Chapter 3

Kuroo

Daichi was not feeling well. His body was sore from the constant volleyball practice and his head ached from trying to understand and memorize the many different chemical formulas that he had to know. Daichi groaned and put his head in his hands. He honestly hadn't had such a hard time studying since his first year of high school. It usually wasn't that hard to get into a studying groove but he just wasn't having it today.

On the upside, the library was quiet except for the occasional yawn and the sounds of people typing away on their keyboards. The sounds of pages turning and lead scratching on paper also filled the quiet.

Daichi had a complicated relationship with libraries. The library was both Daichi's sanctuary and his prison. It was a quiet, peaceful and place. Teeming with books on any subject imaginable. All of which were useful in his class, and entertaining in his free time. But the library also held some of his greater annoyances.

He couldn't get the book he needed to finish an assignment because a different student had checked it out. That one librarian, that had decided that Daichi would make a good husband for her granddaughter, would stalk him through the library trying to set them up. Which worked as both distracting and creepy. Or sometimes the quiet was too quiet and he'd end up falling asleep only to be wake up and realize his precious study and homework time had been wasted snoozing.

Today was a one of his not good library. Not only was he tired and sore, but Daichi had had to duck under a table to avoid the old librarian and had bonked his already aching head on the way down. Daichi had also started on one of his English assignments only to realize that that particular one wasn't due for another month and a half. And then when he'd reached for his bag to grab his biology work he'd realized he'd left it on his desk in his dorm room.

Daichi groaned before lifting his head off his hands and began shoving his things back into his book bag and exiting the library. He grumbled to himself as he made his way across campus to his room.

Daichi was tired, sore, and just in a generally cranky mood. He'd probably would have gotten more done if he'd simply stayed in his dorm. But with his roommates rushing in and out, loudly talking about their Sunday plans (which involved three different dates and one parent child meet-up) Daichi had decided to leave before he'd darkened the mood of the others.

It wasn't their fault he was cranky and homesick. It wasn't their fault he was having more and more trouble with practice and school. And it wasn't their fault his potential significant other was farther away then he cared to think about.

Daichi groaned when the weather decided to make his not very good day worse and began to rain. Daichi honestly didn't mind the rain, or storms for that matter. But he'd left his umbrella at the apartment and was in no mood for finnicky weather .

Ten minutes later Daichi was stomping up the steps to his dorm, cursing under his breath and ignoring the squelching sound his sneakers made as he climbed. Daichi turned the knob to his room and was un-surprised to find it unlocked.

Every one of the former captains was horrible about locking up after they left their dorm. Kuroo and Bokuto were used to their parents locking up after them. Ushijima said since none of them were excessively wealthy it wasn't like people had a reason to steal from them. While Oikawa would more than likely forget his key and then be trapped out outside (which had happened before and Daichi had had to come to his rescue). Daichi had already been used to leaving the house unlocked because of his mother. Even back in Miyagi Daichi was the only person with any sense.

Daichi trudged inside taking his shoes off and carrying them into the living room. Daichi froze when he entered the living room. Instead of the living room being empty and devoid of any of his cotenants like he thought it would be, one was still there. Kuroo was laying on the couch. And he looked absolutely miserable.

Kuroo was wearing an overly large red hoodie and black sweat pants, with thick cat themed socks covering his feet. His hair was even more wild than usual and his cheeks had an unnatural flush to them.

Any lingering thoughts Daichi had had about his bad day vanished. Concern for his roommate swelled in Daichi and he quickly walked over to him. "Damn Kuroo. You look horrible."

Kuroo looked up from his phone that he'd been texting on and chuckled roughly before coughing into his elbow. "Well you look like a drowned crow. You should go change before the carpet gets wet."

Daichi frowned before walking to the vent and putting his shoes by it. With any luck, they'd dry off before his class tomorrow. "You didn't seem sick earlier today."

Kuroo shrugged his shoulders. "I wasn't feeling…bad earlier per se, but I wasn't feeling good either. As soon as Kenma noticed he forced us back here. He's in my room right now changing clothes. We thought we'd beaten the rain here, but then mother nature decided she wanted to be a bitch today."

Daichi nodded his head. "Yea that sounds about right. She got me too. Anyway, I'll go get some tea started and go grab the thermometer. Don't you move from that couch you hear me?"

"You don't have to take care of me Sawamura. I'll probably be fine by tomorrow." Kuroo said, before once again coughing into his elbow.

"Hmmmmm right, whatever you say. I'll be back in a minute."

Daichi left before Kuroo could attempt to say anything else. Daichi walked briskly into his shared bedroom and stripped out of his damp clothing. He re-dressed himself in more lounge worthy clothing and walked into the bathroom.

