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The venue chosen was all glass and marble, some obnoxiously expensive hall in Tokyo, perched high above the skyline like it was trying to distance itself from the common folk. Neon shimmered below, but inside the room, it was warm and golden, the lights dimmed to soft candle hues. Velvet chairs, catered hors d’oeuvres, imported wine—Ego hadn’t been stingy.
It had been two years since the Neo Egoist League ended, but everyone looked the same. Just shinier. Richer. More successful. A little more famous, and a little more tired. It had also been Two years since Itoshi Rin rejected Re al’s offer and joined PXG.
Rin Itoshi stood near the far wall, glass of water in hand. He hadn’t touched the champagne. His tie was slightly loosened, shirt sleeves rolled up, hair even more grown out than usual. He looked like he belonged here—and hated that he did.
He wasn’t here to mingle.
He wasn’t here to celebrate the “growth of Japan’s football revolution” or whatever the banner on the entrance had said.
He was here because Reo and Chigiri wouldn’t stop texting him until he showed.
Now Reo was at the buffet, charming the hell out of the caterers. Chigiri was halfway through a glass of red, pointedly ignoring the crowd of Ex Blue Lock TV executives trying to pitch him another documentary about his injury journey.
Past Blue Lock players were everywhere. PXG, Bastard München, Italy, England, Spain, even Ubers. All grown. All legends now. Every ego in the room colliding like atoms. But none of that mattered to Rin.
Rin just… stood. Observing.
Isagi Yoichi was talking to Ego by the bar, handsome as ever in a navy suit and signature earnestness. He hadn’t changed much. Still charming. Still confident. Still the center of whatever room he walked into.
Rin looked away.
He hated the way his stomach twisted when Isagi laughed.
Across the room, a familiar voice carried above the music—Alexis Ness, the pink ends of his hair reaching at his nape, silver earring glinting. He was animated, polite, almost too well-behaved for this room full of arrogant prodigies.
Rin hadn’t spoken to Isagi in… months. Maybe longer.
They were never friends. But they had a thing. Brief. Stupid. Something like affection with sharp edges and nothing said aloud. It fizzled out naturally, the way fire runs out of air.
But still.
Seeing Ness drift so easily toward Isagi’s side, tucking in close like he belonged there, made something uncomfortable settle in Rin’s chest.
“Staring’s not very subtle, y’know,” Chigiri murmured beside him, appearing with perfect timing and two glasses of wine.
“I’m not staring.”
“My Bad. You’re glaring.”
“Shut up.”
Reo joined them a second later, stuffing some tiny gourmet cube of fish into his mouth. “I give it ten minutes before someone says something that sets you off.”
“No one’s setting me off,” Rin muttered. “ If anything the momment you see your overgrown sloth you’re the one that’s gonna be set off—“ Rin still remembers Nagi and Reo’s drama at the end of the Neo ego league , Rin didn’t expect to see Reo cry and what’s more he didn’t expect later on that Nagi would—
reo “ Hey I’ll have you know—“
“Rin. You already look like you’re calculating how to murder half the room,” Chigiri said flatly.
Before Rin could respond, a hush fell across the space.
Ego stepped forward, fingers snapping once for attention. “As much as I hate nostalgia,” he said coolly, “I’ll allow it—tonight only. Because this lot somehow managed not to disgrace my name in international football. Good job it’s….” Hes sighs as he says “ nice to see you again you polishing diamonds”
Laughter and smiles scattered across the room. Ego let it die before nodding toward the front.
Isagi, hand resting lightly at Ness’s waist, took a step forward.
He smiled.
“So…We didn’t want to steal the spotlight tonight,” Isagi began, voice easy, confident, “but… we figured now’s as good a time as any to share some personal news since everyone is here.”
Ness ducked his head, cheeks dusted pink. Rin’s fingers clenched around his glass.
Isagi: “We’re engaged.”
It took a second. Then—
Gasps. Cheers. Applause. Someone whistled. Ego rolled his eyes.
Rin couldn’t hear any of it.
He was staring, frozen in place. Every muscle taut. Every breath caught halfway up his throat.
His heart was trying to climb out of his chest, but not in the romantic way people wrote about in poems. No, this was ugly. Sharp. Bitter.
He watched Ness smile up at Isagi. Watched Isagi touch his back like it was second nature. Watched them fit—two puzzle pieces that never had a missing edge between them.
