Monochromatic: Haikyuu Fanfic

Chapter 21: Absence

The door shuts behind them.

The Kuroo residence isn't too shabby. Sure there's some little things scattered here and there - there's a decent amount of space and a worn couch. It's a bit old, yes, it is originally a bright white in color, but now it is a toned down creamish hue. It went through a good couple washings, but it never lost that soft, cloud-like quality. She yawns.

"I can sleep on the couch while I stay."

Kuroo gives her a lopsided grin, "no need for futons? We can lay it down in my room. Or better yet, we could sleep on my bed just like the old times-"

"Tetsurou, you alone can barely squeeze your body in that bed of yours," she points out, and swings her arms for emphasis, "one of your forearms and limbs always dangle off the bed too. You can't fit me in there even if you try."

"I'll sleep in the couch then."

"I don't want to sleep in your bed." She says.

Tetsurou just shrugged in response, and he leads her to his room to place down her belongings.

After so, Fukui recieves a surprise from Tetsurou. Perhaps it may not be a materialistic object, however the gesture is just as great. It's quite rare for Tetsurou to comply so easily, anyways.

"You invited Kenma?" She asks Tetsurou with a huge excited grin.

"Of course. You two had always gotten along so swimmingly since junior high. All you do both is laze around my house." He says, "he's coming over tomorrow."

Fukui couldn't wait to see her friend again, "Tetsurou, you're the best!"

"Hehehehehe..." Kuroo chuckles darkly.

The smile that is on her face completely fades into a frown, and she narrows her eyes at him quietly - expectantly.

"but, to repay such a good deed, I need..." He lightly taps a finger on his chin. "...something in exchange of course."

Not knowing where this is heading, she gives him a confused gaze. "What do you want?"

"Just a picture with you. I miss my little cousin and all," he says with a sickly sweet smile.

There are many things wrong with that:

one, Tetsurou will never say something like that in such a genuine matter;

two, that bastard's smile is too forced to be credible;

three, he only plans on either provoking her, or someone else.

The answer is the latter.

Kuroo slings his arm around Fukui's shoulders and uses his other arm to hold the phone out, arm outstretched to take a selfie. He snaps a photo, and Fukui manages to spare a tiny smile, though it has a hint of self doubt int it.

He types in: Guess who's over at my place?

And he presses send to Taketora's number.

It doesn't take more than a minute for Kuroo to recieve a call from the fuzzy headed boy, and it is difficult for the captain to hold his laughter as the other side of the phone only sputtered incoherent words.

"wha-wha-?!?!! wheehrr??!! wharere??"

Taketora audibly gulps.

"Ma-Mangangngger....manananagner.... ccan I - I..."

Kuroo couldn't hold it anymore and just started snorting in laughter.

"Yo! Yamamoto!" Fukui greets. "How's it going over there?"

"Fukui-sa-sssaa- n-!!" The other boy chokes out. "I - We all missed you so much!! Inuoka and - and Nobuyuki --!!"

"Goodbye, Yamamoto~" Kuroo sings mockingly and ends the call with a tap.

***

It isnt't much eventful after that, not when Fukui is near to collapsing from exhaustion on Kuroo's floor. Even so, she fights on and continues to unpack her belongings, digging for her phone and other necessities: a toothbrush, charger, and a good pair of socks.

It is only seven thirty in the morning, yet it had felt like it's been forever. She knew this feeling so much. Time ticking by so slowly; that sweet warm smell of home. It is a close-spaced, tight knit place, and this place definitely brings back rusty memories. Tough times, but nevertheless notable. Her vision begins to blur. There are no exact edges to everything, Kuroo's bed and his shelves are smudged.

A voice travels down the hallway, and it snaps her awake.

"Tetsu, aren't you supposed to pick up Umeko-chan by now?"

Kuroo yells back, "she's already here, mom!"

It is then that Fukui had forgotten the customs when coming home. It is said to say that phrase whenever you come back home, typically from school to say as a greeting to your family members, and to notify them that you have arrived. She hasn't said that in nearly half a month.

Not that she ever needed to - she's been accustomed for silence. For absence.

She answers, "I'm home! Sorry for the intrusion!"

A gasp is clearly audible through the walls. "Come over here, darling! I made some breakfast!"