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He wanted to kill him.
That last goal should have been his. He had gotten into the state of flow, defeating everyone on the U-20 team. He pulverized all of their strengths, stomped on their pride and grinded them to the ground. He managed to stop his brother’s favourite move and single-handedly locked away their freedom, sealing their fates.
But he didn’t score.
He watched as the ball fell in front of Isagi like he had been waiting for that moment. The shot was instantaneous but time seemed too slow for Rin, eyes mesmerized by Isagi’s form at that moment. He could see every tense muscle in his body, the sweat pouring from being on the field for so long, and the calm determination he had on his face after calculating where Rin would accidentally let the ball slip.
And then the sound of the ball being kicked resounded in his ears, far removed from the shouts of the spectators.
He was smitten.
At that moment, his trance had disappeared and he was met with the reality of the situation.
Although Blue Lock Eleven had won, he had been completely destroyed.
“The one who’s able to change this country’s soccer,” Don’t say it, don’t say it, “is Isagi Yoichi.”
Even though he said he would throw away every link – his brother, his rivals, Blue Lock, every bond – there was an inexplicable anger inside him when Sae told him that. He was to lock away everything, sealing the door shut to all the unnecessary distractions. In that game, he was finally able to go beyond and act on something that had long been lost; something so nostalgic yet so unfamiliar, and freeing himself from all the chains that held him back.
Returning to reality off the field after knowing his failure, the links stabbed him over and over, the chains reattached themselves as if they had never been shattered. It was a reminder that he lacked something.
And Isagi had it.
“Go die, Isagi. I’ll never fucking forgive you.” Isagi’s voice grated on his skin, too innocent for the crime he had committed.
‘That goal was yours just as it was mine’? What fucking bullshit was that?
“From this moment onwards, you’re my rival.” There was nothing else. Isagi could not be anything else other than his enemy and Rin had to make sure he would never be defeated by him again. “Don’t you forget. This means I’ll definitely kill you.”
For Rin, Blue Lock, as well as all the people there, were mere stepping stones. He was considered the best at Blue Lock, not caring who would come at him. He would crush them all; an egoistical villain that would take over the world of soccer.
But that day, Isagi became the hero and completely crushed him.
Despite the rage and hatred towards Isagi, and how instinctively, every time Rin saw him, he wanted to shut his mouth with either a ball to the face or a fist to the cheek (or crashing each other’s mouths together), he still agreed to talk to him. He still agreed to, for whatever reason, exchange contact information once Isagi had gotten his phone back (since he never won back that privilege).
And he still agreed to meet him during their break.
It was something in passing. Rin had been absorbed in a video game when his phone alerted him in surprise. There weren’t many that would message him and he sometimes forgot his phone was on. When he checked it, his eyes lit up.
Isagi.
He hadn’t seen him since they left Blue Lock and almost a week had passed since then. He had time to relax with movies and games at home and, of course, did some training though the normal fields didn’t have the high-end technology Blue Lock had. To Rin, even though he had always practiced alone, it was almost… dull. Blue Lock set a challenge every single time and now that he wasn’t there, anything else paled in comparison. There was no irritating opponent to bypass, always sticking to him though there was no chance to steal the ball. There was no one reliable to pass to when he knew he couldn’t get past the defense. There was no one who could read his mind and know what he was aiming for, and know exactly where and when to appear.
There was no sense of fulfillment.
He had been keeping himself entertained but as soon as he saw the name Shithead appear on his phone, something struck him. He grabbed the phone and read the message.
From: Shithead
Received: 13:32
[Do u wanna hang out?]
He scoffed at the sloppy writing. There wasn’t even a greeting and Isagi is actually older than him? He was definitely still a hundred years behind Rin.
He almost replied immediately but stopped. It’s not like he wanted to text him after his absence for nearly a week. It’s not like he wanted to chat and have a chance to hear his voice. It’s not like he wanted to see his stupid face and look at his large blue eyes. It’s not like he wanted to interact, hold him in his arms, lips crashed together—
He waited.
Because he definitely wasn’t excited to receive a message from him.
To: Shithead
[With who?]
He sent it but didn’t immediately put his phone down. Rin stared at the conversation, watching the bubbly ellipsis appear as Isagi was typing.
From: Shithead
Received: 14:02
[With me!! Who else? Let’s go to Tokyo!! ( ╹▽╹ )]
Rin felt a snort of laughter come out of his lips. What the hell? Who knew Isagi messaged people like that? He tried to imagine that emoticon’s face on Isagi’s actual one and bent over laughing.
It was ridiculous.
To: Shithead
[Why would I hang out with you?]
He sent the message without a second thought. It was instantly read as if Isagi was just waiting for his response like Rin was. He wondered why Isagi, despite Rin’s declaration after the match, was still talking to him or was still treating him like some sort of equal.
From: Shithead
Received: 14:03
[‘cuz u’re bored? ‘cuz u hav no friends?]
Suddenly, Rin didn’t feel like replying.
As began to place his phone down, the alert pinged and Shithead appeared in his notifications again.
From: Shithead
Received: 14:06
[there’s an athletic centre in Tokyo that put in some new machines after getting inspired by our game against the u-20. wanna check it out? they even have an indoor field we can book and play on]
Rin was intrigued. He did need a bit more of a challenge after all and if Blue Lock was the reason for its upgrade, that means there must be something decent there.
He almost responded positively before pausing. He backspaced on his message and typed a new one.
To: Shithead
[Why not go with someone else?]
He inhaled as soon as he sent it and waited in anticipation. He wasn’t sure why when he was the one to ask that. It was stupid of him to hold his breath as if he expected something. Isagi had made plenty of friends at Blue Lock and Rin was definitely not one of them. He could go with anyone and it’s not like Rin was anyone special.
Then he remembered the evening before the match when both of them were alone on the field. Those feelings had been buried by his anger but suddenly, when Isagi messaged him, they came back, but stronger, growling.
Hungry.
Rin jolted when his phone alert went off. He opened it up and his muscles relaxed.
From: Shithead
Received: 14:09
[‘cuz I wanna play with u]
Without thinking any further, Rin accepted.
Shibuya was busy as expected. Even on a weekday, people were hustling and bustling around, heading to work or shopping.
They had agreed to meet at the Hachiko Statue but there were too many people with the same thought. They surrounded it so there was little room to squeeze and make themselves noticeable to the ones they were waiting for.
