It is another Friday and instead of eating at home the four of them decide to have a night out. They are going to watch a movie at Suga's insistence and then have dinner at a restaurant that recently opened.
Bokuto and Akaashi are going to head over to the movie theatre together since Daichi and Suga have errands to run before their outing. They would be meeting at the cinema. Bokuto arrives to pick up Akaashi at 6pm sharp.
"Hey, Akaashi ready to go," Bokuto greets him.
He is dressed in a plain dark blue button up shirt paired with white slacks. He has his sleeves folded around his elbow. He looks simply dashing in this outfit. Akaashi on the other hand is dressed in a pale yellow button up shirt with black trousers.
"You look good, Bokuto-san," Akaashi compliments him as he locks up the flat.
"Thank you, Akaashi. You look good, too," Bokuto tells him as they make their way to Bokuto's car.
The movie theatre and the restaurant are on the other side of the city so Bokuto is going to drive them there instead of taking public transport. They want to avoid the rush hour.
Throughout their ride to the theatre they make idle conversations about their day. Akaashi tells him about the antics Shirabu and Yahaba pulled that day. Bokuto, to no surprise, has once again spent the day working in the kitchen trying to develop new recipes.
While they are talking about Bokuto's day, Akaashi feels Bokuto tense up for some reason. Bokuto looks like he wants to say something but is holding himself back from saying it.
"Bokuto-san, is everything alright?" Akaashi asks Bokuto worried about his sudden behaviour.
"Everything is fine, Akaashi. I was thinking about something," Bokuto replies.
"What is it? Maybe I can help you with it," he offers to help.
"Akaashi, can I ask you for a favour?" Bokuto hesitantly asks after a moment like he isn't sure he actually wants to ask Akaashi for his help.
"Anything, Bokuto-san," he agrees. Bokuto has been a good friend to him in the past three weeks. He wants to help him in any way he can.
"Will you be my taste-tester for my recipes?" Bokuto asks.
"Taste-tester?" Akaashi wants to clarify what Bokuto wants from him.
"I want you to taste the recipes I am trying to create for the competition. Everyone at the bakery offers their opinion about them but I have a hard time believing their opinion. Even though I know they won't lie to me, they work for me. They are obliged to compliment my dishes. I need an outsider's point of view from someone who isn't from the food industry. You are the only person I can trust, Akaashi," Bokuto explains to him.
It hits Akaashi hard that Bokuto has so much faith in him. Of course he is ready to help Bokuto.
"Wouldn't it be better for you to get an expert opinion?" he asks.
"I believe that a common person can appreciate a dish better than any chef, baker or food critic. You know why? Because they only appreciate the taste. They aren't trying to judge the dishes for presentation, flavour contrast and everything else. They only enjoy the flavour like you do," Bokuto replies.
"I never thought about it that way," Akaashi admits. "Alright Bokuto-san, I will help you in any way I can," he agrees to help Bokuto.
"Thank you so much, Akaashi. You have no idea how much that means to me." Bokuto is pleased.
"I am happy to help," Akaashi smiles at him. The rest of the drive passes by quickly.
Daichi and Suga are waiting for them at the theatre. Suga has already purchased tickets for a horror movie that's released last week.
"Suga, why would you do that to me," Bokuto pouts at Suga.
"You know I wanted to watch the movie," Suga points out.
"But-" "Is everything alright?" Bokuto gets interrupted by Akaashi.
"Bokuto is scared of horror movies," Daichi tells him.
"They are fictional stories, Bokuto-san. You have no reason to be afraid," Akaashi points out.
"That's what I have been telling him. He is still such a scaredy kid," Suga teases Bokuto who, as if to prove his point, shows his tongue to Suga.
"See, you are even behaving like a kid," Suga continues to tease Bokuto.
Akaashi and Daichi look on in amusement. Before they could further create a scene Daichi breaks them apart. "We should go inside; the movie is about to start."
During the movie, Daichi and Suga are sitting on Bokuto's left and Akaashi on his right. The start of the movie isn't anything special. Towards the middle of the movie, the scare starts coming. With each scare, Akaashi feels Bokuto fidget and wince in his seat.
By the time they reach the climax of the movie Akaashi has enough. He grabs Bokuto right hand firmly into his left hand and whispers softly so that only Bokuto can hear him. "I got you." Bokuto doesn't fidget even once after that.
