Selcouth

Chapter 25

Third Person's POV

Okay, maybe Akaashi should have backed out of assistant role when he had the chance. It was getting late, the skies were getting darker and darker each passing minute. Lifting the last box, Akaashi sighed, eyeing the now empty classroom.

"Thank you so much Akaashi, graduation time is always hectic because of all the designing and arranging..." Yamada piped in, erasing Akaashi's train of thoughts. He watched as the older ran his fingers through his brown locks.

Akaashi stared outside the window, watching his disheveled reflection. "It's... My duty." He answered back, albeit sounding low and tired. Yamada nodded, taking the box from the younger. He flashed Akaashi a quick smile, before heading towards the door. But before he left, the student representative looked over his shoulder. "Congrats on ranking first!" He exclaimed cheerily.

And thus, left, leaving Akaashi alone. The setter looked down to his toes, already picturing of the team practicing their asses off for National's. Akaashi silently made his way to the gym, going to his very long and usual route towards the gym.

It wasn't even half and hour since he got inside to practice with the team but Akaashi already felt like his limbs were going to detached itself from his lean body. He winced when he abruptly placed both his arms over his head. Nevertheless, delivering Konoha a clean set.

As Konoha and the others cheered, Akaashi's struggles did not go unnoticed by Sarukui. The brunette approached the setter, patting him on the back. "Hey Akaashi-kun, you can't go tired now. National's tomorrow." He told in a encouraging voice.

Akaashi's pants were his only reply. Time flew by so fast, Akaashi had a hard time identifying what day is today. But then, the poor setter jolted forward, profusely coughing the moment Bokuto slapped his back so hard. "Hey Hey Hey! Energize thyself!" He exclaimed.

Akaashi couldn't help but blush, realizing that Bokuto's encouraging gesture was slightly lower than usual, almost touching his butt. "Take your hand away from my waist." He hissed, Bokuto retracting his hand in a trembling manner.

"Of course, I'm sorry." Akaashi apologized, bowing a 90 degree angle. The team waved it off though, pitying Akaashi knowing his schedule was packed and brimmed. Komi picked up a ball, tossing it high up in the air, getting Akaashi off guard who caught it hastily. "Nice reflexes." He praised, earning an eye roll from the whole group.

Practice ended quickly and every bid each other a good day and good luck for tomorrow. As Bokuto and Akaashi walked together towards their street, both males shared silence. It was odd but they guessed it was just the feeling of overwhelm casting upon them. "I'm nervous for tomorrow..." Bokuto confessed, kicking a pebble away.

Akaashi cocked a brow, not bothering to look at the older instead, placed his focus on the sunset. "I am too Bokuto-san, the whole group is." Akaashi told with a sigh. "I feel like I won't be able to get sleep tonight." The bi-colored man mumble making Akaashi chuckle. "Don't you dare do that."

"Of course I won't!" Bokuto exclaimed, catching up to the younger. Bokuto jutted his lips, glancing at the raven setter from time to time. "How's our son?" He asked.

Akaashi sighed, Bokuto noticing Akaashi's eyes dropped. "Cough and fever..." He answered, down casted. Bokuto's brows creased to worry. Nevertheless, he showed no signs of weakness. He must stay strong, give Akaashi the hope he can hold on to. So, he placed a comforting hand against the younger's back. Akaashi, silently leaning into the other man's warmth.

"Oh, I'm here." Akaashi said, making Bokuto face the direction the setter was looking at. Man, that quick? Bokuto thought, retracting his hand away from the younger. Instantly, he could feel the heat dissipate. "Well, good night...?" He started unsurely. Akaashi gave a soft smile, nodding in acknowledgement. "We got this, ace."

A simple sentence yet it made Bokuto's heart skyrocket. He nodded vigorously, beaming a smile. Giving his last wave, he walked away. For sure, he needed to rest so he can play for his team tomorrow. As for Akaashi, he let out a sigh as he entered his home. He also knew he had to take adequate rest, for he needed to plan, strategize, and guide his team to victory.

Call him greedy but, Akaashi just wants things to go his way.

He picked up the smell of miso soup and tempura and heard the cackling sound of oil. He knew his mom was in the kitchen cooking dinner so he announced, "I'm home!" Sakura went out of the kitchen, gunmetal blue eyes meeting his. "Good evening son." She planted a kiss on his forehead. "How's practice?"

Akaashi threw his bag on the couch, rubbing his eyes. "Relatively short, like a warm up. We're leaving tomorrow first thing in the morning." He informed. Sakura's biting of her bottom lip did not go unnoticed by the raven head. "Why don't you check on Aito. He's been crying all day, his fever also went high." She suggested.

I'm worried. Sakura thought, leaving her son. Akaashi, with groggy movements, made his way upstairs and to the nursery. "Please do change! You're bringing dust!" He could hear his mom say. Akaashi nodded to no one in particular, making his way to his bedroom to change to his pajamas despite still being a tad bit early.

After making sure he was clean and safe enough to enter the nursery, he did. The sound of Aito's mobile resonated inside the room, the soft orange light illuminated the room dreamily. It was warm and ver cozy, enough to make Akaashi sleep right there on his spot.

With quiet movements, he stood by the side of the crib. He can hear the quiet whimpers of his son, poor infant was tossing around. "Aww, did you miss mama?" He asked, bending down to lift his son by his armpits. Akaashi embraced him with such love, closing his eyes.

Up close, he could feel and hear intimate somethings of the infant that made his blood run cold, that made Akaashi feeze. Like Aito's warm skin against Akaashi's normal temperature. The disturbing sound Aito made, it sounded like phlegm stuck on the younger's throat. The stomach muscles that kept retracting. His nose flaring that brought out runny substance. The quiet wheezing and his ragged breath. As if, Aito had a hard time breathing.

"Aito?"

~~~

The light were too bright and flashy, the walls as they zoom pass by seems like distant photos. All he could hear was how hard his heart thrummed against his chest, his pants, the way he gulps down his bile and how he ran through the halls. He was sprinting through the hospital, embracing his son in a protective manner who was dressed warmly. The teenager looked like a mess, running in his pajamas. That did not matter.

His mom was just tailing behind him, breaking into cold sweat. Akaashi couldn't even feel his surroundings, he was too druck with adrenaline. Until, he came to an abrupt stop, scaring a doctor who talked with a nurse.

"Y-you got to— my son, he...help pl-please!" Akaashi pleaded, sounding so desperate as he clutched the doctor's white coat. The nurse gave him an alarmed look. "Sir, can you please tell us what's wrong?"

Akaashi took a deep breath in, trying to formulate proper sentences that seem impossible to construct with how panicked he feels. Sakura finally came, holding Akaashi's back. "My grandson's having trouble breathing. Neither of us has noticed but we guess it's been up for atleast an hour..."

The doctor widened his eyes, softly taking the infant who was wrapped around a wool blanket, head covered with a cream colored beanie. "W-where are you taking him?" Akaashi asked in a shaky voice, fingers twitching as he reached out to take his son back. "Keiji!" His mom exclaimed, gripping Akaashi's forearms.

"Look at me sweety." He voice was sweet but firm and laced with concern. Akaashi gulped, his blue orbs shaking in fear. "Don't worry sir, your son's in good hands." The nurse assured, already walking towards the ER. Akaashi watched a healthworker approach the nurse. He could hear the male nurse requiring a pediatrician for help.

"P-please, take care of my son!" Akaashi desperately yelled. He felt speechless and drained, like he was floating. The grip on his forearms tightened, thankfully grounding him, keeping him conscious. With glassy eyes, he watched the double doors of the ER shut close when the staff entered the place.

~~~

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