Akaashi stood in front of Bokuto's house, waiting. Even though he was a first year and had only known Boukto for only the month that school started, Akaashi had made quick friends with the second year boy after joining the volleyball team. Speaking of Bokuto, he was running late. He fiddled with his fingers before pressing on the door bell. As Akaashi stood there waiting, his mind was thinking of many things at once, all possibilities as to why Bokuto was late. The most logical case would be that he overslept. However he always had so much energy that it made it impossible to see that happening. Another reason could be that he misplaced something and was trying to find it. That one was very likely possible as Bokuto is easily distracted outside of volleyball. The third case would be that he's sick, and is staying in bed. But Bokuto would have texted him if that was the case.
Before his mind came up with any other theories, the door opened. Boukto's mother gave Akaashi a smile. Knowing why he decided to ring the bell.
"Hello Akaashi-san." She greeted him. "Come in, come in. Koutaro is upstairs, he accidentally slept in."
Mrs. Bokuto was a nice, slightly taller than the average lady with dark brown hair. She looked younger than she was and her most notable feature on her was her eyes. They were the same light golden-brown as her son's.
"Thank you, Bokuto-san."
Akaashi gave her a small bow before making his way up the stairs. He had only been in Boukto's house once before. It was a rather large house made for a big family. Fitting as 5 people had lived in it until recently. Bokuto had told him his two sisters had moved out to be closer to their universities. Just as he reached Bokuto's bedroom door and was about to knock, it swung open very quickly, almost hitting him. Bokuto stood there, hair a mess and uniform out of place, as it was put on in a hurry.
"Bokuto-san, we're going to be late."
Bokuto snapped out of his small stupor.
"Akaakhi!" he always seemed happy to see him, "I'll be ready in 5 minutes!"
Before Akaashi could either say anything else or correct him on how to say his name, the white haired boy pushed past him and ran off down the hall. He heard Mrs. Bokuto yelling up the stairs about running in the house.
Akaashi stood there in between the doorframe to Bokuto's room, messing with his fingers again. Looking at his friend's room, he spotted Bokuto's school bag. It was sitting on his desk chair open with papers scattered all over. Moving to it, he started grabbing the papers. He knew that if he didn't do this then they would either be late, or Bokuto would forget something, or both. It was the easier option. Bokuto's room was rather clean for a person with his chaotically happy personality. The floor was empty other than a few paper balls, probably filled with math work that went wrong. He had a bookshelf filled with all kinds of stuff, from sports books to action packed manga to junk Bokuto deemed worthy of being placed on the shelf. His bed, which was currently a mess, was covered with plush covers and pillows. He finished putting Boukto's school stuff into his bag and turned around. His eyes caught sight of something on Bokuto's bed. He went to get a closer look but before he could a hand grabbed his arm.
"Kashi! Lets go!"
Bokuto was back. His clothes were more in place and his hair was done up like usual now. He grabbed the bag from Akaashi and was dragged down the stairs. Akaashi decided it wasn't any of his business. As they put their shoes on Mrs. Bokuto stuck her head into the entryway.
"Kou." She said. "Don't forget that you promised to help me move things after school, no staying late after practice tonight."
"I promise!" Bokuto yelled as he rushed out the door, dragging Akaashi with him again before he could politely say goodbye to Mrs. Bokuto.
They made their way to their school, Fukurodani quickly. Bokuto was talking about how he finally figured out this one math problem he was having issues with.
"That's good Bokuto-san." Akaashi told his friend. "What made you sleep in? Finishing your homework?"
"Hmm..?" Bokuto's eyes looked up while he was in thought. "Nope, I finished on time." He gave Akaashi a grin. "I just ended up staying up later than usual."
Akaashi just gave him a hum of acknowledgment. That was unusual for Bokuto, Akaashi thought. He's pretty good about getting to bed so he has more energy to stay late after practice. Which he supposes won't matter tonight because Bokuto won't be staying late tonight anyways.
