There are two types of secrets: the kind that you want to keep in and the kind you don't dare let out. Only a matter of time decides which side of the coin your secrets falls onto.

ooo

"Now, don't forget that you do have your first assignment due on Sunday night. Make sure not to leave it to the very last minute. I will see you all on Monday. Have a good weekend." The moment the lecturer stopped speaking, Kagome began to pack her things back into her bag and got up from her seat. It had taken her a few days to get used to the new brace that Saito-ishi had given her, due to it wrapping around her wrist and blocking all movement of her lower arm. The faint burning sensation around her neck from the sling had long since passed.

"Do you want to go to the library to do the assignment?" Kagome asked the boy sitting next to her. Ushijima nodded and got up from his seat before walking out of the lecture hall with Kagome. Kagome wasn't surprised that Ushijima was in her management class, after all they were both business majors.

"How was practice this morning?" Ushijima looked down at her before looking back ahead at the walkway which was now crawling with students leaving their classes.

"Quite tiring. It is odd waking up for practice so early." Ushijima said. Kagome nodded, knowing from her two volleyball roommates that morning practice started at 5:30 – a time that clearly Kuroo wasn't made for. "You haven't come to any of them." Ushijima's observation didn't go past Kagome.

"I… I don't think I should." Kagome whispered. Ushijima shifted the book in his hand and held the door to the library open, allowing Kagome to go through before trailing in after her.

"Why not?" Ushijima questioned. Kagome's brows furrowed and unconsciously she moved her hand behind her back. Ushijima's eyes flickered at the motion but made no comment.

"When the accident and first surgery happened, I knew that I would always be able to go back on the courts, it was just a matter of time and patience. But now, there's no court waiting for me." Kagome told Ushijima with a bitter smile. "I need to take a step back and get used to the fact that my left hand won't ever be the same again."

"You want a clean break." Ushijima said and Kagome nodded. "We'll be waiting, when you're ready." Ushijima told her.

"Thanks Wakatoshi." Oikawa and Iwaizumi were wonderful to have closer to her, but she knew that they would try and soften things for her. Ushijima would be blunt as always and he would get straight to the point instead of taking her through a labyrinth.

It was in these moments that she truly treasured her relationship with the older male. He had been a support system for her throughout her time in high school, being the first person that she talked to on the male's team besides her brother. There had been a time she considered the idea, that if it were another time and another world, she might have ended up with him instead of her current fiancé.

ooo

Being roommates with two boys had its ups and downs. While Kagome was used to living with her brother, Kuroo and Bokuto were another whirlwind. Since they came late from practice, Kagome usually did dinner while they made lunch. That part was okay. Laundry was also fine. She did hers and they did theirs. The dorm got messy at times and Kagome would get them to help her clean on the weekends. All of that was fine.

But then came the conversations that she was not fine with.

"Come on Kagome… who is it?" Bokuto whined. Kagome took a deep breath in and counted, trying to keep her patience. With no practice that weekend, both Bokuto and Kuroo were at the dorm for the morning, just in time to catch up on assignments and eat breakfast with Kagome.

"I'm not interested in anyone Bokuto." Kagome replied, flicking through a few papers. "I have better things to do than deal with immature males with no tact."

"Not all of us are like that." Bokuto puffed his cheeks out in complaint and Kuroo snickered on the other side of Kagome as he typed away at his computer.

"Well excuse me for not falling for you hormonal children." Kagome huffed, uncapping and pen and taking her notebook in hand, jotting down a few key notes from her lecture slides.

"The volleyball team is going out for the welcome party this weekend. Why don't you join us?" Kuroo asked. Kagome gave him an odd look.

"Welcoming party? Now? We're a month into the year." Kagome said. Kuroo shrugged his shoulders.

"Apparently we're not officially part of the team unless we survive their regime for the first month." Bokuto explained before shaking his head. "That's not the point though. Kagome, you're telling me you've never dated someone?"

"My brother is on the volleyball team, hence me being friends with every male on that team." Kagome deadpanned. "Do you think I had time to date anyone with them breathing down my neck?" The wince on Kuroo's look made Kagome feel slightly better.

"I'm happy the way I am right now. Besides, we still have three more years left." Kagome said, the feeling from earlier turning to bitterness. Bokuto cocked his head but Kagome didn't look over at him, because she knew that if she did, she might hate him.

