***KUROO POV***

(Y/N) was a complete mystery to me.

The morning after we had struck our deal I had gotten an earful from Yaku about the fact she'd 'escaped', but even after a lot of prying he had refused to elaborate on why the girl had to be monitored so closely.

She just does. That was his answer, and he was sticking to it. There was obviously a lot more to it, but for now we would all have to remain in the dark. She was yet to keep her end of the bargain, too. Each and every practice one of us, usually Lev or Inuoka, had to carry her in after an attempt to flee, and she'd then go sulk in her fort of backpacks.

Now, a little over two weeks after that walk home, she was face down at her desk as our English teacher drawled on and on about grammatical rules. We didn't have many classes together, aside from English and Modern History, but every time we did she'd just slack off like this.

When the bell rang, I stood up and approached her desk, where she hadn't so much as budged, poking at the bright blue streak in her hair.
"You're grades must suck if all you do is sleep."

Groaning, she blindly swatted me away before lifting her head, wiping the sheen from her mouth before glaring. I'd decided she was pretty cute when she was just grumpy, and not downright pissed.
"I'm a rare breed. I obtain all my knowledge via photosynthesis." She yawned, chair scraping loudly as she made a move to get up.

"That so?" She was quick witted, and that had always been something that had drawn me to people. Normally I was far too nervous to become proper friends with girls, especially when they were pretty, but something about (Y/N) put me at ease. At least when she wasn't trying to flirt me to death.

"Mmhmm. I'm oozing with smartness." Another yawn, and I contracted it, hiding mine behind the crook of my elbow as we started out of the classroom.
"You not get enough sleep last night or something?" I asked, matching her much slower pace.

She shrugged, nearly losing the strap of her bag down her arm, but she shimmied it back up to her shoulder before I could reach over and do it for her.
"Sure, or something...You have anything caffeinated? I'll be your best friend if you do."

Motioning to the bag on my back, I didn't even managed to start speaking before she'd dropped behind, starting to unzip it.
"I've got an energy bar in my-oh, okay, guess I'll just starve." I joked, bending my knees a little as I walked so she wouldn't have to reach too high. Zipping it back up after a good rummage she returned to my side, all but ripping the package open and taking a bite.

"This tastes like cardboard. You willingly eat bars of cardboard." She cringed at the taste, though it didn't stop her from taking another bite.
"I never said it was a delicious energy bar."

(Y/N) had been quick to grow comfortable around me, and I was glad. It had taken the first years in the team a lot longer to ease up and see me as a friend as well as their captain, but this mouthy little third year was at complete ease with being her true self. It made me feel a lot more comfortable too, even though she enjoyed teasing me at times.

"Don't you try to run off today, (Y/N)." Yaku jogged up from behind us, falling into step on her right side, and I half heartedly rolled my eyes. He was so strict with her, it was laughable.
"I'll tell you the truth, man...I wasn't going to until you told me not to. Seeya."

Here we go again.

Both Yaku and I felt the first flinch of her readying to kick off into a run, and we simultaneously grabbed hold of the back of her collar, stopping her before she even had the chance.
"Eh, fuck it. I'm too icky to fight back today. You win, gentlemen." She sighed, chomping off another mouthful of cardboardy goodness.

"And that's whose fault, hmm? If you followed the rules then you wouldn't feel like crap, so ick in silence." My friend scolded her, keeping hold of her collar whilst I released it.
"Come on, you've gotta tell me what the deal is. What's Miss Brat been doing that makes you go all parental mode?" I knew that I wouldn't be given an answer again, but it didn't hurt to ask. I'd wear him down one of these days.

"Just that. Being a brat." Yaku replied, refusing to elaborate.
"He's just mad because I'm hu-" (Y/N) gagged a little on the energy bar as he gave her a heavy jerk from the collar, struggling to swallow. "Jesus christ, Momo. You want me to puke?"

Dropping her off at the gym with Coach Nekomata and Coach Naoi we got changed in the locker room, returning to find that she'd laid herself down on the floor, for once ignoring out bags, aside from Yaku's, which she used as a pillow.

She must really be tired if she's not causing that much chaos today...

It didn't stop her from her vocal attacks, however. She was as sharp tongued as ever, unabashedly critiquing everything she could even if she had no clue about what she was commenting on. At the very least she'd managed to memorise what positions we each played. It was more than I'd expected from her.

"We should dub you The Napping Commentator." Taking a quick break after a set of diving drills I walked over to sit by her, resting my arms on my knees.
"Has a nice ring to it. You stink, by the way." (Y/N) rolled to her stomach, chin sitting atop the backpack. I didn't have to smell myself to know she was right. It was starting to become a sweatbox in the gym now that summer was rapidly approaching.

"So, your special lil guy is busy decimating Inuoka's spirit...Wanna tell me what's actually up?" I couldn't help but be curious. Of course, I had my own theory, but I just wanted that sweet sweet confirmation. Making a show of glancing around to make sure nobody was watching, she curled her finger, beckoning me closer.

