𝚃𝙾𝙱𝙸𝙾'𝚂 𝙱𝚁𝙾𝚃𝙷𝙴𝚁

Chapter 12*

Kuroo groaned as he turned onto his side. He knew he had to get up, but he didn't really want to. But, eventually, he was kicked awake by Yaku. "Gah!"

"Rise and shine, sleeping beauty! Unfortunately, you don't get the pleasure of sleeping in, so wake up!"

Once Yaku walked away, Kuroo sat up. He stretched a bit before forcing himself to get up. He went through his morning routine like the rest of his teammates.

--

"Wow. It's unusual for the captain to be sleeping this late."

"Right?"

"Someone should wake him up or he'll miss breakfast."

The entire team all looked at each other, wondering who the brave soul would be. But, none dared to get the task done. Eventually, they began nominating each other, pushing one another forward. F/N got up after a while and walked over.

"Y/N, time to get up," the setter said, his voice holding no cheeriness. "You'll miss breakfast if you don't get up soon."

Y/N's eyebrows furrowed before his eyes opened slightly. However, F/N didn't wait for him to get up. He had already showered and changed, like the rest, so he left the cabin. The team all looked at one another again. No words had to be said. Whatever the two had fought over, it had clearly upset F/N beyond belief.

They were getting worried now. The (h/c)-ette didn't spare his teammates a glance as he got up and headed off to shower.

"I kinda hope they make up soon... I'm getting uncomfortable with how they're acting," one of the third-years said.

"Me too."

In another cabin, Kuroo was putting his stuff away. Most of his teammates had already left. The cafeteria was serving up breakfast, the smell having wandered all the way to the cabins. He wanted to hurry, but he had to make sure he picked up all his stuff first.

Once he finished, he headed out with the few that were left. On the way, he saw Y/N. "Yo! Y/N!"

The (h/c)-ette turned to the sound of his name. He narrowed his gaze on the middle blocker. It was then that Kuroo remembered what Y/N had told him the day before.

"If you tell anyone you saw me like this, I'll kick your ass!"

But, before Kuroo could even make an attempt to come over to him, he saw F/N approach the (h/c)-haired wing spiker. He decided to leave them be. They needed to make up, their fight having had placed a strain both on their friendship and the team.

The two headed off to their assigned gym, knowing no one was there at the moment. F/N rubbed his arm, not really knowing how to bring up the subject. But, he didn't have to. Y/N stepped up and apologized.

"I'm sorry..." he said, his gaze meeting F/N's. "I said and did a lot of stupid shit... And I pushed you away, even though you were trying to help..."

F/N's hardened expression turned soft. "I'm sorry too... I didn't take your perspective into consideration... You were the one who experienced it all... I didn't. So...I don't know first-hand how you feel."

"No... I... You're the one keeping me from going completely insane. You know that? You're my backbone, keeping me from drowning in all the shit I'm swimming in... I lashed out, even though I shouldn't have..."

For the first time in what felt like months, F/N smiled. "I'll forgive you. But on one condition."

"What is it?"

"Listen to me from time to time, yeah? You're not your own problem. I worry about you too, you know?"

"Thanks... I appreciate it."

Just then, F/N's began to growl. He rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment. "I'm starving. Let's go eat before it's all gone."

"Yeah..."

--

At the table, the team didn't feel so comfortable eating. It hadn't gone unnoticed by the coach and faculty advisor either. "What's up with the lot of you?" Coach Goro asked.

Ms. Kurokami noticed the absence of both F/N and Y/N. "Where have those boys gone? They'll miss breakfast."

"Well, actually, Coach..." someone spoke up.

He turned to them, waiting for them to continue talking. "Seems they got into a fight or something."

"We guessed that it was pretty bad, considering they stopped talking to each other completely."

"F/N looked really mad too."

Just as they had said that the two had walked through the cafeteria doors. They were talking normally with each other, shocking the whole team. "Fighting, huh?"

"Looks like they made up..."

"How fast..."

Kuroo smiled to himself, seeing that the two had made up with each other and were on speaking terms again. Even if Y/N hadn't admitted it, it had been obvious to Kuroo that F/N's silent treatment had bothered him greatly. However, it seemed that they worked out and got past it.

Once they got their trays, they joined the rest at the table, immediately bombarded with questions. "Who knew you were scary when you're mad, F/N."

F/N rose his brows in confusion. "What do you mean?"

The team was shocked by his bewildered look. "You mean...you don't know how scary you are?"

"It's true what they say. Nice people are the scariest when they get mad."

"We couldn't even approach you, Yamaguchi-san," a second-year added.

F/N laughed it off, waving his hand. "Wow, I never realized."

Then, he changed the subject to the daily practice matches. That got the team to completely stray away from the topic. And for that, Y/N was extremely grateful.

--

"Well, looks like the two of you finally made up."

Y/N looked to where the voice had come from to see a certain feline captain. "Tetsu."

"Are you feeling better?" he asked, shoving his hands into the pockets of his red jacket.

"It was because of you that I realized I overstepped it--"

--Which he would never say to Kuroo's face. So, instead, he turned away, continuing to walk toward his designated gym. "Hey! You're not even going to answer me?"

"You're awfully invested," Y/N replied.

Though he would never admit it out loud, he needed the hug. The hug Kuroo gave him in his attempt to bring Y/N some consolation. It was something he hadn't experienced in a long, long time. He wouldn't go as far as to say it saved him, but...it was a gesture of affection he hadn't known he needed until it happened.