‘That’ Side Character Chapter 14: PSP Takes a Back Seat

“Kenma?” the teacher asked as he stopped beside you with his head down, “are you pairing with Y/N?”

He nodded.

“Oh.” She said, “well… looks like you have a partner Y/N,” she said, almost sad that she didn’t get a chance to embarrass you in front of the class about you being easily distracted and daydreaming- and that’s why you hadn’t noticed everyone pairing up because you weren’t listening.

You looked at Kenma.

“Thanks,” you whispered.

Everyone started talking and discussing the project and he pulled up a chair next to yours.

“Did you actually have someone else?” you asked him.

He nodded.

“Oh,” you said, looking down at your desk, then looking at him, “why did you come over to me then?”

“Because you were daydreaming out the window,” he said softly, “and I saw you didn’t hear the teacher say to pair up. I’ve seen her look for reasons to pick on you so I wanted to help you.”

“Oh. Thanks,” you said with a smile, “you’re a good friend, Kenma.”

He gave you a little smile and you both looked down at your book.

“So, uh… what did the teacher say the project was on?” You asked sheepishly.

“That thing we were discussing earlier this week,” he replied.

“Umm… what was that?” you asked sheepishly again.

Instead of him telling you that you should listen more, he just explained what it was and he gave you enough of an explanation that you remembered it and let out a short ‘aha!’

“Yeah, I remember now!” You said with a big grin, “thanks, Kenma.”

He nodded and you both started to write some things down, occasionally discussing different parts of the project.

Usually, when the teacher had forced someone to pair with you, they just got so fed up with you that they did the project by themselves and then you would be kinda just there for the ride.

It’s not like you didn’t want to help. It’s more you didn’t know what was going on and couldn’t help, but people never gave you a chance to catch up on what was going on and then on the day they made you present the project and you would stand there sweating bullets while the teacher picked you apart and pointed out how much you didn’t know on the topic.

It had happened almost every single time, to date, but you were determined to make things go differently this time. This time you had Kenma with you.

“Hey, so, I’ll come to yours tonight,” you said to him as the bell for the end of class rang, “we can make a start on this.”

“I have volleyball practice,” he replied, “but if you want to you can come and hold my PSP while I play, then we can go home together.”

Your heart swelled and you beamed with delight.

Your first invite! Usually you just followed him home and he just allowed it but this was his first actual verbal, not by accident, invite!

“Yeah, ok,” you said happily, “I’ll guard that PSP with my life!”

You shared a friendly look, then packed your things to leave, exiting the classroom and heading to your respective lockers.

After you had gotten your items together you met him at his locker and then you both went down to the gym together.

“We are here!” you announced loudly as you stepped through the doors to the gym with him behind you.

“Oh! It’s the main character!” Kuroo said with a grin.

“Kenma’s side character,” another corrected.

“Yeah, that side character that is loud and just attaches itself to the main character and tags along for the adventure as comedic relief,” another teammate commented.

You kinda paused for a second.

Was he making fun of you? Is that all you were? A nuisance?

“She holds my PSP when I play volleyball and she’s always happy,” Kenma suddenly said to the teammate, stepping up beside you, “she’s a valuable character to have on a quest.”

You looked at him with surprise.

Was this the same Kenma who had said that you weren’t friends just last week? Boy, he had changed his tune quickly.

He looked at you kindly, then handed you his PSP and bag, and walked over to Kuroo while you walked to the side of the court and sat down to watch them play.

Just like last time, Kenma kept stealing glances at you and your heart fluttered each time- he was more looking to make sure his PSP was still ok… but it felt like those looks were for you.

He was an amazing player. You didn’t know a lot about the game but he read everyone on the court with pinpoint accuracy and you marveled at how he just knew where to be at the right time so that he didn’t have to run anywhere unnecessarily.

After the game had finished, he walked straight over to you and you handed him back his PSP, which he took gratefully but put it in his pocket. 

“Ready to go?” you asked him.

He nodded and off you went together, taking the direct route to the fence at the back of the oval.

As you and he climbed over the fence together you turned to him and held his arm to stop him once you were both on the other side and he looked at you, pausing as you stared dead into his eyes.

“Is cereal soup?” you asked with a dead straight face.

“No,” he replied bluntly, “it’s a breakfast.”

“No, but it’s a soup, because it has all random bits floating in it,” you replied, following him as he headed off, “ok, well, what about this one. Why do toasters have a setting beyond 2 because, like, 2 already burns the toast so why does it go to, like, 5? Why was that even necessary?”

“Are you hungry?” Kenma asked.

“Yeah. Always? Why?” you replied.

“Because your questions are all about food,” he said.

“Oh. Oh, yeah! I didn’t even notice that. You’re pretty clever, Kenma. You’re even amazing-er at volleyball. I gotta admit I didn’t think you would be the type to play because you’re always so into your games and HEY WAIT! Where’s your PISIE-PEE???”

“PSP,” he said calmly, pulling it out of his pocket, “it’s here.” He showed it to you.

“Oh, thank goodness, I thought you had lost it somewhere. How come you’re not playing it? Usually you’re playing on it by now?”

“I dunno,” he replied with a shrug, looking ahead at the road.

“Oh. Ok. Well it’s nice to be talking to you,” you said with a smile, “so do you have a favourite food?”

“Apple pie,” he replied.

<<< ‘That’ Side Character Chapter 13: Text Messages

‘That’ Side Character Chapter 15: Spending Time Together  >>>