Chapter Nineteen
His second week at Kenma's passes much, much slower than than the first. Kenma's assures him that time is moving just as quickly as before. He can't sleep, and he can't walk, but he can manage both with Kenma's help, most of the time anyway. There are three nights where he's sitting on the floor, stretching his legs until he thinks he can feel something. He attempts to walk in the dark but falls quietly repeatedly until he's out of breath and he's still unable to sleep.
Kenma picks up on it the second night it happens, he twisted his ankle slipping on one of Kenma's shirts, and the older boy comes as close to yelling as Kenma's ever heard him. It's three in the morning, Kenma's pissed, not at him directly, he's assured, over and over as the older boy pets his hair. "I know you want to get back on the court, Shouyou, but you can't rush this." He knows that, Kenma's said it almost as many times as he's kissed him. He thinks it's worth it, he tries to take it slow, but Kuroo's challenge is still fresh in his mind the following Sunday and he wants to play so badly.
He watches the older boy sleep, he thought it would be boring, and it would probably freak Kenma out if he were ever discovered, but he takes that risk. Watches the blond hair get progressively messier as he rolls around on his pillow, he wonders what he did to deserve Kenma, what he did to deserve Grand King. They both love him, and he's used both of them, wonders what they could have seen when he yelled at both of them during their introductions. He spends a long time remembering when he should be sleeping, remembers red hoodies, like he's wearing right now, and big, big hands.
Kuroo also has big hands, he realizes, maybe it's a captain thing. He thinks long and hard about that one, trying to remember his captain's hands, but he's never measured Daichi's hands and that would have to wait. He thinks about going back to Karasuno, back home. He's not sure he can call it home anymore, Kenma is his home now. He's not sure how a person can be a home, tries to pick out the main characteristics of a home. Warm, Kenma's hands were on his waist right now, burning. Check.
Smells good. He can smell Kenma on the hoodie he's wearing, but he leans forward and takes a sample from the source. Check. He can't think of anything else, he can get food and water anywhere, Suga-san offered him a bed, but it would feel too, too big without Kenma in it. Blond hair and golden eyes would be his blanket. He sighs into Kenma's neck, he promised he'd never become a poet. He also promised Natsu that he'd never leave. I guess that makes me a liar. He's not sure what to do with the new title.
He flicks his phone open, he's responded to all the questions that the team had for him hours before, and there's no messages now, but he just wants to look. He reminisces through conversations with Daichi and Noya-senpai, looks at the few pictures he has of Natsu, stares at the picture Grand King had sent him. A picture of himself, how self-centered, he thought at the time, but it doesn't feel as stupid as it does now. You're mine, Chibi-chan. He wonders why Grand King wants him, could ever want him. Freak.
Daddy issues, perhaps? Scoffs silently and shuts his phone, I can be your daddy. Chokes on his breath. It'd been from Model Boy, but he could picture Grand King saying something equally as weird, if not the exact same thing. He hadn't known his dad, how was he supposed to have issues with him. He could ask Kenma's mother, but whenever he looked into her eyes he lost the courage to say anything but I'm fine. He wants the pills gone, wants his disorder gone, but Kenma tells him it'll be part of his life for a long time.
Forever maybe. He's realized that a lot of forevers aren't as long as he thought they would be. His mother loving him forever, Almost sixteen years, but not quite. Watching over Natsu, She's not even ten, yet.Being Kenma's rival, I don't know. He can easily picture himself on opposite sides of the net as Grand King, but never Kenma, there's never a barrier between them. Grand King hasn't spent two weeks washing me because I can't walk. He snorts, trying to imagine someone as big as Grand King trying to squeeze into a tub with another person.
Kenma shifts next to him and he's frozen, I've been thinking about Grand King while I'm with Kenma. It's fucked up, but he can't help it, and he's not sure if he would stop if he could. Grand King had scared him, pushed him into the arms of another setter, he's grateful, but frightened. Grand King didn't know where he was, couldn't climb through Kenma's window and-
He swallowed, Kenma's body feels cold in comparison to Grand King's, but Kenma's arms make him feel tired instead of like he's being set on fire. Grand King is fire, he realizes, he's drawn to it and he's scared of it. Everyone is scared of fire, bright and warm from a distance, but cold and painful up close. He sighs, stretches his legs until his ankles pop and his toes curl up, more responsive after a week of training his body. He glances at the window, the sky is almost not-black, he should try to sleep before Kenma notices and refuses to let him out of bed again.
