Huge shout out to Motorsandcandies for all your support! I love you so much! Your reviews and PMs made me so happy and confident to keep writing! Okay, get ready for kitty cat fluff!
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Although I constantly wear an Assassin's Creed hoodie, I actually suck at Assassin's Creed. I don't know what it is about stealth games, but I suck at all of them. So after dying at least seven times on a mission in game, I handed the controller over to Kenma to do it for me. That was another upside to having a gamer friend, whenever he was over, you could have him finish parts of games that you were stuck on.
"Huh? How did you that?" I gaped at the TV screen
"Just hit the triangle button," Kenma explained simply.
"You make it sound so easy…" I mumbled.
No matter what I did, I could never get past those damn Templars!
"Oh, by the way, I can't come over next weekend," he added on.
"You have a volleyball game?" I asked.
"Mhm," he nodded, still staring blankly into the screen, "We're going out of town for it, too…but, uh…I'll still text you,"
I gave him a smile as a thank you. I couldn't be sure if I would feel lonely when he left like last time, so having that reassurance was good. Texting was often how we talked anyway. We went to different schools, and we were both pretty quiet people anyway. Hoshi would say that we text each other as much as a couple does, but I don't mind even if we do.
"But…" his voice mumbled again, "This Friday…are you…"
"Free?" I finished his question.
He nodded and looked down at his PS4 controller nervously.
"Of course I am," I shrugged.
I wasn't in any clubs at school or anything.
"Why do you ask?"
"Well…I'm getting a cat that day…" he started to say.
I cut him off with an excited gasp as excited stars danced in my brown eyes.
"Really?! You're getting a kitty of your own?!" I asked happily.
He flinched back in his usual jumpy fashion, his amber eyes darting around like a cat's would.
"Yeah…my mom convinced me I should get one…" he said, "…But I don't want to go alone…so will you come with me?"
"Of course!" I squealed in delight, "You're going to love having a cat! They're nice and quiet and calming. Their purring puts you right to sleep and if they like you enough, they'll even cuddle with you!"
"Thanks, Kaori," he thanked me with a hint of a smile
It was strange, the more I described having a cat to Kenma, the more I realized he was like a cat himself! He was quiet and calming, his voice was a soft purr, and…well we didn't cuddle or anything, but I was hopeful it would happen someday. After he left, I started to put the pillow fort away, but something halted me for a few moments. I caught a glimpse of Sugarcup's urn, and I suddenly remembered my old cat. I sighed and sat on the window sill next to it, staring down at my cat's ashes nostalgically.
Having a cat was something I missed. We couldn't afford a new one, and if Sugarcups were still around, we'd probably have to give her up because of the expenses. Maybe it was for the better that my mom and I didn't have another cat. Still, I missed the fluffy company and Sugarcups' epic fails of trying to catch a laser pointer. On Friday, we met up at a nearby pound to look for a kitty of his own.
"So what breed are looking for?" I asked him as we walked into the cat section.
"I don't know," he shrugged.
As soon as we entered the room, all the cats moved to the edge of their cages, watching Kenma with wide eyes and flicking tails. They all purred when he passed by and some even stuck a curious paw through the bars.
"Wow, cats really like you! It won't be too hard to find the perfect one, huh?" I mused.
Kenma didn't reply, instead he stopped in front of a brown tabby cat who was rolling around in its cage and putting on a show.
"Do you like that one?" I hopped over to him.
"Mhm," he grunted.
The ladies taking care of the cats took the tabby out of his cage and brought him to a small room off to the side. They let us see how we liked him and if he liked us. Good news: he liked me. Bad news: he didn't like Kenma.
"Hissss!" the cat arched its back at Kenma's hand.
"Whoa, that's the first cat that hasn't liked you," I gasped.
Strangely enough, Kenma didn't seem saddened by it. He just watched the cat warming up to me and rubbing all over my hands lovingly.
"But it likes you," he pointed out.
"Well, yeah…but it's going to be your cat, not mine," I replied.
This time, he did look a little sad.
"Alright," he mumbled.
I turned to the lady and said, "I don't think this one's right,"
"Ok then, I'll put him back and you can keep looking," she smiled and got up to take the kitty back.
But as Kenma turned around to go back out to the cages, something snapped in the brown tabby. He must have really hated Kenma because as soon as the pudding head's back was turned, he leapt off the table and dug his claws into his back! Of all the days for it to be too hot to wear a hoodie/ jersey, it had to have been that day. The tabby's razor claws easily tore through his school shirt and raked down his back! When the worker finally pried the insane feline off him, he was left their frozen with a look of shock and discomfort on his face. I could tell he was trying to hold back a yelp of pain as his lips and eyes twitched manically.
"Kenma…are you ok?" I asked nervously.
"…O-ow…" he whimpered.
I felt so bad for him! Someone who doesn't like social situations and avoids them at all costs finally goes outside to socialize and ends up regretting it immensely! I was certain he'd never want to leave his home again. Especially after some staff came in with some Neosporin and bandaids. Now I'd be lying if I said I didn't take a few peeks at his bare back as they treated his scratches. Even though he was a lot scrawnier than most guys, his slender and boney frame looked perfect to me. But enough about my creepy crush on the guy. After they patched him up, he was staring down at his shoes with an upset expression on his face. Kenma didn't often get worked up, but this was the most irked I had ever seen him! He just looked like he wanted to go home.
