"Hey, Keiji?"

Akaashi was a little bit too busy at the moment to recognize something as unimportant as his own name.

"Keiji?"

"Yes," he finally answered, preoccupied with that fascinating way he could feel the slightest hints of stubble when he ran his lips under Bokuto's jaw.

Not to mention the even more fascinating reactions he'd found he could cause in the month since their first kiss.

Hands tightened on his shirt and Akaashi felt smug about hearing a sudden catch of breath before Bokuto broke off in a bright laugh.

The hands on his back shifted up, coming to cradle his neck gently and pull him up until he found warm gold eyes staring into his.

"You're amazing," Bokuto told him, happily, pecking Akaashi's lips for a short brief moment before pulling back into a smile.

Akaashi tried to follow those lips to deepen it into something more when Bokuto laughed again, sounding not nearly breathless enough in Akaashi's opinion.

"Keiji, Keiji, wait just a second. I want to ask you a question!"

Akaashi stopped, restraining a probably childish pout.

"What's the question," Akaashi asked quietly, still sounding somewhat dazed.

"Hmmm, well…," Bokuto's hands moved to settle around Akaashi's waist where he was sitting in Bokuto's lap and Akaashi tried hard not to shiver and move back in to cut Bokuto off from whatever question he wanted to ask, "I was just thinking that the coronation's coming up in like five months, right? That's so soon, Keiji!"

Akaashi stilled just for a second, realizing with a shock that the festival really was only five months away.

He fidgeted slightly, not completely sure why; but, feeling the date suddenly like a falling guillotine blade rather than the long awaited occasion he normally found himself looking forward to.

Bokuto didn't seem to share his uneasiness, smile never fading as he continued. "So, I guess I just wondered….you know with all the other Suits coming here, too….what they were like?" He smiled up at Akaashi. "You've met some of them before, right, Keiji?"

Akaashi let out a breath, heart settling.

"Not really," he answered with a shrug, hand moving up to fiddle with Bokuto's collar. "Satoshi always tried to keep me separate."

Bokuto made a small disappointed noise that Akaashi, with a renewed rush of mischievousness, just bet he could wipe away.

"But, aren't you curious, then?"

Akaashi shrugged again. Honestly, now that the sudden strike of fear at the date had passed, Akaashi would much rather return to what they were doing before.

He tried to hint as much, leaning closer and moving his hand to run through Bokuto's hair, lightly tugging at the ends in a way that he knew always made Bokuto sigh and lean into the touch.

Unfortunately, Bokuto did not seem as easy to sway this time, humming along with Akaashi's touch like a giant cat even as he continued, "You really haven't met any of them before?"

"I met Diamonds' King and Ace once," Akaashi admitted, moving back to bite gently at Bokuto's jaw.

"Yeah?" Bokuto's hands returned to his back , pulling him tighter against a broader chest in a way Akaashi found he really, really liked. "When?"

"It was y-years ago, back in the, um, Hearts' Civil War," Akaashi's voice hitched slightly as Bokuto ran a hand under the back of his shirt. Akaashi stretched into it, swearing to himself that he was not going to develop an obsession with the way the woolen fabric of Bokuto's gloves contrasted with steady fingers.

"What was the King like?"

"Hmm?" Akaashi struggled to find his place in the conversation. A blank face and catlike eyes flashed briefly in his mind. "Oh, he was….interesting enough, I suppose. Quiet in a nice way."

Bokuto was leaving light butterfly kisses along the lines of Akaashi's face. "You liked him okay, then?"

"Sure," he said, utterly distracted as his breathing got quicker.

He'd very much like to go back to not having a conversation right now.

"What about the Ace of Diamonds?"

Akaashi didn't have to try hard to remember a loud cackle, a smirk, and perpetually untamed hair.

"Less interesting," he answered succinctly. "Far less interesting."

"Aww," Bokuto pouted for all of a second and that was really all Akaashi could take.

"Don't worry," Akaashi's hand gripped at Bokuto's collar, pulling him back and looking at him with hooded eyes, "I know of more interesting things to think about. Much, much more interesting."

Bokuto beamed and Akaashi finally got to get back to not talking.

ooooooo

Akaashi looked critically at the slab of stone.

The stone was fairly basic in every sense, a common block of soapstone that reminded Akaashi of when Satoshi had first started teaching him magic fifteen years ago.

Akaashi was currently working on something a bit less clear cut than beginning magic.

He released a breath, focusing his magic on as small a segment as possible.

The stone chipped.

Akaashi leaned in eagerly, smiling proudly at the faintest hint of a curve left at the edge of the stone.

"You're not going through an internal crisis again, right," a voice called skeptically.

Akaashi rolled his eyes. "I'm taking up sculpting."

