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Chapter Text

Celine Moreau isn’t well versed in the football world. Her older brother is, however, and she spent a good bit of her childhood attempting to learn players and teams and rankings just so they would have something to talk about. She used to watch Blue Lock with him, when it aired all those years ago. She never really payed attention to much, more interested in ogling the pretty players than the gameplay, but some of the knowledge she picked up lingered, and maybe some of the nostalgia too, which is why she’s here; why she volunteered to head the Truth or Drink: Exes edition, with the headlining (ex) couple Micheal Kaiser and Isagi Yoichi.

“Hello, Mr. Kaiser!” She smiles, setting down her papers when she sees him. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

His handshake is firm, and his smile charming. "Please, call me Michael.”

She thinks she might be blushing. “Then you can call me Celine. I’ll be working with you and Mr. Isagi today. I assume you were briefed on how the show works?” A nod. “Great! We have the list of questions here, if you’d like to take a look at them, and you can let me know if you want any of them to be omitted.” A staff member walks through the doors, and Michael’s eyes snap towards it before returning to her. “While and after we film, you can let me know if you’d like any parts to be cut out. Everything we do is for your comfort.”

She tries to turn the clipboard towards him, but he waves it off. “Oh, I’m quite alright. But I’d feel a lot more comforted if I could get your number.” He winks. “Just in case, you know?”

“I—” Her face must be completely red by now, but before she can respond, the doors open and Michaels gaze snaps towards it once more. Isagi Yoichi walks through, and this time, Michael doesn’t turn back to her. Isagi is immediately halted by another production member giving him the same spiel. He refuses the clipboard as well, returning it with a smile. He looks around the set for the first time, eyes glazing over the table and chairs set up, before stopping on Michael.

Neither of them move. Isagi nods, and Michael does the same. He turns back to her, the same smile plastered on his face. It looks a little faker now. “Sorry, what was that?”

She raises an eyebrow at him. “Mr. Kaiser.”

He huffs, dropping the act. “Which seat is mine?”

“On the left.”

♦♦♦

Celine runs through the rules, although an official version will be used in post. “Two people must ask each other a set of uncomfortable questions. They can either answer, or take a shot. Welcome to Truth or Drink, Exes edition. Would you two like to introduce yourselves?”

Isagi smiles. She had a quick chat with him before filming, where he made sure to state his management wanted him to do the segment. “Hello! I’m Isagi Yoichi, and I play as a Center-Forward for PXG.”

“I’m Kaiser, and I play Center-Forward for Bastard München.”

She leans into the mic. “When did you break up?”

Isagi thinks for a moment. “We dated for a season and a half, and broke up about…four years and two months ago.”

“Four years and four months, actually.”

Isagi squints at him. “No, it was definitely two.”

“Hanging around Noa is making you senile, Yoichi. It’s four. I’d know,” Kaiser says, resting his head on his hand and grinning.

Isagi doesn’t seem as amused. “ You’d know? Since when do you ever remember anything?”

Celine clears her throat. “Alright! We can get started with the cards now! Kaiser, would you like to begin?”

Kaiser smirks at Isagi, singsonging as he picks up a card, “You got in trouble…” He takes a second to read over the card before reading it aloud. “Who broke up with who?”

“Well it was mutual, I guess.”

Kaiser grins, prodding, “But who suggested it?”

Isagi gives him a look. “I did.”

“I can’t believe the whole world will know I got dumped by Blue Lock’s ace: Isagi Yoichi. ”

“Fuck you. I hope you cried.”

♦♦♦

Isagi picks up the next one. “Why did we break up? If you say some stupid shit I’m gonna hit you.”

Kaiser drums his fingers against the table. “Does it still count as domestic assault if it’s no longer domestic?”

“I think it’s just assault. And it’s gonna be aggravated if this keeps going how it is.”

Kaiser smiles. “We were young when we started dating, only 18 or so. I was established, but people treated Isagi like he just got lucky with Bluelock. People were watching our every move.”

It’s vague, not a single actual detail to be gleaned about their relationship from that. But this is the first episode of a celebrity edition. It makes sense that the two men sitting in those chairs were thinking of a lot more than just who was sitting across from them. They had careers, managers, and fans to think of.

