You found the maid outfit in the trash. You were a bit surprise because you don't remember putting it there. Kenma must have put it there, you thought.

"If he didn't, I would have done it myself," you said, pulling the lid down.

You headed out of the bathroom and as you were walking through the hallway, you stopped by that room again. Your mind replayed the memories of when you first went to this very room and consecutively you found out Kenma's secret. And how everything from then led you to this point when you even admitted that you like him.

"Do you want to go in there again? It's unlocked."

Suddenly Kenma's voice came right behind you and you flinched in surprise, you didn't even hear the front door nor his footsteps but you were just probably too preoccupied.

"You're already back?"

"It's almost half past noon, you haven't had lunch?"

You shook your head and followed Kenma to the living room. You noticed he brought food and a change of clothes for you.

"You went to my apartment?"

"No, I don't know your passcode. Also, I went to the café."

You abruptly stopped and listened to what Kenma will say.

"Your co-worker asked why you didn't come to work today."

"What did you tell her?" you asked, but your voice sounded low and your gaze was kept on the floor.

"I told her you weren't feeling well. She gave me your phone and clothes from the locker. She was confused why you left them there."

A few seconds of silence linger around as you debated whether to ask that question or not.

"Did you...tell her?"

"Do you want me to?" Kenma asked and you looked up at him.

"So you didn't tell her?"

"Yes, I didn't," Kenma answered and you sighed inaudibly.

After that conversation you had your lunch in silence while Kenma was busy playing a videogame. He asked you if you want to go back to the apartment that afternoon and you told him yes. The car ride back to your apartment was engulfed in silence, you really don't mind the silence, it allowed you to think about some things that needed to be pondered. You thought about your job at the café, there's no way you're ever stepping foot in there again.

You thought about whether to tell your co-worker, but you knew she would feel really bad since it was supposed to be her who was asked to do that. You knew she might blame herself for asking you to cover for her and at the same time you knew she would feel disgusted because as Kenma said last night, it was supposed to be her in that situation instead of you.

You guess it would be better if she doesn't know.

But then again, when you pondered more about it, you realize she should have known more than anyone else.

Because the owner has his eyes set on her to begin with.

"We're here,"

Kenma's voice pulled you out of your reverie and you blinked as you looked ahead. The car is already parked outside the apartment building.

"How long have we been here?"

"Around five minutes."

"Five min..." you trailed off, unbuckling your seatbelt.

But before you can open the door, Kenma held your wrist and you looked back at him.

"I told you that you don't have to worry about anything else, Y/n," he said. "You just need to stay by my side so I can protect you."

It felt warm and suddenly you felt a dozen butterflies in your stomach. The notion that hardly made sense to you before, you're feeling it now and Kenma was the cause of it.

Before any of you knew it, you lunged yourself at him and embraced him tightly as if you're afraid to let go of the only warmth you're feeling.

"I really, really, really like you so much."

Kenma chuckled lowly. "Yeah, you said that around a dozen times last night."

"And I'll stay with you."

Kenma stopped as he leaned back to look at you. "Does that mean you're going to move in with me?"

You nodded and the hint of smile that you saw earlier, now you can clearly see it. Kenma smiled, he doesn't usually smile and seeing him smiling like that make your heart flutter and the dozen butterflies multiplied.

"Good night, Kenma."

"Night," he said.

"Before I forget, Y/n."

You stopped and turned back to Kenma.

"Wha—"

You were cut off when you felt his soft lips on top of yours. The kiss did not last long but it was enough to make you flustered and took you by surprise.

"Isn't that what people who like each other do before one of them leaves?"

You couldn't help but giggle at the way he put it and you held his face as you leaned back in to give him another kiss before you left.

---

The next day you went to the University as usual, going to different lecture halls, listening to hours of pieces of information you doubt would be half as useful in the future. But at least for a while you momentarily forgot the things that occurred to you that night at the café.

Just for a while.

After the last lecture of the day, you headed to the washroom. Hours of lecture really drained you and you looked in the mirror to see just how tired your eyes look. Turning the faucet on, you scoop a good amount of water before washing your face, cooling you down as you sighed.

"I should talk to senpai," you muttered, straightening up as you wiped your face. "It wouldn't take long. I just need to tell her everything."

Because you doubt you would ever set foot in that café after almost what happened that night.

You sling your bag around your shoulder and left the washroom as you headed outside.

You just stepped outside the gates of the University when you heard someone called your name.

"Kuroo...-san?"

You were surprised to see him outside the University as you blinked rapidly. "Are you waiting for someone, Kuroo-san?"

