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LOCK OFF.
Seishiro stared at the door that coldly stood in front of her. Every nerve in her body hollowed as she mindlessly glared at that saying that mimicked the GAME OVER she was so oddly familiar with.
If this was a few months ago, Nagi wouldn’t have cared to have reached this point, probably waving goodbye and flipping off Ego in the camera for trapping her in this exhaustive hell. A few months ago, the Wildcard door she passed would have been lit up, speaking RESTART? like a game menu. But of course that wasn’t the case, there was no out for Nagi Seishiro now. After seeing what happened to Kunigami, nobody would be deranged enough to go through that hellscape.
She walked forward through the sludge that smothered her mind, mentally refusing to think of what–or who–she was leaving behind. It’s okay–I’m okay , she self soothed, taking in a deep breath like she would implode from the pressure that bubbled under her skin. Nagi never planned to have a life revolving around being a big, bright, all-consuming star. She was fine burning slowly until the light she gave off was no more than an illusion, one that could be missed if not discovered at a certain place and exact time.
Cacophonous sound echoed and screeched as Nagi opened the door, a fitting noise for the death of her journey. A glare caught her eye, the sun harshly batting at the girl the second she stepped out into the light.
Despite how warm it was, a chilling numbness froze over her limbs, frostbite throbbing from how her heart refused to stop pumping blood. It was okay. In a few weeks from now she will be back to normal.
(Normal for Nagi, of course. It wasn’t normal for any other human being to live like a cactus in a post-apocalyptic world, only taking in the water and nutrients required of it to survive.)
“Do you have anyone to call?” A consoling voice asked. Finally taking in the scene before her, the girl that originally took her phone–Nagi thinks she remembered Reo saying her name was Anri–stood there, eyes downturned and full of what seemed to be sympathy.
“No.” Short and truthful.
Anri’s expression saddened before motioning to the car parked nearby. “We have a driver for Blue Lock participants that need a way home. It’s available for you to use.”
Nagi couldn’t muster a reply, struggling to coordinate a rhythm of steps and breaths with her body to drag her stiff limbs to the car door to get in and leave. How could you release a domesticated animal that doesn't want to leave back to its habitat and expect it to survive on its own?
It’s a trick question, of course. All that is certain for them from that moment on is death.
To say Reo was fairing well since Nagi left would have been an utter and complete lie.
As well as she tried to hide her misery behind meaningless conversation and expressions, most players had seen the change of Reo’s disposition the second her treasure was taken away from her.
“I kept thinking how lonely I would be without you.” Reo could remember the utter dread that reached her when Nagi poured her heart out, releasing the flood of love that Reo so selfishly shoved onto her. “Because I valued being with you more than anything, I stopped being a genius.”
The truth stung, but unlike the damage a bee could do, anaphylaxis would be a kinder fate. Reo found it impossible to move, or speak, the nightmare that played out making her tremble and hiccup with her muted sobs. Her treasure was getting further away, breaking apart their constellation and leaving Reo as a lone star on the field.
Stormy greys eyes looked back for a moment, meeting Reo with a resigned glance. Contrasting the first time they met, Nagi’s face was fuller now, and her long hair no longer looks dull. “It’s been my greatest treasure.” Nagi had said to her unwavering.
And then Nagi was gone.
Yet, it had been a month since Nagi was locked off, and Reo was fairing.
Is to say–she's gone to bed each night horrifically upset that Nagi wasn't at her side demanding constant affection. Reo knew her sleep had gotten worse ever since, having to choose between the crushing reality that her treasure was gone, or reliving the worst moment of her life in a dreamscape.
A loud, obnoxious knock sounded at the door of her shared room with Chigiri, followed by it swinging open with little regard for actual permission from the girl that was still laying in bed.
“Purple bun, let's go eat something! You can't survive on jellies like your girlfriend-” Shidou shouted in her own caring way before being rudely shoved by the person who accompanied her. Familiar short, pink hair framed the door before it closed in an instant, the distinguishing laugh of Bachira following it.
