#for-ests

Bokuto has a huge crush on you. It’s no secret to the third years of Fukurodani Academy’s volleyball club but even Akaashi has a theory that maybe his captain asked Wataru to secretly add you to the volleyball chat because of that. Mostly because when the group chat realized your existence, Bokuto was the first to correct Washio about what year you are, even though that really didn’t matter.

Or when someone — Yamato maybe — mentioned how you gave him chocolates all of a sudden one day, Bokuto was the one to pipe up and brag a little about how he helped you walk to class with a load of books to carry.

Akaashi always observed Bokuto’s behavior when it came to you, but he wasn’t expecting Bokuto to ask something like this.

“You want me to… Become Y/N’s best friend. So that you can know if she likes you back?”

Bokuto nods energetically.

“Really? And how exactly will that help me?”

“Help you? What do you mean? D-do you…” Horror sinks down in Bokuto’s features while he points an accusatory finger at his teammate. “Do you like Y/N too?!”

Akaashi blinks at him, waiting for Bokuto to realize.

“Well?!”

Is he… Is he just not gonna realize the obvious?

“Well it doesn’t matter — I’m gonna win her heart, not you.” Bokuto jabs his thumb into his chest triumphantly, trying to conceal how his nerves are twisting his stomach.

“Okay, we’ll see,” Akaashi answers simply. 

After that, it was a competition for Bokuto to see who could woo you the best. Of course, this was a competition against himself, but he doesn’t need to know that. Akaashi thinks it’s better this way — it almost guarantees that Bokuto is successful if he’s trying that hard. And meanwhile, as month after month went by, Akaashi made it his duty to get close to you for the same reason. He wants to make sure Bokuto gets what he wants. The last thing he needs is for Bokuto to go through a tough rejection and have that affect his performance on the court negatively. And then the group chat would become incredibly awkward. There’s just way too many losses that come with Bokuto getting rejected by you and Akaashi isn’t going to risk it. 

But you sort of liked that about him. Akaashi started talking to you more during lunch hours and in the group chat. It was sudden, but you didn’t mind. He invited you to games and practices, team study sessions, team food runs, and anything else that involved him and his friends. You loved it honestly, and he could tell. He could tell it was working to slowly integrate you into the friend group. Bokuto wasn’t going to do it, much too shy for whatever reason, so he had to take matters into his own hands.

“Psst, Akaashi!”

The dark-haired male turns over his shoulder, seeing Bokuto peaking his head out from around the corner of the school gym. One look and Akaashi recognizes the telltale signs of nervousness. He doesn’t blame him, but honestly, Bokuto’s overdoing it. Akaashi’s been working hard for months to get close to Y/N for him, so there’s no rhyme or reason for Bokuto to be this nervous: sweat building on his forehead, hair a mess from pulling on it, school uniform slightly out of place. 

“Did you put your underwear on backward too?” he asks casually, approaching his friend. 

Bokuto glares defensively at him, hiding behind the corner with him. “Quit it. I’m gonna confess to Y/N today. I told her to come to the gym before our practice starts.”

“Okay, good luck,” Akaashi tells him, patting his shoulder.

Bokuto gives him a quizzical look. Is he saying that because he thinks I’ll need it? Did he confess to her already?

“What?” Akaashi furrows his brows, studying his captain and thinking about every possible thought he could be having.

“What’d she say when you confessed? I saw how you’re bringing her around a lot more. Don’t know if you noticed but I’m the one she hangs out with when you bring her to team stuff. So no matter what she said, I’m the one she likes to be around.” He’s pinning Akaashi down with his glare, trying to establish the upper hand around here. 

But rather than his underclassman being intimidated, he starts laughing.

“W-what’s so funny? Hey!” Bokuto’s face is turning pink from embarrassment and he grabs Akaashi by the collar. He doesn’t know what he’s going to do — if there’s even anything he can do.

“I didn’t confess to her, stupid,” he laughs out, holding onto Bokuto’s wrists. “I keep bringing her around so you can confess to her!”

