"Welcome. Can I help you?" said the bartender, wiping the glasses and putting them on the countertop. He looked at the customer who had entered the door, just as he always did, and was trying to hide his surprised face. He never thought that the bar is suitable for a…highschooler? Yes, a high schooler, not very tall, with bleached hair, tied in a ponytail, his clothes soaking wet. Kuroo watched him, what would he like to command? He'll have to ask for an ID if he's going to order alcohol.
The customers of the bar weren't that many, just 2 men, already pretty wasted, and it wasn't even dark outside. And a woman, in the back, typing insistently on her phone. Although it was not a pleasant atmosphere, Kenma had to hide from the rain someway. The subway station was far away and there was still a decent distance that he had to walk from the subway to his apartment. What was in his head when he decided to apply for a job at a library in the other part of the town?
"Just some orange juice, please." said Kenma, and sat down on a chair next to the countertop, taking off his soaked jacket and loosening the hairband, letting his hair to dry up faster. The bartender raised his eyebrows and poured the drink.
It seems that the high schooler was smart enough and didn't order something that's not allowed.
"So, what's a kid doing here?" Kuroo said with a trace of irony in his voice. He smiled and held his head in his hands, looking at the new client. The man just wanted to tease him a little bit. Not every day an innocent person enters in his bar.
"Surprisingly, I am not a kid…" said Kenma, avoiding the visual contact. "I was coming from work and it started to rain, and because there aren't any other bars or cafes around here, I had to come here." He spoke with a quiet voice, cheeks turning a dark shade of pink and staring once again over the little bar, looking at the customers, and even though there were not so many people, Kenma still thought that they were too close to him. He knew that he looks too young for his age, because of his not so high stature, and the bleached hair that was very popular among teenagers. He ran his fingers through his bleached hair and grabbed the glass from the counter. The true reason for his cheeks turning red was actually the gaze of the bartender. He was quite tall, and his suit gave him an elegant air. His muscles could be observed through the thin shirt that he was wearing. Yes, he truly has a very muscular frame.
"I'm Kuroo Tetsurou" the man spoke and stretched his hand to Kenma. The faux blonde shook it, feeling a little anxious.
Though he was working in a library where he was interacting with quite a decent amount of people, Kenma wasn't used to this kind of… interaction. Usually, the conversations between the librarian and the visitor are limited to "Don't forget to bring the book on time" or "The book is on that shelf."
"Kenma Kozume."
"You said that you are not a child, didn't you? Forgive my impoliteness, but can you tell me how old are you, please?" said Kuroo, continuing with his ironic tone.
"I am not a woman to tell me that you are impolite if you are asking for my age." he giggled. "I'm 22."
Kuroo was surprised. He thought that he will say that he's 18 or something like that, but he was wrong. The boy… well, the man, was only a year younger than him and, oh dear, he called Kenma a kid. Furthermore, he seems like a very pleasant person, he did not have to judge the book by its cover.
"Well, I'm really sorry. I hope you did not get mad, hehe." he chuckled while pouring another glass of juice. "It's on the house, don't worry." he smiled. Kenma smiled back, trying not to blush. The bartender was truly a nice man.
The blonde man glanced at the window and noticed that it was not raining anymore. It was a relief for him, he would finally go home and enjoy the movie night with Shoyo.
Kenma paid and left the bar before the rain started again. He had only made a few steps out and somebody grabbed his shoulder. He looked alarmed behind and was pleasantly surprised when the person who reached for him was just Kuroo.
It was still too early for thieves and pickpocket to appear, so there was no need for him to flinch and jolt scared at every move.
"Oh, sorry. Did I scare you? Umm… I am I'm a little embarrassed to ask this, but would you like to give me your phone number?" said Kuroo, giving Kenma his phone to write down his number.
Kenma nodded and he wrote it down before his anxiety could intervene. He said goodbye to Kuroo and ran to the subway station. This day wasn't a bad as Kenma thought it will be.
He came home a little after sunset, but usually, he arrives earlier. That rain ruined his schedule. It seemed that Shoyo had already cooked dinner because a pleasant smell of fried meat was coming from the kitchen.
"I'm home!" he said, entering the kitchen where Shoyo was cutting an onion for their salad.
"Hey, Kenma! You didn't say that you will be late from work."
"Ah, rain started exactly when I was coming back and I needed to enter in a bar until the rain stopped."
Kenma sat down at the table and opened his phone to play, just as he usually does. He saw a message from an unknown number. Something told him that it was probably from Kuroo, his new "friend".
? (8:47 PM): Are you home?
Kenma (9:03 PM): Kuroo?
? (9:03 PM): Yes, hey. So, are you home?
Kenma (9:04 PM): Yeah, thanks for worrying.
The blonde man had been surprised by the rapidity with which Kuroo had responded to the messages. He brushed his hair from his eyes and noticed that Shoyo looked at him smiling.
"Soooooooo, a new friend?"
"It's just the bartender who was working at the bar where I was hiding from the rain. He was really nice to me so I gave him my phone number."
Shoyou laughed and placed the pan and the salad bowl on the table. Kenma put the plates.
"I am so sorry for ruining your plans for this night, but Tobio called me earlier and I think us two will go for a walk after I eat. I know, we were supposed to watch a movie together… but I really want to go out with him!" Shoyo said with a slight regret in his voice. He took the chopsticks and stuffed a piece of meat in his mouth.
"Oh. It's okay. We can watch it tomorr–"
Kenma was interrupted by another message. It was from Kuroo.
Kuroo (21:11): Wanna come to the bar tomorrow?
"Hm? Who texted you?"
"The guy I was talking about earlier. He wants me to come to the bar tomorrow."
Shoyo clapped his hands and yelled a "YES!"
Kenma blushed and put his phone back in his pocket.
"I will think about it. Anyways, we will watch the film tomorrow, yes?"
Shoyo nodded and smiled at his best friend.
"And you will totally go to that bar!"
"So, bro. Today I met a guy. He looked like a high school kid, you know? And when he told me that he has 22 years, I was shocked, I mean, REALLY shocked." said Kuroo to Bokuto, his best friend ever since high school, them both making a duo that can not go unnoticed, being both loud, tall and muscular, and with haircuts that you do not see every day. Especially Bokuto, with his spiked, white and gray hair.
"How does he look?" said Bokuto, taking the whiskey that he ordered.
"Not too tall, he has bleached long hair, and apparently, he works somewhere nearby. I texted him, asking if he wants to visit the bar tomorrow, but he still didn't answer."
"You like him or something?" Bokuto asked, looking at him with a smirk, wanting to annoy him.
"Don't laugh, I'm not that desperate." Kuroo chuckled. "How could you like a person that you barely know? I just… want to make new friends, I think?"
"Aw, so you leave me for a blond dude." said Bokuto dramatically, holding his hand to his forehead and pretending to faint. "I did not think I'd ever say that, bro." he continued, leaning his head in his hands and staring at Kuroo.
The black haired man started to laugh hysterically and tossed another whiskey after his friend finished the first one.
With a friend like him, Kuroo did not feel that much the lack of socializing.
