Chapter Text
Although Seishiro had been informed of how challenging this match would be, he never expected it to be such a pain in the ass. Despite its intensity, it’s been scoreless so far, this particular turn of events disappointing for the young genius; as the ace, Seishiro is inclined to examine the root of this failure.
Has he himself wasted every opportunity to put Manshine City in the lead? His teammates –and Reo especially– were in peak form during the entire first half, providing him with practically perfect passes, but their opponents had miraculously managed to curb the majority of their advances.
Are the strategies their coach has been using predictable? Seishiro hasn’t delved into the nitty-gritty of soccer tactics, but he’s deduced that if the players’ performance isn’t subpar, then the one in charge may be at fault. Or, it could be that luck isn’t their comrade today. After all, they had cornered the opposing defense on more than a few occasions, and yet the critical goal they so desperately need didn’t arrive.
Seishiro takes a refreshing swig out of his water bottle. It doesn’t matter. It shouldn’t matter. They will simply have to double their aggression in the second half. Seishiro will score, and they will win. Reo will run up to him and jump into his arms to celebrate their victory in the end. So, for now, Seishiro just wishes he had a clean towel to wipe off his sweat…
“Here, Nagi. Use this.” A modulated voice interrupts the striker’s reverie. Reo casually hands Seishiro a towel, verifying the latter’s suspicions about his partner secretly being a psychic.
“Thanks, Reo,” Seishiro murmurs, trying his best to convey his appreciation. “Any ideas? Should we alter our methods?”
“I think we got this in the bag. If we resume our relentless attacks, they’ll slip up sooner or later.”
Seishiro absently hums his agreement. If somebody as smart and skilled as Reo is in synch with him, there’s nothing to fret over.
“But why are you asking me about this stuff? Coach told us exactly that a minute ago.”
…He did? “Ah. I zoned out and didn’t hear him.”
A broad smirk spreads across Reo’s features at Seishiro’s divulgement, amethyst eyes narrowing in amusement. “You ought to pay proper attention, dummy.”
Seishiro does pay attention when Reo is talking. He loves listening to Reo ramble on about any topic, but it’s not as elementary to focus when other people are speaking. “It’s okay,” he retorts, unable to tear his gaze away from his wonderful friend. “Since Reo will always be there to fill me in.”
Reo’s forehead wrinkles in something akin to bewilderment, but he doesn’t reply. Seishiro deflates. Was that cringey? Did he blurt out something he shouldn’t have? Reo consistently makes weird faces when Seishiro attempts to flirt. Consulting Bachira about this might have been a terrible decision. Unfortunately for the prodigy, before he can salvage his blunder, the pair is called back into the field. The show must go on.
As per Reo’s calculations, Manshine City succeeds in producing results eventually. The ball hits the net before the final whistle blows, and the crowd erupts in deafening cheers for the indisputable MVP; the star player by whom the stubborn goalkeeper was triumphantly defeated. For a split second, it’s as if Mikage Reo is the center of the universe.
Seishiro isn’t embarrassed to admit that he’s as mesmerized as the unruly spectators. His original objective might have been to score himself, but he’s genuinely happy for his partner’s accomplishment. An offensive midfielder’s chances to score are naturally slimmer than those of an old-fashioned forward, but Reo is unstoppable when he brings his A-game.
Reo really is amazing, Seishiro marvels as he rushes to cross the distance between them. Reo spots him immediately and, in the next instant, Reo’s sprinting through the pitch towards Seishiro. When Reo reaches Seishiro, the taller athlete instinctively sweeps Reo up, his movements fluid and graceful. After they’re both finished crying out in glee, Seishiro sets Reo down delicately before pulling him into a bone-crushing hug; for a while, they hold each other tightly as they rock side to side.
“That was incredible, Reo!” Seishiro proudly exclaims upon their separation, uncontainable excitement bubbling within him. His heart pounds wildly, its rapid thumps reverberating through his chest.
“Thank you! Couldn’t have done it without your assist!”
Reo beams, and Seishiro basks in the brilliance of the sight. Reo’s smile is radiant. Reo’s smile is beautiful. Seishiro wants to kiss that smile so badly. He’s not sure when these emotions began to sprout, but he’s sure they aren’t planning on ever giving him a break. He’s extremely curious; the notion of kissing Reo keeps popping into his brain lately, and with Reo still so dangerously close, he’d be a saint if he possessed the power to banish the fantasy.
