we already talked about this but I want more!! third year captain akaashi keiji and his new ace setter who wants to be like bokuto au!!
akaashi first meets the brilliant, bright little first year while helping the managers hang up posters promoting the volleyball club. he bounds up to him in a way that’s both frighteningly familiar and endearing. He chirps “This is the school Bokuto Koutarou went attended right??”
it still feels weird saying “attended” as in past tense, but akaashi nods. this is when the first year announces that he wants to be JUST LIKE bokuto-senpai!! and that bokuto-senpai was his inspiration for joining volleyball and how HE’S going to be the ace!!! ect ect.
And Akaashi’s seen plenty of Bokuto’s fans before, but this is the first time since Bokuto’s left and the first year’s enthusiasm has Akaashi feeling soft and wistful so he says, “I’m sure you will.”
the new first year gets veRY QUICKLY attached to Akaashi, following him around, asking for tosses, telling him very loudly everything about his day and what’s going on with him. Akaashi pretends to be resigned to his fate, but deep down he’s grateful. Things had been lonelier, quieter ever since Bokuto left, and it’s nice to have someone by his side.
Bokuto shows up to practice one day because honestly who could keep him away and he’s so excited to see Akaashi he just yells and runs and sweeps him off his feet. Akaashi’s annoyed because “bokuto-san you’re making me look bad in front of my kouhai” but at the same time he’s just so relieved that Bokuto’s here. ((Even with a mini-bokuto bubbling around him, nothing beats the real thing))
Bokuto of course meets his little fan and is BEYOND thrilled to give him all kinds of tips on being “as bokuto as he can be” and they kind of go off on their own. Bokuto’s a fantastic senpai, ruffling the kids hair and laughing at all his jokes and “OF COURSE I CAN GIVE YOU A PIGGYBACK RIDE I HAVE AMAZINGLY STRONG SHOULDERS.”
lowkey Akaashi’s annoyed that the first year is getting all of Bokuto’s attention
Bokuto makes up for it though, by taking Akaashi out for dinner after and telling him all about college and Kuroo and the new volleyball team. Akaashi’s relaxed, feeling normal for the first time since Bokuto left. But now that he’s here, Akaashi’s put at ease.
the next day the first year is even clingier and and hovering than normal– following him around between classes, sitting with him at lunch. He holds onto the edge of Akaashi’s jacket through the crowded school hallway. it gets to the point where Akaashi confronts him about it like “Is everything okay? You’ve been acting strangely.”
and he’s like !!!! “bokuto-senpai said to stick close to you, because he wouldn’t have gotten half as good as he did without you.”
and Akaashi’s blushing and like “he’s not wrong, but i don’t think he meant to stick physically close to me” and the first year gets embarrassed and backs off.
Akaashi calls Bokuto that night and you better believe he mentions what the first year said and Bokuto calls traitor and they laugh about it all night
when they eventually, finally get together the first year walks in on them making out and he’s scarred for life like “I DONT HAVE TO GET THAT CLOSE TO AKAASHI-SENPAI, DO I?” and bokuto’s like “you better not” and akaashi laughs and laughs