Bokuto falters, his grip loosening and eyes blinking wide. Akaashi can see the gears turning and he watches as his friend gradually gets pinker and pinker. “W-w-what… You…” His eyes water dramatically and he takes Akaashi’s shoulders in his hands now, shaking the poor guy. “You would do that for me?!”

Akaashi nods while being shaken back and forth, finding himself laughing anyway. He appreciates this side of Bokuto — he’s glad it’s you bringing this out of him. “To be fair, I didn’t do anything to make her get close to you. That was all you, big guy.”

Bokuto stops moving the two of them, realization dawning on him. “You’re right.”

He steps away and begins pacing, going over his plans to confess to you. Akaashi watches him mumble to himself, just waiting for Bokuto to realize.

“Akaashi!” He stops suddenly, doubt encroaching on his features while he takes his friend’s shoulders again. “Does… Does Y/N like me?”

Bokuto trusts him with his life, thus why he knows Akaashi of all people would have the answer. Even as Akaashi hesitates and looks past Bokuto rather than making eye contact, he still trusts him. He has to — he has nothing else to go on and his earlier schpiel was just him bluffing. 

Akaashi’s answer is so certain, though, there’s no way Bokuto would be wrong to believe his words. “Yes — she likes you a lot, actually,” he says, finally locking eyes with his friend again.

“Are you sure? You mean it? How do you know?”

Akaashi holds his breath, trying desperately hard to not spill all of your secrets. He’s still your best friend, after all. “Yes, I’m sure. She told me.”

“When?” Bokuto urges, his hands tightening just a little.

“Just now,” he answers, looking away from Bokuto again. 

Bokuto’s heart is pounding. The look on Akaashi’s face… it’s far from that of a guilty liar. No… No, no, no, no, no… 

Whipping around, Bokuto sees you. And you see him, a slideshow of horror and embarrassment phasing across his face. 

“Y-Y-Y-Y/N! Uhh, hey! Can I talk to you?” he stumbles out.

You open your mouth to answer, but already he’s pulled a small box out of his pocket and shoving it in your face. And then his speech starts with a nervous yet brave face.

“I really like you, Y/N! I’ve had feelings for you since early on in the school year and I really want to be more than friends with you. I know you may view me as a friend but-”

You glance between him and Akaashi, about to interrupt Bokuto to soothe his nerves when Akaashi shakes his head. As if to cut you off, he draws a line across his neck with his fingers repeatedly. He knows Bokuto practiced this — he needs to get it out even if it’s pointless to sing to the choir.

“-I know I can make you happier if you were my girlfriend. Happier than anyone else.” He takes your hand in his shaking one, placing the small heart-shaped cardboard box in it. “I-I promise,” he says much quieter now. “Please tell me you feel the same. I won’t bother you anymore if you don’t, though.”

His heart is racing. Absolutely sprinting and trying to leap out of his mouth and onto the ground between the two of you. All of his senses are on high as he stares at you with owl-like eyes, looking at you for an answer he’s hoping for.

An answer you already signaled to Akaashi just a few moments ago when Bokuto asked.

An answer you’ve been working up the courage to say yourself.

“Boku,” you start softly, making Bokuto flinch. “I’d be happy to be your girlfriend.”

Like the hyper-energetic and simply happy high school boy he is, Bokuto’s face breaks out into a grin accompanied by a victory cry. You’re laughing when he picks you up in a bone-crushing hug and spins you around. The two of you — god he loves the sound of that — are a spewing fire hydrant of happy, causing Akaashi to smile and the other team members to curiously turn around to corner due to all the commotion. 

“What’s going on here?” Washio whispers to Akaashi.

Akaashi leans over to his teammate’s ear. “Bokuto confessed to Y/N and she accepted his feelings.”

“The second year?” Washio’s alarmed tone reaches the two love birds in the midst of their silly celebrating. 

“Washio, one of these days you’ll have learn more about Y/N. You won’t be uninformed about my girlfriend ever again — not on my watch!” he states proudly, holding your hand while you hold his gift in your other hand.

At this point, the whole team has gradually crowded around, all of them understanding what Bokuto’s words mean.