Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The gentle arch of the spin drifted in the breeze, as the football streaked through the air with astonishing speed, left a trail of motion in its wake. It eventually hit the net, cheers from nearby players in the air. A whistle sounded through the air, signalling the end of the match.

Isagi's breaths came out in frustrated puffs, the cold air mirroring the frosty atmosphere between him and Rin. "Fucking hell," he muttered, watching as Rin walked away. "How the hell are you not tired?"

Rin, without missing a beat, shot back, "Shut up, lukewarm."

Isagi shook his head, trying to keep the mood light. "Come on, Rin, don't be like that. It's just a game." He glared at Rin's retreating figure.

Rin abruptly turned around, his gaze cutting through Isagi. "Maybe you should spend less time chatting and more time honing your skills," he retorted, rolling his eyes.

Isagi stared back at him, a blank expression on his face. "What's your problem today? You're more pissy than usual." The tension hung in the air, thick with unspoken rivalry.

Rin scoffed, his cold demeanour intensifying. "Pissy? No, I just don't have the luxury of revelling in mediocrity. Winning takes effort, something you seem to overlook in your lukewarm world."

Isagi shrugged. "Winning is important, sure, but so is not being a total dickhead. Not everyone plays to prove something, Rin."

Rin's eyes narrowed, his patience wearing thin. "Prove something? I play to win because winning is the only thing that matters. Maybe you'd understand that if you didn't settle for being a perpetual loser." Rin huffed out, bitterness overflowing from each word he spoke.

Isagi chuckled, unfazed. "Perpetual loser? At least I'm not a perpetual jerk. There's more to life than your precious scoreboard, Rin."

Rin's retort hung in the air, both players locked in a battle of words. The bitter exchange persisted, each word a pointed arrow in the ongoing ‘battle’.

“YOOOO!! Nice goal Rin.” A brunette with blond highlights ran up to Rin. His hair tousled from playing.

Rin doesn’t deem the boy with any response, walking past him.

“Dickhead.” Isagi muttered under his breath, a quiet retort to Rin's silence.

“Rin-chan doesn’t seem too happy..” Bachira giggled out, unbothered by Rin, “I won against you, Isagi!” Bachira snickered, as he turned to Isagi. “Shall we head out? Chigiri is probably waiting for us~”

Isagi sighed, “Yeah yeah, let’s go. I got everything.”

They walked towards the exit, Chigiri greeted them as they started walking home. The night air prompted spew out complaints from each of them whenever a silence settled between their steps. Isagi started to check his bag for his earphones and gloves, sick of the weather and fruitless dispute being yelled down the street next to him.

...

Shit.

He left them at school.

“I need to run back, go without me.” Isagi uttered. He turned around and started speed walking back to school.

He reached the locker rooms, swinging open the door. He noticed Rin inside. Glancing at the clock above the entrance, which read '19:17,' Isagi turned his attention back to Rin. Seated on a bench in the changing room, Rin was oblivious to Isagi's presence, his head bowed, a damp rag draped across the back of his neck.

“Are you ok?” Isagi softly spoke.

Rin looked up, the dim light in the changing room played on Rin's features. His under eyelashes seemed larger than usual, although his hair covered one of his eyes. The air hung heavy as Rin’s gaze harshed, he seemed to have not forgotten about earlier. Two teammates found themselves suspended in a moment of uneasy silence.

“Are you-” Isagi repeated, thinking Rin must’ve not heard his statement.

“Heard you the first time.” he put his head back down. “Fuck are you doing here, lukewarm?”

DAMN, my bad. Isagi thought, too tired for a new altercation. “I forgot some stuff, no need to be so emo about me being a decent teammate.”

Rin glared at him. "Decent teammate? I don't see you contributing much on the field, lukewarm."

Isagi rolled his eyes. "Save that for the pitch, Rin. I'm here to grab my stuff, not endure you."

Rin scoffed. "Grab your stuff and leave, then. The air in here was better before you barged in."

Isagi was fucking done with this dickhead, no matter what he said or did; Rin would take it like a personal attack. No wonder he’s so lonely.

"This is why no one fucking likes you, Rin," Isagi spoke, the words carrying some weight. He shoves everything into his bag as he storms out of the locker room. He walked the way home, trying to calm himself from Rin’s bitchy behaviour.

–

History; the longest lesson ever. Each minute feels like an eternity. Anri’s voice, once a source of knowledge, had become a lullaby of boredom. The dry recitation of dates and events failed to capture the interest of the students as a few dozed off either to sleep or a weird daydream they thought of earlier. Anri’s beauty was the only reason why some even came to class anymore; fawning teenage boys was the reason why so many were even there.

Isagi was playing with his pen, tired. His eyes were beginning to shut.

“I wish for each one of you to research more about this, in your own time. This will be partner work which’ll count for at least 30% of your grade.”

Huh?

“The person sitting next to you is your partner.”

Isagi, momentarily lifted from his usual classroom daze, looked over.

“Hioriiiiii.. We’re partners.” he whispered to him, giddy that his friend was his partner; not a rando. At least that's one thing not to worry over–

“Isagi, Rin. As per request from Ego, You two shall be working together, Hiori and Nanase will be working together as well.” The unexpected twist in partner assignments jolted Isagi, his giddiness replaced by a new wave of irritation. He sighed, realising how much life seemed to relish at his misery, as he prepared himself to work with Rin. He wanted to slam his head into the table and scream.

Hiori started snickering. “You seem thrilled.” The teal haired boy teased, his expression smug. "You and your boyfriend partnered afterall~"

“You’re a sadist!” Isagi whispered, seemingly about to punch something. “I’m not in the mood to deal with an emo, edgy boy.”

“Maybe you’ll both fall in love~” Hiori put his head in his hand, smiling sadistically. “You know, those rivals to lovers' things. Boy meets girl and they–”

“Shut up!!” Isagi put his hand over Hiori’s smirk, pissed. “I actually hate you so much. You also get to do it with Nanase! Lucky bitch.”

“Extremely lucky bitch.” Hiori ‘corrected.’.

Chapter Text

“EGO.” Isagi violently kicked the door open, the force causing it to crash against the wall opposing with a bang. A dead looking creature stared back at Isagi, the creature had been slathering mayo all over a... salad?

“Isagi. What are you doing here?” Ego blankly looked over, his dead eyes looking into Isagi’s. He put down his mayo as he spinned his chair to face Isagi. “It’s lunch. I don’t wish to deal with prepubescent children at the moment.”

“Yeah? You chose to be a teacher, you know.” Isagi snapped back, his frustration bubbling over. “You also had time to put me in the same group as ITOSHI. RIN.” Isagi stared daggers into Ego.

Silence.

…

“It was a good opportunity to bond the both of you.” Ego turned back to his mayo-covered-salad. He grabbed a random fork and stabbed into the lettuce. Isagi grimaced at his eating habits. Ego’s eyes snapped back at Isagi, his back hunched as he ate. “You do know about the potential our team could further gain if both your egos combined.”

“Huh?” Isagi subconsciously let out.

Ego continued to eat his salad, unaffected by Isagi's incredulous expression. The room hung in a tense silence as Isagi struggled to comprehend the logic behind the teacher's decision.

"Bonding?" Isagi scoffed, shaking his head. "Putting me with Rin is like mixing oil and water. We're not going to magically become buddies because you decided to pair us up."

Ego paused, his fork suspended in mid-air as he regarded Isagi with an inscrutable expression. "Sometimes, the most formidable partnerships arise from the most unexpected alliances. I see a potential chemical reaction between the two of you. Don't let personal differences hinder the growth of the team."

Isagi rolled his eyes, frustration evident in every line of his face. "This is about football, not some friendship experiment. Also, who eats mayo with salad, anyway?"

Ego raised an eyebrow. "Mayo adds a unique flavour. Try it."

“Yeah, no thanks. Rather not have a medical condition later in life.” Isagi snapped back.

Ego returned to his salad, seemingly unbothered by Isagi's retort. The room echoed with the sounds of fork against the bowl as Ego continued to enjoy his disgusting meal.

Isagi, growing agitated, decided to cut their silence short. "Look, Ego, I get it. You think pairing me with Rin is some kind of strategic move, but we're not compatible. This isn't some chemistry experiment; it's football."

Ego leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on Isagi. "Football is more than just physical prowess. It's about understanding your teammates, adapting to different play styles, and finding ego. Sometimes, the best teams are made up of individuals with contrasting strengths and weaknesses. Ones that fight each other yet still combine to create a connection through a singular ball." Ego munched on his salad. “That's the beauty of football, the experiments lay in unpredictability and if we do not take that chance; it’ll set us behind.”

Isagi stared at Ego, as though he’s crazy. “What the fuck are you on about.”

Ego sighed, as if disappointed by Isagi's inability to grasp his perspective. "You two have the potential to complement each other on the field. Take that potential and you’ll find your own individual strength, Isagi. You may not realise it but you have a lot of potential. Especially with that meta-vision of yours.”

Isagi, baffled, stares at the lifeless creature.

“Fine. Just don't expect us to start holding hands and singing Kumbaya." Isagi turned to the door, about to leave. “If this doesn’t work out. It’s because his jackass can’t cooperate.”

Isagi left the room, closing the door with a thud behind him. As he walked down the hallway, thoughts swirled in his mind; the idea of working closely with Rin pissed him off. However, Ego had to have some sort of point to this. He decided just to go along with it.

–

“Isagi, man, where were you?” Bachira threw an arm over Isagi as he sat down at the table.

“Honestly? Bachira was being weird again, I cannot deal with him.” Chigiri leaned over, putting his head in his hands as his elbows rested on the table.

Isagi sighed, tired of everything as he leaned his head onto the table. Bachira retracted his arm as he watched Isagi.

“You good?” Chigiri raised an eyebrow. The fatigue in Isagi's posture didn't go unnoticed, and the concern in Chigiri's voice was present.
Isagi nodded, his voice muffled by the table. "Just dealing with Ego's latest idea; apparently Rin and I are supposed to be the dynamic duo now." Isagi kept his head on the table as Chigiri giggled.

“Ego’s fucking weird.” Bachira huffed out, finding the situation both amusing but feeling sympathy for his friend.

“Fitting name though, ‘Ego.’.” Chigiri yawned out. “Wonder who named him, wanna meet them because they must’ve not loved him.”

Bachira snickered, “Maybe they were psychic and saw the future weirdness in him.”

Isagi, despite his fatigue, managed a small chuckle. The banter among friends provided a temporary escape from how life is treating him at the moment.

“Sooooo, Isagi, are you planning on talking to Rin? He is your partner now.” Chigiri spoke. “Speaking of which, what do you mean he’s your partner now? Never explained what exactly Ego did y’know.”

Isagi finally raised his head, now resting his head in the crook of his elbow. “I have to do a history project with him. I can’t even back out, it’s worth 30%.” Isagi looked over to the red head, his expression seemed to show him holding back a laugh.

Bachira burst into laughter, earning curious glances from nearby students. “You, Rin, history project? Please record it, Isagi, for the sake of humanity.”

Chigiri joined in, “New comedy show coming out!” Chigiri flips his hair behind him. “I give it a week before one of you snaps.”

Isagi rolled his eyes, annoyed at his friends. “Yeah, yeah. Let's just hope we survive this partnership without killing each other. The thought of Rin and me doing a project together is as ridiculous as Ego's mayo and salad combo.”

“Mayo and salad??” Chigiri shrieks as Bachira giggles.

Isagi nodded with a deadpan expression, “Yeah, I walked in on that culinary masterpiece today. Ego's living in a whole other dimension.”

“4D vision and shit.” Bachira quipped.

A comfortable silence settled between them, Chigiri finally started eating. “Also, yesterday I overheard Rin and his brother talking.” Chigiri spoke as he ate. “Something to do with how Rin is useless or something, how he’ll never amount to anything and no-one likes him.”

“WHAT??” Bachira gasped. “I knew their relationship was rocky but not that rocky!”

Isagi stared at Chigiri until he remembered something..

"This is why no one fucking likes you, Rin,"

Their conversation continued, Isagi felt guilty the rest of the time. He decided he’d apologise during practise.

–
…

Once upon a time, practice was the only thing he looked forward to. Now he dreaded it, Isagi was dreading this the entire day. Why? It’s because Itoshi, fucking, Rin exists. Isagi decided it’s not the time to be pussy, strolling towards the tall boy.

“Rin.”

Rin turned towards Isagi, his expression indifferent. "What do you want?”

Isagi took a deep breath, attempting to keep the conversation civil. "Look, I know we've got this history project thing and neither of us is thrilled about it. But we gotta make it work somehow."

Rin stared at Isagi, his gaze still sharp.

Isagi nodded, suppressing the annoyance that threatened to surface. "Yeah, the project.” Isagi repeated, trying to calm himself down. “We might as well figure out how we're going to survive this without tearing each other apart."

Rin crossed his arms, a stoic expression masking any emotions other than anger. "I don't need your input on how to handle a simple project."

Isagi clenched his jaw, resisting the urge to snap back. This was a delicate balance, and he couldn't afford to let Rin's antagonistic attitude get under his skin.

"You're the one who needs to get a grip on reality, Isagi. I don't need your half-baked strategies to succeed. If you were as competent on the field as you claim to be off it, maybe we wouldn't be in this mess."

Isagi gritted his teeth, suppressing the rising frustration. "This isn't about soccer, Rin. It's about working together on this project. Can't you, for once, put aside your arrogance and focus on the task at hand?"

Rin scoffed. "Arrogance? Coming from someone who thinks they can change the world with their so-called 'brilliant' ideas? Spare me the lecture, Isagi. I don't need you telling me how to handle a simple project–”

Rin, in the middle of his sentence, felt a sharp pain in the back of his head. He lurched forward, grabbing onto the nearest object to keep from falling. Confusion etched across his face, Rin turned to see a football rolling away. When he turned back he noticed his hands on Isagi’s shoulders.

He quickly retracted the hands.

Isagi, watching the scene unfold, blinking. "Looks like you're not as invincible as you think, Rin. Watch your back next time."

Rin shot a glare at Isagi, a mixture of anger and embarrassment burning in his eyes. "You think this is funny, Lukewarm?"

"Not particularly, but maybe it'll teach you to pay attention to something other than yourself." Isagi raised an eyebrow.

As the tension simmered, both boys realised that, for the success of their project, finding a way to collaborate might be their only way forward. Rin straightened up, his composure regained. "Just stay out of my way, Isagi. I don't need your help."

Isagi sighed, shaking his head. "Fine, but we're stuck with each other on this project, whether you like it or not. Let's at least try not to fail miserably." Isagi then looked up at him. “I need your number though; for communication.”

However, despite the perfectly logical reasoning, Rin walked past him.

Rin, without turning back, replied, "I don't give my number to just anyone. Lukewarm, you're not an exception."
“Acting like he’s a celebrity,” Isagi grumbled. He quickly turned into a laughing fit when he remembered Rin ‘falling.’.

–

“Oi.” a voice behind Isagi was heard, Isagi shrieked. He quickly turned around to find the source of the voice, his heart still racing from the surprise.

“What the fuck!” Rin stood behind him, looking away. He seemed off.

Isagi looked down to Rin’s hand, it had a piece of folded paper. “Take it, dumbass.” Rin stated, his eyes avoiding Isagi's gaze. Intrigued, Isagi cautiously accepted the paper, unfolding it to find a hastily scrawled phone number.

Rin turned away, muttering, "Don't make it weird. It's just for the project."

Isagi grinned, amused by Rin's awkwardness. "Sure thing, Rin. Just for the project." As he pocketed the paper. Your calligraphy is shit by the way.” Isagi smiled, revelling in the small victory.

Rin glared at him, not deeming him with a response and walked away.

“RIN! Wait.” Isagi yelled for Rin, swinging his bag over his shoulder. “Sorry about my comment yesterday. The one where I said no-one likes y–” Isagi was about to carry on until the tall boy cut him off.

“Hah?” Rin huffed out, “Are you making fun of me? Shut up, talentless dipshit.” He walked away, leaving Isagi stunned.

Dickhead.

–

He threw his bag onto the bed, he then threw himself on the same bed. Isagi stared at the wall until he remembered; he needed to text Rin. Isagi groaned, contemplating whether sending a text to Rin was worth the effort. With a heavy sigh, he grabbed his phone from the pocket and started typing:

Isagi: Hey, Rin. We need to coordinate for the project. When are you free to meet and work on it?

Isagi stared at the message for a moment, wondering if it was too formal or too friendly. After a brief internal debate, he pressed send and tossed his phone onto the bed. The anticipation of Rin's response lingered in the room, adding to the silence around him.

A few minutes later, Isagi's phone buzzed with a notification:

Dickhead: My house, 6pm tomorrow.

Isagi blankly looked at it.

Isagi: Where the fuck do you live.

A few seconds later, Rin responded.

Dickhead: [Address]

Isagi couldn't help but chuckle at Rin's straightforward response. He quickly typed a confirmation:

Isagi: Got it, See you at 6 pm. :)

Chapter Text

Isagi approached Rin's house, double-checking the address on his phone. After confirming the address on Google Maps, he strolled to the door.

He knocked lightly and waited. To his surprise, the door swung open, revealing a grinning man– "Shidou?" Isagi uttered, his expression baffled. Isagi stared at him, taking in the pink highlights that seemed even more bright up close.

Shidou's grin widened, and he leaned against the doorframe with a casual stance. “Isagi? What are you doing here? Are you Rin’s fuck buddy or something?”

Isagi's eyes widened in disbelief, a mixture of shock and disgust crossing his face. "What the fuck? No, I'm not Rin's... whatever. I'm here for the history project, not whatever weird scenario you're imagining."

Shidou burst into laughter. "Relax~”

Shidou's voice echoed in the hallway as Isagi felt a growing sense of discomfort. “Where is Rin?” Isagi asked, for once in his life he wanted Rin to be there.

Shidou pointed a thumb over his shoulder. "He's in his room, probably brooding about something. Emo whore things." Shidou turned around, walking into the living room where another boy sat. Isagi followed inside, closing the door behind him as he stared at Sae and Shidou interact.

In the living room, Sae sat on the couch with a focused expression, leafing through a football magazine. Shidou plopped down beside him; he seemed too happy to be around Sae without it being weird. The atmosphere in the room had a peculiar energy, and Isagi couldn't quite put his finger on what was happening between Sae and Shidou, and he wasn’t there to find out.

Sae looked up from his magazine, acknowledging Isagi's presence with a casual nod. “Are you here for Rin?” Sae asked, his head slightly tilted to look past Shidou.

“More forced than here for him.” Isagi quips, putting a hand on his hip. “Where is he?”

Sae's expression remained unreadable as he answered, turning back to his magazine. "In his room; it’s the second room to the right upstairs. He’s probably sulking about something insignificant."

Isagi couldn't help but smile at Sae's description of his own brother. "Always the drama queen," he muttered under his breath.

Shidou, overhearing the comment, laughed heartily. "You got that right, Isagi. Rin's a walking comedy show. But hey, makes things interesting, doesn't it?"

Isagi didn’t deem him with a response, deciding to leave the two to their own world and following Sae’s directions. Heading upstairs, he walked down the hall. The door to Rin's room was slightly ajar, and Isagi hesitated for a moment before knocking.

"Rin? It's Isagi." he announced, hoping his presence wouldn't trigger another argument.

After a brief pause, Rin's voice came from inside, "Come in."

Isagi pushed the door open, revealing Rin seated at his desk, surrounded by scattered papers and textbooks. The room was dimly lit, creating an atmosphere of solitude. Rin stared down at his work, his expression indifferent as he didn’t bother acknowledging Isagi's presence.

"Great, you're here," Rin muttered, not bothering to look up from his work.

Isagi looked around; the room had posters upon posters of horror movies and merch. A lot of the merch being Stephen King-based works, The Shining was the majority of it. Isagi felt a mild surprise at the unexpected side of Rin's interests.

"Quite the horror fan, huh?" Isagi commented, trying to break the awkward tension.

Rin shrugged. "Yeah, I guess. Helps pass the time."

“It kinda suits you; emo liking horror and stuff.” Isagi teased, casually settling into a seat across from Rin.

Rin raised an eyebrow at Isagi's playful comment, swiftly retorting, "Emo, huh? Coming from the guy with the messy hair and sprout from the top of his head."

Isagi chuckled, running a hand through his hair absentmindedly. "Hey, my hair has character."

Rin looked back at his work. His voice slightly amused, Isagi noticed, as he spoke. "Character, or a life of its own?" Rin then returned his attention to the laptop screen, scrolling through it without Isagi seeing. Leaning his head onto his hand, Isagi sat silently, studying the scattered papers on the table.

“How far have you gotten along, Rin?” Isagi inquired, tilting his head slightly and leaning in for a glimpse at the laptop screen.

Rin sighed, a subtle sign of frustration evident in his expression. "Not far enough. This project is more tedious than I thought."

Isagi nodded in understanding. He stood up and took a seat next to Rin. "Well, I better get started then. What's the topic?"

Rin leaned back in his chair, contemplating for a moment. "How about the Meiji Restoration? It's a significant period in Japanese history."

“Not the worst thing then.” Isagi sighed out, grabbing one of the books scattered on the table. “What’s the exact thing we need to look into from the restoration?”

Rin leaned forward, pushing aside some papers to create a clear space. "We should focus on the political, economic, and social changes brought about by the Meiji Restoration. It's a vast topic, but if we narrow down our scope, we can make it more manageable."

As Isagi flipped through the pages of the history book, Rin continued, "Let's start with the political aspects, like the abolition of the samurai class and the establishment of a centralised government. Then we can move on to the economic reforms and the societal transformations that followed."

“‘Kay.” Isagi responded, reading through the abolition of the samurai class. As Isagi delved into the past of Japan, Rin's gaze shifted from the laptop screen to Isagi's focused expression. The rhythmic sound of typing and flipping pages filled the room as Isagi immersed himself.

When the both of them finally fell into a rhythm, a noise was heard by Isagi. It strangely sounded like a ‘meow’. Isagi looked up to where Rin sat. “Rin, are you a furry?” Isagi spoke, breaking the productive silence inside the room.

“Huh? Fuck you mean furry.” Rin said, annoyance laced in his words.

Isagi chuckled, trying to stifle his laughter. "I could've sworn I heard a 'meow.' Maybe there's a hidden side to you, Rin."

Rin glanced over at the source of the noise, and his expression softened as he spotted his cat lounging comfortably on the windowsill. "Ah, that's just Amanda. She's been getting more vocal lately."

“Amanda? Why are you calling your cat a human name?” Isagi walked over to the cat, reaching to pet it. ‘Amanda’ purred as Isagi scratched its chin. Isagi turns back to Rin, sensing an odd silence coming from him. Rin seemed baffled at him. “What?” Isagi asked.

“Amanda doesn’t usually like people other than me and my br–” Rin spoke, quickly correcting it after. “I meant Sae.”

Isagi carried on petting the feline, after a minute or two, he retracted his hand. Walking back to where he last sat, the cat followed and sat on his lap. “Your cat is cute. What's the story behind naming her Amanda?”

A silence was met with Isagi when he asked that; Isagi looked over to Rin, who was now seemingly fascinated. Rin continued staring at the black cat in Isagi’s lap now. “I used to be a big fan of Saw.”

“I guess I’m special; your cat loves me.” Isagi laughed. “Are you done with your part, by the way? I’m done with the social section.”

Rin's gaze shifted from Amanda to Isagi, his expression thoughtful. "Yeah, I'm almost done with the economic part. Just need a few more minutes."

Isagi nodded, setting aside the history book. "Alright, take your time. I'll review the political section in the meantime."

As Rin resumed his work, Isagi couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment. The atmosphere in Rin's room had shifted from tense to surprisingly comfortable. Thank you, Amanda, Isagi thought. Isagi then started reading over the political section.

‘The late 19th-century Meiji Restoration, which brought about the creation of a centralised government and the dissolution of the samurai class…’ Isagi kept reading over the essay, checking for grammar mistakes among other things. The cat purred as Isagi petted her, evoking a sense of comfort towards Isagi.

The rhythmic sounds of typing, flipping pages, and Amanda's purring continued to fill the room as Isagi and Rin worked on their respective sections of the history project.

After a while, Rin was the first to break the silence. "Finished with the social section?"

Isagi nodded. "Yeah, it's all good. How about you?"

Rin leaned back in his chair, stretching slightly. "Economic part's done. Just need to wrap up a few details."

“Thank God.” Isagi spoke, relief in his words.

As Rin polished the last details of his part, Isagi looked around the room again. He stared at the Saw poster; Rin mentioned his cat’s name was based on that movie. Amanda, still perched on his lap, seemed to be enjoying the attention as Isagi absentmindedly stroked her fur. Sounds of footsteps were heard outside; Isagi thought nothing of it until a familiar voice was heard.

“Saeeee~” Shidou spoke outside. Isagi stared at the closed door of the bedroom; as though he’d somehow gain x-ray vision to see what the pair outside were doing. Shidou then flirtatiously added, “I want to see you change~”

“What the fuck.” Isagi was caught off guard. He turned his head so quickly to Rin; he almost got whiplash.

“He does that often.” Rin spoke, proof-reading his essay. He didn’t seem surprised; Isagi resumed it’s because Shidou often acts like this. Absolutely no shame was held by Shidou.

“Absolutely not, you horny devil.” Sae’s voice was heard, although it was much more muffled than Shidou. Amanda meowed at Isagi; he wasn’t petting her after all. Isagi continued petting her, slower this time.

Shidou's antics continued outside; his voice reached new heights of absurdity. "Come on, Sae, don't be shy! I promise I won't peek too much... unless you want me to!" Isagi stared at the closed door, curious.

"Seriously? Is Shidou always like this?" Amanda finally got off his lap; she leaped onto the table as she played with a piece of paper. Isagi looked at Amanda frollicking around the table, she seemed content.

Rin nodded nonchalantly. "Unfortunately, yes. Shidou has zero boundaries."

A muffled voice came from behind the closed door. "Shidou, if you don't shut up, I'm kicking you out."

Shidou laughed, undeterred. "Come on, Sae, where's the fun in that? Let me in, and we can have a grand old time!"

Isagi couldn't help but feel a mix of amusement and disbelief at the situation. "I bet your house is never dull then."

Rin replied. "You have no idea."

As the minutes passed, Shidou's dramatic exclamations gradually subsided, and a sense of peace returned to Rin's room. Eventually, Sae's voice could be heard again, this time sounding more irritated.

"Shidou, if you don't have a good reason for bothering me, I'm not opening the door."

Shidou responded, disappointment laced in his words, "Aw, come on, Sae, it was just for fun." A door opening was heard, and a few footsteps.

Isagi couldn't help but chuckle. "Fun for him, maybe." Isagi found this more entertaining than he expected. Thankfully, he wasn't Sae; Isagi thought. After the footsteps subsided, some.. questionable noises were heard. Isagi looked over to Rin who seemed to be losing his patience.

“...are they fucking?” Isagi poked Rin. The combination of shock and amusement played on Isagi's face, trying to stifle another round of laughter; he covered his mouth. He found the entire scene more hilarious than he could have imagined.

“For fucks sake. I hate them so much.” Rin’s pencil he heard snapped from his grip, the frustration evident in the sudden outburst.

Isagi raised an eyebrow, glancing towards the closed door. His hand still covering the smile playing on his face. "Should we be concerned?”

Rin sighed for the nth time today. "Unfortunately, this is a regular occurrence. Shidou has a unique talent for making everything awkward for me." Rin then walked to his trash can, throwing his broken pencil away and sat back down. “I’m finished with my part anyways.”

“Same.” Isagi put his head onto the table, tired. “Should we do the rest later?” He spoke as moans were heard from the other room. “Rather not hear that.

Rin nodded in agreement, a hint of annoyance still lingering on his face. "Yeah, let's call it a day. I can't focus with all that noise."

As they gathered their things and prepared to leave Rin's room, Shidou's voice reached a new level of enthusiasm from the adjacent room, and both Isagi and Rin exchanged a look of shared exasperation.

“Maybe I now understand why you are an emo boy.” Isagi felt bad for Rin for once in his life.

“Shut up.” Rin spoke.

Isagi laughed, playfully nudging Rin's shoulder. "Hey, at least you've got a unique living situation. Makes for interesting stories."

Rin rolled his eyes, pushing Isagi off of him. "Yeah, stories I could live without."

“Okayyy, well, I’d rather not hear these moans for any longer. Have fun!” Isagi grabbed his stuff and speed-walked out of the house, although he felt bad for leaving Rin in that situation; it wasn’t his problem.

–
“How’s the soap opera going, Isagi?” Chigiri came up behind Isagi. His football boots dug into the ground with each step. “You don’t seem dead, so it should be going okay.”

“Surprisingly okay, he’s civil enough to finish a project with me,” Isagi said, not turning to Chigiri as he practised penalties. “Plus, I think I know why he’s emo.”

“Hm? Do tell,” Chigiri watched him, taking in each goal. “Is it to do with his brother?”

"Partially. You know Shidou?" Isagi paused, turning to Chigiri. "He and Sae are in some bizarre relationship, and they, well, get intimate when Rin is in the house."

"Really? Poor guy," Chigiri giggled, amused. "Shidou and Sae, though? Can't say I didn't see that one coming. Is Rin okay with it?"

Isagi shrugged. "He didn't seem thrilled, but he's kind of resigned to it. Says it's a regular thing. I guess he's used to it by now."

Chigiri chuckled. "Well, that adds a whole new layer of complexity. Anyways, Ego told me to get you since we're going to do a practice match. You're on Rin's team, by the way."

"Yeah, yeah, princess," Isagi responded with a playful smirk; his smirk then dropped. “Seriously? How much does Ego want me to be near Rin?” Isagi picked up the ball he was previously practising with, placing it into the bag full of other footballs.

“It hasn’t gone wrong so far though. Anyways, let's go.”

Chigiri and Isagi carried on conversing as they walked; a lightness was felt in the air. Thankfully, it was only a practice match; Isagi didn’t know how he’d work with Rin.

The practice match began, and the intensity of the game quickly consumed Isagi's attention. The rhythmic sound of cleats against the grass, the cheers and boos of teammates, and the adrenaline of the game took over. Rin, focused on the match, seemed to be in his element.

Eventually, an even rhythm was established between the pair. Although it was a bit rough, Isagi lurked around Rin to broaden his range of options. They’d then diverge into their paths near the penalty arc. The practice match ended 3-1 in ‘Rin’s’ team's favour.

After the match, the team gathered for a brief debriefing. Ego, the team captain, provided feedback on the game, praising certain plays and offering constructive criticism where needed. Isagi, his breath still slightly heavy from the game, walked over to Rin.

"Nice game," Isagi said, giving Rin a pat on the back. "Didn't know you had those moves on the field." Rin swiftly shoved Isagi's hand away as he continued walking.

“Cold as ever.” Isagi chuckled at Rin's dismissive response. "Guess compliments aren't your thing. Well, you did great out there."

Rin carried on towards the changing rooms, and this time, he responded without looking back. "Save the compliments for someone who cares. We won; that's all that matters." Isagi followed suit.

"Alright, alright, no need to be so serious. I just thought a little praise wouldn't hurt," Isagi spoke, trying to lighten the mood.

Rin didn't look up. "Praise doesn't win games. Actions do." They finally reached the locker room, the air thick with the mingling scents of sweat and chatter. Isagi couldn't help but feel the post-game energy, a mix of exhaustion and accomplishment. The teammates were animatedly discussing random topics.

Isagi then noticed something unusual – Rin didn’t seem to have any water on him. Odd, Isagi thought, considering Rin does yoga.

“Yeah, yeah, emo boy.” Isagi reached for his bag, pulling out a spare water bottle. Without saying anything, he handed it to Rin. Rin stared at the bottle, harshly, as though it was his mortal enemy.

“Are you pitying me?” Rin glared at Isagi, his arms crossed as he had his bag slung over his shoulder. The intensity of his gaze seemed to challenge Isagi, questioning his motives behind the gesture.

“Don’t read into it. You’re a key player, and you being harmed would cause the team problems.” Isagi quipped, a tad bit annoyed by Rin’s response. He shrugged casually, downplaying the significance of the gesture.

“I don’t need it.” Rin stubbornly refused, tightening his grip on his gym bag’s strap as his eyebrows furrowed.

“I’m trying to be civil here. Just take it, stop being so troublesome.” Isagi stared at Rin, agitated. Isagi then pushed the bottle onto Rin’s torso to further push for him to just take the bottle.

Rin and Isagi had a stare down, in which Rin finally let up. He snatched it out of Isagi’s grasp; chugging it a bit until he stopped to look away from Isagi. “It’s lukewarm.” Rin complained. Despite that, there was a hint of gratitude that lingered beneath the surface.

“Oh, shut up.” Isagi rolled his eyes, grabbing his bag as he left the locker room.

Chapter Text

As Isagi stepped into the building, he immediately noticed an unusually loud commotion echoing through the hallways. The typical movement of the school seemed to have stopped in the middle of the hallway. The closer he got to the source of the noise, the more evident it became that something was amiss.

He peeked around corners, attempting to catch a glimpse of the disturbance without getting directly involved. As he approached the epicentre of the chaos, the voices grew louder.

‘Was that Rin’s voice?’ Isagi thought, quickly started moving closer to the commotion as a result of the revelation. Concern and curiosity mingled in Isagi's mind as he quickened his pace, navigating through the dense crowd that had gathered in the hallway.

As he finally reached the cause of the crowd, he was met with the sight of Rin falling to the ground as Shidou pounced on him for another punch. Isagi's eyes widened in shock as he witnessed the alarming scene unfolding before him. The crowded hallway seemed to hush for a moment, collectively holding its breath as Shidou landed another punch on Rin. The impact echoed through the corridor, further intensifying the gravity of the situation.

Isagi felt bad for the emo boy once again.

Shidou didn’t look so great either, a large bruise forming on his right cheek and his lip bleeding. He didn’t seem as roughed up as Rin though, the teal-eyed-boy had a bleeding nose and a bruise forming on his upper lip.

Isagi was about to get involved until Ego's voice echoed around the room.

"Ey, what the hell is going on here?" Ego's commanding voice cut through the tension like a knife. The crowd instinctively began to disperse, creating a semi-circle around the unfolding altercation. Ego approached with a stern expression, his dead gaze shifting between Rin and Shidou.

Shidou quickly backed away from Rin, adopting an air of nonchalance despite his dishevelled appearance. Rin, still on the ground, wiped away the blood from his nose with the back of his hand.

"Explain yourselves. Now," Ego demanded, his eyes narrowing at the two.

Shidou shrugged, feigning innocence. "Just a little disagreement. No big deal."

Ego's gaze shifted to Rin, waiting for his side of the story. Rin, however, remained silent, his expression betraying neither fear nor aggression.

"Rin, you got something to say?" Ego pressed, a hint of impatience in his tone.

"He doesn't need to say anything," Shidou interjected, smirking. "We'll settle it ourselves."

Ego shot Shidou a disapproving glare. "This isn't how we settle things, and you know it. If there's a problem, bring it to me or another authority. We don't need your petty fights disrupting the school."

Isagi, still standing at the periphery, observed the exchange with a mix of concern and confusion. Ego's intervention prevented the situation from escalating further, but the underlying tension lingered.

"Both of you, my office. Now." Ego ordered, his authoritative tone brooking no argument.

As Shidou and Rin begrudgingly followed Ego down the hallway, the onlookers dispersed, resuming their activities as if nothing had happened. Isagi hesitated for a moment before trailing behind them, his curiosity getting the better of him.

Even if he hated Rin, he needed to know what his punishment would be. It could affect the team and their project afterall!
Isagi quietly followed Ego, Rin, and Shidou down the hallway as they made their way to Ego's office. The atmosphere was tense, and Isagi couldn't shake the feeling that this incident would have repercussions not only for Rin and Shidou but possibly for the entire dynamic of the football team.

Upon reaching Ego's office, the three were ushered inside, and Isagi lingered outside, straining to catch any bits of the conversation. The muffled voices and occasional raised tones made it difficult to discern the specifics of what was being discussed.

"Rin, Shidou, you both need to cut this nonsense out," Ego admonished, Isagi could only imagine his stern gaze fixed on the duo. "We have a football team to run, and your personal issues cannot take precedence over the team's integrity."

"Ego, let's not make this a big deal," Shidou suggested, his tone dismissive. Isagi could hear the smirk in his voice. "We settled it among ourselves. No harm done."

Ego sighed, clearly not convinced but deciding to let the matter rest for the time being. "I don't want to see this happening again. The team's success is everyone's responsibility."

The conversation continued, however, Isagi couldn’t hear the rest.

After what seemed like an eternity, the door opened, sporting a satisfied grin that hinted at mischief rather than remorse. Ego emerged as well, his brows furrowed in frustration. His gaze fixed onto Isagi, who had been eavesdropping on the conversation. "Isagi, mind your own business next time." Ego then quickly added as Isagi felt like his soul jumped out his skin, “As a result of your eavesdropping, you’re taking care of Rin’s wounds.”

“WHAT?” Isagi practically screamed, “What type of fucking punishment is that!”

Ego looked at him, despite the stoic expression Isagi could tell there was a sort of amusement within him. He most definitely relished in forcing Isagi to stick with that emo prick.

Isagi's protest fell on deaf ears as Ego, satisfied with his impromptu decision, walked away, leaving Isagi and Rin alone. Again. The awkward silence hung between them as Isagi begrudgingly accepted his unexpected responsibility.

“You should’ve minded your business, bastard.” Rin crossed his arms, he was standing in the doorway with a first aid kit in hand.

“Why the fuck do you have a first aid kid already?” Isagi questioned, his eyes boring into Rin’s glabella.

“Ego told me that this would be my punishment when the antenna freak and I were in the room.” Rin explained, his eyebrows furrowed as he tapped his elbow. “He said it’s also your punishment for being a ‘nosy prick’.”

Rin and Isagi stared at each other in silence, waiting for the other to move.

"Come on, Isagi, let's just get this over with." Rin muttered, breaking the silence. He started walking inside the office, assuming Isagi would follow.

Isagi's annoyance reached new heights as he reluctantly followed Rin to a more secluded area. The first aid kit felt like an unwelcome burden in his hands, and the entire situation was a stark reminder of how quickly things could spiral out of control just by one small decision. Life truly does hate Isagi.

Rin took a seat on a bench, his expression unreadable. Isagi hesitated for a moment before begrudgingly walking to stand in front of him. The silence between them was palpable, charged with unspoken resentment and frustration.

"Just get it done," Rin muttered, breaking the silence. Isagi sighed, his annoyance evident, as he opened the first aid kit. The awkwardness of the situation lingered, and Isagi couldn't help but shoot an irritated glance at Rin.

Isagi sighed, his annoyance evident, but his hands moved with a surprising gentleness as he opened the first aid kit. The awkwardness of the situation hung in the air, and as Isagi shot an irritated glance at Rin, he couldn't ignore the close proximity between the two of them. He truly hated this, fuck Ego.

The sting of antiseptic met Rin's wounds, and Isagi's gaze flickered to Rin's face. The teal-eyed boy, usually a picture of stoic composure, winced ever so slightly.

The atmosphere between them shifted, the tension threading through the air like an invisible current. Isagi's movements became more deliberate, his touch careful yet purposeful. It was a strange dance of conflicting emotions—resentment and concern.

The blood soaked into the cotton ball Isagi used.

“How did you two get into a fight?” Isagi asked, moving his face a bit closer to make sure he was targeting the correct area of the lip. He wished to rid this weird tension between the two of them at the moment.

Rin's gaze flickered, meeting Isagi's eyes for a brief moment before looking away. "Does it matter?" he replied, his voice a low murmur.

Isagi couldn't help but feel a surge of irritation at Rin's dismissive response. "Of course it matters. We're on the same team, and I don't want our team to go down the drain because you two can't get along."

Rin's eyes narrowed, a silent challenge in the air. "It's none of your business. Just do what Ego told you to do and leave it at that."

“No need to be so cold. I’m only trying to make this less awkward.” Isagi quipped, his eyes narrowed as well. He pressed the antiseptic harder into Rin’s wound.

Rin winced in response to the increased pressure, his stoic facade momentarily cracking. "Less awkward?" he scoffed, a bitter edge to his voice. "This whole situation is awkward, thanks to your eavesdropping and Ego's brilliant idea of making you my nurse."

Isagi couldn't deny the truth in Rin's words, and a part of him regretted getting involved in the first place. The atmosphere between them remained charged, the tension escalating with each passing second.

"Maybe if you and Shidou could act like civilised human beings, we wouldn't be in this mess," Isagi retorted, the frustration in his tone evident. He finished applying the antiseptic, his movements efficient but lacking the earlier gentleness. He moved to grab the petroleum jelly over Rin’s wounds.

Rin remained silent for a moment, his expression unreadable. Although he looked as though he had some shame. Isagi started putting the jelly over Rin’s lips, his touch less harsh than before.

Rin’s tongue swiped over his lips afterward. Isagi's hands paused for a moment as Rin's tongue swiped over his lips. The awkwardness of the situation lingered.

"Can you not?" Isagi stated, frustration evident in his voice. The unexpected gesture from Rin had only heightened the awkwardness of the situation, leaving Isagi with a mix of irritation and confusion.

