This was their first game. Akaashi's heart raced as the familiar color of honey overtook his mind. All was well as he stepped up to line up and bowed. They did their greetings and went on the court. They were on the court for their first game and already...

They managed to get their first set. That was good, but getting that first set was more energy consuming than he had expected. The color of blood rushed in his mind as he envisioned it dripping from his fingertips. He felt the ball on his hands as he set, focusing on the ace. The deep red color soon became black, the obsidian shade began to reach out to him, the dream following it being burdensome.

Now the second set.

Unfortunately it was taken by Eiwa, a close score of 23-25. Maybe it was all his fault. He was already starting to mess up. His footing was getting worse, his balance, his-

His sight.

Pathetic.

'Stop... just focus on the game, my teammates, Bokuto, Konoha, Saru, Komi, Wa-'

"One touch!" His thoughts were cut off. He needed to focus, he needed to put all his effort, his energy, all of it in this game, in the next one, and the next one. He needed to keep going.

"Bokuto-san!" Crap, it was too low. It was blocked, completely, shutout. He was already losing his concentration, no... He couldn't, he needed to continue, he needed to keep going.  Keep going, keep going. Think of the bright yellow to motivate him, the navy blue, the pastel blue, the charcoal gray. Think of the steadiness of orange, the colors of the sunset, the warm feeling from the color of honey. Think, think, think! Don't think about that dripping red.

Eiwa High were at set point, they just needed one more point to win. One more point before his beloved team loses. Come on... Just one more point and it's a deuce. Just one more, just one more!

Akaashi had the ball in his hands, his vision shifted, he lost his balance, but he recovered.

He almost recovered.

He missed.

Game over.

...

Game over.

...

Game.Over.

The obsidian finally overtook him, that final drop of blood no longer stained his hands. He was now lost. He was now confused. He was now mortified, and horrified, and now traumatized. He looked at his teammates with despair, only to see his team just lose all hope. He saw Bokuto, just break.

~~

The color of the dark whiskey mixed in with how he felt. He could see the dark red wine in the distance.

Everyone in the locker rooms changed, almost as if nothing had happened. Keyword, almost. A sad chuckle could be heard from Bokuto.

"Ehehe, sorry guys, I should've made that one shot, then at least we could have-"

"No it was my fault." Akaashi interrupted. The rest of the team shook their head no.

"No, Akaashi, it's alright!"

"IT WAS ALL MY FAULT!" He nearly screamed. "If only I didn't... If only I was a better setter. If only I could've done more, much more. If only I practiced more than I already did. If only-"

If only you told the coach.

He choked... He clutched his chest, he cried... again... The bloody shade painted over his body, his mind, his sanity. Konoha spoke up.

"Ah, no it wasn't your fault. I mean we all make mistakes you know?" Akaashi sobbed.

"No you don't understand... I shouldn't have practiced... I shouldn't have played today..." Now the whole teamed chimed in.

"What the hell are you talking about? You were great on the court, so why are you so hard on yourself?" Konoha sighed. "I'm going to get some fresh air." The rest of the team followed, all except Bokuto.

"Shouldn't you be with the others?" Akaashi muttered as he backed away in a corner, sitting down and hugging his legs.

"Ah, they don't really like me so much, ahaha.... I mean they're great but, you're much more fun." Bokuto sat next to the setter. "What is it? What's bothering you?"

"Nothing..."

"You say that but I know you wouldn't have fumbled on that last toss. What's wrong?" There was a long silence before Akaashi put his legs down and turned towards the captain.

"I..." He could feel the tears again, Bokuto noticed and put his arms around him, comforting him.

"I feel like I should've told you this earlier but..." Bokuto backed up, making eye contact. "Akaashi Keiji, I love you."

"I'm going blind," he almost said simultaneously. "You love... me?" Bokuto held his breath, a notable look of despair on his face.

"You're... You're going blind?" His breathing was growing shallow. "When? Why?" His grip now went to his shoulders, growing tighter as the seconds passed. "Tell me, Akaashi, when?"

