Chapter Text
The training session at Blue Lock was coming to an end. Laughter and chatter filled the air, the camaraderie lightening the heavy atmosphere. But Hiori sat alone near the sidelines, his body hunched, his head bowed.
His usually calm demeanor seemed different today off, as if something heavy pressed against his chest.
Isagi noticed him first, slowing his steps as he walked past.
— "Hey, Hiori, you alright?" Isagi asked, his voice careful but concerned.
Hiori didn’t respond. His shoulders shook slightly, and Isagi leaned closer. That’s when he heard it, a quiet, stifled sob.
— "Hiori?" Isagi asked again, his tone sharper now.
Nearby, Chigiri and Bachira noticed Isagi’s unease and jogged over.
— "What’s going on?" Chigiri asked, his gaze fixed on Hiori’s trembling frame.
Hiori raised his head slightly, revealing red, tear-filled eyes. His lips quivered as he tried to form words, but nothing came out. Then, suddenly, his voice broke through the quiet.
— "I… I can’t," he whispered, barely audible.
Before anyone could react, the whisper erupted into a scream.
— "I CAN’T CAN'T ANYMORE!"
Hiori dropped to his knees, his hands slamming into the ground with such force that the sound echoed across the field. Everyone froze, their heads snapping toward the scene.
— "Hiori!" Bachira shouted, rushing forward, but he stopped short, stunned by what he saw.
Hiori began punching the ground repeatedly, his fists hitting the turf with a brutal, relentless rhythm.
— "I’m so tired!" he screamed, his voice breaking with each word.
"I can’t keep handling this!"
The skin on his knuckles split, blood smearing the grass beneath him.
— "I’m useless! A failure! I should never have been here!"
The sheer pain in his voice was like a dagger to everyone’s chest. Tears streamed down his face, his sobs shaking his entire body as he continued to pound the ground, oblivious to the damage he was doing to himself.
— "Hiori! Stop it!" Chigiri cried out, stepping closer but hesitating, unsure how to help.
— "We can’t just stand here?!" Isagi yelled, looking around desperately.
— "But what do we do, Reo could help where is he?” Nagi asked, his usually laid-back tone replaced with rare urgency.
— "He’s going to hurt himself even more," Bachira whispered, his hands trembling at his sides.
No one knew how to move, how to react. The sight of Hiori, usually so composed—breaking down so violently left them paralyzed.
And then, cutting through the chaos, Rin Itoshi moved.
— "Step aside," Rin said sharply, his tone brooking no argument.
The others parted as Rin strode forward, his face as unreadable as ever but his eyes blazing with purpose.
He stopped in front of Hiori, who was still slamming his fists into the ground, his screams turning into guttural, raw cries. Rin knelt down swiftly, grabbing Hiori’s wrists firmly but not roughly.
— "Hiori, hey" Rin said, his voice low but commanding. "Look at me."
Hiori flinched at the touch and tried to pull away, but Rin held on, his grip steady.
— "Let me go!" Hiori shouted, thrashing weakly against Rin’s hold.
— "No," Rin replied, his voice calm yet unyielding. "You’re not going anywhere. Look at me, please."
Hiori’s eyes finally met Rin’s, wild and filled with tears. His chest heaved as his breathing grew more erratic.
— "Breathe, Hiori," Rin instructed. "Inhale. Exhale. With me."
He exaggerated his breathing, taking deep, deliberate breaths so Hiori could follow. At first, Hiori resisted, his body trembling violently.
— "You can do it," Rin said softly, his voice firm but no longer harsh. "You’re not alone. Just focus on me."
Slowly, shakily, Hiori began to mimic Rin’s breathing. His fists unclenched, blood dripping from his raw knuckles.
— "That’s it," Rin murmured, his tone gentler now. "Keep going. You’re doing fine."
The rest of the team watched in silence, the tension thick in the air.
— "Damn…" Isagi muttered under his breath. "How did we not see this coming?"
— "We’ve been so focused on ourselves," Chigiri said, his voice heavy with guilt. "We didn’t notice what he was going through."
Hiori’s sobs grew quieter, though tears still streamed down his face. His body sagged, exhausted from the outburst, and he leaned forward, collapsing against Rin.
Rin didn’t hesitate. He wrapped an arm around Hiori’s back, holding him securely.
— "It’s over," Rin said softly. "You’re okay now."
Hiori shook his head weakly.
— "I’m sorry… I’m so sorry," he choked out, his voice barely audible.
— "Don’t apologize," Rin replied firmly. "You’re allowed to feel like this. But you’re not carrying it alone anymore. Not here."
Rin glanced back at the others, his gaze sharp.
—“This is what happens when we push ourselves too hard or don't release enough stress.”he said coldly. "We’re a team, not a collection of individuals. Start acting like it."
No one argued. The weight of Rin’s words hung over them, a sobering reminder of their collective failure to notice Hiori’s struggles.
Rin stood slowly, still holding Hiori, who was too drained to move on his own.
— "He needs to rest," Rin said. "I’ll take him."
The others watched silently as Rin led Hiori away, his steps slow and steady.