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“You have to come! It quite literally won’t be a reunion without the ‘Heart of Blue Lock’ there!” Isagi’s face crumples at the reminder of the nickname.
“Bachira, I-”
“You have to. No excuses allowed. My only best friend left me without even saying goodbye! Besides, none of us have any upcoming competitions!” Isagi finds that he can’t refute that.
The next thing Bachira says catches his attention. “Also, I heard Rin is going too. It would be nice to see you two make up.” Isagi can hear the smirk on Bachira’s face through the screen. So it seems Bachira still can’t have a conversation with him without bringing him up. Isagi is exhausted from hearing this really, with multiple of his Blue Lock teammates reaching out to him for the sole purpose of trying to find out more about this topic, and it's worse coming from his own best friend of all people.
“Bachira, for the last time, Rin and I did not have a fight. We are just old teammates and rivals, that's all.” Isagi really hopes Bachira could stop pestering him about this.
Bachira drops the topic and they exchange a little more small talk before the call ends. A little later, Isagi receives a text from him with the details.
The Blue Lock programme ended a few years ago being a massive success worldwide. Isagi immediately went professional and joined a reputable club. Things have been going smoothly enough.
But all things come at a cost, with this being that he rarely finds that he has free time left. After more negotiations with Bachira and his coach, they reach a conclusion of Isagi’s trip back to Japan being five days. No more and no less.
Being the passionate athlete he is, Isagi feels put off having such a long break and approached his coach about this issue but his coach is encouraging him to go as well.
“This will be a good opportunity for you to catch up with friends and past teammates! And you can come back more refreshed as well!” And doesn’t that make Isagi feel so much better?
Being an athlete who has to fly for competitions overseas and programmes quite often, Isagi considers himself quite a seasoned traveller. However, this reunion makes him feel small. Isagi has never needed to pack for such a short trip, much less one back to his home country.
This unsettling feeling accompanies him to the airport and even onto his flight. Isagi probably needed to get through this gruelling five days before the feeling could even begin to dissipate.
When his plane touches down in Japan, he quickly locates the black and golden haired striker waiting for his arrival.
“ISAGIIIIII!!” He’s certain all of the people nearby turned their heads towards them from Bachira’s sheer volume. He can’t bring himself to look at any of them in the eye, instead heading straight towards his best friend.
Isagi puts on a strained smile. “Bachira! Good to see you again! How have you been?”
“Awesome! Did you see…” He slowly tunes Bachira out, interjecting when necessary, nothing more.
Bachira follows Isagi to his hotel where he checks in before they part, with one last reminder from Bachira. “We’re meeting again at seven this evening! Don’t be late!” It comes off more as a threat to Isagi than it should have been, he makes a mental note to reach there a little earlier.
– –
The place where they chose to meet is nice, to say the least. Isagi immediately finds his friends just by tracing the source of the noise.
He exchanges pleasantries with the ones already here and takes a seat next to Bachira. It’s oddly comforting and nostalgic, seeing everyone that you’ve spent your youth with growing and succeeding in their own careers.
Between all the conversations, he finds himself looking at the door, waiting for someone to show up. Isagi would never admit it, well maybe unless when drunk, but he feels that a part of his chest has been forcefully ripped out of him, leaving him incomplete and searching for something to fill up the void in the middle of him.
A voice snaps him out of his trance. “You.” He looks up, and sees everything he wants to be in one person. “Good to see you’re doing well too, Rin.” He replies dryly, hoping that this is the last time they would have to talk for the rest of the night. Unfortunately for him, Rin takes the seat right opposite him, he would have to see his face for a while.
All the multiple conversations between everyone stops to observe the two of them, the tension would be enough to make a person run away. Isagi isn’t one to back away and instead opts to clench his fist so tight it leaves crescent marks on his palm. Rin, seemingly sensing Isagi’s unease, dispels the awkwardness by glaring at everyone. It works somehow, with the noise gradually returning back to the table. Isagi lets out a heavy exhale.
He looks up, wanting to thank Rin, but finds the words getting stuck in his throat. Rin looks good is a major understatement. He lost some of the baby fat on his cheeks and is dressed really well. Isagi forgets that Rin is one year younger than him for a moment.
“Stop staring, you’re acting weird.” Seems like he hasn’t lost any of that sharp tongue. Isagi finds all the gratitude he previously felt disappear immediately and he gives Rin a strained closed-eyed smile instead.
As a way to get back at him, Isagi turns his attention towards the conversation currently ongoing beside him between Bachira and Chigiri.
