Scandalous - KuroKen

13

Kuroo stepped through the entrance of the bustling venue, the noise from the crowd buzzing in his ears as his eyes scanned the unfamiliar surroundings. It was his first time at a gaming tournament, and despite the anticipation bubbling inside him, he felt a little lost. He hadn't heard from Kenma since the last time they hung out at his place, and the awkwardness of their last encounter weighed on him.

Akaashi had texted him earlier, through Sana, reminding him about Kenma's tournament. Otherwise, Kuroo might've completely forgotten. He glanced around, taking in the sea of gamers, flashing lights, and towering screens displaying various matches in progress. This definitely wasn't his usual scene.

Just as he was beginning to wonder where to go next, he spotted a familiar face moving toward him—Yaku.

"Kuroo?" Yaku called out, weaving through the crowd to meet him. "What are you doing here? Didn't think this would be your kind of place."

Kuroo smiled, a bit of relief flooding through him at seeing Yaku. "Yeah, I'm here for the tournament. I'm supposed to see Kenma, but I've never been to one of these before."

Yaku nodded, an amused smirk tugging at his lips. "Figured. You look like a lost puppy." He glanced around, then motioned for Kuroo to follow him. "Come on, I'll take you to the training room. That's probably where Kenma is."

As Kuroo followed Yaku through the maze of people and equipment, he couldn't help but feel a little nervous. He wasn't sure what to expect. Kenma hadn't responded to any of his messages after their last awkward night together, and part of him wondered if Kenma was avoiding him.

Yaku led him down a quieter hallway, away from the noise of the main arena, until they reached a door labeled Training Room. Yaku opened it with a quick glance at Kuroo, and then entered inside, Kuroo's eyes landed on Kenma.

Kenma was seated at one of the stations, completely focused on his screen, fingers flying over the keyboard with precision. He hadn't noticed Kuroo's arrival, too absorbed in his game to look up.

Kuroo paused at the doorway, watching him for a moment. There was something impressive about the way Kenma worked, so focused and in control, as if the rest of the world faded away when he was in front of a screen. The serious, intense look on his face was a side of Kenma that Kuroo didn't see often.

Yaku leaned against the wall, arms crossed, and gave Kuroo a nudge. "Don't just stand there. Go say hi."

Kuroo took a hesitant step forward, still unsure. But as he approached, Kenma remained locked in concentration, oblivious to everything else in the room. Kuroo finally spoke, his voice low so as not to startle him.

"Hey, Kenma."

Kenma's fingers paused for a fraction of a second, and his eyes darted toward the sound of Kuroo's voice. When he saw Kuroo standing there, his expression softened, though there was a flicker of surprise in his eyes.

"Kuroo... you came." Kenma blinked, clearly surprised to see Kuroo standing there. He quickly pulled off his headset, setting it down on the table as he turned to face him. "I didn't think you'd actually come," he said, his voice quieter than usual, almost uncertain.

Kuroo rubbed the back of his neck, offering a small smile. "Of course, I did. You invited me, remember?"

Kenma's gaze flickered downward for a moment, as if recalling the events leading up to the tournament. "Yeah... I just thought you'd be too busy"

Kuroo waved a hand dismissively, stepping a bit closer. "Hey, no big deal. I'm here now, and I'm not missing out on watching you destroy the competition."