Chapter Text
Sunlight streamed through the classroom windows, casting sharp lines across Akaashi’s desk as he sifted through his notes. The ball echoed through the hall signaling lunchtime. As usual Akaashi stood up from his seat grabbing his lunch and making way through the hall.
It’s three hours before their practice. It’s also close to the summer camp that's holding up the Fukurodani Academy Group.
“Akaashi!”
A familiar voice called and made Akaashi look up from the floor. “Bokuto” Bokuto approached him and slowed down as he stood next to him. They picked up a steady walk. “Wanna sit on the roof?" Akaashi was about to answer as he realized Bokuto's usual company was missing "Konoha isn't coming? He did have a class right next to yours, right?"
He noticed how little Bokuto shifted his face. "Yeaaah.... the teacher made him stay after class." He smirked, leaving a sly smile on his face "Guess someone's in trouble" It’s close to their finals so it’s probably about that but It’s not usual for Konoha to be the one having problems with grades… “Is it about the finals?” Akashi frowned.
“Well I didn’t hear anything, I just took a look and when I saw the English teacher calling Konoha with the serious face of his I rather chose not to intrude.” Maybe that’s the reason the teacher didn’t call him too. Bokuto simply didn’t let him notice his presence… that in fact is not new.
“Mhm” Akaashi gave as an answer. “Speaking of…” he slowly continued, "You're gonna be okay with the exams? It's close to the training camp and not passing one subject could make it difficult.” They still shared eye contact with bokuto's relaxed face. He put an arm behind his head, scratching it, leaving a bored tone in his voice “Mhm yea.” He puts on some encouraging tone to his voice “I mean at the end, it's just about passing right?!”
Akaashi can't quite remember when he saw this look before. Perhaps its just the sharpness confidence that makes Bokuto himself and helps him go through the day, practice, matches.... or maybe he just knows hes fucked and is once again gaslighting himself. "Sure..." Akaashi answered. Well perhaps it's not too late for picking up all the studies. Besides, if Bokuto really wants something he can be determined enough to get it.
𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟
“So basically it’s not just about the flavor. I mean I wouldn't buy something that tastes great but it has an ugly color.” Bokuto laughed for himself, saying things that mostly didn’t make sense, slowly going quiet. He stretched out his arms, leaning against the railing that was wrapped around the roof platform. “Man, I can't wait for the training camp, it’s gonna be so much fun. I really want to practice the hell out of my spikes.”
Akaashi patiently listened while eating his lunch. Though he had a problem understanding all that since Bokuto said half of his speech about icecreams with full mouth. A habit Akaashi pointed out so many times that he eventually stopped trying.
“Figured you would be there.” A new voice interrupted them from their food. “Hey man” Akaashi greeted Konoha. “So wanna tell us what you did?” Bokuto was grinning at this point making sure to put some provocative tone to his voice.
Konoha signed, unpacking his lunch. “Well my grades aren't the best right now so the teacher gave me just a warning. He made sure that I’m aware because of the training camp that's ahead of us. That being said, I'm sure it's not that bad so I wouldn't be really worried.”
Bokuto let out a giggle “Look at you slacking off but still holding your head up. Have to say I'm proud. And don’t worry too much, even if you don’t make it to the camp, I will make sure to cover up your missing spot by myself.” Akaashi ignored Bokuto's echoed laugh as he calmly, with respect to his upperclassmen asked “So what grades are we talking about Konoha” Konoha send an irritated glance to Bokuto as he tried to focus on Akaashi “I got a 34 points on my last training quiz.”
At this point Bokutos' laughter stopped, a short silence followed before an outburst by noone else but Bokuto
“50 POINTS?!”
Konoha’s winced at the loud sound, and with a cringed face answered, “Yea why?”
Akaashi looked at Bokuto reading his face. “W - well I mean yea that's totally bad my man. You need to study.”
Bokuto ruffled Konoha’s hair “Keep it up so you can start catching up,” Bokuto's nervous laugh died off.
Konoha only gave him a dirty face as he tried to fight with Bokuto's hands “Could you stop ruffling my hair!”
He slowly sat up, fixing his uniform, then turned his face toward Bokuto, a smirk creeping onto his lips. “Speaking of… I wouldn’t be laughing if I were you… Bokuto,” he said, emphasizing Bokuto’s name with a sharp tone.
Bokuto stiffed “W-what do you mean?” Akaashi could sense the nervousness from his smile and he even noticed the slightest drops of sweat making their way on his forehead. Akaashi straightens his position “What are you saying Konoha?”
