The next day, I was walking down the hall with Tanaka towards the dining hall for breakfast. Yawning, I rubbed my eyes because I hadn't slept well last night. There was no way I could sleep after what happened yesterday. I felt so anxious and still do. In fact, I don't even think I have that much of an appetite. Suddenly, I ran into someone and fell back on my butt. "Owwwww!" I whined.
"Watch where you're going!" Tanaka scolded whoever I had just ran into.
"Oh ho? Sorry about that, I guess I'm still half asleep." It was that guy Kuroo, a marquis from Nekoma. He kneeled down and lent me a helping hand. "Are you alright, little prince?"
I didn't take his hand and, instead, stood myself up. "Don't call me little! And I'm just fine, thank you very much." I pouted with puffy cheeks, trying not to let him know I was embarrassed.
Kuroo laughed. "I guess it must be fate for us to get married. I mean, you ran into me this early in the morning and before anyone else, right?"
"No way in hell!" I shouted before stomping off down the hall. Tanaka and Kuroo laughed amongst themselves as they followed me. That stupid bed head is already making fun of me. What a jerk. I don't see how anyone would like him. I hate being teased. I kept pouting and tried to further ahead of the two behind me.
"Prince Hinata! You're going too far ahead, please wait a moment!" Kuroo caught up to me and grabbed my shoulder. "If you keep pouting like that, your face is gonna freeze that way."
"It will not!" I denied, puffing my cheeks out more.
Kuroo pinched one of my cheeks and laughed once more. "He he, you're so cute like that. You look like a bird with cheeks full of food." I swatted his hand off my shoulder and began to stomp off again. "Ah, wait! I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I'll stop teasing you…for now anyway."
"It'd be great if you would just stop altogether." I glared at him as menacingly as I could. I turned back around and kept walking towards the dining hall.
"He's so fun to mess with." Kuroo told Tanaka, who nodded in agreement. The two then also began to make their way to the dining hall.
After breakfast, I had planned to go to the library with Tanaka to get some books I'd need for my afternoon lessons. Unfortunately, the knight had been called away for some unknown task by my father. So taking his stead was Kuroo. Yay. I was searching the shelves, looking for my books, when Kuroo got up close behind me.
"Need in any help?" he whispered in my ear.
I flinched, moving away from him as fast as I could. "No! Could you please just go away?" I ran over to a different shelf, hoping he'd leave me alone. But, of course, he continued to follow me like a lost kitten.
"You know you can't be left unattended, besides Tanaka asked me to look over you. I'm a man of my word, you know." Kuroo got right behind me again.
I sighed and tried ignoring him as I glanced over the books, but he was just too close to me. "Can you at least back up a bit?" I asked, not looking back at him. Silence. He didn't respond to my question. "Um, Kuroo?" Suddenly, I felt a hand caressing and squeezing my backside. "Ahh!" I screeched, nearly tripping on some nearby books that were on the floor. "What the hell, Kuroo!?" I shouted at him, shooting him an evil look.
"Oh ho? I couldn't help it. Your butt is just too cute, especially when you stand on your tippy toes to try and reach a book." He smirked, obviously proud of himself.
"You pervert!" I grabbed the books I needed and ran for the door.
"Hinata, let's-" Tanaka walked into the library as soon as I had gotten to the door.
"We're leaving!" I commanded, running right out the door.
"Uh, okay?" Tanaka glanced over at Kuroo suspiciously, who only smiled in return.
(Kuroo's PoV)
That evening, I had gone searching for the little prince, Hinata. I'm actually glad that I was invited because this prince was as interesting as I had originally thought. Not to mention, he was super cute; especially when you tease him. As I walked through the hallways, I happened to see the flicker of a lantern coming from a small room. I came closer, hoping my tiny prince was inside. Glancing inside, I had found Hinata asleep on his desk. Ho ho, how adorable is that? I quietly made my way over to him and looked at what he had been doing before he dozed off. It seemed as if he was doing the lessons I had overheard him fretting about in the library. I leaned over the prince, looking down as his peaceful, sleeping face. He really is small…I stood up straight and carefully pulled his chair away from the desk. As gently as I could, I lifted Hinata into my arms. I walked out of the room and across the hallway into what I assumed to be his room. I eased him out of my arms and onto the bed, covering him with a nearby blanket. "Sleep well, Hinata." I murmured as the back my hand caressed his soft cheek.
(Hinata's PoV)
A few days later, after having Kuroo endlessly cling to me and tease me almost every day, I found myself feeling a bit strange; especially when Kuroo gets close to me. My cheeks get hot and I feel super nervous. I know I definitely haven't felt this way before, except for when I was getting sick. Maybe that's it? I don't know…it couldn't be lo-No way. There was no way I could be in l-love with Kuroo. It must just be some kind of illness. I'll have to go see Mother about it later.
I made my way into the library. Unfortunately, I was having lessons again this evening with my least favourite tutor. Their lessons are always super difficult so I had to make sure I studied up beforehand. I skimmed the spines of books in search of what I needed, hoping that I wouldn't have to search the entire library.
"Having lessons again today?" a voice whispered into my ear.
"Hyah!" I flinched, gripping the bookcase. Turning around, I found Kuroo with his cat-like grin on his face right behind me. "Don't do that! You could've made me knock the bookcase over!" I snarled, feeling the heat rising in my cheeks now that I knew Kuroo was near.
The marquis laughed and backed away from me. "I'm sorry but you were just comically serious as you were looking for your books. I had to break the tension." He ruffled my hair, continuing to laugh.
Pouting a bit, I swatted his hand away and turned back towards the bookshelf. Though, I wasn't just pouting; I was hoping to keep Kuroo from seeing the redness I knew I wearing like a mask on my face. "Why are you even in here? Are you following me again?"
"What's wrong with wanting to see someone you're interested in?" Kuroo stated bluntly, making me drop the books I had grabbed from the shelf.
"What?" I could feel the heat from my cheeks rise up to my ears, "Haha, d-don't joke about those kinds of things Kuroo!" I laughed awkwardly. Without warning, I was shoved against the bookshelf and forcibly turned to face Kuroo. He grabbed my chin to make me focus my attention on him. "Wh-what are you doing!?" I shouted.
"It's not a joke," he said in a low, husky tone. He was leaning over me, almost possessively. His golden eyes were smoldering, making me feel even hotter than before. Kuroo was too close and I felt myself being drawn to him.
"K-kuroo?" I backed up against the bookcase. This situation just seemed too weird and I had no idea how to react. Did I anger him? I didn't mean too…Maybe I should apologize? "H-hey, I'm-" Kuroo's finger covered my lips as he quietly shushed me. His face came closer and closer; his lips almost touching mine. I could feel his breath on my face. Butterflies were fluttering about in my stomach as I clamped my eyes shut and waited for what I expected to be a kiss. I don't know if I'm ready for this! But instead of kissing me, I heard Kuroo sigh. I cautiously opened my eyes and watched as he back away from me. "Kuroo?"
"I'm not going to do anything you don't want me to do." he stated, scratching the back of his head, "I'm not that kind of guy."
Oh. Well, I didn't expect that…I was about to speak when Tanaka came into the library.
"Yooo, Prince Hinata , are you in here!?" He practically barged into the library as loud as he could. The librarian, Kiyoko, got onto him though.
"Guess you have to leave, huh?" Kuroo sounded disappointed.
"Uh yeah, I think it's time for my lessons. I'll, um, see you later." As I ran off to Tanaka, I glanced back at Kuroo. He waved before turning to leave as well. Maybe he isn't so bad after all…