I'm not a game | Kenma Kozume x Reader

So it's not a date...

The two of you continue to go in and out of a few stores in the Harajuku strip. You notice the huge crowd forming at the main entrance and decide to enter another alley. "Should we take a break Kenma?" Kozume walks over to you, carefully staring at you. "Are you tired?"

"Just a bit...I think I overworked myself when I ran from one store to the next. I still feel like I missed some things too." You awkwardly laugh, finding yourself a vending machine. You insert a few coins and tap on the button for a peach flavored water."Did you want something Kenma?" Kozume stands in front of the vending machine. His finger taps on a green tea bottle. The sound of a thud falls at the bottom of the vending machine. You make sure to take your change back and the two of you find a spot to sit down. Luckily the little alleyway you turned in opened up to the main street. You easily find a bench for the two of you to sit down.

Several people walk the streets and you quietly observe them. "I've never seen so many people in one place before. This is the total opposite back in the countryside." You murmur to Kozume. You raise your water bottle to your lips and take a sip. "What was it like there?" Kozume asks you a question and you hold your gaze forward. "Slow and peaceful. The opposite of Tokyo's busy fast pace life." You turn your attention to Kozume. "I figured when my dad and I moved here that it would be a nice change of pace. But I think I was just running away from my problems. I wanted a distraction from the dark thoughts I had." You pull your eyes away from Kozume, lowering them to the bottle in your hand. With a weak smile, you stand up and stare down at Kozume.

"Should we go to Akihabara?" Kozume notices your mood dampen. "Y/N." You notice Kozume's serious tone, your eyebrow raising. "Yeah?"

"I'm here for you too if you need to talk." Kozume's golden eyes look directly into your eyes. Pursing your lips, a genuine smile graces your lips. "I don't want to burden you with my problems Kenma. Anyway, how do we get to Akihabara from here?" You turn around, looking at the city in front of you. Kozume nervously reaches out for your hand, pulling you towards him. You breath hitches when you feel yourself be pulled. Kozume holds your hand with two hands, his fingers giving you a gentle squeeze. Your eyes waver when you look down at Kozume.

"It's unfair of you to let me lean on you but you don't do the same for me." Kozume's tone is stern, his eyes focused on you. "I may not be close to you like Kuroo is...and I may not know everything about you." Kozume's brows slowly knit together. "But I consider myself a friend of yours. Friends lean on each other when things are rough." Your parted lips close when you listen to Kozume's declaration. You didn't realize Kozume cared so much about you and your friendship. You pull your hand back, awkwardly tucking your bangs behind your ear. Nibbling on your bottom lip, you avert your eyes to the ground with blushing cheeks.

"I didn't know our friendship meant a lot to you Kenma."

"Of course. I don't make friends easily so I'm going to cherish the ones I do have." Kozume stands up, clutching his drink tightly in his right hand. At least you know where Kozume stands in your friendship. Maybe today is just a friendly outing. Kozume extends his hand to you, your eyes staring at it.

But, do friends casually hold hands?

"WHAT IS KENMA DOING?!" Lev frantically stares at the two from the corner of the alley. "I'm more curious about their conversation." Yaku peeks out from behind Lev. Kuroo walks back with drinks in his hands, noticing the two staring at Kozume and Y/N. "Did something interesting happen while I was away?" Yaku points towards the two. Kuroo notices Kozume's extended hand and Y/N's shy expression.

Kozume notices Y/N's hesitation and his embarrassment starts to grow. You raise your eyes up, "Kenma, you're not toying with me are you?" You blurt out your inner thoughts. But you quickly regret it when you realize your question might appear rude. You couldn't help but question his intentions. Especially with how close he is with Kuroo. Kuroo's bad behavior could rub off on Kozume. Kozume lowers his hand, your words surprising him. "Toying with you?" Kozume repeats your question.

"Sorry, that was rude of me to ask." You lower your eyes. "I just don't think friends of the opposite gender casually hold hands like this. I...also hope you're not like Tetsurō." Kozume paralyzes when he realizes where your ideas are coming from. His heart drops when his mind crosses the thought of you comparing him to Kuroo.

"Hm, the conversation doesn't seem to be going well." Yaku grimaces. Kuroo sneezes behind the two. "Are they talking about me?" Kuroo murmurs. "I wish we could get closer to eavesdrop..." Lev frowns when he sees Y/N's lowered head.

"Sorry if my actions don't make sense Y/N." His eyes staring to the side. "You're the first friend I have that is a girl so I don't know how to act around you." You raise your head up to see Kozume's troubled expression. He tries his best to not scrunch his face but you see his eyebrows twitch. "I'll be sure to not give you the wrong impression of me." Kozume turns around feeling a bit dejected and you're quick to realize that your words hurt him. You mentally curse yourself for ruining the moment. You hurry to Kozume, placing yourself in front of him.

"Sorry Kenma. I didn't mean to make you upset. I just..." You bite your tongue, squeezing the water bottle in your hand. Your eyes look down at first before you steel your nerves to look at Kozume. "Is this a date? Or am I reading into things too deeply?" Kozume's distant look in his eyes evaporates when he looks at your troubled expression. He processes your words and the events that's happened so far today. Realization hits him to why you made the assumption. Releasing a dragged out exhale, Kozume relaxes his shoulders. "So that's why you said that..." Kozume feels relieved. He feared Y/N saw him negatively. Being compared to Kuroo isn't a compliment to him.

You patiently wait for his answer, your anxiety crawling in your palms. Kozume hesitates to answer at first. "It's not a date Y/N." You feel your anxiety relax but there is an aching feeling in the back of your mind from his words. A small smile forms on your face. "Ah...okay." You turn around, your back to Kozume. Kozume bites his inner cheek, unsure how to read her response. He didn't know if she is upset or relieved. "We should get going, it looks like there's more people out." You change the topic, turning to look at Kozume. Kozume snaps out of his thoughts and nods his head. He leads the two of you towards the station to take another train ride to Akihabara.

"Y/N looks a bit sad now." Lev mumbles, he steps out of the alleyway. "I think Kenma just rejected her." Yaku looks at the two cross the street. Kuroo is oddly quiet, his eyes trained on Y/N's back. "Do you think they like each other?" Kuroo speaks aloud. "I feel like I'm seeing two people who are unsure of themselves."

"For once I think you said something smart Kuroo." Yaku chuckles, the three of them crossing the street. "What?! How did you see that? Are we looking at the same people?" Lev turns to look at Kuroo. Kuroo ponders on the situation. "They're both the types to not express their feelings to others. Y/N fakes it till she makes it while Kenma completely shuts you out if you try to make him explain his emotions." Kuroo looks at Lev and Yaku. The gears in his mind slowly turning. "Or maybe you're thinking too hard on this Kuroo." Lev blurts out, not wanting to believe anything.

Yaku sighs, shaking his head. "There's no way to help those two if one of them does like the other."