hello again it's been way wayy too long! This was a really weird chapter and I apologize that it's taken me a few days.. or months to complete but better late than never! :)

6

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"I.." It almost felt like I was confessing my feelings straight to his face! I took a deep breath, hoping to suck some of his excess confidence out of the air while I was at it. "I... like someone.."

Kuroo instantly beamed and leaned closer to me in excitement. "Who is she? What's her favorite milk product? Does she make good grades?"

I rolled my eyes. "It's a him, and you're supposed to be my therapist, not my mom."

Kuroo collected himself and slouched back into his usual casual and collected position. "Therapists and moms kinda have the same role if you think about it. I know therapists aren't supposed to get as emotionally attached, but it's hard when you're the first person I've ever had to act professional around." Kuroo swiftly captured my cheeks in each hand and pinched. "And when you're this cute~"

I swatted his hands away, trying hard to fight back a blush. "Yea, you're definitely professional."

Kuroo giggled. "Tell me about her!"

"Him!" I corrected. "And what do you want to know?"

Kuroo cleared his throat, an almost uncomfortable look passing across his face.

"Do you have a problem with it being a him?"

"NO!" He snapped his head up. "No, no. Nothing like that. It's my job to listen to your opinions, not state my own."

"So.. You do have an opinion on it?"

"I feel like love is love, regardless of gender." He avoided my gaze, and it almost seemed like the topic alone had some kind of effect on him, like he was trying to conceal the fact that he wanted to say more. "So this person you like.. does he know anything about it?"

I shook my head. "That's why I brought it up," I muttered, looking away bashfully, "so you could help me."

Kuroo let out his second giggle of the day, and I was starting to feel uncomfortable. "Of course~"

I smiled happily, and Kuroo looked a mixture of surprised and flustered.

"W-well, first things first, do that."

"Do what? Smile?"

Kuroo nodded. "If that doesn't automatically work, he's probably not even gay."

"How do I know he's gay?" I asked immediately. I knew there was no chance of Kuroo being gay, but there was always the option he could be bi?

Kuroo pondered it for a moment. "I would say hit on him as much as possible. Flirt with him, and if you're feeling extra risky, maybe kiss him on the cheek or some shit. Make it extremely obvious, and if he gets even slightly uncomfortable, or even tells you to stop straight up, he's not gay."

I smiled again, and Kuroo appeared just as surprised and flustered as the last time. "Ogay."

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KUROO'S POV

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It was time. After about three months, Erika and I were finally taking one of the biggest steps a couple can take in progressing their relationship: I was meeting her parents.

My palms were sweaty and my grip was tight as I pulled my car into her driveway.

I would be fine. I would make it out alive. There was no reason to be nervous.

I took a few deep breaths before exiting the car. I held a bouquet of roses in one hand, and a platter of food that I had previously given into simply picking up at Krogers in the other. I rang the doorbell with my nose.

Within a matter of seconds, Erika was standing on the other side of the door in all of her gorgeous glory. "Kuroo! Don't you look dapper!" She cried, flinging her arms around my neck in an overly exaggerated embrace.

"You don't look too bad yourself," I replied cheekily.

Her parents emerged quickly after from the living room. "And this must be the boy you've been talking nonstop about for months!" Erika's mom cried, freeing my hands from flowers and food. "You didn't have to go through all of this trouble, dear! I like you already!" She gave me a quick hug before disappearing into another room.

Erika's dad began to glare me up and down, an aura completely opposite of his wife washing over him. "Are you the man that's been sleeping with my daughter?"

"Umm.." My face heated up in embarrassment, and I looked over to Erika for help.

She simply threw her head back and laughed. "Yes, dad."

My eyes widened. "Erika!?"

Her dad's eyes promised murder.

Well, so much for making it out of tonight alive.

"Kurooey-bear is almost done with his internship as a therapist," Erika squealed, clapping her hands together loudly in excitement.

Her mom began clapping and hollering as well. "Round of applause for Kuroo!"

I smiled. "I appreciate the enthusiasm, but I'm still not considered a real therapist until I graduate."

"Oh. Then let's hear it for my Kuroo finishing his internship as a practice therapist!"

Erika's mom began clapping and cheering wildly again. "So, Kuroo, tell us about your first patient!"

I caught Erika rolling her eyes. "Is there something you want to say, Erika?" I tried not to act defensively by throwing in a light chuckle.

She huffed an over-dramatic sigh, and then she threw her head against the table to shield her from any judgmental eyes. "That's all you ever talk about anymore. It's like he's the number one thing in your life now, and you're putting our relationship beneath it."

I stared at her covered up head, completely dumbfounded. "I.. didn't even realize. He's my first patient so I-"

Erika slammed her fists on the table and stood up violently. "NO! Don't start this again! Yes, he's your first patient, and yes, I'm happy for you, but there's a line!"

"Why are we having this conversation now?" I peered over to see both of her parents staring uncomfortably.

"You should be talking about the progress you're making with him, funny stories about his issues, but NO! All you come home with is how cute his toes look or the smell of his hair! It's disgusting!" Erika threw a spoon at me. "You're.. disgusting."

I stood up as well. "I had no idea you felt like this.. I got over-excited and I'm sorry. He's my first so this is all new to me! Patients kind of become your children in a way, since you're guiding them through life and I guess I just got too involved. If it makes you feel any better, you're all I talk about when I'm around him, too," I lied.

She sat back down. "Really?"

I nodded. "Really."

Tears began forming at the corner of her eyes. "Then I'm sorry, too." She ran over to my seat and flung herself into my lap. "I'll just have to make it up to you later," she whispered, but not quiet enough for her dad not to hear.

"WOOOOH. Sorry for bringing that up, kids. I had no idea it would unleash such a beast between the two of you," her mom said. "Let's hear it for Kuroo's first fight in front of his soon-to-be mother-in-law?"

Erika started clapping slowly, and her mother joined in in a full-out holler.

Her dad banged his head numerous times against the table. "That's it! I can't do it anymore. Emily, I want a divorce."

The entire table went silent.

"I think it went well," Erika said.

After what felt like years and years of continuous torture, the night had finally come to an end, and Erika and I were on our way back to my apartment. I glanced at her in a horrified shock. "Went well?! It went terrible! That was the worst night of my entire life! Erika, your parents are getting a divorce now!"

She pitifully dropped her gaze to the floor. "Oh yeah.."

I instantly felt guilty and reached over to connect my hand with her own. "..I'm sorry.. I shouldn't have brought it up again.."

She squeezed my hand tightly and then laughed. "It's okay. My dad sucked."