Everything Goes On || KuroKen || Haikyuu!!

Prologue

The summer breeze whistled through the tree branches, carrying along with it, pink petals from the trees nearby. Butterflies would try to come close to the beautiful flowers that bloomed nearby, only to be scared away, unintentionally, by Kuroo's missed sets.

"Higher Kenma!" Kuroo said running back to his starting position. He knew he had to learn how to spike the ball correctly.

"But you said that would be the last one..." Kenma mumbled picking up the volleyball and heading back beside the net they had managed to put up between two adjacent trees. He was thankful for at least having the shed of the trees to keep them a bit cooler. Kuroo certainly didn't care. All he cared for was to learn the spike he saw on television a week back, before the new term of elementary school started for them.

"Come on just once more." Kuroo pleaded.

Just where did all of his energy come from? I am pretty sure we had the same thing for lunch today. Kenma thought before he shrugged it off and tossed the ball to Kuroo. Kuroo grinned as he threw the ball up, towards Kenma, who set it for him.

The set was perfect and so was Kuroo's spike, for the first time in all of last week. But once misery finds herself at a blind lane she doesn't stop. She transfigures it into a new path altogether. While Kuroo replayed his own shot in his mind, unable to believe how he did it, the ball went bouncing and rolling towards the river nearby. If they weren't quick...

"Kuroo..." Kenma pointed his tiny hand towards the ball which was rolling away like it had been finally set free. Kuroo's excitement died down as he turned to look at what Kenma was pointing to.

Kuroo sprang forward, Kenma trailing behind, unable to keep up. "Quick! It's gonna fall!"
Their little feet only managed to take them half way through when the ball fell into the river with a splash. The two boys watched their prized possession get carried away with the flow.

Tears welled up in Kuroo's eyes and Kenma pretended not to notice.
"Want to go home?"
Kuroo got up without saying a word and walked back to the trees where they were practicing earlier. He lied down, arms folded under his head as he looked up at the blue sky blotched with small clouds moving in clusters. Kenma quietly lied down beside him and glanced at him before looking up.
"It is getting warm nowadays." Kuroo said and Kenma hummed in response. It really was warmer than usual. "I lost my volleyball." Kuroo followed up his own words. He was facing away from Kenma.

"But.." Kenma took a moment before continuing. "But we leveled up."

Kuroo quickly turned his head and Kenma noticed his eyes glistening. "What?"

"We leveled up." Kenma repeated slowly. "Like my Video Games..."

Kuroo's face lit up with a sudden brightness as he sat up. "Right! We leveled up Kenma! I can spike!" As much as Kenma was happy to see his only friend cheered up, he wished he was not as loud. Kuroo pulled Kenma up by his arms, Kenma unable to keep up due to his lack in strength.
"Get up! Let's go run two laps!"
"Kuroo, I can't.."
Kuroo was far to elated to listen and soon he was running with the wind, taking Kenma along with him, promising him he would play his favorite game the next day, their voices slowly fading into the distance. Both of them knew, they would be here again the next day, back on another afternoon, with a new volleyball and a new stream of motivation.

Sure, Kenma was annoyed at times. He didn't have the stamina that Kuroo had and he wanted nothing more than to stay home and play his video games all day. But he would come out of his room, into the sunlight and play with Kuroo till the Sun set. It was only Kuroo, who never left him alone for once.

________________________________________________________________________________

This was the Dragon's Den. The fighter approached the Dragon, the new Boss in game. Even after masterfully avoiding and dodging all of it's attack in the first phase, the fighter couldn't keep up. He was knocked out with an AoE attack. The Screen flashed - "DEFEAT".

Kenma clicked his tounge. The game was getting on his nerves now. The screen had flashed the same message of defeat at least ten times now. It irritated Kenma to be unable to figure out the strategy to this new challenge. If there was something Kenma hated with all his heart, even more than moving around, it was losing.

Kuroo could feel his frustration sitting beside him in the train. He closed the book he was reading to take a look at the screen. It was Kenma's eleventh attempt since the day before.
"We will be there soon, you are still playing?" Kuroo asked, watching him swiftly place two critical strikes on the Boss, in game.
"This one is a little challenging..." Kenma replied.
"Well, I though you would have noticed but look there, the Dragon's tail lit up the last time it attacked. Maybe try preparing yourself with a shield when you see it?"
Kenma's eyes widened. Why hadn't he noticed that? Was it because of his frustration? Whatever it was, he wouldn't miss it this time. He concentrated and activated the temporary shield right when the Dragon's tail began to glow. With a blast, the Dragon released its attack, and there stood Kenma's character in the Arena, undefeated. He finished the challenge with his best attack and a message flashed on his screen - "WIN".
Kenma sighed and put his PlayStation away into his backpack.
"Good job" Kuroo said, smiling softly.

They walked to their school from the station and as they stood in front of the building, Kuroo looked proudly at the campus.
"Welcome to Nekoma High School, Kenma."

Kenma stood there, his slightly long hair dancing about in rhythm with the wind, an unnoticeable smile formed on his lips.
Kuroo could only hope the smile was there to last.

________________________________________________________________________________