The day started out like any other; you quietly making your
way through the hall towards your locker with your nose in a book. Deftly you
dodge left and right around people, your peripheral vision top notch from so
many years of doing the same. As you around the corner the loud voice of Bokuto
meets your ears making you wince. Over all, you like the energetic ace of the
volleyball team, but some days he’s just too much.
“Hey Akaashi, we need to think of a cool play like those
weirdos from Karasuno,” he’s saying excitedly.
Beyond him you see the setter’s face impassive as ever
before he replies, “Bokuto, we’re going to Nationals, we don’t have time to
screw around. Let’s just stick to what we know because obviously it’s gotten us
this far.”
You grin into your pages as you open your locker. Always the levelheaded one that Akaash. He
and Bokuto have been your locker neighbors since the beginning of the year and
you always look forward the little exchanges you and the setter give each
other. Most of the time no words pass, both of you being more reticent than
your other friends, but still, you feel you’ve crossed the barrier of
acquaintance to friend. You borrow each other’s notes, do occasionally chat
about the weekends and commiserate about the temperamental captain you both
call friend.
“Oh good morning _____-chan,” says Bokuto flashing a wide
smile as he steps a bit closer to you. You smile softly in return as he asks
you a question about math. While you talk, you notice his locker is open,
stuffed to the brim with who knows what. Behind him, Akaashi crouches to tie
his shoe.
When he goes to get up, he places his hand on the corner
edge of the open locker just as the bell rings. “Oh time to get to class,”
Bokuto says loudly reaching behind him to slam the door shut.
Your hand moves before your mouth, covering Akaashi’s.
There’s no way you’re strong enough to stop Bokuto’s momentum so you hope to be
able to lessen the blow. The pain as the metal contacts your skin makes your
knees buckle, but you’ve managed to take the brunt of the hit; Akasshi’s hand,
you hope, is safe.
“Oh my god, are you ok? I’m so sorry!” Bokuto is a
flustering mess, his face filled with concern which turns pale at the sight of
your knuckles scraped and slightly bloody.
“Ergh…it’s ok Bokuto-senpei,” you say lowly but damn it your
hand hurts!
“Here, let me-“ begins the captain but Akaashi’s smooth
voice interjects.
“I’ll take care of her Bokuto, get on to class before you
get another tardy mark and can’t come to practice today.”
The captain looks at you once more, bows deeply in apology
and hurries off as directed. Looking up sheepishly you ask, “Are you ok,
Akasshi-kun?”
He nods. “Thanks to you, yes.” He helps you up by your
uninjured hand. Taking the other he examines the damage.
“Oh, it was nothing, I mean, better me than you.” He’s still
looking at your hand, gently trailing his thumb back and forth over the
uninjured sections. You’re just about to point out the two of you should get to
class when his next words have you blushing all the way to your ears.
“You know, _____-chan, I
could kiss you right now.”
Did you hear him correctly?
“Um, what?” you ask, unable to believe what you just heard.
His eyes are fixated on your hand, as if memorizing every
detail making your whole body heat up under his scrutiny. “If it weren’t for
you I could have had some real damage done to my hand. You made it possible for
me to not miss Nationals.” Leaning down, he gently kisses each scrape before
planting one long, firm kiss on the very center of your hand.
Looking up into your eyes, a faint smile on his face that
makes you want to swoon he goes on, “Can I take you on a date as a thank you?
Maybe coffee or something this weekend?”
“Um…I mean…it’s not really necessary…but…I,” you stammer
completely flabbergasted.
“If you don’t want to that’s-“ he begins but you cut him off
loudly.
“No! I mean, yes! I…I’d really like that.”
“Good,” he replies, “now, let’s get you to the nurse.”
When you and Akaashi started dating officially not too long
after your first date Bokuto bragged that was his plan all along to help get
the two of you together finally, though he didn’t mean to hurt you so badly. Unsurprisingly,
no one believed him and Akaashi may have “accidentally” served into the back of
his head at practice.


