Chapter Text
Kenma could feel his eyes drooping, despite the excess amount of caffeine coursing through his system, and the pull of sleep called to him as he walked to practice. Maybe he could skip today? But he had skipped the day before and the day before that. He was bound to get kicked off the team at this rate, and it didn’t help that he ate lunch with the captain each day, who would question him and send him disapproving looks. So Kenma begrudgingly opened the door to the gym, greeted by the squeak of shoes and the sound of skin slapping volleyballs.
“It’s Kenma-senpai!” Lev bounded over and Kenma flinched. Did he always have to be so.. loud?
“I told you not to call-” Kenma muttered, interrupted when his overzealous kouhai lifted him up by the armpits. “Hey! Put me down!” Kenma swung his legs through the air, futile against the towering height the other had over him.
Luckily, Kuroo walked over, but the grin on his face looked like trouble. Kenma just wasn’t sure who the trouble would be for yet. “Lev…” Kuroo started, and Kenma felt more than saw Lev freeze up. Lev went to put Kenma on the ground but was stopped by Kuroo’s voice continuing, “give him to me.”
“Kuroo..” Kenma desperately tried to sound threatening, but it was hard, seeing as he was being held like a child by his underclassman. There was little he could do as Lev held him out and Kuroo extended his arms, taking Kenma’s weight and securing him against his chest. It was all Kenma could do to fight down his blush, hiding his face in Kuroo’s shoulder. He vaguely recognized the scent of Kuroo’s detergent and shampoo.
Kuroo adjusted his arms and Kenma wrapped his legs around the other’s waist, mumbling, “don’t you dare drop me.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.” Kenma couldn’t see his face, but he could tell from the timber of his voice that he was smiling. Ugh, how did he always manage to get into such embarrassing situations? “This is really your punishment for ditching practice, Kenma.”
Kenma groaned, then his head shot up as he felt Kuroo move. Kuroo carried him, ignoring the questions of their teammates and Kenma’s little attempts to make him let go. If not for how embarrassing the situation was, Kenma could almost relax in his childhood friend’s arms, the motion of walking enough to remind him just how tired he was. But before he could settle in, he was deposited in a chair, surprisingly gently.
Kenma looked up, sure that his face was red, but it looked like Kuroo had a slight blush dusting his cheeks as well. Maybe from the exertion of carrying him? “Time to start practicing, Kozume,” Kuroo said, then left him sitting on a chair in the gym, trying to process what had just happened.
--
That night, Kenma sat in his room, tired but not enough to go to bed. He picked up his phone and opened a message to Hinata.
[to Hinata] Hey, I was wondering if you could ask Kageyama a question for me.
[from Hinata] KENMA!!!!! its so good to hear from u!! how r u??? how is nekoma?????? of course i can ask him but i could also give u his number if that’s easier?
Kenma flinched at the idea of having to initiate conversation with the scary boy he remembered, that intense stare and creepy smiling flashing in his mind
[to Hinata] I’m doing pretty well - how are you? If it’s okay, I would prefer to ask you through him..
[from Hinata] ive been struggling in school lately but it doesnt matter bc i have volleyball!!1!!!1!! fs what did u want to ask him????
[to Hinata] Well, I remember that in one of your Snapchats, I saw him wearing nail polish….
[from Hinata] oh yea!! kageyama got really into hand care and stuff so he started wearing it :)
[to Hinata] Ah.. I was wondering if he could possibly get me some?
Kenma clutched the phone to his chest. Was it too weird of a request? What if Shoyo thought he was weird now? What if he didn’t want to be friends anymore? What if- his train of thought was cut off by a notification.
[from Hinata] sure!! or i could just send u some? my mom and Natsu have some in the house and i dont think they would care if i asked for one or took one.. what color? or if u want one of Kageyama’s i can ask him too!! he can be mean to me but ik he would give it to u eventually!!!!!!
Kenma smiled at his screen, excitement overtaking the anxiety that had been bubbling over seconds ago. Of course Shoyo was so nice about it, what had he been worried about? They continued texting through the night, catching up about school and volleyball, and at the end, Kenma was left with a warm, satisfied feeling in his chest.
Right before he went to sleep, he received one last text.
[from Kuroo] go to bed! I can see your light on up there! :) good night and i’ll see you tomorrow!!