“You’re not going to talk to Rin?” Bachira looks a little disappointed at this, but immediately brightens up by the prospect of talking to Isagi again.
The evening goes by smoothly, and Isagi thinks he wouldn’t have to see Rin and his sickeningly pretty face for the rest of the day as he bids everyone goodbye when they exit the restaurant and take different paths.
Thankfully for Isagi, his accommodation is within a walking distance of the restaurant. His dreams on the other hand, were shattered when he notices Rin taking the same path as him. He isn’t the only one who made this same observation.
“Why are you following me?” Rin has a distorted expression on his face. Isagi is offended by the accusation and quickly defends himself.
“I’m not? This is the road to the place I'm staying at?” Isagi can’t even believe that Rin would say such a thing, how lowly does he think of Isagi?
He speeds up a little to walk beside Rin. Something clicks in Isagi. Oh no.
“No way, what's the name of the hotel?” Isagi asks, desperate for what he thinks to not be true.
Rin utters a name that Isagi has grown all too familiar with in the past few hours.
Oh. They are staying at the same place. Is this some kind of a sick joke?
Isagi despises awkward silences and they will be stuck together for a while. He chalks that down as the reason for him trying to talk to Rin again.
“How have you been?” Isagi tries. The only reply he gets back is a ‘good’ and they have fallen back into solitude. Isagi doesn’t grace him with any sort of response to that. This isn’t working.
Isagi learns that he doesn’t have to think of another question to ask, Rin beats him to it. “How are you?” It’s not much, but it’s a start.
“Training sessions are really tiring, but other than that it's been fine.” Right after the words leave his mouth, Isagi realises how utterly dull his life is. It’s all his seventeen year old self dreamt of, but it’s still not enough.
Rin shakes his head. “That’s not what I asked. How are you?” Oh.
Isagi loathes the fact that Rin, his greatest rival, is also the person who knows him the best. No wonder he is Isagi’s favourite. Not that he’d ever admit that even if his life is on the line.
Isagi realises that being around Rin for an extended period of time interferes with his cognitive functions. He can’t formulate a reply. Rin is staring at him, awaiting an answer.
“I- I’ve been okay I guess?” Isagi clears his throat. Rin doesn’t prod him for more details and looks back at the road in front.
Isagi tries not to think of how pretty Rin looks in the moonlight, how his skin looks like it’s glowing, how his hand looks so refined with the autumn breeze running through- He’s doing it again.
“Like what you see?” Oh shit, he’s been too obvious with the staring again. Isagi can feel his cheeks getting warmer just by a little. He starts hoping that the sky is dark enough for Rin not to notice.
In an attempt to save his dignity, he decides to just switch the topic.
“How long are you staying for?” He doesn’t dare to look up at Rin.
“Five days before I head back.” They will be leaving together it seems. Isagi hums in acknowledgement and they fall into an oddly comfortable silence for the rest of the walk back.
– –
Isagi spots the light of the hotel building from afar, his saving grace from whatever he has going on with Rin. He swiftly takes out his wallet with the key card in it, though also trying to be a little discreet with his urge to get out of this situation. He fails once again, with Rin scoffing at him from his side before he too proceeds to take out his card.
They enter the elevator together, and alone. It’s a drastic switch from the mellow atmosphere of the hotel lobby. Did it just get colder here?
Isagi stands next to the elevator buttons, tapping his card before pressing the number fifteen. It just so happens to be the highest level as well. He isn’t complaining though, he would die for the view up there.
He moves back a little, to give Rin some space to press his own level. He never does.
Ah.
Isagi is suddenly cursing the concierge out for giving him such a high floor number. Looks like the misery the universe is putting him through isn’t ending just yet. He resorts to just staring at the lift number going up.
2…3…
“We’re meeting again two days later with those idiots right?” Isagi can feel Rin’s gaze on him now. He can’t bring himself to meet his eyes.
“Yeah for lunch I believe.” Isagi says while still gazing at the numbers.
“Hm good to know.”
4…5…6…
“Do you miss Blue Lock?” Isagi finds himself asking.
Rin takes a while to think of a response. The silence between them is deafening. Isagi grips the end of his shirt to calm himself down.
7…8…
“Do you?” Isagi isn’t graced with an answer but instead the same question being thrown at him. He hadn’t calculated this as a possible outcome.
9…10…
Isagi just decides to reply to him anyway.
“A little at times. I think it changed my life.” Rin doesn’t say anything back to that.
