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“Not heading back yet, Nagi?” Chigiri asks, voice soothed by the wind.
The start of Blue Lock happened years ago, and lots of things, especially fortunate things, happened as well. While it’s not truly the best of the best, Japan is getting exponentially better at football, especially with Isagi, Bachira, Barou, Rin, and everyone else becoming outstanding players, recognised by the best, even.
Mentally, Nagi is getting better, he thinks. Blue Lock was a lot— he thought he wasn’t able to survive, especially after what happened during the Neo-Egoist League. But after some talks and thought, he goes through it just fine. He even discovered himself in the world of soccer.
“No. Manchester is beautiful,” Nagi says mindlessly, and perhaps, that’s not the only thing he finds beautiful.
With the help of Anri’s endless persuasion, Ego decided that Blue Lock should take a break before the World Cup and go to Manchester for five days.
And now they’re there. The sun is setting. Currently, Nagi is standing on a bridge, watching from above, where the boats glide through the canal below, and people pass him from behind. Chigiri is also standing behind him after telling everyone else now ahead of them that he’ll catch up, probably to see what Nagi is doing, like the nice friend he is.
“Oh, you want to take a look around by yourself? If you do, I’ll be at the hotel with everyone else.” Chigiri pauses, thinking, before facing away from Nagi. “If you’re looking for Reo, he’s at a flower garden, five minutes away from here. Maybe you should take a look at him— well, you’d do it anyway.”
Chigiri smiles. And just like that, he disappears.
It’s been years since the start of Blue Lock. It’s been years since Nagi and Reo separate. It’s been years since the Neo-Egoist League. It’s been years since Nagi and Reo started dating.
Nagi couldn’t be happier— well, he has never felt happier ever in his life. When Reo is around, he feels safe. That’s one of the reasons why he wasn’t able to play soccer well for a while. But that doesn’t mean they can’t be together outside of soccer. As long as they trust each other, and aim for the same future together, they’ll be fine.
Nagi believes in that. Nagi believes in them.
Now, Reo has been travelling alone for the past two hours. Nagi wonders how Reo can even end up there all by himself. But Reo can be adventurous at times. He can be open to new experiences, new challenges. He wouldn’t be Mikage Reo without that.
It’s a lot less surprising if he ponders deeper about it. And Nagi realises how much of a hassle it is to think deeper about something he already knows.
Five minutes pass, and Nagi finds himself in front of said flower garden. To Nagi, the walking was too much. It was a pain to get there, until he remembered what he came here for.
Mikage Reo is seen sitting in the flower garden. Nagi can only see the back of his head, purple hair blending with the flowers on the field. Beyond him is the sun setting by the buildings afar.
Compared to every other flower blooming on this field, Reo blooms the most beautiful. Yet, Nagi doesn’t move an inch— no urge to pick the flower off the ground and keep it to himself. Instead, he admires him from this distance, refusing to disturb the scenery around them.
Time must’ve moved fast. Reo seems to see him, because his head perks up when Reo turns back to face Nagi. His neutral expression brightens to a smile.
“Sei!” Reo chases after him, his feet bouncing with utmost cheer that he might burst into fireworks. The flowers and grass between his feet waves by the rushed movement of Reo’s.
“Reo.” Nagi finds himself replying to him, also calling out his name, despite knowing Reo probably didn’t hear him with his low mumble.
Reo stops in front of him, the smile failing to vanish. “How long have you been standing there?”
Nagi shrugs. “A few minutes, I think.”
“And you didn’t come to me? Idiot, everyone will think you’re a stalker.” Reo, despite his slight anger and annoyance, pats Nagi’s head to his content.
“Ahh, who cares? You’ll tell them I’m not a stalker anyway.”
“I knew you’d say that.” Reo’s jokingly annoyed expression quickly falters when he reaches to his back and pulls out a flower in front of his face. “For you!”
Nagi processes the object in front of him. It’s a purple flower, shaped like a bell. Reo probably picked it out of the flower garden. It’s impressive how Reo could hide it behind his back without Nagi noticing, considering how obvious Reo is trying to hide it just by his pose.
“Why are you staring? Take it!” Reo pushes it against Nagi’s chest. Nagi grabs it before it can fall out of his hand.
Nagi actually takes a good look at the flower this time. He examines it from a higher perspective. Surprisingly, its highlights glow under the sunset, similar to the eyes of the man in front of him. Thus, it reminds him of Reo— of course it does.
“It’s pretty. Like Reo.”
“Quiet!” Reo lightly pushes his shoulder, his cheeks pigmenting into red. He is standing beside him now, lightly tugging his arm, probably to go home. “And aren’t you usually tired at this time? You went all the way to find me.”
“It was a hassle, but it was worth it.” Nagi leans against Reo. “Let’s go back. Carry me back.”
Reo laughs, pushing Nagi so he could balance himself. “Carry yourself back. The hotel is only five minutes away.”
“Noo. I’m saving my energy for the World Cup.”
“The World Cup is still in a week!”
“Reoo. Please?” Nagi begs, holding Reo’s hand, gently caressing the tips of his partner’s soft, warm fingers.
Reo slumps forward with a sigh. “Fine.” He turns back and crouches a little so Nagi can climb onto his back. Once his feet are off the ground, they move forward. People are looking, some are staring. But it’s fine. Nagi can sue them for judging him using Reo’s money, he thinks. “Stupid whiny baby.”
“I’m not a stupid whiny baby. I’m your treasure,” Nagi says, as a matter of fact.
Reo attempts to hold his smile, but it broke through his tries. “I know, I know. My treasure.”
Warmth and wind breezes through Nagi’s heart. It’s almost as if Reo is cradling him with each step going up and down ever-so-slightly. Nagi’s eyelids swiftly fall, weighed down by his sudden fatigue. The world turns black for a second, before Reo’s voice pulls him back to reality.
“Falling asleep? I told you the hotel is five minutes away, remember?” Reo asks as gently as he could.
Nagi doesn’t open his eyes. “It’s fine, Reo. Being five minutes away is enough.”
“Alright. Goodnight, my treasure.”
Nagi knows, at least for the next five minutes and beyond, he’ll be with Reo and Reo will be with him.