Isagi seems vaguely relieved. “God, I’m kind of glad the scene has calmed down now. It feels like ages ago when I couldn’t do shit without trending on Twitter.”

“You still trend on Twitter every other week.”

“I do?”

Kaiser scoffs. “You deleted Twitter, didn’t you?”

♦♦♦

Kaiser picks up the next card, a wicked grin painting his face that makes Isagi groan before Kaiser even reads the question. “Who was the first person you made out with after we broke up? This is a good one, I actually don’t know.”

Isagi blinks. He eyes the alcohol, untouched so far, but Kaiser follows his movements and snatches it, keeping the bottle out of reach.

“Oh c’mon, I wanna hear!”

Isagi winces. “You’re gonna hate it.”

“I’ll be the judge of that. Fess up. Let's go.” He swishes the bottle in his hand, waiting expectantly.

Isagi glances towards Celine. “Can we cut this part out in post? I don’t think he’d want me to say this.”

Celine nods. “Sure, we can cut out the name and only show Kaiser’s reaction if you’d like.”

Isagi nods, taking a breath. “Sae.” That was another prodigy, right? An intern behind her gasps.

The name has a lot more effect on Kaiser compared to her. Kaiser stares at him for a solid minute before taking the bottle in his hand and chugging, slamming it down and hissing, “Fucking what? ”

Isagi rolls his eyes. “God, you’re so dramatic. It wasn’t a big deal, we were drunk, nothing came of it.”

“Oh my fucking god, why was it him? ” Kaiser groans loudly, standing up and walking out.

“Is he fucking serious? He’s so annoying.” He looks past the camera. “He’ll be back in a minute, don’t worry.”

♦♦♦

Kaiser comes back, sure enough, taking a seat and ignoring Isagi’s glare.

“You’re so stupid, did you know that?” Isagi asks, reaching over the table to fix a few strands of Kaiser’s hair, who looks like he was pulling at it.  “It wasn’t a big deal.”

Kaiser picks up the next card and slides it over to Isagi in response.

He rolls his eyes at the clear deflection, but picks it up anyways. “What’s the most interesting place we’ve…” Isagi’s face goes pale. “had sex,” he finishes weakly. A grin takes up Kaiser’s face. “Kaiser, take the shot. Please. Ego will never forgive me.”

Kaiser doesn’t say a word, grinning, and pours himself a shot and downs it.

♦♦♦

Kaiser picks up the next card. He turns it to the camera, showing the words: Am I better lover than whoever you’ve been with since me?

“The answer’s yes.”

Isagi glares. “You aren’t even gonna let me answer? What if it’s not yes?”

“Oh,” Kaiser smirks. “It’s definitely yes.”

♦♦♦

“How long did it take for you to get over our relationship?”

Kaiser takes barely a second of hesitation before pouring himself a shot. “Define over?”

Isagi glances at Celine and the rest of the staff. No one responds, so he says, “uh, I guess, like, not thinking about me as much. Not thinking about us."

Kaiser nods, takes the shot, and picks up the next card.

♦♦♦

“If you could erase all your memories of me, would you?”

This is an interesting one. Celine has headed many Truth or Drink’s, and every time she gets a different answer.

“No. I don’t run from pain.”

Kaiser tilts his head. “Hmm?”

“You’ve made me into who I am today. Even before we dated, you’ve shaped me as a player, and once we started dating, as a person. I wouldn’t be where I am without you. I wouldn’t erase any of it.”

♦♦♦

Kaiser doesn’t have a response by the time Isagi finishes speaking and picks up a new card, left staring at him. He looks more vulnerable than she’s seen him at all while filming.

“What do your friends think of me?”

Kaiser cocks his head for a second, regarding him, before blinking and returning to the question at hand. “I think Ness wanted to throw a party when I told him we broke up.”

Celine hides a laugh. The midfielder definitely never tried to hide his dislike of Isagi.

Isagi smiles as well, almost nostalgic. “How’s he doing, lately?”

“Yoichi, he hates your guts.”

He shrugs. “It was always pretty one-sided. I kinda miss him hanging around.”

