A game of hearts {Kuroo}

8.

Y/N stared at the clock on her phone as she stood outside Kuroo's dorm building, shifting nervously from one foot to the other. The cold evening air nipped at her cheeks, but it wasn't the temperature that caused her unease. She had spent most of the day going over and over in her head what had happened the night before—how she had snapped at Kuroo and driven him away during a moment of weakness.

It wasn't like her to lose control like that. For as long as she could remember, Y/N had always been the calm, collected one. The one who had everything together. But lately, the stress of her workload and the social pressures that came with being more involved in university life had started to overwhelm her.

And Kuroo had just been caught in the crossfire.

The door swung open, and Kuroo stepped out, wearing his usual casual clothes—a hoodie and sweatpants, hair as tousled as ever. When he saw her standing there, his expression softened slightly, though there was still a hint of reservation in his eyes.

"Hey," he said, his voice quiet but not cold.

"Hey," Y/N replied, her hands fiddling with the strap of her bag. "Can we talk?"

Kuroo nodded, stepping to the side to let her into the building. They walked in silence down the hallway, the only sound the faint echoes of distant conversation from other dorm rooms. He led her into the common area—a quiet, cozy space with a couple of couches and a coffee table. The tension between them was palpable as they sat down, Y/N sitting rigidly on the edge of the couch, while Kuroo leaned back, arms folded across his chest.

Y/N took a deep breath, her heart racing as she searched for the right words. She wasn't used to being the one to apologize, but she knew she had to set things right.

"Kuroo, I'm really sorry about last night," she began, her voice barely above a whisper. "I shouldn't have said what I did. It wasn't fair to you."

Kuroo's expression softened as he listened, but he didn't interrupt her.

"I've just been feeling so overwhelmed lately, with everything piling up—classes, labs, studying for exams. I feel like I'm drowning, and I guess I took it out on you. But that wasn't right. You've been nothing but supportive, and I pushed you away."

Kuroo was quiet for a moment, studying her face with that sharp, perceptive gaze of his. Then, he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he spoke.

"I get that you're under a lot of pressure, Y/N," he said, his tone gentler than she expected. "But you don't have to deal with all of it by yourself. I know how much this stuff means to you, but it's okay to lean on people when you need to. That's what friends are for."

Y/N bit her lip, nodding slowly. She had always prided herself on being independent, on handling everything on her own. But maybe that was part of the problem. Maybe she was trying too hard to do it all without realizing that there were people willing to help—people like Kuroo, who genuinely cared.

"I know you're right," she admitted, her voice a little shaky. "It's just hard for me to... to let people in. I've always been the one who's in control, the one who gets things done. But lately, I feel like I'm slipping, and that scares me."

Kuroo watched her for a moment, then reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder, a reassuring warmth in his touch. "You're not slipping, Y/N. You're just human. It's okay to be stressed, it's okay to be frustrated. But you don't have to go through it alone. I've got your back, remember?"

Y/N looked down at her hands, her fingers fidgeting in her lap. The sincerity in his voice made her heart ache. She had been so afraid of showing weakness, of admitting that she couldn't handle everything on her own. But Kuroo wasn't judging her. He wasn't seeing her as weak. He was just... there. Offering support without asking for anything in return.

"I guess I'm not used to having someone like you around," she said softly. "Someone who's willing to put up with my mess."

Kuroo let out a low chuckle, his playful smirk returning. "Y/N, if you think you're a mess, you should see my teammates. Compared to them, you're a model of composure."

She couldn't help but laugh at that, a small but genuine sound that lightened the weight on her shoulders. Kuroo always knew how to bring some levity to a situation, even when things felt heavy.

"I just don't want to mess things up between us," she added, her smile fading slightly as she met his eyes. "You've been a good friend, Kuroo. I don't want to lose that."

Kuroo's gaze softened, and he leaned back, crossing his arms casually as he gave her a reassuring grin. "You're not gonna lose me that easily, don't worry. We all have bad days, and I get that. Just... don't shut me out, okay? I'm here, and I want to help, whether it's with studying or just making sure you don't get stuck in that library 24/7."

Y/N smiled, a warm sense of relief spreading through her chest. Kuroo's easygoing nature was something she had come to appreciate deeply, and it felt good to know that their friendship could weather these kinds of bumps in the road.

"I won't," she promised. "And I'll try to stop being such a hermit."

"That's the spirit," Kuroo said, his grin widening. "Now, speaking of which, I was thinking we could hit that café by campus tomorrow. I know you've got a lot going on, but maybe taking a break once in a while isn't such a bad thing."

Y/N hesitated for a second but then nodded, realizing how much she needed that break. "You're right. Let's do it."

---

The next day, true to their agreement, they met up at the café. It was a quiet spot off campus, filled with the smell of freshly brewed coffee and the sound of soft, indie music playing in the background. For the first time in what felt like weeks, Y/N allowed herself to relax.

They sat by the window, sipping their drinks, theafternoon sun casting warm light across the table. Conversation flowed easilybetween them, touching on everything from Kuroo's volleyball team dynamics to Y/N's latest lab project. They didn't delve into the heavy topics—there was no need to. This was just about enjoying each other's company, about resetting after the tension that had built up between them.

At one point, Kuroo casually leaned back in his chair, giving her a thoughtful look. "You know, you've really come a long way since we first met. I remember you being all business and no play."

Y/N chuckled, resting her chin in her hand. "I guess you're to blame for dragging me out of that mindset."

"Guilty as charged," Kuroo said with a smirk. "But seriously, you've opened up a lot. It's nice seeing you more comfortable with stuff outside of your studies."

She gave him a small, appreciative smile. "You've been a big part of that, Kuroo. I don't think I would've made it through these last few weeks without your help."

He shrugged, clearly downplaying his role, but there was a flicker of pride in his eyes. "What can I say? I'm a man of many talents."

They shared a quiet laugh, and in that moment, Y/N felt a sense of peace she hadn't felt in a while. It wasn't just about the studying or the stress—it was about learning to lean on someone else and finding comfort in their presence.

As they finished their coffee and prepared to head back to campus, Y/N couldn't help but feel grateful for their friendship. Kuroo had been more than just a teammate or a study partner—he had become someone she could rely on, someone who understood her in ways few others did.

And while there were still challenges ahead, she knew now that she didn't have to face them alone.