Sorry for the delay! I needed a break to let my mind relax.
Here's the new chapter for you!
Chapter 11
Akaashi pressed down on the strings hard with his bow as he reached the climax of the piece. The emotions in this section were supposed to be strong, and Akaashi was struggling to make every note have some sort feeling. The excerpt did not contain fast notes but it was the most challenging when it came to the quality of sound. Akaashi had to make it sound perfect.
He only had a week left until the first round.
Akaashi moved his bow again, the sound desperate on the strings as he vibrated his fingers.
This is a sad section, Akaashi told himself. Make it sad. Make it sad. Make it—
Wow, how pathetic.
Akaashi grit his teeth, his bow stuttering on the strings. He only paused for a moment before continuing, trying desperately to ignore the voice.
Can you really get this perfected in one week? It sounds terrible.
Akaashi's jaw hurt from how hard he clenched, feeling his teeth ache as he ground them.
You won't get this violin spot and you know it.
Akaashi breathed out of his nose, focusing on the notes on the page. He was almost at the end of the passage, the heart-wrenching notes right in front of him—
You should just give up.
The last note was played, full of vibrato and a loud, finishing sound, and Akaashi lifted the bow up to hear it echo. Then, he dropped his arms by his sides, feeling winded and exhausted. His brow furrowed in agitation.
It was not what he wanted.
"Wow, Akaashi! That was amazing!"
Akaashi glanced up wearily, seeing two pairs of eyes staring at him from the floor of the living room. Bokuto and Tobio were sitting on the floor with crayons and paper, Bokuto's phone mutely playing volleyball videos. Their eyes were sparkling at him.
"That was so good!" Bokuto said. "Don't you agree, Tobio?"
Tobio nodded and sniffled, his fist reaching up to wipe his nose.
"Yeah, yeah! It sounded pretty," Tobio said after another sniffle.
They have no idea how bad it actually sounded, do they?
Akaashi grimaced, feeling that spark of irritation grip his heart and shake it, making his chest feel hot. He stiffened his shoulders to contain the anger and forced out an annoyed breath.
"It still needs work," Akaashi said, turning back to the music stand to look at the excerpts. The notes had started to blend together, which only made him feel worse.
"Oh, really?" Bokuto asked, cocking his head. "You sound ready to me."
Akaashi sighed as the frustration grew. He gripped his bow hard and caused the muscles in his arms to flex.
"It's far from ready," Akaashi said, his voice clipped. He glared at the music, feeling a drop of sweat glide past his brow and down the side of his face.
Bokuto stood up from the couch, leaving Tobio to continue drawing on his paper, and walked to Akaashi's side. He studied the music on the stand, hands on his hips.
"Is there a part where it's stumping you? Maybe I can listen to it again," Bokuto said.
He knows nothing.
Akaashi breathed in through his nose. "I don't think so. It's the whole thing, really."
"Oh. Well, I can try to listen again, if you want. Maybe me and Tobio can be your judges!" Bokuto said, his smile infuriatingly large.
He doesn't know anything about being a professional.
"I can't really help you practice, but I'm here if you need to relax or talk through it."
He's an idiot.
Akaashi's breath stayed in his chest as he held it in his lungs. His muscles tightened and his teeth ground together.
"And… I know that I don't know much about music, but I can be here to help you."
Bokuto's smile was too much for him to handle, and Akaashi tried to bite his tongue but the words flew out of him before he could even think.
"You're right. You don't know much about music," Akaashi snapped, turning at him with fierce eyes. "So, enlighten me, Bokuto-san. How is it that you can help me here?"
Bokuto's shoulders jumped and his mouth clicked shut, his eyes widening in a hurt gaze. Even Tobio, who still sat at the coffee table in the living room, had a worried look on his face.
Akaashi's heart leapt in his chest, realizing his mistake. He swallowed, his shoulders slumping as he hung his head.
"S-Sorry," Akaashi apologized, unable to meet Bokuto's eyes. "I… I didn't mean…"
A hand gently touched his shoulder, making him look up. Bokuto was smiling at him softly, an understanding look on his face.
"It's no worries, Akaashi! I know you're stressed," Bokuto said. "You should really relax though. I really don't think you have anything to worry about."
Akaashi glanced down at his violin in his hand, the wooden instrument suddenly weighing a ton in between his fingers.
"Right…" he whispered, the guilt gnawing on his bones and making him slump.
Bokuto patted his shoulder. "Why don't we give you some privacy? I can take Tobio to get some ice cream."
