Chapter Text
It was a rainy day, making the conditions rather harsh for a simple practice game, with the cold wind blowing mercilessly. Of course it did nothing to cool the team’s two hot-headed newcomers as they kept fighting until the last minute with tooth and nail. Sometimes quite literally.
They were split in two teams of eight, supposedly playing a friendly practice match but to everyone’s sorrow, Kaiser and Isagi ended up on the same team. Having them both on the field at the same time was already risky enough, but playing as teammates was catastrophe guaranteed.
Sure enough, Isagi kept blocking Kaiser in front of the goal while Kaiser kept stealing the ball off him, confusing everyone and making the already grueling drill session a total chaos.
Everyone was relieved when the game was finally over and Ego let them hit the showers at last. However, they all knew better than to linger around too long.
In the past few weeks everyone on the team had learnt that it was pointless to get in the way of Kaiser and Isagi’s fights. They usually steered clear of their ways, getting ready to leave as quick as possible, leaving them alone in the locker room.
But it was different now, as it took everyone extra amount of time to scrub the dirt off their bodies, to dry their hairs and figure out how to pack away their wet and mud covered jerseys without ruining their bags. Ego had hold the two troublemakers back, surely to give them a lecture, but there were still a fair amount of people around when Kaiser and Isagi stormed through the doors, bumping shoulders and shouting.
“Go feed your god complex somewhere else, asshole.” Isagi growled annoyed as he walked to his locker, completely drenched in mud.
“Aww, poor Yoichi doesn’t know how to respect his superiors.” Kaiser cooed, following him. “Should I teach you?” He grabbed at Isagi’s elbow but he shook him off roughly.
“Fuck off, Kaiser, you can’t always do whatever you want.” Isagi rolled his eyes and slammed his locker closed, holding his shower gel and shampoo. He just wanted to take a nice, long shower and finally be free from Kaiser’s antics.
“Oh, but I can do whatever I want, Yoichi.” Kaiser sneered devilishly, and blocked Isagi’s way to the showers. “I could even take Sae Itoshi to the Winter Ball.”
Isagi scoffed. This idiot really thought the whole world existed for him to rule. Fine, Isagi was happy to give him a lesson in humility. Everyone knew Sae Itoshi doesn’t go to any kind of social gatherings, be it the Winter Ball, a gala or just a simple Halloween party.
“If you do that I’ll kneel before you.” Isagi sneered back as he stood tall into Kaiser’s face, their mud soaked T-shirts pressed together at the chest. “But if you can’t, you’ll be the one kneeling.”
Kaiser’s grin was maniac. “Oh my, is that a deal, Yoichi?”
Isagi pushed him away harshly. “Deal, asshole.”
“And why should I care about this?” Sae looked completely unbothered as he continued cutting vegetables and for a brief moment Kaiser wondered if it was a mistake to tell him this when he had a sharp knife in his hand.
“Oh c’mon, don’t be a dick. I can’t wait to see Yoichi’s face when I show up with you.” Kaiser grinned, lounging across the table. He picked up a mushroom and inspected it. Sae immediately took it from his hand, scowling.
“Uh-huh. But I’m not going to the Ball.” He declared at last, sounding bored. He really didn’t want to get involved with Kaiser and his weird, kindergarten level crush on that poor Isagi guy.
Kaiser frowned. “Umm, yeah you do. I’m taking you as my date.”
“Hell no.” Sae replied firmly.
“Please?” Kaiser asked with puppy eyes but Sae was not impressed. “Please? Pretty please?”
Kaiser pouted but then got up and for a brief moment Sae was relieved that he’d already given up but he should’ve known better. Kaiser got on the floor right beside him and grabbed his sweatpants at the knees. ”See? I can even beg.” He bowed down, his forehead touching Sae’s knees and Sae flinched.
“Please? Just this once. I’ll owe you.” Kaiser was holding him tight, completely trapping him, that stupid fucker.