Rin waited impatiently, wondering where the fuck Isagi was. He was taking forever to show up at their appointed time. Rin had gotten up early to take the train to make it on time and Isagi had the gall not to do the same?
He was going to beat him up.
Isagi finally showed up ten minutes before their meeting time. He spotted Rin and made his way over, a large grin on his face.
Rin would not lose to that.
“You’re late.” He remarked as Isagi arrived in front of him. The grin was wiped off his face.
“No? I’m still early.” Isagi replied in confusion. “How long have you been here?”
“None of your damn business,” Rin growled. He refused to acknowledge that he had gotten there an hour early.
“Well, whatever,” Isagi said with a shrug. He took out his phone, pressing a few buttons. “The place shouldn’t be too far from here. Let’s go.”
“Wait a minute,” Rin grabbed him by the collar and pulled him back. Isagi yelped and turned back to him. “What the hell are you wearing?”
“What do you mean?” Isagi asked as he raised an eyebrow. He looked down at his outfit. “I’m not going to just wear my workout clothes to meet you.”
“That’s not it. It’s just…” Rin trailed off, unable to describe it.
Isagi wasn’t wearing anything outlandish or gaudy so Rin couldn’t complain about that. However, for a high school kid, he buttoned his shirt to the top and wore a cardigan that just seemed slightly too big for him, hiding half his hands. Rin probably could have worn it better but it made Isagi small even though he was a decent height for a guy. He almost appeared…
‘Cute.’
“...lame.” Rin lied but Isagi couldn’t read his mind like that.
Isagi rolled his eyes. “Oh, and you think you have better fashion sense? Didn’t expect you to be the fashion expert."
“I just don’t wear such lame ass clothes.” Rin replied, placing his hands in his pockets as they walked. “You look like your mom still dresses you.”
“I don’t really like clothes shopping anyways,” Isagi mumbled though Rin could still hear him. He glanced up at him, large blue eyes looked up imploringly. “I doubt you can choose better clothes for me.”
“Of course I can,” Rin snapped. Isagi thinks he’s not better? He’s going to prove the shithead wrong. “We’re going shopping after.”
“Sure, sure.”
They walked a few minutes down the streets of Shibuya before arriving at a large, white building with Sports World in block letters at the top. They entered and were greeted by the receptionists.
“I have a booking for Isagi Yoichi.” Isagi said. Rin looked around carefully, taking in the cleanliness, occasional plants in the corner, and various doors and halls leading to where he assumed to be the rest of the facilities.
“Ah! Yes, we have been expecting you, Isagi-san!” One of the receptionists replied excitedly. Her voice caused Rin to look over and he could see the glitter in her eyes, completely starstruck. “Please fill out the form and I’ll be happy to assist you!”
A muscle twitched in Rin’s cheek. Isagi smiled pleasantly as if he was used to being treated like he was special. He smiled as if he enjoyed the receptionist’s lavish attention. He chatted casually with her, the girl paying close attention to him as he filled out the form and handed it back.
She stood up quickly. “Please follow me.”
She guided them on a mini tour through the building, pointing out each room’s functions as each one was made for different sports practice and exercises. There was also a weight room and a small rest area with a drink bar. Finally, she led them to the end of one of the halls.
“This is the male locker room for the west wing,” She explained. She pointed to one room with the number 11 on it. “This is the room you’ve booked. There is an intercom on the wall for us to inform you when your time is up, or if you need to contact us for anything.”
"Thank you.” Isagi responded with a smile and Rin could see the girl light up. When she passed Rin, she was still grinning.
“Tch.”
“What’s up?” Isagi asked as they entered the locker room. He immediately found some lockers that were available and he put his bag down on the bench.
Rin glanced at him before focusing on changing. “None of your fucking business.”
“Fucking hell, forget that I even asked.”
They both changed in silence and locked up before heading to their room. It was a fairly decent size, reminiscent of Blue Lock’s confined, windowless room and Rin almost felt like he was coming ‘home’, as stupid as that was. In the corner, there were soccer balls in a large basket ready for them to use, and on the wall near the door, there was the intercom and another panel of buttons with a protective cover. Next to that panel, there was a booklet of instructions next to it.
“It says to stay against the wall,” Isagi read as he pressed the button.
The floor shook beneath them and Rin heard the sound of machines working. Two soccer goals rose up from the ground with two dummies standing in front of them limply, replacing parts of the floor. There was a shine on the floor and the plain ground was lined with lights that resembled the lines of a soccer field.
“Oh, it’s really as high-tech as I heard.” Isagi mused with a grin. He grabbed a soccer ball and looked over at Rin. “Let’s give it a try.”
According to the booklet, they were able to set exercises to what they wanted to work on. Choosing ‘accuracy’, the dummies moved and suddenly inflated so they covered most of the goal, leaving only small gaps being enough for a ball to enter.
So they began.
“Your aim sucks,” Rin snorted as he bounced the ball on his foot once before shooting it in midair, placing it perfectly in one of the small gaps.
Isagi scoffed. He prepared a run and kicked the ball, barely hitting the corner of the gap, causing it to bounce out.
“20 to 15.”
“Bastard.” Isagi scowled.
Rin nearly smirked, enjoying the frustration crossing Isagi’s face. His nose was scrunched up and eyes angry at the dummy in front of him. Rin wanted to flick him in the forehead.
Isagi’s face softened slightly, nose unwrinkling but eyes still focused. There was no way to break him out of that without him snapping.
He exhaled.
Trying again and this time, Isagi fumbled a few more before he was able to make every shot afterwards.
“Too slow,” Rin said after he revealed the final score to be 50 to 49. He was barely panting, this exercise not enough to exert him. “What kind of striker starts off that late?”
“At least I got a 100% accuracy rate after,” Isagi scowled as he punched him lightly on the arm. “I can’t believe you can miss like that. I didn’t think you’d slack off when we’re away from Blue Lock.”
“I didn’t.” Rin snarled. Isagi laughed as he walked over to grab his water bottle and prepare the next exercise.
Like hell Rin was going to tell him that he, out of all people, got distracted. It wasn’t his fault in the first place. Isagi was too loud and annoying, celebrating when he made his first goal after whatever changes he made. It was followed by that stupidly determined grin that made Rin’s insides burn and chest tighten. That hampered him enough to miss the first time and Isagi’s light laugh and disbelief when he did just set him up for his next few failures. Every time Isagi laughed, Rin instinctively turned, searching for those sparkling eyes and bright smile.
