ceo | bokuaka

[12] launch party

the banquet hall was bustling with hundreds of people. the clothing line launched earlier that morning and after a few hours of holding his breath, bokuto was relieved to see that sales were already breaking hourly sale records for the company in just the first few hours. so to celebrate the launch, it was only appropriate to hold a party for all those at the company.

servers went around with trays filled with a wide variety of appetizers and bubbling drinks. bokuto stood alongside akaashi, over watching the party goers.

"are you going to go join in on the fun or are you just going to stand here? i think kuroo's already starting to feel the effects of the alcohol," akaashi laughed.

"maybe in a little bit. i don't want to deal with drunk kuroo anyways, i've had to deal with his drunk self for over 10 years now," he complained. "what about you? why aren't you joining in on the fun?"

"not much of a drinker," akaashi admitted.

"don't blame you, i wish i would've never tried alcohol, would've saved me a few good nights worth of puking."

akaashi grimaced, "yeah, kind of why i stay away from it. doesn't seem worth it to me."

"it's really not, but when you're a bored teenager you overlook that. what, did you never drink as a teen? or even in college?"

akaashi shook his head, "too busy studying and doing other stuff."

"nerd."

akaashi laughed. he went to retaliate when a voice rang out.

"there you are kou! ive been looking everywhere for you!" his mom shouted over the crowd.

"hi mom," bokuto greeted. "thanks for making it."

"of course, wouldn't miss it for the world! but have you seen your father? i lost him somewhere in the crowd...oh hi akaashi! nice to see you!" she trailed off her original thought.

"hi mrs. bokuto," he greeted.

"i talked with him just a little bit ago," bokuto answered his mom. "i'm not sure where he went off to though, probably talking with someone."

"ah, well i guess i'll find him at some point in the night," his mom shrugged, walking away to flag down a server.

"bokuto! bokutooo!" a very evidently tipsy kuroo stumbled towards the other, a worried kenma following close behind. "we have something awful to show you."

"kuroo, stop being so blunt!" kenma scolded, though his voice had a apprehensive tone to it.

"what is it?" bokuto asked skeptically.

he would've thought it was just kuroo being his overdramatic self, but the fact that kenma looked concerned made him anxious.

"it's just that-" kenma started.

"here, look for yourself!" kuroo said shoving his phone too closely into bokuto's face.

bokuto snatched the phone from kuroo's grip annoyed. he held up the phone so that akaashi could read what was on the screen as well. it was a magazine tabloid. his eyes skimmed the article catching onto the main point rather quickly.

"is the new ceo of bokuto's fashion dating his secretary?
written by masaki miyano.

this past wednesday, new ceo of bokuto fashions, bokuto koutarou, announced the release of his new clothing line: heritage. while the launch itself was a surprising reveal of an interesting take on the kimono, what deemed even more surprising was the ceo's apparent relationship with none other than his secretary, akaashi keiji."

the article also boosted a picture of the two dancing together, smiling as they gazed into each other's eyes. even bokuto had to admit, they did look like a couple.

"what the fuck..." bokuto muttered.

"this can't be happening," he heard akaashi's voice, a distressed tone taking over.

"akaashi..." kenma started. "it'll be okay, we'll get it taken down."

"but...but what if it's already too late?" his looked at the blonde haired male, his eyes fearful.

"it's not, we'll get it fixed," kenma reassured.

"i-i...but what if we can't a-and," akaashi stumbled around his words, his voice becoming shaky and breathless.

"c'mon, let's get you somewhere more quiet," kenma softly spoke grabbing one of akaashi's arm.

"what's going on?" bokuto asked confused.

sure the article was awful and was surely breaching their privacy, but there wasn't anything actually scandalous written. it didn't bash them and for what the public general knew, it was just a rumor.

"it's okay bokuto, just turn your attention back on the party, i have it covered," kenma spoke.

"but-"

"just go back to the party, i said i have it covered," kenma stated more firmly.

"have some trust in kenma, he's a smart cookie, he knows what he's doing," kuroo slurred slinging an arm around bokuto's shoulder.

kenma gave bokuto a reassured look before leading akaashi away.

"don't worry about them, kenma's got it covered! come have fun at the party, sarukui was downing alcohol left and right, it'll be real fun!" kuroo said dragging bokuto away.

he looked back to see kenma leading a trembling akaashi outside.