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Something felt…off.
Yes, indeed, it felt weird all around, and what was worse was that Kenma couldn't really tell what was causing it…until one particular moment.
“Alright, it's quite late, I think I should get going now", Kuroo got up from the bed.
Kenma, who was very focused on his game a second ago, immediately paused it as soon as he heard Kuroo.
“You're not staying the night?”, Kenma looked up at the black haired boy. He was very confused, they had always stayed over at each other's houses during the weekends.
Kuroo scratched the back of his head and looked away, “N-nah, I think my dad wanted me to help him with something tomorrow morning".
Well, what a feeble lie that was. Why would Kuroo make it up?
Kenma was very unimpressed by such an attempt, “Kuro, you literally live next door. You can stay and still go help your dad in the morning”, he challenged, which caught Kuroo by surprise and caused him to visibly scramble around for a better excuse.
“Ahh…well, uh…”, Kuroo fidgeted while looking around as if searching for something. Probably for a better reason to not stay.
There was none.
Kenma sighed, this was becoming quite troublesome.
“Kuro, what is it? You're acting weird", Kenma asked, he tried to be a little more gentle with his approach.
Kuroo bit the inside of his cheek. He knew he was cornered even though his friend barely did anything. Maybe he just wasn't built to lie or specifically couldn't lie to Kenma who knew him better than anyone.
He decided to just give it up.
“I…don't want to make you uncomfortable…”, Kuroo looked down at his feet, “...again", his voice held a quiet sadness within.
“What…”, Kenma didn't expect that at all, “Wha- what are you talking about?”.
“You know…last time I stayed…uh, when I hu-hugged you…you told me to stop", Kuroo spoke slowly.
Oh, Kuroo sounded so…hurt and just, God, it tugged at Kenma's heartstrings like never before. He had to say something, had to tell Kuroo how he didn't really mean it, that Kuroo knew he was like that sometimes, but it was never serious.
Come on, they had known each since forever!
Before Kenma could try to amend things, Kuroo beat him to it, “I know you'll say that you didn't mean it like that, but…I don't know, this time I thought what if he really doesn't like it, what if I'm really bothering you", Kuroo kept his gaze down, “We're in highschool now so…I don't know".
This was when it hit Kenma.
Was this the reason for Kuroo's strange behavior these past few days? For Kenma feeling like there was something missing, something he couldn't pinpoint at all…until now?
Kuroo had been so distant compared to his usual self. He still came to wake Kenma up everyday, but he didn't brush his hair, help him get dressed up, remind him to double check his backpack, feed his sleepy self during breakfast…
They still walked together to and from school but, he didn't nag him to stop playing so much with his console, didn't come find him to eat lunch at school, didn't buy him snacks on the way home, didn't give him his big hoodie when it was windy and didn't caress his hair mindlessly while hanging out…
And now Kuroo didn't want to stay over either, didn't want to share a bed with him, didn't want to hug him as they laid next to each other, all because he thought it would make him uncomfortable.
Ah.
What a revelation.
“Kuro…”, Kenma felt a blush creeping up his cheeks.
He finally found the reason for the odd feeling of emptiness. He needed it…he needed Kuroo's attention and all that came with it.
“Stay", Kenma said firmly, making Kuroo finally look at him.
Both boys locked eyes with each other for a bit until Kenma felt way too flustered and averted his gaze, his face ablaze.
Kuroo smiled at Kenma's reaction, “Okay", he simply said.
“Then, let's get ready for bed", he smirked, one of his signature grins on full display.
Maybe Kenma should've let him suffer a bit more, what an annoyingly smug expression he had on…Kenma had really missed it.
“C'mon, come here", Kuroo grabbed Kenma's pajamas and beckoned the younger boy over. He began to undress Kenma by taking his t-shirt off.
“You don't h-", Kenma bit his tongue, he would hold off on his snarky comebacks for now. He didn't want to scare the older boy off again.
Kuroo slid the pajama top down Kenma's head, “There we go", and let him do the rest to get the top on.
“Next~”, Kuroo grabbed Kenma's waistband and pulled his sweats off leaving him in his underwear.
He pulled the pajama bottoms up as Kenma wiggled to help him get them on, “Alrighty”.
Kuroo patted the bed, “Get in, I'll change”, he grabbed his backpack to get his pajamas and changed while Kenma got under the sheets.
Once done, Kuroo turned off the lights and joined in. He got cozy next to the younger boy, but was still a little hesitant to move closer like he wanted. Thankfully, Kenma was there to melt away all those fears, he scooted over and initiated the hug, nuzzling his face against Kuroo's chest.
Kuroo chuckled, Kenma really knew him well.
He wrapped his arms around the smaller boy and pulled him in, their bodies impossibly closer. He had missed this kind of intimate moments between the two so much and even if Kenma would probably never say it out loud, Kuroo knew that he did as well.