Chapter 14
The Monday after the results were posted, Akaashi went into overdrive.
For the next week and a half, he was practicing every chance he could, making sure the new set of audition music sounded perfect or as close to it as he could. He even found the energy to practice in the mornings while Tobio munched on his breakfast before taking him to school.
Akaashi had suddenly found the drive and motivation to get back to where he once was. And this upcoming audition was the key to finding his dream again.
It was Wednesday morning, four days before the interview, and Akaashi found himself at Fukudoroni High, helping out the volleyball team in their morning practice. They have a big tournament that weekend, and Bokuto needed all the help he could get to prep the boys.
"All right, good job, guys!" Bokuto said, clapping his hands together. "Pack it up and head to class. Don't be late for practice this afternoon! We still have a lot of work to do!"
"Yes, Coach!"
Once the teenagers dispersed, Akaashi quickly wiped his brow and then hurried over to the bench to gather his things. His violin was tucked underneath, along with his bag of sheet music.
"Ah, off to practice again?" Bokuto called.
Akaashi glanced over his shoulder to see Bokuto walking towards him, a smile on his face as his arms cradled the back of his head. Akaashi stood up straight and nodded.
"Yeah. I need to take Tobio to class first, and then I'll head to the orchestra room," Akaashi said, glancing over at Tobio, who sat on the other end of the bench.
For the past few days, Akaashi had been using the orchestra classroom to practice. He had gotten permission from the principal since he had been working at the school, and Akaashi was grateful. Practicing away from home had limited distractions and made practicing easier and more meaningful.
"Why don't you go ahead? I'll take Tobio to class," Bokuto offered.
Akaashi glanced at him, eyes wide in surprise.
"Really? You could do that for me?" Akaashi asked.
Bokuto nodded, his hands dropping to grip his hips.
"Of course! I'll get to drop by to see Shouyou, so why not?" Bokuto said.
Akaashi smiled, sighing a little. That would mean he could beat the crowd to the orchestra room and get in extra time to practice.
"Thank you, Bokuto-san. I owe you one," Akaashi said.
Bokuto grinned, giving Akaashi a thumbs-up. Akaashi nodded at him and then turned to Tobio on the bench.
Tobio had quit playing with a volleyball earlier, and instead chose to sit and look through one of Bokuto's volleyball magazines. But as Akaashi got closer, it seemed that Tobio was staring blankly at one of the pages, his eyelids heavy. Akaashi's brow raised in suspicion as he knelt down to him.
"Did you not get enough sleep last night, Tobio?" Akaashi asked, a little concern in his voice.
Tobio blinked at his father, his shoulders coming up in a shrug.
Well, that wasn't helpful.
"Make sure you sleep during nap time, okay? I know you usually can't, but do it today, okay?" Akaashi said, brushing his hair out of his eyes.
Tobio nodded sluggishly, and Akaashi leaned forward to kiss him on his forehead. He stood back up to his feet and nodded at Bokuto.
"I'll see you later, Bokuto-san," Akaashi said.
"Good luck, 'Kaashi!" Bokuto said, heading over to Tobio's side to ruffle his hair.
With those parting words, Akaashi scurried out of the gym, his legs swiftly taking him down the halls of Fukudoroni High and to the orchestra room at the end of the corridor. He could feel his lips twitching into a smile as he slid open the door and walked inside.
The room was silent at this time in the morning, but Akaashi loved it. He was surrounded by music stands and chairs, and there was a distinct music room smell that only old instruments could produce.
It was familiar.
He took a deep breath, letting his mind wander for just one more second, before he straightened his back.
All right. He had a job to do.
He used one of the nearby stands to set up everything, placing his audition music on top. He opened his violin case and attached the chin rest, adjusting it for comfort, and he tightened the hair on his bow to the right tension, making sure it wasn't too loose.
When everything felt right, he tucked the violin under his chin and began to warm up, playing long, smooth notes that pierced the dead air. The sound echoed in the room and bounced off of the walls, making the space seem bigger. He could feel himself relaxing bit by bit as he adjusted to the sound.
However, his concentration was broken when the door suddenly slid open.
Akaashi jolted, whipping his head around to look at the door. To his surprise, it was the teacher that had asked him to be a substitute a few weeks ago.
"Oh, Akaashi-san!" she said, adjusting her tilted glasses on her nose. "Sorry! I didn't realize it was you."
Akaashi shook his head. "It's no trouble. Can I help you with something?"
She scratched her cheek. "Well, I was hoping that you would be a new orchestra teacher candidate."
Akaashi tilted his head. "Candidate?"
The teacher nodded, clasping her hands in front of her.
"Yes. You see, the orchestra teacher is retiring this year," she explained. "And we've been trying to get in people for an interview, but no one has applied for the job, yet."