"...okay?" Konoha came to stand beside him. "Keiji, I don't know how to break it to you; but, you are the incoming Mage of Earth. Controlling rocks is kind of one of those things that's supposed to be easy for you."

"It's not about controlling it," he responded without looking from the stone. It had taken Akaashi twelve times to find an exact curve that he was happy with.

"Then, what's it about?"

"It's the choice," Akaashi smiled. "It's art."

And, more importantly, Akaashi….Akaashi found he was enjoying it.

Even if he wasn't quite sure he was very good at it.

He glanced up to find Konoha looking at him strangely, like he missed a page when reading.

"Is it Satoshi?" Konoha said eventually, face turning up in a teasing smile. "Satoshi's away at Spade's festival so you've decided it's time to finally crack."

Akaashi snorted inelegantly.

"No, wait, it's something more than that." Konoha stared at him for a long moment, a smile fading into vague annoyance. "Fates, what am I missing here?"

It might be petty; but, Akaashi did find a special kind of joy in the rare moments of stumping the Jack of Clubs.

"You tell me," Akaashi said with a challenge.

Konoha huffed. "Is it the coronation?"

Akaashi hummed in non-commitment.

"Our mysterious King, then?"

Akaashi laughed. "Actually, I haven't heard any new rumors about him in a month."

Konoha frowned. "Come on, give me a hint. I'm your best friend!"

His smile grew wider, trying to think of the sentence that would annoy Konoha the most. "All I can say is you might have been right before."

Konoha let out a truly frustrated noise. "Ugh, you're the worst!"

Akaashi turned back to his sculpture, a mischievous smile resting behind his usual aloofness.

Konoha stared at him for a good five more minutes.

"The crush," Konoha shouted. "Fates, it's your crush, isn't it? You finally told him!"

Akaashi just smiled, eyes admittedly going a little bit warmer.

Konoha let out a sudden laugh, expression turning back to smugness.

"I was right, wasn't I," he muttered proudly.

"It's been known to happen once or twice," Akaashi said in as dry a voice as possible.

Konoha hopped up on the work table, kicking his feet and looking like all was once again right with the world. "And to think I figured it out practically instantly. I am good, aren't I?"

Akaashi's smile grew mischievous again as he watched as Konoha's smile fell.

"You're kidding!"

Akaashi laughed. "Don't worry, a month late is still pretty good."

"A month?!"

ooooooo

Something utterly terrible Akaashi had learned since kissing Bokuto.

It's very hard to stop.

"You have class soon," he mumbled between barely parted lips. "You should find something to eat before it."

He could feel Bokuto's smile against his mouth. "Then you've gotta let me go first."

"You first," Akaashi said before kissing him again, getting lost in heat and dizziness instead of distracting things like conversation.

"Meh, I can grab something later."

Akaashi felt like he really should argue more; but, didn't really want to when Bokuto pushed him more firmly against the wall of bushes that separated the small piece of the University.

Akaashi had been tragically and woefully misguided a month ago when he thought kissing Bokuto would be the end of trauma for his poor, fragile peace of mind. If anything, he found himself more distracted now, sneaking away from the books that he used to busy himself with and coming back with a look he'd caught University students gossiping about more than once.

Horrible, Akaashi thought, humming with interest as Bokuto pulled more roughly on his bottom lip. Absolutely horrible.

Akaashi licked into the seams of Bokuto's lips and was rewarded with hands clenching hard at his waist before suddenly the bush felt a lot less firm at his back.

"Fates!" he cursed before the bush fully gave way and he found himself falling branches scratching at his side as he went through the bush and hit hard on the other side. Bokuto landed on top of him, barely catching himself in time not to let his chin slam into Akaashi's sternum.

"Ow," Akaashi said flatly.

Bokuto looked up, worriedly. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," his lips turned up in a helpless smile, "just maybe we should chose a tree next time we-"

He was cut off by a sudden laugh that, Akaashi realized with a drop in his stomach, he recognized far, far too well.

A hand popped up above them, light reddish brown hair hanging around a lazy smile.

"Hey, Keiji," Yukie said, leisurely expression lit up with a surprising amount of mirth, "nice of you to drop in on knight practice."

Akaashi restrained a groan because he was a poised and graceful future Queen.

He sighed instead, taking the hand that Yukie offered and resigning himself to the future teasing. "What are you doing here?"

"Why wouldn't I be here," Yukie returned easily, casting curious looks over at Bokuto. "Grandma Fumiko's gotta be here to train the future Ace, as if she wouldn't take her favorite granddaughter."

"You're her only granddaughter," Akaashi said dryly.

Yukie grinned. "I didn't say it was stiff competition." Her eyes landed back on Bokuto. "Rude, Keiji, you're not even going to introduce me to your very special friend over here. Not very Queenly of you."

