Crushing It (Not Exactly) | K.Bokuto x reader |

Chapter 7: The Double Date Disaster

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Bokuto had always been easygoing, confident—even loud about most things. But tonight, as he and (Y/n) walked up to meet the other couple for their “group date,” a strange, tense energy hummed in the air. Akaashi had been the one to suggest this setup, telling Bokuto it would be “great practice” to help (Y/n) get comfortable with dating. Yet, the whole idea felt slightly off to Bokuto, though he couldn’t quite place why. All he knew was that he was supposed to be helping (Y/n) tonight… even if something about this setup made his chest feel tight.

The other couple—Haruto and Mai—greeted them with smiles. Haruto had a calm, friendly demeanor, and Mai’s bubbly laugh filled the air with ease. Bokuto watched as (Y/n) smiled back, chatting casually with the pair, and a weird pang twisted in his gut.

“Alright, let’s get started! I bet we’ll be the best double date group ever!” Bokuto declared, clapping his hands with forced enthusiasm.

They ended up at a cozy little ramen shop, sitting around a small table as bowls of steaming noodles were placed in front of them. Haruto and Mai began chatting, sharing stories about the places they’d been and their mutual love of cooking. (Y/n) listened with interest, nodding and asking thoughtful questions.

Bokuto, on the other hand, couldn’t seem to keep still. Every time (Y/n) directed their attention toward Haruto, Bokuto found himself jumping in, steering the conversation back toward him or sharing random stories about his volleyball achievements.

“Oh, oh! And then there was this one time, I totally spiked the ball right over the blockers’ heads, and everyone was like, ‘Woah!’” Bokuto said, practically leaning across the table.

(Y/n) chuckled, looking at him with a familiar warmth that made his heart skip a beat. But as he took in their gentle smile, he noticed Haruto joining in with a comment that brought (Y/n)’s attention right back to him. Bokuto gritted his teeth slightly, stirring his ramen more vigorously than necessary.

Mai gave (Y/n) a knowing smile. “So, (Y/n), have you been on many dates before?” she asked, leaning forward with a friendly curiosity.

(Y/n) laughed a little, casting a sidelong glance at Bokuto. “Not… really. I’ve had some great friends helping me ‘practice’ though,” they said, with a playful emphasis that only made Bokuto’s chest feel weirder.

“Hey! That’s right! I’ve been the ultimate wingman for (Y/n),” Bokuto piped up, his voice louder than he’d intended. “I mean, I even helped them practice everything! Like, compliments, sharing food, all of it!” He laughed, though it felt slightly forced.

Haruto and Mai exchanged a quick glance, and (Y/n) let out a quiet sigh, as if Bokuto’s outbursts were slowly becoming a bit much. Meanwhile, Bokuto couldn’t ignore how tense he felt every time Haruto tried to get closer to (Y/n), leaning in slightly or making small, thoughtful gestures like passing them the soy sauce or offering extra napkins.

When Haruto tried to ask (Y/n) about their favorite music, Bokuto interjected yet again. “Oh! They love the stuff I listen to! Right, (Y/n)?” Bokuto grinned, his voice just a tad too loud.

(Y/n) gave him a gentle smile, trying to balance between Bokuto’s interruptions and the natural flow of conversation with Haruto and Mai. “Yeah, Bokuto’s introduced me to some fun music,” they said, trying to ease the tension. But Bokuto couldn’t miss the slight edge in their tone.

As the night wore on, the awkwardness only seemed to grow. Haruto and Mai glanced at each other, sharing looks that seemed to say, Maybe we should call it a night.

Finally, Haruto cleared his throat. “Well, Mai and I have an early morning tomorrow, so we’ll get going. It was nice meeting you both.” He smiled politely, but there was a hint of relief in his expression.

“Oh… okay,” (Y/n) said, a little taken aback. “Well, it was nice meeting you too.”

With one last awkward nod, Haruto and Mai slipped out, leaving Bokuto and (Y/n) sitting alone in the quiet ramen shop. The clatter of dishes in the kitchen and the soft hum of distant conversations were the only sounds left around them.

(Y/n) sighed, shaking their head with a soft chuckle. “Well… that went… differently than I expected.”

Bokuto rubbed the back of his neck, his usual bravado replaced with an uncertain, almost sheepish expression. “Uh, yeah… I guess I… maybe went a little overboard.” He laughed nervously, looking at (Y/n) with an apologetic smile.

(Y/n) gave him a gentle nudge. “You were definitely… spirited,” they said, their tone warm, forgiving. “But, Bokuto… you don’t have to keep trying so hard. I’m not in a rush or anything.”

They stepped outside together, the cool night air wrapping around them as they strolled in silence for a few moments. The streets were quiet, the dim glow of streetlights casting soft shadows around them.

Bokuto finally broke the silence, shoving his hands into his pockets as he glanced at (Y/n) beside him. “I guess… I just didn’t like seeing you paying attention to… to anyone else,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.

(Y/n) turned to him, surprised. “Why does that bother you, Bokuto?”

He paused, searching for an answer he couldn’t quite grasp. “I… don’t know,” he admitted. “I kept telling myself it was because I was just being your wingman. But tonight… every time you laughed with Haruto, or even looked at him… it just… it felt wrong.”

They stopped walking, and (Y/n) looked at him with an expression that softened in the gentle glow of the streetlights. “Bokuto… maybe you’re feeling that way because you care about me as more than just a friend.”

The words hit Bokuto like a revelation. His chest tightened, a strange warmth spreading as he stared at (Y/n). The idea felt both terrifying and thrilling, like he was standing at the edge of something big, something real.

“I… I think I do,” he whispered, the vulnerability in his voice breaking through his usual bravado. “Being around you makes me… happy in a way that I don’t feel with anyone else. I never really thought about it before, but now… I can’t imagine not having you close.”

(Y/n)’s face softened, and they reached out, taking his hand gently in theirs. Bokuto looked down at their intertwined hands, his heart racing as he slowly closed his fingers around theirs.

They continued to walk in silence, but this time, their hands stayed intertwined. The quiet of the night seemed to draw them closer, and every step felt more certain, more right. Bokuto didn’t need to be a wingman anymore—he just needed to be there, next to (Y/n), in a way he’d finally realized he’d wanted all along.