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The players from Blue Lock received two weeks of vacation and were permitted to go outside the facility the day following the U-20 vs. Blue Lock match. Reo made the decision to return home since he wanted to recuperate for one day before mingling with his old acquaintances.
That day of leisure passed by so quickly that he is currently attending a celebration with the kids of the business colleagues of his father. They were discussing the stock market and other business-related topics when one of them inquired about Blue Lock. "You're in blue lock, right? Mikage?" one of the boys asked. The lads' conversation is now directed towards Reo, who merely flashed his customary ‘polite’ smile.
Reo simply answered, "Yes."
"No wonder you're familiar! Well, obviously, I would recognize the Mikage heir, but I swear I saw you last week. It appears you're at the soccer game between U-20 and Blue Lock!" Reo only smiled at one of their remarks.
"He's there? I heard they beat the U-20 team; that's a feat!" the boy to his right asked. "Did you play in that match, Mikage?"
He took a taste of his non-alcoholic wine before entertaining the question. "I did play in that game, although I was just a substitute," Reo modestly said, being careful not to come off as arrogant. After all, he has a public persona and a reputation that he must uphold.
"Don't say it like you didn't do anything noteworthy in that match! I watched the game and you played pretty well! I don't know a lot about soccer, but I bet you can pass as a regular!" the girl in front of him cheered him up, smiling widely.
He returned the smile, the same one he used to sway others to his side. And it still appeared to work, as the girl blushed in reaction.
"If she says that, Mikage, you must be really good at it; although I'm surprised you're into soccer, you don't look like someone who would be so passionate about sports." The group laughs, as does Reo, as if there's anything humorous in what he said.
"Reo? Oh, it's really Reo!" Their gaze was drawn to the girl who had yelled Reo's name. He knew her right away; she was a classmate. "It's nice to see you again! It's been months since I've seen you, Reo! Although, I just saw you the other day on TV. I can't believe you're totally serious about soccer. I thought you were just trying out new hobbies with that lonely weirdo who keeps clinging to you. If I had known earlier, I would totally support you! And maybe you know, we could have watched soccer plays in your house after your practice." The girl ran her mouth as if she's about to overtake Twista as the fastest rapper of all time. [1]
After months in that prison-like environment, Reo had nearly forgotten about the smothering sensation when talking to his peers. But there was something that caught his attention. Lonely weirdo. That's exactly how Nagi was before Reo. Before Reo approached him, talked to him, played with him, and became friends with him. Reo makes a bitter laugh at himself. He's really pitiful. He took in a pet only to have it forsake him.
He despises Nagi; he really does. He resented him for betraying all those promises and leaving him. He finds it unbearable that Nagi abandoned him without even thinking twice, as if they'd only met for a day. He absolutely hates Nagi Seishiro. But, deep down, he can't shake the sensation he's trying so hard to ignore. He missed him, he missed his treasure so fucking bad.
"Fuck," Reo muttered as Nagi once more occupied his thoughts.
Several days have gone by; this is the last day of their vacation. And he arranged an appointment with his friends he met at Blue Lock. He will meet Yukimiya, Otoya, Karasu, Aryu, and Tokimitsu. He termed it a friends' hangout, but they will mostly talk about the stock market, so the word isn't completely accurate.
"The Mikage Corp. heir is now arriving with his long ass car," Otoya said, impersonating a TV program announcer. He simply chuckles at his friend's antics and greets the others.
They bought drinks and began talking about the stock market and business. They'd been talking about it for nearly half an hour when someone from afar screamed at them, or, more like, called them.
Yukimiya was the first to respond, "Hm?" They all looked in the same direction as Yumikiya.
Bachira ran towards them excitedly. "'Sup dudes!"
"Isagi-kun, Chigiri-kun!" Yumikiya noticed the other two behind Bachira.
"Why are you guys here?" Karasu asked as he stood shocked.
"We just got together to have fun. What about you guys?" Isagi replied with a smile on his face.
