Chapter Text
There are many times during the summer where Akaashi wishes, even prays to be anywhere but where he is currently.
Putting down the stethoscope and picking up a pair of shades and the next flight to a slightly cooler overseas location seems like an ideal situation. He’ll even settle for the first train home to his apartment so he can sit under the air conditioner, but no. He’s out here working eight to ten hours for four days of the week because he's such a great person.
He takes his white coat off and hangs it on the rack at the entrance to his office. His glasses have fogged up due to the heat, and they sit atop his head haphazardly. He puts his hands on his hips and stands in front of a measly box fan, closing his eyes and letting the semi-cool air embrace him.
“Why didn’t you call me?” a gruff voice asks from the side. Akaashi peeks one eye open as the other man leaning against the door frame continues. “Seemed like a job for more than one guy.”
“Ah, Kentarou-kun,'' he greets with a sigh, then waves his hand dismissively, “you were at lunch.”
“Yeah, but I’m also on-call.”
“True,” Akaashi finally relaxes and sits in his chair, “but, I mean, it was nothing I couldn’t handle.”
“A mad mother elephant is pretty dangerous,” Kyoutani crosses his arms. The two have been working together for a pretty long time at the zoo, immediately pairing together at new hire orientation after they found out they’d be working in the same office. They sometimes have plans outside of work, and they both shop at the same uniform store with the colorful scrubs and socks. Kyoutani is a guy who embraces hard work because it's all he’s known for a majority of his life. Akaashi thinks his affinity for the animals sometimes overshadows standard procedure, but Kyoutani just calls it passion.
“Nothing a tranquilizer couldn’t fix,” Akaashi spins in his chair out of boredom, and to catch some wind, “she had a splinter in her foot, then some idiot threw a rock at her.”
Kyoutani grimaces and sits on the desk, ignoring Akaashi mentioning 'a perfectly fine chair right there'. “Idiots. I hate this place.”
“Me too.”
It’s quiet for a few moments, with the only sounds between them being the whirring of the fan and a few other employees chatting outside the office. Akaashi smiles as he looks out the window. “Did you spend your lunch staring at the new lion cub?”
“Fuck off,” Akaashi snickers at that while Kyoutani swings his legs and rolls his eyes, “she’s adorable. Tried playing with a hyena through the fence but Junko was not having it.”
”He’s very protective of his pride.”
“It’s her second day out there, he doesn’t know her.”
“Who’s the overprotective one here?” he asks with a raised brow.
Kyoutani ignores him though. “We’ve got some new hires, I hear.”
“Ah, more victims. Well,” Akaashi gets up with a slight groan, “I’m going to steal snacks from the aqua vets. I’m hungry.”
“I can’t believe you walk that far for like, gummy bears and shit,” Kyoutani sits in Akaashi’s chair and smirks when his partner huffs in annoyance.
“Inside sources say she restocked the sake Kit-Kats. I’m not passing that up,” he pockets his phone and waves his hand, “watch Sato for me.”
“Got it.”
Life working as a zoo veterinarian, in Akaashi’s opinion, was a lot less stressful than when he worked at a private practice, or at an underfunded shelter. For the most part, he shows up thirty minutes before opening and leaves a little after closing, making room for the few overnight employees. It’s easy, he no longer lives with his work—unless he’s researching an animal out of his realm—and after spending most of his twenties in vet school, it’s a relief.
He’ll always commend private practices and his former overworked colleagues, because they got his foot in the door. But after one too many incidents due to his own stress, and an even bigger one that led to a gnarly—Kyoutani’s words—scar over his left eye, Akaashi decided to look into other areas that will appreciate his years of grueling school work without the ongoing pressure of keeping a practice running.
He’s proud. Kyoutani is the first friend he made when he started three years ago, followed by Yukie, a vet that specializes in aquatic life. He has friends outside of work as well, and sometimes they all intermingle, which makes catching up easier. He’s grown to love both groups of friends separately and together.
But Akaashi leads a dreadfully boring life for a twenty nine year old, and despite having been on the fast track to his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine, he sometimes wishes he could’ve picked something that wasn’t so rigorous and isolating during his college years. Or took his time.
“Excuse me!”
Akaashi turns and looks down, expecting a snot-nosed kid looking for its parents, but instead meets a khaki-colored work shirt with the zoo logo on it. He quickly looks up and almost gasps.
