The room was quiet except for the faint hum of the heater, the soft rustle of sheets, and the occasional creak of the building settling. You had been trying all evening to study, organize drills, and focus on strategy notes but somehow, Kuroo had managed to infiltrate your concentration with ease.
He leaned casually against the wall near the bed, tossing a pen up and down between his fingers, smirk permanently in place. "You know," he drawled, "you work way too hard. You should take a break. Maybe… lie down?"
You shot him a glare that could probably kill someone, but your heart thumped in a way that betrayed you. "I'm fine standing. Sitting. Whatever. Just leave me alone."
"Oh, come on, Y/n," he said, stepping closer, a predatory gleam in his golden eyes. "We're stuck in this room together. You can't possibly act like you don't enjoy my company."
You froze mid-pencil stroke, pen hovering over the notebook. "I do not—"
Before you could finish, he was suddenly there, hands gently but firmly on your shoulders, guiding you backward onto the bed. Your heart jumped to your throat, and a panicked jolt of adrenaline surged through your veins.
"You—Kuroo!" you exclaimed, struggling against him, but he was faster, stronger, and the smirk on his face widened in triumph. "Shh, shh," he said mockingly, leaning close enough that your faces were inches apart. "Relax. I just… want to see if you can handle being this close without flipping out."
You flailed, trying to push him off, but his hands were surprisingly steady. His weight pinning you just enough that you couldn't move without effort but not enough to actually hurt you. "Uh-uh, no fair!" you gasped, trying to wiggle free. "Get off me, Kuroo!"
He chuckled low, the sound reverberating against the walls and sending shivers down your spine. "Fair? Y/n, this is war. And I always play fair… eventually."
He leaned in closer, and for a terrifying moment, it looked like he might do something anything but then he froze, eyes sparkling with mischief. "Or maybe… I won't. Just to see that adorable frustration of yours."
Your face flamed hotter than it had ever been, and you shoved at him with everything you had. "I'm not adorable! I'm—" He pressed a finger to your lips with a wink. "Shhh… don't ruin the moment."
That was the final straw. With a burst of energy, you twisted, threw your arms around, and managed to break free from his grip. Without looking back, you scrambled off the bed and bolted for the bathroom, slamming the door behind you with a crash that made the sink rattle.
Leaning against the cold door, you gasped for breath, heart hammering in your chest. Your palms pressed to your face as you tried to make sense of what had just happened.
He's infuriating… he's impossible… and somehow, I can't stop thinking about how close he was… A faint chuckle drifted from outside the door. You froze. Of course he was laughing. Of course.
"You're going to have to get used to it, Y/n," Kuroo called softly, voice teasing but not unkind. "This week isn't over yet… and neither am I."
Your knees buckled slightly as you sank to the floor. Your chest burned, your mind spun, and yet… a strange thrill lingered despite yourself. He was impossible, infuriating, teasing beyond reason… and somehow, that made surviving this week feel impossible too.
After a moment, you straightened, wiped your palms on your pants, and muttered to yourself, "Focus. Just… focus."
But even as you tried to calm down, you knew the truth. The war with Kuroo wasn't just about volleyball anymore. It had already seeped into every glance, every touch, every sarcastic remark and it was far from over.
Because one thing was undeniable: he knew exactly how to push your buttons. And more dangerously, you were starting to enjoy it… even if you refused to admit it.
You stayed pressed against the bathroom door for a moment longer, letting your racing heart slow enough to think straight. Eventually, you took a shaky breath and opened it, only to find Kuroo leaning casually against the wall, arms crossed, that infuriating grin plastered across his face.
"Oh, you're back," he said, voice smooth, teasing. "I was starting to worry you might have run away permanently."
"I… I needed a minute," you muttered, cheeks still hot, trying to shove past him. He blocked your path effortlessly, one hand resting lightly on the doorframe. "A minute, huh? That's all? I was hoping for more drama."
You groaned, rolling your eyes, but couldn't help the small laugh that escaped despite yourself. "Drama is your specialty, not mine. Step aside."
"Not so fast," he said, tilting his head and letting the smirk linger. "We share this room, remember? That means you technically can't escape me." Your stomach sank at the truth in his words. You were trapped literally and figuratively and you hated that the thought made your pulse quicken.
Kuroo stepped closer, golden eyes glinting, and before you could react, he was at your side, leaning in just enough that the space between you felt impossibly small. "You know," he murmured, voice low, teasing, "I could make you stay right here all night. Just for fun."
Your breath hitched, and instinctively, you took a step back only to bump into the edge of the bed. "Fun?" you said, voice trembling between irritation and something else entirely. "What kind of fun?"
He chuckled, tilting his head, and in one swift motion, he lightly pinned you to the bed, his weight carefully balanced so it was playful but unmistakably dominant. "The kind that comes with a little chaos," he whispered.
Your heart thundered in your chest. "Kuroo—get off me!" He grinned wickedly, leaning just close enough to make your pulse spike. "Oh, come on. Don't tell me you're scared."
"I'm not—" you started, only to squeak as he brushed a stray strand of hair from your face, fingers lingering just a second too long. "I—ugh! Let me go!" He leaned back slightly, laughing softly, clearly enjoying your flustered state. "Relax, Y/n. I'm not doing anything. Yet."
