Chapter Text
Akaashi was 16 when he had his first seizure in public.
He had been in the middle of volleyball practice when he felt it. -Like a switch had been turned on in his head.
His coach immediately rushed him to the hospital after he collapsed on the floor, body convulsing without his consent.
When he woke, he saw his doctor standing by his bed- checking his vitals.
"Hello, Keiji. How are you feeling?"
"Hello, Ukai-san. I'm feeling alright."
Immediately, Akaashi could tell something was wrong. His doctor's face was grim, wearing the same look he had seen the other wear various times when he was preparing to tell a patient some bad news.
"Keiji, have you been spacing out a lot, recently?"
The younger racked his mind for an answer. "Sometimes, in class- I'm copying my notes. And when I look up at the board- it doesn't feel very long but, then, the next thing I know class is finished and I've barely written anything on my paper."
Ukai pulled up a chair, and sat down beside his bed.
Akaashi kept his gaze steady.
"For now, we're going to run some tests and see if there's anything we can find."
Akaashi thought for a moment before replying.
"You've already found something, haven't you." There was a feeling of dread weighing in the pit of his stomach.
Ukai sighed, and leaned back in his chair. "You were always perceptive."
The raven patiently waited for his doctor to continue, fiddling with his hands on his lap.
"We ran a CT-scan. Keiji..."
Akaashi knew what that meant. "I lit up like the whole of Akihabara, didn't I?" He laughed.
Ukai didn't reply.
"Fantastic." Akaashi let his head fall back onto his pillow, and stared at the bright lights that shone overhead.
----
Akaashi was diagnosed with epilepsy when he was 14.
He had been at a family dinner, and the chopsticks fell out of his hands as he promptly crumpled over the table.
At first it was fine. As long as he took his medicine, he would get seizures on very rare occasions.
But as time passed, his seizures grew more frequent and more violent. His mom had forbade him from riding bikes and instead opted for him to use the train instead.
He didn't know what kind of epilepsy he had at first, until he overheard it from his mother one day.
Of course, Akaashi had no idea what he was thinking when he googled the symptoms and long term effects of his disease.
"Lafora Disease, also known as Progressive Myoclonus Epilepsy, is a rare epilepsy syndrome that usually involves myoclonic seizures, tonic-clonic seizures, and gradual neurological decline. It is caused by a variety of genetic disorders, and most patients diagnosed with this disease die within 10-years of diganosis, and usually do not live past the age of 25. As of now, there is no known cure..."
Akaashi had no idea how long he sat there staring at his computer screen, absorbing this newfound information. His mother found him dead-eyed, and silent.
"Keiji, sweetie? What's wrong?" She took a glance at the computer screen, and hurriedly closed the tab. She kneeled in front of her son, and held his shoulders reassuringly. "Keiji, hey. Look at me."
Akaashi blinked, his eyes coming into focus and registering his mother's features. "Mom?"
"Oh, come here." She pulled him forward, and Akaashi automatically buried his face into the crook of her neck.
"I don't wanna die." He whispered, feeling the tears gathering at the corners of his eyes.
His mother gently carded her fingers through her son's curls.
"It's going to be alright. I'm right here."
Keiji clung onto his mother even tighter.
----
4 years later, now at 18, Akaashi was entering his first year of college under Engineering. For the most part, he had come into terms with his inevitable death. What could he do?
College was good. It gave him a chance to start over and gain some friends, possibly.
Who was Akaashi kidding? Once all his friends had found out that he was likely to keel over and die whenever he was around, they slowly, but surely- pulled away. Not wanting to deal with the responsibility that came with him.
Did it hurt? Of course it did. But he understood. Distancing themselves from Akaashi was their own way of coping with the situation- a way of saving themselves from getting hurt. A shitty way of coping, might he add- but nonetheless.
An attachment like that one, where Akaashi was literally unsalvageable, would be toxic.
But of course, there had to be dorms. He sighed as he looked at the listings.
DORMS
BOYS DORMITORIES | 2ND FLOOR
210 Kuroo Tetsurou / Bokuto Koutarou
211 Sugawara Koushi / Oikawa Tooru
212 Shirabu Kenjirou/ Kawanishi Taichi
213 Kozume Kenma / Akaashi Keiji
The list went on. He could only wish that his dorm mate would want nothing to do with him.
He opted for the stairs (even though his mother had told him to stop doing so when his seizures began to grow more frequent- due to a reasonable fear of her son having an attack while he was on the stairs which would lead him falling and cracking his skull open. Lovely.) because it was quicker, and (thankfully) reached the second floor in one piece.
He was greeted with the sight of people bustling about, boxes strewn everywhere as they settled themselves in their respective rooms.
Akaashi surveyed the people who came into view.
The first door to his right was a room with the door wide open, two tall figures laughing rather loudly, as they seemed to be well-acquainted with each other already. Both of them had hair that seemed to defy all the laws of physics- one had two-toned hair that stood up at two points, the other looking like it had never been introduced to a brush.
Across that room to his left was a pair of almost ethereal descent. One of them had perfectly styled brown hair and a smile that made your heart stutter. The other had gentle features and a beauty mark underneath his eye, his hair looking like starlight. The conversation looked like it flowed easily between them.
Next, there were two people quietly talking with one another, snickering as they unpacked their things. One boy had a bowl-cut, (which Akaashi found tragic), and another boy that was styled messily.
There was only one door that was closed, shiny numbers reading ‘213’ on its door.
Akaashi took a deep breath before typing in the code, and pushed the door open.
He was met with a boy shorter than him by a few inches- whose hair needed to be re-dyed blonde, as his roots were showing. He had wide, golden eyes, a button nose, accompanied by dainty lips. His posture was also kind of bad.
"Hi. I'm Akaashi. Nice to meet you."
"You can just call me Kenma." He sounded bored, but Akaashi felt as if he was being observed under a microscope, his eyes calculating, taking in every detail that came to view.
Looking around, Kenma had unpacked most of his things, the other side of the room looking bare, which Akaashi assumed as his side.
As Akaashi set his things down on his bed, neither of them talked. As it seemed, neither of them were adamant on making any small-talk. While it had been awkward, Akaashi was thankful.
Pulling out one of the drawers in his bed side, he made sure that Kenma wasn't looking as he unloaded most of his medications and arranged them neatly inside.
He frowned when he couldn't see the labels, making a mental note to place stickers on the caps later on.
Next, he opened the closet at the foot of his bed, hanging most of his dressier outfits and folding the rest.
His bag was nearly empty, and it dawned on Akaashi that he hadn't brought much with him to college.
Probably because he wouldn't have the chance to stay here long. His condition was getting worse by the hour- and he knew that.
A loud knock distracted Akaashi from his thoughts, and he raised an eyebrow at his roommate.
Kenma stared back at him. "That's... Kuroo, and probably Bokuto. They'll be here a lot. Do you mind?"
Well, It's not like Akaashi had much more to do. After settling, he had planned on walking around campus just to familiarize himself with his surroundings.
"It's fine. I was heading out anyway."
Akaashi saw a brief flash of panic on the smaller boy's face. "I didn't mean leave, I meant do you mind them coming in?"
"I know. No need to panic Kenma-san."
He saw the tension ease out of the blonde's shoulders.
There was another series of knocks, this time louder.
