Urgh, I'm so done with myself after this chapter. Definitely among the top favs I've written so far. Enjoy silly Kuroo!

Chapter 26: Bedheads

Haru woke up that morning to the feeling of complete bliss. Though, as soon as her brain caught up with the source of that joy, the feeling of soft, warm lips against her own, the dread set in. She stayed lying in her bed, looking at the ceiling of the Fukurodani Academy classroom which had been assigned to the girls until Kaori shook her.

"Are you awake, Haru?" The older girl asked, making the Nekoma manager turn to her, look at her blankly, then blush and attempt to hide into the pillow of her futon. "Wah!" Kaori yelped at the quick motion, pulling at the covers again. "What's that reaction for?"

"If downth somthgth sthupdth." Haru mumbled into her pillow, not turning around.

"I have no idea what you just said," Kaori laughed. Haru peeked out of the pillow, noticing that the other managers had also joined them on the futons, all still in their sleepwear, hair messy.

"I said, I've done something stupid." The girl repeated.

"Did you finally jump Kuroo?" Eri laughed, making Haru's face take on a new, quite interesting shade of red. "Oh my God! You did, didn't you?" The Ubugawa manager laughed, her own face blushing.

"Spill! Spill!" Kaori chanted, pulling on the covers.

"Wait, what happened?" Mako joined them, pulling even closer to the girls, bringing her bag of cosmetics with her. Haru just dove back into her pillow, while Kaori tried to explain through giggles.

"Well, we found Haru here and Kuroo, from Nekoma, dancing romantically last night in the cafeteria," the Fukurodani manager explained. "And, apparently, after we left, something happened!"

"Oooh? That Kuroo?" Mako asked, smirking. "He's cute, don't you think?" Eri nodded.

"Hot is more like it," she sighed. "I wish we had someone like that on our team. I would be able to look forward to practice a bit more." Eri laughed.

"Back to the point, girls," Yukie reminded. "What happened Haru?" The girl finally peeked out of her pillow again, managing to collect herself somewhat. She sat up on her futon and pushed her messy bed hair back, sighing.

"Well, Kuroo-sempai has been making advances at me for a while," the girls all gasped and scooted forwards, listening with rapt attention. "He told me some time ago that he wanted to ask me out after a big game, like an epic win and then do it,"

"Gosh, that's so romantic!" Eri cooed.

"I never knew he'd be such a romantic!" Kaori nodded. "He looks more like the 'I'm gonna push you against this wall and make you beg for me to do more than just kiss' kind of guy." Haru laughed at that.

"Oh, he's super shy about that stuff!" She told the group. "It's really cute." Yukie's head tilted to the side.

"He doesn't seem like it," she mused. "He seems like he's the experienced kind."

"Wait, wait, what happened last night?" Eri made the girls refocus. Haru blushed deeply again. She forced herself to take a calming breath and then told the girls.

"I was a bit miffed that he was always just hinting things and never doing anything," she said in a shaky tone, her hands suddenly very cold. "So, I kissed him." There was a lot of squealing.

"Was it good?" Mako asked eagerly.

"Was there tongue?" Kaori wanted to know, which made Haru's blush intensify to an almost impossible shade of red.

"Was it horrible and you don't want to see him ever again?" Yukie laughed. Haru quickly shook her head.

"No, no, it was really good," the girl told them. "Like, it was too good, if you know what I mean?" The girls nodded.

"Lots of tongue?"

"None of it."

"Oh, gosh, imagine with tongue then!" Eri squealed, making Haru hide her face in her hands. The managers began laughing at her reaction, squealing and making kissy faces at her.

"But, I don't see the issue, if it was that good?" Yukie said again. "Just ask him to go out with you, and problem solved!" Haru shook her head.

"That would be admitting defeat!" She grumbled. "No, I can't face him! I already admitted defeat with that kiss! God, I shouldn't've done it!" The girls exchanged knowing looks at her face of determination and shame, before Kaori giggled.