You swallowed hard, adrenaline rushing, and in a burst of determination, shoved against his chest and scrambled off the bed. "I—need… to—" Before you could finish, you were already bolting toward the bathroom again, slamming the door behind you and leaning against the cool tiles, gasping for breath.
A muffled chuckle came from the other side of the door. "You're fast," Kuroo teased, voice light but teasing, echoing off the walls. "But not fast enough to hide that little blush." You groaned into your hands, heat flooding your cheeks. This is ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous. He's infuriating. And yet… somewhere deep down, you realized it wasn't just infuriating anymore. You wanted more of this, more banter, more teasing, more… proximity.
Even if it scared you.
Even if it was dangerous.
Even if it made surviving the week feel like an impossible challenge.
Because Kuroo Tetsurō had a way of invading your space, your mind, and whether you wanted to admit it or not your heart.
By the time you cautiously stepped back from the bathroom, the room was quiet. Kuroo had moved, sprawled casually across the bed with one arm tucked behind his head, a lazy smirk on his face. The teasing was gone, replaced by a strange, almost comfortable stillness.
You froze in the doorway, notebook clutched tightly against your chest. "You… you're just… lying there?" He lifted one eyebrow, golden eyes glinting in the dim light. "Relax. I'm not going to do anything. Consider it… a peace offering."
You hesitated, heart still racing, before slowly moving toward the corner of the bed opposite him. Every step made your chest tighten. The bed felt impossibly small, the space between you both charged with unspoken tension.
"Peace offering?" you repeated, voice quieter than intended.
Kuroo chuckled softly, the sound low and warm. "Yeah. You survived the night. You survived the pin. I think you've earned some downtime." You sank onto the edge of the bed, careful to leave as much distance as possible. "Downtime… with you in the same bed?"
He shrugged lazily, smirk softening just enough to make your stomach twist. "Hey, if it makes you feel better, I'm not even touching the sheets. Strategic positioning, I call it." You groaned, burying your face in your hands. "I can't believe this is happening."
"Believe it," he murmured, rolling slightly so he could watch you with that irritatingly calm, teasing gaze. "And don't worry… I'm not plotting anything. For now."
For a long moment, the room settled into a strange rhythm: the quiet hum of the heater, the faint scuff of your shifting on the bed, the occasional soft exhale from him. You found yourself watching him, heart still racing, noticing the way his hair fell just so across his forehead, the easy way he rested, the hint of amusement lingering in his eyes.
"Fine," you muttered, more to yourself than to him, "I guess… I can sit here."
He tilted his head slightly, as if genuinely pleased. "Good. That's the spirit."
And despite yourself, you felt a little warmth at the soft, almost gentle side of him, the side that wasn't teasing, wasn't provoking, wasn't the enemy on the court. The side that could just… exist in the same space with you without causing chaos.
It was dangerous. Infuriating. And yet… comforting.
Because for the first time since this camp started, you didn't have to constantly defend yourself, or compete, or strategize. You just… sat there. And Kuroo Tetsurō, impossibly, infuriatingly, had made it feel okay.
For the first time since this week had started, the room didn't feel like a battlefield. The papers and notebooks scattered across the floor, the scribbled rotations, the lingering scent of sweat and exertion they all faded into the background, leaving only the soft hum of the heater and the faint sound of Kuroo shifting lazily on the bed.
You let out a shaky breath, leaning back against the wall and tucking your knees close. He didn't tease you. He didn't smirk. He just lay there, looking at you with those golden eyes that seemed to read more than you wanted them to.
"So," he said finally, voice calm, softer than it had ever sounded, "you survived today. Not bad for a rival."
You blinked, unsure how to respond. "Thanks… I guess." Your voice was quieter than you intended, and you quickly looked away, pretending to examine the corner of the room. He chuckled low, the sound wrapping around you like a warm, dangerous blanket. "Don't look so nervous. I'm not going to bite. Not yet, anyway."
You groaned, brushing a hand through your hair. "You're impossible."
"Maybe," he admitted, shrugging, "but you'd be lying if you said you didn't like a little impossible now and then."
Heat rose to your cheeks, and you looked down, suddenly very interested in the patterns on the carpet. "I—what? No! I—don't—" Kuroo's grin returned, gentler this time, a teasing softness behind it. "Relax, I'm just saying… you're fun to push buttons with. That's all."
Despite every instinct screaming at you to deny it, your lips twitched. Just a little. And he noticed.
"See?" he murmured, leaning back just slightly but still watching, "a little fun." You exhaled, letting a small laugh escape despite yourself. "This is ridiculous. We're supposed to be rivals, and here I am, laughing because of you."
"Rivals can still have a little… camaraderie," he said smoothly. "Besides, you make it hard not to enjoy your company."
Your chest tightened, and for a moment, the rivalry, the teasing, even the scholarship all of it faded to the edges. You and Kuroo were just two people in a tiny room, awkwardly close, sharing a quiet moment without any words being forced.
It was dangerous. Infuriating. And yet… undeniably magnetic.
And though you refused to admit it out loud, you realized surviving this week wouldn't just be about outplaying him on the court. It would be about surviving Kuroo Tetsurō himself and the way he had already managed to worm his way into your thoughts, your space, and your heart.