The world around him seemingly blurring, Seishiro allows himself to bite the bullet. Spurred on by the adrenaline and the exhilarating thrill of the moment, he dives in and crashes his mouth onto Reo’s own. The press is chaste, their lips barely touching, and it doesn’t last as long as Seishiro hoped it would. It leaves him in a state of breathless shock regardless.
Reo is slightly faster in collecting himself. He glances quickly around them before zeroing in on Seishiro. “Why…?” he inquires faintly, evidently stunned.
Because I love you, Seishiro intends to assert. Of course, I did it because I love you.
“Cause I wanted to,” he says flatly instead, uncharacteristically apprehensive. He does have faith in the sufficiency of his answer, however. It’s technically not a lie; this is how Seishiro tends to operate. Plus, it wouldn’t be wise to confess his undying adoration in the middle of a packed stadium, would it? Reo has probably figured him out, anyway.
(He swears to himself he’s not inventing convenient excuses.)
“Oh. I see.” Reo clears his throat, pushing lightly against Seishiro. Mercifully, he appears to be neither angry nor disgusted. Seishiro doesn’t dare imagine what he’d do if Reo came to hate him. “Issue some sort of warning next time, will you?”
Next time…This must mean their feelings are mutual. Seishiro’s spirits leap exponentially at the prospect. It compels him to draw Reo into his embrace once more. “Yes, boss.”
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Apparently, their kiss was captured on camera. The buzz it generated isn’t something Seishiro hadn’t anticipated, but it’s plainly something he doesn’t give a shit about. What’s baffling to Seishiro is Reo’s stance on the situation; he’s obviously annoyed, judging by his stony attitude in the post-game interview. Frankly, Seishiro doesn’t understand what the fuss is about. He’s personally of the opinion that what happened could benefit them, saving them the hassle of publicly announcing their relationship.
“Reo, it’s no big deal…” Seishiro mumbles drowsily from the duo’s shared bed. He’s utterly exhausted at this point. “Who cares about internet gossip?”
“Nagi!” Reo hisses accusingly from beside the genius, sounding relatively startled. He begrudgingly shuts his laptop. “We can’t let this escalate.”
“Mhm. Is that why Reo denied that we’re dating when the princess grilled us about it?”
“I denied it cause your little stunt gave even Hyoma the wrong impression.”
“Eh?”
“Don’t ‘eh’ me!” Reo scolds harshly, directing his irritation at Seishiro. “I know you struggle to rein in your impulses, but you crossed the line today.”
Seishiro locks his cell phone’s screen with a weary sigh. He can’t be bothered to resist his sleepiness. And he certainly can’t be bothered to argue with Reo’s confusing logic. “Fine, fine. I won’t do it in front of a huge audience again.”
“Good boy.”
Seishiro promptly perks up at the praise. He watches Reo for several blissful seconds, admiring the gorgeous view. Reo has his sleeves rolled-up to his elbows, revealing his toned forearms. His silky hair is down, his posture relaxed but elegant. It’s unfair…It’s unfair how pretty Reo is, despite presumably being as tired as Seishiro.
As if on auto-pilot, the striker surges up into Reo’s space; he places a finger under his partner’s chin before shifting his body weight to peck Reo’s inviting lips. Moderately satisfied, he leans back to gauge Reo’s reaction. Reo’s jaw is slack, his pupils blown wide in astonishment. His cheeks are colored by an adorable blush. Cute.
“Sorry, Reo. I forgot to warn you.”
Reo’s gape morphs into a frown, his stare now puzzled and heavy. A billow of anxiety threatens to drown Seishiro as he grapples with the butterflies in his belly. He hangs his head low, mentally berating himself. He fucked up, didn’t he? He’d been exceedingly insensitive, essentially trashing Reo’s earlier explicit request. He’s the worst.
“Do you enjoy kissing that much?” Reo shyly cuts in on Seishiro’s spiraling thoughts.
Seishiro curls his nose, considering the question in earnest. It might be peculiar, but anything is preferable to Reo cursing at him. “Kissing Reo is nice.”
“…Idiot,” Reo chastises weakly, a hint of fondness lingering in his insult. “You should secure the other party’s consent for these things.”
Seishiro swallows thickly, shame creeping up on him and souring his mood. Reo is absolutely correct. “I promise I won’t forget from now on.”
“Yeah, be vigilant! Not everyone is as accommodating as me!” Reo jests, wrapping an arm determinedly around Seishiro’s shoulders.
A tingling chill shoots up Seishiro’s spine, alerting him to looming trouble. Reo is generally an open book, his behavior rarely an unsolved mystery. Why would he joke about Seishiro basically cheating on him? It’s not remotely funny, and Reo’s sense of humor is normally great.
