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Itoshi Rin had always been an interesting guy! Bachira had known that since they had shared a room during the second selection. Rin had stolen him from Isagi (Flattering to be considered “not lukewarm” to play with by the number one player of Blue Lock!) and Bachira got to see a bit of the guy off field. All things considered, Rin didn't seem to be a bad guy, but he was very reserved. Bachira had tried his best to get him to open up!!! He had failed though.
Rin was quiet, when he wasn't on the field. Lost in thought, sometimes. Bachira could feel it. Rin was lonely. So lonely you could see it. Bachira didn't want to ask or pry (not that Rin would have answered) but even if he decided to try, the guy seemed repulsed by people.
Rin didn't want anyone, he didn't need anyone. Interaction? Unnecessary off-field! Rin only thought of becoming the best, breaking his own limits over and over and marching ahead! A noble goal, Bachira thought. But wasn't it a lonely one to follow?
Anyway, Bachira hadn't managed to get too close. He had thought that maybe Isagi might have almost reached him, like he did with Bachira. Almost.
Something else must have done it. Bachira was sure.
Rin didn't seem too lonely anymore! That was good!
Bachira had gone up against him in the match against PXG. There was something different underlying! He was sure- he could feel it!
Rin still didn't seem fond of Shidou, though. It was to be expected... The two had NO chemistry, and Shidou kept mentioning ‘Sae-chan’ ...it had to be tough for Rinrin!
So it wasn't Shidou who had managed to make Rin… feel less… Rin. Was it anybody else? Was it a new soccer weapon?? Bachira was soo sooo curious!!! It had to be a super-powerful never seen before weapon, if it made Rin… somewhat? Calmer during games?
Bachira really didn't know how to describe it!!!! Rinrin had a different atmosphere around him!!! Something positive HAD to have happened!! And Bachira craved to ask him about it… but they weren't exactly close like that, and Barcha had just lost to him and the rest of PXG!! It really wasn’t a good moment either…
Bachira really wanted to know! Had Rin talked to his brother?? Had they made up?? Had he perhaps made a good friend or two? What if he had found a ‘special someone’ during the two week break?!? So many questions, not enough answers… shame!
During the moments Bachira had used to ponder over these ‘super important life-changing questions’ Rin had disappeared into thin air.
Rin not lingering on the field after a match?? Another thing to add to the list of new behaviours of Rinrin!!
Bachira was sooo curious!!! He really wanted to ask Isagi about it, maybe he knew something. And hanging out with Isagi… was always the best.
•
Shidou wasn’t worried. He wasn't! There was NOTHING to be worried about! But still….
“Lil Bro! Charles! CODE RED!! Super emergency council!”
Charles looked up at Shidou frantically approaching him. It could have meant only two things. Either they had run out of the good proteic snacks they always stole from the cafeteria, or worse, Shidou had managed to get in trouble again and needed an alibi. Charles could have probably helped with that one!
“I think Rinrin is acting weird!! He hasn't called me antennae freak today, not even once! He didn't call me ‘lukewarm’, he didn't threaten me when I mentioned Sae-chan, and he didn't say anything when I laughed at him!! IT’S…SCARY!”
It apparently could have meant three things!
“WHAT.”
Now THAT was news!! Rin was an interesting character! He could keep up with Charles’s passes but he was so insane! Crazy! He and Shidou were always at each other's throats, fighting for passes, stealing each other's goals, constantly did competitions on who could score more and always, ALWAYS insulted each other in a way or another. (It was always Shidou who started things, but still, Rin had never straight up IGNORED him…)
Hearing that he hadn't done any of those things…scary! Definitely WEIRD!
“Lil bro, I tell you…there's something off about him!! Something has happened!!! He looks!! Almost serene today! It’s off-putting!”
“Big bro… someone might know something we don't!!! Maybe Rin has… he has a super secret mystery!”
Charles looked up at Shidou with a look of determination. Shidou looked back at him, and smirked. An impish plan was forming within their mind (The single, twisted mind they shared, perfectly matching each other's craziness). They were going to ask the rest of the team for super secret info!!!! Someone HAD TO know something they didn't!
And so it started. Shidou and Charles approached their first victim. Tokimitsu. Most likely the guy didn't know anything, but his nervousness would have probably forced him to think of an answer to their question, which could have definitely been useful to solve the mystery of Rin’s whole ordeal!!!
