Kiss Me (Like You Wanna Be Loved)

Chapter Seven: Coffee and Vodka

"Hey, so," Bokuto says over dinner one night in mid-September. "I was thinking of having a few friends over on Saturday. Is that okay?"

"Of course it's okay," Keiji replies slowly. "I'm not your parent, Bokuto-san. You don't need my permission to have friends over. This is your apartment."

"Yeah, but it's your apartment, too! And I don't want you to be uncomfortable or anything!"

Keiji almost smiles, but he holds it back thanks to years of practice. "That's very considerate of you. But please, go ahead. Invite your friends over. Just let me know what time they'll be arriving and I'll do my best to stay out of your way."

"No!" Bokuto says quickly. "I mean-you don't have to stay away! You should meet them-hang out with us!"

"Ah, no, I don't think so. I have a lot of homework," Keiji says, looking down so he doesn't have to see how Bokuto's shoulders slump at his rejection. "But I do appreciate the invitation," he adds softly.

"Oh. Alright. Well, if you change your mind..." he says, and Keiji finds himself fighting a blush, because those same words have been echoing in his head for the last week and a half. "You can totally join us, okay?"

"I'll think about it," Keiji says, feeling slightly guilty when Bokuto smiles at that, because while Keiji certainly will think about it, he knows his answer won't change.

Bokuto's friends are scheduled to arrive at 7pm, so at 6:30, Keiji packs up his laptop and goes to Early Bird to camp out for the evening. He doesn't really have that much homework, but he may as well get ahead. He busies himself with next week's assignments and manages to keep occupied until 10 when Early Bird closes and Tsukishima kicks him out so he can clean and lock up in peace.

Keiji trudges home with the flimsy hope that Bokuto's friends will be gone by now, but no such luck. Even standing outside the apartment door he can hear muffled voices and Bokuto's booming laugh.

He quietly lets himself in, intending to sneak unnoticed to his room, but Bokuto is immediately shouting, "Kaaaashi! Welcome home!"

"Hello, Bokuto-san," he replies, not pausing as he continues down the hall.

"Hey, wait!" Bokuto scrambles to his feet and catches up just as Keiji makes it to his room. "Do you, uh." He shifts in place like he has too much energy to be still. "Do you wanna maybe come play some games with us?"

Keiji hesitates, fiddling with his fingers. "No, I shouldn't..."

"Oh, okay," Bokuto's smile drops, and Keiji feels a sudden urge to change his answer.

Just then, another voice calls out from the living room, "Aw, come on, you're gonna say no to the birthday boy?"

Keiji's brows crease together in a frown. "It's your birthday?" he asks quietly so only Bokuto can hear. "You never mentioned that."

"Ah, yeah, I didn't wanna make a big deal about it..."

Keiji stares at him for another moment then sighs and puts his bag down inside his room. He turns back to Bokuto. "Alright. What are we playing?"

Bokuto instantly brightens. "Hey, hey, hey! Kaashi's gonna join us!" he cheers as he leads Keiji out to the living room. There are three other guys sitting around the table, and a fourth sitting on the couch playing a Nintendo Switch.

"Am I mistaken," Keiji starts when he sees the empty vodka bottle lying on its side in the middle of the table. "Or have I walked in on a group of grown men playing spin the bottle?"

"It's not spin the bottle!" Bokuto says quickly, cheeks turning pink. "I mean, we're spinning a bottle, but it's Truth or Dare!"

"Ah. A group of grown men playing Truth or Dare. That's much better."