k.t | Take A Chance
Part 11. Patience is a Virtue
ˋ°•*⁀➷
It had been a week since Kuroo took you to the school’s gymnasium.
A week since you touched a volleyball, after a year of avoiding one like it was the plague.
A week since the ache in your chest subsided and dulled, weighing a little lighter on your body.
You didn’t quite know how to feel anymore, but you hoped it was a step forward. A step away from the bitterness, the anger, and the resentment.
You’re not a curse, but your anger is hurting everyone all the same.
That’s what he said to you that evening. And despite your body yearning to fly the red flag, wanting to defend yourself with that same anger that attacked, the better part of you knew he was right. The part of you from a year ago that should have been stronger.
As you stood outside of the gymnasium again, hiding behind the closed doors of the front entrance, you hoped, prayed, and begged that even just one step forward could alleviate the suffocating tension you caused. With a deep sigh, your hand slowly pushed the gymnasium doors open.
Instantly, two, strong arms wrapped around your waist and lifted you upwards. You squealed as you were thrown onto the broad shoulder of a chestnut-haired man.
“I’ve been waiting all morning for you!” A familiar voice laughed, spinning around.
You gasped, slamming your fists onto Oikawa’s back.
“Tooru! Put me down.” You saw your vision upright itself as Oikawa placed you slowly onto the ground. “What are you doing here?”
Kuroo came up behind him, placing a friendly hand on Oikawa’s shoulder.
“I thought it might be good for you to have Oikawa come back here.” Kuroo smiled, eyes glinting with knowing. Knowing that Oikawa was the one you intended to call that evening, knowing that the world played a different game entirely, knowing that it was him who ended up at your door. “But he couldn’t leave again unless it was for sport-related reasons.”
Oikawa clicked his tongue, “It was easy! I just told them we had a practice match with Nekoma.”
“How did you get that approved?” You scoffed.
“Don’t underestimate my charm,” Oikawa winked at you, coming in for another hug.
You smiled brightly, hands coming around your best friend’s torso. He had done the same, wrapping his arms around you comfortably, squeezing ever so slightly. It’s going to be fine, it meant to you. And in his warmth, knowing Kuroo had brought your best friend to you, you felt your heart lighten a little more, felt the tension ease from your shoulders, and felt your foot inching just another step forward.
“Let’s get this practice match started.” Kuroo cleared his throat and Oikawa had separated himself from you, smiling softly.
You turned to look at Kuroo, but he had already turned away, heading towards Kenma. A muted sound rang in your ears as your heart thumped gently and rhythmically against your chest. Kenma looked up at Kuroo as he said something, eyes glancing briefly towards you.
Go to him.
Say something.
Say thank you.
Your mind made its decision before your body did. Sentences formed in your head, words you were planning to say, but your body remained in place. Stuck, like glue, hesitation filtered doubt from courage and left your feet in the same spot you started in. All you wanted to do was thank him for that evening, say you were sorry for not having the courage to come to practice the day after, tell him that you think something had changed inside of you.
But you couldn’t. There was something strange that beat alongside the steady hum of your heart. Something that wasn’t feeling quite right.
“Izumi.” You jumped when your name was called. A deep, gruff voice whispered behind you. All too familiar. All too comfortable.
“Hajime…” You said breathlessly.
Finally, your body reacted. Pain seared through your chest, attacking the healed scars on your heart. Your fingers clenched into a fist and you took a lengthy step back.
“Hey I–”
“No,” You said firmly. “I don’t want to hear it.”
“Just let me–”
“Stop,” You said. “I said I don’t want to hear it from you. Not now, not tomorrow, not again.”
“I’ve been trying to reach out to you,” he pleaded. “I’ve been messaging you.”
“I don’t care.” Your teeth gritted against each other. Ache settled deep in your chest, you took a slow step back. Just to create some space. To keep that distance. “I don’t need this.”
