Akaashi sighed, looking around. It was already too much to be here.
It was loud. People were shouting, cheering on his team and the opposing one. He wasn't feeling emotionally well from the noise. His hand moved to the boy next to him. The flinch that followed the small hand touch made him stop. Akaashi looked over, worried.
Bokuto glanced at him before putting his hands in his lap.
Right.
His image.
Akaashi sighed softly. He stood, jumping back into the game.
Bokuto jumped in after. Their sets were working well but it was tense. The younger of the two needed his support desperately but he would deal with it in the shower as always. Water and tears mixed this way.
****
"Good game! Go get yourselves cleaned up!"
Akaashi picked up his bag. Bokuto walked by with his own, heading to the locker rooms. "Bokuto-san, can I talk to you for a moment?"
Bokuto sent him a signature grin. "Of course man, just give me a second to change out."
Akaashi nodded. He slipped on his jacket, sitting on the gym floor. Bokuto came into the gym a few moments later.
"What's up?"
"Privately." Bokuto nodded. They headed just outside of the gym. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah?"
"Okay… Just making sure. You're being odd."
Bokuto nervously laughed. "Odd? Akaashi, I'm not odd."
Akaashi took a deep breath. "You refused to ground me today. Or even touch me."
The older male stared.
"Have I done something?"
"No, I just… Didn't feel like touching anyone today."
"You hugged everyone but me," Akaashi whispered. His chest and eyes warmed to the point they were hot.
Bokuto forced himself to laugh. "You…"
"I'm what? Are you going to say not special like last time?"
"No, no I just-"
"Bokuto you're being cold. It's rude. Everyone thinks I'm so mature and hold myself together nicely but I needed help today. You know that I need help because those people are unpredictable. I don't get it and it's making me confused."
"You know why I don't touch you in public. You know what people say Akaashi." Bokuto said quickly, trying not to get upset.
"I don't though. No one says anything. I love being with you and around you. It makes me frustrated being ignored when I need help."
Bokuto snapped. "People say so many things! You have no idea how it feels!"
"Who talks SO bad about you?!"
"ME!"
Some teammates started to hurry to the door.
"What can be that bad?!"
"I hate myself and the way my brain works because I feel disgusting! YOU MAKE ME FEEL DISGUSTING AKAASHI! THIS IS YOUR FAULT AND I'M SICK OF IT!"
Akaashi froze up. The hot feeling in his eyes turned to water. He started to cry, pushing past Bokuto. He headed to the student parking lot, shakily pulling keys from his pocket. Konoha ran after him, shouting his name.