He doesn't want to go back, he could easily settle for watching Natsu grow up from a distance until her memories of him turned to dust. He feels a little sick at that, he doesn't want to be forgotten. He tries to remember their dad, You look just like him, Natsu, his mother had told her while they were sitting on the porch. He glanced at Natsu then, can remember the smile that had taken over her face. He tries to picture his baby sister as a man, balding maybe, with broad shoulders that could spike a volleyball until it fell apart. Dark eyes, bright hair. That's all he knows about his father, he can't bring himself to care about much else.
The sky is purple when his father leaves his brain, he sighs, closes his eyes, wondering if Kenma could make pancakes. They'd probably have pie for breakfast, wonders when he'd be able to kiss pie of Kenma's cheek. Probably when we live alone. It should scare him, being able to picture Kenma and him growing old together, especially when he can see Grand King there too. He swallows, freak.
He's awake when Kenma's jostles his shoulders, there's a rattle, pills and a glass push their way into his hands. He swallows, feels Kenma's eyes on him, he opens his home. "Why apple?" Kenma snorts, then hums, this one is in thought, he recognizes that one. A sharp strike against his vocal chords that makes his spine tingle. "I like the color." He nods, eyes closed again, "That's why I like peach, pink is cool." Kenma's head lingers over his now, "Want to know my favorite shade of pink?" He shrugs, Kenma's lips press against instead of answering.
They kiss for a long time, he's tells Kenma that his villagers miss him, the other boy hums, he doesn't know what that one means, but his lips are alone again and he tugs Animal Crossing from the nightstand. They spend the next hour cuddled against each other, he hears Kenma muttering over his shoulder about how that he shouldn't mix patterns, but it's his living room and he'll do as he pleases. Kenma's tongue flicks against his ear and all thoughts of interior design exit his brain, along with instructions on how to breathe.
There's a low hum in his ear that forces an embarrassing noise from his mouth. "Something wrong, Shouyou?" Kenma asks, taking only a second to speak before the mouth is back. He squeaks out something that neither of them hear, he's busy trying to still his jittery body. Like being shocked. He whines as Kenma's teeth tug at the skin around his neck, he gasps out Kenma's name when the older boy's hands slide over his stomach, too, too close. "You're-I'm-" He squirms under Kenma's long fingers, freezes as they slide the zipper of his jacket down until his chest is covered in cooled air. "What're you doing?" He stutters out, wanting to push at those hands as much as wants to pull them away.
"Admiring you." It's a harsh whisper, deep and husky in a way he's never heard Kenma before. Admire. He's never been admired before, it's never been something he's been interested in, but now he couldn't imagine being without it. "Kenma." His voice is too high to be anything but irritating, but Kenma's hands still dance over him and he's so, so thankful. "Let me admire you?" There's fingering at boxers that aren't his own, they could slide off any effort, his hips squirm. "Please-" He's gasping, he's dizzy from the pills, but he's lucid enough to nod into Kenma's neck, he can feel his chest burning against the morning air.
His lower half isn't as lucky, the boxers are pushed down suddenly with long, nimble fingers, he can feel his blood rushing now, in his ears and much, much lower. Kenma's hands drag against legs, leaving it raised as if begging for their return, because he is begging. He can feel Kenma against his back, unbelievably hard, he imagines that it must be uncomfortable, arches his back to give the older boy time to do whatever, but he's shoving himself back as Kenma's hand lands there.
It's different. Nice even, watching a set of hands roam his exposed body until he's gasping and making the worst noises he's ever made. "Kenma-" He whines, jerking back when fingers tease at a too sensitive bundle of nerves. The older boy hisses in his ear at the action, "Careful, Shouyou." He warns, and he apologizes, but Kenma just hushes him by nibbling on him while fingertips bite into him. He's moaning now, sounds he never thought he would make in his entire life being drawn out of him with dexterous movements. He tries to push himself into Kenma's hands, but the warmth retreats and he settles back down, "Patience, Shouyou-chan." It's uncomfortable hearing honorifics from Kenma's mouth, but it makes his muscles tense and then he's contracting, releasing all over Kenma's fingers and he buries his face into Kenma's shoulder. He just finished because of words, Kenma's words, he decides, the older boy's words will always make him feel too much.
