Notes

Akaashi learned Bokuto tore up, due to some hot cheese killing his lips. During the meal, they mostly talked about themselves and manga. They delved into education, what they liked doing other than the obvious, and family. They also joked around, already having inside jokes between themselves. Bokuto was kind to share a few bites of his food to let Akaashi try. His friend wasn't less, and shared his carbonara for Bokuto's trial.

Akaashi discovered it was especially normal in Bokuto's family to share. Bokuto described how his parents preferred few meals shared consistently, over individual orders. It was sweet to hear the collective culture, which wasn't far off from Akaashi's family. Bokuto eventually learned that Akaashi was an only child. The meal didn't stop them from conversing here and there. It was nice, and relaxed.

Even when both of them had finished the meal, they didn't mind staying seated. Time wasn't their main focus or their attention. The friends took time to relax from being full and satisfied with the food.

"I love being full," Bokuto sighed in satisfaction, to which Akaashi slowly nodded in agreement.

"What are your plans after this?" Akaashi asked curiously since the conversation had died down. It was as if all the conversation had been used up. The two had so much to talk about, it was like a supernova burnt out to void. That void could have been the silence emerging after eating.

"I'm going to pick up my daughter, then it's just relaxing I hope. Some chores at home, maybe. Man, that sounded boring as hell," Bokuto chuckled at the end. Akaashi raised his eyebrows upon the newly mentioned daughter. Bokuto realized too, that he just mentioned his daughter for the first time. At least the conversation wouldn't die.

"Oh, you have a daughter?" Akaashi asked curiously and smiled kindly upon imagining a cute child. Bokuto didn't know he already knew about her. Akaashi concealed that fact with all of his might.

"I do! I try not to make being a single dad my entire personality. I like to add that fact later, I guess. It's weird," Bokuto shrugged his shoulders and smiled sheepishly. It sounded as if he tried to keep Yuki a secret, which wasn't true.

"I see. I can get that. Some people are amazing at making something their entire personality. I used to know somebody who wouldn't keep quiet about their partner," Akaashi snorted at the memory, and expressed understanding of Bokuto's decision.

"Oh, christ. Yeah, we had those in high school. Look, my boyfriend! Yes, we've seen you together for twenty hours now," Bokuto recollected a memory of the infamous virus couple from high school. Akaashi let out a short groan at the mention, suddenly remembering a couple from his high school too.

"Yeah, definitely understand how some people make one thing their entire personality. No, but that's interesting. How is your slice of dad life?" Akaashi asked, slightly nervous to step on his toes. He didn't want to ask too many personal questions, but Bokuto didn't flinch or budge.

"I like to describe it as being a child's best friend, strict teacher, caring older brother, all at once? Except, the love you have for your child makes up ninety-nine percent of being a father. It's impossible to explain it, to be honest," Bokuto felt like his words lost all sense and logic. He cringed at the horrible expression but was surprised to be met with a nod.

"My dad used to say I would never understand him, until I became a dad one day," Akaashi recalled and shrugged his shoulders. Bokuto clicked his tongue, before nodding in agreement.

"Yeah, I know what he means. I've told several friends the same thing. At the end of the day, being a dad is a gift. It's a gift next to everything else I do in life," Bokuto explained. Akaashi smiled in admiration of the young single father and showed silent respect for what he did. He surely deserved as much.

"How old is she, if I can ask?" Akaashi added to not sound intrusive or invasive. Bokuto, once again, didn't budge or flinch. He didn't seem uncomfortable with the questions.

"She's turning five in not so long," Bokuto told him, which made Akaashi let out a small "aww" in response. He wasn't the one to like kids very much, but he could only imagine Bokuto with the child. It would be sweet.

"I guess that's it for now," Bokuto hummed and thought about any interesting information he had. Upon deciding he didn't, Bokuto comfortably stayed silent for a second.

"Oh man, my parking," Bokuto hissed lightly and turned to look at the main entrance. Akaashi couldn't relate but understood the worry.

"Hey, do you want dessert?" Bokuto added and found the idea of going on a short drive. If Akaashi had the time, of course.