Akaashi glanced in the living room at Tobio, who was still watching volleyball videos on Bokuto's phone and coloring at the same time. He had moved on from their situation and was, thankfully, distracted again by volleyball.
Akaashi sighed, feeling the energy exude from his body. He could feel his body beginning to spiral into a dangerous breakdown, and he never wanted his son to see that terrifying side of him.
"All right. He could use some fresh air," Akaashi agreed.
Bokuto beamed, his hand sliding down to pat Akaashi's back. "Well, don't overwork yourself, okay? We'll bring you some ice cream back."
Akaashi nodded, feeling cold when Bokuto took his hand from his back. He watched as Bokuto walked over to Tobio and made the offer, Tobio's eyes sparkling as he nodded.
"Okay, little man. Grab your jacket and we'll go," Bokuto said.
Tobio jumped and shuffled to the front door, grabbing his jacket from the hook.
Bokuto tossed a smile over his shoulder as he headed to the door to help Tobio with his shoes.
"Bye, Akaashi! We'll be back in a flash!" Bokuto called.
Akaashi lifted up a hand to gently wave at them as they left the apartment. As soon as the door clicked shut, Akaashi heaved out a heavy sigh and he closed his eyes.
One week to go.
"So what kind of ice cream you want, Tobio?"
"Hm… vanilla?"
"One vanilla coming up!"
Bokuto passed over a few bills to the woman at the register and waited for her to return with the two cups of ice cream. He handed over the small cup to Tobio, who took it with anxious hands and wide eyes.
"Be careful, little man," Bokuto said as he snagged a few napkins from the counter.
Tobio nodded and waddled after Bokuto to a table. Bokuto helped him into the seat and then sat across from him. Tobio immediately began to dig in, getting vanilla ice cream on his chin. Bokuto followed suit, shoving his mint ice cream into his mouth and shivering at the cold.
"Is it good?" Bokuto asked after he swallowed.
Tobio nodded and then stuck another large spoonful of ice cream into his mouth. After a moment or two, his eyes squinted shut and he shivered, his hand coming up to touch his forehead. Bokuto barked out a laugh.
"Got a brain freeze, Tobio?" Bokuto asked.
Tobio pouted and nodded, rubbing his forehead a few times. Bokuto took the opportunity to wipe the ice cream from his chin, making the boy open one eye to look at him.
"Slow down, yeah?" Bokuto said. "It's not going anywhere."
Tobio nodded and released his head, glaring down at his ice cream for a moment before picking up his spoon and slowly continuing. Bokuto smiled and took another bite of his own.
"So, are you enjoying school, Tobio?" Bokuto asked.
Tobio nodded, taking another bite. "Me and Shouyou play volleyball a lot."
"You really like Shouyou, huh?" Bokuto asked with a smile. "You guys must be good friends!"
Tobio paused for a moment before he nodded. "I think he is. I've never had a friend before."
Bokuto frowned. "Really? What about at daycares or preschool?"
Tobio pursed his lips, his eyes turning sad. "There was Oikawa-san, a bigger kid who came to daycare when he was done with first grade," he started. "I thought we were friends, but…"
Tobio's voice trailed off, his hand fiddling with his spoon and pushing his ice cream around distractedly. Bokuto frowned, twirling his green ice cream around in his cup.
"Did he move away or something?" Bokuto asked.
Tobio frowned and shook his head. "No. He picked on me a lot."
"A lot?" Bokuto asked. "How much is a lot?
"Every day."
Bokuto's lips twisted, his face falling into an angry pout. So a bully, then.
He stabbed his ice cream with his spoon.
"But Daddy helped me a lot," Tobio said softly, taking another bite. He looked less sad, which made Bokuto straighten in his seat.
"Really?" Bokuto asked.
"Mmn. Daddy would talk to me a lot, and play with me at night even though he was busy." Tobio's brows furrowed suddenly. "I wish we could play more but he's been really busy."
Bokuto paused for moment, thinking about Tobio's words.
"Your dad is trying to do something really amazing," Bokuto explained, smiling at the boy.
"Amazing?" Tobio asked, his eyes widening.
Bokuto nodded, getting more excited. "Yeah! He's working really hard to achieve his dream."
Tobio's eyes sparkled. "Is Daddy gonna g—a… achoo!"
His sneeze rattled the table and left him sniffling.
Bokuto frowned, grabbing a spare napkin and reaching across the table to wipe Tobio's snotty nose.
"That was a big sneeze. Are you okay, Tobio?" Bokuto asked, handing him another napkin.
