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

Chapter 10: Realization and Apology

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Bokuto’s heart pounded as he made his way to find you. He couldn’t shake the mixture of excitement and guilt swirling in his chest. He thought back to every little moment: the practice “dates,” the silly makeover, the pretend confession. In his eagerness to be the best wingman he could, he’d completely overlooked the one person he actually wanted to be with—and who, as he now understood, had been wanting the same all along.

He spotted you sitting on the benches outside the gym, absentmindedly fiddling with your phone. The late afternoon sunlight cast a warm glow, illuminating the faint furrow in your brow as you looked up and saw him approaching.

“(Y/n)!” he called out, waving with an awkward but determined grin.

You looked up, surprise flashing across your face. “Oh, hey, Bokuto,” you greeted, though your voice held a hint of hesitation.

Taking a deep breath, he came to a stop in front of you, hands tucked in his pockets as he rocked nervously on his heels. “Listen, I… I really wanted to talk to you. I think I messed up big time.”

The surprise on your face turned to confusion. “What do you mean?”

Bokuto let out a huff, scratching the back of his head. “I was supposed to be your wingman, right? But I didn’t get it at all.” He paused, his face creasing with regret as he searched for the right words. “I was so busy coming up with ideas and being your ‘practice partner’ that I… I totally missed the point.”

Your cheeks flushed, and you looked away, your voice soft. “Bokuto… you were just trying to help.”

“Yeah, but that’s just it!” he blurted, moving a step closer, his hands dropping to his sides. “I thought I was helping you, but… I was really just being kind of clueless, wasn’t I?”

You laughed, the sound light but tinged with a hint of sadness. “A little,” you admitted, meeting his eyes with a small, tentative smile. “But it’s not like I was being super clear, either. I just… I didn’t know how else to tell you without making things weird.”

Bokuto’s face softened, the sincerity in his gaze making your heart skip a beat. “Well, I should’ve figured it out sooner. I mean, Akaashi finally had to spell it out for me,” he admitted, his tone a mix of exasperation and amusement.

You raised an eyebrow. “Akaashi told you?”

He nodded, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. “He basically told me to wake up and look at how you… you know, look at me,” he said, his cheeks pinkening. “And, (Y/n)… I’m really, really sorry that I didn’t notice sooner.”

You shook your head, brushing it off. “It’s okay, really. I just… I thought you were happier with the idea of helping me find someone else. I didn’t want to make things complicated.”

He let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding, his eyes fixed on yours, brimming with a mixture of regret and something deeper. “You’re right, though—I’ve only been happiest when I was with you. And it just took me forever to figure that out.”

Your heart skipped a beat, and you blinked, almost not daring to believe what he was saying. “Wait, Bokuto… what are you trying to say?”

He looked down, fidgeting with his hands, his usual confidence replaced by a shy, almost bashful expression. “I’m saying… maybe this whole ‘practice’ thing was never about helping you find some other guy,” he said, his voice soft. “Maybe it was just… me wanting an excuse to be close to you.”

The words hung in the air, and he took another shaky breath, his face flushed as he finally lifted his gaze to meet yours. “I think… I mean, no—I know… that I like you, (Y/n). A lot. And maybe I’m terrible at being a wingman, but… I’d really love to try being… I don’t know… more than that.”

A warmth bloomed in your chest as you took in his words, a mixture of disbelief and joy spreading across your face. You stepped forward, closing the small gap between you, your heart racing. “Bokuto, I… I’ve wanted that, too. This whole time, I was hoping… that maybe you’d see me that way.”

He let out a laugh, shaky but bright, his eyes lighting up. “Really? You mean… you like me, too?” He grinned, his usual exuberance breaking through as he reached for your hand, holding it carefully, almost reverently, as if he was afraid to let go.

You nodded, your fingers curling around his. “Yes, Bokuto. I’ve been waiting for you to notice.”

The two of you shared a moment of silence, his thumb gently tracing over the back of your hand. He seemed to relax, his shoulders easing as the relief and happiness took over.

“So… I guess we’re both pretty clueless, huh?” he said, a playful glint in his eyes.

You laughed, feeling the last of your own nerves dissipate. “Yeah, maybe a little.”

He gave your hand a gentle squeeze, his gaze soft as he looked at you. “Then… let’s make up for lost time,” he said, his voice dropping to a tender whisper. “No more practice or fake dates. Just… me and you. For real.”

Your heart soared at his words, and you gave him a smile that matched the joy in his eyes. “I’d really like that.”

Bokuto’s face lit up in a broad grin, the last of his worries melting away. With a laugh, he tugged you a little closer, wrapping you in a warm, excited hug that felt like home.

And just like that, the two of you stood together, a perfect, unspoken understanding settling between you. The air was filled with laughter, warmth, and the promise of a future you’d both been waiting for, finally within reach.