Fall | hinata harem

chapter twenty-seven

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Shouyou Hinata

"Romantically? No way! We're just old friends is all. Why do you look so bothered? Are you and Kiyoomi friends, too?"

I shifted my weight to my left, almost as if to tilt the conversation in a less awkward direction. I didn't miss how Tetsurou's eyes briefly flickered down to my movement.

"No, how do I put this..." He brings his hand to the back of his neck and massages himself there like a sudden cramp had occurred.

"We're not really close. We're more acquaintances than anything. It seems to me that you two are a bit more than that..."

"I don't see how that's a problem..?"

He sighed and reached out for my hand, but since my wrists were bruised and sore from the prior event I had endured, I felt overly self-conscious. I couldn't bring myself to show him the damage my depleted self-discipline had done.

A small frown ghosted his lips, visible displeasure, but he hid it away faster than I had seen anyone else do so and brought his hand back to his side.

I could feel an odd tension building around us the more he seemed to let his frustration show on his face. Tetsurou seemed to feel it too because he changed his aura fairly quickly afterward.

"Of course you don't- You know what? It's fine! It's fine, I was just wondering because I want to be friends with you, too, and I didn't know if there was a position open for you. Do you... happen to be looking for a friend?"

Now, it was my turn to give him a smile, though I'm sure mine was smaller, more meek in comparison to his brilliant grin.

"If you don't diss what I bake from now on, I'm sure we'll be great friends! Oh, actually, we should hang out soon! Are you free this Tuesday? I'll be at work, but we could totally use a taste tester for our new breakfast ideas."

Kuroo laughed so loudly that it shocked me, yet I couldn't help but laugh along, albeit awkwardly.

"If I did that Kenma would be so~ jealous! Count me in!"

"We can invite him, too. I think it'd be really fun!"

I thought he'd be more at ease to have a familiar friend of his around since we don't know each other well, but Tetsurou didn't seem too pleased by my offer.

"I mean... Well, alright... I'm sure he'd be too busy stuffing his face to really get in the way..."

"Huh?"

He clears his throat and his happy grin is back.

"I said hell yeah! I'll let him know later! For now, why don't we-"

"Shouyou~! Where'd ya go~? Let's eat lunch together!"

Koutarou poked his head out of the room and into the hall, where a bright grin overtook his features at the sight of us. Keiji trailed behind him looking concerned and seemingly trying to get Koutarou to quiet down.

"Sorry, Koutarou, but I should probably head back home after I talk with Kiyoomi. My family's probably worried about me..."

I've never seen someone's smile fall so quickly.

"But... We've barely gotten to hang out... Can't you stay one more night, so we can have a sleepover together? We can stay up and watch movies in my room... It'll be fun..!"