A game of hearts {Kuroo}

11.

The days following their late-night confession were filled with uncertainty. Y/N and Kuroo had agreed to try, but the ambiguity of what that meant weighed heavily on Y/N's mind. She wasn't used to the intensity of her feelings or the attention that came with being close to Kuroo. It was overwhelming, and before long, she began to withdraw.

It started subtly. Y/N would bury herself in her biology assignments, using the excuse of an upcoming lab project to justify her absence. Kuroo texted her a few times, casually asking to meet up, but she either gave short, vague replies or said she was too busy. Kuroo, perceptive as ever, noticed the change but chose not to push her.

In truth, Y/N felt suffocated by her own thoughts. Every time she replayed the moment Kuroo confessed, her heart would swell with excitement, but then doubt would creep in. What if they had rushed things? What if she couldn't keep up with Kuroo's fast-paced life? She had spent so much of her university life in the background, content to blend in, and now it felt like she was stepping into the spotlight unprepared.

One late afternoon, as Y/N sat alone in the biology lab, reviewing her notes for an upcoming midterm, her phone buzzed with a message. It was from Kuroo.

*Kuroo*: "Haven't seen you in a while. Everything okay?"

Y/N stared at the screen, guilt gnawing at her. She typed a quick reply.

*Y/N*: "Yeah, just busy with school stuff. Midterms coming up, you know."

The dots indicating Kuroo's reply danced for a moment before his message appeared.

*Kuroo*: "I figured. But we can still grab coffee, right? You can't study 24/7."

She sighed, staring at the words. He was right, but she wasn't sure she was ready to face him yet. She had been hiding from her own emotions, unsure of how to navigate this new dynamic between them.

Her thumb hovered over the keyboard before she finally typed:

*Y/N*: "Maybe later this week?"

There was a pause, longer this time, before Kuroo replied.

*Kuroo*: "Sure. Just let me know."

Y/N put her phone down, feeling the weight of her avoidance. She wanted to talk to Kuroo, she really did, but every time she thought about it, the knot in her stomach grew tighter. She hadn't even told her best friend about what had happened between them. She was used to bottling things up, but this time, it felt like the bottle was about to burst.

---

Days passed, and Kuroo's patience was beginning towear thin. He had given Y/N space, figuring she might need time to adjust tothe new dynamic between them, but her continued absence was starting to hurt. He couldn't help but wonder if he had pushed her too hard with his confession. Maybe she wasn't ready for any of this.

During volleyball practice, he couldn't focus. His sets were sloppy, and his teammates were quick to notice.

"Kuroo, what's going on, man?" Kenma asked during a water break, his sharp eyes studying his friend. "You're off today."

Kuroo ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. "Yeah, just... stuff on my mind."

Kenma gave him a knowing look. "Let me guess. Y/N?"

Kuroo sighed, nodding. "Yeah. I told her how I felt, and things seemed good for a second, but now she's pulling away. I don't know if she's having second thoughts or if I freaked her out."

Kenma took a sip of his water, considering his words before replying. "Have you talked to her about it? Maybe she just needs time."

Kuroo frowned. "I've tried, but she's been really distant. Always busy with school stuff. I get that she's got a lot going on, but it feels like more than that."

Kenma shrugged. "She's probably overthinking things. You know how she is. Maybe you should just talk to her directly—no games."

Kuroo chuckled dryly. "Since when do I play games?"

Kenma raised an eyebrow. "You know what I mean. Just be honest with her. If you're both not on the same page, then it's better to know now than drag it out."

Kuroo nodded, knowing Kenma was right. He had always prided himself on being straightforward, but when it came to his feelings for Y/N, he realized he had been tiptoeing around the issue. It was time to have an honest conversation.

---

That evening, Y/N was sitting at her desk, poring over her textbooks, when there was a knock at her door. Startled, she glanced up, expecting her roommate, but when she opened the door, Kuroo stood there, looking more serious than usual.

"Hey," he said, his tone softer than normal.

Y/Nblinked in surprise. "Kuroo? What are you doing here?"

"We need to talk," he said, not beating around the bush. His eyes were searching her face, trying to read her thoughts. "Can I come in?"

Y/N hesitated for a moment, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew this conversation was inevitable, but she hadn't expected it to happen so soon. Still, she stepped aside and gestured for him to enter.

Kuroo sat on the edge of her roommate's bed, while Y/N returned to her desk chair, fidgeting nervously. The silence stretched between them before Kuroo finally spoke.

"You've been avoiding me," he said bluntly, his eyes fixed on hers. "I get that you're busy with school, but it feels like more than that. Did I do something wrong?"

Y/N opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out. She hadn't expected him to be so direct. She looked down at her hands, feeling the familiar knot tighten in her stomach.

"I just... I don't know how to handle all of this," she admitted quietly. "Everything happened so fast, and I'm not used to feeling like this. I've always kept things simple—school, work, my routine. But with you... it's different."

Kuroo leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he listened intently. "Different how?"

Y/N sighed, struggling to find the right words. "You're so confident, Kuroo. You know what you want, and you go after it. I don't know how to keep up with that. I'm scared that I'm not enough for you, or that I'll mess everything up."

Kuroo's expression softened as he listened. He hadn't realized just how much pressure Y/N had been putting on herself. He reached out, gently taking her hand in his, causing her to look up at him.

"Y/N," he said softly, "you don't have to keep up with me. I'm not expecting you to. I like you for who you are. I just want us to be real with each other. And if you need space, I get that. But don't shut me out."

Y/N felt her throat tighten with emotion. She hadn't realized how much she had been internalizing her fears until Kuroo voiced exactly what she had been struggling with. She squeezed his hand, feeling a small sense of relief wash over her.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I didn't mean to push you away. I'm just... still figuring all of this out."

Kuroo smiled softly, his thumb brushing over her knuckles. "We'll figure it out together, okay? No pressure. Just... talk to me."

Y/N nodded, her chest feeling lighter than it had in days. "Okay," she said, her voice firmer now. "I promise."

They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, thetension between them finally easing. Kuroo's presence, which had once feltoverwhelming, now felt reassuring. They had a long way to go, but thisconversation was a start.