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Akaashi

Fukurodani lost the game, but it had been planned that way. The team made a wordless agreement to put Kuroo in a good mood before Akaashi tried to talk to him and letting him beat them was the easiest way they knew how.

It must have worked because he was whistling as he made his way through the parking lot. The smirk on his face faltered when he saw the raven-haired boy sitting on the tailgate of his beat-up old pickup.

"Akaashi?"

He gave a small, nervous smile as he answered. "Hi, Kuroo. Can we talk?"

Kuroo shoved a hand through his hair, brushing his stubborn messy bangs out of his eyes. "Uh, yeah. Of course we can. As long as your protection detail isn't going to show up out of nowhere and attack me."

Akaashi laughed and Kuroo relaxed. "They won't attack you. I told the team I wanted to talk to you and tie up loose ends, so they'll be staying away unless I need help."

"You sound like you're doing good. Let's go get dinner. I'm hungry after that game. You can meet me at the diner?"

"Do you mind if I ride with you? Kou picked me up this morning so I don't have my car."

"Yeah, that's fine." Akaashi noted the careful distance Kuroo kept between them. Even as he unlocked the truck and held the door for him, Kuroo stood as far back as he could, avoiding contact. Inside the truck, he squished himself against the driver door, but Akaashi sat normally on the passenger side.

The space between them felt awkward, tense. Akaashi had never realized how physical their relationship had been until then.

Akaashi laid a hand on his arm, refusing the move it when he flinched. "You should relax. I'm not luring you into a trap. I really do want to talk to you."

Kuroo exhaled slowly, his eyes not leaving the road. "Does he treat you right?"

"Yes."

"Obviously he treatsyou better than I did, though that isn't hard." He twisted his arm up to catch Akaashi's hand. "I know what I did was wrong and I won't apologize for it yet because I'm not quite able to push that much pride aside." He gave his hand a small squeeze. "After you left, everything fell apart and it's not your fault at all. Don't think I'm trying to put this on you like I used to, but you did have a part in it. My grades dropped and I almost flunked out. I was benched for six games until I had C's and we lost jsut about every one. Daishou found someone he was serious about and Kenma wanted something serious or nothing at all.

"I was alone for a bit and started getting depressed, so my parents made me start counseling. It's helped a lot and I'm better now. Not one hundred percent, but better."

Kuroo had stopped driving.

"Kuroo, I've missed you. Not as a boyfriend, but as my friend. I miss hanging out with you and going to the mall and all the non-date things we used to do. You were my best friend before we got together and I want that back."

With a sigh, Kuroo pulled his hand away. "I miss you too, Keiji, but - while you may be ready to have me back in your life - I'm not ready to have you in mine. I'm sorry, but I just can't be around you yet. I need you to understand that."

"I do understand."

"Good. Is there anything else you wanted to talk about?" He shook his head. "Then will you please get out of my truck before I do something we'll both regret?"

Akaashi slid out, noticing for the first time that they were parked at his house and not at the diner. With a sad smile, he watched Kuroo disappear down the road, taking some of the weight on his shoulders with him as he went.