blue lights || bokuaka

damn kuroo

Akaashi lets his legs dangle off of the side of the roof, sat beside Kuroo and Yaku as the moon glows brighter than usual.

He had never been to Namaso, but it was very far from where he and Kuroo lived. They somehow made it, taking trains and following infinity signs beneath the cover of the nighttime, showing up in time for Bokuto and Daichi to take off as soon as they arrived.

Kuroo was right behind Akaashi once their thighs began to complain about the uphill climb as they reached the top, and Akaashi kept trying to watch Bokuto's car as Kuroo whined of Kenma's absence.

Akaashi's heart kept up with the speed, eyes following blue lights as they painted neons among the dark asphalt of the road.

"Akaashi! Bokuto said you'd be showing up!"

Nishinoya's voice cracks like lightning into Akaashi's clear skies, taking him out of his concentration enough for him to register what he was saying. His stomach falls as he thinks of why Bokuto would even mention him to Nishinoya, let alone anyone else that wasn't Kuroo.

That was weird.

"Um...y-yeah. I told him I'd come today." Akaashi's eyebrows come together as Noya smiles at him, eyes warm and striking still, despite the nighttime. He is buzzing with a stark excitement, like fireflies in a glass jar.

And Akaashi was beginning to understand why.

"You gonna bet?"

The question of betting usually wasn't one Akaashi thought of. He just did it. It was an unspoken thing and he did it out of habit whenever he showed up to one of these things with Bokuto by his side to watch.

His mind reels back to the night at the soba shop, Bokuto's mouth full of cold noodles as they talked about racing, about how Bokuto really felt about it. He liked making money, anyone did, but he quickly felt the guilt in his throat, hot barbed wire wrapped around his throat and digging into his skin, sharp and burning. Now that he thought about it, he doesn't think he bet on Bokuto last time, either.

He didn't even think about it.

It was annoying that he felt this now.

He tries to swallow it down, trying to let his head convince his heart that it was not a big deal, that he was supposed to be betting on Bokuto. If anything, he should be making up for the money he could have won betting on Bokuto last time.

He takes a breath, finding himself lost in his head again, before he finally lets it out, his throat feeling like it was about to burst.

"Not tonight." He shakes his head, and Noya nods.

"That's cool. What about you?" He turns his attention to Kuroo, who nods.

"Yes. I am betting on Bokuto. Fifty-thousand."

Akaashi's conscience grows heavy and he makes a face, watching Kuroo dig in the pocket of his red letterman for his wallet. The wind blows softly through Akaashi's white t-shirt, whispering of bad ideas and a change of heart.

He sighs.

"Maybe you shouldn't bet, Kuroo," Akaashi says softly, and Kuroo makes a face.

Nishinoya's eyes are on him and he laments opening his mouth.

"Why? I know Bo's gonna win this one." He tells him, and Akaashi plays with the silver pendant of his necklace as he thinks of a way to convince him otherwise.

"Nothing wrong with betting. It helps the racers!" Noya pipes up, and Akaashi sighs through his nose again.

"You're...you're right, I guess." Akaashi looks at his feet, watching the stars wink back at him in the reflection of the pendant. "Nevermind."