“It’s a terrible idea and you know it.” Sae sighed, putting the knife down. He nudged at his shoulder. “Get up.”
“But Yoichi’s face is gonna be hilarious!” Kaiser looked up and laughed, still kneeling on the floor and holding Sae’s knees. “I bet Rin will also have a heart attack.”
“I don’t want my brother to die, Michael.” Sae stated nonchalantly and kicked at Kaiser to move away, which he begrudgingly did. He was still sitting on the floor, though. Sae circled around him to push the chopped vegetables into the pot of boiling water.
“Please? C’mon, Sae, pretty please? Just this once!” He held his palms pressed together in front of him as if he was praying. The scene would be comical, if Sae weren’t the one suffering for it.
“You’ll keep pestering me until I give in, right?”
Kaiser grinned devilishly. “Probably.”
Sae took a deep breath. He knew he was going to regret this on so many levels as he gave in at last.
“Fine, I’ll be your stupid boyfriend but we’re breaking up right after the ball and you owe me a big one, Michael Kaiser.”
“Awww, you’re such a sweetheart.” Kaiser cooed and Sae winced. He was already regretting this.
—-
Sae was getting ready to attend his lecture, when the door of Kaiser’s bedroom burst open and he walked to the kitchen, yawning.
He glanced at Sae and announced, “I’ll give you a ride.”
Sae stared at him with a bored expression. “Are you an idiot? I thought you’re a Psychology major.”
Kaiser shrugged as he opened the fridge and took a bottle of orange juice. “Why? I just saw you on the way.” He took a few gulps right from the plastic and Sae scowled. Thank god he doesn’t like orange juice.
“Yeah, as if I’d just get in.” Sae snorted, crossing his arms over his chest and pointed out “people barely see us talking.”
Kaiser rolled his eyes and put the bottle back into the fridge. “Alright, genius. Why don’t you let me in on the master plan then?”
Sae sighed. He could give Kaiser a lecture on how this whole mess was his great idea and therefore he was supposed to think out the finer details but it would be a waste of time. There wasn’t an ounce of rationality in Michael Kaiser when Yoichi Isagi was involved.
“We should make it look like I’m warming up to you.” Sae stated plainly. “Just try talking to me a few times until… Thursday. Then sit with me in the library. We can have lunch on Friday, but nothing too expensive.” Sae was deep in thought for a few moments before continued. “Somewhere near campus. And just lunch, don’t even dare to try some cheesy shit with me.”
Sae frowned at Kaiser who was typing madly on his phone. “What are you doing?”
“Taking notes of course. Don’t worry, I’mma execute this perfectly.”
Sae held back an exasperated groan and instead said “your obsession with the Isagi kid is getting worrisome.”
Kaiser pretended he didn’t hear it.
“What about the weekend?”
Sae sighed. “I’ll meet you after practice so you can give me a ride.”
Kaiser grinned devilishly.
It was Friday night and so far Kaiser’s great plan hadn’t blown up into his face. Well, surprisingly, because Sae was pretty sure it would end in a total disaster. Hopefully Kaiser would learn from that but Sae had his doubts.
They’ve talked a few times at campus and Kaiser followed him to the library twice, making sure Isagi was watching. Sae could feel the poor guy glaring daggers at their direction and it took Sae no small amount of self-control not to tell Kaiser to get lost. Sae didn’t like this kind of attention. Or any attention at all, he just wanted to have his peace and quiet.
They went out to have lunch and Kaiser paid, of course, which was a perk of this whole ridiculous act. Sae ordered the most expensive salad just out of spite and took a sick sense of satisfaction in a way Kaiser narrowed his eyes but refrained from calling him out on it. He looked like he might explode though and Sae had to fight the corners of his lips twitching up.
But no matter how Sae thought this whole act a waste of time, he was already neck deep in this mess, and he did promise to help so he will see it through and do his best. It was also very satisfying to give Kaiser hell through it.