"But –" Bokuto was cut off by Kagome slamming her notebook on the floor table.

"I don't need you meddling in my life so just stay out of it." Getting to her feet, Kagome made her way to the door and slipped her shoes on before leaving the dorm room.

Once she was out of the dorm building and walking around campus, Kagome felt guilt rush through her. Bokuto had only been trying to help and she went a blew whatever friendship she had with him but yelling. Kagome sighed and dropped on the bench outside the business building.

"He doesn't get it…" Kagome whispered to herself. "I am about to be the person who ruins his relationship... he doesn't see that." Kagome hunched forwards as she felt a panic attack start. Alisa's words rang through her and she start locking her eyes onto different things in her view and she took deep, controlled breaths.

"I have time. It'll be fine Kagome. I just need them to still be together when he finds out." Kagome mumbled, feeling her phone buzz in her pocket. Taking it out, she looked at the caller ID to see it was Kuroo calling her. She wasn't in the mood to talk so she cancelled the call, but not even ten seconds after, her phone started buzzing again, same called ID.

"Not now Kuroo. Please." It was the first thing she said to Kuroo when she picked up the call.

"I need you to help me. Bokuto's gone into a depressive episode." Kagome's eyes shot wide open, and she immediately sat up.

"What do you mean?" Kuroo explained how Bokuto had gone to his room after Kagome left and was now mumbling away on his bed, telling himself that he wasn't someone worth being friends with.

"Akaashi can help. Did you call him?" Kagome asked. She felt like slapping herself. She was in the wrong for having gone off on Bokuto. Regardless of whether he had been pestering her, she wasn't in the right to snap at him.

"He's not answering." Kuroo replied quickly. "He won't respond to me. But maybe you can get through to him."

"I did this… when I snapped at him." Kagome cursed. It was her fault. If only she hadn't yelled at Bokuto.

"It's not your fault. This one has been coming on for a while now. But I think you are the only person he will listen to now. Please hurry." Kuroo said. Kagome got off the bench and began to run back to the dorm, passing by students walking on the pavement. She could feel her blood racing, her heart thudding in her chest as she rushed up the stairs and down the hallway. There was a stall when she reached for her keys, wincing at the sight of her injured arm that had been on the move, but Kuroo must have heard the noise because he opened the door for her.

"He's in his room, under the covers." Kuroo told her. Kagome nodded, slipping her shoes off and walking around the corner into the corridor that connected her bedroom to Kuroo's and Bokuto's bedrooms. Getting to Bokuto's room, she knocked on the door announcing her presence before opening the door.

It was dark inside, not a single beam of light. Heading over to where Kagome knew Bokuto's desk was, she flicked on a small night light that Bokuto had brought when he moved in. Instantly, stars of blue flickered onto the ceiling, giving the room a bit more light for Kagome to see a human-shaped bundle under the covers. Kagome pulled the desk chair over to the bed and sat in it, letting her elbows rest on her knees.

"Bokuto, are you in there?" There was no vocal response, but Kagome knew he heard her from the shuffling under the covers. There was a bit of movement close to the edge of the covers before a small opening was made and a golden eye peered up at her. Guilt flared once more as she stared at the dullness in Bokuto's usually bright gold eyes.

"Hey. How are you feeling?" Kagome asked. Bokuto blinked slowly before shaking his head, turning his gaze away from her.

"Bokuto?" Kagome's teal eyes met Bokuto's golden eye. "I'm sorry for snapping at you earlier. I didn't mean to hurt you. I appreciate that you are trying to help me, but honestly I'm fine being by myself. I do have Oikawa, Iwaizumi and Ushijima as friends, as well and you and Kuroo." Bokuto's eye widened in surprise. "Aren't you my friend? I thought that's what we were." Kagome gave him a small smile.

The opening closed and Kagome lost contact with Bokuto. Kagome sighed, realizing that she hadn't been able to bring Bokuto out of his depression, when there was more movement under the covers, this time closer to the top. White and black hair started to poke out of the covers until the top half of Bokuto's face was out in the open.

"Are you really my friend?" Bokuto's voice came out in a whisper. Kagome nodded. She leaned over and brushed a thumb under Bokuto's eye with her uninjured arm, drying a mixture of sweat and tears.

"Hey… don't cry. It's okay. Everything is okay." Kagome said softly. Bokuto nodded slowly, still staring into her eyes. She mumbled words of comfort, hoping that it would help Bokuto feel better, but he didn't make a movement. Kagome noticed this and though that he must have been tired from all the emotions.