11…12…
Isagi finds himself scrambling to do something, anything at all, to fill up the silence. There’s so many questions he has for Rin; how is he doing? Is his team treating him well? Does he miss him at all? Maybe Isagi is overstepping. He has no right to ask these questions. He keeps quiet. They don’t talk for the rest of the elevator ride. He tightens the hold on his shirt to stop himself from saying anything at all.
He only releases the death grip on his shirt when he reaches back into the solace of his hotel room. The shirt has creases on it from Isagi’s hand now.
He slams onto his bed face down, wanting nothing more than to sleep the day away and pretend nothing happened the next. He starts struggling from the lack of air and turns over. His phone vibrates again in his pocket, it has been the entire journey back. Isagi opens it to find a series of messages from Bachira and as it happens, one singular one from Rin as well.
He wants to delay opening Rin’s for as long as possible, and clicks on his best friend’s first.
isagi! text me once u reach back okk!!
did u have fun with rin-chan
i just reached my hotel u sure are taking ur time
Isagi almost drops his phone flat on his face from the second and third messages. He types a response back only to the first.
Hey bachira I just got back
He is immediately greeted with a response.
rmbr we r meeting w chigi and kuni tmr okss!
Isagi almost forgot about that. They had agreed to meet at a cafe for brunch prior to his flight here.
Isagi types out a halfhearted response agreeing to that and opts to do anything and everything he can to avoid the other chat.
One long shower, late night spicy snack, realising that was a bad idea and one whole cup of water later, Isagi is sitting on his bed. He once again takes his phone and dreads the message. He is hoping that someone else messaged him as well, so he has an excuse to prolong the inevitable. His prayers went unanswered.
He decides to just face it head on. Whatever it is he can deal with it-
goodnight
It’s just a singular word. Just one. It still sends Isagi into a spiral anyway.
His hands are shaking as he formulates a reply back.
Goodnight :D
Is that emoticon too much? Should he change it?
Isagi decides to just send the message as it is. His pride and dignity does not matter when it comes to Rin, he’s lost all of it during his time with Rin in Blue Lock anyway. He probably wouldn’t care.
Isagi shamefully stares at the screen, maybe waiting for a reply. When he sees Rin’s status go from online to texting, his staring competition with his phone grows even more intense.
see you soon
Isagi attempts to not look too eager as he rapidly types back.
See you!!
He can see his own reflection smiling at the screen. He can’t bring himself to wipe his grin away, it’s like his cheeks are glued to stay that high. Isagi imagines if Rin was here, he’d probably say something along the lines of him looking like a complete fool (he wouldn’t be entirely wrong). He can’t believe the sheer effect that a mere two texts has on him- no, he refuses to believe it.
However, it puts him at ease. Like, a lot. Isagi never thought he was carrying any stress and baggage with him during this trip, but he feels so light right now. Did Rin always have this much power over his mood?
He doesn’t think too much about it and instead opts to just sleep this out. Perhaps he could wake up with all the answers to his minor problems tomorrow.
Spoiler alert: it does not happen. Isagi wakes up and feels that he has aged at least a decade. Sleep didn’t come easy at all, and worse, he woke up earlier than expected today. It’s not too early though. There’s no getting back into bed now. He blames everything on the jet lag.
– –
Isagi may or may not be regretting agreeing to meet up with the three of them.
Don’t get him wrong, he loves his friends and owes quite literally his entire success to them, but is it so wrong to have just one meet-up without Rin being mentioned? Is that too much to ask for? The food that they ordered hasn’t even arrived.
Bachira is leering at him right now as he continues to bring the topic of Rin and him up.
“Did you know that Rin immediately agreed to come when I mentioned this one here was going? He was refusing so adamantly before!”
Isagi cuts in with his own question. “Wait, didn’t you tell me Rin was already going on your phone call with me?”
“Oh. Oops! Shouldn’t have said that! Forget I said anything!”
“Bachira, I thought you agreed to keep our foolproof plan between us! I’ve been betrayed!” Chigiri fakes a look of utter disbelief, with his hand to his mouth to further enhance his act.
Isagi makes a face which quite literally screams are you fucking serious right now? and stares at both Chigiri and Bachira. They don’t take the hint and instead look at each other before bursting out in laughter. Isagi mentally slaps a smile away from his face and maintains his current expression while waiting for them to calm down.
“Okay but seriously though, I’ve never seen Rin this… less gloomy since Isagi left.” Bachira comments as he wipes away some moisture on his eyes.
“Yeah I agree, there’s definitely something going on between these two.” Kunigami adds.
Isagi is still in disbelief.
Bachira notices his grim expression and tries to encourage him a little. “Just give him some time okay?”
