice to meet you too Akaashi! I’m sure you’re going to be great but don’t worry, my first training wasn’t great so don’t put too much pressure on yourself!”
Akaashi coughed after the slap, he was practically sure he heard some of his bones crack under the pressure. He knew Bokuto-san was strong but not that strong.
Washio frowned. “Bokuto be more careful, sorry about him.”
Keiji shook his head, “It’s okay.”
They started the game and Keiji needed to focus. He needed to show he was good and could be a good setter. He caught the ball and directly sent it toward Bokuto. The spiker jumped and the ball perfectly landed on his hand and smashed it.
Keiji couldn’t more be happier, he perfectly set the ball to Bokuto and scored. They finished the game and Bokuto’s team won 2-0. Keiji tried to catch his breath and looked up, he saw Bokuto walking directly to him and grabbed him by his shoulder. For one second Keiji got scared, maybe during the game Keiji made an unforgivable mistake and Bokuto was about to kick him out of the gym but Bokuto started to shake him and yelled, “That was the best set ever! You tossed the ball so magically and so well! I’m so happy to have you on the team Kaashi!”
Thankfully, Washio quickly came to Keiji’s rescue. “Bokuto stop it you’re going to scare him.”
Bokuto stopped shaking him but kept his hands on Keiji’s shoulder. “I’m not going to scare Kaashi right?” Bokuto turned his gaze to him and gosh his golden eyes were so beautiful, “you’re going to stay Kaashi right? You have to stay because we are going to the national and with your passes we will win.”
Keiji blinked. It was weird seeing how much Bokuto trusted him while they only known each other for the past hour and played together only two sets. He saw the determination in his eyes and Keiji was sure Bokuto truly believed his words.
Slowly he saw different emotions passing in Bokuto’s golden eyes, it started with passion then puzzled, and now worrying. Keiji blinked again and realized he still hadn’t answered Bokuto’s question.
“Don’t worry Bokuto-san, I’ll stay and I’ll toss to you as long as you want me to do.”
Bokuto-san’s eyes started to shine, he beamed at him. “I’m glad Kaashi!”
When Bokuto jumped during the first set, Keiji had been blinded. Bokuto-san was bright as the sun and Keiji vowed to himself he would do everything to keep making him shine.
— — —
The first time it happened, was after they lost the quarter-finals of the Spring Tournament. Everything had been perfect except Keiji couldn’t focus. The light had been too bright and the whole environment had changed. he wasn’t used to that and now because of him, Riku and the other third-year students had lost the tournament. Bokuto-san had lost the tournament because of him.
Keiji refused to meet anyone’s eyes. They thanked the Kamomedai High’s team and left the stadium.
They had worked so hard to participate in the tournament and because of his mistakes, their hard work had gone to waste.
Keiji sat at the bottom of the bus alone. Usually, Bokuto-san always sat next to him but today, Bokuto-san sat next to Konoha in the second row on the right. None of the players or managers was talking. Coach Yamiji drove the bus back to the school in a deafening silence.
Keiji kept his head down and clenched his fists when he heard a sob. Then slowly, he started hearing more sobs. He bit his bottom lip hard enough to bleed, he couldn’t cry. He had lost the right to cry after making his team lose.
He put his hand on his mouth when Keiji heard a sob coming from the second row on the right of the bus.
Thankfully the school wasn’t too far and they arrived quickly. Once all of them were off the bus the coach sighed. “Go take a shower then we will meet at the gym.”
The players nodded and went directly to the club room. Inside, the uncomfortable silence was still present. The only sounds Keiji could hear were the clothes being taken off, the shower running down, and cries.
When it was Keiji’s turn to shower, he took an ice-cold shower and rubbed his skin until it was red.
Keiji left the shower and saw Chouko and Eiji sitting on the bench. In the three third-first years, only Keiji was in the starting line-up. At first, Keiji had been incredibly proud but now, Keiji wanted the floor to swallow him. He knew he had to face the team and most importantly Bokuto-san and Kenzo senpai.
Gosh, Kenzo senpai. The third-year student had been so patient with him and taught him everything he needed to be better and yet Keiji failed.
Despite not playing, both Chouko and Eiji were crying. Chouko rubbed his eyes. “It’s not fair. We’re better than them.”
Keiji bit his bottom lip and looked away. Eiji swallowed a sob and rubbed his eyes too. He stood up from the bench and walked toward the door. “If we were better then we should have won and stayed on the court. Now come on, everyone is waiting for us.”
Both Chouko and Keiji nodded and followed their teammate. Eiji was right, the rest of the team was already sitting on the gym’s floor. Keiji sat a bit further from the rest of the group. He stared at Bokuto-san’s back. His head a bit down and Keiji could see his black roots showing.
Coach Yamiji sighed. “You did good. I know we lost and it sucks, but you played well. Every single one of you.”
Keiji looked away when Coach Yamiji looked at him.
Coach crossed his arms. “We were good today, but tomorrow we will be better. We know our weaknesses now and will work on them, we know our strengths and will improve them. We will diversify our attacks and skills and next time, we will win the tournament. Now, rest and focus on your exams. We will see each other again for the third year's graduation. Now does someone want to talk?”
Riku stood up and walked in front of the group. He stood next to the coach and raised his head. Keiji could see the tears in his eyes. “Thank you for taking care of me.” he bowed, “Thank you. I will never forget our team. It had been the best three years of my life. Thank you.”
Keiji rubbed his eyes while the coach ruffled Reiku’s hair. Reiku straightened up, “Now I would like to present the new captain of the team.”
Keiji and the other players looked at each other. They knew that since Reiku was leaving someone else would be the new captain but no one knew who. Then Bokuto stood up and walked without a word toward Reiku and the coach. Both of them were smiling and Keiji saw tears in the corner of the coach’s eyes.
Bokuto raised his head and looked at his teammate. His beautiful golden eyes were red from his tears. Keiji knew Bokuto looked at the whole team but he felt like Bokuto was looking directly at him. It made him nervous, Bokuto made him nervous but it wasn’t Keiji’s fault.
How could he not be nervous when the sun looked directly at him?
Every time Bokuto looked at him, Keiji could only understand why Icarius burned his wings trying to research the sun. Keiji would gladly burn his wings a thousand times if it meant being by Bokuto’s side just a bit more.
Bokuto bowed. “Please take care of me.” he straightened up and Reiku like Coach did with his own, ruffled Bokuto’s hair. “I can’t announce my vice-captain yet but I’ll soon.”
The players nodded and stood up to congrats Bokuto. Keiji heard Konoha and Washio jokingly asking Bokuto which of them would be the future vice-captain. Keiji stayed away from the rest of the group and waited most of them had left to advance. Keiji smiled. “Congrats Bokuto-san, you’re going to be a good captain.”
