Akaashi's 18th (and the events that followed...)

15. Date or Nah?

Noya was silent whilst buying knee pads. It gave him time to think, as he weighed up the pros and cons of each brand. Not necessarily about the gear, but more about whether Asahi was okay.

The ace had worn a sort of stunned expression all the way to the shop. Of course, it could be to do with his outburst earlier, hugging Asahi. He hadn't realised how much he would miss the big ace before he left, and hadn't even really said a proper goodbye. The hug had felt like a message of both I miss you and I wish I had spent more time with you before you left.

The hug, he thought, had made up for a bit of that. However, there was still the matter of finding Asahi a birthday present. Of course, Noya was fully aware that Asahi's birthday had passed, but he hadn't been able to find him anything. That was what concerned him. What if he and Asahi were too different now to understand each other? His heart had longed for Asahi in more ways than one ever since their separation.

Suddenly Asahi seemed so much older than him - the hurdle between high school and college had been overcome, and now Noya was one of the only binds tethering Asahi to Karasuno. Was he holding him back? Nishinoya hadn't ever thought that before, but maybe Asahi's politeness overcame any lack of desire to meet him...

He shook his head. No, Asahi would never do that to him.

Once he had finished picking the knee pads best for him, he quickly paid and ran back outside to meet Asahi, who was waiting outside the shop, as it was too crowded for more than Nishinoya's lithe body type to fit in the narrow shop. However, something in another shop window caught his eye, and he darted in there to buy it before Asahi could notice he had left the shop.

Once he had bought what he wanted, he crept up behind the ace, making him jump, before they continued their expedition. The sun had now vanished behind a building to the western side of the square, and lights were beginning to turn on, shining a golden glow around the shopping district.

"It's almost dinner," Noya observed, feeling his stomach whine slightly.

"There's a great ramen place nearby," Asahi suggested.

"Trust you to know your ramen," Noya laughed. "I bet you even take your dates there, huh?"

Asahi blushed. "No, no dates. Never had the courage to ask people out."

People? Not girls? "Ah, well I can be your first then," Nishinoya said, a bold and impulsive spell overcoming him. His heart raced. Why did I say that?! The words had just flown into his head and through his mouth with no filter whatsoever.

Asahi's blush deepened, but he smiled faintly. "Alright then." He strode off in front, gripping Noya's hand, which was tense with surprise. From behind, Asahi looked angelic. Waves of his long hair had fallen loose from his bun during the day, and circled his hair with the breeze, the evening sunset rays glinting over the wisps, framing his head in a golden halo.

They reached the ramen place, a small, bar-style restaurant. They took their seats at the end, Asahi pulling up two stools for them. "So, what's the plan for after you leave?" He asked, after they had both ordered.

Nishinoya considered his answer. He had been reluctant to tell anyone unless they became distant. "I want to go travelling," he said finally, instantly registering Asahi's surprised gaze on him.

"Really? I thought you'd go straight into volleyball or something."

Nishinoya sighed. "I want to get away from school, just for a bit. I want to get away from schedules and lessons and training and all the repetitive things about life. I want adventure." He paused to slow down his breath, blowing on his ramen as it arrived. "I hate the way I was forced through the education system as though it's a one-size-fits-all. I hate seeing Shoyo and Tobio study endlessly for tests, only to scrape passes just so they can go to training camps and do what they truly love...

"I hate how I was treated there, as though I was a problem child. Yeah, I messed around a little in lessons. Yeah, I was a bit physical. But that's no excuse for what they did to me. The late-night classes, the detentions where they made me sit still for even longer. You think that helped me?" He sighed. "I don't want to put a damper on the evening-"

"Nono it's fine," Asahi placed a hand over his. "You're allowed to be angry once in a while."

Nishinoya swallowed. "They made me feel like a bad person who was deliberately trying to disrupt others. I wasn't, I swear," he said forcefully, as though the school could hear him, as if he was making his case as a juvenile delinquent. Frustration prickled at the corners of his eyes. "I just want to feel free. I want to travel the world and make other people happy. I want people to see me as a fun, lively, spontaneous and friendly person, not a wild child who only causes trouble."

Noya shrugged. "I don't think you'd get it," he frowned. "You've always been in the college classes, you've always had so many open paths and opportunities. The world just says that - because you're good at Japanese and Maths - you're worth it. You're smart. Me, who's only good at sports and making jokes? Worthless."

"But you don't think that," Asahi said simply. "You don't believe that at all; you know you're worth it. School is only three more months - you can get through it." He looked up at the ceiling and sighed slightly. "And as for not 'getting it', I actually get it more than you'd think."

Nishinoya's head snapped up from his chopsticks, which had been hovering by his mouth. "How?"

"They told me I wouldn't get into Bunka. They said it wasn't a proper option for someone with my 'intellectual level', and that I should go into a job which would 'benefit society' more, like science or something."

Nishinoya was stunned. "But- but you love fashion, and didn't you tell me that you created an entirely sustainable, recycled outfit for the project at the end of your first semester? That helps society."

"Yeah, but they didn't know that. That's the point. They don't know you well enough to dictate your life, yet they do, because - whether they like it or not - it's what they're employed to do. It's not really the teachers' fault completely," he added hastily. "They can hardly change their job description, and they have to conform to what society sees as 'good education'." Asahi finished by slurping a large portion of ramen into his mouth.

"Well, that's why I'm going travelling, anyway," Nishinoya said, bringing the conversation back to a more light-hearted topic. They both laughed. "That got really deep really fast," he said, and Asahi nodded.

"So when are you leaving?"

"A few months after school finishes, in the summer. I'll be off for a year, then come back for a couple of years, get a job with whatever qualifications I can, then go off for another year, I think."

"Sounds great," Asahi looked wistfully out of the window. "I wish I could just pack up and go-"

"You can!" He interjected. Asahi opened his mouth to protest, but Noya shushed him. "You graduate in a few years, so you can come with me on my second trip, see all the fashion around the world!"

Asahi paused thoughtfully and Noya tried to wait patiently, jogging his knees up and down to keep in another outburst. "I guess I could..." he began. "I'll need to think about it more, though."

Nishinoya nodded. "That's fine!"
They finished up their ramen, and found themselves wandering around the square again. Nishinoya yawned. "It's seven already - I should head back."

Asahi looked around. "It's dark, though. You sure you'll be alright?"

Noya laughed. "I'll be fine - I'm not scared of the dark." Although, he was tired, and he knew his mother wasn't keen on him travelling after dark, despite him being eighteen already.

"C'mon, my apartment isn't far, you can stay the night with me," Asahi offered, and Nishinoya wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. "Not like that!" Asahi's expression was so mortified and embarrassed that Noya burst out laughing.

"I was joking, 'Sahi-san," he said, lightly punching Asahi's arm and following him back to his apartment.

(Word count: 1436)
(Total word count: 18,439)