“You work here, right?” The man asks, and, oh, his eyes are so bright it almost hurts, but they’re the richest gold Akaashi has ever seen. His hair is in a short, spiky updo, black and silvery-white streaks all throughout. There’s a crocodile pin on his left shirt pocket under the zoo’s logo, and he sports a navy blue bandana around his neck.
“Um, yes, I do,” Akaashi remembers to be professional, despite the other’s almost demanding presence, “I—“
“Holy crap, you have a scar on your face!” the other man blurts, eyes widening in amazement, “that’s so cool. How’d you get it?”
“I’m—“
“What’s your name—“
“Hold on,” Akaashi says with a nervous laugh, “yes, I work here,” he gestures to his scrubs and name tag. “I’m Akaashi Keiji, DVM. Are you lost…?”
“Oh,” the man blinks and it seems like he remembers exactly why he’s here, “I’m Bokuto Koutarou! I’m the new zookeeper for the reptile and amphibian exhibits. I just started today.”
“Ah, nice to meet you, Bokuto-san.”
“Bokuto’s just fine.”
“I’m sure. Did you need help, Bokuto-san?”
“Oh, um. Yeah, I’m lost,” he admits sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck and glancing away, “I was taking lunch with one of the other new hires, but there was an emergency so she had to leave.”
“I can take you to the reptiles, if you want,” Akaashi offers, redirecting them both to the left, “it’s not too far from here.”
“Okay, thanks,” Bokuto grins at him. It takes no less than four seconds for him to begin talking again. “So…how long have you been here?”
“A little over three years,” Akaashi replies casually, easily falling into step with the broad-shouldered man.
“Really?” Bokuto raises a bushy brow, “You look so young to be a doctor. Must be pretty freakin’ smart, huh?”
The veterinarian refuses to make eye contact, but his face feels warm. “So I’ve been told. Where are you from?” He’ll say anything to take the conversation off him.
“I’m coming from a zoo up north, and it wasn’t up to my speed.”
“Understaffed?”
“That and…I don’t know,” he deflates as if his entire world is crumbling before him, “y’know how you can tell that it’s all about the money? It was like that. If there were issues, they didn’t really get addressed.”
Akaashi understands completely. He gives a sympathetic nod and continues to look ahead. “Yeah. I get it. Not worth the risk. But, hey, this place? It’s one of the good ones.”
That seems to lift Bokuto’s spirits, like he wasn’t a little miffed two seconds ago. “Nice! I’m excited. I love being a zookeeper, and I just want to find the right place to stay. I can't tell you how many times I’ve relocated just to feel like I’m doing something right.”
“Hopefully, you won’t have to worry here,” Akaashi then stops as he and Bokuto stand just outside the alligator exhibit where another keeper is feeding a crowd favorite. Akaashi tries to hide a laugh when he realizes something, and Bokuto just looks at him curiously.
“What’s up?”
“The fan favorite alligator’s name is Koutarou,” he admits, laughing harder when Bokuto’s jaw drops, then he joins in right after. Akaashi’s laughter is a quiet, yet sharp humming sound, while Bokuto’s is boisterous and full of mirth.
“That’s so cool! Maybe I’ll stay!”
“Because of a name?”
“Because of my name!”
Akaashi laughs still, holding his stomach and looking towards where the keeper is putting on a show. He hates the shows sometimes—just let them eat—but it’s quite captivating. He sees their true power and strength from these types of shows, and it’s one of the few times their natural instincts are put to use.
He looks at Koutarou the Human and smiles softly. Relocating constantly must be hell; finding a niche for yourself seems impossible—Akaashi should know. The feeling sucks.
For some reason, he hopes Bokuto stays, too.
Bokuto’s side profile is sharp, yet young and lively, with a pointed nose and wispy, dark lashes. A small cut across his nose, probably a scar, and only one dimple as far as Akaashi can remember already. He’s very handsome, and his build makes it obvious Bokuto has his own regimen outside of work. Akaashi isn’t the average sedentary body either—thanks to Kyoutani for the unlimited guest gym pass—but Bokuto is sturdy like a tank. The veterinarian almost asks him how much he benches.
“Two seventy five!”
Akaashi blinks, snapping out of his thoughts and realizes he said that out loud. Bokuto looks at him smugly, with a hint of pink on his cheeks from the heat outside. “Oh. You heard that?”
“Mhm! I can deadlift three ninety on a good day, though,” he flexes his arms proudly. Akaashi silently gulps, pulling his eyes away from those biceps. Thank the gods for summer. “What about you? You seem pretty strong.”
