I am highly invested in literature university student Akaashi coming out of his shell and enjoying uni life + bokuaka
Now with Bokuto’s side here
Akaashi gets through his first year with wonderful grades, he's well rounded and good at gen ed courses but he's always loved to indulge in literature.
He's afraid of telling his parents that he's decided on what is considered an arts course. They tell him he could be a successful businessman, a lawyer, doctor, so why settle.
But ultimately, it's Bokuto, abroad with an international team, who tells him that, "Life's no good if you're not doing what you love." That makes Akaashi a bit more brave.
By 2nd year he moves into the dorms with other literature students. They are colorful and kind, all obsessed with variations of media, icons, and art, and it expands Akaashi's mind.
What Akaashi loves is that the student body is so diverse that his resting stoic face and calm demeanor does not dissuade anyone from approaching him.
He also realizes that there is no such thing as caring too much. His classmates over analyze character intentions, costume designs, author appeal, reader influence. This applies to real life scenarios too, suddenly everyone speaks so candidly (a contrast from the traditional way he was brought up).
Eventually Akaashi ends up with a solid group of friends and they go to slam poetry sessions, group studies, karaoke, and college parties together. They eventually ask him if he's single and uhh-
Bokuto and him are a thing. Bokuto has always been candid about his feelings, it is Akaashi that's holding back because- "You'll meet many new people, Bokuto-san", and, "University keeps me busy, we might not have the time."
And as a compromise, Bokuto stated, proudly, that he would court Akaashi for as long as it took. "Court... like volleyball court?" "DON'T SAY THAT AGKAASHI, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN."
What he means is the idea from old traditional English literature that detailed the process of a man winning over his object of affection through time and offerings of love. Bokuto has learnt this from Akaashi's many literature readings and thought the idea was great!
"We're Japanese, Bokuto-san, things are different." "But I like you, Akaashi! What difference does it make."
Being courted by Bokuto means receiving random food deliveries to his apartment while Bokuto is overseas and getting convenience store flowers when he comes by to visit. They see each other multiple times a month, Bokuto becomes friends with his roommates, and they hold hands when they go out to dinner.
Their dynamics don't change, Bokuto knows Akaashi likes him back. He compiles playlists for him to listen to before big games, asks about his food intakes, progress, and teammates, and comes to all local games. Bokuto is aware that they are both young, he's not earning much yet, and Akaashi is drowning in his readings, part time job, and probably not sleeping much.
What Akaashi both likes and dislikes about literature is that brains don't factor much to success. He's used to studying, practicing, even memorizing but with writing, you need talent, passion, skill.
He does great in his theory of literature class but his writing is embarrassingly subpar at first. His teacher, a younger woman who lets her class call her by her first name and comes to class 10 minutes late, tells him such. "Your grammar and construction are good, Akaashi-kun, but this is a love story and I don't feel the passion."
What she means is that despite Akaashi describing the feeling of falling in love like seeing the stars for the first time, he paints the girl as someone with brown hair and eyes. There is no synergy with the heroine and the apparent love story.
"I don't think she's the one you are writing about." His teacher gives him a knowing smile, but Akaashi feels embarrassed and exposed at how easily undone he is.
He thinks about why he chose literature, unstructured and unpredictable. Why he chose to endure his parent's disappointment and the expectations of his peers. Why he enjoys the debates his new friends drag him in, absorbing new types of literature every week, writing essays on what each author wanted to say just for him to be wrong.
Most of his friends go either way, or are at least curious, it's not even a revelation to them when he comes out. But for Akaashi, it's something he's struggled with and something he rather Bokuto not struggle with as he gets recruited into a division 1 team.
"But Akaashi, all the greatest love stories begin with overcoming the greatest challenges. Think of the Greeks, the Romans, the-", the comforting words of his roommates.
In the end, Bokuto knows about Akaashi's tendency to overthink. He gives him space but knows when it's about to burst. All his feelings, frustrations on his writing, anxieties on Bokuto's progression and his own future- come out while Bokuto is staying over and his roommates are visiting home.
Bokuto listens, chuckles and brings him tissue, let's himself be cried on. It's not embarrassing for Akaashi to pour out his feelings, there are never secrets between them.
"It'll be hard but not impossible."
Bokuto says, just like the last time Akaashi cried during their last tournament. A refute that left him speechless before and leaves him speechless yet again.
"You know Akaashi, I think you're easy to love."
He knows this isn’t true, after all he's released several months of pent up emotion despite them already existing domestically, practically together without the label. Bokuto goes to practice, Akaashi is in university but it's always been easy for them to give space and get back together. They've always had the reassurance that there would be more laters, a future for the two of them. For Akaashi, love wasn't like literature, it was easy.
Bokuto adjusts from being the-guy-Akaashi-is-dating to Akaashi's-boyfriend, much to his friends' delight.
