Another evening of practice had ended for the Nekoma Volleyball team. As always, Kuroo led his teammates in a round of thank-yous for their coach and teacher before ordering them to begin putting everything away. Kuroo hurried after Coach Nekomata as he walked toward the entrance of the gym to leave. "One minute, Coach! I've a request."

The elderly coach turned to face his captain. "Yes, Kuroo?"

"Do you think you can arrange a practice match with Karasuno this month?" Kuroo asked. Nekomata's narrowed eyes wasn't convinced the request was simply that. "Consider it my birthday present. It'll be the last one before I graduate."

It was a team tradition to celebrate the captain's birthday either by surprising him with a party or fulfilling one wish he had. He only wanted this practice match to see how their rival's middle blockers were shaping up. During the training camp, he had given Tsukishima more than enough pointers and advice to teach the other middle blockers. Not to mention, Karasuno overall was a bag of tricks waiting to surprise everyone who crossed their paths.

Nekomata blinked thoughtfully at him, expression contemplative. "I'll think about it. Karasuno should be pretty busy with their own matches and practices. If they can fit it in and if we can fit it in, then you'll have your practice match."

"Thank you very much!" Kuroo bowed at him in a show of gratitude. He turned quickly to help Inuoka put the net away, leaving his coach staring after him.

On the other side of the court, Lev was taking the pole out from the gymnasium floor, having had watched the entire exchange from his vantage point. "Kuroo-san seems like he's a nice guy, right?" he remarks, turning to look down at his teammates for their opinions. Snickers and hidden smiles answered him.

Nobuyuki was smothering a smirk, kneeling down to retrieve stray volleyballs to toss to Yaku so the first-years could dry mop the floor. "He may seem like a nice guy," he said, pausing to glance at him, "but it can go both ways. We don't really mention it."

"Oh, so it's like we never really mention how short Yaku-san is," Lev said. He let out a yelp and flinched, hands flying to the spot on the back of his head where the libero threw the volleyball at him. Nobuyuki rolled his eyes and tossed the volleyball back to him.

"Kuroo-san always have a scheming face on him, anyway," Yamamoto added, dry mop in hand. "Even though he doesn't actually do any scheming. That's all on Kenma."

"What do you think, Kenma-san?" Lev asked, noticing their setter walking by with volleyballs in his arms. "Do you think Kuroo-san is a nice guy?"

Kenma started, surprised by the question. A volleyball bounced onto the floor, rolling toward Yaku, who promptly picked it up and rolled the bin toward him. "Uh…I guess…" he mumbled, turning away to avoid looking at him.

"You're always with him though," Lev pointed out, approaching him to tower over him. "He should've done something nice for you at least once or twice, right?"

Before he could answer, Kuroo shouted at them. "Hey! Let's hurry up and finish putting everything away so we can go home!" he called out. He turned at the sound of footsteps, a smile creeping onto his face as they grew louder. "Looks like we've got visitors."

"Kuroo!" Bokuto flew into the gymnasium, his bag landing onto the floor with a loud thud. Approaching more cautiously behind him was Akaashi, expression unamused and almost embarrassed that his captain would so casually fly into another team's gym without warning.

"What are you doing here, Bokuto?" Kuroo asked, letting his friend shake his shoulders until he was slightly dizzy. "You can help us clean up if you're here."

"It's almost your birthday!" Bokuto shouted enthusiastically. "Let's go celebrate!"

"It's almost my birthday. That doesn't mean today. Akaashi, can you get him off of me?" Kuroo turned his head in the direction of the vice-captain, who was entering the gym as slowly and delicately as possible.

"Bokuto-san, you're too loud," Akaashi said to him, loud enough for him to hear. "At least help them put the equipment away before you celebrate." He raised his head at Kuroo. "There's something I have to ask you anyway."

Bokuto released his friend and sauntered over to the rest of the team, who were rolling the net up to put away. "Here, let me help!"

"We can do it, Bokuto, thanks," Yaku said hastily, remembering the last time he had tried to help them. It didn't end well. "What did you want to ask Kuroo?"

"Akaashi wouldn't tell me," Bokuto answered, crossing his arms against his chest. "He said I wouldn't understand." Yaku wondered exactly what that would entail. He wasn't sure of Bokuto's academic strengths but judging by his simple-mindedness on the court, there would be a lot of things he would choose not to understand.

Lev emerged from the equipment room, noticing Bokuto. He jogged toward him. "Bokuto-san! What are you doing here?"

"Hey! It's you! Tall guy! What's his name again?" he murmured to Nobuyuki. The vice-captain whispered the name to him. "Lev? Oh, yeah! Lev! And Kenma!" he spotted the small setter behind the first-year.

"Why are you here?" Kenma asked, words lost in Lev's louder question.

"Do you think Kuroo-san is a nice guy, Bokuto-san?" Lev asked him. His teammates exchanged looks with each other, wondering what the answer would be.

Bokuto appeared to consider the question seriously, his eyes distant and thoughtful. "Sure," he answered after a pause.

That's it? Dismay was written on all of the Nekoma boys' faces. "Sure"?

"Well, it depends, right? He didn't throw me out of the gym, right? So that means he's a nice guy, right?"

"I don't think that really counts…" Yaku pointed out, scratching the back of his head.

"There was this one time he was really nice. It was almost kind of scary." A wide grin was on his face as he was about to reveal the tale. "We were hanging out one time when-"

"Bokuto!" Kuroo shouted from the other side of the gym. "Akaashi is going to take you home now."

"What? What about our celebration? I have money to buy you ice cream!" Bokuto flew across the gym to reach them, voice loud and indignant. "We do it every year! Let's celebrate! Let's go, let's go!"

While Akaashi told his captain to be quiet or be dragged out of the gym forcibly, Yaku became thoughtful, wondering if there ever was a time in the years he had known Kuroo when he was nice to him or someone else. "I think there is one time when Kuroo did something nice to me…"

"Really? Tell us!" Lev prompted. He nudged Kenma. "Kenma-san, you should tell us too! Think about it!" Kenma turned away, muttering beneath his breath.

Yaku glanced at their captain, who was currently speaking to Akaashi and ignoring Bokuto. "It was last year after school, I think. Kenma wasn't there because he was sick at home so practice was canceled and we were in the club room…"


Happy birthday, Kuroo! This is going to be a four-shot in order to determine if Kuroo really is a nice guy. Inspired by that one part in the manga and my sister's prompts. Enjoy!

Haikyuu! does not belong to me. I am merely a fan.