“Oh. I think as of last week I hit two twenty or something. I’m more of a cardio guy.”
“Whew,” Bokuto whistles lowly and looks him up and down. Akaashi tries to keep his blush at bay. “That’s impressive! Did you do a sport or something? Or is the gym just fun?”
“Um. I used to play soccer throughout school. I miss it sometimes.”
“Really? I play volleyball like, all the time!” he exclaims, “could'a went pro, but,” he shrugs then looks away as if something else was super interesting. He turns back and the ever-present smile returns to his face. “Shit happens. Anyway! I’m past break time, so I’ll catch ya’ later, okay?”
“Alright,” Akaashi has to admit it, but Bokuto is nice to talk to, and handsome, and funny, “if you need me, I work near the safari exhibit, it’s not too far from the vet hospital and rehab. But please use a map, okay?”
“C’mon, man!” Bokuto whines, much to Akaashi amusement, “it’s my first day!”
“The quicker you learn,” he backs up with a polite smile and waves, “I’ll see you, Bokuto-san.”
“Bye, ‘Kaashi!” he waves before skipping away. Akaashi blushes at the nickname.
Roughly ten minutes have passed between meeting Bokuto and leaving him, yet time went by so fast. He almost misses it.
Damn. Akaashi needs a life.
Yukie in aquatics seems like a lazy, informal woman, but she runs a tight ship. She’s always argued that the larger sea creatures need as much accommodation as possible, and she’s pushed funding for more space for the animals to roam. He respects her a lot, and she's one of the reasons he stayed. She takes action and the organization hears her loud and clear every time.
Still. She’s a bit goofy, and Akaashi likes that too.
“Kiyoko, don’t forget the play mats for the baby bottles, please!” she says through a bullhorn even though Kiyoko is standing less than ten feet away with a play mat in her hands.
“Yes, mom,” Kiyoko gives a thumbs up and looks to the door when she hears footsteps. “Afternoon, Keiji-kun.”
“Kiyoko-san,” he smiles, “getting ready for the three o’clock show?”
“Yeah,” she’s wearing her signature black wetsuit with neon green along the sides. Her usual bangs are tied back with hair pins and she has her hair in a bun. She’s a quiet one, like Akaashi, but also like Akaashi, she has her moments. She’s been here longer than a lot of people, and she’s highly respected among her peers. Even the dolphins treat her like royalty.
“Keiji-poo!” The loud screeching of the bullhorn rings in his ears and makes him jump, holding his hands up as Yukie keeps talking, “how ya’ doin’ babe? Came here to see pretty ladies in wetsuits?”
“Yeah, sure,” he says when she pulls away and grins smugly at him. In all truth, ladies in wetsuits are a nice sight, but he’s a respectful guy. Plus, he wants physical candy that tastes like candy and no other sexual innuendos. “I came for Kit-Kats.”
“Oh, of course, come on, come on,” luckily he steps forward and covers his ears before Yukie yells into the bullhorn again. “Yoko-chan, I’ll be right back!”
“Just go,” Kiyoko rolls her eyes as she steps into the cool water, the young bottlenose dolphins chirping around her. Akaashi doesn’t miss the warm smile on her face.
“How long is Kaori gone again?” Keiji asks Yukie as they walk towards her office.
“Ugh,” Yukie groans theatrically, then pouts like a child, “like, two more weeks. Have you seen her baby?”
“In the groupchat?”
“Yeah! Isn’t he adorable?”
“He…sure is a baby,” don’t get Akaashi wrong, babies are cute and all, and Kaori and her husband are gorgeous, but a baby straight out of the sac? Round eyed, wrinkly, pink demons. So helpless. So messy. So rude.
“You’re the worst!” Yukie pushes him into the office where he goes straight for her larger-than-it-should-be fishbowl full of candy. Akaashi has a terrible sweet tooth. Luckily, he’s never had a cavity in his life. “Yachi should be back from lunch with the temporary guy. He seems really cool. Can't remember the last time we had a guy swimming with us.”
Akaashi hums and takes a bite of the sake candy. If only it was real sake and not artificial sake powder. “How’s your guy?”
“I just told you,” she replies with a fake look of annoyance. He keeps staring and she rolls her eyes, finally giving in. “He’s an idiot. Y’know he stood me up last night? Said his ‘mom fell down the stairs’. Ugh. Men.”
“Yukie,” Akaashi laughs, “it’s his mom.”