Kaiser laughs, full and melodious. “Only you. He’s alright, for the record.” He waves vaguely around the set. “He told me not to do the video.”

“Why did you?”

Celine isn’t sure if they’ll keep this part in; the producers never really like it when contestants mention that they’re on a show. A staff member to her right glances at her, motioning for her to get them back on track, but she waves them off and stays silent.

Kaiser hums, eyes dancing. “Maybe I just wanted to see you again.”

“Seriously?” Isagi’s tone is scolding but his face is full of mischief. “The only way you could have seen me again is on a Youtube video set?”

“Love blossoms in weird places. Re-blossoms, I should say.”

Isagi rolls his eyes. Celine can’t tell how serious the two of them are being. She remembers Kaiser always acting a little too flirty during Blue Lock, and with the way Isagi reacts, it doesn’t seem like he’s too surprised by it. But as far as she knows, this is one of the few places the two have been together in since the break up. She knows it's been four years and…three months, but it doesn't seem like the two of them are…over it. Over it enough to start flirting again, at least.

“How much were you bribed to do the segment?” Kaiser asks.

Isagi huffs. “He said he’d take care of all my socials for a week.”

“That’s not long,” Kaiser notes. “I’m surprised it took so little.”

Isagi leans back in his chair, raising an eyebrow. “You ever think maybe I wanted to see you too?”

The same staffer whispers to her, "should we say something?” and Celine hushes her, shamelessly leaning closer to hear better.

Kaiser — as she’s learned — is poised, even when completely dumbfounded, and it’s nearly impossible to tell save for the way he’s staring at Isagi. The latter smirks, the first she’s seen on him, and picks up a card and slides it over. “ Maybe,” he emphasizes.

♦♦♦

“Do you have a favorite nickname that I’ve called you?”

Celine blinks. Was there a mix up with the cards? She takes a look at the clipboard, scanning it over, before looking up blindly.

Isagi seems to be scrutinizing Kaiser’s face as well, which looks the same as it’s always been, but comes to the conclusion of: “You’re lying.”

“Of course, you can still tell. Answer anyway, I’m curious.”

“What was the real question?”

Kaiser rolls his eyes. “Do you miss Bluelock? Which, of course, you would have answered ‘I met so many new people there, as well as honing my skills in a way that I’ve never been able to without it, so I’m very thankful for Ego-san and Bluelock. And although it was incredibly stressful at times, I made a lot of memories there, so yes, I do miss it. My name is Isagi Yoichi and everyone’s in love with me. ”

“You really needed to add that last part?”

“It was necessary. Answer mine. ” Kaiser taps his fingers against the table like a drum roll.

“I’m taking a shot.”

“Yoichiiii,” Kaiser drags out, pouting. “C’mon you had to have had a favorite.”

“Kaiser, you do realize this is going on Youtube, right? Where people will actually watch it?”

“And since when do you care what people think? Sweetheart? Darling? Isa? Maybe one of the german ones?”

Isagi’s face is red when he answers. “Love. I liked that one.” The words are so quiet that Celine is sure they’ll have to add subtitles.

Kaiser hums. “That was a good one, wasn’t it, love?”

“Shut up.”

♦♦♦

Isagi picks up the next card. His voice is quiet as he reads it aloud. “Do you miss me?”

Kaiser is silent. He takes a quick glance at the shot glass before him but ultimately decides against it, meeting Isagi’s eyes. “You were a part of my life for a long time. Of course.” He doesn’t leave Isagi any room to comment, already picking up the last card.

Celine knows what it says. She was the one who decided on making it the last card. Do you still love me?

Kaiser reads it over, and then reads it over again. He doesn’t flash the question to the camera like last time, simply nodding to the bottle of vodka. “Take a shot.”

Isagi narrows his eyes. “What’s the question? You can’t just decide for me again. ”

Kaiser meets his gaze head on. He isn’t smiling. “I’m not deciding for you, I just don’t wanna hear the answer. Take the shot.”

“Kaiser.”

Kaiser raises an eyebrow in response, and Celine can practically hear the ‘do you trust me?’ implicit in his expression.

Isagi takes the shot.

Celine reaches over and turns off the camera.