Akaashi is still bad at writing romance. "Too flowery, too much fluff- I think you're overindulging yourself here." But his professor is happy and teases him relentlessly; he sticks to other genres to avoid talking about his boyfriend every assignment.
Akaashi in university is really happy. He eats too much unhealthy food, doesn't always arrive to class on time, participates in every ridiculous plan his friends have, and openly shows off his boyfriend when he starts making the news.
Bokuaka fans have the best lines (“We are the protagonist”, “120%”, “Like a star”), but I find this line very underrated and would like to promote its supremacy.
“It’s not impossible, it’s just hard.”
I mean just look at their faces, look how happy Bokuto is delivering that line and how SOFT Akaashi is in response.
Remember that Bokuto made Akaashi smile LIKE THAT just after he was crying. One of the main themes of this chapter was Akaashi’s stoic expressions (highlighted in how he reacts to Bokuto’s “Your tosses are the best” before vs after), so Furudate really wanted to put emphasis on Akaashi’s feelings.
Unlike other iconic lines, this is directly delivered by Bokuto/spoken to Akaashi (previous lines have been thoughts/feelings). And with such an iconic moment, you just know that this is something both will remember and take with them from this tournament.
Remember that Bokuto says this in rebuttal of Akaashi’s doubts and negativity. The team is actually shook that Bokuto managed to win an argument against Akaashi’s overthinking (and the team knows he’s prone to this, so they have probably tried and failed to talk him out of it before).
This is significant because Akaashi’s overthinking had caused him much grief during the match, even though this is beneficial at times, it’s good that Bokuto’s positivity can calm him down when it gets too much.
The whole Fukurodani team is literally eavesdropping during this moment, they know this is shippy.
And I just find it sweet that Bokuto has given much thought into rebutting Akaashi’s insecurities, which means that he was thinking about this even after the match- he was already anticipating how Akaashi would react to everything that happened. This gives so much insight to their dynamic; I find Bokuto so gentle here and it shows that they are accustomed to each other’s moods.
What happens before this is also Akaashi releasing his anxieties on Bokuto’s performance, he brings up his mood swings even though this didn’t happen during the match; this is how you know Akaashi worries are rooted beyond the current game.
And all this is reassured by Bokuto being himself, acknowledging what he needs to work on and promising that it’ll be alright despite the challenges.
I need to note how non-toxic this interaction is. No one teases Akaashi for crying, or calls Bokuto moody or irresponsible for his previous shortcomings. Bokuto takes Akaashi’s feelings very seriously, so in return, he gives a thoughtful answer.
The results of this conversation are evident in the timeskip, particularly with how Bokuto manages his moods AND how we see Akaashi smiling all the time. Like Akaashi is now able to watch Bokuto play without worrying, that’s growth.
Seriously, timeskip bokuaka is so happy.
Now consider this dynamic in a future bokuaka relationship
Bokuto feeling overwhelmed playing in a new team after graduation. Training with professionals is hard and he’s dealing with his moods on his own. Akaashi reassuring him through the phone, it may be hard but it’s not impossible for you.
Akaashi overthinking the night before he submits his writings to a literature magazine. He knows that it is unlikely it’ll get accepted and he has half a mind to not submit at all. Bokuto, pouting, tells him that, it’s only impossible if he doesn’t try.
The line being used as comfort when they decide to make their relationship public.
The line being used as Bokuto goes through losses, Akaashi fails to meet deadlines, and at whatever the world throws at them through adulthood.
Basically, it’s this moment that solidified bokuaka supremacy because it showed that they could have honest conversations about their feelings and read one another. It’s so refreshing to see Bokuto take care of Akaashi, and to have Akaashi smile and move forward after that emotional episode. I love seeing healthy dynamics. Akaashi gets Bokuto out of his moods by knowing the little things he finds important, Bokuto prevents Akaashi’s anxiety through positive and mindful statements.
Lastly, the scene ends like this. Bokuto walking away, sure that Akaashi and the team will follow. It’s not just the loneliness on court he’s conquered, but the feeling of being understood- highs and lows and all.
"I know you're capable and dedicated but you've convinced yourself that you've peaked, and you aren't even thirty yet." Bokuto smiles at him, "I want you to give yourself the chance to succeed, choose something fun."
(in which Bokuto encourages Akaashi to pursue his dreams, and they navigate adulthood together)
"We're looking for a real headliner, a big-time athlete who's friendly and familiar,"
Akaashi bites his lip and calculates his next move. He could casually drop that he was dating an Olympic volleyball star who happened to be well-loved by the press, it would certainly gain his division favor. But there was his dilemma of dating said Olympic star, which certainly would be a conflict of interest. Udai said they were desperate, but is Akaashi?
"I may know of someone," Akaashi keeps his face neutral, "my former high school volleyball captain is currently an outside hitter for the MSBY Black Jackals."
Read it here
(Or the post-401 date fic, where Akaashi and Bokuto explore Sendai nightlife and talk about the future)