Isagi was such a fucking distraction.
They continued with a few more training menus, doing everything they could before their time was up. Rin was superior in every single one of them but Isagi always broke through in the middle, as if figuring something out, and coming back with full force. Even though as a player, it was useless if you didn’t give your all from the start, the closing gap as he continued to chase Rin made his heart thrum in excitement.
After all the practice, a one-on-one was inevitable.
They started and Rin took the ball with Isagi close on his heel. Without passing, it made his options more limited but Isagi didn't have the speed to catch up with Rin yet.
He scored effortlessly.
When Isagi had the ball, Rin was on high-alert, aware of Isagi’s movements, trying to figure out where he would go. He didn’t have any passing partners there, no one to back him up. He could only focus on Rin, full attention on him and in turn, Rin could only do the same.
Rin won but not as much as he expected to. He blamed it on whatever trick Isagi was using to mess with him, whether it was that single lock of hair that was out of place, the trails of sweat that travelled down his alluring collarbone, tucking into his shirt, or the intense glow in his eyes as he stared directly at Rin.
Isagi was a fucking distraction.
It didn’t help when they went to the locker room, drenched in sweat. As soon as they entered, Isagi stripped his shirt off and disposed of it on the bench. It was so quick and sudden that Rin didn’t even get a chance to process it, staring at the muscles in his back and freckles on his shoulders.
The beads of sweat had made his skin glossy. It was probably disgusting to touch and made Isagi uncomfortable like Rin was feeling, but it caused his muscles to shine, standing out with the light and shadows that played on his body. Isagi was not incredibly muscular, incomparable to some of the others at Blue Lock, but there was no arguing that work had been put into his body. Rin, having witnessed some of that work, felt himself squirm, remembering Isagi’s body from when they first shared a room with each other to how it is now.
Rin clicked his tongue, causing Isagi to look up, and just the look of his large, curious blue eyes made him grab his clothes and towel in a rush to the showers.
He turned it on, leaving the water cold.
“That was pretty good!” Isagi exclaimed as they exited the building. He looked incredibly refreshed after taking a shower, hair still sticking up a little from when he dried it with a towel. “They really took a page from Ego’s book with those training regimens, didn’t they?”
“Still really simple,” Rin replied with a shrug. His hand reached over to Isagi’s head and tried to flatten a piece of his hair sticking up. “Nothing I can’t handle.”
“Until the end where you completely failed,” Isagi replied with a smirk even as Rin kept trying to adjust his hair. “What kind of striker falls halfway through a game?”
“I still won every single thing,” Rin snapped irritably. His hand stopped and he placed it in his pocket. “You’re still too far behind.”
“But I’m catching up to you.” Isagi declared. “And I will surpass you and dominate you.”
A shiver went down Rin’s spine and he almost grinned. He stopped before he could and put his hand up to his mouth in case it accidentally slipped out.
“As if I’d let you.”
Both were hungry after their workout so they headed to a family restaurant nearby. They were there on a weekday so the only people there were businessmen and women from companies surrounding the restaurant. They settled in the booth and looked at the menu.
After placing their orders, Rin narrowed his eyes at Isagi.
“Dessert too?”
“What?” Isagi blinked in confusion. “What’s wrong with having a dessert?”
“You really like slacking off when you’re not in Blue Lock, don’t you?” Rin remarked before he drank some water.
“I’m enjoying my vacation as a reward for scoring the decisive goal in the game,” Isagi replied and Rin knew he said that to irritate him. The smirk as he leaned his chin in his palm proved it.
He wanted to wipe that look off his face.
“If your body goes soft after this holiday and your skills worsen, I’ll be pissed.”
“Will you?” Isagi asked, his eyes widening just slightly. “Weren’t you the one who wanted to kill me? If I was out of the picture, isn’t that just another obstacle out of the way?”
“That’s the most convenient, yeah,” Rin started. He leaned his cheek in his palm, head tilted just slightly so it also appeared like he was looking down at Isagi. “But I want to kill you on my terms. Since you’ve been a thorn in my side the entire time, you should at least have enough fight in you so your defeat will be ten times more satisfying.”
Rin was startled when Isagi burst out laughing. He frowned, unsure of how to respond. It’s not like he said anything hilarious; it was just a fact.
He stopped laughing but a smile lingered on his lips. It was soft and tranquil and his stupidly blue eyes were full of mirth. “So, you’re willing to wait that long, huh?”
“For what?” Rin asked as he raised an eyebrow.
“To get rid of me,” Isagi responded, “After all, I’m not leaving your side anytime soon.”
“Tch, annoying,” Rin snapped with little bite. He quickly raised his glass of water to his lips though, taking a drink, hoping Isagi wouldn’t be able to see his lips pulling upwards. “I’ll have to crush you into the ground before then.”
“Likewise.”
Their food arrived and immediately, both started to eat. Rin watched as Isagi stuffed his face, cheeks puffing out bigger and rounder, looking remarkably like a chipmunk. It almost seemed like he hadn’t eaten in days with how ravenous his appetite seemed to be.
“Oi, Isagi,” Rin placed his spoon on the table. He grabbed a napkin from the dispenser and reached over to wipe some demi-glace off his cheek. Instead of cleaning it completely, it spread. Rin clicked his tongue and grabbed his cheeks with the other hand. “Get over here.”
“Wet gwo!” Isagi tried to talk even with his cheeks puckered and being pulled forward awkwardly. Rin ignored him and proceeded to wipe off the sauce from his cheek. He finally released him and leaned back in his seat like nothing happened.
“The hell was that?” Isagi scowled. He leaned on the table. “Out of all things, I didn’t expect you to be a mother hen.”
“Hah?” Rin glared at him. “You’re just a fucking messy eater. How can I look up and stand seeing your face like that?”
“You could have told me and I would have wiped it myself.” Isagi frowned. “I’m not a kid. I’m older than you!”
“Like hell I trust you.”
“To clean myself?!”
“You’d miss.”
“My face?!” Isagi exclaimed in disbelief.
“You already missed those goals when we were training earlier.”
“You’re really bringing that up again, huh?” Isagi sighed. His anger seemed to have calmed down as he began to dig at his meal again. “How’s your food?”
“Perfectly fine,” Rin answered shortly. He looked at Isagi’s plate of a simple hamburger steak, potato wedges, and a side of vegetables. “Probably better than what you have.”
