𝐅𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍: 𝐦𝐢𝐲𝐚 𝐨𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐮

(xxv) denial

you were staring at the hand extended to you.

and then at the body attached to it. and then into tetsurou kuroo's very surprised eyes. the palm of your own hand met his apprehensively.

"we've met before", he said, and a shudder ran through you.

"right, congratulations on the promotion kuroo-san", you nodded

it was almost funny how all you'd been doing lately was congratulating people on taking what you once thought was yours to have.

and it was funnier how the person that rebuilt your resolve when you needed it the most was the latest addition to the list of people that had been breaking it tirelessly.

what exactly was your perception of him supposed to be?

were you supposed to be grateful to him for saving your life by quoting dialogues from titanic or were you supposed to resent him for adding to its misery.

it wasn't as if it was his fault specifically, that your mother thought he was more suited for the job.

"y/n", mayumi cleared her throat, "now that you're here, might as well join us for lunch."

you instinctively moved closer to the door, "no that's okay, i'll leave-"

"sakusa-san", kuroo said, apparently in an attempt to sound less unapproachable than he looked, "it's your house, don't let me stop you please."

before you could answer like any good host would, however, mayumi took the words right out of your mouth, "you're not an interference by any means, tetsurou. go check if the food is ready, y/n."

you nodded along, agreeing with your mother as if everything was exactly the same. as if she hadn't crushed your whole self esteem and then disowned you.

when you returned from the kitchen, you found tetsurou sitting there by himself. he was reading the newspaper that was kept on the coffee table- which made you look at him weirdly. who reads newspapers in this day and age?

"food will be five more minutes", you informed and then sat down casually on the other end of the couch, "where's mom"

"some call about business at the office", he shrugged, putting the paper down, "you know, it's actually good to see you"

"you too", you nodded, inhaling and exhaling deeply to calm yourself, "i didn't know you were even in the running for VP."

"yeah, it's quite a... recent development", his tone vaguely indicated guilt- meaning he knew you were supposed to get the job and that he wasn't the first option.

"good for you"

an unsure silence followed.

"does mayumi-san know about the-"

"no"

"is mayumi-san the reason why you-"

"mind your business, kuroo-san", you looked back up at him, "thank you for that day. i'm grateful. but let's not talk about it, please".

he opened his mouth to say something when mayumi entered the room again, and an announcement that lunch was served followed.

the three of you walked towards the dining table. you both waited for mayumi to sit down first. then you began to take a seat and kuroo pushed your chair in for you as you sat.

you tilted your head up at him and then thanked him. he shrugged it off.

"so how long have you been working with us?", you asked him, before slowly clarifying, "i mean, with the company"