Bokuto looked at him and whispered. “Can you stay? I need to talk to you alone.”
Keiji caught by surprise only nodded. He placed himself next to Bokuto and listened to their last teammates congratulate him.
Once the team was gone Coach Yamiji looked at them, “You close the gym Bokuto?” Bokuto nodded and Coach smiled at them, “Have a good night and be home soon. You both need to rest.”
Both Bokuto and Keiji nodded. Keiji turned his gaze to his new captain but Bokuto stayed silent. Keiji felt anxiety growing up in him. Maybe Bokuto was about to scowl him about his uselessness during the game. Bokuto was always prone to praise him but now that he was captain, Bokuto needed to prioritize the team.
Gosh, what if Bokuto wanted to kick him out of the team?
Coach closed the door and Bokuto took a deep breath but Keiji acted first. The team was his life, Bokuto was his life he couldn’t stop playing or worse being in the team.
Keiji bowed and clenched his fist. “I’m so sorry Bokuto-san. I know, I know I’m not good enough but please don’t kick me out of the team. It’s my fault that we lost, I know. I’m sorry.”
“Akaashi-”
“No please Bokuto-san. Just please. Don’t,” Keiji sobbed, gosh he was so pathetic. He made the team lose and now he was crying in front of his captain, his sun, his star begging for forgiveness. “don’t kick me out of the team.”
“Kaashi,” Bokuto cupped his face and made him slowly straighten up, “I wanted to ask you to be my vice-captain. Is that why you kept looking sad? Because you thought I was about to kick you out of the team?”
Keiji blinked and blinked again. Vice-captain. Vice-captain? Bokuto wanted to make him vice-captain? Him?
“Vice-captain?”
Bokuto smiled. He hummed while nodding completely unaware of the mess in Keiji’s brain.
“But why? We lost because of me because I couldn’t toss properly. Because my hands were useless. If it hadn’t been for me, we would have won. If Kenzo-senpai had been the setter we would have won.”
“You don’t know that,” his eyebrows knit together, “and we didn’t lose because of you-”
“We did! Bokuto-san we lost because of me, you lost because of me!” Keiji stared at his shaking hands. “We lost because of my useless hands because I’m use-”
“Akaashi.”
Keiji bit his bottom lips. Bokuto was frowning and looked clearly mad. He softly took his hands in his and started massaging his palms. “Akaashi, this is the first time the team has gone to the quarter-finals. We didn’t lose because of you, yes I couldn’t hit some of you toss but it wasn’t just your fault, it was mine too. Akaashi,” Bokuto locked his gaze in his eyes, “you’re not useless, you’re my world.”
Keiji stopped breathing. He felt his cheeks burn. Everything was too much, Bokuto’s gaze, Bokuto’s touch, Bokuto’s words. The sun was too bright and Keiji felt his wing and heart burn.
Bokuto softly smiled. “So, will you be my vice-captain?”
Keiji found himself unable to talk and simply nodded. He was too busy remembering how to breathe while his star looked and touched him.
Bokuto beamed. “Good, because I didn’t want anyone else so you kinda had to accept. I mean only you know me the best so it has to be you.”
Keiji nodded again. Bokuto’s hands were so soft and warm against his skin.
“We will make the announcement next time okay Kaashi? And never say again that you’re useless because you’re not. You’re my world and we are the protagonist of the world. Next time we will win the tournament you will see.”
Bokuto smiled and somehow Keiji felt himself fall all over again for his star.
— — —
Keiji rubbed his eyes trying to make his tiredness disappear. He looked at his phone once again and sighed when he saw his phone showing it was past midnight. Tomorrow, well today, he had an important math test.
Keiji hated maths, it wasn’t new, Keiji had always hated maths since first grade. He knew maths was important because without it Keiji wouldn’t be able to calculate the perfect trajectory to toss to Bokuto-san or the other players but still. Keiji hated maths. The thing was he had to pass the test because if he didn’t then he would fail a class and the Fukurodani Academy had a very strict policy about clubs. If one of the players failed one major class then the player would be benched until his academic record was better.
Thankfully the maths test result would be after the game against Nekoma, it wasn’t an official game but it was their last game before the Spring Tournament and Keiji couldn’t either lose the game or be unable to play the tournament.
It was Bokuto-san's last high school tournament, and Keiji couldn’t miss or lose it. He had to see his star shine again and help him as much as he could to win the gold medal.
Keiji yawned, but for that, he needed to first finish studying. Keiji rubbed his eyes again and suddenly his phone vibrated. He looked at it and saw Kenma’s name on his phone. Keiji unlocked it and looked at his text. Keiji felt a smile bloom on his face.
[Keiji]
Cute cat
[Kenma]
I saw it on the way home
I thought you would want to see it
[Keiji]
I do and thanks
The cat was black and white and looked so adorable. Gosh Keiji wanted to pet the cat so badly. He preferred owls don’t get him wrong but cats were just adorable.
[Kenma]
Why are you still awake?
It’s late
You should sleep
Keiji raised an eyebrow and typed
[Keiji]
You kidding right?
[Kenma]
No
If you don’t sleep then you will be tired during the day
Then Bokuto will be upset
So he will text Kuroo
And Kuroo will be upset
I don’t want Kuroo to be upset
Keiji smiled. At the last training camp, Keiji and Kenma succeded in escaping their determined idiot captains. They had at first didn’t talk and Keiji had simply looked at Kenma advancing in his game until Kenma had asked Keiji if he had tips or advice on how to deal with a hypothetical crush.
[Keiji]
Did you advance with Kuroo?
You should tell him
[Kenma]
Did you advance with Bokuto?
[Keiji]
Touché
[Kenma]
So?
Go to bed
[Keiji]
I have to study
[Kenma]
GO TO SLEEP
[Keiji]
I go to sleep if you do
[Kenma]
I hate you
Goodnight
[Keiji]
Same
Night Kenma
Keiji locked his phone and looked back at his book. If he read one more page without Kenma knowing, it wouldn’t hurt him. He started reading and his phone vibrated again.
[Kenma]
NOW
BED
Keiji snorted and quickly sent back a goodnight text. He closed his book and stood up before passing out in his bed.
Unfortunately for Keiji, his alarm clock rang way too soon after he fell asleep. The morning passed quickly and he could feel Bokuto-san’s eyes on him during the morning practice but Keiji couldn’t focus on that. It’s been almost a year since Bkuto-san made him vice-captain and called him his world but it sure hadn’t meant anything. Bokuto was friendly with everyone. Keiji wasn’t special.
