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No one dared asked. It’s not that they didn’t want to bother. It was because it was so obvious. It was just so painfully obvious. Ever since he introduced himself to the second and third years, Kai and Yaku could immediately see how close they were. Fukunaga and Yamamoto didn’t even know Kenma was acquaintance to a senior until they saw how protective Kuroo was of Kenma.
Even when the 3rd years left, Kuroo and Kenma even got more comfortable with each other. Especially Kenma. They would saw Kuroo and Kenma entering school with the blocker’s arms over Kenma’s shoulders. The many times they share water bottles and even lunch. Even when Kenma decided to take a nap, Kuroo’s laps were always ready for him. But no one questioned it.
When the new first years came the next year, they didn’t even know if they wanted to ask. Everyone was so nonchalant about it; they thought their suspicion was true. Heck, the two even shared the same futon when they were on their away games. They had to be dating. Right? But no one dared confirming it.
“Morning!” Lev hollered as he entered the gym. He had just recently joined the volleyball club and was excited to learn more about the sport, as well as getting close to his teammates. He then turned to the side and noticed Kuroo sitting against the wall, papers in hand while Kenma rested his head on his lap, seemingly sleeping “E-Eh? Is Kenma-san asleep…?”
“Ah… He was up playing video games yesterday and I forced him to come early,” Kuroo murmured, not taking his eyes away from the papers “Just set everything up. I’m letting him sleep till practice starts.” Lev blinked in surprise and turned to the other players who have already showed up. They were setting up the court as if this was the usual sight.
Before Lev could speak up, Yaku quickly kicked him away, hissing. “You stupid giant. I’ve told you many times to come early! Go set up the net or I’ll do some strict receiving practice on you!”
“E-Eh?” Lev quickly ran to where Inouka and Shibayama is to help them with carrying the metal poles. Leaving it just like that. When everything had been set up and they were 15 minutes away from practice, Kuroo had woken Kenma up and began telling everyone to stretch before the coaches come.
“So then, we have an away game soon and I would like to announce the lineup.” Nekomata smiled after the players have gathered. “We’ll have the regular bench members come from last year, as well as Inouka and Shibayama.”
“Yessir!”
“I shall now hand out the numbers.” Naoi mumbled as he pulled out the bags full of jerseys. He then called the players one by one, handing them their uniforms.
“We’ll be playing against a few schools first before we play against Karasuno. I look forward to see how you all play.”
“Sensei, is there a significant on why Karasuno piques your interest?” Yaku spoke up and Nekoma couldn’t help but to chuckle
“Just some old memories. I guess you can say they’re our fated rivals.” He stood up, “if that’s all, you all are dismissed.”
“Thank you very much!” Kuroo bowed down and the team quickly followed. They then watched the coaches leave before turning to each other.
“Fated rival, huh… We’ve never even played against Karasuno before.” Yamamoto murmured, “Kuroo-san, have you?”
“No… I don’t think I’ve ever heard of Karasuno.” He scratched his head, “I’ve never even heard of us having fated rivals.”
“Is that so important? We get to ride the bullet train!” Yaku cheered.
“Let’s clean up before we head home then.” Kuroo clapped his hands together and the players quickly scattered. After everyone finished, they all waved goodbyes and separated ways.
When they left for Miyagi, a small incident happened where Kenma suddenly got lost. Everyone was trying their best to calm their captain down from going crazy. After they managed to stay in contact with the lost kid, the captain had immediately book towards where Kenma was, leaving everyone behind. When they returned about an hour later, the first years didn’t think of much when they saw the two of them returning hand in hand. They knew their captain and setter were close – they did know each other ever since childhood after all. Physical affections between them didn’t seem to be strange. It was a daily occurrence.
“Oi Kenma, I told you no more games!” Kuroo snatched the phone away from the younger boy, earning a glare. “How many times have I told you it’ll diminish your sleep?”
“You’re not my mom.” He huffed, struggling to reach for the phone that’s just simply too far away for his short hand to reach.
“You got no say in this when you lost us because you kept having your nose on your phone.” Kenma scrunched up his nose in annoyance before giving up on the wrestling. He murmured something under his breath and Kuroo couldn’t help but to grow a big grin on his face. He watched Kenma then crawl under the futon, seemingly accepted his defeat.
“Lights off. We have 2 matches tomorrow.” Yaku announced and could already see Kuroo following behind Kenma, letting the younger boy snuggle up to him under the covers.
He quickly turned off the lights before the first years had a say in it.
Their little display of affection continued on, further confusing the team. It wasn’t until the summer training camp where Lev finally had a say in it.
“Ara, chibi-chan, you’re still here.” Kuroo walked inside as he had a towel over his head. Hinata looked up from talking to Kenma and Inouka, widening his eyes.
