A game of hearts {Kuroo}

5.

Over the next few weeks, Y/N and Kuroo's arrangement continued to flourish. Their study sessions became more frequent, and their "outings" turned into routine. For Y/N, life at the university didn't feel as overwhelming as it once did. Thanks to Kuroo's efforts, she was starting to enjoy herself in ways she hadn't expected.

It was a quiet Tuesday afternoon when they met at their usual spot in the library. Y/N was already seated, surrounded by a mountain of biology textbooks and notes when Kuroo strolled in. His backpack hung lazily off one shoulder, and he was sipping a large iced coffee.

"Look who's early for once," he teased as he sat down across from her.

Y/N raised an eyebrow without looking up from her notes. "It's called being punctual, Kuroo. You should try it sometime."

He grinned, leaning back in his chair. "You know, if I was punctual all the time, you'd miss the opportunity to lecture me. And we both know you secretly enjoy that."

Y/N shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips. "Whatever you say."

They settled into their usual routine: Kuroo working through his science notes, Y/N reviewing her upcoming exam material. Occasionally, Kuroo would mutter something under his breath about a particularly confusing concept, and Y/N would look up to offer him a brief explanation. She found herself increasingly impressed by how quickly he caught on to new material when he actually put his mind to it.

After an hour or so of focused work, Kuroo stretched, letting out a dramatic sigh.

"I think my brain's about to fry," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "We've been at this for hours."

Y/N glanced at him, amused. "It's been exactly 57 minutes, Kuroo."

He grinned lazily. "Close enough. Time for a break?"

Y/N hesitated. She still had so much to get through before her next lecture. But Kuroo's idea of a break usually led to interesting conversations, and she couldn't deny that she was starting to appreciate those moments. She sighed, closing her textbook. "Fine, but just for a few minutes."

They moved outside to the courtyard, where the warm afternoon sun cast a gentle glow over the campus. Kuroo, ever the extrovert, immediately began talking about his most recent volleyball practice.

"You should've seen the look on Yaku's face when Lev completely botched a set," Kuroo said, chuckling at the memory. "I swear, I thought he was going to murder him on the spot."

Y/N smiled as she listened, though she didn't always understand the technical volleyball terms. Despite that, she found herself getting more interested in the sport. Kuroo spoke about it with such passion and energy that it was hard not to be drawn in.

"You really love volleyball, don't you?" she asked,her tone thoughtful.

Kuroo paused for a moment, a rare flicker of seriousness passing over his features. "Yeah, I do. It's been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember. It's more than just a sport to me—it's something that keeps me grounded."

Y/N nodded slowly, understanding. "It's kind of like how I feel about biology. It's my constant, the thing that makes sense when everything else is chaotic."

Kuroo looked at her, his expression softening. "Exactly. You get it."

For a moment, they simply sat there in comfortable silence, watching students pass by in the courtyard. The atmosphere between them was relaxed and easy, and Y/N realized that, despite their differences, there was a shared sense of dedication in both of them—Kuroo to volleyball, and her to her academics. They were more alike than she had originally thought.