A game of hearts {Kuroo}

9.

It was a Friday night, and the campus buzzed with excitement. Students flowed in groups, laughing and talking as they made their way to one of the biggest parties of the semester. The lights from the house party Kuroo had invited Y/N to were already flashing across the street, accompanied by the heavy beat of music thumping in the background.

Y/N stood just outside the house, nerves getting the better of her. She had never been to a party this large before, and the noise, the number of people, the flashing lights—it was all a bit overwhelming. She clutched her phone in one hand, checking her messages again. There was a text from Kuroo, reassuring her that he'd meet her outside so she wouldn't have to go in alone.

"Hey, you made it!" Kuroo's voice broke through her anxious thoughts, and she looked up to see him approaching, a wide grin on his face.

Y/N smiled back, though it was a little hesitant. "Yeah, well... I said I'd come, didn't I?"

Kuroo looked her over, noticing the slight tension in her shoulders. "Don't worry," he said, his tone softening. "I know this isn't really your scene, but we'll have fun. I've got your back."

She nodded, feeling slightly reassured. Kuroo's presence was a comfort. Even though the idea of stepping into a room full of strangers wasn't appealing, knowing that he was by her side made it seem a little less daunting.

As they walked inside, the music hit her full force, and the heat from all the bodies packed into the house was overwhelming at first. People were dancing, chatting loudly over the music, and the smell of alcohol filled the air. Y/N stuck close to Kuroo, feeling a bit out of place. She noticed familiar faces from classes and some people from the volleyball team, but she didn't know most of the students here.

Kuroo led her through the crowd, greeting people casually as they passed. They eventually found a quieter corner near the kitchen, where some drinks were being served. He handed her a cup filled with something non-alcoholic—he knew she wasn't the type to drink at parties.

"See? Not so bad," Kuroo said, leaning against the counter, his smile reassuring. "You don't have to stay long if you're not feeling it."

Y/N took a small sip of her drink, trying to ease her nerves. "Thanks. I just... It's a lot."

"I get it," Kuroo said, glancing around. "Not really my favorite kind of party either. But sometimes it's fun to just hang out, people-watch a little."

They both stood there for a moment, taking in the scene. Kuroo pointed out a few of his volleyball teammates doing ridiculous dance moves in the middle of the room, making Y/N laugh. Slowly, the atmosphere began to feel a little less intimidating.

A few of Kuroo's friends spotted them and waved him over. He gave Y/N a questioning look, silently asking if she was okay with joining them. She nodded, feeling a bit more at ease now. As they walked over, Kuroo introduced her to the group—mostly volleyball players and a few other friends from around campus. They were friendly and didn't press her to join in on the crazier parts of the party, instead making small talk that made her feel included but not overwhelmed.

As the night went on, Y/N found herself relaxing. Kuroo was always nearby, keeping her engaged in the conversations, and slowly, she even started to enjoy herself. She hadn't realized how much she'd missed out on by isolating herself with her studies. There was something freeing about just being in the moment, not worrying about assignments or deadlines.

At one point, Kuroo disappeared for a few minutes to talk to one of his teammates, leaving Y/N by the drink table. She glanced around the room, marveling at how easily people moved in and out of conversations, the way they all seemed so comfortable with each other. It was a world she had never really been a part of.

Her eyes drifted across the crowd, and then she saw it—Kuroo talking to a girl she didn't recognize. She was tall, with long, flowing hair, and a confident smile. She leaned in close to Kuroo, clearly flirting, her hand lightly touching his arm as she laughed at something he said.

Y/N's stomach tightened unexpectedly, and she felt a strange, uncomfortable sensation spreading through her chest. She knew Kuroo was popular—he was charismatic, smart, and undeniably attractive. But seeing him like this, so casually interacting with another girl, it sparked something unfamiliar in her.

Jealousy.

She tried to brush it off, telling herself it didn't mean anything. Kuroo was her friend, and that's all they were. They had gotten close, sure, but she wasn't in a position to feel this way about him. Still, she couldn't help the way her mind raced, imagining scenarios where he could easily find someone else more... suited to him. Someone more outgoing, more fun, more like that girl who was effortlessly charming.

Y/N quickly turned her attention back to her drink, taking a longer sip to distract herself from the thoughts swirling in her head. But the knot of jealousy didn't loosen.

A few minutes later, Kuroo returned, completely unaware of the turmoil going on inside her. "Sorry about that," he said, his smile as casual as ever. "One of the guys needed to talk about something for tomorrow's practice."

Y/N forced a smile. "No problem."

Kuroo didn't seem to notice the slight edge in her voice, but he did notice her looking toward the girl he'd been talking to. "Oh, that's Sumi. She's a friend of one of the guys on the team," he explained, as if sensing her curiosity.

Y/N nodded, trying to act uninterested, but the nagging feeling wouldn't go away. She realized then that this was more than just a casual friendship to her. The feelings she had for Kuroo were more complicated than she had allowed herself to admit.

As the night continued, she stayed quieter than before, lost in her thoughts. Kuroo noticed the shift, his usual playful smile dimming a little as he glanced at her. "You alright?"

"Yeah, just tired," she lied, not wanting to get into the complicated mess of emotions she was feeling.

Kuroo didn't press further, but he gave her a concerned look. "We can head out whenever you want. No pressure."

Y/N nodded, grateful for his understanding. "Maybe in a little bit."

They stayed for another half hour before heading out. The cool night air was a welcome relief after the stuffy heat of the party. As they walked back toward campus, the conversation was light, but there was an unspoken tension between them that neither seemed to want to address.

Finally, as they reached the dorm building, Kuroo turned to her, his usual laid-back demeanor replaced by something more thoughtful. "You seemed kind of off at the party," he said carefully. "Was it too much?"

Y/N hesitated, biting her lip. Part of her wanted to brush it off, to keep things as they were. But another part of her—maybe the part that was tired of hiding her emotions—wanted to be honest.

"I guess I just... I don't know," she said softly, her gaze fixed on the ground. "Seeing you with that girl made me feel weird. Like... I didn't expect to feel that way."

Kuroo blinked, clearly taken aback. "Y/N... are you saying...?"

"I don't know what I'm saying," she admitted, frustration creeping into her voice. "I'm just... confused. I didn't think I felt anything like this until tonight. And now I don't know how to handle it."

There was a moment of silence as Kuroo processed her words. He stepped closer, his tone soft but serious. "Look, I don't know what exactly's going on either. But if there's something between us—something more—we'll figure it out, okay?"

Y/N finally looked up at him, her heart racing. She didn't know what the future held for them, but in that moment, she felt a strange mix of hope and fear.

"Yeah," she whispered. "We'll figure it out."