『 21 』

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"D-D-D-DATE?! Me? R-right now?" I stuttered, obviously flustered. "I-I can't!"

"Huh? Why not? You said you were free," Kuroo pointed out.

I looked down at my clothes.

I can't go on a date like this!

"Th-that's b-because...."

I don't want him to know the reason.

"Just think of it as two friends hanging out," he smiled.

If we're "two friends hanging out", at least I won't feel bad about being underdressed.

"Two friends...." I repeated. "I can do that."

Two friends. For some reason I felt a little disappointed....

GRUUUMBLE

GRUUUMBLE

At the same time, both of our stomachs growled in unison.

This is the worst timing!

I looked down in embarrassment.

I hope he didn't hear that!

"I guess you didn't eat lunch either?" He chuckled, being careful not to tease me about my grumbling tummy.

"Y-yeah...." I answered, not being able to look at his face. "...U-umm!"

"Hmm?"

"Th-there's a restaurant nearby that I frequent...i-if you don't mind!"

Why do I always embarrass myself around him?

"Lead the way."

I can hear the anticipation in his voice which prompted me to start walking.

It was my tradition to eat here after visiting the optometrist.

I used to eat here with my mom whenever she brought me to the optometrist when I was younger. Now that I'm older and am able to go to appointments by myself, I started eating here alone.

It's a place that brings back good memories.

I wonder if it's okay to bring Kuroo to a place like this?

"A Japanese restaurant?" Kuroo sounded amused.

The restaurant looked a little old and run down compared to the modern buildings surrounding it. The wooden walls were worn down and even the sliding door looked like it was patched up several times.

The outside was decorated with potted plants with a ticket machine beside the door.

I walked up to the machine, inserted a ¥1,000 bill, and pressed the button for my usual order. The machine printed out a small meal ticket, which I took then stepped aside for Kuroo to order.

When he finished ordering, we walked inside the restaurant.

The waitress greeted us and took our meal tickets before seating us at a booth.

"This is an interesting spot for a first date," he commented while glancing around the restaurant.

"We're just hanging out as friends," I corrected him.

I looked around the empty restaurant as well. The walls had no decorations adorning them.

This place hasn't changed a bit.

"It's been awhile since I came here with someone."

The words slipped out of my lips. I paused, realizing that I said it out loud.

"Hmm? Who else have you brought here?"

"My mom," I answered, a reminiscent smile made its way to my lips.

"This must be a special place for you then, huh?" He asked.

"Yes...."

After looking around the restaurant, my eyes landed on Kuroo, who was staring at me with warmth in his eyes.

"Thank you for showing me such a place."

The sincerity in his voice made my heart clench.

I quickly looked away.

What the heck was that?!

I put my hand over my heart. I could feel it beating rapidly.

"I have one grilled salted mackerel." The waitress chimed in, interrupting my thoughts.

"Here."

"Oh, that's me!"

Kuroo and I both raised our hands.

"You ordered the same thing as me?" I asked Kuroo dubiously.

He seemed like someone that enjoyed meat.

"I guess so," he laughed.

The waitress placed the food in front of me along with a few pickled side dishes before leaving and coming back with the second order of grilled salted mackerel.

"You have the taste buds of an old man," I remarked, splitting the mackerel carefully, removing the meat from the bones.

"Then what does that make you?" He retorted.

I paused to think of a good comeback.

"I'm stockpiling on docosahexaenoic acid to make up for the brain cells I lost talking to you."

My response was met with silence.

Did I go too far?

I cautiously looked up, taking a peek at his face. His eyes, although looking at me, seemed to be in a daze.

"Kuroo...?"

His head jerked up a bit as he regained his senses. "Go out with me."

I accidentally stabbed through my fish with my chopsticks due to the sudden shock.

My heart just suffered from an instant K.O.

I looked down at my food, hoping my bangs would cover my flushed face.

"W-what are you saying! Aren't we hanging out right now?!"

I tried to brush off his antics but he pressed on.

"That's not what I- Look, you're the only one that gets me." I glanced at his reddened face then looked back down.

If this was a blushing contest, I wonder who'd win?

"Ahem," I cleared my throat. "We should eat. Our food is getting cold."

I struggled to use my chopsticks due to my shaking hands.

Ah, I'm so nervous now. Stupid Kuroo! Why did he have to say those things?!

Once the awkwardness died down and we both calmed down, we continued our lunch while talking about various things. He told me about how he first became interested in volleyball and how he roped Kenma into it. He talked about his teammates and how he thinks of them as his family, except for Yaku. He wouldn't stop bad mouthing Yaku but I could tell from his voice that he has a deep respect for him.

In return, I told him about my clubmates. Although we weren't very close until recently, I came to realize how important they became to me, especially during recent events.

"I'm so full!" Kuroo sat back in his seat, rubbing his belly.

His stomach didn't even grow a centimeter yet he's acting like he's pregnant.

I looked away, controlling my lust.

I knew darn well that under his shirt was a perfectly sculpted six pack that's unfazed by the amount of food he just ate.

Pure thoughts!

"I enjoyed hanging out as just friends." I slid out of the wooden booth. "I'll be going now. See you tomorrow."

"Wait!"

I barely took two steps before Kuroo stopped me.

"We haven't eaten dessert yet," he brought up.

Kuroo you dummy. Right now I see you as dessert! Are you suggesting I eat you?