"Kenma, I swear to god, get your ass out of bed." A low, teasing voice was muffled through the door.
Kenma reacted almost immediately, pulling the door open. "I wasn't in bed." He mumbled, as the two tall figures invited themselves inside. Suddenly the room felt very crowded.
"Hey, hey, hey!" The other boy had an aura around him that demanded attention.
Akaashi stood there, not really knowing what to do.
"Ah, I see you've settled in nicely. What's it feel like to be a first year again?" The same guy with the terrible bedhead spoke, again.
"Shut up. I'm only a year younger than you."
"Oho? Who is this?" The one with the boisterous voice said, bushy eyebrows moving up and down on his face.
"That's Akaashi, Bokuto. Don't scare him." Kenma warned.
"I'm not!" The other whined.
"Hello, Bokuto-san. And..." Akaashi trailed off, waiting for a reply.
"Kuroo." Bed-head supplied.
"Kuroo-san. Please excuse me, I'll be heading out for a bit. Please make yourselves comfortable." Akaashi gave a little bow at the end, glancing once before exiting out the door.
A loud screech was heard from inside, and Akaashi jumped, walking faster, staring at the door confusedly.
Not watching where he was going, he bumped into someone, causing him to stumble back slightly.
It was the guy with the 24-carat smile from a while ago. Even from the back, Akaashi could tell it was him. The tell-tale brown and the way it stood up perfectly let him know.
"Pardon me, I wasn't watching where I was going." The raven apologized.
This time, the guy turned around fully. Akaashi wondered how someone's skin could be so smooth.
"It's alright! I've never seen you around here! You must be new." The guy finished his sentence off with a sunny smile that blinded Akaashi for a moment.
He wondered why the brunet was so familiar. Then it clicked. Oikawa Tooru. The star-volleyball player with the vicious serves.
Akaashi lowered his head slightly. "Yes I am, Oikawa-san. Please excuse me."
Before Akaashi could fully get away, Oikawa called out again. "I didn't get your name?"
Akaashi turned, mentally berating himself. "How rude of me. Akaashi Keiji. Nice to meet you." Akaashi gave a weak smile, before descending down the stairs.
As Akaashi sauntered away, Oikawa raised an eyebrow after him.
Sugawara chuckled. “What, do you feel threatened?”
“Over my dead body.” Oikawa snapped back at his friend.
Sugawara laughed. “You have to admit, the guy has some nice eyes.”
Oikawa huffed, turning his nose up in the air and crossing his arms. “Have you talked to Daichi?”
“Nope, he said he’ll call me when he finishes.”
“That’s so funny that our boyfriends are roommates.” Oikawa snorted.
As the two of them talked in the hallway, in Kenma and Akaashi’s room, Bokuto was buzzing.
“Who was that?” He exclaimed.
“Bokuto, calm down.” Kuroo sighed, as Kenma settled himself by his side.
“I can’t! Did you see him, dude? He’s prettier than Oikawa!”
“Lower your voice, or he’ll come in here and castrate you.” Kenma shushed.
“Right! But what do you know about him?” Bokuto eagerly pressed.
“I don’t know, he’d only been here for a few minutes- didn’t really bring much with him actually. Just a duffel bag. He barely talked while he unpacked. Kind of like Shimizu.- A silent beauty.” Kenma replied.
“You mean like yourself?” Kuroo commented, a shit-eating grin on his face.
“That wasn’t smooth.”
“Yes but your ears tell me otherwise.”
Kenma’s hands flew up to cover his ears, his legs, tucking underneath his chin.
Bokuto faked a gag. “Save your flirting for when I’m not here.”
“You’re just jealous.” Kuroo quipped at his best friend.
“This is why I don’t hang out with you guys alone! You two are already dating, Kuroo. I don’t understand why you make me come along and then leave me to third-wheel.” Bokuto finished, his spirits dampening.
Kenma frowned. He hadn’t meant to make Bokuto feel that way, his mouth opened, but was cut off abruptly.
“And of course I know you don’t intend to do that! Don’t feel the need to apologize. I’m just a big baby. Sorry.” Bokuto’s voice got progressively softer as he spoke.
“Bo-“
Bokuto straightened, painting a look of nonchalance on his face. “I’m going to go hit some spikes at the gym. You two have fun!” He stood up right after, waved, exiting the small room, leaving no room for the couple to say anything.
Bokuto called out to the two setters in the hallway.
“Hey, hey, hey! Can one of you two toss for me?” Bokuto asked, hoping one of them would comply. He really needed to let off some steam.
“I can-“ Oikawa was cut off by Sugawara.
“Absolutely not, Tooru.” His voice was oddly sweet.
Oikawa whined. “Aww, but Kou-chan why?”
“Don’t think I haven’t noticed you wincing! I promised Iwaizumi I would look after you and I will.”
Oikawa scowled. “I haven’t been wincing.”
“Don’t test me, Tooru.” Sugawara’s voice was still sickly sweet, Oikawa grimaced at the sound of it.
“I’m going with you to have it checked tomorrow.” Oikawa didn’t dare say anything.
Bokuto let out a low whistle.
Sugawara gave a look to Bokuto. “I can set for you. I may not be as good as Oikawa, but you said one of us right?”
“Would you mind?” Bokuto sounded sheepish.
“Of course not. Let me grab my things.” Suga entered his and Oikawa’s dorm, the latter still pouting.
“I need to get changed too, I’ll be right back.”
Bokuto hurriedly went and got changed, exiting his room with his trademark kneepads a few minutes later. “Let’s go!”
----
Wandering around my himself, Akaashi felt his phone vibrate in the pocket of his jeans.
Swiping the screen, he answered.
“Keiji! Oh thank-goodness! I thought something had happened to you!” His mother’s worried voice echoed over his cellphone.
“Sorry I didn’t get to call, mom. I’m fine. Just having a look around campus.”
“Really? How is it! How’s your roommate?”
“He’s not much of a talker either.”
“Keiji… please don’t tell me you’re alone right now.”
Akaashi kept silent.
“Akaashi Keiji! You told me you wouldn’t be exploring by yourself. I’ll bet you’ve also been taking the stairs!”
Akaashi let out a little laugh.
“Oh, for the love of Gods!”
“I’ll be fine, mom.”
“Like hell you will! Why haven’t you had someone accompany you?”
“I can’t just tell someone ‘Hey. I might just die any time, would you accompany me to prevent that from happening?’”
“Oh, Keiji- dear. You have me so worried!”
“Mom, please don’t cry.” Akaashi deadpanned.
“I can’t help it!” Sniffling could be heard from the other side of the line.
Akaashi was at his wits end. He sighed. “Alright mom, I’ll try my best to find some friends. Please stop crying.”
“Promise me, okay?”
“I can’t make any promises.”
“I’m going to have a heart attack right here while on this phone! You hear me?”
Akaashi laughed. “I love you, mom. I’ll talk to you again soon.”
He heard his mother sigh. “Please take care of yourself, sweetie. I love you so much.”
Akaashi allowed himself to smile. “Tell dad and Yoichi I said hello.”
“Will do! Speaking of Yoichi, wait for your brother to call, okay?”
He pulled his hand away from his ear, ending the call, and sighed into the air.