“Excuses,” she jokes, giggling at herself. She puts her hands behind her head and watches Akaashi eat for a few seconds. “So, what about you—“
“Absolutely not,” he cuts her off instantly, “you know nothing is going on over here. Too busy.”
“Yet, you come and leave at the same time as all of us and we have lives. Don’t be a loser. I’m gonna find you someone—“
“No, no, no,” he chants with wide eyes, “Yukie, no. You suck. No offense. You’re the worst, actually.”
“No offense?”
“None.”
She blows a raspberry into the air. “Y'know I'm gonna do it behind your back, right?”
Akaashi sighs. “No more assholes. No more people who don’t let me talk. I’m tired of paying for other people's entertainment.”
“Hmmm. I’ll think of more people and get back to you." He can commend her for trying, but he also wishes she didn’t have a seemingly unlimited supply of friends to push off on him for a stupid date.
“Or don’t,” he grabs a few more Kit-Kats and stands up, “I only came to mooch, so I’ll see you.”
“Come to the bar tonight? Lots of us are going. Plus, I know you like drinking on company dime,” she sings as if that’s the selling point. It certainly is, and they both know it.
“Hmm. Yeah, sure. I have to take Sato home first.”
“Oh?! You brought your ugly mug all the way here without my baby girl? For shame,” she shakes her head and scrunches her nose in disgust. Akaashi shrugs, holding his hands up defensively. “Don’t do it again.”
“Yes mom,” he bows, “see ya’.”
“See me tonight, loser!”
The rest of the day is pretty slow on Akaashi’s end, he even takes his official break uninterrupted. Sato eats the rest of his salad and hops around his desk as he files a few reports for the day. He gets some papico, he even calls his parents. It’s a quick convo, but full of love regardless. Kyoutani cleans like he always does when it’s slow, and he visits a few friends near the penguin exhibit. He does his rounds and continues work like normal.
By the end of the night, thirty minutes after closing, everyone is heading out. There’s clusters of coworker groups, groups Akaashi can fit into easily, but he’s closest to his select people. He has to drop Sato off first before leaving for the bar.
“Akaashi!” he hears a familiar voice call behind him. He turns, smiling already as Bokuto catches up with him with that ever-growing smile on his face. He’s still wears his work top but now he has replaced his shorts with sweatpants. Once Bokuto is close enough, he falls into step towards the exit. “Are you going to the bar tonight? Free drinks,” he taunts with a light shoulder shove. Akaashi’s smile grows as he nods.
“I am. I have to drop her off first,” he says, gesturing to the bunny carriage he is holding. Bokuto follows his eyes and gasps loudly.
“You have a bunny? What’s her name? She’s so pretty!”
“Her name is Sato—thank you—” he says as Bokuto holds the door open for him, “and it’s almost her bedtime.”
“She is so pretty. You bring her here every day?”
Akaashi hums. “Just about. Sometimes she doesn’t want to come so I let her chill at home. I do as she says,” he jokes with a fond smile. Bokuto smiles too, then glances at the parking lot.
“Well, I’ll meet you at the bar? I’ll save you a seat.”
“I appreciate it. Thank you,” he bows slightly, “see you soon.”
After dropping Sato off at home, Akaashi takes the train to the bar instead of driving, just in case he gets a bit too tipsy. He’s keeps his purple scrubs and adds a light jacket since the summer is quickly coming to a close.
The bar is packed tonight, which is understandable because a lot of his coworkers are here for free drinks, too. It’s loud as people talk over music, some are already two or three drinks in. He spots Yukie at a table with a few familiar faces, plus some new ones.
“Keiji-poo!” she calls loudly as soon as they make eye contact, her hands around her mouth. The rest of the table looks in his direction, and he gulps at the attention. He’s not the shyest guy, but damn, he needs a drink as soon as possible. “There you are!”
“There he is,” a familiar voice says from behind accompanied by a hand clamping down on one of his shoulders. He rolls his eyes before turning his head toward his blond coworker, Miya Atsumu.
He’s a Conservation Research Specialist at the mid-level, and he does a damn good job at it. Between collaborating with physical therapists and coming up with service plans to rehabilitate animals, to shadowing training sessions for newly discovered methods of care, and even tracking and reporting behavioral patterns, Miya Atsumu can do it all. He says things and means it; he’s kind of a dick, but he’s good at what he does and has as much heart as anyone else Akaashi has come to know at the zoo.
