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Kenma gasped for air once more. It was the fourth time today that he was gasping in his room like he had just drowned. Seems like death lurks sooner than I thought…
Being diagnosed with a terminal illness for 3 years now. Kenma's whole life was basically waiting for his time. This was his fate, there's no point in pretending that wouldn't add years onto his life.
That's why the sickly boy just spent his time in the hospital playing with a screen. He didn't wanna see other people living out their lives—being active and such he just felt envy. It felt unfair that others could play games such as volleyball, basketball while he would wheeze at the mere second he got up.
He was stuck with the virtual versions of those games and it still made him happy. Kenma knew his time was nearing this year, he even guessed the date he'll die as a little game for him. He slowly detached from his relatives, afraid that it'll hurt them more.
If they're used to not having me around it wouldn't sting as much…
He was on his ipad scrolling through photos of himself that could be used for his funeral. He wanted to pick a photo that showed when he was healthy and lively to remind everyone that he was at peace and happy with his death.
The door creaked open “I don't wanna see anyone right now..” he croaked, it became harder and harder to talk each passing day.
He almost jumped out of his bed when he spotted an unknown man at his door. Kenma was sure his memory still served him well and hadn't faltered yet.
Their gaze finally met and Kenma felt like he had just swallowed a rock and it sat heavy on his stomach. “Hello Kenma” the unknown man's voice echoed and rang in the boy's ears. The hairs on his body stood up.
“It must be you then” said Kenma as if he had been expecting him “You're Kuroo am I right?”
These last few weeks the boy had been busying himself with the talk of death. A few articles talked about an embodiment named Kuroo, a tall man with striking red eyes. It is said that he'll be the one to deliver you to your final destination.
Kuroo tilted his head and moved closer to the boy, it was quick and almost looked like levitation. A hand latched and twirled the overgrown hair of the boy.
“Never met someone who's done their research” the entity chuckled, feeling amused.
“My calculations were three days late” Kenma concluded coldly and peacefully closed his eyes signalling that he was ready.
Kuroo's eyes narrowed at the calendar on the bedside table, a certain date circled and ‘my time’ written hastily at the bottom. He touched Kenma's forehead, it was rather warm than all the others he had touched before.
“I never thought death was a beautiful creature,” said Kenma, eyes flickering open to meet Kuroo's.
“And I've never met anyone this eager” His tall figure lingered over Kenma's.
Others would scream in horror at the sight of him, he didn't want to admit it but he was intrigued. No pleading, no tears and no denial the boy just laid on his bed peacefully awaiting his new journey in the afterlife.
“I can't..” Kuroo pulled out his hand.
The boy's eyes flickered open “I'm ready” he argued “I'm at peace”
Kuroo shook his head “I should've known something was wrong when I touched your forehead”
Kenma looked at the entity confused. He had made the embodiment of death pacing in his hospital room. “You can't cross the afterlife just yet”
“What do you mean?” Kenma sat up.
Then poof..
The door clicked open once more, this time it was someone he was familiar with. A friend, one of his dearest friends Hinata.
“Kenma kenma” He called out surprisingly super happy.
Kenma wiped at the forming tears in his eyes, the one thing he was afraid to leave— right in front of him just as he was about to cross.
“Your healed-” tears began to roll down Hinata's eyes “You can finally leave this hospital” He caught Kenma's body who began to go limp on a hug.
“But Kuroo he was here” he whipped his head around the room, there was no trace of the entity.
“Kuroo? We don't know anyone named Kuroo” Hinata asked, pulling out of the hug to look at his friend.
“But he was here—I was gonna pass,” he said, confused.
“Kenma you aren't” Hinata said with determination “You can finally do what you want to do without these silly machinery holding you back”
Kenma, still feeling distraught, whipped his head around only for something to catch his eyes. The calendar in which he had written ‘my time’ in red ink had changed.
“A time to live my life” he read out loud.
Hinata nodded and kept repeating the word yes. Kenma grabbed the calendar flipping through the other pages but found nothing.
“I'll leave you to rest Kenma I'll come back with your parents later” Hinata hugged him one more time “They said they just need to monitor you for one more week and then you're free to go”
As soon as Hinata was gone, Kenma felt around his chest. The heaviness was gone almost in an instant. He smiled at the feeling of his feet touching the floor once more, a thing he hadn't done in a year.
As he landed on the floor a piece of paper fell out. “Sweetest angel, I'm afraid your time isn't yet nearing” Kenma smiled at the note and held it close to his chest before finally letting his tears roll down.
Bokuto kicked Kuroo with enough force to make him yelp “What'cha do that for?” He asked angrily “We were gonna hit our quota with him”
Kuroo just smiled “It isn't his time yet” he added walking off into his portal
“Wait just one minute” Bokuto argued and held him off at the entrance “You can't just twist time for a cute guy”
“Who told you I can't?” He fought back pushing the other aside “and plus he has a whole life still ahead of him but that doesn't mean I'll be waiting”
Bokuto followed along the portal shaking his head dismissively “You do know boss will have our heads” Kuroo just hummed at the thought.
“It's not like something like this hadn't happened before” He added and eyed his partner.
“Akaashi is a very handsome mortal” Bokuto retaliated with a huff.