Isagi probably shouldn’t have taken what Bachira said to heart, but it really gets him thinking. The thought lingers with him all throughout his time with them, and even as he gets back to his room.
Isagi starts mentally unpacking all his thoughts, and all of them lead to the same conclusion. There really is something going on between them. Is he keen and willing to find out more? Well, yes actually. That’s the only reason he picks up his phone and messages Rin on his own accord. It must be.
Hey are you free right now
Isagi is already regretting sending that. Rin’s never going to accept his invitation-
yeah why?
Oh. Maybe being the bigger person once in a while isn’t as bad as he thought.
Would you want to hang out for a while?
They exchange a few more messages before deciding to meet at the nearest theatre to watch a movie.
Isagi was about to leave when he heard a knock on his door. What he wasn’t expecting was Rin being outside his door.
“I-”
“I-”
“You go first.” Rin mentions as he looks at anywhere but Isagi. Was his face getting redder?
“I thought we agreed to meet at the cinema?”
“Since we are staying on the same level, I figured we could walk over together.” Rin says so effortlessly, like it was common sense, like it’s how it should be. Isagi is left in a stupor as he watches Rin turn around, waiting for him to follow. He much obliges.
Isagi can feel his heart growing full. There’s so many emotions and thoughts everywhere and he doesn’t know where to put them. He somehow collects himself again when Rin pulls him in for a casual conversation.
They somehow hold that exchange all the way to the cinema. Isagi is now with newfound knowledge that Rin has made up with his brother, and that Rin is doing quite well for himself now.
They agree to watch a horror movie (Rin’s idea, Isagi just goes along with it) and Isagi takes out his wallet, wanting to pay for the tickets when Rin taps his card on the scanner instead.
The Rin in Isagi’s imagination has never been so nice. There definitely must be some sort of a catch.
“I’ll pay you back, wait.” Isagi offers, as he digs around his wallet for notes.
“Keep it, it’s fine.” Rin pushes a ticket into his hand and walks towards the showing rooms.
Isagi gingerly holds onto the paper like it holds the key to all of the universe’s unsolved problems before closely following behind Rin.
Isagi then proceeds to mentally prepare himself for whatever movie Rin has chosen. Another one of Isagi’s things he will never admit out loud is that he is absolutely terrified of horror stuff in general. He especially despises the Halloween season, where all the movies cinemas are showing are just that.
But it will be fine because Rin should be quite nice to him right?
Right?
Wrong. They aren’t even five minutes into a movie and Isagi can already hear the suspense building music in the background. Whatever it is, is doing a great job at the thriller. Isagi wants to hold onto something to keep himself in check, anything at all.
That something turns out to be Rin’s arm, specifically his wrist, which was occupying the entirety of the armrest that they share. Isagi can feel Rin trying to get his hand away and he lets him. He’s definitely overstepping here.
Rin then holds onto Isagi’s hand and gives it a slight squeeze. Isagi can’t tell if this has given him a bigger jumpscare of if the movie has. He looks up at Rin’s face to look for any signs of discomfort or reluctance, he finds none of that sort. Rin’s eyes are fixated on the movie. How does he look so unfazed by the screams and ghosts???
Rin turns to look at him. Is he going to ask him to let go of his hand? Is he preparing to wrench his hand away?
“Focus on the movie you idiot.”
Isagi doesn’t say more to that and unwillingly tears his eyes away from Rin.
He holds Rin’s hand just a little tighter.
– –
Isagi can feel the achievement loading on surviving his first horror movie above his head like they do in the video games he sometimes plays. The credits are playing on the screen and Rin looks very intrigued and is giving his remarks on the movie and actors.
“I expected better from this director. The quality of horror movies have been going down.” Rin looks very serious and a little pissed if Isagi squints.
Isagi is more concerned about the fact their hands are still interlocked. He pretends to be very interested in whatever Rin is saying anyways; nodding along whenever needed. His eyes never leave their hands. Rin’s hand actually feels nice, very nice actually. It’s chronically warm, a stark contrast to Isagi’s ice cold ones.
Once Isagi hears silence from Rin, he takes it as a cue to look up at him. He finds Rin looking right back at him.
“Let’s go.” Rin is staring at him with an emotion on his face that Isagi can’t decipher. Isagi takes pride in being able to tell what people are feeling quite accurately. Rin’s expressions used to be very straightforward. He is either angry or neutral. There was no in-between. Whatever Rin was feeling right now, Isagi honestly did not want to know.
Isagi nods along but his eyes dart to their fingers, trying to get Rin to let go first. Rin does not. Isagi then loosens his grip, thinking that was the problem. In response, and to Isagi’s horror, Rin tightens his grasp of Isagi’s hand.