There's a hum in his ear, one of amusement, fondness perhaps. "You like that, Shouyou-chan?"And his hips squirm again, he's softening in Kenma's grip but his veins are contracting all over again. He whines through them, "Two times?" Kenma's talking again and he has to physically stop the other boy from talking before it happens again. Kenma's breath is heavy against his neck, "Wh-what about you?" He asks, cheeks heating up at how childish he sounds asking that. "What about me?" Kenma asks, voice too, too much. He bites his lip for a second, before speaking, "Don't you-I mean- I-" He whines, cursing his inability to form sentences. "Not unless you want to." It's an offer instead of a challenge, which only makes him want it more.
He tugs at Kenma's boxers, then again until they're covering parts of Kenma that he doesn't care about. Kenma is long, hard, and most importantly, leaking. He taps the tip, and the older boy winces, it's weird, having this much power over another person. It fills him with something he cannot name. He taps the puddle, harder this time and Kenma hisses, like an irritated cat. He smiles, then leans down, taking in the sight from closer. Kenma's eyes open impossibly wide, honey pupils covered almost fully in black. It's unsettling, but in a good way.
Kenma has a weird smell, but he likes everything about Kenma, even the thick hairs that cover everything around the hard column of flesh in his hand. He's never touched another man like this before, had never really thought about it until now, I've been missing a lot. Kenma's flesh is super-heated in his hands, he feels like his skin might melt off, he tugs, and Kenma's hips follow him. The power makes his mouth water. He leaves one hand on Kenma at all times while he explores other parts of the older boy, the hairs are thick he tugs at them, Kenma's balls pull up when he traces them, he knows what that means. Kenma's thighs are tense, like they might clamp down and squish him, he wouldn't mind, even less so when he traces the bulging muscles, he watches them twitch under his fingers. Kenma makes a weird noise, not quite a moan, but close enough that he's brought back to his mission.
It takes both of his hands to tug at Kenma's length, he likes to watch Kenma squirm, make obscene noises, and terrible promises. "Shouyou-" He gasps, and then Kenma's eyes are clamped shut. Soon.Something tells him, and he quickens his pace, watches as his fingers manipulate molten flesh, exposing more of Kenma than he thought he would see. Favorite shade of pink. It's not the same as peach pie, but he's taken away from thoughts of deserts as Kenma starts throbbing under him, the older boy bites onto his wrist and growls. He's stunned when his release is propelled onto Kenma's shirt, over and over like confetti. Kind of like a celebration. He pokes at the substance, wondering for the first time what it could taste like.
It's bitter and smells like bleach, but that doesn't stop him from sucking all remains from Kenma's shirt. Kenma just stares at him eyes still black, his arms are frozen, one clenched around a handful of sheets, the other held between grinding teeth. "That was awesome!" He comments, and he thinks it might be insensitive, but he's curious and excited, "Does it always go gwaah! like that?" He asks, gesturing to the wet spots on Kenma's nightshirt. The other boy chokes around his own and he's left giggling, cuddling into the older boy, who's heart is racing under his ear. "Yes." Is the answer, quiet and dry. "Shouyou- Why did you?" His shirt is gestured at again, he shrugs, he doesn't know why, doesn't really care. "Did you want some?" He jokes, but Kenma doesn't laugh, he still looks dazed, he feels the same way but from pills instead of confusion and a recent release.
Kenma makes a dark noise a while later, when he's close to sleeping against him, he hums in askance, and Kenma tightens under him. "We shouldn't have done that- I-" He snorts into Kenma's shirt, but there's fear pricking in his fingers, "Did I- Did I do something wrong?" He asks, he doesn't feel wrong, but Kenma's smarter than he is and he has no idea what the older boy can be thinking. "I-" Kenma makes another noise, more like a sob this time, "I used you." It's quiet, like an admission but he's laughing instead of reassuring the older boy. "I liked it, I thought that you did too?" He sounds bitter, and he can't find a reason, he rubs at Kenma's stomach, firm as always, the only thing that doesn't change between them.
"But I used you, Shouyou, I'm not better than-" He cuts Kenma off before this gets out of hand, "Don't say his name." He's hissing now, he's still confused about Grand King and doesn't need Kenma making it worse. "We don't have to do it again if you think you'll hurt me, but I liked it and I want to do it again." Kenma is usually the blunt one, but he thinks it's him that needs to point this out. Kenma sighs, "You-I love you and I'm sorry." He smiles, but it feels weird when Kenma finishes speaking, "Please don't regret it." He can't have Kenma taking it back when he wants nothing more than for it to happen again and again until he can't breathe.
