In His Calm (Akaashi x Reader)

Chapter 10

Days passed, and Y/N had successfully been avoiding Akaashi—well, sort of. Every time she saw him, she'd duck into a classroom, hide behind Yuki, or speed-walk in the opposite direction. It was exhausting, both physically and emotionally, but she couldn't face him. Not after the painting... not after Eri.

Meanwhile, Akaashi had certainly noticed, and so had the rest of the volleyball team. Bokuto, always observant in his own way, had nudged Akaashi multiple times, whispering things like, "Oi, Akaashi, why's Y/N dodging you like you've got the plague?" Akaashi, always calm, would shrug and give a soft, "I'm not sure," but it was starting to bother him.

The situation only got more frustrating when Eri started showing up to their practices with her gaggle of friends. The girls would giggle, whisper, and blatantly stare at the team, disrupting their focus. Bokuto, who loved attention, even found it annoying—especially when they tried talking to him during practice.

One afternoon, after a particularly irritating session with Eri and her friends loitering in the gym, the volleyball team gathered in the locker room, grumbling.

"Why do those girls even come?" Bokuto groaned, throwing his jersey into his bag with dramatic flair. "They don't even care about volleyball!"

Komi nodded, "Yeah, they just stand there gawking. It's so awkward, man."

"I can't focus when they're there," Sarukui added, shaking his head.

"But it's fine when Y/N-chan and Yuki-chan come," Bokuto pointed out. "They actually watch."

"That's true!" Komi agreed. "Y/N actually seems interested in the game, and she's super quiet—unlike those other girls."

Bokuto, as blunt as ever, turned to Akaashi. "Speaking of Y/N... What happened between you two?"

The room fell silent as everyone glanced over at Akaashi, waiting for an answer. Even Washio, who usually stayed out of gossip, was listening closely.

Akaashi, who was in the middle of untying his shoes, sighed deeply. "I have no idea. We were fine a few days ago, but now... it's like she's avoiding me."

Konoha, who had been listening quietly, suddenly leaned over and slung an arm around Akaashi's shoulders. "I think I know why."

Akaashi raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What do you mean?"

Konoha smirked knowingly. "Eri."

The room collectively groaned at the mention of her name. Bokuto flopped dramatically against the lockers. "Ugh, not her again."

Konoha continued, "Think about it, Akaashi. Eri's been all over you lately, and she's not exactly subtle. Y/N must've noticed, and... well, maybe she's jealous."

Akaashi frowned, not liking the idea that Y/N had been feeling hurt because of someone else's actions. "But... Y/N doesn't seem like the type to get jealous."

Sarukui leaned in, chiming with a grin, "Dude, she's shy, not emotionless. She's been avoiding you ever since Eri started showing up, right? Makes sense to me."

Komi, who had been unusually quiet, suddenly perked up. "Wait, wait, wait! What if Y/N thinks Eri likes you, and she's stepping aside because she thinks you like Eri back?"

The room collectively turned to Akaashi, who blinked, his expression completely blank. "I don't... like Eri."

"Yeah, but does Y/N know that?" Bokuto asked, slapping a hand on Akaashi's back. "You gotta clear this up, man!"

"Yeah, you should tell Y/N that Eri's not even on your radar," Washio added, always practical. "She's probably overthinking the whole thing."

Akaashi mulled over their words. Could Y/N really be avoiding me because she thinks I like Eri? He shook his head. "I'll talk to Y/N. But I don't want to assume anything just yet."

Komi suddenly piped up again, wiggling his eyebrows mischievously. "Akaashi... Are you saying you're not interested in Eri?"

"Not at all," Akaashi replied firmly. He was clear on that.

Bokuto leaned in closer, grinning ear to ear. "What about Y/N, then?"

The room fell deathly silent, and all eyes were on Akaashi again. Akaashi blinked, caught off guard by the question. "Y/N?"

There was a moment of complete stillness as the entire team leaned in, eager for his response. Akaashi's mind raced. He hadn't really considered the question before. Sure, he enjoyed Y/N's company, found her easy to talk to, and lately... well, he had been thinking about her more than usual.

Maybe I do like Y/N, he thought, and before he could stop himself, a small smile tugged at his lips.

Bokuto saw the smile and immediately threw his arms up in victory. "Aha! He likes her!"

The entire locker room erupted into cheers, the boys clapping and hollering as if Akaashi had just scored the winning point in a match.

"I knew it!" Konoha laughed, nudging Akaashi. "You've got that 'crushing hard' look on your face!"

Akaashi, now flustered, tried to maintain his calm demeanor. "It's not like that—"

"Oh, it's totally like that!" Komi interrupted, laughing. "Look at him, he's blushing!"

"I am not blushing," Akaashi muttered, though he could feel his face heating up slightly.

Bokuto slung an arm around Akaashi's shoulders, grinning like a Cheshire cat. "This is great! You gotta make your move, Akaashi!"

Akaashi raised an eyebrow, still trying to regain his composure. "I don't even know how she feels about me."

Konoha, ever the instigator, leaned in and whispered dramatically, "There's only one way to find out..."

Akaashi rolled his eyes, though there was a hint of amusement in his expression. "And that would be?"

"Talk to her, duh!" Bokuto shouted, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Clear up the whole Eri mess, and then see where things go!"

The rest of the team nodded in agreement, clearly excited about this new development.

Konoha, always the tactician, patted Akaashi on the back. "You don't need to confess or anything, just make sure Y/N knows you're not interested in Eri. Let her know you want to spend time with her."

Akaashi sighed, but there was a faint smile on his lips. "I'll... give it a try."

The team erupted into more cheers, with Bokuto practically bouncing off the walls in excitement. "Yes! This is gonna be awesome! Akaashi's got a love life!"

Akaashi, ever calm, simply nodded, but there was a newfound determination in his eyes. It's time to clear things up with Y/N.

As the boys finished changing and headed out for practice, Akaashi couldn't help but feel a small sense of anticipation. Maybe this will work out better than I thought.