---
The hum of conversation fills the cabin as Kuroo’s family settles in after dinner, a mix of laughter, clinking glasses, and excited chatter. You and Kuroo find yourselves side-by-side on the couch, watching as his younger cousins dart around the room, fueled by a potent mix of cake and soda.
“Alright, lovebirds, scoot closer for a family photo!” Aunt Sachi calls, waving her phone.
You exchange a quick look with Kuroo, and he gives a small shrug, as if to say Here we go. With an exaggerated grin, he drapes an arm over your shoulders, pulling you close for the picture. He looks so over-the-top that you burst into laughter, leaning into him just as Aunt Sachi snaps the photo.
“Oh, that’s perfect!” she crows, showing off the picture to anyone within earshot. “Look at how cute they are! You can just see the spark!”
Kuroo chuckles, giving you a playful squeeze before releasing his arm from around you. But when you glance over at him, you’re surprised to see a flicker of something that wasn’t there before—a quick flash of warmth in his gaze, something that makes your stomach do a tiny, unexpected flip.
You quickly look away, telling yourself it’s just the awkwardness of pretending in front of his family. That’s all.
But then Aunt Sachi settles in next to you with a knowing smile. “So, tell me… what’s it like dating our Tetsuro? What’s something about him only you would know?”
Kuroo’s face reddens, and he nudges her with his elbow. “Aunt Sachi, come on, don’t embarrass her.”
But she waves him off. “Oh, please, I just want to hear about the romance!”
You glance at Kuroo, a laugh bubbling up. “Well,” you say, stalling as you think. “I guess one thing I know about him is that, despite how he comes off, he’s actually a pretty good cook.”
He laughs, feigning shock. “You’re going to ruin my whole mysterious vibe here.”
“Oh, right,” you say, keeping your tone teasing. “I forgot. He wants everyone to think he survives off instant noodles and coffee.”
Aunt Sachi beams, clearly delighted. “See, he just needed the right person to bring out his best!”
Kuroo shifts beside you, leaning a little closer and playing along with a smile. “Guess you’re my good influence, huh?”
For a moment, you meet his gaze, and the humor in his eyes softens, turning into something else. The room seems to fade a little as the two of you just look at each other, almost like there’s something just on the edge of words, something you haven’t quite acknowledged yet.
But just as quickly, you both snap out of it when his youngest cousin tugs on Kuroo’s sleeve, asking him to come play a game. He gives you a quick, almost sheepish smile before standing up to follow, leaving you on the couch, a strange warmth lingering in his absence.
---
The night wears on, and soon you’re sitting with Kuroo on the porch, away from the bustle of the family gathering inside. The air is crisp, stars scattered across the sky, and you’re grateful for the quiet after the long day of socializing.
“Quite the first day, huh?” Kuroo says, breaking the silence.
You nod, exhaling. “Honestly, your family is so nice, but keeping this act up is a little harder than I expected.”
He chuckles, leaning against the porch railing. “I feel like I’m watching myself as much as I’m watching them. Trying to remember what I’d actually say if this were… you know, real.”
The word “real” hangs between you for a moment, weighty and filled with something neither of you wants to acknowledge. You can feel his gaze on you, and when you meet his eyes, there’s an openness there, something unguarded that feels almost… vulnerable.
“Do you think they’re buying it?” you ask, attempting to break the tension with a smile.
“Oh, absolutely,” he says, his tone light but his gaze still warm. “They’re already convinced we’re the real deal. I think my mom’s already planning our future.”
You laugh, the sound coming out a little more nervous than you intend. “Guess we’re better actors than I thought.”
He leans forward, elbows resting on his knees. “Or maybe it’s just… easy with you.”
That comment catches you off guard, and you feel a blush creeping up your cheeks, suddenly grateful for the dim light. “Easy?”
He nods, his expression sincere. “Yeah, I mean… we’ve known each other for so long. So maybe pretending like this isn’t so hard because… I don’t know, you already know me better than anyone.”
The weight of his words sits heavily in your chest, and you try to laugh it off, but it comes out weaker than intended. “Careful, Kuroo. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were actually getting a little sentimental.”
He gives you a half-smile, eyes flicking away for a second before he looks back at you. “What if I am?”
The question hangs between you, and you feel a pang of something both exciting and terrifying. You aren’t sure how to answer, so you don’t, hoping your silence doesn’t reveal as much as the sudden fluttering in your chest does.
Finally, he breaks the tension, giving you a playful nudge with his shoulder. “Alright, enough sappy talk. We should get back before my mom assumes we’ve eloped out here.”
You laugh, the sound easing the tension that had settled between you. “Right, wouldn’t want to disappoint her.”
But as you both stand up, dusting off and heading back inside, you can’t shake the feeling that something between you shifted out there. A look, a few words, a warmth in the silence—things that felt dangerously close to being more than just an act.
And as you follow him back inside, slipping once more into the role of “his partner,” you wonder if he felt it too.
YOU ARE READING
More Than a Lie (T.Kuroo)
FanfictionKuroo's family is pressuring him about his single status, so he convinces a longtime friend, to pretend to be his partner for a family reunion. At first, it's all for show, but after a few days of "dating" in front of his family, both start to wonde...
