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“Mayumi’s going to be home today,” Kuroo says. He’s not sure why he felt the need to announce it but he didn’t want Kenma to be surprised by Mayumi who would definitely make her presence known. “And she’s still as talkative as ever so if she becomes too much for you give me a sign.”
“Your sister has never bothered me before,” Kenma replies, not looking away from his game, “Even though ninety percent of the conversation is her talking, I can manage.”
“She hasn’t seen you in a while, so she’s going to have a lot to say; you don’t have to answer anything you don’t want to,” Kuroo insists, his pace slowing down as his house came into view.
“I said it’ll be fine, Kuro. What’re you so worried about?” Kenma asks, looking up from his game to eye his friend. He could tell how nervous Kuroo was but couldn’t figure out why. It’s not like Kenma had never met Mayumi, and he was well aware of how overbearing she could be.
“Nothing, I just wanted to prepare you.” Kenma knew Kuroo wasn’t telling the whole truth but didn’t push the issue any further. Once they finally reach the doorstep (Which took much longer than usual, thanks to Kuroo), the older one inhales deeply and opens the door.
“Mom, Mayumi, we’re home!” Kuroo calls out as he toes off his shoes, lining them up near the door with Kenma following suit.
“Who’s we?” Mayumi questions, rounding the corner to meet whoever’s at the front door. “You brought Kozume!” She squeals, rushing over to the two. She leaned down to wrap her arms around Kenma, lifting him slightly as she squeezed him.
“Let him breathe, May,” Kuroo says, chuckling as Kenma’s eyes widen, taken back by the sudden affection.
“You’ve gotten taller and dyed your hair! The blonde looks good on you,” Mayumi coos, letting go of Kenma. He takes a deep breath and looks up at the woman, trying his best to muster a smile that doesn’t make him look exasperated.
“You look just the same, Kuroo-san,” Kenma says, following Mayumi as she pulls him to the living room. She didn’t look much different from when they were younger. You could tell she was Kuroo’s sister, with the same jet black hair, brown eyes, and a wide grin. She was a bit paler than Kuroo but also had long legs (Height must’ve run in the family).
“I hope that’s a good thing, and please, call me Mayumi now,” She says with a smile, her cheeks dimpling. She sat on the couch, patting the spot next to her; Kenma didn’t feel like he had any other choice but to sit down. “It’s so nice to see you; you’re never here when I come to visit.”
“I didn’t know you came to visit often,” Kenma responds as Kuroo walks into the room. He didn’t have his bag anymore, so he must’ve stopped at his room before coming to find the two.
“It’s like Tetsu was trying to keep us apart on purpose!” Mayumi was mainly kidding, but when she looked at Kuroo, she wasn’t so sure that was far from the truth.
“You’re suffocating, Kenma!” Kuroo says, glaring at his sister as he loosens his tie.
“Am not! Kozume loves me!” Mayumi states, trying to prove her point further by throwing her arm around Kenma and pulling him close. “You don’t need to keep him all to yourself.”
Kuroo opens his mouth to argue as his mother enters the room, tying her apron behind her back. “Oh, I didn’t know Kenma was here! Good evening, dear.” She smiles over at Kenma before focusing her attention on Mayumi. “May, come help me prepare dinner before your father gets home from work.”
“Aw but mom,” Mayumi starts, a dramatic pout on her face, “I’m catching up with Kozume, Tetsu can help instead.”
Kuroo didn’t even waste his breath trying to escape it, knowing that Mayumi would get her way regardless. The raven-haired boy glances over at Kenma, still in Mayumi’s death grip. Kenma gives him a reassuring nod, and Kuroo reluctantly leaves the two alone.
Mayumi finally lets go of Kenma ( Thank god, he thinks) and turns her body to face him, that signature Cheshire grin on her face. “I have a million and one things to ask you, I feel like I haven’t seen you since you were in middle school.”
“That’s possible since I just entered high school,” Kenma replies.
“Oh ho, Kozume’s sarcastic now! I remember when you could barely say two words to me. You guys grow up so fast.” Mayumi wipes a fake tear under her eye and the corner of Kenma’s lip quirks up because even though Kuroo claims Mayumi is so annoying, she’s practically just an older version of him.
“Anyway, tell me about how you’ve been since I last saw you,” Mayumi says, pulling Kenma out of his thoughts. “How’s school? What’s it like being in high school now?”
“It’s nothing particularly special, it’s much like middle school except the kids are bigger.”
“I bet. Sometimes I look at Tetsu and wonder what they’re feeding kids nowadays. How about volleyball? Tetsu mentioned you guys still play. Have you made a lot of new friends yet?” Kuroo was right when he said Mayumi would have a lot to say. Kenma could barely answer a question before she had a new one to ask. The conversation continued to go on like that; Mayumi wanted to know anything and everything about Kenma’s life.