“A shame kaiser couldn’t have made it He just missed his best friends engagement announcement !” Exclaimed Raichi as he started shaking kurona’s shoulders before kiyora can between them.
everybody knew they were dating , isagi and ness it was a big deal cause in the Neo ego league Ness really despised isagi and vice versa they were a hot topic when they first announced their relationship.
Reo turned slowly. “…Rin?”
Chigiri’s face had gone blank. Guarded.
And Rin?
Rin said nothing.
But inside, something ruptured.
Because his almost ex, his long-time crush were getting married.
And the worst part?
They looked happy.
Rin had perfected the art of standing still while his insides burned.
He watched the celebration continue around him. Isagi and Ness accepting congratulations like they were royalty, like they hadn’t just split Rin’s world down the middle. Like this was normal. Casual. Just another announcement.
“Rin.”
Reo’s voice was sharp, tugging him back.
“You okay?”
“Don’t,” Rin muttered.
Chigiri stepped in front of him, eyes narrowed. “You don’t look okay.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re shaking.”
Only then did Rin realize the death grip he had on the edge of the wine table. His knuckles were bone white. The muscles in his jaw wouldn’t unclench. He wasn’t even breathing right.
Reo and Chigiri exchanged a look.
Reo: “We can leave. Say the word. We’ll lie. Say you got food poisoning or that Shidou ran you over with a car again.”
Rin: “ he never ran me over.”
Chigiri: “Okay but like… the fact that it sounds plausible means you’re not well.”
“I’m fine.”
He forced the words out again, as if repetition could make it true.
Then—
“Rin?”
The voice that always cracked through him like lightning.
He turned.
Isagi Yoichi, still in his suit, still beautiful and bright and annoyingly sincere, was walking over. Ness was a step behind, offering a soft smile.
Rin straightened. Stiffened.
He kept his expression unreadable, even as his pulse roared in his ears.
Isagi (smiling): “Didn’t get to talk to you earlier. How’ve you been?”
Rin wanted to scoff. Or walk away. But he didn’t. Because he was stupid. Because he still—
“Busy.”
“Yeah, I saw your last game. That curve shot was insane.”
Rin shrugged. “It was Fine unlike your lukewarm shot against arsenal.”
Isagi chuckled. “Same old Rin, huh?”
The way he said it—fond, nostalgic—hit too close to the ribs.
Ness (stepping up): “I was really hoping you’d come to the wedding. I know we’re not that close but… I’d love to have you there.”
Rin froze.
He opened his mouth.
Closed it.
Reo and Chigiri were doing that thing—frantic, panicked hand gestures behind Isagi and Ness’s backs, mouthing lie. SAY NO.
Rin cleared his throat.
“I think… I might be in Europe that week.”
Isagi: “Really?. I thought you were off-season?”
Rin’s eyes flicked away. “Was planning to fly out. Training. Somewhere.”
He didn’t have a plan. But it sounded plausible. Probably. Hopefully.
Ness (brightening): “Oh, perfect! It’s in Europe! Hamburg.”
Rin’s soul flatlined.
Fuck.
He should’ve said Asia. Or the Arctic.
Isagi (gently): “Come on, Rin. We’d really like to see you there. It wouldn’t be the same without you.”
Reo whispered: “Abort mission. Say you died.”
Chigiri whispered: “il Push you down the stairs and run so it makes sense “
Rin swallowed hard.
His chest felt too tight. His throat too dry. He was being cornered, emotionally and socially, and the weight of it pressed harder with every word they said. He didn’t want to see them happy. He didn’t want to sit through a wedding where Ness looked at Isagi the way Rin used to dream he might look at him.
He couldn’t be alone there. Not like that.
Not with everyone watching.
Not with his pride this raw.
So when Ness said softly, “Please? It’d really mean a lot to isagi and me , we met at the Neo ego league and without you that wouldn’t have been possible your an important part of why that league was even made please come”
And Isagi added, “Only if you’re comfortable, of course.”
Isagi: “But Rin, We really want you there, Rin. The wedding’s gonna be with Blue Lock and our close circles. You being there would… mean something.”
Rin’s breath caught.
Ness (sincerely): “Even if we weren’t close—I mean, I always wanted to know you better. You were…important to Yoichi “
Rin blinked. The words didn’t compute. He just stared.
And then—like some hellish mode had been activated—Otoya walked by and casually asked, “Oh yeah, isagi, are we allowed plus-ones? I wasn’t sure if it was just teammates or…”
Isagi: “Of course. Bring whoever you want. Everyone’s welcome.”