Tobio nodded, grabbing the other napkin from Bokuto and wiping his nose. He put the napkin down on the table and went back to his ice cream. He took a big bite and looked back up at Bokuto with wide eyes.
"Is Daddy gonna get a violin job?" Tobio asked after he swallowed.
Bokuto smiled and nodded. "He definitely is, Tobio!" Bokuto said, excitement in his voice. "I know he will!"
"Okay, everyone! Go change and head to class! You're already running behind!"
"Yes, sir!"
Akaashi could hear the players as they scurried off to the locker rooms in haste, leaving the practice volleyballs scattered throughout the gym. He sighed as he headed over to the balls, picking them up and balancing them in his arms.
Since the boys had a practice match that afternoon, Bokuto had asked Akaashi to come in to help with the morning practice. He was hesitant at first since his audition was only a few days away, but he could not resist Bokuto's pleading and puppy dog eyes.
After all, Bokuto was helping him out a lot by taking care of Tobio while he prepared for the audition. It was only right that he assisted Bokuto in return.
"Hey, hey, Akaashi! Good work today!" Bokuto called as he wheeled over the ball cart.
Akaashi tossed the balls in the cart and nodded, humming in return.
"Thanks. They look ready to play this afternoon," Akaashi commented, trying to get his brain to focus on something other than what he had to do when he got home.
"I think so, too," Bokuto said, gazing proudly out at the court. He tossed a grin over his shoulder at Akaashi. "Thanks for helping today! I really needed the extra set of hands."
Akaashi felt the blood drain out of his face at Bokuto's sincerity, and guilt dropped into his stomach. He should not complain so much, especially when Bokuto was being this grateful.
"You're welcome," Akaashi said, tossing another volleyball in the bin.
Bokuto smiled, wheeling the cart over to the wall. "So, how is practicing going?"
Akaashi frowned, the stress immediately coming back.
"It's… annoying," Akaashi admitted, surprised at himself.
Bokuto picked up a volleyball and held it in his hands, staring at Akaashi with a worried expression.
"Really? I know you were stressed, but it sounded so good yesterday," Bokuto said.
Akaashi sighed. "I guess it was fine. I just need it to sound perfect. And the audition is only a few days away."
Bokuto paused, glancing down at the volleyball in his hands. "Is it… not fun?"
Akaashi paused, giving Bokuto a weird look. "Fun?"
Bokuto spun the ball in his hands. "Yeah. I thought you enjoyed playing violin."
"I…"
Akaashi paused. He could not truly say that the last few weeks were fun. With all of the stress of the upcoming audition, Akaashi has had no time to allow himself to even think about enjoying himself.
"You know, I didn't always enjoy volleyball."
Akaashi snapped his head up, his strange expression morphing into plain confusion. He tilted his head at Bokuto and watched as the coach spun the volleyball in his hands.
"I had this… moment, I guess, when I was in high school," Bokuto continued. "My cross spikes kept getting shut out by this one team. So I practiced line shots like a madman."
He balanced the volleyball on his finger and spun it, the colors whirling around and blending together. He smirked, looking as proud than ever.
"Then, in a later tournament, we played that same team," Bokuto said. He threw the ball up into the air and slammed it towards the net, the ball riding along the boundary line. "And I smashed a line shot past those blockers. They didn't even touch it!"
He laughed and folded his arms across his chest, standing tall.
"From that moment, I was completely hooked on volleyball," he said, his smile widening.
Akaashi stared at him in awe. The man in front of him was shining, seeming to be glowing in some sort of sunshine. He was so bright that Akaashi felt almost unworthy to stand in his presence.
"What about you, Akaashi?" Bokuto asked, bringing Akaashi back to the present.
"Me?" Akaashi asked, raising a brow.
"Have you ever had a moment like that? Like, with orchestra or violin?" Bokuto asked.
Akaashi stood straighter, his brows pushing together to form a crease. The words, 'Of course,' were on the tip of his tongue, ready to spew, but he stopped short.
Has… Has he ever had a moment like that before?
He rattled his brain, trying to come up with answers. He could remember very memorable, very vivid moments of his time in orchestra. He even remembered when his orchestra director expressed great sorrow when he spoke of a composer's life or a certain piece that touched his heart. He also remembered playing concerts that made his hair stand on their ends as shivering goosebumps sprouted along his arms and neck.
But… there were also moments…
"No! Do it right!"
"Why can't you understand that what you're playing is wrong?"
"That was a waste of time. Let's end today. I expect a better performance next week."
…several, several moments where Akaashi hated the fact that he played the violin. Especially when his father was around.
Bokuto's question had suddenly given him pause and made him question every decision he had made in the past 23 years.
