𝓑𝓸𝓻𝓷 𝓣𝓸 𝓓𝓲𝓮

Chapter Sixteen

The familiar semi-flashing neon lights of the bowling alley made Akaashi more dizzy the longer he looked at them. Bokuto cheered from his seat a few spots down from Akaashi, Kenma smiling victoriously as he walked back to his spot. "Suck it, loser." Kenma taunted Kuroo about his win as he walked beside him for his turn. Bokuto chuckled, Akaashi's eyes following Kuroo as he grabbed a ball and glanced at his target. With his confidant toss, he only managed to knock two pins down.

"Fuck." Kuroo mumbled as Kenma started laughing.

"Brush it off, you can get the rest!" Bokuto shouted to him, which struck a smile across Kuroo's face. Akaashi glanced over at Kenma, his intensive eyes locked on Kuroo while he watched his every movement. He swallowed hard, his mind starting to replay his previous conversation with Bokuto by the fountain. He cursed himself under his breath, dropping his head into his hands. It took everything in him to not spill every single thing that's been attacking his mind these past few days. Kenma noticed, leaning over with a concerned expression and a gentle hand on his shoulder.

"Keiji, are you okay?" Akaashi lifted his head, letting out a shaky breath and a weary smile.

"Yeah, I'm good." Kenma could tell he wasn't, and he wished he could take away whatever was bothering him so he'd have his Akaashi back, not a nervous wreck.

"Do you want to go outside for a second?" Akaashi slowly nodded, standing up with Kenma as he interlocked their fingers. Kenma said something in Bokuto's ear before walking off with Akaashi trailing behind him. Bokuto glanced over with a smile, then looked back at Kuroo.

"Your turn, Ko. Where are they going?" Kuroo asked as he walked over, Bikuto standing up.

"Outside, Keiji needed a minute." Kuroo nodded, glancing at the closing front door.

"Ko, do you know why Keiji's been off recently? Be honest." Bokuto froze. The thought of lying to his boyfriend would ruin him, but he also wanted to protect Akaashi's privacy. He glanced around, as if to find a topic change, and when he couldn't, he sighed.

"I know what's up, but I can't tell you." Kuroo raised an eyebrow, tilting his head as Bokuto hesitantly looked into his eyes.

"Why not? If he's not doing okay, I want to help him." Bokuto nodded, trying to collect a response.

"It's... personal," Bokuto looked over at the new rack of pins at the end of their lane, "Oh, look! It's my turn now!" Bokuto nervously laughed, rushing over to go through with his turn. Kuroo narrowed his eyes, sitting down and staring at Bokuto as if his flexing back muscles would give him the answer he needed. In his silence, he tried to revisit every interaction he's had with Akaashi since that night in his apartment. He wanted to know the reason he suddenly wanted to get shit-faced, and the reason behind his anxiety-driven fidgeting.

Kenma let go of Akaashi's hand once they made it outside, Akaashi leaning against the side of the building in the dark with crossed arms. "Okay, Keiji, you can't run away from this anymore, tell me what's been bothering you. By the way, you're a terrible liar." Akaashi couldn't help but smile, his eyes darting away guiltily. Kenma placed a hand against his shoulder, running his finger along the fabric soothingly.

"Ken, I'm fine-," Kenma lightly slapped Akaashi's face causing Akaashi to quickly turn his head to him, "What the hell was that for?" He couldn't help but laugh, Kenma mimicking it.

"You're not fine, stop lying about it. Every time you lie about being okay, I'm slapping you." Akaashi rested with a smile on his face.

"Harsh, but respected," Kenma raised an eyebrow, a sigh leaving Akaashi's lips as he glanced away again, "My parents visited last Saturday, they dropped some big things on me and it's been stressing me out. Osamu and I had a small falling out because of it." Kenma softened his gaze, tilting his head curiously.