each step i take left an unknown feeling inside me. my breathing was barely stable and i feel like my whole body failed to move. the spot that i stood on almost swallowed me like a hole, if it wasn't for a certain pudding head boy tugging my sleeves, telling me to walk faster.

"sorry kenma," i mumbled and continued walking my way to the place i honestly despise.

but it wasn't really the school, huh? it was the number of judgemental people lingering inside of it, ready to give you glares for some unknown reason. and i was a fragile vase, each insult they gave would leave a crack on me, almost breaking me. just one more touch of danger and i might break down.

"you're bothered again." kenma said, but his eyes are still glued on his psp.

i wish i wasn't. i wish i'm like kenma who have his own world, not bothered by his surroundings, as long as he have the most precious thing on his hands. i wish i didn't care all the time, but my own smile would always hurt me instead.

i let out a sigh of frustration, "so much for ignoring them."

"sorry (l/n), i'm not strong like my character in my games, so i can't do much." he mumbled, a tone of guilt laced around his voice.

i hate that. i don't like people feeling guilty of themselves just because they think they can't help someone. i hate how i always make kenma feel like that.

"your words are enough, kenma." i assured him with my smile, although he never really believed on it, he gave a small smile back.

as we parted our ways, i couldn't help but feel empty without his presence. despite him always being quiet and the only sound i can hear when it's just the two of us is a female robotic voice coming on his psp, i still feel nice when he's by my side.

we're not in the same class and i barely have any friends in this school. i would often just have small awkward chats with my classmates and they would leave with their own friends. i feel like that one kid who sits quietly at the back of the class, although my seat is near the window in the middle lane.

as soon as i sat there, a crumpled paper was thrown on my desk. my hands stayed on my lap, trembling as i stared at it. i couldn't seem to bring myself to touch it, afraid that the words i hate will be written there.

"open it, idiot." a whisper from my right said followed by a nudge.

look at the window.

i felt the pain on my bottom lip as i bite it, slowly turning my head towards the window on my left. and just as my eyes adjusted to the sunlight, a sudden appearance of something coming caught my attention.

the sound of it crashing towards the window in front startled me as i lost my balance on my chair, if it wasn't for someone pulling my hair behind, i would've been able to stay on my seat after.

sliding down the glass is the egg yolk with the white barely seen. i can hear the rest of the class laughing at my state and i could only stare as i sat back on my seat. everything was full of surprises and theirs are the one i hate the most.

"yo, (l/n)!"

kuroo called out and ran towards me, kenma trailing behind, walking slowly with his eyes still glued to his psp. i gave him a small smile once he got beside me.

"hi kuroo, don't you have practice today?" i asked and he just grinned, wrapping his arm on my shoulder.

"we do," he answered, "but we also have training camp tomorrow, so we'll be going to miyagi."

"miyagi?" i curiously asked and noticed that kenma finally caught up to us.

"yeah, care to join?" he asked with a grin and my eyebrows furrowed.

"no, nekoma doesn't need a manager." i said and kenma gave me a glance at that.

it was kuroo's turn to furrow his eyebrows, "i'm not asking you to be our manager."

"kuroo just wants to spend more time with you." kenma blurted out while kuroo gave him a look of betrayal.

"you don't?" i asked kenma while kuroo just sulked beside me.

"i do too." he mumbled and i smiled at his response.

as silence wrapped the three of us while we walked our way outside the school, i blurted out a question that i've been daring to ask, "who's your opponent?"

kenma didn't bother to answer since he already noticed kuroo's eyes shining in amusement with a hint of dark aura surrounding him. his mood turned serious together with his expression.

"those damn crows," his voice was low, "karasuno."