"I'll leave you to get some rest. I'll see you when you wake up." Kagome started to get up from the seat, but a hand shot out from under the covers and grabbed hers tightly. Kagome looked back to see Bokuto staring at her with watery eyes.

"Don't go… please…" Kagome nodded, moving back to her original position next to his bed. Bokuto's hand detached from Kagome's and slid back under the covers.

"How about I tell you a story?" Kagome asked and Bokuto nodded. Pulling the chair closer to the bed, Kagome propped her elbows on the bed and waited for Bokuto to get comfortable.

"Once upon a time, far away in a magical kingdom lived a beautiful princess and handsome prince. The two siblings were adored by their kingdom for their kindness and charity. The prince was known for his ability to conjure water and the princess was known for her ability to control lightning." Kagome started off, spinning a tale of joy and wonder.

"But then, an invasion came through the lands, ravaging homes and causing disaster. The king and queen passed away defending the kingdom. Knowing that she had to do something, the princess created a barrier around the kingdom, stopping the invasion, before falling ill to overuse of magic." Kagome said.

"Was she okay?" Bokuto asked. Kagome nodded.

"The princess got better eventually but was told that her body was weaker and her control over lightning was unstable. She was the eldest of the two siblings and the rightful heir to the throne, but if she couldn't use her magic, she wouldn't be able to stay on the throne and protect her kingdom." Kagome explained.

"The prince?" Bokuto's voice was getting louder, and Kagome smiled, knowing that the story was working.

"On the other hand, the prince hadn't fallen ill. He was in perfect condition to take the throne, but he didn't want it unless the princess was sure she didn't want to rule." Kagome said. "He had found someone to marry, a commoner girl. The royal advisors told him that he could either be king or marry the woman he loved."

"That's not fair." Bokuto said and Kagome couldn't help but agree.

"The princess overheard this and immediately took the throne, not telling her brother why she did it. In the end, the prince was able to marry the woman he loved and lived a happy life with her."

"What about her? Did she have a happy life?" Kagome smiled bitterly and reached out to where Bokuto's hand was poking out of the covers, grabbing it in a comforting hold.

"The princess was still weak and her use of power was limited. To secure her hold on her throne, she entered a political marriage to a neighboring nation's second prince and the two were married under the oath of the Gods. An heir was produced for the kingdom, who couldn't be happier to see the new prince." Kagome continued, her left hand gently stroking Bokuto's hand.

"That didn't answer my question though." Bokuto asked and Kagome felt herself pause in calming Bokuto down.

"Not everyone gets a happy ending, Bokuto. But she did what she could with the remainder of her life. She gave her kingdom a future king and stability, and she gave her brother the freedom that he desired." Kagome said. She heard some grumbles come from Bokuto, who she knew wasn't happy that all the characters couldn't have a happy ending.

"The Queen didn't love her husband at first." Kagome continued on with the story, weaving in her truth with her lies – telling her friend of her situation in the only way that she could. "But over time, they learned to understand each other and love each other just before the Queen passed away." Her healing wrist throbbed with pain, but it wasn't anything Kagome wasn't used to.

"Immediately after her death, a wall was erected around a sakura tree in the palace's gardens – the place where the love of the Queen and King first bloomed. And every year on the day he fell in love with her, the King would enter the caged off tree and spend the entire day there." Bokuto looked at her with curious eyes, wondering where the story was going.

"Legend has it that the sakura tree only bloomed on that day, just in time for the King to visit, as if it was a sign from his love that she was always watching over him." Kagome looked down at eyes that were brighter than when she had first entered the room. "See, the story may not have a happy ending in the way you wanted, but every character gets closure."

"Do you think I'll ever have something like that?" Bokuto asked and Kagome's heart stuttered. "I'm a mess and you know it. I have depressive episodes and maniac episodes that people find hard to deal with. I can't cook for shit. I can barely clean up after myself. The only thing I have going for me in volleyball." Bokuto said before a flick on the forehead caused him to rear his head back, eyes looking at the source of his pain only to see Kagome staring down at him with angry eyes.

"Don't say that. Don't belittle yourself like that. You are an amazing person. Anyone will be lucky to have someone like you in their life. And it doesn't matter whether you have episodes or can't clean or nearly blow someone's eardrums. What matters is that you believe in yourself. Believe that you will find someone and that someone will be waiting for you." Kagome replied. Gold eyes started to droop, exhaustion hitting like a freight train.