He sees Atsumu outside of work frequently and has known him for over a decade due to the fact that Akaashi’s closest non-work friend—and Atsumu’s high school sweetheart—is renowned private dog trainer, Sakusa Kiyoomi. How they got together is truly the ninth wonder of the world, but he’s seen his best friend become more disgustingly cute with the man since their undergraduate years. They’re a package deal for life.
“Atsumu,” Akaashi greets cordially, then there’s a full glass of foamy beer in his hands. Thank goodness.
“Good ta’ see ya’ out on a Monday night, eh?” His usual drawl is slower than any other sober day by a fraction, and his glass has a mere swig left before it needs a refill.
“Thought you’d be home with Kiyoomi under a blanket or something,” he says instead of addressing his own lonely nights watching reruns and talking to his pet.
“Couldn’t miss free drinks,” he says with a lopsided grin, following the veterinarian towards the table where Yukie is still waiting as patiently as she can. She’s pouting with her arms crossed, and Kiyoko is giggling beside her. “Why’re ya’ late?”
“Sato doesn’t drink,” he replies simply, leaving Atsumu cackling as they both sit down at the table. He hears a laugh beside him and snaps his head toward it, realizing he’s right next to Bokuto.
“Oh, Akaashi!” Bokuto quips loudly, his eyes widening before they settle and a grin spreads across his face, “I saved ya’ a seat like you said.”
“Thank you,” he smiles genuinely. He thought Bokuto was kidding about that.
“You know Bokuto, Keiji?” Kiyoko asks across from him, her glass is only halfway full, but there are two empty ones just like it in front of her, and her cheeks are painted red and eyes glassy like the ocean. He imagines her husband will be here to pick her up within the hour.
“Yeah, he got lost earlier—“
“Don’t tell everybody!” he whines with a pout so expressive Akaashi would almost think it’s fake if he doesn't know any better.
The night feels like it goes on forever as he warms up to his newest colleagues. At some point Bokuto takes him around the bar to meet a few of the new hires he befriended at lunch: an orange-haired and excitable tour guide named Hinata, a red-eyed man named Tendou, who is a new caretaker in the bird habitats, and a few others who Akaashi had already forgotten after his third cider. It’s only Monday, so he should slow down.
He’s getting a fourth refill of cherry and ginger cider when Atsumu and Yukie approach him, both of their faces showing mild curiosity and amusement, but the way Atsumu’s eyes are glazed over tells him this conversation is going to bite him in the ass.
“So…” Atsumu begins slowly, leaning against the bar beside Akaashi, “Bokuto, huh? He’s nice.”
“Yeah, he’s pretty cool,” Akaashi replies suspiciously, glancing between the both of them. Bokuto isn’t even too far away, chatting with one of the new physical therapists on the other side of some local next to them.
“How cool do you think?” Yukie slurs, a hand under her chin as she looks up at her friend, “like…do you think he’s cute?”
Akaashi tilts his head in confusion, then quickly widens his eyes when he realizes what she’s trying to say. Yukie's grin becomes more sly and Atsumu giggles at his reaction. “Absolutely not, Yukie-san.”
“Why not? He’s hot! Seems funny. That’s your type, right?”
He’s never really had a type to be honest, but if he’s comparing his taste off the few people he gave the time of day over the years, he figures his potential partner should at least be a decent person who actually shows interest in him. Being hot is a plus, a needed one.
“Look, ‘Tsumu,” Yukie stage-whispers to the blond next to her, “he’s short-circuiting.”
Atsumu snorts and leans in, also whispering way too loudly. “If he thinks any harder he might combust ‘r somethin’.”
“You both give me gray hairs,” Keiji shoves them away from his bubble and downs the rest of his cider. All of a sudden he’s not drunk enough. “This was his first day. I barely know him. He could be straight.”
“Hey, we’re not telling ya’ ta’ jump his bones now,” Atsumu pats his back a little too harshly. His movements are almost like spasms, and his hand feels heavier than usual. “We’re tellin’ ya’ ta’ live a little. Then ya’ can get ta’ porkin’ later.”
Akaashi grimaces, shaking off Atsumu’s hand. “You’re absurd, classless, and have absolutely no decorum.”
“If ya’ keep complimentin’ me, I might date ya’,” he playfully replies with a flutter of his short lashes.
“I’m telling Kiyoomi that,” he turns to Yukie while Atsumu squawks and faceplants on the counter. “And you,” he points to the short girl stuffing her face, “you stay out of my love life, too.”
“I ain’t say nothing!”
