Stormy Summer

An Unexpected Cloudburst

I woke up to a sunny morning, disoriented for a few seconds as my alarm blared in my eyes.

Why's my alarm on?

I lied still for a few seconds after turning it off.

Then it hit me. Today was my first date with Bokuto.

I scramble up into a sitting position, noting the fact that Rose was already up and out of sight.

I rushed through my morning routine, and just as I was finished eating an apple, my phone lit up with a notification.

A text from Bokuto, stating that he was already outside.

My heartbeat suddenly quickened, and my hands felt unusually clammy.

This would be the first time we hang out together.

Just the two of us.

I looked down at what I was wearing. It wasn't anything too special, but still my favorite T-shirt, along with an unbuttoned plaid shirt.

I took a deep breath.

'It's going to be fine,' I tell myself as I open the door, revealing a smiling, yet seemingly slightly nervous Bokuto.

I was just slightly relieved to see that he wasn't wearing anything special, either. He actually just wore his normal clothes.

I smiled in relief as we walked down the sidewalk in the direction of the train station.

'It's going to be fine.'

That sentence was repeated like some sort of mantra in my mind. Over and over again.

Trying to make myself calm down enough to hear what exactly Bokuto is talking about. Something about volleyball and... nationals?

"You're going to nationals?" I hadn't realized I opened my mouth until he stopped in his tracks, looking at me, slightly confused, "I mean... I didn't know you could... Being students and all that..." I trailed off slightly.

Bokuto nodded, "Yeah. Kuroo's team is going to nationals, too," he supplied with a matter-of-fact tone to his voice.

I knew both teams were good, but this is...

"That's so cool!" I exclaim, beaming. My worries from earlier now are forgotten.

Bokuto's grin widened at that, boasting in the praise.

Bokuto kept telling me more, about how he was at nationals last year as well, and how cool it is there.

The giant court.

The high ceilings.

Everyone staring at him, watching him play.

'He really loves being the center of attention, doesn't he?' I muse to myself, 'The polar opposite of me.'

I smile at his excited grin as we walk into a seemingly random building. Upon glancing around, I'm mildly surprised, but also highly excited to see that we're in an arcade.

The huge room we were currently in was holding several machines, most of which were flashing rapidly in all sorts of different color-schemes. But there were also classic crane games. The only difference to the crane games I'm used to is that the prices seem genuinely good.

Childhood dreams and wonders are just a skilled shot away with these things.

"Kou! Look!" I exclaim, excitedly pointing at the Detective Pikachu plushes in one of the crane games. Bokuto raises an eyebrow at me, coming to stand next to me.