Akaashi looked up from the register he was at, trying to stay awake. "Good evening, how are you?" 

The other person held up a finger, on the phone. 

Akaashi started scanning items, just trying to go through this. "Would you like the milk in a bag?" 

"I'm on the phone." 

Akaashi hesitated before bagging the milk. He finished bagging and scanning items before turning his attention to the other man. "Your total is 27.90. Will that be cash, card, or check?" 

The man put his card into the reader, hanging up. "The prices here keep getting higher and higher every day." 

"If you would like to get lower prices we have a-" 

"I can afford my shit." He grabbed his bags and left. 

Akaashi sighed. He started to scan the next customer's items. 

"Hey! You doing okay?" 

Akaashi nodded. "I am, thank you. How are you?" He glanced up and immediately felt relieved. In front of him was Oikawa, which normally was something annoying but Oikawa was sweet and a familiar face was always nice. "Oikawa-san. Hello." 

"Hey, Akaashi. Didn't expect to see you here haha." 

"Oh yeah… This is just for now." 

"What happened to your artwork? It was so pretty."

"I'm not sure. I guess I've been too busy." 

"Weird." Oikawa pulled out his wallet. "What happened to your cheek?" 

"Mouth surgery. It's been two weeks and the bruising won't go away." Akaashi straightened up, rubbing his hands together to get warm. "Your total is 36.84." 

Oikawa swiped his card, still worriedly glancing at Akaashi. His uncovered arms were bruised up and oddly colored. Akaashi was normally pale but not like this. "Akaashi. What's with your arms hun?" 

Akaashi glanced at his arms. "Uh… I don't know? That's so odd." He poked at the bruises, brows furrowing. "Mm…" 

"Get that checked out, okay?" 

"I will, thank you." 

"Of course." Oikawa walked out of the store. 

Akaashi took his break, a bit achey from bagging groceries. His fingers and wrists and back hurt somewhat but what else was he supposed to feel after always oversleeping? 

He drank some water snd tried to eat, just focusing on keeping his eyes open. Ren would be there later to pick him up. Tonight was date night and Oda would be left with Bokuto. Bokuto would likely ask about the bruise and Akaashi would attempt to smile and be on his merry way. 

Except tonight wasn't Merry at all. He could barely stay awake, shaky and colder than usual.

"Akaashi? Is everything okay?" 

Akaashi looked up. "Mhmm." 

His manager leaned down. "Is something going on? You haven't been doing well these past months and I'm worried." 

"I'm okay. The cold just gets to me easier now." 

She felt of his forehead. "You feel warm… Maybe you should head home early." 

Akaashi shook his head quickly. "I'll be fine." 

"I think you should go home." She got him up. "Who's driving you home today?" 

"Ren."

"Oh no not him again. You know how much we don't like him coming here." 

"He's not even that bad. Leave me alone." 

"He pushed you down a flight of stairs." 

"It was an accident." 

"You broke your arm," She protested. "And you had facial bruising. That doesn't happen to people when simply tripping over someone's leg." 

Akaashi quietly grabbed his bag, texting Ren to pick him up. When he got his no he stood there, nervous. "He's busy." 

"What about that one guy with black hair. Kinda tricky." 

"Kuroo? No, he's out of the country with his partner."

The woman who had been talking paused. "The hunk guy?" 

"What?" 

"You know… The guy who looks like he's a bodybuilder. The flower guy. White and black hair. You know." 

Akaashi blinked, knowing who she was talking about. "Ah…" 

"Bokuto! That guy. He's so sweet. He'll get you." 

Akaashi handed her his phone. "Call him for me." 

She did and Bokuto was there in ten minutes, hair soaking wet. "Akaashi! Are you okay?!" 

"I'm just a little under the weather," Akaashi mumbled. "That's all." 

Bokuto furrowed his brows. "I was getting ready for work. Is it okay if you chill by the heater in my office?" 

"That would be nice, thank you." 

"Of course Keiji. Let's get you feeling better." Bokuto wrapped his arm around Akaashi. "Thank you for calling me." 

Bokuto walked him outside, gentle as ever. He put Akaashi in his car and turned on the seat warmers. 

"What's going on?" 

"I've got a fever." 

"Ah. Ren couldn't pick you up?" 

"No, sorry." 

Bokuto chuckled. "It's fine." 