"Hey, hey, hey, Akaashi!" Akaashi stumbled when he was slapped on the back. "Whatcha thinkin about?"
"About what score you're going to get on that math test you said you had." Akaashi told him.
"Geh!" Boukto turned a bit blue in the face. "I forgot about that."
Akaashi listens as Bokuto now whined about his math problem. It was a well known fact that Bokuto wasn't that good at math. Akaashi learned this fact quickly thanks to the teachings of the other second years. Apparently in Bokuto's first year on the team, he had almost missed being in a game because he had only scored one point above failing on one of his math tests, barely passing it. Akaashi could imagine the face Bokuto would have had before and after getting his results back and how quick the transition between the two would happen. He felt himself smile at the image of a mopy Bokuto suddenly switching to an excited, confident Bokuto, bragging about passing.
He looked at his upperclassman's back, he was still chatting away Akaashi's ear who wasn't really listening at the time. He turned to face Akaashi, his bag hanging off his forehead.
"Isn't that right? Akaashi?"
He blinked at Bokuto, he totally missed what he was asking.
"Of course, Bokuto-san."
Agreeing to whatever was said seemed to have hyped Bokuto up more. It wasn't long before they passed the school gates with many of the other students of Fukurodani in a sea of gray.
"Hey!" An arm threw themselves over both his and Bokuto's shoulders. "There you guys are! You're a little later than usual."
It was Konoha, one of the spikers for their team.
"Bokuto-san overslept today." Akaashi decided to cut in before Bokuto could make up an excuse… or a story, about why they were late.
"Akgaaashi!" Bokuto whined in the background.
"Eh, it happens sometimes." Konoha let go of Akaashi, but kept his hold on Bokuto. "But the bell's about to ring so we'll see you later."
His paled haired upperclassman wave as he dragged Bokuto up the stairs to the second floor. Watching Bokuto's back disappear up the stairwell, he decided once again it's not his business. He turned into his classroom, returning the greetings given to him by other students.
What happened next made it impossible to ignore.
It wasn't long after the lunch bell ringing did Akaashi hear Bokuto and was quickly dragged up to the roof where the most of the Volleyball team ate lunch together. Bokuto was digging in his bag while everyone else had already pulled out their lunches or and went and bought something before joining.
"Huh?" Bokuto sounded after another minute of digging.
"What's wrong Bokuto?" Komi, the libero, asked. "Did you lose something?"
"I forgot to grab my bento." Bokuto told him, and started looking dejected. "I had asked my mom to make me one today because I had already spent my money this week."
Akaashi found it interesting how Bokuto's hair would appear as dampened with his mood. It was at that moment that a ringtone went off. Everyone looked at Bokuto as he pulled out his hooting blue phone to see who was calling him. Both his face and his hair perked back up from the fallen mood as he flipped the phone open and accepted the call.
"Hey! What's up!"
Everyone else just ate silently, to respect the call.
"What? How'd you know?"
Bokuto's face shifted to confusion.
"Wait! Really, by the gate?"
Akaashi watched, still eating his onigiri, as Bokuto moved closer to the fence lining the rooftop.
"I see you." He said excitedly before bolting for the stair. "I'll be right down!"
Akaashi's eyes followed him as his gray haired disappeared.
"What was all that about?" Komi asked.
"I guess someone's here?" Konoha shrugged. "He said he could see them from here."
"I wonder if he got a girlfriend?"
Akaashi had said that quietly, more to himself than to the others, but everyone heard.
"HUH!" almost everyone shouted and moved to the fence.
"Guys…" Washio tried. "We shouldn't butt into Bokuto's business."
"Then why are you watching, Washio-san?" Akaashi asked, moving to the fence as well.
