WHAT LOVERS DO ❨ kuroo tetsuro ❩

ten. they knew?

The obvious blush across their cheeks was enough to tell everyone they passed by that Kuroo and Rin were a thing. In a sea of families and married couples inside the grocery store, Kuroo was pushing the cart for Rin who was looking at her phone for recipes.

"What do you want to cook?" Rin asked, sparing a glance at Kuroo whose eyes were already fixed on her. His soft smile stunned Rin, who then chuckled and shook her head. "Hey, had I known you had always been looking at me like that, I would have gotten the clue much earlier."

"Well, everyone did say that I was so obvious with my feelings. What I'm very impressed about was how you managed to avoid every hint that I ever gave you," he joked, chuckling as he pushed the cart ahead of her to avoid letting her see the deep tint of pink on his cheeks. "I've liked you for a while now, if you haven't noticed that."

"Since when have you been feeling that way?" Rin's question was something Kuroo expected, but he was still shy to answer it.

If anyone were to be told that Kuroo Tetsuro could act shy, no one would have believed them. He was loudly confident and that was one of his charms, but Rin found it endearing that the very same guy who radiated confidence was also a shy teenage boy at times. It made him seem more human, just like everyone else.

"I think it was a couple of months after we became friends. I was only interested in being a friend at first, but you really caught my attention and before I knew it, I started to think about you day and night. You really made me question whether it was right to like a friend or not," he admitted, "I never confessed all these years because I was afraid that I'll lose you even as a friend if I ever did."

"I've always been drawn to your confidence and I've always loved how you were a natural leader. You motivate people in ways they need to be, and your presence is just to comforting. I think, though, what made me want to consider you as something more was when you asked me for advice. I thought, who could reject someone like you? And then the reasons why I should like you came flooding in," Rin said.

Kuroo grinned, delighted that Rin was someone who was very straightforward. He loved how he didn't need to ask her directly, she herself told him how she felt as well.

"But I'm inexperienced. I don't know what to do, how to be more than just a friend, but I do want to spend more time with you and be so much more. I am open to new things with you," she added, smiling up at him.

He added a few more products on their cart and then looked down at her, smiling before he placed a few stray strands of her hair behind her ear. His hazel eyes melted down on her stormy grey ones, finding the curiosity and enthusiasm in her eyes charming.

"I love hearing that from you," he muttered, "I don't think I can bear it if you were to say those things to someone else."

"There will never be someone else, Tetsu. I think it's always been you, from the moment we met— maybe the way you approached me was the universe telling me that you'll be such a big part of my life," she grinned, and he smiled gently at her.

"Let's pay for this and cook at your place? Is your mom home?"

"She is. But I bet she'd love to have you around."

"Great."

Dancing brows— Rin's mom was definitely delighted when she heard from Kuroo that the two of them went grocery shopping so they could cook together. She had always known how her daughter loved cooking, and that was something she wanted to share with a special someone. When Kuroo admitted to her mother that he confessed and they decided to give dating a try, her mother was rejoicing and kept telling them the words "I told you so!"

"How could you have known that Tetsu liked me if I never really was sure about it? I was around him longer than you are," Rin argued, raising a brow as her mom grinned mischievously at her from the dining table.

Kuroo and Rin were chopping some vegetables for their curry, with Kuroo having a soft smile on while he listened in on the conversation of the mother-daughter duo.

"Well, sometimes, those who aren't around much see  things clearer than those who see each other everyday. For one, he always smiles at you much gentler than he does to his father or me. Whenever we go out for one of those dinners, he would treat you really well while also being playful enough so as not to cross the line between your friendship and something more. I think he did a great job staying as your friend even if it was obvious he liked you— he had those lovey dovey eyes, you see. His dad and I could see it." She explained, and both teenagers were flustered. So they were serious when they said that they liked the idea of Kuroo and Rin together. It was not a joke between family friends, but a serious wish.

"I'd like to add that my dad knew that I like Rin. It was before that recent dinner, he told me I was obvious. She was oblivious through and through," Kuroo chuckled, putting the potatoes in a bowl and began chopping the carrots.

"Rin cooked grilled salted mackerel pike for a whole day and I had to eat them with Kenma, she wanted to perfect that recipe. When I asked her why she was determined to perfect it, she said it was your favorite," Rin's mom explained, "I knew then when she went out of her way to do that for you, she liked you more than a friend did. I think I realized it before she did."

"Aw, you really did that for me?" Kuroo asked, his eyes softening as he looked at Rin who was red with both embarrassment and thrill.

"I did. I was starting to pity Kenma who had to bring some home too after eating a couple of versions of that recipe. He did say that it tasted good." She admitted, and Kuroo placed his knife down then  gave her a side hug.

"Ask me to taste every new recipe you try next time." He said, and Rin nodded.

"Okay, I'll leave you both here and just watch a show in the living room. Tetsuro, you take good care of my little girl, okay?"

"Yes, ma'am. You don't have to tell me twice."