Had he really been that obvious? On the court Kuroo prided himself in being difficult to read. "The Scheming Captain" was not a title that you earned overnight. It came through vigorous practice and study of the sport that meant more to him than anything. He was always up to something, that's what Kuroo wanted everyone to think, on and off the court. Together, he and Kenma had made an amazing team, able to fake out blockers with just a single glance. He'd meant it when it said Kenma was the brain of Nekoma. Not himself. Not Yaku. Not Yamamoto. And most assuredly not Lev. Maybe he'd slipped a few times, saying heart instead of brain.
Kuroo had loved Kenma since they were kids. He'd loved him when he beat him at Mario Kart, and when they'd practice volleyball in the hot summer heat, talking big that when they got to high school they'd both be stars at it. He loved him when he was down, he'd loved him when he smiled big about getting the new high score at a game he'd been working at. He loved him when it was just the two of them, in their quiet moments together by candlelight as Kenma gamed and Kuroo studied. He'd loved him when they'd both come here, and magic had brought Kenma one year from his future and they were now the same age. And while things were still confusing, Kuroo vowed to always be there for him, just like he had back home. He'd known about his own feelings for a long time. Only in high school had they resurfaced, his main reasoning for tossing and turning at night because he knew he was falling so deeply for his best friend.
Burying feelings was easier than facing them. Because the last thing Kuroo wanted was to drive Kenma away.
He couldn't bring himself to leave his bed, sprawled out on top of the covers. He had been already staring at the ceiling when Kenma walked in, thinking about how he was going to have to explain from the beginning. The numerous scenarios of how this would play out, none of them working directly in his favor. For claiming to know Kenma the best out of everyone, he really couldn't tell what he was thinking right now. It could be anything. So naturally, he braced himself for the very worst.
"What?" Kuroo couldn't believe what he was hearing. He flipped to his side to get a better view of Kenma. He gulped. "Y-you do?"
How do I say I like you back? Kuroo thought momentarily. Are you a red blood cell? Because you take the oxygen from my lungs and bring it to my heart. No wait, that sounds stupid.
"I like you too. In that way." He gave a small, sheepish grin. "But I guess I'm not too good at hiding it, am I?"
Kuroo tried not to let himself stare too long. Was it okay now? Was any of this okay now? He'd never been with anyone before. He'd imagined this conversation going so much differently. The movies had definitely lied. This kinda stuff was so hard, he felt himself growing hotter by the minute. The nervousness was dying down, because despite it all, this was Kenma. The same Kenma he'd met in grade school. There was no one who knew him better, so in a way, Kuroo was a little excited. Flustered, but excited.
"How long have you known that I--" He paused, thinking about it further. "So...what are we now?"