Shidou started the conversation by slinging his arm over Tokimitsu’s shoulders. “Yoo, Tokimitsu… listen up… Charles and I have a question for you. Do you think Rinrin’s acting weird lately??”
Tokimitsu was already shaking a bit.
“I-Itoshi Rin?” he said, with a shaky tone. “Acting weird? Maybe! Maybe not! I haven't noticed! I haven't seen anything! Is he acting weird? Maybe he is! I don’t know! I don't know, I promise!”
“Tokimitsuuu, don't worry, this is not an interrogation! Don't worry yourself over this. We’re just asking around… we think Rinrin’s acting a bit weird. But not his usual kind of weird! And we can't figure out why! You were with him during the second selection, weren't you? Doesn't he seem calmer? We wonder what reason could bring such change in someone so stoic (boring) like Itoshi Rin!” Shidou said, still hovering around the poor Tokimitsu, who was still worrying himself over the information he had just received.
“I don't know! Maybe… maybe he’s calmer, yes! You wonder why? I don't know… maybe… uhm! M-maybe he got. A friend! Or a girlfriend! Or something similar!”
A friend? Itoshi Rin? Getting a genuine friend?
Itoshi Rin? GETTING A GIRLFRIEND?
What a take. A girlfriend? Itoshi Rin? There was no way in HELL that guy wanted to be with a GIRL. Shidou briefly considered texting Sae to ask if Rin was even straight, but even assuming he wouldn't get ghosted (AGAIN), the idea of Rinrin with a girl seemed way too absurd.
A friend, however…
The younger Itoshi brother didn't exactly seem like a fun guy to be around, but people didn't like Shidou either, and he had still managed to befriend Charles. The idea of a gloomy emo version of his pocket-sized french bestie was very funny, actually.
That COULD have been the reason.
Shidou and Charles ran away from Tokimitsu with the new idea of ‘Rin Itoshi has a secret friend?!?’ in mind, moving onward towards a new target.
They wondered who could fill the role of next victim of their ‘Rin Itoshi is being WEIRD’ questionnaire. None of the original PXG members could know something… and Zantetsu DEFINITELY didn't know anything about it, it wasn't even worth asking him… maybe Nanase could know?
“Nanaseee…” said Charles, approaching the young man.
“Oh! Hi!!! Do yall need anything?” said Nanase, smiling at both him and Shidou. Such a nice guy as always, Nanase!
“We have a couple questions, actually!”
“I’m all ears, ya go ahead!”
“Don't you think Rin has been acting weird lately?”
Nanase looked at both Shidou and Charles and then around… and then whispered… “Oh my god YES! I’m so glad I’m not the only one who's noticed!! Golly, he’s been so chill off-field, ya’d think he ain't even the same person! He also comes back to the room later than usual…”
Now THAT was juicy information!
“He comes back later than usual, you say?”
“Yes! He used to go to sleep at the same time every night, around nine I’d say! But now, sometimes he comes back to the room even after midnight… At first I thought he was getting some more practice in, tryna be ready for the next match… but he never seemed tired, so I doubt it!! Karasu often goes to rewatch the footage of the games in our video room, so I asked him if he and Rin rewatched footage together there, but he said he ain't never seen Rin come by!!”
Karasu! That’s right! Maybe he knew even more…
“We should ask Karasu too, Big bro!”
“Definitely!! Thank you for your info, Nanase…if we figure out what secret lies behind this mysterious newfound ‘weirdness’ of Rinrin, you’ll be the first one to know!!!”
“I’ll count on that, then… Ah, I’m worried for Rin a bit. Hopefully he ain't doing anything worrying!”
Shidou and Charles had already run off to find Karasu.
“Karasu.” Shidou asked, with a fake tone of seriousness.
“Shidou.” responded Karasu just as seriously.
“Itoshi Rin. He’s been acting weird. I know you’re good at noticing stuff… that’s your thing. You must’ve already figured out he’s being weird, right?”
“Ah, so you come looking for classified information, huh? Let’s just say I might have an inkling on why he’s acting this way.”
•
Karasu was known for his ability to observe, both on and off the football field. He had noticed how Itoshi Rin always looked troubled, whatever he did. You could see clearly he was constantly trying his best to keep his mind on the sport, as if that was the only thing worth caring for in his life. When Itoshi had started acting… weird… Karasu was the first to notice.
There were some subtle differences at first. He looked… a bit more relaxed. Took football still as seriously, and with utmost importance, but there was something else in there, something he seemed to be thinking about.
