It was at that time that he knew what his pounding heart meant. To be honest, Kenma didn't believe his captain's explanation at first, but after thinking it over again whilst her figure looked back at him with those calming eyes, he finally able to admit that he is indeed in love with her.

Love... love?

He couldn't help the blush that crept to his cheeks, spreading like watercolor paints on a wet paper. His hands shot up to cover his face on instinct in hope she wouldn't realize. From the gap between his middle and index finger, he tried to take a peek on her. Her head tilted and her expression changed to a questioning manner.

"Kenma, what happen?" her voice echoed in his head.

"N-Nothing, really. Please don't mind me"

Ugh, he stuttered and hoped she didn't realize it at all.

The girl sang an ok before she's back to her guitar. Kenma stared at (y/n) while she closed her eyes, drowned in her own world. The melody she played that day somehow sounded a little bit different in his ears. She seemed to play as she usually would, but the melody seemed so much clearer for him.

Perhaps, it's the fact that he realized his own feeling that made everything about her different. Maybe it's the fact that his eyes seemed to only pay attention to her figure that made his every sense were catching her details, starting from her (h/c) hair that perfectly framed her face to her fingertips that dances on the strings of her (f/c) guitar. He always knew that her (e/c) eyes were calming, but he never knew how it actually sparkled-

Wait, since when was he been such a poetic guy?

I must be going crazy.

And it's all because of her.

"-Kenma!"

"Yes?!"

She widens her eyes at his surprised shout. His cheeks grew redder each second her eyes stared at him. He was thinking of talking to shoo the awkwardness, but the only thing that came out of his lips are stutters which made it a lot more awkward, so he decided to close them instead.

(y/n) huffed with a small smile on her lips. Her eyes soften at him before closing, and suddenly her lips moved, "What is it Kenma? You're like a boy who only found out that he's in love or something."

His breathing and heart felt like they stopped at the same time after her words came out. Her eyes opened and she looked surprised, "Wha- is it true?"

"Uh, um-"

"Oh, Kenma is being secretive? Come on, we've been friends for about a year already. I promise I won't tease you for it." She wiggled her eyebrows.

"Uh, I-I don't think I want you to know, (y/n)." He managed to say.

She frowned in disappointment, "Awe, you think so? And here I was about to say that I like you too."

"S-Sorry (y/n), but-"

Wait--

His head shot up at her. A playful smile danced on her lips. Their eyes stared into each other.

--what?

"Uh, what did you just say, (y/n)?" he asked while his eyes were looking for answer in her (e/c) eyes.

"I'll say it again if you tell me about this girl you keep thinking of so much today." She bargained.

He gulped down his saliva, feeling unsure. His ears could be deceiving him just now. But then what if it's not? What if, it really was true?

"I-It's..."

He mustered up all his courage to say that last word.

"...Y-You." He muttered.

"What, Kenma, I couldn't hear you just now."

He started to think that she's playing with him. But since it seemed a now-or-never situation, he finally gulped down his pride (he probably dropped it a few minutes ago already though).

"It's you, (y/n). I've been thinking of you all day."

Her lips curved into a sly smile, "Which means?"

He tensed, his cheeks burned even more; if only it could got even redder.

"I- I like you." He's finally able to say it while staring into her eyes.

The girl in front of him puffed her cheeks, holding in her laughter. One of her hands covered her mouth to hide it.

"Sorry, I did say that I won't tease you for it, but I just can't, you were too adorable." He frowned, took a sharp breath and covered his face once more.

So she was teasing him. So, he misheard her word just now? He felt like dying right at that time, right there.

"Then, Kenma, please take care of me."

He stopped his train of thought and didn't say a word for a minute or two to process her words. He uncovered his face and before he could misunderstand more, he struck her a questioning look.

She giggled at this, "Which means, yeah, I like you too."

Kenma widen his eyes. He looked at her face again, searching for a tint of joke in it. Instead, he could see—although not entirely visible—a light blush adored her cheeks. At that time he realized, that she wasn't joking about it; that indeed, she meant her words.

He couldn't hold the feeling of relieve in his heart that he sighed while his previously tense shoulders dropped. (y/n) giggled once more before she put down her guitar and stepped closer to him. Her arms embrace the boy's body.

"If you're asking how I knew, then you should thank that Captain of yours."

She'd meant Kuroo. Ah, that guy seemed to like messing with him a quite lot, it's quite annoying. Although this time, he guess he should indeed thank him for this one.

I am so happy right now.