[ akaashi's been here for like, an hour, and his phone is literally blowing up with all these texts. he almost ignores it at first until the texts just keep on coming
it's not until he actually looks at who is texting that it all clicks into place. hinata did say bokuto-san was here, after all... ]
[ nevermind that he 100% ran right by that house but he's GOING BACK OKAY HE'S COMING BACK FOR YOU AKAASHI.
literally though. it'll take a rough estimate of six minutes and thirty seven seconds before there is a loud banging at the door that doesn't actually stop until akaashi goes to open it. ]
which is suddenly a validated feeling when it sounds like bokuto is going to break the damn door down. he looks through the peephole, just to make sure it actually is bokuto, and yeah, he can't mistake that spiked up gray hairdo for anything else.
he's slow to unlock the door and open it, making sure to take a step back just in case bokuto does something totally rash. ]
...Did you actually run all the way here Bokuto-san?
[ he may or may not be also bounding on the balls of his feet. there's really no telling. he's full of energy for the first time in a few weeks and there's nowhere for it all to go. he's bouncing and looking around and knocking and he did get the right house, right? right????
but then the door opens, and bokuto actually stops. right there, in place, because standing right inside the door is definitely akaashi and he is definitely real and right there, and for better or for worse, bokuto's brain kind of flatlines.
which leaves him sort of just standing there, his eyes wide and his mouth open, staring for a moment or two (or maybe even three). but then he takes a breath, and it looks almost as if his shoulders finally relax, falling a bit as he smiles. easy and light. he still seems a little not here, like he's still trying to let this all settle in. he's breathing heavily enough, so that should be answer to akaashi's question, but man. man.
[ akaashi realizes he's missing something here, something big, something that's making bokuto act so strangely. or at least strangely in bokuto terms. it's not often he sees bokuto go from full energy to frozen in place after all.
he raises an eyebrow and tilts his head to the side, trying to figure out exactly what that smile and general look means as he answers. ]
[ and then he snaps out of it. just a simple hello and bokuto blinks, energy flooding back through him like a switch was flipped. he all but lunges forward for a hug, arms going over akaashi's shoulder and around his neck.
if he just kind of hugs him really close and a little too tight, akaashi will just have to deal, because eventually he will give a kind of half-laugh, half-bark. maybe it's a hoot? ]
You're here! [ probably much more loud than necessary, but he's kind of crushing akaashi to his chest to maybe he won't hear it. ] You're really here and you got here and you didn't call me!
[ wait. bokuto freezes, then pulls away, hands on akaashi's shoulders. ] Why didn't you call me? I was here! Do you know how to use your phone? I can teach you if you don't!
[ akaashi doesn't brace himself quick enough, so when bokuto lunges he can't stop the way his feet stumble, or the way his hands grab into bokuto's sleeves to keep his balance. it's too much, it's too tight, and he swears he saw bokuto just a little while ago back at fukurodani. there's really no need for this, right? ] Bokuto-san, please.
[ for the love of god and all that is holy, give the boy his personal space. this is bone crushing. akaashi lets go of the sleeves and hopes bokuto gets it. please.
which he does, but then bokuto is yapping about phones or something, and really, akaashi doesn't get the big deal. he had planned on texting him soon enough. ] I know how to use my own phone, Bokuto-san. [ probably. all this video chat stuff is new though. ] I was just trying to understand... this, before I started going through it.
[ this being, yah know, everything about holly heights. his house. what the fuck is going on in general. ]
[ he's lucky, though, because bokuto almost didn't let go. even if he knows how akaashi feels about personal space, and he knows the hug might be a little too much all at once, he also just. needs it. he really does. even if he doesn't know it himself, he does know that the minute he is actually getting the hug he starts to feel better.
but this whole showing akaashi everything bit just jumped on the priority list, so the space is necessary and happens. and it's very important that akaashi knows how to use his phone so that he can text bokuto all the time. but then akaashi says he knows how to use it, and for half a second bokuto is very confused. granted, akaashi's answer doesn't really help, considering he basically just said i didn't text you on purpose.
[ it's the little things - the slump in bokuto's shoulders, the way his voice falls through the sentence and tapers off at the end. but akaashi knows the signs well, it's just a matter of his answer being good enough that bokuto can bounce back. ]
I only heard about you being here a little while ago from Hinata. [ mostly true ] And I just needed a little time. This is a lot.
