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Reo is the top student, before and after his discovery of soccer as his passion. He’s smart, so he must know what it means when he does things. He’s good with social interactions, knowing what to say and how to act in order to control a crowd’s emotions. It could be called manipulative if he has malice behind his actions, but it just is because he likes a nice atmosphere where he could excel.
He’s smart, so he must know what it means to always knock on his door in the mornings. He doesn’t cross the threshold, doesn’t do anything improper, like barging to his bed or bathroom, but what he does is even more intimate.
Any one of Nagi’s neighbors could see that there’s a man waiting in front of his doorstep every morning. One who wears the badge of the prestigious Hakuho High School proudly, no wrinkles whatsoever in his uniform. Even when relaxing, even when dripping with sweat after every practice, Reo’s posture and bearing exudes the aura of a good upbringing. He doesn’t have to address him as ‘Mikage’ for anyone to realize that he’s someone different from the rest.
Reo blasts his charm to all of his neighbors, making friends with everyone in his apartment building. It’s come to a point where Nagi hastens his steps to get out of the door each morning, just so he wouldn’t have to witness Reo listening to all the gossip from the housewives in his area.
Reo’s smart, so he must know how it looks like, to shift from bringing his long limousine to waiting for him in a bike with a modified backseat, to make it easy for him to cycle him to and from his home. He must know how it looks like, to take care of all his meals, to talk to him about how he’s consulted nutritionists and chefs to ensure that Nagi gets the healthiest and tastiest possible food. He must know how it looks like, to buy everything for him, from cleats to sportswear to new consoles and games.
He must know how it looks like, to always stick to him, linking their arms together, hugging his neck, jumping on top of him to the point that he has to put a hand on his hip or backside in order to not let him slide off. He must know how it looks like, to loudly say things such as, “See my clothes? Smells good right? I’ll have Ba-ya send you the same detergent used for my clothes so you’d also smell the same.”
He must know how it looks like, to insist on each of their club’s outings to be somewhere comfortable for him, so he can doze off or play games once he’s bored. He must know how it looks like, to continuously reject invitations for ‘private study sessions’ and outright dates, citing “playing soccer with Nagi” or “I already promised Nagi I’d accompany him shopping in Akihabara” as the reasons for rejection.
He must know how it looks like, hands on his hips as he aggressively talks back to Nagi’s homeroom teacher, brandishing a list of action plans and achievements that Nagi isn’t even aware of. “He’s very smart, you just need to adjust your way of teaching to make sure that everyone can bring out their best,” he’d argue to the teacher who nags at Nagi to have better class participation.
He must know what it means, for him to hold his shoulders and declare, with earnest and sparkling eyes, “I know you’re the best in the world. I will make everyone realize that.”
He must know what it means, to hold him up and call him “his treasure”.
He must know what it means, because Nagi already knows, and if he already knows it, then Reo must too.
He must know what it means, to agree to Nagi’s promise of “staying together until the end”.
He must know what it means, so Nagi can rest easy, moving on his own path, knowing that it means that they’d reunite in the end, stronger than ever.
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