As clumsy as a bull in a China shop as the saying goes. That's how you felt the moment Kuroo's hazel eyes met yours to then drop to your fingertips. Your almond manicure displayed puffy clouds on a backdrop of tepid peachy orange contrasted with your opposite free hand that sported a powdery indigo sky. His large hand wrapped around your Polaroid 600, saving it just inches off the waxed gymnasium floor.
"That's a first." He softly remarked.
Akin to an electrical current, the attention of Team Nekoma's captain became your new normal.
Months passed into summer. When he wasn't dealing with his teammates' shenanigans, he was sharing hearty banter with you. Not that you'd admit it made your day. At some point, friendly hangouts entered the mix which later turned into meeting his family and Kenma. Somehow it escalated to going to his games and sleeping over at his place sometimes.
It wasn't until he invited you along with him out to sea that it clicked. Maybe those glances you'd sneak each other weren't for the sake of friendship. How he'd let you rest your head on his shoulder when taking the subway. When he'd hold your hand tightly to lead you through crowded places. Even down to sparing cash to put towards more of your film when it was running low.
Ditching your flip flops in the Yuigahama beach sand as well as watching the surf froth upon its collision, you couldn't help but feel like a half washed away sand castle.
Just then, a bright flash went off. What greater sound than conversations flown on saline winds than that low hum dispensing your captured candid?
Your worries were eaten alive the instant you look to see what's in his grasp.
There, the camera that started it all.
“I just wanted to make you smile."
Divider created by @cafekitsune
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“one kiss-! bokuto, you’re crazy,” you hiss, hoping no one’s noticing your private conversation amidst the family barbecue. just to check, you peer over the taller man’s slightly hunched shoulders, catching eye contact with one of his aunties and grinning her way when she waves. only does the brightness in your eyes dull when you meet bokuto’s panicked ones.
“my sisters, the cousins-” he pauses to fling his arm in the direction of where his younger family members are, lounging in lawn chairs as they discuss school and their early jobs. “they don’t believe we’re dating!”
“and that’s my problem?” you frown, anxiety creeping into your belly at the mere thought of having an audience for a kiss that won’t even be real!
“our problem, y/n,” bokuto whines, visibly straining as he attempts to chip at your stubborn wall. “the favor was that you be my date to the family barbecue, pretending to be my girlfriend. well, we’ve got family who don’t believe it!”
“you didn’t mention i’d have to kiss you!“ you retaliate, peeking over at his cousins who’re staring rather skeptically, maybe even amused, at the two of you. it’d be a lie if you said they were totally buying your relationship.
to be fair, the way you both announced it was a little suspicious. just a few weeks earlier one of bokuto’s aunts offered to set him up with one of her employees his age to which he, in a panic, begged you to attend his family gathering to decline that. he hoped that in showing you off as his, they’d finally get off his back about having a significant other.
and it worked! … for some members of his family.
his older relatives only had to see your smiling face and holding hands to receive the memo and approve of his relationship.
his sisters and cousins? they’re not too easily swayed.
“isn’t it a bit convenient you announce your relationship just a week after auntie wanted to set you up with someone?” a cousin asked, amused grin adorning his face.
“yeah!” his older sister had chimed. “how dare you keep you and y/n’s status for so long!”
meanwhile, his other sister grumbled to herself in agreement, claiming that all this time while she thought you were just friends, you were supposed lovers?
“why is it such a big deal?” bokuto asks, genuinely curious, tilting his head slightly as his eyes widen in wonder.
the fact that he has to ask that, alluding he doesn’t think it such a big deal, makes you more embarrassed.
“because it is!” you huff, keeping your face straight so the rest of his family don’t sense your wary expression. “you don’t just kiss anyone!”
“you’ve kissed akaashi’s cheek when he was being asked out by that girl he wasn’t into! how’s that different?”
“it just is!”
how else are you supposed to say that kissing akaashi is different than kissing bokuto because you don’t have feelings for akaashi?
“please enlighten me.”
bokuto’s stubborn face is on now, furrowed brows and eyes lidded downward as his lips twist into a heavy pout. he’s concentrated, watching you closely and you know getting out of this will be difficult. he crosses his arms, awaiting your answer.
“well?”
“it’s different,” you murmur, looking down at the green grass below you. the night air, humid from the time of year, blows against you, giving you a sense of coolness amidst your warm cheeks and beating heart.
bokuto senses the change in your demeanor, suddenly realizing that whatever’s in your head much be more serious than he’d originally thought. so, he gently takes your wrist and before you know it, you’re being guided back into his parents’ home.