[ he feels awkward admitting it, even to bokuto, because akaashi is really not used to being so far out of his depth. ]
[ bokuto avoids akaashi's eyes as his shoulders slouch a little further. he wanted to be the one to explain everything to akaashi. to show him around and introduce him to everyone. it's not fair that akaashi got here and he missed him.
his attention is pulled back when he hears hinata, but then he's back to pouting. ] Yeah, Hinata texted me.
[ but the dejected mode eases a little when akaashi mentions needing a little time. is he overwhelmed? does he need help? bokuto perks a little. ]
Do you want me to explain anything? I can help! [ a beat, and then- ] Or I could show you around. This place isn't that big. Plus it helps to kind of figure out what's going on, y'know?
[ weirdly, having bokuto around is helping akaashi focus, giving him something else to think about besides the impending sense of all life and choices being meaningless in a grander universe. it's easier to focus on the way bokuto's starting to bounce back (a good sign despite the pouting) than on anything else. ]
Come inside, and you can tell me everything. [ he's already heard mostly everything, but he won't take this one away from bokuto.
although, he does remember something from iwaizumi-san, something that's honestly bugging him now that he's actually seeing bokuto in person. ] ...And, can I ask you something Bokuto-san?
[ obviously it has nothing at all to do with the fact maybe akaashi just likes being around bokuto. nope. nothing at all. but bokuto's mood is 100% to do with akaashi being there, and him having missed him, and the fact that akaashi hadn't, apparently, missed him at all.
but that's okay, because he says come inside and bokuto's back to normal, his hair perking back up and everything. ]
Okay! [ cause see! akaashi does need him. he can be super useful with his four months of hanging around here. or however long he's here. doesn't matter.
he goes on ahead to move inside, though, walking around akaashi and settling inside the door to look around the living room. he's forgotten how these were normally set up when you first got here, since he and hinata had immediately gone to create their court.
akaashi's question makes him stop, though, head turning and eyes wide. ] Sure! What's up?
[ no, obviously not, that would be ridiculous. it's just comforting to have a person around he actually knows, someone he actually spends his days with instead of acquaintances and people he's met a few times at training camps.
whoever else lives in the house doesn't seem to be around, so akaashi easily follows bokuto into the living room and figures bokuto, for once, has a better idea of what he's doing than he does.
akaashi does take a deep breath with the question. he's not sure if this is a good one to ask but he does have to know. ] How long have you been here?
[ oh yeah, totally. only that. but it doesn't really matter, because bokuto feels like things are finally starting to normalize. feels like he's, for the first time in a long time, feeling more normal.
they go on inside, though, because it's the same lay-out as his house so he's still pretty familiar with it. he stops and turns back at the question, watches akaashi take a deep breath with a very confused look.
and then he freezes. feels the room go cold in the half-second after. how long has he been here? he thinks back over the weeks, the months. the nights he sat up in bed unable to sleep and the days where it was weird just moving around, going to class. for a few moments, he can't really answer, because he's back to that feeling that been building since prom and it feels suffocating, but he pushes it away. ]
Uh. [ suddenly, everything feels awkward. like he's done something he shouldn't have. he looks a little guilty as his hand moves to the back of his neck, his eyes diverting. he doesn't want to tell him, but he also can't not. not when akaashi asks him so directly.
he kind of wishes whoever told him hadn't, because then maybe bokuto could have not told him at all. ] I don't...really remember. A few months? Or like- three? Maybe?
[ akaashi doesn't press for an answer, and honestly, if bokuto didn't want to tell him akaashi wouldn't have pried. he almost doesn't expect an answer when bokuto fidgets, looks so uncomfortable in his own skin that it almost throws akaashi for a loop. he's seen downswings in bokuto's mood before but this isn't quite the same.
something else new and different for him to deal with. lovely.
a few months. three. and akaashi visibly winces. that's a long time, especially if it's just been him and hinata and some people from miyagi. bokuto probably misses his friends from fukurodani, friends like him. it explains that bone crushing hug from earlier, the way he was so desperately running to the door. the problem is that now akaashi isn't sure what to say.
he picks the safest ground he can think up without stalling. ]
I'm sorry, Bokuto-san, you didn't have to tell me if it makes you uncomfortable.