“Oi, nothing beats a classic like hamburger steak,” Isagi said as he narrowed his eyes. “Doesn’t that gratin have too much cheese? You’re criticizing me for having dessert but isn’t that much cheese just as bad? And it’s so plain too, how can you eat something like that?”
“It obviously tastes better than that crap.”
“Are you serious? Mine has meat at least.”
“Cheap meat.”
“Doesn’t mean it doesn’t taste good.”
“It just means you have poor taste."
“Then I’ll prove you wrong,” Isagi stabbed a piece of his hamburger steak and shoved it in front of Rin’s face. “Eat it and weep at how delicious it is."
Rin grimaced, looking down at the fork presented to him. It was a stupid argument and he liked hamburger steak enough so it was completely avoidable.
But he was glad for his moment of lapsed judgment.
He didn’t take the fork from Isagi, instead, leaning in to take it with his lips, keeping steady eye contact with Isagi, not straying away from the challenge. Isagi was unwavering, watching Rin just as carefully. Neither looked away, suddenly stuck in a staring contest as if to prove a point.
The air was tense, waiting for the other to make their next move, to turn away. But neither did.
Rin moved away, realizing that his mouth was lingering too long on the fork. Subconsciously, he licked his lips of the demi-glace sauce. Isagi’s cheeks flushed, eyes slowly moving as if watching Rin’s tongue.
“That was fine,” Rin’s voice cracked, the heavy tension between them putting pressure on his throat. He pursed his lips. “But my gratin is better.”
“Oh, yeah?” Isagi’s voice was low, causing a stir in Rin's stomach. He swallowed, finding it suddenly hard to breathe.
He didn’t even need to look away, picking up the spoon he was using, half of it filled with gratin. He copied Isagi’s earlier move, placing it in front of the other’s face instead.
If it was hard to breathe before, suddenly, the last bit of his lung’s functions stopped.
Isagi’s lips wrapped themselves around the spoon. His lips moved languidly in a strange motion that the stir in Rin’s stomach started forming into a whirlpool, making his toes curl and uncurl uncomfortably. It was almost like earlier when he saw Isagi’s naked back; heat travelled to Rin’s cheeks but there was no cold shower waiting for him.
He would have to burn.
Isagi finished with the quietest of pops, tracing his tongue against the edge of his lips, catching the remnants of the gooey cheese. Isagi raised an eyebrow, eyes still meeting Rin’s.
He tilted his head as if considering something. Rin’s lips formed in a thin line, trying not to let Isagi’s innocent expression get to him after doing…
Whatever that was.
“That’s so fucking plain, Rin.”
A familiar sense of irritation rose inside him, snapping out of that uncomfortable feeling.
“Isagi, you have the worst taste.”
When they finally decided to finish off their food, Rin inhaled, glad that the tension had died. Their eyes averted each other, the air suddenly awkward. Rin wasn’t sure what he should be awkward about but for some reason, he suspected that what had just happened shouldn't be done in public.
He was glad that there seemed to be a mutual agreement of a stalemate and they could go back to normal.
…until Isagi got his dessert of a strawberry parfait and got whipped cream on his mouth and cheek.
Isagi was such a fucking messy eater.
After eating, Rin was curious on Isagi’s plan for the rest of the day, if he even had one.
He was only expecting to go to the athletic centre and lunch was just a natural progression. Now that they had finished both, that means that they were done, right? It’s not like they were friends and the only thing they had in common was soccer, and that was gone.
It was fine if they finished there. After all, neither one of them lived that close to Tokyo so it would take them a while to get home. But…
Somehow, Rin felt disappointed? Like the time Isagi faltered during the Third Selection. Back then, there was the tiniest speck of expectation but it had failed spectacularly to the point that Rin didn’t even want to look at Isagi.
This time, however, he wanted to stay with him longer.
“Hey, Rin,” Isagi began. He pointed over to the game centre. “Wanna go check it out?”
Rin blinked.
“What for?” There was no purpose to going to that place. There were crane games to waste money on and the games they had were boring, having very little in horror. Rin couldn’t see why Isagi would be interested in it.
“So I could whoop your ass in some games.”
Ah.
Rin’s lips twitched.
“You’ve got some big words there,” Rin sneered, naturally heading to the game centre. Even if he didn’t play all these kinds of games, he was ready to stuff Isagi’s money where his mouth was. “I’m definitely going to kill you.”
Isagi’s eyes looked at him strangely in a somewhat familiar way. It was then Rin realized he said the exact same thing to him before their break from Blue Lock, right after the U-20 game. At that time, Isagi had the same expression.
But this time, instead of turning away from him and Rin unable to see his face, a grin spread across Isagi’s face.
Rin swallowed.
“You can try.”
The first floor was lined up with various crane games and UFO catchers all over the place. In the front, there were large prizes that could be won and smaller ones heading towards the back. Rin looked around, absorbing his environment since he didn't go to these places often. Even when he tried to win a stuffed toy of his favourite monster from some horror game, he got too angry and broke trying to win it so he avoided them all together. He had to save the little money he had for more important things.
“Oh, hey, Rin,” Isagi stopped in front of one of the smaller machines and pointed. Rin looked inside, seeing various small teddy bears with ball chains attached. The one Isagi seemed to be pointing at was a teal one with an angry face. “That one looks like you.”
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” Rin glared at him but Isagi wasn’t fazed at all.
“You have the exact same look as it does right now.”
“Isagi, you really want to die, don’t you?” Rin snarled. He looked at the rest of the stuffed dolls, spotted one, then smirked. “The blue one looks like you though.”
Isagi looked at the blue one and squinted his eyes.
“The one with the stupid face?!”
‘Yeah, that one.’
“It’s cute.”
Isagi didn’t reply immediately much to Rin's surprise. There was silence and he wondered if there was something wrong before glancing over and seeing Isagi’s ears red.
“...cute…?”
Rin furrowed his eyebrows in confusion before he instinctively slapped a hand over his mouth then turned away.
Did he…did he just voice his thoughts aloud?!
“I said it was cu-cu-cuckoo looking!” Rin exclaimed, his own lie sounding like a complete joke in his ears. “Are your fucking ears broken?!”
“No, you definitely said ‘cute’.”
“I didn’t, you shithead.” Rin felt his face heat up and hoped Isagi didn’t see a damn thing. He looked away, looking at other machines, trying to find a distraction. He had to avert the situation now. “Anyways, wasn’t I supposed to beat your ass with one of the games?”
