Despite it, you were completely determined.

Although, maybe this was all a fantasy that could never happen. He wasn't interested in you – but maybe. Just maybe, you could win his heart.

————

At school, you couldn't keep your eyes off of him. Wherever he was, you would slyly follow – unfortunately, there were many who tried to do the same with you. When a guy tried asking you out, you looked straight past him, giving him half-assed answers while you admired Kenma.

It was getting harder to hide, really. Your group managed to pick up on it, and surprisingly, they didn't care as much as you thought they would. If anything, they were glad you finally started liking someone. They still think he's a little weird, though.

What was a bit annoying was how they'd relentlessly tease you for your apprehension whenever they mentioned you making a move. You weren't used to being ignored, especially when boys basically hand you things on a silver spoon for just existing.

"Y/N, just talk to him! I promise you, there's gonna be no way in hell you'll be ignored." All of your friends agreed with Haru, her statements being echoed. Their affirmations did end up encouraging you, which earnt a collective sigh of relief. Hearing you ramble about Kenma was almost as tiring as cheer practice.

"Can we go to his game next week, pleeaase? " You pleaded at the lunch table, clasping your hands together, "We can use the excuse of... Uh. Cheering for them! Yeah! "

"We have to be there to do that anyway, remember? "

"Oh. Yeah."

————

Before his game, you kept trying to get his attention. You managed to gather up the courage to talk to him in class... However, your attempts were in vain, considering how condescenion practically dripped from every word that came from you. Which would result in. Well.

"And then I said that he was surprisingly fit for someone like him! " You cried in embarrassment , "Like, WHO SAYS THAT?! I'M SO STUPID. "

Attempt two went a lot better than the first. You chose your words carefully, and gave him a bunch of sweets. Which made him utter more than 5 words your way. God, he sounded so angelic, his voice was basically like an orchestral melody to you.

"You know, I thought you'd be meaner. " He stated, eyes glued to his switch, "Thanks for the sweets, L/N. "

You say goodbye quickly since your heart was practically about to rip through your chest at the rate it was beating.

Later on, you overhear a small snippet of a conversation he was having with Kuroo.

"How are you so normal with L/N?! Deadass if I were you I'd die on the spot just by having her look at me! " Kuroo was rambling with disbelief, as if Kenma had committed a sin, "She definitely has a thing for you. "

" There's no way she's just doing it cause she likes me." Kenma responds, his tone hushed – almost ashamed, "I wish she did, though. "

"Me too. You don't have any game at all. It physically hurt when I saw you fumble the girl you've liked since freshman year. "

... Oh.

You froze in place, he liked you for years and you never noticed. You've been admiring him this entire year and you never noticed. The moment you snap back to reality, you run back to your friends and share the news.

"HE LIKES ME. HE'S LIKED ME SINCE FRESHMAN YEAR. " You declare, jumping with glee, while your friends basically screamed with excitement with you.

"We told you he'd liked you and you didn't listen!"

"I'm so telling him after his game. Should I get him something? Like... A new PS5? I'm getting it for him. "

————

The day finally came. It was a game between Nekoma and some other team that you couldn't remember the name of. You were at the front of the bleachers with your squad, dressed in the cheer uniform that your school had newly altered. The logo of Nekoma High plastered in the center of the red shell.

It was evident that you had been glued onto Kenma, and maybe you were reading into it, but it seemed like he was playing better than usual. He was on court for way more time, his sets were unusually accurate as usual and the way his carried himself just seemed so different from the previous game. At one point, you had your squad cheer his name out when he smugly dumped the ball on the other team.

In the end, they won 4 sets to 1. Which was nothing out of the ordinary for Nekoma.

"You guys can head along. " You tell your squad, "I need to go to Kenma. " You say, grabbing the giftbag you had brought with you, along with another bag with even more trinkets in it.

"Goodluck, Y/N! We know you've got this! " Your team cheered you on, giving you a few celebratory and encouraging words before you go to ease out your nervousness.

————

You waited outside the stadium, the cool air biting against your skin. The sky was painted with a beautiful blue fading into a pink while the sun slowly set in the distance. The clouds were airbrushed in, while the sound of birds singing were carried by the breeze. You place the bags down carefully while you waited by the exit.

A few minutes had passed and you hear the chatter and steps of the team slowly approaching. When they all come out, your eyes flitter between all the members before you spot Kenma, who had Kuroo's arm slung around his shoulders, ruffling his hair with his other hand. Kenma had an adorable frustrated expression plastered on his face, telling Kuroo to quit it.

"Kenma! " You call out his name, waving your arm, "I need to talk to you! "

All the boys basically stop in their tracks when they see you, and a few teasing voices and words emit from each one of them, especially Kuroo and Lev. Kenma looked around for a moment, pointing at himself with a confused look. You nod in response, and all of his teammates basically usher him over to you since he seemed too apprehensive to go by himself.

When you two are left with eachother's company, you can feel the eyes of the others locked onto the two of you, which gave another sense of awkwardness layered onto the mutual nervousness you and Kenma felt.

"So... Uhm.." The colour of red spreads across your face, while you bring up both bags, handing it to him before you continue the rest of your jittery and unplanned speech. Kenma took them with astonishment, his mouth opening and closing as if he was about to say something but he couldn't seem to get the words out.

"I just wanted to say congratulations! " You start, fidgeting with your necklace, "andthatIreallyreallylikeyou. Okay bye!" You abruptly kiss him on cheek before running away immediately. Kenma stands there, frozen, while all the guys yelled at him to chase after you.

Which he did.

Before you got too far, he called out your name which made your frantic attempt to run away come to a halt. You turn your head, just to see him a few steps away, hands on his knees, huffing and puffing, trying to catch his breath. You giggle, deciding not to make life harder for him, you walk toward him.

You give him a second to collect himself, and when he stands up straight, he grabs your hands, looking into your eyes.

"I like you too, Y/N. So so much, ever since our first year. I never thought you'd like me, so I never tried to talk to you – I'm sorry. "

"What are you sorry for, Kozume? Just knowing you like me back is like, more than enough. " You pull your hand back from him, moving it to caress the side of his face, "I'm sorry I never noticed. "

You grab onto the collar of his volleyball uniform, pulling him into a kiss. He's caught completely offguard, but before you knew it, he melted into the kiss, his arms wrapping around your waist, pulling you closer.

————

"Yo, what the fuck?! She got him an entire PS5 and– " Kuroo exclaimed, rummaging through the bags.