Rin, seemingly unaware of the impact of his actions, merely nodded in response. His expression remained guarded, but a flicker of something resembling embarrassment crossed his features.

After Isagi finished applying the jelly, Rin put more distance between the two of them. The subtle shift in Rin's demeanour did little to dispel the lingering awkwardness.

“I still need to add a bandage over your nose.” Isagi stared at Rin’s nose.

Rin nodded in acknowledgment, his guard still up but the flicker of embarrassment from earlier persisted. Isagi moved his face closer to Rin’s again for precision, Rin made sure not to make any eye contact. As Isagi carefully placed the bandage over Rin's nose, the atmosphere became thicker.

Isagi then grabbed a tissue and handed it over to Rin.

“Just put it in your nose.” Isagi looked away, finally being able to stop looking at the boy in front of him. When Isagi didn’t feel Rin taking the tissue, he looked back. The green-haired boy had his head down a bit.

As Isagi handed the tissue to Rin, he noticed the subtle change in Rin's demeanour. The usually composed boy now seemed a bit more reserved, his head slightly down as he accepted the tissue.

"Just put it in your nose," Isagi instructed, trying to maintain a tone of detached professionalism. The lingering awkwardness weighed heavily in the air, and Isagi couldn't shake off the discomfort that had settled between them. The younger boy seemed oddly detached, Isagi thought.

Rin, still avoiding eye contact, followed Isagi's directive and tended to his own injuries. The room remained silent, the unspoken tension refusing to dissipate.

Isagi, feeling the need to break the stifling atmosphere, cleared his throat. "Alright, I've done what Ego asked. Can I go now?" he asked, his gaze focused anywhere but directly at Rin.

Rin mumbled out a “Yes.” which gave Isagi the permission he sought. As Isagi made a swift exit from the scene, Isagi looked back at the seated boy again. Oddly enough, his ears seemed to be more.. Red? Isagi chalked it up to some weird delusion in his head as he rushed out.

–
Isagi laid on his stomach as he watched highlights of Noel Noa. He kicked his feet against the bed, hugging his pillow as Noa scored a hattrick. The cheers of the crowd echoed through the room, blending with the excited commentary.

Just as Noa netted the third goal, Isagi's mother called out from downstairs, her voice carrying a fond exasperation. "Yoi, dinner's ready! You've been in your cave for hours!"

Isagi rolled over onto his back, torn between the magnetic pull of the football match and the prospect of food. With a loud sigh, he shouted back, "I'll be down in a minute!”

As Isagi joined his family at the dinner table, his mother seized the opportunity to share exciting plans. "We're thinking of attending a fireworks display tomorrow for New Year's," she announced.

Isagi perked up at the mention of a fireworks display, his interest piqued. "A fireworks display, huh?" Isagi replied, a spark of excitement in his eyes. "That sounds pretty cool. Where's it going to be?"

His mother smiled, happy to see his enthusiasm. "It's at the park downtown. Your father and I thought it would be a great way to welcome the New Year together as a family. What do you think?"

Isagi nodded, his mind already racing with the anticipation of vibrant lights painting the night sky. "I’d love to go."

–
It’s fucking crowded. That’s all Isagi could think as a sea of people pushed and shoved at him.

Overwhelmed by the bustling crowd, Isagi made a decision to retreat from the centre of the festivities. He manoeuvred against the flow of people, determined to find a more secluded spot where he could appreciate the fireworks without feeling engulfed by the masses of people.

As soon as he was midway in the crowd he noticed a familiar face, towering over most of the crowd with a stoic look. Of course he ran into Rin here, it’s almost like he was in a stupid romcom at this point.

Their eyes met suddenly, Isagi raised his hand to wave at him out of instinct. The emo bastard decided to ignore the wave, turning away and leaving Isagi’s wave unreciprocated.

Irritation played on Isagi's face as he muttered to himself, "Well, that's gratitude for you." He started pushing against the crowd, determined to reach Rin. Maybe it could be a bonding experience for them.

Maybe

…

Probably not but it’s worth a try.

As Isagi struggled through the swarm of people, his determination to reach Rin remained unshaken. Dodging and weaving, Isagi finally reached Rin's side, who remained oblivious to the persistent pursuit. "Hey, Rin, fancy meeting you here," Isagi remarked, a tinge of annoyance in his voice.

Rin turned to look at Isagi, his expression stoic as ever. "What do you want?" he asked, his tone clipped.

Isagi couldn't help but feel a pang of irritation grace him again because of Rin's uninterested demeanour. "I thought we could, you know, enjoy the fireworks together. A rare moment of solidarity or something."

Rin sent him a side glance before looking away, not deeming him with a response as he carried on walking off.

Undeterred by Rin's lack of response, Isagi quickened his pace to match Rin's strides. The vibrant bursts of fireworks illuminated their path as they walked away from the bustling crowd. Isagi decided to push through the awkwardness and make the best of the situation.

"Come on, Rin, it's New Year's Eve. Can't you at least pretend to enjoy the fireworks?" Isagi prodded, attempting to inject a hint of unity between the two of them.

Rin shot him another sidelong glance, his teal eyes narrowing ever so slightly. "I don't see the point in pretending. I was dragged here against my will."

"So, forced to be here, huh?" Isagi remarked, attempting to inject some casualness into the situation.

Rin merely grunted in response, still focused on navigating through the crowd. Isagi sighed, realising that getting Rin to engage in small talk was like pulling teeth. Despite all that, he kept following Rin.

As they walked further away from the chaotic centre of the festival, Isagi decided to switch tactics. Instead of attempting more small talk, he chose to appreciate the mesmerising display of fireworks in silence. The vibrant colours painted the night sky, casting an ethereal glow on their surroundings.

Isagi found a spot with a decent view and gestured for Rin to join him. "Alright, let's just enjoy the fireworks, no need for words," Isagi suggested, hoping the shared spectacle might bridge the gap between them.

Rin hesitated for a moment before settling beside Isagi, his stoic expression unchanged. The bursts of light reflected in his teal eyes, Isagi thought they were quite pretty. Isagi noticed a subtle softening of the usually stern expression. It was as if, for a brief moment, the brilliance of the fireworks had managed to breach the walls Rin had built around himself.

“Hey, Rin.” Isagi pulled at Rin’s sleeve to gain his attention. Rin turned his gaze towards Isagi, a silent acknowledgment of the interruption. “Why don’t we do a challenge.”

Rin raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Isagi's proposal. "Challenge? What kind?"

Isagi grinned, his eyes reflecting the colourful bursts overhead. "Simple. Let's see who can spot the most red fireworks first. We say red, pointing at a firework which adds a point. The other person keeps count for no cheating. Loser buys the winner a drink."

Rin considered the challenge for a moment, “That’s stupid.” Rin then quickly nodded in agreement anyway. "Fine. But I warn you, I have a sharp eye."

Isagi chuckled. "We'll see about that."

As the next set of fireworks erupted in the sky, Isagi and Rin engaged in their friendly competition. They pointed and shouted "red" each time they spotted a crimson burst, with Rin keeping a mental tally. The crowd's excitement, combined with the vibrant display above, turned the challenge into an animated game.

As the grand finale of the fireworks approached, Isagi's enthusiasm reached its peak. Just as Rin seemed confident in his count, Isagi's eyes widened with excitement. He spotted a particularly dazzling red firework that seemed to outshine the rest.

"Red!" Isagi exclaimed, pointing at the brilliant burst of colour.

As soon as he said that, the fireworks died down. Isagi’s grinned as he turned to Rin. “You owe me a drink.” Rin’s expression was that of a sore-loser, although he knew the teal-eyed-boy wouldn’t deny it out of ‘sportsmanship’.

Rin, with a forced nod, replied, "Alright, I'll get you that drink. Let's find a place after the next set of fireworks."
As Rin agreed to buy Isagi a drink, his initial irritation lingered, and he couldn't help but mutter under his breath, "Stupid game."

As they waited for the next set of fireworks, the atmosphere between them grew slightly tense. Rin, a sore loser in the friendly competition, couldn't shake off the annoyance. Isagi, sensing the shift, decided to break the awkward silence.

"Come on, Rin, it was just a bit of fun. No hard feelings, right?" Isagi nudged Rin playfully.

Rin shot him a sidelong glance, his expression still holding a hint of irritation. Despite the irritation, Isagi felt as though he had made progress with their ‘friendship’. "Yeah, yeah, let's just get this over with."

When the last set of fireworks subsided, Isagi's eyes gleamed with anticipation. He eagerly awaited for his free drink.

As the fireworks concluded, Rin sighed. "Let's go get that drink. I hope you enjoy it."

Isagi chuckled, not fully grasping the extent of Rin's irritation, and replied, "I'm sure I will. Lead the way, Rin!" It was oddly comfortable to be around Rin, even if he was pissed he lost.

As they navigated through the dissipating crowd, Rin led the way to a nearby open-air cafe. The night air was crisp, and the distant echoes of the New Year's celebrations continued to fill the atmosphere. Whether it was couples doing couples stuff (ew) or children screaming, Isagi watched it all.

They settled at a quiet corner of the cafe, surrounded by dimly lit lanterns casting a warm glow. Rin ordered the drinks, his irritation simmering beneath the surface. Isagi, seemingly oblivious, took in the surroundings, appreciating the tranquillity of the moment.

The drinks arrived, and Rin pushed one towards Isagi with a curt nod. "Here's your victory drink. Enjoy it."

Isagi accepted it with a grin, seemingly unbothered by the lingering tension. "Thanks, Rin! Cheers to a memorable New Year's!" He raised his glass, attempting to inject a bit of cheer into the atmosphere.

Rin didn’t reciprocate, like usual as he sipped on the drink. Isagi wasn’t too bothered this time, he got free tea and that's all that matters.

"So, Rin, what's your deal with New Year's?" Isagi asked, breaking the silence once again. "Not a fan of celebrations?"

Rin's gaze lingered on the distant lights, and he sighed. "It's just another day. I don't see the point in all this fuss."

Isagi chuckled, taking a sip of his drink. "Fair enough. I used to feel the same way, you know? But then you grow up, and suddenly, the idea of a fresh start doesn't sound too bad."

Rin gave him a glance, his teal eyes reflecting the soft glow of the lanterns. "Fresh start… Do you believe in that stuff?"

Rin gave him a glance, his teal eyes reflecting the soft glow of the lanterns. The gaze lingered for a while this time. "Fresh start, huh? Do you believe in that stuff?"

Rin nodded, seemingly lost in his own thoughts. Isagi, sensing an opportunity for a more personal conversation, decided to probe a bit further. "So, any resolutions for this year, Rin?"

Rin's lips twitched a bit (was he going to smile?? Isagi thought slightly), his gaze still fixed on Isagi. "Resolutions are overrated."

Isagi stared at him for a bit, the lighting hitting Rin was doing him a lot of justice. Isagi couldn't help but admire the play of light on Rin's features. The lanterns cast gentle shadows, emphasising the sharp lines of Rin's profile. The colour of his eyes deepened by the ambient light.

Isagi caught himself out, breaking his trance. WHAT was that.

Isagi cleared his throat, attempting to mask the sudden intensity of his thoughts. "Yeah, resolutions are overrated, I guess." He shifted in his seat, trying to divert his attention from the unexpected contemplation that had taken hold of him. Isagi then looked back to Rin, who was staring at him still.

He seemed spaced out.

“Anyone home?” Isagi waved his hands in front of Rin’s gaze

Rin blinked, as if awakening from a brief reverie. His gaze refocused on Isagi, and there was a moment of awkward silence before he finally spoke. "Yeah, sorry. Got lost in thought for a moment there."

Isagi chuckled. "Must’ve been some deep thoughts. Care to share?"

“No.” Rin bluntly said, cutting off any sort of conversation.

Isagi giggled, taking Rin's dismissive response in stride. "Fair enough, your thoughts are probably too complex for mere mortals like me to comprehend."

"Let's go with that." Rin imputed, his face unchanging like always.

Isagi and Rin then sat in silence, Rin seemed to find it fine; Isagi found it stifling. Isagi quickly stood up.

“Why don’t we walk around?” Isagi tilts his head, trying to seem more inviting. “I wanna look around before we need to leave.”

Rin silently stared up at him before standing up himself, turning around and walking in a random direction. Isagi took that as a sign to follow.

As they continued their stroll through the quiet streets, the tension that lingered from earlier seemed to dissipate. Isagi found himself enjoying the peaceful atmosphere, the occasional laughter, and the shared moments of quiet understanding with Rin.

Eventually, they found themselves at the entrance of an unknown park (to Isagi), its gate was slightly ajar. Isagi raised an eyebrow. "Wanna check it out? It's not too late for a bit more adventure."

Rin nodded. They walked into the unknown park.

The park was deserted, bathed in the soft glow of moonlight. Isagi and Rin meandered through the pathway. The night seemed to stretch on, embracing the simplicity of the moment.

As they reached a tranquil spot near a small pond, Isagi couldn't help but marvel at the serenity around them. The moon reflected on the water's surface, creating a mesmerising dance of light.

"Pretty, isn't it?" Isagi remarked, looking at the moonlit pond.

Rin nodded in agreement, his gaze fixed on the water. "Yeah, it is."

Isagi turned to Rin, a playful glint in his eyes. "You know, they say wishing on a full moon can make your dreams come true. I bet the new year would add to that luck. Got any wishes, Rin?"

Rin raised an eyebrow, a hint of scepticism in his expression. "Wishes? That's just superstition."

Isagi chuckled. "Well, humour me. What harm could it do?"

Rin sighed, relenting. "Fine. If I had to wish for something, it would be for a bit more peace and quiet in my life."

Isagi laughed at his words. “What a wish.”

Rin shot him a deadpan look. "Not everyone craves constant annoyance, Isagi."

Isagi grinned, taking Rin's comment in stride. "Fair enough. A peaceful life has its charms, I guess. Now, let me guess your other wish—unlimited supply of horror content?"

Rin's stoic expression remained unchanged, but there was a flicker of amusement in his eyes. "Not a bad guess, but no. My other wish would be for... well, let's say, fewer annoying companions."

Isagi feigned offence, placing a hand over his heart. "Ouch! I'm hurt, Rin. I thought we were bonding over fireworks."

"Temporary alliances. Doesn't mean I want them to be permanent." Rin huffed out, crossing his arms as though he was proud of his words.

Isagi playfully nudged Rin. "You'll miss me when I'm gone, you know."

Rin didn't respond.

Rin remained silent, and a notification chimed in the air. Isagi reached for his phone, pulling it out.

"Sorry to cut this short, but my mum told me I need to go home," Isagi said, his gaze fixed on his phone screen.

RRin glanced at him through his peripheral vision, quietly observing. Isagi then pocketed his phone, offering a wave to Rin as he walked away.

This time, Rin waved back.

Chapter Text

Isagi wanted to cry. His first lesson was science. This may not seem so bad until he found out he sat next to a certain loud, eccentric boy who’s name may-or-may-not start with an ‘S’.

Isagi slumped into his desk, feeling a sense of dread wash over him as the familiar voice next to him echoed through the classroom. He couldn't escape the fact that he was seated next to Shidou, and the universe seemed to be playing a cruel joke on him. He’s convinced life truly does fucking hate him.

Eventually, Isagi decided just to try and pay attention.

As Isagi scribbled notes, he could feel the weight of Shidou's gaze on him. He glanced sideways, only to find Shidou grinning mischievously.

Shidou’s grin widened, he looked like a Cheshire cat. "Hey, Isagi! Long time no see, huh?"

Isagi resisted the urge to facepalm. "Not long enough," he muttered under his breath.

Shidou, pretending not to hear the comment, leaned in with exaggerated excitement. "So, what did you do over New Years? I bet it wasn't as fun as what I did!"

Isagi shot him a sceptical look, although; he was slightly intrigued by what ‘exciting’ thing Shidou did.

“I went on multiple dates with my future husband~” Shidou gave him a kissy face, cusping his hands as he does. He quickly grins right after, again. Isagi rolled his eyes, he should’ve expected that; he’s practically attached to Sae.

Isagi sighed, annoyed (he’s been way too annoyed recently). "That sounds thrilling. I'm sure your 'future husband' is a lucky person."

Shidou's eyes twinkled with mischief. "Oh, he is. Sae can't resist my charms."

Isagi shook his head, trying to focus on the science lesson. The teacher seemed blissfully unaware of the ongoing conversation (albeit one-sided at this point.) between the two.

"Speaking of charms," Shidou began, pulling out a small, glittering trinket from his pocket, "I got this lucky charm over the break. It's supposed to bring good fortune in love!"

"A lucky charm for love? Seriously?" Isagi rested his hand in his face, deciding to give up listening to the teacher.

Shidou grinned, seemingly undeterred by Isagi's lack of enthusiasm. "Absolutely! Love is a serious business, you know. Gotta make sure I'm at peak performance in the romance department."

Isagi rolled his eyes again, but a small smirk played on his lips. "And how's that working out for you?"

“Flawlessly! Sae can't resist my irresistible charm.” Shidou flips the front of his hair.

Isagi couldn't help but snort at the theatrics. "Sure… anyways." Isagi turns to him a bit more seriously, “Why did you and Rin get into a fight?”

Shidou blankly stares at Isagi, before replying. “Emo boy was just being dramatic.” Shidou rolls his eyes at the thought.

Isagi tilted his head, knowing Rin's penchant for drama but not expecting physical fights. “All I said was that Sae likes me better than him.” Shidou leaned back, playing with his pen. “He took it too seriously, even if it’s the truth.” Shidou’s pen fell onto the floor, creating a small sound.

Isagi knew there was a rocky relationship between Rin and Sae, but not to the point where Rin would get into such a fight over a simple sentence. Isagi sat up.

“Wait, seriously? That's what the fight was about?"

Shidou shrugged nonchalantly, picking up his fallen pen. "Well, he's just touchy about the whole Sae situation. Thinks his brother away or something. It's not my fault that Sae prefers spending time with me. Not like Sae likes him."

Isagi looks at him confused, “Likes him? He doesn’t like him? They’re brothers..”

Shidou chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Well, they might be brothers, but Sae has his preferences, you know? Rin can be a bit much sometimes. Plus, we have our own special connection."

“I highly doubt it’s just that.” Isagi blankly says.

“Not my problem to find out. I don’t care about Rinrin.” Shidou dismissed the issue casually.

The teacher decided to cut their conversation short. "Alright, enough chatting, everyone. It's now your turn to do an experiment," the teacher announced, unwittingly unleashing potential chaos upon the classroom. Isagi couldn't shake the feeling that this experiment was about to take an unexpected turn.

To make matters worse, Isagi realised he was Shidou's partner for the experiment. This was undoubtedly going to turn out bad.

–

As Isagi walked through the school halls, a heavy sigh escaped his lips. The exhaustion from the triple-period science class with Shidou still lingered, and he couldn't shake off the chaos that had unfolded during the experiment.

"Thank god for the end of the day," Isagi muttered to himself, his steps slightly dragging. His mind replayed the events of the science class, from Shidou mixing the ethanol, iodine and benedict solution to when he almost shoved it down Igaguri’s throat.

Of course it didn’t end there, from almost all the glues being stuck on the ceiling; flooding the back of the classroom with water and iodine (which probably stained the floor) and licking the underclassmen’s crystallisation experiment to get ‘high’.

The last thing Isagi expected was ping from his phone, there was no football practise today and all his friends ran off home.

Isagi absentmindedly pulled out his phone, expecting the usual random from his friends or perhaps a message from Ego about tomorrow's practice. To his surprise, a new message notification popped up, and the sender's name read "Rin".

Huh?
Isagi did a double take to the phone; lo and behold it was Rin.

Isagi did a double take at his phone, his eyebrows furrowing in surprise and curiosity. The sender's name displayed unmistakably - "Rin." He hesitated for a moment, his thumb hovering over the screen, contemplating whether to open the message or leave it unattended.

Isagi finally pressed onto the messenger app.

Rin: my place today at 7, history project.

Isagi's eyes widened as he read Rin's message. The unexpectedness of the invitation caught him off guard. Rin texted first? That’s scary.

Isagi: History project? Alright, sure. See you at 7.

Isagi turned off his phone, stretching his arms as he carried on walking down to his house.

–

The evening approached swiftly, and as the clock struck 7, Isagi found himself standing in front of Rin's door. He hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath before knocking. The door swung open, revealing Rin on the other side.

Rin stared at Isagi with a neutral expression on his face.

“Hello?” Isagi stared back at Rin who stared back.

Rin's neutral expression softened slightly. “Hi.” was all he said, turning around as he walked to his room. Presumably, he’s telling Isagi to follow him, which he does.

Isagi followed Rin into the room, the door closing behind them. The room was dimly lit, and a faint scent of incense lingered in the air. Books were neatly arranged on a shelf, and Amanda was perched on the windowsill.

Isagi strolled over to the cat, he put his hand on her back; running his fingers through her fur. Amanda purred contentedly, seemingly unbothered by their presence.

"Hey there, Amanda. Missed me?" Isagi whispered, Amanda purred in response, rubbing her head against Isagi's hand.

Rin gestured towards the desk, where a pile of history books and papers were neatly organised. "We should get started on the project. It's due next week, and I'd rather not leave it until the last minute."

Isagi stared at the books, finally moving his hand away from Amanda and walking to the desk.

“What point did we get to last time?” Isagi pulled out a chair, sitting on it as he pulled out his work from the previous time he was there.

“We finished the economic, social and political parts. We need to link it all together and then link it to the overall question on how it affected Japan later on..” Rin spoke, he was reading something on his laptop as he did.

Isagi nodded, reading through his paragraphs. "Got it.”

As Isagi and Rin delved into their history project, the room became a quiet haven of focused concentration. The occasional rustling of papers and the tapping of keys on a laptop filled the air. The dim light cast a cosy ambiance, and Amanda, the cat, continued to lounge on the windowsill, occasionally playing with a random project propped up on the sill.

After a while, Isagi leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms. He took a look around the room again, he noticed a few plushies on his bed; they completely contrasted Rin’s room. A few being squishmellows and others being random characters.

Isagi couldn't help but smile at the sight of them. "Nice plushies," Isagi commented, nodding towards the bed. "Didn't peg you for a collector."

Rin glanced over his shoulder, narrowing his eyes; making up an excuse Isagi presumed.

"They're gifts. People seem to think I need some 'cheering up' in my life." Rin finally spoke.

Isagi raised an eyebrow at Rin's response, sensing a hint of defensiveness. He decided not to press the matter further.

"Well, they certainly add a different vibe to the room," Isagi remarked, steering the conversation away from the plushies.

Rin sighed, turning back to his work. “Amanda seems to enjoy them so I keep them around."

Isagi nodded, he then rested his head onto his hand, staring at Rin who was staring at his laptop. Rin seemed quite focused, his eyes were narrowed more than usual; yet they were softer than usual. Somehow, no matter the lighting, the shadows and light hitting Rin’s face always did him justice.

Isagi was a bit jealous of Rin, it’s hard not to be; he was gorgeous. As Isagi observed Rin engrossed in his work, Rin looked up; meeting Isagi's gaze.

Rin then raised an eyebrow. “What’re you looking at, lukewarm? Do your work.”

Isagi chuckled at Rin's tone (he wasn’t sure if it was teasing or him being serious). "Alright, alright. No need to be so serious, Ice Prince."

Rin rolled his eyes. "Ice Prince, really? You can do better than that, lukewarm."

Isagi grinned, revelling in Rin’s annoyance. "Fine, how about Frosty? Or would you prefer Frozen?"

Rin shook his head, a huff from his nose came out. "You're incorrigible. Stick to Isagi."

Isagi dramatically gasped at Rin’s huff. “Did I make the oh-so-mighty villain, Itoshi Rin laugh?”

Rin blankly stared at Isagi before giving him a half-hearted glare, but there was a faint upturn to his lip which was quickly concealed by his hand. "Don't flatter yourself. I'm just tolerating your nonsense."

Rin then looked back down to the computer, moving away his hand; Rin’s lips were no longer ‘smiling’.

“What does.. Incorrigi.. able mean?” Isagi tried repeating Rin’s words.

Rin glanced at Isagi with a raised eyebrow. "Incorrigible means being incapable of being corrected, improved, or reformed. Basically, you're hopeless."

Isagi grinned. "I'll take that as a compliment, wannabe villain."

Rin sighed, shaking his head in mock exasperation. "Wannabe villain? Really, Isagi? Your insults need some serious improvement. Stick to Rin.”

Isagi giggled a bit. "Alright, Rin. I'll spare you from my 'terrible' insults. Let's focus on the project."

Isagi finally looked at his work, finally writing the paragraphs to link everything together. As Isagi focused on connecting the different aspects of their history project, Rin resumed his work on the laptop. Isagi eventually finished; he always wrote quite quickly anyways. He then looked to Amanda who is now curled up between the plushies.

After a while, Isagi broke the silence. "You know, Rin, for someone who claims to tolerate my nonsense, you seem to engage in it quite a bit."

“Shut up, lukewarm.” Rin defensively said, glaring at him now.

Isagi raised his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, Ice Prince, no need to get defensive. Just an observation."

Rin huffed, going back to his laptop. Isagi then remembered something he wanted to ask Rin.

“Uhm, Rin.” Isagi said, a bit nervous now.

Rin glanced at Isagi, raising an eyebrow in response.

Isagi scratched the back of his head, feeling a bit awkward. "I was just wondering about what happened with you and Shidou.”

Rin's expression remained neutral, but there was a hint of tension in the air. "Shidou being Shidou, stirring up trouble. It wasn't a big deal."

Isagi narrowed his eyes, sensing there was more to the story. "It didn't seem like a minor thing. I had to patch you up; remember? What triggered the fight?"

Rin sighed, running a hand through his hair. He seemed reluctant to delve into the details but decided to share a bit more. "It’s just Shidou being Shidou, after he started dating Sae; he always uses that against me.”

Isagi furrowed his brows in confusion. "Uses what against you? What happened after he started dating Sae?"

Rin looked away, his gaze fixed on some point in the room. "He's always been competitive, and after he found out about Sae and I, Shidou decided to exploit it. He enjoys pushing my buttons, especially since Sae and I don’t talk much."

Isagi listened, his curiosity growing. “What’s up with you and Sae?”

Rin then stared at Isagi, not speaking. Isagi felt a bit uneasy under Rin's gaze but held his ground, waiting for a response. After a moment, Rin sighed, seemingly resigned to share a bit more.

"Sae and I have a complicated relationship. Nothing serious." Rin started picking at his nail a bit, leaning back into his chair; replicating Isagi’s position.

Isagi observed Rin closely, sensing there was more to the story than Rin was letting on. He decided to approach the topic gently.

"It doesn't sound like 'nothing serious' if Shidou is using it against you. What's the history there?" Isagi inquired, his tone soft but genuine.

Rin then stared at Isagi again, stopping his movement in his hands. Rin's gaze held a mixture of reluctance and contemplation. He seemed to be debating whether to share more, and Isagi didn't want to push too hard.

“Shut up Isagi.” Rin shut down any other attempt Isagi could do. Isagi respected Rin's boundaries and dropped the subject. They returned to their history project, finishing the remaining sections in relative silence.

Isagi yawned, turning to the window which now revealed a pitch black area. The night had fallen, and Isagi could feel the fatigue settling in. He stretched his arms, trying to shake off the drowsiness that was creeping over him.

"Alright, I think that's enough work for today," Isagi announced, packing up his belongings. They then both heard a voice shout for Rin.

“Who was that?” Isagi raised his eyebrow.

Rin stood up, walking to the door. “My mum.”

Isagi nodded, realising that their study session was coming to an end. "Thanks for having me over, Rin.”

Rin nodded in agreement, but his attention seemed diverted as he headed to the door. Isagi followed him, and they found Rin's mother waiting in the kitchen.

"Rin, dear, who's your friend?" she asked, smiling warmly at Isagi. Isagi noticed her familiar eyes, turning to Rin now. That’s who the brothers get their eyes from.

Rin sighed, giving Isagi a brief glance. "This is Isagi. We're working on a history project together." Isagi waved to the woman.

His mother's eyes lit up, before smiling at Rin knowingly. "Oh, that's wonderful! It's great to see you making friends, Rin. Isagi, dear, feel free to join us for dinner if you'd like."

Rin blushed a bit, looking away and crossing his arms and mumbling out, “We’re not friends..”

Isagi was surprised by the invitation but smiled appreciatively. "Thank you, Mrs. Itoshi, but I don’t want to be a bother."

“It’s really no bother, Isagi.” The older woman smiled.

Isagi hesitated for a moment, glancing at Rin. Rin's mother seemed warm and welcoming and the prospect of a home-cooked meal was enticing.

“Thank you Mrs. Itoshi.” Isagi bowed a bit to her.

Rin's mother chuckled warmly. "No need for formalities, dear. Just call me Shiro."

Rin gave Isagi an amused look, as if silently commenting on Isagi's politeness. He was unused to Isagi being respectful.

Isagi grinned. "Alright, Shiro. Thanks for having me over."

Rin's mother led them to the dining table, where the aroma of a home-cooked meal filled the air. The atmosphere was cosy, and Isagi couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth in the Itoshi household.

Throughout dinner, conversations flowed naturally. Rin's mother shared stories about her work and Rin (which Rin kept trying to shut down), she also expressed genuine interest in Isagi's life. Rin maintained his usual stoic demeanour unless spoken to.

“You know, Isagi, Rin here used to be so close with Sae. They always played football together in the field nearby..” Shiro reminisced, poking at her food.

Isagi raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued by this piece of information. He glanced at Rin, who seemed to tense up slightly.

“Mum.” Rin said, trying to stop her from carrying on.

Shiro chuckled, seemingly enjoying the slight discomfort in her son. "Oh, don't be embarrassed, Rin. It's sweet. Those were good times." The woman then turned to Isagi. “Rin’s mentioned you before, you’re a striker on his team, right?”

Isagi nodded, appreciating Shiro's warmth. "Yeah, that's right. I play alongside Rin."

Shiro smiled, her eyes holding a certain sparkle. "It's wonderful to see you boys so passionate about football. Rin used to talk about it all the time with Sae." Shiro then sighed, looking at Isagi. “Thank you for talking to my baby Rin, I know he’s not the easiest to get along with and–”

“Mum..!” Rin spoke, completely red now.

Isagi couldn't help but laugh at Rin's embarrassment. "No worries, Shiro. Rin's not as bad as you say."

Shiro chuckled, still teasing Rin. "Well, he's my baby, and I worry. But if you say so, Isagi."

Rin rolled his eyes, trying to maintain a semblance of composure. Isagi could tell that Rin wasn't entirely comfortable with his past being discussed, especially the close friendship he had with Sae. The atmosphere lightened up as Shiro shifted the conversation to more general topics, sharing amusing anecdotes and asking about Isagi's interests.

As they finished their meal, Shiro turned to Isagi and smiled sweetly. “Why don’t you say the night? It’s quite late and Rinrin would love for you to stay over.”

Isagi hesitated for a moment, glancing at Rin. Rin's expression was a mix of embarrassment and reluctance, but he didn't protest. Isagi considered the invitation, realising that staying the night might provide an opportunity for him to understand Rin better.

“Mum..” Rin repeated again, putting his head in his hands.

Isagi chuckled, enjoying Rin's discomfort. "I appreciate the offer, Shiro. If it's not too much trouble, I'd be happy to stay."

Shiro beamed at Isagi's response. "Not at all! It's settled then. Rin, be a good host and get the futon for Isagi."

Rin reluctantly nodded, still avoiding eye contact. As they left the dining area, Isagi shot Rin a playful grin. "Looks like you're stuck with me for the night, Rinrin."

Rin sighed, rolling his eyes. "Don't call me that."

And of course, Isagi kept calling him that and more. “Alright, baby Rinrin~”

Isagi's playful teasing continued as they walked inside Rin's room. Rin, while maintaining a stoic facade, turned away. Isagi noticed his ears turning red.

As they entered the room, Rin prepared the futon in silence, and Isagi couldn't resist adding, "You're a natural at this, Rinrin. Maybe you missed your true calling as a host."

Rin shot him a deadpan look. "Don't push it, Isagi."

Isagi chuckled, enjoying the playful banter. "Alright, alright. I'll stop with the Rinrin. For now."

Rin walked out the room, not dignifying Isagi's comment with a response. He then returned with a deflated futon, laying it in a spacious area and started inflating it. Once the futon was ready, Isagi plopped onto it comfortably.

"You know, Rin, your mom seems really nice. It’s the opposite of you and Sae.." Isagi remarked, trying to strike up a more serious conversation.

Rin paused in his movements, looking at Isagi with a guarded expression. "Yeah, well, people aren't always what they seem."

Isagi detected a hint of bitterness in Rin's tone, and he decided to tread carefully. "I'm sorry if I touched on something sensitive. You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to."

Rin stared at Isagi for a bit, his gaze was quite soft yet scrutinising. Rin then sighed, resuming his task. "It's not a big deal. Families are complicated, that's all."

Isagi hugged his knees, sitting on the futon. "Your mom mentioned you and Sae playing football together. Must've been fun, huh?" Isagi said, trying to bring back the warmth to the conversation.

Rin's expression softened a bit more as he nodded. "Yeah, it was. We used to spend hours on that field. It feels like a different lifetime now."

Isagi smiled at Rin’s response, “Midfielder and striker duo? I bet you two worked well together..” The air thickened after Isagi said that, Rin’s eyebrows furrowed and his hands now clenched. He then mumbled something.

“Rin?” Isagi titled his head, confused on what Rin had said.

“We were both strikers.” Rin spoke loudly this time, he took a deep breath as his usually composed demeanour faltered. His voice carried a weight of unresolved emotions.

“What?” Isagi spoke, surprised by the new fact of Sae being a (ex-)striker. “What happened, Rin?” Isagi asked gently, sensing a history.

Rin walked over to his closet, grabbing a t-shirt and joggers. They seemed a bit worned out and smaller. “You need a change of clothes.. Right?” Rin switched the subject, unsubtly.

Isagi observed Rin, sensing the shift in the atmosphere and the weight of the brother’s relationship. He nodded in acknowledgment of the offered change of clothes. “You don’t want to talk about it, do you?” Isagi spoke, taking the change of clothes into his hands.

Rin glanced at Isagi, reluctance was present in his eyes before turning to his bed and sitting down. "It’s none of your business, lukewarm.” Isagi sensed the defensiveness in Rin's tone, understanding that certain topics were off-limits. He decided not to press further.

"Alright, no need to get all defensive," Isagi said with a playful grin. "I'm just here to help with history projects and be a great guest. You can keep your secrets, Rinrin."

Rin shot Isagi a half-hearted glare, his usual stoic facade returning. "Stop calling me that."

Isagi chuckled, knowing that the nickname was a source of annoyance for Rin. He changed into the offered clothes, having to roll the joggers a bit on the waist-band to fit into it. Other than that, the clothes were almost perfect; albeit a bit big but almost perfect (Isagi presumed they were Rin’s old clothes). He then joined Rin on the bed.

“So, what's on the agenda for tonight?" Isagi asked, steering the conversation away.

Rin shrugged, grabbing a remote control. "We can watch something or play video games. Whatever you're in the mood for."

“You mentioned you were a fan of Saw, right?” Isagi asked, “Your cat was named after one of the characters.”

Rin's eyes widened in surprise, and for a moment. "Yeah, I am. How did you...?"

Isagi grinned. "I pay attention to details. You mentioned it once, and it stuck with me. So, which one should we watch?"

“I’m not sure you can handle that stuff.” Rin stated, Isagi wasn’t sure if he was teasing.

Isagi chuckled. "I can handle it just fine. Surprise me."

“If you can handle it so well, we’ll watch Saw 6.” Rin turned on his TV, going through his saved movies.

Isagi raised an eyebrow. "Saw 6? Is it the worst one?"

Rin smirked. "It's got its moments. Let's see if you can keep up."

Isagi was stunned by his facial expression as the movie started up. He then turned to the movie, he was confident it wouldn’t be that bad. All he knew about Saw is that it’s gory but that’s it.

Isagi’s confidence wavered after the first trap started up, Isagi found himself squirming in his seat as ‘Simone’ hacked at her arm and dropped it into where it is weighed. Isagi put his head into hands, slightly peeking one out. Rin, on the other hand, seemed to be thoroughly enjoying Isagi's reactions.

Isagi turned to Rin. “How is this shit only the first trap?”

Rin put his head in his hands, amused. “Eh, the other traps aren’t that bad. Not like this one was that bad either.”

“Oh yeah? What’s the worst trap then? I’ll watch it, no problem.” Isagi stated confidently.

“The rack maybe.. or maybe the Cat got your tongue..” Rin spoke, lost in thought now.

“I’ll watch them then!” Isagi spoke in confidence, grabbing Rin’s sleeve and shaking him a bit as he grinned.

Rin stared at him for a bit, lost in thought.

“Anyone there?” Isagi spoke.

Rin snapped out of his thoughts, quickly looking back at the screen. "Yeah, I'm here. Are you really sure about watching the rest?"

Isagi nodded, determination in his eyes. "Absolutely. It's just a movie, right? I can handle it."

(slight gore warning, it’s explaining the trap so feel free to skip to the next brackets).

“I’ll just skip to those traps to see if you can take it.” Rin turned on Spiral. He skipped a bit of the start and went to the first trap; a man in a subway station with chains which seemed to be attached to his tongue with a screw (explains the name). It was explained that he had to jump off the stepstool and rip their.. tongue out.

The man was trying his hardest to get the trap off of himself as the train neared him. Isagi squealed as the man was startled; jumping off the stool, ripping his tongue as the train hit him. Isagi shoved his face into his hands as this happened, scared to death.

(gore warning done.)

"See? I told you, you couldn't handle it." Rin teased him as Isagi looked like death.

Isagi, still covering his face, responded with a muffled voice, "Shut up, Rin.”

Rin chuckled, enjoying Isagi's reaction. "Alright, alright. No more Saw for tonight. Let's switch to something less traumatising."

Isagi looked up, staring at Rin a bit. “Why is the first time you laugh is when I’m scared?”

Rin raised an eyebrow at Isagi's observation. "Maybe I find your terrified face amusing. It's a rare sight."

Isagi rolled his eyes, his initial shock turning into a grin. "Well, I'm glad my fear brings you joy, Rin. Let's just watch something that won't give me nightmares, okay?"

Rin nodded, he no longer looked as though he laughed a bit ago. "Agreed. No more nightmares for you tonight."

Rin off the movie, switching to a random movie. The two decided on a lighthearted comedy, Isagi no longer was tense from the previous movie. As the movie started up, he grabbed a plushie near him, hugging it to his chest now.

At a certain point in the movie, Isagi's eyes started to droop.

Rin glanced over at Isagi, noticing the drowsiness in his expression. "Getting sleepy, lukewarm?"

Isagi mumbled out a small, “No.” as his eyes closed. “I’m merely resting my eyes..”

Rin seemed to find Isagi's attempt at denying his drowsiness amusing. "Sure, sure. Rest those eyes then."

As the comedy continued on the screen, Isagi's drifted in and out of consciousness. Isagi's gentle snores joined the soundtrack of the room, he finally fell asleep. Rin grabbed a spare blanket, gently covering Isagi to keep him warm through the night. He let Isagi lay on his bed.

Rin, sitting in the dimly lit room, couldn't help but watch Isagi sleep for a moment. Isagi's face was free from the usual teasing or playful expressions; a sight Rin rarely witnessed. He then stood up, walking over to the futon and layed down on it. He was annoyed by Isagi sleeping on his bed but decided against waking up Isagi and went to sleep.

Chapter Text

Isagi woke up to shuffling; his eyes opened in response. The sun from the early morning hit his eyes. He blinked a few times, adjusting to the surroundings. The room was filled with soft hues of daylight.

As Isagi sat up on the bed, he noticed Rin staring at him; Rin was dressed in sportswear. His gaze was intense, as if assessing something.

"Morning, Rin," Isagi greeted, his voice carrying a hint of drowsiness.

Rin nodded in response before quickly averting his gaze, breaking eye contact.

“I’m going to go train; you should head home,” Rin stated, reaching for his bag and placing a water bottle into the side pocket.

Isagi, still rubbing the sleep from his eyes, looked at Rin with confusion. "Train? It's early. What's up?"

Rin glanced at Isagi, his expression unreadable. “I train every morning.” was all he said.

Isagi, sensing a certain seriousness in Rin's demeanour, didn't press further. "Alright, if that's what you need to do. Thanks for letting me crash here, though. I had a good time."

Rin nodded, slinging his bag over his shoulder. "No problem."

Isagi stood up from the bed, stretching. "Yeah, Maybe we can hang out again sometime?"

Rin hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Maybe. We'll see." With that, Rin walked out of the room, leaving Isagi alone in the soft morning light.

As Rin left, Isagi took a moment to gather himself. He glanced around the room, noting the subtle details that he had missed the previous night. Amanda was playing with one of the plushies on the bed before she jumped at, seemingly, nothing and ran off.

After a brief moment, Isagi decided to head home. He gathered his belongings and left. As he stepped out into the morning air, a shiver went down his spine; it was a cold morning. What a great start to his day.

He turned on his heel, walking towards his house. His mum must’ve been worried.

–

“Isagi I’ve been worried; how is working with Rin?” Hiori tossed the volleyball into the air, sending it Isagi's way as he voiced his concern.