Now Keiji sat in his classroom and took a deep breath before turning his exam page. He looked at the page and only thought how much screwed he was.
And it wasn’t just a thought as a week later, Keiji held his corrected exam.
The past week had been only horrible. They lost the game against Nekoma and Kuroo loved to rub it to their face. After the game, Kenma had asked to talk with him alone after he was done changing. Under Bokuto’s gaze and questions, Keiji quickly left the gym to find Kenma sitting on a bench outside of their school. Kenma was playing a game on his PSP and after Keiji sat but before he could talk, Kenma whispered “Kuroo is dating a girl from his class.”
Then Keiji spent the next thirty minutes holding Kenma in silence and didn’t say anything when he felt tears falling down his neck.
The team had lost and in two hours, Keiji had to take care of a depressed Bokuto and a heartbroken Kenma, and now this.
Keiji felt tears sting his eyes. He had worked so hard on that stupid test and he had a B.
A stupid B.
Keiji wasn’t failing anymore but still. He had a B. His parents agreed to let him play volleyball only if he was at the top of his class. His family only had doctors and lawyers, for his parents, playing a sport and even more volleyball was a waste of time. They never came to his games and even fewer tournaments, unlike Bokuto’s older sisters. They were at every game cheering for their little brother. They quickly adopted Keiji and brought him snacks too.
Keiji felt a sob coming. He was alone and sat on the iron steps of the outside stair of the gym. Everyone had left an hour ago even Bokuto after Keiji told him to go home.
It was raining and Keiji felt a shiver going down his spine. He only had his club jacket on him and felt the cold bite of the wind against his skin. Keiji didn’t want to go home, he didn’t want to face his parents and show them his first B.
Keiji started crying openly, unable to hide his sob and even if he could, there was no one around to witness his breakdown. He tried to wipe his tears away but there were too many of them. At least if his mom asked about the wetness of his face, Keiji could still blame the pounding rain.
Then suddenly, Keiji felt something dropping on his shoulders. He looked up and saw Bokuto smiling at him. Bokuto-san adjusted his vest which looked much bigger on Keiji’s shoulders.
“You’re okay Kaashi? What’s wrong?”
Keiji blinked and blinked again. “Bokuto-san? What- what are you doing here?”
Bokuto tilted his head and looked now like the owl meme he had sent him the previous day. “I couldn’t go home without Kaashi! So I waited for you to be done but then stupid Kuroo called and when he was done I had lost you but I’ve finally found you again Kaashi. But what’s wrong?”
Keiji felt his bottom lip tremble and blamed the cold for it. “I’m so stupid.”
Bokuto frowned and looked at the paper Keiji was holding. He slowly took it and started reading it.
“I got a B. I worked so hard on that test and I got a B. Since we lost the last tournament, I kept training again and again and we still lost to Nekoma.” Keiji sobbed, his tears rolling down his cheeks as the rain continued to fall. “I'm so stupid. I’m such a failure.”
“A failure?”
“Yes,” Keiji sighed, “I’m such a failure Bokuto-san. I can’t perfectly toss the ball or serve, I can’t help you and the team to win, and I can’t even have an A on a maths test. I’m such a failure Bokuto-san.”
Keiji can’t stop crying. He failed his test, the team lost a game, one of his closest friends got his heart broken, and Bokuto was now upset and all because of him. Because he wasn’t smart enough or good enough.
He cries and cries and can’t stop crying. Bokuo advanced and took him in his arms. He held him as hard as he could. The position isn’t comfortable for either of them but none of them care. Keiji can’t stop crying. He failed his parents, his friends, his teammates, and most importantly his star.
Gosh, the way Bokuto-san looked at him when he tossed the ball slightly too high for him to touch kept him awake at night.
After what felt like hours to Keiji, Bokuto broke the hug and cupped his face. His hands were so warm despite the cold night. He gently wipes his tears with his thumbs.
Keiji is terrified of him, his captain, his best friend, and his star. He’s terrified of those two golden eyes. He is terrified of his star telling him he’s not good enough to play by his side. He was terrified of his star telling him he regretted choosing him as his vice-captain. He’s terrified of Bokuto finally realizing Keiji isn’t worth being by his side.
Keiji prepares himself, for the hard but truthful words. He prepares himself for the heartbreak but as always Bokuto surprises him.
“Akaashi, you’re not a failure, you’re my world.”
Keiji opens his mouth to talk but Bokuto drifts his thumb on his lips. “Please Akaashi let me talk, you’re not a failure. You got a B on your exam, it’s great! I know you hate maths and it must have been so hard for you. I’m glad you got a B. And for last weekend's game, it’s fine. I mean yeah it sucks but it wasn’t that bad. We lost 33-31 it was so close Kaashi. Also if you think about the toss you did that was too high it’s not your fault, I didn’t jump high enough.”
“Bokuto-san -”
“Please Kaashi, don’t say that again. You’re my world, not a failure or useless. Remember Kaashi,” Bokuto gently bumped his forehead against Keiji’s forehead. “We’re the protagonist of the world.”
Keiji chuckled. “You’re right Bokuto-san. Thank you.”
“Hey, hey, hey! Kaashi is smiling again!”
“Thanks to you Bokuto-asn.”
“Of course and don’t thank me Kaashi, remember you and I, we’re a team. Protagonist of the world!”
Keiji chuckled again. “We are. Protagonist of the world.”
Bokuto beamed and in the back of his mind, Keiji wondered if he would one day stop loving Bokuto Koutarou.
— — —
Keiji knew the day would come and yet it didn’t make it less painful. Today was the last day of Bokuto-san at the Fukurodani Academy. The day had passed too quickly for Keiji’s taste even more so when it seemed Bokuto was avoiding him.
It started in the morning. During Keiji’s first year, Bokuto and he had realized they lived in the same neighborhood and since then Keiji and Bokuto walked together every morning and night together. Bokuo lived further so he always waited at Keiji’s house for him to be ready.
This morning would have been their last morning walking together but to Keiji’s surprise, Bokuto wasn’t there. Keiji had opened the front door and found the street empty when Bokuto should have been there jumping and yelling.
Keiji frowned and quickly looked at his phone. He watched the hour and he wasn’t late or early. His grandmother behind him looked at the empty street too. “Bokuto-san isn’t here? Is he okay?” His parents were on a business trip and his Ma always stayed with him.
“I don’t know.” He didn’t have any new notifications except for Kenma asking if it would be okay if he skipped class because he didn’t want to see Kuroo graduate. Just in case, Keiji went into his text app and clicked on his conversation with Bokuto.
