Our Music

chapter 11

"So, Tanaka-san, is your husband not close to these people?" Akaashi asked, and the gorgeous woman smiled at him.

"Please, call me Shimizu. And he is good friends with us all, yes, he just isn't here today."

Daichi frowned. 

"The least he can do is come here at Christmas! What could he possibly be doing?" Akaashi had been nervous of Asahi beforehand, he looked old and intimidating, but he was actually very sweet and quiet. He spoke up.

"Ah, Nishinoya finally got back from Europe, so they're spending a few days together at Ennoshita's place." Shimizu nodded and Asahi thumbed through his phone, bringing up a photo of the three men. Akaashi had no idea who they were so he just nodded, but Hinata's eyes were sparkling and he gasped excitedly. 

"Ah!!! Shimizu-senpai! Next time you see Nishinoya-senpai and Tanaka-senpai please tell them that they still look really cool!" Shimizu laughed softly and waved her hand.

"Sure I will Hinata-kun."

The conversation was broken up by a soft knock at the door, and Bokuto got up.

"I'll get it!"

He opened the door and Kenma came in, waving shyly at the people in the apartment, and a chorus of hello's greeted him. But Bokuto frowned as Kenma sat down. "Is Kuroo not with you?" Kenma sighed softly.

"No. He's still sulking. It's getting super annoying." Daichi stood up and slammed his fist into his palm.

"That's it. I'm going to go and knock some sense into him." A few people cried out in alarm, he looked completely serious, but Sugawara managed to pull him back down. Hinata looked over curiously.

"Kenma-san, you should go and talk to him!" Kenma just cringed.

"Nah, he won't listen even if I tried. Such an idiot..."

"But you should try! Otherwise we might never get Kuroo-senpai back!!" When Kenma realised that everyone was looking at him expectantly, he glanced away uncomfortably. 

"...Fine... but don't expect me to be successful." Bokuto and Hinata cheered.

"Hey hey hey! Go for it Kenma!"

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Kenma unlocked the door to their apartment and opened it, flicking on the lights again. He could already hear the cello music floating eerily down the hall and it made him groan, wanting to turn around and leave already. He could just go back and tell the others that he tried but Kuroo wouldn't listen to him. But he bit his lip and walked in, closing the door behind him. 

He shuffled through the living space and glanced longingly at the game console he had left charging on the table, but pulled his eyes away and knocked softly on the door of his roommate's bedroom.

"Kuroo?" when he didn't get an answer he just opened the door, the sound of the cello loud in his ears. 

His room was surprisingly tidy for such a messy-sounding person, and it was dimly lit. There were shelves of books above a desk and a large bed was pressed to the wall. A double-bass was sitting in the corner with a record player and hanging on the wall was a bass guitar. It was normally comfortable and relaxed, but recently it just felt cold. 

Kuroo sat on a chair playing his cello, but his eyes looked unfocused. Even his black hair fell a little bit flat across his face, and if Kenma squinted in the soft lighting he could tell that the tips of his fingers were red and sore from pressing against the strings.

"Kuroo?" If the man had even noticed his presence he didn't acknowledge it, and Kenma frowned. "Tetsurou. Stop playing."

Kuroo lifted his bow from the strings and sighed softly, putting the cello aside, all the while not meeting Kenma's eyes. "What's wrong? Why are you still sulking over him? You know he was a bitch so why don't you just get up and try to get over him already?" Kuroo just bit his lip, rubbing the tips of his red fingers along his thumb in his lap. Kenma curled his hands into fists.

"You're not answering Bokuto. You don't eat often and hardly leave your room. I haven't even heard your voice in pretty much two weeks!" Kenma's hands shook and his words caught in his throat. "And... and I'm really worried because- because you're never like this... so I don't know what to do..." his lip trembled and he glared at the ground, blinking tears from his eyes. Kuroo looked up at him, shocked.

"Kozume?" he breathed, his voice broken and gravelly. Kenma bit his lip and walked forwards, putting his arms around Kuroo's chest and crawling into his lap. He pressed into him, hugging him tightly. Kuroo felt tense and cold, as if he had been holding his breath for weeks. 

"Please just talk to me about it," Kenma whispered. 

He wasn't sure if Kuroo had even heard him for a moment, but then he felt him swallow, and wrap his arms tightly over him, curling around his small body. And so Kenma just held on as Kuroo's shoulders shook. 

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A knock at the door broke the conversation again and once again Bokuto got up. The door clicked open and Kenma walked through it, sitting down with hardly a word. But Bokuto wasn't paying attention to him. Kuroo stood in the doorway, looking down at him awkwardly. 

"Hey man." His voice sounded gravelly and unused. "Sorry I was gone for a while. Am I still invited?" Kuroo tried for a small smile and Bokuto grinned, muscling his friend into a hug.

"Bro! I missed you! Come on!"

They walked in and a few people cheered.

"Kuroo-san! Welcome back!"

Daichi chuckled. 

"Finally finished sulking? You should thank Kenma again." Kuroo rolled his eyes and the ghost of his usual smirk graced his features.

"Shut up Sawamura, and give me that." 

He grabbed a bottle of spirits from the table and poured it into a whole glass instead of a shot. Kenma raised his brows.

"Woah, careful there. You didn't eat anything today." Kuroo sighed. 

"Just let me have this, Kenma." 

"Ah! Kuroo-san!" Yachi stood up quickly and walked over to him, grabbing his hand. "Your fingers!" The tips of his fingers were red and sore, the indents from the strings looking closer to cuts after he had worn down his calluses. Kuroo looked at them with mild surprise.

"I hadn't even noticed..."

"I'll put a bandage over them!" Yachi dragged him to the kitchen and Kuroo had no choice but to follow her, grabbing his glass as he walked. Just before he left, he shot a fleeting smile at Kenma.