Work Text:
In the monitoring room, Hyoma sits with his knees drawn up to his face, Reo and Nagi sitting either side of him because they still haven’t bothered to talk to each other yet properly. Hyoma almost rolled his eyes when Reo told him at the absurdity of the situation. Reo had just told him that he would talk to Nagi soon. It’s been ten days since, they three all even share a bedroom together and the first match of the NEL is about to start and not much progress has been made. And don’t get him started on Nagi, who keeps staring at Reo when he thinks no one is watching. Chigiri just hopes the two get themselves together before it’s too late. Unlike how he could.
Reo fumbles for the remote and turns the volume of the monitor up as the countdown to the first match is about to start. Nagi puts his phone down as the opening narration starts and the familiar landscape of the blue lock fields comes on screen of grey wall as and artificial grass.
Ubers versus PXG is happening at the exact same time, but Nagi was more enthusiastic to see what was going on with Isagi, which makes sense considering their little rivalry going. So they decided to tune in and watch the Bastard München versus FC Barcha match.
There’s a wide panel shot over the FC Barcha team and he smiles, slightly when seeing Bachira, proud of his friend for making the starting 11. Then, there’s a shot over Bastard München and Kunigami comes into view.
What?
Hyoma blinks once, twice because that can’t be real, right?
But the bright bush of orange hair and the tall physique of well-defined muscles only belong to one other blue locker.
“Kunigami?” Reo says, eyes wide.
Reo turns away from the screen and Hyoma looks back at him, their eyes meeting with the same confusion and shock colouring their face.
“He’s back,” Hyoma says, and it feels unreal.
How could Kunigami be back? Reo and him had lost the 2v2 in the second section against Shido, Reo got picked and Kunigami got kicked out of Blue Lock. That was it, right? Yet somehow, Kunigami stands in front of them and his name is bright, bold letters on his jersey confirms it even more. It doesn’t make any sense.
“Who’s Kunigami again?” Nagi asks and Hyoma isn’t surprised Nagi doesn’t remember him, considering how forgetful the white-haired boy can be from time to time.
“Ah, he was my friend,” Hyoma explains. “The ginger guy from the 3v3 in second selection on a team with me and Reo.”
Nagi nods his head.
“I thought he left then,” Nagi says.
“Me too,” Reo says in disbelief.
He should’ve, but Kunigami stands on the TV in front of them and impressively enough, as part of Bastard München’s starting 11.
“Well, he’s back,” Hyoma says.
It doesn’t make sense why or how Kunigami is in Blue Lock, but he feels delighted either way at the idea of seeing his friend again.
However, as the match against Bastard München goes on, Hyoma notices something.
Kunigami is different.
He’s still the same, with his toned arms and spiky hair, but even on the other side of the screen Hyoma knows. The darkened look in his face has Hyoma playing with the ends of hair nervously and he hopes the bags under his eyes come from not getting much sleep because of nerves of his match only last night. But then comes the anger. The short, rude remarks towards his teammates, the intensity of his glares- all sharp edges, but none of the softness and gentleness of the Kunigami he knew.
He feels like a different person.
If Reo notices, he doesn’t say anything regardless of the slight twitch in his eyes every time Kunigami does something out of character.
Hyoma ignores the looming feeling in his gut at the furrow of Kunigami’s brows, the aggressiveness haunting his face.
…
Hyoma wants to go to the German stratum, yearns to go and see Kunigami and to get answers to make sense of everything that doesn’t.
He doesn’t, scared to go and confirm his suspicions Kunigami really is different. Even more scared to know how the new Kunigami would treat him.
So Hyoma throws himself into training, working out and exercising constantly to draw himself away from the thoughts of Kunigami until the dreaded day of Bastard München versus Manshine City rolls around. He ignores the nervousness rolling around in his gut and steels his resolve, filling himself with determination as him and the rest of Manshine go on to field.
“There you are,” Hyoma murmurs to himself as he watches Bastard walk on to field.
Isagi and Yukimiya are also on the starting this time and in the distance he can see Gagamaru taking his spot by the goal, but Hyoma’s eyes draw to one player in particular. Kunigami stands far away from the rest of his team, gaze glued to the ground. While Reo and Nagi begin their banter with Isagi, Hyoma silently stares at Kunigami, wanting more than anything to go up to him but still not ready seeing the distant look in his eyes.
However, Reo decides to strike up conversation with Kunigami and Hyoma watches Kunigami respond with silence. He really is different, huh?
Hyoma frowns. He won’t have that.
Hyoma walks up to Kunigami after Reo walks off.
“For real,” Hyoma says as he puts on his gloves. “You’re allowed to say you’re changed, but I’m gonna fight you like the same guy I know.”
Kunigami lifts his gaze from the ground and looks up to Hyoma. The dark look in his eyes makes Hyoma’s heart ache – what happened – and he misses the bright flash of orange from before.