Keiji still remembers when Bokuto came to him after the first practice handing him a paper with his number on it. His writing had been so messy Keiji had to confirm it twice. Keiji had felt his cheeks and whole face burn. He had named Bouto contact with his name and emoji star.
Keiji read for a fourth time Bokuto's last text. “ Tomorrow is my last day, I’m so nervous. It will be the last time we walk together toward school. Could we talk? It’s late you probably sleeping. Night Kaashi. ”
When in the morning Keiji had read the text he had cursed himself. The only time he went to bed early had been the night when his star had needed him.
Keiji heard his grandmother walking closer to him. “Everything is alright? Maybe Bokuto didn’t wake up. It wouldn’t be the first time.” She smiled and handed him a bento. Here, I made a bigger portion and put more snacks so you could share it with Bokuto. It’s going to be the last after all.”
“Thank you.” Keiji took the bento in his arms.”You didn’t have to.”
“Nonsense, let me spoil Bokuto one last time. Have a nice day Keiji and tell Bokuto congratulations for me.”
Keiji nodded and left his house. He walked in the direction of Bokuto’s house and texted him just in case. When he arrived Keiji knocked twice and Eru, one of Bokuto-san’s older sisters opened the door. She raised her eyebrows.
“Akaashi? Is everything okay?”
Keiji shifted on his feet. He felt a slight blush growing on his cheeks and adjusted his backpack. “Is Bokuto-san here? He wasn’t at our meeting point.”
Eru softly replied. “Oh. Koutoru left an hour ago. He said he was going to meet the other third years at school. I thought he had told you.”
“Oh.” Keiji felt his chest tighten. It was their last morning walk, both of them knew it, and yet Bokuto had chosen not to spend it with Keiji.
“I’m sorry I really thought he had told you,” she rolled her eyes,” I swear he’s going to hear tonight.”
“No, it’s okay. Please don’t tell him I came here. He must’ve told me and I forgot.” Keiji bowed. “I’m sorry for the bother, have a nice day Bokuto-san.” And Keiji quickly left the Bokuto’s house porch. He could hear Eru calling him but Keiji knew he couldn’t spend another minute with her without crying and he refused to cry in front of Bokuto-san’s sister.
Keiji walked toward the school holding tightly his bento.
When he arrived at the school, Bokuto-san was nowhere to be seen. Keiji tried to find him but quickly the bell rang and he had to go to class.
Once the morning class was done, Keiji went to their spot. Bokuto-san and he liked to eat together under the tree close to the academy. Washio and Konoha had more than once teased them about it and called it a date. Keiji tried to never take it personally when Bokuto exclaimed it wasn’t a date because Kiji was only a friend.
Because of course, Bokuto-san would never date him. The whole school was at his feet and they had every right, Bokuto-san was a star and deserved someone as bright as him and Keiji wasn’t that person. He would never be that person.
Keiji arrived at the tree and as he thought was alone. He waited for five, then ten, and finally fifteen minutes alone before starting to eat. It was necessary to realize the obvious, Bokuto-san wasn’t coming.
Just in case Keiji looked at his phone. He clicked on their conversation and saw that Bokuto-san had read his morning text, “ Good morning Bokuo-san, where are you? Are you alright?”
Keiji bit his bottom lip and locked his phone before putting it back in his pocket. Bokuto-san had read his text one minute after he sent it and yet hadn’t replied yet.
Maybe Keiji needed to realize it was time to let go. Bokuto-san was leaving and didn’t want him in his life anymore.
This was probably what Bokuto-san wanted to talk about. He wanted to tell Keiji to stop being pathetic and let him go but didn’t know how to tell him and upset him. Bokuto-san was kind, he was too kind for this world.
Keiji finished eating quickly and when the bell rang announcing the break was over, he only hoped no one would see or mention his red eyes.
The last two periods of the afternoon were canceled. The teachers took the opportunity to prepare for the graduation ceremony and for the students to say goodbye. Keiji saw Washio and Konoha and thanked them for the time they spent together.
Konoha gently punched his shoulder. “Thank you too also I heard the news, congrats Captain!” and smiled.
Keiji felt his cheeks burn. Coach and Bokuto had made the announcement two weeks after their lost final at the Spring tournament. On the way back to the school, Bokuto-san had spent the trip crying on his shoulder.
Keiji could still feel the electricity buzzing in his fingers and Bokuto-san’s fingertips brushed his when he proudly announced Keiji was the new captain’s team.
Keiji bowed. “Thank you, I hope I won’t disappoint anyone.”
Both Konoha and Washio snorted. Washio ruffled his short black hair. “As if you could disappoint anyone. Also, did you see Bokuto? He hadn’t stopped talking about you. He needs to tell you something and it sounds pretty important.”
Keiji shook his head. “I hadn’t seen Bokuto-san since yesterday.”
Konoha crossed his arms. “It was weird seeing him without you, you two are like attached to the hip.”
Keiji nodded. It was weird for him too but he needed to get used to it, Bokuo-san was leaving and continuing his life without him. “I should go, he still needs to talk to Shirofuku-san and Suzumeda-san.” he bowed. “See you later.”
Keiji quickly left them and no, he didn’t run away from them as soon as he caught a glimpse of black and white hair. No.
Keiji spends the rest of the afternoon alone in the gym smashing a ball against a wall. Then after what felt like hours for Keiji, he heard the gym’s door opening. He hadn’t stopped and let the person walk closer to him. It didn’t matter when or how, Keiji would always recognize Bokuto’s footsteps.
“Hey, hey, hey Kaashi!”
Keiji didn’t pause and continued smashing the ball. He knew it was mean but Bokuto-san spent the day, their last day, avoiding him so Keiji had the right to ignore him for five minutes.
“Kaashi?”
Keiji didn’t look at him and kept his gaze locked on the ball. Yet he knew Bokuto-san so well he knew from his tone alone what Bokuto-san body language looked like. He was shifting on his feet and holding his hands behind his back. He had the same position when he was nervous.
Hold on. Why Bokuto-san was nervous?
It probably was because of the graduation and his future and not because of him. Why would Bokuto-san be nervous around him?
Keiji closed his eyes.
Plan A, reassures Bokuto-san by telling him everything would be fine but Bokuyto-san is pessimistic and doesn’t listen to him.
Plan B, reassure Bokuto-san by telling him everything will be fine, he’s optimistic, and Bokuto-san smiles making Keiji blind for three seconds because of the brightness Bokuto-san leaves the gym and Keiji alone.
Plan C, Bokuto-san asks him to delete his numbers and never contact him again and wishes him good luck for the team and nationals.
Keiji caught the ball and took a deep breath. No matter the outcome, Bokuto-san was leaving him. At least Keiji wouldn’t be the only one to cry tonight. He and Kenma already planned an hour to call, talk, and possibly cry about their broken heart and dear captain.
