My last kuroken (Maybe I should get a cat) was a strangers-to-lovers fic, but this one is all indulging in some canon-verse kuroken growing-up-together/friends-to-lovers sap.
The story will be approx 9-10k, split into 3 chapters. It's all written, just needs some editing, so the rest of the chapters will follow fairly soon.
Cross-posted here. Main post is on AO3.
Kuroo 15 / Kenma 14
Kenma was 14 when Kuroo proposed to him for the first time.
Kuroo had been on a date - or what counted as a date when you were only 15 and a fidgeting girl confessed to you. After waving goodbye to the girl, he'd gone straight over to Kenma's house to have dinner, which he did at least four times a week, usually more.
Both boys were currently relaxing in Kenma's room, sprawled on the bed. The window was open, admitting a warm wind and a few stray pink petals. Kuroo looked idly at them and suddenly started.
"Kenma! Today's our anniversary!"
Kenma blinked. Ah yes, it was 7 years ago that he'd met Kuro for the first time.
The air had been filled with sakura petals, just like today. Kenma had been walking home from school, engrossed in his gameboy, when someone fell down next to him, scaring him half to death.
The fallen person turned out to be a boy, slightly older and taller than himself, with messy hair, a wide smile and superhero bandaids on various body parts.
"Hi! Can you help me get my ball down?"
Kenma tried to avoid eye contact with the bright eyed boy.
"It's stuck in the tree and I can't reach it," the boy elaborated, not yet put off by Kenma's reluctance. "I tried climbing, but the lowest branch is too high. Can you help?"
Kenma certainly didn't want to climb the tree, but figured it would be rude to just flat-out refuse.
"How?"
"You can probably reach it if you get on my shoulders."
Kenma had climbed on the boy's shoulders and managed to reach the ball. Somehow his movements made the boy trip and they'd ended up in a heap on the ground. Kenma hadn't been too happy about that at first, but the other boy just laughed sheepishly. Kenma had smiled tentatively and they'd been friends ever since.
Kenma briefly wondered what he'd done back then if he knew that that was the start of a trend of never being able to say no to Kuroo Tetsurou.
"That's true," Kenma murmured in mock accusation. "So you actually went on a date on our anniversary."
"It wasn't a good date though."
"Serves you right then."
"Girls are weird."
"You're weird."
"What a thing to say to your best friend! I'm a catch! Right?"
"..."
"Right?"
"..."
"So cold! Kenmaaaa… if we're both still single at say...30, will you marry me instead?"
Kenma didn't reply, so Kuroo figured he wouldn't, again. After a while, the smaller boy started to talk though.
"Would you cook?"
"Obviously, you can't."
"Would I have to clean?"
"A bit. So?"
"This is so romantic," Kenma deadpanned.
Kuroo laughed, then shuffled down on the floor on his knees, looking up at Kenma with an exaggerated wide grin.
"I was joking Kuro."
"Kenma…" Kuroo gushed theatrically, "You're my best friend and I love you. Will you marry me when we're 30?"
"You'll be 30 before me," Kenma pointed out, looking unimpressed, despite his sudden need to hide under the duvet in mortification.
"When I'm 30 then."
Kenma sighed, pretending to think it over. "Well, no ring, but knees and actual words… I guess 2 out of 3 is ok, so sure."
Kuroo laughed and assumed the delighted grin he always wore when he found something new to tease Kenma about.
"I had no idea you were such a romantic Kenma."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm not."
"Maybe I'll get you one."
"What?"
"A ring."
"Kuro, you're so embarrassing."
Kuroo 16 / Kenma 15
Kenma had frankly forgotten all about that event, when Kuroo gave him a plastic ring from a vending machine a year later. They were at an amusement park with Kuro's new team, when Kuroo suddenly halted.
"Hey! It's our anniversary!"
Kenma had told him he was embarrassing, as usual. That hadn't stopped Kuroo from winning a dorky plastic ring for him and offering it up with a flourish and a smile that made it impossible to refuse, even when he added another cheesy proposal.
The rest of the day at the park went by in a blur of sakura petals, friends and games. Kenma won price after price at the stands. Playing video games gave him an advantage after all. He gave most of his winnings to Kuroo though.
