Survival of the fittest- A Haikyuu apocalypse AU

Chapter 24

Once again, Suga gradually got better, until there was no trace of him ever ailing. This relieved Daichi, and especially Akaashi, who had finally let himself rest after three straight days of making sure the parental figure of the group would make it out alive.

The only problem was, because tending to Sugawara took so much out of him, Akaashi failed to notice his own body's signs of the sickness. The headaches he brushed off as lack of sleep, along with the fatigue, and he figured the stomachaches were anxiety, coupled with possible distress. He continued to have these symptoms, however, even after Suga had healed.

Bokuto didn't miss these signs. After a week of Akaashi insisting he was fine, the third year finally pushed back.

"If you're so fine, I want you to let me record your temperature."

"Fine."

Akaashi stayed sitting down silently while Bokuto grabbed the thermometer that was in the medical bag. The bag had been permanently relocated to the club room bunker, as to not have it unavailable when needed. It only took a few seconds for the ace to realize he should've acted sooner, as the temperature indicated a fever that was moderately high. Worryingly high.

Soon, Akaashi was quarantined to the bathroom. Only Suga was allowed to see him, because he'd had the illness before, presumably, and had the best shot of not getting it again. Bokuto protested, but with enough force, he eventually gave in. As the grey-haired boy had spent most of his time with the second year, he now spent it alone, crying. No one dared to approach him after Daichi made an attempt.

"Bokuto-san. Are you okay?"

He flinched. Akaashi said that too, in almost the same way.

"Do I look okay?!"

"I guess not. But it'll be fine. I promise."

"No."

"What?"

"No, you don't. You're trying to give me false hope so I won't shut down."

"What?"

"Well it WON'T WORK!"

"When did I-"

"GO AWAY!"

A loud crack could be heard as Bokuto's fist made contact with Daichi's face. He immediately put a hand to his eye and Hinata and Kageyama struggled to restrain the ace. Eventually, Kenma took off his jacket and hooked it around him, pulling the teen to the floor, where finally, he went still. Sugawara ran up to his boyfriend, whose blood was dripping slowly down the hand he was holding to his face. The crimson gleamed wickedly.

The next few hours were a blur. Daichi had gotten a large black eye and a huge, bloody cut on his right eyebrow. The shouting had died down hours ago, but it still rang in his ears. Bokuto hadn't spoked since the incident. Suga was making sure his boyfriend was okay, again, and everyone else was crowded around them. The ace took this as as opportunity to sneak into the bathroom where Akaashi was quarantined.

Ennoshita sidled up to the door to listen in. He heard nothing for a moment. Then, Bokuto began to talk.

"Are you okay?"

"You shouldn't be here."

"I know. But I'm just really worried."

"For me?"

"Yeah."

"You shouldn't fret."

"I know, but what if something happens to you?"

"Well, something already has, and I'm not dead yet."

There was a brief silence between them broken by quiet sniffles.

"Bokuto-san. Don't cry."

"I- I c-c-c-can't not cry!"

"Why not?"

"I don't know."

There was another silence, once again punctured by sobs and sniffles. Ennoshita assumed that they were hugging, or something similar. He closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them, Tanaka was next to him. All Chikara could think to say was, "Don't tell anyone."

Ryuu giggled.

"So, uh, about that time in the bathroom?"

"The time you asked me to kiss you because you were having a midlife sexuality crisis?"

"Ah, yes. That. What did that mean?"

"That you didn't know your sexuality?"

"No, Ryuu. The kiss."

"Oh. I dunno. I really liked it though. I really like you, too."

"Well, me too."

"Does this mean we're, uh..."

"I guess?"

"Well, it was nice when we kissed. Do you wanna do it again?"

"Yeah! uh, sure!"

So they leaned together again. It felt weird, very, very weird, but...in a nice sort of way. As if for a moment, all their pain was gone. As if for a moment, the world wasn't in chaos, and all their friends were still alive. They suddenly pulled apart, both thinking the same thing at the same time.

"If we were at practice right now, Kinoshita would tell us to get a room and Narita would be cheering us on like we were in a game."

"...yeah."

And then Tanaka started to cry, triggering tears to fall down Ennoshita's cheeks as well.

Bokuto listened intently to the conversation going on outside of the bathroom. Once the chatter had faded away, he turned back to Akaashi, who was laying down with his eyes closed. He wasn't asleep. When he slept, his mouth was always slightly open. The ace hadn't really meant to obtain this information, but since they slept next to each other in the bunker, he'd noticed it anyway.

They all slept in the same place, okay?

"Akaashi."

"Yes, Bokuto-san?"

"How are you feeling?"

"I've been better."

"Hopefully you'll get better."

"I will. Judging by Suga-san's case, I'll feel a little better tomorrow, then like dead shit the next day, then have my symptoms gradually fade away. I don't know if I'll relapse, but it's important to always air on the side of caution."

"Wow. You're really smart."

"Thanks."

"Also, I think we've gotten close enough that you can call me Koutaro. If you'd like. Maybe Kou."

"I like that."

"Yeah."

"You can call me Keiji, then."

"M'kay."

"Hey...Kou?"

"Yeah?"

"...I'm scared..."