“Kaashi, are you mad at me? You didn’t come to the ceremony.”
Keiji tightens his grip on the volleyball. He needed to be strong, he couldn’t cry in front of his star. He had to let him go and shine.
He turned on his heels to face one last time his star gosh he was beautiful. “Bokuto-san -”
“I like you.”
Keiji blinked and from Bokuto-san’s face, he wasn’t the only one surprised. Bokuto-san face reddened and promptly showed his hand. In it, Keiji could see a button’s vest. His gaze went back to Bokuto-san’s vest and the second button was missing.
Bokuto-san was giving him his second button vest.
“I like you Akaashi. I like like you.”
“You like like me?”
Bokuto-san nodded with a smile. “Of course I do. How I couldn’t like you Akaashi. You know me better than anyone. I can’t like anyone else besides you.”
“But why?”
Bokuto-san adorably tilted his head as if he didn’t understand Keiji’s question. “What do you mean Kaashi? You’re you!”
“Yes, exactly Bokuto-san, I’m me and your you !” Keiji hated how Bokuto-san flinched and his face crestfallen. “You’re extraordinary Bokuto-san, you’re a star and-”
“And you’re my world Akaashi.” Bokuto advanced slowly toward Keiji until they were so close only the ball still in Keiji’s hands separated them. Keji blushed under Bokuto-san’s golden eyes. “You’re my whole world Kaashi. I like you so much. I want you Akaashi. I did since we lost our first tournament together. I realized, that as long as I played with you it mattered more than the result. I’m sorry I avoided you today but I was scared you would leave me if you knew.”
“I could never leave you.”
Bokuto-san smiled. “I’m glad. So do you accept my button vest?”
Keiji nodded, unable to speak, too stunned by Bokuto.
“Akaashi-”
“Keiji. Please call me Keji.”
“Keiji,” Bokuto blushed, “I really want to kiss you right now.”
Keiji felt his face burn. “Me too Bokuto-san.”
Bokuto-san advanced his head and whispered against his lips “Koutarou. Call me Koutarou please Keiji.”
Keiji nodded and closed his eyes as Bokuto- no Koutarou captured his lips. In the distance, Keiji heard the ball falling on the ground and echoing in the empty gym but he didn’t care. Keiji only cared about Koutarou’s lips on his, about Koutarou’s hand in his hair, and about Koutarou’s arms curling around his waist. Keiji didn’t care about the rest of the world and only cared about his star, Koutarou.
— — —
Keiji stayed a bit hidden in the hallway. Time had passed since they left high school and started dating. Koutarou was a pro athlete now and started his second season with the MBSY Black Jackals. Both Keiji and Koutarou had been so happy when he signed his first contract.
Keiji was so proud of his star, he had never doubted his talent or hard work and was so happy and proud that finally the rest of the world was seeing it too.
Keiji was a manga editor and now, because of their busy schedules, it was complicated to find free time to spend together but they still succeeded in going on dates.
Today Keiji had successfully got a free day and had wanted to surprise Koutarou. Kuroo was with him and they planned to pick him up while Kenma prepared the house for a movie marathon. It had been so long since the last time they spent time together the four of them.
Unlike Koutarou, Kuroo hadn’t confessed his feelings to Kenma after his graduation. He had taken him to go to college and spent months without seeing his best friend to realize his feelings for him.
Keiji looked at Koutarou. They were doing a three versus three and Atsumu-san tossed him the ball. Koutarou smashed it perfectly and Keiji smiled. Koutarou was so happy he couldn’t stop jumping around.
Then a new player, someone Keiji didn’t know advanced to hug Koutarou. Without being able to stop it, Keiji felt a wave of jealousy invade him. The new player had his hands all over Koutarou and Keiji hated how the new player touched his husband.
His husband.
Keiji brushed his wedding ring with his thumb. They married young, right after Keiji’s graduation. Koutarou had worked for months to buy his ring. The wedding had been small, with only friends and Koutarou’s family. His parents had refused to come saying they didn’t want to witness Keiji’s stupidity as they say. Only his Ma had come. She cried as much as Koutarou’s sisters.
Keiji watched Koutarou having fun with his teammates and felt his wedding ring feel heavier on his finger. He didn’t regret his marriage. To this day their wedding was Keiji’s best decision of his life. But sometimes he had doubts.
How could he not have doubts?
Koutarou was a shooting star and Keiji was an ordinary person.
Everyone he knew had moved on with their lives. Some were successful even. Kuroo, Kenma, and Koutarou were the prime examples.
Keiji loved his job but sometimes, he felt it wasn’t enough. He wasn’t enough. Koutarou deserved someone as bright as him and Keiji was terrified of the day when Koutarou would wake and realize he had wasted his time by staying by Keiji’s side.
Keiji worked mostly from home and when he didn’t wait for the author’s chapter, he waited for Koutarou to come back home.
He clenched his fists. Koutarou loved the Jackals but Keiji knew he had gotten better, more tempting propositions from other teams in Japan and even more from the international teams but had refused them and Keiji knew he was part of the reason. Keiji had talked about wanting to stay in Japan and Koutarou had chosen the closets team from Keiji’s job.
Keiji had made Koutarou promise when he started his professional career to always prioritize himself and his career over Keiji and Koutarou had promised and yet he had chosen the Jackals for him.
Suddenly it hit him like a bus, Keiji was a burden in Koutarou’s life.
Keiji turned his head to look at Kuro who was tapping on his phone. “Can we talk?”
Kuroo looked up his phone but continued tapping. “Sure.”
“No, I mean, privately.”
Kuroo frowned and nodded. He locked his phone and put it in his pocket. “Just follow me, there is a meeting room upstairs.”
Keiji nodded and followed him unaware of his husband’s eyes on him.
They walked shortly in the different hallways until Kuroo entered into one of the meeting rooms.
“How did you know the room would be empty?”
Kuroo shrugged, “They always leave their meeting room open during training in case they want to talk about strategy. Also, when they started wanting to sign Bo, I spent more days here than in my house.” He took one of the chairs and sat on it, “so, what did you want to talk about.”
Keiji nodded and sat as well. What he liked about Kuroo was his capacity to go straight to the point. “I’m a burden in Koutarou’s life.” Keiji saw Kuroo’s facial expression change. His eyebrows were frown and he narrowed his eyes. He looked like an angry cat. “Our relationship is a burden for him. Maybe- maybe my parents were right.”
“Are you talking about divorcing?”
