A game of hearts {Kuroo}

27.

The weight of impending changes had settled over both Kuroo and Y/N in the days following his graduation. They had spent time together, savoring the little moments before the inevitable shifts in their lives would pull them in different directions. The conversation that loomed over them, however, was unavoidable—what comes next? How would they move forward when both had exciting but separate opportunities on the horizon?

It was an uncharacteristically quiet afternoon, and the pair found themselves sitting on a bench near the university's botanical gardens. The early summer sun filtered through the trees, casting dappled shadows on the ground. The stillness of the moment felt deceptive, as if it was the calm before the storm.

Y/N stared down at her hands, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her notebook. She had just received the official acceptance letter for the study abroad program she had been working toward all year. It was an incredible opportunity—one that she had dreamed of for a long time. But the excitement of that dream was overshadowed by the sinking feeling that came with knowing how far it would take her from Kuroo. The program was in Switzerland, and she would be gone for a year.

Kuroo, on the other hand, had just received word from a professional volleyball team offering him a position. He hadn't mentioned it yet to Y/N, and though he was thrilled at the prospect of going pro, a part of him hesitated. His love for volleyball was undeniable, but the thought of being separated from her—especially with their lives already poised to diverge—made the decision feel much heavier than it should have been.

The silence between them grew thick with unspoken thoughts until Kuroo finally broke it.

"So, the Switzerland thing... it's official?" His voice was steady, but there was a tinge of something deeper beneath the surface.

Y/N nodded, though her expression was far from celebratory. "Yeah. The letter came this morning." She paused, searching his face for a reaction. "I'm leaving in two months."

Kuroo inhaled deeply, leaning back on the bench as he processed the news. "That's... that's great, Y/N. It's an amazing opportunity." He tried to smile, but the sadness in his eyes gave him away.

She offered a small smile in return, but it was clear neither of them felt the joy they should have about their achievements. The space between them seemed to widen as the reality of their futures began to settle in. Y/N turned her gaze away, looking out at the flowers blooming in the garden. She wished she could be as carefree as the people around them, strolling by with no weight on their shoulders.

"I don't know what to do," she admitted quietly. "I've worked so hard for this, but I don't want to lose what we have."

Kuroo's jaw tightened. He reached out and placed his hand over hers, his touch warm and comforting despite the uncertainty hanging between them. "You're not going to lose me," he said firmly. "I told you, we'll figure it out."

Y/N swallowed hard, trying to keep her emotions in check. "But what if we don't? What if it's too hard? You'll have your volleyball career, and I'll be halfway across the world. Long distance is... it's scary, Kuroo."

He nodded, understanding the fear in her voice because he felt it too. But he wasn't ready to give up—not on her, not on them. "I know it's not going to be easy," he admitted, his voice softening. "But we've been through tough stuff before, right? This is just... another challenge. And we're good at those."

Y/N looked at him, her eyes full of uncertainty. "You really think we can make it work?"

"I do." His answer was immediate, without hesitation. "But only if we're both committed to it."

She bit her lip, her mind racing with possibilities and fears. "What if... what if you meet someone else?" The question hung in the air, and it pained her to even voice it, but the thought had been gnawing at her for days.

Kuroo frowned, his grip on her hand tightening slightly. "Y/N, you're it for me. There's no one else. There's not going to be anyone else." His gaze softened as he looked at her. "I know this is scary. I'm scared too. But I'm not going to let fear decide our future."

Y/N took a deep breath, her heart aching at his words. She wanted so badly to believe him, to trust that they could survive the distance, but the doubts were still there, lurking in the back of her mind.

"And what about you?" Kuroo continued, his tone more serious now. "You're going to be in Switzerland, surrounded by all these brilliant people... What if you realize I'm just some volleyball guy who doesn't fit into your world anymore?"

Y/N shook her head, her voice firm. "That's not going to happen. You're more than 'just some volleyball guy,' Kuroo. You're... everything to me."

He smiled at her, a genuine smile this time, and for a moment, the tension between them seemed to ease. They sat in silence again, but this time it felt more comfortable, like they were beginning to find some clarity in the midst of their uncertainty.

After a long pause, Kuroo finally spoke up again. "I got an offer," he said, his voice steady but with a hint of excitement. "A professional team wants me to join them."

Y/N blinked, her eyes widening. "Kuroo, that's amazing! Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

He chuckled softly. "I didn't want to add more to the mix when we were already talking about Switzerland." He shrugged. "But yeah, it's happening. If I accept, I'll be playing professionally."

"That's... incredible," Y/N said, her smile growing wider. But as soon as the initial excitement faded, the same worries crept back into her mind. "But... where is the team based? How far?"

"Tokyo," Kuroo replied, his expression unreadable. "It's not Switzerland, but... it's still pretty far."

Y/N's heart sank. "So... we'll both be chasing our dreams on opposite sides of the world."

Kuroo nodded, his expression serious again. "Yeah. But I still believe we can make it work, Y/N. We'll call, text, video chat... We'll visit each other when we can. And when the time is right, we'll figure out how to close the distance."

Y/N looked at him, her heart heavy but full of love. She knew he was right—if they both wanted this to work, they could find a way. But the road ahead was still daunting.

"I want to try," she said softly. "I want to make this work."

Kuroo smiled, relief washing over his features. "Me too."

They sat together for a while longer, making tentative plans for their future—how they would handle the time difference, when they would visit each other, how they could stay connected despite the distance. It wasn't a perfect solution, and there were still a lot of unknowns, but it was a start. They were both willing to fight for their relationship, no matter how difficult the path ahead might be.

And that, more than anything, gave them hope.