"Uh, 'Kaashi?"
Akaashi blinked, the gymnasium coming back into view, and Bokuto stood in front of him with a worried expression.
"Are you okay? You just spaced out on me," Bokuto said.
Akaashi swallowed, nodding slowly as he lowered his gaze to stare at another stray volleyball on the floor.
"Yeah. I'm okay," Akaashi said.
"Ah. Okay, then. If you're sure," Bokuto said, eyeing him carefully. He put the last volleyball away and pushed the cart towards the closet. "You wanna get something to eat? The vending machines are in the lounge. My treat!"
Akaashi nodded distractedly, his eyes still to the floor, and he followed Bokuto out of the gym like a mindless zombie. Bokuto was saying something about the food he was going to get but the words were muffled. Akaashi's head was still a muddled mess after Bokuto had spoken to him, the thoughts swirling around in his mind.
Was what he was doing really making him happy?
"I've got to find someone to—Oh!"
Akaashi snapped his head up, seeing a different teacher standing in front of Bokuto. She had apparently run smack into Bokuto.
"Ah, hello there! What's the rush?" Bokuto asked, putting his hands on his hips.
The teacher sighed heavily and adjusted the glasses on her nose. She seemed to be in a state of mild panic.
"Ah, good morning, Bokuto-san. You see, with the kindergarteners here in the building, we've built some extracurriculars for them. Today is supposed to be their day for music, but…" She glanced down the hall and then back to Bokuto. "But the music teacher is running late this morning, so the class is missing a teacher."
"The music teacher?" Bokuto asked, scratching his cheek.
"Yes. There are three classes of kindergarteners waiting in the classroom, but I'm trying to stall until I can find someone to do something for them," the teacher said, fiddling with her glasses again. "Do you have any ideas, Bokuto-san?"
Bokuto's shoulders jumped and he snapped his head to the side to look at Akaashi with wide eyes. Akaashi stared back at him, quirking a brow at the look on his face. It was a peculiar expression, almost scheming as those gold orbs studied Akaashi.
Akaashi felt a drop of sweat glide down his neck. Just what was Bokuto up to?
Bokuto took one more moment to study Akaashi and then he glanced back at the teacher.
"Um, Akaashi here is real good at music!" he blurted.
Akaashi's eyes widened comically. "What?"
"He is?" the teacher asked, now looking at Akaashi to confirm.
"Yeah!" Bokuto continued, gaining more confidence as he spoke. "He's super smart and really talented! He can play violin like a pro!"
Akaashi lifted a hand, trying to interject. "Um…"
"Can he teach children?" the teacher asked Bokuto.
Akaashi turned to Bokuto, trying to plead with him with his eyes, begging Bokuto to please shut his mouth.
But Bokuto only smiled wider.
And Akaashi knew he was screwed.
"I'm totally sure he could!" Bokuto said.
"B-Bokuto-san," Akaashi said under his breath.
"Oh, my! That would really be a big help!" the teacher said. She shifted in front of Akaashi and bowed at her waist. "If you could just do one lesson with them, we would be grateful!"
Akaashi stiffened, surprised by her sudden bow, and he lifted up his hands to try to get her to raise her head. But she stayed low, practically begging.
"I, uh… I don't know what to teach them. I don't really have any experience…" Akaashi said, rubbing the back of his head.
The teacher leaned back up and shook her head, holding on to her glasses.
"It's okay! If you want to just talk to them about music, that's fine! We have spare violins here in the band storage room," the teacher said. "We will compensate you for your time."
Akaashi's brows lifted, and he turned his head to see Bokuto staring back at him with a curious expression.
"What do you think, Akaashi?" Bokuto asked, looking genuinely concerned. He had a smile on his face, which gave Akaashi a little more comfort, but he still hesitated. The only time he had really worked with children was with his own child. Other than that… Akaashi had no experience.
"I know you can do it, Akaashi," Bokuto said softly.
Akaashi blinked out of his daze and swallowed thickly. He could feel a slight tremor in his hands and he quickly closed them into fists.
He glanced back to the teacher and nodded once.
"I'll… I'll try," he said.
The teacher's eyes lit up and Bokuto beamed, both looking beyond excited.
"R-Really? You'll do it? You'll really do it?" the teacher asked, leaning forward.
Akaashi leaned away from her. He almost regretted his decision but it was too late to turn back now—especially with these two people looking at him like he gave them the best news of their lives.
"Um… I don't know what all I can do, but I'll give it a shot," Akaashi said.
