Akaashi's 18th (and the events that followed...)

40. The Victor

Kenma watched Yamaguchi intently. The pinch-server had brilliant form, Kenma had to admit, as he maneuvered the crane just to the right position, the claws clasping around the stuffed toy.

"Why do you even want this?" Tsukishima asked. "Surely it's cheaper to get one online."

"It's not about buying it," Yamaguchi said through gritted teeth, his face scrunched up as he tried to pull the item up as carefully as possible. It faltered slightly, and Kenma rolled his eyes as he felt Kuroo and Bokuto's breaths catch in sync. However, gently rose up and reached the top of the box, falling into the collecting bin. Yamaguchi grabbed it from the opening in the machine and held it up with a triumphant grin. "It's about winning it."

He handed it over to Tsukishima and, much to Kenma's amusement, the beanpole blushed slightly, accepting it somewhat gingerly with a 'tsch!'. Yamaguchi laughed freely. The darkness of the arcade this late at night seemed to make him more confident, and his face - lit from all angles by neon glows - appeared thrilled, careless even. Kenma didn't care much for PDA, but the way Yamaguchi slung an arm around his boyfriend, pulling him in for a brief, open-mouthed kiss was so casual that Kenma didn't mind it being in front of him. They looked natural together, even Tsukishima, who glared protectively at Kuroo's offer to relieve him of the stuffed toy.

"They look so happy," Kenma mused.

"They actually do," Kuroo replied. "I had no idea Yamaguchi was such an ace at the claw machine!"

"Hm, Shoyo's quite good too - we went to an arcade over the summer and he managed to score a volleyball keyring."

"Shoyo's brilliant at everything in your eyes, isn't he?"

Kenma glanced up sharply, searching Kuroo's expression for any traces of resentment. His boyfriend was good at hiding it, but the slight narrowing of Kuroo's eyes and the almost-invisible tensing of his jaw set Kenma on edge, and he chose his next words carefully. Being extremely tired - and his social battery having depleted - he settled with, "C'mon, let's have a go at VR racing." And without another word, he sat down at one of the booths, grabbing a wheel.

"Kyanma!" Kuroo yelled. "You're gonna tip my car over!"

"Then move faster or steer out of the way." Kenma gritted his teeth. "You're too slow and we're going to lose."

"I'd rather stay on the road if that's alright with you."

"Yeah, yeah. Just take a risk, Kuroo - speed up, and it'll become a lot more exciting."

Kenma felt Kuroo's sigh beside him. "Alright. But if I crash, I'm blaming you."

"Blame your own bad driving."

"Hey!"

Kenma watched closely through the VR goggles as Kuroo sped up, and the road freed up, enabling him to accelerate, and he found himself smiling. "This is kind of exciting," he said to Kuroo.

"Does Shoyo-chan drive that fast too?" Kuroo's tone was light, but Kenma was unable to tell what expression he wore through the goggles. "He's probably more exciting than me."

At that, Kenma sighed and paused the game. Despite Kuroo's protests, he removed both their goggles, staring his boyfriend dead in the eye. "As much as Shoyo is interesting, if I was with him all the time he'd be way too much for me." Kenma felt the corners of his mouth turn up slightly. "Plus, I'd be far too tired. He needs someone who can remain on his energy level. People like him need constant stimulation, someone with a similar mind and attitude - you know who I'm referring to.

"But you're not exhausting like other people. Whilst Shoyo is action and adventure, you're... warm and comfortable. You're always there, but we don't always have to talk. You understand me without me having to explain myself, 'cause you know it's tiring for me. You know when I want to stay over at yours without me saying, and you don't ask loads of questions when I show up at your door uninvited. And there's a reason I stay over so often, other than convenience. I'm not just with you for comfort, Tetsu. I'm with you because, even though I always get tired of people, I never seem to get tired of you." Pinprick-sized tears began to bloom in the corners of Kuroo's eyes, and Kenma huffed. "Don't get all sentimental. You'll ruin it."