Chapter Text
Kuroo was used to coming home to an empty apartment (such was the fate of a bachelor in the city) so he hadn’t expected to arrive home and be assaulted with the delicious smell of yakisoba the moment he opened the door.
It had been a while since Kuroo offered Oikawa his apartment key and gave the guy free pass to come in and out of his home, however, this was the first time Oikawa made use of that privilege.
Kuroo followed the smell and made a beeline for the kitchen, where he saw Oikawa cooking, wearing only a pair of boxers and one of his shirts. Whatever comment Kuroo was about to make about the rare sighting of a cooking Oikawa met an abrupt death in his throat.
“Are you wearing my shirt?” The words were out of Kuroo’s mouth before he could even think.
“Yes, I am,” Oikawa said as he stirred the noodles on the pan, “I was in a hurry and didn’t get a chance to grab my stuff when I left Iwa-chan’s place.”
Kuroo grimaced at the reminder. For a blissful moment, he almost forgot why he had allowed Oikawa free reign in his apartment. Should he ask for details? Would that be cruel of him? Why was it so difficult to be considerate?
“This is the first time I’ve seen you cook,” Kuroo settled for saying in the end. That should be a safe, inoffensive topic.
Oikawa gave Kuroo a look of fond exasperation. “You’re too nice, Tetsu-chan,” he said, as though being nice was an unfortunate thing, “I barge into your home, wear your clothes without permission, and you’re not even asking why. If I were in your shoes, I would be demanding an explanation right now.”
“I’d rather wait for you to speak up when you’re ready.” Kuroo tried to make his words sound as light as possible. “If I start asking questions I might end up asking ones that make you uncomfortable.”
“And that’s why I say you’re too nice. I know I was a mess last time I was here, but I’m not too fragile that I’d lose it like that every time. Go ahead. Ask questions.”
“Hmm… okay.” Kuroo grabbed the nearest chair and sat down. “So, what happened tonight that you had to leave Iwaizumi’s place in a hurry?”
Oikawa served the cooked yakisoba on two plates and sat on the chair opposite Kuroo’s. “Did you know that Tobio is in Osaka?”
“No. What’s he doing there?”
“I heard he’s doing a press tour or something, trying to build his reputation and increase his popularity,” Oikawa scoffed, “Osaka is my turf. As if he could ever be more popular than me there.”
“I still don’t see how that’s related to you being here.”
Oikawa looked at Kuroo as though he was particularly dull. “Naturally, I can’t stand being in Osaka while Tobio’s there prancing around so I decided I’ll stay in Tokyo for the mean time.”
Kuroo suspected that Oikawa was in Tokyo specifically to see Iwaizumi, and Kageyama’s presence in Osaka was only an excuse, but there was no need to call Oikawa out on that. “Okay, so what happened when you got to Tokyo?”
“I was supposed to stay at Iwa-chan’s place for a few days, but he wasn’t expecting me and I happened to arrive while his girlfriend was visiting. I’ve never actually met Iwa-chan’s girlfriend and I didn’t know she was there. When I got to the apartment, I did what I usually did. I went directly into the bedroom, tossed my bag to the side, and jumped the blanketed figure lying on the bed, who I assumed was Iwa-chan.”
Kuroo could already tell where this was going. “Let me guess… that wasn’t Iwaizumi.”
“Unless Iwa-chan grew his hair out and transformed into a girl then no.”
“Oh dear.”
“Oh dear, indeed. She thought I was some lowlife who trespassed into the apartment and she started screaming bloody murder. She threw stuff at me and I panicked a bit so I just ran out.”
Kuroo laughed without meaning to. He tried to hide it from Oikawa to spare the guy from further embarrassment but his shoulders were shaking too much, making it rather obvious.
“Tetsu-chan, are you laughing at me? How mean!”
“I’m sorry…I just…” Kuroo said in between laughs, “Why do these things happen to you? And where was Iwaizumi when all of that was happening?”
“At the convenience store around the block, apparently. He called me when he got back but I told him I’ll just stay with a friend since I didn’t want to disturb their couple time,” Oikawa said the word ‘couple’ like it was something nasty that he ate, “I’m not going to stay there while he’s being lovey-dovey with his girlfriend. I’m not a masochist.”
“Well, my home is open to you for as long as you need it,” Kuroo said, meaning every word. He had never experienced unrequited love but, if there was any truth in movies, it was a fate he wouldn’t wish on anyone, especially Oikawa, and he was determined to help out. He may not be able to take away the hurt but this much, he could do.