"So, that's the kind of relationship you two have!" And they were all laughing again.

She was avoiding him. At first, he didn't notice it, due to her duties taking her in a different direction from his own obligations, but he could see it clearly now. Haru was blatantly avoiding him. What she didn't know was that the sight of her walking away, with that loose hair, as he still had her hair band around his wrist, made him flash back to the previous night, when she'd left him in a troubled state on the cafeteria floor.

During breakfast, she'd chosen to cook in the back of the kitchen, successfully out of his line of vision at most times. He hadn't thought much of it. It was a typical thing a manager would do. After Karasuno had arrived, successfully making half the Nekoma team depressed by ending their pool, rather unfavorably for most, Kuroo had noticed her avoiding tactics even more. She'd chosen to talk to Shimizu or even Tanaka and Nishinoya, rather than hang out with her own team. Haru was avoiding him. Of course, he couldn't have that.

"What's that on your wrist?" Yamamoto asked, spotting the blue hair band. Kuroo smirked, giving him a look that screamed superiority.

"Why do you think Haru has her hair down?" Instantly, Yamamoto went into chaos mode during their water break.

"What did you do to her?" Kenma immediately asked in a flat tone, noticing that their manager was nowhere to be found.

"Nothing!" Kuroo defended, making both him and Yaku give him dubious looks. "It's more like what she did to me! She's a cruel woman!"

"Serves you right," Yaku laughed, tossing his towel on the bench and walking back to the practice match against Fukurodani. Bokuto was in high spirits and giving them plenty of trouble with scoring.

But, Kuroo wouldn't let a bit of avoiding deter him. After they did their punishment for losing, laps of diving drills, the Nekoma team went out of the gym, splaying on the grass and soaking up the sun. They had a small break before they would play again. Kuroo lay on the ground, watching the clouds drift lazily across the blue summer sky, his mind busy with thoughts.

He knew that that kiss last night was the breaking point. For the both of them. He couldn't wait anymore. She had proven that she was just as impatient, if not more. He didn't think that he would have the self-control to simply go back to teasing and casual, almost platonic touching that had been happening for a while. The line which neither of them should've crossed unless they'd wanted more had been crossed. And, since it had, he wouldn't be the one to stand idly by and let Haru retreat back into her own shell.

He'd seen her do it before. Kuroo could remember how she'd gone back to her usual routine within a day after the Golden Week Camp. He could recall her simply nodding to him in the hallways, calling him 'sempai' and generally dismissing any kind of intimacy that they'd shared during the camp. He wouldn't give her the opportunity to retreat. He would be the one to take the next step.

Kuroo sat up, ignoring the questioning look Kai gave him, and looked around. Instantly, he spotted something he could use to his advantage. With a sly smirk on his face, the captain pushed himself onto his feet in one languid motion, going for his target.

Haru was glad that her plan had worked, and Kuroo had seemed none the wiser. Despite the numerous encouragements she'd gotten from the other managers, she knew that her heart wouldn't be able to take facing the boy. So, she'd opted to stay away. It was easy to map out his activities during the day. Kuroo would attend breakfast, with other teams, hence she volunteered to be behind the counter, at the stove, keeping things warm and cooking last minute things. They had been late due to her not finishing the prep work, as she hadn't noticed Kaori's message in her state after last night. Then, Kuroo would head out to practice. That was when Haru had asked if they needed anything from the store helpfully, after laying out the water bottles and towels early. She had been awarded store duty, which she'd eagerly accepted. During the breaks the boys had, lying on the grass outside, she kept herself busy with water bottles. Haru had also volunteered to go into the kitchen early that day, in order to get lunch started on time.

But, as her luck would have it, Kuroo had managed to jam a finger on a ball just as she was planning to leave the gym. He walked over to the bench, getting subbed out, and grinning as sweat dripped down his face and neck.

