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Itoshi-Papa
Itoshi-Papa loves his first born son, truthfully if people asked, he had wanted a daughter first. But that doesn’t matter, he is so proud of Sae. Graceful just like his name. Definitely his beloved first son. Sae had started playing soccer for as long as he could stand. And that was before he turned 1.
When Rin was born, he didn’t show much interest in soccer. But he was always fixated on his older brother. Following around like a little duckling, copying everything Sae does. And eventually, he even copied Sae and started playing soccer.
It was cute, Itoshi-Papa loved it, and he couldn’t be more proud of them both, especially when they both came home with trophies and certificates with their names of it. Quickly, his sons became the talk of town, the talents of Kanagawa.
The year Sae turned 10, the Christmas presents stopped. And Rin said he also didn’t need any, just like Sae-nii-chan, but, Itoshi-Papa knew, so he still secretly gave Rin presents until the year he turned 10. Every single year, Sae would wish for soccer related gifts, some unattainable such as being able to see his unhoned talents. Sometimes it would be new soccer shoes. Rin would ask for the same thing every year, to stay by Sae’s side.
“You already get that though, Rin-chan. Isn’t there anything else you would like?” Itoshi-Papa asks.
Rin shakes his head, “All I want is Sae-nii-chan!” He gloms Sae tightly. And Sae, like the good older brother he is, lets Rin do whatever he wants.
So cute. Itoshi-Papa thinks. His sons are the very best in the world.
When Sae returns from Spain, he soon turns 18 back at home in Kanagawa. He goes to Tokyo to play soccer with Rin and they both return home, Sae 18 years of age and 180cm tall, Rin 16 years old and 186cm tall. Itoshi-Papa wonders if cute is still the correct adjective to use as Rin follows Sae everywhere – even to the bathroom, glomps him during meals, holds his hand and fixes Sae’s hair.
Sae is still the same, his expression less frustrated as he lets Rin do whatever. He even lets Rin pull him onto his lap so they can watch Chibi Maruko-chan together.
Itoshi-Papa stares and he wonders when the last time he held his wife’s hand was.
Leonardo Luna
Luna remembers the first time he met Sae. He was short back then and his Spanish was far from fluent. But, for his age and stature, he was exciting to watch on the soccer field. Luna soon learnt that Sae was fun to play with too.
A mostly unpolished gem, but Luna is sure that in no time, Sae would become more exciting. The talent in Sae was refreshing, he’s amazing and everyone can tell that there isn’t anything he loves more than soccer.
Luna blames the almost 10 year age gap for the minor communication issues between them. He doesn’t blame Sae’s proficiency with Spanish. Or the fact that Sae might just be like that. That’s his personality.
Sae doesn’t particularly get along with anyone outside of when they’re playing soccer on the field. And since Sae is underage it’s not like they can hang out at the bar – Sae will comment on how bad alcohol is for one’s body anyway. Luna notes that Sae doesn’t join their social gatherings with wide smiles anymore. Four years ago, he did. Now, Sae is the very definition of stoic, aloof, arrogant and cold.
Still cute, Luna thinks, and insanely beautiful on the field. And to be fair, he hasn’t met a soccer player who isn’t arrogant. Luna is not surprised that Sae is part of the New Generation World 11 as a midfielder. Luna has some pride in knowing that Spain was the one who won Sae in the bidding war and could then hone and polish him to be one of the best.
“How long will you be in Japan for?” Luna asks Sae as they’re packing up in the locker room.
Sae shrugs, “No longer than necessary.”
Luna nods to show he’s listening, “The group is going to miss you whilst you’re away.” It sounds like it’ll be a short stay, that’ll be good, for Spain. Once Sae is 18 years old, he can officially sign up to Real Madrid. Luna’s heart beats quick at the thought of officially playing soccer with Sae. Instead of small practice matches like this.
Sae gives the other an incoherent sound. He does give Luna strange stare though, with a small frown.
Suddenly, Sae’s phone rings. Sae glances at Luna and makes no move to apologise. He then digs into his bag and pulls out his smartphone so that he can take the call.
Luna notes that it’s a video call.
“Rin.” Sae states as he answers the call.
Luna looks away as Sae starts conversing in Japanese with Rin. It’s not uncommon, in fact it happens every day. Always at the same time. By now, everyone knows of Sae Itoshi’s younger brother. Two years younger, clingy, has a brother complex and plays soccer. Luna wonders if Rin is just as talented as Sae.