"You just want me to carry them home, you devious little thing", Kuroo muttered, almost invisible behind the huge Pikachu plush he was carrying.
Kenma raised an eyebrow and looked unimpressed. Kuroo tried to look annoyed, but carried everything anyway, as Kenma knew he would. Also, they both knew all the prices were going to end up in Kenma's room.
"Kenma, let's do this every year! Just you and me."
"...Ok."
Kuroo 17 / Kenma 16
"Kenma, where's your ring?"
"Huh?"
"Where's your ring? It's our anniversary! You have to wear it on our anniversary at least, every year! It's...tradition!"
"Kuro…."
"Promise?"
"Fine."
"So, you'll still marry me when we're 30?"
Kenma sighed, huffed - and nodded.
"Ok, let's go!"
"Kenma, Tetsu, enjoy your day!" Kenma's mother waved them off.
"Thank you mom! We will!" Kuroo grinned, waving back.
"Bye mom", Kenma mumbled.
Growing up, neither Kuroo or Kenma had any idea of the sheer luck they'd had when they met. For Kenma, Kuroo became his first and only friend, the one person who could make him leave the house and do anything but play video games. For Kuroo, Kenma became his friend, confidant and volleyball partner - and his ticket into the local community that would otherwise have shunned him.
Kuroo and Kenma were too young to notice, but Kuroo's mother being single and tight-lipped about her son's father made her an easy target for the intolerant community gossip. Kuroo's mother worked too much to defend herself or even finding out, but Kuroo would soon have noticed others avoiding the newly moved-in family and himself being excluded from meeting local friends. Before that could even happen, Kenma's mother had already made sure Kuroo was a part of it.
Kenma's mother was small and dainty, like Kenma. She was quiet and introverted, but not as shy as her son and she was an essential part of the local community. Immediately grasping the fact that Kuroo was good for her son, she quickly included the older boy in the family and thereby also gained a second son for herself.
Both Kenma's parents adored Kuroo and - noticing his home situation - gradually let him spend an increasing amount of time in their household. Kuroo repaid them for their efforts and affection with his own. Without realizing it, Kenma's doting and loving parents also became his own ideal partnership.
Kuroo 18 / Kenma 17
Kuro looked good in his graduation uniform, Kenma thought. No scratch that, he looked damn good in it.
Wait...why were they in a forest?
There were sakura trees everywhere, rosy petals swirling all around them. Kuro smiled at him and held out his hand. Kenma reached for it, but couldn't quite grasp it. Kuro moved further away. Kenma followed, trying to make out where he went. Kuro led him further and further away, until Kenma could no longer make him out.
"Kuro!?"
"Come on Kenma! Hurry up! I'm going on ahead."
"Kuro! Wait!"
Kenma woke up with a gasp, his sheets tangled and hair in disarray.
What...was that?
"Kenma? Hurry up! Let's go!"
Kenma jumped out of bed, shook his head and quickly joined Kuroo for their annual trip to the amusement park. The dream lingered in his mind though and he stayed closer to Kuroo than usual that day.
Third year for Kuroo was fun, but busy. He was the captain of the volleyball team and therefore joined every practice, as well as meetings with the coaches. He didn't only have the regular grueling third year schoolwork, but also attended college prep classes. Kenma was old enough to understand that Kuroo would have made all these efforts even if he didn't in fact love them, as he had to secure a scholarship to be able to attend college at all, his family situation being what it was. Luckily for Kuroo, he was both intelligent and hard-working enough to succeed.
Kenma was far from stupid, but somewhat lazy - or rather pragmatic. He did well enough in school though, both through his own efforts and Kuroo's tutoring - which he secretly enjoyed. Kenma wondered what he'd do for third year, when Kuroo was no longer there. He was sure it would be fine though. It was just for a year and final year was so busy anyway. He'd probably not even have the chance to miss Kuroo at all.
Kuroo 19 / Kenma 18
Kuro had left for college. Kenma didn't miss him.
At all.
Really.
Kenma's phone chimed and he quickly picked it up to read the message.
Kuro:
Happy anniversary
Kenma replied back with a picture of his hand with the ring on, clutching a game.
Kuro:
So Kenma…?
