Kiss Me (Like You Wanna Be Loved)

Chapter Nine: Bad Ideas

The weirdest thing about kissing Bokuto is that things aren't weird.

Maybe it should've been awkward between them, and maybe it would've been if it were anyone else besides Bokuto. But later that night, when he comes home from practice, he greets Keiji as he always does.

"Aghaasheee! I'm home! Ooh are you making curry? Smells so good!!"

Keiji glances up to see Bokuto grinning brightly as he leans against the kitchen doorway. Keiji almost smiles back; the lingering doubt and last bit of nervousness he was feeling disappears. "Mmm. It'll be ready in ten. How was practice?"

"Awesome! I was on fire today! Even Oikawa was impressed and he like never compliments me 'cause he says it goes to my head. But I had this one straight spike that was like wuhpow!" He mimes forcefully spiking a ball. "It was so cool!"

And they fall into an easy conversation, and it's comfortable, and normal, and exactly like every other night.

They don't talk about the kissing. Bokuto doesn't bring it up, so Keiji certainly isn't going to.

Even three days later, nothing has changed between them. It's like it never even happened. And Keiji is mostly grateful for this, and only a little disconcerted. He spends the afternoon trying to focus on his History assignment that's due tomorrow, but his anxious thoughts keep spiraling off in different directions that all lead back to Bokuto.

So was it just a one time thing, then? Maybe that's for the better. It was a bad idea to begin with.

But then, Bokuto did say they should do it again. Is he waiting for Keiji to ask? Did he only do it because Keiji asked? Maybe he felt obligated and was just doing Keiji a favor and wasn't really into it. But, no-he certainly seemed into it. You don't kiss someone like that if you're not into it.

Or maybe you do. It's not like Keiji has any experience in the matter. Maybe he's misreading this entire situation...

He groans and pushes up from his desk. He can't focus on homework right now. He needs a break. It's still too early for dinner, but... he glances around his room for something to occupy himself with and spots the pile of dirty clothes that's been building up. That'll do.

He fills up his linen laundry bag with clothes then grabs his phone and a book to read, intending to camp out in the laundry room instead of making multiple trips up and down the many flights of stairs.

"Kaashi!" Bokuto greets when he walks out into the hallway. Bokuto is at the table with a textbook open and papers spread out around him. "Are you going out?"

"Yes. Hot date," he replies, and Bokuto's eyebrows shoot up. Keiji smirks and holds up his bag of laundry. "I'll be back in an hour or so."

"Oh!" Bokuto says, face lighting up with understanding. "I got laundry too! Wait right there!"

Keiji frowns, working up a biting response that he's not a goddamn laundry service and if Bokuto thinks for one second-

Bokuto reappears holding a basket of clothes against one hip and smiling as he says, "Let's go."

"Go?" Keiji intelligently inquires.

"To do laundry! We can keep each other company! I need a study break anyways."

"Oh. Okay."

The laundry room is on the first floor, tucked behind the stairs. It's kind of stuffy, because it's not very well-ventilated, but it's kept clean and always smells nice. There are two washing machines sitting side by side and two dryers stacked on top of each other. They each claim a washing machine and load them up with their clothes and detergent.