Isagi’s head shoots up, wanting to demand an explanation of sorts. He gets a vague statement instead.
“Your hand is freezing.”
Of all things, Rin was worried about that? Is he fucking serious? Isagi wants to retaliate so badly, but it all drains from his body when he sees Rin’s expression. It looks like he actually wants to do it. He’s not doing it out of pity.
“Okay.” Isagi is grinning. He can’t stop himself. In the dark of the cinema, he hopes Rin is smiling too.
“Okay.” Rin mimics.
They leave the theatre hand in hand.
– –
Rin ends up sending him back to his hotel room. And by extension, they end up staying at Isagi’s hotel room. To play some video games that Isagi brought over to keep himself entertained, and order takeout for dinner together.
“Should we get rice or noodles?” Isagi asks as he lies on the couch, he has turned his head up (maybe down?) and is currently looking upside down at Rin.
“Rice.” Rin isn’t even looking at him, the only horror game Isagi brought is way more interesting apparently.
“Alright then.” Isagi turns his head back to let the blood circulate better as he places the order.
“Do you need any side dishes for the rice?” Isagi questions once again, this time without the head turning. He isn’t met with any reply. He’ll just be petty and not get anything else then.
His plan backfires, hard. He’s left to watch Rin pour an entire cup of green tea on rice. He even puts the teabag on the rice as well??
“What?” Rin is looking at him like he is the insane one. In this situation, Isagi does not even need to beg to differ.
“I- You- The tea- Why?” Isagi’s eyes on Rin are so wide right now he can feel the chilling air of the room hitting them.
“Do you not like Ochazuke.”
“I do, but just putting tea on rice? Are you kidding me?”
“Yeah what’s wrong with this?”
Isagi has so many things he could comment about. He decides to just shut up and put his salted salmon on his rice instead. Unlike Rin, Isagi has a very normal accompaniment for his rice. He then proceeds to stare at Rin’s rice. Isagi pities it. He can hear the rice crying out for help.
“Eat your damn food.” Rin’s glare is lethal if you don’t know him well. Unfortunately for him however, Isagi knows he doesn’t mean it. He starts eating his food anyway.
Rin quickly gives his rice mercy with the rate he is quite literally absorbing it. Isagi follows suit by matching his eating speed. He ends up finishing first though, and is subjected to watching Rin drink the leftover tea. His heart is crying for Rin’s food, really.
Isagi’s phone has been vibrating ever since he left the cinema. He checked the sheer amount of texts he got from the three he went out with earlier today, and immediately clicked out of the app.
Unfortunately, responsibility follows him everywhere, even on his holiday. He has to face it sooner or later. He has 4 chats with unread messages. It’s not as bad as he thought. Until he saw the amount of texts, that is.
He chooses the one with the least amount, which just so happens to be his group chat with the three of them.
He sees a picture of him and Rin outside the cinema, holding hands. The rest of the messages are quite literally just shock and asking Isagi to ‘explain himself’. Isagi is royally screwed.
Once he starts typing, an incoming video call hits him right in the face. No wonder it had the least messages. He puts himself in a nice position and posture before accepting it.
Right away he is hit with a bunch of screaming, hysterical laughter and serious voices. In that exact order.
“Isagi Yoichi. Explain yourself you little shit.” Chigiri so eloquently says.
“Okay look, you have to admit-”
“ADMIT WHAT?” Bachira’s screaming voice really isn't helping his phone speakers nor his ears.
“I-” Isagi wants to continue but finds his phone leaving his hand.
“Give me that.”
“HE’S WITH YOU?? ITOSHI RIN YOU FUCKER GIVE THE PHONE BACK-” Rin ends the call before more chaos ensues. It’s probably for the better.
“We can explain to them another day.” Isagi finds that that’s actually not a bad idea at all. What Isagi has with them is a lot of time. But his fleeting time with Rin is ending. He can feel it. Isagi has been very acquainted with it his entire life.
Yet, Rin never fails to exceed his expectations.
“Do you want to play some games together?” Rin is looking through the games he has brought, probably wanting to find a multiplayer one. Isagi never planned for a situation like this, so Rin would be unearthing to no avail.
“I didn’t bring any multiplayer ones.”
“I have some in my room.” Rin offers. Isagi almost drops their takeout boxes that he was going to throw onto the floor. Isagi has never had someone want to stay so badly. It makes him yearn for more.
“I’d like that.”
Rin returns back with not one, but three horror games. Isagi should have specified that he was looking for more of a Mario Kart type of game, but oh well. He doubts Rin would buy any that isn’t absolutely terrifying to begin with. He should get a psychiatrist to psychoanalyse him.