“Don’t need to,” he takes her glass and chucks that back as well, “gonna go home. I’m sleepy.”
“No,” Yukie whines, holding his arm and pulling him down so she can yell in his ear, “it’s only nine! You’re so old and ugly and decrepit.”
“You are too sweet on me, Yukie-san,” Akaashi replies flatly. He pats her head and steps around her. “Have a good night, and get home safe.”
The universe has other plans for him, however, because as soon as he turns around to leave he bumps into Bokuto once again, catching the empty glass that slips from his hand.
“Sorry, I wasn’t looking,” Akaashi says cooly, giving the glass back.
“It’s fine! Are you leaving?” Bokuto’s golden eyes are dim and hazy, mouth set in a sloppy grin and a shade of bright pink sits at the tops of his cheeks. Cute.
“Yeah,” Akaashi lets out a quiet breath, feeling his own smile as Bokuto puts a hand on his hip, “I don’t like to stay out too late.”
“Aw! Are you okay to drive home?”
“Oh, I took the train here. Thank you for asking, Bokuto-san,” he is so considerate and nice for only knowing him for a work day, but Akaashi gathers that it’s part of his charm.
“Let me walk you there?” he suggests with a pleading look, one Akaashi suddenly finds to be some sort of kryptonite. What a sick world.
“Sure,” he says quietly, afraid of his voice cracking.
Bokuto perks up, quickly waving to someone behind Akaashi and leading the way to the door.
The warm nights of the summer are gone for just a moment, replaced by a chill roaming through the air as they walk down the street towards the station. Bokuto is beside him with his hands in his pockets and a pep in his step. He whistles a tune that sounds familiar to Akaashi, but he’s too tired and tipsy to remember the name. The moon glows above them, and Akaashi can spot a few stars amidst the dark clouds.
“So…” he begins casually, feeling a bit out of his element when he notices Bokuto has stopped whistling and all attention is on him, “how was your first day here?”
“It was… awesome,” Bokuto puffs out a laugh and a shiver runs down Akaashi’s spine. He’ll blame it on the weather and the alcohol. “Everyone is so helpful and nice, and I can for sure get my steps in here,” another giddy laugh, “I got to jump right into things, so I didn’t feel that awkward new hire atmosphere. The animals seem healthy and as happy as they can be. Still gotta warm up to them, though, before I do any shows.”
“You’ll be doing shows?” Akaashi asks.
“Mhm! So many people are tuned in to feeding time, I was nervous just watching. But! Koutarou seems to like me already.”
Akaashi hums. “He has a very big personality. Kind of like human Koutarou, from what I gather.”
“Right!”
The veterinarian laughs as they approach the station. Time with Bokuto is so precious yet so short. He wishes the walk was longer. “I’m glad you’re being treated well, Bokuto-san. We didn’t scare you away?”
He waits for an answer, but one doesn’t come yet. He looks over at him, hopefully having not offended the zookeeper, but it’s the complete opposite. Bokuto is staring at Akaashi as if he’s the only one at the station, his round eyes piercing and mouth set in a genuine, happy smile. His cheeks are even more pink and his arms are crossed in a prideful way.
They stare at each other for what feels like hours but is probably a good seven seconds, just grinning like a bunch of losers at a train station. They ignore the world around them as they stand near a platform while the bustling and lively night passes by.
Bokuto lets out a “hmph” and crosses his arms in a challenging yet satisfied manner. Like he’s determined to prove something. Whether it’s to himself or his coworkers, Akaashi isn't sure. He’s a bit dizzy actually.
“You couldn’t possibly scare me away!”
Akaashi covers his mouth with his hand and laughs again. “Good. I’ll see you tomorrow then?”
“You’ll see me whenever you want to see me,” he replies softly, leaning in just a smidge, “including tomorrow.”
Akaashi leans in also. Just a smidge. “That’s fine with me. Goodnight, Bokuto-san.”
Bokuto gleams under the harsh lights of the city, and steps back reluctantly. “Goodnight, ‘Kaashi-san.”
On the short ride home, Akaashi has a very sudden, life-altering realization, making him scramble through his pockets for his phone. He sends a quick “SOS” to the one person who will answer after his bed time and still be as logical as possible with the information given to him.
His phone rings shortly after and he quickly answers it. “Yeah?”
“Tell me all about it, you ass,” Sakusa Kiyoomi’s sleepy yet incredulous voice crackles through the receiver.
Akaashi is done for.