"I want that. I want him to be the one… I want Akaashi to be the one." Bokuto whispered in the privacy of his room to the wrong person, unaware of the guilt that was festering in Kagome's chest. Bokuto felt covers being pulled up to his neck, his hand being gently tucked in by his side and stray hairs brushed out of his face.

"I'm sorry…" Bokuto faintly heard Kagome said as he felt a soft pressure on his forehead. "I'm so sorry."

ooo

Kagome couldn't look Bokuto in the eye for the entirety of the next day without her chest reeling in pain. Using her upcoming assignment as an excuse, she left her dorm before her dormmates had woken up and trekked over to Oikawa, Iwaizumi and Ushijima's dorm. A quick knock on the door before Ushijima answered the door, having been awake for his daily exercising.

"Oikawa and Iwaizumi are both sleeping still." Ushijima told her in a soft voice, and she gave him a small smile back, asking how he had been. She slipped on the house slippers that the boys had left for her at their doorstep and followed Ushijima into their kitchen where she found him cooking breakfast. Ushijima seemed to notice her mood and didn't badger her with questions, merely grabbing another plate from the cabinet and cooking extra pancakes for Kagome to eat.

"Is something the matter Kagome?" Ushijima finally asked when he had heard Kagome sigh over three times. Kagome lifted her head to see Ushijima looking at her with veiled concern.

"Hypothetical situation Wakatoshi. Let's say that you have a secret that you cannot tell your best friend. It involves them, but at the same time, that secret it what is allowing them to do whatever they want without guilt. Meanwhile, that secret decides to spiral out of control to the point where you will end up hurting more than one person if it gets out." Kagome ended up blurting out at a rapid pace. "What would you do?" Ushijima stared at her, blinking a few times.

"I would tell them the secret before it is too late." Ushijima replied and Kagome dropped her head into her left hand, the stress only growing.

"What if you can't? What if you are bound by certain constrictions that keep you from being able to tell them until they figure it out themselves?" Kagome asked. The silence was longer this time and just as Ushijima was about to reply, the two heard footsteps nearing them.

"Oh, I didn't know you were here." Kagome turned to see Iwaizumi approaching the two, still dressed in his pajamas. He ruffled her hair, wrapping an arm around her to greet her before going over to the kettle to boil water for coffee that he would need (and tea for Oikawa because he couldn't function without a cup of tea every morning.)

"Wakatoshi and I were just having breakfast before getting to work on our assignment for management." Kagome lied smoothly, eyes flickering over to Ushijima in hopes that he went along with her white lie. He nodded ever so slightly before picking up his plate to go wash.

"How are Bokuto and Kuroo treating you? It sucks that you can't just move in with us here." Iwaizumi told her.

"They're fine. For the most part, they clean and do their own laundry. There have been a few incidents, but nothing dire." Kagome replied airily. "It would get too crowded here if I moved in. Besides, where would I sleep. And don't even mention one of your beds – god only knows what's been done on them." At first Iwaizumi didn't get it, sleep still lingering in his brain. It took a few seconds for his brain to register it, eyes widening and face burning red at the insinuation.

"Nothing has happened." Iwaizumi choked out. Kagome let a smirk dance on her lips.

"Yet…" She ducked her head to avoid the swipe that Iwaizumi playfully took at the back of her head.

"Urusai." Iwaizumi huffed before collapsing on the seat next to her.

"Unless, you want me to sleep with Wakatoshi?" Iwaizumi slammed his forehead on the counter, ignoring Kagome's laugh and Ushijima's telling him to not purposely injure himself.

"It's been a while since the three of us hung out. Do you want to go to the café down the street sometime this afternoon once you two are done with your assignment?" Iwaizumi asked after regaining his bearings and Kagome instantly nodded.

"Of course. I wouldn't miss it for the world."

"Good." Iwaizumi replied, before going back to nursing the cup of coffee in his hands like it was Kami's gift to him.

"Tsuki-chan!" A large body latched onto her back. If it weren't for the fact that Kagome was used to these sudden attacks, she probably would have fallen off the chair.

"What are you doing here?" Oikawa's brown eyes peered down at her. Kagome had to stifle a laugh, seeing Oikawa bend his head over hers so that he was looking at her upside down.

