hiraeth
(noun)
a homesickness for a home you can't return to, or that never was

Akaashi couldn't stand the sound of the elevator as it passed each floor. Each blip like that of a heart monitor, and sometimes he imagined them closer and closer and closer together as if a patient were beginning to go into cardiac arrest.

But there was no patient.

Only Akaashi wordlessly watching the numbers descend with him. He knew that this strange fear of elevators was a result of his claustrophobia, but the slowness, the sound, and his anticipation for what would be waiting there for him at the ground amplified his anxiety. His current panic was reflecting his state of mind, and the idea of going on a date with Kuroo. Goosebumps ran across his arms and stomach when it reached the ground floor.

He didn't leap from the elevator as he normally would, but took a hesitant step out, barely crossing the threshold which separated the elevator from the rest of the building. And even worse, he didn't immediately spot Kuroo.

This allowed for regret and thoughts of how the relationship had fallen apart before it ever was truly built up. Yet as he wandered out of the elevator's hall he spotted Kuroo's bedhead in the sitting area for people waiting to check-in or out.

He had a small paperback in his hands, folded so one page was prominent in one hand, with one arm resting on the back of the couch. He wore a slightly oversized short sleeve button down, striped with red, black, and white, loosely tucked into a pair of black cargo joggers. His legs were crossed, his foot bouncing up and down as he read. Akaashi approached quietly and dropped onto the couch and leaned his head back against Kuroo's arm.

Kuroo glanced down at Akaashi, who trained his eyes on the book.

"Never thought you were a Salinger kinda guy," Akaashi said, a teasing smile on his lips.

"What if I said I started reading it so I could impress you and sound smart?" Kuroo said.

Akaashi rolled his eyes. "Then you would be dumb to admit it out loud."

"Then, yes, I am indeed a Salinger kinda guy."

"So are you taking me to an exclusive restaurant for rockstars?"

"You're not cool enough to get in, Keij-Kaashi," Kuroo shrugged, adding a playful, "sorry."

Akaashi faked a gasp, ignoring the slip. "And here I thought you were trying to impress me."

Kuroo grinned, his eyes involuntarily closing and crinkling at the corners. Akaashi sighed inwardly. This is what he missed. He wanted to see if this Kuroo still lived inside of him, and the alcohol hadn't eaten away at the edges.

"How do tacos sound?" Kuroo asked, folding the bottom corner of the page he was on before closing it.

"Dear me, I believed I am underdressed for a taco dress. Should I go get on slacks and a button-down?" Akaashi said, his tone flat but there was a glimmer in his eyes.

"Tacos it is," Kuroo laughed, shaking his head as they stood and walked towards the exit. He tucked the book in his back pocket. They walked side by side, shoulders, and knuckles brushing occasionally. They were within walking distance of the beach and chatted idly as they made their way towards the taco shack

When they arrived, Akaashi stopped to take in the scene. A lot of the tables were more like picnic tables in the sand, with umbrellas promoting different kinds of alcohol. A small cover band played on the actual patio. There was a beach volleyball net down further towards the water and cornhole by a giant lawn chair where tourists were taking pictures. Save for the occasional coverup dress, everyone was in a bathing suit.

"I stand corrected," Akaashi said, sighing a bit.

Kuroo's brows quirked, a crease forming between, and Akaashi resisted the urge to smooth it with his thumb. "You don't like it? We can go somewhere else if--"

"No, Kuroo, I'm just overdressed for this place," Akaashi chuckled. "If I had known exactly what you meant by on the beach then I would have worn my bikini."

The worry washed away from Kuroo's expression, replaced by a slack jaw, then promptly followed by a horse laugh. Kuroo keeled over, clutching his sides. "I would die to see that."

Akaashi's expression wiped clean again as he said, "Promise?" which sent Kuroo into another fit of laughter which made Akaashi smile. "Y'know, I'm wearing my AirForces right now and I am pressed that you didn't tell me to just wear flip flops or something."

"Would you like me to carry you, hime-sama?"

"Absolutely not," Akaashi said.

Once their shoes were off with socks tucked inside, they made their way over to a picnic table. Akaashi noticed that since they were so long--large enough to fit 6 people comfortably on either side--there were many strangers sharing tables. The sounds of seagulls, the waves crashing on the shore, children playing, and the light music complimented each other. The salt on the breeze was refreshing, as well. It was throughout the city, additive to the cleansing relaxation of Osaka. A true vacation destination.

A server came up to the two of them, offering Akaashi a menu, but not Kuroo. Akaashi found it rather rude, or perhaps unprofessional, at first until he realized why.

"The usual, Kuroo-san?" she asked, pen pressed to paper patiently waiting with a pleasant expression.

"Oh, Aina, my sweet artichoke, you," Kuroo chuckled, shaking his head. "What would I get otherwise?"

"Oi," she narrowed her eyes, the perfect customer service smile vanishing and her voice lowered. "Your usual changes every couple of times you visit, neko-boge."

Kuroo raised his hands up in defense. "Kowaii! Point taken, jeez, don't bite my head off."

Akaashi sat silently through their conversation, wide-eyed.

Aina turned to Akaashi, her face lighting back up just as quickly as it darkened. "My name is Aina! Welcome to Japan's best Taco joint!"