The sounds of sneakers squeaking on the polished gymnasium floor echo through the air as students engage in their own conversations; The rhythmic thud of volleyballs hitting the floor filled the room.

“Oh shut up, Hiori.” Isagi rolled his eyes, smiling as he received the ball before passing it back. “You were giggling when we were paired up; either way, it’s going well.”

Hiori chuckled, receiving the ball effortlessly. "Alright, alright, guilty as charged. But seriously, is Rin treating you ok?”

Isagi nodded, a smile still on his face as he caught the ball before serving it. "Yeah, he's not as bad as he pretends to be. He was actually calm."

“Good to hear, he’s bad with people after all.” Hiori added, giggling as he sent the ball back.

“I always forget you two actually talk.” Isagi sighs out, passing the ball back to Hiori.

Hiori chuckled. "Well, we do. Sometimes. When he's not being all mysterious and brooding." Suddenly remembering something, Hiori perked up. "Shit, I almost forgot; Reo is hosting some random ass party on Saturday."

Isagi raised an eyebrow. "Reo? Hosting a party? That's unexpected. Nagi hates parties; what's the occasion?"

“Dunno, probably Nanase’s or Gagamaru's birthday. Neither of them got their part since everyone wasn’t free.” Hiori thought as he passed back the ball.

“Who’s coming?” Isagi asked, passing the ball back. “And what time?”

Hiori shrugged, catching the ball and holding it. "The usual gang, I suppose. It’s at 6 but everyone is probably gonna show up an hour late. However, he managed to bring Shidou. And….” Hiori paused, his expression turning mischievous. "I managed to drag Rin along.”

Isagi was stunned, going still as Hiori served the ball. Which, to Isagi’s already bad luck this entire term, hit him. Straight in his face.

Isagi stumbled backward, a hand covering his face where the ball had made contact. Hiori rushed over, a mix of concern and amusement on his face.

"Isagi, are you okay?" Hiori asked, still trying to suppress his laughter.

Isagi lowered his hand, revealing a bloody nose. "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. Just add it to the list of my unfortunate events."

Hiori winced. "Oops, my bad. Didn't mean to hit you that hard."

"It's fine, just a bit of blood. Nothing I can't handle." Isagi waved off the other boy, looking for the teacher. “I'm probably going to the infirmary. I don’t wanna deal with a bloody nose during P.E.”

“My bad.” Hiori chuckled nervously, scratching his cheek as Isagi waved to the teacher who saw the blood and let him go.

As Isagi made his way to the infirmary, he couldn't help but think about the party later. Rin's unexpected presence was both surprising and intriguing. What would Rin be like at a party? Isagi hadn't seen that side of him yet. Isagi kept a hand over his nose.

Isagi, deep in thought and still nursing his nose, unintentionally collided with someone. As he looked up, he found himself face to face with none other than Rin.

"Watch where you're going," Rin said, his usual stoic expression in place.

“Sorry.” Isagi sighed out, one of his hands still covering his nose as the other waved to Rin.

Rin raised an eyebrow at Isagi's apologetic gesture before promptly ignoring it. "What happened to your nose?"

"Just a volleyball incident during P.E.," Isagi explained, trying to sound nonchalant. He looked around Rin, trying to see how far away he was from the infirmary. "No big deal."

Rin's gaze shifted to Isagi's hand for a moment before returning to look at his face. “Are you that luke-warm that you bleed over a lesson? This is why you’ll never beat me.”

Isagi couldn't help but roll his eyes at Rin's teasing (?). "Oh, come on. It's just a little nosebleed. Nothing to do with my lukewarmness."

"If you say so." Rin said, Isagi assumed this was the end of the conversation; except that Rin stood firmly in his place.

Rin's lingering presence made Isagi feel a bit uneasy. He looked at Rin, raising an eyebrow. "Something else on your mind?"

Rin stayed silent for a moment before shaking his head. "Just wondering why you're so careles–." Rin then stared at Isagi before correcting himself. “Lukewarm.” he coughed out.

Isagi couldn't help but chuckle at Rin's correction. "Ah, the lukewarm strikes again. Well, Lukewarm or not, I can handle a little nosebleed.”

Rin nodded, his expression remaining serious. "Just don't make a habit of it."

"Why? Are you worried?" Isagi replied with a grin, teasing Rin.

Rin's stoic expression flickered for a moment, his eyes widened a bit before returning back to his usual gaze. He then looked away; similarly the way he did we day he woke up after spending a night at Rin’s. "I'm not worried. It's just annoying to deal with unnecessary problems."

Isagi couldn't help but notice the slight change in Rin's demeanour. His grin widened, sensing there might be more to Rin's reaction than met the eye. "Unnecessary problems, huh? Well, I'll do my best to avoid them, Lukewarm promise."

Rin's gaze returned to Isagi, his usual stoic facade firmly in place. "You better."

Rin stood still before scoffing, he then moved; which wasn’t the surprising part. What was surprising was when Isagi felt a sudden, firm, grip on his forearm which dragged Isagi towards Rin. Rin's expression remained unreadable, but the grip on Isagi's arm felt strangely intentional.

"Careful," Rin stated, his voice low and serious, "I don't want you getting hurt over something stupid."

Isagi then heard loud footsteps, which caused him to look over to the side. A group of boys ran right past exactly where he had been standing just moments ago. He blinked, realising that Rin had pulled him out of harm's way.

"Thanks," Isagi said, a mix of surprise and gratitude in his voice.

"Just watch yourself," Rin added, his grip still firm as stared at Isagi. Rin then turned; keeping the grip as he dragged Isagi along the corridor. Rin's actions left Isagi a bit bewildered, feeling the persistent grip on his forearm as Rin dragged him along the corridor. Isagi stumbled a little, caught off guard by Rin's insistence.

"Hey, where are we going?" Isagi asked, trying to keep up with Rin's pace. Isagi tried to keep his free hand on his nose; which was almost completely bloodied now.

Rin led Isagi through a series of hallways, his pace determined and seemingly unaffected by Isagi's attempt to keep up. As they moved, Isagi noticed the curious glances from other students, likely wondering about the unusual sight.

Finally, they arrived at the school infirmary. Rin pushed the door open, dragging Isagi inside. He finally let go of Isagi, who felt slightly empty afterward.

The nurse, a middle-aged woman, looked up from her desk, her expression shifting from surprise to concern at the sight of Isagi's bloody nose.

“What happened?" the nurse asked, quickly moving to fetch some tissues.

"Just a little accident in P.E. Nothing serious," Isagi replied, wincing as he took the nurse’s tissues and dabbed at his nose. The nurse then handed Isagi a damp cloth and instructed him on how to stop the bleeding. When Isagi looked back, Rin was gone.

Odd, was all Isagi thought as he kept the cloth against his nose.

After a few minutes, the bleeding subsided, and the nurse assured Isagi that he could return to class. Isagi thanked her and left the infirmary, still contemplating Rin's sudden ‘concern’.

Isagi pulled out his phone as he felt it vibrate.

Hiori: Sorry for your nose ;(

Isagi giggled at the messaged before replying:

Isagi: It’s fine :skull:

–

“I’m about to hang myself.” Chigiri spoke, his head resting on the table; causing his hair to splay around his head.

“What a conversation starter.” Isagi spoke, sitting down on the table as he held a meat bun in his hand. Bachira was staring at a piece of paper (a rare sight; Isagi was slightly convinced he was illiterate).

“What's got you feeling so creatively deprived?" Isagi took a bite of his meatbun.

Chigiri sat up, pushing his hair out of his face. "Life, my friend. The mundane routine of everyday existence is stifling my artistic genius."

“How do you differentiate an equation..” Bachira asked Isagi.

Isagi, taken aback by the abrupt shift to academics, replied, "Uh, well, are we talking about calculus or something else?"

"I hate math so much," Bachira groaned, banging his head against the table.

Chigiri put his head on his hands and interjected, "Y’know, he hasn’t talked about his imaginary friend thing."

“Is Bachira ok?” Isagi stared at Bachira who held a pen in his hand; spinning it instead of doing any calculations. Isagi, concerned, asked the boy; "Bachira, you seem a bit... off. Everything okay?"

“I’m fineeeeeee. I have 20 missing assignments and the teacher is threatening to hold me back..” Bachira whined, sitting up as he looked back at the sheet.

Chigiri blankly stared at Bachira. “I’ve explained 50 times what to do..”

“You’re a nerd, though,” Bachira retorted, glaring half-heartedly at the red-head.

“Am not!” Chigiri gasped, feigning hurt as he put a hand over his chest; Isagi couldn't help but chuckle at the conversation between Chigiri and Bachira.

"Come on, Bachira, I'm sure you can catch up. Just focus on one assignment at a time." Isagi tried comforting the struggling boy.

Bachira grumbled, "Easy for you to say. Not all of us are math geniuses." He absentmindedly polked dots into the paper.

“Math is literally my worst subject,” Isagi deadpanned, staring at Bachira. Isagi crossed his arms and put them onto the desk.

“Alright, alright, I get it," Bachira said, waving them off. "I'll figure it out."

Isagi finished his meat bun and looked at his phone. His phone had almost 100 notifications from their stupid group chat; almost all of them about the party. The impending party lingered in his thoughts, causing him to remember Rin.

"Speaking of which, are you guys going to the party on saturday?" Isagi asked.

“DUH!” Both Bachira and Chigiri responded simultaneously.

Isagi chuckled at their synchronised response. "Guess it's a unanimous decision then. I'll see you guys there."

“What does un..unanimous? Yeah, what does unanisnmeous means.” Bachira asked, staring confused at Isagi. Isagi stared back a bit baffled; sometimes he wondered how the boy managed to pass.

"It means everyone agrees. In this case, we all agree to go to the party. Got it?"

“I unanimously agree then!” Bachira huffed out, putting his chest out; proud of his sentence.

Both Isagi and Chigiri exchanged looks before laughing.Bachira feigned offence which was quickly thrown out the window as all three of them to just laugh for a bit.

–

During their passing period; Isagi was at his locker. As he finished grabbing what he needed; he turned around, causing him to notice a familiar emo boy walking by him. Isagi closed his locker with a metallic clank, turning around to find Rin walking past him in the busy hallway.

"Hey, Rin!" Isagi called out, catching up with him. "What's up? Are you heading to class?" Isagi then noticed Rin tensing up, before turning around and looking at Isagi before speeding up his walking and ducking into a crowd.

Isagi furrowed his brow in confusion as Rin abruptly increased his pace and disappeared into the crowd. He tried to keep up, weaving through the students, but Rin seemed determined to evade any further interaction. Isagi eventually lost sight of him.

"That's weird," Isagi mumbled to himself, standing in the midst of the bustling hallway. He couldn't quite comprehend why Rin would suddenly avoid a simple conversation. Shaking his head, Isagi decided to let it go and headed to his next class.

–
Isagi walked inside the cafeteria, scanning the room for familiar faces. The lively chatter of students and the clattering of trays filled the air. Spotting Hiori and Chigiri at their usual table, Isagi made his way over.

"Hey, guys," Isagi greeted, sliding into a seat. "Where's Bachira?"

Hiori looked up from his lunch, "He said something about needing to finish some maths assignments before the party. Knowing him, he’s probably doing something stupid instead."

Isagi nodded in understanding, "I hope he finishes on time. By the way, have either of you seen Rin around? I tried talking to him earlier, but he just rushed off."

Chigiri raised an eyebrow, stopping midway during his hair-braiding "Rin? No, I haven't seen him today. We don’t talk anyway."

Hiori takes a bite from his soba, chewing on it before replying. “I actually talked to him during the passing period. He was fine, I guess.”

Isagi raised an eyebrow at Hiori's response. "Really? He seemed in a hurry when I saw him.”

Chigiri exchanged a knowing look with Hiori, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. “Why does it bother you so much?”

Isagi tried to brush off Chigiri's question with a nonchalant shrug. "It doesn't bother me, princess. I just thought it was a bit weird, that's all."

Chigiri continued to smirk, "Sure, Isagi. Whatever you say."

Hiori chimed in, the same tone used. “Isagi.. Do you like him?”

Isagi choked on his drink at Hiori's sudden question, his face turning slightly red. "What? No! It's not like that. We just... I don't know. I was just curious. OK?"

“He’s reddd~” Chigiri laughed at Isagi.

Isagi shot Chigiri with a stern glare. "Shut up, Chigiri. It's none of your business anyway." He then turned to Hiori, who was also laughing silently.

“Except that you’re the one that brought Rin up.” Chigiri teased him further.

Isagi glared at Chigiri once again, his attempt to deflect the conversation clearly not succeeding.

“You also froze when I brought up that Rin was going to the party, y’know..”

Isagi rolled his eyes at Hiori's observation. "I did not freeze. I was just surprised. It's not every day Rin attends parties."

Hiori and Chigiri exchanged looks, smirking. "Sure, Isagi," Chigiri teased, "Whatever you say."

Isagi grumbled, realising they weren't going to live this down. "Let's just eat... No more interrogation, got it?"

As Chigiri and Hiori started talking, Isagi absentmindedly sipped on his drink; thinking about exactly what they said before. He doesn’t get why Chigiri and Hiori thought he liked Rin; he was a brat afterall; Isagi had never considered him in that way before. He was quite pretty though; Isagi had to admit, objectively obviously. Like when you look at a model you don’t fall in love with them but you do know they’re attractive objectively. Not that Rin was model-level beauty; well, he could be, Isagi thought, and then quickly shook his head to dispel such distracting thoughts.

"Isagi, you okay?" Hiori asked, noticing Isagi's distant expression.

Isagi quickly put on a smile, moving the water bottle away from his lips and onto the table. "Yeah, yeah, just lost in thought."

Chigiri leaned back, smirking. Isagi could almost feel exactly what he was about to say. "Lost in thoughts about Rin, maybe?"

Yet, despite preparation for Chigiri's words, Isagi blushed at the childish comment. He denied it with a wave of his hand. "Come on, Chigiri, don't be ridiculous. I was just thinking about random stuff."

Chigiri hummed in response, still amused by Isagi’s red face.

Isagi got fed up, deciding to bring up Chigiri’s own crush now. “Chigiri, how’s Kunigami?”

Chigiri's eyes widened at Isagi's sudden change of topic, and his smirk faltered. "What are you talking about? There's nothing going on." Chigiri crossed his arms, pouting a bit.

“Really? Well all I asked was how he was doing?” Isagi smirked, happy about his ‘revenge’.

Chigiri narrowed his eyes at Isagi, realising he had fallen into a trap. "He's... fine. Just fine." Isagi and Hiori exchanged amused glances, enjoying Chigiri's discomfort.

Hiori spoke up, smiling sweetly. "You know, Chigiri, it's okay if you like him. No need to deny it."

Chigiri sent a glare to the both of them before flipping them both off. “I hate both of you.”
–
Snowflakes twirled and pirouetted from the sky, painting the landscape in a coat of white. Muffled footsteps created a gentle rhythm as people strolled along the sidewalk, their breaths forming fleeting clouds in the chilly air. Isagi was amongst those people, walking down the street on his way home.

As he walked, he noticed the teal-eyed-boy he keeps running into; like a sick fanfiction that likes forcing the two main characters together. Rin was seemingly oblivious to Isagi's presence, walking quietly with earphones in. His figure blended into the wintry scene perfectly.

Isagi decided this would be the most perfect opportunity to try talking to Rin again, he quite missed the other’s presence.

Isagi quickened his pace, catching up to Rin as they walked side by side in the snow. The ambient sound of the snowfall added a serene backdrop to the cityscape. Isagi cleared his throat, trying to break the silence that seemed to envelop them.

"Hey, Rin," Isagi began, a soft smile playing on his lips. "Enjoying the snow?"

Rin froze as he saw Isagi, staring at him blankly. Isagi's attempt at conversation hung in the crisp winter air as Rin's expression remained unchanged. Rin then looked away and started rushing away from Isagi.

Isagi felt a pang of frustration as Rin increased his pace, distancing himself from Isagi once again.

"Wait, Rin," Isagi called out, his voice carrying a hint of urgency. Rin, however, continued to walk briskly, as if determined to escape the conversation. Isagi sighed, watching Rin's retreating figure. Isagi couldn’t help but suspect Rin is going to be ignoring him from now on (despite it being only his second attempt of a conversation).

–
Isagi is convinced Rin is avoiding him. Every attempt to approach or engage in a conversation seemed to result in Rin swiftly leaving or disappearing. EVERY. ATTEMPT. It was becoming increasingly frustrating for Isagi, who couldn't understand why Rin was acting this way.

Isagi felt frustrated as he entered the classroom to find Hiori and Rin talking. He approached them, determined to address the issue.

"Hey," Isagi greeted, trying to keep his tone casual. "What are you guys talking about?"

Hiori glanced at Isagi, offering a small smile. “Nothing really, why?”

Isagi shifted his gaze to Rin, who seemed to be avoiding eye contact. Just as Isagi was about to start talking; Rin stood up and ‘excused’ himself out of the classroom.
Isagi's frustration grew as Rin abruptly stood up and excused himself from the classroom. He exchanged a puzzled look with Hiori.

"What's up with him?" Isagi asked, his irritation evident in his voice.

Hiori shrugged, looking genuinely perplexed. "I have no idea. He's been acting a bit off lately. I tried asking him but he keeps dodging the subject."

Isagi sighed, running a hand through his hair. "This is getting on my nerves. I've been trying to talk to him, too, but he always avoids me. Something's definitely not right."

Hiori nodded in agreement. "Maybe you should give him some space. He might open up when he's ready."

"Yeah, maybe," Isagi replied, still clearly bothered by the situation. "I just hate feeling like I’ve done something wrong."

Hiori placed a comforting hand on Isagi's shoulder. "I'm sure it's not about you. Rin might have his own issues going on. Just be patient, and hopefully, he'll open up when he's ready."

Isagi nodded, appreciating Hiori's attempt to console him. "You're right. I'll try to give him some space and see what happens."

With that, Isagi left the classroom, a cloud of uncertainty hanging over him.

–
Isagi stepped out of the changing rooms, stretching. Football practice was back in his schedule, which was a relief. He relished in the cool air as he walked onto the pitch. The familiar sounds of cleats against the grass felt almost nostalgic at this point.

"ISAGIII!!" A loud voice echoed behind Isagi, capturing his attention. He turned around to find Bachira running towards him, his usual energetic self on full display.

"Bachira! What's up?" Isagi greeted, a smile forming on his face as his friend approached.

Bachira skidded to a stop in front of Isagi, a wide grin on his face. "Guess what? I finally finished all those math assignments! No more threat of being held back!"

Isagi chuckled, happy for his friend. "That's awesome, Bachira!”

Their conversation was cut short by Ego’s voice shouting at them.. “Oi you brats, get to practise.”

Bachira rolled his eyes, grinning right after. "Guess duty calls. Lets gooooo.” Bachira grabbed Isagi’s wrist and dragged him to the football pitch.
The two friends made their way to the football pitch, the vibrant energy of the team evident as they prepared for practice. Ego barked out instructions; something about certain people needing to catch up. He was as ruthless as always.

The training session was intense, filled with drills and exercises to sharpen their skills. Almost too intense; Isagi felt like death as he sat on the side. He sipped on his drink as he watched Reo and Nagi being (way too) touchy. Nagi had wrapped his arms around Reo’s shoulders who, despite the clingy boy, was smiling and talking to Chigiri.

Isagi got up and walked up to them, waving as he did. As soon as he steps closer; he hears Reo and Chigiri gossiping.

“Seriously?” Chigiri gasped, putting his hand over his mouth as Reo nodded frantically.

“‘Sagi. Hello..” Nagi groggily greeted the other.

“Hellooo.” Isagi smiled at the white-haired boy. Reo shot him a slight glare before quickly switching to a smile and waving.

Isagi raised an eyebrow at the exchange, sensing there was more to the conversation than he was aware of. "What are you guys talking about?" he asked, trying to appear casual.

Chigiri looked at Isagi, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Oh, just some interesting developments. Isn't that right, Reo?"

Reo shot Chigiri a warning look before offering Isagi a nonchalant smile. "Just idle chatter. Nothing important."

Chigiri looked at Isagi, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Oh, just some interesting developments. Isn't that right, Reo?"

Reo shot Chigiri a warning look before offering Isagi a nonchalant smile. "Just idle chatter. Nothing important."

Nagi, still hugging Reo, chimed in with a yawn, "Yeah, nothing important."

Chigiri rolled his eyes at the both of them before turning to Isagi and spoke. “Some foreign exchange students came over, they were.. German? I think.” Isagi nodded. “Whatever, the point is that both of them are insane. One is called Kaiser, the other is Ness. I think they’re a couple since I saw them kiss.”

Isagi sat down as Chigiri explained further. The mention of foreign exchange students caught his interest, and he listened intently to Chigiri's account of the encounters with Kaiser and Ness.

“They literally, on their first day mind you, almost fucking blew up the classroom since they didn’t know how to read the labels.”

Isagi's eyes widened at Chigiri's revelation, putting a hand over his mouth. "Blow up the classroom? Are you serious?"

Chigiri nodded, a mischievous grin on his face. "Dead serious. It was like watching a scene from an action movie. Kaiser grabbed a bottle thinking it was water, but it turned out to be some chemical. Ness tried to stop him, chaos ensued, and before you know it, we had a small explosion. It's a miracle no one got hurt."

Isagi couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of the situation. "That's insane! What did the teachers say?"

Reo sighed, "They managed to smooth things over somehow. Some random vouched for them, and I guess the teachers decided it was just a harmless mistake. They've been causing quite a stir since they arrived."

Chigiri added, "Oh, and Kaiser has this thing for breaking into places. He's like a living, breathing spy movie character, like a really shittily written one. I wouldn't be surprised if he has a secret lair somewhere."

Isagi chuckled, finding the whole situation both amusing and intriguing. "Sounds like they'll bring some excite–.”

“That’s not the bad part yet.” Chigiri cut off Isagi, carrying on. “The other day I saw Kaiser full on kissing some other person.”

Isagi raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Chigiri's continuation of the story. "Wait, what? Kaiser was kissing someone else? But I thought you said he's with Ness."

Chigiri nodded, a sly grin on his face. "Exactly. Caught in the act of cheating, I suppose. I then told Ness who then called me a ‘lying bitch’. LIKE? Whatttt. Drama, drama everywhere."

Isagi's eyes widened in surprise. "So, Ness didn't believe you? That's... complicated."

“They’re also on this football team.” Nagi finally imputed, raising his arm to point in some direction; causing Reo to slap his arm back into place before scolding him for ‘manners’.

Isagi's eyes widened further. "Wait, they joined the football team too?”

Chigiri nodded, "Yeah, they showed up at one of the practices, asked if they could join, and Ego just said, 'Sure, why not?' Like, it was that simple. I think they were footballers back in Germany or whatever cuz they had NO, absolutely none of Ego trying them out.”

Nagi added, "Ego probably saw it as a chance to boost the team's reputation or something. You know, having international players and all."

Isagi decided to look in the direction Nagi previously pointed at; he saw a fairly tall blond (with some weird blue tips in his hair) along with a purple-haired-boy grinning up at him.

Isagi wasn’t going to lie; Kaiser looked questionable, Ness looked decent though. Kaiser’s red eyeliner was atrocious on him was all Isagi thought as looked back to the other 3 who delved into some random topic.

Reo, still has Nagi wrapped around him, nudged him with his elbow. "Hey, Isagi, you should go say hi or something. Welcome them to the team officially."

“Absolutely not, they look insufferable.” Isagi crossed his arms, glaring at Reo.

Reo raised an eyebrow, seemingly unfazed by Isagi's reluctance. "Come on, Isagi, don't be such a grump. I’ll give you 100,000 yen if you do it.."

Isagi knew this was Reo’s way of telling him to ‘get lost’ kindly; however, 100,000 yen was too much to pass up on. Isagi stood up, leaving his water bottle as he trotted towards the pair.

As Isagi approached Kaiser and Ness, he observed their demeanour and couldn't help but sense an air of arrogance around Kaiser. Kaiser's body language and expressions exuded arrogance, Isagi already fucking hated him.

Despite it all, Isagi greeted them with a friendly tone. "Hey, I'm Isagi. Welcome to the team." Isagi smiled as sweetly as he could.

Kaiser glanced at Isagi, his eyes reflecting a dismissive arrogance. "Isagi? Cute. Your football was mediocre at best.” His tone was condescending, leaving Isagi taken aback. He had quite an accent which Isagi couldn’t put his finger on.

On the other hand, Ness offered a polite smile, seemingly more approachable than Kaiser. "Thank you, We're excited to be a part of the team." Ness's words were (much more) courteous than Kaiser’s aswell.

Isagi tried not to let Kaiser's arrogant remarks get under his skin. Instead, he focused on the more approachable Ness. "Glad to have you both on the team," Isagi replied with a genuine smile.

Kaiser, despite his initial sentence, walked up to Isagi. He leaned down and smirked. “Your pass earlier was pathetic, do better.”

Isagi felt a surge of frustration at Kaiser's audacity. Maintaining his composure, he replied, "I'll keep that in mind, Kaiser. Always open to improving."

Kaiser’s smile widened, he leaned back up. He moved his hand to pat Isagi’s head. “Bye-bye Yoichi.” Isagi slapped his hand away out of instinct, he was stunned.

…

Yoichi?

…

As Kaiser turned on his heel and walked away (Ness followed quickly after like a lost puppy), Isagi's mind raced with confusion and irritation. How did Kaiser know his first name, and why did he choose to use it so casually? The encounter left Isagi with more questions than answers and a burning desire to beat up the foreign student.

–

“He used your first name?” Bachira put his hand over his mouth as they walked home after their practice. Isagi dug his hand further into his pockets, trying to protect them from the cold.

Isagi clenched his fists, feeling the frustration building up inside him. "Yeah, out of nowhere. I don't get it. I've never even spoken to the guy before today. How the hell does he know my name? He was also a complete dick."

Bachira furrowed his brow. "That's creepy, man. Maybe he's been stalking you or something. Maybe he’s an FBI agent and you’re a–"

“Bachira, I’m serious.” Isagi giggled at his friend’s input.

Bachira scratched his head. "Alright, alright, no need to get all serious. But seriously, that's weird. Maybe he's just a strange dude trying to mess with people."

Isagi nodded, still feeling a bit unsettled. "Maybe. Let's just focus on football and not get distracted by this Kaiser guy." Isagi sighed.

Bachira grinned. "Yeah, you're right. We've got more important things to worry about, like winning our next match." Bachira put out a fist to Isagi for a fist bump. As soon as Isagi was about to respond, Bachira swiftly moved his hand to hit the top of his head.

Isagi couldn't help but laugh at Bachira's antics. "Hey, what was that for?"

Bachira grinned mischievously. "Just keeping you on your toes, Isagi. You have a knack at catching enemies y’know."

“Surprised you know what knack means.” Isagi sent him a side-long glance at him.

Bachira laughed, before responding. “I didn’t until today, Chigiri told me.” Isagi giggled at his response.

Reaching the familiar intersection where they usually parted ways, Bachira grinned. "Alright, Isagi, I'll see you tomorrow.” Bachira skipped his way away from Isagi; sometimes Isagi wished he was as care-free as the other boy. He then started digging into his pockets, trying to find his earphones.

Isagi turned his way and started walking down.

–

Isagi walks up the hill at 7 in the evening, he can feel the strain in his muscles. The path to Reo's house always seems more cumbersome than he remembers. The air is crisp; leaving smoke in the air as he breathed. The sun is beginning to set, casting long shadows across the narrow trail.

He glances around, the familiar surroundings of trees and occasional streetlights creating a rhythmic pattern as he ascends. Isagi recalls the countless times he's made this journey, each step etching memories into the soles of his shoes.

Reo's house, perched atop the hill, comes into view. The glow of warm light spills from the windows, he’s always flabbergasted by the size of the.. house? Or maybe a mansion, or perhaps even a manor? Isagi can never quite decide, but it's always larger than he recalls. Rich kids truly have it good.

The imposing front door towered before him, Isagi takes a moment to gather himself, running a hand through his dishevelled hair. With a deep breath, he raises his hand to knock, but before his knuckles can make contact with the door, it swings open.

Reo stands there, a grin on his face, framed by the opulence of the entryway. "Isagi! Supp," Reo declares, though Isagi can detect the scent of booze on his breath. This night is teetering on the edge, it's going to be either a terrible or great experience.

As Isagi steps inside, he is forced into a sensory hell. The luxurious entryway gives way to the chaos within—loud shouting emanates from his friends, though not all of them are present. He then saw a familiar red-head waving him over.

Making his way through the crowd. As he does, Chigiri appears, holding a cup filled with an unknown liquid.

Chigiri grins mischievously, offering the cup to Isagi. "Isagi, my man, you're fashionably late as always! But worry not, we've got just the thing to catch you up." The liquid in the cup glimmers in the ambient light as Chigiri slung an arm over his shoulders.

“Chigiri, what is that?” Isagi asked, pointing at the cup he was holding.

“I don’t know.. I’ve had like 6 cups already. It’s probably vodka with something.”

Isagi eyes the glimmering liquid in the cup, his curiosity piqued. Isagi raises an eyebrow at Chigiri right after; a mix of scepticism and amusement on his face. "Probably vodka with something?" he repeats, a hint of incredulity in his voice.

“Yupo.” Chigiri nodded quickly. Isagi smirks, the corners of his mouth twitching from amusement. Chigiri's drunken state only adds to the humour of the situation, and Isagi can't help but laugh a bit. He contemplates the cup in front of him, weighing the pros and cons of joining the inebriated festivities.

He took the cup anyway and downed it, Chigiri hyping him up a bit.

The liquid burns on its way down, a mixture of bold flavours assaulting Isagi's taste buds. He winces momentarily but follows it up with a triumphant smile, egged on by Chigiri's enthusiastic cheers. He hands back the cup which Chigiri takes promptly; letting go of his shoulders right after.

Chigiri grins, clearly enjoying the night's revelry. "That's the spirit, Isagi! Now you're officially part of the party." He raises the cup in a mock toast before disappearing into the crowd, leaving Isagi to navigate the sea of faces and laughter.

As Isagi immerses himself in the festivities, the music, the laughter, and the energetic atmosphere consume him. As he walked through the crowd, a new cup of the drink in hand. He took only 2, he didn’t want to get drunk after all (he always does dumb shit during his drunken state).

He then noticed Hiori with a tall figure… It was Rin! Isagi smiled at the thought of talking to the other; forgetting Rin’s recent avoidance.

Isagi, drink in hand, navigates through the lively crowd. The pulsating music and the vibrant energy of the party make it a challenge to move gracefully. As he puts down his cup and puts it on a random surface.

Approaching them with a friendly grin, Isagi joins the conversation. "Hey, Hiori! Rin! What's up?" he exclaims over the music, hoping to bridge any gap that might have formed. Hiori smiles warmly, but Rin's reaction is harder to read.

There's a fleeting moment of tension as Rin glances at Isagi. Hiori, ever the peacemaker, interjects with a cheerful response. "Isagi! Perfect timing. We were just talking about that summer party, remember?"

Isagi's grin widens, memories flooding back. "Oh yeah, that was a wild one! Remember when Reo tried to cook?" Hiori and Isagi share a collective chuckle; Rin silently stares at his drink.

Hiori was about to talk until Rin promptly left the conversation. As Rin abruptly leaves the conversation, Hiori and Isagi are left alone. The sudden departure introduces an awkward pause. "Sorry about that, Isagi. Rin's been a bit… weird.”

Isagi quickly waves his hands at Hiori. “It’s really not your fault. Although, I think I did something? He only really avoids me.”

Hiori gives Isagi a sympathetic look, recognizing the complexity of the situation. "I think there's some history there, Isagi. It's not just about you. I've tried talking to Rin, but he's not opening up about it."

Isagi sighs, a mixture of frustration and concern evident on his face. "I don't want things to be like this. I was just getting along with him.”

Hiori scratched his cheek, smiling nervously. “Yeah.. don’t worry too much about it. I suspect it’s not your fault but it does involve you.”

Isagi furrows his brows, a knot of guilt forming in his stomach. "Involves me? What does that even mean, Hiori?"

Hiori hesitates for a moment before sighing. "Rin and I have known each other for a long time; I can’t rat him out like that.”

Isagi's expression shifts from worry to confusion. "Known each other for a long time? What does that have to do with me?"

Hiori looks torn, caught between protecting Rin's privacy and Isagi's need for clarity. "Isagi, it's complicated. I can't share everything, especially Rin's side of the story. Just know that he's dealing with some personal stuff, and it involves you. But it's not your fault."

Isagi's frustration grows, and he clenches his fists. "I need more than that, Hiori. If I'm causing problems for Rin, I want to know how and why."

Hiori sighs, running a hand through his hair. "It's not that you're causing problems. That's all I’m willing to say, talk to him about it, ok?”

Isagi, though still frustrated, understands Hiori's reluctance to divulge more information. He nods, accepting the situation. "Fine. I'll talk to him when he's ready."

Hiori offers a reassuring smile. "Thanks, Isagi. I appreciate your understanding. Now, let's not let this dampen the mood. Enjoy the party." Hiori was called over by Karasu causing Hiori to wave off and go to the other.

The music, the laughter, and the vibrant atmosphere surrounding him only now seemed to piss Isagi off.

–

“Down it quickerrr!” Shidou shouts at Bachira, who is in a drinking competition with Otoya; Nanase tries to keep Kurona stable amidst the shouting. Isagi watches the scene, giggling.

Aryu and Chigiri were in a competitive just dance match, people cheered for each side. The pulsating music provides the rhythm for their dance as well as the shots Bachira was taking. Otoya (unsurprisingly) was winning. Bachira was on the brink of passing out.

Nanase, attempting to maintain some order, reaches out to take the cup from Bachira as he teeters on the edge of passing out. However, Shidou intervenes, preventing Nanase from interfering in the heated competition. Isagi was only a little tipsy, it was lucky he was quite a heavy-weight all things considered; he’s already had 6 cups and he’s only a little dizzy.

“Isagiii, my man.” Karasu throws an arm over Isagi as Hiori stand next to him, smiling like usual.

Isagi grins, feeling the weight of Karasu's arm on his shoulders. Karasu was most definitely drunk, Isagi laughed in his head. "Karasu! Having a good time?"

Karasu nods enthusiastically, his slightly unsteady demeanour adding to the amusement. "Absolutely! Your parties are always legendary, Isagi. And this one is shaping up to be no different. I heard there's a bet going on between Aryu and Chigiri. Place your bets, my friend!"

Isagi chuckles at the mention of the bet, glancing over at Aryu and Chigiri who are still engaged in their lively dance-off. "A bet, huh? Well, I've got to go with Chigiri this time. He's got some unexpected moves up his sleeve. 1,000 yen."

“Only 1,000?” Karasu whined out, Hiori laughing at Karasu.

Isagi grins at Karasu's playful complaint. "Alright, let's make it more interesting then. I'll raise it to 5,000 yen. What do you say, Karasu?"

“Isagi, don’t encourage him. He’s hammered.” Hiori crossed his arms, amused at Karasu’s slurred words.

Isagi laughs, glancing at Hiori. "It's all in good fun, Hiori. Besides, Karasu seems to be enjoying himself."

Karasu, undeterred by Hiori's comment, nods vigorously. "I'm having a blast! And 5,000 yen it is." Karasu starts laughing, leaning on Isagi more who stumbles a bit.

“Hiori, get your boyfriend under wraps!” Isagi complained.

Hiori laughs, watching the amusing scene unfold. "You got yourself into this, Isagi. Deal with it." He steps forward anyways, helping to support Karasu and prevent him from leaning too heavily on Isagi.

“You sadist.” Isagi glared half-heartedly at Hiori. “I’d rather not have your drunk boyfriend on me.”

Hiori chuckles, giving Isagi an apologetic look. “Karasu can be a handful when he's had a few too many.”

Just as Karasu was about to shift his weight on him more, another weight was put onto Isagi from the other side of his shoulder; causing Karasu to stumble onto Hiori who quickly took him into his arms.

Isagi, caught off guard by the sudden additional weight, turns to see who joined the scene. To his surprise, Rin is standing there, looking somewhat out of place in the midst of the festivities. Rin glances at Isagi, a mix of emotions in his eyes.

Hiori, now supporting Karasu, looked at a slightly dazed Rin, raises an eyebrow at Isagi. "Looks like you've got another one. You're becoming quite popular tonight."

Isagi, still processing Rin's unexpected presence, stammers a bit. "Uh, yeah, I didn't expect... Rin, are you okay?"

Rin nodded, not responding as he kept his arms around Isagi for stability.

Isagi, sensing the alcohol on Rin, decides to break the ice. "Well, welcome to the party, Rin."

“Shut up, Isagi.” Was all Rin said, tightening his grip around Isagi. Isagi stood still before turning to Hiori and Karasu who both were giggling at his misery. How fantastic.

Isagi was about to say something until Shidou shouted about Bachira fainting, he looked over to see Nanase attempting to help their friend. Concern washes over him, and Isagi tries to move towards Bachira, but Rin's grip on him remains firm.

"Rin, I need to check on Bachira. He might need help," Isagi says, trying to reason with the drunken Rin.

Rin, still clinging onto Isagi, finally looks up at him with stubbornness. "Stay."

Isagi, torn between his concern for Bachira and the hold Rin has on him, hesitates for a moment. He glances over at Bachira, Nanase, and the commotion surrounding them. Sighing, Isagi decides to prioritise Rin's apparent need for support at that moment. Bachira had 5 people helping after all.

"Alright, I'll stay," Isagi concedes, trying to make Rin feel more secure.

Rin's grip relaxes slightly, and he nods in acknowledgment. Isagi watches as Nanase and others attend to Bachira, even if he isn’t directly helping; he’ll help if anything comes up for Bachira in that instant.

Bachira was laid down on the couch; Otoya cheered at his victory as Shidou hyped him up. Isagi then looked over to Aryu and Chigiri’s just dance battle; watching as their points grew by the minute. So far, Chigiri (the undefeated champion) was winning.

He hears Hiori and Karasu leaving, as soon as they do; Isagi talks to Rin. “How much did you have to drink, Rinrin?” Rin kept his head in the crook of his neck.

Rin mumbles something indistinct, his head still nestled in the crook of Isagi's neck. It seems like the alcohol has taken its toll on Rin, leaving him in a more subdued state. Isagi considers the situation, torn between enjoying the party and attending to Rin's current state.

“Rin, I didn’t hear you.” Isagi spoke softly for the boy, looking down at him.

…

"Rin, I didn’t hear you," Isagi repeats, speaking softly as he looks down at the boy still nestled in the crook of his neck. The party rages on around them, the music, laughter, and cheers blending into one.

Rin finally lifts his head slightly, his eyes meeting Isagi's. There's a haze of intoxication in those eyes, but a glimmer of something more. "Enough," Rin answers, his voice a bit clearer now (however, it was still slurred).

“Enough?” Isagi inquired, tilting his head slightly. He was a bit too tipsy to take care of another person but he’ll try.

Rin nods, slurring his words every time he speaks. "Enough for tonight. Enough to drown things out, at least for a while."

“Rin, I asked how much.” Isagi declares, seeking a more concrete understanding of Rin's state.

Rin furrows his brows, his gaze slightly unfocused. "Lost count. Doesn't matter."

Isagi sighs, realising that Rin might not be in the best condition to provide an accurate count. "Alright, let's find a quieter spot. You can relax for a bit," Isagi suggests. “What d’ya say?”

Rin, still leaning on Isagi for support, hesitates for a moment before nodding in agreement. Isagi guides Rin to a quieter area, away from the pulsating music and energetic crowd. Isagi guides him onto the couch, Isagi stands in front of him. They were about eye-level; however, Isagi was a bit taller due to him standing.

“Rin, are you–” Isagi was promptly cut off (how many times will he be cut off??)

“I hate you, Isagi.” Rin declares, his words carrying frustration. The statement hangs in the air, creating a palpable tension between them. Isagi, unsure of how to respond, simply waits, giving Rin the space to express himself further if he chooses to.

(It was hard to take this situation more seriously as Russian roulette played in the background.)

“I’ll leave you alone, Rin. I think that's what you want.” Isagi says, his voice soft. Isagi looked down at the intoxicated boy. Drunk words were sober thoughts afterall.

Rin tightly grasped Isagi’s wrist.

Isagi froze, his eyes widening as he let Rin hold his wrist. Rin sure is more touchy than he ever expected.

Isagi, his voice gentle, tries to navigate the delicate situation. "Rin, I’m confused.”

Rin's grip on Isagi's wrist tightens further, not looking up once.

“Do you consider me your friend? Do you even like me?” Isagi spoke, frustration in his voice. Isagi stepped forward a bit; letting Rin grip onto him.

The question hangs in the air, and Rin finally looks up at Isagi. The intensity in his eyes is palpable, it was always hard to read Rin; usually he’d be able to instantly know how others thought; Rin was an enigma.

"Isagi," Rin starts, his voice softer than before. "I hate that I like you.”

“But you don’t hate that you like Hiori? What’s the difference?” Isagi raised his voice a bit at the other.

Rin, meeting Isagi's gaze with a mix of frustration and vulnerability, struggles to find the right words. The air between them is thick with unspoken emotions.