“Thank you for having us, I look forward to seeing the video’s release,” Kaiser says, standing as he flashes a smile at the staff. He directs his attention to her.

"Kaiser."

Isagi is ignored. “If you have any follow up questions…you have my team’s number, yes?” She nods. “Then that’ll do. Thanks again.”

“Kaiser, I’m fucking serious.”

Celine blinks, not entirely knowing what to do, her gaze shifting between Isagi and the blond in front of her. “Uh, of course, thanks for working with us.”

Kaiser sets the final card face down, in front of Isagi, turning around and heading straight for the door.

Isagi flips it over and reads the card. She can see the exact moment it clicks, and without another word, he tears after Kaiser.

♦♦♦

One year, eight months, and six days later, Celine Moreau receives an invite to a wedding. Her brother screeches when she shows him.

Chapter Text

“The love was there. It didn’t change anything. But it still matters that the love was there.”

Five years and eleven months ago,

“Why do you even care?”

Isagi looks at him, sending him a glare that was all too familiar. “They’re talking about me, of course I care.” He sets his phone down on the dining table, sliding it away from him. It’s opened up on an article about him, picking apart every single fault of his during Bastard’s last game. Talking about how the Bluelock model of egoism isn’t working anymore, about him only getting passes because of his relations with the team captain, about how Isagi is only on the team because of his fame during Bluelock.

Kaiser continues measuring coffee grounds. “So? They’re some shitty sports mag talking about shit they don’t know. No one even reads them, love.” Kaiser does. He’s had a subscription since 2017.

“You’re established, Micha. You don’t get it. I was nothing before Bluelock, and all they fucking do is talk about it.” Kaiser tamps the grounds. Isagi scowls. “Can you at least act like you give a shit? They’re talking about you too, you know?”

Kaiser raises an eyebrow. “You’ve been talking about this for weeks, Isagi. They shouldn’t dictate your soccer. You’re the only person who does that. Every reporter you’ve ever met has gushed about you, the commentators love you, everyone loves you. What else are you asking for?” So fucking what if some asshole with a minor in Sports Journalism talked shit? “You’re an asshole on the field and you swear like a sailor and you get away with anything you want and they still love you. Some of us don’t have that luxury. You get three hate-articles in two weeks and you lose your shit. Get it together.”

Isagi’s glare melts into something unfamiliar. “What, you wish they liked you more? It doesn’t even matter for you. You’ve been on the world stage for years, nothing they say could get you off it. My career’s been on the rocks ever since—” Isagi cuts himself off.

Kaiser laughs, and it sounds cold to his own ears. “Since what? Say it.”

“Since you wanted to publicly come out!”

“Since I wanted to? That was a decision we made together and you know it. Sorry, if I wanted to hold my boyfriend’s fucking hand on the street every once in a while.”

“We came into this knowing we wanted to put our careers first.” Isagi’s voice is quiet. “I’m putting my career first.”

Kaiser lowers his voice as well. They fight a lot. They’re just like that. Kaiser has never felt threatened, or worried, but right now he is so fucking scared. “What do you mean?”

“I think we should break up.”

Kaiser looks at him, looks at the boy he’s loved since he was 18, and says, “Okay.”

“Are you serious? Just like that?”

"What? What do you want me to say?” Kaiser sneers, his face contorting into something ugly. “I’m not gonna fucking beg for you to stay with me.”

“You’re just gonna let us go?”

“What do you want, Yoichi?”

Isagi slams the table, standing up. “I want you to give a shit. I want you to fucking care. You never care. You don’t care what they say about us, you don’t care what they say about my career, you don’t care about anything, do you Michael?”

“And if I said I didn’t want that, would that change anything?”

Isagi doesn’t answer. His hands fall limply beside him.

Kaiser lets out a sigh, and it feels like shards of glass grow within his lungs, puncturing with every inhale and exhale. “Sit down.”

Isagi does.

“Do you really want this?” He doesn't think they ever had a shot in the world.

“I think it’s for the best.”

“Sweetheart, that’s not what I asked.”

“No,” Isagi answers. “But I think it’s for the best.”

“Okay.” Kaiser lays a hand across the table. “I love you.”

“I love you, too,” Isagi says, taking it, and he knows it doesn't change anything.

