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Over the last few months, Reo had thought that Nagi had become somewhat of a soccer freak.
It was the only time that he had ever known where the young man would get up early willingly on his own even on days when he didn’t have classes. With this strange new schedule, he would head down to the nearest train station and head to the Tobu Line all the way over to Kawagoe, Saitama.
Now why would a Kanagawa boy, studying in Tokyo, go to Saitama nearly every day?
Why would he venture across two different prefectures, he could barely trek the distance from his bed to the door. Nagi is someone who half-asses everything yet still achieves great results, but that was when he was nearly forced to either by societal expectations or from those around him. So for him to take the initiative and do something of his own accord was rare, to say the least.
He would squat or sometimes lay down on the bench and watch the local high school warm up and when it was time for school to start like clockwork, Nagi would get up and head to his own school (nearly late) and attend his regular classes. That is until after school when he would always plop down on the train once again and watch the same high school play their afterschool practice.
Now Reo was a bit unnerved by Nagi’s sudden interest in soccer, especially at how into it he was. Reo wasn’t sure if even he was as emotionally invested in the sport as Nagi was. The damn boy would wake up and sleep soccer. Every day he would ask Reo nonsensical questions which he was pretty sure he lectured to him about dozens of times before (not that Nagi would remember).
What’s a hat trick? Why is it so cool? Is it really that hard?
Hey, Reo what's the most impressive soccer trick? Trapping, is it? Can we practice that?
Reo, what is the highest amount of goals I made in a game? I wanna beat that record.
Don’t get him wrong, he is very happy that his friend finally picked up a hobby apart from his mobile games but out of everything why a sport that tested your physical limits and was the opposite of everything that Nagi stood for?
It was an annoyance, a pain, you had to run for 90 minutes minimal breaks only at half-time, and overall a very physically demanding sport.
Why of all things, was it soccer?
Well, in case Reo is happy that Nagi has a hobby to occupy himself with. Especially since it was a sport that he had tried everything to make Nagi interested in. It was a happy coincidence; it was the very sport that he needed to prove to his parents his capabilities and his dreams. So it didn’t matter where his interests started, it truly didn’t. Or at least that’s what he considers but Reo finds himself floundering what has gotten into his friend?
He just wished he could find out why and maybe thank whatever it was that started Nagi’s obsession with the sport.
So when Nagi had gone out of his way to invite him, he had been slightly surprised. But quite relieved and happy to see why Nagi had gotten such a hard-on for the sport.
And so they sat there, in the cold slightly wet grass. Nagi was in a slightly graceful sprawl, and Reo was in a much more upright and alert position. From the sidelines, he can easily see the local high school play and frankly, it wasn’t much of a sight to see.
Ichinan was a powerhouse for sure but somehow the teamplay felt a bit too oppressive. It was as if the team’s ideology was hanging by a sheer thread, no one really glued the team together. Was this that fueled Nagi’s passion for the sport?
Perhaps, Reo should show videos of other high schools like Gamba Osaka and Yokohama F. Marinos. Those high school football teams were famous across the nation and maybe Nagi could learn something from them.
But when Reo looked over to Nagi, fully expecting him asleep as always in soccer breaks but much to his surprise he was baffled to see his friend with a vigilant and rather besotted look. Which was quite rare for his emotionally constipated friend.
But he seemed as if he was searching through the crowd of high school players, his eyes were laser-focused as his gaze searched across the dozens of players.
Then finally his eyes softened slowly then all at once.
Nagi made a sort of odd noise, a relieved exhalation of breath and he looked over to where he was staring and he got it.
He really got it and all at once everything clicked.
“I see why you come here now.”
There was a single creature that could be interesting enough to catch Nagi’s attention and he was a lithe and soft budding boy. His hair was a soft roasted chestnut black but his eyes were a deep gleaming blue that Reo was sure that Nagi was lost in.
His gaze slid back to Nagi, who was watching the boy across the field with an expression that looked to be rapt attention disguised as casual staring. He was raptured and absolutely besotted with that small soft-looking boy.
“Hm? Oh–,” Nagi blinked at him unintelligently, he preened slightly. “Yeah”
“I should have never doubted you,” Reo said as he rolled his eyes as a bit of mirth made his lips twitch up. He glanced between his friend and the small striker a couple of times, trying to see them together in his mind. It was kind of an odd picture, what with their 15cm height difference but something told Reo that Nagi would be into that.