"Hiori is different," Rin replies, his voice tinged with sadness (?). "It's not the same."

Isagi, perplexed by Rin's response, furrows his brows. "What's not the same, Rin? Why is it different with me?" The tension in the room escalates as the weight of Rin's words hangs in the air.

Rin, caught in the emotional turmoil, hesitates before staying silent. His grip was loose now.

Isagi kissed his teeth, annoyed at the younger. He rips his arm away from Rin.

Rin, looking down and avoiding Isagi's gaze, seems lost in his own thoughts. Isagi takes a step back, his expression a mix of frustration and resignation. "If you can't even explain it, Rin, then I don't know what to say," Isagi mutters under his breath.

As Isagi turns away, unsure of what this revelation means for their friendship, the party continues in the background, a stark contrast to the emotional turmoil within the quieter space they've carved out.

“Maybe it’s better if we don’t talk. I’ll send over my part of the history project. We can never talk again after.” Day 1 started playing in the background as Isagi spoke.

Rin was shocked, looking at Isagi with wide eyes; they looked like they were shaking. He looked completely frozen; in despair in a way.

Isagi, already walking away, doesn't notice Rin's expression. The weight of the moment settles heavily on Rin's shoulders as he stands alone in the quieter space, surrounded by the distant sounds of the ongoing party.

As the song plays on, Rin slowly sinks onto the couch, his emotions a tangled mess. The contrast between the lively party and the silent, heavy atmosphere in this corner of the room is stark.

Getting drunk was not Rin’s greatest idea…

:3

Chapter Text

Isagi woke up with a splitting headache. The room was too bright, and the distant echoes of whisper conversations were heard. He groaned, shifting uncomfortably on the couch and slowly opened his eyes to a scene of subtle chaos.

The remnants of the party from the night before were scattered across the room. Empty cups, confetti, and the faint scent of alcohol lingered in the air. Isagi tried to piece together the events that led to his current state, but the memories were hazy. He got way too drunk yesterday.

As he sat up, wincing at the throbbing pain in his head, Isagi surveyed the room. Some of his friends were scattered around, still sleeping off the effects of the night's festivities. The sound of soft laughter and the clinking of bottles being cleaned up suggested that a few early risers were attempting to restore order.

Isagi rubbed his temples, attempting to shake off the remnants of the headache. The sunlight streaming through the partially closed curtains intensified the discomfort. He reached for his phone on the nightstand, hoping to find some clues about the previous night.

A series of messages awaited him; most were just people posting photos and videos about the horrible things that happened yesterday. Luckily for Isagi, there were only a few videos of him being stupid (aka him just downing shots until he passed out, explains the headache).

Isagi sighed, rubbing his temples as he remembered something important.

Shit, he basically had abandoned Rin.

he couldn't recall the details of the confrontation with Rin without a dull ache settling in his chest. Isagi knew he had to address it sooner or later. Dragging himself out of the couch, Isagi winced at the soreness in his muscles.

As he stumbled through the remnants of the party, Isagi couldn't help but feel a sense of guilt for leaving things unsettled with Rin. He made his way to the kitchen, where a group of friends was attempting to salvage what was left of the night.

“Isagi!” Kurona said, grinning widely at seeing Isagi. “Are you good? You drank a lot yesterday.”

Isagi managed a weak smile, acknowledging Kurona's comment. "Yeah, a bit too much, I guess. Do you guys know where Rin went? I... I need to talk to him."

Kurona exchanged a concerned glance with Nanase, who was busy stacking some dirty dishes, and shook his head. "Rin left a while ago. He seemed pretty upset. What happened between you two?"

Isagi's stomach churned as the reality of the situation sunk in. He had let his emotions and the alcohol cloud his judgement, and now Rin was upset and nowhere to be found. He mumbled thanks and byes to Kurona and Nanase. Isagi walked out of the kitchen, grabbing his belongings and walking out the house.

The morning air outside was crisp, and Isagi winced as the sunlight pierced through his sensitive eyes. He fumbled with his phone, trying to dial Rin's number as he stepped onto the quiet street.

He was blocked.

Isagi stared at his phone, despite the guilt; he was pissed. Rin was being a dickhead afterall, he had ghosted him and avoided him and then clinged onto him whilst saying he hated him?

Isagi thought more about it; realising something, maybe his drunken thoughts weren’t as brash as he thought. Maybe it is better if they don’t ever talk again.

Isagi turned off his phone, looking up as he stared at the leaves; they were quickly blown away by the wind. Isagi sighed, stretching his arms as he started to walk home.

It was for the better afterall.

–

Isagi sat in his maths class, staring at the stupid ass question in front of him. Kaiser, that German kid, was in his class; which isn’t the bad part.

Isagi looked over to his right; the blonde bastard was creating paper aeroplanes. Next to him. He sat fucking next to him.

"Seriously?" Isagi muttered under his breath, hoping Kaiser wouldn't notice his irritation.

Kaiser seemed oblivious to the disapproval radiating from Isagi; he continued his paper-folding escapade. The rhythmic sound of paper being creased echoed through the otherwise quiet classroom. He looked over to the teacher who was typing away at his computer.

Kaiser's blue eyes sparkled mischievously as he finished the paper aeroplane, clearly pleased with his handiwork. Without missing a beat, he casually glanced around the classroom, assessing for the perfect target.

Kaiser stood up, aiming and throwing at a random student who was asleep. He missed completely and the aeroplane hit the teacher, Kaiser quickly sat down.

The teacher, startled by the unexpected impact, abruptly ceased typing on the computer. A moment of suspended silence engulfed the room as everyone awaited the teacher's reaction.

Kaiser, having quickly resumed his seat with feigned innocence, attempted to blend into the sea of students. His blue eyes flickered around the classroom, making eye contact with Isagi. Kaiser placed a finger over his lips, accompanied by a mischievous smile directed at Isagi.

The teacher grabbed the paper and opened it. His eyes narrowed and then widened quickly afterward.

“Who wrote this?”

The teacher's stern voice cut through the hushed silence of the classroom, drawing the attention of every student. Kaiser, still wearing his facade of innocence, feigned a look of curiosity as he glanced around the room along with the rest of the students.

Silence hung in the air as the teacher's eyes scanned the room, searching for the culprit. His gaze stopped briefly on Kaiser, who maintained a poker face, seemingly unflustered by the unfolding situation.

Then, the teacher's attention shifted to Isagi, who was sitting right next to Kaiser. Isagi's heart skipped a beat, and he shifted uncomfortably in his seat. The teacher's stern expression bore into him as if trying to discern the truth.

"Isagi, do you know anything about this?" the teacher asked, holding up the incriminating paper aeroplane. The eyes of the entire class turned toward Isagi, awaiting his response.

Caught in the spotlight, Isagi hesitated for a moment before clearing his throat. "Uh, no, sir. I didn't see who did it," he replied, attempting to sound as innocent as possible.

The teacher's gaze lingered on Isagi for a moment longer, and then, with a disapproving shake of his head. “I’m being serious.”

A random student spoke out quickly afterwards; “What does it say?”

“...I’d rather not say.” the teacher blankly stares at the page. As soon as the teacher was about to carry on; a bell was heard. Students hastily gathered their belongings, relieved to be released from the hell hole.

Kaiser shot Isagi a sly grin before blending into the departing crowd. Isagi felt relief when he left, he could finally leave that classroom.

–

“Little Yoichi.” Kaiser walked up to Isagi, a shit-eating-grin laid upon his face. Isagi grimaced.

“Stop calling me that.” Isagi frowned, glaring at the other. “It’s Isagi.”

“Now, don’t be like that.” Kaiser clapped his hands together, smiling widely. “It’s your first name afterall; nothing wrong with calling you it. Yoichi”

Isagi tightened his grip on his backpack, shooting Kaiser a sharp look, not amused by the continued use of the name. "I don't care what you think. Call me Isagi. We're not friends, and you don't get to decide what you can call me."

Kaiser's smile didn't waver; if anything, it seemed to grow wider. "Feisty, huh? I like that, Little Yoichi."

Isagi sighed, exasperated. "Are you just here to annoy me or do you have a point?"

Kaiser tilted his head, as if contemplating the question. "A bit of both, maybe. Just keeping things interesting," Isagi rolled his eyes, prompting the other to keep talking. “I heard from the grapevine you’re close with little Itoshi.”

“Little Itoshi?” Isagi raised his eyebrow.

Kaiser chuckled at Isagi's confusion. "Yeah, Little Itoshi, your lover or whatever."

Isagi's irritation flared up at Kaiser's words. "First of all, don't call him 'Little Itoshi.' It's Rin. And secondly, mind your own business. What do you care about my relationships?"

Kaiser continued to wear his annoying grin. “I was wondering if you could help me talk to him.”

Isagi stared at him, baffled at the other’s audacity. “Fuck off. Also, we’re not together; hell we’re not even talking.” Isagi wasn’t supposed to say that but he had enough of Kaiser interaction today.

Kaiser's grin widened as if he found Isagi's response amusing. "Ah, trouble in paradise, huh? Too bad. Well, if you change your mind, Little Yoichi, you know where to find me.” He chuckled and walked away, leaving Isagi seething with frustration.

Isagi muttered under his breath, "Like I'd ever help you." He continued on his way, determined to put some distance between himself and the aggravating German student. After he created some distance, he started questioning something; what was his deal with Rin?

Isagi stared in front of him before sighing and leaving the situation alone. It wasn’t his problem or business.

–

“If someone cuts your hand off and starts stroking your shit, is that a handjob or you wanking?” Someone spoke behind Isagi; he didn’t even need to turn around to know it was Shidou.

“What the fuck type of question is that?” Isagi asked, drinking his soda as he turned and leaned against the wall.

Shidou, undeterred by Isagi's reaction, flashed his signature grin. "Just a little food for thought, Isagi.” Shidou then tilted his head a bit. “So?”

Isagi sighed, recognizing that Shidou wasn't about to drop the topic. "I don't know, man.”

Shidou seemed (oddly) satisfied with Isagi's response. "Fair enough. Let's stick to more straightforward topics, then." Just as Shidou was about to speak further; he heard a voice around the corner, speaking quietly.

The muffled conversation piqued both Isagi and Shidou's curiosity. They exchanged glances before deciding to investigate. Stealthily, they approached the corner and peeked around it to see who was talking.

Kaiser and Ness were engrossed in a conversation, their voices hushed but intense. Isagi strained to catch their words, but the context remained elusive. Isagi eventually could hear their words. It was all in German.

Isagi grabbed his phone, moving it so it could translate their conversation.

“Who is he close with in this school?” the blond spoke, his arms were crossed and intently stared at Ness.

Ness hesitated for a moment, glancing around cautiously before responding, “Shidou, I think they’re lovers of a sort. Also, Rin.”

Isagi and Shidou exchanged wide-eyed glances at Ness's unexpected revelation. They strained to hear more of the conversation, their curiosity piqued by the sudden mention of Shidou.

Isagi mouthed who, Shidou waved his hand in response. They both turned their attention back to the foreigners.

“I’m not talking to that vulgar beast, that’s for sure.” Kaiser closed his eyes, flipping his hair a bit as he stopped leaning against the school wall.

Isagi's eyes widened further, and he shot a quick, questioning look at Shidou, who seemed pissed.

Kaiser continued probing, "Anything else I should know? Any other secrets or drama?"

“Not involving him so it doesn’t matter.” Ness spoke, Isagi was confused by who ‘him’ is; Kaiser then sighed.

“Boring..”

Shidou was about to get out of the corner to confront them before Isagi gripped onto him tightly. Isagi noticed their movement and quickly rushed to another area. Isagi, having translated the conversation, looked at Shidou with a raised eyebrow after they stopped running. Shidou shrugged in response, equally perplexed by the unexpected turn of events.

"Well, that was unexpected," Isagi muttered, huffing from the quick get away. “Who are you with? Sae?”

“It’s complicated but yeah, that’s the only person.. Also the fact Rin was mentioned probably means they have something out for Sae.” Shidou confirmed Isagi’s suspicion.

“Should we wait and see what they do?” Isagi asked, finally catching his breath.

Shidou’s gaze was filled with anger. “I’ll fucking beat him up if he lays a hand on Sae.”

Isagi could see the fire in Shidou's eyes, a testament to the loyalty he held for Sae. "Let's not jump the gun just yet," Isagi advised, placing a calming hand on Shidou's shoulder. "We need more information. Confronting them head-on might not be the best move."

“I don’t give a fuck, Isagi.” Shidou crossed his arms.

Understanding Shidou's intense emotions, Isagi sighed. "I get it, man. But rushing into things without a plan could make it worse.”

Shidou clenched his fists. “Yeah.”

–

“Ego.” Isagi walked up to the lanky coach as the other team members all played in the background.

The lanky coach, engrossed in observing the ongoing practice, turned his attention to Isagi as he approached. "Isagi, what brings you here?"

Isagi cut to the chase, not one to beat around the bush. "Does Kaiser have any sort of history with anything? Violence or anything?” Ego stared at him blankly.

“Why do you care?” Ego bluntly said, leaning his head onto his hand.

Isagi's expression hardened as he met Ego's gaze. “Just..” Isagi sighs. “Does he or not?”

“No. No he doesn’t. If he does anything, I’ll punish him; do not worry.” Ego looked back to the players.

Isagi nodded, somewhat reassured by Ego's straightforward response. "Thanks.”

Ego gave Isagi a curt nod. "We all have our differences, but we're a team. I'll keep an eye on things, Isagi. Now, get back to practice; diamond in the rough."

Isagi offered a nod of acknowledgement to Coach Ego before heading back to the field, ready to immerse himself in the ongoing practice. As he rejoined his teammates, he couldn't shake off the feeling of something being wrong.

–

Isagi sure didn’t have detective work (with Shidou) on some random white boys on his bucket list; yet here he was, in the school library afterschool with a way-too-serious Shidou opposite him.

Shidou scrolled through his phone, his feet propped up onto the desk as he looked for information on the Germans.

"So, what are we looking for exactly?" Isagi asked, breaking the silence.

“What those bitches problem is with Sae.” Shidou bluntly said.

The library remained relatively quiet, it felt weird. "Fair enough," Isagi replied, leaning back in his chair.

“SHIDOUUU, ISAGIIII! My MENN.” Karasu yelled, throwing an arm over Shidou as he waved to Isagi.

The yelling was then quickly followed up by shushing coming from the librarian. Shidou looked over the other, going back to grinning.

“Sup my second favourite.” Shidou responded.

Karasu raised an eyebrow at Shidou's comment. "Second favourite? Who's your first?"

Shidou beamed as he put his hands behind his head.. "Obviously, Sae is my number one. You're a close second, though."

Karasu grinned, giving Shidou a playful nudge. “Really? Well that sucks. I thought I was your favourite since that time in your bed.” Karasu made a kissy-face, laughing right after.

“Shhh, not here.” Shidou replied, smiling. Isagi couldn't help but roll his eyes at Shidou and Karasu.

"Guys, keep it down." Isagi said, trying to bring back a semblance of focus to their investigation. Karasu raised an eyebrow at Isagi’s seriousness.

“What’s up your ass, Isagi?” Karasu asked.

“Probably Rin.” Shidou jokes.

Isagi shot Shidou with a deadpan look. "Ha-ha, very funny. We're here for a reason, remember?"

Karasu burst into laughter, causing another round of shushing from the librarian. "Alright, alright. No need to be so serious, Isagi. We're on a mission, got it." Karasu then went silent, leaning onto Shidou more. “Wait, why are you two in the library anyway?”

Isagi sighed, realising he hadn't provided an explanation for their presence in the library. "Long story short, we’re trying to get info on the two white boys.”

Karasu's eyes widened with curiosity. "White boys? What's the story there?"

Isagi leaned in, keeping his voice low. "Kaiser and Ness, the German students. We overheard them talking about Sae, and it sounded like they had some issue with him. We're trying to find out what's going on before things potentially get out of hand." Shidou nodded along.

“I’d kill them but, Isagi here, thought it was a bad idea.” Shidou explained further.

Karasu nodded at Shidou. “Fairs. Why’d you stop him, Isagi?”

Isagi sighed, crossing his arms as he leaned further back into his chair. "Look, I get it, they might be causing trouble, but we can't just resort to violence without understanding the full picture.”

“Nerddd.” Karasu deadpanned, causing Shidou to nod for the nth time.

Isagi rolled his eyes at Karasu's comment. "Call it what you want, but it's about being smart. We don't want to escalate things if we don't have to.”

Shidou added with a smirk, "Yeah, Isagi's more of a brains guy. Anyways, Karasu; my man. Can you help us?”

Karasu grinned, “You betcha.” He then continued; "How about we just ask around? I guarantee you someone knows something.”

Isagi considered Karasu's suggestion for a moment, then nodded in agreement. "Yeah, you're right. Asking around might give us some insights. People always love to gossip."

Shidou then lit up. “Why don’t we ask Chigiri or Reo, they know all the gossip afterall.”

“You actually said something smart for once.” Isagi spoke, shocked.

Shidou smirked at Isagi’s comment. "Believe it or not, I do have my moments."

–
“Kaiser?” Chigiri asked, Isagi stood in front of Shidou and Karasu. They stood in a random park, it was fairly quiet, only a few people passed by.

“Yeah, princess, Kaiser.” Karasu said.

Chigiri raised an eyebrow at the sudden mention of Kaiser. "Kaiser? What's with the mention?"

“He basically has it out for Sae, I think.” Isagi explained, crossing his arms as he narrowed his eyes. “Do you know anything really about how he’s interacting with people?”

Chigiri then furrowed his eyebrows, putting a finger to his chin as he thought. He quickly lit up as he seemed to have remembered something. “Oh! Right. He’s been getting buddy buddy with some unexpected people.”

Shidou, Isagi and Karasu all exchanged a look before looking back to Chigiri. Shidou spoke up. “So, pretty boy; who are these people?”

“He’s tried to talk to Rin which didn’t work, he told him to fuck off basically. He then started talking to Hiori who, unsurprisingly, didn’t say shit really.” Chigiri explained.

Isagi's eyes narrowed further at the mention of Kaiser approaching Rin and Hiori. "Rin and Hiori, huh? Most likely he tried to get close to Rin for Sae and Hiori is the next best option since Rin and Hiori are besties or whatever.”

“Are you jealous, Isagi?” Shidou teased, grinning. Isagi shot him a glare.

“No, and for your information; me and Rin aren’t speaking.” Isagi closed his eyes and sighed.

Shidou gasped, putting a hand over his mouth. “Really? Loverboys aren’t talking?” Isagi shot him another stern glare, causing Shidou to laugh. "Sure, sure. But, back to the main issue, why is this Kaiser guy trying so hard to get close to people around Sae? It doesn't sit right with me."

Karasu chimed in, "Maybe he's just playing some power game, trying to control the situation. You know, befriend the friends and all that."

Isagi leaned against a nearby bench, deep in thought. "Or maybe he sees Sae as a threat in some way. If he's trying to build connections, it could be for strategic reasons."

“Yo, if you are doing this; can I join in?” Chigiri offered, putting a hand up. “I can ask around afterall.”

Isagi looked at Chigiri and nodded. "Sure, the more eyes and ears we have, the better. Just be careful and discreet. We don't want to alert Kaiser or Ness."

“Why don’t we just ask Sae straight up though?” Karasu raised an eyebrow. “It feels tedious going around and asking; Shidou is practically dating him.”

“I would but my sugar-bear is quite reserved.” Shidou put a hand over his forehead and leaned onto Isagi who moved out the way; causing Shidou to stumble.

Isagi chuckled at Shidou's antics. "Smooth, Shidou. Real smooth. But, in all seriousness, Sae might not want to involve us in whatever is going on. We're just trying to gather information without making it a big deal for him."

Karasu shrugged. "Fair enough, but I'm still up for some direct questioning if needed."

“Last time you did a questioning was to your own boyfriend, which, may I point out, didn’t go well. Hiori was really wary of you after.” Isagi deadpanned, dropping his arms and putting one of his hands on his hip.

“Lets get the shark-teethed-shorty to threaten them then!” Shidou shouted, dusting his jacket. He then put his hands on his hip and tilted his head up.

“Kurona wouldn’t do that.” Isagi sent him a side-longed glance. “Also it’s a bad idea.”

Shidou pouted, crossing his arms. "Fine, fine. But if it doesn't work out, I'm unleashing the shark-teethed-shorty."

“Did you not hear me the first time–” Karasu quickly interrupted Isagi and Shidou; telling them to stop arguing for no reason. Isagi rolled his eyes. "Let's stick to the plan for now. Chigiri, make sure to keep an eye out for any unusual activity or information."

Chigiri gave a salute. "Got it. I'll be like a ninja in the shadows. I feel like I’m in a coming of age detective movie!"

Isagi chuckled at Chigiri's comment. "Just remember, subtlety is key. We're not looking for trouble, just information.”

“Yeah yeah, needa go anyway. I got a date with my beloved Hiori.” Karasu waved to them as he left the park.

As the group dispersed, Isagi sighed. He stuffed his hands into his pockets as he kept walking. It was turning dark and Isagi felt weirdly uncomfortable. He tried shaking off the feeling by listening to music; looking around every few minutes.

As he walked down the street, he then noticed a tall figure. However, instead of feeling scared; he noticed it was a certain boy he hadn't talked to in over a week.

Rin!

Wait shit, they’re on bad terms. Rin, walking a bit ahead, also caught sight of Isagi. Their eyes met, and for a brief moment, there was a pause in the world around them. Isagi's sheepish grin broke the silence, and Rin's expression softened before quickly looking away.

The air was thick with unspoken words as they stood there, uncertain of how to bridge the gap that had formed between them. Isagi hesitated for a moment before deciding to break the silence.

"Hey," Isagi tried starting a conversation.

Rin nodded in acknowledgment, his eyes still holding a mixture of emotions. "Hey," he replied, keeping his response simple. Oh my God, he finally spoke to him!

Isagi took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. "Look, about the other day..." he began, searching for the right words to address the issues that had led to their recent fallout.

He was about to carry on until someone called out for Rin. “Rin, I swear to fucking God–” Sae stood behind Rin, his eyebrows were furrowed.

Sae's sudden appearance interrupted the conversation, and a wave of tension returned. Isagi and Rin exchanged a quick glance before Rin turned to face Sae, a mix of surprise and apprehension in his eyes.

“Oh. Hello Sae.” Isagi smiled, waving at the other brother. Sae smiled back slightly, waving back.

"Isagi, it’s been a while." Sae smiled back, but the warmth quickly dissipated, returning to a blank expression. The air held an awkward silence, what a great day.

The corner of Isagi’s mouth twitched before it was quickly dropped.

“It was nice seeing you two, bye-bye!” Isagi was about to leave until Rin spoke up.

“Uhm.. Isagi.” Rin muttered, his fingers twitched. Isagi stood still, waiting for Rin to carry on, however; he didn’t.

“Rin. If you’re not going to say anything, let’s go. Mum will kill me if we’re late.” Sae walked off, leaving Rin and Isagi alone.

They were left in a silence, causing Rin to close his eyes and kiss his teeth. He quickly ran off, like usual.

Well, it is for the better. Isagi explained to himself, sighing as he carried on walking down the street. It hurt just as much.

–
Isagi typed on his computer, his fingers moving rapidly across the keyboard. The soft hum of the computer and the occasional clicks filled the room as he focused on completing the history project. The dim light of his desk lamp illuminated his face.

He turned to the side, staring at the mirror which faced him. Was his eyebags getting bigger? Fucks sake; he’ll probably need to invest in an eye cream again.

As he neared the completion of the project, Isagi's phone buzzed with a notification. He glanced at the screen, and it was a message from Hiori.

Hiori: Isagi, are you free for a call right now? I needa ask something.

Isagi looked at the message from Hiori, his eyebrows furrowing slightly in curiosity. He replied swiftly, pausing his typing on the history project.

Isagi: Yeah, sure. What's up?

Within moments, Hiori's name appeared on his screen as the incoming call. Isagi clicked to answer, putting his project on pause as he prepared to address whatever concern Hiori had.

"Hey, Hiori. What's going on?" Isagi greeted, adjusting the earphones to ensure clear communication.

“Isagi, I’ll cut to the chase.” Isagi heard a breath from the other end. “Do you know anything about Kaiser? He’s been bothering me and Rin recently.”

Isagi's expression shifted from one of casual conversation to one of concern as he heard Hiori's words. The mention of Kaiser bothering both Hiori and Rin made his curiosity spike; Chigiri mentioned this not long ago.

“What do you mean, bothering you and Rin? What's he doing?” Isagi put his phone down, going onto his laptop and switching to a different tab. He searched up eye creams to buy.

Hiori sighed on the other end of the call, his voice holding a mixture of frustration and worry. "Well, he's been trying to get close to Rin, and when that didn't work, he shifted his focus to me. He's been asking weird questions about Sae and some other stuff. I don't know what his deal is, but it's making both Rin and me uncomfortable."

Isagi hummed as he clicked on the brand ‘josean’. “Yeah, he has it out for Sae or something.”

Hiori continued, "He asked if Sae has been in school or if there's anything unusual about him. It's strange, Isagi. I feel like he's probing for information, and I don't know why."

Isagi leaned back in his chair, processing the information. Kaiser's actions seemed to be more than just casual attempts at friendship, just like he said whilst talking to Ness.

“Anyways, the reason why I called you. Do you know anything to do with Kaiser?” Hiori asked. “Shidou has been coming over more recently, well Rin said that and Shidou has been talking to you more often.”

“I think Kaiser’s got a vendetta against Sae.” Isagi said, resting his head in his hand as he scrolled through shopping websites. “Me and Shidou overheard him talking about how ‘Shidou’ and ‘Rin’ are close to him and that Shidou is his lover or something.”

“And?” Hiori asked, it was obvious by his voice on how this correlates.

“He then said that he won’t talk to Shidou or some shit. I don’t really know much else.” Isagi stopped talking finally.

Hiori fell silent for a moment, absorbing the information. Isagi could almost hear the gears turning in his mind. After a brief pause, Hiori spoke again, "So, he's trying to use Shidou and Rin to get information about Sae? That's messed up. Why is he so fixated on Sae, anyway?"

Isagi sighed, frustrated by the lack of answers. "I don't know, but it seems like Kaiser is digging for something. Maybe he sees Sae as a threat or something. I just know that he's up to no good."

Hiori sighed. “Thanks Isagi, I’ll tell Rin..”

"Keep me posted on anything Rin finds out, and if you guys need help with anything, just let me know." Isagi replied, his tone serious.

Hiori hummed, Isagi assumed it was in agreement. “Anyways, another question I want to ask, Isagi.”

"Yeah, go ahead," Isagi perked up a bit.

“What’s up with you and Rin?” Hiori said. “Like I know about avoiding and stuff but even then, you’d try and talk to him. Plus at the party you were practically dragged away by him.”

Isagi sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's complicated. We had a disagreement, and things got messy. I didn't want to make it worse by saying or doing something stupid in the heat of the moment. I thought giving each other space was the best option."

Hiori raised an eyebrow, sensing there was more to the story. "And what about the party? Why did Rin drag you away?"

“I don’t really know. He was just saying how he hates me and how he hates how he likes me?” Isagi sighed.

Hiori remained quiet for a moment, processing the information. "Sounds like a complicated mess. Do you hate him?"

“No.” Isagi responded almost instantly; causing him to become embarrassed. “Like, uhm. I don’t hate him, I just.. Think we should not talk. He shouldn’t be forced to talk to me just because.”

“But, Isagi, if you care about him, maybe talking it out could help. Avoiding Rin might not be a long-term solution. I know he’s an idiot and all but.."

“Hiori. If he wants to talk to me, he needs to reach out first.” Isagi stopped scrolling through his computer. “I’m not about to do all the work for a reunion over something he did.”

"Yeah. I know, but that might be a while." Isagi could Hiori shifting in the background. “He’s bad at communicating, even with me.”

“I know you’re friends with Rin and may be biassed but Rin’s the one that started avoiding me. He wouldn’t even talk to me when I managed to help him while he was drunk and willing to talk.”

Hiori sighed. "I get it, Isagi. It's just... it's a mess. Rin might be terrible at communication, but he cares about you. Much more than I think you understand. I can see it."

Isagi remained silent, absorbing Hiori's words. A mixture of emotions swirled within him, and he couldn't deny that Hiori's perspective had its weight. After a moment, he sighed, running a hand through his hair.

Hiori's voice held a sympathetic tone as he carried on. "I get it, Isagi. I really do. Just don't shut him out completely. People make mistakes, and sometimes, they need a nudge to fix them. Rin might not be good with words, but his actions speak louder. Give it time, but also be open to the possibility of talking it out when the moment comes."

"I know you're trying to help, Hiori, and I appreciate it. It's just hard to wrap my head around everything right now. I don't want to make things worse, but I also don't want to be the one constantly reaching out. It feels... one-sided. If he does talk to me, I’ll let it happen but for now; I’m not starting any conversation with him."

Hiori hummed in response. “Hopefully Rin can get his head out his ass and do that though.” Hiori chuckled a bit.

“Anyways, I need to go. Is it ok if I send over my history project for you to send it to Rin? He’s blocked me.” Isagi hovered over the ‘end call’ button.

"Sure, I can do that for you," Hiori replied. "Just send it over, and I'll make sure Rin gets it. And Isagi, take care of yourself, okay? We'll figure things out. Don't hesitate to reach out if you need anything. Night."

With those parting words, Isagi sent his history project to Hiori, who promised to forward it to Rin. The call ended, leaving Isagi with his thoughts. As he resumed work on his project, the weight of the unresolved issues with Rin lingered in the back of his mind. However, with Hiori's words echoing in his ears. He really needs to stop fussing over Rin.

Chapter Text

It’s been a couple days since that phone call with Hiori yet there were no significant developments. Days passed with a sense of uncertainty, and the tension between him and Rin remained unaddressed.

During this period, Isagi tried to focus on his usual routine – school, soccer practice, and maintaining a semblance of normalcy. However, he kept running into Rin; who, like usual, tried avoiding his gaze.

As Isagi went about his days, he noticed subtle changes in his interactions with those around him. Shidou, who was usually so fucking loud you can hear he him from the other side of the world, toned down his antics. Hiori also seemed colder towards Kaiser (thankfully).

The lack of communication from Rin was a source of frustration. Isagi couldn't deny the ache in his chest, the longing for resolution, yet a part of him stubbornly clung to the idea that Rin should be the one to initiate any conversation. Isagi, no matter how much he tried, couldn’t stop thinking about it.

Although, that wasn’t his main concern at the minute. It was Kaiser and Ness. Even if nothing new has developed from them; Kaiser has been weirdly buddy-buddy with him.

During a break between classes, Isagi found himself face-to-face with Kaiser near the lockers. The atmosphere was strangely congenial, and Kaiser greeted him with a friendly smile. Even though Kaiser was friendly; he still fucking hates his guts. He kept calling him his first name no matter what Isagi did.

Kaiser was also weirdly competitive with him. Especially after he managed to score goals against him; he kept trying to one up him.

All of it was so irritating, he wished he could deck him in the face.

–

Isagi was staring out of space, the practice match had just concluded and he was thinking of improving. He had only scored once, which was impressive considering the fact Kaiser was targeting him despite being his teammate. Still, it wasn’t enough for Isagi, he craved more–

Just as quickly Isagi fell into his thoughts, he was pulled quickly out by someone patting his head.

“You were more of a nuisance today, Yoichi.” Kaiser spoke, Isagi didn’t even need to look at him to hear the shit-eating-grin in his voice. Isagi slapped his hand away and took a step forward.

“Isagi.” Isagi corrected the blond, crossing his arms as he turned to look at the other.

“Well, Yoichi.” Kaiser coughed into his hand. “I was wondering, Sae goes to this school; yes?”

“He does but he doesn’t come in often.” Isagi nods, he decided to spew a bit of information if it meant he got more out of Kaiser.

Kaiser leaned against the wall, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Interesting. You know, I heard a rumour that Sae's now a midfielder. Is that true?”

Isagi stared at the other, he remembered a while back Rin mentioned Sae being a striked previously. That means Kaiser must’ve known him from at least 2 years ago; following the Itoshi timeline. “Yeah. He’s a midfielder.”

“Make sense, he was bitched into it after all.” Kaiser laughed. Isagi’s eyebrows raised from surprise; bitched? What does Kaiser mean by that? Just as Isagi was about to (for once) initiate an explanation from the other; he upped and left.

What the fuck.

–

“Shidou, wait.” Isagi shouted for the tall boy who was already making his way out of the school gates. Shidou turned around, his usual boisterous grin in place.

"What's up, Isagi?" Shidou asked, his voice booming in the emptying school courtyard. Isagi winced at the loudness, putting a finger over his mouth to force
Shidou’s mouth shut as he kept walking towards him.

"I need to talk to you about Kaiser," Isagi said, catching up to Shidou. The tall striker raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued.

"Kaiser?" Shidou replied before beaming. “You got new info? If so, I’d so suck you off right now.”

“Yeah, none of that.” ISagi stopped in front of the other, shaking his hands to deny the other. He knew Shidou was joking but it always managed to surprise Isagi.

Shidou chuckled, ruffling Isagi's hair. "Alright, serious talk then. What's going on with Kaiser?"

"He's been asking about Sae. Like, a lot. And he mentioned something about Sae being 'bitched' into playing as a midfielder," Isagi explained, softly brushing off Shidou’s hand.

Shidou's playfulness shifted to one full of annoyance. "Bitched into it? I’m going to fucking kill him if he keeps talking shit about Sae. Did he say anything else? Do you know anything else?"

“No clue. That's what I'm trying to figure out. Thought you might know something, you’re dating him or whatever." Isagi spoke, frustration evident in his voice.

Shidou's expression turned more serious, realising the importance of the situation. "I'll talk to Sae. He might not tell me everything. And yeah, we're together, but there are things he keeps to himself. If he got.. Put it in his place or whatever; then he might not talk about it. Pride and all."

Isagi nodded at the other. “That’s all I know so I should get going, bye.” Isagi waved to the other who grinned and waved back. Shidou has been surprisingly docile since the Kaiser situation; he’s kinda glad it happened, it makes Shidou more bearable.

–

It’s been a week since that party, Isagi thought as he sat behind the counter in an (almost empty) corner shop. He had decided to get a part time job and, luckily, his dad’s friend was hiring. So here he was, slurping on a slushie as he sat on his phone. The uniform was a bit itchy but it was fine.

As Isagi worked his part-time job, he heard someone call for him.

“Isagi?” Isagi looked up from his phone, surprised to see Sae at the corner shop. He hastily put his phone away and greeted Sae with a nod.

"Oh shit, hello Sae." Isagi smiled, noting the basket of cleaning supplies in Sae's hands. Sae nodded back, putting the supplies onto the table.

“Surprised you have a job.” Sae spoke as Isagi scanned the items.

Isagi chuckled, "It's good to have some extra cash." He continued scanning the items, maintaining a casual conversation with Sae.

Sae hummed, looking over to the side. “It’s 12am, shouldn’t you start going home?”

“My shift is going to end in 5 minutes.”

Sae nodded, "Guess I caught you at the right time. I can wait until you finish your shift.”

Isagi looked up, confused. “Uhm, yeah?” The register displayed the total. “It’s £23.06.”

Sae handed over the money, and Isagi bagged the items. As Isagi handed the bag to Sae, he noticed the thoughtful expression on Sae's face. "Thanks, Isagi. I'll wait for you outside like I said. We can talk when you're done here," Sae said, sending over a small wave mile before leaving the store.

The remaining minutes of Isagi's shift felt longer than usual as he wondered about the upcoming conversation. Once his shift ended, he locked up the store and joined Sae outside. There was a small (awkward) silence between the two of them until Sae started walking. Guess the Itoshis are quite similar when it comes to a lack of communication.

“Where are we going?”

Sae glanced at Isagi, "I’m going to walk home with you, you go the same direction as me."

Isagi nodded, and the two began walking together. The night was quiet, with only the distant sounds of the city echoing through the streets.

The soft silence was interrupted by the topic Isagi expected. “Rin’s been gloomy.”

Isagi glanced at Sae, his expression was serious. "He is?"

Sae nodded, his gaze fixed ahead as they walked. "Yeah. I noticed it last week. It’s more than usual.”

“Why don’t you ask him?” Isagi glances ahead of him.

Isagi heard Sae sighing, shuffling his bags to the other hand. “I can’t.”

Isagi glanced at Sae again. “What’s up with your family.” Isagi got straight to the point; causing Sae’s eyes to widen a bit. He quickly recovered.

“He must’ve told you.” Isagi’s eyebrows furrowed at Sae’s words, moving his face into his scarf for warmth.

“Not just that. You can just tell, you two have sort of.. Polite distance between both of you.” Isagi explained, playing with his gloves. “I hear it in the way you speak, as well; Chigiri told me about how you told him he’d never amount to anything.”

Isagi was met with silence.

Sae huffed out (a laugh?), his breath forming a mist in the cold night air. "Yeah, it's complicated. Family stuff, you know? It's hard to explain."

Isagi nodded, understanding that family could be intricate and sensitive. "I won't pry, but if you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here. And I can keep a secret if you don't want Rin to know."

“...” Sae finally glances over to Isagi, causing him to jump out of surprise. “I–” Sae went back silent after trying to speak out. “Whatever. I'd rather not.”

Isagi hummed, recognizing that some matters were best left unspoken. They continued their walk in the quiet night, the occasional street light casting shadows across the sidewalk.

“I wanted to ask. What happened between you and Rin.” Sae spoke out again.

Isagi tightened his grip on his phone. He glanced at Sae, contemplating how much to reveal.

"It's a mess," Isagi admitted, his breath forming a mist in the air. "We had a falling out. I did something stupid, something that hurt him. And now there's this awkward tension between us."

“Let me guess. Rin’s avoiding you?” Sae predicted.

Isagi was surprised by how correct he was. “Uhm. Yeah, how did you know?”

Sae pushed his hair back, causing Isagi to notice it not being gelled by like usual. “Rin is childish, even if he tries to hide it. It’s a coping mechanism of sorts.” Isagi prompted him to carry on by a glance. “He’s always avoided things he knows will distract him, confuse him or hurt him. I guess what happened a few years ago prompted it to be displayed more.”

Isagi listened intently, absorbing Sae's insights into Rin's behaviour. The chilly night air was helping in a way, nipping at Isagi’s cheeks.

"He's avoiding the issue, huh?" Isagi breathed out to create a cloud in front of him. "I get it. I messed up, and he's hurt. But avoiding it won't make it go away. We need to face it."

“You didn’t do shit.” Sae spoke almost instantly after Isagi’s sentence. Isagi raised an eyebrow, surprised by Sae's abrupt response. The sincerity in Sae's eyes was evident as they walked through the quiet night.

"You don't think so?" Isagi questioned, uncertainty in his voice.

Sae shook his head. "Rin’s just stupid. Like extremely. He’s probably avoiding you to try not to get hurt by you in the future.”

Isagi couldn't help but chuckle at Sae's straightforwardness. "Stupid, huh? That's one way to put it."

Sae’s words carry a mix of exasperation and affection. "Yeah, he's a real piece of work sometimes. But deep down, he cares. He just has a lousy way of showing it."

Isagi giggled, stopping their walk as they approached closer to their homes.

“You care for him, don’t you.” Isagi inquired abruptly. Sae's eyes met Isagi's, and for a moment, the streetlight cast a gentle glow on his face. The sincerity in his expression was undeniable, Isagi thought how similar his eyes were to Rin’s.

He really fucking missed Rin.

"Yeah," Sae admitted, looking away in an attempt to conceal emotions. "He's my brother, after all. Despite everything, I care about him a lot."

"Family, huh? It's a mess, but it's also what makes us who we are." Isagi looked down at his hands which were fidgeting. “I may not understand at all from the viewpoint as a brother but as an outsider, Rin also cares for you. In this own fucked up way.”

Sae looked back at Isagi, nodding at Isagi’s words. “Yeah. I guess so. Although, may I ask.”

Isagi looked back up to Sae.

“What did Rin say to you at the party you two were at?” Sae asked.

Isagi was surprised by Sae knowing about the party. “You know about that?” Sae nodded. Isagi sighed, realising that the topic was inevitable. “Well, he got drunk and confronted me in a way. I used his drunkenness as a way to figure out his problem with me and he started saying how he ‘hates me’ and then says he hates that he likes me..”

Sae stared at Isagi. “How did you respond to that?”

“I asked why he doesn't hate how he likes Hiori.” Sae's eyes widened at Isagi's response.

“I thought Rin was stupid.” Sae said, causing Isagi to stiffen.

"Yeah, well, we were both not in the best state of mind that night. It was a mess." Isagi crossed his arms, defensive.

“You’re not stupid for that part, you’re stupid.. Y’know what. I’ll leave you two to figure that out.” Sae blankly stares at Isagi. Isagi raised an eyebrow, causing Sae to wave him off. “Don’t bother asking, I’m not saying shit.”

Sae turned on his heel and kept walking, Isagi quickly caught up to him; resuming them walking side by side.

“One last thing before we leave, what’s your deal with Kaiser?” Sae’s eyes widened before he quickly looked to the side. "Kaiser seems fixated on you, and he's been asking about you a lot," Isagi admitted, glancing at Sae. "He's weirdly competitive with me, and it feels like there's more to it than just soccer rivalry."

