Bokuto had seen Akaashi under the weather before. He had missed him on days that he wasn't at work. But he had never seen Akaashi push himself like this before. It was startling and he didn't like it in the least.

Bokuto watched as Akaashi held his coffee cup and shook, confused as to why he wasn't answering. "Akaashi are you okay? What's going on?"

Akaashi rushed past Bokuto, heading to the bathroom outside of the breakroom and darting for a toilet. Bokuto ran after him, worried sick that he'd done something wrong. That worry soon turned worse as he heard Akaashi throwing up. He stepped into the stall and was bent by Akaashi in an instant, pulling his hair away from his face.

"I'm going to tell your supervisor, okay?" Bokuto went to stand and Akaashi retched again. He leaned back down. This was just like that time. Wasn't this the same stall Akaashi had run from actually?

Akaashi looked up, panting. His eyes watered. "I am so sorry."

Bokuto smiled. "For what? You're sick. It's okay." A strong hand ran up and down Akaashi's back, attempting to calm him. "It's okay... just breathe. Can you breathe a bit slower for me please?"

Akaashi took a deep breath through his nose before gagging on his vomit and throwing up again.  Bokuto cringed. His hand didn't leave Akaashi's back though. He rubbed his back through his blue dress shirt, eyes soft and worry filled. Akaashi finally stopped heaving and ran his hand through his hair. "Fuck."

Bokuto patted his back gently before getting up and flushing the toilet. "I'll go get someone who can actually help. I'll be back."

Akaashi nodded feverishly and leaned into the wall. Bokuto left the stall and headed upstairs to where Akaashi's supervisor was sitting in her office, brows furrowed. "Bokuto, why are you back in my office?"

Bokuto chuckled. "Akaashi is sick downstairs. Do I tell him that you dismissed him for the day?"

She glanced up before waving him away. "Sure, sure."

Bokuto headed back down the stairs and found Akaashi in the lobby now. "Akaashi! You shouldn't be up!"

Akaashi grimaced at the sound of Bokuto's voice. "Bokuto-san, I'm okay. I ate something bad for dinner I think. I just... I needed a second."

Bokuto took Akaashi's hand and walked to his supervisor. "Sir, I'm sorry but I need to take today off. Akaashi is sick and needs to be taken home."

"Yeah, yeah. Kuroo is going to kick your ass."

Bokuto whined. "I think he'll be okay. Kuroo is always trying to hurt me."

"Even at home?" His supervisor questioned, raising a brow in suspicion. Bokuto shook his head hurriedly. "Anyways, take him home. He looks like he's going to collapse at any second."

Bokuto looked over and chuckled at Akaashi's glare. "I'm taking you home whether you like it or not. Come on."

Akaashi allowed himself to be dragged along, coughing. They waited at the bus stop for what felt like hours, Akaashi shaking the entire time. Bokuto offered his jacket but Akaashi pulled away, refusing the help and instead deciding to continue to hold himself. Bokuto rolled his eyes and held his jacket to his chest. That was one thing he liked about being so big, the fact that he didn't get cold easily. Akaashi didn't seem to have that advantage though.

Bokuto looked down to him sitting down at the bus stop as he stood and chuckled. He set a hand on Akaashi's shaking shoulder and squeezed lightly. "How'd your date go?"

"Not great," Akaashi stated. His voice sounded rough.

"Oh I'm sorry to hear that. Did you guys just not click or something?"

"Something like that, Bokuto-san." Akaashi sighed. "Something just like that."

"Was he at least hot?" Bokuto suggested, trying to lighten the mood even a little bit. It didn't seem to work as Akaashi shot him a glare.

"He wasn't ugly." Akaashi coughed into his elbow before closing his eyes, leaning into the wall of the bus stop.

Bokuto leaned by him. "Akaashiiiii. You can't sleep here."

Akaashi opened his eyes and stared blankly at Bokuto before they closed again and he was sitting up, taking off his glasses. He rubbed his eyes, groaning. "I must have caught what Daichi had."

"Or you got food poisoning."

"With my luck I got both." Akaashi looked up and his eyes creased in a small smile. "Only with my luck."

Bokuto smiled back. He chuckled. "You sure are funny Akaashi."

Akaashi put his glasses back on before standing, the bus within his sight. They both got on and Bokuto sat him down, sitting right beside him so no one would get too close. Akaashi tried to warn that he was going to get Bokuto sick but Bokuto brushed it off and chatted on the way to the train station. Even on the train, he was close to Akaashi and talking his ear off. He couldn't help it. When he saw someone in pain he always tried to correct it.

Akaashi ended up listening to it all as he scrolled through his phone and noticed that he'd matched with another person on LoveHero. This time he denied their request to meet up and blocked them. Bokuto watched as he did this and joked that Akaashi gave no one a chance. Akaashi sighed into his mask.