“kotaro?” his mother asks, grabbing at his arm before he passes the older members of the family sitting in a circle whose interests are all suddenly piqued by him as well. “everything okay?”
bokuto gives his mother an easy grin. “yep! y/n’s just thirsty so i’m grabbing her some water from inside.”
accepting his response, she lets go and returns back into the conversation with the elders. bokuto continues to pull you inside until your in the cool, air conditioned room of the kitchen.
letting go of your wrist, he leans against one of the counters facing you. “i didn’t mean to push you into anything but you can always talk to me.”
you know you should’ve internally debated accepting his request for a favor more than how you quickly accepted. then again, how can you deny bokuto when he gives you those widened, puppy-dog eyes and watery pout all while clasping his hands in a pleading manner?
really, it was just unfair.
you didn’t actually think you’d have to do much at this function, though. maybe holding hands with him and allow his to hold you class as he gushed about some made up story about how you started dating; something like “we’ve been friends for years now but it was recently that I saw her in a different light so I just decided to tell her!” oh, how simple him confessing must be. too bad that’s all fake. still, you never expected him to actually ask you to kiss, nonetheless in front of his whole family.
it takes away from the experience. first, you have to kiss someone in a not serious way and now added to the fact that it’s for the show for someone else to see?
maybe it’s the root cause that you have feelings for the man that’s getting you so frustrated about it. that surely had to be it. but how on earth were you supposed to explain that to him without it explicitly telling him you like him?
“no, no, i’m sorry for over exaggerating,” you mumble. “it’s just different because we’re close friends.” bokuto opens his mouth, mostly likely to claim that akaashi’s also a close friend of yours but you don’t allow that. “and you’re different than akaashi.”
“i am?” he asks blankly, furrowing his brows deeper. you can’t tell if he feels utterly lost or maybe even offended in case he’s thinking he’s not on the same level as your other friend. maybe it’s a bit of both.
“yeah, it’s … ugh, do i have to explain it?” a sigh from you. “i shouldn’t have agreed to this.”
“oh,” bokuto lets out, visibly slouching. so you regretted being his fake date that much? he thinks he gets it now. “i’ll just say you weren’t feeling well and you had to go. you really don’t have to stay if it’s making you that uncomfortable.”
“no!” you quickly blurt, waving your hands in front of you. “that’s not what i meant!”
“seriously y/n, it’s okay. i overstepped by asking and you’re just being nice because we’re friends. i’m sorry-”
“i don’t wanna kiss you because it won’t be real!” you cut off his rambles from further making himself feel bad.
bokuto seems to not have gotten it completely by the way he looks at you skeptically. “huh?”
you sigh, face flushing deeper. “i don’t want to kiss you because it’ll mean more to me than it does to you,” you admit in a quiet voice. “the reason for the kiss would just be to win over your sisters and cousins but to me, it’d be more. so i can’t kiss you.”
“it’d be more?” he repeats softly, eyebrows lifting in slight surprise. his expression softens when you look down, avoiding eye contact with him.
to be honest, you don’t remember when you developed feelings for your friend. whether it was in the beginning of your friendship, having always thought he was an attractive man or being a stellar volleyball player, or if it developed over time, growing used to his platonic affection and kind words to you, at this point in time, you’re completely smitten.
and you’ve hidden it to the best of your ability in fear of losing him as a friend. from what you could tell, bokuto was friendly with everyone so he didn’t give you much of a reason o believe your feelings were reciprocated.
“yeah,” you trail off, shuffling your feet on the tiled floors in attempt to keep your attention busy. “sorry to just spring that on you, didn’t mean to.”
“no,” he says quietly, denying your apology, assuring you. “don’t apologize. it’s just, um, not what i expected.”
ah, the conversation you’ve feared. the awkwardness leading to the inevitable rejection from someone you considered a close friend. there goes that friendship. the pit in your stomach grows as your heartbeat continues to erratically beat in your chest.
you need to get out of this situation.
“yep, so i’ll be going now. tell your family i said bye and the food was delicious-”
you’re cut off when bokuto’s hand grabs your wrist again, this time more firmly, in fear you’d slip out of his grasp to leave his house in a hurry, which to be fair, was something you were planning on doing.
“wait.”
you swallow the lump in your throat, eying his hand on your arm. slowly, you look up at his face, sucking in your lips as you brace for the impact of his future words.