Kenma:
Yeah yeah.
Ok, so maybe he did miss Kuro.
A bit.
A lot.
Kuroo had no idea that college would feel so strange. He loved chemistry, playing volleyball and meeting new people, that wasn't the problem. It was all in the small things. Even something as mundane as walking felt weird. He was used to walking beside Kenma, who was shorter and slower than him.
Suddenly everything felt out of pace.
Kuroo had no idea how utterly dependant he was on Kenma - and Kenma's parents. Kuroo was intelligent and bright, a natural leader and a good friend. If he felt uncertain, he seldom showed it, instead using his height and snark to project confidence. All of these abilities served him well in college. He excelled in his studies, met new friends, socialized and played volleyball. Kuroo thought it all worked out rather well, apart from the lingering feeling of something missing, but he didn't realize that he completely lacked the ability of pacing himself. He'd never had to.
Back home, Kuroo also worked hard, but being friends with Kenma ensured he took breaks and relaxed. He had regular and well-cooked meals in the Kozume household, or cooked for his mother at home. Kenma forced him to stop studying, to take it easy and focus on other things. Kuroo could spend hours just watching Kenma play games, or hang around his house, talking nonsense. Just being in Kenma's presence recharged him. Kenma's parents' unconditional love and support made sure he felt grounded.
At college he had no such support close at hand and he therefore constantly overexerted himself by staying up too late studying - because he enjoyed it, forgetting to eat - as he was too engrossed in a project, and not taking any breaks in general. He managed to keep it together, barely, since Kenma and their parents visited from time to time. Kenma didn't visit often enough for Kuroo's tastes though, as he was busy with third year studies and volleyball. After a while, Kuroo managed to adjust - the hard way - and learned to take better care of himself.
Kenma missed Kuroo more than he thought he would. Third year was very busy and distracting though - and having the team helped a lot. He became closer to his other third year teammates, Tora especially. They were all wonderful to him, but they weren't Kuroo.
Kenma realized he'd somehow lost the ability to handle simply things such as walking or drying his hair. He walked into poles since Kuroo wasn't there to steer him in the right direction. He fell asleep with wet hair since Kuroo didn't dry it for him. He had to handle his homework by himself, without having Kuroo to discuss with or ask. He could do all of these things by himself, of course, but they cost him energy. Being without Kuroo made Kenma somewhat drained and tired. He hadn't really noticed all the small things Kuro did to make sure he could focus only on school, volleyball and games.
Kenma had thought he'd perfected the art of invisibility, or that he'd at least attained an unapproachable look. It turned out that part of that was having a tall, smirking boy next to you all the time. Many people hadn't dared go through Kuroo - or the volleyball team - to get close to him. Kenma didn't like people looking at him. Kuroo's absence coincided with Kenma growing a bit in length and maturity, which apparently made him more attractive.
And then he met Hiro.
Kuro:
Coming this weekend? I'm busy part of Saturday, but otherwise free.
Kenma:
In that case I'll probably stay here and go to GameCon.
Kuro:
Noooo come here and hang. I miss u!
Kenma:
You're busy. I'll come next weekend instead.
Kuro:
It's Valentine's Day. I'll only be gone for a few hours!
Kenma:
I'd rather go to GameCon.
Kuro:
What time? I'll go with you and then go back.
Kenma:
That's ok. Hiro's going with me.
Kuro:
Oho...so you have a date on Valentine's Day too then?
Kenma:
Very funny.
Kuroo felt queasy. Hiro… Kenma had mentioned the boy several times. As far as Kuroo had been able to piece together, based on the sparse info from Kenma and various remarks from friends, Hiro was a nice guy who had bonded with Kenma through video games. He was tall and dark-haired. In fact many who spotted Kenma with Hiro thought it was Kuroo, at least from a distance. Kuroo wasn't sure if that was a good or bad thing yet.
Hiro was more lively than Kenma, but not as hyper as for example Shouyou. He played games with Kenma, talked to him about various subjects, including games - and he had no interest in volleyball at all. He respected Kenma's need for personal space and genuinely seemed to like spending time with him. He was simply put a great guy. The ideal friend for Kenma - almost as if the blond had made him in a computer himself.