Kaiser strokes a thumb across Isagi’s knuckles. It’s a feeling he’s memorized long ago, but he wonders when he’ll forget it: forget the warmth of Isagi’s hand, forget where the lines on his palm intersect, forget how the veins cross over one another.

He lays his head down, on the wooden table that’s just a little too low to do so comfortably. But he doesn't move. He can’t move, not if he tried.

Kaiser falls asleep, eventually. When he wakes up, Isagi’s hand is no longer in his.

One year, seven months, and 16 days ago.

#1 ∙ Football ∙ Trending

Truth or Drink

Trending with Isagi, Kaiser

#3 ∙ Football ∙ Trending

WHO WAS IT

Trending with Rin Itoshi, Isagi, Bachira

#9 ∙ Football ∙ Trending

break up

#27 ∙ Football ∙ Trending

WHAT IS HE DOING HERE

Trending with Barou Shoei

Cut.com @cut ∙ 1d

Bastard Munchen’s @KAISER10 and Paris X Gen’s @isagiyoichi play Truth or Drink, four years after their breakup! Watch the full video now: https://youtu.be/XjsgoXvnStY

💬 392   ⇅ 3,493   ❤️ 202.3k

Spet @TheSpet ∙ 14h

the way they can’t decide on how long ago they actually broke up is PRECIOUS

💬 3   ⇅ 2   ❤️ 304

Pistatsia @realPistatsia ∙ 23h

wait i'm new to football, why did they break up?? they seem so in love i don't get it

💬 125   ⇅ 13   ❤️ 10.1k

misty_just @just_misty ∙ 23h

i don't think ive ever seen isagi glare this much in my life

💬 41   ⇅ 58   ❤️ 7,348

Ryubotchan @officialRyubotchan ∙ 23h

ik this like isnt the vibe but KAISER LOOKED SO HOT CHUGGING THE VODKA HOLY SHIT

💬 29   ⇅ 102   ❤️ 6,012

Ylexarshen @BLLKYlexarshen ∙ 14h

Why Isagi Yoichi and Michael Kaiser’s breakup is actually a four year long publicity stunt: a thread, [pt 1/37]

💬 56   ⇅ 1,493   ❤️ 1,003

Paulina @kiis_stan ∙ 1d

i wish to live in as much delusion as you do

💬 2   ⇅ 8   ❤️ 503

rinko66  @rnisforever ∙ 21h

We’re all in agreement that it was DEFINITELY rin, right?

💬 392   ⇅ 3,493   ❤️ 20.1k

ObsidianAbyss @bachiras_monster ∙ 21h

absolutely not, it’s gotta be bachira

💬 20   ⇅ 79   ❤️ 2,183

NQueenOfHearts @w0nderland ∙ 21h

Based on the timeline, we can assume it was within 1-2 months post breakup, so out of the bllkers Isagi was spotted with at that point it HAS to be Nagi Seishiro

💬 3   ⇅ 96   ❤️ 1,004

hllwn @king-of-villains ∙ 20h

but you’re forgetting that they likely didn’t tell the public until a little later, so the only person isagi saw during that timeframe was actually barou @realBarouShoei @realBarouShoei @realBarouShoei 

💬 68   ⇅ 36   ❤️ 11.1k

The Villain ✓ @realBarouShoei ∙ 20h

What the Fuck.

💬 506   ⇅ 6,479   ❤️ 48.2k

hllwn @king-of-villains ∙ 20h

oh my god why is he here  

💬 16   ⇅ 21   ❤️ 19.6k

getawaycar13 @rep_era ∙ 9h

oh my god did anyone notice how isagi like fixed kaisers hair for hiim when he got bakc like i'm hmfhkdjsh

💬 19   ⇅ 26   ❤️ 3,294

MadKirie17 @FURIOUSkirie71 ∙ 6h

kaiser taking a shot for “how long did it take for you to get over me”,,,,,,i'm sobbing let them be happy pls

💬 14   ⇅ 24   ❤️ 1,395

lem @lem000 ∙ 1h

“i wouldn’t erase any of it” WHEN IS IT MY TURN GOD

💬 2   ⇅ 5   ❤️ 93

ShroomTheHermit @shrooms ∙ 11h

Kaiser calling Isagi Yoichi “love” for three minutes straight [all clips from interviews and livestreams] https://youtu.be/NT0EmAgP-_k  

💬 438   ⇅ 1,293   ❤️ 9,203

ilovegetosuguru @satosugu ∙ 11h

the last four minutes of the video gave me whiplash i didn't think it would be this sad 😭

💬 25   ⇅ 104   ❤️ 8,383

One year, eight months, and 6 days ago,

Isagi flips over the card. It reads “Do you still love me?”  