Though, a part of him thinks, maybe not, not when Rin is still playing for his high school in Japan.
Luna looks back at Sae and he perhaps stares for longer than usual when he sees Sae smile towards the screen on his phone. It’s a smile Luna hasn’t seen in a very long time. But it seems like, if he’s around when Rin calls Sae, then perhaps it’s a smile he can see on a much more frequent basis
There aren’t many words Luna can pick out in Japanese, some phrases Sae has taught him. But it really looks like Sae is enjoying himself.
Sae turns to glance at Luna and gives the other a quick wave.
Luna is surprised, he didn’t expect a wave from Sae. Luna turns around to see if there was anyone else around, maybe that wave wasn’t directed at him. When he turns around, Sae is giving him the deadfish stare.
Sae turns back to his phone and he speaks to Rin.
Luna could pick out his name in conversation, and he can kind of guess why Rin would be asking. Bro-con at its finest. And really, it takes real dedication, motivation and love for something to deliberately leave your family behind and travel half way around the world. It’s the first time in four years since Sae will have seen his younger brother in person. Luna hopes for the better of the soccer world, that it goes well.
Davidi Girolain
Sae has mentioned to him before that he’s been playing soccer for as long as he can remember. He thinks he’s been in love with soccer for as long as he has lived.
Girolain thinks that that is plausible. He also believes that Sae was hand picked by the soccer God. There’s no one else who looks more beautiful playing soccer. He really feels privileged that he can be Sae’s manager.
Of course, most times, Sae is reserved and whimsical, not caring about things that are no longer interesting. The first time Girolain learnt of this was when he thought Sae didn’t care about money. And it wasn’t like Sae did not care about money at all, because he would always calculate the change in his head and make sure he got the right change, but Sae seemed to not really look at the sums people would pay to have him playing soccer in their team or in their soccer.
“They’re all measly sums.” Sae states, his eyes boring into his manager, “Not even worth mentioning.”
Girolain swallows deeply. We’re talking hundreds of millions here… He’s been in this profession for a long time, but Sae is the first player he’s managed who is much, much more interested in soccer itself than the money it brings.
“How about Real Madrid?” Girolain asks, “You can play with Leonardo.”
Sae raises one eyebrow and then says, “He comes to play already.” Sae then hums for a bit, “If anyone, I would prefer Noa.”
“Noel Noa?” Girolain asks, “The current number one striker?”
Sae’s expression becomes neutral again as he nods.
“Michael Kaiser is there.” Girolain reminds Sae. He knows Sae doesn’t enjoy Kaiser’s company much, not after that one time during a friendly match and Kaiser was commenting on the size of Sae’s butt in the locker rooms…
Professional soccer players are so odd.
Sae’s jaw clenches, “It’s fine.” Sae himself is a great observer of athletes’ butts, it says a lot about the player by how round their buttocks are. In general, Girolain knows that Sae loves statistics. Only soccer related ones. He has excel spreadsheets filled with data and graphs, apparently it’s a good way to spend his free time when he’s not training. Girolain just thinks the other is obsessed with soccer.
“How about playing in Japan?” Girolain asks tentatively, “Your brother is a striker, right?”
Sae’s expression darkens, “No. I’d rather die than play there.” He sighs and then says, “Plus, Rin isn’t ready yet.”
Girolain smiles awkwardly. “If he was though?
Sae smiles a little, “Then of course, he’d be playing with me.”
Girolain nods, as though it all makes sense. “Alright, I’ll see what other offers come through.”
Sae goes back to watching Chibi Maruko-chan as he stretches his limbs. Apparently this anime series reminds Sae of home. And Girolain can see it, he’s seen a few episodes, and it’s peaceful and it’s funny. Slice of life.
By the time Itoshi Rin is a suitable player to play soccer with Sae and not drag his talents through the mud, perhaps Noa would’ve retired from soccer by then. But the little smile Sae gave him makes Girolain think that Sae really does dote on his younger brother a lot.
Itoshi Sae
Sae keeps a keen eye on his younger brother. He knows the other well, the stats, his body, his movements, his thoughts. Which is why Sae knows through normal means, there is no way for Rin to become a decent striker.
Coming to Spain for training was an eye opener for Sae. He was weak, his goal to become a striker was not where he was meant to be, and instead he was shown the path of being an excellent midfielder. And now he excels in that area. Sae thinks that he can help show Rin the path.
With an extra large push. He can make use of Rin’s uncanny obsession with him.