Attachments took so much effort, and they were exhausting. Not to mention that everyone there had seemed to be friends already. He wondered if he had much time left. There were times when Akaashi couldn’t even speak without stuttering.
But it’s not like he wanted to do anything revolutionary anyway, so it didn’t really matter. And there was no one he would likely be worried about leaving behind- except for his mother, but she had his dad and Akaashi’s younger brother to take care of her. No one else would miss him.
He didn’t get why his family was so insistent on keeping him alive.
It was kind of frustrating, how no one wanted to talk about his death. No one. Not his dad, his mom, his brother- or even his friends.
He got that it was a tough topic, but It wasn’t like they were the ones dying were they?
Truthfully speaking, he kind of wished that it was all done and over with.
His family was pretty wealthy, but still. Akaashi knew they could be using the thousands of money on something better- something that wasn’t perishable like he was. What a waste.
He knew he was being awfully negative, but he was just stating the facts.
Akaashi was always a practical person. He never liked sugar-coating things or dancing around topics. People mistook his straightforwardness for coarseness, but it was just him being brutally honest. He never had any intent to come off rude.
He wasn’t lonely. He didn’t need anyone, and no one needed him. It was that simple.
----
The ball slammed down loudly on the other side of the court.
Glancing at the former vice-captain, Sugawara was steadily sweating, and he was beginning to feel the strain on his shoulders.
Boktuto had barely broken into a sweat, his breathing normal as he waited expectantly for another toss.
“Can we take a break? I don’t understand how you aren’t tired.” Sugawara pitched.
“That’s Bokuto’s advantage, Kou-chan! His monstrous stamina.” Oikawa sighed. “You know who else has a monstrous stamina? Iwa-chan. One time, we were at it ‘til the morning-“
“Gross, Oikawa. I don’t wanna hear about your sexcapades.” Bokuto spoke.
“I just realized that you’re the only one without a significant other in our friend circle. Tragic.”
“Shut the fuck up, don’t tell me things I already know.”
“Oh, snappy! It must be really gnawing at you huh?”
“You’re such a dick.”
Oikawa smiled at being able to successfully rile his friend up.
“I came here to try and forget about that. Everyone is constantly flirting around me and it makes me nauseous.” Bokuto huffed.
Sugawara smiled in pity at his friend. “You’ll find someone, Bokuto. Just wait for them, okay? Don’t you dare think for a second that you won’t. You’re an amazing person, how can someone not love you?”
“You know what? I think Aka-chan, the new addition? He’s pretty interesting don’t you think?” Oikawa said, sharing a knowing look with Sugawara.
That seemed to pique the owl-like man’s interest. “We haven’t really talked, but he’s really pretty.”
Oikawa frowned, just as Sugawara agreed with Bokuto.
“Like, really pretty. His hair looks so soft! And his eyes are so nice! They’re like, green? I think. Oh boy. I wonder what he’s learning!”
“He doesn’t seem like much of a talker. It adds to the mysterious vibe he has going for him.”
“It’s so convenient because Kenma is Kuroo’s boyfriend and that means he’ll go there a lot because Kenma can never be bothered to actually leave his room!” Bokuto stated.
“That gives you the perfect excuse to be there all the time.” Sugawara encourages.
“I agree. You should totally go for it, Bokuto.” Oikawa adds.
Bokuto was bouncing. “Okay, I really need to his some spikes right now, I’m getting way too excited.”
----
Akaashi figured he would pick up some supplies at the place near the engineering building. The place was huge.
He pushed open the door to the store, and was surprised when there was actually quite a bit of people.
He headed straight for the sketchbooks, green eyes scanning over the different kinds. He chose a random one, with the paper not too thick and not too thin- the color a muted yellow. –(why yellow, Akaashi had no idea.)
He got a set of varying grey-toned markers, as well as some liner pens in different sizes.
He liked numbers. They were predictable. You’d memorize a formula and know what answer you’re supposed to get. Math made sense.
Well, to him anyway.- So when his mom told him that he could pick a course, he chose Engineering. He also had an interest in drawing, so it worked out for him.
He headed for the counter and pulled out a few bills to pay. He uttered a thank you before grabbing his purchases and exiting the store.
Akaashi had run out of ideas on places to explore. However, there was one place he hadn’t been to.
The gym.
There was no harm in checking out their volleyball team, right?
In a span of a few short minutes, the ex-volleyball player finally arrived at the gym.
He was just in time to see Bokuto land a straight, wincing when he heard the ball come into contact with the floor.
He heard Bokuto emit a ‘hoot’, crouching down on one knee dramatically with his fist pumped by his side. “I’m so great! Did you see, Suga? I’d like to see Kuroo block that!”
Akaashi had only seen him do one thing, but there was something about the way that he carried himself and the air around him that motivated you.
Bokuto was probably the complete opposite of Akaashi.
Akaashi was bland and boring and his overly-practical way of thinking usually leads to him ruining the fun for everyone.
-And as he watched Bokuto played volleyball, he realized how much he really missed it.
He missed the feeling of satisfaction that he got whenever his team earned a point. He took pride in his role as a setter, because a point meant that he did his job correctly.- This was probably the only time that his critical thinking did him any good.
This was the only time he truly felt angry at his disease. Something that he had begun to love, had been ripped out of his hands in an instant.
He frowned. He’d thought that he’d stowed those feelings away a long time ago.
Akaashi turned away from the gym, deciding to head back to the dorms, when Oikawa called out to him.
“Ah, Aka-chan! I see you’ve taken an interest in volleyball?”
He turned around, face neutral. “Just passing-by, Oikawa-san.”
“You’ve been standing there for 5 minutes, I should assume.”
“Akaashi! Do you play volleyball too? What position?” Bokuto inquired.
“I used to play setter, Bokuto-san.”
“Used to? What happened?”
The question itself was innocent enough. There was no sense of malice whatsoever, yet hearing it left a heavy weight in his stomach.
“It just didn’t seem very interesting, suddenly.” That was a lie.
“Maybe that’s because you sucked!” He laughed.
Akaashi didn’t understand why he was laughing. He found it rude, however he seemed to have no intention of coming across that way, and Akaashi let it slide.
After all, he knew that all too well.
“I’m sorry?”
“I met this guy back in training camp like, a year and a half ago? His name’s Tsukishima. Funnily enough, he said the same thing you did. You haven’t had the moment yet, haven’t you?”
“I don’t quite understand.”
“You know, the moment, that gets you hooked on volleyball? The feeling of satisfaction after scoring a point and taking the wall down right in front of you- crushing them, and being able to show 120% of your strength? That one?” Wide gestures accompanied his exuberant voice.
He got that feeling of satisfaction, yes, and he was extremely upset when he found out he would be unable to play. But somehow, he got the feeling that whatever it was Bokuto was talking about, hadn’t happened for him in that time.
“I suppose I haven’t.”
“Why don’t you try out? Maybe that moment will exist for you here.” Oikawa suggested.
“I’m not sure it will Oikawa-san.” Akaashi replied curtly.
“You’ll never know unless you try.” Sugawara protested.
“No thank you.”
Akaashi pushed himself off of the doorframe he had been leaning on, and angled his body away.
“Will you toss to me?”
Akaashi stopped, tilting his head to the side. “Some other time, Bokuto-san.”
“That wasn’t a no!” Bokuto yelled after him.
