Believer

24

“Ah, yer feelin’ better, eh?” Atsumu said, hands on his hips as he leaned forward. Akaashi, having been able to lip read, smiled, abashed. His cheeks tinted pink at being put on the spot, especially so when it was over his nearly week and a half long sickness. Since it was a virus, antibiotics were null so he just had to let the despicable illness run its course. 

Suddenly, Atsumu jumped back, rubbing his arm. Akaashi turned his gaze to Osamu, who wore a smug grin after smacking his brother. 

Bokuto and Kuroo laughed. 

Akaashi slipped away from the twins before their inevitable argument pursued and they dragged him into the fray. He joined the still cackling Kuroo and the smiling Bokuto. 

“Glad you’re back.” Kuroo spoke after calming down. 

Akaashi gave a small smile before attempting to mouth “thank you.” After feeling as if he had utterly failed the movements, he grimaced, shook his head, and signed it instead. Bokuto began laughing, and Akaashi pursed his lips, in mock offense yet amusement soon overcame his facial features instead. He soon joined in with the soft chuckles. 

Moments later, the black haired teen nearly screamed, fear overcoming him for a split second as a body rammed into him from behind and arms draped over his shoulder. Legs firmly wrapped themselves around his waist. He staggered before Bokuto reached out to steady him. 

Akaashi sighed, feeling the vibrations of the chest being pressed into his back. He glanced at Bokuto out of the corner of his eyes only to find him talking to the person hanging on Akaashi. 

It took a few moments, but the body jumped down from its piggy-back ride position. Akaashi immediately rubbed his left shoulder, as it was sore from the blunt impact of--Akaashi watched as a mass of orange hair walked forward so that he joined between Akaashi and Bokuto in a triangle--Hinata. The shorter teen had a bashful grin on his face as he looked at Akaashi. 

He spoke of something but Akaashi couldn't catch onto the words fast enough. He brought his gaze to Bokuto who was waiting to sign the reply. "He said he was sorry." 

Akaashi nodded, turning a smile onto the younger teen. "It's okay." He both mouthed and signed. Apparently Hinata understood because he nodded silently, lips pressed together. 

Suddenly the younger teen jumped up, eyes widening and a smile overpowering his face. Akaashi could only guess the teen had gasped deeply when his face lit up. It clearly got Bokuto's attention as well as the twins and Kuroo. 

The deaf teen watched on as the twins and Kuroo entered the group, somehow forming a blob of band members who had started to listen to Hinata talk. Akaash shifted his weight, feeling suddenly out of the loop. He looked at all the interested faces hanging onto the first-years every word and felt a knot in his stomach. 

Sometimes Akaashi loathed his deafness. 

He was quickly pulled out of his spiral by a firm hand landing on his shoulder. He turned to look at the owner. 

Bokuto smiled at his friend, eyes warm and genuine. He pulled his hand back and began signing. 

"Hinata wants to show you what we've been working on since you were sick--" He was startled out of his movements and his neck snapped to a certain blonde who wrapped their arm around Hinata's shoulder. The younger one didn't seem to mind and rather started talking to Bokuto once more while bouncing up and down. Excitement radiated off the teen. Akaashi wanted to know what was happening. He brought his hand up to scratch at his ear, fighting the urge to pull it as if reprimanding a child. 

Bokuto rolled his eyes at what his disciple was saying before meeting Akaashi's gaze again. "We wanted to surprise you and learn a song before you came back." He said, face heating up as he signed almost in a bashful manner. "Once Kenma is here, would you wanna listen to it? I mean it won't be perfect or anything--because we literally only had a bit over a week to practice after school, and even less time together--but it's a good start, I think." He rambled. 

Akaashi nodded. A genuine, albeit small, smile enveloping his features. "I'd love to hear it." He replied. 

Bokuto let out a breath of air he had been holding in, looking relieved at the aspect of Akaashi willingly listening. 

"I've read about people with hearing loss liking to feel the music vibrations, is that what you want to do?" 

Akaashi suddenly felt oddly content, as if he was being well taken care of. His smile grew soft at the thought of his best friend actually caring enough to research into the deaf community as well as learn Japanese Sign Language on a whim. Just to communicate with his deaf artist neighbor. A flush crept over his cheeks.

"Aye! Got the speaker you brats wanted!" Came a thickly accented, feminine voice. The twins snapped their heads towards the sound. 

Atusmu gasped and clapped his hands together. "Perfect timing!" He spoke up, heading towards the woman. 

She had short black hair with purple tips and strands, framing her face and accentuating her nearly perfect completion. A lopsided grin was molded on her face showing off her slightly crooked teeth. Akaashi watched how her genuine excitement over the rather ginormous speaker enhanced her beauty. 

She looked very similar to Osamu, which, upon recollection of the past meeting, Akaashi was able to pinpoint that this woman must be their Aunt. 

The owner of the music shop and studio. Akaashi smiled. 

He was nervously shifting his weight between his feet before breathing deeply. I should probably go say hello to her at least, he thought. But before he even took a step towards the women, an eager hand gripped his arm and dragged him to a corner of the room. Akaashi looked up at Hinata who was grinning widely before looking behind the artist and waving someone over. 

Akaashi looked back to find Bokuto carrying the speaker and walking over at a brisk pace. Akaashi balked at how effortlessly the pianist was carrying it. 

Bokuto caught the artist's gaze and gave a haughty smile. 

Moments later, Akaashi found himself pulling Hinata back from the wall and allowing Bokuto enough room to sit the large speaker on the floor. Akaashi looked at the speaker with curiosity etching away at him. Excitement was slowly becoming noticeable in his eyes. He looked around, expecting one of the two to plug the device in, but was met with the two talking bashfully with one another before Hinata bounded off. 

Bokugo turned to Akaashi and gave a lopsided grin. “We don’t know how to set it up. He’s getting Kenma.” 

Akaashi felt a chuckle fall from his lips before he nodded. 

And soon enough, the short setter found himself easily setting up the speaker before being called over to the practice room, leaving Akaashi and Bokuto on their own. Bokuto gave the raven-haired teen a lopsided grin with a full amount of excitement. The deaf teen tried to match the excitement and easily did so. 

The air was filled with nothing short of nervous, albeit jovial energy. Words didn't have to be said in order for the emotions to be felt. Bokuto, deep down, knew that this was an important moment for Akaashi, as both their manager and best friend. And in return, Akaashi knew that Bokuto was ecstatic knowing that he felt free enough to engage and share his interests with others. 

"You ready?" He asked.

Akaashi felt himself take a deep breath before sighing back. Forcing his excitement down so he could coherently sign his answer. "Ready." 

And with that, Bokuto practically skipped to the practice room while Akaashi found himself sitting down in front of the speaker that was connected. Swiftly, Akaashi took off his shoes and pressed both his feet and hands to the floor. 

And when the speaker started to play, Akaashi felt a sense of absolute joy at the melodic vibrations that moved up his fingertips and directly to his heart.