"Sorry, Haru, can you wrap this for me?" He asked, and she had an inkling that he could do it all on his own. It was simply a tactic to talk to her. Regardless, as a manager, it was her duty to be the support of the team.

"Of course," she waved him over, straddling the bench as he did the same, face to face with the source of her troubled dreams the previous night. Kuroo behaved, though, which surprised her. His eyes remained on the game as he extended his hand to her, letting her work. Haru took the finger, this time the middle one, and carefully cooled it down and then felt around it with the pads of her fingers. There was no bleeding, the nail wasn't busted and it looked like just a light jam. She took the tape she'd become quite familiar with during her time with the volleyball team and wrapped it securely. Not too tight, not too loose, so that the third-year could return to the game as quickly as possible. She'd been naïve to think that he would let her off so easily.

"Say, Haru," Kuroo began, which made her look up, blush profusely, and then look back down again. "I've been thinking," he continued as if she hadn't done a thing, but she had seen that smirk which spelled trouble for her. "Since we already have your father's blessing," he continued and dread finally grew to impossible proportions in her stomach. She quickly put her hands up, letting go of his, which made the relaxed limb drop with a thud to the bench, and she covered his mouth muffling the next words that he said. "Wishkj yuogh mauufrgy mrgh?" Her eyes were wide and she could feel his smirk against her palms.

"Whatever that was, I don't want to hear it." She told him. But, Kuroo just peeled her hands away with his injured one, knowing that she wouldn't risk hurting it further by resisting. Instead, he beamed at her, the other hand finally reappearing from somewhere behind him.

"Will you marry me?" Kuroo asked with that smug smirk. Haru's eyes slowly slid down to his other hand, which wasn't holding hers, and she spotted the silly thing he was holding. It was a white flower, the stem broken in half in one place so that the rest of it could go through it, making a small ring. Haru didn't recognize the flower, but all she could do was let her brain short-circuit. She was certain that her face was aflame. "Is an anemone not good enough?" Kuroo asked, watching her head literally blow up on her shoulders. "You know in hanakotoba it means sincere, right?"

"T-that's not the point!" Haru finally managed to make her brain work, and it settled on anger. She slapped the smug third-year's chest, hard, making him wince and then rub the spot tenderly.

"No need to be so violent, geez," Kuroo whined. "You can always say you're simply not interested anymore."

"I am!"

"Then, you'll marry me?"

"What?!" Yamamoto joined their argument, as the boys had gotten a time out for a water break. The whole team was watching at that point, which made Haru blush even more.

"Never!" She shrieked, standing up, getting her foot caught on the bench and almost face-planting to the floor. Luckily, the sweaty arms of Kai caught her, pulling her up. "Thanks." She breathlessly told him, her head feeling like it would explode. When she turned, though, she noticed that Kuroo had moved, too. He was now down on one knee on the floor, extending the silly flower ring to her, successfully attracting the attention of the whole gym.

"Sakurano Chiharu, will you marry me?" He asked again, smirking that smug smirk of his which just made her want to slap him silly.

"N-"

"Oi, the bedheads are getting married!" Someone shouted and Haru just wanted the ground to open underneath her and swallow her right up.

"What did she say?"

"Finally!"

"I was worried they'd be flirting the whole camp!" The comments and laughter kept rolling, making Haru blush even more, which she didn't think would be possible. She looked at Kuroo, ready to tear him a new one, when she noticed his expression. The gym suddenly vanished from around her. Everything became quiet. She could only see those eyes, amber, looking slightly dejected and mostly apprehensive. Yet, he seemed hopeful. That smirk was a total farce, she realized. He wasn't sure if she would reject him. And, if she did, she would crush him. He was sincere. And idiot, but a sincere idiot.

