So for Bokuto’s birthday, I asked admin Rachel Lauren @imagine-that-haikyuu for an
idea since she said she didn’t have time to write anything. She showed me the
song “Swim” by Fickle Friends and this is the result of listening to it. I hope
you enjoy!
Growing up with Bokuto meant guaranteed sleepovers
practically every weekend and days filled with random adventures. His vast
imagination came up with the best games and make-believe worlds, most of which
never really made sense but that didn’t matter. All that mattered was you and he
were together. By the time you entered second grade you were convinced you and
Bo were going to get married someday.
Always teaching me how
to be
When your folks are
not here to see
You crashing on the
floor with me
But I can’t sleep
That was until he moved away. That summer was the loneliest
you’d ever experienced, crying yourself to sleep every night, so overwhelmed
with sadness you felt you could drown in it. You’d promised each other to stay
in touch but kids are kids and the vast distance meant you couldn’t see each
other anymore. It just wasn’t practical for either of your parents to drive you
or Bo to visit. Writing had never been one of Bo’s strong points so letters
often went unanswered for months until eventually you stopped writing him altogether.
And I don’t wanna know
You’ve found another
place to go
I copy everything
practical
And for the last time
I am sure
Even at such a young age, it hurt you to think of Bokuto
building a life separate from you. That he didn’t need you anymore. You knew he
didn’t mean to hurt you when he missed calling on your birthday. And the one
time you did try calling him again, the family wasn’t living there anymore and
you supposed he just didn’t think to let you know he’d moved again.
The wounds of losing the object of your first “puppy love”
relationship eventually scabbed over and by the time you enter high school,
your childhood friend became a melancholy memory.
That is until his boisterous laugh cuts across the campus of
Fukurōdani Academy. Even in a much deeper cadence there is no mistaking it’s
him. Overcome with nostalgia, you shout, “Boboko!” the childhood nickname
flying out of your mouth.
Bokuto freezes, his golden eyes wide as he turns to look in
your direction, mouth hanging open in shock. His hair is two-tone now but the
look suits him.
Blinking a bit, he smiles widely, hollering your name as he
rushes towards you. As he gets closer, your eyes widen; he’s big. He’s always been larger than you,
but goodness did he fill out! A startled squeak erupts from your lips as he
picks you up in a bone crushing hug and whirls you around, heedless of anyone who
could be impacted. “I can’t believe you’re here!”
Putting you down but keeping a hand on your shoulder, he
turns to the calm faced male you saw him walking with and says, “Akaashi, this
is my best friend, _________!”
“Akaashi Keiji,” he says offering a hand which you shake, “pleased
to finally meet you.” Your confused expression makes him smile slightly. “Bokuto-san
may have mentioned you once…or a thousand times.”
You’re stunned, genuinely surprised that Bokuto ever talked
about you to anyone else.
But before you can further consider how to feel about the
fact that Bokuto talked about you to
other people but failed to talk to
you by keeping in touch, he’s already making his way towards what you
understand to be the gym. “We have to catch up, but I have volleyball practice right
now. Um, do you mind waiting for me?”
“Sure,” you answer before thinking, “I’ll just go to the library
and start on my homework.”
But as the hours go by and he still hasn’t shown up, you
begin to wonder if this was all a dream. More like a nightmare. Because now,
not only did you get your hopes up for a rekindled friendship, you find your
mind wandering more and more to the feel of Bokuto’s arms around you. And that is very dangerous thinking indeed.
It’s the same, it’s
just like then
When I was nine and
you were ten
I’m wishing we would
still be friends
Where we move is where
we end
In the end, you leave without seeing him, frustrated tears
stinging your eyes. The worst of it is, Bokuto never means to harm but, even
after all these years, he just somehow does.
Hey
I know what to feel
when you decide, oh why?
Hey
Where is the appeal
when you don’t try, try?
The next day at school, you don’t look for him. You don’t
want to feel like this. Why did your parents have to go away for a year and
leave you with your aunt? Why did you have to transfer to a new school? Why did
Bokuto have to be here of all places in the world?
