Tw: homophobic slurs
Kenma's POV
I had to get up early Thursday morning to have enough time for makeup. I hated wearing it since it made my face feel funny but I can't exactly walk into school with a busted lip and a bruised face and not expect attention. Of course it wouldn't be good attention, I'd get made fun of either way, which I was good at blocking out at this point so it doesn't even matter. Luckily problem two, my aunt and uncle questioning the bruise, was quickly resolved since they weren't even home this morning. They must've went to work early to clean before they opened the rink.
The walk to school was cold and my sluggishness didn't help. I was in such a rush this morning that I'd only been able to get out of the house with half a piece of burnt toast. I guess it's better than nothing. It'd get me through the day and I could eat when I got home. I never ate in school since, one I don't like eating in front of others, and two I'd much rather play my games. The number of students around me began to increase as I neared the school which only made me feel more uncomfortable. I despise crowds, however, as long as I could listen to my music or play my games I could zone it all out. Unfortunately in my rush today I forgot both of those items, meaning today was going to be a painfully long day.
And that long day began to second I stepped into the school building. A few kids in my class had enjoyed calling me derogatory terms for their own amusement. I never did anything to make them call me these things I guess because I was small, my hair was longer, and my voice was soft they just figured it had to be true. At first it really got to me, like really really got to me, but after a while the endless taught and slurs became nothing but words to me. They didn't mean anything coming from them since they said it so often.
"Well if it isn't Kozume Kenma." A tall boy from my class, Hayato, said standing in front of me to block my path to my locker. I should've expect my day to turn to shit so soon. He was with one other boy and a girl, the boy was also from my class but I didn't recognize the girl.
"Is this the gay boy?" The girl whisper all too loudly into Hayato's ear.
"Yeah he's the fag." I rolled my eyes at his comment, I tried to get around him but he just moved so that I was forced to stay. He just stared at me without saying anything which was kind of weird. He reminds me of one of those babies that just stare at you from their carriages, he's a rather big baby though. Eventually the bell rang for class and the three kids left without another word. I was going to be late though since I still had to stop at my locker.
When I opened my locker to grab my English book for first hour, a yellow note slide out onto the floor below me. I picked it up and read the neat hand writing. Want to eat lunch at the library again? I immediately knew who it was since no one else would be asking to eat with me. I was going to sit there anyways so if Kuroo just so happened to be there as well I guess there isn't much I can do about that. I rushed off the class hoping to avoid a scolding from my teacher for being late, however, seems my nonexistent luck ran out.
When the bell for lunch rang I was hoping to make it to the library quickly, I wasn't excited or anything to talk to Kuroo I just didn't want to run into anyone from my class. However, like I said before my luck doesn't exist. I couldn't even make it a few steps into the hallway before I was again harassed by Hayato. This time though it was just him though, no audience except for he occasional student passing by.
"I don't really appreciate you making me look like a fool in front of my girl." He scoff holding me in place by my shoulder, his grip was rather strong too. I don't recall making him look like a fool, he doesn't need my help for that after all.
"Ok." I settle for a simple answer since I didn't know what else to say. Again I don't remember every making him look bad so I don't really know what he wants me to say.
"Don't act all tough." All I said was ok. Was that suppose to be tough or...? Did he want me to cower in fear or something? I will admit I did at first when this harassment all started, but now it's all just, boring. The same thing everyday. It's easier to accept that this won't stop and move on rather than living in fear everyday. It's my own fault really I mean look at me I'm practically asking for it, or at least that's what I've been told.
"Ok." I was hoping if I showed little interest he'd leave me alone. Instead he did the opposite. He picked me up by my collar so that we were at eye level.
"Listen up you little fag I don't want to hear your smart mouth again or-" Hayato was suddenly cut off my a familiar voice.
"Hayato?"
"Kuroo!" I was quickly dropped to my feet and Hayato turned away to face the tall bedhead boy. Kuroo walked over looking rather angry.
"So do you pick on people for fun or...? Cause I'm sure my father would love to hear about my little sisters boyfriends hobby." Kuroo smirked devilishly at the slightly shorter boy.
