Set Us Up | 私たちを立てて | Kenma Kozume

| four x twenty |

After school, after volleyball practice concluded, the team; including yourself, all headed to the local convenient store. The sun was still bright, casting a shadow to fall before you as you saw the shadow of Kenma next to you as well. You could see on the ground in the dark shadows, how you were connected to Kenma. Your arm had been lightly holding his as he walked close to you.

He didn't say anything, he was focused on the DS in his hands and you watched him from time to time when you weren't listening to the others speak. They led while Kenma and yourself somehow got placed in the middle of the group, they all surrounded you and often gave you glances to which you'd notice Kuroo smirk at them.

You neither commented nor paid attention to it too much. You only made sure that Kenma didn't stray away from you or walk into a poll while he was so concentrated on his game.

"Kenma.."

"Hu-urgh.. Yes?"

He looked at you briefly, a sour look crossing his face, "Oh, did you die?"

You couldn't help smiling, slightly regretful when he looked away stubbornly and restarted from his last checkpoint, "Sorry Kenma.. I'll be quiet then. Keep playing."

He didn't respond and you breathed out loudly as you looked ahead at Yaku and Lev who had been leading beside Yamamoto. You'd notice how they would look back every so often and you watched how they saw where you hand was holding Kenma's arm. You didn't stop holding him though, you guided him to the store and you heard Kenma speak under his breath, "You can.. keep talking. If you want."

Smiling, Kenma flinched when you neared him instantly because of the butterflies in your stomach. You didn't care for the dumb smile on your face and he looked shocked despite there being no reason to be, he didn't know he had this effect on you and it still frightened him.

"Kenma, maybe you should try a different attack combo."

His player stopped and you watched him quietly as he stopped moving his fingers, "Huh?"

He paused the game and opened the skills menu, going down to see the different combos and memorise them before exiting out, playing them immediately to see the effect it had as the enemy's health bar decreased quickly and enormously.

"Oh."

Your lips twitched upwards but you were ignored while Lev and Yaku stopped at the store, Yamamoto having already walked in with change rattling in his hand and you left Kenma's side to go inside, "[Lastname]-san, it's been awhile, how're your studies?"

You picked up an apple pie from the heated desserts and grabbed a melon bread for yourself, looking away as you walked to the counter as the old man greeted you with a kind smile, "Jii-san, my studies are boring and I'm too distracted. What should I do?"

He didn't hesitate to look outside the window while Yamamoto was still in the aisle as he grabbed enough for the team and himself to eat. The ace began walking to the counter, dropping the food besides yours when your two items were already scanned. The man behind the counter; Katsuo, had his eyes on Kenma before smiling back at you.

"I see you're still buying apple pie for that boy, I suppose that's your distraction and in that case, don't do anything. Treasure it."

You couldn't help smiling and Yamamoto froze beside you, "Jii-san, what do you know!" The ace didn't hesitate when you received the change for your purchase and you cringed slightly from the volume of his yell, the old mans smile wavered as he frowned, "Aye aye you said it, I'm a Jii-san so watch the ears! Damn kids yelling too much these days.."

You nodded in farewell to Katsuo and he waved you off when you had the warm dessert in one hand and your bread in the other. Kenma saw you coming from the two sliding doors and he watched you without blinking when you sat beside him, thigh touching thigh when he opened his small palm for the treat. You obliged immediately and bowed jokingly, "Here you go, Kozume-Sama."

Kuroo smirked as he stood beside Kenma, watching the pudding head look away as you saw his cheeks reddening, "Ah Kuroo," The captain looked down, amused as he noticed his antisocial setter so embarrassed, "Kenma-chan is blushing."

"Shut up."

Kuroo and yourself laughed quietly when Yamamoto came out, pouring the food on the floor when everyone grabbed what they wanted, "Oh [Name]-san bought food for Kenma again." Yamamoto didn't hesitate to voice his thoughts out loud and Fukunaga also spoke, softly as he was slightly intrigued too, "Kenma-san is.. special to him."

Yaku raised a brow at their ace and you enjoyed the melon bread quietly, not bothering to speak when Kenma ate quietly as well with two pink cheeks from hearing the conversation, "Oh! I saw these magazines inside and it reminded me of Karasunos manager!"

"You mean Kiyoko-san? Inuoka spoke as he unwrapped fried chicken flavoured snacks, this earned a slap on the back by the ace as he yelled with hearts in his eyes, "Ah! Kiyoko-chan, she's so beautiful! Hey, captain why don't we have a pretty manager too!"

Yaku scoffed, scrunching his food wrapper with a hard glare, "We don't have one because she'd get harassed by you all the damn time."

"Besides, you have me - am I right, Kenma-chan?"

Kenma glared at you and opened his mouth before Kuroo did, "Oya? Are you gonna tell us something, Kenma?"

"What's wrong with [Name] and I dat-"

"Besides! Brooks is good enough without a manager and Nekomata is good enough, don't complain when we have the rival of the famous Ukai-sensei."

You had managed to change the direction of the topic and the team spoke on casually about girls and managers and volleyball. Only Kuroo and Kenma realised your odd behaviour and Kenma was left wondering why you had cut him off so suddenly, avoiding eye contact which made him feel a bit disappointed in a way, embarrassed for think he could actually say out loud what he was going to say.