"You don't-" He's not sure what Kenma's asking, but he shrugs, "I really liked it. Liked you touching me, liked when you called me-" His groin twitches painfully, Shouyou-chan. His head can't quite match the tone that Kenma had used, but Kenma reminds him easily, "Shouyou-chan?" He nods, feeling his cheeks burning. "Shouyou-chan." He swallows, and Kenma's heart picks up under him. "Dirty, dirty, Shouyou-chan."That voice is back and he's grinding into the mattress between Kenma's legs. "P-please stop." He whines, feeling mortified by how his name can affect him as much as it does. "Is Shouyou-chan embarrassed?" He nods despite himself, his breath coming out harshly into Kenma's stomach, he can feel it rising and falling quickly under his head.
They spend a long time kissing, Kenma's long fingers exploring his body. He wants to return the gesture, know all of Kenma's body but his hands are frozen and heavy at his sides. Kenma's tongue pushes into his mouth after the older boy climbs on top of him, he pushes back, wonders where Kenma learned all of this. Feels his brain boil as he pictures Kenma with someone besides him. "I love you." He moans when Kenma's tongue is removed from where it was twisting against his. "I love you, Shouyou-chan." He squirms but nods, "Breakfast?" Kenma offers, but he doesn't think he can face Kenma's parents without the words I licked cum of your son's shirt popping up on his face. "Uh-uH-Sure?" Kenma nods from above him, it's a shame you can't stay like this, this being naked under the older boy. He whines, wanting to offer to stay like this forever. "But you're just as cute in clothes, so get dressed." There's a smile being formed with Kenma's dark lips, he's nodding, his face heating up for a different reason than usual.
He pulls on one of Kenma's hoodies, there's a large supply of them and they all hang over his form comfortably, he eases his way down the stairs. His feet move on their own, but Kenma is holding onto his arm just in case. He's rewarding with a warm hug when he makes it down the stairs on his own, can almost walk to the breakfast bar before he's sweating and his legs are tingling. "You'll be on the court soon." It's a promise, but it sounds sad. He's not sure why. "It's all because of you." Kenma snorts, "I got you kicked out your house and then practically broke your legs." He blinks, Kenma flinches from his own words.
"Do you- Do you really think that?" He's quiet, but he's so, so angry. Kenma sighs, doesn't answer, doesn't look at him. "You're such a fucking idiot." He hisses, making the taller boy stare at him in shock. "None of this is your fault, I take the pills, I have the fucked up brain, I left. You- You only helped me. You didn't have to help me. I-" Don't deserve it. Don't deserve anything. He sighs, his fists clenching. "Idiot." He hisses, he's not sure to whom the insult was directed.
"I told you before, I'd be strong for you. Thank you for letting me take care of you." He's laughing, but tears are making his eyes burn, he wipes his leaking nose against Kenma's chest. "You don't have to- Why are you?" He's curious, angry and sad, but curious more than anything. "Shouyou-chan." He's softly whispered, like Kenma is choked up, and it's the only answer he really needs. I love you.
It's two days before he can walk, another three days before he can do it on his own, Kenma is always right behind him, ready to catch him if he falls. He finds it cute, and very annoying, he's not sure how to tell Kenma. "Please stop worrying." He mutters as he walks down the street, they're getting squid because he's on a mission to walk, Kenma makes a noise, he can't name that one either. "Sorry, Shouyou-chan,I'm just a chronic worrier." He can hear amusement in Kenma's words when he has to sit down, breathing hard.
He's sweaty when they get to the squid shop, they get the same waiter who smiles at him, probably not even seeing how worn out he is, but Kenma does. "I told you not to overwork yourself." It's weird, he doesn't like making Kenma worry because his face starts to look weird, while it's still not entirely unpleasant to look at, he prefers half smirking Kenma who teases his legs into trembling. "I'm not- I just- I have people to beat." Kenma nods, his rivals are his inspiration, Kenma's on that list. There's understanding in the lines of Kenma's tightened chin, but there's something else, always something else when it comes to his arms and legs. He doesn't like the feeling, like he'll never play -beat- Kuroo in time for school.
They arrive home, he stops in the doorway because he thinks of this place as home, because Kenma is here. The squid squirms in his stomach, he can almost hear Natsu asking about him, but those thoughts are pushed away because he can't focus on walking and his baby sister at the same time. He doesn't dwell long, Haruo practically tackles him when he spots him walking, he's pretty sure it's just for the stuffed squid in his hands, but Haruo lifts him from the ground and squeezes him until his back pops. "You're walking! I'm so proud of you!"
