The Cat and the Crow

The Day We Met (Early May)

Kuroo slunk a little further down in his seat, stretching as far as he could. The train had just left Sendai and was headed back to Tokyo. It would be a few hours before they got home. Sighing, he looked out the window at the passing scenery with half-closed eyes. The sun was nearly below the horizon, and street lights were dotting the landscape. He was exhausted, but he knew sleep wouldn't come easily. Not while he had a certain blonde on his mind.

"You have that look on your face, again," he heard Kenma say from the seat across from him.

Without moving, he slid his eyes over to look at his best friend. "Oh yeah? What look is that?" he asked nonchalantly.

"Like you've got something up your sleeve. Plotting something," he replied with a shrug. Then, he focused on Kuroo. "I already know you want the showdown to happen as much as Coach does, so that look is for something else." He stared hard at Kuroo. When he didn't get an immediate response, his gaze became sharper. "Or someone," he added.

Finally Kuroo moved, pushing up in his seat and looking straight at Kenma. His best friend knew him well. "You met Hinata first, right?" he asked, bypassing the subject for the moment.

Kenma nodded. "Yeah, when I got lost on the way to Karasuno." He didn't look away. "You knew that. Why are you asking?"

"Did he talk about anyone else?"

"Their setter. Kageyama."

"Okay. Anyone else?" Kuroo pressed.

Kenma blinked, and then tilted his head. "No. You found us before we could talk more." He watched as Kuroo moved again, leaning forward so that his arms rested on his legs. "Why are you asking?" he repeated.

It took a few more minutes to gather his thoughts, but then Kuroo finally answered. "You were right. I kinda met someone, and I am thinking of a way to see him again."

"Kinda?"

Kuroo shrugged. "We were getting ready to leave, so it wasn't much of an exchange. I think I startled him, though. Ended up teasing him a bit, too."

"Kuro," Kenma admonished. But before he could say anything else, Kuroo smiled.

"He walked off before anything else happened. Either way, I definitely want to meet up with him again."

"Well, if Coach has his way, then this was only the first time we'll play Karasuno. I'm sure more opportunities will present themselves."

Kuroo was about to reply, when his phone dinged. Pulling it out of his pocket, he read the message and chuckled.

"Bokuto and Akaashi?" Kenma asked as he went back to his game.

"Yeah," Kuroo answered simply. "They figured it out before you did, and I was vague when I managed to reply." He scrubbed a hand through his already messy hair. Patient as always, Kenma waited him out. "It's just... this feels different, and I can't quite put my finger on how. I want to jump right in, but then again, if I do, I could ruin everything." He looked up at Kenma, and smirked. "I'm not making too much sense, am I?"

But the small smile on Kenma's face, and the light in his eyes, said otherwise. Kuroo knew his friend understood him perfectly. The only response he gave was a nod, as if he were giving his blessing. And maybe his own version of help, when needed.

Relieved, he settled back in his seat once more, and began typing his reply in the group chat he had with the two players from Fukurodani. They were, naturally, on board with anything he planned, offering backup if needed. Bokuto was already sending ideas for meetings, and Akaashi kept him in check, while offering more sensible suggestions. He chatted with them for a while before ending the conversation. Satisfied, Kuroo put his phone on silent, stuck it back in his pocket, and closed his eyes. He dozed off, dreaming of the tall, lanky, and rather salty, blonde middle blocker from Karasuno High.