Akaashi furrowed his brows, his hand tightening on the neck of his violin. How could no one want this job? Was it really that unpopular?
"I guess I just got my hopes up when I heard you playing," the teacher continued. She took a deep breath and sighed, smiling softly. "Oh, well. Sorry I disturbed your practicing, Akaashi-san."
"Oh," Akaashi said intelligently, snapping out of his gaze. "It's no trouble. Have a good day."
The teacher bowed and left the room, closing the door behind her and leaving Akaashi alone in the room. He glanced around the orchestra room, his eyes landing on the conductor's stand. He felt a pinch of pain in his heart.
It was a shame that no one applied, Akaashi thought distractedly.
He took a deep breath and lifted his violin, readying to practice once again. And while he bowed the string, he subconsciously stared at the baton that rested delicately on the conductor's stand.
"Okay, everything looks good. Tobio, you ready to go to class?"
Bokuto turned to look at Tobio, who stood by the door of the gym. He was looking down at the ground with glazed eyes, his hands barely gripping the straps of his backpack.
Bokuto's brows pinched as he walked over to him.
"Hey, you okay, buddy?" Bokuto asked, reaching out to touch his shoulder.
As soon as Bokuto touched his shoulder, Tobio let out a huge sneeze, the sound echoing in the gymnasium and making Bokuto jump.
"Whoa, whoa! That was a big sneeze!" Bokuto said. He patted Tobio's back. "You feeling okay, there?"
Tobio sniffled and then nodded quietly, and Bokuto felt something tug at his chest. Something did not seem right with him. But earlier, Akaashi had mentioned that he might not have slept the night before. So… maybe he was just tired?
"Okay. You ready?" Bokuto asked, putting out his hand for Tobio to take.
Tobio nodded slowly, reaching up to weakly grab onto Bokuto's hand. They walked a little sluggishly down to the kindergarten hallway, and Bokuto was starting to lose his patience. But he pressed on, taking his time to get to where he needed to go without leaving the tired child behind.
Just as they were about to turn down the hallway, he was met with a familiar face at the corner, who nearly knocked Tobio over.
"Oh! Sorry, Tobio-chan," Kuroo apologized, taking a step back and peering down at the child. "Whoa, there. You tired, little buddy?"
Tobio gazed up at him, staring at him blankly, and shrugged. His eyes drifted back over to the side to stare at the wall, and Kuroo's eyebrow twitched. He glanced up at Bokuto.
"Everything okay?" Kuroo asked.
Bokuto scratched the back of his head and nodded a little stiffly as he moved to the side to continue walking. Kuroo walked next to them at their slow pace.
"I think he's just tired," Bokuto explained, as they approached Suga's classroom. "Akaashi told him to sleep during nap time today."
Kuroo hesitated, his face turning a bit sour and serious. It was far from his usual cocky grin, and it made Bokuto feel uneasy.
"Is he okay?" Kuroo asked softly.
Bokuto blinked at him. Didn't he just answer that question?
"Yeah. Like I said, he's probably tired or—"
"I'm not talking about Tobio."
His voice was a little strained, and the sound almost made Bokuto halt in his tracks. After a baffled moment, Bokuto opened his mouth to speak.
"What're you—"
"Oh, hello Tobio!"
Suga's kind voice interrupted Bokuto's sentence, making both men turn towards the man in the doorway. He was peering down at Tobio with brows scrunched but a slight curve of his lip.
"Come on in and put your backpack away, okay?" Suga said to the boy.
Tobio nodded and dragged himself inside without a word. Suga's eyes followed after him and he turned around to face Bokuto with a look of concern.
"Akaashi said he was tired today," Bokuto explained.
Suga looked skeptical, but he nodded anyway, guiding the sleepy boy into the classroom.
Bokuto got to wave at Shouyou before turning away from the classroom, and Kuroo was standing a little ways away, his hands in his pockets.
And he was still looking as dark as ever.
"What did you mean earlier?" Bokuto asked as he walked up to him.
Kuroo opened his mouth to speak, but stopped when a mother and her kindergarten daughter walked by, making Kuroo promptly shut his mouth. He rubbed the back of his neck and nodded to the side, motioning for Bokuto to follow. Bokuto took his cue and followed behind.
Once they were a safe distance away, Kuroo finally spoke again, his voice soft and deep.
"I was asking about Akaashi earlier, when I asked if he was okay," Kuroo said.
Bokuto furrowed his brows. "Akaashi? Why?"
Kuroo's brows knitted together, and his frown was set. He sighed softly and stopped walking, Bokuto taking a few steps before he also came to a stop.
"The day we played volleyball… after his audition," Kuroo started, "I saw him in the bathroom. His sleeves were rolled up and… and I saw scars."
