A game of hearts {Kuroo}

19.

Kuroo and Y/N had settled into their relationship surprisingly smoothly, enjoying the ease and familiarity of their bond. Yet, despite the emotional closeness, the contrast in how they handled the public side of their relationship became a growing issue—one neither could ignore.

Kuroo, as the university volleyball captain, was used to being in the spotlight. On the court, in the classroom, or even at social events, he was a presence people noticed. With his confident, outgoing personality, attention naturally gravitated toward him. For Y/N, though, the idea of being in the public eye was unsettling. She had always preferred her quiet, somewhat private life, with her circle of close friends and an academic focus. The shift from their casual friendship to a more visible relationship started to expose the differences in how they navigated the public space.

---

One weekend, Kuroo invited Y/N to one of the bigger volleyball matches of the season. The bleachers were filled with cheering fans, most of whom knew Kuroo by name. He waved and grinned as he walked through the crowd, pulling Y/N along with him.

Y/N clutched her bag, feeling a bit out of place. While she had grown to enjoy watching Kuroo play volleyball, the attention that came with being "Kuroo's girlfriend" was something entirely new. As they reached the area where his teammates were waiting, several fans approached, asking for autographs and photos. Kuroo handled it with ease, cracking jokes and striking up conversations, but Y/N could feel the weight of the stares on her.

"Hey, you okay?" Kuroo asked, noticing her growing unease.

Y/N forced a smile and nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just not used to all... this," she gestured vaguely to the crowd, feeling the anxiety creeping up

Kuroo smiled gently and squeezed her hand. "Don't worry, it'll die down soon. Plus, once we're inside, it's just the game. You'll love it."

---

The game was intense, as always. Kuroo, playing in his usual commanding role, led his team with precise strategy and sheer force of will. Every spike, every block, every well-placed serve earned him roars of approval from the crowd. Y/N found herself caught up in the excitement, cheering him on along with the other fans, though her voice was drowned out by the noise around her.

Despite her unease earlier, Y/N couldn't help but feel proud of him. Watching Kuroo in his element, so passionate and focused, gave her a deeper understanding of why volleyball meant so much to him. However, as the game ended and the team celebrated their win, the spotlight returned. Fans swarmed the players, and Kuroo was at the center of it all.

Y/N stood off to the side, feeling the familiar weight of being an outsider to this part of his life. She watched as Kuroo laughed and took pictures with his teammates and fans, his easy-going nature shining through. But soon, a group of girls approached, excitedly asking for selfies with the captain. Y/N felt a pang of discomfort.

One of the girls asked, a little too sweetly, "So, Kuroo, is she your girlfriend?"

Kuroo grinned, throwing an arm around Y/N's shoulders. "Yeah, she is," he said proudly, his tone light and cheerful.

Y/N smiled politely, but inside, the attention made her want to shrink away. The girls giggled and complimented her, but it all felt overwhelming, especially as people began taking more notice of her. It wasn't that Kuroo was doing anything wrong—he was just being himself. But Y/N realized then how different their worlds could be.

---

Later that evening, they sat together in Kuroo's apartment, the energy of the day still buzzing between them. Y/N had been quieter than usual on the way home, and Kuroo, ever observant, knew something was off.

"Alright, spill it," Kuroo said, leaning back on the couch next to her. "You've been in your head all day."

Y/N hesitated, unsure how to express what she was feeling without sounding unfair. "It's just... I don't know how to do this," she admitted softly.

Kuroo raised an eyebrow. "Do what?"

She sighed, fiddling with the hem of her sweater. "All of it. The attention, the spotlight. I'm not used to people... looking at me. And I don't really like it."

Kuroo's expression softened as he listened. "Is this about today at the game?"

Y/N nodded. "It's not just the game. It's how different we are in public. You thrive in the spotlight, and that's great. But I'm not like that. I'm not sure I can handle always being 'your girlfriend' in front of everyone."

Kuroo stayed quiet for a moment, processing what she said. He had always known Y/N was more reserved, but he hadn't fully considered how his public life might affect her. He reached for her hand, holding it gently.

"I didn't realize it was making you uncomfortable," he said sincerely. "I don't want you to feel pressured because of me."

"It's not that I don't want to be with you," Y/N added quickly, looking up at him. "I do. I just need to figure out how to handle it in a way that feels right for me."

Kuroo nodded, his thumb brushing over her knuckles. "I get it. I'm used to the attention because of volleyball, but I never thought about how weird it must be for you. You don't have to be in the spotlight if you don't want to."

Y/N smiled, appreciating how understanding he was being. "I'm not asking you to change or hide anything. I just need to find a balance where I don't feel so out of place."

Kuroo leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. "We'll figure it out together. I'll make sure we have more 'us' time, without the crowds. Deal?"

"Deal," she whispered, feeling the tension ease.

---

The next few weeks were an exercise in finding that balance. Kuroo made an effort to keep their public appearances more low-key, inviting her to smaller gatherings with just his close friends or planning quiet dates away from the hustle of university life. He also made sure to spend more private time with her—studying together in her dorm, cooking meals at his place, and taking quiet walks in the park.

It wasn't always perfect. There were still moments when the public attention became too much for Y/N, and Kuroo had to reassure her that it was okay to step back. But the important thing was that they were working through it together.

In the end, both of them realized that relationships, like anything else, took compromise and understanding. They weren't the same in how they handled the world outside of their bubble, but they were strong enough to adapt and grow together.