I'm not a game | Kenma Kozume x Reader

Pity & Kisses

After your meltdown from this morning, the remainder of your morning classes goes by in a blur. Your mind elsewhere while you pretend to pay attention in class. You feel your eyes swell throughout the day and a few curious eyes stare at you. "I'd like you guys to partner up and continue where you left off in your English textbooks." A groan escapes you, your fingers run through your hair.

Partner up?

You hate the thought.

The sound of a table squeaking over to your left pulls your attention. Kozume grabs his chair and sits next to you. Quietly, Kozume places his English textbook between the two of you. "Did Kozume volunteer himself to Y/L/N?" A girl whispers to her friend. "Damn it, I was hoping to read with Kozume." Another girl pouts. "She already has Kuroo's attention and now she has Kozume's? What do they see in her." Your hands tighten into fists and Kozume's low voice stops you.

"Y/L/N."

You avert your gaze away from the girls and look at Kozume. He raises a folder and props it up in front of you. "Lay your head down." Your brows knit together and you tilt your head. "What?" Kozume doesn't repeat himself and for some reason you listen to him. His golden eyes and deadpan expression is just as effective as your glares to others. You rest your chin on your arm and stare at the folder in front of you. "Now they can't see you and you can't see them. Problem solved." Kozume mumbles under his breath. Kozume rests his head on his knuckles, elbow propped up on his desk.

You're taken aback when you hear Kozume speak beside you.

Kozume is helping you in his own way.

Slowly, you turn to look at Kozume, your cheek now resting on your arm. Your lip twitches slightly when you see the way Kozume looks at you. You can't seem to read his expression. You realize how easily you're showing your emotions to Kozume and fear clouds over you. Averting your gaze, you stare at the book in front of you.

"Why do you try so hard to keep your distance?" Kozume carefully asks you. You don't look up at Kozume, feeling your chest tighten. "None of your business." You curtly respond back. Kozume presses his lips together, a soft sigh escaping his lips. Something about the way Y/L/N holds herself reminds him of himself. But at the same time, she's different. The both of them give off a cold impression which makes the two unapproachable. Kozume holds a deadpan expression while Y/L/N holds a piercing glare to strangers.

The difference between the two is that Y/L/N voiced her opinions. She also don't seem to make herself less noticeable compared to him.

Kozume wonders what Kuroo sees in Y/L/N. It's only been three days since Kozume has met her and his life has been flipped upside down. He's sticking out more to protect her and he's speaking up more. All this energy being pulled out of him drains him and he's not enjoying it. But she is important to Kuroo so Kozume feel's like he has to do this.

Isn't this called pity though?

Kozume thinks to himself. That mental question sounds so harsh.

You notice the slight twitch of Kozume's eyebrows. He seems irritated at whatever he's thinking about. The last conversation between you two was about you. You come to the conclusion that you are bothering him. A sharp pain cuts through you. Kozume was probably only being nice to you as of late because you're someone important to Kuroo. You didn't want Kozume's help if it was pity. Whether or not if you are right or wrong about Kozume, you decide to take things into your own hands. Your hand pushes the English book back towards Kozume and you close the folder in front of you. Lifting your head up, you place his folder back on his desk.