Reo brought out his arms and laid them behind his neck. They had never spent time together like this which was unusual. Here they are teens in the ripe flesh of their youth, they should be gazing at pretty things together.
At the absolute buffoonish and hormone-crazed thought, Reo shook himself awake. No, he shouldn't be thinking of this, he has a World Cup to win, and if this very pretty and quaint figure can help fire up his friend then all for the better. Perhaps he can be the key to awakening Nagi or at least help him get up from bed, either way, it works.
“He’s cute.”
He wasn’t quite expecting the completely heartfelt way Nagi replied with, “I know right.”
And what’s even more confounding was that he continued! His friend was starting to use long sentences in his speech and he almost felt proud: “He’s so tiny, can soccer players even be that tiny? I feel like I can hold both of his wrists with one hand.”
Reo almost choked on his spit. “Ai, easy now. You’re too young to think those thoughts.”
“What kind of thoughts?” Nagi looked at him with such pure eyes that Reo had to do a double take. It felt as though Nagi that just revealed his inner fantasies was replaced by his normal, absolutely well-adjusted friend Nagi.
Reo leaned further into the grass. Oh, god he hoped that Nagi’s crush had the patience of a saint. He had to handle Nagi and his affections. And something told him that this was Nagi’s first experience with infatuation no wonder the boy was absolutely flummoxed and strange.
Love does strange things to people.
“Never mind,” Reo said, waving him off, sensing Nagi's hesitation. “So, this is why you brought me here? To see your muse?”
Nagi blinked guiltily at him, his admission hanging in the air. “So, uh…I sort of…had ulterior motives for bringing you here…”
Reo blinked. Nagi was full of surprises today. “Yes?”
“Can you set us on a…match?” Nagi's request was hesitant yet hopeful.
“Match?” Reo repeated, trying to grasp Nagi's intentions.
“Yes, a match,” Nagi confirmed, his determination shining through despite his nervousness.
“Like matchmaking?” Reo asked, seeking clarification.
“No, an actual match, and then maybe a smaller match, like a close-knit match with just him and I,” Nagi explained, his words coming out in a rush as he tried to convey his plan.
“Huh?” Reo's confusion deepened, struggling to follow Nagi's train of thought.
“Wait, you mean that you want to beat him and then date him?” Reo's realization dawned slowly, processing Nagi's rather unconventional approach to romance.
“Yes,” Nagi affirmed simply, his gaze steady as he met Reo's eyes.
“In that order?” Reo couldn't help but clarify, still trying to wrap his head around Nagi's logic.
“Yes, I want to play with him. It looks fun,” Nagi explained, his enthusiasm undimmed despite Reo's incredulity.
It had become increasingly clear that whoever Nagi had the hots for should have some ample people sense and high communication skills or otherwise they would take Nagi as a crazy fool. Or he was the one going insane and Nagi was truly starting to sound like a toxic manipulative freak.
“Okay…” Reo started as if he was a preschool teacher teaching him basic social skills, “Nagi we need to discuss boundaries between professional and personal sometimes as well as fixing your language…but sure, I can definitely help with that but any other reason why you want to play with him?”
"If I beat him then he would think I’m cool and impressive right?” Nagi's voice was tinged with anticipation, his eyes reflecting his sheer hopefulness.
“Uh, maybe?” Reo responded cautiously, unsure of where Nagi's aspirations might lead.
“If I score a hat trick then do a 3-way trapping and then steal his ball and then…” Nagi's said, his imagination running wild with potential scenarios.
“Woah, I think you’re getting way ahead of yourself there,” Reo interjected, trying to ground Nagi's soaring ambitions.
So this was why he kept asking for cool soccer trick shots compilations. Reo couldn't help but connect the dots, realising the source of Nagi's recent obsession.
“But if I beat him then he will start looking at me right?” Nagi's voice was hopeful, his desire for recognition palpable.
“Will he start looking at me the way I look at him?” Nagi's vulnerability was laid bare, revealing his cute but pitiful longing.
Reo sighed. Oh Nagi, you big lovable dumb loaf, he thought, understanding the innocence behind Nagi's earnest desires.
“Okay, how’s this? I can arrange a match against his high school and ours?” Reo suggested, offering a practical solution to Nagi's quest for validation through competition.
