Finally...

I had been on my best behaviour all day. Granted, that wasn't actually what anyone would call good, but I'd tried to do my job as well as I could. Keeping water bottles filled, handing out towels, complimenting moves they'd made on the court. I had actually put a bit of effort in.

In my eyes, that meant that I was more than deserving of a little, tobacco-ey treat, so there I was, at the far north-east corner of the school grounds, sparking up one of the cigarettes I had swiped from the Karasuno coach.

The first draw was dizzying, and my nose scrunched up at the taste. Ukai smoked a much stronger brand than I ever did, but I couldn't complain. Pulling out my phone, I started scrolling through a few chats, some new and some from before I had been spirited away to my sister's. The most recent one had several new messages, and I opened them to have a look.

Issei Me, Mario:
- U still comn 2 prty (Y/N)?

You Need A Hiro:
- Your grammar made me contract a new strain of stroke

Issei Me, Mario:
- U cnt attract a stroke dummy
- Sry if I'm only typn wit 1 hand

Me:
- What dat hand doin?

You Need A Hiro:
- She lives!

Me:
- She does!
- But barely
- If I don't make it to the party please assume I have passed away

Issei Me, Mario:
- RIP in piece

You Need A Hiro:
- How do you have better grades than me?

Issei Me, Mario:
- :)

Me:
- He needs to be studied.
- Can one of you pick me up on party night, or do I have to take a damn 2 hour train and risk being trafficked?

Issei Me, Mario:
- just user

Me:
- Do I look like I have Uber money??

You Need A Hiro:
- I'll pick you up boo don't you worry x

Me:
- Thanks schnookums xoxoxo
- Also I have a question

You Need A Hiro:
- Sorry I'm just not ready to settle down, I hope you understand, googly bear :(

Issei Me, Mario:
- Wu

Me:
- What's something I can do to actually be a good manager?
- Like, I hydrate them so they don't diedrate, but what else?
- Come on, nerds, you know this kinda shit

Issei Me, Mario:
- Helping formulate strategies and researching opponents is a good start.

You Need A Hiro:
- NOW you can write a full sentence?
- But ye that's actually a good answer. So is knowing their strengths and weaknesses

Me:
- So like actual work?
- Ew

You Need A Hiro:
- You know what's funny?
- It's basically like you're coaching your nephew's little league team XD

Me:
- Did you just XD me?
- I'm going to hit you

Issei Me, Mario:
- Dw a 2nd yr bit him 2day LOL

Me:
- XD XD XD XD XD XD XD
- Suck it

You Need A Hiro:
- Blocked and reported

"Now who's stinky?"

I nearly jumped out of my skin when a voice piped up, and I spun my head to find Kuroo standing a few feet away, upwind.
"Jesus christ on a fucking bicycle! Why do all of you sneak up on me like that?!" I dropped my phone so I could clutch at my chest, nearly coughing when I blew my lungful of smoke away from him.

"Because it's funny, and it wouldn't happen so much if you weren't sneaking first." He pointed out, and I really didn't have any kind of rebuttal for it. Easing back against the side of the building, I took another drag, blowing out a few malformed rings.

"So, you just happen upon me by chance, or has Momo sent out a search party thinking I've ditched?" I asked curiously, a bit surprised when he took a few steps closer.
"Kenma fell asleep so I dragged his ass to bed, then I caught a whiff." He motioned to my almost gone cigarette, and I hurried to stub it out against the wall.
"Whiff of what? I'm just sitting here, raw-lunging the fresh night air."

I wanted alone time, but I guess if it's him it's alright...

Now that I wasn't actively smoking, Kuroo closed the distance, sitting down with a grunt beside me. There was that smell of deodorant again, and it made me think back to that godawful group hug.
"What deodorant do you use?" I'd asked before my brain caught up with my mouth, and I wanted to dig a hole and die in it.

"Uh, it's called Ban, for men? Why?" He rested his arms upon his bent knees, and I tried my best to keep my shrug looking as loose and relaxed as possible.
"Just curious. You stank a bit less than the others is all. Maybe I'll write a thank you note to the company?"

Get out of this awkward mode, you idiot! It's just Kuroo!

"Thanks for actually putting in some effort." Kuroo didn't look at me when he spoke, instead tilting his head to look up at the clear night sky. "Even if you made a scene during that match, it means a lot." I followed his gaze, tapping my fingers against the grass below.
"In my defence, I only put that jacket on to swipe a couple of the Karasuno coach's smokes. Glad to know I was convincing, though."

Uttering a chuckle, I felt Kuroo shift a little, but he didn't get any closer.
"That's not exactly something I'd call a defence, but it tracks." At least he sounded amused by my antics. I had been kind of worried he'd be mad.
"Do you think I'd get in deep shit for trying to crash with you tonight..?"

That came out so very, very wrong!