“what if i want to kiss you, though?”
“what?” you ask, shaking your head from his question, not expecting it.
“you said that it’d mean more to you because my reason is to get my family to believe, right?” at your nod for confirmation, a glum one at that, he continues, “but what if i also wanna kiss you just ‘cause? what if it means more to me, too?”
“bokuto…” you trail off, doubting his words. he really didn’t have to try and make you feel better with words.
“i’m serious!” he claims. “everything else would be a bonus. i’d kiss ‘ya without anyone watching if i could.”
your face burns even hotter at the insinuation of his words. so he’s not just trying to make you feel better?
“and well, now that I know the feeling’s mutual, can i?”
“huh?” you squeak when he takes a step closer to you, close enough you can feel his breath fanning your face.
“can i kiss you? for real?” he asks again, dipping his head down, believing — no, knowing — you’d say yes. and when you nod, ever so subtly, he molds his lips against yours.
it’s a soft kiss at first, a simple test of the waters, but when his hands go up to your cheeks and holds you face in place and your hands move up to clutch his waist, the time for timidness is over. bokuto kisses you with fervor, like a starved man, smiling against your lips when you squeak and sigh into his mouth, breaths of relief as if thinking finally, this is happening.
the way he kisses you has you dipping downward, clutching onto him so you don’t feeling backward, not that you would; he’d catch you before that could happen. you’re fully consumed by bokuto and though you’re head is spinning from the lack of air, you can’t will yourself to pull away. not when you’ve been waiting, yearning for this moment for god knows how long.
“kotaro, your mom said you were in- oh.” a voice calls into the kitchen, stunning the both of you in place, only making your face spring apart in surprise.
you spin around to face bokuto’s eldest cousin frozen in place at the entrance of the kitchen, blinking at the both of you. a moment passes with the three of you looking between each other and then his cousin relaxes.
“i’m just here for some plates,” he says coolly, swiping the plates conveniently set on the counter to his chest. “i’ll, uhm, leave you two to it.” the cousin then scurries out of the kitchen and it isn’t until your heard the back door swing open and close that you face bokuto who’s grinning down at you.
“what’d i say? it’s a bonus.” he wiggles his brows, insinuating that his eldest cousin was probably off affirming your relationship to the rest of the family, no need for some extravagant public display of affection.
you swat at his arm, only for his to take ahold of your hands and interlace your fingers. “what’re you-” you furrow your brows, to be cut off by his lips once more.
“making up for lost time.” bokuto smiles against your lips, sealing the space between them once more.
You weren’t able to see Kuroo with how you were sitting on the couch, knees bent blocking your view of him, but you could almost imagine his face when you stayed quiet staring at your phone.
“Did you hear me?” He asked, you could feel him shift on the couch to better look at you, and once again you didn’t answer. Eyes still locked onto whatever tik tok that was playing, even though you really weren’t paying attention. “Oh, I see, that’s fine.”
He quieted down after that, probably going back on his phone as well, just like the two of you had been doing for the past half hour.
“You can’t really be ignoring me.”
He spoke up after barely two minutes of silence, he was always really bad at giving you the silent treatment in return.
“Heyyy, look at me.”
As much as you wanted to look up at Kuroo’s whining, you were far too amused with the whole situation to do so. That was until your legs were pulled down over his lap forcing you to meet his gaze.
“You’re being mean.” He mumbled before pouting dramatically, bottom lip stuck out in the most ridiculous expression.
“I’m not mean.” Was all you said, staring at him for a second then turning back to your phone.
“Then stop ignoring me.”
“I’m not.”
“You are!” He huffed and leaned back into the couch. You almost broke at that, it was adorable. “Is it because I forgot to tell you I got out of class earlier?.”
“Maybe.” You said and when you looked up at him again he rolled his eyes.
“You’re kidding me.” It almost sounded like he was about to start laughing at your answer.
“You said you’d meet me at the library if you got out early,” You glared at him, moving your legs off of his and sitting up. “I was bored out of my mind in the gap between my classes.”
“You could’ve texted me!”
“I thought you were in class, stupid.” You rolled your eyes now, he wasn’t getting it.
“I answer you when I’m in class all the time.” Kuroo sat up too now, eyes never leaving you and you could tell he was getting nervous. It must’ve hit him once you got up from the couch. “I didn’t realize, I’m sorry.”