Isagi barely scrapes through the first scenario in one of the games. He decides that it’s best for them to call it a night for today, lest Isagi hallucinates the game characters tonight.
“I’ll see you tomorrow at Reo’s house with everyone right?” Isagi questions Rin at the door while he is sending Rin off.
“Guess.” Isagi lets out a scoff before gently nudging him in the arm.
“Goodnight Rin.”
“Bye.”
Isagi dreams of him that night.
– –
Isagi reaches Reo’s place without Rin. In his defence, he had agreed to go a little earlier to put up some decoration and prepare the food and drinks. He doesn’t even bat an eye to the fact Nagi was already there with Reo, setting up. Unlike Reo’s parents, he decided to live away from them in his own penthouse. It would be jaw dropping if you didn’t know him well, but when put in comparison with the place his parents have, it really is but a speck of dust next to it.
With the help of three people (mainly just him and Reo though, Nagi became a deadweight not even halfway through), the place looks worthy of a college party. Isagi was going to send Rin a message on him already being there, but he’s a bit late however.
are you there
ive been knocking for a while
oi
Isagi frantically types back a reply
Oh shit, I’m already there! Came earlier to help with the preparations I’m sorry :(
Rin doesn’t get mad at him somehow.
need any help?
Isagi is grinning as he types.
We just finished its okay!
Isagi doesn’t receive a reply to that. He tries to let it not affect his mood too much. Rin doesn’t mean that much to him.
He doesn’t have to try too hard, because ten minutes later, maniacal knocking can be heard at the door. Reo opens the door only to find Rin there. Rin looks around the place hysterically, seemingly looking for something. His gaze lands on Isagi and stays there. Oh.
Reo greets him at the door.
“Rin, you’re here early.” It’s obviously disguised as a question. Rin picks it up.
“I’m here for that idiot.” He doesn’t even need to gesture to Isagi for Reo to understand.
Rin comes over and sits next to Isagi on the couch in the living room, with Reo quickly following suit. Reo finds his seat next to Nagi on another sofa meant for only two people. Nagi immediately plops his head onto Reo’s shoulder before leaning his entire upper body onto him.
“Also Nagi, pay up I won the bet.”
“Reo, you can’t do this to me, you literally earn way more than me.”
“A bet is a bet. Now pay up.”
Nagi reluctantly walks over to get his wallet before slamming a thousand yen note into Reo’s awaiting hand. Isagi is really really confused at this point.
“I’m sorry, but what are you two doing?”
Reo and Nagi look at each other, before Nagi replies,
“We made a bet on if you two are dating. You are, right?”
What. What the actual fuck.
“No! We aren’t!” Isagi even brings his hands up to wave to add to his statement. Rin remains silent throughout the entire ordeal. Isagi glares at the other black haired boy next to him, wanting him to deny the claims as well. Rin doesn’t. He doesn’t even look in Isagi’s way.
“Oh, then, Reo, give me back my money.” Reo does, only after letting out a very loud sigh. Isagi almost feels bad for him.
Soon enough, everyone else starts pouring in. Bachira comes in and looks between Rin and Isagi like his life has just fallen apart.
“I KNEW IT. ISAGI HOW COULD YOU!” Bachira’s accusation draws looks from everyone in the room. Isagi is going to make sure his best friend doesn’t walk out of this place alive. Chigiri and Kunigami, who came with Bachira, slowly pull him away like parents telling their child they can’t get anymore sweets.
“The fuck was that?” Isagi isn’t even sure why Rin is asking him of all people.
“I have no idea you should ask him instead.” Rin hums in agreement.
Amidst the fading echoes of Bachira’s outburst, Isagi finds himself seeking refuge in the comforting embrace of alcohol. He picks up a bottle and that might just be his biggest mistake thus far. After his first cup, everyone else just becomes background noise to him. He has no responsibilities or things to do. It’s addicting. If living in the moment was a person, Isagi imagines it to be him right now.
He picks up another bottle, and subsequently drowns yet another cup. The cycle repeats.
By the end of it, Isagi may or may not have had one too many drinks. He doesn’t even remember how many he has had. He has always known he is a lightweight, so the only one here to blame is him, really. He picks up another bottle and, despite having had enough, tilts it over into his plastic cup for yet another refill. A hand grabs onto the neck of the bottle before Isagi could successfully get more alcohol.
“I think you’ve had enough.” Rin is removing the liquor from his hands, as well as the cup. He looks like he didn’t drink at all. Isagi would feel bad for him if he wasn’t taking away Isagi’s short-lived happiness right now.