Later they are at the Korean restaurant that they wanted to try out. Bokuto is happily devouring his favorite yakiniku. Akaashi looks at him fondly. He can't believe he likes the company of a man who turns into a child eating his favourite meal.
"Akaashi, how is the team coming along?" Daichi asks him as he makes sure Suga doesn't slip the spicy sauce into his food.
"The team is coming along nicely. We are getting along fine. It's the coordination between our dance movements that needs to improve. It will get better the more we practice," he replies.
"So, Akaashi, do you have any juicy gossip for me?" Suga leans forward eagerly.
"Juicy gossip?" he raises an eyebrow.
"Is anyone in your team flirting with each other? What about that manager of yours, Yachi-san? Tell us more about her. We know Yamaguchi finds her cute. Maybe we can set those two up," Suga asks him.
"I don't think we should meddle in their life, Suga-san. I am sure Yamaguchi and Yacchan can figure it out themselves," Akaashi replies. He has no interest in getting involved in their love life when his own has been shitty at best.
"Boo, you are just like Daichi," Suga complains. Akaashi laughs at that. He knows he and Daichi often share the same views.
"I think Futakuchi and Ennoshita are dating. Oh, Atsumu is definitely interested in Sakusa," Bokuto suddenly says, bringing the attention to himself.
"That's true. How did you know that?" Akaashi is surprised.
"I could guess from the way they were behaving during the dinner yesterday," Bokuto shrugs. Akaashi is still looking at him in awe.
"Bokuto is emotionally perspective. Nobody is more on point than him when it comes to people's emotions," Suga tells Akaashi. "Though, he is oblivious when it comes to his own emotions," Suga then teases Bokuto.
"Suga, that's not true. Why are you after me tonight? What did I do to you?" It leads to Bokuto defending himself.
"How about the fact that you aren't increasing my salary? I am getting married this year. I need the money, Bokuto." Suga starts arguing with Bokuto.
"I told you already that you aren't due a raise. I just increased your salary six months back," Bokuto defends his refusal.
Akaashi tunes their conversation out and focuses on the new information about Bokuto. It amazes him that Bokuto can understand emotions and people, unlike himself who is bad at not only understanding people but also in expressing himself. The only people he can understand are his family. He vows to try and understand his friends and himself better now. He owes that to himself.
Since the team's bonding session got hijacked by their new friends, the team had decided that they would go karaoke after the rehearsals on Sunday. It took a while but they managed to get Kenma and Sakusa to come with them after they promised that they would have the whole place booked just for them.
Akaashi, Sakusa and Yachi are sitting in a corner enjoying watching everyone singing and chatting quietly among them. Meanwhile, Ennoshita is trying to get Kenma to sing at least one song with them. Shirabu and Yahaba are fighting over what song they are going to sing. Amidst their argument, Atsumu and Futakuchi have monopolized the karaoke system. They are singing duets upon duets as horribly as they can.
Akaashi looks around the room observing the people that make his team come alive. Over the two weeks, they have been working together, the group of them have developed a tentative friendship between them. They argue over the choreography. They tease each other when they commit a mistake in the routine. They eat their meals together.
They are a diverse group of people with different personalities who fit together like pieces of puzzles. Akaashi has faith that with time they would come to consider each other as family. The mere thought of making a found family with these people makes his heart flutter. It's the first time he is making friends on his own without Kuroo's help.
All his friends in Tokyo were first Kuroo's friends. Their friendship only started because he was dating Kuroo. He still doesn't know whether they are still his friends or not, but it's okay. He has friends that he made himself now. The team and the people at the bakery are his friends.
His childhood without Tobio's company was lonely. He had trouble forming deep friendship bonds with his classmates because nobody ever understood his passion for dance. They found it weird that Akaashi would rather spend his time dancing or watching dance videos than playing outside or going to movies and dates. These people get him because they are similar to him. They have the same dedication and passion towards dance as him. That's the reason he chose them for the team.
"Akaashi, don't just sit there. Tell this idiot that his choice of song is disgusting," Shirabu's voice brings Akaashi back to earth.
"It's not. You don't have the taste to appreciate good music," Yahaba retorts.
Akaashi sighs fondly and moves to stop them before they take their bickering to another level.