"Yep," he said, pushing himself off his car as he unfolded his arms before he opened the door to the passenger seat. "I'm waiting for you Y/n-chan. As per the request of your boyfriend, I'm picking you up and driving you back to your apartment."

"B-Boyfriend...Kuroo-san! It's not like that, I mean...Kenma and I weren't even – you know..."

"Y/n-chan," Kuroo said, his eyes squinting in suspicion. "I didn't even mention a name."

"Eh?!"

Kuroo laughed at your flustered expression before he shook his head and tried to calm himself down as his laughter faded.

"I was just joking Y/n-chan. But yep, Kenma asked me to pick you up." He gestured for you to get inside the car and you walked up to it, taking your bag and sitting on the passenger seat.

Kuroo started the ignition and a few seconds later and as he started driving, you spoke.

"Kuroo-san," you said, earning a hum from him as you continued. "There's somewhere I want to go first before I go back to the apartment."

"Where?" he asked.

"The café,"

The car halted when the traffic lights turned red and Kuroo turned to look at you and you looked back after a second, waiting for his response.

"I can't,"

Of course you expected that. Kenma might have specifically asked him to drive you straight back to your apartment without taking any detours.

"And I don't want to."

That one you didn't expect. For him to say that, on a personal basis that he doesn't want to, not because Kenma just asked not to.

"Did Kenma tell you?"

He nodded and you averted your gaze as you looked down, hugging your bag closer.

"But I really need to go, Kuroo-san."

Kuroo was about to say something when you continued. "I know I'm being stubborn. But I can't let senpai stay in that place. And also...I just want to say goodbye to her personally."

Kuroo looked at you for a few seconds before he looked back ahead, not saying a word, he stepped on the gas when the traffic lights turned green. You kept your gaze down, you thought maybe you'll just have to call her. Although you really want to talk to her personally.

After a while the car halted. When you looked up you expected to see the old apartment building but instead you saw the café.

"Kuroo-san," you said looking at him.

"Stay here, I'll call her. You two can talk inside the car, I'll wait outside."

You bowed your head before Kuroo stepped outside. You waited until you saw your co-worker walking out with Kuroo.

When she opened the door to the passenger side, you quickly engulfed her in a hug.

"Listen senpai, there's something I need to tell you."

Kuroo watch in the distance as you two talked inside the car. He stood there as he looked up the building where the café was located. It really wasn't much, it's just a small commercial building that probably doesn't cost as much too.

"I wonder what he's planning to do," he muttered. "Kenma."

But it's Kenma, he thought, no matter how long he had known him, for some reason Kuroo couldn't figure him out. He knew there's still something hidden in him, sometimes that something would be let out, and when it does, it wasn't really that pleasant.

It wasn't just determination, Kuroo had seen and met a few people who are determined to the core. What Kenma has, however, was something else. Something that's akin to obsession, that when he put his mind to it, he won't stop until he gets it. Like what he did when he wanted to corner that crow, he made a cage just for him.

Kuroo can't figure him out so he gave up.

But Kuroo should have known that he should have figured him out before it was too late.

He shook his head and get rid of his internal reverie when he saw your co-worker walking back to the café. Kuroo walked back inside his car and looked briefly at you.

"Did you tell her everything?"

"Yeah," you said, looking at him as you smiled. "Thank you, Kuroo-san."

Kuroo smiled in return before he started the ignition. "Alright! Where do you wanna eat? It's my treat."

"Huh? No, you don't really have to do that Kuroo-san. You've done more than enough."

"Oya? Did I hear you saying barbecue? Alright then, let's go to a barbecue house."

"No, I didn't say anything about barbecue."

"There! You just said barbecue just now."

You didn't say anything else. You knew you're stubborn, but Kuroo is too. Besides, he was able to make Kenma, who would rather play games than eat, finish his food back in high school when you always saw them at the cafeteria. So you knew there's no way he can't make you eat dinner.

After two hours, you sat back inside his car, rubbing your stomach. Eating meat during the night might not be a good idea after all, you feel like throwing up.

"Ah, Kuroo-san, that's the apartment building," you said when you spotted the building.

The car slowed down to a halt just outside the apartment building and you unbuckled your seatbelt. But before you can open the door, Kuroo suddenly spoke.

"Huh, are you sure this is the right apartment building, Y/n-chan?"

"Yeah, it is. Why?" you asked, stopping for a second to look back at Kuroo.

"But isn't that the old building that was sold to a Company recently? It'll be demolished for a commercial building soon."

"How did you know, Kuroo-san?"

When he was in high school, Kuroo was known to have a really sharp tongue, a provocation expert they called him. And he wouldn't usually think much about what he would say to others. Only that one slip of the tongue.

"Kenma was the one who suggested this building to be sold."

"Kenma...did?"