When the questioning (Kenma considers it an interrogation) slows down, Kenma can ask a few of his own. Mayumi, much like Kuroo, isn’t one to openly talk about herself but once given a chance, she isn’t going to pass up the opportunity. Kenma learns that she’s still in school for nursing (Which she says is complete hell , wouldn’t recommend), currently has a girlfriend who she seems obsessed with, and she recently got a cat that she hasn’t told her parents about. Kenma was slightly surprised about how casually she brought up having a girlfriend and how having a cat was the part she wasn’t telling her parents.
“Enough about me, tell me how Tetsu’s doing. He usually tells me everything, but he’s been vague lately.” Mayumi says in a quieter tone, not wanting to be heard from the kitchen. Kenma found that Kuroo was being “vague” odd because he couldn’t think of anything he would feel the need to keep secret; He’s normally an open book.
“He’s been good as far as I know. He’s well-liked at school, and I heard the upperclassmen talking about making him captain when they graduate. I don’t know why he’d be short with you.” Kenma replies, and Mayumi nods, seeming pleased with the response.
Kenma glances over to the kitchen from his spot, noticing Kuroo’s eyes already on him; Kuroo must’ve heard the hushed voices and was checking on Kenma. The older one gives the blonde a beaming grin that Kenma couldn’t help but smile at (He’s grown weak and is no longer immune to that contagious smile even though he’d never admit it.)
“Although he doesn’t tell me much about himself anymore, he always talks about you,” Mayumi says, watching Kenma look over at Kuroo.
“He does?” Kenma questions, a small blush forming on his face.
“Of course! I always knew he had the biggest crush on you, so it’s no surprise you guys started dating.”
“Excuse me” Kenma’s eyes widen as he looks from Kuroo back over to Mayumi.
Mayumi raises an eyebrow, confusion filling her face at Kenma’s clear shock by her statement. “Did I say something wrong?” She starts as Kuroo comes in from the kitchen, concerned by the clear look of distress and bright blush on Kenma’s face.
“What’d you do to Kenma, May?” Kuroo asks lightheartedly, but genuine worry starts to set in as he glances at Mayumi’s penitent face.
“I think I’ve misinterpreted your relationship….” Mayumi says slowly, giving Kuroo a sorrowful look. Kuroo’s confused for a moment, but he soon understands as he glances back at Kenma.
Fuck.
Kuroo blinks twice and inhales before turning around, not saying a word as he walks up the stairs. Kenma shoots up from his seat on the couch, about to follow Kuroo, until he feels Mayumi’s hand on his wrist.
“Let me talk to him first. This is my fault.” She says softly, her bubbly, protruding personality from earlier nowhere to be seen. Kenma nods, and Mayumi rises, going up to Kuroo’s room. Kenma waits to hear the sound of Kuroo’s door shutting behind her before he plops down on the couch, running a hand through his hair.
His head spins as he fully tries to grasp what Mayumi said. Kuroo likes him? As in like likes him. How could she have noticed something like that before he did? What if that wasn’t even true, and she did just misread their friendship? The part that confuses Kenma the most was that the idea didn’t disconcert him. Even if Kuroo likes him, the younger one doesn't consider that a bad thing. Does that mean he likes Kuroo too? Kenma felt as if he were getting too ahead of himself. He wants, no, he needs to hear the words come from Kuroo directly. He was aware right now wasn’t the moment to get answers so he waited until he was sure Kuroo had calmed down enough to talk to him.
Upstairs, Mayumi trods cautiously as she enters Kuroo’s room. Her younger brother was lying on his side, his back facing the bedroom door. She shuts it behind herself, walking up to the bed and sitting at the foot. “I’m so sorry, Tetsurou. I was under the impression the two of you had gotten together.”
“What did you say?” Kuroo asks, sitting up and turning to face Mayumi.
“I had said it was no surprise you two had started dating since you had always had a crush on him.” She mutters, looking to the side so she wouldn’t have to directly see the horrified look Kuroo was now giving her.
“Are you fucking kidding?” Kuroo curses before letting out another deep breath, running a hand over his face. Kuroo wasn’t much of a yeller when he was angry, but the look on his face always tells how upset he was.
“Language! Plus, I said I was sorry!” Mayumi scoots closer to Kuroo, putting a hand on his shoulder. “I know I might have—”
“Might?”
“I know I did misread the current situation between you two but I’d like to believe I’m still very perceptive. I’m sure Kozume likes you, too”
“Who said I like Kenma?” Kuroo points out but doesn’t attempt to go further with his lie; the deadpan face Mayumi gave him made it obvious there was no convincing her. Kuroo huffs as he lays back down, staring up at the ceiling. The older girl shifts to lay beside her brother, her hands resting on her stomach as she waits for Kuroo to speak.
“You know, we haven’t spoken as often as we usually do because I can’t lie or hide anything from you.” Kuroo admits, his eyes glued on the stupid glow-in-the-dark stars still stuck to his ceiling (Kenma told Kuroo that they’re childish, but Kuroo insists they’re ‘nostalgic’). “I’ve had feelings for Kenma for a long time, and it’s gotten to the point where I knew you’d figure me out.”