Leaning down so my elbow was in the floor, I gave her my ear, trying to completely ignore the way her breath fanned against my overheated neck.
"I'm hungover as fuck." She whispered, confirming my suspicion. It wasn't a shock at all, but I still heaved a long, heavy sigh.

"Sneaking off to get hammered? Really? I suppose that's where you scurried off to when we made our deal?" Squishing her cheek down against the bag strap, she puffed out another breath, and it smelled like the energy bar I'd given her earlier that afternoon.
"You say it like I'm not careful. Do you know how boring it is being cooped up in that house all the time? It's not just Momo and my sister, but my other little nephews too. I can't take another game of Uno, man. I'll wither away and die."

Oh yeah, I forgot about Hidemi and Saburo...

Reaching over, I gave her head a light pat, holding back a snicker at how she squished herself down more.
"If all you wanted was to get out of the house you could've just said so." I announced, peaking her curiosity. Quirking a brow, she lifted herself up a little, tenting her fingers beneath her chin.

"Oh? You gonna dig me out of my prison cell with a spoon, Kuroo? It won't work. Believe me, I've tried. Forks are a bust, too." Again, I checked to see if anybody was watching, mostly to just play along with her hush hush game.
"I was thinking more along the lines of another deal."

She seems to like those...

(Y/N) lifted herself all the way up so she was basically mirroring my own position, leaning in so we could quietly converse. She was kind of way too close, so I had to really will away any kind of heat that wanted to creep into my cheeks.
"That's kind of a surprise, since I screwed you over with the last one." She caught my eyes for a moment before unzipping Yaku's backpack, starting to rummage around like it belonged to her.

"Not entirely. I mean, you know our individual positions now, and you're picking up what each move is called pretty quickly. That's effort, in my books." I corrected her, and she looked up again, pulling a small kitkat that had been stashed in the inner pocket with a smile. Not a smirk, but a genuine smile.

"That's probably the first time someone's given me credit for putting in the bare minimum." She toyed with the crinkly red packaging of the chocolate, running the pad of her finger along the rippled edge. "Okay, bed head...What's this new deal?"

I really need to earn myself a better nickname.

"I've got plans to meet up with some friends of mine this weekend to go ice skating at that new rink that opened up. If you're willing to put in just a little itty bitty bit more effort into this managing thing, then I might be inclined to convince Nephewzilla to let you tag along." Truthfully, I just wanted her to enjoy being here. She was a part of the team now, and I wanted her to feel like she was welcome.

"Let me tag along..?" Her (E/C) eyes narrowed, and she clicked her tongue loudly, leaning in just a touch closer to try and psyche me out. "Pretty bold to assume I'd want to go skating with you and your buddies." I studied her for a few moments, tilting my head so I'd be closer to her level.
"I'm right though."

It took all of three seconds for (Y/N) to drop her tough girl act, deflating with a nod.
"You're super right. I'd choose anything over the Yaku residence right now, no matter how lame." She flopped forward, catching herself on my shoulder with her forehead, and every part of me tensed. "Save me, oh great and benevolent captain!"

Hormones, be gone!

Laughing it off quietly, I stood up, stretching my arms above my head as I started my path towards Yaku. Just like most training sessions, he was playing drill sergeant with the first years, barking orders as they pushed themselves to their limits.
"Oya, Yaku, I-"

"Don't think I didn't see you two whispering over there. No way. You let her get away last time." He cut me right off, aware as ever. "You fell prey to her charms, and that isn't your fault. She's a pro. I won't put you in that position again."

Rolling my eyes, I situated myself alongside him, making it seem as though I was watching our underclassmen as a good mentor should.
"Actually, I knew she just wanted to run off. I'm not that stupid. I didn't know she was going out getting drunk, though." I lowered my voice this time around, and the ginger flinched a little, mouth forming a thin line.

"Please don't go telling any-"
"Why would I? Anyway, all I was going to ask was if she could come skating this weekend. She just wants to get out of the house, and I know you'd appreciate some peace and quiet." He didn't look at all convinced, only breaking eye contact for a moment to direct Teshiro to do something.

"Mild offence intended, but you can't handle her. I know how you get when you're off the court." His intended offence didn't really bother me, because he was right. I could get a little carefree, sure, but I had an ace up my sleeve. Actually, a setter.

"Akaashi will be there."

That made Yaku change his tune damn quick. Slumping his shoulders, he rolled a few words around in his mouth before choosing the ones he felt appropriate.
"I'll ask mom, since she's the one who grounded her in the first place...I'm just an enforcer..."

Proud of myself, I looked over my shoulder to find that (Y/N) was watching me intently, waiting for some kind of signal as to whether or not I had succeeded. Throwing on my best grin I shot her a thumbs up, and she perked right up, pumping her fist before flopping back down onto her nephew's backpack.

Perfect! Maybe this will help her to realise that she doesn't have to cause trouble to have fun...