“I need this–”
“She said no.” You found Kuroo by your side again, arms crossed against his chest as his lips formed a thin line.
“Iwa…” Oikawa joined, unimpressed. “I already told you–”
“I know what you said.” Iwaizumi huffed, turning away from Oikawa. His eyes remained on you as he took a tentative step forward.
“Hajime–”
“My team doesn’t have all day.” Kuroo stepped in front of you, blocking your body from Iwaizumi’s.
Face to face with Kuroo’s back, you placed a hand against your chest, if only to stop the erratic beating of your heart. Your eyes turned down to the ground, watching the shadow of Iwaizumi’s feet carry him away. Every footstep you heard, echoing around the gymnasium, racked your ribs, sending your heart flying against the walls of the cage. You frowned, dropping your hand from your chest.
He will not ruin you again.
Kuroo turned around, eyes dark. He eyed you for a moment before placing a timid hand against your forearm. Your eyes traced the curve of his fingers curled around your arm, following the outline of his arm up to his broad shoulders, towards his face.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “He was bothering you–”
“Thank you,” You said, shaking your head. “Please don’t be sorry anymore.”
The hint of a smile graced the corner of his lips, a flickering shadow of sincerity. “Well, I’m not really sorry at all then.”
You chuckled, nudging his hand from your arm. “Go get ready, captain.”
“Watch me,” he said.
“I only watch the people who make mistakes.” You rolled your eyes.
“Then I’ll be making plenty of them.” He shrugged. Laughing again, he took a step back and called the rest of the team over.
You peeked over his shoulder, biting your lower lip as the team slowly walked forward. Lev, trailing behind Yaku, kept his eyes to the floor. Intentional, you thought. If he didn’t bring any attention to himself from the beginning, you wouldn’t notice him at all. Sighing, you placed a hand over your chest again. Quiet, calm.
One step forward.
You cleared your throat, “Lev.”
His eyes widened, shooting up at you. The team went quiet. Kuroo stood in front of you, raising a brow.
One step forward.
“Lev,” You said again. “I’m sorry about the other day.”
Lev tipped his head down, only slightly, the ghost of a smile visible on his lips. “It’s okay.”
“I want to be a good coach…” You continued. “I’m here to correct your mistakes, make sure you understand the game, and make sure you guys feel confident.”
You took a deep breath. Kuroo looked at you. His eyes, a deep, umber brown, bore into your own, waiting. Patient.
One step forward.
“I want to be better,” you whispered. “And I want to ask you all to be patient. I know you all know about what happened to me… I know you all have your thoughts and opinions, but—”
“We’ll be patient,” Kenma said, quietly. He looked back at the team, nodding once.
“We’ll be patient,” Lev followed.
“We’re here for you,” Yaku said.
“Don’t be too hard on yourself there, coach!” Yamamoto said.
“Take your time.” Kai smiled at you.
One by one, every ‘I’m here’, every smile. Sincere, genuine. Your chest tightened. Unlike before, unlike any other time, you carried something heavier; something very real.
And then you looked at him again. And he was still looking at you, soft, almost doting.
You felt the tension in your body release, felt the air fill your lungs. Your breathing steadied, the room uprighted itself. And all of them, still standing in front of you, and him, standing next to you, it felt… good.
You felt good.
“I’ll be patient,” Kuroo whispered into your ear.
And you smiled, because you knew he would be. He already had been.
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ˋ°•*⁀➷ Take A Chance Synopsis
After a year in hiding, Izumi Nekomata is tasked with coaching the Nekoma High men's volleyball team after her father falls ill. Izumi reluctantly agrees despite her past with the sport and swallows her pride to fulfill her father's wishes.
Meeting the rowdy team and their charismatic captain, she is taught to love what she once lost and let go of what had been holding her back.
ˋ°•*⁀➷ Pairing
Kuroo Tetsurou x F! Reader
a/n: im sorry this took so long, I need to hustle bahd
Tags: @edenandagain @stawbelimatcha