"Ushijima and I were discussing an assignment for management class." Kagome replied, gently embracing the hold that Oikawa had been her in. "Good morning to you too Tooru." Oikawa sent her a beaming smile before looking up to see a stack of pancakes that was sitting there for the two childhood friends.

"Did Ushijima make those?" Oikawa asked and Kagome nodded.

"I just had some myself. You should eat. Wakatoshi is a good cook." Reluctance covered Oikawa's face but after Kagome prodded him in the chest, he sat himself on the other side of Kagome and pulled the plate closer, taking the chopsticks and shoving the pancake into his mouth.

"Not like… gosh Tooru. One day, you are going to choke yourself." Kagome sighed into her hand as she watched her childhood friend gobble down the pancake, a mix of pure delight and shock spread over his face when he realized how good it was.

"So, is it good?" Oikawa let out a wail before collapsing onto the table, complaining about how Ushijima could make tasty pancakes and the betrayal that Kagome was calling his rival by his first name. Kagome shook her head in dismay, wondering how Iwaizumi dealt with this on a daily basis.

"Are you done?" Kagome looked up to see Ushijima looking at her from across the table, and nodded.

"Shall we go to the library to finish the assignment?" Kagome agreed and the two got up from the table. Ushijima took her plates, despite her telling him that she could wash it herself, and rinsed them off in the sink whilst Kagome checked up on her childhood friends' plan for the day.

"We don't have practice today so I'm going to study for my astrophysics exam next week." Oikawa replied. "He's got a meeting with a professor later and then lab." A thumb was jabbed in Iwaizumi's direction.

"Seems like you two will be busy. What time will your meeting be done so we can go to the café?" Kagome asked Iwaizumi, who quickly checked his calendar to double check the time.

"It's at noon, so shall we meet at the Rose Café at 1?" Kagome nodded.

"Ushijima and I should be done with our work by then." Kagome replied, before looking over at the taller male.

"Did you want to come with us? We're just going to get a cup of tea and dessert." She heard the complaints from Oikawa before a tanned arm crossed her vision and slapped a hand over the brunet's mouth.

"Are you sure?" Ushijima raised an eyebrow at Iwaizumi. The three of them must have looked ridiculous to him. Iwaizumi glaring at Oikawa with a hand over his mouth to keep the other from talking. Oikawa licking Iwaizumi's hand, causing him to pinch Oikawa's cheeks. And Kagome stuck in the middle with a resigned look on her face.

"You live with us. You have teatime with us." Kagome couldn't help but let a laugh escape her lips, hearing Iwaizumi practically demand Ushijima to join them. "We'll all meet there at 1 then, okay?" The last part of that sentence sent in the direction of the complaining brunet who was now quaking with fear of his boyfriend.

"Fine." Oikawa grumbled before slinking off to his room to no doubt sulk and study. Iwaizumi shook his head, picking up Oikawa's tea and his coffee before heading to the boy's room, leaving the other two to leave for the library.

ooo

"After you." Ushijima held the door open to the café a few hours later. Kagome thanked him, passing through the entrance and waiting for Ushijima to follow her in before walking up to the counter to check out the menu. The two had completed their management assignment earlier than expected and had time to spare before Oikawa and Iwaizumi were to meet them at the café. Kagome realized it would be a waste of time to head back to the dorm and then meet at the café, and invited Ushijima to come with her to the café earlier – mostly so she could continue her discussion with him about the topic from this morning.

"Have you been here before?" Kagome looked up at Ushijima, who shook his head without his eyes leaving the menu. "The lemon meringue pie is good. I had it the last time I came here. I know you don't like too much sweetness, so there is the banana chocolate cake, or we can get some pound cake. What do you think?" Ushijima watched as she pointed out the desserts through the window before deciding on the lemon meringue pie.

"Are you sure? You don't have to get it because I recommended it." Kagome replied but Ushijima shook his head.

"I want to try it." Kagome hid a smile behind her hand before looking at the offered desserts herself.

"I'll try some peach pound cake then." Ushijima nodded before going up to the counter to order whilst Kagome found a nice window table for them, a clear view of the campus grounds from her seat.

"Would you like to continue explaining your hypothetical situation from earlier?" Ushijima asked her as they waited for their desserts to arrive. Kagome looked around, checking to see if she recognized anyone around her before nodding.