[ bokuto feels weird about it, honestly. he's not used to not telling akaashi everything, not used to his first response being no, just lie about it. it was weird, and part of what he was trying to fight, and it's been so long since he's seen akaashi it makes sense it would feel a little weird.
he doesn't like it, but he doesn't like the way akaashi winces when he answers, guilt curling in the pit of his stomach. he shouldn't have said anything. he knew he shouldn't have. ] Sorry.
[ but then akaashi is apologizing and bokuto just shakes his head. ] No it's fine! I just...forgot, I guess. I couldn't really do anything about it. [ forced shrug. see, all is good akaashi! TOTALLY FINE. ]
[ yeah, bokuto is totally fine, and akaashi is the queen of france.
akaashi can practically touch the tension rolling off of bokuto's shoulders, and it's honestly troubling because he can't remember the last time he's seen bokuto quite like this (or if he ever has, period). he wants to do something about it, he does, but he's not sure if there really is anything he can do. ]
...I won't pry Bokuto-san, but if you want to talk about it you can come to me.
[ he leaves his offer open, but completely genuine. ]
[ akaashi could be if he wanted. he's pretty enough.
it just feels weird. bokuto usually ranges in his emotions, from one extreme to the other, but in that shifting comes a near-comfort in the familiarity of it. when he's upset, he's not confused about it. when he's excited, he's not confused about it. what he feels, now, with the way akaashi is looking at him, confuses him. ]
I'm fine. [ said quick, too quick, but bokuto doesn't know what else he's supposed to do or say. and akaashi just got here and that's more important, right? right. and the idea of showing akaashi around doesn't make him feel....weird. ]
It's nothing! You just got here. I can show you around instead. Did you see the sports center?
this is getting weird for akaashi, there's no two ways about it. he has no sure way of comforting bokuto besides being here and listening. it feels like his first year all over again, trying to make a team with a wild uperclassman. but he's not going to push it further, he's afraid what will happen if he does. ] If you say so, Bokuto-san.
[obviously he doesn't believe it, but at least their are other things to focus on. ] No, I've only walked around this area with the houses. I haven't really explored anywhere else.
no it's definitely weird, and bokuto definitely doesn't like it. the awkward tension that's settling in the air between them is not what he wanted akaashi's first day to be and that's upsetting, upsetting that he's the one doing that. that he's causing it.
he shakes his head to try and shake himself out of it. takes a breath and is smiling again when akaashi agrees. okay. he can show him around. that's easy enough. ] You haven't? Aw man Akaashi I have to show you everything! [ he's not quite back to his normal levels of excitement, but he's getting closer. ]
Do you want to go now? [ bokuto wants to go now. ]
for a moment, after akaashi agrees, his excitement is more genuine. a smile that breaks out as he reaches forward and grabs akaashi's hand, pulls it behind him as he heads back out the front door. ]
Perfect! I can show you the sports center and the school! [ get ready akaashi, bokuto wants to show you off to all of holly heights. ]
[ yes, but is akaashi used to bokuto not actually letting go once akaashi finally starts following him? because there is definitely a lot of those moments of 'wait does he really still need to be holding my hand' to follow. ]
Yup! Though Hinata and I put a half court in our living room, the legit one is at the center.
[ half court in the living room.... god, akaashi really needs to have Words with these two, but not today. akaashi allows the hand holding for a minute, but once it's a little too long that akaashi slips his hand out. or tries, at least. ]
Then maybe we can go there last after you show me everything else?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
oh my LORD
it's not until he actually looks at who is texting that it all clicks into place. hinata did say bokuto-san was here, after all... ]
you need to calm down bokuto-san.
and house 1449?
hi akaashi he missed you
[ nevermind that he 100% ran right by that house but he's GOING BACK OKAY HE'S COMING BACK FOR YOU AKAASHI.
literally though. it'll take a rough estimate of six minutes and thirty seven seconds before there is a loud banging at the door that doesn't actually stop until akaashi goes to open it. ]
bars the door from destruction
which is suddenly a validated feeling when it sounds like bokuto is going to break the damn door down. he looks through the peephole, just to make sure it actually is bokuto, and yeah, he can't mistake that spiked up gray hairdo for anything else.
he's slow to unlock the door and open it, making sure to take a step back just in case bokuto does something totally rash. ]
...Did you actually run all the way here Bokuto-san?