“You’re so dumb, text me next time..” You said after a long moment, walking towards your shared room but stopping just before the hallway. “I think I’ve going to shower before dinner, did you have anything in mind?”
“Are you still mad at me?” He asked almost hopeful, “But no, I was thinking we could go out somewhere since it’s Friday?”
“No, I was never mad at you actually. Also, that sounds good to me. We should go to the place that had the really good nachos.” Your tone was a bit softer now as he followed you into your bedroom. “What’re doing?”
“Joining you?” He said it almost like a question, head tilted slightly to the side with the dopey smile that never failed to make you soft.
“Oh, really? I don’t recall asking you to join me.” You laughed when he wrapped his arms around your waist, stopping you from rushing into the bathroom.
“I think you owe me for making me think you were mad at me.” Kuroo mumbled, hugging you tightly to him, “I was freaking out.”
“I know you were, it was funny.”
“It really wasn’t funny.” He huffed and you laughed again, leaning back into his arms before hugging him back. “You’re mean.”
“No, I just like to see you squirm.” You managed to slip out of his grasp when he moved back to fully look at you, mouth slightly agape like he couldn’t believe you said that. “C’mon are we showering or not?”
“We definitely are.” He shook his head following you into the bathroom finally. “I can’t handle you sometimes.”
[11:38 AM] oikawa bursts into your room with a grin on his face. you're on a zoom call, chiming into a class discussion concerning the literature that was assigned for you to read.
you both never had the best timing, though, so your class not only hears your noisy, noisy boyfriend surprising you with his presence instead of being across the world at a training camp, but also sees him pulls you away from the screen in your rolling chair.
"surprise, baby!!" he practically yells, smothering your cheeks with kisses.
"oikawa, i'm in class-professor i am so sorry, uh, if i can continue my point in a few moments?"
your professor, thankfully, chuckles and allows you to carry on at a later time, though the chat blows up and you're sure someone probably filmed it for a tiktok.
you click to mute yourself and turn off your camera, and oikawa sheepishly stands by the doorway.
"sorry," he bashfully murmurs, rubbing his feet against the carpet. "i just missed you so much, baby."
you shake your head, smiling at him, before giving him the tightest hug you can. you feel his smile against your skin, and the way he visibly loses all of this tension in his body as he holds you and allows himself to be held by you.
"i love you, toru. i'm so glad you're back. after this we can go hang out and do whatever you want."
"i think that i just want to stay with you."
you never end up finishing your thought in class. you stay cuddled up with your boyfriend, only getting up to sign out of class, and spend the day together, never being away from the other's side, pure, unbridled happiness never leaving either of your hearts.
his smile is like a kid's when they see their first time ever christmas present getting out of its well enwarpped box; from ear to ear, endearing, filling your heart with adoration up to the brim; eyes narrowing, ravishing, shining with the honey pooling them.
you feel,
he the was the sun itself.
when he was beside you, there was no need for anything else. he keeps you warm, your body, your heart, your entire being. he creates rays of sunshine wherever he goes. if you stare too much you could feel the tears lining your eyelashes. if you get too much, it will burn you; but if you can't get enough, it will kill you.
"what is it y/n?"
it felt like the longing to reach out to him has always been there, in you, somewhere buried in deep. he filled every single gap in you, like you didn't need anything more. he was all you could ask for, all you could pray for.
Kita fights off a rush of affection at the sight of you, then lets it take over him full force. There’s nothing wrong with feeling the way he does about you, even at the intensity his emotions reach. Except perhaps that you’re both a little young and that you’ve barely been together for half a year.
Still, it is what it is, and it’s part of his daily rituals now.
He drops his school bag at his desk, then pulls a chair up to sit beside you at yours. He’ll return the chair when your seat mate gets here - historically, it’ll be much closer to the start of class time.
“What’s got you smiling, love?” He asks. At one point, you would’ve asked what he meant by that. If he thought you shouldn’t smile at all. If smiling was a crime.
Now you just smile back, too giddy to tease him that much. “New pen cartridge. Look how awesome that is.” You hold up the item in question alongside a pen whose cartridge you haven’t replaced yet. “Now I can write better notes than you.”
“I didn’t know we were competing.”
Gasping in faux dramatics, you demand, “Kita! How do you not know anything about me?”
He crosses his arms on the desk and leans in closer to you, steady eyes boring into your own mischevious ones. A pair of sly foxes, as it were, and not just because they’re your school mascot.
