The reason that keeps me alive - BokuAka [English Version]

Chapter 2

Bokuto
Hey hey hey! Are you free today?            
                7:15

Akaashi
For?
7:21

Bokuto
No idea :)                                     
                7:22

Akaashi
Why the smiley?
7:22

Bokuto
I just like using those. :)
So, do you have time?                               
                  7:22

Akaashi
I don't know yet.
7:23

Bokuto

:(
        7:23

Akaashi dropped his mobile phone into his jacket pocket. After Bokuto had followed him to the front door the previous day, he had asked for his number despite Akaashi's great resistance to telling him his name, and Akaashi didn't know why, but he had just given it to him.
It had been that voice in his head again, telling him it was the right thing to do. But maybe he had just hoped that it would leave him alone.
 
Akaashi was halfway to school when he suddenly felt cool raindrops on his cheek. He immediately wanted to pull his hood over his head, but that was when he realised he didn't have his jacket on.
Only the blazer of his school uniform.
 
He quickened his steps as the rain became heavier, but it didn't help for long, because after two minutes it was raining cats and dogs.
Akaashi stood under the roof of a shop and hoped the rain would let up. In the meantime, his watch showed him that it was just after half past seven. There was still plenty of time before the first lesson began, but he had actually wanted to go to the library beforehand, which would now be tight. It was still about fifteen minutes to school if he walked quickly, but he couldn't risk getting his clothes wet.
 
"Some change in the weather, isn't it?" said a familiar voice. Akaashi turned to Bokuto, who was standing behind him with an opened umbrella, looking into the distance.
"Don't you have an umbrella?"
Akaashi shook his head. "Forgot."
Bokuto took a step towards him and pointed at his umbrella. "You can stand under it if you want."
 
At first he wanted to refuse outright again, but when his and Bokuto's eyes met again, he couldn't help but agree after all.
"Can I ask you something?" the older boy asked.
"Depends on what."
Bokuto didn't take his eyes off Akaashi. "Were you serious yesterday when you said you weren't in any clubs?"
Akaashi nodded. "I don't have time for that."
"Were you in one in middle school?"
Akaashi nodded. "In the volleyball club." Seeing Bokuto's enthusiastic face, he immediately regretted his unusually direct answer.
"WHAT, REALLY?"
"Don't shout like that," he muttered. "Yes, I was."
"I'm playing too! What's your position? I'm a wing spiker!" Bokuto was beginning to seem to him like a little kid who was just too excited about everything, a kid who went completely nuts when he got candy or opened presents for Christmas and saw in them what he had wanted all year.
"Setter," Akaashi replied so quietly he could hardly have heard.
"WHAT?! Our team is looking for one right now! Don't you want to join?"
Akaashi rolled his eyes. "No. I told you, I don't have time for something like that."
 
"For...something like that?"
"Yes. It was never more than a club. And that's not going to change, no matter how many times you follow me all the way home or spam me with messages! This chapter is closed for me, got it?!"
 
Too late he realised that he had become loud. The rain had also stopped by now, and Bokuto stretched the umbrella.
"Okay." Nothing more. Just Okay.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-"
"It's okay. Really."
Without another word he walked past him, not even looking at him, and the guilty conscience spread through Akaashi. And right at that moment, when the sun came out of the clouds again, he clenched his hands into fists and the first birds flew out of their hiding places again, he made a decision.
 
Determinedly, and without thinking much about it, Akaashi strode down the still empty corridor.
 
Onwards.
Onwards.
Onwards, not knowing where exactly he had to go, hoping his gut told him the right way. He was just turning the corner when he saw the girl from the previous day standing outside the library.
 
"Um, excuse me?"
She turned to him. "Yes?"
Akaashi lowered his eyes and scratched the back of his head. Why was he suddenly so nervous? Again he clenched his hands into fists, the words not wanting to leave his mouth. "What is it?" the girl asked.
Akaashi exhaled loudly one last time, then he began to speak.