He flinches at the words, he doesn't think he's heard him from anyone that much older than him in his entire life, he wants more of it, even if it makes his stomach cramp in ways he cannot explain. "Ari-Thank you very much." He sounds different, like he just medicated, but that was hours ago and he's fully lucid now. Kenma gives him a weird look,but he's distracted with the bright man who's praising him. "Ah! Shouyou-chan, thank you so much for the squid!" His head jerks with the honorific and he stares at Haruo for a long time, can feel the blood draining from his face as quickly as it's rushing into his cheeks. "Right!" He's forcing a smile now, very, very unsure of how he should be feeling.
Haruo called me that first, why did Kenma saying it make me- He swallows down blood as it rushes into his ears, "Ready for round two, Shouyou-chan?" His spine tightens at his name but for a different reason than he'd prefer. He looks at Kenma, who's staring at him intently, and then the blond boy is nodding. They play casually, except Haruo who is muttering game math into his ear, he doesn't really understand it, but he appreciates being surrounded in warmth from both Kozume boys. He stretches his legs after each round, massaging strength into them as best he can. He stands up when the door opens, walks on his own to stop Kenma's mother halfway through the walkway.
She's smiling and he's pretty sure her eyes are watering, but her face is buried in his hair, his hair that smells like Kenma's shampoo, and she's holding him for no reason other than she's proud of him. He soaks in the feeling, knows it's wrong to take praise, for traditional reasons and because he can't steal Kenma's parents, even for a moment. His cheeks heat up when she coos in his ear, I knew you could do it.There's no Shouyou-chan and his back does not tingle. "Thank you for letting me stay here." He whispers into her too tall shoulder and she makes a strained noise, he feels bad for getting another one of her shirts wet, but he can feel her tears soaking into Kenma's hoodie, so it's a fair trade.
"Sorry." He mumbles, when their moment dies down and they're both left with dry eyes and wet shirts. She laughs, he's not sure how to handle it, handle someone who smiles and cries at the same time. "Did you boys eat?" She looks at all of them, including her husband who's giving her the biggest smile Hinata has ever seen in his entire life, the moment is ruined when Haruo starts singing. "The beautiful Aki-chan!" He feels his energy plummet when it starts, can feel Kenma sigh from across the room, "There's stuffed squid for you on the counter." Kenma says quickly, then leads him upstairs.
"Does he always sing when she gets home?" He asks when they're entering Kenma's bathroom, the older boy shrugs while applying toothpaste, he can do his own now and feels great being able to look into the mirror, even if he doesn't like what he sees. The bruises are still there, one or two extra from Kenma's assault this morning, but they've faded to almost yellow, and he's too scared to look at his hip while he brushes his teeth. Kenma's almost asleep when he speaks up next, "Hey Kenma?" Then there's a hum like the older boy had been waiting for something.
"Can I ask you something?" He tries to keep his tone casual, but from the way Kenma stiffens against him, he can tell he's failed. "Always, Shouyou." He nods, "What're daddy issues?" Kenma's quiet for a long time, he's not asleep because he can hear Kenma typing. "When a girl-" His throat clears and he sits up, he follows. "When a girl has a fucked up relationship because of an absent father- A girl wanting to be submissive and adored by an older male. When a girl has a bad relationship with her father and she- sluts around for male attention." His heart freezes, and stops in his chest for a long time.
"Am I- Do you think-?" He's not sure what he's asking, what he should be asking, "Only girls get that?" He knows he's not a girl, but that doesn't mean other people don't, the older boy shrugs, "Only says girl on this website." He laughs, "You looked up my problem on the internet?" He's interested in what else the internet might say about him, but Kenma is really touchy about his phone. "Would you like to hear five signs that you have daddy issues?" He's keeping his tone light, but Kenma's chin is bundled up again and he just sighs, then nods.
"She's excessively slutty or harbors twisted sexual kinks." His heart stutters when Kenma says that word, it seems too dirty for the older boy, even if he thinks sexual kinks is appropriate somehow. "What's a kink?" There's more typing, "Unconventional sexual practices or fantasies." The older boy reads off, he's never really had sexual fantasies before, can't really tell how to identify an unconventional one. "She engages in some form of self-mutilation." He blinks, "What does that even mean?" He feels stupid for asking so many questions, but Kenma is offering answers and he cannot deny that he wants them. "Tattoos, cutting hair off, cutting themselves." He trails off, "What's the difference?" Kenma hums beside him, then is quiet, "You cut your skin instead of your hair."
