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Tabito stood in the hallway outside the locker room, back resting against the wall. Whatever heated interaction Rin was having with Isagi, he didn’t want to get in the middle of. He wasn’t, however, above eavesdropping. One couldn’t be the best at analyzing data without all the information. Rin’s manic flow state that had been activated during the last few minutes of their match against the Japan U-20 team was unexpected. It was both terrifying and exhilarating the way he seemed to devour everyone on the field. Tabito wanted to know more.
So, he waited. As he listened to the voices on the other side of the locker room wall, several pieces fell into place in his head. His knowledge of Rin and Isagi was limited. He hadn’t been playing against or with them for as long as some of the other members of Blue Lock. It wasn’t until Blue Lock was down to thirty-five strikers and they were battling it out to become the “Blue Lock Eleven” that he learned of them. In the weeks that followed, he gathered that Isagi viewed Rin as a rival, a goal to beat in order to succeed and be the best.
Rin…
Rin did not view any of the competitors at Blue Lock as rivals. His only goal was his brother. The rest of them, Tabito included, were mere stepping stones. Isagi getting his foot on the ball, scoring the final goal of the match, stealing Rin’s victory, and being dubbed the game’s MVP broke something in him. Was it jealousy Rin felt? Disappointment? Anger? Perhaps all of it. Whatever was going on in his head, he now viewed Isagi as a rival, someone he needed to crush in order to be the best.
A bubble of hysterical excitement settled in Tabito’s chest, and he had to suppress the impulse to laugh. Mr. Number One wasn’t number one anymore. Isagi made some big declaration before walking out of the locker room. He startled, surprised to see Tabito lurking in the hallway. They locked eyes, an unspoken acknowledgement passed between them and Isagi nodded wordlessly before walking away. Tabito waited until he was out of sight before slinking into the locker room.
Rin continued to sit on the bench, towel draped over his shoulders that were taut with frustration. His brow wrinkled in a cute way. Rin’s anger at the situation made him want to smile, but Tabito knew he had to fight it back, lest he walk straight into a tongue lashing that ended with his neck beneath the blade of a guillotine.
Green eyes lifted slightly, acknowledging Tabito’s presence. “Fly away, Crow,” drawled Rin.
“I haven’t even said anything.” Tabito pressed his hand to his chest in mock disbelief.
Rin pursed his thin lips and sat up straighter, the towel falling to the floor. “You don’t need to. You have that look in your eyes.”
Tabito ignored Rin’s protests and took a seat on the bench across from him. “I just thought I’d check on you. That first defeat is never an easy one. It’s really frustrating to lose. Even if we did technically win.”
Rin shook his head, a pout forming on his lips. His long lashes fluttered against his cheeks, and he rested his chin in the palm of his hand. “Why would I be frustrated?”
Tabito rested his elbows on his knees and leaned forward, closing the distance between them ever so slightly. “Isagi stole the game winning goal from you. That would certainly frustrate the hell out of me. I’d be pissed. We’re all striving to be the best, after all.”
The silence that stretched was palpable. Brilliant green eyes stared back at him as if staring into the very depths of his soul, assessing. And perhaps, in a way, they were. Rin was just as calculating of a man. He was likely trying to decide how much he was willing to share if anything at all. He stood, having decided that null would be the final verdict. “I need to change,” he said, still in his spandex.
“Don’t let me stop you,” said Tabito, smiling. He stood as well but made no effort to leave. Rin eyed him again, then turned back to his locker to pull out his Blue Lock issued sweat clothes. Tabito looked away, offering a shred of privacy. They got so little of it in this facility. Ego’s ability to pop on screen in any room at any given moment was proof of that. He had cameras and microphones everywhere.
If the outside world knew…
That alone would be grounds to shut down Blue Lock. They all knew it. Instead, they kept the thoughts to themselves in an effort to be the best. Even a maximum-security prison had more privacy than this. Tabito wouldn’t put it past the bowl-cut to have cameras in the bathrooms as well.
Out of the corner of his eye, he spied Rin now sporting his sweatpants, sans shirt. Having deemed that respectable enough, Tabito turned back, taking in the full view of Rin’s exposed back. Every muscle shifted and tensed as he pulled a plain t-shirt over his head, stealing away the view. It was unfortunate he felt the need to fully cover up, pulling on his crewneck sweater as well.
“You get cold easily, don’t you?” Tabito mused aloud.
Rin spun on his heel, a surprised yet scathing look in his eyes. “What?”
Tabito shrugged. “You look like the type that gets cold easily. Aside from the excessive need to practice to be the best, it’s why you’re always on the move, isn’t it? Keep your blood flowing and your heartrate up so that you don’t get cold.”
Rin wet his lips. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He shoved his hands in the pockets of his sweatpants, silently confirming Tabito’s suspicions.
“If you say so.” He shrugged again. Tabito turned toward the locker room exit. Everyone was supposed to gather in the dining hall after they finished changing. At this point in time, Ego and Anri were likely in the middle of their big speech about the victory. Tabito half-wondered if they were together, though it seemed unlikely.
Rin surprisingly fell in step beside him as they exited the locker room. Tabito leaned in, bumping his shoulder into Rin’s. A smug grin tugged at the corner of his mouth as he whispered, “I can help you stay warm, if you ever get too cold at night.”
Rin halted, green eyes wide with shock. He flicked his gaze back and forth, before he finally started walking again, choosing to ignore the statement. “Crows rifle through garbage and eat scraps,” said Rin, stepping ahead of Tabito.
Tabito laughed to himself and took one long stride to fall in step beside Rin again. He grabbed him by the elbow, pulling him aside before they entered the dining room. “Crows are highly intelligent, incredibly clean, and they like shiny things.” He gave Rin a once over, licked his lips, and said, “And you’re the shiniest thing in here.”
He watched as Rin’s breath caught in his throat, then released him. Mr. Number One was at a loss for words and Tabito felt satisfied that he was able to stun him so fully. “Better hurry up,” he said. “You’re gonna miss all the good food if you dawdle out here too long,” he teased. Tabito walked into the dining hall, leaving Rin to scramble to catch up.