The other three left and the remaining three decided to go to bed. They said goodnight to each other. Toka was left alone in the main area of the dorm mulling over the day. She was just about asleep when she heard her phone go off.

Kuroo - Are you awake?

Toka - Well now I am…

Kuroo - Good. I'm going to come talk to you.

She was wondering why he wanted to talk. She thought about responding, but he was already coming towards her. He sat on the floor in front of the couch facing away from her.

"You're being awfully quiet for someone who walked all the way out here" she teased and ruffled his hair. She had wanted to do that since she first saw it. He tilted his head back, so she could get a better angle. Now that is a magical feeling he thought. He turned his face towards her and smirked.

"You really are a mystery did you know that?" he said. "Will you tell me why you don't let people get close to you?" She gave him a curious look and frowned slightly.

"That's a pretty personal question you're asking" she grumbled and tugged lightly at his hair.

"I know and you don't have to tell me. You just seem to have a lot bottled up inside that you don't share with anyone. If you want, you can share your thoughts with me" he said. "I'll be your friend."

"Friend? That's all you want to be is my friend?" she asked with skepticism.

"Yes and if you ever felt like moving passed being friends, I'd probably be up for it. However, it would be entirely up to you. You just seem like you could use a friend. Based on what I've observed you don't seem to be really close to anyone" he replied.

"I have Toru and Iwa-chan…" she trailed off.

"Do you talk to them about all those little thoughts that are running through your head?" he asked. Her hand paused in it's exploration of his hair and she looked at him.

"I just met you and know little to nothing about you yet you're asking me to pour my heart and soul out to you? Seems a little dangerous if you ask me." Why was she even having this conversation with him? She should just tease with him and tell him to go to bed. How did he even notice something like that? It had literally only been two days since they met.

"Maybe. I promise never to repeat anything you tell me. Based on the fact that we are still having this conversation and that you haven't shooed me away, it makes me think that you really want to have someone to talk to." He was still watching the wheels turning in her head. There was moonlight reflecting off of her face and he thought she looked wonderful if not slightly confused. He moved her hair out of her face. "That's what I'm talking about. What are you thinking about in there?"

She looked at him with surprise. She was really lonely and really did want someone to talk to. She looked at the guy in front of her with his messy bed hair and little smirk on his face. She literally met him yesterday and he had somehow wiggled his way past her defensive wall. When the hell had that happened? He had also noticed things about her that people she had known for years never had or never asked about. He was also the first guy that told her she was more than just her looks. She removed her hand from his hair and thought for a while. Her eyes looking at the ceiling as she laid on her back.

"Alright…" she eventually whispered. "Where do we start?"

"Wherever you want. Just talk about what pops into your head. I'll listen and I won't judge you" he said quietly to her. She gave him another skeptical look, but she had already decided that it might be nice to have someone to talk to about things that bugged her.

She decided to start from the beginning it seemed like the easier option. Once she started the words just came pouring out of her. She talked about her parents getting divorced and her being really upset when she was separated from Toru. He had been her world and he had been stripped away from her. She had cried once to Toru about it, but when he started crying too seeing her upset she had decided never to tell him anything that might upset him ever again. She didn't like making her brother upset or worried. She talked about her step sister, but tried not to make her out to be a villain. She figured that Aiko had her own worries and Toka just got the brunt of it sometimes. She divulged the story of the only boyfriend she ever had and why she didn't think relationships were all they were cracked up to be. He also heard the real reason why she left Aobo Johsai.

At one point she started crying and Tetsuro had joined her on the couch and hugged her to him. He was kind of shocked that she had really taken him up on his offer. He had expected some run-around answers. At best he was hoping to figure out more puzzle pieces, but she had given him the whole damn puzzle. He didn't say much and just let her continue the flow of emotions that had been bottled up way too long. They had ended up laying down on the couch. He was on the inside of the couch rotated on his side and her back was pressed up against him. He had his arm wrapped around over her stomach.

"You know this is the second night I've known you and here you are cuddling me on the couch again" she teased, but made no attempt to move away from him. He was warm and comfortable.

"Well we could move to the bed, but I would be afraid of waking Kenma up" he nuzzled into the back of her hair smelling her strawberry shampoo. God, this was wonderful. She fit perfectly against him and he willed his body not to react to the fact that her butt was pressed nicely against a certain part of his body.

"I'm sorry for all the… you know emotions and word vomiting" she said awkwardly.

"You don't need to apologize. I'm happy you told me and that we are friends now" he paused momentarily. He was going to say something for her benefit, but also hopefully for his own as well. "Can I give you my opinion on something?"

"…sure…" she said hesitantly.

"Any guy that asks you out and can only come up with 'you're pretty' as the response is not the guy for you" he paused again "However, there are guys out there that are going to like you for more than just your looks. I just think you shouldn't close yourself off from dating."

"I just don't like when guys only notice and flirt with me because of my looks" she pouted. He raised an eyebrow at that.

"Are you sure about that? You do remember what you were wearing playing volleyball today right? I remember pretty clearly. I think you like that guys find you attractive and want to flirt." She remained quiet, so he continued. "Why did you start flirting with me right away?" Again she remained quiet. "I think it's because you thought I was attractive. Were you planning on getting to know me or were you just going to chalk me up to a superficial guy?"

"Ok… I get it" she grumbled and sighed. He did make a valid argument even if she didn't want to admit it.

"Good. Instead of judging guys right away, why don't you give them a chance? You never know, they might surprise you" he teased using the words she had used yesterday against her. Like me he thought silently, but he didn't add it at this moment. Tonight was not the right time to voice that certain opinion of his.

"Well you are a surprise that's for sure…" she said quietly. She pulled his arm tighter around her. He grinned into her hair.

They laid awake in silence for a while. Toka eventually heard the soft breathing behind her signaling the fact that her couch buddy had fallen asleep. She stayed awake much longer though thinking through what he had said about dating. The older she got the lonelier she felt seeing other people having happy relationships. Was she really just as bad as what she accused guys of? Did she flirt and then just refuse to get to know anyone? Her thoughts drifted to Kei. She knew that she was attracted to him, but it was more than just his looks. It was his personality and intelligence. It was the way that he never let her down and was always there for her. Had she inadvertently closed herself off from someone that she genuinely cared for?

And what about Tobio? Did she really have a crush on him, but just wrote him off? It wasn't a lie that her eyes had always focused on him during games and she definitely knew that there was way more to him than just his looks. Maybe she should really try to take Tetsuro's advice and get to know more about him. The Tobio that always hid behind that grumpy exterior. She had seen it a couple of times when she talked with him. That uncertain and almost shy personality lurking below the surface.

Kenma woke up the next morning and noticed Tetsuro wasn't in his bed. He walked out the main room and saw the two cuddling on the couch. He was disappointed. He realized that he probably didn't have much of a chance with this girl not when Tetsuro clearly had her in his paws. He sighed and went back into the room. He started playing a game and waited for Keiji to come get him.