Akaashi shook his head, a small smile gracing his mouth, and headed in the direction of the dorms.
----
For the most part, Akaashi’s seizures were the kinds that weren’t noticeable. It was the kind where he would space out, and the next thing he’d know, a few minutes had passed- which he was thankful for.
That didn’t necessarily mean that it was good, but he hadn’t attracted much attention so far, which was better.
His body would start to fail him, sooner or later.
He let out a sigh, pressing the back of his wrist to one of his eyes.
It was his second day of classes, and so far he’d installed at least 5 different programs onto his laptop.
Well, I mean- his major is Computer Sciences.
He tapped his fingers impatiently on the wood of his desk, deciding that the wifi at one of the nearby coffee shops would probably have his latest program installed faster.
Pausing the download, he grabbed his messenger bag and placed it inside, zipping it closed and heading out the door.
In the hallway, he saw Kuroo, Bokuto, and surprisingly enough- Kenma.
He hadn’t known the blonde for too long, but he learnt that he never really liked going out, save for when it was Kuroo.
“Hey, hey, hey Akaashi! Where you headed?” Bokuto greeted.
“Hello, Bokuto-san. I see you’re as enthusiastic as ever. I’m just going to a coffee shop, their wifi will probably be faster there when everyone isn’t trying to download something. ”
“You’re probably not the only one with that idea. Good luck.” Kuroo remarked, his grin ever-present.
“Well, at the very least- it’ll be faster than here.”
“We were actually going to go get coffee just now! Why don’t you come with us?”
He glanced at Bokuto’s companions.
“I wouldn’t want to intrude.”
“It’s fine.” Kenma answered.
“Well, actually-“ Kuroo stopped short when Kenma elbowed him roughly in the side.
“Let’s go!”
The three talked as they went, and Bokuto asked him some questions that really only required short answers.
Don’t get attached. Akaashi chided himself, and continued walking with them.
The four of them walked a good distance away from campus before arriving at the coffee shop called Nekomata’s.
The inside had a cozy feel to it, the lighting not too bright but not too dim, the walls lined with framed artworks probably signed by the university students from the art department.
“Bo and I will go and order, why don’t you and Akaashi find a seat?” Kuroo says, pulling on Bokuto’s arm.
“Please don’t order anything for me, Bokuto-san. I’m not too fond of coffee.”
“Tea, then?” The older suggested.
Akaashi shook his head no, offering a small smile- before looking for Kenma, whom he realized had found his way to a booth next to the window.
Akaashi took out his laptop, connected to the wifi, and was relieved to see that the wifi here, was indeed faster.
He peered at the blonde sitting across from him, surprised to find that the other’s own golden eyes were already on him, then they weren’t.
Somehow, he got the feeling. “I apologize, Kenma-san. I’m not very good at talking. I’m probably coming off really rude, but I don’t mean to. I didn’t have many friends back home.”
Kenma’s eyes widened in surprise, opening his mouth to say something, but the next thing he knew, someone else was sliding in to the space next to him and placing things on the table.
“Here you go.” Kuroo said, placing a plate of apple pie in front of his boyfriend, sipping his drink while he was at it.
“Finally, we get to talk! Everyone’s been pretty curious about you.”
Akaashi doesn’t miss the look he exchanges with Bokuto, who was noticeably more quiet than any other time he’d seen him.
“There’s not much to say.”
“Sure there is! Like, what course are you taking?”
“Computer Sciences.”
“You wanna become an engineer?” Kuroo whistled. “That’s a shit-ton of math.”
“I like math.”
Bokuto makes a choked noise beside him, and Akaashi wonders if he’s said something wrong.
“Who the hell likes math?” Kuroo laughs.
Akaashi raises an eyebrow. Like he was one to talk!
“Who the hell likes chemistry so much that they manage to bring it up on at least one occasion daily?” Akaashi didn’t know much, but so far he’s learned that Kuroo was getting a degree in Biochemistry.
Kenma lets out a laugh through his nose, and Kuroo pouts.
“Chemistry is cool!”
“I’m sure it is, Kuroo-san. Just like how I think math is cool.”
Kuroo mutters something underneath his breath, something about people lacking docosahexaenoic acid.
“Anyway, what about you guys?” Akaashi said, checking up on his program again.
“I got here with my volleyball scholarship! I’m taking up Architecture.” Bokuto answered.
“Game design.” Kenma added quietly.
“That’s cool. And a scholarship, huh Bokuto-san? That’s impressive.” Akaashi says, honestly.
Instantly, a blush blooms across Bokuto’s face. “I-I know right! I’m pretty awesome!”
“Extraordinary.” Akaashi continues, enjoying the way that Bokuto flushed a shade darker.
Akaashi was smiling- a small quirk of the lips, but it was definitely there. Bokuto wanted to scream.
He’d also managed to find out that Bokuto needed constant attention and encouraging from his fellow peers, none of which seemed to mind.
It was interesting how, just like Bokuto could pull them, they pull him.
Again, Akaashi looks around the shop, his eyes catching on the piano.
Everyone seemed to be chatting around, they wouldn’t mind if he played, right? Just another thing to add onto the background.
“Please excuse me, Bokuto-san.” He says, and Bokuto swings his legs out of the booth so that Akaashi could pass.
Bokuto most definitely does not stare, when Akaashi’s hips come dangerously close to his face.
Akaashi goes to the counter.
“Hello, do you mind if I play your piano for a while?” He asked the manager.
“Be our guest.” He shrugs, before continuing to serve more drinks.
Akaashi stalks over to the piano, pulling out the stool and sitting down, pushing the lid to the keys open.
His eyes glided over the familiar set of rectangles arranged in front of him.
He hadn’t played in a while, but learning an instrument was kind of impossible to forget.
He decided on a piece he was sure everyone would know well, however, would surprise them.
He started the intro, and heard Kuroo laugh from their seat. “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star? Really? A 5 year old could play that.”
Bokuto hushes him harshly, eyes wide and trained on the raven.
Akaashi resisted the urge to roll his eyes. That’s what everyone says in the beginning. Sure, a five year old could play it, but he doubted they could play it like he does.
And Kuroo does shush, and continues to wash, a smirk on his face.
Bokuto probably shouldn’t be so amazed at something like twinkle twinkle, but given that he couldn’t play any instrument for shit- he’s wowed already.
Akaashi’s hands press into the keys easily, the sound flowing around him.
Then, he started to build up on the melody, adding a few more chords- beginning to sound more complex.
He let muscle-memory carry him along the tune as he let himself drift to his thoughts once more.
Piano was something he’d learnt at an early age, the movements and alignments engraved into his head. He stopped playing after he had his seizure at school. But before that, he’d managed to compose a few pieces.
Maybe he’d compose a few more before his dies.-Rather, before his hands start to shake too much.
Tuning back into the music, he realized he was at the mid-point of the song, his hands never faltering.
It would be his speaking abilities that would fail him first, followed by his hands, then the rest of his body.
He finished up the song, the people in the shop offering an applause.
Akaashi blinked confusedly, forgetting that there were people watching, before he bowed his head thankfully.
He slid the strip of felt back over the keys, gently closing the lid, tucking the stool back and walking back to the booth.
Kuroo was blinking, his face blank, and Bokuto was back, chattering loudly.
