As you walk into your classroom the next morning, you realize the energetic brown-haired girl that sits in front of you is not present. You walk across your classroom, scanning to make sure that she's not just in a different seat. After not seeing her, you conclude that she's not going to be in for the day. Subconsciously you begin to feel anxious about how you left things with her.

Breaking her nose was definitely not the right move.

It's not that you want to be best friends with her, but the two of you did get along and you didn't want her to despise you forever.

What she did was wrong, but I don't want her as my enemy.

When lunch begins you grab your bento box and head outside of your building. The moment you see Akaashi and Bokuto walking over, you feel genuinely happy.

You greet them as they approach and give Akaashi a hug. As you do, you feel Bokuto messing up your hair.

"Bokuto!" you yell, "I know you wouldn't like it if I did that to you!"

Bokuto does his best to fix your hair for you while in a panic that you're going to ruin his masterpiece.

"Y/N?" Akaashi calls from above you.

You look up and pull away a bit from the long embrace you were in.

"Mhm?"

"Can we study again after school today?" he asks.

His face looks composed, but you can tell from his eyes that he's a bit nervous.

"Sure," you reply happily, "you can come over after practice."

"Woah Woah Woah," Bokuto intervenes, "you only just admitted your feelings for each other and we don't need any little Akaashi's running around right now."

"It's okay," you giggle, "my mom won't be home."

You send the boys a wink before walking past towards your lunch table. From behind, you can feel the boys standing frozen in place.

"Y-Y/N!" Bokuto says as he tries to compose himself.

"Calm down," you tease, "it's not like I haven't been alone with Akaashi before."

--

Once the boys' practice has finished, you close your notebook and head over to the team.

"Hi Y/N!" shouts Sarukui and Konoha.

You wave as the boys approach you.

"It's been a while since we've gotten to see you," Saru smiles.

"I know," you frown, "I'm sorry but I'll try to be around more."

"And when were you going to explain to us about Bokuto?" Konoha interjects.

"What about-"

Your words get cut off by Bokuto standing between you and the others. With his back faced towards you, it's a bit difficult to understand what's going on.

"Uh, guys we broke up because, um, Y/N was too pretty for me."

"What the hell have you been telling everyone?" you say as you punch Bokuto's back.

"N-Nothing," he replies nervously.

Konoha and Sarukui peak around Bokuto to look at you.

"He said you two were dating," Sarukui admits.

"Bokuto," you growl.

"S-Sorry Y/N, uh I only told you guys that I was dating Y/N because we were just pretending," he confesses to his teammates.

"That makes a lot more sense," Konoha laughs, "so you're still single then?"

You look over at Saru's flustered yet curious face. As you're trying to figure out how to answer their question, Akaashi interrupts.

"Nobody is asking Y/n out," Akaashi calmly tells the others, "got it?"

Konoha and Saru nod shakily. You can tell they're both completely embarrassed by the situation.

"Okay well Y/N and I are leaving now so you can talk to her another time."

You smile and hold your arms out to hug Konoha but Akaashi grabs one of your outstretched hands and pulls you away.

"Akaashiii," you whine as the two of you walk out of the gym.

As the two of you draw near to your house, you finally get the courage to question him about what happened back at the gym.

"I don't know what you're talking about?"

Seriously?! He's going to play that card.

Akaashi's face remains unbothered as he continues to walk, his eyes looking straight ahead. You growl, unsatisfied with his answer, and run to stand in front of him.

"Were you jealous?" you ask teasingly.

Akaashi walks around you and doesn't speak. You run up to him and wait for him to answer your question since you were half-serious.

"I'm not the jealous type," he finally replies.

"I know," you giggle.

"What is your point?" he growls back at you.

"Nothing," you shrug, "you're just cute that's all."

Feeling bold, you grab Akaashi's arm and put it around your shoulder. When his eyes meet your gaze, you smile and notice the two of your faces are almost too close together.

"Don't look at me like that," he says as he breaks the contact.

"Huh? Like what?"

It's almost like he wanted to kiss me again.

"Akaashi?"

"Hm?"

Akaashi's eyes are now concentrating on the road ahead, avoiding your eyes glaring into his soul to search for the answer to your question.

"Look at me?" you say sweetly.

"Why?"

Having enough of his dramaticism, you decided to take matters into your own hands.

He already kissed me so what's the big deal of doing it again?

You stop moving and pull Akaashi's arm so his body is aligned right in front of yours. A smile forms on your face as you grab onto Akaashi's face and kiss him. Immediately he responds by pulling your waist in towards him as he kisses you deeper. You then withdraw in desperate need of air.

"Come on," he chuckles, "We should get going before your neighbors see you out here and assume the worst."

"Akaashi!" you shout, shocked by the words exiting his mouth.

After realizing he's right, you place your hand in his and walk to your house with him beside you.

END OF CHAPTER 24