-A Little Help- (KuroKen)

9

(Kenmas POV)

School had gone by quickly without any other incidents which of course made me happy. I had that Yamamoto guy in a few more classes and I'm not gonna lie I was warming up to him a bit. So much so that him and I were now on our way to the gym for volleyball. I suppose Kuroo told him I was joining at some point in the day because he seemed super excited and asked me to walk with him to the gym after class. I didn't have a problem with it since I had previously planned to walk alone anyways, and maybe with another person I could avoid those third years.

"I didn't see you as the athletic type Kenma." Yamamoto was good at making casual conversation which made me happy. I could just listen and give light responses while he talked about things that didn't make me have anxiety attacks. "I was pretty shocked when Kuroo said that the quiet boy that looked like Sadako was a setter."

"Huh what do you mean Sadako?" I mean I knew of the character but did I really look like a girl?

"Yeah man, you look like Sadako from behind it's creepy." He laughed slightly. "You should change it up." I never really cared about my hair to be honest. I kept it long because I didn't like having a wide field of vision, it gave me anxiety attacks, but I never thought about how it looked to other people surprisingly.

"I don't really care about my hair." I looked down at the handheld console that I had been struggling to play this whole time, the boss was very hard and this isn't even the end game yet.

"You stand out with your hair like that." Wait- I what!

When we finally arrived at the gym Kuroo greeted me happily and ushered me over to meet the coach, he seemed very excited to meet me. All the other players gathered around me as well, this was making me feel a bit... overwhelmed. I couldn't bring myself to say it but I was hoping Kuroo would catch on to my slight shaking. Thankful he did and pushed the players away.

"So Kozume-" The coach, coach Nekomata began. I didn't like being called Kozume to be honest, I'd rather just go by Kenma. I don't want people to feel like they have to be respectful around me, I'm not really worth it.

"He just goes by Kenma." Kuroo stuck up for me, again.

"Ok then, Kenma I here you're a setter is that right?"

"Yeah." My voice was quiet but luckily the coach heard it. I debated just nodding but since he was looking at his clipboard it would have just made the situation much more uncomfortable than it already was.

"You're very different from our current setter." He laughed and so did Kuroo, of course I didn't, I had no clue who their current setter was. That's when the questions began. Would he be mad at me? See me as competition? Would he try to crush me, cause he most certainly could. "Well if you don't have any questions change in the club room with everyone else and we will begin the practice." I walked away with Kuroo at my side, I didn't know where the club room was of course so he led me there.

When we entered the time room my senses were overloaded. It was really really loud. The other team members seemed to be chatting about a million different topics at once. I can't think or focus on anything with all these sounds. I need to change quickly and get out. I did just that and tried my best to avoid any conversation since I wasn't going to be able to focus on it anyways. Kuroo noticed my state and changed quickly with me so that we could leave the crowded room. He also didn't try to make conversation which I was thankful for. Yamamoto was the only other guy who knew me but he was busy talking to some other players.

Volleyball practice wasn't awful at all, sure it was bad and I almost had a few attacks but it wasn't awful. This was a new feeling for me. Usually all those people would have surely made me pass out. Not to mention some of the players even tried talking to me! And I was fine! I even talked back to a few of them! With like actual words! Kuroo was always by my side which made it easier, I felt comfortable, safe, and calm around him. He was very protective today though, more than usual, however, I assume he was just trying to keep all the players' questions from becoming too much for me. He seemed quite happy when Yamamoto told him we walked here together and that we had talked in class during the 1st hour. I see someones becoming mr. popular. That's what he said to me and it brought a small grin on my face. 

While practice was a nice distraction it didn't last, because towards the end when all the questions had cooled down and the initial stress of a new situation left me I saw them. Those three third year boys, they played volleyball. The worst part was the guy I ran into in the halls today, was the current setter. I hadn't been paying attention enough. Stupid, how could I have been so dumb. I let my guard down, I never let my guard down. I missed a crucial detail. 

They never came up to me though during practice which honestly scared me more. Where they planning to do something or say something they couldn't in front of everyone else. I thought back to the day Kuroo and I went to the bakery, they saw me with him. They probably knew I was the new player joining the team. They had a leg up on me. I'm pathetic how could I have let this happen! If I knew they would be here I would never have joined! I would have never made that promise to Kuroo!

"Hey Kenma, relax." I flinched slightly at the hand touching my back, whipping around I was faced with Kuroo's soft smile. Ahh I loved that smile. Wait what did I just think. I loved Kuroo's smile? Because it calmed me down right? It stopped my attacks that why I like it, right? "Practice is almost over, why don't you stay back and clean up with me so the changing room is quieter."

"But-" I was about to protest since I didn't really want to do any cleaning of the sort.

"I saw how you were in the beginning of practice. It's better if we wait." He was right of course, he always was. The more I thought about it the better it sounded, if I stayed to clean I could avoid the third years who I'm sure had plans to target me. Just the thought made my body shiver in fear.

After cleaning the gym and changing in the now silent club room Kuroo and I began our walk home. It was dark which didn't really help the jitters I was feeling. I took out my phone to play some games since my psp had died.

"You shouldn't walk and play at the same time. What if you run into something?" He did make a good point. If I were to run into a pole or something of the sorts there was a chance my phone would be broken or my nose would bleed. What if I bled on my phone? Then I wouldn't be able to use it for a bit until it was clean. However, if I put the game down and walked I also wouldn't be playing my game which is a big down side. So I lightly gripped the hem of Kuroos jacket lightly.

"Don't run me into anything." I continue to keep my gaze on the small phone screen. Kuroo laughed and grabbed my hand which caused me to tense up. What was happening? Why was I so nervous all of a sudden? I had been with Kuroo this whole time and yet now I felt breathless.

"It's easier to lead you like this." He justified his reasoning for holding my hand and I began to relax a bit. This wasn't too bad, right? I liked holding Kuroo's hand. What did I just say? Suddenly my mind went blank. I liked holding Kuroo's hand because he was keeping me from running into things. Yes that was the case. My mind began to replay the events of the day from walking to school with Kuroo, meeting Yamamoto, volleyball practice, and then finally walking home with Kuroo. It's funny it started the same way it ended. I liked that though. I liked walking with Kuroo and I liked when he would hold my hand while we walked from home to school and from school to home. I can get used to this.

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Sorry this chapter feels a bit ehh to me but it's mostly a filler chapter anyways. Get ready for blonde Kenma cause he's on his way!! But Kuroo and Kenma holding hands just <3 makes me very happy :))