What Could Have Been (Bokuakaa)

{six}

Akaashi took his youngest sibling and carried him at his hip as they followed Kotarou. "Hey! Kuroo!!" he yelled when they got in range and started running toward a black-haired guy. "That's the new first-year I told you about," he looked back at his friend, "oh, and his brothers! That little guy fought a pirate." He ruffles the kid's hair when he runs up to him.

Keiji walked up to them and set Akio down in the sand, holding his hand tightly. He gave a wave to the two.

"Akaashi, this is Kuroo from Nekoma. We played each other a few times last year. And this is his friend Kenma, he's also a first-year."

He looked down at the other guy that hadn't even gotten off of his towel in the shade, his eyes focused on a gaming device. "Hey."

Kotarou leaned forward to look around Akaashi and see Akio. "This is the guy I thought you'd get along with," he says. Keiji notices his little brother backing away and squeezing his hand tighter. He puts a hand on Bokuto to push him back slightly.

"Takashi, do you want to get in the water?" Keiji asked. The kid nodded excitedly and the older looked up at Bokuto who already seemed to get the hint.

"Let's get some sunscreen on your arms and face, then we can go. Kuroo, you brought some, right?"

"Yeah, right over here," he leaned down to a bag and rummaged past a few towels before finding the bottle. "Cover yourself with the SPF then let's go!"

Keiji helped cover his brother's arms and rub it in before handing the bottle over to Kotarou. "Woo! Let's go!" the kid shouted.

Bokutou pulled off his t-shirt, revealing his muscular chest and back before he put some sunscreen in his hand and smearing it up to his arm. "Akaashi, are you coming?"

"I'm going to sit with Akio, you guys go ahead. Make sure he doesn't go too far out, yeah?" He glanced toward his brother, "you hear that?"

"Yeah, yeah," the boy groans. "Let's go already!" He grabbed Bokuto's hand and started pulling on him.

"Okay, I got it," Bokuto smiles and starts heading toward the water with the kid. "Race ya," he says before sprinting and Kuroo and Takashi start running too. The dark-haired one reaches the water first, followed by Kotarou, then Takashi.

Keiji shakes his head, "they're idiots."

"What game are you playing," Keiji turns his head when he hears Akio's quiet voice. He still has a hand on his older brother's shirt, but he's got his eyes pointed toward the other first-year.

"Granblue Fantasy," he mumbles and continues pressing buttons.

"I haven't heard of that one," Akio's still quite nervous. After what he went through this morning and the deal with Bokuto, it's understandable. "What is it..?"

"Just an adventure game," he mumbles. "It's not my favorite."

"Can I try?"

The guy glances at the boy before looking up at Keiji. "Sure, come here. I can start a new log."

Akio leaves his side to sit next to the long-haired boy and reaches for the gaming device. The teen explained to the boy the basics of the game before he fell silent.

Akaashi watched his brother jump around in the water and Bokuto threw some water on him. They looked like they were having fun. Slowly, he noticed the blond first year glancing at him a few times. He looked over and they held eye contact for a moment.

"Hey," Akaashi mumbled.

"Hi," he responded.

"Do you, uh, not like the water?"