“I’d suggest abandoning that naïve idealism, sleeping beauty,” Kunigami says, voice rougher and deeper.
Maybe the words should’ve hurt more than they did, but Kunigami spoke to him at least and the nickname reminds him of their banter from the first and second selection. His Kunigami is in there, somewhere.
“Say whatever you want, I’ll wake you up, hero,” Hyoma promises with a cool determination as he walks away.
…
In the end, Manshine loses to Bastard München with a score of 3-2.
He did attempt to talk to Kunigami but, well, the other boy is the first of his team to head to the changing rooms.
Hyoma continues his daily routine of training tirelessly for the next couple of days, contemplating on how good of an idea it is to go see Kunigami. He texted Isagi about the situation with Kunigami the evening following the match, but even Isagi didn’t know much and just said that there was this ‘wildcard’ training program for all the people who lost in the second selection to give one of them a chance to make it back to Blue Lock.
Something during that program changed something inside his Kunigami, he knows that and he wants to know what. Still, Hyoma feels fear grip at him like before every time he’s about to walk over to the German stratum, nervous to find out the truth, even more nervous that Kunigami will shut him out. Yes? Kunigami had entertained some banter here and there during the match, but he mostly ignored everyone else. What if Hyoma pushes too far and he gave him the silent treatment too? Or what if the old Kunigami really is gone and Hyoma was just being a hopeful fool?
He grapples with his insecurities at night while preparing to go to bed, plugging his hairdryer in and he begins to dry his hair from his shower. The door bursts open to Reo and Nagi, who had magically become incredibly close again since the Bastard München match and they had worked together as partner again. He watches Reo grab Nagi’s hand and pull him onto his own bed, shuffling close together and chatting about something to each other Hyoma can’t hear properly through the noise of his hairdryer blowing into his ear. He quirks a brow up at the action. Maybe even closer than they were back in the first selection. Nagi sinks into Reo and Reo presses a gentle kiss to his forehead. Okay. Nevermind. Definitely closer than they were back in the first selection.
Hyoma switches off his hairdryer and rushes over to Reo and Nagi’s bed, because he needs to know everything now.
“Are you two dating?” Hyoma says, sitting at the edge of Reo’s bed.
“Were we that obvious?” Reo says with a slight chuckle.
“Reo, you literally kissed me,” Nagi mumbles into Reo’s shoulder.
“How long?” Hyoma demands.
“We talked things out after the Bastard München match since we were on good terms and one thing led to another and…yeah,” Reo explains, vaguely.
“It’s about time!” Hyoma huffs. “You kept on blabbering on about Nagi to me, so-“
“Chigiri!” Reo interrupts.
“You were?” Nagi says, and Hyoma laughs because there’s no way he’s genuinely surprised, right?
“Well, you’re precious to me,” Reo says, softly and cards a hand through Nagi’s hair.
As he watches Reo continue to play with Nagi’s hair and Nagi flushing at the action, Hyoma thinks of how nice it would be for Kunigami to do something like that. Especially with how much he knows Kunigami liked how long his hair was back in the first selection and the way they’d talk about things like that early on and-
He really needs to stop thinking about Kunigami.
Hyoma stands up from Reo’s bed (which he has a feeling will also be Nagi’s from now on) and he grabs his phone. He turns on the camera and sets it on his lap to help him with putting his hair up in a bun before he goes to bed. As he wraps his red locks up, Hyoma can only think of Kunigami as he watches Reo and Nagi in the corner of his eye, a slight bitterness building up inside of him.
…
Enough is enough and after Reo and Nagi keep up with more disgustingly romantic things, Hyoma decides to go to the German stratum during his lunch break.
He sorts his hair in a ponytail, grabs a training bag and walks down the hallways of the stratum. He hears the familiar voice of Isagi and follows the direction of it.
“Wait, Kunigami!”
As Hyoma walks by a corner, he comes face to face with Kunigami and Isagi. Isagi is wearing a jersey shirt and saying his name but disappears in the background, Hyoma purely focusing on Kunigami who wears a tank top and gym shorts, leaving his toned, muscular arms open for everyone to see and a towel wrapped over his neck. Hyoma watches sweat drip down his body and gulps. One could say Kunigami looked-
Hot.
Hyoma ignores how crazy attractive Kunigami is and remembers his main goal here.
“Hey, Isagi,” He waves at the other boy and then turns to Kunigami. “And hey, Kunigami. I finally found you.”
Kunigami’s eyes go slightly wide but he averts his gaze, ignoring Hyoma.
“What are you doing here?” Isagi says. “Not that he it isn’t cool to see you!”
“I came to see Kunigami,” Hyoma explains. “This guy ghosted me.” He turns to Kunigami, who still refuses to even look at him. “It’s been a while, hasn’t it? I have things I want to say…”
Hyoma trails off and Kunigami walks into a training room, ignoring them both.