"Yes." Haru breathed out, extending her left hand slowly. The gym appeared again, the sounds pouring in. The Nekoma team had descended into chaos, quickly joined by different members of other teams. Nekomata was laughing, while Naoi kept spluttering, arms going from pointing to them, to the coach, as if saying 'do something'. But, all Kuroo did amidst that mayhem was stand up, gently take her hand and then slip the silly flower band onto the ring finger, struggling for a second to make certain that it was tight enough and secure. He was close enough to her so that she could smell his aftershave mixed with sweat, the breath of fresh sandalwood overwhelming.

"I was afraid you'd leave me hanging there," he chuckled, bringing her hand up to his lips and softly kissing her knuckles. Haru glared at him half-heartedly, unable to keep a smile off her face. "She said yes!" Kuroo yelled out suddenly, brining their connected hands high up, much to the delight and general confusion of the full gym.

"Shut up, you dork!" She scolded, laughing. But, she didn't pull her hand back.

"They're getting married?" Haru heard Nishinoya ask and wanted to fall into a hole, yet again.

"Seems so," That sounded like Sugawara, which made her blush even more.

"I need to get lunch ready!" Haru took her hand away from Kuroo's running away, the chanting of 'kiss, kiss, kiss' following her on her way out. She didn't breathe until she was in the kitchen, safe, and alone with her thundering heart.

Lunch came and passed, thankfully, without much trouble. Haru managed to hide herself among the group of managers, which seemed to be under the protection of Noya, Tanaka and Yamamoto. That meant that sans a teasing comment or two, she mostly didn't get bothered. The girls were eager to talk about the new development in the romantic comedy which was her and Kuroo, though. Even Shimizu was interested, while Yachi, the new Karasuno manager, kept remarking how they were both really mature. Haru assured her numerous times that for Kuroo and her mature was pretty much an alien concept and that it was all a big joke, as usual. Yet, she had put on that flower ring after cooking, careful not to mess it up. Kaori hadn't missed the chance to comment about that.

It was after lunch, while the boys had a short break to take showers, talk and time to digest the food before getting back to work, that Haru wandered outside to toss the trash, finding Kenma sitting alone. He glanced up at her, then returned to scrolling through his phone mindlessly.

"Wanna give me a hand?" Haru knew by now how Kenma's moods worked. If he was playing something, it was all good. If he was texting, it was even better. However, when he was simply scrolling, not really looking at what he was scrolling through, that spelled trouble. The setter's eyes rose again, finding hers. Then, he nodded mutely, pocketing his phone and taking one of the huge black trash bags from her arms. They walked in silence to the bin a little way off the Academy property, Haru opening the lid and both of them tossing the trash in. "What's up?" She finally asked him as they closed the lid and started walking back.

"Nothing…" Kenma replied in a low tone, keeping his eyes on his feet. Haru nudged him with her shoulder gently.

"I know you better than that," she smiled. "Is there anything I can do?" Kenma looked at her, then quickly refocused on his sneakers, brows furrowed.

"It's weird…" he told her hesitantly.

"I won't laugh," the girl promised.

"I miss Akari." He told her. Haru looked over at the setter, noticing the light blush on his cheeks and the way his hands clenched and unclenched at his sides. He really was bothered about the fact. But, before she could reassure him that it was normal, especially with a person as bubbly as Akari, he continued. "I was thinking, I'll catch a bus and go see her tonight after dinner. I'll get back in time for morning practice." Haru balked.

"Kenma, no," she grabbed his shoulder, stopping him. "You can't leave the camp on your own." Kenma gave her a pitiful look of pure suffering. "Look, let me just," Haru opened and closed her mouth, then shook her head. "I've got it, alright? I'll do something about it." Kenma looked the girl up and down, noticing the determined look on her face. Then, he mutely nodded. Haru grinned back, taking his hand and making certain that he got back to the Academy. Knowing Kenma, he could listen to her, but he could also bolt now that he knew she could ruin his epic plans. Haru was left outside of the building to sigh. Her hand rose to her hair and messed it up even further. She didn't know where her hair band was and it bothered her. She should've brought more than one.