"Oh, thank you, thank you!" the teacher exclaimed. She took a deep breath and sighed in relief before turning. "Okay, the classroom is this way. I'll grab a violin or two from the storage for you."
Akaashi felt his stomach clench and then release, a thousand fluttering butterflies traveling up to his chest and through his arms. He felt tingly all over, and his heart was pounding. Why was he so nervous about this?
The teacher led the three of them down to the music wing of the school. She quickly dipped into the orchestra room and grabbed a few violins, handing them to Akaashi. He fumbled with the instruments in his hands and hurried to follow the teacher into the classroom next door.
"Okay, everyone!" the teacher said upon entering. "Sensei is late this morning but we have a special guest who is going to teach you today!"
She gestured for both Bokuto and Akaashi to enter. Bokuto walked in confidently while Akaashi trailed behind with his shoulders hunched.
When he walked into the classroom, he nearly froze at the sight of nearly 60 kindergarteners staring back at him.
"This is Akaashi-sensei, and he's here to teach you all this morning!" the teacher announced.
Akaashi's legs wobbled as he stared at the kids in the room, all of their eyes locked onto him. Their stares seemed to pierce through him like lasers, making his whole body stiffen. It was suddenly hard to breathe.
Akaashi's brows furrowed in frustration. He had performed in front of hundreds of people before, nearly a thousand. He even stood up on stage by himself to perform in front of the entire orchestra, along with a large crowd. And not once was Akaashi nervous.
So why?
Why was this making him so incredibly nervous?
"Daddy?"
Akaashi's eyes popped open at the familiar voice and he turned his head towards the sound.
Sitting on the far right was none other than his son.
"Tobio," Akaashi said in surprise.
Tobio stood up from his spot and hurried over to his father's side, hugging his leg.
"What are you doing here?" Tobio asked. "Are you really teaching our class this morning?"
Akaashi gave him a warm smile and nodded, unable to hug back because of the instruments in his arms.
"Ah, yeah. I was asked to," Akaashi said.
Tobio's eyes shined. "Are you gonna play for us?!"
"Akaashi-san plays an instrument?" came another familiar voice, and when Akaashi looked up, he saw Shouyou sitting next to Tobio's vacant spot.
Akaashi smiled at him, also nodding in response. "I do, Shouyou. I play violin."
The kids in the room quietly went "ooh" as Akaashi rested the instruments down on the nearby table. Tobio hurried back to his seat next to Shouyou and sat up straight, his hands on his knees and his mouth twitching as he tried to contain his smile.
"Um… So, do any of you guys play an instrument?" Akaashi asked, looking around the room.
Some of the kids raised their hands, and Akaashi called on each one to ask them what they played. All of the kids who raised their hands claimed that they had started piano recently.
"Piano is a good instrument," Akaashi explained. "It teaches you a lot of the basics that you need to learn to understand music."
He turned to the instrument cases on the table and opened them up, studying each violin. After debating which one looked to be in the best shape, he pulled it out of its case and held it up for the class the see. The children all hummed again, their eyes widening at the beautiful brown instrument in front of them.
Akaashi swallowed, lifting up the violin higher so the whole class could see.
"When I was your age, this is what I practiced," Akaashi explained. "A violin has four strings, and you can make sounds on it in two different ways."
He lifted a finger and plucked one of the strings, a soft sound lifting into the air.
"You can pluck the strings like this," Akaashi started. He turned back to the case and pulled out the bow from the side pocket. "Or, you can use this bow to make a sound."
As if on autopilot, Akaashi lifted the violin to tuck under his chin and immediately pressed the bow to a string, pulling it down and creating a nice, smooth note. The class gasped at the sound and ooh-ed again, amazed at the sound.
"Wow!"
"That's a cool sound!"
"Can you play a song?"
Akaashi stared out at the students, lowering the violin to his side. He blinked at them curiously.
"You… You want me to play something?" he asked them.
The students nodded, some lifting their hands into the air and yelling a collective "yes!"
Akaashi fiddled with the strings, racking his brain on ideas. He thought back to his high school days, a short piece that he practiced over and over. But it was such a fun, light piece that he was sure the kids would enjoy.
With a deep breath, he lifted the violin to his chin and raised his bow, and he began to play Kreisler's Schön Rosmarin.
He had the piece memorized and he even surprised himself with how well the notes flowed underneath his fingers. The charming melody even made him smile a bit as he continued. He could hear the piano part in his mind, the keys mimicking his own beautiful melody as he played.