The differences had become more obvious day by day. It wasn't anything drastic, Rin was still being a know-it-all, still somewhat argued with Shidou, and still tried to overshadow everyone. He still practiced with effort and didn’t let any of the seemingly new thoughts distract him too much from his goal, but he was calmer.
Calmer, more open to converse with people. In his weird antisocial way, but still… instead of dismissing suggestions about strategies so that what he wanted would prevail, he’d accept middle grounds. Maybe not respect them completely on the field itself… but it was still a new step nobody was expecting Rin to take.
Karasu had a feeling he knew the culprit of the weird change of behavior in Itoshi Rin. But he believed it wasn't something he could share so freely.
“But guys, I can't tell you this easily. If we win the next match, I might share this precious info I have with you, too.”
Shidou and Charles whined in annoyance.
Meanwhile, Karasu wondered if the two would have figured it out before the match even began.
Surely someone else had been acting weird too, mh?
•
Hiori had been acting weird. Definitely weird.
Kurona had come to know Hiori decently well in the few weeks that had passed since the New Egoist League had begun, and sharing a room with someone makes you somewhat close to them.
Kurona didn't really know when it had started, but Hiori was… being weird. Weird weird. Not in a bad way, just… weird. He really couldn’t think of another word to describe what he'd been witnessing recently.
Hiori was an okay guy. Chill chill. Pretty aware of things and other people, and very calculated.
At least, usually.
He wasn't being very chill, or aware or calculated now.
He seemed distracted, actually. Maybe he was thinking up new strategies? The cool one-on-one with Isagi was a great tactic for now… Had he been trying to find something new… he wouldn't be staring off into space, that wasn't like Hiori at all!
Weird. Supeeer weird.
Kurona wondered if maybe Hiori was thinking about his parents. Hiori had made him aware of his rough relationship with them in a conversation or two, but he had never looked… like that, while talking about it. He looked… too happy to be thinking about his parents.
It had to be something else, then. What could Hiori be thinking about while looking so…
…dreamy, almost! Yes… that was it, he was looking dreamy, super dreamy! He must have been thinking about something he liked a lot. There was no way he wasn't…
Practice was almost over. That had to be it!
He was hungry!
Kurona approached Hiori immediately. He was hungry too, so asking Hiori to go to the cafeteria together and get something to eat, sounded delightful.
“Hiori! Hiori, you look hungry. Want to come to the cafeteria? With me, me?”
Hiori seemed to be shaken out of a trance, and turned to look at Kurona.
“Hm? Hungry? I’m not really hungry… but it does seem to be lunchtime. I’ll accompany you, Kurona.”
He wasn't hungry?! Then… what was Hiori thinking so intently and happily about, if not food??
“Oh! Ooh, sorry for assuming. You seemed a bit distracted! Looked all dreamy dreamy, thought you were hungry. Let’s go, anyway?”
Hiori looked down and nodded, without addressing the… ’distracted’ thing. Was he keeping some super important secret?
“Let’s go, then. I wonder what hyper-proteic meal they’ll make us eat today…”
Kurona stored ‘Hiori has a secret’ as information to think about later. He was hungry now, that was more important! Hopefully he wouldn't forget to ask Hiori about it later…
•
Playing with Hiori was awesome. His passes were quick, precise and amazing to shoot after. Isagi and Hiori being able to pass one-on-one without even needing to look at each other was a super strong weapon.
Isagi had been adamant about practicing it as often as possible to prepare for the match against PXG. He had to beat them, he had to win again…
Lately however, practicing fast passes with Hiori was… different. In the past couple days, Hiori had almost seemed dissatisfied when they practiced their plays. They were precise, and still perfect! They still worked amazingly together, but Hiori just seemed off about it.
Isagi was conflicted. Was Hiori unhappy with football again? He had told Isagi that he had newfound motivation to play now, but… his expression while playing wasn't really motivated. Were they doing anything wrong? Were they so perfect with it that… Hiori felt bored?
That was no good, if Hiori felt bored with the passes… their fool-proof ‘beating Kaiser, Rin, and everyone else on the field’ plan could fail!
Maybe they could have tried to get Kurona to learn those passes too? That might have helped motivate Hiori…
Isagi concluded that the best move was to simply ask Hiori about it.
“Hiori, are you alright? You seem… unhappy with practice today. Are we messing anything up?”
Hiori seemed lost in his mind. At the sound of Isagi’s voice, however, he turned to look at him.