Bokuto stuck out a hand, smiling cheerfully. "Bokuto Kotaro."

"See, polite," Yukie teased before meeting the hand with her own. "Nice to meet you and so nice to see you getting along with our little Keiji here! I can't wait to tell Grandma! I'm Shirofuku Yukie, by the way."

Bokuto's eyes widened and, with the grace of long habit, Akaashi took it upon himself to make the introductions.

"Yes," he said, eyes not leaving Yukie. "She's Ace Fumiko and former King Susumu's granddaughter."

Yukie's smile widened, deceptively lazy expression focused clearly on Akaashi. "Yep, which means I had the distinct pleasure of growing up with Keiji here. Plight of the palace kids, you know, not many other little ones for play dates."

"For some reason, Satoshi was worried I'd be shy," Akaashi said.

"Because you were so quiet!"

"I was reading."

"Oh, Keiji, as if they makes it any better." Yukie tsked before she leaned over conspiratorially to Bokuto. "Alright, now here is where I'd offer to tell you all the embarrassing stories from Keiji's gangly teenage years; but, it's one of life's true tragedies that he's the only person alive who went through puberty unscathed."

Akaashi took a moment to feel relieved.

"So, I'll have to tell you the embarrassing little kids stories instead," Yukie finished brightly.

Bokuto grinned and Akaashi regretted every single life choice he'd ever made.

"Yukie," called a voice like a saving grace, "why aren't you practicing?"

Across the field came the willowy form of Shirofuku Fumiko, Ace of Clubs, with her pale white hair pulled up in a tight bun, harshness wiped away by the clear smile lines around her face.

Akaashi watched her approach with gratitude.

"Because I found something more interesting, Grandma," Yukie called back, waving idly. "Keiji's being courted."

Akaashi gave her a cross between a glare and a blush before he glanced over and noticed the sudden tension in Bokuto's shoulders.

"Don't worry," Akaashi whispered to him, "Ace Fumiko's really not that scary."

"I know," Bokuto said, "we've, um, met already."

Akaashi frowned, not getting a chance to ask before Fumiko came to stand in front of them, eyes widening as she looked at Bokuto then back at Akaashi then to Bokuto then, strangely, to Bokuto's gloves before back at Akaashi.

"Er, if it helps, we kind of met on accident," Bokuto said weakly.

"What-," Akaashi started in confusion before-

Fumiko let out a booming laugh, loud enough to startle the birds out of the trees as she almost bent in half trying to hold it in.

Akaashi exchanged a look with Yukie, who at the very least looked as confused as him.

"Grandma," she started.

"Oh," Fumiko said, still laughing even as she wiped her eyes, "I just knew you were going to be an interesting one; but, I didn't think you'd start this early!"

"Sorry," Bokuto tried which seemed to make Fumiko only laugh harder.

"Oh, no, this is the funniest thing that's happened in years, trust me," Fumiko shook her head before her eyes landed on Akaashi and she waggled her eyebrows. "Well, I suppose it's good to see you're getting along well. Very well,it seems."

Akaashi's blush came back full force, only to be mixed this time with utter bewilderment.

"Apologies, my Ace-"

"Fumiko," she cut him off, "I swear, Keiji, it's been years. How many times do I need to tell you to just call me 'Fumiko'."

"Fumiko," Akaashi corrected, "but….I'm just curious what you were laughing at?"

"Hmm," Fumiko tapped a finger on her chin. "Well, I suppose it would be less funny to both of you. Nevermind me, then, I was just imagining the look on Satoshi's face. Serves him right, he's far too stuffy, isn't he, Keiji? I've been telling him that for years and he never believes me!"

Akaashi truly and utterly had no idea how to respond.

Fumiko's eyes drew back to Bokuto and she waved a hand. "Don't worry, though, I definitely won't be the one telling Satoshi about you two sneaking around. This will be so much better as a surprise."

Beside Akaashi, he saw Bokuto relax and he still had no idea why.

As for Yukie, she was frowning-eyes drawn closely at Bokuto as if she was looking for something.

"Wait," Yukie said slowly, looking up at Fumiko, "is he-"

"Off with both of you now, though," Fumiko interrupted, shooing Akaashi and Bokuto back away from the University training field. "You're interrupting my dear granddaughter from her practice. Go on now, I'm sure we can have a lot more fun with this later."

Akaashi went, Bokuto ushered right behind him, as they were both led out of the field and back to the hallways of the University, all before Akaashi could even ask a question.

When Fumiko finally left them, Akaashi looked back at Bokuto.

"That was…..strange, wasn't it," Akaashi asked, suddenly unsure of his own perceptions.

Bokuto let out a strained laugh. "Yeah. Super strange, Keiji. Good thing Fumiko's so cool, right?"