Sae's expression darkened, and he sighed. “I.. Kaiser, he holds a grudge against me.” Sae continued to speak, his words carefully chosen. “Him and I had a sort of a relationship, I’d rather not talk about it.”

Isagi nodded, the conversation almost ended perfectly as they reached their intersections. Isagi waved to Sae who waves back, going in their own directions.

Entering his home, Isagi found solace in the familiar surroundings. The warmth inside let him breathe out a sigh. He took off his shoes and headed to his room.

Once he finished his nightly routine, he flopped onto the bed and stared at the ceiling. He reached for his phone, going to his contacts and started crafting a message for Karasu for the new information. He quickly stopped, hovering over the ‘send’ button.

Is it ok to tell a person Sae doesn’t even know? Isagi hesitated, contemplating the implications of sharing the information. He pondered whether revealing Sae's personal matters was appropriate to disclose to others.

After a moment of reflection, he deleted the message, choosing not to share the details with Karasu, at least for now. He shut off his phone, staring into his wall. As he started to think, his eyes started closing. Isagi laid on his bed, his fatigue washes over his contemplation.

–
Exams truly want to make him want to shoot himself. Isagi thought as he finished his maths exam. He looked over to Bachira who looked blank. Poor guy.

After the exam, Isagi found himself in the school courtyard, seeking a moment of respite. The fresh air provided a temporary escape from the confines of exam stress. As he sat on a random school bench, he thought back to the conversation about Kaiser with Sae. He knew he should tell at least Shidou but was it his right?

As he thought about it, he felt some put their hands over his eyes.

“Guess whooooo.” the voice spoke.

Isagi chuckled, recognizing the playful tone. "Hm, let me guess... Is it the infamous Bachira?"

The hands were removed, and Isagi turned to see Bachira grinning mischievously. His vibrant energy seemed like a welcome distraction from the weight of exams.

Bachira laughed, "Close, but nope!”

“Fuck you mean no? You’re Bachira.” Isagi blankly stared at the other.

“Nah.” Bachira crossed his arms and started shaking his head.

Isagi raised an eyebrow. "Alright then, mysterious stranger. If you're not Bachira, who are you?"

“I’m Bach!” Bachira shouted, causing Isagi to stare at the other, exasperated.

“Is this your alter-ego now?”

Bachira grinned, striking a pose. "I'm a man of many faces, Isagi. You never know which Bachira you're gonna get.”

“Are you a blind box now?” Isagi crossed his arms.

Bachira laughed heartily. "Hey, that's a great way to put it!”

“Sometimes I wonder if you have some mental issues.” Isagi mumbled.

Bachira chuckled. "Nah, I'm just uniquely special.”

“Heavy on the special.” Isagi retorted, causing Bachira to mockingly gasp.

Bachira put a hand over his heart, feigning offence. "Ouch, Isagi! You wound me with your words. But hey, that's why you love having me around, right?"

Isagi smirked. “Whatever helps you sleep at night.”

“WHATTT! You hate me?” Bachira started fake crying.

Isagi rolled his eyes at Bachira's dramatics. "Oh, come on. Don't be so overdramatic. You know I don't hate you."

Bachira wiped away imaginary tears. "Fine, fine. I'll forgive you... this time."

Isagi chuckled. "Thanks, I'll consider it a great mercy."

Isagi was about to speak until another voice joined in.

“What’re you two talking about?” Shidou jumped out of nowhere.

Isagi looked up, surprised by Shidou's sudden appearance. "Oh, hey Shidou.”

Bachira chimed in, "Yeah, and apparently, I'm a blind box now. Who knew?"

“Seriously? What type? Do you have one with a dildo?” Shidou said, beaming.

Bachira laughed. “NOPE!”

Isagi managed to compose himself enough to reply, "Sorry, Shidou, but that's not part of the Bachira blind box collection."

Bachira added, "Maybe in the limited edition set!"

Bachira then heard this name being called by Charles, “Welp, bye-bye Yoi and Shidou!” Bachira waves with both his hands and quickly rushes over to the caller.

Shidou and Isagi both went silent, Isagi broke it for once. “Shidou, Sae told me some information.”

Shidou's expression shifted to one of interest. "Sae? What did he say?"

Isagi hesitated for a moment, gauging how much he should disclose. “Well, he was talking about Rin but that’s not important. He said that he and Kaiser used to have a relationship and that Kaiser has a grudge against him.”

Shidou's eyes widened in surprise. "Wait, Sae and Kaiser? A relationship?”

“Was just as surprised.” Isagi leaned against the back of the bench. “Explains Kaiser’s obsession I guess.”

“Doesn’t explain all of it.” Shidou’s eyebrows furrowed, he seemed pissed. “I don’t get why Sae won’t say shit.”

“Probably cuz it got something to do with him being bitched.” Isagi imputed, looking over to Shidou. Shidou looked as though the clogs in his head started turning.

Shidou sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Well, my darling does have a big pride so it makes sense.”

Isagi nodded. “Figured,” Shidou then glared at him, Isagi waved his hands defensively. “Not insulting, don't worry! Anyways, my theory is that somewhere before Sae and Rin’s bond broke.”

“They had a bond?” Shidou raised his eyebrow at the other.

“Yeah. Rin talked about it, uh, whatever. Anyways, before their bond broke, Sae used to be a striker and then when he went to Germany or Spain or… I forgot the country. When he went there, he lost badly and was forced into becoming a mid-fielder. He must’ve met Kaiser then and then it spiralled to this. Although, I don’t have any idea of why they broke off their ‘relationship’.”

“To be with me, of course.” Shidou put out his chest, putting his hands on his hips. “My dick is just that go–”

“ANYWAYS!” Isagi shouted, cutting off Shidou. ”Kaiser must’ve taken it to heart and is now trying to get revenge.”

Shidou started bashing against Isagi’s back, grinning like a maniac. “You’re a genius, Isagi! A genius!”

Isagi winced as Shidou enthusiastically slapped him on the back. "Easy there, Shidou. I'm just connecting the dots. But yeah, it does seem like Kaiser is nursing some deep grudge, and we need to be careful how we navigate this."

Shidou laughed, still in high spirits. "Careful is my middle name!”

“I’m serious!” Isagi put his hands over the bench’s handle.

“No need to be such a buzz-kill.” Shidou’s laughter subsided, rolling his eyes. “We should tell Karasu, maybe Chigiri but maybe not since he’s a gossip.”

“Let's just tell Karasu.” Isagi let go of the hand rail and leaned back into the bench once again.

Shidou nodded. "Yeah, Karasu is the guy!”

“Yeah yeah.” Isagi rolled his eyes playfully. “He is.”

–
“If I have to hear Kaiser talk to me one more time, his head will be put on a wooden stick and used for human sacrifice.” Isagi stared down Chigiri as he spoke.

“Cheers, what wonderful information.” Chigiri smiled, closing his locker.

“You’re welcome.” Isagi looked as though he hadn’t slept in days.

“Your eyebags are getting worse.” Chigiri pointed out. “I can put you on some skin-care I use if you want.”

Isagi gave a tired chuckle. "Thanks for the offer, but I think my problems go beyond skincare. It's more of a life-induced fatigue."

Chigiri hummed, tucking his hair behind his ear. “Sounds tuff mate.”

“Thanks..” Isagi drifted off, putting his head against the locker. “I feel like death.”

Chigiri went onto his phone and started texting someone.

“Kaiser looks like he’d sound like Eric Cartman.” Isagi spoke out of the blue.
Chigiri giggled a bit, before thinking a bit. "He does look like he stares at the mirror and does daily affirmations.”

“His big ass cranium probably takes up the entire mirror.”

Chigiri giggled more. "I can totally picture that! 'I'm Kaiser, and I'm the most important person in the world.'" Chigiri then puts up a finger. "Or maybe, 'I'm not fat, I'm just big-boned.'"

Isagi grins. "And when someone scores against him, he'd shout, ‘screw you guys, I’m going home!’."

“He is the type of guy to wear plimsolls.” Isagi inputted.

“Velcro and shit.” Chigiri laughed.

“Velcro and what?” A certain blond appeared behind them. Chigiri and both turned around. It was Kaiser.

Kaiser's sudden appearance surprised Isagi and Chigiri. They exchanged quick glances before Chigiri greeted Kaiser with an innocent smile.

"Hey, Kaiser! We were just discussing, um, fashion choices," Chigiri said, trying to sound casual.

Kaiser raised an eyebrow, looking between the two. "Right, well I do think velcro can be pulled off–”

This, promptly, caused Isagi and Chigiri to look over to each other and burst out laughing. The image of Kaiser earnestly endorsing velcro straps on his shoes was too much for them to handle.

"Really? Trying to start a fashion trend?” Chigiri said, holding in his laugh as he leaned onto Isagi’s shoulder for support.

Isagi joined in, trying to stifle his laughter. "Yeah, man. The world is just not ready for that level of fashion revolution."

Kaiser seemed taken aback by their reaction, unsure whether they were mocking him. "What? I'm serious! Velcro is practical and stylish!"

Isagi turned red from holding in his laugh. "I can't believe we've been missing out on the true trendsetter in our midst. Kaiser, you're a pioneer."

Kaiser's confusion turned into a mix of annoyance and amusement. "You guys are messing with me, aren't you?"

Chigiri finally managed to compose himself and patted Kaiser on the back. "Oh, Kaiser, we're just pulling your leg. Velcro or not, you're still the most stylish guy on the soccer field."

"Yeah, don't worry, we appreciate your unique sense of fashion. It's what makes you... well, you."

“Awhh, thank you Yoichi and Hyoma.” Kaiser spoke.

Isagi and Chigiri exchanged a quick glance, realising that Kaiser had casually used their first names. Right, he forgot that Kaiser does that. Despite that, Isagi and Chigiri had to stifle some more of their laughter.

Isagi, still grinning, responded, "No problem, Kaiser. Now, about those velcro shoes, can you give us a demonstration?"

Chigiri added with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, "Maybe you can host a velcro fashion show. I'm sure the whole team would love to see it."

“Word? I’ll come in tomorrow with them, you’ll see the hype.” Kaiser proudly spoke, his chin held up high.

With that, Kaiser left the scene. Isagi and Chigiri watched Kaiser's confident exit, bursting into laughter once he was out of earshot.

"I can't believe he's actually going to do it," Isagi said, wiping away tears from laughter.

“I’m taking fucking pictures and sending them around.” Chigiri crouches as he holds Isagi’s shoulders.

–

Isagi wasn’t going to fucking lie, he thought Kaiser was joking. That was until he watched Kaiser walk across the field in fucking velcro plimsolls. PLIMSOLLS.

Chigiri discreetly snapped pictures on his phone as he tried not to laugh. Ego would kill their asses if they laugh too loud during his instructions.

"Man, he's really committed to this," Isagi whispered, shaking his head in amazement.

"We're witnessing history here, my friend. The birth of the Velcro Revolution." Chigiri whispered, stopping snapping pictures and sending them onto their group chat.

Isagi glanced at the pictures on Chigiri's phone and couldn't help but grin. " Our group chat is going to explode with these."

Chigiri chuckled, typing a caption for the photos before hitting send. Thankfully for Kaiser, no one has read the message yet. Chigiri put his phone away, turning to finally listen to Ego. Isagi followed suit.

–

Isagi eventually forgot about Kaiser, doing some shooting drills. The rhythmic sound of the ball meeting the net became a therapeutic distraction.

Until he heard a loud commotion. He stopped the football with his foot, pivoting his other foot to turn him around and drag the football along. As soon as he turned around, he was met with the sight of Shidou decking Kaiser in the face.

Huh. This wasn't something he had anticipated. That right hook was diabolical, Isagi thought. Isagi then remembered that Shidou wasn’t supposed to confront Kaiser yet, causing Isagi to leave the football and rush over to the scene.

"Shidou, stop!" Isagi shouted, trying to intervene. He grabbed Shidou's arm, attempting to pull him away from Kaiser.

Shidou, however, was fueled by anger, and he shook Isagi off. "Stay out of this, Isagi. This is between me and him."

Kaiser, holding his cheek, looked stunned and confused. "Shidou, what the hell is your problem?"

Isagi glanced around, realising that the whole team was now watching the altercation. Ego's stern expression told him that this was quickly becoming a serious issue.

“What's my issue? What the fuck is yours?” Shidou shouted, raising his leg and trying to kick Kaiser, which was blocked by Kaiser. Isagi was about to step away when he felt a familiar hand grab his forearm and drag him into them, preventing him from being hurt. In the moment, Isagi wasn’t worried about who grabbed him and let the hand hold onto him. Shidou carried on shouting. “Leave my boyfriend out your fucking petty drama!”

Isagi turned to see who grabbed him. Of course, it was Rin; he practically knew by how the hand grabbed him. Rin didn’t look at Isagi, staring at the scene in front of him instead.

“You’re not fucking involved are you? And I got nothing to do with Sae.” Kaiser shouted back, trying to elbow Shidou.

“NOTHING?” Shidou shouted, grabbing his elbow and face and smashing him into the ground. “You’ve been talking shit about him telling people about him being bitched. You even found his fucking house and sent a letter to him to ‘fight him one on one as strikers’!”

The atmosphere grew tenser, and Isagi could feel the weight of the situation pressing down on everyone. He watched as Rin's grip on his forearm tightened, a sign that he, too, was affected by the unfolding events.

"Shidou, that's enough!" Isagi pleaded, trying once again to intervene. He could see the anger in Shidou's eyes and the frustration in Kaiser's expression.

Shidou, however, seemed beyond reason. "Enough? This bastard has been messing with Sae's life, spreading shit about him. He deserves more than this!"

Isagi turned to Rin, hoping for him to say something. Rin's gaze remained fixed on the altercation, his jaw clenched. Thankfully, Ego came over.

“Shut your prepubescent asses up.” Ego shouted, despite that Shidou almost threw another punch when Aiku grabbed him and held him back.

Kaiser, on the ground, seemed to regain some composure. "I don't know what the hell you're talking about. I haven't done anything to Sae."

Ego stepped forward, his presence commanding attention. "Enough of this nonsense," he barked. The coach's stern expression added weight to his words. "Shidou, Kaiser, I don't care what's going on between you two, but you settle it off the field. This is a team, not a street brawl."

Ego then turned to Isagi. “I also want you to come with me. I have reason to assume you know some details about whatever this mess is.”

Isagi's eyes widened at Ego's request. “Huh? Why.”

“Remember what you asked a few days ago?” Ego said, staring at Isagi with his dead eyes.

"Does Kaiser have any sort of history with anything? Violence or anything?”

Shit..

Isagi gulped, realising the implication of Ego's words. He nodded hesitantly, acknowledging the conversation they had days ago about Kaiser's history. Isagi was about to wall towards Ego but Rin’s hand was around his arm.

“Ego. I’ll come.” Rin stated, blankly staring at the coach who stared back.

“I’ll permit that, it does include your brother after all. Shidou, Kaiser and Isagi follow me.”

As the group, now including Rin, followed Coach Ego away from the field, a heavy silence hung in the air. What a group, Isagi thought. Isagi glanced at Rin, who remained stoic, his gaze focused ahead. Shidou walked with clenched fists, shooting occasional glares at Kaiser, who walked a few paces away, seemingly lost in thought.

Coach Ego led them to a quieter area away from the rest of the team, perhaps to avoid further spectacle. Once they stopped, Ego turned to face the group.

"Alright, spill it. What's the deal with all this drama?" Ego demanded, his usual stern expression intensified.

Shidou was the first to speak, his anger palpable. “Just say you want to know about drama.” Shidou glared at Ego who blankly stared back, causing Shidou to become uncomfortable. "Kaiser's been messing with Sae, spreading rumours, and even sent him a letter trying to provoke him. I couldn't stand by and let that happen."

“Shut your antenna ass up, I did not send a letter.” Kaiser retorted.

“You just admitted you spread rumours, indirectly.” Isagi pointed out. Kaiser scowled but remained silent, realising he just made it worse for himself.

Rin's gaze remained fixed on the unfolding scene. “I saw the letter, you’re the only person here who would write that.”

Ego listened carefully, his expression unwavering. Shidou and Kaiser exchanged heated glances, but Ego's attention was now on Rin, awaiting more information.

Rin continued, his voice calm and measured. "The letter mentioned things only you and Sae would know. I didn’t read it all since Sae snatched it but there's no one in the school except Kaiser who would know the exact intricacies of Kaiser’s and Sae’s relationship."

Ego's stern expression deepened as he processed Rin's words. The weight of the situation hung in the air, and the coach seemed to recognize the gravity of the information.

Kaiser shifted uncomfortably under the collective gaze. “I didn’t fucking write it, ok? We can even compare writing and shit. I didn’t write it.”

It finally went silent but it was stifling. Isagi hated every second of it.

Ego finally spoke, his voice firm. "We'll get to the bottom of this, but physical confrontations on the field are not the way to handle personal matters. I expect you all to act as responsible members of this team. Personal shit like this isn’t my problem, talk it out like the soon to be fucking adults you lot are rather than children. You’re lucky you lot are my best students or else I’d punish each of you severely.”

Shidou had his arms crossed, scowling. “Fuck off, fish eyes.”

Ego ignored Shidou's remark, maintaining his authoritative demeanour. "Now, get back to practice.”

Kaiser walked off, followed by Ego. Isagi, Shidou, and Rin exchanged glances. Shidou then walked off, a scowl still on his face leaving Rin and him alone.

Great.

As soon as Isagi was about to leave, Rin spoke up. “Can we talk?” Isagi almost got whiplash from how fast he turned to look at Rin.

“Wha.. wait, I mean yes we can talk.” Isagi stood, frozen as he nodded.

Rin glanced around to make sure they were out of earshot of the others before he spoke. "Can you stop looking at me like that?"

“Huh?” Isagi let out, confused.

“Just. Whatever, shut up lukewarm this is hard as it is.” Rin crossed his arms, gritting his teeth as he stared at the ground.

Isagi went silent, he finally was unfrozen and stared at Rin who stared at the ground.

“I…” Rin looked up finally, Isagi stared back. Isagi really fucking missed him, he wanted to grab him by the shoulders and shake him. He wanted to scream and shout, he just really missed talking to the other. “Isagi.”

His voice sounded like butter in the way he said his name. Isagi really hated his thoughts sometimes.

“Isagi, I’m..” Rin looked away again and mumbled out the last part. “Sorry.”

Isagi blinked, processing Rin's words. "Sorry?" he repeated, not sure if he had heard correctly.

Rin sighed, frustration evident in his expression. "Yeah, sorry., I shouldn't have... avoided you, ok?” Rin looked constipated by the way he tried glaring at Isagi. “I shouldn't have said those things at the party. I was drunk, and I let it all spill out. It was unfair to you, and it wasn't right."

Isagi stared at Rin, his mind racing to catch up with the unexpected apology. "Rin, it's okay. You don't have to apologise. I get it; we were both not in the best state of mind that night."

Rin's brows furrowed. "No, it's not okay. I... I've been avoiding you, and it's not fair to you. I just needed time to process everything, and I took it out on you."

Isagi softened, walking up to Rin and putting a hand on his shoulder. “Thanks for apologising.”

“Shut up, this is embarrassing.” Rin put a hand over his face, he used the one Isagi wasn’t touching.

Isagi giggled. “This was unexpected.”

“Shut up, luke-warm.” Rin kept his face in his hand.

Isagi chuckled, the tension slowly dissipating. "I missed you calling me that.” Isagi grinned. "Missed you, you know?"

Rin lowered his hand, a mix of annoyance and warmth in his eyes. "I didn’t, I don't need you getting all sentimental about it."

“Sure, that’s also why Hiori and Sae went up to me and started asking me about what happened between us two.” Isagi teased him.

Rin's eyes widened in surprise. "What? They did what?"

Isagi laughed at Rin's reaction. "Oh, come on. You didn't really think they'd let this whole thing slide, did you?”

Rin groaned, running a hand through his hair. "Great, just what I needed."

Isagi nudged him playfully, finally letting go of his shoulder. "Don't worry. I didn't spill all the details. I just told them we had a little falling out, but things are getting back to normal now."

Rin shot him a sceptical look. "You make it sound so simple."

“Although, Rin.” Isagi spoke up. “I want the reason why you started avoiding me.”

Rin stood frozen when Isagi asked, his mouth a bit open. “...”

Isagi stared at Rin who stared back, as soon as Isagi was going to repeat the question someone interrupted.

“Isagi!” Bachira shouted, grabbing Isagi’s shoulders and hugging them. “You good?”

Isagi turned to Bachira, smiling. "Yeah, I'm good. Thanks for checking in."

Bachira noticed Rin and raised an eyebrow. “Rin? HI HI!” Bachira started manically waving at the other, Rin rolled his eyes and turned on his heel and walked off. “Cold as ever.”

Bachira got off Isagi’s back. "Everything sorted out between you two?"

“You know about it?”

“I might be stupid but I’m not people stupid.”

Isagi sighed, smiling. “Well then, we're working on it."

Bachira grinned. "That's good to hear. Hiori and Chigiri would love to hear about how the lovebirds are back.” Bachira started backing kissy faces.

“Fuck off.” Isagi rolled his eyes, waving Bachira off. He started walking back to the pitch.

Although, Bachira’s comment wasn’t unappealing.

Wait what?

Chapter Text

“Shidou. Can you wait?” Isagi shouted, jogging. The boy’s mood had been sour all week; he even didn’t talk to Isagi during science.

Isagi finally caught up to Shidou, panting slightly from the effort. "Hey, wait up. What's going on?"

As Isagi caught up with Shidou, he noticed the tense set of his shoulders and the distant look in his eyes. Shidou didn't respond immediately, his gaze fixed somewhere in the distance as if lost in thought. "Sorry, man. I've just got a lot on my mind," Shidou replied, slowing down to match Isagi's pace.

Isagi nodded, understanding. "Yeah, I get it. Your boyfriend and all."

Shidou's expression darkened at the mention of his boyfriend, Kaiser. "Yeah, him too," he muttered, his tone heavy with frustration.

Isagi frowned, sensing the tension in Shidou's voice. "Is everything okay between you two?"

“This fucking thing going on has made me realise that Sae fucking keeps so much from me.”

Isagi's eyebrows shot up in surprise at Shidou's sudden outburst. First time Shidou said anything negative about Sae.

Shidou let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through his hair. "I mean, I thought we were close, you know? I know he’s reserved and all and that’s hot but still." Shidou closed his eyes, tightening his grip on his bag’s strap. "Every time I try to bring it up, he just shuts me down or brushes it off like it's no big deal. But it is a big deal to me, damn it!"

Isagi hums. He sympathises with Shidou; gets him in a way, the Itoshi brothers are way too reserved for their own good.

"Yeah, I get what you mean," Isagi replied, offering a supportive nod. "It can be frustrating when someone you care about keeps things bottled up. But maybe he's just not used to opening up about stuff like that."

“...” Shidou stares daggers into the ground. “If he’s not willing to open up to his own boyfriend, what’s the point?”

Isagi blankly stared at the other.

“Huh..?” Isagi let out, surprised by Shidou’s revelation. Isagi's surprise lingered for a moment before he collected his thoughts. "I guess... I mean, relationships are built on trust and communication, right? If he's not willing to open up to you, then maybe there's something deeper going on."

Shidou doesn’t deem him with a response, walking off.

What a turn of events.

–

“Rin.” Isagi called for Rin who sat alone on a bench in the courtyard. Rin looked up from his phone as Isagi approached, a faint hint of surprise in his eyes. He nodded in acknowledgment but didn't say anything, waiting for Isagi to continue. “I wanted to ask, it’s about Sae and that letter thing.”

Rin's expression grew guarded at the mention of Sae and the letter. He shifted slightly on the bench, his posture becoming more tense as he waited for Isagi to continue.

Isagi took a seat next to Rin, careful not to intrude on his personal space. "Do you really think Kaiser sent that letter?"

Rin's jaw clenched slightly, his gaze flickering away before returning to meet Isagi's. "I don't know for sure," he replied, his voice betraying a hint of uncertainty. "But it's the only explanation that makes sense. The things mentioned in the letter... they were too personal, too specific to be a coincidence."

“Right..” Isagi stared into the ground. “I talked to Karasu about it. Didn’t bring up any details so don’t worry. Well, he thought maybe Ness or someone close to Kaiser may have written it.”

"That's... an interesting theory," Rin remarked, his tone thoughtful. "It would explain how the letter contained such personal details about Sae and Kaiser's relationship. But why would someone else write it on Kaiser's behalf?"

Isagi hummed. A silence enveloped the both of them.

Damn, this is awkward. Especially since they haven’t talked in so long.

Isagi glanced at Rin, feeling the weight of the awkward silence between them. He wanted to break the tension, to find a way to bridge the gap that had grown between them in recent weeks.

"So... how have you been?" Isagi asked, his voice tentative as he tried to start a conversation.

Rin shrugged, his gaze fixed on the ground as he replied, "Fine, I guess. Just keeping busy with football."

Isagi nodded, trying to hide his disappointment at Rin's terse response. "Yeah, me too. Ego's been pushing us pretty hard lately."

Rin nodded in agreement, but his attention seemed elsewhere, his mind clearly preoccupied with other thoughts. This is getting too much for Isagi. He stood up quickly, heading to leave.

As Isagi rose to leave, a surge of frustration and disappointment washed over him. He had hoped that their conversation would be the same as before. But Rin's distant demeanour dashed those hopes, leaving Isagi feeling disheartened.

Whatever, Isagi walked off. Rin clearly wasn’t in the mood to talk and talking about the reasons why he was avoiding him would be a pain.

“Where are you going?” Rin called out to him, causing Isagi to turn around in surprise.

“You seem to want to be alone..?” Isagi spoke. Rin went silent and sat still, he broke their eye contact quickly after.

Rin mumbled something, Isagi was unsure what though.

“What did you say?” Isagi asked.

“Nothing.”

Isagi hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do next. Rin's response only added to the awkwardness of the situation, leaving Isagi feeling uncertain about how to proceed. Isagi decided to leave anyway.

–

Karasu: Hey Isagiii, Shidou’s been bitchy lately so I wanted to tell you my theory on that note thing that happened

BTW I overheard the conversation bfr

I think Ness might have written it or maybe some1 close to him

Cuz Kaiser seemed confused at the note when I was observing him, dunno tho cuz I didn’t see him that much.

He might know abt the note but not have written it lmfao
That’s my theory thoo

–

Nothing new has come out, again. Isagi was getting sick and tired standing around, waiting for other people to do the work which never happens.

So here he was, standing behind Ness, might as well confront him.

As Isagi stood behind Ness, he took a deep breath, preparing himself for the confrontation. He knew Ness was fiercely loyal to Kaiser, often to the point of obsession. But Isagi couldn't ignore the nagging feeling that Ness might have played a role in the letter incident involving Sae.

"Hey, Ness," Isagi called out, trying to keep his tone neutral despite the tension brewing inside him.

Ness turned around, a polite smile on his face. "Oh, Isagi. What's up?"

Isagi glanced around briefly, ensuring they were out of earshot from others. "I wanted to talk to you about something... private," he said, lowering his voice.

Ness's smile faltered slightly, replaced by a guarded expression. "Sure, what is it?"

Isagi took a moment to gather his thoughts before speaking. "It's about that letter that was sent to Sae. Do you know anything about it?"

Ness's expression hardened, and a flicker of defensiveness crossed his features. "Why would you think I know anything about that?" he asked, his tone sharper than usual.

Isagi held Ness's gaze, refusing to back down. "Because you're Kaiser's right-hand man. You're always by his side, and you'd do anything for him," he replied, his voice steady.

Ness's jaw tensed, and his eyes narrowed. "I don't appreciate the implication, Isagi. I'm loyal to Kaiser, yes, but I would never do something like that."

Isagi could sense how defensive the other was being, but he didn't waver. "I'm not accusing you of anything, Ness. I just want to get to the bottom of this."

“It’s really none of your business, Isagi.” Ness put one of his hands to the back of his neck. “Besides I don’t know shit.”

Isagi's eyebrows furrowed at Ness's response. "I know it might seem like I'm prying, but this affects everyone in the team, including you," Isagi countered, his voice firm but measured.

"Look, I get it. But I'm telling you, I don't know anything about that letter. I really don’t know.” Ness looked over to the door near them.

Isagi felt a surge of frustration at Ness's denial. He couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the situation than Ness was letting on, but without concrete evidence, he was at a dead end.

"Fine," Isagi replied, his tone tinged with disappointment. "But if you do hear anything, even if it's just a rumour, I hope you'll consider sharing it with me.”

Ness's expression softened slightly, his defensive posture relaxing just a fraction. "Sure, Isagi. I'll keep that in mind," he conceded, though his tone remained guarded.

Ness walked off, Isagi turned to look at him. He stared at his footsteps.

Oh he was most definitely lying.

–

Isagi was so tired, it was a Friday night yet he felt like passing out right there and then on his bed. He’s been overthinking every little thing recently; from that weird drama to Rin to football.

He doesn’t even have the energy to eat anything, to even move to a more comfortable position. He feels like rotting in bed this entire weekend. Yet, of course life likes throwing shit at him. A ping from Isagi's phone breaks the silence in his room, cutting through the heaviness of his exhaustion like a sharp knife. With a sigh, he reaches over to grab his phone from his desk, the effort making him feel like his limbs are made of lead.

But as he stretches out his arm (not moving off his bed), the weight of his weariness overwhelms him, causing him to lose his balance. With a thud, Isagi tumbles off the bed and lands on the floor with a grunt.

“Shit… fuck my life.” For a moment, he lies there, stunned by the sudden fall and the jolt it sends through his tired body. But the persistent ping from his phone reminds him of the reason he reached for it in the first place.

Isagi pushes himself up from the floor and retrieves his phone. His muscles ache with the effort, but he manages to prop himself up against the edge of his bed. Who could be messaging him at this hour, and what could they possibly want?

It was Hiori. Isagi wasn’t too surprised; they’ve been talking more often recently afterall.

Hiori: Isagiiiiii hi hii, I was wondering if you wanted to hang w/ me and Rin?

As Isagi reads the message from Hiori, a faint glimmer of energy stirs within him. Despite his exhaustion and the physical discomfort of his fall, the idea of spending time with Rin made his horrible night better.

He types out a response, his fingers moving sluggishly over the screen:

Isagi: What day and time?

With his message sent, Isagi sets his phone aside and leans back against the edge of his bed, closing his eyes for a moment. The thought of seeing Rin, even if it's just for a short hangout session, gives him something to look forward to amidst the exhaustion.

As he waits for Hiori's reply, Isagi lets himself sink into the comfort of his bed, the weariness of the day finally catching up to him.

–

He woke up to atleast 5 new messages from Hiori.

Isagi sat on his bed, reading over the messages.

Hiori: we r gonna be at xxxx park

Rin seems excited btw

(message deleted)

Come at 4pm tmr

Bring some snacks pls, ty ily :D

Isagi rubbed his eyes as he read through the messages from Hiori. He quickly typed out a response:

Isagi: Kk see uuuu

With his message sent, Isagi set his phone aside and stretched out on his bed, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. The thought of spending time outdoors with his friends offered a welcome distraction from the weight of his worries.

–

He got to the park right at 4:05. Isagi glanced around the park as he arrived, expecting to see both Hiori and Rin waiting for him. However, to his surprise, he only spotted Rin standing near a bench, looking around as if searching for someone.

Approaching Rin, Isagi greeted him with a wave. "Hey, Rin! Where's Hiori?"

Rin turned towards Isagi. “Hiori bailed last minute. It's just us today."

Isagi nodded, Rin seemed unbothered. "Ah, I see. That's too bad. I was looking forward to hanging out with both of you."

Rin shrugged. “Yeah, uhm. Do you wanna walk around then?”

Isagi considered Rin's suggestion for a moment before nodding. "Sure, walking sounds good. It's a nice day out, anyway."

“It’s 0 degrees.” Rin bluntly responded.

Isagi chuckled at Rin's blunt response. "Yeah, I guess it's not exactly warm, but at least it's not raining or snowing, right?"

Rin hummed, turning on his heel and walking.

“Hey wait!” Isagi quickened his steps, walking beside Rin.

As Isagi quickened his steps to catch up with Rin, he fell into step beside him, matching his pace. Despite the chilly weather, Isagi was grateful for the opportunity to spend time with Rin, even if their plans had changed at the last minute. Although, he didn’t know what to talk about.

"So, what do you feel like doing?" Isagi asked, glancing around the park for inspiration. “Hey isn’t this the park we went to during the firework festival?”

Rin nodded in confirmation. "Yeah, it is.”

Isagi smirked. “I beat you in that game.”

“I will throw you into the river.” Rin retorted.

Isagi laughed at Rin's playful threat, knowing he was just teasing. "Hey, hey, no need for violence."

Rin rolled his eyes but couldn't hide the hint of amusement in his expression (things might go back to normal!). "We'll see about that,"

Thankfully, the silence this time wasn’t stifling. Isagi still didn’t know how to carry on their conversation.

“The pond is frozen..” Isagi stared at it, shoving his hands deeper into his pockets. Isagi thought of the greatest idea just then.

Isagi's remark about the frozen pond caught Rin's attention, and he followed Isagi's gaze to the icy surface. "Yeah, looks like it," Rin replied, his breath visible in the chilly air.

Isagi stepped closer to the edge of the pond, peering down at the smooth layer of ice. "I wonder how thick it is," he mused aloud, tapping the surface with the tip of his shoe.

Rin watched Isagi with a caution. "Be careful," he warned, taking a step closer to Isagi. "We don't want you falling in."

“Awh, Rinrin cares for me.” Isagi teased the other, giggling.

“Don’t call me that.” Rin looks away, his cheeks reddening a bit. Isagi noted that he didn’t deny his comment.

Isagi decided to take a step onto the pond. The smooth surface of the ice felt solid beneath his feet. He turned back to Rin with a mischievous grin, his eyes sparkling with playful intent.

Rin's eyes widened in alarm when he turned back to look at the other. "Isagi, wait! Don't—" he began, his voice tinged with urgency.

A sudden crack echoed through the air, sending a jolt of shock in Isagi. His grin faltered, replaced by a look of realisation.

Shit.

Rin's eyes widened in panic, and without a moment's hesitation, he lunged forward, grabbing Isagi by the arm and pulling him back with all his strength. “Do you no fucking common sense?” Rin's voice was urgent, his grip firm as he yanked Isagi away from the cracking ice.

Isagi stumbled backward, his heart racing with fear as he felt the ground give way beneath him. With Rin's help, he managed to regain his balance just as the ice beneath him shattered, sending a cascade of splinters into the frozen pond.

Of course, his plan didn’t fucking work.

“Thanks, Rin," Isagi managed to say, his voice trembling with shock and relief. "I... I wasn't thinking."

Rin let go of his arm. “Yeah, you weren’t.” Rin's shoulders were slightly tense and the worry etched on his face.

Isagi awkwardly laughed, looking off to the side. “Let’s just go somewhere else then.”

Rin nodded, his facial expression going back to normal. He turned on his heel and started walking.

"So, where do you want to go?" Isagi asked, trying to lighten the mood as they continued their stroll through the park.

Rin glanced around, considering their options. "How about we grab something warm to drink? There's a café not too far from here,"

Isagi beamed. “Sure!” Rin kept walking, causing Isagi to have to speed up everytime. At Least the silence isn’t awkward.

…

Well, it was just a tiny bit awkward.

–

Entering the cosy interior of the café, Isagi felt a sense of warmth envelop him. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and baked goods filled the air, people talked and some worked.

“What are you planning on getting?” Isagi looked over to Rin who ignored his comment and walked up to the queue. Isagi followed suit, standing right next to him. As they waited, Isagi stared at the menu; he wasn’t sure what to get.

“What are you getting?” Rin asked, pulling out his wallet as they were about to order. Isagi quickly scanned the options before making his decision (finally).

“Probably a hot chocolate," Isagi replied, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "It's cold outside, so something warm sounds perfect right now."

Rin nodded in agreement, his expression softening slightly. He walked up to the cashier and ordered a plain coffee, Isagi grimaced slightly.

“Hot chocolate as well.” Rin spoke, surprising Isagi.

“Thought you didn’t like sweet things?” Isagi asked, causing Rin to glance at him and pay for his order. Rin then grabbed the sleeve of his jacket and dragged him to a random table near the window.

“You’re stupider than I thought.” Rin let go of his jacket, leaving to go to the pick up station.

Oh, he bought the drink for Isagi. He felt a warmth spread through his chest, thank god that things aren’t bad despite Rin’s previous avoidance. A soft smile tugged at Isagi's lips as he watched Rin stride off to the pick-up station.

Isagi sat in silence, staring at the table. He was thankful that Rin finally decided to finally talk to him but he was still bugged out about why he was avoiding him. The night he got drunk was a blur after all; all he really remembered about it was that he “hates that he likes him”. He never really read into that statement, he assumed it was nothing like that since Rin seemed to be too emotionally constipated to ever have a crush. (for some reason that pissed Isagi off a bit).

Isagi assumes he meant in the way he likes friends, now that he thinks about it; he doesn’t even really call Hiori a friend. Like, ever. He just calls him ‘tolerable’. Even if he does think of Hiori as a friend, he doesn’t out worldly state it. It’s more like a subconscious thought for him. That must be the reason why he was confused by Isagi; it’s because he couldn’t put a label on his relationship with him.

That must be it.

Isagi shook his head, resting his head on his hand right after. Whatever, he was more focused on who must’ve written the letter.

Maybe if he got his hands on it, even just a glimpse at the writing style of it; he can try comparing it to Ness’s or really anyone close to Kaiser. Who else is close to Kaiser? Or maybe, it’s someone who’s against Kaiser–

He was cut off by the (practically) slamming of a cup in front of him. “What are you thinking about?” Rin asked, he looked a bit pissed.

Isagi blinked, momentarily caught off guard by Rin's abrupt question and the slight irritation. "Uh, nothing much," Isagi replied, his mind still lingering on his previous train of thought but quickly shifting gears to focus on Rin. "Just... you know, thinking about stuff."

Rin raised an eyebrow, clearly not satisfied with Isagi's vague answer. "Stuff like what?" he pressed, his gaze piercing.

Isagi hesitated for a moment, unsure of how much he wanted to reveal to Rin. After all, their friendship had been somewhat strained lately, and he wasn't sure if Rin would appreciate him delving into personal matters.

"Just... thinking about the letter," Isagi replied finally, deciding to keep it vague. "You know, trying to figure out who might have written it."

Rin's expression softened slightly at Isagi's response, his irritation dissipating as he leaned back in his chair. "Ah, that." Rin sat down opposite Isagi, practically staring into his soul, causing Isagi to raise an eyebrow at him.

“Why were you so pissed just now?” Isagi asked.

Rin's expression shifted, a flicker of surprise crossing his features before he quickly schooled his expression into a more neutral mask. "I wasn't pissed," Rin replied, his tone casual, but Isagi could detect a hint of defensiveness in his voice.

Isagi raised an eyebrow, unconvinced by Rin's response. "Sure seemed like it," he remarked, a small smirk playing on his lips. "You practically slammed that cup down in front of me."

“Shut up.” Rin retorted, gulping down some of his coffee. Isagi decided to let it go, it was too much trouble.

“Did you get the history project? We have to turn it in by tomorrow.” Isagi sipped his drink, staring at Rin.

“Yeah, I sent it in.” Rin put down his cup, sighing.

Isagi nodded, relieved to hear that Rin had already submitted the history project. "Good, good. That's one less thing to worry about," he remarked, taking another sip of his hot chocolate.

“Yeah…” Rin took another sip from his coffee. “..I was wondering if..”

Isagi raised an eyebrow at Rin's hesitation, curious about what he was going to say next. "Wondering if what?" he prompted, leaning in slightly to catch Rin's words.

Rin glanced down at his coffee, swirling the liquid around in his cup as if searching for the right words. After a moment of contemplation, he looked back up at Isagi, his expression earnest. “You wanted to come over to my house.”

Isagi's eyes widened in surprise, his throat suddenly feeling dry as he processed Rin's unexpected invitation. He coughed and sputtered, setting down his cup with a clatter as he tried to regain his composure.

"Wait, what?" Isagi managed to croak out, his voice hoarse from the coughing fit.

Rin's cheeks flushed slightly at Isagi's reaction, he cleared his throat awkwardly before speaking again. "I’m not fucking repeating myself.”

Isagi shifted uncomfortably in his seat, trying to recover from his initial shock. "Uh, sorry," Isagi muttered, playing with the hem of his sleeve. "I just... wasn't expecting that."

“Yes or no.” Rin furrowed his eyebrow; it was hard for Isagi to take him seriously though. He was practically red.

"Uh, yeah, sure," Isagi replied, trying to stifle a laugh. “When though?”

“Now. I got a new game I wanted to play and it’s multiplayer.” Rin justified himself.

Isagi found himself nodding eagerly in agreement. "Sounds good to me," Isagi replied, a grin spreading across his face. “Is your mum home though?”

“Don’t remind me.” Rin went completely red now.

“Remind?”

“Remind me when my mum fucking embarrassed me.” Isagi then remembered and covered his mouth with his hand.

“Right, well I'm guessing she’s not there then?” Isagi put down his hand, smiling at Rin who was still looking at the table. Rin quickly shook his head, grabbing his drink and downing it again.