“No! I mean.” Keiji clenched his fists. “I love Koutarou with my all heart. I love him so much and I don’t want him to make the wrong choice because of me. Everyone is advancing so well in their lives and I feel like I’m stuck.” Keiji closed his eyes but some tears succeeded in escaping and fell on his hands. “I don’t want to be a burden for him. I don’t want him to wake up one day and think our marriage is the biggest mistake of his life. I want Koutarou to be happy, it’s my biggest wish. And if I have to if I have to leave him then-”
“You know, between Bo and you Akaashi I always thought Bo was the stupid one in the relationship.”
Keiji wiped his tears. Their wedding wasn’t public and the list of people who knew was short but Kuroo knew, he had been Koutarou’s best man after all. Yet, he loved calling Keiji Akaashi just to mess with Koutarou. His husband loved reminding him that now Keiji was Bokuto Keiji.
Kuroo crossed his arms. “You know, if you asked, Bo would drop volleyball without thinking twice. He loves you more than he loves playing.”
“I would never ask that and you know that. I know how much he loves volleyball, he always smiles when he plays and even after years, he still has the passion in his veins and the stars in his eyes when he smashes. Koutarou loves volleyball and if so he can have a bigger, better career I have to leave then-”
“You don’t understand do you, yes Bo loves volleyball but if he had to choose he would choose you. Idiot.” Kuroo stood up and walked in the direction of the door.
“Where are you going?”
“Finding your stupid husband so you could be stupid together.” and promptly left the room.
Keiji sighed. He was tired, so tired. Udai-san had sent his chapter late in the night and Keiji knew he needed to work on it quickly before the deadline.
He clenched his fists and felt his nails dig into his skin. He loved Koutarou so much, he would do everything for him, even sacrifice his own happiness. Keiji saw tears falling on his hands. Gosh, he was so pathetic.
Suddenly he heard two pairs of footsteps walking quickly toward the room. Even if they were still in the hallway, Keiji could hear both Koutarou and Kuroo’s voices.
“What did Keiji tell you?”
“Ask himself.”
“He didn’t look okay and then you two left without saying hello to me.”
Kuroo sighed and opened the door. Koutarou immediately looked at him and looked back at Kuroo. “Why is Keiji crying? What did tell him?”
Kuroo frowned “ I didn’t say anything, ask him.”
Koutarou was about to talk back when Keiji whispered. “Kou.”
The pro athlete sifted his attention and quickly walked toward his husband. He kneeled and rested his arms and face on Keiji’s legs. He softly spoke. “Hey, hey, hey. What’s wrong babe?”
“We need to talk. I think we, I mean,” Keiji tried to swallow a sob. Gosh, he was so pathetic. “We should maybe take a break.”
Koutarou flinched. “What? Did I do something wrong?”
“No, no, no, you didn’t do anything wrong.” Keiji couldn’t let his precious loving husband think he was in the wrong when everything was Keiji’s fault.
“Then why? Keiji, you’re my world.”
Keiji let out a sob. Koutarou slowly took his hands and interlocked their fingers. Then he brought Keiji’s hands to his lips and kissed his fingertips. Keiji couldn’t stop the blush from growing on his cheeks. He knew he should get used to it by now, Koutarou had started kissing his hands and fingers when they started dating.
“Keiji, you’re my world, I don’t want to live without you. I love you.”
“I’m a burden to you. You choose the Jackals because of me.”
“I chose the Jackals because I wanted to. I wanted to play with Tsumu and Omi and they trying to get Hinata too. I always wanted to play with them. Coach Foster is one of the best, I truly believe we can win the title this season. And it was also closer to your work and our home. Some players don’t care but I do. I want to go home to you because I love you.”
Keiji smiled. “I love you too. But are you sure you’re happy?”
Koutarou nodded. “I am. Are you happy? Because I can always enforce the contract clause.” then Koutarou looked away and muttered, “Are those the right words?”
Keiji frowned. “The contract clause?”
Koutarou nodded again, “After you read my contract, I asked Kuroo to add something. He called it the Keji clause. It’s if one day you’re unhappy or something happens and you want me to quit then I quit immediately and the team has to let me go.”
Keiji blinked and blinked again. “What?”
Koutarou turned his head. “Ku? I got it right, right?”
Kuroo who had left the room but stayed close to the door passed his head in the doorframe. “Yep. The Keiji clause is effective immediately. So like I said, just say the words and he quit.”
Keiji blinked and looked back at Koutarou. He closed his eyes and whispered. “Please tell me you’re joking.”
“Nope.”
Keiji opened his eyes again and fell one more time into the beautiful golden eyes. “You can’t do that.”
Koutarou frowned. “I can and I did. I love you, I love playing volleyball and I love playing even more when you look at me. I would be fine if he asked me to stop because I’m only truly happy when I’m with you, you’re my world Keiji. My whole world.”
Keiji bit his bottom lip and felt a smile growing on his face. “You’re an idiot.”
“I’m your idiot. And Keiji is stupid too to think I could live without you. You remember when you left for two days to visit Ma? I burnt down the kitchen and lived for the rest of the weekend with Kuroo and Kenma. So I’m your idiot and you’re my stupid.”
Keiji giggled,” Right, I’m your stupid and you’re my idiot.”
“Yeah.” Koutarou stole a kiss and whispered against his lips. “So no more stupid thing okay? You’re my world.”
Keiji rested his forehead against his husband’s. “Promise. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. I have my moment too and you’re always there for me. Now come on.” Koutarou stood up, “I have to present you to the team!” and before Keiji could react, Koutarou grabbed him and walked back to the court.
When they arrived the team was on a water break. Coach Foster advanced first and quickly bowed. “Hello Bokuto-san, it’s nice to see you again.”
“Likewise.” Koutarou and he were married for two and a half years and yet it always brought him joy when someone called him Bokuto .
Astumu and Sakusa were on the bench waving at him. Seeing Atsumu made Keiji remember he needed to pass by the Onigiri Miya shop. Osamu had announced he had added a new onigiri with salmon.
Also, he saw Atsumu and Sakusa interlocking their pinky fingers together. Keiji needed to remember to ask Koutarou if he knew something. Maybe if he had gossip on Astumu then Osamu would give him free onigiri.
Then the player Keiji saw earlier advanced and bowed. “Hi, I’m Adriah Tomas. I’m new to the team, nice to meet you. You are?”
Keiji bowed. “I’m Bokuto Keiji, nice to meet you.”
Koutarou next to him beamed. “Keiji is my husband, he’s a manga editor and works with Udai-san on Zombie Knight Zom'bish.”
Adriah’s eyes widened, “Really? That’s so cool, my wife, Mayu, loves this series!”