Nagi nodded and observed. Reo had half a mind to be annoyed, he was more focused on this fake match than all the real matches he had.
“Then just impress him with your football skills! And I’m sure he’ll come flocking to you!” Reo said, gesturing his arms and puffed out his chest in pride at his great plan.
“Wow. That sounds good. Would he really come into my arms like that?”
“I’m certain. I’ll buy some expensive perfume and maybe if you style your hair at this new salon and then use the skincare I got for you then you’ll be ready to go tiger.”
Yes. That sounded perfectly wonderful and most of all doable. It was a very good way to start the eventual marriage and soccer’s ultimate IT couple. There was literally no way Nagi could botch this.
That was what Reo thought until they walked on the field and approached the striker and the first words out of his mouth were, “Damn, you’re way smaller than I thought.”
—
Nagi had meant to say hello.
He really did, that was what he meant to say but somehow the distance from his brain to his mouth mutilated his words and a strange feeling jumped out of his belly as those deep cerulean eyes turned to him, he just commented the first thing he thought of when he first laid eyes on him.
Which was that the person he liked had a very frail, tiny body that really was cute and adorable because he had to look up at him to even be at eye level which was very loveable and cute.
“What?” He asked, confused and stepped back a step.
He wanted to die, just the thought of exhaling and inhaling felt too much for him. He had never wanted to disappear from the world more than now. He should probably let Reo scavenge his remains, and as for his stuff, he wants the tiny boy to have it all.
Just the thought of him touching his stuff is going to make him burst.
“Excuse me?” He continued, barely a whisper.
Oh yeah, the small boy was still staring at him, impossibly confused.
Oh no, this was the first time he was having a conversation with him. He was talking to the boy he was fantasizing in the train stations and now look at him having a full-on verbal conversation.
“You're really tiny yet you have such big eyes.” He blurted out, his words tumbling over themselves. He felt as though he was going to turn into a gooey puddle and melt into the floor.
“Are you really a striker?” he began, his voice cracking.
“What my friend meant to say is hello, how are you?” Reo burst into the scene, his face flushed with worry. “It’s just that he has a fever and is very delusional right now so please don’t be too bothered by whatever nonsense he is saying.”
“Oh, that explains his red face.” He said, reaching and placing a hand on his forehead and Nagi could feel his brain malfunction.
He’s touching me!
“Yeah that's pretty hot, you should get him home as soon as possible.”
“Will do!” Reo said, pushing him away and only stopping dragging him when they were out of earshot.
“What the hell was that?” Reo hissed, his voice low and dangerous.
“I don’t know. Words don’t work when I’m near him.” Nagi mumbled, feeling like a lovesick fool.
“Oh, Nagi, you are a hopeless fool. If we somehow manage to get Isagi to look at you not like you’re a walking weirdo you owe me big time.”
Nagi nodded at that, expecting no less from his friend.
And then,
“Wait – Isagi?” His voice shot up an octave.
“Yeah. That’s his name.” Reo replied casually, raising an eyebrow at Nagi’s strange question.
“How did you get his name?!” Nagi demanded, his heart pounding in his chest.
“Nagi…” Reo stopped walking to give him the most pitiful expression Nagi had ever seen. “It was written on the back of his jersey.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah,”
After a couple of pauses, Reo sighed, feeling the weight of Nagi's relentless pursuit of advice.
“How about instead of talking to him in words, why not express your thoughts through action?” Reo suggested, hoping to redirect Nagi's energy towards a more constructive and socially appropriate way.
“Like pulling his hair?” Nagi's response was earnest but off the mark, prompting a cringe from Reo.
“Jesus, no Nagi, I mean like doing your best in football. I think he is the type to appreciate strong players, and then you can take the lead,” Reo clarified, trying to steer Nagi in a more sensible, lawful direction.
“Okay, I think I got it,” Nagi replied, a hint of determination creeping into his voice.
“I swear to God, if you take this as permission to jump him, you are sorely mistaken,” Reo warned sternly, foreseeing Nagi's tendency to misconstrue advice.
Nagi slumped his shoulders, deflating at the admonition.
“Just play and chase him, and maybe who knows, he will chase you back?” Reo offered, trying to inject some optimism into Nagi's outlook.
“Yeah, he will see me,” Nagi paused and looked back to where Isagi was playing. “I’ll make sure of it.”