“How do you drink that shit anyways?” Isagi grimaced at Rin.

“It’s coffee.” Rin glared at him.

“Plain, black coffee isn’t appetising Rinrin.”

“If you call me Rinrin one more time I’m going to give you a fucking beat your short ass.”

“I’m not fucking short. I’m average, thank you very much.”

“Well I guess your height transpired to your football skill.”

“Oh you little–”

–

Rin fumbled in his pockets, trying to find his keys as Isagi stared at his hands. Who knew hands could be pretty? Isagi looked to his own before looking over to Rin’s. Rin truly was gifted in practically everything, it pisses him off every time. The only thing Isagi won in was the personality department; if he were Rin he’d definitely have a partner by now.

Rin finally managed to grab his keys, moving them to unlock his door when suddenly it was slammed open. Isagi and Rin both jumped back in surprise as the door swung open with such force.

“You always fucking do this, shutting yourself–” It was Shidou. Rin stepped back again, clearly taken aback by Shidou's sudden appearance and outburst.

"What the fuck, Shidou?" Rin exclaimed, his voice tinged with irritation.

Shidou turned back to face the 2 boys, surprised by their sudden appearance. Isagi took note of his messed up look; his hair was down for once as well.

“...” Shidou looked back, Isagi followed his gaze which went to Sae.

Oh.

“If he’s not willing to open up to his own boyfriend, what’s the point?”

Oh shit.

Rin shifted uncomfortably beside Isagi, his expression unreadable as he watched Shidou and Sae's interaction. Isagi looked over to Rin.

“Shidou, can we not talk about this late–” Sae walked over to him, Shidou clicked his tongue in response.

“I’ve given so many fucking ‘talks’ to you and you always make an excuse.” Shidou looked back to Rin and Isagi. “You sure have shit timing, Rin. I know you want to hang out with your loverboy over here but do you always have to fucking come in between our shit?”

Isagi stared at Shidou; taken aback further. What the fuck?

“Fuck you mean ‘come in between’?” Rin raised his voice. “You always argue in the fucking living room, do you realise how jarring that is?”

Isagi watched the tense exchange between the three, feeling like an outsider caught in the crossfire of their argument.

"Shidou, that's enough," Sae interjected, his voice firm as he stepped forward to stand next to Shidou. "This isn't the time or place for this discussion."

Shidou's jaw clenched, his expression darkening with anger. "No, Sae, it is the time and place," he retorted, his voice sharp with resentment. "We need to talk about this now."

"Guys, maybe we should calm down and talk about this rationally," Isagi suggested tentatively, hoping to diffuse the escalating situation.

“Shut up, Isagi.” Shidou turned to look at him. “Look, I like you man but this ain’t your fucking business right now.”

Isagi recoiled slightly at Shidou's sharp response. He knew Shidou was under a lot of stress, but his harsh words still stung. "Fine," Isagi replied, his voice tight with frustration. "But you need to calm down. This isn't helping anyone."

“Don’t fucking talk to him like that.” Rin stood in front of Isagi. Rin's sudden intervention caught Sae and Isagi by surprise. Isagi blinked, momentarily taken aback by Rin's unexpected defence.

“Or what, you’ll kiss him? Give me a fucking break, you’re both so oblivious.” Shidou yelled at them, clenching his fists. “Whatever.” Shidou turned back to Sae. “We’re fucking over, whatever this was. It’s over, even I have basic fucking standards; Sae. I want to be treated like a partner, not a fucking pet. You never tell me shit but expect all the fucking benefits!”

The weight of Shidou's words hung heavy in the air, the tension between them palpable as Sae's expression hardened with resignation. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out, his gaze dropping to the floor in defeat. Isagi felt a pang of sympathy for Sae, he glanced over at Rin, seeing the conflict writ clear on his face as he struggled to find the right words to say.

The weight of Shidou's words hung heavy in the air, his anger palpable as he unleashed his frustrations on Sae. Sae stood there, stunned and speechless, his expression a mixture of shock and sorrow.
Rin's jaw clenched at Shidou's outburst, his fists tightening at his sides. He exchanged a quick glance with Isagi, both of them silently processing the sudden turn of events.

What did Shidou mean by the first part anyways? Whatever, it didn’t matter.

“Shidou, I swear–” Sae’s poker face was practically gone; replaced with shock. It reminded Isagi of the time Rin was left alone when he was drunk. Shidou ignored his comment.

…

“Maybe it’s better if we don’t talk. I’ll block you for your benefit.” Shidou rushed out, his back facing them the entire time.

Huh.

Those words felt familiar.

Rin didn’t even try comforting Sae as well, grabbing Isagi’s wrist and dragging him inside.

Inside, Rin's grip on Isagi's wrist was firm, almost desperate, as if he needed the physical contact to ground himself amidst the chaos of the situation outside. Isagi followed Rin silently, his mind still reeling from the intensity of Shidou and Sae's confrontation.

Rin led Isagi to his room, the silence between them palpable. Once inside, Rin released Isagi's wrist, his shoulders slumping in exhaustion as he collapsed onto his bed.

Isagi walked up to him, standing beside him. He watched Rin closely, taking in the weariness etched into his features, the weight of the evening's events evident in the slump of his shoulders.

"Rin," Isagi said softly, his voice a gentle reassurance. “Uhm, how long has that argument gone on for?”

“...” Rin stared at Isagi, observing every inch of his face before putting his hands over his face. His voice was muffled as a result. “Since that letter. Sae doesn’t really tell shit to anyone.”

“Figured.” Isagi sighed. “Shidou has been off since that note.”

Rin hummed in response, lowered his hands from his face, his expression troubled. “Their relationship has always been off, Shidou finally fucking opened his eyes to how shitty my brother can be.”

Isagi nodded, sitting down next to him. “Shitty?”

“It doesn’t matter much, just something small.” Rin turned his head to look at the wall. “Well, small to him.”

Isagi listened attentively as Rin spoke, pulling his knees to his chest. Isagi was planning on asking Rin about his avoidance now, guess that went to shit. Well, Rin’s well being is top-priority right now; not something that can be discussed later.

“Does it have to do with you both being strikers?” Isagi asked, Rin turned to him quickly; his eyes wide. Isagi scratched the back of his neck. “I mean, like… I just thought that Kaiser’s comment about him being ‘bitched’ and that you kinda emphasised him being a striker previously. It’s almost like the two of you had a promise going on.”

Rin blinked slowly before closing his eyes. Damn, his eyelashes were long.

“Yeah. You’re smarter than you seem, Isagi.” Rin opened his eyes again, staring at Isagi again. It felt quite domestic to Isagi.

"Thanks," Isagi replied softly, a faint blush tinting his cheeks at Rin's intense gaze. "I just pay attention, I guess."

"Yeah, you do," he murmured, his gaze softening as he looked at Isagi. Isagi quickly looked away, feeling too red to look at Rin. “It’s annoying.”

“Well fuck you too.” Isagi turned back to look at Rin, that sure killed the mood.

Rin scoffed, looking back at the ceiling. Isagi then heard a meow, right before a sudden weight was applied onto his shoulder.

“Oh, hi Amanda.” Isagi smiled, petting the cat as it purred.

As Isagi petted Amanda, the cat nestled comfortably on his shoulder, purring contentedly. Rin watched silently, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he observed the interaction between Isagi and the cat.

..

“Holy shit you smiled.” Isagi’s eyes went wide, staring at the other.

Rin’s eyes went wide (again, damn he’s been surprised recently). Rin’s smile was quickly hidden by his hand. "Yeah, well, don't get used to it," Rin muttered, he seemed flustered.

Isagi chuckled, feeling a sense of relief at seeing Rin smile after the tension of the evening. "Too late," he replied, returning Rin's smile with one of his own. Amanda meowed, jumping onto Isagi’s lap. Isagi grinned, scratching behind Amanda's ears.

“Amanda must’ve missed me.” Isagi smiled, stopping his scratching. The cat then shoved his snout into his hand. “You’re so cute..”

Rin watched the interaction between Isagi and Amanda, Isagi then heard a tongue clicking. He looked over to Rin who looked a bit irritated.

“Thinking about the fight?” Isagi asked, Rin must’ve been mad over it.

“Not really,” Rin quickly responded, sitting up finally. He moved closer, lifting Amanda and putting her on the ground. He then sat directly next to Isagi. “It’s not my problem what Shidou and my shitty brother do together. I’m just more surprised he went after you for no reason. Shidou took a liking to you after all.”

Isagi nodded, understanding Rin's perspective. "Yeah, I was surprised too," he admitted, his gaze shifting to the floor briefly before returning to Rin. "But I guess he's just really stressed out right now. It's been building up for a while."

“Did Shidou talk to you about it or something?” Rin asked. “Even if you knew he was off, how did you know it was about Sae.”

“Yeah, Shidou talked to me about it 4 days ago.” Isagi recounted; yet the conversation felt as though it was yesterday. “He said he was sick of Sae’s shit and his miscommunication.”

“For once, I agree with Shidou.” Rin replied.

Isagi nodded in agreement. "Communication is key in any relationship, and if one person isn't willing to open up and be honest, it can cause a lot of problems. Although, you also have that issue.” Isagi teased.

“Shut up. I’d rather not talk about my mistake.” Rin bluntly said.

“You do realise you’re going to have to tell me why you did that eventually?” Isagi spoke.

Rin's expression shifted, his features clouding with uncertainty as he avoided Isagi's gaze. "I know," he admitted reluctantly, his voice quiet. "It's just... complicated."

Isagi's brow furrowed with concern as he watched Rin's guarded reaction. He knew there was more to the story than Rin was letting on, but he also respected Rin's privacy enough not to push too hard. "Well, whenever you're ready to talk about it, I'll be here to listen," Isagi reassured him, his tone gentle. "No pressure."

Rin let out a sigh, seeming to relax slightly at Isagi's understanding response.

Isagi smiled warmly. "We're friends, right? Friends listen to each other's problems and help each other out."

"Yeah, friends," Rin echoed, his gaze complicated as he met Isagi's eyes.

It then went silent a bit as Amanda jumped back onto the bed, Rin glared at her a bit.

Rin murmured something, breaking the silence.

“Huh?” Isagi asked, confused.

“Don’t worry.” Rin moved off the bed, going to his TV and turning it on.

"Alright," Isagi replied casually, choosing not to dwell on Rin's cryptic statement. "What are we playing?"

“Resident Evil 6.” Rin replied, booting up the game as he sat next to Isagi; handing him the second controller.

“Is it that game with that blond white guy everyone likes? Le.. Leo something I don't know.” Isagi asked as the loading screen started.

“Leon Kennedy?” Rin asked.

“Yeah!” Isagi pointed a finger, grinning. “Leon.”

“You know one character, I guess.” Rin huffed, starting the game.

–

“How long is this fucking game?” Isagi complained, frustrated at his aim.

“You’re so shit at video games.” Rin blankly stared at Isagi. “You also fucking quit so quickly.”

“Shut up!” Isagi retorted, hugging Amanda in some sort of defensive way. “At Least the gore isn’t so bad..”

“Still traumatised from Saw?” Rin raised an eyebrow as he shot at an enemy.

“It was horrible, ok!” Isagi sat up, causing Amanda to jump and run to the nearby plushies. Isagi pouted as Rin ignored him, he leaned back onto the wall next to the bed.

Isagi then heard a ping next to him; he assumed it was his phone. Isagi then turned to the phone, grabbing it which made him realise it was Rin’s. He looked back to Rin who was too focused to care.

A peak won’t hurt, right?

He looked at the notification, hovering over it.

Hiori: Did it go well? Yknow it’s kinda a stupid idea to make me ditch… (click to read more)

Isagi's eyes widened a bit. Ditch? Wait what. He knew he couldn’t read the rest since he needed the passcode, does that mean Hiori ditched on purpose?

…

Wait, did Rin make Hiori ditch so they could hang out alone? Isagi's mind raced with questions and uncertainties as he stared at the message from Hiori. The word "ditch" echoed in his mind, raising suspicions.

For some reason that made him giddy.

Isagi shook his head, maybe he’s overthinking this. This might be a misunderstanding and it could be about something else; Isagi wasn’t mentioned after all.

Maybe.

Although, something in his gut told him his first suspicion was correct.

Chapter Text

It’s been an hour since the message, Rin was still playing Resident Evil as Amanda settled back into Isagi’s lap. Isagi stroked her soft fur absentmindedly as he leaned onto the bed of the headboard.

Yet Isagi could only focus on the message, what if Rin had asked Hiori to set this all up for them to get closer again? Though he could be misreading the situation completely. What if Isagi was reading too much into a simple message?

For some reason, the thought of Rin wanting to be close to him made him feel some sort of warmth; strangely comforting even. The fact that Rin might still value their friendship enough to seek out time together was oddly comforting.

With a sigh, Isagi glanced over at Rin, who was still immersed in the game. He hesitated, unsure of whether to bring up the message or to let it go for now.

Fuck it.

“Rinrin.” Isagi called out, knowing Rin hates that nickname; it would mean Rin 100% is in the conversation.

Rin paused the game when he got into a safe location, looking over to him. “I told you not–” Rin cut himself off, “Whatever, what is it?”

Isagi took a deep breath, steeling himself for the conversation ahead. "I, uh, saw a message on your phone," he began, trying to keep his tone casual despite the racing of his heart. "From Hiori. It mentioned something about ditching... I was just curious, did you... ask him to ditch so we could hang out alone?"

Rin stiffened, his eyes widening a bit before he quickly coughed and looked into a random direction.

“What are you talking about?” Rin asked, denying the allegation as a result.

Isagi hesitated, unsure of how to proceed. "Well, the message said something about it being a 'stupid idea to make me ditch,' so I just... assumed," he explained, feeling a flush of embarrassment creeping over him.

Isagi watched Rin closely, noticing the slight tension in his posture and the way he avoided making eye contact. His gut churned with uncertainty (or something else), wondering if he had overstepped by bringing up the message.

Rin's expression remained guarded as he glanced back at Isagi. "I don't know what you're talking about," he repeated, his voice lacking its usual confidence.

Isagi's heart sank at Rin's response, a wave of disappointment washing over him. Had he really misinterpreted the situation so drastically? Or was Rin simply trying to cover his tracks?

"Okay, I... I must have misunderstood then," Isagi said, forcing a small smile despite the turmoil roiling inside him. "Sorry for jumping to conclusions."

Rin nodded tersely, his gaze flickering away once again. "Yeah, no worries," he mumbled, his attention already returning to the game.

Isagi really regretted bringing this up, especially with the silence right after.

Fuck my life.

–

Isagi was back in his room, sitting at his desk as he stared at a document he had created. A timeline of everything that had happened. Isagi adjusted his blue-light glasses, drifting to sleep slightly.

3:43am.

The clock next to Isagi read, ticking as Isagi’s thoughts tried to form a logical conclusion.

Ness most definitely knew something about the letter. Isagi tapped his fingers on the table, leaning into the screen with horrible posture.

“It’d be too obvious it was Ness.” Isagi spoke aloud, groaning as he shoved his hands into his face. “Too obvious..” Isagi moved the hands slightly to allow his sight to reappear, hands on his cheeks now.

“Wait.” Isagi scrolled up the document, re-reading his words.

‘People in communication with Kaiser: Ness, L̶o̶r̶e̶n̶z̶o̶, L̶o̶k̶i̶, A̶g̶i̶, A̶l̶i̶, G̶r̶i̶m̶, I̶g̶o̶r̶, T̶h̶e̶o̶’

“I haven’t done anything on Lorenzo.” Isagi stated, leaning into his chair. He stared at the name.

Lorenzo is only focused on the strength of others and money. He’s selfish, to put it bluntly and he most definitely doesn’t care for Sae, Kaiser or Ness but still knows of each one.

Speaking of which; he did seem to hang out with Ness from time to time.

Alone.

But why would Lorenzo target Sae? What could he possibly hope to gain from stirring up trouble within his group?

Isagi's fingers flew across the keyboard as he began to draft a new section of his document, detailing his suspicions about Lorenzo's possible involvement. He listed out every interaction, every piece of evidence that pointed to Lorenzo's potential motives. The only conclusion Isagi could make was that Lorenzo got paid off, though; that’s only the most likely choice.

It felt too… out of place though.

Isagi sighed, putting his head in the crook of his elbows. He was slouched onto the desk now.

“I hate this so much. I need a break.” Isagi stood up, the chair screeching under him as he rushed to jump onto his bed.

He dug his face into the pillow, sighing out of relief as he closed his eyes.

Too much has happened for Isagi’s brain to keep up, from the Shidou shit with Sae. Sae in general, he was an enigma of sorts. Too stoic for his own good was all Isagi thought when he thought of the Itoshi.

Speaking of Itoshis, Rin in itself was plaguing his mind more and more.

In weird ways.

Every time he saw an event upcoming; he thought of the boy. Every time something weird happened; ‘how would Rin react?’. Hell, he thought about what he was doing when he was going to slee…p.

Wait.

Oh.

Oh.

Isagi's mind raced as the realisation hit him like a ton of bricks.

He fucking liked Rin.

–

Safe to say, Isagi hadn’t gotten any sleep that Sunday night, he was now in school; dead in the middle of science as the teacher rambled about some enzyme substrate shit.

As the teacher droned on about enzymes and substrates, Isagi found it nearly impossible to focus. His mind was consumed by thoughts of Rin, swirling with a whirlwind of emotions that threatened to overwhelm him.

He could feel the eyebags on his face, making him droop onto the table more and more.

He couldn't shake the realisation that he was in love with his friend, Rin. The weight of it pressed down on him like a heavy burden, leaving him feeling guilty.

He can’t like Rin, it’s wrong. He doesn’t know how to explain it, he just feels wrong about liking a boy who might not even BE gay. Isagi doesn’t want to scare him off either.

“What’s got you in such a mood?” A voice Isagi registered as Shidou asked him, he also sounded dead. Isagi forced a small smile, hoping to mask the turmoil raging inside him.

"Just tired, I guess," Isagi replied, his voice sounding hollow even to his own ears. "Didn't get much sleep last night."

Shidou nodded sympathetically, understanding all too well the struggles of sleepless nights. "Yeah, I feel you," he muttered, his gaze drifting back to the front of the classroom where the teacher continued their lecture.

Isagi shook his head when the thought of Rin came back, instead, turning to Shidou. “What’s your plan with Sae? Are you going to get back with him?”

Shidou's expression shifted slightly, a mix of surprise and contemplation crossing his features. He leaned in closer to Isagi, his voice lowered to a whisper. "I'm not sure yet," he admitted, his tone tinged with uncertainty. “Though, I’m not doing the first move like always. I’m sick of his shit.”

Isagi nodded in understanding, knowing all too well the complexities of relationships and the frustrations that can come with them. "I get that," he replied softly, offering Shidou a sympathetic smile.

“How did you manage with Rin anyways? Itoshis act alike yet you managed to get your boyfriend to communicate first.” Shidou asked, putting his head in his hands. “I miss my dear Sae but it’s for

Isagi's smile faltered slightly at the mention of Rin, his own feelings for his friend still a source of internal conflict. Wait, boyfriend?

“I think you misread my relationship with Ri–” Isagi corrected but was cut off by Shidou.

“What? You two aren’t together?” Shidou’s eyes widened at Isagi, confused. “He is basically in love with you and so are you.. How has he not accidentally confessed?”

Isagi stared at Shidou shocked, who, inturn, looked just as shocked.

Isagi's heart raced at Shidou's words, his mind reeling with the sudden realisation of what his friend was suggesting. "Wait, what do you mean Rin is in love with me?" he asked, his voice betraying his disbelief.

Shidou blinked in surprise, taken aback by Isagi's reaction. "Damn, loverboy hasn’t caught on." he replied, his tone tinged with disappointment. "The way he looks at you, the way he talks about you... It's pretty clear to anyone paying attention."

“Talks… about me..?” Isagi’s eyes widened further, flushing a bit.

Shidou nodded, a knowing smirk playing on his lips. “Spilled too much, have fun on your own.”

Isagi stared at Shidou bewildered before Shidou upped and left causing Isagi to just realise lunch had started.

Shidou had to have been winding him up. No way.

Besides, Shidou is known to lie quite a bit. Isagi’s eyes went back to normal as he stood up and grabbed his back.

That made his stomach sink from disappointment.

–

“Isagiii.” Chigiri shouted, wrapping his arms around his shoulders; hugging him. “I haven’t talked to you in so longgggg.”

Isagi giggled, putting his hands on Chigiri’s upper-back. Isagi then felt a person jump onto him, causing him to stumble onto Chigiri.

“Group hug!” Bachira yelled, on Isagi’s back as he hugged him and Chigiri.

Caught off guard by the sudden group hug, Isagi stumbled slightly but quickly regained his balance, chuckling at the unexpected display of affection from Chigiri and Bachira.

"Hey, guys," Isagi said, returning the hug with a warm smile. "Missed you both too."

Chigiri laughed, letting go of the hug; Bachira was still on Isagi’s back. Bachira had always been touchy anyways, Isagi and Chigiri got used to it quickly.

“Any updates of Rinnnn?” Bachira asked, leaning into Isagi’s shoulder. “You two finally started talking.”

Isagi's smile faltered at Bachira's question, his thoughts immediately returning to Rin. Fuck his life and fuck Bachira in this moment.

"Uh, not really," Isagi replied, his voice betraying his inner turmoil. "We talked a bit, but... it's complicated."

“That’s cold.” Another voice was heard by Isagi, sitting at the table behind Chigiri. “You sure nothing new happened?”

Chigiri turned to the voice, allowing Isagi to see Karasu who smiled at Isagi’s eye contact with him. “Sup.”

Isagi smiled, waving to him.

“Isagi!” Hiori sat beside his boyfriend, beaming, as he waved to sit on the table. Isagi tried moving until he remembered Bachira being on his back.

“Damn, so many people.” Isagi sighed, closing his eyes. He felt Bachira being tugged forcefully off his back, causing Isagi to turn around to see Rin holding Bachira by his collar.

Isagi's heart skipped a beat at the sight of Rin. He wished he didn’t realise his feelings. "Rin..." Isagi's voice trailed off, unsure of what to say as he watched Rin with surprise.

Rin released Bachira, who stumbled backward slightly before regaining his balance. Bachira shot Rin a puzzled look, clearly taken aback by the sudden intervention. He quickly regained his good mood, grinning at Rin. “HI RIN!”

“It’s too early for your bullshit, bee boy.” Rin pinched the bridge of his nose, Karasu let out a whistle in that very moment.

“Can you lovebirds not flirt in front of my food?” Hiori pursued his lips, shoving a fork full into his mouth. Isagi sputtered in response as Chigiri laughed at his misery. Rin looked stunned.

“Hiori, I swear to God.” Rin looked as though he was about to break Hiori’s neck in that very moment.

“You guys, no fighting.” Bachira stood in front of Rin, Isagi blankly looking at the scene.

He was too tired and too in his feelings for this bullshit.

“Why doesn’t Rin join in with lunch?” Chigiri grinned at Rin, grabbing Isagi’s wrist and shoving him onto the bench. “If you want, you can sit next to Isagi since he’s your only friend other than Hiori.”

“That felt backhanded, princess.” Karasu pointed out, smiling widely at the scene.

Rin stood there, seemingly caught off guard by the sudden invitation. Isagi couldn't help but feel a mix of anticipation but also nervousness. Isagi smiled sheepishly as he shifted to pat the space next to him. Sitting next to each other won’t hurt afterall.

Finally, Rin let out a resigned sigh and nodded, his expression softening slightly. "Alright," he agreed, giving in to the collective insistence of their friends. "Just for today."

“YAY! RIN!” Bachira shouted, jumping a bit. Isagi's smile widened as Rin took the seat next to him, a sense of relief washing over him.

As Rin settled into the seat next to Isagi, a mix of relief and nervousness washed over Isagi. He tried to focus on the present moment, pushing aside the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside him.

Isagi stole glances at Rin, unable to resist the pull of his presence. Rin seemed a bit tense, but there was also a softness in his gaze that Isagi couldn't quite decipher. He found himself wondering what Rin was thinking, what emotions were running through his mind.

Eventually, Bachira and Hiori had left for their classes.

“Hey, great time to talk about the note.” Karasu sighed out as he watched his boyfriend leave.

Isagi glanced at Rin, searching for any sign of discomfort or avoidance, but to his surprise, Rin was calm. Rin spoke up quickly after. “Chigiri knows?”

Chigiri saluted, leaning forward to Rin. “Yupo!” Rin grimaced, causing Chigiri to stick out his tongue at him and lean back.

"Yeah, we've been discussing it," Isagi confirmed, his voice steady as he addressed Rin directly. "Trying to figure out who might be behind it and what their motives could be."

Rin sighed before nodding.

Karasu carried on the conversation. “So, Isagi and I know this but I don’t know about you two; Ness and Lorenzo are most likely who are behind the note. Though, Isagi, I think I got a lead with Lorenzo.”

Isagi lit up a bit, smiling tiredly. “Really? What is it?”

Rin leaned in, his curiosity piqued by Karasu's revelation. "What did you find?" he asked, his tone serious as he focused on Karasu.

“I managed to make him say something that only someone who knows about the contents of the note would say.” Karasu grinned, proudly as he put out his chest.

Isagi's eyes widened with surprise, impressed by Karasu. "That's brilliant," he remarked, a sense of admiration evident in his voice. "What did he say?"

“I was talking to him about the note, kept talking which pissed him off. He said something about this not being ‘useful to him’ and then he said ‘I don’t care about situationship between Sae and Kaiser in the past’ and to sum up the rest, he mentioned something in the note. Something about Kaiser wanting to beat him in a match, which I didn’t even know, and when I asked Shidou. It matched up.” Karasu explained, putting a hand over his chest. “I’m great, I know.”

Isagi listened intently, his eyes narrowing slightly as he processed Karasu's words. "So, Lorenzo mentioned specific details from the note that only someone who read it would know," he summarised, his mind working quickly to connect the pieces.

Rin hummed, looking over to Isagi.

“I’ve talked to Lorenzo before, he never seemed close to Ness until the Kaiser thing. Me and Reo were talking about how strange it was.” Chigiri pointed out. “Reo doesn’t know about the Kaiser part, don’t worry.”

Chigiri talked a bit more to Karasu, explaining more odd actions from Lorenzo; most being about how weirdly close he is with Ness now.

“Are you tired?” Rin mumbled, staring at Isagi’s face.

Isagi blinked, momentarily taken aback by Rin's sudden question. He hadn't realised Rin was observing him so closely. "Uh, yeah, a little," Isagi admitted, offering Rin a sheepish smile. "Didn't get much sleep last night."

Rin hummed, staring a bit more at his face before reaching for the pocket of his bag and handing over an energy drink. Isagi's eyebrows raised in surprise as Rin handed him the energy drink. He accepted it gratefully, feeling touched by Rin's thoughtful gesture. "Thanks, Rin."

Rin nodded in response, looking away. “Your eyebags have gotten worse.” Isagi drank a bit of the energy drink.

“Cheers, thanks for the compliment.” Isagi deadpanned, causing Rin to look back at him.

“You’re welcome.” Isagi chuckled at Rin's response, he was cute.

What? Who said that.

Taking another sip of the energy drink, it helped a bit at least. Though, he was woken up merely at Rin’s observation if he was honest with himself. Isagi heard a bell for his class, causing him to stop drinking.

Isagi glanced at the clock and realised that he had lost track of time while chatting with Rin and the others. With a start, he realised that he needed to hurry to his next class before he was late.

"Thanks for the drink, Rin," Isagi said quickly, flashing Rin a grateful smile as he gathered his things. "I'll catch you guys later."

"See you later, Isagi," he replied softly, his gaze lingering on Isagi for a moment longer before turning back to the group.

With a wave to his friends, Isagi hurried out of the cafeteria and made his way to his next class. As he walked, he couldn't help but think about Rin's thoughtful gesture and the warmth it had brought to his heart.

He was grinning like an idiot now, how terrific.

–

It’s totally normal to follow a 190 cm with a gold tooth at his ripe age of 18.

Even if it’s not normal, here Isagi is, in his free time, around a corner watching a man eat his meal peacefully with some people Isagi has never seen in his life. Was Lorenzo seriously only 18? He looked divorced with at least 5 counts of unpaid child support..

“Ahoge Monsieur!” Someone spoke behind Isagi, leaning close to his ear. Isagi felt a chill run down his spine, snapping his head to look at the voice.

It was Charles.

“Why’re you so intent on looking at Lorenzo? He’s quite ugly..” Charles spoke, looking over to what Isagi was looking at before. Isagi stiffened, looking at Charles with wide eyes.

Charles raised an eyebrow, a knowing smirk playing on his lips as he looked at Isagi. "Relax, mon ami," he said, his tone teasing as he nudged Isagi playfully. "I'm just pulling your leg. But seriously, why the interest in Lorenzo? He's not exactly the most fascinating person to spy on."

Isagi let out a nervous laugh, relieved by Charles's lighthearted response. "Yeah, you're right," he admitted, running a hand through his hair. "I guess I was just... curious. He seems like he's involved in some interesting stuff, you know?"

“You mean the fact he’s dealing with Ness?” Charles asks, tilting his head a bit. “You’re easier to read than I expected, off the field of course.”

Isagi's eyes widened slightly at Charles's observation, a hint of surprise flashing across his features. "Yeah, that's part of it," Isagi admitted, his tone guarded as he considered how much he should reveal to Charles.

Charles nodded, his expression thoughtful as he studied Isagi. "I understand," he said, his tone serious now. "Just be careful, Isagi. Getting mixed up in other people's business can be dangerous, especially when you don't know what you're getting into."

Isagi was about to ask another question before Charles carried on. “Lorenzo doesn’t like ‘commoners’ in his space. If you get what I’m saying.”

“Commoners?” Isagi repeated, confused by his words.

“Gotta bounce my ahoge brethren! Bye byeee.” Charles left as soon as he came, leaving Isagi. He then realised what he came for and turned to where Lorenzo was before, now seeing Ness talk to him.

“They seem friendly..” Isagi mumbled to himself. Isagi pondered Charles's cryptic words for a moment, his brow furrowing in confusion.

It’s most likely Lorenzo has some sort of story with Sae as well then, or maybe with Kaiser.

Could it be that all 3 were friends? Or sort of rivals?

Sae did mention his situationship with Kaiser but nothing on Lorenzo. Though, based on his interactions with Kaiser, they don’t get along. They’re ‘civil’ in some messed up way. As Isagi stared at the ground before sighing, he most likely needed to now see how Lorenzo talked with those two.

Fuck his life.

–

He’s been saying that phrase too much recently as well, though it was nice having Rin’s company now. It felt easier, especially with the comfortable silence between them.

Isagi sat on the bench outside the school, his eyes drooping as he tried to stay conscious. He had practice after school.

“Stop forcing it.” Rin looked up from his horror novel, calmly looking at Isagi’s bobbing head.

Isagi blinked, realising he had been nodding off. He straightened up, rubbing his eyes as he tried to shake off the drowsiness. "Sorry," he murmured, offering Rin an apologetic smile. "Just really tired, I guess."

“Stop fucking apologising, it’s annoying.” Rin sighed, rolling his eyes. Rin closed his book, setting it down beside him before shifting closer to Isagi.

"Got it," Isagi replied softly, trying to suppress a yawn. He appreciated Rin's straightforwardness, even if it sometimes came across as harsh. Though, it hit a bit too hard with how sleep deprived he is.

Rin's expression softened slightly as he noticed Isagi's fatigue. "You should get some rest," he suggested again, "You look like you're about to pass out."

Isagi chuckled weakly, nodding in agreement. "Yeah, I probably should," he admitted, feeling a sense of gratitude for Rin's concern.

Rin nodded in satisfaction, leaning back against the bench. "Good," he said simply, his eyes flicking back to his book as he resumed reading. Isagi, in turn, curled into a ball on the bench. He hugged his knees together as he leaned his head onto them.

It was oddly comfortable.

He felt himself drifting to sleep, his body feeling light until he felt a hand touch his head. It brought it to Rin’s, presumably, shoulder.

Huh.

Isagi opened one eye, looking a bit to see if he was dreaming or not. This felt too out of character for Rin. His heart skipped a beat as he realised that he wasn't dreaming; Rin's shoulder was indeed under his head, and Rin's hand was gently resting on top of his head. Confusion washed over Isagi as he tried to reconcile this unexpected display of affection with Rin's usual demeanour.

Isagi felt himself grow hotter and hotter, flushing slightly as he shifted more into Rin’s shoulder.

This felt soft, really soft.

Isagi's mind drifted, his thoughts becoming hazy as he teetered on the edge of sleep. But even as he felt himself slipping away into the realm of dreams, one thought remained clear in his mind:

He wanted more moments like these with Rin.

–

Of course, the moment had to come to an end.

Though this end was completely different to anything Isagi would’ve guessed.

As Rin kept reading his novel, Isagi abruptly woke up to a loud shout. It sounded vaguely similar to Chigiri. This caused Isagi to snap his head up, banging his head against Rin’s.

"Ow, shit!" Isagi exclaimed, his eyes widening in embarrassment as he realised what had just happened. He quickly pulled away from Rin, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "Sorry, Rin. I didn't mean to–"

Before Isagi could finish his apology, he turned to see what had caused the loud noise, only to find Chigiri standing nearby, his arms flailing animatedly. He seemed to be talking (rather arguing) with an unexpected person.

Nagi?

“Fucks going on there?” Rin asked, rubbing his jaw as he stared at the scene. There Chigiri was, pushing for the boy to do something whilst the other rubbed the back of his neck with his eyes closed.

"I... I'm not sure," Isagi replied, torn between going there out of curiosity or apprehension from being involved. He watched the unfolding scene, seeing how Chigiri seemed to get angrier by the minute.

Isagi needed to break that up quickly.

Feeling a sense of urgency, Isagi quickened his pace, with Rin following closely behind. As they approached Chigiri and Nagi, Isagi could hear Chigiri's raised voice and see the frustration evident in his gestures. It was clear that whatever was happening was escalating, and Isagi knew he needed to intervene before things got out of hand.

"Chigiri, what's going on?" Isagi called out as they approached, his tone firm yet concerned. He tried to catch Chigiri's eye, hoping to get his attention and defuse the situation.

“The fucking unwashed asshole wont fucking listen to me!” Chigiri yelled, digging his finger into Nagi’s chest who leaned against the wall; bored.

“Hello Isagi…” Nagi trailed off, staring off into nothingness. “Chigiri is being a hassle...”

Isagi's eyebrows furrowed in concern as he took in the information. "Chigiri, calm down," Isagi said firmly, stepping between Chigiri and Nagi to create some distance. He placed a hand on Chigiri's shoulder, trying to reassure him. "Let's talk this out calmly."

“CALMLY?” Chigiri shouted, glaring daggers into Isagi. “The fucking bitch that can’t even fucking exist without Reo having his fingers up his asshole to keep him upright is ignoring every word I say. Yet I need to be calm?”

"Chigiri, I understand that you're frustrated," Isagi said evenly, keeping his tone calm despite the rising tension. "But yelling at Nagi isn't going to solve anything.”

Chigiri's jaw clenched, his fists balling up at his sides. "He's being insufferable," Chigiri spat, his voice dripping with venom.

“Princess…” Nagi spoke, now going to lean against Chigiri which caused him to stumble over.

“Nagi, I swear to God..” Isagi pinched the bridge of his nose before sighing. Rin stood blankly, being no help. “What Chigiri do you need, Chigiri?”

“Basically,” Chigiri kept Nagi upright, seeming to calm down somehow. He kept Nagi upright by holding either side of his arms. “I need him to make Reo pay Lorenzo for information. Reo won’t do shit I ask so why not his treasure, Nagi?”

That.. was a kinda smart idea but extremely ethically wrong.

“Isn’t that like.. Really manipulative?” Isagi asked, looking blankly at Chigiri who looked back.

“Not if Nagi is on board.” Chigiri grinned before looking over to Rin. “Right mr genius?”

Rin stared back at Chigiri before shrugging his shoulders. “Anything for information I guess. Princess boy is right for once..”

“For once?--” Chigiri was about to carry on before Nagi finally spoke up.

“Fineeee. It’s too much of a pain having Chigiri bite my ear off everyday about it.” Nagi sighed, finally standing up properly but quickly leaning to wrap his arms around Chigiri’s shoulders.

“We need to get Reo back, Nagi is heavy as shit.” Chigiri mumbled, holding Nagi upright. Isagi giggled a bit in response.

Well, the idea was the best Isagi has heard so far.

–

“So… what you’re saying is you want me to pay Lorenzo for some random information I know nothing about?” Reo asked, Nagi hanging off him as Chigiri nodded along.

“Exactlyyy.” Chigiri pointed up. This wasn’t what ‘i’ll do all the talking’ meant to Isagi and Rin who stood beside each other, occasionally exchanging exasperated looks.

Reo sighed, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "And what exactly makes you think this Lorenzo guy has information that's worth paying for?" he asked, his gaze flickering between Chigiri and Nagi.

Chigiri grinned eagerly, seemingly undeterred by Reo's scepticism. "Lorenzo's not just some random guy," he explained, his voice filled with confidence. "He's got connections, Reo. Connections that could help us get what we need."

Nagi nodded in agreement, his expression unusually serious. "He's right, Reo," Nagi chimed in, still as aloof as ever.

Reo's brow furrowed as he considered their words, his mind racing with the possibilities. "Fine," Reo conceded with a sigh, “Only because Nagi said so.”

“YESSS!” Chigiri cheered, throwing his arms in the air as he bounced on one foot to the other. Reo rolled his eyes at Chigiri's enthusiastic reaction, though a small smile tugged at the corners of his lips. It was rare to see Chigiri so openly excited about something, and Reo couldn't help but find it contagious.

“They seem enthusiastic..” Rin stared back at Isagi, causing Isagi to grin up at him. Rin quickly looked away, disappointing Isagi. He couldn’t even look at his pretty face now. “How do you deal with them?”

Isagi chuckled softly at Rin's question, considering the dynamic between Chigiri and Nagi. "Honestly, I think you just get used to it," Isagi replied with a shrug. "They're... unique, but they mean well, in their own way."

Rin raised an eyebrow, looking back with a hint of scepticism in his expression. "Mean well, huh?" he repeated, sounding unconvinced. Though, Isagi could see his cheeks painted with a bit of pink.

Was that why he turned away? Wait, does that mean Shidou’s words were true–

But then again, Rin had always been hard to read. Maybe Isagi was just reading too much into things. After all, Rin had never shown any clear signs of romantic interest in him before. And even if he did, Isagi wasn't sure how he felt about it. His own feelings were still a tangled mess.

Chigiri then turned to Isagi and grinned like a maniac. “Now let's find that son of a bastard and give him how ever much money he requests.”

Isagi and Rin then looked at eachother again, blankly.

Chapter Text

“Where is this ugly son of a bitch.” Chigiri spoke, his steps rapid and harsh against the pavement. Isagi darted his eyes from left to right, slowing and speeding up to match Chigiri's pace. Rin and Reo followed closely behind, with Nagi slung over Reo's back.

"Chigiri, calm down," Isagi urged, his voice a steady counterpoint to Chigiri's agitation. "We'll find him, but we need to stay level-headed about this."

“Oh shut up Isagi.” Reo bluntly spoke. Isagi turned his head to glare at him, eyebrows furrowing in irritation.

“No fighting…” Nagi mumbled out, causing Reo to huff out and hoist his legs up further to keep a steady grip on him. Isagi turned back to look at the front, still pissed.

Isagi took a deep breath, trying to stop the frustration bubbling within him. He knew that arguing with Reo in the middle of their search wouldn't help matters.

"Fine," Isagi muttered under his breath, his tone tinged with annoyance. "Let's just focus on finding Lorenzo."

Rin stayed silent through the ordeal, glancing from each side to find Lorenzo.

Suddenly, Chigiri's voice cut through the air again. "There he is!" Chigiri pointed ahead, his tone a mix of triumph and anger. Isagi followed Chigiri's gaze and spotted Lorenzo standing a few metres away, talking to a group of unfamiliar individuals.

Without hesitation, Chigiri marched forward, his steps purposeful and determined. Isagi exchanged a quick glance with Rin before hurrying to catch up with Chigiri, with Reo trailing behind with Nagi.

As they approached Lorenzo, Isagi felt a surge of apprehension. He wasn't sure how Lorenzo would react to their presence, especially given their previous interactions. But Chigiri seemed unfazed, like usual.
"Hey, Lorenzo!" Chigiri called out, his voice sharp and commanding. Lorenzo turned to face them, a surprised expression crossing his features as he registered their presence.

Chigiri stood in front of Lorenzo. Rin, Isagi, Reo and Nagi finally reaching him to stand behind him. “Can we talk in private?”

“How exactly would this benefit me?” Lorenzo asked, his gold tooth shined at each mouth movement.

It was really distracting, Isagi noted.

Chigiri then grinned widely, his hands on his hips. “It’s to do with money; money you may gain.”

–

The group now stood in a secluded part of the school, behind the PE sheds.

Lorenzo regarded Chigiri with a raised eyebrow, his expression unreadable. "Money, you say?" he repeated, his tone sceptical as he glanced at each member of the group in turn. "And what exactly do you need from me that's worth paying for?"

