Scandalous - KuroKen

6

The weekend arrived faster than either of them had anticipated, and by late afternoon, Kuroo found himself standing outside the café, adjusting his jacket. It was a quaint spot nestled in the heart of downtown, known for its artisan coffee and cosy atmosphere—a place that screamed "Instagram-worthy," exactly what Sana had wanted. He checked his phone for any messages from Kenma, but all he got was a brief, "On my way."

The café's outdoor seating area was already filled with a few patrons, and Kuroo could see a couple of photographers lingering nearby, trying to blend in with the crowd but failing miserably. He sighed, already dreading this orchestrated outing.

Moments later, a familiar figure approached—Kenma, hands shoved into the pockets of his hoodie, looking completely unenthusiastic about the entire thing. His hair was slightly tousled, and he wore the same annoyed expression Kuroo had come to expect by now.

"You're late," Kuroo teased, smiling.

Kenma glanced at him, unimpressed. "You sound like my stream chat."

Kuroo laughed, opening the door to the café. "Come on, let's get this over with."

They stepped inside, the warm scent of fresh coffee immediately enveloping them. The café was warm, with rustic wooden tables and warm lighting, giving the place a homely vibe. A few people glanced in their direction, and Kuroo could already feel the subtle hum of recognition as whispers spread through the room. He spotted a table in the corner, partially hidden from view but still close enough to the windows where anyone outside could snap a few photos.

"This looks like a good spot," Kuroo said, gesturing for Kenma to sit.

Kenma slid into the chair opposite him, glancing around with a look that said he wanted to be anywhere but here. "You know, I don't get why we couldn't just fake this over text or something."

"Because," Kuroo said, settling in, "people need to see us. That's kind of the point of this whole PR thing."

Kenma huffed, picking up the menu without really looking at it. "I still hate this."

Kuroo chuckled, watching him for a moment. "Yeah, but you'll survive. Besides, it's not like we're actually dating."

Kenma didn't reply, his eyes flicking toward the window where he could see the paparazzi lurking. "I hate being watched like this."

Kuroo leaned forward, lowering his voice. "Then don't look at them. Just pretend we're here for real. It's not that hard."

Kenma raised an eyebrow. "Not hard for you, maybe. You're used to faking things."

Kuroo grinned. "Touché. But I promise I'm not faking right now. I am actually here, with you."

Kenma rolled his eyes, but there was a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "You're such a smooth-talker."

Kuroo smirked. "You say that like it's a bad thing."

Before Kenma could respond, a waitress approached their table, smiling politely as she held her notepad and pen. "Hi, welcome to Grounded Bliss! What can I get for you two?"

Kuroo glanced at Kenma, waiting for him to order first. Kenma, still looking somewhat annoyed, glanced at the menu briefly. "Just a black coffee."

The waitress nodded, jotting down the order before turning to Kuroo. "And for you?"

"I'll have the cappuccino," Kuroo said, offering her a smile. She nodded and walked off to place their order.

As soon as she left, Kuroo leaned back in his chair, studying Kenma for a moment. "You know, for someone who wanted to be out of the spotlight, you sure picked an industry that puts you in it."