“You said you knew how to get her to go eat! If I wanted to upset her by bringing up Nagi, I would have done it on my own!” Chigiri hissed in reprimand through the door.
Looking at her phone, it was nine in the morning, late for Mikage standards. Reo would need to rise eventually before she got a text from her father about her absence on the live cameras.
Finally getting up and opening the door, the group consisted of Chigiri, Bachira, and Shidou to put their collective minds together to motivate Reo out of her reclusive state.
“Hi Reocchi!” Bachira greeted, knocking Chigiri out of her conversation with Shidou.
“Hey Reo, let's eat?” Chigiri asked, offering her an olive branch.
It was okay, this was just a phase until she would be reunited with Nagi on the big stage. She was sure Nagi was doing fine with the team that placed the final bid on her. Even if they didn’t know that she likes lemon tea with her meals, or that she can only sleep holding onto something. It’s okay-other’s would get to uncover her treasure sooner or later.
Falling into schedule, Reo lightened up during her day as the typical training regimen took its place in her mind. The U-20 World Cup was soon, so nothing too extraneous was put on their plate to make sure the Blue Lock athletes were in top shape.
After stretching, Reo walked off of the pitch, resigning herself to the baths. It’s a mundane schedule she confines herself to, making time to read up on the outside world so that she can still stay in the loop of current market plans.
She caught herself opening the BLTV app by accident, too used to the constant worry of seeing what fans were saying after each Manshine game. As quickly as she could exit out of the app, the tag that raided the trending tab caught her eye, making her focus derail just as quickly.
#NAGIRETURN
#ITSNOTSEISHIROVER
#NAGIISBACK
Clicking on a trending video, it started with players discussing what to do about the uneven number of them sent to the pitch, only to be cut off by the sound system’s beep.
“No need for that. There is an alternate player that'll be brought in today.”
Right after Ego’s impromptu interjection, mechanical shifting sounded around them, a passageway that wasn’t previously there appearing. Reo felt like cold water was poured over her head as she rapidly connected what was happening. In an instant, that cursed door that took away Kunigami appeared again, the letters spelling out WILDCARD slowly glowing with newfound intensity.
It was almost like a bad joke as Reo watched like a deer in headlights. She would have given anything to have Nagi with her again, but it had to be her Nagi. Not a stranger who stole the identity of her future.
Please don't be my treasure, Reo mentally begged, but that didn't stop the door from opening and showcasing the newcomer.
“Reo!” Chigiri called as she burst through the door, just returning from the match Reo was actively watching the replay of, but it was too late. There wasn't any world where Reo wouldn't automatically recognize Nagi just from her silhouette.
Nagi had gone through Wildcard. The same girl she so desperately wanted to hold was now standing on the pitch, rebuilt by whatever fucked up ideology Ego shoved in her head. Through her internal panic, Reo froze when those big, gray eyes fell and looked around, dejection visible to perhaps only Reo as she resigned herself to the team she was assigned.
“Nagi, you did Wildcard?” Isagi asked her teammate, getting a half-lidded blink in response before a verbal one.
“Obviously.”
An awkward pause perused the turf before Bachira grabbed the others to discuss their game plan as the clip ended. Reo tried to listen to what Chigiri had to say, the delayed waves of shock struck at her mind as she tried to process with her heart trying to claw its way out of his chest.
Nagi was here, meaning she wasn't with another team this last month. Nagi was probably all alone in Wildcard. A false sense of hope tried to light in the dark of Reo’s mind. My treasure could be the same. My treasure wouldn't change that easily.
All the mental consoling she had done to finally accept change was a good thing had gone out the window. Shidou was gonna kill her.
“Reo?” Chigiri tried again in a careful tone, sitting next to her on the bed.