"What's got you looking so troubled, honey?" Kuroo's familiar voice asked from behind her. Haru turned, finding him standing there, looking smug in the shade of the building. What caught her attention, though, wasn't the pet name he'd given her, but the blue hair band he kept playing with.

"My hair band!" She rushed forward, reaching for it. He put his hand up, though, far out of her reach, and twirled the hair band expertly around his index finger. "Kuroo," Haru got on her tiptoes, one hand clutching his shirt to steady herself as the other reached for the item she needed. "Give it back!"

"Sure," the smug captain said in a teasing tone. "Give me some love, first." He looked at her pointedly and the girl suddenly realized how close they were to each other. She immediately stepped back, deciding that the hair band wasn't worth the hassle. The girl huffed and turned, walking away with a shake of her head. But, Kuroo grabbed her elbow and pulled her back. "Woah, woah, woah, what's got you running away from me like that?" Haru turned around, cheeks blushing as she looked up at him shyly. "Haru," Kuroo gave her a soft, yet pointed, look. "Talk to me." She shook her head, then sat down on the warm grass next to the walkway. The third-year joined her.

"I-" she began, then stopped, shaking her head. "I don't know how to do this." She told him honestly.

"Do what?"

"This," her hands motioned between the two of them. Haru looked up to see him tilting his head to the side in confusion. "I don't know how these things work." At that, Kuroo hummed, nodding. Then, he froze and looked at her wide-eyed.

"Wait, am I your first boyfriend?" He spotted the way her cheeks went flaming. "Ever?" He was shocked. Haru was pretty. She was really pretty. And, she had a great body and she was kind and sweet. She was catch. An exotic catch. He hadn't doubted that she'd had boyfriends before. Oddly, it seemed that he'd been wrong. Kuroo slapped his forehead, head dropping down. "I'm sorry," he apologized. "I didn't realize. I should've been more sensitive about it."

"Eh?" Haru asked, not really sure how he could've been more sensitive about it. "I don't really shout it from the rooftops, so I'm not sure how you could've known." Kuroo shook his head.

"No, look, I just assumed," he seemed to rethink that and then continued. "Just communicate. That's all there is to it. Tell me when you're uncomfortable or when something is good, and we'll be golden. Communication is the key."

"In sex?" Haru smirked at him, but then noticed him splutter. He saw her grin and immediately flushed, hiding his face.

"See? This is why you confused me!" The third-year complained. Haru giggled, suddenly feeling more comfortable with the whole situation.

"Don't worry, Kuroo-sempai," she told him teasingly, "I'll make sure to follow your instructions Master of Relationships! Communication is the key!" She burst out laughing. "What is this, volleyball?" She got him flushing even more, reveling in the power she had over him.

"Your father was right, you're a cruel woman," Kuroo whispered. Then, he seemed to remember. "And stop it with that sempai stuff. We're dating, aren't we?"

"I suppose?"

"Wait, how do you mean you suppose?" She had him flustered again. "I asked you properly, don't pull this stuff on me now!" Haru couldn't help herself, he was simply too cute, bumbling like that. She leaned forward, grabbing his shirt and pulling him to her, kissing him gently on the cheek. "That's much better," Kuroo smirked at her, then caught her wrist as she was pulling back, drawing her back in.

Before Haru knew what was going on, those lips that she'd dreamt about were on her own again. Kuroo reached out to steady her in the oddly uncomfortable position of sitting crisscross while leaning forward, never breaking their contact. He was gentle with her, leading the kiss and his hands were never still, one at her hip while the other went to her hair, pulling her further in. He let her go, finally, leaving her to sit back in her crisscross position breathless with flushed cheeks.

"That was uncomfortable," Haru told him, making him balk.

"What? How?"

"Cause of the way I was sitting."

"Then stop sitting like that!" Haru giggled again, then uncrossed her legs and scooched forward, so that she was settled in between his stretched-out limbs. His hands came to her waist once more, pulling her closer. When her knees came to touch his thighs, he finally stopped drawing her in. "Better?" He asked and she nodded.