Kenma hid a smile behind his hair at his boyfriend’s expression.
Akaashi checked on the program. It was done downloading. He shut his laptop.
“What was that?” Bokuto questioned, his eyes bright.
The way he was looking at Akaashi made the back of his neck flush. Why was he looking at him as if Akaashi had just crafted the entire universe?
“Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.In twelve variations by Mozart. A five-year old could play it.” Akaashi answered, his voice light.
He placed his laptop back in his bag, ignoring Kuroo’s scowl.
“Dude, Akaashi just dragged you twice now.” Bokuto cackled.
“Shut up.” Kuroo ground out, obviously not used to having someone else get the last word.
“It was great hanging out with you all, but I’ll be taking my leave now. Thank you.” Akaashi bid, sliding out of the booth once more.
“Akaashi!” Bokuto yelled, but he didn’t turn back.
He couldn’t do that to them. He couldn’t make them watch as he became a hollow shell of what he used to be. It wouldn’t be fair.
Checking his watch, he had 3 more hours until his afternoon classes, so he decided to make himself lunch.
Yes, make because he had a specific diet he needed to follow if he wanted to last longer.
It was a high-fat, low carb, protein diet, with a measure amount of protein intake.
Over the last few years, he’s learned about 10 different ways he could cook chicken and fish; plus a dozen or more different kinds of salads. Red-meat was kind of sacred to him, since he was only allowed to eat it every once in a while.
It was kind of bland, only having chicken and fish to switch between, but he’d found ways to make his limited options of food, good.
He dropped by the convenience store to get some ingredients, and went back to the dorms so that he could use their kitchen.
He climbed the 2 flights of stairs, arriving at his floor, and went to the shared kitchen on the floor.
There, he was greeted by an Oikawa, and a rather buff-looking man- his skin tan, his hair sticking up, resembling that of a porcupine.
Why did everyone have such odd hairstyles?
They seemed to be bickering, but Oikawa’s eyes held something akin to that of adoration. It was that, and how Oikawa’s legs were propped up on the mystery guys’ legs, and how he tenderly inspected Oikawa’s knee, that let him know that this was most-likely his boyfriend.
The raven started laying out his purchases along the counter, then opened the stove, proceeding to place the pan on it.
“Ah! Aka-chan!”
Akaashi didn’t look up. “Hello, Oikawa-san.” He was chopping the vegetables now.
“What’re you cooking?”
“Chicken,”
He glanced at the couple, and thought to himself, It’s not like he couldn’t go out and buy more food right? He couldn’t finish all the chicken by himself anyway.
“Have you both eaten yet?”
“No, actually! Iwa-chan here doesn’t wanna take me out for lunch.”
“Shut up, ‘Kawa. You need to rest your knee first.” The guy- Iwa-chan, bit back.
“It’s honestly fine, Iwa-chan!”
“No it isn’t!”
“Yes, it is! I’m hungry.” Oikawa pouted.
“Just let me take care of you, damn it! I’m barely going to be able to see you once classes actually get rolling. Don’t you dare complain.”
“Iwa-chan,” Oikawa’s voice faltered, and a sniffle could be heard.
“Oh my god, why are you crying?!”
Akaashi snorted under his breath, Oikawa was such a brat, yet there was something oddly endearing about it.
He tuned them out as he cooked, letting it become background noise.
He placed the chicken in the pan, which he spiced with olive oil, basil, and garlic-salt. There was some instant rice stored in the cabinets, so he popped them in the microwave for Oikawa and Iwaizumi.
His low-carb diet meant that he wasn’t allowed to eat rice. Which he was still annoyed about. He really missed rice.
He continued on with the salad, placing the greens and tomatoes in the bowl.
Checking on the chicken, he flipped it when he saw that the sides were turning a nicely-colored brown.
He finished up the food after a few minutes. Preparing three plates, and rationed the food he’d prepared.
He left one plate on the counter, and placed the ones he was holding in front of Oikawa and Iwaizumi.
The couple looked up confusedly.
Akaashi looked them both in the eye. “You said you hadn’t eaten yet. Please, enjoy the meal.” He went back to the counter and grabbed his own plate, exiting the room.
“Thank you, Aka-chan!” Oikawa said, and yet- Akaashi still didn’t look back.
When Akaashi was a safe-distance away, Iwaizumi looked at the food, while in fact- it did smell good, he looked at it thoughtfully.
Oikawa wasted no time in stuffing a piece of chicken into his mouth, his eyes nearly watering at how good it was.
“Oikawa, do you know if he eats like this regularly?”
“Waf do you mean ifa-chan?” Oikawa bit out.
“I mean, what college student actually prepares their food? And why is it so damn healthy?”
This time, Oikawa swallowed before replying. “It’s healthy, yeah but it doesn’t taste like shit! Try some, Iwa-chan!”
Iwaizumi shrugged, digging into his food.
It was really good.
Meanwhile, in Akaashi’s room, Kenma still hadn’t been back yet, so Akaashi ate on his desk, pushing it off to one side once he was done.
Akaashi looked up when he heard the familiar sound of the pin being entered into the door lock.
Kenma shut the door behind him, then proceeded to flop down on his bed, sighing into the covers. He said something, but it was muffled.
“Sorry, what was that?”
Kenma propped his head up with his hand. “I hate going out. There’s too many people.”
Akaashi merely nodded, humming. Maybe he should stop acknowledging them?
But Akaashi wasn’t an asshole. He wasn’t just going to outright ignore them, it just wouldn’t sit well with him.
If ever, he’d decline their offers to go out.
Akaashi nodded to himself. Yeah, that could work.
Kenma looked at Akaashi thoughtfully, and wondered why there was something so interesting about him. Oikawa had been right when he told Bokuto that Akaashi had that mysterious aura going for him.
He thought of all his friends- and if you’d asked him a few years back he probably would have let out a laugh in the quiet way that he does and walk away, because Kenma, have friends? –He didn’t have friends, he had a friend. Singular. It was only ever Kuroo.
As cheesy as it sounded, Kuroo alone was enough.
Yet somewhere along the way he found himself caring for the people that he came along to meet through volleyball.
Oikawa was the friend that would be ready to fight anyone if they ever hurt his friends. Despite his naturally outgoing and carefree personality, he was downright terrifying when angry. Kenma found, that he was extremely loyal, and would probably donate a kidney if you asked him to.
Kuroo would be the person to make you feel better after a bad day, and always knew just what exactly it was that you needed. It always amazed Kenma how he was able to adapt to just about anyone. He was so smart, and always did what was best for everyone.
And Bokuto was just this giant ball of happiness, that although maybe unnecessarily loud and kind of annoying at first, would find a way to grow on you, somehow. Honestly, Bokuto made Kenma feel better on numerous occasions, and was painfully earnest. He had a heart of gold. –He reminded Kenma of Hinata in Miyagi.
These three people had come to become an important pieces in Kenma’s life, and he would always be grateful for them. And he’d found, that it was nice having company.
Kenma wondered, briefly, if Akaash was lonely.
Bokuto was in his room, thinking of things along the lines of Kenma. Why did he get the feeling that Akaashi was sad?
“Bo, if you think too hard, you might hurt yourself.”
“Kuroo, what do you think of Akaashi?” Bokuto brushes off the remark.