Karasu: “Bet. I was gonna come solo but now I’m texting someone hot.”
Someone behind them snorted. “You wish.”
Laughter erupted around the group. The energy shifted. The conversation turned. Just like that, the whole table—every player, every guest—was talking dates and companions like it was some giant social math problem.
Reo tensed. Chigiri mouthed “Don’t” at no one in particular.
And then—
Isagi (softly): “Rin… I guess you don’t need one, right?”
He didn’t mean it cruelly. Not really. But the words landed like a slap.
“You’ll have your brother there,” Ness added. “And Shidou. Plus PXG. Honestly, you’re kind of like family at this point.”
Rin’s brain went quiet. Then too loud.
The sounds of the room blurred. His pulse raced.
They weren’t saying it outright. But the implication was clear:
You don’t have anyone else. Your not gonna bring anyone cause you don’t have anyone else. Your gonna go alone.
And Rin—petty, prideful, emotionally repressed Rin—felt something bitter rise up and snap.
Because no.
No, he wouldn’t sit at their wedding alone. While shidou and Sae were off somewhere or pxg mingled into their own other friend groups.
No, he wouldn’t let Isagi—Isagi, with his perfect life and perfect love story—look at him like he was fine with this.
Rin’s mind didn’t slow down. It just picked the most nuclear option and ran. The events of today Rin pride and all Rin was no longer thinking straight.
“I’ll bring someone,” he said evenly.
All heads turned.
Isagi (blinking): “…You have a date?”
Rin (without thinking): “A fiancé.”
Chigiri choked. Reo made a small, dying noise. Otoya dropped a fork.
Isagi’s eyes narrowed.
Ness blinked, surprised. “Wait… you’re engaged?”
Rin nodded once.
“You’ve been keeping that very quiet,” Isagi said, skeptically.
Rin: “We’ve been keeping it lowkey.”
Isagi: “Who is it?”
There was still time to lie. To say anyone else. Make up some name.
But Rin’s brain was a forest fire. His pride was screaming. And his rage reached for the one person who would burn both of them down. A double fucking kill. One came up in his mind instantly.
“…Who is it?” Isagi asked. Calm. Too calm. Like an adult humoring a lying child.
That did it.Rin’s mouth opened before he could stop it.
His brain screamed: don’t.
But his ego? His ego had already chosen violence.
“Michael Kaiser.”
The effect was instant.
Like a record scratch in real life.
The room didn’t go silent—the people around them did. It was like the group collectively short-circuited. All movement halted. Every thought got eaten by the gravity of that name.
Reo literally staggered. Like he’d just taken a hit to the temple.
Chigiri’s mouth dropped open. He stared at Rin, then at Isagi, then back like he was watching someone drive off a cliff in slow motion.
Isagi’s smile vanished. Wiped clean. His eyes narrowed, sharp and quiet in a way that made Rin want to look away—and absolutely refuse to.
Ness blinked.
“Wait…” His voice was small. Too soft. “… Kaiser?”
Rin didn’t blink. Didn’t flinch.
“Yeah.”
Ness’s hand came up to his chest—like someone had flicked him there. “But… he never told me. I thought—I thought we …we were best friends? He would have told me??.”
His voice wasn’t accusing. Just confused. Like a kicked puppy.
Isagi (tight): “You expect us to believe that?”
“Believe what you want.”
Reo turned very, very slowly toward Rin.
Reo (hissing): “That is Isagi’s mortal enemy. And Ness’s literal ex-obsession. You picked him? Are you insane?”
That’s exactly why Rin thought of him even somone with the EQ of Rin recognized how much Ness was obsessed with kaiser in the Neo ego league and how much isagi hated kaiser. So what better way to get at them both by getting engaged to your crushes fiancé’s ex crush/obsession who happens to also be the man your crush hates the most. Also he wasn’t here to deny Rin’s claims.
Chigiri (flatly): “No, not insane. Just very, very emotionally unstable.”
“Shut up,” Rin snapped.
Isagi: “When did this happen?”
“Few months ago.”
“Where?”
Rin narrowed his eyes. “Why the fuck does that matter?”
Isagi’s jaw flexed. His tone dropped.
“Because he doesn’t do lowkey. And you don’t do people. So either you’re lying, or something’s seriously off.”
Rin (low): “You’re mad I didn’t tell you?”
“I’m not mad,” Isagi snapped, too fast.