[ what has gotten him so revved up ]
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but then the door opens, and bokuto actually stops. right there, in place, because standing right inside the door is definitely akaashi and he is definitely real and right there, and for better or for worse, bokuto's brain kind of flatlines.
which leaves him sort of just standing there, his eyes wide and his mouth open, staring for a moment or two (or maybe even three). but then he takes a breath, and it looks almost as if his shoulders finally relax, falling a bit as he smiles. easy and light. he still seems a little not here, like he's still trying to let this all settle in. he's breathing heavily enough, so that should be answer to akaashi's question, but man. man.
akaashi is here. ]
Hi.
[ brain still rebooting. 3...2...1....... ]
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he raises an eyebrow and tilts his head to the side, trying to figure out exactly what that smile and general look means as he answers. ]
Hello?
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if he just kind of hugs him really close and a little too tight, akaashi will just have to deal, because eventually he will give a kind of half-laugh, half-bark. maybe it's a hoot? ]
You're here! [ probably much more loud than necessary, but he's kind of crushing akaashi to his chest to maybe he won't hear it. ] You're really here and you got here and you didn't call me!
[ wait. bokuto freezes, then pulls away, hands on akaashi's shoulders. ] Why didn't you call me? I was here! Do you know how to use your phone? I can teach you if you don't!
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[ for the love of god and all that is holy, give the boy his personal space. this is bone crushing. akaashi lets go of the sleeves and hopes bokuto gets it. please.
which he does, but then bokuto is yapping about phones or something, and really, akaashi doesn't get the big deal. he had planned on texting him soon enough. ] I know how to use my own phone, Bokuto-san. [ probably. all this video chat stuff is new though. ] I was just trying to understand... this, before I started going through it.
[ this being, yah know, everything about holly heights. his house. what the fuck is going on in general. ]
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but this whole showing akaashi everything bit just jumped on the priority list, so the space is necessary and happens. and it's very important that akaashi knows how to use his phone so that he can text bokuto all the time. but then akaashi says he knows how to use it, and for half a second bokuto is very confused. granted, akaashi's answer doesn't really help, considering he basically just said i didn't text you on purpose.
here comes the early signs of dejected mode. ]
I could have helped you understand....
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I only heard about you being here a little while ago from Hinata. [ mostly true ] And I just needed a little time. This is a lot.
[ he feels awkward admitting it, even to bokuto, because akaashi is really not used to being so far out of his depth. ]
Maybe you can show me around tomorrow?
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his attention is pulled back when he hears hinata, but then he's back to pouting. ] Yeah, Hinata texted me.
[ but the dejected mode eases a little when akaashi mentions needing a little time. is he overwhelmed? does he need help? bokuto perks a little. ]
Do you want me to explain anything? I can help! [ a beat, and then- ] Or I could show you around. This place isn't that big. Plus it helps to kind of figure out what's going on, y'know?
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Come inside, and you can tell me everything. [ he's already heard mostly everything, but he won't take this one away from bokuto.
although, he does remember something from iwaizumi-san, something that's honestly bugging him now that he's actually seeing bokuto in person. ] ...And, can I ask you something Bokuto-san?
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but that's okay, because he says come inside and bokuto's back to normal, his hair perking back up and everything. ]
Okay! [ cause see! akaashi does need him. he can be super useful with his four months of hanging around here. or however long he's here. doesn't matter.
he goes on ahead to move inside, though, walking around akaashi and settling inside the door to look around the living room. he's forgotten how these were normally set up when you first got here, since he and hinata had immediately gone to create their court.
akaashi's question makes him stop, though, head turning and eyes wide. ] Sure! What's up?
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whoever else lives in the house doesn't seem to be around, so akaashi easily follows bokuto into the living room and figures bokuto, for once, has a better idea of what he's doing than he does.
akaashi does take a deep breath with the question. he's not sure if this is a good one to ask but he does have to know. ] How long have you been here?
