Complicated ~ Nekoma

Chapter Thirty-Eight

You spent a while finishing up the waves on your painting. Eventually Yaku returned with several things he had collected. Even though it was your art project he was so excited to be helping you. 

He sat beside you as you looked through the things he had brought over. 

"I think I should let the waves dry before continuing, I need to think through what I am doing with everything else anyway." you said as you collected all your things to bring back to the front deck of the cottage. 

"Sounds good." Yaku agreed, helping you carry everything back up.

It was still quite early and you weren't quite ready to eat yet so you and Yaku took a seat on the front deck to watch the lake. You were watching a bunny curiously hopping along on the edge of the forest. 

"What are you doing up this early anyway?" you asked curiously. When he had first come out to join you outside it was well before the time when school would normally start so it wasn't like he was just up out of habit.

"I always wake up early here, I don't know why but I've never been able to sleep in when I'm at this place. Besides Kuroo's phone was being blown up and it was kind of annoying." he explained with a slight shrug.

"Kuroo's phone? Who would be texting him right now?" you asked in confusion. Majority of Kuroo's close friends were either here or knew where he was. You also weren't sure why anyone would need to get a hold of him this early in the morning.

"It's probably Ari. She is always texting him every chance she gets. It's almost annoying how dependent she is getting on him." Yaku answered with a small sigh. 

You were almost relieved to hear that you weren't the only being annoyed by Ari's clinginess to Kuroo. At least if Yaku hated it too you could convince yourself it was simply from a friend perspective why you didn't like it.

"Oh, I didn't know they texted that much." you said, trying your best to sound nonchalant about it.

"It wasn't until recently that she really started clinging to him. It's cool that she has a crush and all but it sucks so much to be made into a third wheel every single day in class." Yaku explained.

That was what you were afraid of most. If Kuroo and Ari ended up together things wouldn't be the same between the two of you. You both wouldn't be the same goofy friends who hung out all the time anymore. Instead it would be awkward to be around him knowing that there was someone else he would rather be spending his time with.

"You know she has a crush on Kuroo? Does he know?" you questioned, trying your best to keep the hint of insecurity out of your voice as you asked.

"I mean it doesn't take a genius to figure it out. But I think that's her tactic, she likes someone she goes for it. It's always worked out for her in the past, even in middle school." Yaku answered. 

You had forgotten that Ari had gone to middle school with Kayo and Yaku. Kayo had mentioned it once but it never really seemed all that relevant before because this girl didn't occupy any of your thoughts before.

"Does Kuroo know about it?" you asked again. Yaku was a third person in this situation, it was obvious that he would pick up on things like this a lot easier than the person it was directly affecting. It was a lot harder to believe someone had a crush on you than a friend.

"Kuroo is oblivious to things like this. The guy is so smart and so stupid at the same time, it's kinda funny." Yaku responded with a small chuckle. 

You smiled and really hoped that the relief you were feeling wasn't visible all over your face.