Bokuto felt his stomach flip, the nausea rolling inside. He felt his shoulders tighten as he stiffened.
Kuroo saw?
"I know what they were. And seeing Tobio looking so down this morning… I guess I was just… concerned," Kuroo continued, rubbing the back of his neck. Bokuto fidgeted with the hem of his shirt. "Akaashi isn't… he isn't…"
Bokuto shook his head rapidly. "No, no! He isn't doing… He stopped doing that a while ago."
Kuroo blinked at him, hands fidgeting in his pockets. "I see. Well… I guess I'm concerned because people who… people who hurt themselves tend to relapse."
Bokuto's hands tightened into fists. "Relapse?"
Kuroo nodded. "I had to take a few psychology courses in school to be a teacher, remember? They go over these things."
Kuroo sighed and folded his arms across his chest, his breath coming out in an agitated huff. He was far more tense than the usual laid-back Kuroo, and it was stressing Bokuto out a little.
"Anyway," Kuroo said. "It's common for someone who has gone through something like that to go back to old habits when things get stressful."
Bokuto sucked in a sharp breath. "They… they do?"
Kuroo nodded solemnly, his eyes dark.
"It's… like an addiction of sorts," Kuroo said. "It releases chemicals in the body that makes them think it feels good, and it relieves them for a moment."
Bokuto scratched at his chest to try to stop the pain from his pounding heart. It was so painful to think about. What if Akaashi did relapse? Would he do something like that again?
"He seemed so down the day of his audition thing. And after seeing his arms, I just… It's been on my mind," Kuroo said.
Bokuto nodded, feeling somewhat guilty. Kuroo had been bothered about this for a week and half and he hadn't said anything. And Bokuto didn't even notice. What kind of roommate was he?
"Anyway," Kuroo said with a sigh. "I thought I would just bring it up. I don't know him as well as you do, and maybe I'm just being paranoid, but…"
He clasped his hand on Bokuto's shoulder and looked him in the eye, his gaze surprisingly serious.
"Just keep an eye on him, okay?" Kuroo said.
Bokuto bit his lip. He couldn't quite form the words to speak so he settled for a hesitant nod. It was enough to placate Kuroo, however, and he gave Bokuto's shoulder one last squeeze before releasing him.
"Good," Kuroo said. He cradled his head with his hands and sauntered down the hall. "Well, that's off my chest. I can go teach Chemistry in peace."
Bokuto hesitated for a moment and let out a puff of laughter.
"Chemistry? Peaceful? In what universe?" Bokuto asked, running after him.
"Everyone's! Chemistry isn't too hard."
"Yeah, maybe for nerds like you!"
Kuroo snickered and sent him a harmless glare, to which Bokuto laughed. He was glad that Kuroo was feeling better, but his words left him feeling uneasy.
He would have to keep an eye on Akaashi.
"Where is… ugh. Where is it?"
"'Kaashi, it's over here."
"Oh. Thank you, Bokuto-san. Now all I need is—"
"Your notes? They're here, too."
"…I see. Thank you."
It was the morning of the interview, and Akaashi was rushing around the apartment to gather all of the paperwork he needed. His mind was focused solely on getting to the interview on time and knowing the right words to say.
The interview process wasn't necessarily about his musicianship skills, but it was just as equal in importance. The conductor of the orchestra would be there, and possibly the first violinist. They were going to ask questions about him and feel him out, seeing if his personality was a good match for their orchestra. If they felt that he did not fit, then they would probably dismiss him during the final audition.
There was a lot of pressure riding on this interview.
"You're going to be fine, Akaashi," Bokuto said as he handed him a folder of papers. "You're stressing out too much. They're gonna love you!"
Akaashi took the folder from him and smiled softly. "Thank you, Bokuto-san."
For the first time in a while, Akaashi actually felt confident in himself.
He glanced back at the kitchen, where Tobio sat eating his lunch. The sight made him frown a little, as Tobio was just chewing mindlessly and staring at the wall.
Akashi glanced back to Bokuto, the smile gone.
"Are you sure you can watch him today?" Akaashi asked.
Bokuto smiled, folding his arms across his chest.
"You know, you always ask me that. Do you expect a different answer every time?" Bokuto asked.
Akaashi stared at him for a moment and then rolled his eyes.
"I suppose not," he answered. He took a deep breath and sighed. "But you have the tournament this afternoon. I mean, my interview should be done in time, but…"
"Don't sweat it," Bokuto said. "If push comes to shove, I'll just take Tobio with me to the games."
Akaashi winced. "I don't want him to get in the way, though."
"He won't! He's great at sitting and watching, Akaashi. He'll be fine," Bokuto said.
Suddenly, Bokuto grabbed Akaashi by the shoulders and started to push him towards the front door of his apartment.
"Now, hurry up and go! Don't be late to your interview!" Bokuto said.