"Sure, we could order takeaway from here if anything is interesting," Akaashi looked around to see some ice cream parlors and bakeries. Bokuto looked around too and considered the options.

"I'm feeling something to drink. I think I'm just going for a cocktail," Akaashi looked at the small bar behind them. It was close by and didn't require a long wait.

"Nice, I'll have a mocktail with you. Also, you'll have to try my personal cocktail. I'll have to make it for you," Bokuto excitedly and proudly remembered his own recipe for a citrus-based cocktail. Akaashi curiously raised his eyebrows, but couldn't wait to hear the elaboration.

"Okay, next time I can show you where I live. Homemade tacos and homemade cocktails. Deal? We can just read manga and relax," Bokuto spontaneously made plans that Akaashi couldn't refuse. It was less formal and would be a homey meetup. Akaashi wasn't against the idea.

"Sounds nice!" Akaashi agreed with a smile of anticipation. Bokuto insisted to carry the trays and empty glasses. Akaashi was helpless against his requests of helping with everything.

Once Bokuto cleaned their table, the two made it to the bar stools. They quickly scanned over the menu, which allowed both of them to decide fast. Bokuto gained eye contact with one of the bartenders. He firstly looked over at Akaashi who only gave him a nod in approval.

"Virgin raspberry mojito," Bokuto ordered and looked over at his friend.

"Sangria, please," Akaashi described his order. The bartender just noted on his notepad. Bokuto and Akaashi both pulled out their wallet, which resulted in a visual war. The other bartenders looked at them in amusement whilst they tried to snatch each other's cards.

"Aren't I supposed to go to yours? You're practically paying for the taco ingredients, and drinks for your cocktail," Akaashi made a point. Bokuto did like to think that he should pay every time. However, it wasn't realistic with friends. Kuroo didn't let him pay anything either.

"Damn," Bokuto sighed in defeat as Akaashi's bank card made the machine print out the receipt. Akaashi shaped a victorious smirk as he looked across the bottles neatly organized behind the counter.

Bokuto stared in fascination at how raspberry pure was mixed with some sort of juice, and syrup. The familiar bartender equipment was professionally handled upon mixing the drink, despite it being non-alcoholic. Akaashi's Sangria was served faster, which allowed him to enjoy it first.

It didn't take much time before he got his mocktail. Both of them enjoyed their well-made drinks. Bokuto raised his eyes at how large Akaashi's sips were.

"I'm not chugging, it's just... it doesn't taste like alco," Akaashi let out an airy laugh at Bokuto's skeptic stare.

"I was like, alright... high school again," Bokuto laughed at Akaashi's embarrassment. It was funny how many times he got embarrassed in front of Bokuto. If Akaashi had known him in high school, Bokuto knew the ratio of embarrassment would be different.

"Jesus, no. It just tastes really good, genuinely," Akaashi sipped his drink. He tried to contain his urge to sip large sips, while Bokuto mindlessly drank as he pleased. He was just enjoying the mixture of raspberry, and mint.

"My cocktail is basically peach liquor, vodka, lemon juice, orange syrup, and sprite," Bokuto shrugged as if the recipe didn't sound complex. Akaashi blinked in surprise.

"That sounds, very good actually," Akaashi hummed in thought, and could only imagine how that would taste. Citrus based.

The pair of friends finished their drinks. Akaashi's glass was even bigger than his mocktail's. Bokuto did see a caution flag with how fast Akaashi downed it. In his defense, the taste of alcohol was gone. That fact was dangerous on its own. However, it was only one glass. As long as Akaashi felt well, Bokuto wouldn't worry.

"I'll drive you home if you agree?" Bokuto insisted, especially to make sure nothing kicked in during Akaashi's travel. Akaashi wordlessly agreed, presumably he had the same concern.

Bokuto unlocked his car and was thankful for no fines attached to his car. Akaashi comfortably sat in the front seat after shifting the child's seat. At least somebody could steer the music.

"Does your daughter like to sit in the front?" Akaashi asked randomly, not knowing what caused him to ask the question. Bokuto was caught smiling and chuckled at the thought of Yuki's various preferences.