“I’m going to be sick,” Reo bluntly said, putting her phone down. Out of all the possibilities of how she would meet Nagi again, Wildcard never crossed her mind. She didn’t have the time to think of how horrific conditions would be for her treasure, the same treasure that could barely survive a human life.
“Listen, Nagi isn’t-” Chigiri started in a warning tone, taking one of Reo’s hands to keep her attention. But the door opened on its own, and then in the flesh was Nagi Seishiro.
Those big eyes that always carried a dismissive look looked straight at the two of them, perking up at the notice of purple.
Unlike Kunigami, Nagi’s figure didn't appear to be too different, still signature with her long curly hair that was always untamed. Despite Nagi’s appearance always being one that was monotone and couldn't be changed too drastically, she still had the sparkle in her eyes that would only reveal when her mind was solely focused on a certain someone.
“Reo…” She spoke gently, like trying to not spook a feral cat. Reo had no clue how she looked currently, but by the way her chest swirled in anxiety and felt like it could explode from the tiniest shift in attitude, she could figure it wasn't too comforting to Nagi. She had always been sensitive to Reo's emotions.
Like an excited puppy, Nagi stood at the door still, waiting for permission to come forth. That didn't stop her from speaking though. “Did you see my play? I made it hoping Reo was watching.”
What?
For humans, the reflex to let go was natural. As easily as a baby learns to curl its hand around an object to manipulate it, it learns how to let go and drop it when it gets bored.
Like most things, Nagi is a genius when it comes to learning how to let go.
As a child, Seishiro let go of her emotions. It was always too much effort to cry to show she was upset, so she learned to not get upset.
The next thing she learned to let go of was other people. It was no secret her classmates had found her strange, choosing to ignore the girl with the half-lidded stare when it came to class activities and games. That was okay, children had too many unnecessary emotions and Seishiro got overwhelmed trying to process them.
Letting go of her parents was slightly challenging. Seishiro had liked them being around, the constant unsaid feeling of support through small touches made her wish as a child that she could be a star, and would burn brighter every time they ruffled her hair or carried her gently to bed. But her wants contrast what she needs to survive.
In their departure, Nagi’s parents left her a robot to clean the floors, a fridge stocked with food, money, and a promise to “not die before them”. As independent as Seishiro could present, living alone was horrifically strenuous.
With no parents, that meant Nagi needed to cook. Yet being a genius had its limitations. After her first attempt in the kitchen ended in failure, Seishiro opted for an easy and simple jelly diet, no need for cooking and creating any mess.
With nobody around, a person loses their need to communicate, the words that were once mandatory for survival becoming foreign as time passes.
Despite how loss was second nature for the strange creature named Nagi Seishiro, she refused to let go of Reo.
“Let me do Wildcard,” Nagi blankly stated, more as a command than a request.
The malnourished shut-in that was their captor gave Nagi a little less of an askance look before turning back to his creepy monitors.
“No. Go home and rot away for all I care.”
Unlike her past self that wanted to leave without a second thought, Nagi had grown to be stubborn for things that aren't a pain.
“You let everyone else have a chance at Wildcard.”
“You have a team that bid on you, a chance nobody else so far had. Go disappoint them with your lackluster skills,” Ego retorted with a sarcastic emphasis. But he did have a point.
“Cancel my bid, I don’t wanna play for them.”
The typing of Ego’s clunky keyboard paused as his worn out chair rasped against itself. Dead eyes looked at her figure, wondering how it could house the amount of audacity she currently had on display.
“You don’t get how this works. You don’t have a future at Blue Lock anymore you deranged pest. Go play for whatever team bought you on clearance and burn out elsewhere,” He harshly spat, and potentially would have been scary if Nagi didn’t know the man was also a washed ex-football player that eats cup ramen for every meal.
Smart, beautiful, and talented Reo had taught Nagi that if you can’t get what you want, you need to leverage something to uh… gently motivate them into agreement, as Reo had phrased.
