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There’s the sound of the whistle, clear and true, and amidst the adrenaline pumping in his brain and his heart beating out of his chest, Nagi realizes.
They won.
They won.
Instinctively, Nagi runs desperately to Isagi, sweat streaming down his skin, breath heavy and ragged. The smaller boy leaps into his arms, wrapping his legs around Nagi, hand on the taller boy’s back to steady himself.
He feels like he’s drowning in the sounds. The roar of the crowd, the announcers’ staticky voices through the speakers, the screams of victory from his teammates.
Nagi Seishiro is drowning in what it means to have won, and he has never felt more alive.
He looks up, his gray eyes locking with Isagi’s sharp blue eyes. Even when drenched in sweat, panting, the striker is breathtaking.
Hell, Nagi would say that he’s even more beautiful than usual.
Isagi’s eyes are alight with that same fire Nagi knows so well, and Nagi can feel himself burning from their proximity. As the two stare at each other, oblivious of everything around them, Nagi - high on adrenaline and newfound courage - wants to kiss Isagi in front of the whole damn world more than anything.
Before he can close the gap between them, he’s thrown off balance by the rest of the Blue Lock team, and they all fall to the ground in a smiling, sweating, shouting heap of people.
Then, as Igarashi drags Isagi over to the eager interviewers ready to bombard the ace striker with questions, Nagi realizes with astonishing clarity what he would have done had the others not tackled Isagi.
He would have kissed Isagi Yoichi.
Nagi rakes a hand through his mussed gray hair, his elbow on his knee, staring intently at the ground, heat crawling up his face. Shit, what was he thinking ? Thank god for the rest of the Blue Lock saving him the embarrassment, actually. Nagi ought to -
Suddenly, Isagi’s voice pierces through Nagi’s frantic thoughts. It’s clear and true, just like his final goal, and Nagi finds himself looking up to see the striker’s blue eyes brimming with determination in that ridiculously captivating way of his.
“I will lead Japan to victory in the U-20 World Cup.”
Nagi stares at the star that ignited his everything - his curiosity, his frustration, his desire - glow brilliantly underneath the constant clicking of cameras and the watching eyes of the whole world, and he feels like he’s drowning all over again.
…scratch the thanks he was planning. In fact, damn the Blue Lockers.
As Nagi watches Isagi captivate the whole world, him certainly included, he really, really, wishes that he had kissed him.
“Hm? What’s wrong, Nagi?”
Nagi glances up, admittedly a bit sulkily, to see Chigiri grinning widely at him. “...nothing.”
The pink-haired boy raises a questioning eyebrow. “Really, now?”
“Yeah,” Nagi says, though the pout on his face is obvious.
Chigiri laughs brightly, slapping Nagi on the shoulder playfully. It hurts. “It’s pretty damn obvious that your sulking is about Blue Lock’s ace over there. Upset that your opportunity was stolen from you, now, aren’t you?”
Nagi widens his eyes in surprise before narrowing them. “How did you know?”
“Oh, come on. It was clear, the way you two were looking at each other.”
“...seriously?”
Chigiri grins again. “Seriously. Now hurry up, lover boy. We can’t be late to the celebration.”
Begrudgingly, Nagi lets Chigiri pull him up, and they rush to catch up to the others.
+++++
That night, as a means of celebration, there’s no curfew. All of Blue Lock, mind Barou, is awake. Most of them are catching up with their missed texts, chatting, and just generally enjoying their newfound freedom.
Nagi, while catching up with his favorite video game, spots Isagi lying on his stomach on the bottom bunk of his bed, watching something intently on his phone. Curiously, Nagi pauses the game and approaches the boy, who turns to him surprised.
“Hey, Nagi.”
“Hey,” Nagi responds, lying beside the smaller boy, who offers Nagi half of the blanket currently wrapped around him. Nagi accepts it, settling comfortably next to Isagi, who hands him one of his earbuds and sets the phone between them for them both to watch easily.
(It’s natural, at this point. The two would do this every night on Nagi’s phone after their games, Isagi observing every play carefully and rambling about the intricacies of it all, Nagi simply listening.)
Isagi’s watching the recording of the U-20 game. Nagi finds himself smiling a bit at that. He must be the only person in all of Blue Lock thinking of soccer right then.
It’s endearing, how much Isagi loves the game.
Isagi leans his head softly against Nagi’s shoulder, body pliant and relaxing against Nagi’s touch, Nagi leans his on Isagi’s head, and all is right in the world.
“Nagi, your goal here was amazing,” Isagi murmurs softly, and the taller boy’s gray eyes shift down away from the screen to see Isagi’s blue eyes, framed by long eyelashes, transfixed on the Nagi on his phone.
Isagi’s eyes are wide and focused, likely observing every miniscule movement and carefully shelving the information into that soccer-filled brain of his.
A realization strikes the gray-haired boy, and a full blown pout now adorns his face. “Hmph,” Nagi grumbles, looking away.
Isagi blinks, and in his peripheral vision, Nagi watches Isagi glance up at him. “What’s wrong, Nagi?”
“...”
“Oh, c’mon, just tell me.”
“...you know, the real Nagi Seishiro’s right here,” Nagi mumbles, turning away more, and Isagi is taken aback, looking at him incredulously.
“A-are you jealous of yourself ?”
No response. Nagi simply glares at the wall, cheek puffed out a bit. Isagi can’t hold in a laugh.
It’s a really sweet sound. Nagi’s eyes flicker back to Isagi, who’s eyes are crinkled and who’s lips are curled into a beautiful smile.
Nagi does his best to tear his eyes away from the boy, but he’s already done pouting.
“Okay, I’m sorry, Nagi. Really,” Isagi says, pausing the game and setting his phone aside. Finally, Nagi turns to face him again. The two lie on their sides, facing each other.
“Oh, you big baby,” Isagi laughs again, and Nagi can’t stop himself from leaning closer until their foreheads touch. Isagi’s eyes open quicly, and their eyes meet.
“...Nagi?” Isagi says softly, and Nagi’s gaze doesn’t leave Isagi’s. Slowly, without looking away, Nagi takes Isagi’s face in his hands, and Isagi melts slightly at the touch.
Even slower, Nagi moves their lips closer, their noses brushing. Isagi’s eyes flutter shut, his lips parting slightly, and Nagi closes the infinity between them.
It is a chaste, delicate kiss. Nagi’s lips are slightly chapped. There are no fireworks or butterflies; instead, all Nagi feels is the resounding thump of his heart in his ears, steady and strong.
With every single beat, it becomes all the more clear that Nagi is hopelessly in love with Isagi Yoichi.
Isagi, on the other hand, is bright red, his heart beating sporadically in his chest. Nagi can feel the corners of his eyes crinkle and a smile blossom on his lips, causing Isagi to blush harder and bury his face into Nagi’s chest.
Nagi wraps his arms around the smaller boy, then, tangling their legs together, and resting his chin on the other boy’s head. He feels Isagi loosen in his arms, melting under his touch, and nuzzle against Nagi’s chest before settling down.
As Nagi presses featherlight kisses into Isagi’s soft hair, he feels warmth pool in his stomach and warm him up inside.
It almost makes up for the tragedy earlier.
…almost.