Koutarou proudly nodded. The break finished and Keiji sat on the bench next to Coach Foster. They were doing another three versus three but this time Koutarou was against Atsumu and Sakusa. Koutarou’s team won the set thanks to Koutarou smashing the winning point making Sakusa growl and Atsumu insult him but Keiji knew it was more teasing than real insult. Then Koutarou turned his head and smiled. “Did you see Keiji?”
Keiji nodded with a smile. “I saw, you’re great.”
Koutarou beamed and raised his fists in the air. “Hey, hey, hey! I won!”
Keji chuckled. Gosh, he loved his husband so much.
— — —
Keiji slowly woke up and turned on his right side. Today was Saturday and Keiji had finished editing the last chapter of Zombie Knight Zom'bish the night before so Keiji knew he could sleep in. And what better way to sleep than sleeping with his face buried in his husband’s chest?
But much to Keiji’s sadness, the bed felt cold and empty when he turned. Keiji cracked an eye and indeed husband was nowhere to be found.
Keiji sighed and curled up on himself. In the absence of his dear husband, Kiji buried his face into Koutarou’s pillow. He could smell the coconut shampoo and Koutarou’s aftershave.
Last night, after midnight, Keiji finished editing the chapter, and Koutarou came into his home office to force him to get some sleep. Keiji knew he loved his husband, but gosh, he felt like a teenager all over again when Koutarou carried him in his arms as if he weighed nothing.
Slowly Keiji started to hear footsteps approaching. The door slowly opened and Koutaou half whispered. “Come on babies, we need to be careful, Papa is still sleeping. He worked really hard last night okay?”
Keiji felt a smile blooms on his face. He kept his eyes closed and waited for his little family to come. He heard Koutarou putting a plate and with the smells, Keiji deduced it was breakfast. Gosh, it had been so long since their last breakfast in bed.
Then he felt Koutaru sit on the bed and finally two little gigglings. Keiji slowly opened his eyes and saw his husband only wearing a sweatpant holding one of their sons while the second one was trying to climb over Keiji.
Haru smiled, “Good morning Papa!” quickly followed by Kyo “Papa! Good morning!”
Keiji smiled, he took the toddler in his arms and kissed his cheeks. “Good morning sweetie.” then kissed his second son, Kyo. “Good morning to you too baby.” and finally captured Koutaru’s lips. “Good morning to you too love. Thank you for breakfast.”
Koutaru smiled. “Hey, hey, hey babe. Did you sleep well?”
Keiji nodded and rested his head on Koutaru’s shoulders. “The boys were awake when you found them?”
Haru nodded, “I was hungry so I climbed off the bed and found Dada in the kitchen.”
Keiji pinched his lips trying not to laugh. For the past two weeks, Haru had found the technique to sneak out of his bed and if Ryo wasn’t sleeping then he would help his twin brother to sneak out to go play in the living room. More than once, Keiji and Koutaru got a heart attack finding their children’s bed empty.
Keiji kissed Haru’s chubbed cheek. “What did Papa and Dada tell you?”
“Not to sneak out?”
Koutarou hummed, “And?”
“I sneak out? But I was hungry!”
Both Keiji and Koutaru started chuckling. Ryo loved sleeping and was right now falling back asleep against his dad’s chest.
Keiji took a sip of his coffee, “you remember where you’re going today?”
Haru nodded, “To Uncle Kozu and Uncle Tetsu’s house.”
Keiji nodded, “Me and Dada have to do an interview for Dada’s work. Then we will pick you up in the afternoon.”
Haru nodded and Keiji smiled. He glanced to his right and saw Koutarou trying to eat his toast without putting crumbs in their son’s hair. Keiji rested back his head on Koutaru’s shoulder and kissed the naked skin. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” Koutarou kissed Keiji's forehead and he tried not to wince when he felt some crumbs falling on his hair.
They finished breakfast quietly well as much as quiet two three-years-old twins boy can be and while Koutarou did the dishes, Keiji dressed the boys. It’s not that Keiji didn’t trust Koutarou, he trusted his husband with his all heart but let’s just say Kouratou had a different sense of style and no Keiji won't let his boys go out in horrible, ugly outfits again. Even less when they have to visit Kuroo. He refused to hear that stupid cat mock his babies.
The drive is calm and the boys love their uncles’ house. Koutarou bet it’s because Kenma can’t stop himself from spoiling them and Keiji is sure it’s because of the three cats.
Keiji knocked and Kenma opened the door. His friend had attached his hair in a ponytail and was wearing a black hoodie and red sweatpants. Keiji tried not to laugh when he saw how much tired Kenma looked.
“You remember that sleeping is important right?”
The Bokuto family busted into laughter hearing Kenma growl like a cat. After entering, the boys directly went to the cats and started petting them. Kuroo wasn’t there yet and after a small talk with Kenma, Keiji and Koutarou had to leave. They left the house after kissing goodbye to their sons but both of the boys were too busy petting the cats rather than their dads.
Keiji then drove them toward the Buzzfeed studio. They were welcomed by Fuku, the assistant. The woman was wearing a grey suit and her hair was tied into a bun.
“Bokuto-san nice to meet you, please follow me this way.”
They followed Fuku and arrived quickly at the studio. Keiji sat on the chair Fuku showed while Koutarou went into a room to change. A couple of minutes after, Koutarou exited the room wearing his Jackals gear. He waved at Keiji and Keiji waved back at him. Fuku arrived and showed the room where the interview would go.
Keiji looked at his husband’s jersey.
Bokouto
12
Keji felt a smile bloom on his face, he remembered like it was yesterday when two years ago after he had felt self-conscious about his place in Koutarou’s life, his husband had wanted to change his jersey’s name. It should have been a surprise but since Koutarou was Koutarou, he couldn’t keep something for himself and even less from Keiji. At first, Koutarou had started dropping hints about his jersey but Keiji hadn’t picked up and one evening after they were both in bed, Koutarou broke.
“Hey, hey, hey! I was thinking about something.”
Keiji hummed still focused on his book. It was a crucial moment when Chika confessed her feelings toward Izumi. After thirty chapters they were finally confessing their feelings, Keiji couldn’t miss it!
“I want to change my jersey’s name.”
Keiji hummed again
Koutarou nodded. “I want to take your name.”
Keiji blinked and blinked again. It seemed Chika and Izumi would wait one more minute after all. Keiji closed his book. “Take my name? Kou, do you remember we share the same name now? My name is Bokuto.”
Koutarou’s face turned into a lovely red. “I know, believe me, babe, I know. But I want to take your maiden name.”
“My maiden name?”
Koutarou nodded again. “Yeah, I want to put Akaashi on my jersey. Like that everyone would know I married you and I would always have a piece of you with me.”
“Oh.” Keiji put his book on the nightstand, “Are you sure?”