“Tetsurou, don’t ever feel like you have to hide something from me. No matter what it is, you know you can tell me anything, and it’ll never make a difference in how I look at you. You’re always going to be my cry baby ass little brother who does no wrong,” Mayumi replies, reaching over to pinch Kuroo’s cheek. “There’s nothing you could say or do that could change that.”
Kuroo closes his eyes and feels like weights have been lifted off his shoulders. He feels like he could cry (Even though that would prove her point of him being her ‘cry baby ass brother’) because he knows if there’s ever a point in his life where he feels alone, he’s always going to have Mayumi.
“Hey, May,” Kuroo says, breaking the silence.
“Yes, Tetsu?”
“I think I might be gay.” Kuroo admits quietly.
“Thank you for telling me,” Mayumi replies. “I’m gay, too.”
“You told me that years ago.”
“It felt like the right thing to say at the moment,” Mayumi laughs as she sits up, tugging on Kuroo’s arm. “Enough with the moping. Maybe you could take this as an opportunity to tell him how you feel even though I’m sure he already knows.”
“Thanks to you.”
“I mean even before that. You both deep down know that what you guys have passes platonic. Kozume’s a very smart boy too so I don’t know how you guys are so dense about your feelings.”
“Stop acting like you know everything—” Kuroo says as he tries to escape Mayumi’s grasp, cut off by a knock at the door. Kenma entered a moment later, a bit wary of how Kuroo was feeling but soon reassured by how he and his sister were wrestling.
“Oh, I think I hear mom calling for me!” Mayumi says as she gives Kuroo one final push before hopping up from the bed. She gives Kenma’s head a quick pat as she passes by him, nudging him into the room before closing the door. Kenma stood awkwardly, looking over at Kuroo, who was now wearing the same embarrassed look.
Kuroo sat up completely, making space next to himself for Kenma to come to sit. The younger did so without a word, unsure what to do next. Kenma didn’t know what to say, he was never very good with his words, but it seemed as if Kuroo was also at a loss. They sat side by side in silence for what felt like forever, Kenma very aware of how their arms were pressed against each other.
“Mayumi was telling the truth,” Kuroo confesses, and Kenma feels his heart swell. “There’s no point in trying to lie to you, so I’ll be completely transparent. I’ve been in love with you for as long as I can remember.”
Kenma doesn’t know how long he’s been holding his breath, but he lets out a sigh of relief because he realized while downstairs that was just what he wanted to hear. It became clear to the blonde that even though what they had was considered a ‘friendship,’ it had passed the traditional norms of one, and Kenma wasn’t bothered by that fact; If anything, he was happy.
“Kenma, you’ve gotta say something.”
“Sorry, I was just happy to hear you say that,” Kenma admits softly. “I don’t even know the right words to say, but it doesn’t feel like I need to when it comes to you; you get me. But I know this isn’t something that can just be left to interpretation, so I want you to know I love you too.”
“That’s a relief. I thought I was going to have to flee the city.” Kuroo says with a dramatic sigh followed by a light chuckle.
Kenma doesn’t even attempt to stifle his smile. “You’d flee over rejection?” He questions as he turns to glance at Kuroo.
“If it was from you, absolutely.” Kuroo meets his gaze, that beautiful grin on his face. “There’s no recovering from that.”
“You’re an idiot,” Kenma replies.
“I love you, too,” Kuroo says fondly, closing the small gap between them to press his lips to Kenma’s. The blonde welcomes the kiss; It’s soft and chaste but leaves Kenma with a flush across his cheeks. Just as Kenma leans back in to steal another, there’s a loud knock on the door, followed by Mayumi swinging it open. The two boys separated quickly, but the flushed looks of embarrassment made it quite obvious what they were doing.
“I got anxious and wanted to check on you guys, but it seems like everything is going… well,” Mayumi grins, “Aw, Kozume’s blush is adorable. You’ve picked a real cutie, Tetsu!”
“LEAVE,” Kuroo yells at her, throwing a pillow at Mayumi. She catches it and chucks it back, hitting Kuroo in the face.
“I don’t wanna hang out with you guys anyway,” She sticks her tongue out and grabs the door handle. “Dinner’s almost ready, be good up here.” She adds as she closes the door back.
Once they are back alone, Kenma rests his head on Kuroo’s shoulder, and the elder's hand finds its home in the blonde’s hair. “Are you gonna tell your mom about us?” Kenma asks.
“Nah, not yet.”
“Why, you don’t think she’ll be okay with it?” Kenma picks his head up to look at Kuroo, the worry apparent in his voice.
“No, she’ll probably be too okay with it. She’ll be worse than Mayumi and I don’t wanna deal with that yet.” Kuroo explains and leans down to plant another gentle kiss on Kenma’s lips.
They could definitely get used to this.