Mascot

Akaashi

Akaashi should have spent three days in the hospital, but he convinced the doctor to release him after the second. His mom said that she would be there that evening, so he spent the time learning to walk on the crutched they'd rented him.

Shimizu had left Yachi to assist him if he needed and she followed quietly as he maneuvered up and down the halls. He slowed his pace to match hers.

The cast hung heavy on his right leg and he stopped to rest it.

"Isn't it best to rest and not overdue it?"

"Is it? You tell me."

"Oh, yes, it is. We should return to your room and you can practice more in a couple hours if your mom still hasn't arrived."

Akaashi felt bad that the poor girl was so nervous. He wanted to help her for however long he remained there, but his mom was waiting for him when he reached his room.

"Keiji, I'm so glad you get to come home." She enveloped him in a hug and he leaned into her.

"I'm ready to go. Can we?"

"Yes, of course. Your nurse brought me the discharge papers, so we're ready to go."

He followed her out, stopping at the desk to pay for his stay. A voice prevented him from stepping out the front doors, despite it not being directed at him.

"Excuse me, what happened to the patient in room 105?" The black and white streaked hair stood tall on the man's head. The nurse at the information desk pointed him toward the doors, toward Akaashi.

"He just checked out."

"Mom, I'll meet you in the car." She nodded and continued on without him. Bokuto caught up on the sidewalk outside and Akaashi glanced up at him. "Do you want something? You've been outside my room since I was admitted."

"I wanted to make sure that you're okay. I was worried about you, Akaashi."

"Why? Outside of gym, we don't know each other."

"But we do! You're the mascot of our school. It's only because of you that we won that game! It will be because of you that we win the next one-."

"No."

"What?"

"No. I'm not the mascot anymore. It isn't the same if people know who I am, so I'm not going to do it anymore. I quit."

"You can't quit!"

"I just did. It's not your choice, Bokuto. You don't have a say in the matter. Just leave me alone, okay? Besides, you're bothering Kuroo and he doesnt need the stress." He walked away then, not letting the older man get a word in, but he didn't miss the hurt look on Bokuto's face. Why did it make his chest ache?