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A black taxi pulls up to the street curb right next to Shidou. The window comes down and the reveal of that bored expression on that pretty face makes him try to blink away what might be a dream. Or the sun in his eyes.
But it doesn't go. Shidou's grin is wide. "Holy shit! Sae-chan, it's you!" He bounces on the spot, practically vibrating.
The back door of the car swings out, with Sae commanding, "Get in."
"Ooohh, are you kidnapping me~?"
"Now."
Shidou doesn't need to be told a third time. He dives right into the back seat with Sae, and the Taxi restarts behind moving traffic.
In his perspective, time now passes in slow agony, hollow in comparison to the match spent at Sae's beck and call. The rush was wild, a thrill Blue Lock tries to emulate but always reaches just ninety-nine percent.
His time with Sae was brief and over quickly, but memorable. He's smitten.
Shidou relaxes in his seat and daringly puts a hand on Sae's thigh.
Sae shoves it away. "Hands off. You're here for a business matter."
"What's business without pleasure on the side?"
"You still want my number, don't you?"
"You finally gonna quit playing hard to get and give it to me?"
"I was prepared to from the beginning. We had a deal."
"But you fucked off."
"I was interviewed about my thoughts on the Blue Lock players."
"And?"
"They played like high school amateurs. Isagi Yoichi, however, is a special case. He just might be what Japanese football needs."
Shidou was expecting the disinterest in Blue Lock. But the praise that followed? Sae spoke sincerely, fascinated for the future of football. With a smidge of hope in his eyes that absolutely isn't for who's sitting next to him.
"Don't talk about him like that in front of me."
"You asked."
"About why you left me."
"I was finished and you were being escorted back to the facility."
It was such a spectacle. Sae knew early on that Shidou was unhinged to a degree. People aren't shoved into straight jackets and given muzzles for nothing.
After the match, he was carried away, kicking and screaming and even biting, for fear of being too loose to handle later. Sae turned away, renouncing their affiliation for the sake of his reputation. For the sake of what remained of the little peace in his life.
To think Shidou craved his number so badly.
Shidou whines and nudges his head into Sae's arm, greedy and comfort seeking. "I was waiting. Wanted my Pretty Underlashes senior to rescue me again."
"Anyway," Sae says, not even looking at him. He's decided it's best to adopt the philosophy of encountering a wild animal: Don't make eye contact and it should leave him be. "I noticed you on the street and figured I'd settle this now. I'm on my way back to Spain so there won't be another chance."
"You're never coming back?"
Sae shrugs. He'll need a good reason to return. "I'm giving it to you now. What you so eagerly jumped in this car for. Hurry and take it out."
Shidou reaches for his pants zipper—
Sae glares, "Your phone, stupid demon."
Shidou laughs. He knew that like he knew how cute Sae would look annoyed. It's a face he wants to savour. He takes out and waves his phone, the screen off. "Too bad, Underlashes Senior, it's outta juice. Gonna have to miss your flight and wait until it's charged up."
"Like fucking hell I will." Sae reaches into his bag at his feet. He takes out a pen, uncaps it with his teeth in haste. "Give me your arm.
Shidou rolls up a sleeve and holds it out, grinning the whole time.
Sae's holds his arm with a touch that's easy and fim. His thumb rolls over a promient vein, a pulse under it beats against it. Pen in hand, he writes his sequence of numbers in small, black on tan and gleaming in the sunlight. He doesn't add his name but signs off with an 'S' initial in bold cursive.
Shidou takes back his arm to marvel at it with a fixed stare. "I'm never washing this."
Sae grimaces, "Gross."
Shidou laughs.
"Give it away to anyone and I'll kill you."
"Yeah, yeah. I'm basically holding the Holy Grail of numbers. I got a golden ticket to your chocolate factory. Your fans will be so jealous~"
"You're one of them."
That's right. Shidou's the biggest Sae Itoshi fan on the planet. He doesn't collect trading cards, or know all his personal history, can't name any sponsors, but he shared an explosive time with him that beats all of that. He connected with Sae through mind, pressed their bodies together, had his attention.
"Ohhh my God! I have Sae-sama's number! I must be fucking dreaming! Someone pinch me—Ahhk! Fucking ow?!"
"You're welcome."
"Who pinches someone in the fucking neck?!"
"Always go for the throat. It's a basic tactic."
"Or you have a kink."
Sae pinches agajn, harder, and Shidou moans.
The taxi driver glances back from his peripheral but otherwise says nothing. That's just what Sae needs. Someone gossiping about an affair that isn't even happening—in the backseat of a taxi, too, like a drunken after club hookup.
Sae punishes with a smack across the back of Shidou's head. Sharp and quick, it causes mild whiplash.
"Rinrin hits harder."
"Don't bring him up in front of me."
"You brought up Isagi Yoichi!"
"Jealousy isn't an attractive trait."
"Don't care." Shidou cozies up to Sae's side in a crowded hug, arms wrapping around the top half. You're mine. All your passes. Everything."
"I don't like this side of you."
"Got plenty other sides you can see any time. Maybe I'll send some spicy pics later."
"Drop dead."
Shidou looks at his arm again. Ink's all dried up and he'll never wash it off. It'll seep into his skin, be a forever tattoo. An irremovable proof that won't fade back into just a memory. Sae's stylish cursive, his touch, his number, everything. Shidou will keep it all—
Oh. Keep. That's right, he has Sae's number, finally but...
Shidou goes quiet.
Sae, who doesn't like to trouble himself with the matters of others, finds he's curious enough over the excited face descending to grief. "What is it now?"
"I got your number. Yeah, fucking great. Is that it?" He sounds lifeless for someone who just obtained, as he put it, the Holy Grail of numbers.
"Huh? Listen, you—"
"I'm asking what's next."
"You have permission to contact me once a year. I reserve the right to block your number if you become annoying."
Shidou laughs. Isn't he already annoying to the Itoshi bloodline? What more can he possibly do? Then he recalls the other reward he asked for.
"I get to move in with you."
"No."
"It's gonna make us getting busy eventually a lot easier."
"Stop the car," Sae orders.
The taxi comes to a slow halt at the next curbside.
"Get out."
Shidou grins and hops out. Then he turns back on a single foot in mid step. "Keep watching me. I'll do more amazing shit and get more favours from you. Unless you're scared to bet with a demon again?"
Sae pulls the door hard for a dismissive slam, but replies, "Why should I agree to this stupid plan?"
"Because we lost. Now no matter what you do, you won't be satisfied."
"But you can satisfy me? Is that it?"
"Yeah. One night with me and your whole body will explode~!"
"That sounds horrific."
"I'll do anything for you, Underlashes Senior."
An obedient dog who stays even when the leash is loosened, or gone altogether. Seems like he won't be satisfied either.
Sae can't say he hates it. "Disappoint me and we're done."
"Heard. Can't have Sae-chan dumping me so soon."
"You're lucky I haven't for what you did to Rin."
"He hit me too!"
Sae rolls his eyes. "Grow the fuck up."
"Fine, no more bullying Rin-Rin. I'm still getting a sweet deal here." Shidou waves his phone in reminder, "Save me as something sweet."
Sae scoffs, "Horny Demon should suffice."
Shidou laughs and startles nearby segulls that scatter to a perch close by, eyes on him. "Only for you, Sae-chan!"