“E-Eh? K-Kuroo-san?” He blinked, pointing at the wet hair that was drooping down. “Y-Your hair…” Kenma couldn’t help but to snort at his comment while Kuroo shot him a glare in which the blond obviously didn’t see with his face hidden behind his bangs.
“I told you it’s bed hair.” Kenma mumbled and set the console down, waving his captain over. Kuroo’s scowl disappeared immediately and he quickly ran over like a lost puppy. He quickly plopped down on his stomach, burying his face onto Kenma’s stomach with his arms wrapped around the blonde’s waist as the setter grab onto the towel, drying his hair. Yaku and the others didn’t really react much to the action but obviously, Hinata and Inouka were shock.
“How was training with Bokuto went?” Kai sat down beside the duo, taking out a small notebook and flipped through the pages so he could jot down onto the journal.
“Eh?” Hinata watched Kuroo talking to Kai while still having his head buried onto Kenma’s laps as if he was home. He felt like he was intruding in their privacy by seeing such intimacy. Kenma didn’t even seem to mind as he was busying himself with drying Kuroo’s wild hair with the towel.
“Chibi-chan, you better head back to your room before Sawamura gets mad.” Yaku walked over, patting onto them. “Inouka, can you go find Lev?”
“H-Hai!” They blinked and quickly got up.
“It’s dry. Get off me”
“No, I’m already comfy.” Hinata watched for a bit before leaving it as is.
The following morning, he didn’t say much and but the question did plague his mind.
“Kuroo!” Bokuto ran over to Kuroo, swinging his arm over the blocker’s shoulder and pulled him down, “Are you free on Sunday? Want to block for me?”
“Eh? More practice? You’re kidding.” Kuroo frowned, “didn’t you had enough?”
“Of course not!”
“I’m busy anyway.” Kuroo sighed, “I have plans with Kenma on Sunday.”
“Again?”
“What? I told you I’ll never be available on Sunday. I’ve promised Kenma that Sundays are just for us two.”
“Eh… I didn’t know you were such a good boyfriend…” Suguwara suddenly poked his head in, a very surprsised look on his face.
Kuroo widened his eyes, feeling the blood rushing to his cheeks. “W-We’re not dating…” He choked on his own spit.
“Liar!” Bokuto shouted.
“Bokuto-kun, I am not lying. Kenma and I aren’t dating.” Kuroo annunciated carefully so Bokuto could hear him. “We’re only friends. Just friends.”
“You sure? You two act like you’ve been dating for years…” Sawamura couldn’t help but to join the conversation.
“That’s because we’re childhood friends?”
“Tsukishima and Yamaguchi are childhood friends but they don’t act like that.” Sugawara crossed his arms, humming.
Kuroo frowned, turning to see Kenma talking to Hinata and Lev on the hillside. He had thought they were acting fairly normal for childhood friends. Sure, he knew they might seem more touchy than normal, but he had thought it was normal.
“You do definitely act like his boyfriend, though.” Sawamura nodded. “With all the doting and all.”
“And the way you look at him.” Sugawara wiggled his eyebrows, smirking knowingly.
“But we’re not dating…” Kuroo grumbled, glancing up at Kenma before sighing. No one had ever told him about this before. He had always thought his team didn’t care but all of the stuff Yaku had been complaining to him about suddenly made sense.
Kuroo walked home with Kenma like usual, but this time, he was hyperaware of their distance. Or well, how close they were. Noticed how Kenma often leaned onto him and how he had his arm draped over the setter’s shoulders to guide him around while playing his games.
Kuroo could not fall asleep like this, he can’t possibly have feelings for his childhood friend. He had to admit, Kenma does look attractive and has his own kind of charm. Kuroo really did found him cute. But he was sure his feelings for his friends were nothing but mere platonic.
“Kuro?” He jumped at the call, looking up to see Kenma standing by the door. “Are you ok?”
“Yeah, sorry. Just tired.” Kuroo felt privileged to get to see this side of Kenma. How Kenma broke down all of his walls and showed his emotion openly to Kuroo. How he was comfortable enough to even steal Kuroo’s shirt and wear it as his PJs. He really was cute. How the oversized shirt draped over, almost to his knees. How his wet hair framed his face.
Wait.
Kuroo felt his cheeks burn as he shook his head. Kenma raised an eyebrow before seeing Kuroo signaling him to come over. Once Kenma was comfortable on Kuroo’s laps, the blocker reached over for the towel around the setter’s head and brought it up to dry his hair while Kenma grabbed his PSP, booting up a game.
