Another Memory - KuroKen

1 - Love

     Love is a thing Kenma Kozume doesn't need.

  At least that's what he believes.
He understands the need for platonic love, he found that with his friends and family throughout the years. — It's romantic love he doesn't need.

  This seems especially apparent when Kuroo decides to drag Kenma to a mall to 'find him a girl.'

     "Kuro, it isn't the 2000s, nobody hangs out at a mall anymore," Kenma says, staring intently at the tiled floor as Kuroo had prohibited him from being on his phone or PSP, making him leave them at his house. "Would you rather me have taken you to a bar?" Kuroo replied and Kenma sighed, surveying his surroundings. They were basically in a magazine cutout of a mall, clothing and food stores all around with a large plaza and floral arrangement in the center.

  "Look at that girl over there! She's cute," the shorter looked over to the girl his friend had mentioned. She had medium-length ginger hair and was wearing a dark hoodie.
"She's attractive I guess." Kenma replied and Kuroo gave an exasperated sigh, his face soon lighting up with an idea.

"Kenma, are you gay?"

  Kenma gave him a look. "Hey! it's a valid thought process!-" "No Kuro, I don't like guys either." Kuroo frowned. "I don't understand you sometimes, Kenma"
"I just don't like anyone like that, I told you. I've looked into it, I think I might be aromantic and asexual." Kuroo cocked his head. "...It means I don't feel romantic or sexual attraction" Kuroo looked at him questioningly but slowly nodded his head "Okay, I won't push it anymore. while we're here do you wanna go to Gamestop?" Kenma's eyes lit up and his mouth formed a small smile at his friend's proposal. "yeah."

     Kuroo had stopped his attempts to set Kenma up and he was quite frankly relieved. His friend, while annoying at times, respected his boundaries and didn't push him. He instead pushed his focus to study for his upcoming exams. Kuroo was in his third year so these were especially important if he wanted to get into a good college. Kenma on the other hand more neglected them, he already knew what he wanted to do after high school, and it wasn't too important for him to 100% ace all his exams. He was only a second-year after all.

  Though Kenma sat in his room thinking about just that.
Kuroo is in his third year. Next year he won't see him in the bustling halls, he won't be there to eat lunch with Kenma or to play volleyball with him.
Suddenly Kenma was realizing how much he did rely on Kuroo.

And that support was going to be gone.

  Kenma rolled on his side and grabbed his PSP, shaking his head. He'd still have Kuroo as a neighbor and he could always text him, he'll be fine. Trying to shoo away the thoughts, he loaded up animal crossing and started weeding.

     The walk to school the next day was mostly normal, though Kuroo noticed his friend was more absent than usual. Sometimes even seemingly forgetting about his games as well, and lagging behind more, though Kuroo just brushed it off as him having stayed up especially late again, and truthfully, Kenma had. He had been up all night, trying to distract himself from the sinking realization he had made hours before. His thoughts continued, though he tried to ignore them. "What if he goes to a college that's hours away? What will I do in the volleyball club? Who will be the captain now that Kuroo's gone?"

"Kenma!"

  Kenma stopped, just in time it seemed, as he was about to walk right into a telephone pole. Kuroo pulled him aside, "if you're going to be so far behind, at least pay attention to where you're going!" Kenma mumbled an apology and walked to match pace with Kuroo. Kenma sighed, he can't even walk to school without Kuroo, let alone get up every morning and make it to class on time. Before he had time to think about it more, they were at school and approaching the gym, ready for another exhausting day of practice.

  "Kuroo! Kenma! Where were you? We've been here for ages!" Yamamoto shouted, and Kenma flinched. "We've only been here for a few minutes Yamamoto." Yaku said, sounding exhausted. "Well now that we are here, let's get going."

     Kenma watched as Kuroo split off to his own house, presumably to study. He ignored the small pang of sadness as he walked to his room and flopped down on his bed. He reluctantly grabbed his bag and got out his homework, flipping to his first subject.

  He was focusing pretty well, until his door opened. "Kuro." He said, not looking up from his homework. "Hey, Kenma! Do you want to go to the library with me?" Before Kenma could decline he added, "I won't make you study or anything, just, it's quiet there and I wanna hang out with you more." Those words reminded him of the fact he had been trying to forget, they didn't have much time left together before Kuroo went to college. "...okay. Let me grab my things," Kenma sat up and grabbed a bag, stuffing some chargers, consoles, and a single notebook in it. Kuroo let out a small "yes!" under his breath and Kenma smiled.