“We should practice fake kissing.” Sae suggested out of the blue. He was sitting at the kitchen island, watching a replay of a game and taking notes.
Kaiser frowned at his book while lying on the couch. “Can’t we just, kiss? Y’know, for real.”
“If you push your dirty tongue into my mouth, I’ll bite it off.” Sae said nonchalantly but it was a warning and Kaiser wasn’t stupid enough to miss.
“Umm, ouch? I’m an excellent kisser, but if you wanna miss out, that’s your loss.” He sighed dramatically and waved a hand at Sae.
Sae rolled his eyes. “Isagi can test that, thank you.”
Kaiser bolted upright, looking scandalized. “I don’t want to kiss him!” He hissed.
Sae deadpanned. “Sure you don’t. Otherwise you’d be taking him to dance, instead of getting me roped into this stupid ass big plan of yours.”
Kaiser groaned and fell back on the couch, letting his book fall to his face. “I hate you.”
Sae took a deep breath before stopping the video he’d been watching and placed his notes on the counter. He walked to the couch and pushed Kaiser’s feet off so he could sit down.
“C’mon, Mr Excellent Kisser. Show me a good enough fake one.”
Isagi stopped dead on his way out of the building when he saw Sae Itoshi leaning against the hood of Kaiser’s blood red Mercedes, looking bored.
“Is that-?” Bachira gaped.
Isagi’s mouth feelt suddenly dry as he watched in horror the scene unfolding not far from him. Kaiser waved at Sae with a happy grin and hurried towards him, stopping right in front of him and gave him a quick kiss. Sae didn’t do anything, just simply let him. Isagi paled.
“I can’t fucking believe this.”
Kaiser turned and sneered at him gleefully from the distance, before climbing into the car and driving off.
The face Yoichi made as he watched Kaiser “kissing” Sae was worth his weight in gold, Kaiser mused. He could barely hold back his laughter until after they’re out of the parking lot.
Sae wasn’t very much impressed as he belatedly registered that if Isagi had seen them, it’s only a matter of time until his bothersome little brother found out. He was not looking forward to another awkward encounter.
At least Kaiser was in a good mood, and not only he bought both of them dinner on their way home, he also left Sae alone for the rest of the weekend, which was the greatest gift Sae could ask for right then.
There’s not even a week left until the Winter Ball and Sae had two important essays due. Between those, attending lectures and going along with Kaiser’s plan he was suddenly hit with a weird feeling. He was pretty sure he was forgetting about something but didn’t really have the time to ponder on it, so he decided to just ignore it for now.
He even had a break from soccer. Everyone on the U-20 team got December off to rest, recharge and focus on school if needed. Practice would resume in January and as much as Sae was annoyed with most members on the team, he was looking forward to going back.
The week passed before he knew it and it was already Friday. He had successfully managed to complete his essays and submit them to Mr Noah on time and he was on his way to finally have some peace and quiet.
That was, until a blood-red Mercedes pulled up next to him and Kaiser rolled the window down, grinning. “Hop in, I’ll buy you a suit for tomorrow.”
“I have a suit.” Sae replied.
“C’mon, I promise it will be a normal one.” Kaiser insisted, then for clarification he added, “by your standards.”
After a bit of hesitation Sae finally sighed in defeat. Just one more day. He climbed into the passenger seat, glancing at Kaiser questioningly.
“Yoichi is there.” Kaiser grunted, then turned to Sae, wrapping a hand around his neck and pulling him in. “You know what that means?” He asked teasingly, pressing their noses together.
“Just get it over with.” Sae muttered and shut his eyes tight as Kaiser pressed his lips just above his mouth. They stayed like that a for a heartbeat and then Kaiser pulls back, grinning.
“I can’t wait to see his face tomorrow.” He giggled in childish excitement.
“You should seriously just ask him out.” Sae pointed out, again, and as usual Kaiser pretended he didn’t hear him. Hopeless.