“Hey!” Hyoma says, following him inside, Isagi right behind him.
“Piss off,” Kunigami snaps as he tosses both his towel and training gloves to the ground. “I have nothing to say to you so just go.”
Hyoma ignores the hurt bubbling in him as he faces Kunigami’s back.
“Okay, fine,” Hyoma accepts. “I’m speaking anyways. You’ve totally changed, Kunigami. I can see it. But my play’s changed too, so don’t you dare ignore me. Keep your eyes on me, hero.”
He never gets to hear what Kunigami says, if he even would say anything to Hyoma’s demand, as Bachira pops into the room. Hyoma smiles at seeing the blob of black and yellow. It’s been almost a month since he’s seen his dear friend again in person.
“Hey!” Bachira exclaims, energetic as always. “Is this a reunion?”
He grabs a football and playfully throws it at Isagi who doesn’t catch it in time. Hyoma laughs at the childish action, as Isagi prepares to start to fight Bachira back with a ball.
“Haha! Are you here for Kunigami too?” Hyoma asks.
“Yeah! And Isagi!” Bachira explains.
“Me?” Isagi questions.
“Yup!” Bachira hums. “I saw the match you two had, it was amazing! All my ego juice poured out!”
Ego juice? What is he talking about? Bachira continues to blabber on about the match and Hyoma isn’t surprised to see he hasn’t changed at all.
“So! After all that, I had a request, hero!” He turns to face Kunigami and excitedly jumps on his back, placing his hands on his shoulders. “Play with me!”
“I’m in!” Hyoma agrees, instantly.
“Shut up. I’m not here for some shitty, stupid reunion,” Kunigami hisses.
“Me neither!” Bachira gets off his back. “I wanna test how effective my dribbling is! I wanna crush you guys!”
“Let’s go two on two,” Hyoma suggests, knowing full well Bachira would pick Isagi and this is the perfect chance to pair with Kunigami.
“Let’s start!” Bachira says and begins to dribble with the ball and the two on two begins.
Chigiri and Kunigami play together again and they fall into step easily. It feels good playing with the ginger again. Even if he seems like he doesn’t care, Kunigami still plays somewhat enthusiastically with them which is enough for Hyoma. As he gives a pass to Kunigami, Kunigami scores a goal, hitting it so aggressively that when it crashes against the net, it feels like it should blow straight past it.
“Let’s go!” Hyoma grins, jumping on Kunigami’s back.
“Tch,” Kunigami scowls but doesn’t make any real effort to properly shake Hyoma off his back.
The short two versus two practice game ends with Hyoma scoring a goal in his golden zone, him and Kunigami managing to win one point above Bachira and Isagi. While Bachira and Isagi sigh, frustrated at their loss and Kunigami looks indifferent towards their wind Hyoma sits down on the floor, and holds his leg gently for a few moments, trying to ignore the ache in there. If only he had started practicing again earlier, he would be more used to these occasional pains. Hyoma sighs and forces himself back up, shaking hands with Bachira and Isagi for a good game.
Afterwards, Bachira and Isagi start their own one versus one. Meanwhile, Hyomastands to the side and Hyoma wipes at his mouth, dehydrated.
He searches for any water bottles, just to notice that Kunigami is drinking some.
“Where’d you get that?” Hyoma questions, gesturing to the bottle Kunigami holds.
Kunigami’s brows furrow for a moment and he then shoves the bottle in Hyoma’s hands.
“Huh?” Hyoma questions.
“Take it,” Kunigami says.
Hyoma grabs it from Kunigami, confused but still appreciative of the gesture.
“Thanks,” He mumbles and twists the cap, lifting it to his mouth and sipping water from it.
Kunigami just stares at him.
“Chigiri,” He says.
Hyoma’s heart skips a beat. That’s the first time he’s heard Kunigami say his name in months and it feels so good coming out of his mouth. Hyoma drops the bottle from his mouth, grip tight on it, and keeps his eyes on Kunigami the entire time.
“Your leg,” Kunigami points out. “I noticed. It hurts.”
Hyoma’s eyes widen. Kunigami noticed that? How- Hyoma hadn’t even done anything about it or anything-
Kunigami keeps on talking, ignoring the look on his face.
“Don’t mess up. You wanted me to look at you right? I want to be the one to crush you for saying such stupid stuff,” Kunigami scowls.
The words are definitely typically rude, egoistical stuff per the competitive nature of Blue Lock but Hyoma notices Kunigami’s eyes soften for a moment and realises oh.
Kunigami is telling him to take care of himself, huh?
Hyoma smiles, gently.
Kunigami really is still a good guy after all.
“Don’t look at me with those eyes,” Kunigami says and averts his gaze from him.
“Thank you, hero,” Hyoma says, a tease in his voice.
“Shut up,” Kunigami glares and then storms off.
As he watches Kunigami leave, Hyoma feels his chest lighten knowing his Kunigami is somewhere still in there.