Chapter 23

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Thursday – 04:30 A. M.

Click

The captain popped his head in and pocketed the key. The living was dark with all the window shutters closed, not letting outside light to go in. He kept a sharp ear for the tiny puppy, careful not to accidentally step on it in the dark. He turned his phone flash on as he heard the happy little paw tapping on the wooden floor nearby.

Woof

It sat politely in front Kuroo before leading him to the fridge, slapping its paws on the door.

"You're hungry? I guess I'll feed you before our walk," he glided along to look for a suitable food.

He mixed some rice with boiled meat and vegetable and served it on a bowl. The puppy jumped happily and gobbled the meal rapidly. One rice grain managed to cling onto its nose before he wiped it off with his finger. It licked the bowl clean of any traces. Kuroo smiled and petted its head before doing the dishes as quietly as he could. He dried his hands on a towel and managed to look around the first floor for the first time since he walked in.

"Huh? Why is the living room door open?"

Just as he was about to close the rice paper door, something underneath the Kotatsu. His eyes had adjusted well enough with the dimness of the room as he crouched down to get a closer look at the dark shadow. As he got closer, he noticed that it was moving under the blanket. Its long hair spread across its face, covering it like a veil.

Shiro shivered and curled into a ball as a gust of the cold morning as blew in from a gap on the window. Kuroo was mortified to witness the girl sleeping on the freezing floor. Although she was wearing a hoodie and long pants, the coldness was still harmful for the bones. The heater has been turned off and only the lower half of her body was covered by the thick futon. She had her hands tucked inside her sleeves.

"Why are you sleeping here? You said that you won't let the dog up to the second floor and now you're the one on the floor? How would you survive alone?" he grumbled to himself as he took off his jacket to drape it over her body.

"Achoo," the tiniest sneeze escaped her.

The soft and sudden noise startled him. His muscle relaxed as he sat crisscross next to her, back against him. He smiled softly as the puppy pranced onto his lap, licking his fingers joyfully.

"I guess we better get going, Haiiro. I need to take care of your master after we walk around the garden. Sorry, I'll take you on a longer walk next time," he scratched its floppy ear.

5:00 A. M.

Kuroo busied himself in the kitchen to prepare breakfast for the both of them. He felt bliss when he found some leftover rice from the night before. He decided to make a simple egg fried rice and two bowls of miso soup. The heater under the Kotatsu was on and the sliding door was closed to ensure the utmost comfort for the girl.

The senior prepped the meal on a tray and served it on the living room table so that Haiiro would not be able to reach it. The fragrant smell of the healthy breakfast must have itched her nose as she turned over to the other side.

Kuroo sighed and watched as he wasn't sure what to do. He didn't want to overstep his boundaries by shaking her awake, people were already spreading the rumor of him being an intimidating person or a pervert. Furthermore, he already let himself into her private space, it would be rude to interrupt her peaceful sleep.

Just as thought shrouded his head, Haiiro did the job for him as the puppy booped its cold snout on Shiro's. The contact definitely woke her up as the beady eyes fluttered opened, adjusting to the natural light coming in from the kitchen. She held her head as she sat up carefully, the male jacket still latched over her chest.

Her sleepy face blushed at the hot meal in front of her, fighting the slumber that was still heavy on her eyelids. She hobbled before realizing what was happening around her and slumped her face on the table, one cheek squished against it. The view almost made Kuroo's heart jump. Who would have known that the tough and sharp-tongues classmate he had just gotten to know had such a soft side?

The captain put a hand on her forehead, fearing that she had a fever from sleeping on a cold surface overnight. As the back of his hand came in contact with her skin, she opened her eyes slightly to his surprise.

"I'm fine," she whispered.

"I thought you were sleeping," he retracted his hand after confirming her claim.

"I was, until an annoying creature kissed my nose," she glared at the puppy who was chasing its own tail, zooming up and down the room like a maniac.

"C'mon, eat 'em while they're hot. I can't believe it. Take better care of yourself, you can't just sleep on the floor all night."

"I know, I know. Haiiro wouldn't stop crying and he couldn't climb the stairs by himself yet. I was planning on going back up after he sleeps, but I guess I fell asleep too," she lifted her head and rubbed her eyes.

One side of her hair was messy from her weird sleeping posture. She still had Kuroo's jacket on her lap as she stared at the food somberly.

"What's wrong? You don't like fried rice?" he tried to hide his disappointment.

She had always eaten anything he gave her. What's wrong with this one?

"No, it's not that. My hand is cramping, I'll eat after it's gone. Go ahead, you'll miss morning practice."

Kuroo set his bowl and chopsticks down before grabbing hers and frowned, "Then you better be quick. Of course your hand is cramping, you slept on it the whole time."

"How long have you been watching me sleep to know that?"

"Shut up! Say aaa..." he scooped some rice.

"You don't have to feed me. I'm not your child."

"Aaa..." he pushed the food closer to her mouth.

"Hmph... aaa..."

"Good girl."

"I told you I'm not a dog—"

Kuroo fed her more rice as soon as she opened her mouth to speak. She chewed grudgingly as he continued with his meal, satisfaction plastered on his face. The cramp had finally left her arm as she moved it to affirm. The two finished their breakfast and the guest brought the dirty dished onto the sink when his phone rang.

"Kuroo, where are you? Are you coming?" Yaku's voice demanded.

'Crap! I forgot that they moved practice to 5:30 today,' he sweated.

"I'll be there in a bit. The club room key should be with Yamamoto. Start with running 3 laps around the track," he hung up and frantically put his shoes on. "Sorry, Shiro. I gotta get going. I'll take Haiiro on a walk tomorrow, I promise. And I'll do the dishes next time."

"Don't worry about the dishes, I can handle some washing. I can come along tomorrow, if you want... you know... to get myself more familiar with the dog... But it's okay if you wanna take him alone too."

"Sounds good. Text me if you need anything."

"Wait, your—"

Slam

"Jacket..." she held it out, but it was too late. 

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