"akaashi-kun, i'm on my way to the third years' class. can you please help me carry these books there?" a middle aged woman asks for a favor. "okay ms. saotome." the black haired boy takes a stack of thick books and follows the teacher upstairs.

"ms. saotome, let me help you with those heavy books!" a third year approaches them with a weird hairstyle, thought by akaashi. "ah, thank you bokuto-kun." the boy smiles. meanwhile, akaashi just stands beside the teacher, too shy to move to avoid stares from the other third years.

"hey, second year! come here and put the books down, they must be heavy." the same boy who helped ms. saotome says, giving akaashi a wide smile. at this point, akaashi is confused. how can someone be so cheerful and smiles at someone he doesn't even know?

"i'm bokuto kotaro. what's your name?" bokuto reaches his hand out. "i'm akaashi keiji." and akaashi shakes it. "let's see each other more often, akaashi." the taller smiles at him again.

-

akaashi starts packing his things. as he's picking up his books from the floor, he feels a tickle on his side, and a wide smile greets him. "bokuto-san," bokuto stands up, "akaashi."

"how did you know where class i'm from?" the older giggles, "i asked ms. saotome." akaashi just stays silent and continues fixing his things. "do you have any plans today, akaashi?" the black haired boy looks at bokuto, his face full of confusion. "why?"

"well, my friends and i are going out. i wanted to ask if you wanna come." bokuto's face changes when he sees akaashi's furrowed eyebrows. "why?" bokuto clears his throat, "well. i wanna be your friend, akaashi."

"why?" akaashi squints his eyes, looking into bokuto's eyes. the older chuckles, "what's with all the whys?" he smiles. "i don't know your friends, bokuto-san. i don't think i should go." the younger wears his school bag over his shoulder.

"oh. well, see you tomorrow!"

-

"okay class. the seniors are using the gymnasium today, so for today's PE, we'll get to watch them play. line up, get ready to go down." the PE teacher, mr. nakamura. the second years cheers in excitement, while akaashi doesn't. what if it's bokuto kotaro's class? will he force akaashi to be his friend again?

as akaashi thought, it is bokuto's class they'll be watching. a net in the middle of the court can be seen. "woah, they'll play volleyball?" akaashi hears his classmates talk behind him. all he's thinking about is how he can avoid bokuto kotaro.

and of course, their eyes meet. and all the attention goes to akaashi when the popular senior with the weird hairstyle approaches him. "akaashi!" bokuto excitedly waves at the younger. "bokuto-san, everybody is looking. they might think i'm your friend or something." akaashi says while playing with his fingers.

"are you not? do you not wanna be my friend, akaashi?" the black haired boy swears he saw bokuto's hair drop when he frowns. "hey guys!" bokuto faces his classmates while putting his arm around the younger and says, "this is my new friend! his name's akaashi keiji, be nice to him!" akaashi looks at the other with horror in his face, this is exactly what he doesn't wanna happen.

the seniors greet him with smiles and waves, he bows in respect. "bokuto-san, your game might be starting soon. you better get back." akaashi removes the arm around his shoulder. "okay. well, cheer me on, akaashi!" the gray and black haired boy runs back to his friends and begins chatting with them, not forgetting to look at his new friend.