"She likes to sit everywhere. Yuki usually sits in the front, then decides the back has a bigger window," Bokuto commented on her logic. Akaashi shook his head jokingly and looked out the window himself.

The evening set a calmer mood, with the same colors. The sky had favored the hues of blue, which didn't change with the drive. Akaashi felt tired from looking at the sky, connecting it with nighttime and sleep. Bokuto, on the other hand, didn't let any emotion dull his focus. Akaashi looked over at his friend, whose attention was reasonably secured.

An estimated fifteen minutes passed before they reached Akaashi's street. Bokuto did need some directions once in a while, but they got there safely. Akaashi lifted his head from resting on the car window. He was surprised to feel a breeze seep from the front of his head to the back. Akaashi closed his eyes to make the pressure worse, to confirm his suspicions.

"Can I admit something embarrassing?" Akaashi peeped up from the silence. Bokuto bit back a smile but hummed in response.

"I'm slightly tipsy. Just very slightly, though," Akaashi scoffed and smacked his own forehead. Bokuto couldn't help but laugh at the unexpected gesture. He looked over once he had stopped the engine.

"I suspected so after you chugged it straight down," Bokuto continued laughing at the memory. The innocent glass of Sangria was enjoyed faster than it was supposed to be and resulted in this.

"New shot game, take a shot every time I embarrass myself in front of you. I don't even mean to, it's so annoying," Akaashi ranted while being the least intoxicated. Slightly, of course. Bokuto only noticed a small difference. Akaashi talked more freely, with control of his hands. Akaashi's voice wasn't slurred either, just floated more freely. Bokuto could tell he was being genuine, despite joking in a tipsy state.

"Akaashi, lower your shoulders. I want you to think of me as an informal friend. Don't think about it. Hey, I'll tell you stories from my high school days," Bokuto decided and cleared his throat. To ease Akaashi's embarrassment, Bokuto mentally compiled a collection of his dumbest stories.

"Okay, I got pretty drunk far away. As in, drunk enough to fuck up, but not drunk enough to puke. Basically, I got emo on a bus. I was full-blown crying, talking about how life was tough and everything. The bus ride lasted for an hour. Before I know it, the bus driver glares at me. He tells me I was exhausting to have on his bus. He didn't tell me once. He told me twice. Looked me dead in the eye, and told me I was exhausting," Bokuto shared fondly. He cringed at the embarrassing memory, but he was happy it made Akaashi laugh.

"Well, two days later I had work. I had to take the bus home. Guess what, the same bus driver stared me down," Bokuto added to the story, which Akaashi couldn't hold himself from laughing.

"Another time, my friend got high for the first time. I was piss drunk only. So, my friend goes: ah, Bokuto, I'm on a boat!" Bokuto recreated the line with a fascinated light voice. Bokuto recreated the drunk head movements, floating and everything. The theatrics made Akaashi grin in anticipation, and he could only wonder what Bokuto replied.

"I replied with: Bro, where are you going," Bokuto revealed, in a voice with actual confusion and curiosity. The tone made it clear how stupid the interaction was between him and his high friend. Once again, Akaashi laughed at the imagination of how lost they both were.

Akaashi felt better, which made Bokuto feel successful in comforting him. They shared a look, in which Bokuto smiled empathetically and reassuringly. Akaashi's expression was only genuine and thankful. Their gazes broke once notifications were displayed all over the car's pad.

Bokuto clicked his tongue at the tragic separation. He reassured Akaashi that he would have to try his homemade cocktail. Akaashi told him how he couldn't wait to try. Akaashi could only unbuckle his seatbelt and open the door. Bokuto waited with saying goodbye until he opened Akaashi's window.

They separated easily, with kind goodbyes and gratitude for today. They both admittedly had a good time. Bokuto decided not to exit until he saw Akaashi safely getting inside his home. Perhaps he would need help. After the door had closed, Bokuto saw his cue to leave.

The next stop was to pick up Yuki. Now, the notifications could wait until he was home.
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