“I only want to kiss Reo.”
“I guess that checks out. Familiarity and compatibility are crucial.”
Seishiro scoffs and collapses onto his pillow, reluctantly dropping the conversation. Reo must be doing this on purpose, to punish him for his selfishness. Reo’s pettiness is vexing, yet endearing. “Reooo…turn off the lights…”
Reo snorts in response to Seishiro’s petulant whine, but swiftly complies. He proceeds to settle under the covers, too. “Sweet dreams, my treasure,” he whispers softly, sending the prodigy to heaven with a single phrase.
Being Reo’s treasure will forever be the highest honor Seishiro’s been awarded with. “Night, Reo. Night, Choki.”
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The following week flies by in a flash for Seishiro. Kissing Reo has become his favorite habit since the fateful match, and it’ll definitely remain on the top of his list until his soul ceases to wander the earth. Well, Seishiro is madly in love, and Reo’s lips are positively addicting, so who can criticize him for wanting to taste them as often as possible?
It’s also getting easier and easier for Seishiro to sneak kisses in; Reo had exhibited skepticism at the beginning of their relationship, but with each passing day, he grows increasingly more accepting of their new routine. Seishiro is truly grateful for Reo’s adaptability, because while Reo’s perplexed face is precious, his reciprocating Seishiro’s skinship is infinitely better. Reo doesn’t go rigid anymore, even when Seishiro surprises him. On the contrary, he melts under Seishiro’s touch, bringing their bodies closer and closer...
“Nagi! Dinner’s ready!”
Be that as it may, Seishiro is an egotistical individual through and through. When he’d first acknowledged his attraction to Reo, he convinced himself that he’d be content with staying by Reo’s side regardless of their circumstances, but now that he’s conscious of what he had been missing out on, he doesn’t think he can prevent his greediness from gaining command.
Do not mistake him; their brief pecks are undoubtedly neat, but Seishiro can’t help pondering what a real kiss with Reo would be like. Movies, TV shows, dating Sims…Seishiro has consumed plenty of romance media, so he’s aware that kissing has the potential to be a lot more than what he and Reo have been doing. Plus, they’re officially boyfriends! It’s totally reasonable for him to be a tad eager, right? Hopefully, Reo is on the same page.
“Hey, Nagi! You listening?!”
Seishiro is jolted out of his inner conflict by his exasperated partner, who is currently towering over him. Reo has an apron on, which is indicative of the fact that he had been cooking. Folding his arms, the heir levels Seishiro with a disapproving stare. Reo is extra fetching when he pretends to be strict.
“What?” Seishiro meekly asks, his voice strangely hoarse. Why is this nerve-racking for him? Despite having done nothing guilt-inducing, Seishiro feels like he’s been caught red-handed. Reo can’t actually read minds, can he?
“I’ve been calling you for literal ages,” Reo notes, gesturing dramatically towards the kitchen. “C’mon, it’s time to eat.”
Relieved that his horny musings weren’t somehow leaking out, Seishiro rises to his feet and obediently trudges after Reo. He soothingly rubs his growling stomach in a futile endeavor to pacify it. Embarrassingly, he himself hadn’t registered he was hungry, too preoccupied with overanalyzing…what exactly? He’s really been acting oddly. It’s not his style to be so hesitant. The desire to verify his curiosity should be stronger than his reservations. He should be relying purely on his instincts as usual.
“Reo…” Seishiro mutters through his teeth. He sounds rather…desperate. What the hell is his problem?
Reo is quick to halt in his tracks; he spins around to face Seishiro, fixing the latter with a concerned look. “What’s wrong?”
The silence drags on for a few beats as Seishiro laments his cowardice. This is so frustrating. He’s never had difficulty being honest with Reo before. Except for that day…the day when his bitterness spiraled out of control. Seishiro releases a muted exhale, scrambling to gather his wits. Reliving the moment he told Reo he was done caring would be another nail in the coffin for him. “Nothing.”
Upon detecting Reo’s raised brow, Seishiro heaves a sigh of resignation. He might have been described as inscrutable by many people in the past, but Reo is an expert at recognizing some of the subtle changes in his expressions. Though, granted, if there’s anyone Seishiro trusts to witness his vulnerabilities, it’s his Reo.
“What do you need, Nagi?” Reo offers, taking a step towards the genius. His encouraging tone is nearly warm enough to thaw the ice surrounding Seishiro’s heart.
“I care about you, Reo,” Seishiro croaks out. “You’re my most important person.”
