𐙚 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐄 𐙚

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐄

𐙚

The school day was finally over and Y/N was looking forward to immersing herself in the peace and quiet of her afternoon. The comments and stares from her classmates bounced off her as usual as she made her way home. She felt as if school was a perpetual storm, while all she longed for was the silence.

Just as she turned the corner to her usual route, she suddenly noticed a familiar figure standing at the edge of the sidewalk. Bokuto Kōtarō. Her heart stopped for a moment - not from excitement, but rather from unwilling surprise.

What does he want now?

He grinned at her as if the encounter was completely coincidental. "Hey, Y/N! What a coincidence to meet you here," he began, his voice full of energy as always. She stopped and looked at him for a moment, wondering if she should even reply.

"Hi," she finally replied, with so little enthusiasm that it almost seemed polite. She didn't want to be rude, but the idea of being drawn into another meaningless conversation made her tired.

Bokuto didn't seem to notice or chose to ignore it. "The school day was pretty exhausting, wasn't it? I thought I could walk you home... if that's okay with you."

Why would he want to walk me Home?

Y/N blinked in confusion. "Why?" The question wasn't unkind, but it was direct. Why did he want this? Was this another one of those attempts to get her attention? Didn't he already have enough of her rejection?

Bokuto laughed nervously and scratched his head when he realized how distant she sounded. To ease the tension, he added, "I think I completely failed my math test today. I hope your day was better!" He laughed, but it sounded a little forced as he tried to lighten the mood.

Did I ask? She wanted to respond, but didn't want to be rude for nothing.

"Well," Bokuto shuffled his foot a little sheepishly, an unusual sight for someone who was usually brimming with confidence. "I thought maybe we could be friends? I know we don't have much to do with each other, but... I think you're interesting and... well, I thought maybe we could get to know each other better."

The word "friends" hung in the air. Y/N felt a wave of irritation rise within her. What was it about these guys that didn't understand that she just wanted to be left alone? It wasn't the first time someone tried to break through her wall, but it felt like Bokuto didn't even understand that she had put up this wall for a reason.

Y/N stared at him, unimpressed by his attempt to lighten the atmosphere. "I don't need friends," she said coolly, her eyes fixed on the path ahead of her. Y/n's words came out harsher than she'd intended, but she didn't regret it.

Bokuto stood still for a moment, his smile slowly disappearing as the reality of his rejection sank in. But instead of pressing further, he smiled a forced smile, a shadow of sadness showing in his eyes. "I see," he murmured, almost as if trying to reassure himself. "No problem, really. I just wanted to bring it up."

I have to go..

Y/N nodded curtly and turned around without looking back. She knew she had hurt him, but she suppressed the fleeting feeling of guilt that rose within her.

It's better this way, she told herself.

I don't need another person to disappoint me.

Once home, she flopped down on her bed, clutching the book she had been reading all day. But instead of losing herself in the pages, her thoughts kept returning to her encounter with Bokuto. What had he been thinking, approaching her like that? And why had she been so cold to him?

He was nice to me...why did I answer so coldly tho..?

The longer she thought about it, the more confused she became. It wasn't that she didn't think he was nice - on the contrary, she'd heard he was a good friend and an incredible athlete. But the idea of being friends with someone as extroverted as him just didn't seem to suit her.

Nevertheless, a strange unease remained within her as she reviewed the words and the sad expression in his eyes. Had she overreacted? But why should she even care? She didn't understand, and that uncertainty gnawed at her long after the sun had set and she was trying to put the day behind her.

BOKUTO'S POV

After Y/N had rejected him so coldly, Bokuto felt a deep hole in his chest that sapped his usual energy. He had taken an extra ten minutes from practice just to talk to her, and now he returned to the volleyball club gym with his head hanging down. Each step felt heavier than the last as he tried to organize his thoughts.

She rejected me again...

When he opened the door to the training hall, he immediately noticed the tension in the room. The other team members had just warmed up and were giving him questioning looks. Even coach Yamiji gave him a skeptical look as Bokuto slowly made his way to the changing room.

Am I not cool enough for her? Should I make more effort and prove myself?

Luckily, Akaashi had reacted quickly and told the coach that Bokuto had been to the principal to clarify an important matter. Only Akaashi knew that Bokuto had actually been to Y/N.

"Pfft what's going on with Bokuto? Is he in trouble with the principal?" whisper-laughed Konoha as he accepted a pass. No one could explain what had happened - no one except Akaashi.

Bokuto retreated to the changing room and dropped onto the bench with a deep sigh. The dull ache in his chest wouldn't let go, and the disappointment weighed heavily on his shoulders. He had put so much effort, so much hope into this conversation, only to be coldly denied by Y/N.

Shortly afterwards, Akaashi stepped into the changing room and sat down next to him. "How did it go?" he asked quietly, although he already suspected the answer.

Bokuto looked at him sadly before he began to speak. "It didn't go well, Akaashi. She just rejected me. She said she didn't need friends. Not even me..." His voice almost broke as he said the words, and he found it hard to swallow the lump in his throat.

Akaashi tried to comfort him. "Bokuto-san, you don't have to take it personally. She might just be someone who needs time to open up to others. Give her time, and who knows, maybe she'll see you in a different light one day."

But Bokuto was not so easily reassured. "But what if she never accepts me as a friend? I can't just wait and do nothing, Akaashi!" He stood up and began to pace restlessly back and forth in the room when an idea suddenly occurred to him.

I HAVE AN IDEA!

"Akaashi, I've got it! You could talk to her!" shouted Bokuto, as if he had found the solution to all his problems. "You're calm, sensible - she's more likely to listen to you than to me. You could persuade her to be friends with me!"

Akaashi blinked in surprise. "Bokuto-san, that doesn't sound like a good idea. Friendships shouldn't be forced. And besides... That's really not my style."

Bokuto didn't let up, however. "Please, Akaashi! I know it's not easy, but you could explain to her that I'm serious and just want to be friends with her. Maybe she'll understand better if it comes from someone like you." Bokuto's look was pleading and the desperation could be felt in every word.

Please say yes
Please say yes
Please say yes
PLEASSSSEEEEEEE

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