Chapter 21

                                    

                                          
Y/N's house was quiet, the soft ticking of a clock filling the silence as Bokuto sat in the living room, his thoughts drifting back to the incident with Saito. The whole thing left a bad taste in his mouth. Saito had a reputation, sure, but seeing him act on it—seeing Y/N almost get hurt—was something Bokuto couldn't shake off. He clenched his fists, imagining what might have happened if he and the team hadn't arrived in time.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of soft footsteps. Y/N walked into the room, carrying a teapot and two glasses on a tray. Her movements were calm, but Bokuto could sense the tension radiating from her. She set the tray down on the table and poured the tea, her hands steady despite the storm of emotions she must be feeling.
They both took a sip of the tea, the warmth of the drink contrasting with the chill that lingered from the earlier confrontation. Silence settled between them, not uncomfortable, but heavy with unspoken thoughts.
Y/N broke the silence first. "Thank you, Bokuto," she said quietly, her voice sincere but tinged with something more—something vulnerable. "For everything."
Bokuto looked at her, his golden eyes softening. "You don't have to thank me, Y/N. I'm just glad I was there... I don't want to think about what could've happened if we weren't."
Y/N nodded, but her gaze dropped to her lap, her mind replaying Saito's last words to her. "You're pathetic, Y/N." The words echoed in her head, stinging more than she wanted to admit. Despite her usual resilience, those words cut deep, and she couldn't help but wonder if there was some truth to them.
Bokuto noticed the shift in her demeanor, the way her shoulders tensed and her expression grew distant. Without thinking, he moved closer to her, his concern evident. "Y/N... whatever Saito said, it doesn't matter. Don't let his words get to you. You're strong, kind, and one of the coolest people I know. Don't let anyone make you doubt that."
Y/N glanced at him, her heart warming at his words. She could see the sincerity in his eyes, the way he looked at her like she was someone important—someone worth protecting. She hesitated for a moment, then asked softly, "Can I... can I hug you again?"
Bokuto's eyes widened in surprise, a blush creeping up his neck. His heart skipped a beat, but he quickly nodded, unable to hide the smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah, of course."
Y/N leaned in, wrapping her arms around him, and Bokuto returned the embrace, holding her close. She could feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, a comforting sound that somehow matched her own. It was a long hug, one filled with unspoken comfort and mutual understanding, and for that moment, the world outside didn't matter.
When they finally pulled away, the warmth of the hug lingered in the air. Bokuto glanced at the clock, realizing it was getting late. "I should probably get going," he said, though he didn't really want to leave.
Y/N nodded, standing up with him. She walked him to the door, the silence between them now comfortable, almost peaceful. They exchanged goodbyes, and just before Bokuto left, Y/N gave him a small, genuine smile. "Thank you again, Bokuto. For everything."
He smiled back, his heart feeling light. "Anytime, Y/N. You know where to find me."
As Bokuto walked away, Y/N closed the door behind him and leaned against it for a moment, her mind still processing everything that had happened. She felt a mix of emotions—relief, gratitude, and something else. Something that had been slowly building inside her, something she couldn't quite ignore anymore.
She made her way to her bed, lying down and staring at the ceiling. Her thoughts drifted back to Bokuto, to the way he had comforted her, the warmth of his embrace, and the look in his eyes when he told her she was strong.
A small smile tugged at her lips as she whispered to herself, "Yeah, I might have fallen for Bokuto."
With that thought lingering in her mind, she finally allowed herself to drift off to sleep, the events of the day fading away as dreams took over.