Akaashi frowned but nodded, still having no idea of what just happened.

Strange, indeed.

ooooooo

"How was the festival," Akaashi asked, watching as his guardian waved his hand, the packed clothing all arranging neatly back in his dresser.

"Fine as always," Satoshi said. "Spades is lovely in the summer. It's a shame Fumiko decided to stay behind, she would've loved the Ace's Match-Diamonds and Hearts gave it a tough go, almost an hour long match."

"Who won?"

"Diamonds." Satoshi paused. "Speaking of, I should probably mention that this University branch might have a few guests over the next months. Some of the other Suit members have declared their interest in visiting."

Akaashi tilted his head. "Why?"

"Officially? Because the Ace of Diamonds decided now was his best time to review the kingdom's security, the Jack of Spades has selected this particular University branch for his annual study, and the Queen of Spades wished to see the lovely Clubs' cliffs." He smiled wryly. "Unofficially, because they're all a bunch of gossips that never could stand to wait until our official fall festival before meeting the incoming Suit." Satoshi shook his head. "At least, Hearts' suit is still new enough that they haven't learned impatience yet."

"The Queen of Spades is coming," Akaashi asked, trying hard to keep his voice neutral so the excitement didn't bleed in.

Satoshi sent him a look that said he saw through it anyway. "Yes, I've already asked if he wouldn't mind observing one of our lessons….if that's alright with you, of course?"

Akaashi smiled back, ducking his head in gratitude. "Yes, I believe I would enjoy that."

"I'm glad you're excited, Akaashi." Satoshi's hand landed on his shoulder. "But, remember above everything, you are Clubs' next Queen." His teacher patted his shoulder in either reassurance or reminder. "You know the expectations."

ooooooo

"Is it a puppy?"

Akaashi laughed, pulling Bokuto along. "Where would I get a dog?"

"I don't know," he shrugged, "whenever someone says they have a surprise, I always think of puppies."

"It's not a puppy."

"Kitten?"

Akaashi grinned helplessly. "No."

"Good, I'm more of a dog person."

"Really?" Akaashi hummed. "I think I prefer cats."

Bokuto considered for all of a second. "We'll compromise and get an owl."

Akaashi bumped his shoulder against Bokuto's, leaning in until he could thread his arm against his. "In what way, is an owl a compromise between a cat and a dog?"

"Owls are my favorite," Bokuto said reasonably. "So, they're the perfect compromise."

Akaashi hid his smile in Bokuto's shoulder. "I like owls, too."

"Then, that settles it. We need that owl."

"The surprise still isn't an animal," Akaashi said.

"Then, what is it?"

"Wait," Akaashi ordered and took a special joy in watching Bokuto puff out his cheeks in an exaggerated pout.

They continued walking, Akaashi leading them, and it was another few moments before Bokuto spoke again. "Hey, you know Yukie's pretty awesome actually."

"You've been talking to her," Akaashi asked, surprised but only mildly. Yukie's always been the friendly sort, especially compared to Akaashi.

"Yeah, she came and found me." Bokuto brightened. "She said she'd teach me how to use a sword if I wanted!"

"Be careful," Akaashi said before considering for another second. "Yukie's a good person. I'm not surprised you like her."

"Yeah, she is." Bokuto winked. "I still like Keiji better though."

Akaashi grinned, laughing again. "I like Kotaro better, too."

Finally, Akaashi led them to a stop on an open field.

"We're here," he announced.

Bokuto paused, obviously expecting more. "Oh, wow, Keiji, it's awesome. It's perfect. It's-"

"An ordinary field," Akaashi finished, amused.

"Um, yeah." Bokuto looked up through his lashes. "Sorry, am I missing something?"

Akaashi leaned up, leaving a short, sweet kiss on Bokuto's lips. "You're not missing anything. Watch this."

And then, Akaashi pulled up his magic, focusing on the field below them and the opening he knew was beneath. He let out a breath and the rock shifted, the field falling away like a sinkhole until all that was left was stone stairs that Akaashi pulled from the earth.

He heard Bokuto gasp and Akaashi opened his eyes, smiling softly.

"It's a cave," Bokuto said, looking wide eyed at Akaashi. "You found a cave!"

Akaashi nodded. "I felt it beneath the field. From the feel of it, I think a rockslide covered it years ago. Who knows the last people who've seen it." He held out a hand to Bokuto. "Want to be the first?"

Bokuto grabbed his hand. "You're amazing, Keiji!"

Akaashi went down the stairs first, pulling Bokuto along with him. Around them, the walls were cool and damp, the small light that Akaashi had conjured reflecting off of running water and the slight glint of embedded rocks.

It wasn't a large cave, barely three stories high and maybe about as wide, but, looking down Akaashi could see where a small lake had formed at the bottom of the cave, a calm pool compared to the rushing water of the sea outside.

