Ill-Fated Calf-Love

Kuroo

With Akaashi's help, Kuroo managed to bring his grades up to C's and his mom relinquished her reign over him. He spent spring break with his dad, sleeping on the couch in the small, one-bedroom apartment. Though he was limping his way through second semester, Kuroo slowly began to accept his new normal.

Akaashi always listened when he got too stressed, even when Kuroo called and woke him up in the middle of the night. He was afraid that he might be putting too many of his problems on Akaashi, but the other boy always insisted that it was fine, basically begging Kuroo to tell him about every little inconvenience.

The clock on his dresser read 2:57 A.M. He'd had another stress dream and called Akaashi without thinking. They'd been talking for an hour now about Kuroo's stress for upcoming finals. His upperclassmen were back to picking on him, something that seemed to come and go in waves.

"I'm just so glad this year is almost over. We'll see each other more next year when you're finally in high school. Nekoma's colors are going to look amazing on you." The other end of the line was silent, but Kuroo thought he heard a sigh. "Akaashi?"

"Sorry. Nishinoya made me hang out with him after school, so I almost fell back asleep. What were you saying?"

"Just that I'm excited to go to Nekoma with you next year."

"Oh, right... Um, about that... I'm... I'm actually... not going. To Nekoma, that is."

"What do you mean? You're in the school district. Of course you are."

"I'm moving. Not out of town! Just out of the Nekoma school district."

"Where?"

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you. You were jut so stressed and I didn't want to add to it."

"Which district, Akaashi?"

"Closer to my dad's work."

"But that's..."

"Fukurodani. I know. It sucks and I hate it, but my dad got a promotion and longer hours with it, so we have to move. They managed to push it off until Summer though, so we still have some time."

"That's only two weeks! How long have you known?"

"A month."

"A month? Akaashi, you should have told me!"

"I know."

"I'm coming over tomorrow after school, okay?"

"Yeah, okay."

"Hey, I love you, Akaashi."

"Goodnight, Kuroo. Sleep well."

Kuroo stared at the ceiling after hanging up with Akaashi. Akaashi would be going to Fukurodani next year. His rival school. Worse was that he hadn't told Kuroo.

The football teams from the other schools were all good, except Karasuno which had seen better days, but Fukurodani was the only other powerhouse school in their faction. Nekoma had a long-standing feud with the other school and only the threat of being arrested had stopped both schools from trashing each other's campuses.

"Of all places, why there?"

The darkness of his room didn't answer him. Reluctantly, Kuroo rolled over and coaxed himself to sleep, feeling broken and empty.