“Noooo, I can still take more.” Isagi’s speech is slurred. He’s smiling right now, he can’t explain why. He just feels so light.
“You idiot, you’re obviously drunk.” There is a grim look on Rin’s face, a huge contrast from Isagi’s. Isagi just grins harder.
“I’m not! I want to drink more.”
“Let’s go. I’ll take you back.” Rin grabs his hand and pulls him up. Isagi doesn’t fight back, and instead leans into Rin’s touch, clinging to him like tape. He finds he cannot stay there for long though, his legs give up on him as he falls to the ground with a thud.
It catches some people’s attention though, with Bachira immediately rushing over. His face is flushed as well, definitely inebriated.
“Isagi! You okay?” He reaches out to Isagi. Rin swats away his hand.
“Don’t touch him. I’ll bring him back.”
Bachira does not argue with that and backs off, returning to wherever he came from.
Isagi now sees Rin squatting down, with his back facing him and his hands behind.
“I’ll carry you back.”
Isagi wants to rebut that, but decides not to when he sees Rin glowering at him. At least he still remembers one of his rules of survival. Isagi puts his hands around Rin’s neck, and his legs around the waist. He feels himself getting lifted up and rests his head on Rin’s shoulder. It feels a little odd but he quickly gets used to the feeling of being off the ground.
“Thank you.” He tells Rin. Rin scoffs at him in response.
“You’re lucky I was here.”
“I guess so.”
Rin, by some means, manages to open the door with a very intoxicated Isagi on him. Isagi helps him close the door. It’s the least he could do in return.
He feels the chilling temperature of the night attacking him. Yet, he does not feel cold at all. Rin is so comfortable and so warm, he feels like home. It’s hard to stay awake in such desirable conditions, but Isagi pushes through.
“You okay?”
“Yeah, don’t worry about it.”
“Alright lukewarm.”
“Did you see the Karasu and Otoya incident at the party?” Isagi tries to lighten up the mood.
“No shit, it would have been impossible to miss.”
“I wish them the best.” Rin sneers at him.
Isagi takes the opportunity to just look at Rin. He hasn’t had the chance to, not so up close that is. Rin smells really nice. Isagi definitely has to ask him what he uses sometime soon. He can count all of Rin’s eyelashes from the angle he is at. His under lashes are so delicate but it enhances his appearance by tenfold. Rin hasn’t changed a single bit in comparison to the image of him in Isagi’s mind, but his demeanour is so different.
He feels an overwhelming surge of gratitude filling his chest when realisation dawns on him that Rin is spending one of his precious evenings in Japan carrying him back.
“I think I’ve already said this, but thank you for this.”
“And like I’ve said, it’s fine.”
“No seriously, thank you.” Isagi pauses for a while before he continues. “You’ve been here for me this entire time.”
“I guess I have been.”
“You don’t get it, no one else has. Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why are you doing so much for me?”
This makes Rin stop dead in his tracks. Should he be concerned? Is Rin going to drop him and leave him in the middle of the road?
“Isn’t it obvious you idiot?” Rin continues his trek back. Isagi’s heart beat slowly returns to a normal rate. He is pretty sure they are talking about the same thing.
“I guess I just wanted to hear it from you.”
Rin ignores his blatant request. He should have expected it though. Rin instead decides to change the subject.
“There are eye bags under your eyes.”
Rin’s statement instantly makes Isagi self conscious, with him reaching up to feel for the evidence.
“Is it bad?”
“Not really.”
“Hm. Good to know.”
“You should take better care of yourself. You’re an athlete, you dumbass.”
Isagi can’t help but laugh at the situation. He’s never taken Rin for the caring type.
“You know, I used to be the one who took care of you, especially after your fights with Shidou!”
Rin winces at the reminder of the memory.
A wave of the night breeze hits Isagi. He embraces it with open arms.
“Did you know this is my favourite season?” Isagi can’t help asking. He feels so full of energy right now.
“What, autumn?” Rin humours him in return.
“Mhm.”
Rin doesn’t say anything to that, waiting for Isagi to continue.
“I like how autumn feels so lonely. It’s comforting in a way, knowing that I’m not the only one feeling this way.” Isagi is probably saying too much, he can’t bring himself to care right now though. He can worry about that in the morning. But right now, it’s just the two of them. Isagi doesn’t see anyone but Rin.
“Do you?” Rin asks, in one of the softest voices he has heard. This has to be the most vulnerable Isagi has seen him.