Thoughts of his recitals back in high school came into mind, playing this piece in an elegant auditorium. The sound reverberated around the big space and echoed in the tall ceilings. The stage was empty save for himself and a piano behind him. His playing was on point as his fingers moved up and down the strings, his bow moving in perfect sync.
He approached the last line, each note more passionate than the last. He descended on a few quick notes and slowed down until he reached the final note, bowing it lightly and cheerfully. The note lifted into the air and dissipated, fading out and ending on a vibrating tone, beautifully and wonderfully played.
It was like a breath of fresh air.
There was a pause, and Akaashi opened his eyes—when had he even closed them?—and he stared out at the looks of awe on the children's faces. After a beat, the children began to clap and cheer.
Akaashi felt his face flush as he lowered his violin and gazed out at the children. A smile tugged on his lips and slipped onto his face, his eyes landing on Tobio and Shouyou, who were both practically standing in amazement.
Akaashi stuttered and quickly bowed at his waist, thanking them as they continued to clap.
"The violin is so cool!" Shouyou said, beaming. "I want to play one!"
"Yeah!" Tobio said, wiping his runny nose on his sleeve. "Can I play, too, Daddy?"
Akaashi smiled at him, reaching on the table to grab a tissue. He walked over to Tobio and knelt down to his level to wipe his nose.
"I can let you guys try, if you want," Akaashi said.
Tobio brightened. "Really?!"
Akaashi smiled and nodded, reaching down to take his hand.
"Come up here, Tobio," Akaashi said.
Tobio followed him up to the front of the room, and Akaashi grabbed the other violin for him to hold. Luckily, the teacher had grabbed a smaller violin, so the instrument was not too big for Tobio to hold.
"Now, put your fingers here," Akaashi instructed, showing Tobio how to hold the violin. "And put your chin on this part."
After a few more instructions and adjustments, he had Tobio hold up the bow to touch the hair to the string.
"Okay, now put a little pressure on it, and then pull the bow down," Akaashi said, motioning his bent arm in a downward glide.
Tobio watched his father like a hawk as he mimicked the motion, pulling the bow down along the string.
And there it was.
A sound.
It was a little screechy, but Tobio produced a real sound.
Tobio's eyes lit up and his face flushed with excitement as he stared up at his father, looking proud.
"You did it!" Akaashi said, unable to contain his smile. "You made a sound, Tobio!"
Tobio's lips twitched until they spread into a wide smile across his face, one of the widest smiles Akaashi had ever seen on his son.
"That was amazing, Tobio-chan!"
"Can you do it again?"
The other children started getting excited from Tobio's success, and Tobio looked up to his father as if asking for permission.
Akaashi smiled and nodded at him. "Try it again, Tobio."
Tobio nodded and positioned the violin back to where his father had instructed him the first time. He bent his right arm to hold the bow over the strings, and with another pull, a sound burst from the instrument, louder than before. The children gasped and clapped, Shouyou the loudest of them all.
Akaashi smiled, feeling so incredibly warm. His chest felt both tight and loose at the same time, his emotions unable to regulate. It was a strange feeling that made him feel things that he had never felt before.
He wanted to feel this way again.
"Nice job, Tobio!"
Akaashi jumped a little and turned his head over his shoulder.
Bokuto was standing on the side, leaning against the wall with his arms folded across his chest. His smile was wide, and his eyes were squinted and gleaming with pride.
"Have you ever had a moment like that, Akaashi?"
Akaashi inhaled sharply, now understanding Bokuto's words.
He glanced back at the kids and smiled fondly as they all watched Tobio learn.
Maybe he has had a moment like that.
"Okay. You can do this, Akaashi. Just take your time."
Bokuto massaged Akaashi's shoulders as they stood in the long corridor of the music hall, right near the private practice rooms and a few paces from the auditorium. The practicing violins screamed down the hallway in a collective jumble of sounds, all reverberating into Akaashi's ears.
It was overwhelming.
"You need anything?" Bokuto asked.
Akaashi swallowed, holding his bag and his violin close by his sides. He shook his head mutely, thankful for Bokuto's offer.
Bokuto smiled and patted his shoulders, moving one had down to rest at his shoulderblades. It reminded Akaashi of that night on the bridge—Bokuto's sturdy presence was there as a comfort and a solid foundation. Just having Bokuto here made him feel as if he wouldn't collapse.
"It's going to be great!" Bokuto said. "Right, Tobio?"
Akaashi tilted his head down to see his son standing next to Bokuto, his cheeks red and his eyes wide. His little hands were curled into fists, his stance determined.