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they go on inside, though, because it's the same lay-out as his house so he's still pretty familiar with it. he stops and turns back at the question, watches akaashi take a deep breath with a very confused look.
and then he freezes. feels the room go cold in the half-second after. how long has he been here? he thinks back over the weeks, the months. the nights he sat up in bed unable to sleep and the days where it was weird just moving around, going to class. for a few moments, he can't really answer, because he's back to that feeling that been building since prom and it feels suffocating, but he pushes it away. ]
Uh. [ suddenly, everything feels awkward. like he's done something he shouldn't have. he looks a little guilty as his hand moves to the back of his neck, his eyes diverting. he doesn't want to tell him, but he also can't not. not when akaashi asks him so directly.
he kind of wishes whoever told him hadn't, because then maybe bokuto could have not told him at all. ] I don't...really remember. A few months? Or like- three? Maybe?
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something else new and different for him to deal with. lovely.
a few months. three. and akaashi visibly winces. that's a long time, especially if it's just been him and hinata and some people from miyagi. bokuto probably misses his friends from fukurodani, friends like him. it explains that bone crushing hug from earlier, the way he was so desperately running to the door. the problem is that now akaashi isn't sure what to say.
he picks the safest ground he can think up without stalling. ]
I'm sorry, Bokuto-san, you didn't have to tell me if it makes you uncomfortable.
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he doesn't like it, but he doesn't like the way akaashi winces when he answers, guilt curling in the pit of his stomach. he shouldn't have said anything. he knew he shouldn't have. ] Sorry.
[ but then akaashi is apologizing and bokuto just shakes his head. ] No it's fine! I just...forgot, I guess. I couldn't really do anything about it. [ forced shrug. see, all is good akaashi! TOTALLY FINE. ]
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akaashi can practically touch the tension rolling off of bokuto's shoulders, and it's honestly troubling because he can't remember the last time he's seen bokuto quite like this (or if he ever has, period). he wants to do something about it, he does, but he's not sure if there really is anything he can do. ]
...I won't pry Bokuto-san, but if you want to talk about it you can come to me.
[ he leaves his offer open, but completely genuine. ]
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it just feels weird. bokuto usually ranges in his emotions, from one extreme to the other, but in that shifting comes a near-comfort in the familiarity of it. when he's upset, he's not confused about it. when he's excited, he's not confused about it. what he feels, now, with the way akaashi is looking at him, confuses him. ]
I'm fine. [ said quick, too quick, but bokuto doesn't know what else he's supposed to do or say. and akaashi just got here and that's more important, right? right. and the idea of showing akaashi around doesn't make him feel....weird. ]
It's nothing! You just got here. I can show you around instead. Did you see the sports center?
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this is getting weird for akaashi, there's no two ways about it. he has no sure way of comforting bokuto besides being here and listening. it feels like his first year all over again, trying to make a team with a wild uperclassman. but he's not going to push it further, he's afraid what will happen if he does. ] If you say so, Bokuto-san.
[obviously he doesn't believe it, but at least their are other things to focus on. ] No, I've only walked around this area with the houses. I haven't really explored anywhere else.
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no it's definitely weird, and bokuto definitely doesn't like it. the awkward tension that's settling in the air between them is not what he wanted akaashi's first day to be and that's upsetting, upsetting that he's the one doing that. that he's causing it.
he shakes his head to try and shake himself out of it. takes a breath and is smiling again when akaashi agrees. okay. he can show him around. that's easy enough. ] You haven't? Aw man Akaashi I have to show you everything! [ he's not quite back to his normal levels of excitement, but he's getting closer. ]
Do you want to go now? [ bokuto wants to go now. ]
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he wishes bokuto's excitement was more genuine, but akaashi will take what he can get. ]
Alright. [why not, honestly. akaashi gets up and looks to the door, letting bokuto lead the way. ]
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for a moment, after akaashi agrees, his excitement is more genuine. a smile that breaks out as he reaches forward and grabs akaashi's hand, pulls it behind him as he heads back out the front door. ]
Perfect! I can show you the sports center and the school! [ get ready akaashi, bokuto wants to show you off to all of holly heights. ]
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thankfully, akaashi is used to the grab hand and tug along routine from bokuto, and he just goes with the flow of following him outside. ]
The sports center is where the gym and court is, right?
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Yup! Though Hinata and I put a half court in our living room, the legit one is at the center.
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Then maybe we can go there last after you show me everything else?
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