Falling into habits wasn't always a bad thing. If you got into the habit of studying more diligently or drinking more water, falling into habits could make things better and easier. But to every good side was a bad side, and bad habits, as they say, are hard to break.
However, falling into the habit of walking to and from school with a guy who rejected your love confession is something of a gray area. There were no obvious good things about it and no glaring downsides to it. You wouldn't really know what to make of it.
After agreeing to come back to Seirin's basketball club as a manager, [Y/N] had to pick up the pace. There was much to be done and no room for floundering and mistakes. The Winter Cup was quickly approaching and the team needed to be ready for anything the other teams would come up with. She had to do research and assist Riko as much as possible. She barely had time to agonize over the situation between her and Kuroko. Still, when she's alone with her thoughts before sleep comes to her, she can't help but think about the situation.
Ever since the day she came back to the team, Kuroko would walk with her to school and walk her home. Without fail, he would be outside her house waiting for her in the morning and he insisted on walking her home everyday, too. She didn't know why he was going to the trouble of doing it. Maybe he felt bad for her. It didn't really matter. As far as she was concerned, he could do whatever he wanted.
Still, it was unusual. During their walks, he'd try to make conversation. It was incredibly out of character for him. No matter what reasons or excuses she came up with, she couldn't justify it. She didn't want to get ahead of herself and get the wrong idea. They were friends. Friends talk. That was it.
But when he walks so close that the backs of their hands keep bumping into each other, it was kind of hard not to get the wrong idea.
"Is that a new scarf, [Y/N]?"
She looks over at Kuroko, brought out of her thoughts. "Huh? Oh, yeah, it is. Why?"
"The color suits you," he says.
"Thanks," she responds, adjusting her scarf a bit. "It was on sale."
Kuroko nods, thoughtful. "Do you like scarves?" he asks.
"Not in particular. It's just been a little chilly lately," she says, rubbing her hands together for emphasis.
"You don't have gloves," Kuroko says, looking over at her. He seems to be eyeing her hands with profound interest.
She kind of didn't to admit that she was too caught up in her thoughts that morning. It was silly, forgetting things at her age. Still, she felt she could relax around him. She smiles, sheepish. "I was spacey this morning so I forgot."
Kuroko's expression softens, a small smile playing on his lips as he looks at her. He holds out his hand.
She looks at his outstretched hand before turning back to meet his gaze, a questioning look in her eyes. Is he saying what she thinks he's saying?
"Would you like to hold my hand?" Kuroko says, his voice soft.
[Y/N]'s eyes widen. She was shocked speechless. What was going on in Kuroko's head? She stared at him with incredulous eyes, still frozen in place.
"You'll be less cold that way," he says, his smile fading from his face. He seems to have retreated a bit back to his usual state of aloof indifference. The visible change was painful to see.
"Um, okay," she says, not really knowing how to behave. Sure, she's held hands with boys before but she couldn't help but feel this was very different. She scolds her heart for racing, tries to keep the butterflies in her stomach from fluttering too much, and puts her hand in his.
