"Stupid." She mumbled to herself as she released another arrow into the target. 53 arrows later and she was exhausted, but the Tsurune of the bow was like music to her ears, her therapy. That day had honestly been the most mentally draining day she'd had in a long while, and she wasn't excited for the next.
Did she love Oikawa? Yes. But did she love Nekoma even more? Honestly, yes. It had been her heaven for 5 days. Somewhere she could joke and talk to her fellow club members without her being referred to someone else. Back in Aoba Johsai, everyone knew her as 'Oikawa's girlfriend' but she had been released from that prison when she moved and broke up with him.
"She gracefully released the string from between her fingers, savouring the beautiful sound. You could've compared it with a note from a violin, and she wouldn't hear the difference. It was light yet dangerous, just how she enjoyed her showtunes.
"Am I interrupting anything?" She was shocked into releasing her arrow too early, resulting in a miss. "Dammit." She cursed, turning around. Kuroo. How long had she been here? Picking up her phone, she found 15 missed calls. Ah. It was 8pm.
"Kitty-san." She frowned. "Could you stand back a little? I'd rather not elbow you in the neck." Obliging, he glanced at her with a pitiful look. "Kyuubi-chan. Do you want to quit volleyball as a manager?"
"What?" Again, she released it too early and it missed the target. "Goddamit." She grumbled.
"I need you to focus on me. It's been a tough day for you, but you saw Oikawa today. Your guidelines have been broken. Didn't you say you were going to quit or something?" He glanced at her earnestly.
"Why should I?" She answered without looking back, releasing yet another arrow into the target. "It wasn't like it was your fault, right? It just happened too soon for my liking." Turning behind, she smiled. "Are you worried about me, Kitty?"
"Are we going to stick with that nickname?" He chuckled.
"When you stop calling me Kyuubi, I'll stop calling you Kitty." She turned back, grinning impishly.
"That's impossible."
"Exactly."
He groaned, shaking his head in defeat. She sighed, placing her bow next to her and sitting on a plastic chair. By that point, the archery range was almost empty, with only the staff and the two of them there. Sitting himself on another seat next to her, he whined, "Wait, is the thing you said about a one week ban from lying on your lap still on?"
" 'Fraid so." She smirked.
"Dammit." He pretended to pout, mocking her.
"Hey! Don't try that on me!" She shoved his side.
He perched his chin on her shoulder. "What if I called you babe?" He smirked.
"Then you're calling me the same thing Aka-kun does." She flicked his forehead. "I should get going soon. I still have to prepare dinner and do my homework for the weekend." She tried to stand but Kuroo grasped her wrist lightly. "What's wrong?" She turned and looked at him with utmost curiosity.
"Y-you wanna stay at my place for the night? Kenma is staying over tonight, it could be fun, plus I'll help you with your homework." He stood up, towering above her.
"That would be fun."
Kuroo's house
"Ah, Kitsune-kun. I see Kuroo invited you." Kenma smiled from the couch…. Was that kindness or pity? Was that emotion at all?
"I didn't have many plans for tonight other than archery anyway." She shrugged, covering him with a blanket, to which he tilted his head ever so slightly with gratitude.
"Here you go!" Kuroo tossed her a blue Switch controller. "Let's play Mario Kart." He smirked.
"You're on, Kitty." She plopped herself on the carpeted floor. "Ya'll are going down."
"Oh my god Kuro why?" Kenma shook his head in disbelief. His best friend was going to be absolutely crushed. "She won the competition we had last time we were against Seijoh. Don't be too disappointed." He snickered.
Kuroo didn't win a single Mario Kart game that night. Kitsune high-fived Kenma as she crossed the finish line, cheering softly. Kuroo groaned in exasperation. "It's the 7th consecutive game you've won, Kyuubi. Give me a break, I nearly won against you in the last one." He pouted, resting his head on her shoulder.
"You keep talking, I need to finish my homework." She brushed him off and pulled a couple of files and notes out of her bag. "I can help you, I'm in a college prep class." He smirked, eyes not leaving the TV screen.
"So am I." She replied, plugging her earphones into her phone and sticking them into her ears. "Now shh." She stared at him earnestly before turning back to her work.
"Ha. Your teasing isn't working too well, is it, Kuro?" Kenma snickered from under his blanket.
"Shut up, Pudding-head." He huffed as he watched the girl do her work silently. It was really peaceful to watch. Kenma only sighed. This boy. This boy was hopeless.
The next morning
Kitsune yawned as she straightened herself out. She looked at the clock. 5.35am. She had fallen asleep, head next to Kenma's torso on the couch where he was sleeping, and Kuroo's head on her lap, his body sprawled out across the floor as he snored away. Cracking her neck, she groaned. It had been a long night of gaming, homework and Kuroo teasing her. Not to mention Kenma laughing at his flirting attempts.
She tickled the back of his neck, to which he responded half-consciously by turning and facing her, eyes blinking groggily. "Kuroo-san, I need to go practice." She packed her things into her bag, and slowly replaced her lap with a throw pillow. "See you two at the gym later." Kuroo mumbled a bit before returning to his slumber.
Thunk. Whoosh, thunk.
Arrow after arrow flew past her lifted cheeks. "And another one!" Sasha, one of the staff members cheered as another arrow landed in the 10-point circle. She was half-American and half-Japanese and helped Kitsune train. She threw her a towel and a water bottle. "Take a break, Kitsune-chan. You've been training hard, and there isn't a competition right now to train for."
Kitsune took a swig from the bottle, panting. "Never hurts to practice." She shrugged, brushing her hair out of her eyes, smiling. "I'm not sure sending seventy…. nine arrows into the target will help you get to the Olympics any faster." Sasha raised an eyebrow.
"Well if we're going to beat goddamn South Korea in the Olympics and not screw it up again, it better." Kitsune grumbled. "Thanks Sasha." With that, she returned to her practice sessions. It hadn't even been 20 minutes when Sasha came up to her again.
What's up?" Kitsune tilted her head curiously.
"2 kids are looking for you… One has orange hair and one is black-haired?"
"They aren't kids, they're my friends. You think you could just let them in this once?" She requested, laughing heartily.
"No problem!"
"Thanks, Sasha!"
Hinata and Kageyama came running towards her, Yachi struggling to keep up. "You two are too fast…" She huffed in exhaustion. Kitsune smiled as she released yet another arrow into the target, scoring a bullseye. "Hm." She smiled in satisfaction and placed her bow down.
"Why are you guys here? Don't you have to be training?" She fist-bumped Kageyama as he approached with Hinata trailing after him. Yachi gave her sister a sleepy hug.
Kageyama withdrew his fist silently, both of the Karasuno boys almost staring at their feet, not meeting her eye contact. "We—"
"The grand king… was kind of a jerk..." Hinata frowned in disapproval, still avoiding her eyes.
"Is that what this is about? It's okay guys, really. I've been dealing with these things since I was in Kitagawa Daiichi, it's not that big a deal." She pet Hinata on the shoulder, smiling gratefully for their concern.
"But—"
"Things happen, they come and go, but it's important not to let them cloud your judgement…" She picked up her bow and released an arrow, landing it on the target. "For the future."
"That. Was so cool!" Hinata's eyes widened in respect and admiration for the manager of their rival team.
"Wanna try, Hinata-kun?"
"Obviously!"
"And you, Tobio?"His eyes had lit up in determination. "Yes."