A lie.
Ness still hadn’t said anything. He was staring at the ground now, fingers fidgeting with the ring on his chain. The one Kaiser gave him once. The one he swore he’d moved on from.
“…We used to be really close,” Ness said, voice thin. “I didn’t think he’d hide something like this.”
Rin’s gut twisted.
Not because he felt guilty.
But because Ness looked genuinely hurt.
He hadn’t thought about how much that would sting—him to see Ness, who was technically innocent hurt.
The group was still staring at him, waiting for a crack. Waiting for him to admit it was a lie.
So Rin stood taller. Shoulders squared. Lips tight.
“We didn’t want it public,” he said evenly. “But I’ll bring him. To the wedding. You’ll see for yourselves.”
And with that, Itoshi Rin, emotional war criminal and now compulsive liar, sealed his fate. His phone Ringed and Rin said “ oh? Speaking of him . Excuse me” as he answered his phone walking away.
The moment Rin stepped outside, the night hit him like a slap—cool air, city noise, the faint thrum of life that had nothing to do with him or his catastrophic mouth. Obviously that call wasn’t from kaiser rin didnt even have his number, it was his manager and thank god for the timming.
He didn’t wait for Reo or Chigiri. Didn’t say goodbye.
He just walked. Fast. Controlled. Like he wasn’t on the verge of full-body emotional combustion.
The valet pulled up his car—a sleek matte-black Ferrari, tinted windows, custom plates. One of the only indulgences he let himself have.
(And yeah, the fact that it looked like it belonged in a spy movie didn’t hurt.)
He thanked the valet with a nod, slipped into the leather seat, and shut the door.
Silence.
The second it closed behind him—safe, alone, no witnesses—Rin slammed his head against the steering wheel and groaned like a man possessed.
“WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH ME.”
He dragged his hands down his face. The leather wheel creaked under his grip.
His heart was still racing. His mind was still spiraling.
He hadn’t just lied.
He hadn’t just said something dumb.
No, no. He had looked Yoichi Isagi in the eye—his long-time, stupid, emotionally repressed crush—and announced that he was engaged to Michael Fucking Kaiser.
Michael Kaiser.
The walking PR crisis.
The man Ness used to obsess over.
The man Isagi despised.
The man Rin had spoken maybe four full sentences to in his life.
And he’d said it like it was fact.
Like he could just… manifest a fiancé out of sheer spite and rage.
“God. Fuck. No no no—” Rin muttered, practically convulsing in his seat.
He slammed the start button. The engine roared to life, purring like a beast.
Not calming.
At all.
He didn’t drive. He just sat there, fingers white on the wheel, headlights casting long shadows against the empty pavement.
His thoughts raced:
All Ness has to do is call him.
One phone call and the lie is dead.
Kaiser doesn’t even know. He’ll think I’m insane. He’ll say no. Laugh, even. Maybe post about it.
The press would eat it alive.
I am going to die.
I have to delete my Instagram.
I have to move to the mountains and change my name.
He let out a noise that was somewhere between a laugh and a scream.
And then he punched the horn. It let out the most aggressive honk in history. A pigeon across the street almost died on the spot.
“I’m an idiot,” Rin muttered, burying his face in his hands. “A world-class, FIFA-certified, top-tier fucking idiot.”
He sat in the car like that for five whole minutes.
Just… breathing.
Trying to slow his heart rate. Trying to think.
He could deny it.
Say he was joking. Say he was drunk. Say Kaiser was a hallucination. Blame Shidou. (Honestly, always a valid backup plan.)
Or that they misheard. Blame the champagne. Hell, blame concussion symptoms. He could say Kaiser was a metaphor. A concept.
He stared blankly at the glowing display on the dash.
It looked back at him, soulless. Judging.
No.
Backing out now would mean admitting it was all a lie. It’d mean humiliation—real, public, permanent humiliation.
Worse: pity.
And Rin would rather chew glass than give Isagi the satisfaction of thinking he was lonely.
So no.
He couldn’t take it back.
He’d committed to the bit.
Now he had to sell it.
Problem was—he had no plan.
No number. No leverage. No idea how to even find Kaiser, let alone convince him to pretend to be his fake fiancé at the most gossip-saturated wedding the Blue Lock program had ever seen.
He pulled out his phone. Scrolled. Nothing.
No Kaiser.
Not under ‘Michael’, not under ‘Kaiser’, not even under ‘shitty rose, or fucking bastard)’ which was definitely something Rin would’ve done.