That look of despair broke Akaashi's heart, now feeling like glass, clear, exposed, and fragile.

"Soon, in a couple months. Maybe earlier." Bokuto went back to hugging the setter, holding him as if to say that he would never let go.

"Akaashi... Why didn't you tell me?" His hands hesitated to return it but once he managed to grasp the spiker, his tears came back.

"I," he gasped as he choked back the tears. "To be honest, I really don't really know... it could be a few months, it could be a couple weeks..." Akaashi avoided the question. His grip tightened. "I'm scared."

Bokuto sat there holding the setter who had been swallowed up by his own demons. He comforted him as he too, sat there being held, the warmth keeping him sane.

~~~

It was lunch and the whispers were deafening. As he took each step, he could feel each color just pooling near his feet. He didn't know why he was anxious, for all he knew, those whispers were about something else, someone else...

"Hey Akaashi," a classmate of his stopped him. He flinched but he turned to face him.

"Yes?" The other couldn't help but hesitate as he asked him a question.

"We saw what happened during the game. Why'd you miss the shot?" His heart sank.

"What?" He breathed out, barely keeping it together. "What do you mean?"

"Well," he turned to look at his classmates and friends. "You never miss... and I don't know, it was the first match! You guys lost after you failed to properly toss." Akaashi felt that deep wine pigment being poured down his throat, suffocating him.

"What are you trying to say? That it was all my fault?" The boy furrowed his brows.

"What? No! I just-"

"Just what? Did I do something wrong? Are you trying to say that I'm not worthy of being on the team of a powerhouse school? That I don't have the talent?"

"Akaashi, that's not what I'm sayin-"

"THEN WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO SAY TO ME?" Akaashi snapped. The feeling of glass came back. He wanted to cry but he didn't want to expose how weak he was, just how pathetic he was. The other student back off. Well the other student as well as everyone else.

From glass he felt blue again. But not the beautiful sapphire, no, he felt dull. A rusted sort of blue if that even existed.

The feeling of needles digging into his skin and his insides came back and he wanted to break. It didn't take long before he felt something warm.

He looked up to see someone familiar.

"Bokuto?" A smile popped up and glistened, but he knew it was just a front. He saw how the ace's expression changed drastically when he faced the second years, his smile dropping into what looked like a glare.

"So? Aren't you going to answer his question?" His words felt cold, contrasting his usual childish behavior. The second year tensed.

"Nothing, never mind." Everybody turned away and left. Akaashi tried to take a deep breath, but he soon began to feel numb as he too walked away, ignoring the ace's call.
~~

Akaashi felt as though he had to make things right. He looked up at the sky, now imagining the beautiful colors of the forest. The murky forest green and the deep shade of a tree trunk. He breathed in the cold air and bit the inside of his cheek, flashes of garnet interrupting his mind.

'So this is what it's going to feel like,' he thought as he sat alone on the rooftop.

"Akaashi," Bokuto called out to him. The boy didn't respond. "Akaashi," Bokuto tried again, now a few steps closer. This time, his head turned towards the owl. The boy who had no color, sat down next to him and held him close. "It's gonna be alright."

His hands clenched, grabbing Bokuto's shirt tightly. He began to tear up, Akaashi attempting to calm himself down by taking deep breaths. In the end, he ended up hyperventilating. Bokuto only held him closer, giving him the idea that he would always be there for him. His hand ran through his hair slowly.

"Take a deep breath. One thing at a time," he chuckled to lighten the mood. "Think about how owls run in such an awkward way." Akaashi giggled and Bokuto joined in.

"Can we stay like this for a bit?" The older boy hummed a yes as he held him tight for the rest of their lunch break. In the end, they were late for their classes.

A/N FINALLY!! I did it!!! Another chapter!!!!!!!! AFTER A LIFETIME OF WAITING!! WOOOOOO
Goodness my writers block was killing me...

I hope it made sense ToT to be honest I don't know a full amount of volleyball but I tried. This chapter was difficult... I hope you all enjoyed!!

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