It was beautiful, a small little mystery tucked away into cliffs and unseen for years.

Bokuto looked around, entranced, staring at the walls with a bright sort of happiness like a kid the first time seeing the sea.

Finally, his eyes landed back on Akaashi. "Keiji…."

Akaashi had to swallow, then, unsure of what to do with the way Bokuto looked when he was staring at him, with the low almost wonderous way he said his name. For a second, Akaashi empathized greatly with the rocks holding back the ocean, worn away slowly until only the drizzles of a stream squeezed through.

"Do you like it," Akaashi asked softly.

Bokuto caught his face in his hands. "You knew I would."

"I hoped," Akaashi agreed. "Wait, there's something…."

Akaashi moved down, scooping one of the larger stones up from the ground and holding it up.

He focused again, willing the lines and the curves and pushing until the rest of the stone fell away.

He held up a simple stone flower, nothing special, far too simplistic in the details almost like a child's drawing.

But, that wasn't the point. The point was….

"I decided to take up stone carving," Akaashi said.

Bokuto stared at him and Akaashi blushed, trying to find the right words to make Bokuto understand what he meant, how much this meant, how-

"I like it," Akaashi said. "I'm not very good; but, I think I like it so….um, anyway, I wanted to show you. I wanted you to have it so…."

Bokuto took the flower, folding gloved hands around it like it was more precious than any gem and Akaashi's heart hammered hard in his chest.

"It's beautiful, Keiji." Bokuto smiled up at him. "I love it."

And Akaashi….

And, right then, Akaashi didn't care about upcoming festivals or Suits or crowns or Marks or fate or magic.

Akaashi realized, standing in the middle of a cave that no one had seen in centuries, lit by a glowing ball of magic and surrounded by flickering gems, that the man standing in the middle and holding a fairly ugly flower sculpture was the most beautiful thing that he'd ever seen.

So, Akaashi kissed him because he still couldn't find the words to say everything he felt.

It didn't matter. He had a feeling Bokuto understood anyway.

ooooooo

The Ace of Diamonds was the first one to visit.

Akaashi would like it on record that this meeting should be considered a mistake.

The reasoning behind this momentous tragedy to Akaashi's sanity could be summed up into a single sentence: Bokuto saw him first.

Looking back, Akaashi thought that if by some chance they had met the Ace together or even if it was only Akaashi-since, really why would the Ace of Diamonds have any reason to meet a University student-that Akaashi could have headed it off from the start and saved the kingdom an inordinate amount of catastrophe all caused by a single friendship.

As, it was….

"Hey, Keiji!"

Akaashi stared.

"What do you think," Bokuto asked cheerfully.

Akaashi stared some more.

In front of him, there was something rigged up that looked like a cross between the most dangerous swing set in the world and a slingshot, all seeming like it was set up to fling a person straight off the face of a cliff.

Akaashi's mouth opened, closed, opened again, and finally ended with "...what….?"

"Isn't it great?!"

There was the sound of a high five and like a person moving their head only to see an upcoming carriage crash, Akaashi turned to see the Ace of Diamonds smirking back at Bokuto, eyes lit up with something only to be classified as mayhem.

"Hey, Akaashi." Kuroo's smirk grew. "Aww, you're less scrawny now! I can't wait to tell Kenma."

Akaashi blinked, pretty sure he would've built up the energy to glare if not for the death trap still standing innocently in front of him.

"What is this," Akaashi managed weakly.

"We call it the swing-shot," Bokuto explained, bouncing on the balls of his feet. "See, I was talking to Kuroo and I was telling up about my old mining town and then, I mentioned cliff diving and then, he said-"

"Cliff diving?!" Akaashi interrupted.

"It's awesome," Bokuto assured as if that was really Akaashi's worry. "But, unfortunately, these cliffs don't have a far enough ledge to jump from anywhere which sucks so Kuroo and I had this idea and-" Bokuto gestured to the death trap like a show man. "Ta-da!"

Akaashi didn't understand. He was just told the Ace of Diamonds arrived a few hours ago and had gone to explore the cliffs. How did he even have time to meet Bokuto let alone come up with this.

"No, absolutely not," Akaashi said as soon as the plan processed.

Bokuto pouted. "Aw, why?"

"Because you'll die."

"Actually, if you take into account the physics of it," Kuroo jumped in, looking entirely too amused as he watched Akaashi and Bokuto, "the apex of the swing should carry us out just far enough away from the rocks that it should be safe." He paused. "Well, at least, definitely not deadly."

Akaashi wasn't sure why the Ace of Diamonds-legitimately, the man in charge of all of Cards overall defense strategy-had come to Clubs to apparently get killed in an overgrown slingshot.

