𝚃𝙾𝙱𝙸𝙾'𝚂 𝙱𝚁𝙾𝚃𝙷𝙴𝚁

Chapter 10*

"Kuroo?"

The setter looked over to see who had called for him. It turned out to be Nekoma's captain. "Hey, Yamaguchi."

"What are you doing here?" F/N asked before he thought of an answer. "You're looking for Y/N, aren't you?"

Kuroo's eyes widened in surprise. F/N chuckled at the reaction. "At this point, you're around him more than I am, so it's kind of obvious."

"That so?"

"Yup. So, what did you wanna talk to him about?"

"I thought I'd ask him if he wanted to join our little practice session again later."

"Well, he's with our coach and faculty advisor right now. He left with them a little while ago though, so it shouldn't be too long before they're done."

"I see," Kuroo replied, looking around the gym to see the lot of Matsubara practicing. "Are you guys practicing for the match later?"

"Yeah."

Then, there was silence. Both of them stood there, not really knowing what else to say. That was, until, Kuroo thought of asking something. "Hey...Yamaguchi?"

"What's up?"

"You've known Y/N for a long time, right?"

"Yeah. We've known each other since we were kids. We lived in the same neighborhood."

"So... You know a lot of things about him, right?"

"I don't know about that. Maybe? I mean, I'd like to think that I do."

"What do you mean?"

F/N looked as though he didn't really know to explain it. Or rather, he was hesitant to. "I'm sure you know this already, but Y/N's never really been fond of people. But..."

"Hmm?"

"I really don't want to bring up anything detailed. It's not really my place to, and besides... the past is the past. It shouldn't really be dug up from its grave."

"Actually... I wanted to know if he ever opened up to anyone."

F/N shook his head. "Not really. Not that I know of, anyway... He's only ever told me stuff, but even then, he's never been that open with me. Like I said, he doesn't like being around people, so I can't imagine him saying anything."

Then, F/N met eyes with Kuroo. "Other than you, anyway. Am I right?"

Kuroo was hesitant to answer. F/N knew without having to be told anything. He looked back over at his teammates, continuing to talk in a low voice. 

"He started distancing himself from everyone after-- Well, I'm sure you know... He stopped talking to me after he left our hometown too. But, I flew over with my aunt to see him. Still, he's never been the same since then."

The pained expressions Y/N had made replayed in Kuroo's mind as he listened to F/N. "I guess you could say he built some walls around him... He chooses to be alone. If I had to guess the reason... it's probably because he doesn't wanna hurt anyone again..."

"I'm scared, Tetsu..."

"I see..." Kuroo replied, his gaze on the floor.

F/N chuckled dryly. "Truth is...nobody really knows what he's thinking. He's been like this for so long that he got so good at hiding his real feelings...He's never exactly been one to wear his heart on his sleeve."

"He's alone all the time, though... As his friend," Kuroo said, feeling the sting of the word, but still continued. "I want to do something to help."

"The feeling's mutual," F/N replied, turning to him before overlooking his teammates again. "But, you should know... Y/N overworks himself."