Akaashi glared at him weakly and rolled his eyes. He glanced over his shoulder at Tobio and called out to him.
"I'll be back soon, Tobio. Be good for Bokuto-san, okay?" Akaashi said.
Tobio nodded slowly and then glanced back down at his food without a word. Akaashi sighed at the lack of response and allowed himself to be guided out the front door.
After a quick goodbye and a charming "good luck" from Bokuto, he hurried down to the station and to the same music hall where he had the unfortunate run-in with his father. He shuddered as he passed by the practice rooms but he did his best to keep his father out of his mind. This was his time to shine, under his own name and by his hard work.
He spoke to the receptionist at the front desk and was immediately led down a different hallway filled with offices. They passed by several rooms that were filled with busy workers. Akaashi even spotted a room that looked like the office for the orchestra librarian. It was bigger than his old office.
There was a slight tinge of jealousy in his heart.
"Okay, Akaashi-san. Right through here, please," the woman said.
Akaashi stiffened, his heart fluttering in his chest. He bowed to the woman before entering through the door, his fingers shaking as he closed it behind him. When he turned around, he found himself in a conference room. A long table was in the center of the room, and three people sat on one side.
"Ah, hello. Welcome, come in," the man in the center greeted.
Akaashi's heart jolted. He recognized these three people. The woman on the left was the director of auditions. A stern woman, but friendly enough. On the far right was the conductor of the orchestra. A tall, brooding man, but not harsh like Mori-san was. Akaashi had watched this conductor online and the passion was evident on his face. He was eager to talk with him.
The biggest surprise was the man in the center.
He was the owner.
"Come on in, Akaashi-san," the owner repeated, gesturing for him to sit in the chair.
Akaashi swallowed and, on wobbly legs, made his way over to the table. He bowed to the three first before sitting in the cold chair. He sat with his back stiff against the chair, his hands fidgeting in his lap.
"Well, I never expected to have an Akaashi sit in my office. But lo and behold, here we are," the owner said with a kind smile.
Akaashi held his breath in his lungs.
Of course this man knew his father.
"Now then, I'm sure you already know who we are," the owner continued. "But let's talk about you, shall we?"
"Um. Yes, sir," Akaashi said.
"No need to be so serious," he responded with a chuckle. "Now then, let's start with your audition. Very impressive."
Akaashi thought his heart would explode as it danced around his ribcage. He bowed his head to them, both out of respect and to hide his embarrassment.
"Thank you, sir," Akaashi said.
"We read your file and it said you took a break from performing for a while," the conductor spoke up. "Your performance was quite exceptional despite the break in your career."
The conductor had an accent as he spoke, and Akaashi remembered that he wasn't a Japanese native. He couldn't quite remember where the conductor was from, though. Somewhere in Europe?
"Yes, we thought so, as well," the conductor said. "And seeing through your file, it seems as though you haven't really performed much. You haven't played in any professional orchestra before?"
"No, sir," Akaashi answered.
"I see. Well, that's a little interesting," the owner said, rubbing his chin. "I thought that Kyosuke would've snatched you up in his orchestra by now."
The giddiness in Akaashi's stomach fluttered away in a heartbeat, and it felt as if a rock sat on it instead. His shock must have been obvious on his face because the owner laughed, waving his hand into the air.
"Don't overthink it, my boy," he said. He sat back against the chair and folded his arms across his chest. "Although, I can't say I'm not curious as to why you're not working with your father instead."
Akaashi swallowed, his hands tightening into fists on his lap.
"He isn't fit to do something like this."
His breath hitched, and he strained to prevent it from coming out as a gasp. He felt a drop of sweat slide down the back of his neck.
"Um…" Akaashi fumbled. "My father is…"
What should he say? That his father basically disowned him? Cut him off?
Hurt him?
There was no way that Akaashi would say any of that. There was no telling what consequences would come up if said a word about his father's violent tendencies and manipulative nature. There would be hell, and Akaashi could not risk his or his son's safety in the aftermath.
"He's…" Akaashi continued, feeling his throat close up as if fear itself had grabbed him by the neck. It was getting hard to breathe again.
"Ah, yes, yes. Kyosuke is a hard man, isn't he?" the owner spoke.
Akaashi snapped his gaze up to look at the owner, a little baffled by his response.
"I've known Kyosuke for years," the owner said. "He's always conducted business with one hand over his heart and the other gripping a knife behind his back."
Akaashi's eyes widened, his hands gripping his knees. The grip around his throat started to loosen, making it easier to breathe.
"I know your father is a difficult man to work with, so you have nothing to worry about," the owner said. "Your honesty is all I ask for."
Akaashi released a quivering breath, the air finally leaving his lungs. He bowed his head and nodded once, his voice trembling with each word.
