𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐃 𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄 | 𝐊. 𝐊𝐄𝐍𝐌𝐀

# fifteen

It was finally the weekend, and you woke up feeling unusually refreshed despite the late hour. The sun had already climbed high into the sky, casting a warm glow through the blinds of your bedroom. You stretched and yawned, then shuffled to your en suite bathroom to freshen up. The events of the past week had left you feeling a bit frazzled, but the idea of a lazy Saturday was a welcome reprieve.

As you emerged from your room, still comfortably ensconced in your pyjamas—an old, oversized tank top and shorts—you were wholly unprepared for the sight that greeted you. In the living room, sprawled across your couch and lounging with an air of casual familiarity, were Kuroo, Hinata, and Rin. The unexpected presence of your friends in your personal space sent you into a mild panic.

"What the hell?" you muttered under your breath, abruptly turning on your heel and retreating back into your room. Your heart was racing as you tried to gather your thoughts. This was not the way you had imagined starting your day.

You quickly rifled through your closet, pulling out a random hoodie that looked vaguely presentable. You yanked it over your head, leaving the hood up to cover your messy hair. After a few quick adjustments to make sure you didn't look completely disheveled, you took a deep breath and ventured back into the living area.

"Good morning to you all," you announced as casually as you could manage, trying to sound more composed than you felt.

"Y/N, it's 1 PM," Kuroo replied, raising an eyebrow as he took in your appearance. His smirk was teasing but not unkind.

"So what?" you shot back, crossing your arms in a defensive posture. "I don't wake up when the rooster crows. But Tetsurou, you're so similar to them—it's like you're a walking, talking stereotype of an early riser. Your laugh, your hair, you even wake up at the same time as they do."

"Whoa, calm down," Hinata interjected, his eyes wide with a mixture of surprise and concern. "I'm sure there's no need to get so worked up."

"I am calm, Shouyou," you retorted, your voice tinged with exasperation as you walked into the kitchen. You grabbed a box of cereal and poured yourself a bowl, the clatter of the spoon against the bowl providing a bit of solace amidst the chaos.

You carried your cereal to the living room, where you plopped down on the couch, deliberately placing yourself in a more comfortable and relaxed position. As you began to eat, you glanced around at the group, your curiosity piqued. "So, what's up with you guys? Is this a secret meeting or something?"

Kuroo leaned back on the couch, a playful glint in his eye. "Yeah, Y/N. Do you know what tomorrow is?"

You paused mid-bite, your mind quickly sifting through the calendar in your head. "October 16th. Kenma's birthday," you answered with confidence.

"You seem to know a lot about Kenma for someone who always says you're just friends," Kuroo remarked with a knowing smirk.

"Well, yeah, we are 'just friends.' I just happen to memorize my friends' birthdays," you said, rolling your eyes at the implication.

"Oh really? Then when's my birthday? Without looking at your phone," Kuroo challenged, a mischievous glint in his eye.

You froze, your mind blanking for a moment. "Uh..."

"Wow, Y/N," Kuroo continued, his tone teasing. "I've known you since elementary school and we've lived in the same neighborhood for years, yet you don't know my birthday?"

"Oh, shut it, you rooster. It's just a birthday," you snapped back, feeling the heat rise to your cheeks. The back-and-forth banter between you and Kuroo continued, each of you trying to one-up the other.

"Should we stop them... specifically Y/N?" Shouyou whispered to Rin, who was sitting next to him with a bemused expression.

"I'll handle it," Rin whispered back, her tone firm but gentle.

"Y/N, Tetsurou. Be civil. We're here for one thing and one thing only," Rin said, her voice taking on a no-nonsense edge that immediately quieted the room.

"Okay," you replied, sounding somewhat chastened.

"Yes, ma'am," Kuroo chimed in with exaggerated respect, a grin playing on his lips.

Rin gave him a pointed look. "That's what I thought." You couldn't help but notice Shouyou's gaze lingering on Rin, filled with admiration. 'Cute,' you thought to yourself, a small smile tugging at your lips despite the situation.

"Anyways," Shouyou said, taking over the conversation, "we were planning Kenma a small surprise birthday party. Just a small gathering. We figured he wouldn't want anything too extravagant."

You raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the idea. "A surprise party, huh? Sounds like fun. But what's the plan?"

"We're keeping it intimate—just the four of us," Shouyou explained. "Kenma doesn't really like crowds, so we thought a low-key celebration would be best. We're thinking of doing it at my place since it's more private and we won't have to worry about a big crowd."

"Sounds like a solid plan," you agreed. "So, what do you need from us?"

"We need to finalize the details," Kuroo said. "I'll take care of getting the decorations and picking up the cake. Rin, you're on snacks. Shouyou, you handle the music and the setup. Y/N, can you handle the drinks and coordinating with Kenma's favorite food?"

"Sure thing," you said, mentally making a checklist of everything that needed to be done.

The group worked together to finalize the plans, each of you taking on specific tasks to ensure the party went off without a hitch. Kuroo and Shouyou left to start preparing their parts, while you and Rin stayed behind to help with the arrangements.

As you and Rin sorted through the logistics, the atmosphere in the apartment shifted to a more relaxed and collaborative mood. There was a sense of excitement in the air, a shared anticipation for the upcoming celebration.

"You know," Rin said as she helped you organize the list of drinks, "it's really nice to see everyone coming together for Kenma like this. I know he doesn't always show it, but he really appreciates it."

"Yeah, I'm sure he does," you agreed, a small smile crossing your face. "He's lucky to have friends who care so much about him."

As the planning came to a close and the group started to head out, you found yourself feeling a mixture of excitement and nervousness. Tomorrow was going to be hectic, but you were looking forward to celebrating Kenma's birthday and seeing his reaction to the surprise.

With everything set in motion, you spent the rest of the day tidying up and mentally preparing for the next day's events. The anticipation of the surprise party kept you busy, but even as you worked, your mind kept drifting back to Kenma. The dream you had, the unexpected kiss—it was all still fresh in your mind, adding an extra layer of complexity to the upcoming celebration.

As you settled down for the night, the weight of the upcoming surprise party and the lingering thoughts of Kenma created a buzz of anticipation and nerves that you couldn't quite shake. Tomorrow promised to be a day of revelations and surprises, and you couldn't wait to see how everything would unfold.

With a deep breath, you closed your eyes, trying to push aside the whirlwind of thoughts and focus on getting a good night's sleep. Tomorrow was going to be a big day, and you needed to be ready for whatever it might bring.

──────  end of chapter ──────

▸ You suggested a apple pie filled/flavoured cake because you knew of Kenma's interest in apple pie.

authors note:

forgot to double update yesterday after school so here:P

i appreciate any votes+comments. stay safe, healthy, and hydrated :D