"I… I am still trying to wrap my head around it if I am being honest. So, my situation is that I have a secret that could potentially ruin a relationship between two people and friendships, but I cannot say anything about it due to certain conditions." Kagome winced after realizing that she probably said a bit too much.

"I see." Ushijima said. He stared at her for a moment before putting his hands on the table in front of him. "I would try my best to buffer the situation when it happens then. I am assuming that this is not a hypothetical situation, and you are not allowed to tell anyone about this secret?"

"Well, not exactly that. Satori knows, only because he heard me screaming on the phone one day about it." Kagome explained. "I… Can you keep a secret?" Ushijima nodded.

"I signed a contract to keep Kenjiro from ruining his relationship and signing it instead. In place, not only am the heir to my family's company, but I am also engaged to someone who doesn't know. That person will only be told on their 18th birthday, and they are already in a relationship with someone I am friends with." Kagome whispered to Ushijima in low tones, making sure that he was the only one that heard their conversation.

"Is there nothing that you can do?" Ushijima looked at her with a conflicted gaze. He could tell how much stress that she was going through simply by the tone of her voice when she explained her situation. Not to mention, she said that they were friends – meaning that when the betrothal was announced, her friendship with these people would be ruined.

"I was able to get my grandmother to make an agreement with their family to only tell him closer to his graduation. When I signed the contract, I wished I had more time to think about it, to truly know what I was getting into. But, if I took too long, I knew my grandmother would have no choice but to tell Kenjiro about it. I want to give him that chance, to be able to actually decide whether he wants to sign when he wants to and not because he is being pressured to."

"But that's not all, is it?" Ushijima asked. Kagome shook her head.

"He's in a relationship. It's a good one – it's a keeper. They're both good friends. Is it selfish of me to delay when he finds out simply to keep him from ruining such a relationship and keeping his high school life free of any chains? I'm fully prepared for the both of them to be seeing each other once he finds out."

"Even if that hurts you in the end?" Ushijima didn't like the sound of that.

"I knew I wasn't going to fall in love in this relationship. If I know that going in, it won't hurt as much." A sound left the back of Ushijima's throat in disagreement, but he didn't voice anything. He knew Kagome was smart and methodical, but he also knew that she was weak when it came to things of the heart.

"I will trust your judgement on this matter and will support you. However, I do want to warn you. If you are friends with them, the longer you are friends, the harder it will be on all of you when they find out." Kagome smiled, thanking the boy in front of her. She knew she picked the right person to ask for support and judgement in.

"See, I told you they were going to be here! Stupid Oikawa, I cannot believe you made us late." Both Kagome and Ushijima looked over to see Iwaizumi and Oikawa trailing though the café door, Oikawa pulling Iwaizumi by the arm while the other male kept hurling insults at his boyfriend.

"You two are late." Ushijima replied and tick mark formed on Oikawa's forehead. Kagome thanked the waitress for intervening and setting the lemon merengue pie and peach pound cake in front of them, giving Iwaizumi enough time to whack Oikawa on the head and drag him to the counter to order.

"You know, Wakatoshi, we really need to work on your social cues." Kagome said, resting her chin on her hand and raised an eyebrow at her friend. Ushijima looked at her, already mid bite into his first piece of the dessert, and set his fork down.

Ushijima bluntly replied. "I don't know what you are talking about." And if Oikawa asked what she was laughing about when he returned to the table, she didn't tell him.

ooo

The first semester blew by before Kagome even realized that it was over. Stepping out of her last exam of the week, she stretched her arms before making her way to her dorm. As she got closer and closer, she could hear the familiar sounds of Bokuto and Kuroo screaming in their dorm and wondered (for the millionth time) how they hadn't gotten a noise complaint yet.

"Hi Kagome!" Bokuto exclaimed as she stepped into their dorm, zipping past her and ducked into his bedroom, avoiding the banana peel that collided with his door. Kagome turned in the direction the banana peel had come from and raised an eyebrow at Kuroo, who had the decency to look sheepish.

"I will assume that the banana peel fell out of your hand and give you five seconds to pick it up before I call Kenma." Kenma was the easiest way to blackmail Kuroo into doing anything for her, especially since the tall male knew that he couldn't refute his long-time crush childhood friend.

"What time are you heading home?" With all their exams over, the three were planning on heading back to their respective homes for their summer break.