Chigiri's grin widened, his confidence unwavering. "Information," he replied simply, his gaze steady as he met Lorenzo's eyes.

Isagi then interrupted the conversation. “It’s about the note, Sae, Ness and Kaiser one. Don’t try acting dumb either.”

Lorenzo's eyebrows shot up in surprise at Isagi's blunt statement, his facade of indifference momentarily slipping. He glanced from Isagi to Chigiri and back again. “So how much are you willing to pay for it.”

Isagi and Chigiri then turned to Reo who merely sighed. “50,000 yen.”

"Fifty thousand yen, huh?" Lorenzo mused aloud, his tone contemplative. "That's quite a generous offer. But I'm afraid it's going to take a bit more than that to convince me to spill the beans."

Isagi and Chigiri stared at Lorenzo in disbelief. Rin spoke up finally. “So how much do you want?”

Lorenzo leaned back against the wall, crossing his arms as he considered Rin's question. He seemed to relish the moment, enjoying the power he held over the situation.

"Well, considering the risk involved and the value of the information you seek," Lorenzo began, his tone measured and calculating, "I'd say a hundred thousand yen sounds about right."

“Risk?” Isagi questioned.

“Ness is protective over Kaiser. Rather not deal with him for only 50.” Lorenzo explained.

"Fair enough," Isagi conceded.

“I’ll do it. It’s not much.” Reo spoke, shifting Nagi for a more comfortable position. “Chigiri, can you take my wallet out of my bag?”

Chigiri nodded in response to Reo's request and quickly retrieved Reo's wallet from his bag. He handed it over to Reo, who then proceeded to count out the agreed-upon amount of money, ensuring they had the full hundred thousand yen Lorenzo requested.

Isagi is always surprised by his wealth.

“Here you go," Reo said, handing the money to Lorenzo.. "Let's hope this gets us the information we need."

After Reo handed the money to Lorenzo, the group waited in anticipation for Lorenzo's response. Lorenzo accepted the money with a satisfied smirk, tucking it away into his pocket.

“Well, to start. The note was Kaiser’s idea.” Lorenzo began, playing at the money in his pocket. “Though, he didn’t exactly say he was going to make it or anything. Merely an idea. Ness took this as a hint from Kaiser to write the letter, which; in his perspective and mine, was most definitely true. But, Kaiser didn’t know Ness actually did it.”

“Pause, how long have you been involved?” Rin interrupted Lorenzo who scoffed.

“Near the start.” Lorenzo bluntly said, Rin narrowed his gaze and him. Isagi put a hand over his arm to calm him down.

"Let's focus on the information for now," Isagi suggested, his voice steady yet firm. "We need to understand the situation fully before we can decide our next steps."

Rin reluctantly nodded, his expression still wary but accepting of Isagi's words. Isagi kept his hand on Rin’s arm (it felt really fucking warm despite the sleeve blocking the skin to skin contact) Lorenzo continued.

“Before Itoshi’s interruption, Ness paid me for the address and help.” Isagi guessed that part. “As well, Sae is someone I want to defeat. I want to knock him down completely. That’s my motivation. Ness’s motive is Kaiser’s. All I was able to infer based on the note, prior knowledge and Kaiser’s non stop talking was that Sae broke off a situationship. Due to what is something I will not tell, all I will say it’s to do with Kaiser’s fucking blabber mouth mentioning the fact Sae got bitched. Sae then bitched Kaiser, despite being a midfielder, after the ‘break up’. Noa, his coach, was the reason why he came here after. For Kaiser to learn from Ego.”

Rin gritted his teeth a bit, his hand clenched. “Reo fucking paid you, why did Sae break of the situationship? I need to know.”

“Not part of the deal.” Lorenzo responded, showing a toothy smile. Isagi turned to Rin.

"Rin, calm down," Isagi urged gently, his voice a soothing counterpoint to Rin's agitation. "We need to stay focused on the information we have–”

Isagi then felt Rin’s glare on him now. “Shut up, Isagi.” Isagi then heard footsteps, he assumed it was Lorenzo’s.

Isagi fell silent, respecting Rin's need to process his emotions at that moment.

Taking a breath to steady himself, Isagi turned his attention back to Rin, his expression softening with understanding. "I'm sorry, Rin. I didn't mean to dismiss your concerns…"

Isagi then looked around, seeing Reo, Nagi and Lorenzo gone. It was only him, Rin and Chigiri who seemed pissed.

“Fucks your problem, Rin.” Chigiri defended Isagi, pushing Isagi backwards to stand in front of him. “I’m sick of you fucking being a bitch to Isagi.”

Rin's expression hardened at Chigiri's words, his fists clenching tighter at his sides. "Stay out of this, Chigiri. This doesn't concern you."

“It fucking concerns me when you harm my friends!” Chigiri yells at Rin, who looks stunned now but more angry by the second. “Remember when you fucking avoided Isagi–”

“Chigiri.” Isagi put a hand over his shoulder, causing the red head to look at him finally. “It’s really not your business like Rin said–”

“Isagi, grow a fucking backbone. You usually do!” Chigiri yelled at Isagi. “Just because it’s Rin doesn’t mean it’s right!” Chigiri turned back to Rin. “Like I said, you avoided him and then only said sorry! Without any explanation based on Bachira’s recounting! Fucking communicate for once, I don’t care about your fucking issues; you’re only causing future pain for Isagi!”

"Chigiri, I appreciate your concern," Isagi began, his voice calm but tinged with unease. "But this is something between Rin and me. We need to work through it together, without outside interference."

Chigiri narrowed his eyes at Rin before turning his head to walk away. “I hope you know that if you get hurt, don’t be surprised.”

Isagi stared at Chigiri before looking back to Rin who had a blank stare at the ground. He looked strangely guilty.

“Rin…” Isagi tried putting a hand ontop of Rin’s shoulder who moved away before walking away.

“It’s fine, Isagi.”

–

Isagi doesn’t know many ‘have a good day’s he has in him, people become strangely rude when the clock hits 10pm.

Isagi leaned against the wall full of chipped paint, playing with the hem of his uniform shirt. He had hoped that his shift would be quieter, yet; somehow, there had been 2 physical fights right outside his store which caused many customers to cower to the corner of the shop.

Thankfully, it’s almost the end of his shift.

“Isagi?” Isagi heard, he lifted his head up to look at the person.

It was Sae.

Isagi is feeling an odd sense of deja vu. “Oh, hello Sae..?”

Sae offered a small smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. “I needed to talk to you.”

“Why?” Isagi responded quickly.

“Shidou… he blocked me and..” Sae stared off to the shelves to the right.“...I don’t know where he is.”

Isagi hummed, staring at Sae. “He hasn’t talked to me in a while.”

“I figured, it’s just that you can contact him…” Sae scratched the back of his neck, staring into the counter in front of him.

“..Can’t you just go to his house?” Isagi asked, leaning on his hand.

“I don’t know… where he lives.” Sae narrowed his eyes at the shelf.

Isagi began to giggle, moving to cover his mouth with his hand. Isagi quickly stifled his laughter, realising how it might have sounded insensitive. “Explains why he ditched you.”

Isagi's giggle caught Sae off guard, his brows furrowed in confusion. "What's so funny?"

“It’s just, that proved Shidou’s point.” Isagi wiped his eyes, looking at Sae with a small smile. Sae raised an eyebrow, urging him to continue. “The fact he has to do all the work and communication in the relationship.”

Sae's expression softened as he processed Isagi's words. “Yeah, I fucking… know.”

Isagi shrugged, the smile fading from his lips. "Sorry if that came off as insensitive.”

Sae waved off Isagi's apology. "No, it's fine. Honestly, I appreciate your honesty.” Isagi stood up, walking to the back.

“I needa clock out, wait for me.” Isagi reached the back room, Isagi turned to face Sae. "I'll just be a minute," he said, offering a reassuring smile. Sae nodded silently, his gaze fixed on the floor.

Isagi quickly punched out and returned to Sae's side. "Ready?" he asked, gesturing for Sae to follow him out of the store.

Sae nodded, and together they stepped out into the cool night air. The streets were quiet now, the chaos of earlier having subsided. Isagi glanced at Sae, noticing the tension in his shoulders and the distant look in his eyes.

"Hey," Isagi said softly, placing a hand on Sae's shoulder. "I know things are tough right now, but you'll figure it out. Besides, Shidou would definitely take you back if you learn to communicate and apologise.”

Sae looked up at Isagi, a mixture of surprise and gratitude in his eyes. "You really think so?" he asked, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

Isagi nodded, his hand still resting gently on Sae's shoulder. "Yeah, I do. Relationships take effort from both sides, but if you're willing to work on it, I'm sure Shidou will give you another chance."

A small sigh was let out by Sae, the weight on his shoulders seeming to lighten slightly. "Thanks, Isagi. I needed to hear that."

“Figured,” Isagi wrapped his scarf around his neck. “I’m not going to help any further other than advice, Shidou would rather you do the work than both of us.”

Sae nodded in understanding, a sense of determination flickering in his eyes. "Yeah, I get it. I'll take it from here."

Isagi smiled, giving Sae's shoulder a reassuring squeeze before letting his hand fall back to his side. "Good luck, Sae. I'm rooting for you."

Sae hummed in response, leaving them in silence as they kept walking home. As they reached the familiar intersection where their paths diverged, Isagi turned to Sae with a small smile. "Take care, Sae.”

"You too, Isagi.”

–

“Rinrin?” Isagi stood behind the tall boy who turned around to face him.

“Isagi… stop calling me that.” Rin sighed, he seemed too tired to care. Isagi laughed at his misery, he’s cute even when tired.

“It’s cute though.” Isagi’s laughter subsided, a small smile left on his lips.

Rin rolled his eyes playfully. "If you say so, Isagi."

Isagi grinned, enjoying Rin’s company; he wasn’t as nervous as last time thankfully (after he figured out he had a crush on him). "So, what's up? You look like you've had a rough day."

“Nothing, just.. Sae’s been more docile recently and that’s fucking creepy.” Rin blankly stared at Isagi before looking away. “Can we go sit down?”

Isagi's smile faltered as he noticed the seriousness in Rin's expression. "Of course, let's find somewhere quiet." He gestured for Rin to lead the way, following him to a nearby bench in the courtyard.

As they settled onto the bench, Isagi could feel the tension radiating off Rin. He waited patiently for Rin to speak, sensing that he needed to get something off his chest. “I… sorry for the lack of..” Rin trailed off, he seemed really embarrassed.

“Is this to do with Chigiri?” Isagi asked, smiling softly at him.

Rin's cheeks flushed slightly at Isagi's question, confirming Isagi's suspicion. He nodded, his gaze fixed on his hands as they fidgeted in his lap. "Yeah," he admitted quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.

“I really don’t mind, I know you’re bad with words.” Rin looked up to softly glare at him causing Isagi to giggle a bit. “Seriously, Chigiri just tends to be overprotective over his friends. Same with Bachira, I’m assuming him and Chigiri both had the same views.”

Rin hummed, staring at the bench table now.

“Really, don’t read into it. You can tell me why you avoided me later.” Isagi sighed, leaning back on the bench. Rin stiffened a bit before putting his head on the table.

“Yeah.” Rin spoke, muffled.

Isagi nodded understandingly, respecting Rin's need for space as he processed his thoughts and emotions. He leaned back on the bench, allowing Rin the quiet moment he seemed to crave.

Though Shidou's words have been bugging him lately.

Was Rin in love with him?

It could make sense; considering the lack of communication, why he avoided him, the weird way he treats him; sometimes even touchy. As well as that one time.. "I hate that I like you.”

…

Wait a second.

“Rin, do–” Isagi was interrupted in that second by the same man that helped him.

“ISAGI!” Shidou shouted, his hands digging into his hair; ruffling his once neat hair.

Isagi's heart skipped a beat as Shidou's sudden appearance shattered his train of thought. He turned to face Shidou, his expression a mix of surprise and confusion. "Shidou, what's wrong?"

“Nothinggg.” Shidou spoke, weirdly giddy. Isagi then heard shuffling opposite him; causing him to look to see Rin completely pissed off.

Right, he hated Shidou.

Isagi glanced between Shidou and Rin, sensing the tension crackling in the air. He quickly stood up from the bench, trying to diffuse the situation before it escalated any further.

"Hey, let's all calm down," Isagi said, his voice steady but firm. "Shidou, what brings you here?"

"Hey, let's all calm down," Isagi said, his voice steady but firm. "Shidou, what brings you here?"

Shidou's gaze flickered between Isagi and Rin, his expression full of excitement. "I just wanted to talk to my guy!"

Rin scoffed beside them, his arms crossed over his chest as he glared at Shidou. "Of course you do," he muttered under his breath, barely audible but laced with bitterness.

Isagi shot Rin a warning look, silently urging him to keep his temper in check. He then turned his attention back to Shidou, his expression neutral yet guarded. "What did you want to talk about?" Isagi asked, trying to keep the conversation focused and civil.

Shidou's enthusiasm seemed to falter for a moment as he glanced at Rin, but he quickly regained his composure, his smile widening. "I just wanted to say, Sae fucking got communication skills finally. He came into school for meeeee!” Shidou put a hand over his forehead, acting like a damsel in distress. “FOR ME!”

“That’s good to hear.” Isagi grinned at him, Rin scoffed but the both of them ignored him. “I hope he tells you about his past more then.”

“He answered my questionsss!!” Shidou shouted, jumping slightly. “And then communicated more stuff which is personal, can’t say my friends!”

“That’s also good to hear.”

Rin remained silent beside them, his expression unreadable as he listened to their conversation. Isagi glanced at him briefly, noting the tense set of his shoulders, but he didn't say anything, not wanting to further escalate the situation.

Shidou then put an arm over Isagi’s shoulders. “Thanks my guyyyyy!” Rin's expression darkened further but he remained silent, his jaw clenched tightly.

Shidou seemed oblivious to the tension, his attention focused solely on Isagi. "So, what are you guys up to?" he asked, his tone cheerful as he glanced between Isagi and Rin.

"Just hanging out," Isagi replied vaguely, hoping to keep the conversation brief. Isagi forgot how touchy Shidou could be.

Shidou's smile widened at Isagi's response, seemingly unfazed by the lack of enthusiasm. "Cool, cool," he said, nodding eagerly.

Rin met his gaze briefly, his expression unreadable, before turning his attention back to Shidou. Suddenly, Rin stood up from the bench, his movements sharp and abrupt. "I need to go," he announced tersely, his tone clipped.

Isagi blinked in surprise at Rin's sudden departure, unsure of what to say. "Uh, okay," he said, his voice tinged with confusion.

Shidou, however, seemed unfazed by Rin's departure. He went silent until Rin seemed far enough, which; then, he dropped his arm. “Loveboy got pissed.”

Isagi's eyebrows furrowed slightly at Shidou's comment, feeling a mixture of irritation and concern for Rin's feelings. "Rin has his moods," he replied evasively.

“I hope you take that interaction and what I said in science and finally put the fucking pieces together.” Shidou knocked Isagi’s head a bit before waving to Isagi and leaving. “Byebye!”

Alone on the bench, Isagi couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered in the pit of his stomach. He sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair as he tried to make sense of everything that had just happened.

Isagi sat there for a moment, his mind swirling with thoughts and emotions. Yet, he felt weirdly elated, feeling himself flush as he kept thinking about the situation.

Well that definitely cemented the fact Rin most definitely fucking likes him. Damn, he sure was being oblivious before.

Isagi facepalmed, putting his head onto the table right after.

Really oblivious.

–

“The dynamic trio finally reunites!” Shidou yelled, throwing his arms over Karasu and Isagi’s shoulders.

Isagi sends a glance to him. “We’re in the library, dimwit.”

“Woah there!” Shidou raised his arms, grinning like a maniac. “Friendship is magic y’know.” Isagi couldn't help but roll his eyes, a small smile tugged at the corners of his lips nonetheless.

Karasu chuckled at Shidou's enthusiasm, shaking his head. "You never fail to bring the energy, Shidou."

“Too much…” Isagi mumbled.

Shidou beamed at Karasu's remark, clearly pleased with himself (he didn’t hear Isagi’s comment thankfully). “Of course, of course. Well, we basically know everything about this stupid note now.”

“How do you know about it?” Isagi raised an eyebrow.

“Karasu forwarded the message you sent about it.” Shidou flopped onto the chair next to the two; sitting in between them. “Now, what do we do about them? Do I fucking threaten Ness?”

“You do that and tell Sae.” Karasu grinned, playing with the edge of the table; peeling the paint.

“I diddd.” Shidou responded, leaning back into the chair.

Isagi leaned forward, his elbows resting on the table as he pondered their next move. "We need to be careful," he said, his tone serious. "Confronting Ness directly might not be the best idea. We don't want to escalate the situation any further."

“Nah, I kinda agree with Shidou in this situation.” Karasu explained. “How else would we fucking make a stop to shit. Better to tell those two off and that if they go near Sae they’ll be hurt or some shit.”

Isagi considered Karasu's suggestion, weighing the potential risks and benefits in his mind. "You might have a point," he conceded, nodding slowly.

“We could snitch to Ego.” Shidou suggested, putting his finger on his chin. “Don’t usually snitch but it affects my dear..”

“What exactly could he do.” Karasu asked, furrowing his eyebrows at Shidou. “It’d be stupid.”

“If we tell everyone in the school about what they did, they’ll lay off of it.” Isagi pointed out.

Shidou nodded in agreement with Isagi's suggestion. "Yeah, if we make it known that messing with Sae will have consequences, they might think twice before trying anything again."

Karasu put his hands behind his neck, looking up to the ceiling; tired. “Whatever to get this shit dealt with, it’s gone on for too fucking long.”

Isagi nodded in understanding, the weight of the situation heavy on his shoulders. "Yeah, it's time to put an end to it once and for all."

“I say we just tell Reo and Chigiri to tell everyone and then confront them.” Shidou cheerily stated, beaming at the thought of ending the weird drama.

“That… might be a bad idea. I say we just confront them, threaten them and if they try anything we then use that as a last resort. It would mean less drama for basically the same resort.” Karasu responded.

“Why would they stop though? What could we threaten them with?” Isagi asked.

“Violence.” The other two said in sync.

“So… the same option Shidou said at the start.” Isagi sighed, crossing his arms and sending a disappointed look to the others.

“Well.. there ain’t any better options.” Shidou shrugged, puckering his lips a bit.

Chapter Text

“Well done Isagi.” Anri congratulated, smiling.

“Huh?” Isagi let out, confused. Everyone except Rin and Bachira had left the classroom, Anri stopping him before he had the chance to follow.

Anri smile dropped a bit, going over to her computer. “You and Rin scored higher than I expected, you got an A each.”

Bachira threw an arm over Isagi’s shoulder, grinning. “YAY! You and Rinnie get along more than I thought.”

Isagi blinked in surprise at Anri's words, his mind processing the unexpected news. He exchanged a glance with Bachira, shock and satisfaction evident in his expression.

"An A?" Isagi repeated, his voice tinged with disbelief.

“So you congratulate Isagi but not me?” Rin appeared, causing Isagi to jump.

Anri turned to face Rin, her smile faltering slightly as she registered his presence. "Rin, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to overlook you. You did well too, you also got an A."

Rin hummed, looking over to Isagi. His eyes narrowed at him. “You’re annoying..” Rin mumbled out before turning on his heel and leaving.

“HEY! RIRI that was rude!” Bachira let go of Isagi, shouting out for Rin. Isagi merely laughed at Rin.

“It’s fine, Bachira,” Isagi smiled. “He’s just struggling with his feelings.”

Bachira whipped his head around, stunned. His eyes were blown out wide. “You.. figured it out?”

Isagi's smile widened at Bachira's surprised reaction. "Yeah, I think so. It's been pretty obvious, hasn't it?"

“As much as I love hearing about your love lives,” Anri interrupted, sarcastically. “I’d rather not hear about it during my break.”

Isagi turned to her, nervously smiling at her. “Sorry sorry..”

Anri chuckled at Isagi's apology, shaking her head in amusement. "No worries, Isagi. It's nice to see you and Rin doing well…”

Isagi flushed a bit, turning back to Bachira who was giggling.

–

“Isagi, do you like him back though?” Bachira asked as they walked out the history class.

“I–”

“Like who back?” Isagi froze, snapping his head to look at Chigiri. Isagi’s shoulders relaxed instantly.

Bachira huffed, crossing his arms. “Acting like you don’t know.”

Isagi sheepishly smiled. Chigiri spoke up again. “I don’t get why you don't tell him,” Chigiri put a hand on his hip. “Y’know he likes you and you like him back.”

Isagi waved his hands around. “Not that simple. Even if we do get in a relationship, it’ll feel like I did all the work.”

Bachira furrowed his eyebrows. “Even then, shouldn’t you at least push him to talk?”

Isagi sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I know, I know. But I don't want to pressure him into anything he's not ready for."

“Ready for?” Bachira interjected, confused.

“If he can’t even communicate why he was avoiding me from the start, how would he communicate with anything?” Isagi explained before adding a bit more. “Even if I now know why he avoided me..”

“So you’re waiting for him to make the first move?” Chigiri twirled his hair in his finger.

Isagi nodded hesitantly, a conflicted expression crossing his face. "Yeah, I guess so. I want to give him the chance to open up when he's ready, without feeling pressured or cornered."

Bachira sighed, scratching his head. "But what if he never makes the first move? You could be waiting forever!"

“I thought you guys wanted him to communicate more..” Isagi pointed out.

“I’m not disagreeing with you.” Chigiri put his hands up defensively. “Bachira is the one wanting you two to talk..”

“Why don’t we force him to communicate.” Bachira inputted, grinning mischievously.

“What you got schizo?” Chigiri asked, smiling.

Isagi glanced between Bachira and Chigiri, considering their suggestion. "Force him to communicate? How do you suggest we do that?"

“Dunno, maybe make him jealous like those weird shoujo mangas.” Bachira suggested, clapping his hands together. “Or maybe make Sae give him some talk…”

Isagi's eyebrows furrowed in thought. "Making him jealous feels a bit manipulative, doesn't it? And involving Sae might not be a good idea either. We shouldn't drag others into our personal matters. Besides, Shidou tried the first approach the other day."

“Seriously?” Chigiri perked up a bit.

“Yeah.. he like put his arm over my shoulder and stuff and was friendly with me. Rin got pissed and left, that’s how I figured it out.” Isagi explained.

Isagi's expression softened with understanding as Bachira recounted the events. "I see... So Shidou's attempt didn't go over too well."

“Maybe just drop hints then?” Chigiri grinned. “Like to be touchy and flirty.”

Isagi shook his head, a concerned frown forming on his face. "I don't know, Chigiri. Being touchy and flirty might just make Rin uncomfortable.”

“But it’d be funny.” Bachira laughed. “Like imagine Riri red.”

“Bachira.. It’d be a dumb–” Isagi was interrupted by Chigiri.

“Try it just once, if it doesn’t work; act like it was a dare or something.”

Isagi’s eye widened. “I thought you were on my side!”

Chigiri grinned mischievously. "I am! But sometimes a little harmless teasing can nudge things along. This slowburn is killing me."

Bachira nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, yeah! It's worth a shot, Isagi. Plus, it'll be funny to see Rin's reaction."

Isagi sighed, feeling torn between his desire to respect Rin's boundaries and his friends' encouragement. "I don't know... What if it backfires and makes things awkward between us?"

Bachira waved a dismissive hand. "Come on, Isagi! You won't know until you try. And besides, Rin's a tough guy. He can handle a little teasing."

Chigiri nodded in agreement. "Exactly! Just keep it light-hearted and playful. If Rin doesn't respond well, you can always laugh it off and pretend it was just a joke."

Isagi hesitated for a moment, weighing his options. Finally, he sighed and relented. "Fine, I'll give it a try. But if it goes south, you two owe me big time."

“I have a great idea!” Bachira raised a hand. “You should totally be like ‘if you were an angle, you’d be a-cute one!”

Isagi blinked, taken aback by Bachira's suggestion.

“Or Do you work at Subway? ‘Cause you just gave me a foot-long.” Chigiri added, putting a hand over Isagi’s shoulder.

“WHAT!” Isagi screamed, moving away from Chigiri.

Bachira started giggling. “‘As long as I have a face, you’ll have a place to sit.’”

“I’m neither of your friends anymore.” Isagi huffed, storming away. Bachira and Chigiri burst into laughter, unable to contain themselves at Isagi's reaction.

–

Isagi was forced to sit next to Rin during lunch, Chigiri and Bachira watched them like hawks from afar. He stole a quick glance at Rin, who was quietly eating his lunch without acknowledging Isagi's presence.

Isagi wanted to bury himself into the ground. Isagi couldn’t bring himself to flirt with him with words.

“Rin, do you want to hang out any time soon?” Isagi decided to finally talk, breaking the silence.

Rin glanced up from his lunch, his expression unreadable for a moment before softening slightly. He nodded in response to Isagi's question. “Kay..”

Isagi felt a surge of relief at Rin's acceptance. "Great! Um, when?”

Rin took a bite of his food before putting his chopsticks down. “My parents are forcing me to tag along with Sae and Shidou to a street market…”

“Street market?” Isagi asked, curious.

Rin hummed. “There’s going to be a lot of different types of food.. It’s kinda like a culture festival.”

Isagi grinned, clapping his hands together. “Sounds good!” Isagi then remembered something. “Wait, isn’t that festival expensive?” Isagi whipped his head to Rin.

Rin flushed a bit, turning to the side. He mumbled something.

Isagi leaned in slightly, trying to catch Rin's mumbled words. "Sorry, what was that?"

Rin turned back to Isagi, their faces only an inch apart. He could feel the warmth of Rin's breath against his skin, sending a shiver down his spine.

Rin's cheeks tinted pink as he realised their closeness, but he didn't pull away. Instead, he took a deep breath and spoke in a slightly louder voice, "I said that I’d pay for you.”

Isagi's eyes widened in surprise at Rin's words. His heart skipped a beat as he processed Rin's offer. The gesture touched him deeply, and he couldn't help but feel a rush of warmth spreading through him.

He was sweet.

"I can cover my own expenses." Isagi replied, his voice soft with gratitude.

Rin shook his head, a determined expression on his face. He moved slightly away. "No, it’s fine.”

"Thank you, Rin," Isagi said, a soft smile gracing his lips. "I really appreciate it."

Rin hummed, eating a bit again. “...don’t you want food?”

“Nah.” Isagi closed his eyes, resting his head on his hand. Isagi then felt something touch his lips, causing him to snap open his eyes. He then saw a piece of spam in his face causing him to blink a couple of times.

Isagi blinked in confusion at the piece of spam hovering in front of his face. He glanced up to see Rin holding out his chopsticks.

“Open your mouth.” Rin glared at him, his cheeks tinted with a faint blush.

Isagi's heart warmed at Rin's gesture. Despite his initial reluctance, he couldn't help but feel touched by Rin's thoughtfulness. With a grateful smile, he accepted the offering and took a small bite of the spam.

"Thanks, Rin," Isagi said softly, a genuine smile spreading across his face. "That's really nice of you."

“Shut up..” Rin huffed out, eating the remaining spam.

…

Isagi’s eyes widened.

At this point, Chigiri and Bachira’s plan had flipped over. An indirect kiss, Isagi thought, covering his face.

“What time is the.. Market thing?” Isagi started up the conversation again.

“Just come to my house at 3 on Saturday.” Rin finished his food, closing the container.

–

“You two did no flirting.” Bachira pouted, turning to Chigiri who seemed bored.

“I’ll do it later..” Isagi sighed.

Chigiri put a hand over Isagi’s shoulder, leaning to his ear. “Did you like being fed?”

Isagi's cheeks flushed at Chigiri's question, feeling a mix of embarrassment and a flutter of something else he couldn't quite place. He shifted uncomfortably, unsure of how to respond.

Bachira leaned in, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Did you enjoy the little feeding session?"

Isagi stammered for a moment, trying to gather his thoughts. "Um, well, it was... unexpected. But yeah, it was nice. Rin's gesture was really sweet."

Chigiri and Bachira exchanged knowing glances, their smiles widening. "Looks like Rin's making some moves," Chigiri teased, nudging Isagi playfully.

Bachira nodded in agreement. "Yeah, and you're falling right into his trap, Isagi!"

–

Isagi was early, really early.

Isagi stood outside Rin's house, nervously shifting from foot to foot as he waited for the designated time to arrive. Isagi glanced around, noticing how quiet and peaceful the neighbourhood was.

Isagi checked his watch for what felt like the hundredth time, realising that he was still early. With a sigh, Isagi decided to take a walk around the block to pass the time.

–

Isagi walked down a random street, memorising his steps. He had thirty minutes left to waste.

“Meow.”

Isagi looked down, a short haired cat stared back at him. Isagi squealed at the sight, dropping down to pet the cat.

Luckily for him, the black cat was friendly. Isagi knelt down to pet the friendly black cat, a smile spread across his face. He ran his fingers through the cat's soft fur, feeling the warmth of its body against his hand. The cat purred in response, rubbing its head against Isagi's hand affectionately.

“Isagi?”

Isagi looked up, seeing a boy with brown hair and purple ends.

“Ness?” Isagi then felt the cat push its snout into his hand. Isagi looked down to see the end of the cat’s tail flicking from side to side. Isagi looked back up.

Ness’s eyes narrowed at him. “...isn’t this the part where you yell at me?”

Isagi blinked a couple of times before giggling. Isagi stood up and turned to him, the cat rubbing against his leg. “I don’t care about you enough for that.”

Ness hummed, staring at the cat.

“I want your advice.”

Isagi’s eyes widened, stunned by Ness’s words and docility. “Huh?”

“I’m not repeating myself.” Ness shot Isagi a glare, causing him to go silent. Isagi stared at the boy, urging him to continue. “...do you think it’s better if I stop things with Kaiser?”

Isagi’s eyes widened again, stunned before narrowing his eyes at him again and crossing his arms. “Why’re you asking me?”

“You’re unbiased, I guess. Well, just the most unbiased person who's willing to talk to me.” Ness looked back to the cat who stared at him with round-eyes.

Isagi looked at the cat as well who started pressing against his leg again. “I mean, he’s not good for you. That’s for sure.” Isagi crouched down to scratch the back of the cat’s ear. “Though you might be into that shit so I don’t care what you do.”

“Then, if you were me,” Ness fidgeted with his bag. “What would you do?” Isagi paused, considering Ness's question carefully. He straightened up, his expression thoughtful as he met Ness's gaze.

"If I were you..." Isagi began. “I guess I would break it off with him. I don’t know him like that though, he’s a dick based on what I know.”

Ness nodded slowly, absorbing Isagi's words. "But what if I'm not sure? What if there are good things about him too?"

Isagi sighed, exasperated. “If it hurts you more than it makes you happy, break it off with him. That’s all I will give you.”

The cat purred.

“...” Isagi heard Ness shift a bit before the sound of footsteps followed. Isagi looked back up, seeing no one in front of him.

“Thank fuck.”

Isagi stared at the cat before his ringtone started playing, he quickly fumbled to answer it. As he brought the phone to his ear, he glanced around to ensure that no one was nearby, feeling a bit bewildered by Ness's sudden departure.

“Hell–”

“Where the fuck are you.” Isagi heard an annoyed Rin on the other end, he quickly fumbled to check the time.

3:01.

Fucking Ness.

Isagi's heart raced as he realised he was already late to meet Rin. He cursed under his breath, feeling a surge of panic rising within him. "Sorry, Rin! I got caught up in something. I'll be there in a few minutes!"

–

Isagi reached Rin's house, he saw Rin standing outside, arms crossed and a stern expression on his face. Isagi's heart sank at the sight, feeling a pang of guilt for making Rin wait.

"Sorry, sorry, sorry!" Isagi rushed to apologise as he approached Rin. "I lost track of time, it won't happen again."

“It better not.” Rin huffed, walking past Isagi before grabbing his forearm and dragging him. Isagi stumbled forward as Rin grabbed his forearm and began dragging him along. He struggled to keep up with Rin's brisk pace.

As they walked, Isagi tried to explain himself. "I really am sorry, Rin. I didn't mean to be late. I got caught up in a conversation with someone and lost track of time."

"Just don't let it happen again," Rin replied, his tone firm but not unkind.

Isagi nodded earnestly. "I won't, I promise. Thanks for waiting for me."

Rin grunted in response, his grip on Isagi's forearm loosening slightly as they continued walking. Isagi took the opportunity to match Rin's pace, falling into step beside him as they made their way to the street market.

Isagi got the violent urge to tease him.

“Rinrin, why are you holding my arm?” Isagi asked, feigning ignorance.

Rin glanced at Isagi, his expression briefly softening before he quickly regained his composure. "I'm not holding your arm," he replied gruffly, dropping his hand.

Isagi grinned mischievously, deciding to push Rin's buttons a little more. "Well, you don't have to worry about that. I promise I'll stick close to you, Rinrin."

Rin's cheeks flushed a deeper shade of pink at Isagi's playful nickname. He shot Isagi a glare, though there was a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Don't call me that," he grumbled, his tone more resigned than annoyed.

Isagi laughed, delighted by Rin's reaction.

–

Shiro and Rin’s dad stood together, talking as they sat on a table. Rin walked up to them, Isagi trailing behind.

Rin dropped his bag, unzipping it to grab his wallet. Isagi stood behind Rin, quietly looking at the scene.

“Ah, Minoru!” Shiro shook the other Itoshi before looking up to Isagi. “Meet Rinrin’s boyfriend.'' Both parents now stared at Isagi.

Isagi's face turned beet red at Shiro's words, feeling a mix of embarrassment and surprise at being introduced as Rin's boyfriend. He glanced at Rin, whose cheeks were also tinged with pink, clearly taken aback by Shiro's announcement.

“MUM!” Rin shouted, shooting up.

"Um, hello," Isagi managed to stammer out, offering a shy wave to Rin's parents.
Isagi's heart pounded in his chest as he stood there, feeling the weight of Rin's parents' gaze upon him. He struggled to find the right words to say, his cheeks burning with embarrassment. “I’m not Rin’s boyfriend..”

Shiro's smile faltered for a moment as she looked between Isagi and Rin before giggling. “I’m only teasing, Rinrin is quite fond of–”

"Mom!" Rin interrupted, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment as he shot a pleading glance at his mother.

Shiro chuckled softly, patting Rin's hand reassuringly. "Sorry, sorry, I couldn't resist teasing you a little." Shiro sighed, putting her head in her hands. “I hope Rinrin is taking care of you and paying for you. I’d hate to make you pay.”

Isagi's cheeks burned even hotter at Shiro's teasing words. He glanced at Rin, whose cheeks were still flushed with embarrassment, and offered him a sympathetic smile.

"It's okay, Mrs. Itoshi," Isagi replied, his voice tinged with awkwardness. "Rin's taking care of me, don't worry."

Shiro smiled warmly at Isagi's reassurance, her teasing demeanour softening into genuine kindness. "That's good to hear. I'm glad Rin has someone like you to look out for him."

“We’re leaving.” Rin huffed, grabbing Isagi’s collar and dragging him away.

“Have fun on your date!” Shiro shouted, Rin’s ears turned scarlet as a result.

Isagi thought it was cute.

–

The street market was bustling with activity, vibrant colours and enticing aromas filling the air. Isagi and Rin weaved through the crowds, sampling various foods and admiring the diverse array of stalls.

“What should we eat now?” Isagi looked up to Rin who was searching.

“Ice-cream..” Rin mumbled out.

Isagi grinned at Rin's suggestion. "Ice cream sounds perfect! Let's go find a stall."

Isagi weaved through the crowd, looking from left to right. After a minute or two, he managed to find an ice-cream stand. He quickly turned around to find…

No-one.

Isagi's smile faded as he realised Rin wasn't beside him anymore. He scanned the bustling crowd, his heart sank into his stomach.

"Rin?" Isagi called out, his voice barely audible over the din of the market. He pushed through the throng of people, trying to catch a glimpse of Rin's familiar figure. Panic gnawed at the edges of Isagi's mind as he frantically searched for Rin.

“ISAGI?” Isagi whipped his head around to see Shidou.

Fucking Shidou.

Sae was trailing behind him, their hands interlocked.

"Hey, Shidou. Hey, Sae," Isagi greeted them, his voice strained with forced cheerfulness.

Shidou grinned at Isagi, oblivious to his discomfort. "What are you doing here all alone, Isagi? Where's Rin?"

Isagi's smile faltered, his shoulders slumping slightly as he admitted, "I... I lost track of him. He was here just a moment ago, but now I can't find him."

Sae hummed, looking around a bit. “We can help find him..”

Isagi softly smiled. “I can just call…” his smile faltered as he remembered leaving his bag at Itoshi's table. He sighed, knowing Sae and Shidou didn’t have his number either. “Never mind.”

“Isagi..” Isagi heard Rin behind him.

“Rinrin!” Isagi turned around, beaming. Relief flooded through Isagi as he saw Rin approaching him through the crowd.

Rin held out his hand, clutching something. “Take it.”

"What is it?" Isagi asked, curiosity piqued as he reached out to take whatever Rin was offering.

Isagi held it, it was a bracelet. Although, it had a small lobster charm dangling off of it. Isagi gasped, shoving it onto his wrist. “Thank you Rin!” Rin's eyes softened at Isagi's reaction, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips.

“Holy shit, emo boy can smile.” Isagi turned around to see Shidou stunned, Sae was spaced out.

“Shut up, insect.” Rin glared at Shidou, Isagi whipped his head around to watch their staring contest.

“Can you two shut up.” Sae huffed, finally speaking up. “Let’s go, demon.” Sae dragged Shidou off who laughed maniacally, people staring at them.

“Have fun on your date!” Shidou shouted, it was eerily similar to Rin’s mum.

Rin rolled his eyes at Shidou's antics, turning to Isagi. "Ignore him," Rin muttered.

“Yeah yeah.”

–

“What flavour did you get?” Isagi asked, leaning over to Rin’s ice-cream.

"Matcha," he replied, holding up his ice cream cone for Isagi to see.

Isagi leaned closer to inspect Rin's ice cream. "I got strawberry cheesecake. Want to try some?"

Rin hesitated for a moment before nodding, a faint blush dusting his cheeks. "Sure," he said softly, leaning in to take a small bite of Isagi's ice cream. Rin hovered his hand over Isagi’s which held the cone for balance.

Isagi watched Rin intently, feeling a warm flutter in his chest as their fingers brushed against each other while sharing the ice cream. He couldn't help but notice how adorable Rin looked with a smudge of strawberry cheesecake ice cream on his lips.

“Rin, you got ice-cream on your lips.” Isagi pointed out, licking his ice cream right after.

“Shut up..” Rin huffed, wiping his lip with his finger and licking it off.

Rin bit into ice-cream causing Isagi to wince. “Psychopath.” Isagi mumbled out.

“Excuse me?” Rin huffed, glaring at Isagi who laughed in return.

“Biting into your ice-cream is weird as shit.” Isagi licked his ice cream.

Rin rolled his eyes. “I’ll kill you.”

“See! Psychopath!” Isagi pointed at accusatively, Rin looked over to the side.

“You’re so annoying.”

“Aweee, how sweet.”

“I’m going to kill you!” Rin shouted, moving to grab Isagi’s sprout. Isagi quickly jumped back, holding his ice-cream tight.

“Hey! I have ice-cream!” Isagi pouted a bit, holding the ice-cream to his chest.

Rin huffed, going back to eating his ice-cream.

“You sure are in a mood suddenly..” Isagi went back to eating his ice-cream, leaving them in a comfortable silence.

–

Eventually, the pair made their way back to the table where the other Itoshis (plus Shidou) resided. The sun was setting leaving a nice backdrop as they left.

As they approached the table, Shiro looked up and smiled warmly at Isagi and Rin. "Welcome back, you two," she greeted them.

Rin hummed, grabbing his bag. “I’m going to walk to Isagi home..”

As Rin mentioned walking Isagi home, Shidou's eyebrows shot up in surprise, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "Oh? Walking Isagi home, huh? How romantic," he teased, nudging Rin playfully.

Rin's cheeks flushed slightly at Shidou's teasing, but he quickly regained his composure. "It's not like that," he mumbled, though there was a softness in his tone that hinted otherwise.

Isagi felt a warmth spread through him at Rin's offer. "Yeah, that would be nice," he agreed, smiling warmly at Rin.

Rin and Isagi bid farewell to the rest of the group and made their way out of the market, Isagi pulled out his wireless earbuds and put one in. He offered the other to Rin who graciously took it.

“What do you wanna listen to?” Isagi asked Rin who moved to hold out his hand, walking down the street.

Isagi furrowed his eyebrows, handing over his unlocked phone. Rin started tapping at him as Isagi watched, eventually Prayer X began to play.

“Oh I know this song.” Isagi smiled, taking his phone from Rin’s hands and pocketing it. Isagi matched his pace to Rin's, their footsteps falling in sync with the rhythm of the song. The soft glow of the streetlights illuminated their path as they strolled through the quiet neighbourhood.

They eventually reached the street Isagi talked to Ness, causing him to look around a bit.

Rin noticed Isagi's contemplative expression and paused, turning to look at him with a questioning gaze. "Is something wrong, Isagi?"