"Yes, sir."
The owner nodded and smiled.
"Good. Well, let's continue. We still have much to discuss."
Akaashi sat up, his nerves still reeling, and he managed a small smile.
"Of course," he answered.
"Good. Now, then. Please tell me why you are interested in joining our orchestra and not your father's."
Akaashi took a deep breath, his hands still firmly gripping his knees. His shoulders were loose and his back no longer felt strained and sore.
"Okay."
Bokuto checked his watch one last time. He sighed.
Akaashi was late.
He glanced over at the small boy sitting on the floor with his volleyball, his tiny hands clutching it to his chest. He looked ready to topple over but he fought to keep his eyes open.
Bokuto bit his lip. Tobio was in no shape to go to the games today. But he couldn't just leave Tobio all by himself.
Should I call Akaashi? Bokuto wondered. He shook his head at the idea. No, no, no! He's probably still in the interview. I can't interrupt him!
Bokuto gripped at his hair and groaned, overwhelmed by his internal conflict.
His watch beeped, signaling the top of the hour, and he had to make his decision.
He whirled around to face Tobio and placed his hands on his hips, giving Tobio a smile.
"Say, Tobio, do you want to help me be a coach today?" Bokuto asked.
Tobio glanced up at him, eyes alert. He stood to his feet and nodded.
Bokuto sighed in relief. He looked livelier than he had all day.
"Okay! Then let's get ready to go!" Bokuto said.
He quickly scooped the boy up and helped him put on his jacket and shoes before sprinting out the door towards the Fukudoroni. He decided to send a quick text to Akaashi to let him know the plan.
When they arrived at Fukudoroni, the team was already waiting out in the parking lot next to the bus. The team's faculty supervisor was standing by, looking at his watch, and his eyes lit up when he saw Bokuto.
"Oh! You made it!" the supervisor said, exasperated. "I thought we were going to be late."
"Ha! You have no faith in me!" Bokuto said, smiling proudly.
The supervisor glanced down at the boy in his arms. He pointed to him and cocked his head.
"Oh, is Tobio coming, too?" he asked.
"Yep!" Bokuto answered, bouncing the boy in his arm to readjust him. "Are we all ready to go?"
The supervisor blinked at him for a moment, the opportunity to ask any further questions gone. He cleared his throat and adjusted the glasses on his nose before nodding, pointing his thumb over his shoulder.
"Yep. Bus is ready to go," he answered.
"Well, why are we just standing around here, then?" Bokuto said, loud enough for the entire team to hear. "Let's go win us some games!"
The team cheered as they boarded the bus, each going to a seat and settling in. Bokuto took Tobio onto the bus and sat him in an open row near the front, giving the small boy the window seat.
After the team captain made sure everyone was there, the engine started to life and left the school, quickly making its way to the main sports center on the other side of town. It was a relatively quick trip, but boys were stoically quiet, all concentrating on their series of matches later that day.
Bokuto also kept quiet, his arms folded across his chest as he thought about the teams that they would face today. The schools in the prefecture were always tough, but the one to beat was Nekoma. They were always a tough match for Fukudoroni, and he had to keep his boys focused throughout that match.
But the matches were not the only thing plaguing Bokuto's mind.
He glanced to the side and saw Tobio watching the scenery zip by out the window. Normally, the boy would be bouncing in his seat, or itching to look at a volleyball magazine. But today, Tobio was silent and still, only moving to wipe his runny nose.
Runny nose?
Bokuto furrowed his brow. Lifting up his hand, he brushed Tobio's bangs away and pressed his palm to the boy's forehead. Tobio jumped at the contact and glanced up at Bokuto with curious eyes.
Hm… It doesn't feel warm, Bokuto thought. But… then again, I can't really tell.
He took his hand from Tobio's forehead and cocked his head at him.
"You feeling okay, little guy?" Bokuto asked quietly. "You're being really quiet."
Tobio paused for a moment and blinked at Bokuto, seeming unsure about what to say. His lips wobbled as he finally nodded.
"Are you sure?" Bokuto asked. "You have been sneezing a lot, too. And your nose is running. You don't feel sick anywhere else?"
Tobio paused again, his lips still wobbling uncomfortably. He wrapped his arms around his stomach and frowned.
"My tummy kinda feels funny," he admitted softy.
Bokuto's eyebrows shot up, feeling a bit panicked. He leaned over and rubbed the boy's back.
"Do you feel nauseous or anything? Do you need to go home?" Bokuto asked. Tobio remained hesitant, his eyes not meeting Bokuto's. "I can call your daddy."
At the mention of his father, Tobio shook his head firmly. Bokuto sat back in surprise, his hand pausing on Tobio's back.
"No?" Bokuto asked, just to be sure. And Tobio shook his head again, making Bokuto rub the back of his neck. "Why not, Tobio? He'd come to get you right away."