"Hey…we don't have to stay if you don't want to," I said tentatively as I approached him.
He glanced up at me before looking down again, "N-no…as…as long as you'll stay with me…I think I'll be fine,"
"Good, then let's get out there and adopt a cat," I gave him a sweet smile and gestured towards the door.
And so we went on with our cat browsing, continuing to stare into the cute little eyes of kitties to discern which one would be the right fit. Occasionally, Kenma would awkwardly fidget, probably from the stinging of his cuts. Just as we reached the end of the room, I came across a grey Persian cat who was grooming her fluffy fur.
"Aaaw!" I cooed, "This one looks like Sugarcups!"
Kenma perked up when I said this, and stared intently at the Persian.
"C'mere, sweetie," I called as I poked a finger through the bars.
The cat sauntered over to my finger and gave it a few sniffs before rubbing her head all over it. Her fur was so soft and soothing to the touch.
"Then I'll get this one," Kenma said.
I suddenly snapped out of my state of cat bliss and turned to him with a confused expression.
"Ok, but…you're getting this one because you want it right?" I asked.
"Mhm,"
"And not because I like it?" I went on.
At this, she shifted his weight awkwardly and mumbled some incoherent words as if he were trying to think of an answer.
"Because, Kenma, this is going to be your cat, not mine," I reminded him.
"But…I like things you like," he glanced up at me sheepishly, "And…I always wanted to meet Sugarcups…so this is close enough, right?"
I had to turn back to the cage, letting my brunette hair fall over my face. I couldn't let my red face show that badly! Who gave him permission to be that cute?!
"K-Kaori, are you ok?" he asked worriedly when I hid my face.
"Y-yeah," I stammered as I suppressed my blush, "Well if you want this one, then ok,"
His lips tugged into a tiny smile, and for a while, we stood there staring at each other. Then I realized he was waiting for me to handle the social interaction myself. Ugh. I loved the guy, but he did force me to be social for him…something I wasn't very good at myself. I got the attention of a staff member, and they got all the papers and things in order for Kenma's new furry friend. We walked out of the pound, me carrying a box with a mewling package.
"By the way, what do you plan on calling it?" I asked curiously.
"I don't know…" he shrugged and stared vacantly at his feet.
"Hmmm…" I thought to myself for a few moments before proclaiming, "Navi!"
"Navi?" Kenma repeated the name, "Like…the fairy from Zelda?"
"Yep," I nodded.
He looked down at the box Navi was in and smiled, "I like it,"
Eventually, we parted ways, me needing to finish dumb homework and Kenma needing to get Navi settled in. Later that evening, he texted me a few pictures of her exploring her new home, and I couldn't help but feel nostalgic. It was like having Sugarcups around all over again! I hoped that I would soon be able to visit Navi, which reminded me that I had never been to Kenma's house. Next goal spotted!
Audience POV
The next night, the Nekoma volleyball team were way out in the country for a match. They were staying in the typical guest house, but as they were getting ready for the showers, something not so typical happened. Kenma was just about to walk in to clean up for the night, when he stopped. Strangely enough, the entire team was staring at him like he had a giant spider on his back.
"W-what is it?" he asked nervously as he felt his bare back for spiders.
For a good minute, they continued to stare, wide-eyed and open-mouthed. Even Kuroo's usual casual nature was broken by a flabbergasted look.
"What…" the setter inched away, now feeling oddly self-conscious.
Kuroo slowly raised a hand and pointed at his back, but he was still too speechless to say anything. Kenma arched his neck to peer at his scratched up back.
"Oh…uh…" he suddenly remembered that embarrassing cat related moment.
"Uwaaah!" Lev finally gawked, "Kenma's not a virgin anymore!"
The pudding head's face-no- his whole body turned crimson and he froze up like a block of ice!
"Of all people to lose theirs first, it was Kenma," Yamamoto stared at the scratch marks.
"N-n-n…i-it…" Kenma stammered, but he was far too mortified to speak up.
Kuroo cleared his throat, regaining his usual nonchalant composure.
"Now, now, I'm sure this is just a misunderstanding," he tried to reason with the team.
Kenma nodded furiously in agreement, "I-it was a c-cat!" he blurted out, "I-I adopted a c-cat yesterday, a-and one of them s-scratched me!"
"Oh, I bet was a cat," Lev said with a suggestive wink while the team giggled.
"Hey!" Kuroo snapped, making everyone suddenly straighten up, "Back off. Kenma's telling the truth, ok? Now get in the showers,"
There was a sudden scuffling for the showers, leaving the captain and the setter alone.
"Sorry about that, you startled me too," Kuroo sighed.
Kenma didn't answer with words, he just sat down and curled up into a ball, shoving his face into his jersey to hide his face.
"Come shower when you're ready ok? I'll make sure they don't pick on you again," Kuroo reassured him before heading off.
Kenma didn't shower that night, nor did he show up for bed. In fact, that night he curled up sleeping on the couch in the lobby as he tried to erase the painfully awkward scene that had just transpired.
Kaori POV
That's weird. I thought as I stared at my phone in the darkness of my room. Kenma won't text back. He promised he would talk to me while he was gone. Ah well, maybe the cat's got his tongue.
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Don't get too used to the fluff, because in the next chapter, the drama starts. Muhehehe...