Isagi shook his head. “No..” Isagi then heard a cat meow. Isagi's attention was momentarily drawn away by the sound of a cat meowing nearby. He turned his head in the direction of the sound, spotting a small black cat sitting on a nearby fence, its bright eyes fixed on them.

“It’s still here!” Isagi quickly walked over to the cat who swished its tail from side to side in response. Rin followed Isagi over to where the cat was perched on the fence.

Isagi crouched down beside the cat, extending his hand towards it in a silent invitation. The cat regarded him with curiosity before cautiously approaching, its tail swaying back and forth in anticipation.

Isagi cooed, his voice soft and soothing as he reached out to pet the cat. The cat leaned into Isagi's touch, purring contentedly as he scratched behind its ears.

After a few moments of petting and gentle cooing, Isagi reluctantly stood up, giving the cat a final pat on the head before turning back to Rin with a bright smile.

"Sorry about that," Isagi apologized, his cheeks tinged with a faint blush. "I just couldn't resist saying hello to the cat."

Rin seemed visibly red, quickly turning away and walking to Isagi’s house. “It’s fine.”

Isagi stared at his retreating figure before smiling knowingly.

Chapter Text

“Happy birthday, to you!” Bachira sang, his hands clasped together as he swayed from side to side. It sounded like nails on a chalkboard yet Isagi smiled nonetheless.

“Shut up, Bachira.” Chigiri rolled his eyes, his arms crossed as he glared at Bachira. Isagi appreciated his friends' efforts to celebrate his special day, even if Bachira wasn’t the most musically inclined.

"Thanks, Bachira," Isagi said with a grin, feeling touched by his friend's enthusiasm. "I appreciate the sentiment."

Bachira beamed at Isagi's response, seemingly unfazed by Chigiri's scolding. "Anytime, Isagi! You know I've got the vocal talent of an angel," he declared proudly.

“Yeah, an angel..” Chigiri sighed, before grinning at Isagi. “Anyway, happy birthday!” Chigiri held out a small envelope, grinning.

Isagi's eyes lit up as Chigiri presented him with the envelope, his curiosity piqued. "Thanks, Chigiri!" he exclaimed, reaching out to take it.

Isagi put it in his bag carefully. Bachira's grin widened even further, and he reached into his bag, pulling out a small, brightly wrapped package. "Promise not to laugh at my wrapping skills."

“Thank you, Bachira.” Isagi took his gift, putting it in his bag carefully as well.

“Why don’t you open it here?” Bachira put his hands on his hips.

Isagi scratched his cheek a bit. “I’d rather do it at home..”

Bachira pouted playfully at Isagi's response. "Aw, come on, Isagi! Where's the fun in waiting? Plus, I'm dying to see your reaction!"

Chigiri chuckled at their antics, nudging Isagi gently. "Yeah, Isagi, don't keep us in suspense. Let's see what Bachira got you.”

“You only want to see his gift to make fun of it.” Isagi quipped.

Bachira gasped dramatically, placing a hand over his heart. "Is that what you think of me, Isagi? I'm hurt!"

Chigiri laughed, shaking his head. "Come on, Isagi, we just want to celebrate with you. We promise not to make fun of Bachira's gift... too much."

"Alright, alright, fine. I'll open it here." Isagi relented, giving in to their requests once again.

Isagi carefully unwrapped Bachira's gift, revealing a small box inside. He lifted the lid, his eyes widening in surprise as he saw what was inside. It was a figurine of noel noa, the one Isagi had been eyeing for a while.

Isagi's breath caught in his throat as he beheld the figurine, his heart swelling with gratitude and joy. He lifted it gently from the box, turning it over in his hands to admire its intricate details.

"Bachira... This is incredible," Isagi exclaimed, his voice filled with awe. "I can't believe you remembered I wanted this!"

Bachira grinned proudly, his eyes sparkling with satisfaction. "Of course I remembered, Isagi! I pay attention to the things that matter to my friends.

“Damn, Bachira. Who knew you were competent.” Chigiri stared at the figurine in awe as well. “It has so many details..”

Bachira puffed out his chest slightly, proud. "Hey, I may not look like much, but I've got a few tricks up my sleeve."

“Right..” Chigiri rolled his eyes, again.

–

After many gifts and ‘happy birthdays’ from his friends, Isagi held a heavy bag on his shoulder. Isagi slowly walked down the almost empty hallway, sighing out of relief that the day had finally ended.

“I’m done being your lap dog!” Isagi heard, causing him to snap his head to the side. He saw the back of Ness’s head with Kaiser looking slightly frantic.

Isagi hoped Kaiser became more panicked.

Isagi decided to stop, watching the quarrel unravel. He guessed it was based on the conversation he had the other day, Ness finally growing a backbone in a way. Even if Isagi hated him, he was much better than Kaiser and he’d take that man being in pain if it meant rooting for Ness.

“What the fuck are you talking about, Ness!” Kaiser shouted, his hand on his chest as his eyes were widened. He looked like a wet dog.

“I’m saying that I’m not letting you blame me for shit! I’m sick of trailing you around constantly!” Ness shouted, shaking his head slightly as he spoke. Isagi wished he had popcorn, what a great birthday gift from Ness. “I’m done being in a one-sided relationship! If we can even call it that.”

Isagi almost whistled at that but he made sure not to make a noise.

Before Isagi could carry on listening, he felt a hand catch his forearm. Isagi flailed around as he was dragged by an unknown person. The hand holding his felt familiar, Isagi almost instantly knew that it was Rin’s. He looked up to confirm his suspicions.

“Rin?” Isagi uttered, moving to stabilise himself.

Rin's expression was serious as he guided Isagi away from the scene unfolding between Ness and Kaiser. "Let's not get involved in their drama, Isagi," he said quietly, his grip firm yet gentle on Isagi's arm.

Isagi nodded, realising Rin was right. He didn't want to be caught up in whatever was happening between Ness and Kaiser, especially not on his birthday. Even if it was interesting.

–

“Where are you dragging me anyways?” Isagi asked, staring at the hand on his arm. Isagi knew this was just Rin’s silent excuse to touch him, it made him silently smile.

Rin went still at Isagi words, staring at his hand which held Isagi. He quickly let go and looked away. “Shut up.”

He is not beating any allegations, Isagi thought as he dropped his arm to his side. “Not even gonna say happy birthday?”

Rin's cheeks flushed slightly at Isagi's mention of his birthday. He cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure. “Just shut up, please.” Rin glared at Isagi as he let out a strained, “Happy birthday..”

Isagi couldn't help but smile at Rin's awkwardness. It was endearing to see him like this. "Thanks, Rin," he replied warmly, nudging him playfully with his elbow.

“You’re annoying.” Rin huffed, clutching his bag.

“Is that all you wanted to tell me? If so, do you know where Hiori is? I wanted–” Isagi was cut off by Rin shuffling into his bag swiftly. Isagi watched patiently as Rin pulled out a chain, holding it out to Isagi.

“I… the gift I gave you last time will wear off.. It’s not good jewellery.” Rin explained, Isagi held out his hand as he felt the bracelet drop into his hand, it was almost identical to his bracelet except the lobster was much more detailed. “It’s 925 silver, it won’t turn green or whatever like the other shit I gave you.”

Isagi held the bracelet in his hand, he read ‘925’ engraved into the side. He preferred the way the lobster looked on this one as well, the details of every part were carved into more.

Isagi beamed at the gift, putting it on. “Thank you, Rin.” Isagi smiled at Rin, holding the gift close. “I’ll never take it off.”

Rin's cheeks flushed deeper at Isagi's gratitude, but he managed to maintain a composed exterior. "You better not lose it either," he muttered, trying to play off his embarrassment.

Isagi chuckled softly, admiring the bracelet on his wrist. "I promise I'll take good care of it," he assured Rin, his smile genuine and warm.

Rin nodded, his expression softening slightly. "Good. It suits you," he said quietly, his gaze lingering on Isagi's wrist for a moment before he looked away.

Isagi hummed at his words. He silently prayed Rin would confess, it was killing him inside and he had almost said he loved him one too many times.

“Isagi…” Rin spoke, breaking him out of his trance. He prayed harder. I then heard a click of a tongue. “Never mind.”

Isagi hated the anticipation. “Come on.” Isagi groaned, rolling his eyes.

“Excuse me?” Rin glared at him.

“Don’t worry about it.”

Rin put a hand on his hip. “Well, anyways, Sae invited you to your house. He wants to do a small gathering for your birthday as a thank you.”

“Oh? Whose coming?” Isagi asked.

“My parents are out so it’ll be us, Shidou, Sae and some of your friends. Only the ones he knows though and Shidou likes.” Isagi nods in response.

What an odd gift from Sae.

–

“Welcome, welcome!” Shidou threw an arm over Isagi’s shoulders, dragging him inside. Isagi sighed, accepting his fate as he was dragged into the living room. Reo and Nagi were cuddling (per usual), not many people were there but mostly his close friends (minus Kunigami).

Isagi noted the fact Rin nor Hiori were there, they were most likely off somewhere else. It slightly pissed off Isagi but he decided to ignore it, even if it was his birthday; he was a guest afterall. Isagi slowly moved out of Shidou’s grip, who was distracted by Sae.

Isagi unwrapped his scarf and put it on a barstool. He walked over to Bachira who happily greeted him. “Here’s the birthday boy!” Bachira grabbed his wrist and dragged him down, Isagi yelped out of surprise. “How aree you!”

“I’m okay.” Isagi smiled, looking over to the other people Bachira was talking to. Charles, for some reason, sat opposite him. He waved rapidly at Isagi.

“Ahoge boy!” he shouted. “It’s good to see you in two pieces.”

“Huh?” Isagi furrowed his eyebrows, confused by his word choice. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, Lorenzo didn’t do anything to you. You must’ve bribed him with crazy money.” Charles giggled, putting down his phone.

“You could say that.” Isagi put his head in his hands, hugging his knees.

“Yah, Reo bribed him!” Bachira smiled, sticking out his tongue to the side. “He’s a total loser for Nagi afterall, Chigiri told me all about it!”

“Really?” Charles brightened, curious about the story.

“It’s really nothing special…” Isagi sighed. “All Reo did was give money and he spilt everything.”

“Speaking of which, how much money did Reo give for your birthday? He must’ve covered Nagi’s cost as well.” Bachira pointed at Isagi, tilting his head a bit as he asked.

Isagi scratched the back of his neck. “He gave like 50,000 yen. Like you said, it was from both ‘him and Nagi’ but Nagi most definitely didn’t plan shit.”

“Typicalll.” Bachira mumbled, looking back to Charles. “Where’s Chigiri? He said he was gonna talk to someone only for a bit..”

Charles put a finger over his mouth. “Secret!”

“Okay then.” Bachira huffed, leaning against the couch slightly. “Surprised Riri hasn’t come out to say hi to Isagi.”

Isagi glanced around the room, it bothered him more than he cared to admit. "Yeah, where is Rin?" he muttered, furrowing his brows in concern.
Bachira shrugged, looking around as well. "Who knows? Maybe he's hiding somewhere."
Isagi couldn't shake off the feeling of disappointment. Rin's absence on his birthday felt like a glaring absence, leaving a void in the celebration. "I wish he was here," Isagi murmured, more to himself than to Bachira.

Bachira frowned sympathetically, sensing Isagi's unease. "I'm sure he has his reasons for not being here. Don't worry too much about it, Isagi. Let's just enjoy this."

Isagi nodded, Shidou shouted something about just dance. Chigiri popped out of nowhere at that, powder on his face still.

Of course.

“Why don’t we join in?” Charles asked the two, Bachira shaked his head in return.

“I’m here for my Isagi,” Bachira hugged Isagi’s shoulders, grinning. “Why don’t you do it with Shidou and Chigiri?”

Charles pouted, standing up. “But we need 4 people…”

“I’ll do it!” Karasu shouted as he ran up to the screen, Chigiri and Shidou were lined up.

Charles rushed away at that, joining the trio. It left Bachira and Isagi sitting against the couch as Bachira hugged him. Isagi leaned into Bachira's embrace, feeling a sense of comfort in his friend's presence.

"Thanks, Bachira," Isagi murmured, a small smile tugging at his lips. "I'm glad you're here."

Isagi watched the 4 dance, they were all good at it for some reason (except for some mistakes from Charles and Shidou). Isagi was surprised Chigiri decided to become a footballer instead of some random street dancer, he was amazing at it for some reason.

Isagi then heard someone shuffling beside him, he turned to see Sae sitting next to him.

“Happy birthday.” Sae spoke quietly, watching them dance (mostly Shidou). Sae then turned to Isagi. “Has my idiot brother finally confessed?”

Isagi sighed a bit, shaking his head. “Nah..” Sae hummed in response.

“Older Itoshi,” Bachira called for Sae. “How come you knew Isagi knew Rin likes him?”

“Rin isn't exactly subtle about his feelings for Isagi." Sae ran a hand through his hair, looking over to Isagi. “I don’t get how you have the patience for him.”

Isagi glanced at Sae from the side. “Like you can chat.” Bachira gasped a bit.

“Isagi!”

“Sorry, just a bit annoyed.” Isagi turned to Sae, waving his hands around.

“Nah, that was slightly deserved.” Sae sighed. Isagi nodded, the panic settling down a bit. “I did make him like that after all.”

“Is it got to do with some promise you two made?” Isagi whispered, Bachira went silent surprisingly. Sae looked over to him with side eyes.

“He told you that?” Sae blinked away the obvious emotion on his face, putting his chin onto his hand. “I shouldn’t be so surprised.”

Isagi nodded, deciding to drop the subject. It was too sombre for his birthday party.

Sae eventually stood up, smiling at the two slightly. “Just give him a little push.” Yet, for some reason, Isagi felt as though it wasn’t directed to him.

Isagi turned to Bachira who shrugged a bit, he dropped his head onto his shoulder. “Give him a little push..” Bachira mumbled a bit, putting a thumb to his mouth.

Isagi ignored his words.

–

Isagi kept talking to Bachira, Chigiri eventually joining them. A lot of people went up to Isagi to greet him. That was really it, though; despite how uneventful, it was fun.

Isagi eventually heard familiar footsteps.

Isagi perked up, turning his head to see Rin approaching them. His heart skipped a beat at the sight of Rin, a warm smile spreading across his face. Isagi was about to wave over to him when Rin stalked up to him.

Bachira was busy talking to Chigiri as Rin sat himself down next to Isagi. Rin seemed to be glaring at Bachira who leaned against Isagi a bit.

Could he be any more obvious?

"Hey, Rin," Isagi greeted him with a warm smile, trying to hide the fluttering feeling in his chest.

Rin glanced at Isagi briefly, his expression unreadable. "Hi," he replied curtly, his gaze then shifting to Bachira, who was still chatting animatedly with Chigiri.

Isagi sensed the tension radiating from Rin, and he nudged Bachira gently, trying to subtly signal him to give them some space. Bachira caught on quickly, excusing himself and Chigiri to fetch some drinks.

Once they were alone, Isagi turned his attention back to Rin, a million thoughts swirling in his mind. "I'm glad you made it," he said, trying to ease the tension. Rin hummed, shifting himself closer so that their sides touched. Wow, he was being bold today.

“Are you tired?” Isagi asked, Rin turned to him.

“No.” Rin stared at him intently, as though itching to say something. Isagi knew it wasn’t going to happen though, his gut told him. “Are you?”

“Nah.” Isagi smiled.

“Bachira seemed tired.” Rin narrowed his eyes slightly before looking away. “Whatever.” Isagi had to hold every once of him from not bursting out into laughter, he was jealous.

Isagi couldn't help but chuckle at Rin's jealousy, finding it oddly endearing. "I think he's just excited about today," he replied casually, hoping to ease Rin's tension.

Rin's lips twitched slightly, a hint of annoyance flashing in his eyes before he looked away again. "Right," he muttered, crossing his arms over his chest.

Isagi bit back a smile, finding Rin's jealousy both amusing and flattering. He decided to change the subject, not wanting to dwell on Rin's jealousy too much. "So, did you have a good day?"

Rin shrugged nonchalantly. "It was alright," he replied vaguely, his gaze flickering back to Isagi briefly before returning to scanning the room. Isagi sighed inwardly, feeling a pang of disappointment at Rin's lack of enthusiasm.

Eventually, he felt Rin’s head fall onto his shoulder. It was a welcome surprise, Isagi couldn't help but feel a rush of warmth.

Isagi leaned his head slightly against Rin's, relishing in the quiet intimacy between them. Despite the noise and activity of the party surrounding them, at that moment, it felt like it was just the two of them.

Suddenly, all the lights had went out. Isagi’s eyes widened, he looked around frantically. He felt Rin get off his shoulder, it made him upset slightly.

During Isagi’s confusion, he heard everyone’s (unsynchronised) singing of happy birthday. A cake with candles illuminated the room, slowly being brought onto the table in front of him.

Bachira beamed at him, his eyes shining with excitement. "Happy birthday, Isagi!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with joy.

Everyone yelled it after (except Rin who stayed silent).

Isagi stood up, walking to the cake as he stared at the writing. It was Rin’s sloppy writing, that’s most likely why he had been gone for so long. Isagi blushed slightly as he leaned down to blow out the candles.

Isagi grinned after. “Thank you.” As the lights came back on, Isagi turned to see Rin standing nearby.

Isagi walked up to him as everyone else erupted into conversations. “You wrote that, didn’t you? Did you bake the cake?”

Rin didn’t respond, going silent as he looked off to the side. Isagi’s suspicions were confirmed, Isagi’s grin widened as a result. He decided to reward Rin.

Isagi moved closer, wrapping his arms around Rin who stiffened as a response. Rin's body tensed at Isagi's sudden embrace, his breath catching in his throat. He didn't dare move, fearing that any sudden action might break the fragile moment they shared. Isagi's warmth enveloped him, and he found himself melting into the embrace despite his initial resistance.

"Thank you, Rin," Isagi murmured softly, his voice barely above a whisper as he held Rin close. Isagi slowly felt hands snake around his shoulders.

“You’re welcome.”

–

There was finally a break from school, Isagi was practically rotting in his room when he wasn’t playing football. He was watching football highlights until he heard a notification on his phone. He looked at it, seeing it was from Shidou

Shidou: wanna hang by the convenient store and park rn?

Your bf misses you and hates me and my honey rnnn.

Isagi was about to decline until he mentioned Rin. It was almost 8pm, why would he go? Yet he still found himself typing:

Isagi: Fine, send location :9

–

Isagi pulled his scarf closer to his face as he neared the shop the trio were at. He saw a tall figure with black hair and a similar posture. Isagi quickly ran at it and grabbed his shoulders.

The figure startled at the sudden touch, but then relaxed as he recognized Isagi's voice. Rin turned around, Isagi kept his hands on him. Rin didn’t push him away. “Isagi.”

“Rin.” Isagi mocked his tone, grinning at him. “Why’re you hanging out anyways? Thought you hated Shidou.”

“I do.” Rin turns his head to the couple walking out the store. Shidou clinged onto Sae’s arm who merely sipped his drink. “A lot.”

Isagi laughed, finally dropping his hands as he waved to Shidou and Sae. “Loverboys are finally together again!” Shidou shouted.

Rin rolled his eyes at Shidou's comment, but Isagi could detect a hint of amusement in his expression. "They're insufferable," he muttered under his breath.

Isagi was itching to say ‘you didn’t deny it’ but held it together. Shidou and Sae talked amongst themselves slightly before looking at the other pairing. “Let’s go to the weird ass park near here.”

“You mean the one infested with weird ass people? No thanks.” Rin glared at Shidou who shrugged.

“It’s silent during colder days, no need to worry your head over whether your boyfriend will be okay.” Shidou looked over to Sae and wrapped his arms around his shoulders.

Rin grimaced at his actions though he didn’t seem to be affected too much by his words, Isagi noted. “Not my boyfriend.”

Isagi moved his scarf further onto his face.

“Let’s go then!” Shidou yelled, dragging Sae. Rin sighed, following the pair and Isagi followed Rin.

–

Once they arrived at the park, Isagi found a bench and sat down, watching as Shidou and Sae wandered off to explore the area. Rin stood awkwardly beside him, his hands stuffed in his pockets as he glanced around nervously.

Isagi decided to break the silence, hoping to ease Rin's nerves. "So, anything you wanna talk about?” he asked casually, trying to sound nonchalant despite the butterflies fluttering in his stomach.

Rin hesitated for a moment before finally speaking up. “Just shut up.” Rin huffed, crossing his arms as he looked off to the side.

Isagi shrugged, pulling his knees up and hugging them. He leaned against the headrest of the bench. It was fairly cold, the air nipping into his skin yet Isagi felt warm. Rin made him warm.

Isagi looked off to the side, watching as some squirrel ran up a tree.

“I love you.”

The squirrel dropped its nut that it carried, moving down. Isagi then noted the noise that entered his ears.

What.

Isagi's heart skipped a beat as Rin's words registered in his mind. He turned to look at Rin, his eyes wide with shock and disbelief. "What did you say?" Isagi asked, his voice barely above a whisper, afraid that he had misheard.

Did Rin finally gain communication skills?

Rin's cheeks flushed slightly, but he maintained his composure as he met Isagi's gaze. "I said... I love you," he repeated, his voice steady despite the hint of nervousness in his eyes.

Isagi went silent before smiling softly at him. “Never thought you’d tell.”

Chapter Text

“Huh?” Rin stared at Isagi, puzzled. “What do you mean ‘Never thought you’d tell’?

Isagi chuckled softly, his smile widening as he reached out to gently take Rin's hand in his own. "I mean, you've been dropping hints left and right, Rin. I just never thought you'd actually say the words out loud."

“...” Rin stared at the hand holding his, a small blush on his face. He suddenly tightened his grip on his hand. “So you knew?”

Isagi slowly nodded, Rin stared at him with a complex look.

“How long?” Rin narrowed his eyes at him, interrogating Isagi.

Isagi scratched the back of his neck softly, scared for Rin’s response. “Since.. That one break where Shidou said he got back with Sae..”

Rin's expression softened slightly at Isagi's admission, understanding flickering in his eyes. "That long, huh?" he murmured, his grip on Isagi's hand loosening a bit. “And you didn’t say anything? Why?”

Isagi shifted uncomfortably under Rin's gaze, feeling a pang of guilt at Rin's question. “I wanted to make sure your communication was at least okay, you haven’t even told me why you avoided me.”

“So you decided not saying shit and knowing I was struggling all this time was the better option.” Rin quipped, annoyance playing at his face.

“Struggle?” Isagi asked, rubbing his hand softly with his thumb.

Rin let out a frustrated sigh, his brows furrowing as he met Isagi's gaze. "Yes, struggle," he replied tersely, his tone tinged with frustration. "It was fucking annoying seeing you act like everything was fine. I fucking hated the way you focused on other people."

Isagi's heart sank, guilt weighing heavily on his chest. "Rin, I'm so sorry," he murmured, his voice laced with regret. "I never meant to make you feel that way."

“Whatever, I don’t care anymore. Guessing you know why I was avoiding you then.” Rin huffed, moving his free hand to put it over Isagi’s cheek. He tilted Isagi’s head up to make eye contact. “It’s embarrassing to say. I hope your stupid brain can think of the reason.”

Isagi laughed, subconsciously leaning on the hand gently holding his face. “That you were scared of your feelings? You’re such a loser.”

“I’ll kill you.” Rin glared, gripping his hand with all his might. Isagi shrieked at the pressure. Isagi ripped his hand from his grip.

“Rin!” Isagi yelled, furrowing his eyebrows. Rin looked triumphant, he’s such a brat. “Whatever.”

Rin hummed, his expression going back to neutral. Eventually he leaned down, moving Isagi’s face up slightly with the hand that covered his cheek.

Huh?

Isagi felt himself becoming redder at each inch closing, he felt his breath intermingling with Rin’s.

“WOAH!”

Rin and Isagi broke out of their trance, Rin whipped his head to see who spoke. Isagi moved his eyes to see Shidou with a hand over his mouth, Sae was glaring at him.

Rin's face flushed bright red as he quickly pulled away from Isagi, Isagi’s heart racing with embarrassment. "Shidou, what the hell?" Rin exclaimed, his voice filled with irritation.

Shidou chuckled nervously, removing his hand from his mouth. "Sorry, sorry," he said quickly, his cheeks tinged with pink. "I didn't mean to interrupt." Shidou started giggling manically, Sae hit the back of his head.

“Are you stupid?” Sae scolded Shidou.

“I’m sorryryyyyy!”

Isagi felt himself sink into the bench, completely red. He felt Rin’s hand still on his face, even if it wasn’t physically there. It was as though Rin left a burn mark on him.

As the awkwardness settled over them like a heavy fog, Isagi couldn't bring himself to meet Rin's eyes. He felt exposed, vulnerable, and utterly mortified by Shidou's untimely interruption.

Rin shot Shidou a scathing glare, silently willing him to disappear, while trying to contain his own embarrassment.

“Shitty brother, can you do one good thing and drag him away?” Rin glanced over to Sae who merely nodded, grabbing Shidou by the forearm and dragging away a cocky Shidou.

Relief flooded over Isagi as Sae intervened, removing Shidou from the scene. With Shidou and Sae finally gone, the tension in the air began to dissipate, though the residual awkwardness lingered between Rin and Isagi.

“Mood ruined.” Isagi huffed, putting his head in his hands. Isagi heard Rin’s hum.

“Yeah.”

–

“Bye-bye Rinrin.” Isagi waved to Rin who stood in front of Isagi. Yet, he didn’t move. Isagi sighed, smiling after.

“We don’t need to rush anything, hell, we don’t even need to be dating–”

“No.” Rin interjected quickly, coughing after. “No.. I do want to date. But shouldn’t we..” Rin went silent, he looked embarrassed.

Isagi laughed at Rin’s awkwardness. “No need. Whatever you’re thinking isn’t necessary, we just started dating.”

Rin nodded slightly. “Good night,” Rin’s mouth hung open slightly before shutting it and closing his eyes. “Yoi..chi.”

Isagi felt himself grinning like an idiot, he went to cover his mouth to stop any laughter. “First name basis now?”

Rin's cheeks flushed a deeper shade of red at Isagi's teasing remark, but he managed to maintain a composed expression. "Shut up," he muttered. Isagi took a step forward, putting a hand at the back of his nape. He slowly went on his tiptoes and pecked his cheek.

Isagi quickly dropped down and stepped backwards and turned around, unlocking his door. He turned to see Rin’s expression.

Rin's eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected gesture, his cheeks turning an even deeper shade of red. He blinked a few times, seemingly at a loss for words as he processed what had just happened.

Isagi couldn't help but grin at Rin's reaction, feeling a sense of warmth spreading through him at the sight of Rin's flushed cheeks. "Good night, Rin," he said softly, his voice filled with affection.

Isagi rushed inside, locking the door. He felt himself turn red as he was hidden by the door, he covered his face with his hands.

He was pathetic, he couldn’t even face Rin after that.

–

Isagi slowly ran his fingers along the edge of half the gyoza wrapped, sealing at. He only needed to do two more, his parents were out on a date that night. Isagi had to make his own food as a result.

He put oil over the skillet after he was finished, cooking the gyozas. He quickly went over to wash his hands. He heard a notification from his phone, thrown over the edge of the counter. Isagi grabbed it after drying his hands and went up to his skillet, looking at the notification.

Unknown number.

He tilted his head a bit, opening the message.

Unknown: This is Yoichi, right?

Isagi stared at the message, before looking at the gyozas. He had Rin’s contact saved, he was the only person who uses his name like that.

Who could it be?

Before he could ponder further, he heard another notification.

Unknown: It’s Kaiser.

Isagi felt himself rushing to the block button.

Unknown: Don’t block me, Yoichi. I want to ask for a favour.

Isagi hovered over the button, curiosity overcoming him as he went to the text message. He typed out a response quickly:

Isagi: the fuck you want

“Fucking bitch…” Isagi mumbled, looking back to the gyozas. He put his phone down grabbing a plate and slowly placed the food on his plate.

Unknown: It’s about Ness.

Isagi stared at the message, grabbing a pair of chopsticks and moving them to hover over his food. Of course it was, what’s up with that pair?

Isagi: Is it cuz you two broke up? Why tf r u contacting me

Unknown: Ness hasn’t talked to anyone within our group and refuses to, outside the group you’re the only reasonable person.

Isagi took a small bite, going over to his table and putting his plate down. He held his phone in his other hand.

Isagi: Ok? What do I get out of this if I help you at all?

Unknown: Hear you like Noa, I got a limited piece.

Kaiser sent a photo of a football card, a football card that Isagi desperately wanted. Isagi felt himself rushing to type.

Isagi: I’ll do anything, what do you need?

Unknown: Just help me talk to him is all, I can do the rest.

Isagi: You do realise you can’t manipulate him anymore?

Unknown: Fym manipulate? I know what I did was wrong.

Isagi’s eyes widened at the message.

Unknown: I’m not stupid nor am I blind. I don’t regret shit abt whatever Sae is doing but I do care for Ness.

Even if you don’t see it that way. I thought about this for a while.

Isagi: Fine, I’ll help.

Unknown: Thank you, Yoichi.

Isagi: Call me Yoichi one more time and I’ll not help you, Isagi is all you can call me.

Unknown: How cold :( , is this your way of saying you love me?

Isagi: KYS

Unknown: Joking, you got that emo itoshi boy. Little itoshi or whatever.

Isagi decided to leave him on read, turning off his phone and ate slowly. “Annoying twat.”

The mention of Rin made him feel giddy as he put food into his mouth.

–

Isagi slowly read a random article, laying on his side. His blanket covered some of his legs. Another text message was read by Isagi. He looked up at the screen.

Rin: Can I come over?

Isagi sprung up, his heart pounding with excitement at the prospect of seeing Rin. He quickly typed out a response:

Isagi: Yeah, sure. Come over whenever :D

Isagi tossed his phone aside and hurriedly got up from his bed. He ran over to clean up his desk, bringing down the dishes and washing them quickly.

–

Isagi sat on the couch, tapping his finger onto his knee. Every sound outside made him jump, hoping it was Rin at the door. He checked his phone multiple times, glancing at the clock impatiently.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, there was a soft knock at the door. Isagi's heart skipped a beat as he practically leaped off the couch and hurried to answer it.

Opening the door, Isagi was met with Rin. His heart swelled at the sight of him. "Hey, Rin! Come on in," Isagi greeted, stepping aside to let Rin enter. Rin hummed, walking inside before looking around.

“...Do you wanna go to my room?” Isagi asked, walking behind Rin. Rin turned around, looking off to the side before nodding. “Okay!” Isagi manoeuvred around him, walking up the stairs into his room. “Why’d you even come over?”

“Shidou and Sae were at it.” Rin bluntly said, closing the bedroom door. “...I’d rather not hear that.”

Isagi nodded, sitting on the bed. “I don’t have much to do here, do you have any ideas?”

Rin looked around, following Isagi. “We could watch something. I don’t really care.” Rin sat next to Isagi.

“Kay.” Isagi grabbed his laptop from the night stand, throwing it onto the bed. Isagi moved to lean against the headboard. Rin copied his movements as well. It wasn’t that awkward, surprisingly. Isagi just turned on a random horror movie and sat back.

The movie wasn’t scary to either of them, Isagi became bored quickly.

“Rin.” Isagi looked over to him, putting the side of his head to his own hand. “Kaiser found my number.”

Rin's eyebrows furrowed in concern as he turned to face Isagi. "Kaiser? What does he want?"

Isagi sighed, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "He said it's about Ness. He wanted help from me to talk to him.”

“Doesn’t Ness hate you?” Rin pointed out.

“Yeah? Well, remember when I was late to that hang out?” Isagi looked back to the movie to see some blood splattered across the screen, he looked back to Rin. He was the prettier sight after all. “Ness asked for help from me.”

Rin hummed. “Is it also to do with Kaiser?”

“Yeah.” Isagi grumbled.

“They’re morons.” Rin went back to look at the screen. Isagi giggled, sliding closer to him.

Isagi leaned against Rin, feeling a sense of comfort in his presence. "Yeah, they are," he agreed, his voice soft as he watched the movie with Rin.

Rin stiffened slightly, he quickly shifted to adjust their position. Isagi felt himself turning red a bit, going back to staring at the (horrible) movie.

–

The movie eventually ended, the main character dead on the screen. “That was shit.” Isagi spoke, looking up to Rin who sighed.

“Yeah.” It went silent after that, Rin decided to lean over and close the laptop.

…

“So.. what now?” Isagi asked, looking off to the side. Rin shrugged, opting to stare at him instead. Being in a relationship is surprisingly hard.

“You’re shit at talking.” Rin crosses his arms, looking off to Isagi.

“EXcuse me!” Isagi glared at Rin, leaving them in a staring competition.

Rin's lips twitched, he looked to be on the brink of smiling. Isagi gasped as a result, crawling over to him.

“Come on, Rinnnn! Smile!” Isagi reached his hands over, pinching the corner of his mouth to make an (albeit fake) smile.

Rin grabbed his wrists, trying to yank them off but Isagi’s grip was unmoveable. “You should smile more.” Isagi grinned as Rin stopped trying to yank his grip off, he looked dejected.

It was slightly cute to Isagi.

“I hate you.” Rin spoke, extremely muffled due to Isagi’s doing.

Isagi chuckled at Rin's muffled response, his grin widening as he continued to playfully pinch at the corners of Rin's mouth. “Love you too.” Isagi teased.

Rin rolled his eyes, though there was a hint of amusement in his expression despite his attempts to maintain a stoic facade. "You're such a pain."

Isagi laughed, he then felt Rin trying to get out his grip again. He used more force this time. Isagi quickly tackled him, dragging them down. Isagi let go of his face finally, putting his hands either side of the bed next to Rin’s head.

Isagi opened his eyes to see himself hovering over Rin, their faces mere inches apart, he couldn't help but feel a rush of emotions coursing through him. His heart was pounding in his chest, and he could feel the warmth of Rin's breath mingling with his own.

“Whoops.” Isagi laughed, seeing Rin’s widened eyes. Rin blinked in surprise, his eyes wide as he found himself pinned beneath Isagi's weight.

"Gotcha," Isagi teased, a mischievous grin spreading across his face as he looked down at Rin.

“You’re annoying.” Rin eventually closed his eyes, sighing.

"Sorry about that," Isagi said, his tone sincere as he shifted slightly to ease the pressure on Rin. "Didn't mean to tackle you like that."

Rin hummed, staring up at Isagi.

“You have pretty eyes.” Isagi said, staring back.

“Thanks.”

Rin grabbed the back of Isagi’s nape, pulling him down. He softly put his lip against Isagi’s. Isagi felt a surge of warmth flood through him, his heart racing with anticipation. He leaned into the kiss, leaning on his forearms for stabilisation.

It was comforting and gentle, surprising Isagi slightly. Isagi eventually parted, moving up slightly.

“You should move your hair before the kiss.” Rin spoke, his hand still against Isagi’s neck. “It feels weird.”

Isagi hummed. “Didn’t expect the kiss.”

“It’s because you’re shit at predicting everything.” Rin retorted, forcing him back down.

“Didn’t even let me move my hair.” Isagi spoke in between the short kiss, and they parted once again.

“Die.”

“What an odd thing to say to your boyfriend.” Isagi mumbled.

Rin’s fingers gently brushing Isagi's hair away from his face. "Only because you're being annoying.”

“Wooow.” Isagi rolled his eyes. He felt hands snake around his waist. “Woah, buy me a drink—“ Isagi get himself being thrown across the bed. “WHAT THE FUCK.”

Isagi sat up quickly, glaring at Rin who leaned against the headboard. Acting like he didn’t just throw his boyfriend. “I hate you.”

“Ok.” Rin rolled his eyes. Isagi stuck out his tongue at Rin. “You’re such a child.”

“It’d be worrisome if I were a child.” Isagi huffed.

Rin didn’t respond, looking over to Isagi’s nightstand. “You like hello kitty?”

Isagi looked over to see his small hello kitty charm. “Yeah.” Isagi smiled at it. “She’s cute.”

Rin looked back to Isagi. “…do you have food?”

“I mean, I made some earlier.” Isagi moved over to sit infront of Rin. “Can you cook?”

“…” Rin didn’t answer the question, staring at Isagi instead.

“You can’t, can’t you.” Isagi asked.

“I can,” Rin glared at Isagi. “I can.. handle myself.”

Isagi couldn't help but chuckle at Rin's response, amused by his sudden determination. "Alright, alright, no need to get defensive," he said, holding his hands up. "I believe you, Rin. I'm sure you can handle yourself just fine in the kitchen."

Rin sighed, looking up at the ceiling.

“You okay with gyozas? I made some earlier.” Rin looked down to face Isagi.

“Yeah.”

“Ok good!” Isagi beamed, moving off the bed and leaving the room. Rin couldn’t help but let himself smile.

—

“How are they?” Isagi asked, staring at Rin who took a bite from his food. Rin shot him a glare.

“Let me finish eating.” Rin huffed, turning to stare at the gyozas.

“…are they okay?” Isagi asked again.

Rin took another gyoza after finishing chewing on the other. “Lukewarm.” Rin spoke, his mouth full of Isagi’s food.

Isagi clapped his hands together. “Thank God, I thought you hated them.” Rin took another gyoza into his mouth, he must like them.

“You like them, don’t you?” Isagi spoke, Rin didn’t respond. He ate the gyozas silently.

“Shut up.”

—

“Hurry up and speak, I just skipped being with my friends for this shit.” Isagi spoke, half-glaring at Kaiser who seemed unbothered.

“Well, all I need is for you to bring Ness here.” Kaiser crossed his arms, looking off to the side.

“And why would he listen to your words?” Isagi asked, moving his bag strap higher up on his shoulder.

“I..” Kaiser trailed off, narrowing his eyes at the floor. “I’ll do something, okay?”

Isagi put a hand on his hip, tucking a bit of his hair behind his ear. “Right. Ness won’t follow me anyways. He’s probably convinced I’ll have Shidou jump him.”

“Gain his trust then.” Kaiser looked at Isagi.

“How the fuck would I do that.”

“No need to be aggressive.” Kaiser pushed his hair back, smirking.

“Shut up, Kaiser. Ness one hundred percent doesn’t trust me.”

“Shidou would fight anywhere.” Kaiser deadpanned, furrowing his eyebrows.

“Shidou is on his last warning right now. If he gets in another fight and gets caught, he’s fucked.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah.” Isagi rolled his eyes.

Kaiser sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Well, figure something out. I need you to bring him here by the end of the week."

“Wow, not even a please?” Isagi smirked.

Kaiser’s eye twitched, he gritted his teeth a bit. “Please…”

“I get the card after all this, right?” Isagi twirled his finger around.

“I’m a man of my words.” Kaiser huffed. “Quite rude you’d think of me that way.”

“Shut up.” Isagi walked off, Kaiser thankfully didn’t follow after him.

—

“ISAGI!” Bachira shouted, throwing his arms around Isagi’s shoulders from behind. “Where were youuuuuuuu.”

“Hi Bachira.” Isagi smiled softly. “Where’s Chigiri?”

“Off with Reo and Nagi.” Bachira slowly stopped leaning on Isagi, keeping his arms in place.

Isagi nodded, closing his eyes as he sighed. “I’m tired, man.”

“Can tell, your eye bags are back.” Bachira poked his cheek slightly. “Something wrong?”

“Nothing really, everythings been going well. It’s just I’m feeling shitty anyways, yknow?” Isagi slowly moved Bachira’s arms off of him.

“Kay!” Bachira jumped backwards, Isagi turned to look at him. “Why weren’t you with us anyways?”

“Kaiser.”

“Kaiser?” Bachira asked, crossing his arms. “What about him?”

“Him and Ness broke up and now he wants me to help, yada yada.” Isagi put his foot back slightly.

“Woah.. why is Kaiser asking help from you?” Bachira stepped closer to Isagi, leaning his face closer.

“Something about me being the most ‘reasonable’.”

“Why not ask karasu?”

“Way too close to Shidou.” Isagi countered.

“Aren’t you?”

“That’s what I said, kinda. Ness isn’t gonna trust me.”

Bachira stepped back, putting a finger over his chin. “Why not get one of his ex goons?”

“I’ll probably need to give them something for that.” Isagi sighed tired.

“Damn, sucks. Lorenzo?” Bachira inputted.

“Absolutely not.”

Bachira whistled. “Damn.” Bachira seemed to perk up, looking off to something behind him.

Isagi then felt someone tug at his sleeve.

“Yoichi.” Isagi turned around and waved to Rin, smiling softly.

“Woah.. are you two?” Isagi turned back to Bachira who looked stunned at the pair.

“Oh shit, I forgot to tell you.” Isagi moved backwards, putting a hand around Rin’s neck and pulling him down to his level. It looked slightly awkward.

“We’re dating.” Isagi proudly stated. Rin hummed, not moving from the position. He seemed to enjoy it even.

Bachira gasped. “YAYYYYY!” He raised his hands in the air, jumping a bit. “Finally!” Bachira lowered his hands, putting them behind his back as he leaned to the pair. “Have you guys kissed yet?”

Isagi laughed a bit, lowering his arm down. Rin seemed disappointed but still returned to his normal stance. “Uh, yeah.”

“Well, if you need any advice. Y’know who to ask.” Bachira mock saluted.

“Absolutely not.” Rin deadpanned, his arms crossed.