Kuroo hated Hiro. He knew he shouldn't. He knew it was terribly mean and unfair. He was aware how seldom Kenma bonded with people, how selective he was. Kuroo realized perfectly well that he should be nothing but happy and supportive. He understood all of this...but he just couldn't, no matter how much he tried. Kenma spent a lot of time visiting Kuroo, so all Kenma's free time wasn't spent on Hiro, but Kuroo begrudged him every second. He was Kenma-deprived and jealous - and fully aware of it.
Also...
Hinata was the one who finally made Kenma 'feel' volleyball, despite Kuroo knowing him and playing volleyball with him since he was a kid.
Hiro was the one who could apparently make Kenma join a local gamer group and meet new people frequently.
What had he ever made Kenma do? Well, join the volleyball team…that was it - and Kenma hadn't loved volleyball anyway. Not until Hinata showed up.
Kuroo wondered briefly whether he'd really contributed to Kenma's life or only held him back all these years. Kenma was his best friend, but apparently he couldn't inspire Kenma to feel or do anything worthwhile. He'd thought Kenma would miss him when he was away, but it didn't seem so, as Kenma was fine - more than fine - without him - and apparently preferred going to gaming events with Hiro rather than visit. Perhaps he shouldn't try to make Kenma come over so often. He mustn't be so selfish.
Kenma pressed his fingers into his aching temples. He wanted to go home. The convention had been fun, but he was ready to fall asleep standing by now. He'd heard nothing from Kuro during the whole evening either, which was unusual. His date must go well. It was a bit weird - Kuro dating. He'd almost never done so earlier, busy and focused as he was - the quintessential good student and sports captain.
Kenma wondered what she was like...not that he wanted to meet her. He was just curious what kind of girl would make Kuro agree to date. She must be quite special. Kenma supposed that even Kuro would someday settle down. Somehow he just hadn't realized that it meant Kuro wouldn't be with him at the same time somehow. Kenma scrunched his face. He was being ridiculous. It was just a date. And Kuro had every right to be happy. He needed to be more supportive, less selfish.
Kenma's phone chimed.
Kuro:
Hope your convention is going well. Dating is great fun, will likely spend the night ;)
Kenma blinked.
"Kenma!"
Kenma turned around sluggishly. Hiro presented him with a huge Pikachu plush and grinned from ear to ear.
"For you!"
"Thank you", Kenma managed to get out.
"You look a bit tired. You want to head home?"
"Yeah…"
"Why don't you stay at my place? It's closer."
"Sure."
Hiro fidgeted.
"Uhm… Kenma… you know how we're very good friends… and I like you… and it's Valentine's Day?"
"Yes?"
Kenma felt faint. He wanted to leave - now.
"I was wondering… if you'd like to be more than friends…"
"More?"
Kenma felt cold. Ah, they were outside. He hadn't brought his jacket. Figures… Kuro usually did.
"I mean… I would like us to date."
"Date?"
Kenma tried to focus on Hiro.
"Yeah… be my boyfriend?"
Kenma stared at the dark-haired boy.
"Uhm… I'm not… you know I'm not…."
"I know, I know - you like your personal space. That's fine with me. It'll basically be like we are now really. Just...you know, we'd date."
Kenma swallowed. Everything was fuzzy. Hiro smiled at him, looking hopeful, struggling with the yellow plush.
"Ok."
"Great! You won't regret it!"
Kenma:
Glad your date is going well. I'll be spending the night with my boyfriend as well.
Kuro:
!
Kenma:
Hiro, that is.
Kuro:
I'm happy for you. Really.
Kenma:
Thanks.
I have had a certain scene at the back of my head for ages. It was in fact so vivid that I commissioned a drawing of it long before I had even started writing this fic…^-^
I'll post the link as soon as it's done.
This fic came to be due to 1) the vision of said scene, 2) the 6 levels of friendship meme on tumblr and 3) heaps of my misc headcanons for Kuro's and Kenma's friendship/budding relationship. It was originally going to include lots of cliché friendship goals quotes too, but sappiness took over instead...because kuroken ^-^;;
If you liked the story, it would be great to know which parts were most enjoyable to you (or not so enjoyable too of course).