"Yeah!" Tobio said. "You—"
Suddenly, Tobio's voice choked off and he sneezed, clearing his throat and wiping his nose on his sleeve. Akaashi tilted his head at him.
"Are you okay, Tobio?" Akaashi asked, reaching into his pocket for a spare tissue. "Don't wipe your nose on your shirt."
Tobio nodded, taking the tissue and staring up at his father with bright eyes.
"You're really good at violin, Daddy!" Tobio said, finishing what he had started to say earlier.
Akaashi managed a small smile, albeit tight and strained, and he bent over to ruffle Tobio's hair with a shaking hand.
"Thank you, Tobio," Akaashi said softly.
Tobio sniffed and smiled, and it warmed Akaashi's heart. That boy had been smiling a lot more lately.
"What time is your audition?" Bokuto asked when Akaashi straightened his back.
"Noon," Akaashi said.
Bokuto looked at the time on his phone, placing his free hand on his hip.
"Ah, so you've got a few hours…" Bokuto said softly, making Akaashi wince and lower his gaze apologetically.
"Sorry. I wanted to make sure I got here with plenty of time to warm up," Akaashi tried to explain. His hands fiddled with the handles of his bag and violin case. "You don't have to stay here if you don't want to."
"No, no! It's totally fine!" Bokuto said, putting his phone back in his pocket. "I've got lots of things to keep me and Tobio busy until you're done."
He gestured with his foot to the duffle bag on the floor next to Tobio, smiling down at Tobio and then back up at Akaashi.
"I've got volleyball magazines, coloring sheets, and over 20 hours of volleyball matches downloaded on my phone!" Bokuto said, standing with his arms folded across his chest. "It's going to be fun!"
Akaashi took a deep breath and nodded. "Okay. As long as you're sure."
"One-hundred percent," Bokuto answered. "We're here for you, Akaash'!"
Akaashi smiled at them, humming softly. Never in a million years did Akaashi think he would have company like this. He never even had this level of compassion and genuine dedication with Mei.
"Okay. Well, I'd better go find a practice room," Akaashi said.
Bokuto grinned encouragingly and gave his back a light pat before releasing him.
"Okay, Akaashi! We'll be in the lobby waiting for you," Bokuto said.
Akaashi nodded. "Thank you for this."
"Of course, 'Kaashi! Now go, go! Go get that violin spot!" Bokuto said, giving Akaashi a light push on his back.
Akaashi smiled at him and nodded. He gave a gentle wave to Tobio before turning on his heel and heading down the hall towards the practice rooms. He passed by the noisy rooms, clutching his bag and violin closer to his body as a shudder ripped through him.
It was all so intimidating. He used to audition all of the time for things: placement in college, talent scholarship programs, performance exams… He had even auditioned for a professional orchestral spot.
But this?
This was miles different than what he had done in the past.
Before, he had years of experience and confidence under his belt.
Today, he was a bundle of nerves with five years of neglect that produced rusty skills and shaking hands.
With another deep breath, Akaashi found an empty room and stepped inside, closing the soundproof door behind him.
And suddenly, the noises were cut off, muffled beyond the door.
Akaashi took a moment just to breathe, letting his pounding heart calm inside of his chest. He turned around to gaze at the small, enclosed space. It was barely smaller than his office back when he was the orchestra librarian, and yet, he felt that he could breathe just a little better.
He set his belongings on the chair in the corner and pulled out his audition music, placing the sheets on the music stand. He then pulled out his violin— the violin he had when he was in college. That violin had gotten him through several auditions in the past. Could it get him through this one, as well?
"Go get that violin spot!"
Akaashi felt his heart leap at hearing Bokuto's confident voice echo in his mind.
Maybe that violin had gotten him through several auditions in the past.
But this time, he wasn't alone.
Akaashi adjusted the chin rest on the instrument and fiddled with the strings, making sure they were in tune. He lifted the violin up, tucking it under his chin, and he ran his bow over all four strings to test the sound. They were all in tune.
His eyes flitted over to the music on the stand in front of him, the notes staring back at him.
He breathed through his nose.
And he started to warm up.
"Wow! How did he do that?"
"Hm? You mean get the ball up higher?"
"Yeah, yeah!"
"Oh, he jumped while he set the ball! See? Let me rewind it a bit."
Bokuto moved the video back a few seconds to show Tobio the play again, watching as the setter leapt into the air to reach the ball sooner and set it higher up into the air for the spiker to slam on the other side of the net.
"Wow! He must be really good!" Tobio said, looking up at Bokuto.
"Oh! He is pretty good! One of the top players in the country!" Bokuto said.