"Eh? We're just discussing the stock market."
"Talking about our futures, of course."
"Cutting-edge style summit."
They said in unison.
Dang, all try-hards! Isagi thought. "Is that so?"
"Um... I'm not really taking part... Just listening, just listening," said Tokimitsu, trying to take part in the conversation.
"Hey, I'm checking out the ecosystem of the Shibuya chicks. Don't lump us together," Otoya said, making a point.
"Is... that so." This time it was Chigiri who said it. This guy is a different kind of tryhard.
"Well, since we're all here, let's go somewhere with all of us!" Bachira suggested, which everyone agreed to.
"... Where's Nagi? He's not with you guys?" Reo mentally slapped himself after asking that question. Stop making yourself more pathetic, you dumb shit. What difference does it make if Nagi is present or not? He shouldn't be concerned with someone who doesn't give a damn about him.
Fortunately, nobody noticed the internal turmoil he was experiencing.
"Ah, he said he'd be late because he slept in, but..." Reo felt his heart tighten after Isagi said that. Whether it was because of the possibility of Nagi being in the same room with him again after avoiding him for so long or because of how close Nagi and Isagi had grown, he doesn't know.
Ting. "Oh, that might be him." Isagi stared at his phone for a while and read Nagi's chat out loud.
Nagi: I found an arcade on the way when I was coming, so I'll be late to play for a bit.
Nagi: sent a sticker.
"This selfish little..." Reo chuckled as Isagi read Nagi's message aloud. It's so Nagi to become sidetracked by games. But as soon as he realized Nagi had impacted him again, Reo pushed himself to stop smiling. That is not humorous in the least. He definitely has to quit thinking about Nagi.
"Shutting down your emotions isn't good for your mental health, you know," Yumikiya said behind Reo, causing him to jump a little. What exactly is he on about? He questioned with his eyes, but Yukimiya only grinned back.
"You should really learn to treasure yourself first, Mikage." Reo felt irritated as he heard his last name coming out of the other man's mouth. He hates being addressed as Mikage; it suffocates him.
What's the matter with this guy? Reo thought as he shot daggers at Yukimiya.
"Let's go jump him!" Everyone agrees with Bachira, so they are now heading towards the arcade Nagi was talking about. And Reo had never been more nervous in his life. He'll just be seeing Nagi after almost two weeks; what's there to be nervous about? He needs to calm down. He'll simply be meeting an old acquaintance he hasn't seen in a long time—nothing extraordinary.
Reo convinced himself as they approached the arcade.
"Hey, the game addict bothersome prince over there!"
"Yer going to lose yer friends, ya bastard!"
"Let's go play, nyaha!"
Loud greetings filled the arcade as soon as they arrived. Reo made an effort to blend in. He feigned not to care, "Caught you red-handed, criminal!" He's used to acting, so it comes naturally to him. Surely, despite the obvious tension between him and Nagi, it can't be that tough to appear normal, can it?
He can do it. He can pretend they're on good terms all day, just as Nagi can pretend he didn't just abandon Reo over a guy he recently met. It's fine if he just ignores him, right? It'll be fine. Reo reassures himself.
The sound of his phone ringing awakened Seishiro. Who would dare disrupt his sleep after it had been uninterrupted for two weeks? The only one that came to mind was Reo. Right, Reo always wakes him up whenever he's oversleeping. But he hasn't called or texted all throughout their break from Blue Lock.
Seishiro immediately stood up the moment he realized it might be Reo. He doesn't know why Reo took this long to talk to him again, but it doesn't matter. He texted him now. Seishiro picked up his phone, only to be disappointed that it wasn't Reo who texted him.
Isagi: You coming?
Instead, it's Isagi asking him if he will come to their planned hangout with the other players from Blue Lock. He lay back down in his bed and sighed. Is Reo busy? Why isn't he calling or texting him like he used to? He didn't even visit him when he made my apartment his second home before. Is he that busy? But they're supposed to rest because it's their break, for Pete's sake.