It’s a nuisance having to vocalize emotions. It’s annoying. It’s too damn complicated. But Seishiro owes Reo that much. Reo is worth the effort. Reo is always worth the effort.
Reo freezes, his muscles chained in temporary paralysis. He merely stands there, blinking owlishly, searching for confirmation. Seishiro would have deemed it funny if it wasn’t for the invisible rope around his neck brutally smothering him. Reo is dumbfounded to hear Seishiro cherishes him. He’s dumbfounded to hear he’s Seishiro’s one and only. How can that be?
“Jeez, you scared the crap out of me,” Reo raves, grinning from ear to ear. Seishiro is so, so glad he chose to be brave. Maybe he can ride this wave of good fortune. Maybe he can be even bolder and mention the kissing affair. “I care about you too, Nagi. You’re my best friend.”
Um. What?
“I’m Reo’s…best friend?”
“You bet! I like you the most!”
“Uh-huh.” Seishiro has no clue how he’s supposed to interpret Reo’s enthusiasm. Perhaps he should be ecstatic, since -to this day- he periodically finds himself lacking confidence when it comes to him and Reo being together for the rest of their lives; not because his resolve is faltering, but because he’s afraid Reo will ultimately realize that soccer is their sole connection, that their dream is the one thing bounding them to each other.
If Seishiro can’t prove his usefulness to Reo in the future, will his partner still want him around? According to the enchanting boy standing in front of him, Seishiro is Reo’s favorite person. Reo likes him for who he is, not for his talent. Seishiro should be over the moon to hear that, but something feels off. It’s as if he and Reo are suddenly miles apart.
“Man, I can’t believe you went sappy mode on me! I’d assumed you were just regretting the whole kissing practice silliness!”
Seishiro’s gut instantly wells up with terror, the giddiness he’d been experiencing until five minutes ago draining out of him in one fell swoop. “Kissing practice…?” He echoes through the twisted knot constricting his windpipe. He prays he’s having a nightmare. This can’t be happening.
“Yeah, I thought you were trying to end it in a non-awkward way. You were intrigued at the start, but the novelty has worn off, hasn’t it?”
No…it will never wear off…at least not for Seishiro. “Does Reo not enjoy kissing me?”
Reo visibly stiffens at the question. “D-don’t be weird!”
Seishiro’s shoulders slump dejectedly, a hefty burden of sorrow weighing him down. He’d had a hunch that Reo was also craving more intimacy, but –clearly– he’d been criminally delusional. He’s pathetic for getting carried away on his own. Reo isn’t into him. He was only indulging Seishiro, because…because he’s kind? Because of a sense of duty? Out of obligation? Or…out of pity? Has Reo been forcing himself all along for Seishiro’s sake? Has Seishiro been making him uncomfortable?
“If you hate it…I won’t kiss you again.”
“No!” Reo counters in a frantic manner. “I didn’t say that! Besides, you can’t do this with anybody else, okay? It’s safer to practice with me until you meet someone you’re serious about.”
I met that someone two years ago, Seishiro is tempted to scream out loud. Instead, he solemnly implores: “Then, it’s fine if we continue? I need more experience, Reo.”
He’s being foul. He’s being cruel and self-serving. He’s taking advantage of Reo’s tolerance, but…he can’t surrender without a fight. And he can’t be completely transparent about his ulterior motives, either; not when their existence could drive his beloved away.
“Yep. I’m cool with it if you are,” Reo affirms nonchalantly. “Since it doesn’t mean anything.”
Seishiro bobs his head in a feeble nod, concealing the raw ache of his sadness beneath a carefully crafted mask. His and Reo’s luxuriously-decorated apartment seems dull to him now, its vibrancy treacherously stolen.
Oblivious to the damage he’s inflicted, Reo cracks a small smile, and the suffocating tension tainting the air gradually dissolves. He coyly approaches Seishiro, bridging the gap between them. He brushes his fingers through the prodigy’s bangs, his eyes sparkling with mischief. He cups Seishiro’s cheek with his free hand before leaning in to lay the gentlest of kisses on the corner of Seishiro’s mouth.
Seishiro gawks at his retreating partner, flustered by the pleasant heat radiating from where he was kissed. Reo initiating this type of physical contact is unprecedented. Reo is either on a stealth mission to torment Seishiro, or he’s exacting his revenge. Why else would he do something so misleading after squashing Seishiro’s pipe dreams to the ground?
Immensely disoriented, Seishiro has to strain himself in order to suppress a miserable whimper. “Reo…”
“Can we sit down and eat already, Mr. Troublesome? I’m starving.”