"I really should get going," I insisted.

The salt from the mackerel was making my throat parched.

"But you said you were free all day." His eyebrows knitted together and his eyes had a look that was begging me to stay.

I bit my lip.

I had a bad feeling about this but the more he stared at me, the more my will wavered.

"Dessert and then I'm going home," I told him clearly.

With this, he won't bother me to hang out any longer.

His eyes brightened up. "Great! I know a place on the way home!"

Keeping my distance, I followed Kuroo to the next destination.

"Man, that place was so good!"

"Yup..." I stared at his back as he walked in front of me.

His shoulders are so broad.

"Let's go there again sometime."

"Uh-huh," I answered mindlessly.

He's played volleyball for years. I wonder if his back is as muscular as his front.

"Just the two of us."

"Okay."

What would have happened if Arata didn't come home last night?

Just that thought alone made my heart race.

"Be my girlfriend."

"Sure."

Ah! I can't believe I'm thinking of such things!

I closed my eyes and ruffled my hair.

What happened to pure thoughts?!

"R-REALLY?!" Kuroo shouted.

"Huh?" I stopped to look at him.

His face was as red as a beet.

Don't tell me....HE READ MY MIND?!

"H-How much did you hear?" I flailed my arms in front of me.

"You'll really be my girlfriend?!"

"HUH? When did I-"

"Just now! You can't take it back!" He told me excitedly.

It didn't seem like he would back down easily.

"But I didn't-"

RUMBLE RUMBLE

Cold droplets fell on my head.

Rain?

I looked up.

The once blue and sunny sky was suddenly filled with grey rain clouds.

What started out as a light drizzle became a hard downpour.

This wasn't in the weather forecast.

"Let's find shelter. This way." Kuroo pointed down the street.

I shielded my eyes from the rain as we ran along the sidewalk. We ran buy multiple shops with no canopies overhead.

"There's no cover anywhere. Should we just go home?" I suggested.

I was already running out of breath.

It's not like my house was very far and Kuroo supposedly lives nearby me. And if we continued running, it would keep our bodies warm.

"Over there!" Kuroo pointed out.

Up ahead was a bus stop we could use as shelter.

Once we reached the bus stop, I plopped down on the bench.

"I'm so...tired!" I said between breaths. "How did I....think I could....run home."

I looked at the clouds overhead blowing past us. Sun rays broke through the cloud in patches.

"It looks like the rain will pass us soon," I observed. "Let's wait here until the rain stops....Kuroo?"

He hadn't said a word since we got here.

I glanced at him.

Kuroo was staring at me, his body was frozen in place and his face was bright red.

His dark hair covered his eyes. Even his gravity defying hair fell victim to the weight of the rain water.

"Kuroo?" I called his name again.

I didn't think someone as athletic as him would get so tired from this much running.

"Are you okay?" As soon as I stood up, he took a step back.

Did something happen?

His hazel irises were shining through his dark hair.

His pupils are shaking....

"Are you getting sick?" I took another step towards him. "Wait, what are you d-doing?!"

Just then, Kuroo started to take off his shirt.

"S-stop!" I commanded but he didn't listen.

I covered my face with my hands, peeking through the cracks in between my fingers.

"I don't need another biology lesson!" I cried out.

When he finished, he threw his shirt over my head.

I grabbed the shirt and looked at him.

I can't believe he actually stripped. What do I do? What do I do?

My mind was running in circles. A part of me yearned to see him shirtless again but now that he was topless, I couldn't bear to look at his scantily clad body.

Gulp.

"I'm going for a run." Without a second to spare, Kuroo ran off into the rain.

"W-WAIT! What do I do with your shirt?" I yelled out to him.

"Do whatever you want!" He yelled back.

"That didn't answer my question...." I whispered to myself.

I looked down at his damp shirt in my hands.

It was then that I realized that the white T-shirt I was wearing had become see-through due to the rain, making the black bra I was wearing under it visible.

No way....he saw everything....

I covered my chest with the black shirt he handed me.

Could this be divine punishment from my husbandos after what I did to Kuroo last night?

"KYAA! KUROO TETSUROU, YOU'RE SO DEAD!" I screamed.

⟣ ⟡ ⟢

"Aya, good morning," Kenma greeted me listlessly.

"Good morning, Kenma!" It felt like ages since I last saw him.

"Morning...." Kuroo muttered.

"Oh....M-morning...." I greeted him back with less enthusiasm compared to my greeting with Kenma.

Kenma, who was walking between us, looked at me then to Kuroo. "Did you guys get into a fight?"

My face instantly became hot.

Yesterday, I ended up wearing Kuroo's shirt while waiting for the rain to stop.

I wasn't angry at Kuroo because he left me. But more like, I couldn't bear to face him after he saw me in such a state.

Why do I keep embarrassing myself around him?

"W-what makes you th-think that?" Kuroo's voice squeaked.

Kenma's eyes narrowed onto the blushing Kuroo, then to my flushed face.

"A-actually....I'm scared to go to school," I said, changing the topic.

Sorry Kenma, I can't let you know what really happened.

"The rumours are still haunting me. I couldn't sleep last night," I admitted.

"About that. Your friend Hayashi Mizuki is...." Kenma then mumbled something incomprehensible.

I didn't catch what he said.

"Hm? She's what?" I asked.

Once we walked through the school gates it was obvious what he was trying to say.

⟣ ⟡ ⟢

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