Behind the screen

Meeting at the cafe

Kenma walked into the cafe, feeling a mix of reluctance and curiosity. He spotted Kuroo at a table near the back, waving at him enthusiastically. With a sigh, Kenma made his way over and slid into the seat opposite his friend.

"Hey, Kenma! Glad you could make it," Kuroo greeted him with a grin.

Kenma nodded, not quite sharing Kuroo's enthusiasm. "Yeah, yeah. What did you want to talk about?"

Kuroo took a sip of his coffee before leaning forward. "So, I've been thinking about this new project we could work on. It's a gaming tournament, and I think you'd be perfect for it. What do you say?"

Kenma raised an eyebrow. "A tournament? I don't know, Kuroo. You know I don't like being in the spotlight."

"I get that, but this is different. You'd be behind the scenes, helping to design the games and manage the event. Plus, it's a great opportunity to meet other gamers and network," Kuroo explained, his excitement evident.

Kenma considered it, feeling a spark of interest despite his initial hesitation. "Maybe. I'll think about it."

As they talked, Kenma couldn't help but glance around the cafe. His eyes landed on a familiar face, and he tensed. It was the girl from the party last night, the one he had argued with on the balcony. She was sitting with another guy, seemingly deep in conversation.

Kuroo noticed his distraction and followed his gaze. "Someone you know?"

Kenma shook his head. "Not really. Just someone I ran into last night."

Kuroo smirked. "Ran into, huh? What happened?"

Kenma sighed, not wanting to get into the details. "We didn't exactly get along."

Before Kuroo could pry further, the girl glanced over and their eyes met. Kenma felt a surge of annoyance mixed with something else he couldn't quite identify. She seemed just as surprised to see him as he was to see her.

"Small world," Kuroo commented, noticing the exchange. "Maybe you should go say hi."

Kenma rolled his eyes. "Or maybe not."

Kuroo laughed. "Come on, Kenma. It wouldn't hurt to be a little more social."

Kenma ignored him, turning his attention back to their conversation about the tournament. As much as he tried to focus, he couldn't shake the feeling that his paths were going to keep crossing with this girl, whether he liked it or not.