the another life we were given

But in another life

When Bokuto set his first step into the gym this morning, he felt kinda odd, like something was off. He looks at all the gymnasium, and see that Karasuno and Nekoma were already here, Kenma was playing on his PSP while Kuroo was trying to get him to warm up, this scene brought a smile to bokuto lips but when he looks up at his team his happy expression were long gone and he jogs rapidly towards his friends.

-"Where's Akaashi ? he's never late."

-"His mother called" said the coach "he's sick again he won't come today. Anahori will replace him."

-"Does she said what he has ?"

-"No, she just said it's nothing to worry about, the same thing as usual."

-"I...I have to go check on him"

But Konoha prevented him from going further by catching him by the bottom of his shirt.

-"You stay here Bokuto-san, Akaashi will be fine, but you have to play, you're not sick and we need you."

-"Please Konoha i- no, Coach please" he bent "let me go to Akaashi's, he always make sure I'm fine and he always helped me when I was sick, let me pay him back. I have to, you know that I have to."

Their coach sight and told Bokuto to stand up. He perfectly knows Bokuto was worried, he was too actually. Plus the fact that Akaashi was missing will only resolve to Bokuto being stuck in his emo-mode, and no one will succeed to make him get out of it. The captain of Fukurodani looks at his coach in the eyes, silently pleading him to let him go help his best friend.

-"Fine, but this is the only time you skip one day of the training camp, even if next time you're sick you will have to come, clear ?"

-"Crystal clear"

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Bokuto never ran this fast and to be honest he was kinda freaking out. It's not the first time Akaashi's mother had called up to tell that her son was sick or couldn't make it to practice. Even if every time Akaashi told Bokuto that's is nothing serious, the captain knows he was hiding something from him, and now, he had enough. As he reaches Akaashi house, he fast knocks at the door but after a couple of minutes no one answered

-"Akaashi it's me, Bokuto ! I'm coming in !"

-"No don't" a faint voice answered him on the other side of the door. "Please Bokuto-san."

-"Why ? are you sure everything is alright?"

-"Yes I just don't want you to be sick" he paused "plus you can't skip practice Bokuto-san"

Bokuto went silent for a few minutes, making Akaashi though his best friend was gone, Bokuto just sits down, his back against the door, oblivious to the fact that Akaashi was in the same position on the other side of the door.

-"You are my best friend"

Akaashi jumped slightly when he heard Bokuto's voice, but said nothing.

-"Right?"

-"Yes, Bokuto-san"

-"Best friend are supposed to help each other...how could I help you if you don't tell me what's going on if you don't let me in"

-"I'm okay Bokuto-san, stop worrying about me"

-"How I'm supposed to do that Keiji !" cried Bokuto on the verge of a panic attack "You..yyou don't understand I can't lose you" he said, putting his face in his trembling hands.

Akaashi could no longer find his words. He had never been so surprised by Bokuto's attitude or emotion, actually, he never saw Bokuto having an outburst like this. He had just called him by his first name which he had never done in 2 years. Moreover, he didn't understand at all where his best friend's worries were coming from, why did he think he was going to lose him? He was just too tired because of his insomnia problems, lately, his seizures were more recurrent and difficult to handle, which made him miss more practices. He didn't want bokuto to know about it because he didn't consider it as something important and he didn't want to worry his friend, but it seems the opposite has happened. Anyway, there were no reasons to panic as much as Bokuto had just done. He didn't waste any more time and got up, almost falling down because of his trembling legs, to open the door. When Bokuto felt the door open he raised his head and when his teary eyes made contact with Akaashi's blue one, he rushed into his arms. Akaashi didn't say anything and just hold his best friend close.

-"You know..." he whispered after a few minutes "I don't care if i get sick, i really want to help you and sorry for shouting"

-"It's okay and... you won't get sick anyway"

-"But you said-"

-"I just didn't want you to find out what I have, to be honest, I found it embarrassing...but it's nothing that can contaminate you."

Bokuto broke away from him and take his hand

-"You don't have to be embarrassed about anything with me Akaashi, if you really don't want to talk about it, it's okay but let me be there for you"

Akaashi send Bokuto a small smile before lightly squeezing his hand

-"Get inside, I'll tell you everything"

When they reach Akaashi's room, still holding hands, he made him sit with him on his bed, their backs against the blue wall of the room. Akaashi brought his knees back to him and Bokuto did the same. Trying to make Akaashi comfortable enough so he could open up to him, Bokuto was looking around the room for something which could help him. When his eyes fell on the night table next to him he sees the Pocky Stick he bough to him a few days ago, still left untouched.

-"You haven't eaten it yet ?" he asks grabbing the packet

-"No I...actually I wanted to eat them with you"

-"We can do that right now" he smiled and open the packet before handing it to Akaashi

-"Thank you" he picks two Pocky Stick and starts to eat one of them as Bokuto do the same

Bokuto didn't want to pressure Akaashi to tell him how he felt, so he waited patiently, eating until the setter opens his mouth to speak again.

-"I have insomnia...I.." Bokuto grab his hand, Akaashi look at their intertwined fingers and take a deep breath "I'm scared of the night, I'm scared to fall asleep and I never knew why. I just..I just can't control it, it makes me so anxious Bokuto-san it's scary"

Bokuto's eyes widened at the revelation

-"You..you can't sleep?" he asked not looking at Akaashi, but staring at his own hands, which were holding a pocky stick, instead.

-"I always manage to have some sleep but sometimes not enough to be able to go to practice or school"

-"I'm sorry"

-"What are you apologising for ? you're not responsible for this, people have fear and anxiety you can't do anything about it Bokuto-san" he said before looking at him

-"It's just that i...I must have been such a pain in the ass for you, with my dejected mode and all, you were struggling to sleep and I've been so exhausting to you, I'm sorry Keiji"

-"Stop calling me that" he grinned "it's weird, and you never were and you will never be a pain in the ass for me Bokuto-san" Akaashi was looking at Bokuto who still refused to look at him "look at me please" Bokuto finally looked up "You know, I joined Fukurodani because I saw you played two years ago" he smiled, as the memories flew in his mind "You were amazing, and I wanted nothing more than to play by your side. I choose you and I'm so glad you choose me too"

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