"Like, your hands and stuff?" There's a nod from above him, "That's weird- why do they do that?" Kenma makes another noise, "To feel pain- I dunno." Neither does he, and that's okay. "She's delusional in her over-confidence." He almost ask who she is, but remembers the topic they're on. "So being happy is a daddy issue? That seems like the opposite to me." Kenma snorts from above him, "I think that's for girls with too much daddy." Kenma's fingers rub into his hair, he makes a weird purring noise that they'll never speak of in the daylight.
"She's intimidated by confident, self-assured men." Now he snorts, "Isn't confident and self-assured the same thing." Kenma shrugs under him, "I think so." There's a question lingering in his head, takes a moment to find it before Kenma reads the last sign, "Is Grand King a self-assured man?" He whispers it out, like it's dirty, like he's dirty. He can feel the older boy's stomach stop moving under him. "I think so." He nods, "I don't think I'm intimidated by him." Kenma nods, "I bet you could fight him." He giggles into Kenma's stomach and waits for the older boy to speak again.
"Has body issues or issues around food." He freezes at that one, of course I have body issues, I'm short. "Stupid list." He mutters, trying not to think about the meals he's skipped for past few years. "Stupid list." Kenma chimes in, sounding much more confident about it than he ever could. "Do you think I have it?" Kenma's quiet, "Them." He makes a noise in askance, "Daddy issues is plural." He scoffs, "Do you think I have them then?" Kenma's body shrugs under his, his fingers massage his scalp in a now dark room. "I think you're working through stuff, like every teenage boy." He's nodding, believes it because Kenma says it. "When did you get so smart, Kenma?" The older boy laughs from under him. "Since I've had the internet in my hand, so at least a few years." He laughs into Kenma's shirt, feeling lighter.
The next day he runs, can actually feel most of his legs as his body starts to adjust a constant flow of medication, "It's about time." He mutters to his thighs while he waits for Kenma to catch up, the older boy doesn't look pleased at excessive physical activity, but a promise is a promise. They slide into Nekoma's gym just to pay off Kenma's promise, "Only five, Shouyou." He's nodding, but he's pretty sure if he begs he can get at least one more. The first ball is too slow for first tempo, he's actually surprised he made it to the net by the time the ball was ready to be spiked. His jump is shorter than usual, but after spending two weeks doing anything but, he forgives his legs. Come on, don't fail me now. He encourages his limbs as he tosses the ball to Kenma. He's just faster this time, can see over the net and decides where to slam the ball. It's not as accurate as he thought it would be, but he'll get there, even if he has to promise Kenma his kidney for one more toss.
The third is smoother for both of them, Kenma's knees bend easier and his spike lands right where he wants it. The fourth ball misses, Kenma makes a soft grunting noise, but tallies it up anyway. Jerk. He throws the fifth ball, runs up, his legs feel more like his own under him now, spots the ball and leaps. The ball whams! and he's satisfied, he's pretty sure he jumped higher than he's ever done in his life, he could see more court than net and it was amazing. Kenma's staring at him, it takes a long moment to notice, "That was awesome, Shouyou." Kenma sounds stunned, which is unusual, and he looks at the blond boy. "One more?" He offers, giving the taller boy a smile that he simply cannot refuse. Kenma sighs when he realizes he's been pinned, and tosses Shouyou another ball. He leaps, it's a cross spike and makes a nice noise as it slams into the ground.
He doesn't push his luck for a seventh toss and Kenma's shoulders slacken, "There is a god." He can heard the older boy mutter as they start taking down the net. He scoffs, "Don't you go to church every Sunday?" One of Kenma's eyebrows rises on his face, "-And?" The older boy prompts. "You just- You know- The- and the- Gwaaah!" He has no idea what he's even trying to say now, and his hands are just waving on their own. Kenma just smiles down at him, "There, there, Shouyou-chan." He murmurs, and he stops babbling.
He cleans the rest of the gym quietly, avoiding eye contact with Kenma because the older boy doesn't need to see the effect he has. Then he realizes he's been cleaning alone this whole time, "Hey!" He calls out to the blond boy sitting on a bench. "You tricked me!" He shouts, and Kenma shrugs as they make they're way towards the gym doors.