Everything has changed

Chapter 29: Late Afternoon

The office was quiet, the usual hum of city traffic muffled by the thick glass windows that overlooked the skyline. The lights of the city stretched out beneath them like a sea of stars, flickering in the distance, but it was the calm that filled the room now, an unusual sense of tranquility for a busy office. Yachi sat across from Kuroo, her laptop open in front of her, the soft click of keys the only sound breaking the silence. The late afternoon light filtered through the blinds, casting long, warm shadows across the floor, but the office was almost bathed in stillness.

It had been a long day of work, and though Yachi wasn't used to staying this late, she found herself grateful for the quiet. Lately, her workload had been mounting steadily, pushing her to stay late more often than she would've liked. But the rhythm of the office-despite its late hours-felt comforting, almost peaceful. It was easier to concentrate without the usual bustle of the day. And for once, Yachi didn't feel like she was rushing through every task, trying to meet deadlines and keep up with expectations.

Kuroo, too, seemed to be working through the evening. His desk was an organized chaos of papers, reports, and ongoing projects, but he moved through it with ease, glancing at the papers, making notes, signing off on documents, or calling contacts with swift efficiency. Every so often, he would stretch his arms above his head or rub his eyes, the weight of his own responsibilities becoming apparent despite his usual composed exterior.

Despite the tension in the air from their work, there was a sense of quiet camaraderie that settled between them. They weren't talking much, not yet, but there was an unspoken understanding, a sort of shared space that made the silence bearable. It wasn't uncomfortable like it sometimes was at the beginning of the day, when they hadn't settled into their respective roles or gotten to know each other better. Now, with the hour growing late, the environment felt more natural, as though they were working side by side without any need for words.

It was Kuroo who had suggested they stay and work together-nothing formal, nothing elaborate, just a casual invitation to share the space. The offer had come in the most nonchalant way, almost like an afterthought, but there was something oddly comforting about it.

The quiet was broken earlier in the evening when Kuroo, spotting Yachi still hunched over her laptop in the conference room, had walked toward her and glanced over her shoulder.

"You're still at it, huh?" he'd said, his voice casual, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes.

Yachi had looked up, a little startled, blinking a few times as she processed his presence. "Uh, yeah," she had said, rubbing the back of her neck. "I still have a few things to finish up. It's just easier to focus when it's quiet."

Kuroo had looked around the almost empty office, then back at her, and then, as if struck by a thought, he had casually offered, "Why don't you come work with me in my office? There's no one else here, and it's a little more comfortable. Plus, I could use some company to get through the evening."

Yachi had looked up from her screen, surprised by the suggestion. "Oh, I don't want to disturb you..."

"Don't worry about it," Kuroo had replied, grinning. "It's nothing formal. Just figured it'd be more productive to be around someone else who's still in work mode."

Yachi hesitated again, her gaze dropping to her hands for a moment, unsure. There was something in his voice that made it hard to refuse-the simple honesty, the lack of pressure. She knew he was just offering her a place to work, but it felt... different. Warm. Comfortable.

After a beat, she nodded slowly, a small, almost shy smile appearing on her lips. "Alright, I guess that sounds nice."

Kuroo's smile widened, and he gestured for her to follow him.