Bokuto eventually walked him to his apartment and Akaashi unlocked the door. He stepped inside and looked to Bokuto expectantly.

"What is it?"

"Are you not coming in?"

Bokuto nodded before stepping inside the little apartment. He slipped off his shoes and put his jacket down next to them. Akaashi was already on his way to his room, taking off his own jacket and taking off his mask. Bokuto followed him back to the little room and averted his gaze as Akaashi was suddenly taking off his shirt. Akaashi scoffed.

"You can look, the gay won't infect you."

Bokuto gulped before turning. He tried to be respectful and look at the paintings and drawings covering the walls. He couldn't help it though. His gaze lingered on Akaashi's small muscles and his dark pink lips. Eventually his eyes traveled down Akaashi's front as Akaashi answered a text on his phone. He cleared his throat, looking back up to the ceiling where posters were tacked. He noted gothic bands and nodded approvingly, no clue as to who they were but knowing Akaashi at least liked music.

Akaashi began to cough, bending into himself. He reached for his desk, holding himself up. Bokuto rushed to his side and set a rough hand on his back. Akaashi shivered under his touch, his skin white hot. Bokuto's thick brows knit in thought before he was easing Akaashi onto his bed. "Do you feel like you're going to throw up again?"

"No," Akaashi rasped out. He coughed again. Bokuto patted his back and put a hand on Akaashi's chest. Akaashi clung to the hand on his chest and kept coughing, his lungs begging for air. Bokuto grabbed Akaashi's bag and got his water bottle, slipping the opening between his lips.

Akaashi chugged down some of the cool liquid before coughing some of it back up. Bokuto kept rubbing his back, praying he would be okay. Akaashi dove for his bag and suddenly pulled out an inhaler. He dropped it and Bokuto picked it up, now slipping the mouth of the inhaler between Akaashi's lips. He puffed it twice and Akaashi inhaled deeply. Bokuto pressed on the button two more times and this time Akaashi relaxed. He leaned into Bokuto, wheezing. Bokuto's eyes softened as he did this. "You okay there Kash?"

Akaashi nodded before slipping under his blankets. He trembled, his fever getting the better of him. Bokuto spotted a pile of blankets in the corner and grabbed a few, covering Akaashi in them. Akaashi grabbed them, still shaking. "Thank you for caring for me Bokuto-san."

"Why wouldn't I? Hm?" Bokuto patted his back quietly. "You sure you'll be okay here without anyone?"

Akaashi nodded. "I'll be okay. Thank you."

Bokuto turned off the lamp next to his bed and sighed. "If you say so man. Hey, hey, hey do you want my number? That way you can call or text if you need anything."

Akaashi nodded fervently. He handed over his unlocked phone and Bokuto put in his phone number. Bokuto reminded Akaashi that he could call at any time and he would answer only to get a weak "okay" in response. On his way out he noticed the sketchbook still laying on the floor and picked it up, flipping through the pages.

Pages upon pages were dedicated to eyes and mouths. Mouths with fangs, eyes with tears. Noses dripping with blood. They were creepily realistic and stunning. It hit Bokuto that the paintings and drawings lining Akaashi's walls were all handmade and not just something he had bought.

"Impressive," Bokuto mumbled. He set down the sketchbook and left before heading home. There he was met with a sleeping Kenma and a cleaning Kuroo.

Kuroo glared. "You're supposed to be at work."

"I know but Akaashi needed to be taken home and he was throwing up. It was a whole thing and I'm pretty sure I'm gonna get yelled at by a higher up for taking the day off," Bokuto explained quickly.

Kuroo sighed at the mention of Akaashi and turned back to the spot on the counter he was trying to clean. "He doesn't like you, Ko."

Bokuto's heart dropped but he kept smiling. "I know. But I'm okay with that now."

"No you aren't. You have got to stop going after him like this man. He's just not into you. He's not into anyone."

"That's not true!" Bokuto cried. He huffed loudly. Kenma stirred on the couch, sitting up.

"What are you two arguing about now?"

"Good morning Kens," Kuroo whispered, kissing Kenma's hair. He sat down by him and smiled. "Ko is still going after Akaashi."

"Didn't you go after me for like ten years?" Kenma mumbled out, laying back down.

Kuroo huffed loudly.

Bokuto whined. "Akaashi literally went on a date last night."

"Oh that's right, you helped him set up a LoveHero account!" Kuroo cackled.

Kenma raised his brows. "Do you not realize how counterproductive that is Bokuto? Like at all?"

Bokuto grumbled under his breath for a moment before storming off to his room. His phone dinged and he groaned. A LoveHero notification popped up and he eyed it, apprehensive before clicking it.

New Match Found!
A new match was found based on your location and mutual interests!
Would you like to pursue?

Bokuto pressed yes. He saw the other person type for a split second before the bubble disappeared and there was just an empty messaging screen in front of him. He sighed. What a day already.