He still loves him. He still loves Michael Kaiser.

Of course, he still loves him. He’s loved him all this time. He’s loved him when they broke up, when he kissed Sae, throughout the two shitty boyfriends he’s had in the past four years.

He can’t even call them shitty. They were fine. They just weren’t Kaiser.

Isagi stands up, not bothering with saying anything — providing any sort of explanation to the cast and crew standing in front of him — and heads straight for the door across the set, still swinging closed from where Kaiser disappeared.

The door opens into a small hallway, and he catches sight of blue hair fluttering past the exit as it slams shut. “Kaiser!” Isagi curses, pushing faster and opening the next door, leading to the parking lot. “Micha, fucking talk to me!”

Kaiser whirls on him. He looks…unfamiliar. Nothing like the cocky personality he had on display just minutes ago. His eyes shine with vulnerability, and he’s biting the inside of his mouth harshly. He looks more natural, real. A sight Isagi hasn’t seen in four years and two months.. He’s missed it.

“Dammit, just leave it alone. It’s fine, you really don’t need to say anything.” He begins to turn back, but Isagi grabs him by the arm.

“Kaiser, please, just two minutes—”

“I don’t need this right now!” Kaiser’s eyes are wide, like he’s not really sure what he’s saying. “Shit, Isagi, things are going good right now. Really , really good. I’m playing alongside people I never thought I would, I’m coming off of my first World Cup win, and my sisters are finally talking to me again, and I can’t do this .” He wrenches his hand out of Isagi’s grip, and starts backing up, and Isagi can do nothing but watch. I really thought I could, but I fucking can’t. I’m sorry.”

He turns back, walking away, and fuck, Isagi can’t lose him. Not again.

“The answer was yes,” He says, and Kaiser falters in his steps. “I still love you.”

Kaiser turns back, and the vulnerability present in his face is gone, as if his last words were never spoken, a mistake, a glitch. “No you don’t.” His voice is quiet but carries over the meters between them.

“I—”

“No you don’t. It’s been four years.”

Isagi laughs, the sound coming out scratchy and wet with unshed tears. “I know. Pathetic, isn’t it?” He’s sure he looks like a mess right now, sweaty from the studio lights and face blotchy, and probably a little insane from how he can’t stop smiling. “I love you. I don’t think I ever stopped.”

Kaiser looks almost dazed, blinking a few times. He spares a glance to their surroundings. There isn’t much, just a few cars parking in the lot and a few more people passing, none of whom have recognized them. Kaiser swallows. “There’s a lot of people here…we should move somewhere—”

Isagi cuts him off. “Do you still love me?”

“Of course.” His voice is quiet. “Of course, I love you.”

Isagi smiles, and shit, he’s crying, isn’t he? He stumbles into Kaiser’s arms, pressing his face to his chest. Kaiser doesn’t hesitate to wrap his arms around him, burying his face into Isagi’s hair.

Familiar, he thinks. This is familiar.

They’ll be alright.

Today,

“You almost done?”

“Yeah,” Isagi replies, typing up the last email addresses for the invites. He reads the last one on the list and grins, leaning back in his desk chair for a moment.

Kaiser throws his arms around him from behind, dramatically and annoyingly.

“ Kaiser, ” he scolds. But the man in question begins peppering kisses down his neck, so he really can’t be complaining.

“C’mon, love,” he pauses for a kiss, “we’re gonna,” another pause, “miss our reservation.”

Isagi huffs, referencing the list to make sure he has the right email. “It’s the last one , I’ll be done in a second.” He hits the submit button, sending the final wedding invite to Celine Moreau.