Seishiro can't think of any reason why Reo is acting like he's neglecting his treasure, as Reo claimed.
Thinking is such a hassle, he concluded.
Seishiro replied to Isagi with a simple 'I just woke up' and a sticker after some thought. He forced himself to complete his morning routine, which consisted of simply pouring water on his body, before opting to head to their meeting location.
He was walking ridiculously slow when his eyes spotted an arcade. As if he had forgotten where he was supposed to go, he mindlessly walked into the arcade. It had been about half an hour before he remembered where he was heading earlier. He took out his phone and informed Isagi about his whereabouts before returning to his game.
He returns to playing Tekken with the intention of grinding his level. Sixteen wins in a row! His online ranking is rising once more. He was so engrossed in his game that he didn't notice the crowd approaching the arcade.
"Hey, the game addict bothersome prince over there!" He looked over the man who shouted, which was followed by a barrage of greetings: "Yer gonna lose yer friends, ya bastard!", "Let's go play, nyaha!", and "Caught you red-handed, criminal!"
They all greeted him, but only one managed to get his attention. He stared at Reo, who was standing right in front of him. Reo is in the same room as him. After two weeks of not seeing him, Reo finally appears in front of him.
He's as stunning as ever. His chin-length purple hair, which had grown a bit, is still as beautiful as the galaxies, and his glittering eyes, which may rival amethyst, are as bright as ever. The guy in front of him is undoubtedly Reo, but Nagi has a feeling he is not the same Reo he knows.
He attempted to gather his thoughts before approaching Reo, but he didn't know how to act in such a way that he wouldn't hurt Reo again, so he just remained there, silently accepting Karasu's headlock. He hadn't seen Reo in about two weeks, and now he's here, hanging out with the Blue Lock guys. Seishiro is at loss on what to do.
Since all of them were already in the arcade, they decided to stay there and play a variety of games. They play claw cranes, although it's really just Otoya showing off and Bachira goofing around. Karasu was stressed out because of them, which Reo finds amusing.
Reo is giggling at the sight in front of him when someone stands next to him. It's Yukimiya, smiling at him. "You don't want to get some plushies?" he asked, not looking at him but at Karasu, who was scolding Bachira and Tokimitsu for shaking the claw machine.
"I'm fine watching; besides, I'm not particularly fond of toys." He had so many at home that he couldn't count them. Toys—he may say he's sick of them.
Yukimiya sensed the little bitterness in Reo's voice and stepped up to the mess in front of them, pushing them aside. He then took a position as if he were going to play.
"Who'll you be getting, Yukki?" Otoya asks.
"Which one would you like, Reo?" Yukimiya inquired instead of addressing Otoya's inquiry. Reo arched an eyebrow and threw him a 'why would you ask me that?' look, which Yumikiya understands. "I want to give you a gift for blessing us with your presence despite your busy schedule." A serious tone left Yumikiya's voice, but Reo knew he was joking.
Reo grinned and played along with Yukimiya's joke. "The Kuromi plushie would be enough to compensate me for today," he stated smugly, making Yukimiya grin. He's often smiling, but this time it appeared real, which surprised Reo. He hasn't seen a smile as genuine as the one on Yukimiya's face in a long time.
He used to see that smile in his treasure’s pretty face, and god, when Nagi plastered that kind of smile, Reo would feel like he’s above the skies, so special that only he sees that angel-like lazy grin.
That thought distracted him a bit; he didn't notice the burning stare staring at the two of them from the distance.
"Kuromi plushie it is, then," Yukimiya responded. He put a token coin into the claw machine and pressed the start button. He gently drew the lever and positioned it directly over the plushie he was going for. He pushes the lever down and presses the button once it's situated. He got it on the first try.
"That's amazing, Yuki!" exclaimed Bachira. Yukimiya handed the plushie to Reo with a proud smile plastered on his face.