"Wh-"
"I mean all of you guys!" I jumped right back over the top of him, turning to find that just maybe, if I squinted, I could see a little bit of colour upon his usually pale cheeks. "C..Contrary to popular belief, I'm not all that good at making friends with my own species...I'd be more comfortable with people I know..."

I wish I had a smoke bomb right now, or a teleportation device...

"I, uh, think only one person would have a problem with that, besides the teachers..." He replied slowly, as though he wasn't quite sure how to answer me properly.
"Momo can't say shit. He used to crawl into bed with me whenever we were in the same house because he was scared of Mike Myers." I mumbled, feeling my hair stick to the bricks behind my head.
"The bad guy from those Halloween movies?"

"No, the actor."

We both broke out into laughter at the same time, kind of falling into each other's sides. I liked this. Occasional awkwardness aside, I very much enjoyed spending time with Kuroo, and it seemed that he was fond of my company as well. We just clicked.

"So, theoretically speaking, if I were to, say, I dunno, dress up as The Cat In The Hat-"
"I would pay you. Like, I'd sell a kidney on the black market and pay you in cash." I gripped at his sleeve, very nearly bursting out into hysterics again.
"You're just a goldmine of Yaku lore, aren't you?" He chuckled, wiping a tear from his eye and smiling down at me.

Sighing, I let my head rest against his arm, finally relaxing enough to act normal again.
"Yeah, but he has his own fair share of embarrassing stories about me, too. We were pretty close, growing up. Used to know me better than anyone." I wasn't sure why I was telling him that. It wasn't like it mattered, and if anything it would just have him hounding Yaku for comedy material at my expense.

"What changed?" I felt him turn to me again, but I was safely tucked away this time.
"Eh, it's nothing deep or anything like that. We just grew up. Sorry if you were hoping for some dramatic tale, but he just turned into the Momo you know, and I turned into...this." I vaguely gestured to myself.

"It's fine if you don't want to tell me." He really saw straight through me, huh? Of course I wasn't telling him the whole story, but it was something I didn't feel like getting into.
"Perceptive little guy, aren't you?" I scoffed, nudging him just hard enough so he'd jerk slightly.
"I mean, it's kind of obvious that there's something more, but hey, if you ever-"

"Are you kidding me right now?!"

I slumped more when the devil himself broke his way into our conversation, groaning loudly.
"Isn't it past your bedtime, Momo?" I asked with an exasperated sigh, finally peeling myself off of Kuroo to look up at my fuming nephew.

"Once! Just once it would be great if you could follow the rules! Is it that hard?!" At least he was somewhat trying to hush his shouting, lest he gain more unwanted attention.
"I'd like to think I've done pretty well, considering it's an actual addiction." I wasn't trying to be a smart ass. There was a lot of truth to my words.

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Yaku muttered something to himself, likely a string of curses of some new mantra to help him deal with the stress I always seemed to cause him.
"Just go to bed, please." He spoke through his teeth, and I stood up, brushing grass from my shorts.

"Actually, about that...I was wondering if I could maybe bunk with you guys..? I know it's against the rules, but-"
"If you know it's against the rules, then why are you asking? Go to bed." He cut me off, and honestly, now I was starting to get a little mad.

"But I-"
"Bed!" He swung his arm back, aggressively pointing towards the rooms that had been set up for us. I knew I was testing his patience, but at the same time, I wasn't about to let him keep talking to me that way.
"Watch your tone, Morisuke. You know I'm not above a fight..." I growled, eyes narrowing to match his glare.
"Try it."

Hah. Yeah, we grew up alright...

Clicking my tongue, I spat a handful of colourful curses his way before stalking off, not bothering to say goodnight to either one of them. What had changed, Kuroo had asked? Everything. Every single thing had changed, and I was reminded of it each and every day.

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***YAKU POV***

"Maybe you should cut her a little slack, man..."

I turned to Kuroo, who was climbing to his feet, picking stray strands of grass from his legs. I held myself back from snapping at him, not wanting to take out any of my anger on someone who was mostly innocent.
"I told you before. If you give her an inch, she'll take a mile. She has to clean up her act, no exceptions."

Kuroo was judging me. I could tell by the way his mouth pulled taut in a thin line, and the way he set a hand on his hip.
"She said she was uncomfortable with the girls. I know she makes some dumb decisions, but do you really have to bark at her all the time?" He asked, moving to stand by my side.

"Do you think I like having to go off on her like that? I freakin' hate it, man, but I promised I'd try to keep her out of trouble..." Running a hand through my hair, I closed my eyes, willing my temper into submission. "You're not really helping, letting her get away with shit like smoking..."

Not that another person scolding her would do any good...

"You're right, I'm sorry. I did tell her it was gross, but I could have said more." Patting my back, Kuroo started back towards the gym, slipping his hands into his pockets. "She said you two used to be close. Maybe try to approach her about it like a friend, and less like a parent?"

I remained where I was for a few moments longer, shaking myself out of my head before heading after him, arms curling to cross over my middle as I played over his parting words.

I wish that had worked...I really, really do...