Yellow||KuroKen

Routine

"Tetsurou, why aren't you up yet?"

He groaned, burrowing deeper into his blankets. He'd be damned if he was forced out of bed. It was warm, safe, comfortable...the world sucked. He didn't need to see it. He heard his mother step into the room. He couldn't shove himself out of his safe haven right now, though, so he let her come all the way to the bed. Her voice had hardened. "Tetsurou."

"I'm up, though," he countered. He was fucking himself over, and he knew it; he just didn't care.

"Out of bed."

He made no response, clutching the familiar yellow teddy bear his father had gotten him the day he left to his chest and inhaling the same scent it always had; cinnamon and..something else he could never put his finger on. It had been huge to him when he was seven. Now, he was 15, and it had magically shrunken to the size of his torso. It fit against him perfectly, was the right amount of huggable, was always soft...

"Tetsurou. Three."

He sighed, rolling his eyes and moving the blankets back, cradling his stuffed bear in an arm as he looked up at her. "Yeah?"

"C'mon, out of bed. Your breakfast is probably cold. I sent Shouta to wake you up but you refused, so now you'll have to fix that problem. Develop problem-solving skills and stuff." He glanced toward the clock. 6:50. "M'kay."

"And get your siblings on your way down."

"M'kay."

"Yes ma'am. I only let it pass the first time because you were just waking up."

"Sorry."

"It's alright, just remember to mind your manners."

He nodded, walking down the hall with a heavy sigh. "Hey, dumbass, get up!"

"I've been up, idiot!"

"Come downstairs!"

"Shoulda started with that!"

"Whatever!"

He moved on to his sister's room, knocking. When the door opened to reveal a short eight-year-old ravenette, he smiled. "Hello there, Yuki-bear," he crooned, bending to her height. "How ya feelin' this morning?"

"M'good. Morning, Tetsurou!"

"Morning. Look, Bee says hello." He waved the bear's arm, drawing a laugh from his sister.

"I'm too old for that now, silly."

"Aww, really? They like saying hi and giving you your goodnight kisses, though."

"I never said I didn't like it."

Kuroo grinned. "C'mon, Mom wants us downstairs. Brush your teeth first and I'll see you, 'kay?"

"'Kay."

He walked downstairs, yawning and grabbing a brush from the table near the staircase. All of his siblings tended to brush downstairs during breakfast or morning meetings--which were occasional, but did occur--before going back upstairs to finish with their hair afterward. Breakfast was at six-thirty A.M. every day, no questions. On school days, they were out of the house by seven-twenty-one and each got to school ten minutes early(unless someone was sick, then they stayed home). The two older siblings could sometimes go elsewhere and just chill with their friends if they texted and notified their mother beforehand, and of course, Kuroo normally walked home due to practice. Yuki was picked up as soon as they were dismissed, no questions asked. Sometimes it was the same for Shouta. Other times he'd go places. On Saturdays, there was a meeting after breakfast to talk about how their weeks went. Sundays were for church. No screens after nine-forty for the older ones, eight-forty for Yuki. Routine, uniform, and monotonous. He hated it. He brushed out his hair, went over to the fridge, and grabbed the carton of chocolate milk. He put it on the counter, getting a mug and placing it on the counter as well as he used his other hand to work through the knots in his near shoulder-length hair. Pouring the milk, he sipped at it, grabbing a PopTart from the cabinet above him after putting the brush down momentarily. He put his PopTarts in the toaster and finished brushing his hair, putting it back in its spot. His breakfast popped up and he drained the rest of his mug, walking over to the toaster and starting on it. It was likely seven o'clock, so he had a total of twenty minutes to gel his hair, brush his teeth, shower, get dressed, and eat breakfast. He shrugged, abandoning his toaster pastries in favor of a shower and hygiene matters first; he could eat in the car. After showering he put toothpaste on his toothbrush and shoved it in his mouth, drying off and pulling on some clothing before brushing his teeth and grabbing his hair gel. He spitted into the sink, Yuki knocking. "Mom said to hurry up! It's seven-ten!"

"Comin'," he called, not hearing her footsteps leave. "Just gelling my hair."

"M'kay."

He hurriedly gelled up his hair, exiting the bathroom. Shouta was brushing her hair, Yuki's clips already situated in hers. He checked the time, still toting around the last thing his father had given him. Seven-eighteen. Their mother had her shoes on and was heading for the door. "Everyone out, three minutes!"

Shouta put his brush back and ran upstairs, likely for his phone and bag, Kuroo going as well for his bag and to put his bear back. Yuki grabbed a juice box from the fridge, completing her lunch. Knowing their mother, she likely had the other two lunches. Kuroo sped for the stairs, grabbing his shoes in one hand and his one and a half PopTart off the table. They got into the car at the perfect time. Nekoma was farthest from their household, Yuki being closest. When they reached her school, she hugged both of her brothers and left with a smile. Shouta was next, snickering at some creative insult Tetsurou had come up with as he exited the car. The latter checked his phone as it chimed.

Kenma: Hey, Captain says that practice is canceled today. Wanna go to that cafe you like and come over after?

"Mom, can I go to Kenma's after school? Practice is canceled."

"I guess so."

Me: Sure, sounds fun

Kenma: Alright

He turned off his phone and the drive came to a close longer afterward than it felt. He mainly enjoyed school because things could play out how they were gonna play out there. Not everything was certain, times were different sometimes, and he had more freedom. He got out of the car silently, too engrossed in the current song playing in his ears. He entered his first class, Kenma waving. He returned the gesture, sitting down next to him. He took out his earbuds. "Hey."

"Hey, how's Yuki?"

"Good, her birthday was Saturday. She fuckin' loved it," he said, a smile coming to his face. A huge one that could have been mistaken for aggressiveness or meanness but he wasn't worried about that. Kenma read him like a book when it came to his facial expressions or his words, and the ravenette had no doubts that he understood this time too.

"Nice. She's eight now, right?"

"Yeah. Big girl."

"Mhm."

"She said she was too old for Bee today. Still enjoys them though."

"They grow up fast, don't they?"

"Yeah. I checked out that game you told me about. It was cool."

"Did you harass the ghost again?"

"Yes."

"Heh, of course, you did."

"Worth it, it was funny as shit."

"I bet it was."

"Why do we not have practice?"

"He didn't really explain.."

"M'kay."

"Everyone, take your seats."

Kuroo waved with two fingers, not unusual for him, and turned. Kenma did also, noting the ravenette's earbuds making their way back into his ears. He knew he hadn't been asked to do so, but Kozume grabbed two notebooks and headed both the pages the same: 'Algebra I'. He began writing notes in his own notebook, doubling them on the other when the teacher paused long enough for him to do this. He couldn't let his best friend fail, now could he?