He opened the medicine cabinet and grabbed the thermometer Bokutos mom had given them and grabbed cold and flu medicine. He also got a cool damp cloth and walked back into the living room. Kenma had made himself comfortable in their living room. He was curled up in the corner of the couch with Kuroo head pillowed in his lap. The sounds of his DS were almost drowned out by the romantic comedy Kuroo had selected.

Daichi didn't know why Kuroo even bothered turning the TV on, he wasn't even paying attention. The blocker had basically turned into a puddle of goo in the younger boy's lap.

"Sawamura." Kenma said, barely sparing Daichi a glance as he pressed more buttons on his game.

"Hello Kenma, how have you been doing?"

"If this idiot hadn't gotten himself sick I'd be great. Thank you for asking."

Kuroo groaned and pushed his head deeper into Kenmas lap. "Don't be passive aggressive." Kenma poked the back of Kuroos head with his finger before rolling his eyes. Daichi smiled before pulling the thermometer out of its packaging.

"Here stick this under your tongue."

Kuroo glared suspiciously at the thermometer for a moment before pouting. "I don't want to."

Daichi frowned down at the older boy. "Kuroo, I am not your father or your boyfriend. I don't want to nor do I have to be nice to you. So be quiet and do as I say."

Kuroo looked mutinously at the thermometer but with another glance at Daichis face he popped the device underneath his tongue. Daichi smiled, "Good kitty, maybe I'll even pour you some cream later."

"Oh, screw you Sawamura." Kuroo muttered.

"Don't talk. You need to keep your mouth closed for an accurate reading." Kenma interjected quietly, his eyes only briefly leaving his DS.

"Yea Kuroo don't talk." Daichi agreed happily.

Kuroo flipped Daichi off but Daichi ignored the rude jester in favor of removing the thermometer, which had beeped quietly, from the other boy's mouth and read the screen.

"37.7 yep, you're officially sick. Not life threatening but you're not going to Volleyball tomorrow."

Kuroo protested this by whining pathetically at Daichi. "Look, even if you feel better by tomorrow, your immune system is still going to need a few days. Heck, you'll probably be worse because you were out in this rain!"

"But volleyball Sawamura!"

Daichi sighed. Kuroo was infinitely more stubborn than your average person. It was both a quality Daichi admired and disliked in the other boy. Oikawa was more likely to push himself when he shouldn't. But Kuroo was more likely to pretend he was fine and make everyone else believe he was too. Daichi groaned, Kuroo would do everything in his power to get to volleyball tomorrow. Daichi would just have to use his stubbornness to his advantage.

"Look, if your fever goes away and no other symptoms show up then I MAY just MAY let you go. But if you so much as sneeze tomorrow before I leave for class I'm banning you from class and Volleyball, okay?"

"…And if my fever goes away and I get better by tomorrow you won't stop me?"

"Yep."

"…Deal. Now you said something about tea correct?"

Daichi rolled his eyes before getting up from his kneeling position. He stretched his arms above his head and started walking towards the kitchen before he stopped and frowned. "Kenma, I know you and Kuroo don't get to see each other as often as you want but maybe you shouldn't be cuddling him right now. He might be contagious."

Kenma paused his game before looking up and making eye contact with Daichi, a small smile om his face. "Thank you for worrying Sawamura. But I've only been sick twice in my life. I have an immune system of steel. Tetsurou is very jealous."

Kuroo groaned in agreement. Daichi blinked before shrugging. Well. Is Kenma sais he'd be fine Daichi would believe him. Kenma always seemed the more dependable of the two.

Kuroo was not better by the next day. Bokuto came running out of the room the two-shared looking a mix between worried and amused.

"Kuroo says he's not better." Bokuto told Daichi seriously. Daichi blinked before nodding his, a small smug smile tugging at his lips. "He also said to tell you 'Dammit Sawamura get that smile off your face! If I weren't sick, I'd totally fight you.' His words not mine."

Diachi threw his head back and laughed. "Thanks for letting me know Bo. I'll go in and tell him about the soup I made and the medicine myself." Bokuto nodded before looking at the clock and hooting in alarm at the time he saw. "Thanks, Sawamura! Bye! MOVE SHITTYKAWA I'M LATE!"

"I TOLD YOU GUYS TO STOP HANGING OUT WITH IWA-CHAN!"

"Your boyfriend's nicknames are pretty accurate."

"MEAN USHIJIMACCHI! MEAN!"

Daichi shook his head. Daichi had figured Kuroo probably would be better by tomorrow. So, after he'd wrangled the blocker into his own room and Kenma had left, Daichi had stayed up late making home-made soup his Grandma had used to make for Daichi when he wasn't feeling well.

Daichi paid for his late night the rest of the day. Each of his lectures seemed more dry and boring with each passing second. And volleyball practice was a different kind of hell. He body screamed for more sleep and to just not move for a while. But when he got back to the dorm later that night with the rest of his roommates to see Kuroo, looking infinitely better than he had earlier and with his usual smirk on his face Daichi decided it was worth it.