A game of hearts {Kuroo}

10.

The walk back to the dorms was unusually quiet. Y/N's heart still raced from their conversation outside the party, and she could tell that Kuroo was lost in thought too. The air between them felt thick with unspoken words, their earlier exchange lingering in the space like a question neither knew how to answer.

As they reached the front steps of the dorm, Kuroo paused, his eyes scanning her face. "You sure you're alright?" he asked, his voice lower than usual, more cautious.

Y/N swallowed, nodding slowly. "Yeah... just a lot to think about." She hesitated, then added, "Tonight was different. I didn't expect... well, any of this."

Kuroo stood there for a moment, seeming to debate something in his mind. Finally, he spoke. "Can we talk about it? I mean, really talk. Because I don't want things to get weird between us. I don't want to lose what we have—whatever this is."

Y/N felt a nervous knot forming in her stomach. She wasn't sure she was ready for this conversation, but avoiding it would only make things worse. She nodded again, wordlessly agreeing to continue.

Kuroo led her to a nearby bench under a tree on the campus lawn, where they could sit away from the dorm's bright lights and the noise of students passing by. The night was cool, and the faint sounds of crickets and distant chatter filled the air, but the atmosphere between them felt charged.

Kuroo leaned back slightly, staring up at the sky for a moment before he began. "Okay, so... I've been thinking a lot, too," he started, his usual playful tone replaced by something more serious. "Since we met, I've really liked spending time with you. Like, more than I expected to. At first, I thought we'd just be friends—you'd help me with school, and I'd help you break out of your shell a bit. But somewhere along the way, that changed."

Y/N sat very still, listening closely, her pulse quickening with every word. Kuroo kept his eyes on the sky as if he needed the distraction to get through what he was saying.

"I didn't really want to admit it at first, because I didn't want to screw things up," he continued, his voice soft but steady. "But, Y/N, I like you. I mean, I really like you."

His words hung in the air for a moment, the weight of them pressing down on her chest. Y/N wasn't sure how to respond. She had suspected something like this, especially after what she had felt at the party, but hearing it said aloud made everything real in a way she hadn't fully prepared for.

Kuroo finally looked at her, his eyes searching hers for any sign of what she was thinking. "I know I'm not the best at this kind of thing," he added with a slightly nervous chuckle. "And I'm probably being too forward, but... I just wanted you to know how I feel."

Y/N's heart pounded in her chest, her thoughts racing as she tried to process what he was saying. She took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the moment settle over her.

"I... I didn't know you felt that way," she admitted,her voice quiet but sincere. "And honestly, I didn't even realize how I feltuntil tonight."

Kuroo raised an eyebrow, his expression softening. "So... how do you feel?"

Y/N bit her lip, her gaze dropping to her hands, which were nervously fidgeting in her lap. "I think I like you too," she confessed, her words tentative and uncertain. "But I don't know what to do with that. I've never... I've never really been in this kind of situation before."

Kuroo watched her for a moment, his expression understanding. "Hey, that's okay. I didn't mean to throw this at you all at once," he said gently. "I just didn't want to keep pretending that everything was the same when it's not."

Y/N nodded slowly. She appreciated his honesty, but the confusion in her chest hadn't completely settled. She wasn't sure what she was supposed to do next or what this meant for them going forward. Her mind flashed back to the girl from the party, the way she had flirted so easily with Kuroo, and the jealousy that had surged through her.

"Is this... something you're sure about?" she asked, her voice almost a whisper. "I mean, you're... you. And I'm just... me."

Kuroo furrowed his brow, clearly confused by her words. "What do you mean?"

"You're Kuroo," she repeated, her gaze still fixed on her hands. "You're popular, confident, the volleyball captain. You're... so much more outgoing than I am. I just don't know if this makes sense."

Kuroo reached over and gently took her hand, forcing her to look up at him. His expression was serious but kind. "Y/N, don't sell yourself short," he said firmly. "You're smart, driven, and, honestly, one of the most interesting people I've met. I wouldn't be here telling you all this if I didn't think you were worth it."

His words hit her harder than she expected, and she felt her throat tighten. She hadn't realized just how much she had been doubting herself, even as their friendship had grown. Part of her had always assumed Kuroo would eventually lose interest, that she was just someone who happened to cross his path for a while before he found someone better. But now, hearing him say these things, it stirred something inside her.

"I just... I'm scared," she admitted softly. "I don't want to mess this up."

Kuroo squeezed her hand lightly. "So am I," he said, his voice equally soft. "But we won't know unless we try, right?"

Y/N looked into his eyes, searching for any hint of doubt, but all she saw was sincerity. Kuroo wasn't the type to hold back his feelings—he was always open, always straightforward. And in this moment, she realized he wasn't going to let fear get in the way of something that could be important to both of them.

After what felt like an eternity, Y/N finally nodded. "Okay," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. "Let's try."

A slow smile spread across Kuroo's face, his eyes lighting up in that familiar way that always made her feel at ease. "Really?"

Y/N nodded again, this time with more certainty. "Yeah. I mean, I'm still figuring everything out, but... I want to try."

Kuroo's smile widened, and he let out a small, relieved laugh. "Good," he said, his tone lighter now. "Because I've been trying to figure out how to tell you this for a while."

Y/N couldn't help but smile back, feeling a sense of relief herself. The tension between them, the uncertainty that had been hovering over their friendship, seemed to ease in that moment. It wasn't that everything was solved—far from it—but they had taken a step forward. Together.

For the first time that night, Y/N felt like things were starting to make sense.