“Isn’t this fine?” Isagi asked. Rin turned back and saw he was pointing at the cursed bears. “Let’s do it.”
“You’re really going to waste money on this?” Rin asked as Isagi took out some 100 yen coins and inserted one in the slot. He moved the joystick and the claw moved above the angry, teal bear. He scowled. “Why are you going for that one?! It’s in a bad spot.”
“I like a challenge,” Isagi answered, much to Rin’s amusement.
Then again, he wasn’t really surprised. No matter what, Rin wasn’t able to ignore how Isagi came after him, at times, when Rin wasn’t expecting him. It pissed him off whenever he knew Isagi was lagging behind and he had finally outrun him, only for Isagi to suddenly be racing along next to him. He came out battered and bruised after dealing with things beyond his reach.
And then he reached Rin.
They both kept going like that: Rin going ahead with Isagi not too far behind.
But after the last match, Rin had to be the one to catch up.
He clicked his tongue in annoyance.
If anyone was going to stand on top of the world stage as the best striker in the world, it was going to be Rin, and he wasn’t going to let Isagi stand there on his own.
Loud music interrupted his thoughts. He blinked and saw that the UFO catcher was lighting up with little lights inside. Isagi reached into the slot and pulled out his prize, a grin on his face.
“Ten tries. Can you beat that?”
Rin glared at the tiny bear that glared back. He took out his wallet from his pocket and took out some coins.
“I can get it in five.”
He immediately regretted his words when the stupid fucking blue bear refused to be caught and thus, he had to use a sixth coin. Then a seventh. Eighth. Nineth. Last—
“Wow, Rin…” Isagi began with a snort, trying to stifle his laughter. “You really suck at this!”
“Shut up, Isagi! You just got an easy one!”
“You’re the one who said it was in a bad spot!” Isagi laughed to the point he was toppling over. It took another minute before he was able to compose himself enough to stand. However, he was still snickering.
He gently pushed Rin to the side and took out some more coins. Rin watched carefully as Isagi maneuvered the claw above the irritating bear. Isagi was fully concentrated in a state that Rin recognized when he got completely absorbed in a game, strategizing his next move.
Rin didn’t realize he was staring until Isagi cursed and he finally looked at the bear that was in a new position, but closer to the escape slot. He also cursed at it, watching as Isagi tried again only for it to drop.
“And you said I sucked?!”
“Shut up! At least I won something.”
Isagi’s scowl was mixed with a pout that made Rin want to pull his cheeks. Before his body moved automatically again, Isagi inserted another coin and went back to concentrating on the machine.
“Go back a bit more,” Rin commanded as he looked from the side of the machine, trying to figure out the correct spot for the claw. “Forward—no, my forward.”
“Rin, shut the fuck up.” Isagi yelled at him, ignoring his advice, letting the teddy bear slip through the claw again. He moaned.
“This is what happens when you ignore me!”
“Shut up!”
It took a few more tries but Isagi eventually got the stupid teddy bear. He took it out of the prize slot proudly as if he didn't spend 1500 yen on it.
Rin huffed angrily. In the end, Isagi ignored every single piece of advice he gave him. “You got worse.”
“I still got it in the end,” Isagi grinned brightly. He held out the little blue bear by the chain. “For you.”
Rin froze, staring at Isagi’s outstretched hand like it was going to attack. After all that effort, that time, yelling, and money, Isagi was just going to…hand it over to Rin?
What the fuck?
“Don’t want it.” Rin turned and began to walk away.
“Oi, Rin!” Isagi called him and ran up to catch up. He was sulking, making Rin’s hand clench in his jacket pocket so he wouldn't reach out for him. “Just take it. I already have one.”
“Why should I take a consolation prize?” He asked scathingly. He didn't win it on his own so it was useless to him. It was even Isagi who won it, rubbing salt on his already large wound.
“It’s not a consolation prize,” Isagi replied. “It’s a gift. I want you to have it.”
“Why do you want me to have it?” It’s not like they were close so there was no reason for Isagi to give it to him. He could give it to Bachira or Chigiri and they would be happy with it.
But the idea of either one of them receiving it from Isagi made Rin’s blood boil.
“Because,” Isagi paused. Both of them stopped walking, waiting for Isagi to continue. Rin looked at him as he tried to think of something, looking away with pink tinging his cheeks before looking up at Rin again, “You were there supporting me when I was trying to get it and I had a lot of fun, even if you were cursing and yelling at me all the time. And it seemed like you really wanted this one so I just thought you would be, uh, happy if you got it. So, I just really want you to have it.”
Even as Isagi told him such embarrassing things, cheeks flushed, and hands fidgeting with the stuffed bears, he was still looking straight at Rin. The more he spoke, the more Rin’s stubbornness melted, feeling something warm in his chest, like all the other times he was with Isagi.
“...fine.” His voice was strangely quiet but Isagi heard him.
He held out his hand and Isagi placed the teddy bear there, skin brushing against Rin’s, sending a small chill through his skin. He stared at the blue bear in his hand, the dumb cheerful expression of the bear smiling up at him. It really did resemble Isagi when he gets stupidly happy.
He looked over at Isagi’s hand where he held his angry teal bear. Rin could admit that he had a bit of a temper but surely it wasn’t as bad as that bear’s face.
But Isagi said it reminded him of Rin.
Thump.
Rin ignored the strong beat in his chest.
“...thanks.” He said, finally looking back at Isagi’s face, and felt his jaw slacken.
Isagi’s smile was different from all those smirks and grins he gave earlier. All of them were playful, if not a little arrogant. This smile was calm, soft, and so warm, that heat travelled through Rin’s blood, filling up his chest to the brim and blocking his throat. He wasn’t sure what it was about that smile but just seeing it was enough to stun Rin, keeping him still so he could look at it as much as possible.
And once again, he was unable to read Isagi.
“No problem.”
“That was great!” Isagi walked out of the game centre practically sparkling. Rin, however, lagged behind, rage feeding off his body. “Good game, Rin.”
“That just proves you don’t spend enough time practicing soccer,” Rin grumbled. After all, there was no possible way that Isagi could beat him in almost every game they played. Whether it was a racing game or a rhythm game, Isagi, for some stupid reason, had the upper hand. The frustration was so much for Rin that he even sabotaged Isagi and made them lose in a co-op game.