"Oh no you've got the wrong idea," Hayato began to explain. "He's a fag." He said it as if that was suppose to justify his reasoning. Suddenly my stomach began to twist as Kuroo looked over at me confused. I didn't even think about it, but what if Kuroo sided with Hayato. They didn't seem like friends but people around here weren't the most accepting. I never really thought of myself as gay, I never really thought of romance at all though, but the rumor began and quickly got out of hand. It didn't matter to me, gay or not I don't care, but I've just never really had anyone that I liked or anyone at all for that matter.
"Whatever," Kuroo said looking back at Hayato. "My sisters waiting for you by the lunch room." With that Hayato hurried off leaving Kuroo and I alone. Normally I wouldn't care what people thought about me, but for some reason the idea of Kuroo not being friends with me over something so trivial scared me. It's best to prepare myself now so I'm less upset. I mentally prepared for Kuroo to curse me out and leave but it never happened. Instead he looked at me with sympathetic eyes. "Sorry." I looked up at him confused and he smiled at me softly, not like his stupid smirk he does sometimes. "Come on let's go eat."
He pulled me along towards the library and we sat at a small table in the back corner. I pulled out my phone, since I didn't have my Switch today, while he pulled out a small bento box.
"Your wearing makeup." Kuroo commented, I'm not sure if he was stating a fact or asking a question.
"Yeah." Luckily he left it at that, I assumed he would question me on the bruises from the other night but he didn't. Maybe he knew I didn't want to talk about it. A brief moment of silence consumed us before he broke it.
"No food again?" He asked looking at me tap away at my phone.
"I'm busy." Silence fell over us for a few minutes while Kuroo ate and I played my game. It wasn't nearly as fun as my Switch but it'll do.
"I'm sorry you had to hear that." Kuroo said eventually breaking the silence. I looked up at him confused as to what he was talking about. "You know what Hayato said to you, no one should call you that." I shrugged my shoulders and went back to my game.
"It's whatever it doesn't matter."
"It does though Kenma you shouldn't have to put up with that." Kuroo sounded genuinely mad this time I shut off my game completely to give him my full attention which I rarely did.
"They do it all the time." I said as if to justify why I felt like it didn't matter. I mean if I got worked up about it every time they called me that I would never not be upset, and that's no way to live. Silence followed again, I think Kuroo didn't exactly know what to say to that although I wouldn't either to be fair.
"Is it.. true?" He asked staring at me with a sad look. I can't tell if he's sad it may be true or if he's sad that they're bullying me for it. I don't know what came over me, usually I'd just lie my way out of these types of situation, but for some reason I didn't want to lie to Kuroo.
"I don't know... maybe." Suddenly I felt nervous, like I was scared of what he'd think of me. Which is strange cause I never cared before so why would I know, what was so special about him?
"What do you mean?"
"I'm just never really around people so I don't know." I tried my best to explain without fumbling over my words. "Maybe I am." I scanned his face to make sure he wasn't disgusted or anything, luckily he didn't seem to be. He had that same soft smile on his face again.
Kuroo's POV
For some reason knowing that Kenma might be gay made me happy. After everything Suga and Oikawa told me and after spending time with him things started to make a bit more sense. He was really pretty and I really enjoyed spending time with him. Normally it'd end there but now that the idea has been planted in my head by my two friends my thoughts have begun to twist and contort. To the point where I want nothing more than to just hug the boy in front of me and comfort him and tell him that everything they said didn't matter.
"Are you?" He asked pulling me from my thoughts which were focused on him.
"Am I what?" I asked unsure of what he was talking about, I might've gotten a little bit distracted.
"Gay." I tensed up a bit. I don't exactly know if I'm gay, I mean I like girls and I've never really liked boys but now being with Kenma everything a bit different. Yeah maybe I haven't liked boys in the past but I think I like Kenma, even if I couldn't admit it to myself in the past.
"Yeah." I smiled at him and noticed him trying to hide his own smile a bit, which I wish he wouldn't do. I don't think I've ever seen him smile much which is a shame. If Kenma can deal with the bullying then I can too, fuck my parents they can say whatever they want.
"Hey Kuroo," I centered my attention on the quiet boy in front of me. "Do you want to watch me skate later?"
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(1959 words)