“I know all your favorite stationery brands. And that’s a lot. Not to mention your favorite snacks, your favorite date spot, your hair wash schedule, your menstrua-“
“Okay, okay, okay! Do you not get embarrassed?”
Kita tips his head. “I do, but I don’t see why anything I mentioned would be cause for embarrassment.”
“You’re the worst.”
“You don’t really think so, Y/N.”
You sigh. “No, Kita, I don’t.”
“… Hey, Y/N. I have an embarrassing question.”
“Embarrassing for you or for me?”
“Me. Can you… Can you call me Shinsuke? Is that okay?”
No. No, it’s not okay. Why is he so perfect without even doing anything?
Kuroo can’t help but to smile as he watches you work on your homework, a groan leaving you as you erratically erase whatever you had just written down. “I can help you, you know,” he offers, that usual smirk of his on his face. You don’t even have to look up from your work to know that it’s there.
“Nope. I’m good. I can do it,” you reply confidently before starting to work on the problem for the third time. Hey, third time’s the charm, right?
Kuroo only chuckles at you before going quiet, gleefully going back to watching you trying to figure it out. Your brows are practically knitted together, your nose is wrinkled, and, occasionally, you’ll chew on the end of your pencil. He definitely uses that as an excuse to stare at your mouth.
You two just started being study buddies a couple of weeks ago, so he hasn’t worked up the nerve to kiss you or ask you out yet, but he will. One day.
and a date idea : snowball fights (i haven't even touched or seen snow irl :(
mylooooooo! thank you for the ask! and don't worry, i'm sure you'll love snow when you get to experience it :)
game details are here if you’re interested in participating
summary: y/n and bokuto have the great snowball fight of 2021
tags/warnings: drabble, fem!reader, fluff, a hint of crack
wc: 492
a/n: although i haven’t seen snow in years (sad meki noises) i remember having lots of fun with my friends and bokuto would definitely challenge you to a snowball war.
[6:03 AM] - Bokuto
“Babeeeeee!” Bokuto yelled from the window. “Babe come quick it’s snowing!” You yawned as you trudged over to him, peering through the glass. “It is snowing, huh.” He sighed wearily. “C’mon you gotta be more excited than that. Who knows when it’ll snow again?” You yawned again. “Maybe I’d be more excited if it wasn’t 6am in the morning.”
You managed to convince him to eat some breakfast before the two of you put on your snow gear and headed outside. Bokuto instantly dove headfirst into the snow before popping back up, face half frozen. “It’s a lot colder than I expected.” He chattered. “You think?” Scooping up some snow, you began to compact it into a nice small sphere. He noticed and tipped his head curiously as you began to roll it on the ground, making it bigger and bigger. Before long, you had created the base for your snowman. Soon, Bokuto was off building his own and you focused on perfecting yours. You were putting the finishing touches on it when you heard Bokuto yell.
“Look at mine!” You turned around to see his creation. Your hand quickly flew over your mouth so as not to give away your shock. If you were being completely honest, it was the ugliest snowman you’d ever seen. Its arms were twisted, the snowballs were misshapen, and it was missing an eye. However, upon seeing the excited glow in Bokuto’s eyes, you flashed him a bright smile. “I can’t believe you got that done so quickly, Bo. Now my snowman has a friend!” You offered cheerily. He grinned. “I hope your snowman came prepared for battle.” He pulled his hand out from behind his back and chucked a snowball as hard as he could at yours. You gasped dramatically, clutching the stick that was once your snowman’s arm. “I’ll avenge you!” You yelled before hurling a snowball at Bokuto’s snowman. It landed with a solid plat against its eye and the stone rolled out. “William!” He shrieked, falling to his knees. Wiping mock tears, he stared at you. “This means war.”
And it was war indeed. Snowballs flew back and forth until both you and Bo were thoroughly exhausted and your snowmen were nothing more than pillowy heaps. The two of you lay side by side in the snow, catching your breath. After a few minutes, Bokuto broke the silence. “That was amazing!” He yelled, jumping up. “You put up a good fight before I defeated you.” You sat up. “Um, it’s obvious that I destroyed you Bo. Just look at William.” You gestured to the flattened heap of snow where his snowman once stood.” He saluted in its direction and whispered. “He fought bravely until the end.” Rolling your eyes, you took his hand and led him back towards the house. “Let’s get something warm to drink, I’m freezing. And if you’re not convinced, I can beat you tomorrow again too.”