So Sae returns to Japan early. To put his plan in motion. He crushes Rin. Sae even goes as far as telling Rin that he’ll get nowhere if he hangs around with Sae’s shadow. It’s not far from the truth. Because the Itoshi Sae of the past, wanted to be the best striker in the world.
Who doesn’t dream of becoming the best striker? That’s the position most thrilling, the one the audience cheers loudest for. Sae understands this. That’s why when he was a child, that’s what he wanted, but he’s matured now, and he can see that is not the golden path for himself.
But for Rin, yes, it can well be. Sae will lead Rin to be the best striker in the world. The thought makes him smile, it lets him dream again.
Bachira Meguru
Bachira has a fairly open mind, he likes to believe. He also believes that he can get along with most people.
And so Itoshi Rin is a challenge for Bachira.
Bachira has confidence that he can at least learn a bit more about the current #1 striker in Blue Lock. Whose older brother – Itoshi Sae, the national treasure of Japan, is so famous, apparently he received around 2000 boxes of chocolate for Valentine’s Day recently. It was in an interview. So Bachira decides to use this knowledge to start conversation with Rin.
“Rin, is it true that your brother received around 2000 boxes of chocolate for Valentine’s?” Bachira asks with an inquisitive tone as Bachira wiped his sweat off with a towel in the gym.
“I’m going to kill them all.” Rin mumbles and his expression immediately tenses up and darkens. “I returned all of mine and aniki accepted around 2000?”
Bachira frowns, he didn’t catch that completely, “What was that?”
Rin’s jaw clenches in frustration. “That’s what aniki’s manager said.”
“Oh~” Bachira tilts his head, “So it’s true! As expected of Itoshi Sae!”
Rin doesn’t reply. Bachira presses his lips together. He’ll try again later.
That night, Rin takes out a pack of disposable heated eye mask from the pink cardboard box it comes in. He then takes out a photo and looks at it.
Bachira is curious so he sneaks up behind Rin to take a peek.
Rin brings the photo towards himself and presses his lips against it.
Bachira freezes and realises that he’s going to be taking a sneaky look at Rin’s girlfriend. His heart beats crazily fast, Rin of all people has a girlfriend? Bachira can’t see it with that rather unlikeable personality. But he’s so curious, he wants to take a peak anyway, he wonders what type she is.
What Bachira sees freezes his blood.
It’s a personal photo of Itoshi Sae.
Bachira knows this because Sae is a celebrity, everyone knows what photos of Sae are availably publicly. But more than that, Rin just kissed his brother’s photo?
“What do you want, shortie?” Rin glares and immediately hides the photo of Sae.
Bachira holds up both hands and shakes his head, “Nothing!” He voice is panicked. “Just want to say good night!” He then rushes back to his bed and turns in for the night. He wants to ask why Rin kissed Sae’s photo. He wants to ask Rin whether it’s normal for him to carry around personal belongings like that. He wants to know. But he’s also scared to know.
Because, aren’t they brothers?
Aryuu Jyuubei
“I take it back,” Aryuu says to Rin, “I am definitely more stylish than you.”
Rin turns around to ignore Aryuu.
But that doesn’t deter Aryuu as he saunters in front of Rin and shows off his gorgeous hair.
Rin crosses his arms across his chest and states the facts, “I’m better at soccer than you.”
“You’re just ranked higher.” Aryuu shakes his head, “For now.”
Rin doesn’t budge, and stares straight at Aryuu, he narrows his eyes and analyses the other and then states, “Aniki is more stylish than you.”
“Aniki?” Aryuu feels rage build in him.
“Oi!” Rin warns, “No one is allowed to call him that except me.”
Aryuu grimaces, this guy is weird. And Itoshi Sae more stylish? Aryuu rolls his eyes mentally and laughs. Impossible! Has Rin never really looked at him? “Sae-senshuu doesn’t even have stylish hair!”
“Aniki has the most stylish hair!” Rin persists stubbornly. “10 times more than you, at least!”
Aryuu feels offended, “With that azuki coloured hair? Those bangs? That fringe? And hair that sticks out so haphazardly, it probably feels like thorns!”
Rin noticeably looks angry, “How dare you offend aniki, I’m going to kill you too you lukewarm piece of shit.”
“Try it, you bro-con!” Aryuu’s heels dig into the ground, ready to fight it out.
Isagi Youichi
One only needs to talk to Itoshi Rin for more than a few lines to know that Rin has a brother complex. He is the definition of bro-con.
Rin says that his goal is to defeat Sae in soccer.