Akaashi tried to pull back to reserved, the perfect image of a polite but reasonable Queen that he should be when talking to other Suit members.

"Ace of Diamonds," he started, tone just to the side of aloof, "surely, you're not really suggesting we….we use this to fling ourselves off a cliff."

"Never said you have to do it." Kuroo crossed his arm, smirk turning up to teasing.

Akaashi raised an eyebrow in a quiet sort of judgement.

"Please, Keiji," Bokuto grabbed onto his arm, looking up at him with bright, golden eyes and Akaashi felt his polished facade popping like a soap bubble.

He sighed, looking back at Bokuto. "It's not safe."

"It is, though," Bokuto insisted. "We did the math and everything. We even tested it on one of the practice dummies."

"What if something goes wrong," Akaashi pressed. "It's not worth the risk."

Nothing was worth the risk of Bokuto getting hurt.

Akaashi paused.

.and he supposed Kuroo, too. Probably. It would at least look bad for Clubs.

Bokuto hummed though before grinning. "No, I know it'll be fine."

"How?"

"Because you'll be here," Bokuto winked up at him. "There, we promise to only use it when you're around. That way if anything goes wrong, you can just use your magic! You know like when we met and you saved me!"

Akaashi's resolve crumbled like parchment wet in the rain.

From the corner of his eye, he saw Kuroo watching them with a calculating glint in his eye that Akaashi didn't know where to begin deciphering.

Bokuto smiled. "That'll work, though. Won't it, Keiji?"

"...probably," Akaashi admitted reluctantly.

Bokuto whooped and jumped away before Akaashi could voice his next set of arguments. He looked over just in time to see Kuroo smiling. Actually smiling, the perpetual smirk finally wiped away to something less practiced as Bokuto all but jumped on him. And Akaashi….Akaashi thought he understood.

Bokuto did have a way of breaking down walls, apparently Akaashi wasn't the only Suit member without immunity.

And that was how Akaashi came to spending his first formal meeting with an outside Suit member watching Bokuto and Kuroo come up with increasingly insane ideas to shoot themselves into the air, Akaashi standing beside them as a quiet voice of reason.

It was….not was Akaashi expected; but, he thought he might be getting used to that.

ooooooo

"Did you hear?"

Akaashi was really starting to hate gossip.

"About the King?"

Akaashi buried his face in his book and held back a groan.

The two students carried on talking, unaware of the slowly building headache behind Akaashi's eyes.

"He met the Ace of Diamonds," the first student said.

Good, Akaashi looked back at his book. At least, Kuroo managed to get in some actual diplomatic meetings rather than just talking Bokuto into increasing outrageous schemes the entire three days he was here. Akaashi was fairly sure the past few days had driven him closer to an early heart attack.

The second sighed wistfully. "Honestly, I can't believe the Ace of Diamonds was here! He's so handsome, don't you think?"

Akaashi thought there was no accounting for taste.

"I know!" The first's voice lowered. "And, apparently, our new King and the Ace of Diamonds were getting along well. If they're friends, do you think that means the Ace will come visit more?"

Akaashi supposed Kuroo getting along with the future King was for the best, honestly. Even after a week, Akaashi still had trouble with one on one conversation with the Ace not devolving into cleverly worded and admittedly enjoyable debates. It was good the King seemed to get along with him more easily; Akaashi wouldn't always have Bokuto there as a buffer.

"Fates, I hope so." There was a pause and Akaashi heard the second student shuffle slightly. "Our king, he's….interesting, don't you think?"

Akaashi's hands tensed on his book in anticipation of stepping in.

"He's been talking more in class," the first agreed. "I heard he even made Master Hekima laugh the other day."

There was another pause, long enough that Akaashi couldn't resist moving a little further so he could peak around the corner.

Finally, the second student smiled. "I think….I think I kind of like our new King. He's more entertaining than I expected."

The first laughed, leaning in closer to her friend. "Hmm, I think he's growing on me, too."

They walked away after that, conversation drifting off until Akaashi could no longer hear it.

Akaashi stood in the hallway, a book in his hand and a small smile playing along his face.

For some reason, he felt oddly satisfied.

ooooooo

"I take it you met the Ace of Diamonds while he was here," Satoshi stated over breakfast.

Akaashi nodded. "I believe his visit went well."

Everyone survived so Akaashi supposed that was well enough.

Satoshi hummed. "He's smart, isn't he?"

"Yes."

'Cunning' would be more the word Akaashi would use, something in the way his eyes went shaded and calculated that made it unsurprising he earned the nickname as Chessmaster even without his extra power as Ace.

Which somehow made it even more ridiculous that Akaashi had walked in on him and Bokuto betting over who could fit the most olives in their mouth.

"A bit wild, of course," Satoshi added in an almost echo of Akaashi's thoughts. "Diamond's King is intelligent, too. If far more calm in how he shows it."