“He’s kind of snarky. I don’t like it.”
“You’re just annoyed that you can’t seem to crack him. Him and Tsukki would get along well, don’t you think?”
Kuroo glares at him.
“You don’t like him because he can actually come up with replies for your dumb taunts.”
“My taunts aren’t dumb when it comes to the court, are they?” Referring to when they play against one another.
Bokuto pouts. “Whatever. But like, anyway, he seems kind of…” he can’t find the right word for it, so he tries to imitate what he would look like whenever he didn’t feel good.
Kuroo laughs at his friend. Bokuto was still, really a child. “Withdrawn?”
“Yeah! Whatever that means, but it sounds sad.”
“I mean, he doesn’t like talking to people. Kinda like Kenma.”
“No but, like- It’s like he’s forcing himself to do it?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, like earlier- when he played at the shop, he seemed like he had a lot on his mind? And he cooked for Oikawa and Iwaizumi, but they didn’t ask him to. It’s like, he does nice things without intending to, but how come he’s so… I don’t know, like he wants to seem…”
“Like a dick?”
Bokuto shoots him a nasty look. “Well, that’s one way to put it. But I feel like he just does that so people won’t talk to him.
“Like Tsukki?”
“No, Tsukki is generally a rude person, that’s something you have to grow accustomed to if you wanna be his friend, but…” Bokuto threw his hands up in exasperation. “Ugh! What am I even talking about.”
“I’ve never seen you have such a hard time getting an idea across. You’re usually very articulate.” He carefully observes his friend.
“I hate it when you look at me like that.”
“Like what? I’m just looking at you.”
“I feel like I’ve been stripped of all my secrets.”
“Bo, you can hardly ever keep your thoughts to yourself. How do you suppose you can keep a secret?”
Bokuto shrugged, still thinking. “Well, I don’t know, maybe I’m just overthinking it, but I’m asking him out anyway.”
Kuroo rolled his eyes. “Of course you are.”
I’m going to solve the puzzle that you are. Was all Bokuto thought for the rest of the night.
----
It was a finally Friday.
Akaashi was in the library watching one of the matches he’d missed before, and was surprised to see familiar faces on his laptop screen, aside from Oikawa.
Of course. The 3 of them are on the national team. Akaashi blinked, slightly astonished, as to how he didn’t recognize Bokuto and Kuroo.
Akaashi found, that Bokuto’s presence was even more demanding when it was an actual game.
All three of them actually, were quite impressive. He wondered how they could manage to balance schoolwork on top of volleyball on a national level.
So far this week, he’d managed to avoid most contact with the people on his floor by staying in the library. A small corner parallel to the counter, just in case he has a seizure, but not someone could view upon entering.
By the grace of God, no one has tried to approach him.
If he ever needed to work in his room, he’d place his headphones on, however he wouldn’t play any music. It was just for the effect.
He’s also familiarized himself with the staff, particularly Akemi-san at the counter, a charming middle-aged lady that kept him company whenever she wasn’t busy assisting students.
Ever since she had accompanied Akaashi to look for a book the other day, -it was on the farthest end of the library- he had felt the telltale signs of a seizure. With no one else around, he had calmly interrupted her, speaking quickly, yet clearly. “Pardon me for interrupting, Akemi-san. But I think I might have a seizure in the next few moments, there’s no need to fret- It’s normal. Listen very carefully.” He stepped forward, and gripped her shaking hands.
“I believe you can do so.” He paused slightly, his vision blurring at the edges. “First, turn me onto my side, and please stay with me throughout the whole thing. Don’t scream for help, not yet, at least- we wouldn’t want to disturb the other students.” He gave a small laugh through his nose, voice levelled. “Only call for help when my seizure has lasted more than five minutes. I apologize for the inconvenience.”
He didn’t need to tell her to loosen his clothes, given that most of his shirts were oversized, specifically for this reason.
Within the next few seconds, Akaashi sprawled across the floor.
The small old lady let out a hushed “Oh, dear!” And gently guided the raven onto his side. She looked at her watch and counted, glancing at Akaashi every so often.
After 3 minutes, Akaashi halted in his spasms- Akemi letting out a sigh of relief.
She waited a few more seconds before laying him on his back once more, propping his head up on her lap. She patted his face lightly, and the younger’s eyes fluttered open tiredly.
“You did a great job, Akemi-san.” He croaked, giving a smile that would charm anyone.
Now, fast forward back to the present, Akaashi craned his neck slightly to the side, jumping when he felt someone looking over his shoulder.
It was none-other than Kuroo.
He had his signature shit-eating grin on his face, glasses perched on the tip of his nose. “Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you. Having fun there?”
Akaashi turned back towards his screen, choosing to ignore him, hoping that he would go away.
Unfortunately, it was the opposite.
Kuroo pulled out the chair across from him, and Akaashi refrained from twisting his face up in annoyance.
“What are you doing, Kuroo-san.”
“Sitting? What’s it look like I’m doing?”
“Please leave.”
Kuroo made no effort to move.
Akaashi’s expression was neutral as he shut his laptop closed and place all his handouts in his backpack. If Kuroo wasn’t going to leave, then he would.
“Woah, where are you going?”
“I’m taking my leave, Kuroo-san, what’s it look like I’m doing?”
Kuroo clicked his tongue in annoyance. “Why are you such a prick?”
Akaashi stilled, looking at Kuroo dead in the eye, gripping the straps of his bag tightly. “Because it keeps people away.” He grit out, pushing his chair backwards and moving towards the exit.
He gave a little wave to Akemi, leaving Kuroo behind.
Honestly, some people just couldn’t get a clue.
Akaashi finally arrived at the dorm, punching in the code and entering the small room.
Kenma was there, papers surrounding him on his bed, and for the first time, he didn’t raise his head in acknowledgement at him.
Kuroo probably told on him.
Finally, Akaashi thought. Finally, people would leave him alone.
He threw his bag on the bed, flopping down on his back. He pulled out his phone and his earphones, connecting the two, but like the usual- not really playing music. He closed his eyes, hearing the occasional sound of paper being shifted.
Kenma had been muttering the same thing for a good few minutes, before Akaashi finally gave in. He pulled out one earbud.
“It’s 30.” Akaashi said aloud, not bothering to look at the blonde.
“What?”
“The answer to the derivative you’ve been trying to solve. It’s 30.”
“I’ve been on this problem for nearly half an hour now.”
Akaashi shrugs.
Kenma finally looks over, eyes widening when he sees that Akaashi wasn’t holding anything.
“Did you just solve a derivative in your head?” Kenma asked, incredulous.
Akaashi didn’t bother with a reply, continuing to blankly stare at the off-white ceiling.
Kenma brings out his phone, and texts his boyfriend.
to: kuro
can you solve a derivative for me
from: kuro
sure, kitten
Kenma quickly types in the set of numbers, and set his phone off to the side to move onto another question, knowing that his boyfriend would take a little while.
He answered some of the easier questions, and his phone dinged with a notification.
from: kuro
I got 30. I double-checked with Yaku.
Yaku was his old team captain, who was currently studying to be an accountant. He accidentally chose calculus as one of his electives, and he was stuck with it.
to: kuro
and you used a calculator for that, right?
from: kuro
Of course I did- are you high?
Kenma blinked. –Akaashi inwardly gave himself a pat on the back.
