The Sunrise and Your Sins

Chapter 6

"Was it supposed to be?" You ask shyly, unsure if the miscommunication was on your end or his.

"Well, I kind of assumed, you asked if I was free. Now we're eating a meal together. You never really fight it when people talk to us like a couple." Kuroo says, fidgeting with his spoon that laid in the broth of his ramen.

You pause for a second, thinking over what he just said. You avert his gaze, staring into your miso soup which had begun to settle and separate. "Did you...want this to be a date?" You ask, looking up at him skeptically.

"I definitely wouldn't be opposed to it being a date." He answers carefully, but with a tone of confidence. "But, if you don't want it to be, that's fine." He says quickly, trying to avoid a bad mood shift between the two of you.

You pondered again over what he said, and what it would mean for the two of you. Is a relationship the right thing to get into with everything going on? Would it even be appropriate for the two of you to be together?

"This is a date." You say, your heart pounding away anxiously as you look into Kuroo's hypnotizing hazel eyes. He grins proudly at you, all feelings of anxiety going away as soon as you confirmed that this was, in fact, a date. "But, it is just a date. It doesn't mean anything...specific."

He shrugs, picking his chopsticks up to continue eating. "That's fair. No worries, princess. I'm in no rush here."

You smile to yourself, content with the conclusion that you and Kuroo came to. "Thanks. I just don't think I'm ready for anything serious right now. With everything going on with my dad." You say, knowing that this was something Kuroo already knew.

"Yeah, I get it. Bigger fish to fry right now. It's not like I'm going anywhere." He says, winking at you.

The two of you had continued to eat in silence, occupied with the delicious food in front of you. At one point, Kuroo had placed a small bundle of noodles into a spoon of broth, holding it out for you.

"Aw, for me?" You say, leaning over to take the bite. The ramen was perfect, apparently everything Lev made was incredible.

"What kind of guy doesn't share his food with his beautiful date?" He says, making you smile.

"I guess that means you deserve a chicken wing." You say playfully, placing a wing in the empty bowl that once held your miso soup. "You should feel special, I really don't share my food."

The two of you had finished your meals in silence, simply enjoying one another's company. It feels as though this small outing was a break from the reality you both dread — rather than playing detective or operating within a gang, you were just a couple out on a date.

"We better come back here one of these days." You say, stacking your empty dishes up. You and Kuroo had finished everything, full and happy, now starting to get sleepy. The other racers in the shop had already left, and you could hear Lev cleaning in the kitchen.

"Fine by me. As long as you still consider it a date." Kuroo says, getting up from his seat and stretching. You get up as well, and Kuroo holds out a hand for you to take, which you do. Walking alongside him with his hand in yours, you grab onto his arm with your other hand, feeling especially affectionate towards him.

"See you later Haiba!" Kuroo calls out as the two of you exit the shop, the cool night air breezing past your face, waking you up.

You let go of Kuroo's hand to open up your car door, and Kuroo walks around to his side and climbs in. As he turns on the car, the clock reads 5:05 AM.

"It's pretty late." You comment, realizing how tired you had gotten. You lay your head against the car seat, turning your head to look at Kuroo.

"Yeah, I know. Do you wanna go home now?" He asks, turning towards you to see your drooping eyelids.