Akaashi thought again of years ago to a boy with an expressionless face, quietly reading a book. He found he wasn't surprised by Satoshi's assessment.

"You sound like you approve of him," Akaashi remarked idly.

"I do." Satoshi paused. "Of course, it is not for us to approve or disapprove either way. The Suits are a matter of the Fates….no matter how unusual those choices turn out to be."

Akaashi looked up, trying to find the meaning behind his guardian's words.

Satoshi sighed. "It's nothing, Akaashi, merely some unexpected difficulty in training our future King. Forgive me. I should not have said anything, I was being improper."

"What kind of difficulty," Akaashi pressed regardless, trying not to back down even as Satoshi's eyes sharpened in faint reproach.

"Simply a few misunderstandings about the place of tradition and the alleged need for change," Satoshi said shortly. "Do not worry, Akaashi, I'm sure he will learn. Now, I remind you again that we should not be discussing this. It is improper."

Akaashi frowned, heart beating faster even if he couldn't quite understand why. "If our King believes our traditions should change, maybe we should-"

"He's not King yet," Satoshi interrupted in as close to a snap as Akaashi had ever seen him make.

Akaashi froze, looking at his guardian with wide eyes.

Satoshi stopped as well, looking down at the table to hide whatever expression crossed his face. He took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Akaashi. It appears I am more….tired than I originally believed. I did not mean to raise my voice."

"Would you like some more tea," Akaashi asked, trying not to sound too worried. His guardian was not as young as he once was.

Satoshi looked up, eyes warming in fondness.

"Thank you, Akaashi. But, I believe I can manage it." He sighed, pouring himself another cup. "Before the coronation, our King is still recognized as Susumu. I will….I will not step on my friend's remembrance by giving up his orders before the time has come." Satoshi took a sip, looking thoughtful. "Besides, Akaashi, history and traditions are what define us. They're the path that led us here. To disregard them without reason is to be a ship without compass."

Satoshi met Akaashi's eyes. "I'm proud of you, Akaashi. I most likely do not tell you enough; but, I am. Of everyone I know, it's you I trust most to honor the legacy we've left for you. You've worked….so hard ever since you came to me, done everything I could ever think of and then so much more than I could hope. I could not ask for a better successor. Thank you, Akaashi."

Akaashi swallowed, looking down at his tea and fighting against a wave of guilt that was rising in his throat.

He didn't know the last time he's thought of the coronation. He'd been busy, selfish even, far too preoccupied with simply being with Bokuto that he forgot his responsibilities. That cannot do, not for the people of Clubs, not for Bokuto, and definitely not for Satoshi who's given him so much.

Akaashi looked up and forced a smile.

He would be the best Queen he could possibly be.

For all the ones counting on him.

ooooooo

It wasn't that Akaashi was avoiding Bokuto. He was fairly positive he couldn't even if he wanted to.

However, for the next week, Akaashi threw himself head and body back into every book he could find, turning through page after page with the kind of zealousness that tried to make up for earlier months of distraction.

The festival was only barely over two months away. Akaashi had to be perfect; he wouldn't allow himself to be anything less.

All of which meant that Akaashi found himself with far less free time than he had before. A fact that, unfortunately, meant also seeing less of Bokuto. Akaashi hated that , even if Bokuto seemed to be understanding, smiling it off and tugging at Akaashi's hair and assuring Akaashi that he could entertain himself and that Akaashi should have fun studying.

Konoha said he was overdoing it. Akaashi still felt like he wasn't doing enough.

He couldn't fully explain it, even to himself, he just felt….he needed to do this. He always had in a certain way; but, now it was if with a few words and a handful of months there was a timer under him and a pressure that before Akaashi had only acknowledged in small doses.

He needed to be everything, exactly the type of Queen that Clubs could be proud of. The kind that Satoshi and Bokuto could be proud of.

But, it was strange.

He had Bokuto now, he had music, and dozens of badly shaped stone flowers and….

For the first time, Akaashi felt like he was himself and knew what that meant. That he was better than he had ever been before and he wouldn't give that up for anything.

So, why did he still feel like he was missing something?

In the end, it turned out he was. Just not in the direction he expected.

Akaashi looked up from his book to find that what he expected to be early afternoon had long ago bled into night and his stomach twinged in neglect.

He'd missed dinner.

And that….that was odd. Not because he'd forgotten about it because, honestly, Akaashi had always had a habit of forgetting meals when he got too focused. But, lately, there had been a certain sunny presence to drag him out of it. There wasn't today.

He hadn't seen Bokuto.

Akaashi's heart tripped over itself before he could help it, worry sinking its claws in before he even knew the cause and he found himself wandering out of the library and down the halls, eyes darting around for silver streaked hair.