And then Tobio paused, Bokuto seeing the little gears turning as he tried to formulate a sentence. He chewed on the inside of his lip and puffed his cheeks as he thought. When he finally had an answer, his hands tightened around his stomach and took a deep breath.
"Daddy's working hard," Tobio said. "So I have to work hard, too."
Bokuto sighed a little, his eyes narrowing at the sweet gesture. He continued his gentle ministrations on Tobio's back, trying to ease the little boy's obvious discomfort.
"You can work hard, buddy. But you can't push yourself to be sick," Bokuto said. "You need to tell someone when you aren't feeling good."
"I'm okay," Tobio assured, looking up at Bokuto with determined eyes. "I want Daddy to get the job he wants."
He paused again, his little hands rubbing at his belly softly. His lips twisted a little and he turned his head down to look at his lap.
"If Daddy thinks I'm sad, then he'll be sad," Tobio said. "I wanna be strong for Daddy so he can be happy again."
Bokuto's heart did a strange lurch in his chest at his words. Had Tobio noticed how sad Akaashi had been?
Maybe he wasn't as thickheaded as Bokuto originally thought. Tobio was actually a really caring, observant boy.
Bokuto's chest swelled in pride. He lifted his hand from Tobio's back to rest on the top of his head.
"Well, if that's the case, then I'll need your help today," Bokuto said, ruffling his hair. Tobio tilted his head to look at him, blue eyes shining from the sunlight that streamed in through the window. "But you have to promise to tell me if you feel too sick. Okay?"
Tobio nodded, moving Bokuto's hand along with him.
"Promise?" Bokuto asked, holding out his pinky finger.
Tobio stared at it for a moment before reaching out his own hand. He fumbled for a moment as he stuck out his own pinky finger and wrapped it around Bokuto's securely.
"Promise."
"Well, thank you very much, Akaashi-san. This interview has been very enlightening."
"Thank you very much, sir."
Akaashi stood to his feet and bowed to the three people across the table. He gathered up his things and headed towards the door, feeling a little on edge. The interview process was exhausting and went on longer than he had expected.
Once he had gathered all of the paperwork, he turned on his heel to leave. When he hand was on the doorknob, he turned and ducked his head one last time.
"Have a good day," he said.
"You, as well, Akaashi-san," the owner said. He smiled, bright and friendly. "I look forward to seeing you at the final audition."
Butterflies swooped from Akaashi's stomach and fluttered through every limb. He stiffened, his eyes wide as he nodded rapidly.
He passed the interview.
"O-Of course! I will do my best!" Akaashi said, bowing at the waist.
The owner chuckled wholeheartedly and waved his hand in the air.
"I have no doubt that will do your best, Akaashi-san," the owner said.
Akaashi straightened his back and nodded to them again, feeling grateful. Then, with a final goodbye, he opened the door with trembling fingers and left the conference room. He took only a few steps before he stopped and leaned against the wall, his eyes staring up at the ceiling.
He passed. He actually passed. And the owner seemed to like him, along with the audition coordinator and the conductor. It felt fairly comfortable, and Akaashi hadn't felt this confident in his abilities in five years.
It was an incredible feeling.
After a few deep breaths, Akaashi pushed himself off of the wall and reached into his pocket to grab his phone. When the screen brightened to life, his heart jolted.
He was late. Very late.
And had three text messages from Bokuto.
From: Bokuto-san.
Just letting you know, I'm taking Tobio to the games! Little man is excited!
Hey, we won our first game, about the start the second. If we win the second and third games, we get to play in the semi-finals next week!
Oh! Here's the address of the sportsplex!
Ah, that's right. It was the tournament to determine if the team would go to nationals.
Akaashi looked at the time he received the messages. It had been about twenty minutes since the last text, which means the second game had probably already started.
Akaashi gripped his phone. He should go over there and relieve Bokuto from his babysitting duties. He had to have been swamped from coaching and watching Tobio at the same time.
He quickly punched in the address that Bokuto had sent him and hurried out of the music hall and to the nearest station. With his heart pounding in his chest from the adrenaline of the interview, he boarded the train, clutching his phone in his hand.
It took a few minutes for the train to get to the other side of Tokyo, where the sports center was located. As soon as the train stopped at the correct station, he hurried down the street and to the sports center that Bokuto had described in his text.
There were volleyball signs everywhere, along with a tentative schedule of events for the day. He recognized some of the schools in the tournament, namely Fukudoroni, who had been scheduled to play an hour before.
The sound of a distant whistle and cheering pulled Akaashi's attention back to the long hallway, and his legs carried him to the stairs that led to the stands. He rushed inside and walked straight up to the edge, his hands holding onto the bars. He panted as his eyes darted around the court.
