School was numb. You did the work you had to do to get by. You worked when you could to get your mind off the night before. Occasionally you would catch yourself daydreaming and would pull yourself away from your thoughts of last night before they got too deep. Before long you see the cheerful brunette in front of you turn around and send you a giant smile.

"Hey Y/N ready to go to lunch?" 

"No thanks," you shake your head, "I think I'm just going to sit here today, but go ahead don't stay behind please."

"Are you sure? Are you feeling okay?"

Maya puts the back of her hand on your forehead to check if you have a fever.

"Hm your head isn't burning up so I guess physically you're okay. Are you sure you want to stay here for lunch?" she asks concerned.

"Mhm," you nod.

You bend down to grab your bento box and start eating without another word.

"Well, okay I guess as long as you say that you're alright," Maya says nervously, "but I'll come back early so you're not alone the whole time."

With her typically bright smile, she picks herself up and leaves the room. Eventually Maya does come back early before lunch ends and sits with you for a while until class starts. You don't mind the company since she seems to be understanding of your mood. 

After school ends, Maya turns around to you again with a less excited look and more concerned about how you will react.

"Would you like to come with me to watch the boys' practice? There's something I want to talk to you about too, but you don't have to go if you don't want to."

"Sure," you shrug since you have nothing better to do.

At least going will Maya will keep my mind preoccupied since she talks so much.

The pair of you walk together to the gym. As the boys start practicing you remember that Maya wanted to talk to you about something. You look over and see her watching Akaashi. She's less energetic than usual but still seems happy to watch her boyfriend.

"Maya wasn't there something you wanted to talk to me about?" you ask as you take out your notebook to start on your homework.

"Hm?" she looks over to you and then away again towards Akaashi.

She puts her elbow on the little railing in front of you two, separating the gym from the stands, and leans her cheek up against her hand.

"You know how I said the sex was sub-par lately?"

You instantly deadpan at her words.

"Yeah," you say as you try to drown out the anger in your voice.

"Well, I think something's up with Akaashi. He hasn't been acting the same lately and I can't figure out what it is."

"Have you tried talking to him?" you say sarcastically.

"Y/N! Of course I've tried talking to him but he barely even speaks most of the time!"

"That's weird. He's always kinda quiet though."

You look over towards Akaashi's direction and observe him as he runs to his gym bag.

"Is there any way you could talk to him?" she asks quietly.

"What?! Maya! Why me?" you say flustered.

"Well because you're close to him and you could just talk to him about how you had fun with him and Atsumu the other night! Maybe he-"

"Maya I really don't think he wants to talk to me about that kind of stuff!" you defend.

"Why not? You're a girl and the only other person I can ask is Bokuto and he's a guy so I don't know if it would be weird for me to go to him about that."

"I guess you're right," you sigh.

"Oh hey, Akaashi!" Maya waves as Akaashi walks by, towards the exit of the gym, "Are you going to the vending machine?"

Akaashi looks over at us and nods slightly.

"Can you grab me a soda?" she shouts out.

Akaashi briefly looks to you and then back to Maya.

"Sure," he says calmly before walking out of the room.

"See," Maya whines as she points towards the direction Akaashi left in, "he doesn't even talk that much!"

"I'm sure it's not as bad as it seems," you try to comfort.

Maya rests her head on your shoulder, shocking you from the contact for a moment.

"You don't have to help me Y/N but I really would appreciate it."

You look down at the brown-haired girl leaning against you. You stroke her short hair as you try to decide what you should do.

"I'll talk to him," you quietly respond, "don't worry about it."

"Really?" she sniffles as she sits up.

You can see small streams of tears flowing down her face. You nod and then look past her to see Akaashi re-entering the gym. You wipe the tears off of her face before Akaashi notices.

"He's coming," you whisper as you dry her cheek, "try to calm down okay?"

Maya nods as Akaashi approaches with the drinks. He holds out a soda can for Maya and then one out for you.

"U-Uh Akaashi you didn't have to get me one I didn't ask for it," you stutter but he's already walking away.

"Shit you were right Maya, he is off today."

I wonder what's gotten into him.

Once the boys' practice is done, you and Maya walk over to Akaashi and Bokuto.

"Hey Y/N, I missed you today at lunch," Bokuto says.

As he pulls you in towards him, you notice his hug isn't suffocating you like normal. You lean your cheek against his chest as you softly hug him back.

"I'm sorry I wasn't at lunch," you whisper to him.

"Don't worry about it."

Bokuto releases you and you send a small smile to Akaashi.

"Hey, um, Akaashi do you want a ride home?" Maya nervously asks, "I drove to school today."

Akaashi nods in agreement. As the pair of them walk away Maya turns to you and mouths See this is what I mean. 

"Hey can I talk to you for a second?" you ask Bokuto as you watch the others leave the gym.

"Yeah sure let me just grab my stuff first," he smiles.

You follow behind him as he talks towards Konoha who is also pulling his belongings together.

"Hey Konoha," you wave at him.

"Oh hey Y/N! How's it going with Bokuto," he teases.

"What are you-"

Your speech gets drowned out by Bokuto yelling so loud that you and Konoha are forced to cover your ears.

"Bokuto stop screaming!" you yell back.

Suddenly Bokuto pushes you out of the room and you wave goodbye to poor Konoha who's just as confused as you are.

"Bokuto what the hell was that all about?" you punch his arm as you stand outside of the gym.

Bokuto shakes his head but doesn't reply.

"You're infuriating you know that?" you tease as you walk past.

Bokuto runs up to you and apologizes for the way he acted. You sigh and explain that you're not really mad at him.

"Ah, o-okay," he laughs nervously, "So what was it that you wanted to talk to me about?"

"Well, I was going to ask what you thought of Akaashi's behavior today."

The two of you walk to a nearby bench where you sit down together.

"Honestly," Bokuto replies, "I don't think he's been feeling himself lately."

"Why do you think that is?" you question.

Bokuto nervously laughs again as you wait for his response.

"Well to be honest I think you need to talk to him about that."

FLASHBACK- 1 Year Ago

"God this is so boring," you groan as you flop back on Akaashi's bed.

You look over to the boy who's ignoring your whines. Akaashi, studying intensely on his desk, seems to be too focused in his studies than your complaints.

"You were doing really well Y/N we should just go over a couple more things."

Shocked that he answered, you turn your head up to the ceiling to conceal your blush. Once you calm down you sit back up and continue reviewing a few more topics with your friend. 

When the pair of you finish, you close your notebook and walk over to Akaashi. You lean over him with your arms dangling from either side of his neck and your cheek on his head. As you face the side you notice something pink sticking out of his drawer.

"Akaashi?" you call to the boy still working for some unknown reason.

"Hm?"

"What's that?" you ask innocently as you point to the bit of pink paper sticking out of his desk.

Akaashi immediately puts his hand over it, causing you to spark an interest.

"It's nothing," he says as he opens his drawer and fixes whatever the thing was.

"Akaashi," you tease as you walk to the side of him, "do you have a girlfriend?"

Akaashi suddenly stands up, causing you to stumble back from shock.

"Why the hell do you always ask me that?"

"I-I'm sorry I didn't think that would-"

"You know Y/N one day I'm going to get a girlfriend and you're going to eat your words!" he yells.

"Is that a bet?" you smirk.

Akaashi looks you dead in the eye, a bit of fear washes over you as you stand your ground in front of him.

"I'll get a girlfriend one day just to prove my point, watch!"

END OF CHAPTER 20