Why-
Your thoughts cut off when someone grabs your shoulder
whirling you around. As your eyes land on Bokuto’s face, you gasp; he looks
livid. “I need to talk to you, now,” he says firmly, grabbing your wrist and tugging
you around the building.
“Bokuto, wait, we’ll be late-“
“I don’t give a shit,” he snaps harsh enough to close your
mouth like a trap.
He releases you, hands going to rest on his hips. His back
is heaving as he apparently tries to calm down. When he finally looks at you,
his expression is a mix between anger and hurt. “Where the hell were you last
night?”
Blinking in surprise, your mouth opens then closes. “I…I
waited but you…you didn’t come and-“
“Of course I came!” he shouts and you recoil into the wall.
Either he’s much more intimidating than you remember or he’s definitely
changed; you think it might be a mix of both. “I had no way to reach you and I
thought something happened to you! Shit, I ran around the entire fucking school
like a maniac. I had no idea where to even begin looking from there and
eventually had to go home. I didn’t get an ounce of sleep!
“Well, I waited for three fucking hours, Bo!” you yell back.
“I never said it would be early! We have a lot of work to do
and Akaashi and I were working on a new quick!”
“One, I have no idea what you’re even talking about. And
two, if you knew it would be a long time, why didn’t you say that? Or why didn’t
you make proper plans to see me? Like, I don’t know, eat lunch together, go to
a café on the weekend, something, anything
except leaving me behind again!”
And I don’t wanna know
You’ve found another
place to go
I copy everything
practical
And for the last time
I am sure
Bokuto is staring at you so intensely, you might catch fire
but you can see confusion in his eyes. “Bo,” you say more calmly, tears
threatening to spill, “you left me. I know it wasn’t your fault and you had to
go with your parents, but you stopped writing, you forgot our birthday calls, I…I
was shocked that Akaashi-san recognized my name. Honestly, Bo, for all these
years I was sure you’d forgotten about me.”
“I never, ever
forgot you,” he insists, voice lower. He steps forward, crowding you against
the wall but he’s no longer threatening; he looks like he’s ready to break. “I…I
lost my address book and my mom didn’t have your information anymore and…well
yeah, I got caught up in my new school and new friends and a new life but,” his
hand touches your face, his heat melting you in place, “I never forgot how you
made me feel.”
It’s your only way to
live
Three doors down and
one room in
I lose my mind amongst
your things
But I can’t swim
“Bo, we were just kids, what are you talking about?”
He swallows once, face flushing a light shade of pink as he
averts his eyes to the ground. “This…this is gonna sound really, really stupid considering how shitty of
a friend I was to you but,” he takes a deep breath before looking back in your
eyes, “I was convinced you were…like
my soul mate or something. I don’t know, I just,” he pauses again, his other
hand clenching the cloth over his heart, “I’ve had a deep, gaping hole in my
chest ever since I had to leave. For a long time, I didn’t really understand
what it was. But when I saw you yesterday,” he leans forward, eyes boring into
yours, “the hole filled up.”
Ooh ooh, ooh
You are not alone
Ooh ooh
For the last time I am
sure
Unable to stand it any longer, you tip up on your toes,
grazing his lips with your own. A split second later, Bokuto’s arms are around
you, holding you tightly, pulling you into a deeper kiss. Your hands find
purchase on his chest, the thumping of his heart reverberating against your
palms and you forget how to breathe.
Bokuto breaks away first, only to throw your arms around his
neck and then he’s kissing you again. It feels like he knows what he’s doing,
while you’re afraid you’re making a fool of yourself by your inexperience. However,
that melts away when he pants, “I’m so glad I waited for you.”
“What do mean?” you ask breathless.
“That was my first kiss,” he confesses.
“Mine too,” you admit smiling. Then leaning up, you kiss him
once more, murmuring against his mouth, “Happy birthday, Boboko.”
“Yeah,” he chuckles, pecking your cheek then drawing you
into a fierce hug, “it’s the best birthday yet.”