"Thank you," Reo said gently, oblivious to the white head's unpleasant grimace.
Seishiro was calm most of the time, nonchalant, as the others always told him; he rarely felt distasteful towards anything other than things that he found a hassle. He's rather pacifist all the time, and for that reason, he doesn't know what to do with this new emotion that has taken hold of him.
He liked that he could see Reo smile as he used to; the devastated Reo at the second selection was something he hoped he’d never see again. Reo is sunshine, a flower that draws people’s attention. He should never stop being happy because Reo's the best when he's smiling, happiness filling his face. But witnessing Reo smile and laugh at anything unrelated to Nagi causes him to experience emotions he doesn't know what to label.
His hopeful gaze when he saw Reo enter the arcade turned sour as he saw Reo laughing with Yukimiya, completely ignoring Nagi's existence. Why is it that instead of clinging to him like he always does, Reo's laughing with some other man? Seishiro hates it for reasons he doesn't understand.
“Nagi, come here! You need to be punished for ditching our plan!" He didn't, though; he just went on a side quest. Nevertheless, he was still dragged away by Chigiri and placed in front of the dart's target.
While Nagi is in front of the dart board, Bachira begins positioning himself as if he is about to throw the dart. "You must accept your punishment," said Bachira.
Chigiri and Isagi stood nearby, cheering. "Don't move, Nagi!" Chigiri yelled as he raised his fists. Nagi responded by saying ‘sorry’.
“Bullseye!" Seishiro turned his head next to him when he heard Reo’s voice. Yukimiya appears to have struck the middle of the dart board since he is currently posing alongside it like an anime character.
Seishiro hates how delighted Reo looks for Yukimiya. Reo should only be proud of Seishiro.
The boys played a variety of games, including ping pong, which Seishiro engaged in. It's a hassle, but Reo is there behind him the whole time, so he can put up with it.
When Reo suggested going to karaoke and went with Isagi and Bachira to see if there was any unoccupied room they could use, Seishiro began to gather the words he would say to Reo later.
First, he will apologize, as Seishiro had long planned to do. He will clear up the misunderstanding between them before explaining the strategy he had in mind to help them achieve their shared goal of winning the World Cup. Although talking is a hassle, Seishiro can make an effort if it's for Reo. After all, he doesn't want them to genuinely drift apart.
Seishiro has his plan set, but he doesn't know when to execute it. He's frustrated because he can't find the appropriate timing. And they are now bowling against the U-20 team.
They were registering their names when Isagi noticed Barou bowling with great posture on the side. “Really?" Seishiro became distracted when he saw Barou's personalized ball. "Wow, you've got your own ball?" he commented.
And, as usual, Barou is enraged as he tells them to fuck off.
They begin playing, with Barou on their team. And the ball is now in Seishiro's hands.
I’m hungry… and sweaty… I want to take a bath, is all he can think, entirely forgetting about his plan to reconcile with Reo.
Despite collapsing in the middle of tossing the ball, he got a strike, causing the others to jump on him in enthusiasm. And that includes Reo, who reminded him of the plan he made.
When Isagi explained he had another appointment, Seishiro took advantage of the opportunity to slip over to Reo's side.
Seishiro tugs on Reo’s shirt, which causes the latter to get startled. "Reo, can we talk? Please," Nagi mumbled pleadingly. This caught Reo off guard.
"I don't think we have anything to talk about," Reo responds quietly, evidently uneasy with the situation. However, after Seishiro gave him a look he knew Reo couldn't resist, Reo changed his mind. "Just... make it quick, okay? Reo said before allowing Seishiro to lead him away from the crowd.
Reo is already kicking himself for succumbing to Nagi's huge irises painted in a lovely grey tone. Reo moaned in despair, not having the courage to reject Nagi.
They've returned to the corridor leading to the karaoke rooms. Nagi releases Reo's wrist after ensuring that no one is nearby. Reo felt a bit cold now that Nagi's hands had left his wrist, but he paid little heed to it.
