Pull Me Back - Kuroo x Reader

Chapter 8

The sensei hands out our quizzes and we begin. I start off strong, knocking out a few of the easy polyatomic ions, but I quickly realize that I can't focus. It's not that I'm necessarily worried about Kuroo, but I just want to know why he isn't here today. I was really looking forward to seeing him. By the time the sensei has called time on our quizzes, I still have a few questions I haven't answered, but I turn my quiz in anyways. 

I walk home, playing sad music.

Kuroo isn't at school on Tuesday either. I wish I would've remembered to ask him for his number on Sunday. That way I could ask him if he's okay. It doesn't make sense for me to be this preoccupied by him, I haven't even known him for a week, but I keep finding my thoughts drifting to him. I like him, he's been a good friend to me.

By Wednesday, I'm really hoping he's at school. I'm going to be at his volleyball game, but if he's not there, there's no point in me even going or dragging Saito along with me. I drop into my seat, defeated, seeing his chair empty at the front of the room. 

Right before the bell rings, he walks in. Giving me a little wave and smile, he walks to the front of the room and sits down just as the sensei enters. I can't focus today, which seems to be a trend with me, but I have so many questions to ask Kuroo. Is he okay? Where was he for the past two days? Why isn't he answering as many questions as usual? Doesn't he seem a bit down today?

Soon enough, while I'm still deep in thought, the bell rings. Here goes nothing, I think as I sling my bag over my shoulder and walk to the front of the room where he is putting his belongings away. 

"Hey, Kuroo."

"Hey, y/n."

"Um...how are you today?" I ask.

He rubs the back of his neck and puts on a forced-looking smile. "I'm, uh, good. A bit tired today, but it's cool."

"Where were you on Monday and Tuesday?" I say, his last response worrying me a little bit. 

"I had to deal with some family stuff....So yeah...Uh...You still planning on coming to my game tonight?" 

Something is definitely going on, but I don't push it. If he doesn't want to tell me, I get it. 

"Yeah, I'm still coming if that's okay with you! I'm also going to bring Saito with me." 

He chuckles, but the sound is a tired one. "Of course I want you to come, y/n. And the more, the merrier, I feel like Saito would be the ideal cheerleader."

"I can't disagree with you there," I say, laughing and imagining my loud, energetic friend. Kuroo and I leave the classroom and begin to near the front doors of the school.

"Oh! I meant to ask! How did the ion quiz go on Monday?" He asks, looking at me expectantly.

My cheeks heat. "Well...I mean it wasn't too--"

"Hey, Kuroo." Someone says behind us. We stop and turn. Standing there is a skinny kid with blond hair, although his roots are visibly very dark. His eyes are golden and remind me of a cat's.

"Heyyy Kenma!" Kuroo says, a genuine smile lighting up his face. Oh, so this is Kenma! Kuroo's bestfriend! For some reason I straighten up and self-consciously run a finger through my hair. "Long time no see!" Kuroo continues.

"I literally saw you on Monday night. It's been like one day." Kenma replied, glancing away at his cellphone. Interesting...

"True, true. Hey, Kenma, I want you to meet y/n! She's new here and she just upgraded me to 'friend' the other day!"

Kenma looks at me. His sharp eyes seem to be staring into my soul. Scary.

"Yeah...I, um, met Kuroo last week by chance and then it turns out we also have chemistry together, so, yeah..."Honestly Kenma is intimidating me quite a bit. Kuroo told me on Sunday that Kenma is nothing like him, but I figured he was lying or something. For some reason, the tall, loud, insanely intelligent Kuroo is less intimidating than Kenma. 

"Cool. I hate chemistry. Kuroo is probably so annoying in that class." Kenma says. 

I laugh, feeling a bit more at ease. "Yeah, his arm must get so tired from keeping it raised the whole class. I think he just likes showing off how smart he is." Kenma smiles at me, it's still a little scary, but I'll take it.

"Hey now, I didn't introduce you two so that you could gang up on me. It's not my fault I'm a genius, like damn." He huffs, although I can see that he's happy now. Which makes me happy.

"Well we should probably get to the gym for warmups. Nice meeting you, y/n." Kenma says before walking past and looking back to his phone. 

Kuroo stands there for a moment, looking at Kenma, smiling, and shaking his head. "Gosh, the kid has like no social skills." He says fondly. 

I laugh. "I like him. He's a little scary, but yeah, I like him." 

Kuroo looks at me with a look of disbelief.  "Scary?? You think Kenma is scary? Bahaha that is probably the funniest thing I've ever heard!" He does his rooster laugh. 

"Hey! He is! He's like...quiet scary. I think he's way scarier than you, honestly, and you're like ten feet tall."

Feigning hurt, Kuroo chuckles. "Yeah wait until you see me play then, shorty, then I'll show you scary." His hazel eyes are narrowed, but not in an intimidating way...it's more like...My body feels like it's on fire. "Anyways, Kenma's right, I should go warm up. It looks bad if the team captain doesn't show up on time. I'll see you later, y/n, get ready to be hooked on volleyball!" He waves and then jogs in the direction of the gym. 

I stand there. He's the captain too? And why do I feel all...warm.