“If you don’t let me stay, I will leave Blue Lock,” Nagi started, getting a look from Ego that said obviously. “And go straight to the Mikage Tower to get my son. Maybe I’ll show the board members the conditions of their investment if I run into them. I bet they would love to see all the documentation of how their funds have been used since the first selection.”
God bless Nagi for her chronic phone addiction that she redeemed his phone in a mere few days since the project kicked off.
Though, she doubted that Mr. Mikage wanted to see the lack of evidential images of horrible conditions they were subjected to in place of all the private images she snuck of her and Reo cuddling together.
Ego’s face dropped at the demands the hassle monster dared to make in his office. Seeing how her half-lidded bug eyes still stared at Ego with stupid unwavering determination, he groaned. This had to be a punishment for all the illegal stunts he covered over in the past year.
Finally taking her turn to talk, Anri had a petty smile, knowing Nagi had won. “Don’t worry, I plan to be in charge of Seishiro’s Wildcard time.”
“Whatever. Stupid favorite striker,” Ego forced out, upset that the parasite known as Nagi was able to put effort into making his life a living hell.
Counting this a success, Seishiro was one step closer to being with Reo again.
What Nagi hadn't known was that her Wildcard would be a lot different than the hell everyone else was put through.
Instead of the electrotherapy treatments and deprivation tanks the fallen players were forced into to purge their egos, Anri gave Nagi her own room in some private area with books and a monitor.
“You have an ego, Nagi, but what you lack is knowledge of football. So from now on you're going to study past matches here and in championship games, as well as different techniques broken down to help you catch up to everyone else in knowledge.” She reasoned, providing her with some books and recorded games to take notes on.
Despite how easy it was when you're not being subjected to literal experimentation, it felt empty without Reo there to praise Nagi for every little thing she picked up on.
It was okay, this was all for her to be able to see Reo again. And this time she wouldn't be afraid to stand by her side.
“Reooooooo, come lay with me,” the human seal cries from their shared room, waiting for her handler to give in.
And give in she did, a weight shifting on the bed and letting Nagi wear a satisfied smile as she curled into Reo’s side.
Reo scooted closer, looking down at the girl that nuzzled closer into her presence like she was the most valuable thing in the world. “I can't believe you black mailed Ego! When did my treasure get so sneaky?” She chides, running her hands through Nagi’s hair.
Not answering her question immediately, Nagi basked in all the attention she was being given. Perhaps this was the final light a star gives out before exploding, but Nagi was sure her supernova would be hued of purple. Regardless, she was content with her sacrifices if it meant being able to be in Reo’s arms just one more time.
“I made a promise to Reo, ‘couldn’t break it.” Nagi murmurs.
Water collects in Reo’s eyes, shimmering her purple eyes into a kaleidoscope of light that reflects off of Nagi’s affection. “Oh, treasure…” Reo spoke, words slow and full of sorrow.
Nagi didn't like that. Reo should never be sad again.
“Don't cry, boss.” She whispers, gingerly rubbing the corners of Reo’s eyes to wipe away the tears. Afterwards, Nagi leaned in close, leaving a kiss on the other cheek. “Ego and his homophobic ways can't separate us. I already defeated that level.”
The smile that made Nagi so happy returned to Reo’s face, laughter filling their private space from Nagi’s words.
“I can't believe my treasure did that for me! You’ve grown so much in just a month.”
I would do anything for Reo, Nagi wanted to reply, but just left it at a “Mhm.”
As their emotions simmered down, Reo felt her eyes grow heavy from the newfound wave of sleepiness that infested her. Nestling as close as she could to Nagi, the football player truly hoped this all wasn't a cruel nightmare, reality ready to mock her tomorrow.
But as heavy arms curled around her and steady breathing filled the void of silence, Reo could believe that this truly was a miracle, one that lulled her slowly to sleep as anxiety eased away.
“Goodnight Reo,” Nagi murmured, no longer afraid to follow after Reo into sleep.