"Tomorrow. I told Lev and Arisa that I would visit once my exams were over, but I will be staying at my parent's house tonight." Kagome replied as she opened the fridge, and began to pull out things that they needed to throw away before leaving.

"Right, I forgot you mentioned that. Oh, I'm planning on swinging by Nekoma on my way home today. Do you want to come along?" Kagome nodded, before gesturing for Kuroo to hold the trash bag open so she could toss old food away.

"Bokuto, you can come out of your room now, unless you are still packing! Also, can you grab the dessert from my desk so I can throw it away." Kagome yelled, hoping the owl could hear her.

"Coming!" She heard a door open and footsteps before a screech left Bokuto's mouth. Instantly, her gaze snapped towards the direction of the sound and both she and Kuroo went running.

"What happened bro?" Kuroo asked, stepping into Kagome's room behind her, both looking at the male worried.

"What is that?!" Bokuto screeched and Kagome looked at where the male was pointing only to pale. She had forgotten about that picture, especially since it was always covered by post-it notes and little doodles from class.

"Let's calm down first." Kagome said, putting a hand on Bokuto's shoulder before looking at the picture. It was hard to believe that it had been taken roughly half a year ago.

"It was for the school festival. Me and Wakatoshi both ended up picking couple designs, so once the makeup artists had gotten us ready, Sango took pictures of us." Kagome explained.

"You like Ushijima! That's why you never told us anything." Bokuto pounded his fist into his hand.

"Wakatoshi and I are friends." Kagome wanted to cry. She just had to make Bokuto go into her room for a favor. "Look, it was just a picture. You two both know that we are just friends, right?" She got two blank stares looking her way.

"Why do I put up with you two? Come on, we need to finish the dorm and leave. Bokuto, your mother is expecting you." That was enough to get the conversation to switch for now, but Kagome knew this picture would come to bite her in the behind later on again.

It didn't take them much longer to get the dorm cleaned and their things ready to go. Both Kuroo and Kagome waved goodbye to Bokuto as he got into his mother's car, leaving the two waiting for the bus to take them to the train station.

"I never did thank you." Kagome turned to Kuroo in confusion. "Kenma told me about the whole fake dating situation that you got dragged into. Thank you for doing that."

"Anytime, though I don't actually mean that because one day your mother or his mother will actually want me to date either of you, and that is not happening." Kuroo laughed.

"True. I wouldn't want you to date him either." Kagome raised an eyebrow.

"Ever think about confessing to him? How long do you plan on harboring this crush on him?" Kagome asked him.

"I think about it. And then I think about all the ways that it could go wrong. We're childhood friends… best friends. I don't want to lose that over something so trivial."

"And who's to say that love is trivial?" Kagome replied. "What you and Kenma could have, yes, it is frightening. You could ruin your friendship, or your relationship could grow deeper. I will tell you the same things that I told Tooru and Hajime – love doesn't wait for you and neither does time. The world isn't going to wait until you are ready, because the reality is that you will never be ready. Don't let the rest of the world move on."

"You should really stop with the motivational speeches." Kuroo grumbled as their bus came to the stop.

"Why?" Kagome batted her eyelashes, egging him on. "Is it because I'm right?"

"Urusai!" Kuroo's face flushed red as he boarded the bus with his luggage, with Kagome's laughter echoing behind him.

"But I am being honest with you Kuroo." Kagome said, as they took their seats. "You should confess while you still have the chance to, before Kenma starts dating someone else." When Kuroo glanced over at her, he saw her looking out the window at the distance. "You don't want to be the one that regrets not having confessed before, not having said something to keep Kenma from dating that person. Because it is going to hurt. It's going to be a pain that you have never felt before."

"It sounds like you are speaking from experience." Kuroo said in a soft voice when she was done, and she flinched.

"It may not be the same situation, but the meaning was the same. It is the same. Except I won't ever be able to say anything. On the other hand, you can." Kagome replied.

"What do you mean?" Kuroo asked but Kagome only shook her head.

ooo

"Why must I be subjected to this torture?" Kagome mumbled to herself as she slapped a hand over her eyes, covering the sight of her brother making out his boyfriend on their shared couch.

"Nee-san!" "Kagome!"

"Tadaima." When she felt two pairs of arms go around, she knew it was safe to look.

"Do I need to clean the whole house?" Shirabu choked and Tendo laughed before shaking his head.

"We kept it in the bedroom, just for you." He ended his words with a wink, making Kagome momentarily gag.