Isagi finds this amusing. Because it doesn’t stink of a lie, but it doesn’t feel like the whole truth either. He asks and Rin doesn’t really tell him much more.
Rin does however give everyone the stink eye when they refer to his precious brother as “Sae”.
Honestly, Isagi thinks that Rin has a lot more self-control, he sees those fists ball up and Isagi wonders how long it’ll take before Rin does punch someone for addressing and referring to Itoshi Sae with his first name, with or without honourifics.
There isn’t a soccer fan in who does not know of Itoshi Sae. Japan’s soccer prodigy, and a part of the World’s New Generation World 11. That’s on the international level. Neither Isagi nor Rin is there yet.
Everything is about Sae for Rin. He dedicates every single second of every day to defeating Sae.
Isagi finds it difficult to admit to Rin’s face that he is a massive Itoshi Sae fan. Though really, who isn’t?
And well, Rin himself said that he’s not particularly on bad terms with Sae, he just needs to defeat him in soccer? Isagi tries not to question the fact that they’re both playing different positions on the field.
So, Isagi gathers his courage and asks, “Rin, do you think you could help me get your brother’s autograph?”
Rin whips around so quick, Isagi doesn’t even know he was punched until he was lying on the floor. He’ll take that as a no.
Itoshi Rin
Rin watches as his most favourite person in the world plays for the Japan U-20 team against Blue Lock 11. It should be exhilarating. Except, his heart is thrumming in anger as he watches the world’s most graceful player pass balls to other players who can’t match up to him.
It could be Rin receiving those passes.
Rin keep counting the number of passes, the number of opportunities in which Sae gives the U-20 team to score goals. Rin feels sad, Sae didn’t lie, he really isn’t pursuing to be the best striker in the world. Rin feels angry that the U-20 team even gets this chance, whereas Rin doesn’t.
Sae looks so bored on the field. So different to his brother when he was still playing in Japan, when they were still playing for their school’s team. So different to when Rin would wait in the dangerous zone for Sae’s passes.
The fleeting thought that Sae always excelled at passing passes through Rin’s head, but he’s too worked up to give it more thought. He needs to focus on Sae. On the game. He’ll have to keep an eye out for Sae’s left leg, his favoured leg.
Rin hated them all, the U-20 players, the Blue Lock players, the fans at the stadium, he hates all of them who can’t peel their eye off of Sae. Rin desperately wants to keep Sae all to himself.
After that match, Rin memorises all the names of the journalists who criticised Sae. He’s going to kill them one day. Rin memorises all the twitter usernames that wouldn’t stop gushing about how fit Sae looked.
Of course Sae looks good, he’s Sae. But Rin hates that there are people other than himself who will comment on how well-trained Sae looks, how thin Sae looks, how graceful Sae is. He’s going to kill them all too.
Shidou Ryuusei
As if Itoshi Rin wasn’t annoying enough, his older brother turned out to be the most amazing person in the world.
And that is probably the only thing Shidou would ever agree on with Rin.
Playing soccer with Sae felt better than sex. Shidou is addicted. He can’t get enough of Sae. He’s greedy and he wants more and he isn’t shy to say so. On national TV, whatever, he wants Sae.
Except Rin is there to cockblock a lot.
And well, Sae does not seem keen on the idea at all.
But! Shidou smiles to himself, Sae had chosen him before Rin for the U-20 match, surely that means something. So he asks Sae when Sae is fully dressed and moisturising. Rin is sitting at the benches in the other room still moping. Shidou really can’t stand Rin. Shidou reckons he would make a much better younger brother for Sae.
Oh. But, that’s right, he’s older than Sae, does that mean he can be Sae’s older brother?
“Sae-chan, Sae-chan,” Shidou goes over to Sae and throws an arm over the shorter’s shoulders, Sae immediately removes it and glares at the other.
“Go away, I have no use for your anymore.” Sae says coldly.
“But you still chose me over Rin-rin.” Shidou states happily, that’s one win above his most disliked rival.
Sae snorts.
Shidou freezes and then looks at Sae curiously. “You did, didn’t you?”
“Yeah.” Sae agrees, he turns to look at Shidou with an expressionless face, “You looked easier to control.” Sae reaches for more moisturiser before saying, “And I was not wrong. I’m never – I’m rarely wrong.”
Sae packs up his moisturiser and then grabs his bag as he walks out towards the benches and looks at Rin. “Come on Rin, it’s time to go home.”
