It has been a week since the auditions and the team is working well together. They are yet to finalise a choreography for the preliminaries. They have instead chosen to focus on working on their weaknesses first. They are all helping each other and Akaashi is satisfied with the way things are working out.
Despite their initial pettiness, Atsumu and Futakuchi seem to get along fine. They have formed a weird friendship between them where they strive by making fun of each other. Akaashi personally thinks that as long as they aren't at each other's throats, they will be fine.
Since it is a Thursday, they met to practice for 5 hours that day. They spent the day with Akaashi teaching them how to spin correctly and keeping their footwork lighter so that their movement is faster and they don't run out of energy.
"Can we have dinner together?" Yahaba asks after they end the practice for the night. "I think it will be a good bonding experience," He nervously explains, rubbing the back of his neck.
Everyone is in agreement with Yahaba, more so for the food than actual team bonding, even if Sakusa and Kenma are a bit reluctant.
"I don't like crowded places," Kenma tells them.
"I only eat at places that have good hygiene records," Sakusa informs them.
"I know a place that will suit you both. The place is small but with good hygiene. It's not a restaurant but a bakery. They have good savoury dishes, too. The place should be almost empty since it's close to their closing time," Akaashi tells them.
"Are you talking about the place that provided the refreshments for the auditions?" Futakuchi asks, he looks eager to receive a confirmation as an answer.
"It is the same place," Akaashi confirms.
"That's nice. I loved their food," Shirabu says.
"Me, too," Ennoshita agrees.
"It's around the corner so we can get there within 5 minutes," Akaashi says.
"Yacchan, you are coming with us, right?" Atsumu turns to the girl beside him eagerly.
"If you want me to," Yachi shrugs, giving a nonchalant answer.
"You are part of the team too. You should also join in the team bonding. Guys, tell her," Atsumu presses.
In the end, his persistence wins and Yachi agrees to come with them at everyone's insistence.
They walk together to Fukurodani Bakes together talking about what the rehearsal plan is for tomorrow.
"Ahh, my favourite customer is back," Suga exclaims as soon as Akaashi enters the bakery. Akaashi has been buying a lot of food from the bakery. It is convenient rather than cooking for one at home.
"Hello Suga-san," Akaashi smiles at him, making his way to the counter where Suga is minding the cash counter for a change.
"Semi-san, can I have my usual coffee?" he asks the man who is cleaning the coffee machine.
"Is that Akaashi I hear?" immediately, a shout comes from the kitchen. Akaashi smiles hearing that. Bokuto never fails to recognize his presence only by his voice whenever he is at Fukurodani. Somehow he always hears him no matter how lost Bokuto is in his work.
"Yes, it is your dear Akaashi," Semi shouts back, rolling his eyes. "One latte coming up in a minute," Semi then turns to him, smiling. "Does anyone else want coffee?" he then asks around the room.
Akaashi turns around looking at his team expectedly hoping they won't hesitate to order anything they want.
"I would like an americano if it's not too much trouble," Ennoshita requests politely.
"Er, I want a Mocha," Shirabu says. He seems to be staring right at Semi with mild interest.
Semi nods at their orders, turning back to make their coffee. No one else seems to want coffee as they are busy staring at the food menu instead.
By then Bokuto has made his way out to the front of the bakery, beaming at Akaashi like he always does.
"Hey, Akaashi. How was your day?" Bokuto asks him.
"My day was fine, Bokuto-san. How was your day?" he smiles at the older man.
"Better, now that you are here," Bokuto says.
"Ahem," someone clears their throat. They turn towards the voice to see Semi looking at them knowingly, holding Akaashi's coffee. Besides him, Suga is leaning on Semi's shoulder, both hands covering his cheeks with an expression of awe. Suga loves giving them this look for some reason that Akaashi can't understand.
"Your coffee, Akaashi," Semi hands the coffee to Akaashi.
"Thank you, Semi-san," he takes the coffee from him. He needs the cup after the tiring day he had.
"So what brings you here Akaashi?" Bokuto brings Akaashi's attention back to him.
"Oh my team wanted to get dinner together so I suggested that we eat here," he answers.
