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Lying down, playing games, living comfortably and unbothered: that has always been his goal in life. Living is so troublesome, trying hard is troublesome, the world around him is troublesome.
But there’s this guy who looked at him with sparkly eyes, who treated him as someone who can be a source of happiness, and before he knows it, he’s already going along with him and his dream.
Playing soccer is troublesome, training is troublesome, meeting society’s expectations is troublesome.
Even when Ego has told him to “fuck off” in the beginning, it hasn’t affected him at all.
But there’s this guy who got angry on his behalf, who wanted to make him the best striker in the world, who wanted to let everyone know about his genius. Everything is a pain, but before he knows it, he’s making a promise to win the World Cup together, he’s making a promise to stay together until the end.
Even so, moving on his own is troublesome.
If he could simply drift along from one place to the next, that’d be fine. If he could simply make use of Reo’s cozy back so he can have a personal limousine, that’d be fine. If he could simply lie down and wait for everything to be over, that’d be fine.
Reo is so capable, after all. He can do anything and everything and he’s weird enough to actually enjoy taking care of him.
Even if he doesn’t do anything, Reo can win and get what he wants.
But then, if Reo’s in trouble, it’d also mean trouble for him.
Reo is so capable, and he’s always either smiling happily or being so pumped-up like a main character. He’s popular and always in-charge, that it makes him feel weird to see him not at the top of everything.
Seeing that troubled, impatient face—
Seeing the possibility of Reo not winning like always—
Seeing the frustration on Reo’s face, like he truly thinks that victory isn’t within reach—
Everything is troublesome. Not being able to keep his promise is also troublesome.
He’s always thought that there definitely are many people out there who’d be better at him in soccer. He’s always thought that it’d be fine, because he isn’t arrogant enough to think that he’s the best there is, given his six months of unmotivated playing experience. He’s always thought that it’s inevitable for Reo to realize that he’s never going to be the best striker in the world.
But just like that moment in their first meeting, his feelings have changed.
He’s never been interested in anyone, and nobody’s ever been interested in him.
Meeting Reo has changed that.
Then, it happens again, seeing Reo talk back to Ego and be so eager in making him be the best.
Then, it happens again, seeing Reo in distress.
Soccer used to be so troublesome in his eyes.
But his feelings have changed to curiosity.
Can he actually be the shining treasure that Reo keeps on saying that he is? Can he actually deliver victory? Can he actually fulfill their promise to win together and stay together until the end?
And even then, they have lost.
His six months of experience have reached a roadblock.
So many things are so troublesome, but—
He now wants to win. He wants to keep on winning. He wants to be stronger. He wants to keep his promises, and he wouldn’t be able to do so if he isn’t strong enough to keep on winning.
Reo’s troubled face on the verge of a defeat—he doesn’t want to see that ever again.
Even if it means working hard, even if it means separating so they could both become stronger, it’s fine if it means that they’d reach that promise.
Reo’s face that looks at him in happiness, Reo’s face as he celebrates their victory—that’s the one that fits him best.
“Don’t think that you can manipulate me with your ever-changing feelings!”
That’s not entirely true.
After all, his feelings have only ever changed because of him.
That’s why, Reo has to take responsibility for it all.
In helping him continue to move forward, in helping him to defeat Isagi, in helping him to be the best there is, in helping him to be that treasure, in helping him make sure that their promise is fulfilled—
“I need you, Reo.”
And that’s the truth.
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