4

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My eyes anxiously scanned my surroundings as I made my way down the crowded, narrow halls towards the counciling room. Bullying had become an almost daily occurrence for me. Of course, there wasn't much that students could do and actually get away with while on school grounds- most of the taunting consisted of heavy insults and empty threats... that wasn't to say that it didn't have an effect on me, though. I still had Hinata as a way to cheer me up, but since he went to a different school, for hours a day I was left with nothing but hurtful words to keep me company.

I clutched my GameBoy tighter against my chest for support, praying that I didn't make eye contact with anyone on my bad side. My prayers were short lived, however, as a violent tug against the back of my book bag sent me sailing into the boy's bathroom.

Before I could even get the chance to identify those responsible, a hand coated in sweat had clamped its way over my eyes. A few giggles sounded in the background, and my offender pulled me flush against his chest and leaned in close enough to where the muskiness of his breath was steadily blowing into my ear. "Guess what happens to those who think they're too good to go to class?" His voice was husky and instantly familiar as one of the many who had picked on me in the past.

"I-I wouldn't know," I squeaked out, trying to sound sure of myself. "I've never skipped."

The student holding me hostage lifted me up, almost too effortlessly, and carried me through a black sea of laughter.

When he removed his hand, my eyes were instantly engulfed in water. The same hand moved to the top of my head, shoving me hard against the toilet bowl. I thrashed violently.. pointlessly, as the man in charge made no signs of struggle. "Idihsjajdn!" I kicked hard against his stomach, managing to free myself for only a quick breath before being shoved down again. The sound of flushing was quickly followed by my strangled gasps as water shot straight to my lungs.

Suddenly, the grip above me was released. I immediately surfaced, a coughing mess.

My vision was blurred and my ears filled with water, but I could manage to make out a tall figure pinning someone else against the wall. The man lifted him up by his shirt a few inches off the ground, uttering incoherent words that left my offender frozen in fear. He then released his grip, causing the student to plop onto the ground like a worn-out rag doll before he gathered himself and scrambled out of the bathroom like his life depended on it.

I blinked rapidly, trying to clear my vision. The figure was closing in, but for some reason something about his towering height and strong build felt almost comforting. "Kuroo?"

He was now kneeling beside me, placing a hand on my shoulder. "I'm.. sorry," he muttered in a tone I had never thought I would ever hear him try on. He sounded full of sympathy, sadness, and defeat.

"Why are you apologizing? Y-you saved me," I tried to sound sure but my voice betrayed me, coming out a hoarse whisper. "Its never been this bad before." I curled my knees against my chest. "They've been mean, but only with what they've said. They've nev-" my voice caught in the back of my throat. "Neve-" And then I did something that I have never done, or never thought I would do, in front of another human being in my entire existence.

I started crying. At first it was a few drops, mixing with the toilet water in an indistinguishable unison. Then I lost all control. I started bawling, crying like I had never cried before, all in front of an almost stranger.

I felt the hand against my shoulder tighten, and another come and grasp the other side of me before pulling me into an all-out embrace. I was practically sitting on his lap, my legs wrapped around his torso and his arms supporting my back, but in the moment the fact that I was crying won out over any other embarrassment that I might have been feeling. I had no idea how long the two of us sat like that, him clinging to me tightly and whispering comforting words into my ear, while I hid my face and cried into the front of his shirt. It felt like a few seconds, but also could've been eternity.

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"YOU WUT?!"

"You heard me," I muttered, starting to feel insecure. "I like him."

"You like him as a person?"

I shook my head violently. "You know what I mean! I likeee him." My face heated up the color of crimson, and I tried desperately to hide it with my hands.

"B-but he's a guy? You're a guy!"

I shot him a look. "Kageyama's a guy, too, but that doesn't stop you from having sex with him every 5 minutes!"

It was Hinata's turn to look like a tomato that had just escaped from its container. "whaT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THAT WAS ONE TIME AND IT WAS AN ACCIDENT AND YOU PROMISED WE'D NEVER TALK ABOUT IT EVER AGAIN!"

"Don't act like you didn't like it, Hinata! And 'an accident'?! That's not what you told me a week ago."

"Enough about me!" Hinata cried, waving his hand around in dismissal. "You really like him?"

I decided the whole changing-the-subject idea wasn't going to last forever, so I took his question head-on and nodded in all seriousness.

"B-but.. You're Kenma! You've never liked ANYONE other than your amazingly awesome best friend.. Much less loved anyone!"

The mentioning of love caused an onslaught of butterflies to begin fluttering against my stomach.

"When did this happen?" he asked.

"I.. think I've always been attracted to him, it just took until today for me to realize it," I answered honestly. "I'm always uncomfortable. Social situations make me sweat and I hate people. I thought Kuroo was no exception, but until today I've never actually felt.. comfortable around anyone else. I cried in his arms today, and instead of regret I feel nothing but.."

I tried to think of the word.

"Crustyness?" Hinata tried to help me out.

"No."

"Oh."

"L-lo.. Lo.." I hid my hands in my face. "I can't say it, it's embarrassing!"

"Love?"

I nodded, and Hinata smiled.