pipsqueak. → kuroo x reader

19.

                  "Did she at least... ya know... kiss it and make it better?" Inuoka chuckled and a few of the other guys in the guys shower room started to become involved with the conversation.

                 "Oi, leave it alone. You guys are vultures." Kuroo rolled his eyes. Beginning to change into his volleyball uniform.

                 "It's just odd behavior is all. You're normally very upfront about when you find someone you like or when you don't like." Kenma said matter of fact, "Why are you suddenly... a simp?"

                 A chill went down Kuroo's spine, "I am not! We're just... friends."

                 Closing his locker, the memory of how your hip felt in his hand and the way your forehead felt against his radiated in the spots you connected. He cursed himself for not closing that gap last night. You were the most badass chick he's ever seen. He turns to look at his teammates who have all been suddenly silent. They all lightly join their hands together in a prayer.

                "Today we send a prayer for our brother, Kuroo Tetsurou. He's fine, just friend-zoned."

                 "I'm just being respectful! Maybe you guys should take some notes!" Kuroo growled, marching out of the room. Kenma followed him closely. It bugged Kuroo because he himself was growing embarrassingly impatient.

                 He told himself he'd take this one slow. It's definitely why it never worked out with anyone else that he's kissed upon first meeting. When he saw you on that train it was like you had stepped out of his mind on what type of girl he dreamed of. He's now officially waited a week since then but it's felt like years with how truly perfect you were turning out to be. Everything you did made him want to kiss you and call you his more and more.

                  But he has to remind himself he wasn't going anywhere. After this week or the next, he needed to prove it to you. He just needed more confirmation that you actually liked him back. You had flirted with him in the past only to be smacked with the friend title. He needed to know if you still had an attraction to him.

***

               After you and Kiyoko finished cooking the morning meal, serving it behind the window your heart was pounding the whole time. Waiting to get a glimpse of him. Serving meals was the worst, it was just a queue to get hit on by every team member that passed through.

                "You look beautiful this morning, (Y/N)-chan!"

                 "Kiyoko-san, please marry me."

                  You ignored most of them, certainly used to these passing comments by now. You've hung with much worse men than these boys. You were just smiling and letting them be pushed away by their friends, giggling to Kiyoko every now and then.

                   "Good morning, pipsqueak." The voice came as a shock to your automatic muscle memory. You looked up to make eye contact with none other than Kuroo Tetsurou. His bedhead messy as ever, eyes just as bright and sleepy and easy to fall into.

                    "Good morning." The corner of your mouth pulled into a smile, your heartbeat racing and voice cracking just a little. You looked down at the serving platter in front of you. You were supposed to only give everyone one egg. But you couldn't help yourself. You gave him two and slid it across the counter.

                   "Thank you for the food." He smiled back. You nodded your head in understanding. Your eyes found the dark bruise on his face.

                   "It doesn't look that bad.." You said out loud before you could stop yourself.

                   "Oh, yeah. Next time you show me to skateboard I'll try not to make a fool of myself. Promise." Kuroo said, winking at you in a way that made your cheeks feel warm. You understood it was the new lie for the reason he had a bruise. He did this to you so easily.

                     "I thought it was kinda cute." You teased back, giving it your all to stay calm and keep your cool under pressure of this new lie he's put on you. "We can try again later?"

                    "I'd like that, thanks pipsqueak." He said with a smug look, being able to get you to give him this much attention in front of all these guys who want your attention so bad is so thrilling to him. His eyes dip down your body obviously, you weren't sure if he was checking you out or what, "How are you doing?"

                   "Oh!" You made the connection, he was talking about your hip wound, "I'm good this morning."

                     "Teach me to skate too, (Y/N)-chan!"

                      "Oi! Stop holding up the line!"

                    "That's my cue. I'll see you later?" Kuroo decided to stop while he was at the top before you called him buddy or something. As he started to back away you became suddenly very aware that you were leaving today. You were going to be leaving this small bubble you got so comfortable in.

                    "Tetsu! Wait, uh, save a seat for me?" You asked while serving a dish to Kenma.

"O-of course." Kuroo stuttered, not expecting the sudden invitation. He got so giddy but hid it so well.

As he walked away with Kenma at his side, normally its quiet when they walk together. Or just Kuroo talking, normally having to keep Kenma from distractedly running into others while he games. He trusted Kenma, on and off the court. So when they walked away to find a table and Kenma, his master strategist, told him: "You still have a chance, I think. Just by the way she talks to you, I don't think you were ever really friend-zoned by her."

Kuroo felt a tsunami wave of confidence flood his entire body. That was all the confirmation he needed. He was going to be doing things a bit more upfront from now on.