On the wooden floor stood six players, all decked out in the Fukudoroni black, white, and gold signature colors. The rest of the team stood in their respective box, all cheering for rest of the team on the court.
And on the side closest to him were two familiar faces.
Bokuto was standing, his arms folded across his chest and a serious expression on his face. Tobio sat on the bench next to him, holding what looked like Bokuto's clipboard.
Akaashi tilted his head at the boy, his eyes widening a bit. Tobio was usually so attentive during volleyball games, but now… he looked a little distracted.
Suddenly, the buzzer sounded overhead, and Akaashi's eyes snapped over to Bokuto. He apparently called for a timeout, his eyebrows drawn in a frustrated crease. He glanced over at Tobio, his gaze softening a bit, and told him something that Akaashi could not hear.
Tobio nodded, giving Bokuto the clipboard and hopping off the bench. He hurried over to the water bottles, gathering three at a time in his arms, and handed them around to the exhausted players, all looking grateful for his help.
Akaashi smiled fondly at his son. Even while looking exhausted himself, Tobio was determined to help in any way that he could. He was proud of how far his son had come in the months that they had known Bokuto. It had done great things for his son, and Akaashi was thankful to have ever met him.
Speaking of Bokuto, the coach was gesturing wildly to something on his clipboard, looking more stressed than usual. Akaashi's eyes moved to the score, and he swallowed nervously.
It was the third set. Each team had won a set, and the score was tied at 23-23.
Akaashi's hands tightened on the railing. He could practically feel Bokuto's nerves from here.
And suddenly, Akaashi was swept back to when he played in a match similar to this in high school. The score was this close, and the team depended on him as the setter to help lead them to victory.
But, his skills were surpassed by an incredibly keen setter on the other side of the net, along with a powerful left-handed spiker.
It was the last match he ever played in high school.
The buzzer overhead dragged Akaashi back from his memories and he snapped his head back down to see the team jogging back out onto the court. Bokuto gave his clipboard back to Tobio and went back to standing rigidly in his spot from earlier.
The game resumed, each side putting up their best fight. It was an intense battle for dominance as the battle volleyed back and forth, each side getting the ball up again and again.
"C'mon," Akaashi said under his breath. "Set it up properly. Watch for an opening."
And the players did just that, receiving the ball with ease that floated in an arc to the setter. The setter received it, and pushed the ball into the air, right to a wing spiker. He slammed the ball down on the other side, the ball bouncing off of the wooden floor and flying high into the air.
Akaashi felt his heart pound in his chest. Fukudoroni only needed one more point to win.
He glanced down at the bench, seeing Bokuto now standing with his fists by his sides, his eyes wide with hope. He did not smile, not yet. He knew that there was still one more point to gain. Even Tobio leapt from the bench, his hands in tight fists by his sides.
Fukudoroni served the ball over the net, the other team's libero easily receiving it. Fukudoroni looked winded, discouraged by the other team's skills.
Akaashi gripped the railing again, begging them to keep fighting and not give up like he had done so many years ago.
"You can do it," Akaashi said aloud. "You can—"
"Keep your heads up!"
Akaashi jumped at the sound of Bokuto's voice as it echoed in the large space, causing some of the crowd to hush in astonishment.
"Dig in deep and keep going!" Bokuto yelled. "Don't stop fighting!"
The players on the court set their stances, their faces determined as the ball came back to their side.
Bokuto never failed to amaze Akaashi. In just a few words, he rallied his team and got them to focus.
When the ball popped back up on their side, it went straight for the setter, the boy ducking under the ball with his hands up.
Akaashi watched, his eyes wide open.
He had done this play before.
He remembered when Bokuto taught him at practices.
Akaashi felt his hands almost lift into the air as he mimicked the setter. He could practically feel the ball touch his fingertips as he pushed it into the air, aiming right at Bokuto.
The imaginary Bokuto in his mind leapt into the air, his determined and excited smile on his face. His strong arm whipped forward, slamming the ball down with such a force that the sound echoed in the large space.
When Bokuto had landed on his feet, he pointed at Akaashi with a grin on his face, and he would shout—
"Hey, hey, hey!"
Akaashi snapped his eyes open, his heart fluttering.
Whistles were blown and Fukudoroni had gathered in a pile on their side of the court, Bokuto and Tobio included. Akaashi glanced over to the score to see that they had scored the final winning point, earning them to move on to the next round.
Akaashi smiled, the sense of victory swelling in his heart. He watched as Bokuto picked up Tobio and put the boy on his shoulders, lifting a fist into the air. The crowd for Fukudoroni cheered loudly in response, and Akaashi couldn't be more proud.
He lifted up a hand and waved, cupping the side of his face.
"Tobio! Bokuto-san!" Akaashi called.