"Come eat. We made your favorites, though we weren't actually sure what time Haru was dropping you off, so we sort of went off track." Kagome stared at the couch, which she was sure was now defiled, and turned back to her brother, who had turned bright red and gave him a Cheshire smile.

"Indeed, you did. Luckily for you, I won't ask for the details because that is information that is unnecessary." Kagome replied before going to the dining table while Tendo heated up the udon noodles and pork gyoza.

"So, tell me about these male creatures that you inhabit your dorm area with." Shirabu asked his sister.

"Again? Haven't we already talked about them before?" Kagome replied and Kenjiro shook his head.

"Love, you need to stop being so paranoid about her roommates. I'm pretty sure Wakatoshi would have told us whether they were dating or not." Tendo told his boyfriend, pecking him on the top of the head as he set the dishes on the table.

"It's not paranoia when your sister lives with two orangutans." Kagome covered her mouth so she wouldn't spit out the water she was drinking.

"Enough about me. How are you two doing? I know Shirabu is about to start finals week. How about you?" Kagome looked over at Tendo. Since he was going to a different university, she wasn't exactly sure what day he finished for the summer.

"I have two more exams and then I'm done. Of course, they have to be in my least favorite subject, but it is what it is." Tendo replied, sitting at the head of the table, in between both siblings.

"I heard Washijo-sensei called you back to help the high schoolers practice. Let me guess, you messed up and he screamed at you, even though you don't play anymore." Tendo nodded as a sigh left his mouth.

"You would think he knows I don't play – which I am pretty sure he does know. But I don't think he actually cares." Kagome let out a laugh. "You're just lucky that you study in Tokyo. Otherwise, I'm pretty sure your old coach would have dragged you into her renewed feud with Washijo-sensei."

"Again?" Kagome said in a surprised voice. "How many times have they called truce and then started arguing again?"

"I don't think anyone is keeping count anymore." Shirabu told his sister. "Just last week, they were arguing about the lighting in the gym, even though they use two different gyms for practice."

"Well, it wouldn't be them otherwise I suppose." Kagome replied. They spent the rest of the lunch chatting away about their current goings at university and school before Shirabu had to leave for volleyball practice, leaving Tendo and Kagome at home.

"How are you doing?" Tendo asked her, once the two were alone. They had both cleaned up the dishes and were relaxing on the living room couch with the windows drawn open, letting the summer breeze enter the room.

"Alright. I just want everything to be over with, not going to lie. I hate university classes so much." Kagome replied, heading resting against the back of the couch.

"I mean, how are you doing with the situation?" Kagome flinched before letting out a long sigh.

"It's harder and harder by the day. I'm friends with them, and I know everyone in their friend's group. Hell, my roommate is his boyfriend! But I can't do anything about it. Every day I wonder whether letting him spend the rest of his high school year in peace was the best choice I made because I have to look his boyfriend… my friend in the eye every morning and night." Kagome replied, her voice becoming scratchy.

"I'm tired. Tired of having to pretend. Tired of having to lie. I don't want this. I don't want any of this." A stuttered breath left her lips. "I just want all of this to end." Familiar thin arms wrapped around her and pulled her into a sturdy chest. In the position Tendo had wrangled her into, she was basically lying on his stomach with her head against his collarbone.

"I'm sorry. I can't say I know how much pain you are going through. But I do want to say sorry. Sorry for the fact that you are doing this because of me and Kenjiro." Tendo said, sifting his fingers through Kagome's brown tresses. Kagome's fingers clenched around Tendo's jacket.

"I was fine with it at first, because I knew that even though it would be an arranged marriage, there was no stipulation regarding have a partner on the side. I'm pretty sure my parents didn't think that it would ever come to happen, so they didn't add it in the contract. As for me, I would be happy if they continued their relationship despite him being married to me." Kagome said. "But I know he won't to do that… both of them. One of them is loyal to a fault and despite being against the situation, he will still try to honor the wishes of his parents. The other one will feel the most betrayed, yet he will be the most supportive person when it happens because that is just the kind of person he is."

Tears slipped down Kagome's chest as Tendo began to hum a lullaby, trying to get Kagome to stop crying and rest. It seemed to do the trick because within minutes, his shirt was damp, and she was fast asleep on his chest. With calloused fingers, he brushed her cheeks, removing the tear stains on her face and pressed his lips to her forehead.

"I'm so sorry Kagome."