"..."
True to his word Kuroo hadn't pestered him last night. Instead, the idiot loomed over his bed waiting for him.
"Hee~." A playful smirk in content, like a cat that had successfully cornered its prey, ran across his friend's face. "Oya, Oya. Good morning!"
"..."
If they weren't so close he wouldn't have minded to slap him.
Looking at his friend's face he could almost hear his thoughts, 'It's, tomorrow~'
Kuroo's eyebrows began to wiggle.
"It's-" He stopped in mid sentence as Kenma had quickly thrown his bed sheets at him, to allow himself to escape to the door.
"Wait downstairs, let me get ready first!"
Kenma's glare went unfazed but rather, the idiot instead chuckled while "trying" to fix his already unkempt hair. "Okay, okay!"
Being childhood friends, Kuroo was already used to his grumpy moods in the morning.
"Yo." Kuroo greeted him as soon as he reached the kitchen.
"Let's go." He answered back coolly, before snagging several breakfast bars for both of them to eat on the way to the train station.
Throughout the trip Kuroo acted as if he was an interrogator to a criminal, trying to get him to confess.
He of course obliged him by answering every single one while feigning nothing had happened.
The plan was to remain indifferent by giving short replies.
"So what really, happened yesterday?"
"Not much."
"What's her name?"
Ah, this one was tricky. He either had to not give it which would cause suspicion or deny knowing it.
He decided on the latter. "Don't know."
This was believable since Kuroo knew, he didn't really interact with his classmates.
"Do I know her?"
"No." She had never really ventured outside of her friend group.
"Why did your teacher give you the documents?"
"No one else could deliver them."
"How did she react to you giving them?"
"I gave them to her mom, she's sick."
"Hoo~?" Kuroo rested one hand under his chin while crossing his arms, in deep thought.
By adding that last tidbit it would block Kuroo from asking more questions regarding Higurashi-san since it would be inferred that he didn't get to see her.
"Then…"
What more could he ask?!
"Is she cute?"
He hadn't expected that one.
"Kuroo." The last syllable vibrated longer in his throat causing his voice to sound lower, as a clear warning to his friend of his annoyance.
"Alright, alright. I'm done with the questions. Besides, we're near the clubroom already."
Thank goodness…
Kenma didn't think he'd see the day where he was happy to go to morning practice
The questions themselves weren't hard to dodged. He had prepared last night several possible questions, but having to answer countless questions was draining.
Now, he had to figure out how to deal with Higurashi-san.
(Kuroo's POV)
Every question he sent him, Kenma quickly answered back as if he didn't have to think about it.
That was until he asked that question.
"Then, is she cute?"
It took a couple of seconds before Kenma could answer.
"Kuroo." He warned him.
'Ah…'
His friend hadn't agreed nor refuted the question.
"Alright, alright. I'm done with the questions. Besides, we're near the clubroom already."
But seeing the slight blush on Kenma's face told him all he needed to know.
He would stop his teasing here and let his friend's relationship with the girl foster on its own.
There seemed to be something there even without a need for his interference.
With heavy legs he made his way to homeroom. Kuroo had made him stay back a little longer than usual in order to make up for yesterday.
Every practice session till next week he would have to stay back a little. This was to ensure his body wouldn't over exert itself.
He couldn't wait to get to his desk and relax. Maybe he could do the daily quests for that new game he bought.
His steps quickened at the thought.
It was a fantasy open world game.
That was until he was stopped by a voice.
"Kozume-san! Good morning!" With a big grin on her face, Kagome Higurashi ran up to him.
No matter how much his legs protested he stopped and waited for her to catch up to him.
If anyone had watched him they would have wondered if the girl had any healing abilities.
One minute he was hunched over and the next, he stood perfectly straight. He strangely felt the need to do so in her presence.
"Morning." His reply was short.
Was that rude of him? He couldn't help it. If he had said more, his ragged breathing would be noticeable.
The smile on her face told him she hadn't mind his greeting at all.
She was rummaging through her bag before pulling out a familiar notebook. "Here, I brought back your notes."
Oh? She was done? She could have taken her time with them. He had told her he was practically done with prepping for the test.
"Thanks again for letting me borrow them." She shyly smiled.
From the way the ends of her eyes upturned he could tell it was another sincere smile.
"Oh yeah!" Her loud outburst brought him out of his thoughts.
"Mama told me to give you this. She said you enjoyed it last time."
She handed him a pouch and folded piece of paper?
As if she could tell he was perplexed by it, she further explained. "In the pouch are some grounded tea leaves. The paper has several recipes you could use with the tea."
"You didn't have to."
She really didn't. His kind gesture was not much. Even, without his notes she surely could have asked to borrow from one of her friends.
She was nice.
"I-"
"Kagome!" Three voices chorused, interrupting what she was going to say next.
Kagome was then quickly embraced by three familiar girls. They were the girls in her friend group: Ayumi, Eri, and Yuka?
Eri, the girl that always wore a yellow headband with her short hair, tightened her grip on Kagome when she noticed him.
Yuka, who also had short hair, copied Eri. The two held Kagome protectively while they scanned his form.
"You, what do you want with Kagome?!"
He couldn't help but look down at the looks they sent him. Even Ayumi seemed put off by his presence.
Eh? What were they accusing him of?
"I-I."
Ayumi noticed his stumbling of words. "Guys, I think we shouldn-"
Eri cut her off. "Hojo already likes Kagome."
"Yeah, he was going to ask her out this weekend." Yuka added.
The way they looked at him, judging him. It was unbearable.
"I…" He tried to swallow to clear his throat to make it easier for the words to come out but it felt like he was trying to swallow a bunch of rocks.
What could he say for them to understand that he had no ill intentions?
Their hold around Kagome caused her mouth to be covered by one of their arms. After wiggling out she managed to break free. "Paaah!"
"STOP!" Her words like a tanker, took the AGGRO off of him. His paralysis status effect cleared.
She smiled reassuringly at him. He could breathe again.
"I" She emphasized, "Was the one who talked to Kozume-san first. I was returning the notes he lent me for the test on Monday. Besides, Hojo's a friend. She stressed.
"Besides, this weekend I already have plans. Ko-"
He sent her a look to not mention his name.
"Ko….Concern. My grade for the test on Monday is a concern so I'm staying home to study all weekend."
With their unsure looks she added, "Guys, Kozume-san is nice, we're friends. Right?"
She looked at him for his answer.
"...yes."
"..." Silence was met with his soft spoken answer.
To brighten up the atmosphere Ayumi said, "Kozume-san, sorry about that!"
Eri and Yuka added in their apologies. "Sorry." They mumbled, guilt on their faces as the two had strongly opposed him.
"We're just worried about Kagome." Ayumi looked at the two of them, before pushing Eri and Yuka to the classroom to give them space.
"Should we keep the tutoring a secret?"
She must have noticed his discomfort with her friends and the mention of the tutoring session.
"Yes."
She looked troubled by his words. "Or, I could just study by myself. I do have all weekend to prepare."
He remembered the way she looked at his notes. It would be impossible for her to cram in everything by Monday without his help.
"No, it's okay. But I'm only free for an hour after school today."
Since he had to stay back after practice, the time he'd make it to her place would be late. Kuroo would also surely try to follow him afterwards.
The only time he could really teach her would be on the weekend. He would have to ditch Kuroo after practice with an excuse.
"On the weekends I'll be free around 12."
She had the same grateful look on her face again, like yesterday's.
"Then...see you after school at the library."
AGGRO-Hate a player piles to get the attention of monsters. Tankers usually try to draw AGGRO to themselves to keep attacks off of other party members.
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