for the better? kenma x reader

1 ~

It was known by everyone at Nekoma that L/n Y/n had a crush on Kenma Kozume.

She had confessed multiple times to Kenma's dismay. It was always something new such as "Would you be the alpha to my beta?" or "Hello kind Sir, I must say you look ravishing today. Therefore will you take my hand in marriage?"

Despite Y/n's weird and wonderful ways of asking him out, each time she would receive the same response...

"I'm sorry, I can't date you. It's for the best."

This was the third time Kenma had told Y/n this in the last three weeks. Each week she would make it her mission to ask him out in the hopes that his answer would change.

NEWS FLASH: it never did.

Y/n was an avid volleyball fan and you could spot her at all the volleyball games in which the boys played. This led her to become the manager of the boys' volleyball club at start of her second year at Nekoma.

As she began to know the team better, Y/n realised her feelings for Kenma, and as the very outgoing person she was, she told him straight away.

Despite being rejected, Y/n was persistent and determined, therefore leading her to ask Kenma out every. single. week.

Ignoring the one-sided feelings, during this time Y/n had become good friends with Kenma and Koroo. They would all sit together at lunch and hang out outside of school. Koroo was always amused with how persistent Y/n was with her feelings and constantly made jokes about how Y/n was a hopeless romantic and that Kenma would die alone.

It was almost routine at this point. They would all sit together at lunch, Koroo would make jokes and Y/n would ask out Kenma in a new and creative way. It was as though she never ran out of ideas.

This week was like no other...

except it was.

It was Friday lunchtime and Y/n was nowhere to be seen. She hadn't attended their practice match yesterday against Karasuno or confessed to Kenma yet.

To say the two were worried is an understatement. This led to them splitting up in search of her.

Kenma had spotted her in the hallway but couldn't help but feel a strange mix of confusion and concern when she walked past him.

"Hey, uhh.. you okay?" Kenma asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Y/n responded with slight confusion "Hmm.. oh yes why?"

Kenma shrugged, pretending to be nonchalant as he leaned against the locker beside you. Crossing his arms, he tried his best to sound impassive as he asked "You just... weren't at the game yesterday and didn't have your lunch with me and Koroo. Just thought something might've gone wrong."

"No, Im okay, why would something be wrong?" Y/n asked still confused about the sudden interrogation.

Kenmas eyebrows furrowed slightly, but he tried to maintain his calm demeanour. He shifted his weight, casually looking away as he mumbled "I don't know... You've just been uncharacteristically quiet lately, that's all."

Y/n had a slight suspicion about what Kenma was getting at and asked "Is this because I haven't confessed to you this week?"

Kenmas eyes widened a fraction at your unexpected question. He quickly composed himself, letting out a scoff. "What? No. Of course not. Why would I care about that..."

Y/n smirked slightly before letting it disappear "Well you seem to care if you noticed that I've been acting uncharacteristically quiet."

Kenma let out a sigh, his expression slightly frustrated. He runs a hand through his messy hair and grumbles "It's just.. you're usually always talking my ear off. It was weird seeing you so quiet, that's all."

Y/ns faint smile faded as she explained "Well, I picked up on your hints. It may have taken a while but Im trying to move on as you don't want me. To do this though, I just need a little space from you."

Kenmas heart clenched at your words, a sudden pang of guilt settling in his stomach. He hadn't expected the rejection to affect you so deeply. Kenma leaned against the locker, looking down at the ground in silence for a moment. Then, he spoke, his voice quiet but firm. "It's not that I don't... 'want' you. We're friends, and I don't want things to change."

Y/ns head dropped slightly as she quietly said "I get that, I do now, but I need some time to get over you before things can go back to normal."

Kenma nodded, his expression softening a little. He understood where you were coming from, and he didn't want to make things more difficult. "Yeah, I guess.. some time apart might help. Im just... not used to you not being around."

Y/ns head lifted to look at Kenma. A sad smile formed on her face. "I'll see you at volleyball practice. I am the manager after all. But I won't talk to you as much."

His expression pinched at the thought of you not talking to him as much. It shouldn't affect him this much, he thought.

After all, you had always been nothing but a nuisance to him, right?

Yet, for some reason, the mere thought of you not approaching him every five minutes seemed... wrong. "Right, yeah sure. See you then I guess."

He was about to walk off and find Koroo to tell him about what happened when she stopped him. "Wait... you seem irritated almost. Did I do something wrong?"

Kenmas jaw clenched as he realised he had let some of his emotions show on his face. He quickly schooled his expression and shook his head. "No, it's nothing. I just... im not used to this change, that's all."

Thoughts flowed through your head before saying "Well if you want I could still talk to you every day like normal but It would be harder for my feelings to fade."

Kenmas heart thumped at your words. He wanted things to go back to the way they were, to hear your voice constantly yapping in his ear. But he knew it would only make things worse in the long run. "No. It's fine. You need space to get over me."

Tears welled in Y/ns eyes as she again was faced with the truth. Kenmas eyes widened at the sight of your tears, the sight tugged at his heart painfully. He never expected that his actions would make you cry. He took a step closer, almost instinctively, before pausing, unsure of what to do. "Hey, hey... don't cry."

"No, It's okay" Y/n turned away from him "It's just I like you and it's going to be hard to move on." Her words came out almost as a whisper.

Kenma felt his stomach twist at your words. He hated seeing you like this, upset because of him. His hands clenched into fists as he fought the urge to reach out and comfort you. "I... I know it's hard. It's not good to like someone who's not interested and keeps shutting you down, right?..."

"... but don't you think it's for the better?"

A/N: AHHHHH first chapter done !!!!!!!!! I hope you enjoyed it. Im so excited to write the rest. <3
im really bad with tenses and spelling so plz correct me in the comments 🙏
(Just saying I think you should vote and comment!!)

(Just a suggestion)