“Hm? Oh, no! Everything’s perfect. Our new weapon’s coming along real nice!” Hiori said, before getting lost in thought again
“Oh! Alright. So there’s something else on your mind, huh?”
“Hm?” Hiori snapped out of his thinking again. “Oh. Well, yeah. I just… I’ve been thinking of… uhm… a cool play! Yeah. I just… I don't think I can make that play work right now, so I’m just… trying to understand how to make it work.”
“Oh! What kind?? Maybe I can help you figure that out!”
“Mh… it’s a secret for now!” Hiori gave Isagi one of his evilest smiles.
Hiori… since when had he become such an egoist!?
As Hiori turned his face away from him, Isagi noticed a glimpse of something different in his friend's eyes… guilt?
Despite the whole conversation, Isagi had even more doubts now.
Puzzle pieces started flowing through his mind: Hiori's weird behavior, the slight dissatisfaction with his fellow teammates that his plays seemed to betray, and the guilt that hid behind his blue eyes…
Hiori was thinking about someone. Maybe it wasn't about football, as his behavior seemed different even off the field. But Isagi couldn't help but wonder, was there anyone else Hiori wanted to play with? Maybe someone in PXG? He knew Hiori and Karasu had something going on, but not what he was looking for.
Maybe he was a fan of Loki?
It didn't matter. If Hiori was thinking about someone on the opposing team, there was only one solution: Step up his game, crush that bastard, and take back his teammate's attention.
PXG was going down.
+
Ness had always had problems with his sleeping schedule. He couldn't physically sleep more than six hours, six and a half on a good day, but lately he had been plagued by thoughts. He couldn't take it… Was he really that trash on the field?? Stupid Yoichi… it was definitely his fault…
That’s how Ness had found himself aimlessly walking around the hallways of the Bastard München’s stratum past midnight. Hell, it was probably one, even two in the morning. He couldn't sleep at all… that damned Yoichi… plaguing his thoughts…
Ness decided to head to the video room, to try and watch some footage of the match… to see what kind of spark Yoichi had blinded Kaiser with!
The moment Ness opened the door of the video room, he bolted right back out. Someone was in there!!
Two people to be exact. They seemed asleep; pretty close to each other actually, just laying together on the floor.
It didn't look comfortable at all!
Ness recognized one of the guys as one of their players. Cyan Head! What was his name again? Hiyori or something? He wasn't bad… didn't seem very motivated though.
Ness however didn't recognize the other right away due to the darkness of the room.
He was sure he had never seen that guy near the Germany Stratum. He was definitely not playing for Bastard München!
Wait… Was it Itoshi Sae’s little brother? It couldn't be, could it? He heard that guy was antisocial, aggressive and had no friends! What was he doing there all sleepy and cute, tucked in Cyan Head’s side????
Was Cyan Head scheming with the enemy? Had he told little Itoshi about their strategies?? Unacceptable! That would have hindered the performance of their team… Ness had to tell Kaiser, as fast as possible, about this! Cyan Head might had been trying to ruin Kaiser’s flourishing career by telling little Itoshi everything about their plans!
Ness rushed immediately back to his room, and forced himself to sleep, so he could tell Kaiser about his discoveries in the morning.
-
Isagi was sitting at a table in the cafeteria. It was early even for him. He wanted to ask Noel Noa a couple questions before practice to make sure they could beat PXG, so he decided to be the first to get breakfast, to be the first to get to practice too! He was perfectly ready, jersey and translators already on and all!
Unfortunately due to the early hour, he could only get some cold milk and cereal for breakfast. Seemed like the warm stuff wasn't gonna be served for another 20 minutes… and he really couldn't wait that long!
Just as Isagi was tasting his ‘amazing’ breakfast, the two most annoying people on Earth walked in. Great! His morning was going great, but of course! Here came Ness and Kaiser, earlier than usual and getting themselves breakfast too.
He tried to mind his own business but…
That was when he overheard it.
The two German guys’ conversation started being translated into his ear:
“What’s the Cyan Head’s name? Was it Hi… Hiyuri? The one in our team…”
“Mh…? Ness, do I look like I remember the name of every single one of Yoichi's little sidekicks?”
“Ah…no of course not.”
“Why are you asking me about him, anyway?”
“Yesterday night… uhm… I saw him in the video room! With Itoshi Sae’s little brother! They looked awfully close!! What if Cyan Head told him about our strategies to sabotage us!?!”
Were they talking about Hiori? Hiori and Rin?
