Game On - A Haikyuu!! Mafia AU

- Chapter Twenty-nine -

-⚠️quick warning⚠️ before we start, here's my warning as promised that this chapter contains themes that may be upsetting to some readers! please tread with caution <3-

•Recap•

Kenma smiled sharply, then huffed out something like a laugh.

"Shoot him."

---

There are some things you can't stop.

Some things that are just too fast to keep up with, some things that happen too quickly to process.

Akaashi Keiji shut his eyes as Kozume gave the command to shoot, curling his fingers into weak fists at his sides.

It's inevitable.

But if you're quick enough, you might just be able to get out of the way.

He drew in a deep and slow breath, felt as though everything froze around him as he raced against impending death to somehow get himself away from Satori.

He thought of Bokuto, of Konoha, of the rest of his beloved - if not mildly stupid - group that had become the dearest things in his life.

Of his beloved group, the pillars keeping him upright, the best family he could've ever asked for. His beloved group, who always ruffled up his hair so fondly, who always made sure he was safe and secured, who pulled him into gentle hugs and murmured to him when he felt as though the world was caving in.

Of his beloved, a boy with owlish eyes and a dopey smile. His beloved, the finest partner he could ever have, the sturdiest power source to lean on when he felt his weakest.

His beloved, who would never stand idly by in the face of danger. Who could take on the whole world with a smile.

And Akaashi Keiji found that he wasn't ready to leave Fukurodani yet.

He wasn't ready to leave Koutarou yet.

"Aww, Keiji, don't be scared."

He opened his eyes again with another slow breath, almost flinching back at how close Kenma had managed to get to him.

Kozume only smiled, a tight-lipped and cold thing, and calmly reached up to grip onto Akaashi's jaw as he stepped closer. "I've heard that it's pretty quick and painless, dying like this."

Come on, Keiji. Akaashi squinted down at Kenma resentfully, trying to find another way to gain leverage. Think. He found himself looking at Hinata, slumped against the wall, cold blood trickling from his nose as he sunk into unconsciousness.

Perfect.

"Kozume," he began calmly, ignoring the sound of Satori's breathing behind him. "I thought you said you'd never lie to Shoyo."

Kenma stiffened at that, appearing to stall for a moment as an offended laugh sped past his lips. It sounded more like a cough if anything. "What, are you trying to talk your-"

"You're a liar. Look what you've done to him." Akaashi sneered, voice lowered down to a whisper now.

Kozume's eyes first squinted, then went round, and then he was looking behind his shoulder in something like panicked realization at Hinata's slumped body.

That's it, Akaashi smiled grimly. I've got him.

He furrowed his brows, then moved.

One arm flew back, elbow colliding with Tendou's ribs with a sharp thud that would certainly leave a bruise if not a hairline fracture, and when the pressure of the gun slid from his head he ducked down and out of the way of it, time feeling as though it stilled around him as he recovered his balance with enough momentum to start off forward again.