"You are right on time then, we were about to close up and have dinner ourselves," Bokuto replies enthusiastically.
"Oh, I hope we are not intruding," Akaashi is unsure if they are supposed to be here right now. Apparently, they arrived later than they expected.
"Oh no. We would love it if you would join us for dinner," Bokuto reassures him. "Right, Suga? Semi?" he turns to the two who are busy watching their conversation.
"Sure, Akaashi and his friends are always welcome here at any time. Besides, this is our chance to get to know your team," Suga smiles at Akaashi.
"Right," Bokuto claps his hand. "How about you get your team to order what they want for dinner and I help the others finish up inside the kitchen?" Bokuto suggests.
Akaashi nods his head. If Bokuto and others didn't have a problem with the team joining them for dinner then he has no objections to following Bokuto's direction.
"While you are it, get Daichi out of his office. That man has been holed up there since the afternoon," Suga shakes his head fondly.
"Will do, Suga," Bokuto says and makes a beeline to the room towards the side of the bakery.
Akaashi takes that time to make sure that his team is ready with their orders. He doesn't want to make Suga wait any longer to close up. "Guys, they are about to close up so we need to order now," he says as he makes his way towards them. "The bakery staff is going to eat with us. Will that be alright? They are my friends and they want to meet you guys. There are only seven of them," He asks them nervously. He doesn't want to make things awkward between the two groups.
Luckily for him, no one has any problem with it. Kenma doesn't look enthusiastic about having other people join them but chooses to ignore it. Akaashi assumes that Kenma would spend the time playing games on his switch after he's done eating. Kenma tends to do that when his social battery starts to drain after a tiring practice session.
They quickly tell Suga their orders for the night and Suga gets them to take a seat at the table that Semi and Daichi are now putting together. Soon, Bokuto and others appear carrying trays filled with dishes. Bokuto takes a seat next to Akaashi once he is done putting the dishes on the table.
Once they are seated, Akaashi makes the introduction around the table. "Cute," Yamaguchi mutters once Akaashi introduces Yachi to the rest of them. Everyone at the table stares at the boy who blushes hard at the realization that he said it out loud. Yachi's face is a similar shade of red.
Futakuchi goes to tease the two of them but Ennoshita intercepts him before he even has a chance. Soon they are all eating and chatting with each other about various topics.
"Bokuto, how did that new dish turn out?" Konoha asks.
"Not good. It is still missing something in it," Bokuto replies a little sulkily.
"Don't worry, Bo. You will perfect the dish in time for the World Pastry Cup," Konoha assures him.
"World Pastry Cup?" Akaashi asks curiously.
"It is a yearly competition held in Paris to decide who is the best pastry chef in the world. I have been trying to participate in it for three years now," Bokuto explains.
"Bokuto-san, I don't know about your dishes before, but from what I have tasted so far I think you have a real chance this year," Akaashi tells him.
"You really think so?" Bokuto asks him unsurely.
"I do, Bokuto-san. I believe in you," he tells him.
"Thank you, Akaashi. That means a lot," Bokuto replies.
Bokuto stares into his eyes searching for something that Akaashi isn't aware of. He hopes Bokuto finds what he is looking for. He doesn't want to disappoint him.
The rest of the night passes by quickly. Soon, everyone is leaving one by one.
"Akaashi, will you wait for me? I need to lock up. We can walk home together," Bokuto asks Akaashi.
"Sure, Bokuto-san. I will wait for you," he agrees readily. He loves spending time with Bokuto. In the past two weeks since he moved to Osaka, they have spent a lot of time talking to each other when they aren't busy with their jobs.
He waits for Bokuto while watching Daichi and Suga, who are the last ones to leave, walk home hand in hand. He smiles thinking about the couple. He likes their dynamics; Suga's playful nature compliments Daichi's seriousness nicely. He can't wait to teach them Samba for their wedding.
"Do you mind if we take a longer way home? I feel like going on a walk. It's okay if you don't want to come with me. I can drop you at home and then go for the walk," Bokuto asks once he joins Akaashi.
"I don't mind. A walk sounds nice after the hearty meal we had," Akaashi agrees. They start walking in the opposite direction than the one they need to walk to.
