Akaashi turned over in bed, huffing a short breath of air through his nose. Sugawara looked over, worried. "Keiji?"

Akaashi opened his eyes, confused. "Hm?"

Sugawara leaned over and rubbed his hair. "Shhhh, shhh. Are you feeling okay?"

"Hurts," Akaashi managed to get out before groaning. His jaw felt like it would break in half.

Sugawara grabbed an ice pack before pressing the compress into Akaashi's sore cheek. He eyed him sadly. Something was so off about him lately and Sugawra couldn't quite place his finger on it. He wanted to make sure that Akaashi was okay but he didn't know how when he was so down like this. Love for Akaashi was hard and difficult to take in. Taking in love was like taking in poison for him. He wouldn't let it down without something bad coming up, no matter how sweet.

Akaashi held the ice pack in place, shaking slightly. He couldn't remember the last time he'd gotten up. Sure he did his homework online but he didn't do much else. Daichi brought him takeout after shifts and tried to encourage him to at least take a shower. Akaashi was barely able to brush his teeth though, lost in thought as he stared at the popcorn of his ceiling.

"Keiji? Hey, you have a visitor!"

Akaashi looked up from his bed on the floor and sighed. "Who is it?"

"Konoha."

Akaashi nodded. "Let him in."

A moment later Konoha was walking in, a frown pulling at his lips. "Akaashi Keiji you fucking dork, get out of bed. I'm sick of you calling in sick. I thought I'd see you every once and a while but according to your roommate here, you have been laying in bed for several weeks. Like three, but still."

Akaashi glared and turned over. He wasn't dealing with this right now. Not at all.

Konoha sat on the side of the bed and rubbed his back through the blankets. Akaashi tensed, remembering the feeling of strong hands rubbing his back through his blankets. Tears came to his eyes and his chest was suddenly tight. "Leave."

"Yeah, it's not happening. I'm not leaving." Konoha laid down and wrapped Akaashi in his arms. "Aw poor Keiji. What's going on? Is it something I can help with?"

Akaashi turned around and stared at his coworker. No, his friend. He had friends and they gave him love just like Bokuto had tried to do. Konoha watched as tears started to fall down Akaashi's cheeks.

"What hurts Keiji?"

Akaashi's tears turned to sobs as he clung to the pillow beneath his head. "He's hurt."

Konoha nodded. "Yeah? Who's hurt?"

"Bokuto. I hurt him and I didn't mean to and now-" he cringed, pressing the ice pack to his jaw harder. "I really like him."

"I can tell. Those goo goo eyes that he gives you are so obvious in you too. You like him and I can't just stop you from liking him. What do you want to do about it though? Sit here and eat like a slob and live like one?"

"No," Akaashi sobbed. He wiped his eyes. "I just want Bokuto."

"Then get up, Akaashi." Konoha sat up. "You are going to be okay."

Akaashi sat up, hiccuping out sobs as he did so. "He's just... so amazing. I hurt a man who loved me."

"He still does Akaashi. You should see the way he looks at your desk when he walks by. It makes the women in the office cry."

Akaashi sobbed harder, his chest heaving with every breath. Sugawara poked his head in the door and hurried to the bed. "Keiji breathe. Keiji?"

Konoha held out a hand. "Just let him cry it out." Sugawara hesitated before nodding and backing away. Konoha patted Akaashi's back. "Just let it out."

Akaashi turned to Konoha, gasping for air. "I hurt him. I cannot believe I rejected him like that when he tries so hard for me."

Konoha nodded. "You have that date coming up, hm?"

"I don't want to go tonight. I can't."

"You can go even if it's not Bokuto. It doesn't have to be him for you to have fun."

"I can't love someone else right now. I want to love him right now and no one else."

Sugawara sighed. "Start with a shower. Then brush your teeth. You will be okay."

"What if this had happened to you and Daichi?" Akaashi questioned as he glared through his tears.

"I would pick myself back up and prove to him that I knew how he felt, Keiji. You are being dramatic and you're a mess. You're going on that date tonight. We'll go with you."

"We will?" Konoha questioned, confused.

Sugawara nodded. "We will."

Akaashi sighed and his crying stopped. He shakily stood and headed to the bathroom, grabbing clothes on the way out of his room.

"That's my boy!" Konoha called out.

Akaashi rolled his eyes and took off his shirt. In the mirror his reflection stared back at him, sad and dry. He turned on the shower and stripped down to his birthday suit before looking back in the mirror. He traced his stomach with a finger and looked over the body that Bokuto loved so much.

He would show him one day, when he was ready. But for now he had to take a shower and get dressed for his date. Tonight was a big night and he needed to be ready. Love would come for him one way or another.

*****

Bokuto eyed himself in the mirror, questioning whether or not he would be able to do this. He knew he looked good but would his date think the same thing?  He sighed, fixing his collar. Everything would be okay.

"Bokuto! Time to get going!"

Bokuto smiled at his reflection. He opened the door to the bathroom and Kuroo stood there, baffled. Bokuto grinned back at him. "Good, yeah?"

"You look awesome."

Kenma popped up around the corner and nodded approvingly. "You don't look stupid."

Bokuto flattened his white button up over his chest, smiling bashfully. "Thanks."

Kuroo reached up, unbuttoning the first two buttons of his dress shirt. "Okay now you're good."

Bokuto chuckled. He grabbed his keys and jacket before heading out, attempting to hype himself up a bit. This wasn't Akaashi but this was someone sweet and understanding. He had this if he could just concentrate on something other than his favorite person.

Bokuto entered the train station, noting all of the couples and smiling at passersby. Everyone was having a good time at least. Bokuto got on his train and waited patiently for it to stop at his station. While he waited, he messaged his LoveHero crush.

Me:
Hey hey hey what are you wearing tonight so I know what to look for

Anonymous:
A navy blue satin shirt and a black jacket along with black dress pants. What will you be wearing?

Me:
A white button up and black pants :) oh and a black jacket!!! A leather one!!!

Bokuto smiled at the heart emoji that was sent in response. Soon he would be at the little park that they had decided on. It would be full of people watching fireworks so he wouldn't be alone while he waited at least.