Clawed & Flawed: A Nekoma Story

Chapter 24

Thursday – 06:30 A. M. 

The occasionally annoying captain ran back home and hustled with his school uniform, bag, and club equipment before catching up with the rest of the members on the running track, almost out of breath. After morning practice, Kenma held his friend aside to ask about his uncharacteristic tardiness.

"What happened to you?" the blond boy mumbled lazily, wiping he sweat off his forehead.

"Overcooked the rice," he lied through his teeth, panting.

"Okay... What's that on your wrist? Are you wearing bracelets?"

"Shut up, my grandma made me wear them. She said it was supposed to bring me luck or something. I guess it didn't work in the kitchen," he tried to make his story more convincing.

His friend shrugged and chugged some water before heading towards the changing room. The captain cooled himself down on a bench and pulled his phone out. No new messages. Maybe expecting Shiro to send him a text first was a bit too optimistic. He put it back in his pocket and was about to join the rest when it buzzed, alerting him.

"Huh? What now?" he unlocked it.

Inu-chan~: -Uhm... you left your jacket in my house. Do you need it back later? -

Kuroo: -No, why? Are you on your way to school? -

Inu-chan~: -Yeah, I'm about to go now. Uhm, do you mind if I borrow your jacket for today? I promise I'll wash it. It's just that my jacket and blazer are in the wash and I already returned Kenma's. And I don't like having my arms exposed. But it's okay if you're not okay with that. I understand.

'What a long text just to ask if she can wear my jacket to school? What's she so flustered about?' he thought before typing a response.

Kuroo: -I don't mind. I can just take it from your house anytime -

Inu-chan~: -Okay! Thank you so much and sorry! Haiiro is sending you kisses too. I'll treat you to dinner ∪| ^ ω ^ |∪ -

The spiky-haired middle blocker smiled at his phone before putting it back into his pocket, cursing her name under his breath. His chest tightened at the thought of her walking around school in his oversized jacket, swallowed by the fabric. He shook the idea away and reminded himself to treat her like any other team members, no more, no less.

"Yo, Kuroo! Why are you only showing your arms and legs when Inu-chan is not around? Do you have some sort of weird rules going on between you?" their libero tweeted.

"Erk, shut up! I just felt a bit stuffy this morning, that's all," he rolled down the sleeves of his t-shirt.

"Were you late because of Inu-chan, Kuroo-san? It's okay if you are. We all would rather spend some time with her than run the tracks," Lev grinned.

"Yamamoto," Kuroo signaled to the wing spiker.

He nodded and smacked the rookie on the back of his tall head, "Don't disrespect our captain like that. I'm sure she had an equally lovely time with him."

"Yamamoto!" he chased after him.

"Kya!!! Did I say something wrong? Was it awkward?"

"Kuroo-san, you better treat a lady like Inu-chan well. I heard that you're supposed to return the favors to each other," the innocent and blunt newbie exclaimed cluelessly.

"Agh! What kind of person do you think I am?!"

Kenma sighed, "They're really putting a pressure on someone who never even went on a date..."

Kai and Yaku shook their head before putting on their blazers.

Thursday – 08:00 A. M. 

Shiro was already on her seat when Kuroo and Yaku walked in from their morning club activity, scribbling in her notebook quietly. She hadn't noticed the two familiar faces walking towards her until the shorter of the two pulled the book in his direction.

"Huh? Why are they all in English? I don't understand a thing!" he stepped away.

"Yakkun, we'll have a vocabulary exam next week. You better be prepared for that. I'm not letting you join extra practice if you don't score at least 60 on every quiz," the black-haired guy snatched the book away.

"Well, excuse me," she grabbed it. "Rewriting my notes in English helps me understand them better."

"Whatever you say. Thinking about it pisses me off already," their classmate walked to his chair as the homeroom teacher entered the class.

"Hey, why are you not wearing my jacket?" Kuroo whispered.

"I thought it might be weird for people to see me wearing your clothes. I didn't want them to get the wrong idea. Not that I give a damn, but I happen to think about your reputation too," she retorted.

"Huh?" the senior was taken aback.

'What does it have to do with my reputation though?' he pondered.

"Don't worry senpai, I'll be fine. I'll give it back to you after school if Haiiro managed to not chew everything by the time I got home."

Before he could even open his mouth to reply, Yuki-sensei had started distributing a new study guide for an upcoming mini exam. The silence was taken as an agreement although it was nothing like what he had in his mind. He couldn't care less about what other people think as long as his close friends knew the truth.

'Maybe she's shy. I won't be presumptuous about her way of thinking. What if she was the one who cared about how society looked at her? It must be hard to live in a new country alone with such nasty rumors spreading around. I guess I'll just have to see how this plays out.'

Thursday – 12:15 P. M. 

Today, only the third-year volleyball club members had gathered around their usual spot. Yaku had been staring at his female classmate from the moment he sat down on the bench.

"Yakkun, do you know that staring is rude?" the captain intercepted.

"I couldn't help it! She looks off without her jacket," he asked while chewing his food.

"They happen to be in the wash today. Yuki-sensei said that it was fine to just wear the vest," she nibbled on a steamed bun.

"Well, you can always just ask to borrow mine if you're cold in class."

"Me too," the wing spiker smiled brightly.

"Uhm, thanks."

"I'm sorry, Shiro-chan, but couldn't you have worn your school blazer?" Kai politely wondered.

"My new puppy spilled a glass of milk on it this morning. It was my only pair."

"Huh?! You have a puppy? Let's go and have lunch together at your place this Saturday. We can throw a house warming party!" Yaku slammed his fist with excitement.

"You're pretty fired up about a dog, Yaku," Kai smiled.

"How is it a house warming party when you're the one who coerced it. At least ask the house owner first," Kuroo crumpled up the paper wrapper of his fried potato croquette. "But it's not a bad idea to have an official gathering with the rest of the group."

"Well... I have no plans for the weekend so I don't mind," the girl answered in a monotone voice.

"We can start by asking about everyone's schedule," the vice-captain suggested.

"I'll leave it to you then, Yakkun. It was your idea after all," the youngest guy smirked before the group walked back to their classroom.

"You guys go ahead, there's something I needed to do," Shiro waved and disappeared into a corridor.