They were hanging out?? Were they friends? Isagi really couldn't see that happening…
“Stupid Ness… those two are dating.”
“WHAT!?” Ness looked at Kaiser in shock.
WHAT. Isagi spit out some of his milk and cereal from the shock of the information.
Hiori… and Rin… They were DATING?
When did THAT happen?!
RIN was the guy Hiori was thinking about?
There was NO WAY.
“Shush, Ness! It’s too early to be that loud. Mh… seems like we have an eavesdropper huh? Have you heard our conversation about your friends’ love life, Yoichi?”
Isagi wiped the milk off of his face with a tissue and then looked at Kaiser, clearly annoyed.
“I wasn't eavesdropping! You guys were being too loud and my translator picked it up, that’s all.” He paused. “But, uhm…is it true? Are Hiori and Rin dating?”
Was that the reason Hiori had been acting weird?
Isagi was expecting… anyone, hell anything! But Itoshi Rin?! It didn't make sense… Those two were complete opposites!!
“Oh, Yoichi I’m sure. I saw them kiss in the video room a couple days ago. I’m sure. And Ness seems to have stumbled upon them cuddling asleep there, yesterday night. Maybe you should tell them to be careful. Aren't there cameras there?”
There were cameras there?!
“There’s CAMERAS there??”
“Stupid Yoichi, you didn't know? Fan interactions and footage from those cameras contribute to paying for your super cool ‘Blue Lock’ !”
That information led Isagi through somewhat of a crisis. Realistically, he knew there HAD to be cameras… Ego was always keeping an eye on them. (Which by the way was very creepy, most of them weren't even adults!) However the information still took him a bit by surprise. Did his parents watch Blue Lock TV? Could they see him when he was hanging out in the practice room with everyone else? Could they see him when he was training with BACHIRA?
And just like that Isagi worried himself over by thinking of all the embarrassing things he had and could have done in front of a camera unknowingly, soon forgetting the whole Hiori and Rin dating ordeal.
+
“What’s going on over there? Is Isagi really hanging out with Kaiser and Ness of all people?”
“It seems like they’re making fun of him.”
Hiori and Rin approached the cafeteria silently. They’d usually go there early to try and catch breakfast by themselves. They loved spending time together in the few moments they could, considering their overly busy practice schedules.
They preferred being alone, just the two of them.
Their relationship was their thing. Theirs and theirs alone. Hiori was sure someone had figured it out, but it was more fun to stand and watch people try to piece it together, rather than say it out loud for everyone to hear. They didn't mind people knowing, but they didn't really want to tell others about it either.
If anyone had noticed anything, that was on them.
It seemed like they weren't very lucky today.
With Kaiser and Ness being there, with their loud German… surely more people would have come soon. And Isagi looked a bit troubled. Hiori probably had to go and check if they were bothering him again…
“Ah. Seems like we won't be getting to have breakfast together today, mh? Shame. I guess I’ll see you tonight tho! Same time, same place. Don’t forget it, Rin.”
Hiori said before closing the short distance between him and Rin and giving him a quick kiss on the lips.
“...I won't forget.” He said, blushing furiously.
They had been together for a bit now, but Rin could never get used to Hiori’s sweet kisses. He liked them a lot, though.
“Now I guess I’ll go save Isagi from those two. We don't want anyone dead before our match. Bye, Rin!” he said before quietly departing from him, to head in the direction of Isagi, who was still looking somewhat miserable as Kaiser and Ness were animatedly chatting up in German just over him.
“...Bye, Yo” answered Rin, making Hiori stop on his tracks at the mention of his first name, just to turn around and give him the most beautiful, genuine smile in the whole world.
Rin found himself slightly smiling too, thinking about spending time with Hiori and playing random mobile games together the previous night.
They had to pick Bastard München’s video room because Karasu was constantly going around PXG's like a hungry vulture.
Hiori had found out through Mikage Reo that the video rooms cameras would turn off after a specific hour to save energy, an information he claimed to know due to his family’s role as Blue Lock’s biggest sponsor, but that probably originated from his ‘secret activities’ (a.k.a. not so secret make out sessions) with a certain white haired guy.
That didn't matter to Rin though, there was only one relationship he wanted to think about, and it definitely wasn't Mikage’s.
He could still feel the warmth of Hiori’s body laying next to his own, he could still hear his soft breath, he could still…
Rin really loved Hiori.
“I should tell him that soon.” he thought.