“Just because I’m good at arcade games, doesn’t mean I don’t put in the effort into soccer too.” Isagi replied. “Don’t you have hobbies outside of soccer?”
“I do,” Rin answered.
“Like what?” Isagi asked with curiosity.
“Like…” Isagi looked too curious and eager to learn, it made Rin flustered. He looked away for a moment, unable to take that expression, then spotted a poster as they walked by it. He paused and pulled Isagi by the collar. “This. Let’s go."
“Oi, Rin! Let go!"
Rin forcibly dragged Isagi into the building as he called out to him. He didn’t let go, fingers feeling comfortable tucked in his shirt, brushing against the nape of Isagi’s neck.
He finally released him when they reached the escalators, Rin focusing on his goal.
“I didn’t know you’re a movie buff.” Isagi remarked as they went up, the blatant movie posters surrounding them being the main clues. “What did you want to see?”
“ Hollowed by the Depths.” He answered. He had been anticipating this movie for months after hearing it was going to be by his favourite director. He had completely forgotten about it between his drama with his brother, Blue Lock, the U-20 game, and meeting Isagi. Now that he saw the poster, he had to watch it right away.
“...what kind of movie is it?” Isagi asked tentatively. They reached the lobby and Rin went to a ticket machine and bought two tickets. “Rin, what genre is it?”
“Horror, obviously,” He said. They were in luck and the next showing was in twenty minutes. That was enough time to head to the restroom and grab some popcorn. “I’m gonna go to the restroom first.”
Isagi didn’t respond and for a moment, Rin wondered if he was still there. He turned and indeed, Isagi had completely stopped, head looking down. Rin walked back and leaned forward so he could see Isagi’s face, completely white and eyes out of focus.
‘Huh.’
“Isagi,” A leer appeared on Rin’s face, revenge foreseeable in the near future – in about twenty minutes. “Are you scared? Of a little horror movie?”
Isagi’s head immediately snapped up. His eyes got out of his trance and became defiant instead, the familiarity sending chills down Rin’s spine.
“Like hell I am.” Isagi’s voice was low and husky. Rin leaned in closer to hear it better, feeling the warmth of Isagi’s breath on his lips. He could feel the slight tremor of it, trying to hold back his fear.
Exhilaration shot through Rin, agonizing the twenty minutes they had to wait. He was excited for the movie but now that he had this revelation, he wanted to gauge at Isagi’s reactions. He was torn between whether he should pay attention to the movie or Isagi.
It was a tough decision.
“Alright,” Rin said as he stood straight. He was still smirking; his heart was going faster than any horror movie could make it. “I’ll believe that if you don’t scream during the movie.”
Isagi lifted his chin up, staring directly at Rin with more stubbornness than he had ever seen him with.
“I won’t make a single sound.”
That was a lie Rin knew was going to happen.
Not even two minutes into the movie (more like the opening sequence) did he look over and saw Isagi’s shoulders completely tense up. The music was typical for a horror movie but even so, Isagi reacted like it was the first time he heard such a sound.
The story was nothing spectacular. It was about a couple who were going to spend the weekend camping in the wilderness only for one of them to fall down and get lost and was trying to find her way back. It was a cliche storyline but that’s not what Rin looked for in horror. He was looking for the suspense, the effects and atmosphere to create a heart racing response. Just like any movie, they were there to create a powerful emotion in the audience but only horror was bold enough to get into one’s deepest fears.
He would normally engulf himself in the creepy atmosphere as the woman wandered through the woods while something stalked her but it was a different scenario with Isagi there.
Both Isagi’s hands were on the arms of the seat, holding on like his life depended on it. The occasional brightness from the screen showed Isagi keeping his mouth in a thin line, trying not to make a sound. Rin was sure there was sweat trickling down his cheek like watching the movie gave him a workout. He stayed in that position, completely concentrated on the screen, eyes hardly blinking.
Since there wasn’t much of a reaction after that, Rin turned back to the movie.
In one scene, the main character, Erika, found a river with only stone steps to take her to the other side. She leapt from stone to stone until the last one where, in mid-jump, something from the water grabbed her leg and pulled her in.
Rin jolted, not because that scared him, but felt something grab his arm.
He glared at the hand on his sleeve before remembering it was Isagi’s. He followed Isagi’s arm to see him still staring at the screen but his iron grip was refusing to let Rin go.
When it came to watching horror movies, Rin liked to watch without distractions. Distractions made it impossible to immerse himself in the movie but with Isagi, he didn’t mind. Watching him was almost just as entertaining as the horror movie. His heart still beat rapidly, but as opposed to a cold atmosphere and incessant suspense, he was more amused, more captivated. He had never seen this side of Isagi before so he was just…
Fascinated.
Another jump scare appeared and Isagi flinched, burying his head into Rin’s shoulder, hiding his eyes. Rin’s breath caught in his throat at the sudden closeness but Isagi wasn’t reacting like he was. He was still watching the movie, peeking one eye out so he could look while he slowly inched closer to Rin, hitting the side of the seat, the few centimetres preventing them from pressing the bodies flushed together.
He could smell the shampoo from Isagi’s hair, the scent the same as his from when they took a shower at the sports centre. Rin’s arm was incredibly warm; way too comfortable, almost making him relax in the tense atmosphere.
Isagi was so close but he wasn’t looking at him, irritating Rin. He wanted his eyes on him like always. He wanted to reach out and touch his face; lean down and press his lips against his—
He just wanted the seat between them to be removed.
When Erika started running away from the monster on the screen, Isagi buried his face in Rin’s shoulder again. He kept moving his face back and forth between him and the screen, scared but curious, like a child that knew he shouldn’t be looking at something.
Rin felt himself sigh, a small smile gracing his lips. He leaned closer to Isagi's hair, the shampoo scent filling his nostrils.
His body was moving on its own again, this time, lips pressing themselves against Isagi’s hair.
…then Isagi screamed bloody murder, jumping when the monster attacked, and headbutt Rin’s chin.
“I’m sorry!” Isagi apologized for the umpteenth time. Rin still didn't let up on his murderous glare. After all, not only did he most likely get a bruise on his chin, but they got kicked out for causing a ruckus, now sitting outside the building. Isagi had run off to buy a cold water bottle and Rin was now using it to cool his jaw. “I’ll make it up to you.”
“Then die.”
