Set Us Up | 私たちを立てて | Kenma Kozume

| ten x twenty |

warning; homophobia, homophobic slurs

"There's some uh... rumours going around about you..."

It was disappointing... to say the least. The way someone would go that far when they didn't get what they wanted. The way someone would try and go out of their way to spread such malicious information with every intention of hurting someone else. Fukunaga told you what he had heard among the second years that had coincidentally gone over and around your ears. Even Kenma was confused and wondering why he had never noticed anything like that happening until he began to reluctantly connect the dots as his sharp, golden eyes were on you and only you.

"There are... some students saying things like you're gay and... it kinda escalated from there.."

Watching your reaction, the curiosity and nonchalance until Fukunaga told you amongst his teammates, watching how your idle interest turned to a frown and the way your pretty eyes turned nervous and hurt. Kenma reached out to you when your shoulders dropped as if in defeat. It didn't even look like you were breathing, bare in the face and showing no sign of even feeling your boyfriend right next to you.

Fukunaga hesitated to go on, unsure of how much he should say for the sake of not wanting to hurt you more than you had already possibly been hurt.

"They were even saying things like you're a woman-hater and... and that you and K-Kenma are..."

It was hard to think when the words rang through your mind. It was hard to see when rage was building within your chest. It was humiliating when your friends were watching you with those sad looks as if they felt sorry for you. Kenma's hand grasped onto the hem of your sweater but you turned and tried to storm off to try and think more clearly.

They were saying you were gay? What the hell was up with that. This is modern Japan, why the hell did other people have to have a say about that. Why did people feel like they should bring you down and ostracise you just because you weren't attracted to women? What the hell was wrong with you liking cute boys with partially dyed blonde hair and striking gold, cat-like eyes? What, so boobs and big, round asses didn't appeal to you, and? Who's fucking business was that. Why were you weird for something as trivial as that? Why couldn't the people you go to school with just ignore things that didn't even concern them? Why did liking boys make you a freak?

"he always looks at boys so weirdly!"

"be careful or he'll think gross things about you!"

"What a freak!"

You had barely registered that you hadn't even managed to walk a few steps when you felt your collar lightly pressing against your neck. Turning your sights behind you, Kenma was the target of your cold glare and he frowned further when you didn't stop glaring at him, as if suddenly it was only you, by yourself, against everyone else in the world. He didn't let go of your sweater in fear that you would try to run away from him.

"Hey. Don't run from me."

His face was sad, you turned away from it.

"[Name], we're all here for you," Kuroo spoke loud from the doors of the gym, "no one is going to look at you differently because of something like your sexuality." His words held something strong and intense that you couldn't look at. Glaring at the ground, you merely answered with a huff as he added, "even if the rumours are true or not."