Before the Chapter starts...IT'S KENMA'S BIRTHDAY TODAY! Let's all wish this pudding-head a (｡ゝω・｡)σ【☆ﾟ+.Happy Birthday+.☆ 】

Now on with the Chapter! ﾟ･:*:･｡(〃･ω･)ﾉ

The group presentation went on smoothly and just like that everything was back to the way it was, if there was even the way it was, when it was like this from the very start.

Like running in circles, you thought.

You learned to be more careful around Kenma when you're in public, you learned to be wary of other people, men mostly. Because you never know when he'll flip the coin. And you were afraid of what he'll do, to what extent.

The midterm exam was over afterward, and just like when you were in high school, the students would often go to arcades or amusement parks to celebrate the end of a dreadful week full of exams.

But now, even when the group invited you out, you declined.

"Are you sure, Y/n?" one of them asked, she looks concern for some reason and you simply look at her in what could be a small amount of confusion.

"Yeah, I need to get back to the apartment earlier anyways. You guys enjoy yourselves."

"Alright then..."

Not only her, but the rest of the group looks a little dejected as they started to leave. It's not like you are that close to them, it hasn't been that long since you started hanging out with them as well.

"Come to think of it, how long have I started hanging out with them?"

You aren't really one to contemplate dates. Not because that's a trivial matter but because contemplating dates wouldn't change what already occurred before.

You just let everything flow.

But for some reason you started counting days and you realized something.

"Is it today?" you gasped, earning a few looks from the ones who were passing by.

You took out your phone and checked the date. It's October 15. "Oh it's tomorrow."

You put your phone back in your pocket and looked ahead.

"Kenma's birthday," you muttered while looking at the person himself patiently waiting for you inside his car, with the tinted window rolled down.

You walked up towards the vehicle and when you got inside, Kenma tore his eyes from his phone to look at you. You gave him a smile, albeit a bit weak. You feel drained enough as it is, what with a whole week of exams. It was both physically and mentally draining.

"I need to attend a board meeting in an hour," Kenma spoke once he started the ignition.

"In an hour?" you repeated and Kenma nodded. "Will you be back by dinner?"

"The meeting might drag on for hours so I might not make it by dinner."

The way he put it, Kenma feels tired just thinking about sitting there for hours while listening to reports about stocks. He'd already ditched a few meetings so he can't really afford to ditch this one too.

"Don't wait for me, just go to sleep."

"Does that mean you might be back really late?"

"Most likely," Kenma answered. He doesn't see any underlying meaning in your question, just simply asking him if he'll be back really late.

And besides, it's not like you can go anywhere now. More like, there's really nowhere else you can go and you've accepted that fact already.

That from the moment you let this guy into your heart again, you knew there's no going anywhere else but with him.

Once the car slowed down outside the apartment building, you unbuckled your seatbelt and looked at Kenma. He doesn't seem like he's going to go inside.

"Be careful," you said and Kenma turned his gaze to you. "Get back home safely."

You turned around and was about to open the door when you realized you've forgotten something. So you closed the door shut and turned back to Kenma before pecking his lips.

Your lips touched his no longer than two seconds and you were about to open the door for real this time when Kenma held your wrist and pulled you back.

And before you knew it, his lips are on top of yours, kissing you longer than you did earlier. And the longer the kiss is, the more Kenma doesn't want to let go. He kissed you softly and yet a bit roughly at the same time, sliding his tongue inside your mouth and you can taste the sweet cherry chapstick you're wearing on your lips.

You feel your face starting to heat up, your body's temperature also started to rise and you held Kenma's shirt before he pulled away, but still too close that you can feel the heat radiating from him.

"I thought you have a meeting..." you trailed, looking at the digital clock in the car. "...in half an hour?"

"Y/n," Kenma muttered, snuggling closer to you like Pudding does when he wants something. "Should I ditch it?"

"What? Isn't it...an important board meeting?"

Of course it is, Kenma thought. He leaned back and you straightened up, the heat from him vanishing as Kenma moved away from you.

For a moment you want to hold him like that for a while, with him snuggling so close to you.

"I'll be back soon," Kenma said and you smiled at him, nodding your head before you turned and opened the door, walking out of the car.

You stood there and waved at Kenma. "I'll seriously kill those geezers if they so much as prolong the meeting for a minute."

He turned the ignition and manoeuvred his car before he drove away while you stood there for a while, lowering your hand as you turned around and headed up to the apartment.

Since the midterm exams are over, you really have nothing else to do. And since Kenma is out, you're all by yourself in this huge apartment with Pudding as your only company.

"What should we do while we wait for Kenma, Pudding?" you asked while the cat brushed his body on your legs as you prepared his food.

"I bet they were having fun in the arcade right now," you muttered, putting the bowl down as Pudding started to eat.

But even if that group were having fun, you doubt you'd be feeling the same, even if Kenma comes with you. You'd be more wary than anything, like someone standing on thin ice.

You shook your head to get rid of the thought and straightened up, heading to the cupboard to check what kind of chips are there. "Let's see..."

You look around the bags of chips, pondering which one to take since you're planning to watch a movie and wait for Kenma to get back.

But for some reason, the bags of chips in the cupboard don't quite suit your taste. There's one particular chip you want to eat but it's not in the cupboard. "Should I go out and buy it?"

You closed the cupboard and looked at Pudding.

"What do you think, Pudding? Should I go out for a while and buy that chip? I really, really want to eat that chip now."

As if the cat is even listening to you, he's just done eating and now he's cleaning himself, hardly paying attention to what you're saying.

"Alright, I'll go buy one in the nearest konbini, you wait here Pudding."

Only when you left to get a jacket and purse did Pudding perk up because he knew you're going out and he'd be left all alone again.

He followed you to the hallway as you took a pair of sneakers and wore it, brushing the cat's fur before standing up. "Don't worry Pudding, I'll be back right away. Watch the apartment for me."

You opened and closed the door even before you can hear the cat's meow as if asking you not to leave.

You headed outside the apartment building and towards the nearest konbini. The sky had already darkened and the streets were lit by lights, especially in this upscale neighbourhood in the Metropolitan where the apartment building is located.

You pass by several students on the way but you tried to keep your gaze down so you wouldn't draw much attention.

When you're inside the konbini, you headed to the part where the chips are placed and look around until you finally saw the chip you've been craving to eat. You took one and headed to where the drinks are, taking a sparkling water.

Afterwards you paid for the food and walked outside.

But it hadn't been a minute since you left the store, you heard a familiar voice calling your name.

"Y/n?" he asked, as if he was not sure if it was you or not.

The familiar voice made you halt instinctively, eyes a bit wide and heart picking up its pace. You didn't turn around so he walked up to you until he's right in front.

"Y/n," he repeated, now sure that it's you.

You looked up at his face, he looks surprise to say the least, worried even. Only his name was able to escape your lips.

"Kuroo-san,"