Rin looks up immediately at his older brother, his face filled with emotions conflicting with each other, it was the opposite of Sae’s expression.
Sae sighs and walks up to Rin and wipes the other’s tears and drool, “Don’t be such a cry baby, come on.”
Shidou runs out after Sae and blinks at Sae willingly to get his beautiful hands dirty on such crap… he can’t help himself when he blurts out his question, “Sae-chan, can I be your older brother?”
“Ah?” Sae turns around angrily. “That is so creepy, you pervert!”
Rin stands up and in front of his brother as he glares at Shidou. “You antennae freak, stop harassing my aniki. I’m going to kill you!”
Sae shakes his head and pulls Rin along, “Stop threatening people Rin, if you want to watch a horror movie in bed, we have to go now or I won’t get enough sleep.”
Shidou is speechless as he watches them both leave the locker and bench area. Fuck. Even Sae has a brother complex.
Itoshi-Mama
Sae wakes up from his one hour nap on a Sunday with a big stretch. The bed feels too big without Rin in it. He washes up and then heads into the living room where his father is analysing the stock market – Sae likes statistic. But only soccer related statistics, so he makes himself a cup of tea (his father already had one) and sits on the couch next to his dad and flips through a soccer magazine instead.
The front door opens and Rin comes in with his mother.
“Guess what happened today?” Itoshi-Mama says happily as she comes in and gives a twirl and flicks her hair as she looks at both Sae and her husband.
Sae has a bad feeling about this. His mother never acts like this unless something happened to feed her ego. He looks at his father and he also looks a bit concerned, though the amusement is more evident in his face.
Rin is right behind his mum and he has a frown on his face. Sae knows that he’s not going to like what he hears next. Rin goes straight to Sae and stares at the stop between his father and Sae until Itoshi-Papa moves so that Rin can squeeze his gigantic self in that gap and wrap his arms around Sae. Rin sulks as he buries his head in Sae’s neck. “Don’t listen to mum, she’s crazy.”
“That’s what I love about her.” Itoshi-Papa says dreamily.
“Oi.” Itoshi-Mama says sternly, “I’m not crazy. Rin-chan, you can’t call your mum crazy. Be more like Sae-chan.”
“I’ll comment once I hear what happened today.” Sae says neutrally as he puts his soccer magazine down.
“I went shopping with Rin-chan,” Itoshi-Mama point to the grocery left on the dining table, “And, then, this lovely female high school student recognised my baby boy!”
No one seems particularly excited. The Itoshi siblings are famous in Kanagawa, and have been, for at least 10 years.
Itoshi-Mama pouts, she’s just very proud of Rin. And Sae. And her husband. And their cat. “They came up to us and said,” Itoshi-mama clasps her hands together to re-enact the scene and says in a higher pitched voice, “Are you Itoshi Rin from Blue Lock!?”
Itoshi-Mama then mimics Rin, “Do you need something?”
She then switches to play the excited high schooler, “I watched your match on TV, you were amazing! Can I get a photo? An autograph?”
“No.” Itoshi-Mama pretends to be Rin and states as coldly as she can.
“Oh Rin-chan,” Itoshi-Papa interrupts, “I’m sure you could’ve!”
“Shhh!!” Itoshi-Mama hushes her husband so that she can continue her story. “And then, the lovely student looks at me and says, “Oh! I’m sorry, I see you’re with your girlfriend.” Itoshi-Mama then starts laughing and twirling around, “Mama still has it, I can still pass as a 16 year old high schooler’s girlfriend~”
Rin has a disgusted face. Sae has a disgusted face. Only Itoshi-Papa laughs along with Itoshi-Mama
“As expected of my wife, the most beautiful in the world.” Itoshi-Papa says proudly.
“Funny you say that, Papa.” Itoshi-Mama gathers her laugh and calms down, “Because Rin answered with, ‘That’s my mother, my girlfriend is the most beautiful in the world’ ”
“Ouch!” Rin says loudly as he holds his stomach which had just been elbowed by a displeased Sae. But he doesn’t let go of Sae.
“I didn’t know you had a girlfriend, Rin-chan.” Itoshi-Mama says as she taps her chin and tries to dig through her memories.
Itoshi-papa coughs and looks awkwardly at his sons.
“I mean, you don’t really seem to have an interest in anything,” Itoshi-Mama hums thoughtfully, “except for soccer and Sae-chan.”
There is silence in the room.
It takes two seconds for Itoshi-Mama to then whip her head towards her two sons.
And the penny drops.