Bokuto jumped and turned towards him, his smile growing wide. He pulled Tobio from his shoulders and hurried over to where Akaashi was standing.
"Akaashi! You made it!" Bokuto said.
"Congratulations, Bokuto-san," Akaashi said, a rare smile playing at his lips.
"Couldn't have done it without this little guy!" Bokuto said, ruffling Tobio's hair. "He's great, isn't he, Akaashi?"
Akaashi smiled as Tobio smiled at the compliment, and he almost wanted to chuckle. But he felt a slight prickle of tears in his eyes.
He truly was grateful every day for Bokuto's part in their lives.
"Yes, Bokuto-san," Akaashi said. "He is."
"Your boys did a great job, Bokuto-san."
"Thank you, Akaashi! And Tobio was such a big helper tonight!"
"I see. You must've worn him out."
"Ah… sorry."
"Don't apologize. It was my fault for being late."
Bokuto smiled as they walked down the darkened street back to Akaashi's apartment. Tobio was fast asleep in Akaashi's arms, soft snores coming from his lips.
Bokuto truly did feel that Tobio boosted the team's morale. The boy, even though he looked sick as a dog, was actively trying to encourage each player, giving them high-fives or handing out towels and water bottles. Bokuto wouldn't mind if Tobio came to every game in the future. He needed the little guy.
He glanced at Akaashi fondly, stretching his arms above his head before resting his hands on the back of his neck.
"Speaking of, how did the interview go?" Bokuto asked.
Akaashi smiled, almost giddily. It was a rare look for Akaashi.
"Great, actually," Akaashi said with a small sigh in relief. "I think they really like me."
"Oh?!" Bokuto said, his voice echoing on the empty street. "That's great, Akaashi!"
Akaashi smiled, readjusting Tobio in his arms. "Thank you. I really appreciate you watching Tobio. I didn't expect it to run that long."
"What did they ask you about, anyway?" Bokuto asked, raising a brow.
"Hmm… They asked me about my performance record, and my experience," Akaashi said.
"Ah. That makes sense," Bokuto said, glancing up at the stars in the sky.
"They… They also asked me about my father."
Bokuto's shoulders stiffened, and he whipped his head down to look at Akaashi with worried eyes.
"People who hurt themselves tend to relapse."
Bokuto bit his lip, worry etching into his forehead.
"Oh… um. How did that go?" Bokuto asked, trying to approach the topic carefully.
Akaashi blinked a few times and craned his head up to look at the stars.
"It wasn't so bad. A little awkward and… a bit uncomfortable, but I managed to get through it," Akaashi said. He patted Tobio's back and nuzzled his hair. "I just hope there won't be any long-lasting consequences to this. If my father hears about it… he could get angry and… and find me to lash out again."
"It's common for someone who has gone through something like that to go back to old habits when things get stressful."
Bokuto put a hand on his shoulder, making him stop. Akaashi looked at him with a look of surprise.
"I won't let anything like that happen, okay?" Bokuto said. "You just keep on pursuing your dream. And I'll help out where I can."
Akaashi paused for a moment, tightening his grip on Tobio, and then he smiled, his eyes watering.
"Thank you, Bokuto-san," Akaashi thanked.
Bokuto smiled.
Everything would be fine.
Hear that, Kuroo? Akaashi was going to be just—
"Achoo!"
Both men jumped at the tiny sneeze that elicited from Tobio, the poor boy sniffling wetly against Akaashi's chest. Akaashi patted his back gently.
"What a sneeze," Akaashi said quietly. "Are you okay, Tobio?"
Tobio sniffled again and nodded against Akaashi's chest, a small shiver rippling through the poor boy's tiny body.
Bokuto felt something akin to dread surging through his body.
"Maybe it's just the cold air. We'd better get you home," Akaashi said. He glanced up at Bokuto, giving him another smile. "Thank you for taking care of him and letting him help out today."
Bokuto rubbed the back of his neck, feeling a little antsy.
"Uh, sure thing, Akaash'!" Bokuto said, trying for a smile. Hopefully in the dark it wouldn't be so obvious that he was worried.
Akaashi reached out and patted Bokuto's shoulder. "My apartment is just around the corner. You can go on home," he said, and he started to walk on by. "I'll see you tomorrow, Bokuto-san. Have a good evening."
Bokuto startled, watching as his friend walked down the street. He lifted up a hand and waved.
"Bye, Akaashi!" Bokuto called. "Have a good night!"
Akaahsi lifted a hand to wave back, and in a few quick steps, he disappeared from sight.
Bokuto swallowed thickly, the dread making his stomach churn.
"Just keep an eye on him, okay?"
Bokuto sighed and stood up tall, his hands curling into fists.
"I will, Kuroo," Bokuto promised. "I won't let anything happen to Akaashi."