“Urk.” Isagi squeaked. He sat next to Rin, looking down at the ground like a dejected puppy. Both stayed silent, Rin silently fuming while Isagi was lost on what to do.
This fucking sucked. They didn’t get to finish the movie, not that Rin was paying much attention. They weren’t even halfway through the movie so he was missing a lot. He wondered how much more Isagi would have clung onto him as they kept watching; whether he would tear up in fear once they got the climax, or how much he would be shaking. Rin wanted to see Isagi cower, completely vulnerable.
But that scream.
Rin didn’t expect it to nearly blow his eardrums out. He didn’t even know Isagi could reach such decibels. And he knew Isagi was loud as fuck but even that scream nearly gave Rin a heart attack.
And when Rin glared after Isagi headbutt him, he was staring at Rin with more fear than he showed when watching the movie, as if realizing what he did; that Rin was not a mere moving image on a screen and his murderous intent was quite real.
Isagi’s skin was pale and his eyes widened with fear, then became dead after he hit Rin, then panicked when everything sank in. His expression changed so much in a short amount of time, it was ten times more interesting watching him than the movie.
Rin burst out laughing at the memory, unable to control it coming out. He keeled over with his body shaking, his voice loud and clear.
“You…” Isagi’s voice broke him out of it. He sat back up and looked back at him. Isagi was staring at him with shock. “You can laugh?”
At that, Rin scoffed, his smile disappearing from his face. “Yeah, and?”
“No, it’s just—” Isagi paused. He leaned in closer, eyes concentrated on Rin’s face, just like when he was trying to get the bears and attempting to watch the movie. “It looks…nice. Your smile.”
His voice was earnest, making Rin’s cheeks flush. He turned instinctively, not sure how to respond.
“Don’t fuck with me.”
“I’m not,” Isagi’s body heat got closer to him as he said that. Rin could feel his arm press against his and he silently cursed him. “You have a nice smile. If you showed it to people more, I’m sure they’d be less terrified of you.”
“I don’t care whether they’re afraid of me or not, it’s none of my concern.” Rin replied. He changed the position of the cold water bottle but Isagi took it from him, placing it perfectly. It was completely unnecessary and Rin wasn’t sure why Isagi did it, but he took advantage of it and leaned his cheek against Isagi’s hand. It was a mix of cold and warm. “I don’t have any reason to smile.”
“Then why did you laugh just now?” Isagi asked, his voice soft; tender. His fingers were brushing against Rin’s cheek and Rin felt himself lulling at the steady rhythm.
“Because—”
He stopped.
Because of you.
He bit his tongue.
Like hell he was going to let another slip pass through.
“Because your stupid crying face as you screamed was so fucking pathetic.” He managed to say.
Isagi’s fingers stopped moving against his cheek and his expression changed. He grimaced and his face was red, embarrassment crossing his features.
“Forget it!” Isagi commanded but Rin smirked and shook his head.
“It’s engraved in my mind forever.”
“Oi, Rin, let me hit you again so you can lose your memory—”
“As if!” Rin felt laughter bubble through his chest again as he pushed Isagi away, avoiding the water bottle that was now a threatening weapon. He caught his wrists, grip tight on them, and stopped him from attacking, his strength much stronger than Isagi’s.
He noticed the strength in Isagi’s arms slacken, going limp in his hands. Isagi was staring intently at him again, scrutinizing him as if facing a difficult situation in a game. He began to move forward but stopped just as suddenly.
He dropped his arms down.
“Let’s…take a walk.” Isagi said with a little hesitation. He stood up and handed Rin the water bottle. Rin accepted it, confused at Isagi’s sudden change of atmosphere. He stood up and picked up his bag from the ground and—
Isagi’s hand found his, gripping tightly. They walked side-by-side, their hands tucked between them so it was more difficult to see in the crowd. Isagi didn’t say anything but Rin could see his ears turning red again.
“What are you doing?” There was no spite in Rin’s voice. Isagi’s hand was warm against Rin’s cold one, and he welcomed it.
“J-just. Testing my grip.” Isagi stuttered. His hand tightened around Rin. “I’m pretty sure I’m stronger.”
Isagi was looking ahead so he missed Rin’s soft smile.
Rin tightened his grip.
“Nah. I’m definitely stronger.”
Isagi didn’t let go of his hand.
In fact, the longer he held on, the tighter he held it, and the hotter Rin’s face felt. He was sure there were some people who glanced at them, even though their hands were hidden between them. Rin was never one to be shy over such trivial matters (let alone shy in general) but he felt like everyone was watching them and their linked hands. He felt like they kept looking at Isagi, and Rin hated that. He wanted all of their eyes to disappear so he could be the only one to look at him and watch his blushing face.
Isagi had to stop being fucking cute.
Isagi was the one to lead him because Rin had no idea what he meant by ‘taking a walk’. Was there a particular location he wanted to go to? Was he hungry? It was the early evening so catching an early dinner would be ideal before both had to take over an hour train ride to get home.
Surprisingly, he found that he had…fun? It had been a while since he went out with someone. He had been so absorbed with soccer that his only enjoyments outside of it were movies and video games and no one else did those things with him. They were just mindless activities that made him forget, for just a moment, of his brother’s betrayal.
But being with Isagi was like a breath of fresh air. He experienced new things with Isagi; he saw new expressions from him; he found new sides of Isagi he never had a chance to know and he wanted to keep going.
Rin felt himself subconsciously squeeze Isagi’s hand again.
He didn’t want to let go.
They headed inside a building and took the elevator to the top floor. They manage to nestle themselves in the back behind the crowd, not releasing each other’s hands. They arrived at their destination and headed outside.
When it came to the city, there would be too many people, no matter where they go but the rooftop park seemed to be an exception. Most likely because it was still a weekday so it seemed wider than it really was. There were tall trees and grass that was yellowing with the season, paths created for people to walk on, and the expansive view of Shibuya could be seen behind the glass walls that surrounded them.
He felt his hand being tugged as Isagi led him down the path, closer to the view. There were plants in front of them that prevented them from going any closer but they could still see the cityscape. Rin hadn’t noticed that the sky had darkened, sun dipping behind the horizon, leaving a golden glow that faded into a light pink, then to a light blue. The clouds overhead reflected those colours as well and beyond higher in the sky, it seemed to have gotten darker.
“I heard that the views on the rooftops were nice in Shibuya,” Isagi said quietly and tentatively as if gauging at Rin’s reaction.