"How about I chose a song for you guys to sing?" he offers them.
"That's fine by me. Your choice would be better than this idiot here," Shirabu agrees.
"It's not my fault that you don't appreciate good music," Yahaba scoffs. "Go ahead, Akaashi, and choose for us. I would rather not argue with him," he tells Akaashi and storms away to join Atsumu and Futakuchi near the stage.
"You have to tease him, don't you? His choice in music isn't bad," Akaashi shakes his head.
"It's fun messing with Yahaba," Shirabu shrugs with a small smile. It's no secret that like Atsumu and Futakuchi, they too like to rile each other up. Most often than not, it's Yahaba at the receiving end.
"Is this song okay?" Akaashi pulls up a song and shows it to Shirabu. He nods in agreement and goes to join Yahaba in waiting for their turn.
Akaashi goes and joins Kenma and Ennoshita after that. "Come on Kenma one song won't hurt you," he hears Ennoshita plead with Kenma.
"I told you. I am bad at singing," Kenma insists. He has put aside his games for the night because he didn't want to be rude.
"None of us are good at singing. Just listen to those two over there. See how horrible they are," Ennoshita makes a vague gesture towards their two resident clowns who are now dancing to the song they are singing.
Kenma pulls a face at their antics and gives up his protesting. "Fine but only one song."
"We can sing a duet together, Kenma. I promise I would play a song which would have fewer lyrics for you to sing," Akaashi says to Kenma.
"I'd like that. Thank you, Akaashi," Kenma sighs in relief.
"Let's do a singing competition," Atsumu declares once his turn is over.
"No way," comes immediate protest from half the team.
"Come on. It will be fun," Atsumu whines. "We can each take turns together. Each person that sits out will be the judge for that round. The winner will get to choose his prize," he explains trying to get them to agree. He turns to Futakuchi and pleads for his help. "Help me here, partner."
Futakuchi, who is already on his side, is quick to ask others. "We are here for team bonding. A singing competition is just the thing we need tonight. We promise we will clean up for the next two weeks after rehearsals if you agree to this with us."
After a lot of bargaining from Atsumu and Futakuchi, they finally decided to have a mini competition. They are going to have one round that Yachi will judge. They would each draw a slip that she made to choose their partners. They are stuck with the partner they have drawn. No swapping is allowed.
The teams are as follows: Futakuchi and Ennoshita, Atsumu and Sakusa, Kenma and Yahaba, and Akaashi and Shirabu.
Futakuchi insists on picking up a love song. Ennoshita doesn't complain at all at his request. He is weak for his boyfriend. Futakuchi sings horribly as before however Ennoshita's voice is surprisingly soothing to hear. They start twirling in the middle of the song. They don't need to know that a picture or, in Atsumu's case, a video of that cuteness ended up on each of their phones.
Kenma and Yahaba go next. They use the song Akaashi originally chose for Yahaba and Shirabu to sing. Kenma's lack of enthusiasm is covered by Yahaba's talent for timing. Kenma immediately buries himself in a corner carefully avoiding everyone once they are done.
Shirabu and Akaashi go next. Their song is an emotional one which they have managed to make sound dead. It earns them groans from Yahaba, Atsumu and Futakuchi who are personally offended by their action.
Finally, it's turn for Atsumu and Sakusa to sing. Atsumu without asking Sakusa chooses a flirty number. He keeps trying to flirt with Sakusa throughout the song while Sakusa tries to get away from him. Everyone is aware of the sexual tension between them. They know that Atsumu is aware of the tension between them but Sakusa is in denial. The rest of them can't hide their amusement from their antics.
They are waiting for Yachi to pass her judgement. She takes her time and makes the more eager ones squirm in anticipation.
"The winner is Futakuchi-san and Ennoshita-san," she announces.
"That's not fair," Atsumu whines in protest. Everyone ignores his protest and congratulates the winners.
"Suck it up loser," Futakuchi teases him before asking Akaashi. "Akaashi-kun? Can we take the next weekend off as the prize?"
"Sure, I think we can manage without the two of you for a weekend," Akaashi agrees.
They wrapped up for the night soon after that. Once it's over, Akaashi is left thinking that he hasn't had such a fun night with friends in over a year. He is glad for what he has now.