He was probably worrying for nothing. Bokuto had even told him his anxiety had been better lately and Akaashi remembered smiling up at him and dragging him down for a kiss. But….

Akaashi thought there would always be a memory burned in the back of his brain with Bokuto struggling to breathe and curled up so much smaller than he should be and Akaashi….Akaashi felt like the only thing that could possibly be worse than that was Bokuto going through that alone.

His pulse was beating in his ears as Akaashi turned down hall after hall, heading aimlessly and checking for anything out of place before-

"Keiji!" A gloved hand caught his shoulder and Akaashi twisted around.

Gold eyes looked down at him, smiling easily and Akaashi felt something clenched under his ribs suddenly relax.

"Hey," Bokuto beamed. "You're out of the library! Done studying for the night?"

Akaashi puffed out a breath, leaning forward until his head rested on Bokuto's shoulders. "I was looking for you."

"Aww, I'm late, aren't I? " Bokuto pouted. "Darn I was going to make you soup, too! Mom's recipe! It's the best. You'll love it. Tomorrow?"

"That sounds great," Akaashi agreed, kissing Bokuto's cheek. "Where were you?"

"Oh."

Akaashi felt the way that Bokuto's shoulders tensed under him and Akaashi looked up, already frowning.

Bokuto waved the concern away. "It's nothing. I just got a little held up at the infirmary."

"The infirmary?" Akaashi's brows knitted together, scanning Bokuto for injury and coming up blank until he noticed the way Bokuto kept one of his hands behind his back

Bokuto gave a sheepish smile, holding out a heavily bandaged wrist for Akaashi to inspect.

"It's nothing," Bokuto repeated. "Just caught my hand wrong climbing the cliffs and broke a few of the smaller bones. I'll be more careful next time."

Akaashi's still frowning, taking the bandaged wrist gently in his hands.

Bokuto winced and Akaashi's eyes zeroed in on it.

"They didn't heal it," Akaashi said in surprise. "They should've, I know they have a few minor mages on staff."

"Um, yeah, I think….," Bokuto looked down, "I think they would kind of rather it took the time to heal naturally. Can't exactly climb cliffs until it does and I think they'd rather….I mean cliff climbing isn't really proper behavior apparently. They told me that."

Akaashi's frown darkened and he took great care not to squeeze the wrist in his hands.

"They're idiots then," Akaashi said immediately, already focusing on the wrist. "Who are they to tell you what's proper?"

Bokuto may be a University student, he may technically still be under the University's authority, but Akaashi would not stand to see Bokuto hurting for something as stupid as teaching a lesson that stuck up University healers had no right to say needed to be taught.

"You love climbing the cliffs," Akaashi said, barely keeping the anger out of his voice.

Bokuto paused. "Yeah, but if it's really bothering them, I don't-"

"They can get over it," Akaashi looked up. "I can heal this for you if you'd like. I'm good at healing."

"Um, okay." Bokuto blinked. "What will I tell the University healers, though?"

Akaashi huffed, focusing his magic on the smaller bones until the cracks healed as if they were never there. He heard Bokuto take a quick breath that sounded like relief and Akaashi only felt more annoyed at the healers.

"You should tell them they should do their jobs better," Akaashi muttered. "Or better yet, I'll tell them."

Surprisingly, Bokuto laughed and Akaashi jerked his head up to look at him.

Bokuto brought his newly healed hand up to cup Akaashi's cheek, the bandages a starkly different texture from the usual glove.

"You're cute when you're angry," Bokuto said, laughing again when Akaashi gave him a look. "It's not that big of a deal, Keiji, I think they might have been trying to keep me safe in their own way. Keeping me away from the cliffs."

Akaashi leaned his face into the hand. "There's no excuse to leave you hurting."

"It really wasn't that bad," Bokuto reassured, still smiling. Akaashi kept frowning and Bokuto's expression bled off into something serious. "Hey, Keiji, I know you're still mad; but, let me handle it this time, okay?"

"What are you going to do," Akaashi asked cautiously.

"Nothing." Bokuto leaned forward, until his forehead was resting against Akaashi. "If wearing a bandage around my wrist for a bit is what it takes to make them relax some, I think I'm going to keep it."

Akaashi sighed. "They don't deserve that, Kotaro. Who are they to tell you what you can't do?"

Akaashi felt Bokuto's smile resting against his lips right before Bokuto leaned forward to kiss him.

"Ah, Keiji, it's only a couple months."

And Akaashi….Akaashi froze.

A couple months.

All this time, Akaashi had been thinking about the approaching coronation like a swinging pendulum; but, somehow, he forgot what the deadline would be.

In a few months, Akaashi was leaving the University for the capital to become Queen.

And Bokuto….Bokuto would be staying here.