blue lights || bokuaka

neon

Akaashi was nervous as the clock bled into midnight.

He spent the entire day worrying, a pingpong game between homework due over the weekend, and shelling out a few thousand to drop on a race tonight. If it wasn't one, then the other was on his mind instead, making him spiral down that same endless pit of stress that he couldn't seem to escape.

It affected his entire body like a disease, his appetite lost and his face warm at the inevitable risk he'd be taking tonight.

He really hated the thought of going, despised the idea of street racing even more.

Honestly, Kuroo was right up there with the dumb things Akaashi would rather avoid. But, they were best friends, and Akaashi didn't want Kuroo to go by himself because he would feel guilty.

Plus, it didn't hurt to try things at least once.

Maybe things would go well and he'd like it. He could have a story to tell Kuroo's kids as the cool, single uncle in the future.

He also could get hit by one of the cars or arrested by the police, but he tried really hard not to think about that part so much.

"You ready, partner?" Kuroo asks, leaning against Akaashi's open door frame.

Akaashi was walking his fingers over his open textbook, there for decoration considering he couldn't focus on anything else once the moon came out. The glaciers melt as Kuroo pulls him back into his environment, and he stands up to follow him.

"Kozume better win this race." Akaashi mutters, letting Kuroo lead him down the street from their apartment into the bustling city life of Jinsoku.

Akaashi liked it here because it was quiet during the day, when he really needed the peace, and loud at night, when he usually stayed home. He explored the city sometimes with Kuroo, but also didn't mind keeping to himself in his room until the next day.

It was a perfect balance, to where he didn't feel obligated to participate in the nightlife, because Jinsoku was not considered one of those sleepless cities.

It kind of just accommodated whomever was up.

And despite green and pink lights brightening signs and lining buildings, despite bumping into shoulders and keeping their balance against dunkards walking the streets with them, Akaashi couldn't help but feel like they were alone, walking to a destination only they knew, that they might not come back from.

He couldn't put his finger on it, but he felt isolated in the fact that only he seemed to be worrying about the danger they were getting themselves into as Kuroo led him into a hotpot shop on the corner of the block.

Akaashi swallows and hopes to god he didn't need to say anything.

"Hello, miss." Kuroo greets the lady at the front behind a podium, her hair short in a dark pixie cut.

Her eyes were shrouded in smokey makeup and cutting, kind of like Konoha's.

Akaashi avoids them.

"Table for two?" She asks, picking up two laminated menus from the stack in front of her, the dim yellow lights making everything look kind of fuzzy.

Kuroo gives her a slanted grin and shakes his head. "Uh..." He looks at Akaashi, who shakes his head, too, telling him he'd be no help. "No." He clears his throat. "No. We were more interested in the night shifts here."

The lady ducks her head a bit and glances behind Kuroo's shoulder, before looking down at the menus in front of her. Akaashi thinks Kuroo might have offended her or something in the way she seemed unresponsive for that moment, like she was thinking of what to say.