Kenma stepped into the apartment like it was too loud — even though nothing had been said yet.

The door clicked shut behind him, and he let his gym bag slide from his shoulder to the floor with a soft thud. His hoodie stuck damply to his back, the fabric heavy from sweat and stale gym air. His hair clung to the sides of his face in uneven strands, a little too long, a little too warm. He didn’t bother adjusting it.

The ache in his thighs pulsed with every step. He could still hear the echo of court shoes screeching, Kuroo shouting something across the net, a missed set, that feeling of off. Of slipping, just a little. Just enough to ruin the rhythm.

He needed to sit. Or lie down. Or disappear for a minute.

But instead—

You were already on him. Not physically—yet—but in words, tone, presence.

“Look at you. You’re unreal in that hoodie. I swear—”

Your voice was syrupy, teasing, dragging attention across his skin like static. You were in the living room, leaning over the couch like a character in something Kenma didn’t have the energy to keep up with. Eyes on him. Voice rising, playful. Flirting like he wasn’t unraveling at the seams.

He blinked once.

Didn’t say anything.

His socks were still half on as he stepped toward the kitchen, hands fumbling with the fridge handle more than they should’ve. His body felt too full of noise. Muscles aching, mind foggy. Your footsteps followed.

“What, no ‘hi’? No kiss for your number-one fan?”

He closed the fridge harder than necessary.

“Can you not.”

Three words. Flat. Quiet. No heat in them. Just tired.

The silence that followed was louder than it should’ve been.

Kenma didn’t look at you. He didn’t want to. Not because he was mad — he wasn’t — but because it would be one more thing to process. One more thing to hold onto when he was already full.

He took a sip of water. Cold. Sharp. Good.

Then walked past you without a word.

The bedroom wasn’t even dark yet — the curtains still open, dusk pouring in gold and blue. He dropped face-first into the bed, letting his weight sink in with zero grace. Hoodie still on. Bag still unpacked.