The next day, Akaashi woke up, and found that there were two other people in his dorm room.
He turned away from where he was facing his wall, and sat up abruptly.
“See, I told you, you’d wake him up.” Kenma warns.
“Sorry, Akaashi- were we too loud!?” Bokuto asks, his voice far too loud.
Akaashi slowly turns his head to the side, not at all caring is he looked like a mess. His eyes are sharp, his face twisted into a scowl.
“Bokuto-san,” He pointedly doesn’t mention Kuroo. ”What are you doing in the dorm-“ He checks his wrist, because Keiji never takes off his watch, “At 7 AM , on a Saturday?”
Bokuto winces. “I take it you aren’t much of a morning person?”
Akaashi’s glare doesn’t soften. In fact- he glares even harder.
“Jeez, can you chill? Bokuto just needs help with his math homework. He has class in an hour.” Kuroo supplies.
Akaashi’s eye twitches, and he stands up, walks over to the bed, and gestures for Kenma to hand him the workbook.
He does a onceover of the page. “Is this all?”
“There’s like, 2 more pages.” Bokuto answers, his voice small, eyes wide.
Akaashi glances up, raises an eyebrow, and grabs the nearest pen he could find.
He checks the other pages. He could probably answer it in 10 minutes or so. “What are you doing?” Kuroo asks, sounding very annoyed.
“Listen here, pain-in-the-ass Kuroo-san. I stayed up very late to work on a blueprint last night. I’ve probably gotten, about 4 hours of sleep so far. Today is Saturday. I don’t have classes. Kindly shut up so I can finish Bokuto-san’s homework and go back to sleep.”
Kuroo is about to make another retort before Kenma tugs at his sleeve, shaking his head no.
10 minutes passed by in a painfully awkward silence, which Akaashi did not mind, only focusing on writing the answers to the problems.
He slammed the workbook shut with the pen inside, and drops it on the bed.
Afterwards, he goes back to his bed, crawls under the covers, faces away, and goes to sleep again.
“He just finished all my math homework in 10 minutes! He’s like, a supercomputer!” Bokuto says, and in return gets a “Bokuto-san,” from Akaashi, who’s just about this close to defenestrating them.
“Right! Sorry, let’s go Kuroo.”
“Dude, the whole reason why we came here is so that you could actually understand the topic.”
Akaashi sighs and sits up, eyes half-closed. “If you exit the room in the next 5 seconds, you can come back later and I’ll explain it to you. So please leave, I’d very much like to sleep.”
Bokuto right about dashes out of there and is gone before Akaashi can hit the pillows.
Kuroo, of course- takes a little longer. “Sleep is for the weak.”
“Kindly fuck off Kuroo-san, or you’ll be sure to regret it.”
That gets the second-year walking a bit quicker.
Akaashi falls back onto his bed, closes his eyes, then goes to sleep.
“Dude, I told you.”
“He was completely rude!”
“Yes, but he still did my math homework, and offered to reteach it later!”
“He called me pain-in-the-ass Kuroo-san.”
“Well, to be fair dude- you are, really annoying.”
“I don’t get why he hates me so much.” Kuroo sputters at Bokuto, his dislike towards Akaashi growing each moment that passes.
And what did he mean, ‘It keeps people away?’
“Dude, seriously- lay off. I really don’t like him and I get the feeling he just wants to be left alone.”
“Oh come on, he’s completely harmless!”
“Are you serious? All we did was wake him up and that experience alone was absolutely terrifying.”
“Everyone’s a little cranky in the mornings.”
Kuroo gapes at his best friend. “ A little? You call that a little? A little is an understatement!”
Oikawa sees the two on his way to the gym for some practice.
“Yaho! K-chan, Bo-chan! What are you two so heatedly arguing about?” He approaches them, his smile as bright as ever.
“Oikawa, please tell Bokuto that mingling with the new guy is a bad idea.”
“Why not? He seems pretty cool.” Oikawa asks, his head cocking to the side.
Bokuto lets out a “Ha!” and Kuroo frowns even more.
“Cool? He’s a complete dick!”
“I can’t say anything besides he’s a really good cook. I’ve barely talked to him.”
Kuroo drags his hands down his face in frustration.
“Hm, maybe I can get a read on him?”
Oikawa was studying to be a psychologist. Or- rather, a mentalist. He was already pretty manipulative to begin with, but on top of learning even more about how other people think, he was on a whole other level.
Of course, he’d never use his skills to hurt his friends.
“That weird thing where you look at them and then catalog all their characteristics? No way. You’d scare him off.” Bokuto protests.
“But Tetsu-chan here is just worried for you! Let me do it.”
“Why can’t I just ask him out and find out all about him myself?”
“Oh, but that’s boring.” Oikawa pouts.
“I’m not clairvoyant like you are, Tooru.”
“I’m not clairvoyant either! I just pay attention.”
“Ugh. Whatever. I’m getting coffee.”
Bokuto scuttles away, leaving Kuroo behind.
“What are you so worried about?”
“I don’t know, but yesterday, I caught him in the library, and he was watching one of our matches right? So I sit in front of him and he gets all mad and leaves, but before he left he said something.”
A few seconds passed by, and Oikawa juts his head forward. “Well, what did he say?”
“I don’t know, I asked him why he was such a prick, because he is- and he said, ‘because it keeps people away’, in like- the most passive aggressive tone ever.”
“Oh?” Oikawa drags out the word, a smile dancing on his mouth.
“What?”
“That’s really interesting. It contradicts what he did for me and Hajime the other day.”
“Look, I don’t even know. But Bokuto said something about wanting to come off mean but then unintentionally doing nice things, If that makes any sense.”
“It makes perfect sense actually, nothing less from Bokuto- but the question is, why, eh?”
Kuroo shrugs, and bids Oikawa goodbye, saying that he also needs to catch a class.
Oikawa makes up multiple scenarios in his head as he walks to the gymnasium, tapping his chin. “I wonder…”
Later that afternoon, Bokuto stops by Akaashi and Kenma’s dorm again.
He was rather surprised to see that Akaashi was still asleep, him on his stomach, sheets a mess- with his limbs sprawled around his body.
“What the heck? He’s still asleep?” He whispers, not so quietly.
Kenma shrugs. “Yup. He hasn’t woken up once.”
Akaashi feels something gently prod his cheek. He was already half-awake by this point. Honestly, one of these days he wishes his brain would short-circuit in his sleep and then he wouldn’t have to wake up. A painless death.
He inhales sharply, pushing himself off the bed to sit back on his knees. He rubs at his eyes sleepily, holding up a finger before he gets off the bed and stumbles his way to the bathroom.
Kenma feels the back of his neck warm, and Bokuto’s ears are a bright red.
Even Kenma had to admit that Akaashi could be pretty cute.
Bokuto sighs dreamily, wondering how it was possible to be that attractive.
Akaashi comes back, looking more put together, his expression back to it’s usual self.
He sits on the floor, gesturing for Bokuto to follow- and he does.
“So,” Akaashi has to stifle another yawn. “What do you need me to teach, Bokuto-san?”
“Um,” Bokuto scratches the back of his neck.
Akaashi raises an eyebrow patiently.
“Everything?”
Akaashi resists the urge to sigh, and instead furrows his eyebrows. To be fair, he did ask for this.