They fell into an easy silent, a comfortable one that was built up for so many years. Years of trust and friendship. Of understanding and how easily they could read each other without even saying anything. Kuroo truly was grateful to find a friend like Kenma. But as he scanned the setter in front of him more, the more he realized how much he wanted to cup that face and just stare those golden eyes, drowning in their beauty. Caress those soft cheeks and kiss his nose-
Oh.
Those were definitely not something he should be thinking of about his best friend. Kuroo didn’t even realized when his hand had stopped nor when Kenma had paused his game to turn around, scanning him.
“Kuro?” Kuroo flinched, turning to look at those golden eyes that was staring at him. But he could see the slight concern in those eyes. “Are you ok?”
“Y-Yeah… It’s just…” Kuroo gulped as he remembered the things Bokuto, Sawamura and Sugawara had told him. Were they really not normal for childhood friends to act like that? Kuroo had always thought they were normal, but then again, they’ve been together for so long, their boundaries have been blurred. “Kenma… Are we- Did you know people think we’re dating?”
Kuroo didn’t really expect Kenma to react much. He’d thought he’d get his ‘ick’ face but instead, Kenma looked a bit surprised.
“Are we not?” Was definitely not what Kuroo had expected as the reply.
“W-Were we? Are we?!” Kenma suddenly started chuckling lowly. “Oi, don’t laugh!”
“I should have known you’re pretty dense in this topic.” Kenma mused, looking up. “Kuro, you act like we’ve been dating for months.”
“What?” Kuroo breathed out, in complete shock. “S-Since when did you think we started dating?”
“Since the day you asked me out to bring me to that bakery to try the apple pie few months ago…” He murmured, “Multiple times.”
“Those were dates?” Kuroo squawked, burying his face under his palms. “Wait, why didn’t you say anything?”
Kenma tilted his head, thinking for a bit before shrugging. “I thought we were always on the same page. But I should have known that you’re just dumb.”
“At least learn how to hold back your bites!” Kuroo snarled, sighing. “Man… I did not expect you to be so nonchalant about this… I just learnt that I’m in love with you…” He groaned, “I could have tried to ask you out and confess with the most romantic way possible!”
Kenma scrunched up his nose, shaking his head. “Yeah, no thanks.”
“Wait… Does that mean you like me too?” Kuroo suddenly felt nervous, looking up. This confession was going all over the place but he stopped caring at this point. They’re definitely doing everything backwards.
“Yes Kuro. I do. Have been for a while.” Kenma rolled his eyes and could see slight hope in Kuroo’s eyes.
“T-Then, can I-“
“You don’t have to ask me if you wanted to kiss me.” Kuroo beamed widely, quickly reaching over to cup Kenma’s face, pulling him in.
Kuroo stirred slowly, opening his eyes as he blinked the sleepiness away. He groggily gazed around the room before to the body besides him. A small smile escaped his lips and reached his hand over to brush their hair away from his face, admiring the sleeping beauty in front of him.
Kenma scrunched up his nose and without opening his eyes, grunting. “Stop staring.”
“Can you blame me? You look like an angel, Kenma.” Kuroo pushed himself to leaned over to the setter, kissing his nose lightly. “I’m still processing.”
Kenma hummed, burying himself deeper onto the pillow as sleep overwhelmed his senses again. He unconsciously leaned onto the soft caress on his cheek, a low satisfied sigh escaping his nose.
“Kenma?”
“Hm…?”
“Can I say something?”
Kenma peeked his eyes open to look at the bedhead in front of him, a fond smile etched on Kuroo’s face with a shiny look in his eyes. Kenma looked at him expectedly.
“Kozume Kenma.” A small blush grew on his face as Kuroo’s smile grew fonder, maybe a bit lovesick. “I love you. I love you very much.” He confessed and Kenma blinked. “I’m madly in love with you, Kozume Kenma.”
Kenma felt his face grow even hotter and he knew it wasn’t the summer heat – they were sleeping in an air-conditioned room after all. But the confession felt like a dream. Their first kiss felt like it was a dream. Even the upgrade in their relationship still felt like a dream. Kenma felt his eyes sting slightly before he reached for the hoodie, pulling it over to cover his face, hiding his embarrassment behind the fabric.
“I-I get it…” His voice was trembling as well. “That’s fine. Stop it.”
“Hm? What do you mean that’s fine? Would you like me to say it again?” Confidence grew in Kuroo as he shifted closer to the setter, a huge grin on his face. “Kenma-kun? I can’t see your face~”
“I-I said it-it’s fine.” Kenma grumbled, turning so his back was to Kuroo.
“What are you on about? Should I say it again?”
“No.”
“Kenma~” Kuroo moved closer to the setter, “come on, face this way so I can see your beautiful face.”
“I said no!”