"What now?" he wondered as soon as they came to a halt. Nagi walks towards him, leaving only a short distance between them. The startling closeness almost made Reo gasp. He can't believe Nagi is this near to him right now; he missed all the physical contact they had before, he realized.
"Why haven't you come to see me during the break?" Nagi flung a question at him that he wasn't prepared to answer.
He almost blanked out, but as the heir of Mikage Corp., Reo was able to quickly gather himself. “Do I need to?" he merely retorted.
"Choki must have missed me..." Reo grumbled angrily at himself for believing Nagi missed him throughout the whole break. He had forgotten Choki was in Ba-ya's hand. But before Reo had a chance to clarify he could return Choki to its owner, Nagi stopped him short. "And I missed you," Nagi whispered, and Reo almost missed it.
What? "There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of you. I haven't stopped thinking about you since I opted to become stronger with Isagi in the second selection. I'm not sure why you assumed I abandoned you for Isagi, but I didn't. I will never forsake Reo for any reason." That may have been the longest sentence Nagi has ever said, but if it means reconnecting with Reo, he doesn't mind if it's a pain.
Reo can normally respond to the most difficult arithmetic equation ever devised, yet he can't seem to grasp what Nagi just said. What does he mean that he did not abandon him? He certainly chose Isagi over him!
"Do you think you really expect me to believe that?" Reo took a deep sigh. “After choosing Isagi over me? And leaving me behind after you made me promise to never leave your side? You must think I'm an idiot!" The pain in Reo's voice was palpable when he expressed that.
Nagi comforts him swiftly before explaining himself. "The only reason I teamed up with Isagi was to defeat him because he was the reason we lost. He's the biggest obstacle to our goal of winning the World Cup, so I felt compelled to strengthen myself in order to defeat him. Everything I did was for you and me, Reo. So, please believe me," Nagi implored, looking like a forlorn dog on the verge of crying.
Reo, on the other hand, is at a loss for words in response to his treasure's sudden pleading. Our dream? The World Cup? As Reo recalls Nagi's words, the dots in his mind begin to connect. And he'd never felt so dumb in his life. He believed he knew Nagi better than anyone else, but he was wrong.
Nagi didn't leave him because he had forgotten their promises; he left so that they could both grow individually, so that they could get even stronger and win the World Cup. He assumed Nagi was merely following him around all this time, not considering that Nagi may have the same dream as him.
“So you’re saying that the reason you started putting effort into soccer is because you also want to win the World Cup?” Reo chooses his words carefully. “…with me?” The last word was barely audible, but Nagi managed to catch it.
Seishiro hums as he pulls Reo close to him, and Reo begins to cry. He hugs Reo warily, and as Reo hugs him back, Seishiro almost considers running a lap around Earth.
"Are we all right now?” he inquired, awaiting confirmation.
“You dummy, you should’ve explained better,” cries Reo.
“I’m sorry. I’ll do better,” was Seishiro’s only response.
They were enveloped in silence, but neither Reo nor Seishiro seems bothered. They remained silent while they waited for Reo to settle down. After calming himself, Reo faced Seishiro and said, "I'm sorry, too, for assuming things without asking you." Seishiro just nodded before re-embracing Reo.
“You’re such a big baby,” Reo chuckles. I’m your baby.
“I’m tired, Reo. Let’s go home,” murmured Seishiro.
Reo grins and says, “Alright, alright. I’ll call Ba-ya, then we’ll go to your apartment.”
“Will you spend the night?”
"If my treasure wants to." Seishiro hugs Reo tighter, feeling something lift in his heart. Treasure. That’s right; he’s Reo’s treasure. He sure missed being called like that. He’s so glad they reconciled. He will never allow something like this to happen again.
"Hmm. I will do better."
Their reconciliation did not go as Seishiro had planned, but it’s all well as long as he and Reo are together again.