“Okay, I guess.” Akaashi says, twisting his body so he could retrieve his laptop from the bed.
“Okay?”
He opens his laptop and types in his password.
Bokuto gasps when he sees Akaashi’s desktop.
“You like owls?”
Akaashi glances at Bokuto. “Yes.”
“That’s so cool! I love owls! They’re where I got inspiration for my hairstyle! I look like a horned-owl, don’t I?”
Akaashi casts a side-long glance as he retrieves his notes, and lets out a hum.
“Okay, let’s start from here.”
Akaashi spends the next few hours teaching Bokuto, having to tell him to focus quite a bit.
Kenma notes how patient Akaashi is with Bokuto, explaining everything carefully, before he continues on to the next topic. Akaashi was so confusing, because while he could be kind of rude, he contradicts it every time he does something nice.
By nightfall, Akaashi had managed to teach Bokuto ¾ of the material.
“Ugh, Akaaashi, can we take a break? I’m really hungry and I think I’ve had enough math for a day.”
“C’mon, Bokuto-san, just a little bit more, we’re almost done.”
Bokuto whines. Akaashi rolls his eyes.
“I got it! Why don’t you go out for dinner with me Akaashi?”
Akaashi doesn’t think twice when he answers. “No, Bokuto-san.”
Bokuto visibly deflates beside him. “Why not?”
“I can’t. I’m sorry.” Was all he said, and he fixed up Bokuto’s worksheets and tucked them neatly in his workbook.
“Well, um- we’re having this thing tomorrow, if you’re interested. We go to a pub nearby, and like, talk.”
“I don’t drink.”
Akaashi seemed adamant on not going. So Bokuto left it at that.
“Okay. Thanks for today. I really appreciate it. Is it okay if I come by tomorrow so you could finish teaching me?”
Akaashi nods, then returns back to his computer. He didn’t wave goodbye, because that would mean he was being friendly, but then that wasn’t what he was going for.
It was kind of tiring, to have to constantly restrain himself, but it was his way of protecting them, he guessed.
“Why won’t you give him a chance?” Kenma wonders aloud.
Akaashi glances up, his shoulders tensing.
“A chance to what?” He pretends like he doesn’t know anything.
“Don’t be ignorant. Everyone here has tried talking to you for days. We’re all confused. I especially don’t get why you don’t like Kuroo.”
Akaashi gulps, and bites the inside of his cheek.
It’s because I’m scared.
“Unfortunately, Kenma-san. I haven’t got an answer to your question.”
Kenma doesn’t push it.
Bokuto arrives the next day, and Akaashi notices how he isn’t as excitable as the day before.
He learns what’s left of the material from Akaashi, thanks him, then leaves.
Akaashi wonders why it unsettles him.
The thought plagues him even as he situates himself in his usual seat at the library.
He sees Oikawa in the doorway a few minutes later, and he ducks his head low to try and avoid being seen.
Unluckily for him Oikawa decides to pull out the chair directly across from him, and then proceeds to situate his arms on top of the table.
“Oikawa-san, have you ever heard of asking?”
“But you would have said no!”
“It’s common courtesy.”
“I must be intruding then.”
“Excuse me, but yes you are.”
“How straightforward.”
Akaashi drags his forefingers across his eyebrows, sighing loudly.
“Please leave, Oikawa-san.”
“No.”
“If you don’t, I will.”
“Ah, but you won’t really do that, will you? I know you have a lot of things to work on, and the library is the most appropriate place for that.”
“I have a dorm.”
“Hm, I don’t think Ken-chan would be very happy to see you right now.”
Akaashi almost falters. “I’m his roommate. I stay there either way.”
“But you didn’t say you didn’t care.” Oikawa smirks across him.
Akaashi furrows his eyebrows. “Are you trying to manipulate me? I can guarantee you It’s not very effective.”
“That’s interesting considering you haven’t made one move to stand. You did differently for Kuroo.”
Akaashi stills. His mind working. “Something tells me you aren't quite as carefree as everyone thinks you are.
“Perceptive.” Oikawa says.
“You’re also very, very conscious of your surroundings. Everything you do is so stiff. Like you’re aware others are watching. Which leads you to nit-pick on every single thing you do.” The older continues.
“I beg to disagree. I could care less what other people think.”
“Is that so?”
Akaashi remains looking unimpressed.
“You’re fiddling with your hands under the table. Do I make you nervous?”
“No.” Akaashi immediately halts in his actions. He starts shuffling the papers on the table, arranging it into a neat little pile so that he could tuck it back into his bag.
“Let’s play a game, shall we?” Oikawa proposes.
“Depends. What’s the game?”
“I just profile you.”
“I haven’t got anything to hide.” Akaashi almost snorts.
“Everyone has something to hide, Aka-chan!” Oikawa exclaims, his grin holding something troublesome.
“If I win, will you leave?”
“Looks like I won’t be leaving then.”
“You get one try.”
Akaashi doesn’t doubt that Oikawa can’t describe his entire existence. He just doubts that he can guess- no,- find out, why Akaashi is the way he is.
“Sheesh, tough crowd.”
“Are you always this modest, Oikawa-san?”
Oikawa lets out a laugh through his nose.
“Let’s see. The honorifics you seem to tack onto everyone can tell me two things. Either you were raised to be extremely polite, probably because of your parents-they’re successful figures aren’t they? Or, you probably haven’t had many friends to familiarize yourself with.
Like I said a while ago, your gestures are extremely stiff. Do you happen to have a younger brother? That probably adds on to the fact of why you’re so decisive. You try to set an example for him.
You’ve never had a significant other, in fact- as far as I can tell you’ve never been interested.
But, I’m wondering why you don’t have any friends. Rather- you don’t want any. Frankly speaking here Aka-chan, you’re quite a vision- much like myself. Why are you so… cold?”
Akaashi shrugs. “You tell me.”
Oikawa leans on the back of his chair, crossing his arms. “You know, Aka-chan. I have a kouhai. Tobio-chan never knew what it was like to depend on other people until his first year of high school. He was quite… dominating in his middle school days. Thought everyone was incompetent. He played volleyball.
Then one day, everyone just up and left him. Because of that, he never really tried interacting with other people, you know? I think that experience really affected him. Left him with a case of azathagorophobia.
So, I’m thinking- something similar happened to you as well? Though, you don’t give me the bossy vibe. But people you probably thought you could trust just… disappointed you.
I don’t think It’s your personality that made them leave… something else? But I can’t figure out what. It was in high school so probably…”
Akaashi remained confident that Oikawa wouldn’t be able to take a guess.
“A petty case of rumors? Ugh, but that’s not it is it? You’re an introvert, no one would pay attention to you so why would they make up something about you?
Anyway, my point is, you’re wary of people now are you? Because of something that happened in high school.”
“That’s correct. I wouldn’t expect any less from you, Oikawa-san. But unless you figure out what happened in high school, I win. Please see yourself out.”
Oikawa pouts. “Sadly. Well, I’ll leave you to it!”
Before he leaves Akaashi to his own devices, he shoves his hands in his pockets and leans over his own shoulder.
“I’ll figure it out, Aka-chan. Just you wait.” -Then walks away with practiced grace.
“Hopefully, you’re not too late by then.” Akaashi sighs.