Their lunches were forgotten with everyone watching the school gate. He didn't see anyone out of the ordinary, no girl waiting or infact, anyone near the gate. A moment later, Bokuto appeared, still running towards the front of the school. Thankfully their school building was't that tall. Allowing Akaashi to see details. He watched as Bokuto stopped at the and looked around. He felt a pang hit his chest. Maybe this was a mean prank of some kind, and Bokuto will be in a bad mood for the rest of the day, but it wasn't. Bokuto moved closer to the gate, sticking his head out of school bounds. He saw the smile break across his friend's face and stepped past the gate. That's when he focused on the person he was now talking to. She was obviously a girl. Her back was facing the building after Bokuto stepped out and in her hand was a bento, which she was holding out to him. Bokuto happily took it from her, sheepishly rubbing the back of his head with a grin spreading across his face. Her hair was on the longer side, reaching just past her shoulders. Akaashi couldn't tell if it was light brown or blonde as everytime she shifted it switched between the two. Her shoulders shook with laughter at something Bokuto probably said.
"I can't believe it!" Konoha despaired, holding his head in hands and dramatically falling to his knees, "I refuse to believe my eyes, he would have told us, or bragged or, or something!"
Akaashi stopped watching to listen to the other Second years.
"Well maybe they aren't dating yet." Komi pointed out, holding up a finger to the idea. "That could be why."
Konoha calmed down a bit at that.
"But who is she?" Sarukui asked. "I mean, did anyone else notice she wasn't in a uniform?"
Akaashi looked back to Bokuto and the girl. She was wearing jeans, and a jacket. Akaashi didn't have much of a look because now she was walking away. He saw Bokuto give her a wave, which she returned without looking back, and he started running back.
"Is she an older woman?" Konoha gasped, "Is he into that?"
"Well we don't see him interested in anything other than volleyball." Sarukui joked.
"Bokuto-san will be back any minute." Akaashi interrupted their theory fest, already moving back. "We shouldn't make it too obvious that we were watching."
At that, all the other Second years moved back to their original spots.
"Let's change the topic…" Washio suggested.
A minute passed before someone came up with something.
"Oh I know!" Komi said. "Did any of you guys hear about that German Ice Skater that disappeared?"
"What are you talking about, Komi?" Konoha asked. "Where did you hear about this?"
"Oh, that was an article in Sports Weekly wasn't it?" Saruki asked. "Something about a long time champion Ice skater who hasn't been seen for a few weeks now right."
Komi nodded. "That's right." he said. "Supposedly she were last seen having a fight with her coach," Komi added. "Her skate partner was interviewed but said he doesn't know anything."
Konoha, listened intently.
"Yeah and if I remember correctly, she also was in a collision that resulted in her going to the hospital." Saruki said. "But it said she was only there for minor injuries, and that she wasn't there anymore."
Akaashi listened as he kept an eye on the door. Bokuto reappeared just as quickly as he disappeared. Maybe ten minutes passed in total.
"Hey, hey, hey!" He greeted the group, bento in hand. "I'm back! What are you guys talking about?"
"An ice skater who's supposedly missing in Germany." Konoha told him, turning back to the other two. "What's her name?"
Komi crossed his arms and tilted his head. "Neena? Maya? Or something like that." he said.
Akaashi stopped listening. He became more focussed on Bokuto who, after opening his bento, looked lost in thought and was frowning.
"Have you heard anything about that Bokuto-san?" Akaashi asked him, drawing the white haired boy's attention, as well as the other's.
"Hmm, I read about it in the Weekly, but I think that she isn't missing." Bokuto said. "If I was her, and after being injured and had a falling out with my coach. I would probably be hiding." Bokuto took a bite from his bento. "Speaking of the Weekly, did anyone see that Volleyball article about -"
And back to volleyball. Akaashi thought about what he said. It was strangely logical of Bokuto and it even made sense. Someone just hiding from the public after two embarrassing events being published in the media.
After lunch the rest of the school day passed quickly as did Volleyball practice. Not once did Bokuto's mood drop and at the end of practice he kept his promise of not staying with no reminder. At the end of the day Akaashi was left with only one question when he thought back to the girl who brought him lunch.
Was that who he saw sleeping in Boukto's bed this morning?