Rin groaned, leaning his head back on the seat. The leather was too soft. It made him feel like a man losing his mind in style.
mayby he should just come out clean?
But that would mean admitting he panicked. That would mean watching Isagi and Ness laugh about it later. Pity him.
No.
If he was going to go down, he was going to drag the golden-haired bastard down with him.
He grabbed his phone.
Paused.
Swore under his breath.
“…How the hell do I even contact Kaiser?”
Call Sae? No the chances of him having kaisers number is lower than of Sae actually picking up.
Ask Ego? He’d probably charge a fee and livestream the call to fund the next round of bltv.
He stared at the roof.
“Okay,” he whispered, trying to think like a normal human. “Step one: Find Kaiser. Step two: Don’t cry. Step three: Beg?”
It was an awful plan.
But Rin was a man of commitment. Bad ones, sure, but still.
fuck pride. Fuck alchool hes never drinking again or coming to parties.
The gravel crunched under thick tires as the Bugatti Mistral rolled up the private driveway, humming like sin itself.
Michael Kaiser leaned forward slightly from the backseat, gold rings catching the light as he scrolled through his phone with one hand and adjusted his sunglasses with the other. His hair was a little tousled—shoot ended late, traffic was a mess, and he barely had time to change—but the designer coat draped around his shoulders still made him look like he belonged on the cover of a magazine.
Which, technically, he did.
Two this month alone.
The reunion had never been on his priority list. Originally, he had a cover shoot for a German fashion brand rebranding itself as “disruptive luxury” (whatever the hell that meant). But when the shoot wrapped early and his agent said, “You know, Blue Lock’s little party is still going on…”
Kaiser decided—why not? So here he was now in Japan. Here at the venue.
He didn’t care much about the nostalgia or the people. But showing up unexpected, fashionably late, and just in time to make a scene?
That was very on brand.
The world was finally quiet.
Rin sat in his car, engine still idling, the stereo playing nothing. The LED lights cast a faint glow against the matte black of the interior. His forehead was resting against the steering wheel like he was trying to fuse into the machine and become a non-human object so he’d never have to deal with this again.
He had just convinced himself to Google “how to disappear without faking your death” when—
He heard it.
The low, throaty growl of an engine built for spectacle, followed by the faintest sound of tires on fresh gravel.
No.
No way.
Rin lifted his head slowly. Like a horror movie protagonist peeking through the blinds.
And there it was.
A Bugatti Mistral one of the only 99 made in the world, fresh off some magazine shoot probably, custom plates, tinted windows like his but darker, and a presence that was just so Kaiser.
The door opened.
One boot stepped out. Then another.
And Michael Fucking Kaiser emerged like he was stepping into a spotlight.
Perfectly rumpled. Designer coat draped over one shoulder. No tie. Top buttons undone. Platinum-blond hair a little messy like he’d run a hand through it and called it a day. He looked like a man who’d slept with both the photographer and the stylist at his shoot and had time to spare.
Rin’s soul fled his body.
“No. No. No, no, no—” he muttered, ducking behind the wheel.
Of course he showed up now.
He wasn’t supposed to come. Rin had literally counted on that when he blurted out his name like an idiot. He had a shoot. He wasn’t on the RSVP. He was supposed to be in Berlin or Paris or some stupid gilded studio, not HERE.
“WHY is he HERE?”
Rin slammed his hands on the wheel. Then froze.
Wait.
Wait.
This could actually be good. If he ran now—right now—and got to Kaiser before he entered, he could explain. Beg. Bargain. Bribe. Convince him to go along with it. That would salvage it. It could work.
Except—
“What if he goes in before I get to him?”
Rin’s blood ran cold.
If Kaiser walked into that room and didn’t know the context—if he looked even slightly confused, or worse, laughed—
The lie would implode in real time.
Everyone would know.
He’d be the joke of Blue Lock for the rest of his life.
Pride wouldn’t survive that.
He wouldn’t survive that.
“Shit—” Rin practically launched his seatbelt off, yanking the door open, half-tripping in his urgency as he stepped out into the night. His boots hit the pavement, heart pounding, throat dry.
Kaiser was already halfway to the front doors, casually adjusting his cufflinks like he hadn’t just walked into a social minefield.
Rin sprinted.
Michael Kaiser had seen a lot of beautiful things in his life.
Art museums in Paris. Fashion shows in Milan. That one time he walked past his own reflection in a Versace window.