Akaashi started to doze off, holding himself. The seat felt nice and he was in a nice area while it was nearly 4 degrees outside (40 Fahrenheit) and drizzling while was in a warm car. 

"Do you need anything to eat or drink? I've got some stuff at home you like." Bokuto glanced over when there was no response. He smiled, slowing down a bit and changing into the slower lane. Akaashi was fast asleep, leaning into the car door. 

He got home where he woke Akaashi and brought him inside, holding him up straight. "Mm sorry… Legs don't work when I'm sleepy…" 

"That's perfectly fine. You're sick right now and have an excuse." 

"Oh but Ren and date night…"

"That's okay silly. It's just a date." Bokuto took his slightly wet coat off of him. He helped with his shoes and got him into bed, deciding it wasn't safe enough to have him at work. Akaashi was asleep before Bokuto finished with his hair routine, wrapped up in blankets and coats in Bokuto's strangely big bed. His only explanation was flexing his biceps and laughing. 

He got home after six, thinking maybe Akaashi had gotten home since Ren would want to help him. Instead, he was still fast asleep in his bed. It was hard not to just leave him be. He had to get him awake and move back home. 

"Kashi… Hey, hey, hey. Kashi. Wake up." 

Akaashi turned away, huffing. He huddled into the blankets. 

"You gotta go home Keiji." 

"Mm… No, no." He yawned. Akaashi stretched. "Never." 

"Never? Oh but you need to go home. To Oda and Ren." 

"I don't wanna." 

"Oh but Ren loves you and Oda probably misses you." 

"Ren doesn't love me." Akaashi laughed. He huddled into the pillows. 

"Of course he loves you…"

The smaller male just laid there, silent. His eyes were heavy with some sort of grief. Bokuto noted that and pat his shoulder. 

"You know what, stay there. I'm gonna make something for us to eat." 

Akaashi turned around, brows furrowing. "You sound sad." 

"No, no." Bokuto pat his head. "It's okay." 

Akaashi smiled. He closed his eyes, relaxing. Bokuto walked away, to his kitchen. He made some soup, bringing it to Akaashi. Akaashi looked paler and wouldn't even lift his spoon, holding his stomach. 

"What is it?" 

"Hurts." 

"Aw man a stomach ache. Goodness." Bokuto poked him. "Need some medicine?"

Instead of Akaashi laughing like usual, he hurried out of bed and dove into the bathroom. Bokuto went after him, hearing the loud gag. There was an even louder gag as Akaashi started throwing up more. 

Bokuto got his sick-covered shirt off of him and tried to calm his tears, holding his face. His body shook as he cried. Bokuto leaned him against the toilet, cleaning up the mess on the floor. 

"I'm so sorry."

"Keiji, you're sick. I'm not expecting you to laugh and smile. You threw up, not a big deal." Bokuto tossed the washcloth he had in hand into the tub. "Feel any better?" 

"No, I-" Akaashi gagged. He spat into the toilet. 

"Do you need something? I'm serious."  Akaashi retched, throwing up again. Bokuto rubbed his back, worried. "I think you need medicine…" 

The smaller of the two started dry heaving, insides sore now from the action. Bokuto eased him up and held him, wiping off his face with a new wet cloth. Akaashi started crying, holding on. "It hurts so bad!"

Bokuto hugged him, rubbing his bareback. "I know, I know." He rubbed up and down his arms, watching him breathe. Akaashi flinched, Bokuto's fingers touching the odd bruises on his forearms. "What's this from?" 

"I don't know." 

"Is Ren hitting you again?"

"No! No, these have just been coming up. Ren doesn't… He doesn't hit me." 

Bokuto reached for Akaashi's face and the younger flinched. Bokuto sighed. He picked up his phone, taking a picture of the bruises. "I'll show them to Iwaizumi. Bruises shouldn't be just showing up." 

Akaashi nodded. He slumped into Bokuto, coughing. "I need to go home." 

"Eat first." 

"I will." 

"Good." Bokuto got him in bed. He stayed in the bathroom, sanitizing the bathroom.

Akaashi finished up and got home without issue, Ren worriedly bringing him inside. Oda wasn't allowed close to him, the worry of him getting sick pretty bad between the two adults. 

Akaashi was put in bed and Ren held him close to keep him warm, oddly enough no sort of yelling about how long he was gone going on before bed.