“I see.” Rin replied. He bumped Isagi on the shoulder. “For a cityscape, it’s pretty nice.”
“My hometown doesn’t have this kind of view,” Isagi returned as he looked down, peering at the streets below. Everything looked miniscule from there. “It’s a city but nothing like Tokyo.”
"There’s a port in my hometown.” Rin stated, remembering all the times he went there to sit and relax. “The sunset there is much better than Shibuya. We should go next time.”
“Oh?” Isagi looked at him with surprise. Rin wasn’t sure what the problem was, but whatever it was, it seemed to be nothing because Isagi was smiling. “Sure.”
Isagi left it at that and turned back to look at the view. As pretty as the sky was, Rin was no longer paying attention, enchanted by the soft smile on Isagi’s face, eyes lidded as if reminiscing about a fond memory. Rin swallowed then exhaled, feeling his chest flutter; the urge to touch Isagi’s face was strong.
“We didn’t get a chance to go clothes shopping today,” Isagi began. He was looking up at Rin, smile still there. “Next time then.”
“Yeah,” Rin managed to breathe out. He coughed, trying to get his voice to work again. “And I still have to kick your ass in a video game. The ones at the game centre suck. I have some horror ones we can play instead.”
“Oh, fuck no.”
The immediate response made Rin laugh. He didn’t know why he was laughing so much, the tension from his shoulders and thoughts completely disappearing, and it felt like something opened up inside him, releasing it all. Isagi’s response was enough to unlock the door to his hidden emotions, but he didn’t care.
He made him feel good.
“Hey, Rin.” He stopped laughing and turned back to Isagi.
And swallowed.
Isagi’s eyes were dazed and glassy as he looked at him. Something was pulling Rin towards him and even though their hands were still locked together, it didn’t feel like enough. Rin looked down at Isagi’s lips, suddenly remembering the night before the U-20 game, and how soft they were. He remembered how fervent they were and how they hadn’t touched each other like that since then.
His body remembered it, and suddenly with Isagi’s gaze, it was craving for it once more.
Both must have thought the same thing because they were drawn together, their gazes unbreaking. Slowly, they leaned forward and their lips met. It wasn’t as desperate as the last one; it seemed softer, chaste, but still full of an unknown emotion. It was quieter and subtle, their lips and noses brushing against each other. No tongue was involved but that didn’t mean it didn’t send Rin’s mind wandering, feeling light-headed.
They didn’t go any further. Both seemed conscious of the fact that they could hear the faint chatter of others not too far away. Rin didn't care but Isagi glanced around as if making sure no one saw them.
All of a sudden, Isagi’s hands were on his jacket. He pulled him down roughly and their lips crashed, nearly knocking Rin’s teeth out for the second time that day. He inhaled through his nose and exhaled just as heavily, Isagi’s lips almost leaving him breathless. He felt his tongue tease his lips and Rin began to open his mouth before he got pushed away.
He growled, almost grabbing and pulling Isagi towards him when the chattering got louder. Rin dropped his hands and both stood silently as two girls walked by, looking at the view around them.
Rin clenched his hands, nails digging into his palm.
Something in his chest was clawing at him, desperate to continue where they left off, and he had to deny it at that moment. He had to squash down the feeling or else he didn’t know how far he would go. Isagi’s lips were too addicting, tongue too alluring and if Rin pushed forward, he wasn’t sure how much he could contain himself.
He wanted to be back at Blue Lock and have those meditation sessions and practices with Isagi again. He wanted them to be alone, away from prying eyes, where they could be free; where they could act upon their egos and relish in each other.
But they had to stop.
They had to take separate trains.
The day went by so quickly. Even when they sat at the rooftop restaurant and ate, he could feel that neither one of them wanted to leave even though it was getting dark. They had to take trains that took too long and were too far from each other, limiting the time they had even more.
“I’m going to be with some family next week since we have no idea when’s the next break.” Isagi explained when they walked towards the station. As if he was suddenly self-conscious, they weren’t holding hands, but instead, Isagi’s pinky was linked with his.
“Same here.”
“Ah, I see.” Isagi replied with a smile, but it didn’t seem happy. “So then, the next time we’ll see each other is when we go back to Blue Lock, huh?”
That was just over a week later. Rin tried to hide his frustration. He knew he shouldn’t feel that way, but he just did. This day was so engraved in him already that not seeing Isagi just pissed him off.
“My train is almost here,” Isagi said as they reached the gate, looking at the departing time on the electronic board. “Thanks for coming today, Rin. I. I had fun.”
What did he say to that? He struggled to find the words to express…whatever he was feeling; the anger and frustration, but at the same time, a sense of longing, a crave he was sure Isagi knew how to satiate but wouldn’t be able to when he was out of sight.
He had no words.
So he leaned in, surprising not just Isagi, but himself, and pressed his lips against his.
It wasn’t enough, but it was all he could do.
When they parted, Isagi put his arm up as if to cover his face as if to hide, but Rin already saw how red he was. To know that he was the constant cause of this change made Rin satisfied.
“I guess that wasn't bad.” Rin finally answered in return. Even so, that was too nice even for him. “Be prepared for your ass to be kicked when we meet again.”
At that, Isagi scoffed. His red face slowly faded but there was still pink on his cheeks. “You can try.”
Their pinkies separated and Rin felt a sense of loss as Isagi’s body heat completely disappeared, the gate to the platform separating them. Isagi looked back at him and waved, a smile on his face, before he ran up the stairs, and disappeared at the top.
Rin headed over to where his train platform was, hands in his pocket. He felt a buzz against his palm as he got a message on his phone. As he tapped his train pass on the gate, he opened it up and saw that ‘Shithead’ sent him a new message.
From: Shithead
Received: 19:24
[can’t wait until we’re back at blue lock. I wanna beat u so badly. ૮₍ ˃ ⤙ ˂ ₎ა]
Rin snorted. His train arrived and he managed to grab a seat, placing his bag on his lap. His eyes lingered to the small blue teddy bear that hung on to the strap, Isagi having attached it when he had the chance.
There was a twitch in his lips.
He typed out a message.
To: Shithead
[like hell you will (>0益0)>)))))))))))))))]
It looked so stupid but at that moment, Rin didn’t care.
Isagi replied immediately.
From: Shithead
Received: 19:28
[(╥﹏╥)]
Rin covered his mouth, trying to hold in his laughter.
Isagi really was the key to that hidden door of his.