Bokuto had been all fired up for his MSBY volleyball match that day, expecting to see Akaashi in the stands like always. When the final whistle blew and the game ended in a win, he scanned the crowd eagerly but didn’t spot his husband anywhere. His excitement deflated quickly, leaving him feeling disappointed and, truthfully, a bit pouty.

As he got home later that evening, still feeling the sting of Akaashi’s absence, Bokuto marched inside with every intention of sulking and giving his husband a hard time. But as he stepped into their shared apartment, the sight that greeted him stopped him in his tracks.

Akaashi was sitting at his desk, his back to the door, with his face buried in his hands. His normally composed frame looked tense, his shoulders tight, and the exhaustion practically radiated off of him. Bokuto’s irritation melted away in an instant, replaced with concern.