"I always love to take long walks. My sisters and I would always go out after dinner and walk around the neighbourhood talking about our day. Our cousin Shinsuke would join us whenever he was in Tokyo visiting. It used to be my highlight of the day," Bokuto explains to Akaashi as they walk side by side.
"What are your siblings like?" he asks. He wants to know more about the people that matter to Bokuto.
"My oldest sister is an architect in one of the largest firms in Tokyo. She is married to a heart surgeon. They have a daughter and a son together. My niece is 5 years old and the nephew is two years old. My middle sister is a lawyer in Kyoto. She moved there for college and ended up setting down there with her fiance," Bokuto tells him.
"You love your sisters a lot, don't you Bokuto-san?" Akaashi asks. He can tell that Bokuto adores his sisters with the way he talks about them.
"I do. They are the best thing in my life. My best friends. They are the only ones in my family who support my decision of becoming a baker. Well they and Shinsuke," Bokuto tells him.
"They sound like great people," Akaashi says.
"I wish you could meet them someday. They would love you," Bokuto says.
"I doubt that, Bokuto-san, but I would like to meet them, too," Akaashi replies.
"What about you, Akaashi? What are your favourite memories from your childhood?" Bokuto asks.
Akaashi takes a moment to consider how to answer the question. "You know I am an only child, right? Most of my memories are either about dancing or the time spent with Tobio. When Tobio would visit us or we would go to Miyagi to visit his family, it used to be the highlight of my vacations. I love spending time with Tobio. He is like my real brother," he tells him.
"I know what you mean. I love to visit Shinsuke in Hyogo, too. He is always like a refreshing breath of air. Don't get me wrong, I love my sisters, but Shin and I share a different kind of bond than the one I share with my sisters," Bokuto gets what Akaashi is trying to tell him.
"Exactly. Even though Tobio and I have different interests, we understand each other in a way that no one else understands us," Akaashi is happy that Bokuto gets what he is trying to say.
"It must get pretty lonely without Kageyama for you, right?" Bokuto asks.
"It certainly does. I never made friends easily. I spent all my time dancing. I used to dance for hours after school. I would ask my parents to enroll me in as many dance classes as possible. They would agree because it would stop them worrying about me when they had to work longer hours," he tells him.
His parents have been supportive of him dancing since the very beginning. They would want to come and see him perform but he would always refuse. When he was younger, he used to get nervous seeing them in the audience. Once he blanked out on stage, and ever since then he never let them attend his dance competitions. They had to be dependent on his dancer teacher for his dance videos.
"I love your passion for dance, Akaashi. You have no idea how you glow when you talk about dance," Bokuto tells him.
"I am not sure I understand what you are talking about, Bokuto-san," Akaashi admits.
"One day you will understand, Akaashi. I don't know if I can explain it to you yet," Bokuto replies.
"Do I look the way you do when you talk about baking?" he questions.
"I don't know how I look while I talk about baking so I can't answer that," Bokuto says sheepishly.
"You look like a star," Akaashi blurts out. He blushes to realise what he just said. "What I mean is that you look like someone very passionate about what they do, " he hurriedly explains.
He meets Bokuto's eyes to see him staring at him with a small smile. He can't figure out the expression on Bokuto's face or guess what he is thinking but the way Bokuto is looking at him makes him mush inside. It makes him happy that he can make Bokuto look like that.
They have reached their home by the time they end their conversation there. Akaashi hasn't realized how soon the time has passed already.
"Thank you for walking me home Bokuto-san. I enjoyed our walk together," he thanks Bokuto once they are standing outside their apartments.
"Me too, Akaashi. We should take more walks together," Bokuto replies.
"I would like that. Good night, Bokuto-san. I will see you at dinner tomorrow," Akaashi bids Bokuto goodnight.
Bokuto pulls Akaashi into a tight hug. He releases him from the hug before Akaashi even has time to process what happened.
"Good night, Akaashi. See you tomorrow," Bokuto says as he turns and enters his apartment leaving Akaashi in a daze.
By the time Akaashi goes to sleep, his body is still buzzing from the time Bokuto hugged him. He sleeps peacefully that night.