“Do I what?” Isagi can feel the energy seeping out from him. His eyelids are failing on him. He is running on borrowed time.
“Feel lonely.”
“I used to, but I find that I don't when I'm around you.”
“And why is that?” It’s probably meant to be a question Isagi would not have the answer to on the spot. He somehow has one.
“I’m not too sure either. I can’t explain it, you feel like everything I’ve been missing my entire life.” Isagi feels his head hit Rin’s shoulder, and he blacks out before he hears a response from Rin.
– –
Isagi wakes up in an unfamiliar room. He jolts up from the bed to find Rin dozing off next to him on the floor. His head is leaning on his hand and the hand in question looks like it's very close to giving up on him. Was he watching Isagi this whole time?
Isagi moves just a little closer to him. When Rin is not spending his time being angry at people or just looking annoyed in general, he looks so pretty. What a waste of that gorgeous face. Isagi would kill to look like him. He’s sure that Rin would look even better if he smiled more.
Isagi has a sudden urge to just reach out to him. To bridge the distance between them that has been slowly decreasing since he came back here. He tenderly brushes Rin’s fringe away from his hair. It looks like it’s been steadily growing. Rin should cut it soon.
Rin stirs from his sleep and he opens his bleary eyes.
“Did I wake you? I'm sorry.” Rin blinks, his gaze focusing on Isagi. There's a fleeting moment of confusion in his eyes before a small smile graces his lips. He’s actually smiling. It’s definitely an early morning drowsiness thing.
Isagi is still staring. He wants to commit this memory- no scratch that. He wants it to be etched into his brain, to be stored so deep that nothing can make him forget this even on his deathbed.
“You feeling okay?” Isagi hates that the first thing Rin does right after being abruptly woken up is show his concern once again for Isagi. He wishes Rin could stop looking at him like that. He isn’t deserving of such devotion at all.
“Yeah, much better. Thank you once again.” The golden hour rays of the early morning really illuminates Rin’s entire figure. His hair is golden at the tips. Isagi just knows that Rin has changed his life, him, in that very moment. He’s been damaged beyond repair. And only one person could ever piece him back together again.
Isagi blames it on the aftereffects of inebriation, and also maybe just how tender the moment is right now. He’s willing to risk whatever he has going on with Rin right now for this.
“I think I like you.” The words flow out of his mouth like water. When Rin doesn’t grace him with a response, Isagi’s heart sinks. This is his way of a gentle rejection, Isagi realises.
He finally looks at Rin again, only to find the shit-eating grin still on his face. Isagi was expecting pure disgust. He looks intrigued actually, he is practically screaming out tell me more. Isagi is more than happy to oblige.
“You make me want things I can’t have. I haven’t felt so strong about something in years you know? You make me want.” Isagi still isn’t hearing a reply, and he decides to give up. He’s tried hard enough, he has done enough. There goes a carefully threaded friendship. Wait, could it even be called that?
Isagi has plastered a defeated smile on his face, preparing himself for a walk of shame back to his room. Which he will promptly head straight to the toilet to throw up from embarrassment in, until-
“Where the fuck do you think you’re going?” Rin is grabbing hold of Isagi’s arm now, Isagi doesn’t fight back to his touch. If Isagi squints he thinks he may be able to see hints of panic on Rin’s face.
“I thought you didn’t…”
“No.” Okay, that was more straightforward of a refusal than he expected. But Isagi sees Rin struggling to find the words and a small part of him is screaming out to give Rin some time. He tries to stand still without wanting to peel the skin off his body.
“I mean, no, I do. I have ever since our time in that hellish Blue Lock.” Rin still isn’t saying it out explicitly, but Isagi knows him well enough to patch it up for it to become an acceptance and reciprocation of Isagi’s feelings. I like you too is written between the lines.
Isagi could cry right now.
“Rin can I…” He gets the message and does it for them. He leans in and closes the distance between them. Isagi's breath catches, and he feels the soft press of Rin's lips against his own and oh. He feels the gaping hole in the middle of him slowly fixing itself again. He’s whole again. He kisses Rin and Isagi just knows that Rin has rendered him unsalvageable.
As they pull away, Isagi opens his eyes, meeting Rin's gaze. There's a softness in Rin's eyes, a vulnerability that mirrors Isagi's own. They share a moment of quiet understanding, and in that shared glances, everything they've held back is laid bare for the other to see. Years of tension and pining have finally come to a conclusion.
Isagi has always believed autumn to be the season filled with melancholy and loneliness. He enjoys it this way. One Itoshi Rin next to him later, he realises he can't fathom how he has spent all his autumns without him.