“Well Apparently I’m not the only one with low grades, right, Bokuto?”
Bokuto went blank, nervously switching eye contact between Konoha and Akaashi. “And judging by the teacher’s madness in his voice I would say my grades are pretty great compared to you. Also the teacher wants to see you after school.”
...
“WHAT?!!! BUT WE HAVE PRACTICE I CAN’T JUST MISS IT.”
Bokuto was shaking with Konoha.
“Is that what you're really concerned about?” Akashi said flatly. “And you just told me you're gonna be fine about the finals. Bokuto what kind of grades are we talking about”
Konoha freed himself out of Bokuto's grip and casually started with his lunch. He looked like he silently enjoyed this conversation.
“Well i really thought i was gonna ace it this time - the finals I mean - I even got double digit on last training quiz so that was sure a progress” The voice deepened suddenly, its intensity laced with a sunken, mournful edge.
“I was so confident this time…” Bokuto's expression was a hint for his melancholic, depressed mode. Akaashi picked up on it and made an eye contact with Konoha who was just about to say something
“Dude… you’re fucked.” Bokuto froze and looked at him with furious eyes “You shouldn't talk so much Konoha, the teacher called on you too, you know!!” “Well ya but if you look at the difference, i’m definitely way more safe, and there’s an actual chance that i will pass.”
Akaashi was deeply in thoughts with the fighting voice in the background. They have the strongest starting line since his first year. Bokuto as a captain and the ace has to attend the summer camp there's no way he can miss it. Everyone has their place in the team for a reason and changing the players would be complicated.
Perhaps if Bokuto really was that confident, as he's saying, then he just needs to bring it back. Even if the double digit was under 20, for bokuto it can be the key to his confidence.
If he manages to bring it back, It will be like bringing his spirit for studying. Sure he will try to help him to tutor him but it’s especially about Bokuto’s focusedness on studies.
“I will help you. If you want me to, I mean.” Akaashi said with a straight face.
“You said you got a double digit right?” Akaashi focused on Bokuto's eyes “Then you got through the first step by yourself. That's pretty impressive. You just have to raise the numbers now and I can help you with that.”
Bokuto's mouth was slightly open, his eyes slightly shined some reflection as if his soul was filled with hope already. “Really?! I mean yeah that is quite impressive isn't it? Thanks Akaashi!”
Konoha just left out a long sight, leaning against the railing. “Sometimes I wonder why you're making your life harder on purpose, Akaashi. But putting up with this idiot, sure does takes some guts.” Akaashi just looked at him, eating his lunch, quietly wondering too.
𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟
It was in the middle of practice when Bokuto showed up, looking even more sulky than before. He closed the door as a coach called out to him.
“Bokuto, stretch quickly and join the B side.” Bokuto nodded in agreement and later joined the side coach told him to, stretching a little longer than usual, though.
Practice went slowly with Bokuto being quiet and less motivated then normally. Akaashi tried to reason with him but nothing worked.
“Comon Bokuto it couldn't be that bad and I told you I will help you. Lets just focus on practice, you were excited about it before, why can't you now.”
Normally Bokuto would give him a depressed look or huff, but this time he didn't even leave any irritation.
𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟
The changing room was filled by Fukurodani’s players. Everyone was changing into their clothes, except for Bokuto. He was still sulking in the gym slowly taking down the net as a penalty for his late entrance.
“He just wouldn't cheer up would he?” Komi said as he looked at others for an answer.
“Well Bokuto was called on by the teacher because of his grades, so it looks like it didn't go well” Konoha said without any more context, but just this explained everything. “But I mean he's not the only one here, that was called on. It's pretty usual, especially for him”
Akaashi slowly approached trying to be quieter not to interrupt Bokuto’s dooming. “The thing is Bokuto was really confident this time with the subject and especially excited about the summer camp”
“So it broke his spirit?” Saukui joined the group. “Yea something like that. I guess this is just how Bokuto works. He can be by himself, but as soon as his spirit is broken, it's over even during matches.”
“We can only thank Akaashi that he’s still trying at this point. He promised to tutor him so it should be fine besides you can count on us if you need any help with escaping. I would try to help him out but English ain’t my best subject.” Akaashi nodded “I said I will help him out but mostly about him not getting distracted, though explaining some English vocabulary shouldn't be that hard.. It's just Bokuto’s motivation that I'm worried about.”
Everyone went quiet looking up at Bokuto. Now he was, what seemed like, picking up a fight with the net tangled up into his leg.
Konoha smiled as he said “He will be fine eventually. It’s not the first time we’ve been through this.” Akaashi let out a breath that seemed to be a relief.
𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟
Slightly everyone made their way out of the school gym waving their goodbye to Akaashi and still grumpy Bokuto. Akaashi was staying behind to talk to him, besides he would be staying for some extra practice anyways. A practice that was supposed to last just a little while but ended up going on for—if he was lucky—another hour.
He made his way to Bokuto that was now finally changing into his clothes. “You don’t wanna some more tosses today?” It was slightly quiet before Bokuto took off his shirt slowly folding it. He had never folded his sports jersey before. It looked like he just saw an opportunity to do something with his hands while dooming in his head.
“I’m tired and don’t have the mood for it.” He slowly sat on the bench placed beside him.
“You’re not gonna tell me what happened?” A frustration approached Bokuto's face as he answered. “Nothing happened, I'm just not in the mood right now. Jees Akaashi can't a guy be down sometimes?”
A normal person could take it as an offence but Akaashi is so used to Bokuto's mood swings, that the only thing he can do about it is to not take it personally. It's not like Bokuto means it anyway.
He slowly made his way to the bench and sat down. He tried to nonchalantly change the topic. “I forgot to tell you—I really liked your serves today. It seems they’re going to become one of your best weapons in no time.”
When Bokuto didn't say anything he just continued. “Also i noticed you tried to do more line shots today right?” Bokuto slowly turned to him, “Well… yea.” He finally answered so Akaashi just continued to make the conversation keep going.
“I think the last one was my favorite. You really aced it, even I couldn’t tell if it was out.” Bokuto placed his hands beside his neck, and if he hadn’t turned his gaze away, Akaashi might have noticed the faint flush of embarrassment spreading across his face from the flattery.
“Aghh it was just a flook.” Akaashi picked up on this “I’m sure you can sharpen them so we can use them during the summer camp.”
Bokuto mildly stiffed, hearing this topic again. He turned his focus back to the shirt that was still in the middle of the folding process looking even more messier than before. He slowly let out a breath, gathering thoughts that were meant to be said out loud.
He gripped the fabric with a little more strength and slowly opened his mouth. “The teacher thinks I should skip the summer camp this year.”
Akaashi was still wearing his blank face but if you tried to look closer, he slightly, just a little slightly opened his eyes more. Something close to stunned face expression.
Muted air was the only thing that you could hear, but just as Akaashi was thinking about saying something, Bokuto continued still looking down, voice picking up concerns.
“It's not just my grades that he's worried about… He… He’s worried about my graduation in general since I'm not even doing well in other subjects. But I was sure I have it this time. I don’t need great grades, I just… I really want to go to that summer camp. I wanna practice and practice and practice so we can go to nationals and win them all. I mean is it weird that I want it when this is my last year? Even if it wouldn't, I would still want to win! But now… I just… I don't even know when I can be sure about something anymore.”
Akaashi still doesn't fully understand how Bokuto works. He’s a hard puzzle to be solved but all Akaashi can do is to help him out and then Bokuto can do the rest.
This situation was bad, Akaashi thought, but him saying this would be the last thing to make things better.
“I just don’t understand why you are so worried,” Akaashi slowly said, looking down this time while Bokuto swapped with him, fully looking at Akaashi.
“Huh?” he questioned.
“I mean sure it’s not great, but it’s nothing we can’t work on right? And I told you I will help you, that still applies. We have another 4 weeks till finals so that makes 8 days without school, we will be focusing on it during weekends. Plus another 20 days full of breaks and after practice evenings that we can use.”
Akaashi looked out of the corner of his eye at Bokuto. He was still shirtless and the shirt was still clutched in his hands. Was he really trying to fold it, or just throw it in the bag?
Akaashi slowly took the shirt out of Bokuto's grip, folding it for him slowly.
“Don’t you just know, Bokuto,” he met his gaze with intense eyes, “if you were really hopeless, I wouldn't even bother helping?”
Bokuto parted his lips looking stunned. Akaashi stood up, facing the ace and meeting his eyes. Handing him the shirt. Arms still outstretched, offering neat folded jersey with the number 4 on it.
“Spike for me for a little bit Bokuto-san?”
He said with every confidence in his voice, followed by his sharped look. And how could Bokuto say no, when the setter wanted to practice, even if just for a little bit, that was sure not just as little, as a normal little bit would be.
Bokuto made a smile with a little sigh that sounded to be filled with laughter. He took the shirt and quickly slipped into it.
“Sure,” was the only word, before the room was quickly drowned into the sounds of shots perfectly aimed, right on the line.