Work Text:
At first, Akaashi thinks it must be a mistake.
He stares hard at the email currently displayed on his laptop. He has already read the message twice, but is having trouble believing that this isn’t all a dream.
Blinking, he reads the message in full, one last time:
Akaashi Keiji,
We are pleased to offer you the positions of Co-Editor and Contributing Writer as part of our Literature and Creative Writing department. We truly believe you will be a valuable addition to our team, and are excited to welcome you to the company team.
If you choose to accept the position, you will start on Monday, April 25, 2022. Human Resources will contact you with more information on the hiring process and your relocation to Osaka. Please let us know what you decide by the end of this week.
Thank you, and we hope to hear back from you soon.
The elaborate signature of the company’s CEO follows. Akaashi scrolls up again, double checking that the email is definitely from him and not some online scammer or prankster.
“Oh my god,” he croaks, finally allowing himself to react physically. “OH MY GOD!” He stands up quickly, causing his chair to tip backwards and crash loudly to the floor. He sends a silent apology to his downstairs neighbor as he bolts to his bedroom in search of his phone.
Bokuto picks up after the third ring.
“Babe! I was just about to call you! You’ll never believe what Tsum-Tsum did today.”
“Kou.”
“He embarrassed himself in front of his fans again!” Bokuto cackles. “Someone asked him if he could do a handstand, and—”
“Koutarou.”
“—of course he immediately tried it, but he fell on his face! He’s not hurt really, it’s just his pride, again—”
“Bokuto-san!” Akaashi does not use the formal address that much anymore. It’s only when he really needs to get his boyfriend’s attention. Well, it works. Bokuto immediately stops rambling. It actually sounds like he’s stopped breathing.
“Sorry, love,” Akaashi says, “It’s just… I have something really important to tell you…”
When he tells him, actually the moment the news leaves Akaashi’s lips, he hears a loud bang sound on Bokuto’s end. Apparently, he’d fallen out of his bed. The man is now breathing heavily, tripping over his words.
“K-Keiji!” he stammers. “So, um, does this actually mean, um, y-you’ll be moving here? To Osaka?”
Akaashi bites his lip. He grips his phone with shaky hands, desperately wishing he could see the expression on the other man’s face. “Yes.” He swallows nervously. “I can start in three weeks.”
A few beats of silence pass and then, finally, Bokuto speaks. His voice is small and shaky. “Do you… I mean, would you like to, um, move in with me?”
They have already talked about this. Numerous times, actually. Akaashi hadn’t just applied for the position because it was his dream job. It was also partly because of Bokuto’s renewed contract with the Black Jackals. Because of the chance of this exact situation happening.
They both know this. They’ve been together for so long. Moving in together has always been inevitable, something that was always going to happen eventually.
And yet, Bokuto still has the attentiveness to ask. To check and make sure Akaashi really wants it. To be certain he is addressing all of Akaashi’s needs and wants.
He’s probably the sweetest human being in the entire world, Akaashi thinks. How lucky that he chose Akaashi to be his partner in life.
“Of course, Koutarou.” He falls backwards onto his soft blankets, limbs like jelly. “You want me there too, right?”
Bokuto lets out a delighted giggle; a wonderfully odd noise coming from such a large man. “Totally! Oh wow, I’m so happy right now, Keiji! Like, I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy in my entire life!”
Akaashi doesn’t think he has, either. He suddenly feels as giddy as he had been in high school, as an awkward, smitten boy with stars in his eyes. “Yeah,” he breathes, turning his head into his pillow shyly. “Me too.”
Moving isn’t easy. The timing it not ideal for either of them. After he gives his notice, Akaashi’s deadlines at his current job are moved up even sooner. Bokuto is busy with the team, preparing for an upcoming tournament, and is unable to come to Tokyo to help.
For such a small apartment, Akaashi has sure accumulated a lot of stuff. (Truthfully, most of it is books.) He finds a number of Bokuto’s things mixed in as well, but doesn’t bother in packing those separately—they’re going to the same place, after all.
Thankfully a few friends do turn up to help Akaashi out. Kuroo, Kenma, Yukie and Konoha show up with a moving van and form a strategy. And, best of all, one of Bokuto’s sisters offers to help him drive it to Osaka.
When they arrive at Bokuto’s apartment building, he’s already waiting outside. Akaashi hurries out of the car and runs to his boyfriend, leaping into his arms, and the man spins him around till they’re both dizzy and laughing.
Akaashi can’t help it. He pulls the other man into a firm kiss, not caring at all they are in broad daylight on a busy city street. Bokuto eagerly reciprocates.
“Okay lovebirds, that’s enough.” Bokuto’s sister sighs, exasperated. “We’ve got a lot of work to do here. You can make out as much as you want later tonight. When I’m far, far away from you.”
Hours later, all of Akaashi’s belongings have successfully been moved into Bokuto’s small, one-bedroom flat. Boxes litter the living room and kitchen, but they both decide to deal with the actual unpacking tomorrow. Bokuto’s sister has left for a hotel. They are finally alone.
Akaashi is currently straddling the other man on his—no, their—couch, playing with his two-tone locks lazily. Bokuto’s hands slide up and down Akaashi’s back, comforting and enticing at the same time.
“I can’t believe it.” Bokuto grins. “You’re really here. For good this time!”
“I am.” Akaashi nods. “For good.”
For the first time ever, their lives are one. No more long distance. No more worrying about work schedules or other commitments getting in the way of seeing each other. No more sad goodbyes and counting down the days to their next meeting.
Now, they can just come home to each other every night. Fall asleep and wake up side by side. Shop and make meals and shower together. Make love whenever they want. Even if the other goes away for a trip, they will always find their way back to here.
Their home.
“I’m all in.” Bokuto’s voice is soft, but firm. A serious expression has settled onto his bright features. “You know that, right Keiji? This is it for me. I, well, I want to spend my life with you! All of it—the good, the bad, everything! I’m all in.”
Akaashi’s jaw drops slightly. He blinks, amazed at his boyfriend’s innate ability to speak his truth so openly, with his whole heart. It’s something Akaashi has always admired about him.
“Kou,” he says, and he can’t help the tremble in his voice. He’s not sure how to respond, so instead he leans down, pressing their foreheads together, hoping the gesture will convey that yes, yes, he feels the exact same way.
Bokuto and Akaashi have always been partners.
From the first time they stood on a volleyball court together, to their mutual confession at Bokuto’s graduation. Through their time at university, and Bokuto being scouted for his first professional team. To the long, draining process of job hunting, and Bokuto’s first Olympics.
And now, finally, in living side by side.
Akaashi can’t wait to see what’s next.