College AU because I’m weak for those. Also, they don’t know each other from high school. Also, I’ve been doing a ton of Role Play lately and I like the back and forth in the perspectives. Hopefully, it works ok here.

Yachi puckers her lips, applying pink lipstick, a bright contrast to the semi-smokey eye with wingtips she’s sporting. She’s being bold tonight, at least as far as she’s concerned. In the reflection, she looks over the soft pastel teal dress, its hem fringed with white lace down to the jet black fleece lined leggings and spike-heeled boots she’s been dying to wear but had nowhere to go in; perfect for a first date… right?

The ever-present butterflies who have taken up permanent residency in her stomach flutter to life; does she look like she’s trying too hard?

Yachi’s been in a box most of her life: sweet, dependable and… boring. At least in her mind. University has been somewhat of an awakening for her, shackles of her life at home falling away leaving room for exploration and experimentation, if only she has the guts to do it.

“A blind date is perfect for that,” Saeko insisted. “He doesn’t know anything’s different.”

Yes, but what if they hit it off? What if he likes her only because she looks like this? Not that she minds looking like this, it’s a look she likes, has been eyeing for some time but never had the nerve to try on herself.

Stop it Hitoka! No psyching yourself out! Put on your jacket, get your purse and get your ass to the cafe!

Yachi listens to the one strong voice in her head, that nearly always sounds like her mother, and puts actions to its demands.

She’ll never know unless she tries.

>

Kuroo rushes through the cold of the night, willing time to slow down so he’s not late. He’s supposed to be there first, damn it, and all these people on the sidewalk are getting in his way! Granted, he should have left the concert hall earlier but the final run through of the stage lights needed to be done and of course Oikawa would choose tonight to be extra fussy.

He rounds the bend and enters the cafe where they’ve agreed to meet, sighing in relief when he sees she’s not arrived. Now that he’s here, his nerves have time to catch up with him, slamming him low in the back and crawling up to strangle his neck. It’s been a long time since he dated.

Starting in a high-intensity trade school hadn’t left him much time for it and with his career taking off he’s less time than then. But he’s tired of being lonely.

“I know the sweetest girl. She’s in her second year of university. You’ll love her!”

Kuroo had balked at the idea of dating someone in school, unable to help feeling like a creep. But Saeko-chan has insisted, unwilling to recognize the word “no” and set him up with one Yachi Hitoka, a second-year university student, majoring in business with a minor in art.

Odd mixture.

Sighing, he shoves away his anxiety and takes out his book. Maybe reading will help calm him down.

>

Yachi hurries down the street, her breath coming out in little puffs of white steam. It’s taken her longer to get here than expected, unused to walking in such high heels on treacherously slick sidewalks but she’s managed to arrive unharmed; a miracle indeed.

The bell above the door tinkles musically as she enters, looking around the main floor of the cafe for “wild hair and a smirk” as Saeko described.

Just when she’s beginning to think he may not have arrived (what if he stood her up?) she thinks she’s spotted him. Tousled hair, a sharp but attractive jaw leaned into a large hand, and half shut eyes scrolling over the pages of a book through thick but not too thick square framed glasses.

Before her nerve is lost, she strides forward, the click of her heels sounding loud in her own ears as the ambient noise is drowned out by the thrumming of her pulse.

“Um, excuse me? Are you Kuroo-san?”

Those squared frames eyes flick up and catch her gaze, the intensity found in their beautiful golden hue making her already shaky legs feel even weaker.

He’s gorgeous. And tall, she notes as he begins to rise… oh… very tall. Even in her four-inch heels, he towers over her. Red is definitely his color and the tight black jeans coupled with thick-soled boots are an aesthetic she needs in her life. 

She swallows, nearly worrying her bottom lip with her teeth and only just remembering the lipstick there.

>

Kuroo doesn’t realize he’s staring, doesn’t recall he’s even stood up, struck dumb by the vision of cute in front of him. Soft pastel coupled with rock n’ roll leather is a thing apparently for him and this girl is singing his own siren song.

She’s pretty too; wide brown eyes framed by soft, blonde hair with glossy *hot pink oh my god lips… lips that are moving…

“Um… are you Kuroo-san?”

He blinks rapidly, then his mouth opens and he manages to choke out a much too emphatic, “Yes!” He clears his throat, tries a smile that he hopes is friendly; “Sorry, uh, you’re Yachi-san then?”

Stupid question.

But she smiles and chirps, “That’s me!”

And his insides melt because damn, she is so cute.

>

As they take seats across from one another, they both think in tandem, “Thank you Tanaka Saeko.”