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Isagi took a deep breath, walking with the others to the field.
Last match, last opportunity to get to the Number One spot, he was ready for anything, excited and determined as never before. In front of him, PXG stood in the grass, he paid no mind to Shidou taunting Kaiser, no, he walked straight to that person who had always been his rival.
“Hey, Rin,” he spoke, staring at him, “let’s put the title of No.1 on the line and see who’s the strongest once and for all.”
That was all that mattered to Isagi, Rin was just another obstacle on his path to success, and he was more than ready to get him off that pedestal.
Rin looked at him for a moment. “...No.1?”
Isagi didn’t back down when he saw him walk up to him, way too close.
“I don’t give a fuck about that,” Rin said, a strange glint in his eyes, “what I desire the most, Isagi, is the moment I destroy you.”
Isagi didn’t back down from that… thing, he didn’t really get it, to be honest, he could feel the tension between them, but he didn’t want to… be the one to look away first, as if that would have meant that he had already lost, in a way. Though, he did startle a bit, as immersed as he was in that moment, when he felt a hand lay on his shoulder.
He glanced away and locked eyes with Hiori, he wasn’t looking at him, Isagi quickly went to look in the direction Hiori was looking at, he felt his breathing stop for a second.
Gods, he had missed him. He seemed so… determined, he was in the twenty fourth position, Isagi knew that was his last chance to get back in the top twenty three and stay in Blue Lock. He hadn’t stopped to wonder what would have happened had he not made it, but he…
He knew him enough not to doubt him or his abilities. He had never played against him, so this was a first, but he honestly couldn’t wait.
He was looking at the side of the field, Isagi thought that, in a way, he was doing his best not to look at them. Isagi glanced back at Hiori, at the light in his eyes and the small smile on his lips, he couldn’t help but smile too.
“If you’ll excuse me, Rin,” he said as backed down from that challenge, “I’ll have time to surpass you in the match, now…”
He didn’t finish his sentence, he just walked away, Hiori following him, towards him. He saw him glance at them and quickly look away. Then, he took a small breath and looked back at them.
Isagi gave him his best smile. “Not even saying hello anymore, Nijiro?”
Nanase grinned. “As if you didn’t just go do your little rivalry thing with Rin as the first thing to do in the field.”
“You know how he is,” Hiori commented, a smile on his face too, “Yoichi’s always so… intense, ‘specially with his rivals.”
“Shame I’m not one of them,” Nanase laughed.
“Technically you are now,” Isagi snorted, “ready for the special treatment?”
Nanase’s eyes shined, Isagi didn’t know he could have missed something that much. “It’s nice to see you two again, Yo, Yoichi.”
“It’s been so long, isn’t it?” Hiori wondered out loud. “Well, we videocalled yesterday, but seeing you face to face is… nice.”
“Amazing, even,” Isagi nodded, “fuck, I missed you, Nijiro.”
“How much?”
“Enough, believe me.”
Nanase smiled. “Well, before we go beast mode and insult each other’s whole bloodline in the match—” Hiori snorted. “—care to…?”
Isagi tilted his head. “What about…?”
Nanase shrugged. “I don’t mind, do you?”
Isagi and Hiori glanced at each other, they looked back at Nanase, and Isagi just…
He just walked closer and held him in a tight hug, he felt Nanase’s arm wrap around his back and Hiori join them and just… stayed there, basking in their warmth, for a few moments that lasted way too little.
He couldn't help but leave a small kiss on Nanase’s neck, he felt his smile when he said, “I wish we could do this all day.”
“We will,” Hiori muttered, “we’ll get over with this match and will, whether we win or lose, you’re still gonna be here, I believe it.”
Nanase hummed in response, they let go of each other. Isagi glanced at them for a moment, unsure, scared, if we could call that fear, he wasn’t sure, he just…
He leaned in, fuck all his thoughts, all the voices reminding him of everything, and kissed Nanase. Something quick, something… something he had missed so, so much. He felt him smile in the kiss, Nanase kissed him back and leaned away only to give Hiori that same thing. Isagi smiled, seeing them kiss always filled him with a kind of joy he didn’t know how to describe at all. He laughed when Hiori kissed him as soon as he left Nanase’s lips, fuck, for a moment, nothing existed, for a moment, they were just… there, together, happy.
Isagi had missed this much more than words can describe.
They let go of each other and just…
“See you after this, ‘kay?” Nanase had a determined grin on his face, “I’m gonna beat you all up via soccer.”
Hiori smiled, Isagi returned his grin. “Give us all you’ve got, Nijiro.”
They separated to get to their positions in the field, Isagi took another deep breath, closed his eyes for a second, and opened them again.
He got into action as the referee whistled the start of the game.