He turned to the seat next to him and searched through his duffle bag until he found that volleyball monthly magazine. He flipped it a few pages until he found that team's player stats.
"Let's see… Ah! Here he is," Bokuto said, moving closer to show Tobio the page. "He's known for getting the ball up higher for his spikers. His spikers really like that he sets higher so that their angle of spike is sharper. Their balls get through the blockers and hit the ground faster."
"Wow…" Tobio hummed, looking at the setter's picture on the page. "He must be really strong if he can get the ball that high."
Bokuto chuckled softly. "It also helps that he's almost 187 centimeters."
Tobio whipped his head up to stare at Bokuto with bright eyes.
"I want to be that tall!" Tobio said.
Bokuto paused and then burst into laughter, his hand coming down to ruffle Tobio's hair.
"You sound just like Shouyou! He wants to be tall, too!" Bokuto said. "But don't worry. You've still got time to grow. And I'm sure you'll gain lots of height."
"Really?" Tobio asked, looking hopeful.
"Mmn! I'm sure of it!" Bokuto said. "You wanna watch another clip?"
Tobio nodded rapidly, and Bokuto was afraid the boy would break his neck.
"Okay, okay!" Bokuto said with a laugh. He flipped his phone sideways and searched for a new clip. "Oh! This one is good. Watch the players here."
Tobio scooted closer and focused on the screen, his eyes zeroing in on the players. He would ask a few questions here and there, pointing at the screen, and Bokuto would answer, watching every so often as people entered and exited the music hall.
After a few minutes, Bokuto heard someone come in alone, and out of his peripherals, he could see the man walk up to the front desk.
"Hello. How may I help you?" Bokuto heard the woman at the desk ask.
"Could you point me in the direction of the practice rooms?"
Bokuto froze, his mouth clicking shut and cutting off his words mid-sentence.
That voice was eerily familiar—deep and cold enough to make the hair on the back of his neck rise.
"Ah, yes! If you go down that hall and through the doors, take the second left, and they will be along on the wings," the woman at the front desk said.
"Yes, thank you."
Bokuto lifted his head just in time to see the man pass by him and he nearly gasped when he recognized his face.
Because Akaashi's father should not be here.
This was the last place that Akaashi's father should be.
All of the giddiness that Bokuto had once felt at the beginning of the day all flushed out of his system in an instant, leaving his heart pounding nervously in his ribcage.
What is he doing here? Is he a judge or something? Bokuto thought, watching the man head down the hallway. No, that can't be it. He wouldn't be here to listen to this. Akaashi said he's a pianist!
Bokuto paused the video, watching as Akaashi's father made it to the other side of the entrance and to the double doors. He could feel Tobio shift next to him but he did not say anything.
Wait a minute… That's how you get to the practice rooms, Bokuto thought as Akaashi's father pulled open one of the doors. If he's going to the practice rooms… then…
The horrifying thought caused him to spring to his feet, jostling poor Tobio on the bench.
"A-Ah, sorry, Tobio!" Bokuto apologized, holding the boy's shoulder.
He glanced over at the double doors and saw that they had closed, and Bokuto felt the panic grip his heart. He could not let Akaashi's father into the practice room.
He had to stop him.
He took a step towards the doors, ready to sprint after that poor excuse of a father.
"B-Bokuto-san?"
Bokuto stuttered to a halt, whirling around to see a confused Tobio still sitting on the bench.
Ah, crap! I can't leave him here by himself!
Bokuto glanced back and forth from Tobio to the doors. He had to make a decision, and fast.
The frustration caused him to grip at his hair, releasing a low groan.
"Ugh! Okay, Tobio. We're going on a little trip!" Bokuto said, rushing back over to the boy.
"A trip?" Tobio asked, tilting his head.
Before the boy could ask anything else, Bokuto scooped him up in his arms, making him squeak.
"Just hang on, okay?" Bokuto asked as he grabbed the duffle bag from the ground, throwing it over his other shoulder. "We've got to pay another visit to your daddy."
"Daddy?" Tobio asked, clinging to Bokuto's shirt.
"Yep," Bokuto said, his voice clipped.
He hurried down the stretch of the entrance and burst through the double doors. He jogged down the hall and headed back to the practice rooms where he had left Akaashi.
Please don't find him, please don't find him, Bokuto begged.
He went through another set of doors and took the second left, rushing towards the sounds of violins.
Don't be there! Don't be there!
Just before Bokuto could make it to the place he left Akaashi, he heard that same, ice-cold voice call out.
"So, Keiji. Would you mind explaining to me what this is all about?"