ISOLATED

CLOSED CURTAIN

"When will he be home?" Akaashi asks his father.

"I don't know yet, Keiji, he's fine now, the police are trying to talk to him but he hasn't spoken a thing since he woke up."

"How about Kuroo?"

"He's still unconscious."

It's still hard to process just how fast day changes, one minute they exchange i love yous then the next thing Akaashi knew Bokuto was found unconscious inside an abandoned and incomplete building.

"Keiji?"

How was he? What happened? 

"Keiji."

How had everything happened? Did he not go to practice?

"Akaashi Keiji."

He told me he'll practice, though, so how?

"Akaashi Keiji."

"H-huh? O-oh, sorry."

"He'll be okay, Keiji, Koutarou is a strong boy."

"For sure." He stared at the window, hoping to see the face he wanted.

"How's work, dad?" Keiji breaks the long pause of silence that engulped them.

"It's fine, they pay quite short but I know I can manage." Kosuke sighs, "It's embarrassing to lean on Koutarou's mom, I want to make it up for her as soon as possible."

"I'm sorry, dad."

"You're always apologizing. You didn't do anything wrong."

"I feel like I have to apologize for being you know, weak."

"You're not weak, Keiji," Kosuke caress his son's hand. "You're a strong kid and i'm proud I get to raise you up, my boy." he smiles behind his mask, "I love you more than anyone in the world, keep that in mind."

"I-"

Akaashi was interrupted by the light of a car parking infront of Bokuto's house.

He's home.

"Alright, Keiji. I'll leave you alone now."

He could only nod as his father leaves the room.

He sees him.

He sees Bokuto head his way to his window, his tensed face making Akaashi's nerves quiver.

"..Bokuto-san?" he speak gently, afraid he'll break the boy. "How are you."

It had been long, probably a minute or two that Akaashi had to stare unto Bokuto's cold eyes, their mouths not uttering a word.

"Talk to me, Bokuto." Akaashi pleads, "Tell me what happ-"

"It's all your fault." Bokuto speaks ever so coldly, like he means every damned word.

"M-me?"

Akaashi knows better.

He wouldn't fight Bokuto.

He would make himself understand what the latter feels.

He'd gone through a lot, he understands that this is how Bokuto deals with anger.

And if it had mean that Bokuto would burst his anger out on him, he's willing to do it.

But while Bokuto Koutarou is screaming at him, blaming him for every reason he could think, Akaashi Keiji could feel his heart break little by little. Slow and painful.

"I-i've held back," Bokuto screams while sobbing hard. "I didn't want to fight b-because I was thinking of you a-and maybe I shouldn't have."

"I'm sorry."

"T-they were beating him they-t-they were, they almost killed him and I didn't do a fucking thing because of a damn promise."

"I'm sorry, Bokuto-san."

"I should've fought back. It should've been me who's unconscious. They knew. They knew I wouldn't fight back but why did I prove them right?" Bokuto was in despair and Akaashi couldn't bear watching this, it was all too painful.

"P-please don't blame yourself, Bokuto-san, i-it's not your not fault.-"

"Because it's yours, Akaashi."

Akaashi nods, it was better this way. He can't let Bokuto do anything stupid to himself.

He was willing to let his heart shatter to pieces just for Bokuto Koutarou.

"I shouldn't have thought of you. I would've saved him a-and he'd be alright. Hell, I should've not picked up a fight with that prick just to protect you."

"T-that's right."

Bokuto quieted down for a moment.

"I shouldn't have loved you, Akaashi."

And then he leaves.

He leaves Akaashi completely broken.

Bokuto didn't mean that, he wouldn't say that to me, he's just angry, is all.

Right?

That night Akaashi Keiji and Bokuto Koutarou slept with heavy hearts and closed curtains.