"Still, could be better," she giggled when he sighed in exasperation. But, Kuroo wasn't one for easily giving up. He pulled his own legs closed, enveloping hers, and then drew her even more in, forcing her to awkwardly maneuver her legs over his, finally sitting in his lap, facing him.

"Better?" He asked again with a smirk. Their hips were aligned, stomachs and chests touching with every breath, for once, her head on level with his.

"Much," Haru admitted, then let him lean in and kiss her again, slowly. She sighed when his hands buried into her hair, tugging on the messy locks gently. Her fingers twisted in the front of his shirt, enjoying every bit of the movement of soft lips against her own.

"You're going to kill me," Kuroo sighed once their kiss ended, dropping his head to her shoulder, breathing in her familiar, intoxicating scent. Haru just giggled, her arms going around his shoulders, hugging him to her.

"I fully intend to give you many heart attacks." She admitted coyly.

"Cruel woman." Kuroo gave up, but there was a smile on his face as he slowly switched from just resting in the crook of her neck to placing slow kisses on the exposed flesh, which made her sigh so prettily in absolute content.

Thanks so much for the feedback on the last chapter! I hope yall enjoyed this one as much as I did writing it :D

Reviews:

Milo21:
Thanks so much for the feedback!
I'm really nervous when writing romantic scenes, because I'm not too good with those situations myself xD So, I'm glad that you liked it :D I'll do my best in the future :D
Cheers!

Valen Goncalvez:
Someone had to finally crack, right? xD

Madama Crimson:
Thanks so much for the review!
I think I've fulfilled your wishes of them finally dating, eh? xD Glad that you liked the spicy kiss :P I'm always anxious when writing romantic scenes xD I suck at romantic moments myself xD
Haru and Bokuto are love xD Bokuto is in general omg xD I just love that dude! I had a feeling that he would get along with Haru really well :D
Glad that the friendship with the other managers wasn't too rushed :D I feel like those girls would totally bond over being constantly surrounded by silly guys from the teams XD
Kenma and Akari are coming again! More cuteness XD
Yaku deserved to be scouted 100%! I had to do it xD He deserves the best of the best xD
Cheers!

deadlywhisper21:
Thanks so much for the feedback!
Kuroo is a total slowpoke and he's a dork xD Haru had to be the one to break their odd balance with being straightforward and not thinking at the moment xD Best way to make him do something in return :P
Urgh, I think I just suck at romance myself? Like, I'm always super awkward and don't know what to do with myself xD So, romantic scenes don't come easily, which is weird when you consider my preferred writing genre being slice of life romance hahahaha But, I'm glad that I managed to pull it off! Smut has been requested and there shall be smut in the future xD
I've mostly been solving my exam anxiety by writing this… Seriously, I did like twenty chapters in a month xD I write about one a day hahahaha It's an insane pace and I will eventually slow down, but I'm riding the high for now hahhaha
Glad you enjoyed!

Omake:

Bokuto found Akaashi standing at the window of the classroom where they were sleeping, looking out with a pensive, content look.

"Akaashi!" The wing-spiker called out, walking over. "What's got you so interested out there? I need some tosses, Akaashi!" But, the setter turned to him to give him a small smirk and motioned with his head out the window. Bokuto joined him, looking out. He instantly spotted what had had the silent setter so occupied. Kuroo had Haru in his lap, straddling him, as they talked, kissing in between gently, looking so absolutely in love. "They sure move fast." The wing-spiker commented. "Should we pour a bucket of water over them?" He grinned at the setter, who smirked.

"Maybe some other time," he promised. "They probably have quite a few things to work out." Bokuto instantly brightened at that.

"Then, then, give me a toss!" Akaashi sighed, turning away from the peaceful image and submitting himself to Bokuto's after-practice practice.

"Sure." And the two were off, the Fukurodani ace ecstatic.

That's all folks!