Koutarou slightly frowned. “You- you don’t want me to put your name on my jersey? I thought you would like it.”
“Oh, but I like it.” Keji smiled, “It’s sweet but love, you do remember that your jersey is sold right? People buy your jersey.” Keiji waited for Koutarou to nod before continuing. “So it means people will buy your jersey with my maiden name on it. People will have my maiden name on them too. Are you okay with people wearing my maiden name on them?”
Koutarou blinked twice and instead of answering grabbed his phone and called someone. After two rings Koutarou spoke, “Tetsu? We aboard the mission. The mission! The mission to put Keiji’s maiden name on my jersey! We aboard it. I don’t care! I don’t care if the production already started, no one besides me will wear Keiji’s maiden name! No one!”
As a joke, Kuroo still made one jersey and gave it to Koutarou and was using it now as a training shirt.
Koutarou sat on the ground and Keiji blushed when his black shorts rode up and showed a bit of white skin. Gosh, his tight drove Keiji insane. He adored leaving love bite on his inner thighs just above the beginning of his knee pads but hidden by his shorts.
They waited a bit and then the interview started. The door opened and Koutarou gasped.
“Puppies!”
The puppies started running on him and climbed on him.
Keiji chucked. Koutarou never liked interviews but he had accepted the Buzzefeed livestream puppy interview without thinking twice.
The question started and Keiji couldn’t stop smiling and chuckling at seeing his 172.6lb pure-muscle husband being attacked by puppies.
“If you could change your jersey number what number would you choose?”
Koutarou hummed as a brown puppy bit his finger. “Easy five.”
Keiji blushed as the interviewer continued, “Which twin do you prefer between the Miya twins.”
“I know Tsumu more than Osamu so I would say Tsumu. He’s funnier too.”
“Do you prefer homemade cooking or takeout?”
“Homemade. I don’t know how to cook but my husband’s meals are so good.”
Keiji blushed. It was known to the public that Koutarou was gay but unfortunately, it hadn’t been his choice. A paparazzi had caught them kissing after the Jackals won the championship title. Their kiss had made the front page and Keiji had never seen Koutarou be this mad. In their misfortune they got a bit of luck, Keiji’s face was blurred and Koutarou was fiercely protecting their privacy. Koutarou posted a lot of pictures on Instagram but always put an emoji covering his and their boys’s faces.
The backlash after Bokuto’s outing had been nothing when the same damn paparazzi leaked the adoptions of their boys.
“Who in the Jackals is the best at receiving?”
“It’s close between Shouyo-kun and Omi-kun.”
“Who has the biggest ego?”
“Tsumu. Ouch!” Koutarou picked up the black and white puppy, “Can you please stop biting me? Thank you.” he picked up another blonde puppy. “Aw, you’re so cute.”
Keiji like the interviewer couldn’t stop chuckling. “We’re getting close to the end.”
“Already?” Koutarou pouted.
“How long do you stay mad or frustrated after losing a game?”
Koutarou hummed, “I don’t know. It depends, but usually it’s until I’m home.”
“Oh, you’re part of the player that cut the professional side of their lives from their personnel?”
Koutarou nodded. “My children didn’t choose my professional career. I choose to be a pro athlete. I know some players don’t care, but I do. I don’t want my kids to think they have to tiptoe around me because I lost. I don’t want them to think they can’t play or talk to me because I’m mad because of my job. It doesn’t matter if I lose or win a game, when I’m at home, I’m their dad. Also, how can I stay mad when I see my world.”
Keiji blushed as the interviewer tilted their head. “Your world? You mean your children?”
“No, my husband.” Koutarou turned his head from the puppy and looked directly at Keiji, “My husband is my world.”
Keiji felt his face burn. Gosh, he loves his husband so much. Then he felt his phone vibrated in his pocket. He picked it out of his pocket.
Keiji saw texts from Hinata, Atsumu, Sakusa, and Kenma. He clicked on Kenma’s name.
[Kenma]
The kids like the puppies
They ask if Bo could steal some
Also, you’re still breathing?
Keiji sighed and looked back at Koutarou who was back at playing with the puppies. Knowing his husband and how much he loved their sons, he was definitely capable of stealing puppies if he knew their kids liked them.
Maybe they could stop at the pet shop on the way back home.
“You love your husband a lot.”
Koutarou hummed. “More than anything. He’s my whole world after all. Sometimes I even wonder how I convinced him to date me. I’m so lucky to have him.” He smiled. “We’re the protagonist of the world.”
“It’s beautiful. Last question, what’s your biggest dream?”
Koutarou hummed again. “Personal or professional?”
“Both.”
“I would say win gold at the next Olympic and grow old with my husband and see my sons grow up.”
The interviewer smiled. “These are two beautiful dreams and I hope you will accomplish them.”
The interview finished and while the light turned off and the staff was wrapping up the material Koutarou walked quickly toward him holding two puppies. “Look Keiji, they’re so cute!”
“They are indeed. Kenma texted.”
Koutarou slightly frowned. “The kids are okay?”
“More than fine. He said they liked the puppies.”
Koutarou nodded and with the most serious face whispered. “If we ran really fast, do you think they would notice we took two puppies?”
Keiji laughed. “Yes they would, but I thought about stopping at the pet shop.”
Koutarou beamed and gosh his husband was so beautiful. “Really? You’re the best Keiji, I love you so much!”
After Koutarou gave back the two puppies and changed back, the Bokuto couple left the Buzzfeed building.
They walked peacefully holding hands. Koutarou was looking at his phone and giggled.
“Osamu says I’m not welcome to his shop anymore and Tsumu doesn’t know if he’s mad at me or loves me.”
Keiji snorted. “I love you Kou, but I will go to Osamu’s shop without you.”
“I will keep the boys so you can eat tranquility.”
“You’re perfect.”
Koutarou laughed and squeezed his husband’s hand.
“So, I’m your whole world?”
Koutarou stopped his track and looked at Keiji. He smiled. “Of course you are. I told you since high school, I love you and you’re my world.”
Keiji smiled. “I love you too.”
He advanced and went on his tiptoes to capture his husband’s lips.
More than a decade ago, Keiji had turned on the TV and saw a shooting star flying. The star was so beautiful and bright Keiji couldn’t take his eyes away even if he wanted. His goal had become to find his star and play by side and if he could help him to fly even higher, shine even more. As an adult his goal hadn’t changed, he still wanted to help Koutarou to fly and shine but now he also wanted to grow old with the love of his life. Keiji was Koutarou’s world but Koutarou was Keiji’s universe.
Koutarou wasn’t a shooting star too far from him anymore but more a close warm and protective presence in Keiji’s life.