Akaashi bowed his head. "Thank you, Aina-san. You may call me Akaashi."

"Nice to meet you, Akaashi-san! Can I get you something to drink?"

"I'll have Kirin, please--"

"Nope," Kuroo said, popping the 'p.' "Elementary, my dead Akaashi."

Aina narrowed her eyes at Kuroo, and Akaashi said, "Okay, Sherlock, then what do you suggest?"

"You must drink Corona with lime when you eat tacos and it is blasphemy otherwise."

Aina shrugged. "Or tequila."

"Yes, or tequila. Tequila works, too."

"Is that a fact?" Akaashi said, the corners of his mouth turning up ever so slightly.

Kuroo nodded and Akaashi sighed, looking to Aina with a resigned expression, who quickly wrote down the drink order before moving onto the next table. Aina returned a few minutes later, with two Coronas with lime sticking from the mouth and a basket of chips and salsa.

"Akaashi-san, would you like anything to eat?"

He nodded, looking at the menu with an apprehensive expression, which Aina seemed to catch immediately.

"Cilantro?" she said, with a knowing and an almost sympathetic smile.

"Dear God, no, it tastes like soap."

She nodded her head, "Me too, it's almost distressing. I would suggest the Bang Bang Shrimp tacos, then, but they are pretty spicy."

Akaashi smiled, "I can handle my spice."

"Your last words, not mine," she said before writing down the order.

"Do you know each other well?" Akaashi asked, and Aina glanced up with a bright expression.

"Yeah, we used to work together in Tokyo, and I helped him and the band land gigs here before they were big."

Kuroo leaned forward with his hands blocking his lips, although he spoke at a normal volume. "Aina used to have a huge crush on me--Ow!"

Without her smile faltering, she smacked the back of Kuroo's head, and her smile seemed to almost get bigger. "I'm going to go ahead and put your orders in."

Akaashi thanked her and Kuroo told her to keep the beers rolling, and they fell into pleasant conversation. Nothing remarkably deep, but familiar. They caught up on the last six years, trading stories and omitting a few here and there with worry for the other's reaction. Occasionally, Aina would stop back by the table as they got close to the ends of their beers with fresh ones. She would chat with them until they both finished the previous then moved on to her other tables. By the end of the meal, they were beer buzzed and giggly and argued over who would pay the bill. Aina returned with the receipt, and before handing it to them, she gave them a proposition.

"So, you're both famous and I want a selfie for bragging rights, as well as an autograph and for you to write these numbers down for my roommate," she said, handing them a piece of paper as well as two different phone numbers with Tokyo area codes.

Kuroo looked at Akaashi quizzically, and he shrugged.

"My roommate is Enatsu," she said to clarify for Kuroo. "And, it took me a minute but I realized you're that Shoujo mangaka when you said something straight out of one of your manga's. My roommate and I are huge fans by the way, "A Kiss like Nightshade" must be turned into an anime so I can cry over it some more."

Both Kuroo and Akaashi let out long, "Oh"'s in response. Akaashi agreed and Kuroo asked how she was doing at the restaurant she opened. They went back and forth about 'the good ole days' before Akaashi finished writing his signature and the number.

"Why fake numbers?" he asked.

"They're rejection hotlines," Aina said proudly, placing the tray on the table, gathering their trash and empty baskets after tucking the piece of paper into her apron.

"Classic," Kuroo said, raising his hand for a high five.

"Welp, that's everything then. Fell free to hang out, or leave because your meal is on me," she said. "It was amazing to meet you, Akaashi-san, and I hope you visit again with Kuroo."

Aina bowed her head and departed from the table.

Kuroo and Akaashi decided to walk down to the water, rolling up their pants as high as possible before leaving their shoes and wading into the chilly water. They played in the waves a bit, and one particularly large shore break swept Kuroo off his feet and into the water. Fortunately, it was fucking hysterical. Unfortunately, his body crashed into Akaashi and took him out at the knees.

The water tumbled them up towards their shoes, leaving them gasping for air with limbs tangled together. Kuroo started cackling when he noticed Akaashi's makeup all runny and one of his missing false-lashes had come off and stuck to his cheek. Simply rolling his eyes, Akaashi ripped off the other set and chucked them into the water. The rumble of laughter in Kuroo's chest vibrated against Akaashi's cheek, and once it subsided, they stood and grabbed their shoes.

They didn't talk much on the way back, besides Kuroo asking a few questions about his Mangas. They enjoyed the comfortable silence and ignored the uncomfortable stares--after all, they were fully dressed but soaked and covered in sand walking barefoot. Their hands brushed together once, twice, before Kuroo linked their pinkies together.

It was something they used to do in middle school, something that Akaashi had longed for since they departed.

"Ne, Tetsu," Akaashi said absentmindedly, before blushing intensely. He kept his eyes forward, though his ears would give away the blush and in his peripheral vision, he saw Kuroo relax--shoulders raising as if a weight had been removed.

"Yes, Keiji?" the name rolled off his tongue like a purr.

"You forgot to get me coffee," Akaashi said, his voice coming out stiff.

"Anything for you, hime-sama," Kuroo shook his head.

AN: PURE FLUFF THIS HURTS MY HEART IN SUCH A GREAT WAY