He wasn’t easily impressed.
So when the moonlight caught the figure sprinting across the lot—wind tugging at dark, unbuttoned layers, green almost black hair streaking behind like an ink spill in the night—Kaiser blinked.
Paused.
And for a second—just a second—he thought:
Damn. That’s pretty.
Gorgeous. Ethereal, almost. Like something you weren’t supposed to witness head-on. Too sharp. Too alive.
But then—
He squinted.
The pretty thing had rage in its eyes. Precision in its steps. And a face that Kaiser had definitely seen before.
Once.
Maybe twice.
A press event? A hallway in Blue Lock? A match that ended in blood and scuffed cleats?
And then the memory snapped into place like a corner piece of a puzzle.
Itoshi Rin.
Oh.
Oh, shit.
Usually, Kaiser didn’t remember people. It was a talent, honestly. Names, faces, even post-match conversations—gone. Irrelevant. The world was full of noise, and he had never been interested in listening.
But Rin was different.
That face? Unforgettable.quite literally gorgeous and beautiful beyond words.
That aura? Like someone had carved pride and talent into human shape and then set it on fire.
That body? Lithe, dangerous, deliberate. The way he moved—controlled like a machine, but barely holding in enough emotion to kill a man if needed.
It didn’t help that little brat got a Re al offer . one many players would have killed for , kaiser joined the stupid project just to get a better chance of getting into re al(and was now very happily one of re al greatest strikers )and Rin just happened to get an offer at 16 and reject it. The best club in the world.
so yes.
Kaiser had noticed.
Everyone had.
And now, that very Rin Itoshi was—
—running straight at him?
Kaiser glanced over his shoulder, half expecting to see Isagi, or maybe Sae, or an incoming meteor.
But there was no one there.
Just the glass doors.
Just him.
He turned back.
Rin was still coming.
Faster now. Intense. Dead-eyed. Borderline murderous.
And for once in his life, Michael Kaiser didn’t know why.
He tilted his head.
“…What the hell?”
Kaiser didn’t have time to move.
One second, he was squinting into the moonlight at a very fast, very angry blur of black and limbs. Now closing th distance franticly now right in front of me
The next—
Rin tripped.
Not dramatically. Not clumsily. Just enough to tilt forward at the last second, foot catching on the curb like fate wanted to ruin him one final time tonight.
Kaiser’s reflexes kicked in. Instinct, muscle memory, habit—whatever. His arm shot out.
Caught him.
Rin slammed forward, both hands grabbing at the front of Kaiser’s coat like it was the only thing keeping him upright. Their faces were close. Their chests closer. The sudden proximity felt like a punch.
For a split second, neither of them spoke.
Kaiser (blinking): “…Well, hello to you too.”
Rin’s breath hitched.
Up close, Kaiser looked even more infuriating. Clean-cut jaw. Stupid lashes. The kind of face that was probably illegal in half of Europe but Rin could tell he was confused and mabye even annoyed.
And worse—he was smirking.
Rin (hoarse): “Don’t go inside.”
Kaiser raised a brow.
“Pardon?”
Rin shoved off him roughly, cheeks hot, panic barely contained under his scowl. His hands fisted in the sleeves of his own jacket like he was physically holding his body together.
“Just—don’t go in. Not yet. I need to talk to you. Privately.”
Kaiser tilted his head.
His voice dropped slightly. Playful. Dangerous.
“Should I be flattered or concerned?”
“Kaiser—”
“I mean, you sprinted across a parking lot for me. That’s new.”
Rin glared, teeth clenched. “Shut up and come here.”
He grabbed Kaiser’s sleeve again—rough, desperate—and started pulling him toward the side of the building where the lights faded and a little maintenance alcove sat in shadow.
Kaiser didn’t resist. Not because he understood. But because this was too weird not to follow through on.
And also, maybe, just maybe, because Rin’s grip was shaking slightly.
And that wasn’t like him.
Once they ducked into the shadows, Rin finally stopped. Pacing. Hair falling in his eyes. Entire posture screaming tension.
Kaiser leaned against the wall casually, watching like he was at a play.
Kaiser (murmuring): “You’re sweating.”
“Shut. Up.”
“Did you just—trip into my arms?”
Rin snapped his head up, eyes blazing.
“I’m trying to save my own life here, Kaiser.”
“…Now I’m definitely listening.”
Kaiser leaned lazily against the cool stone wall of the building like they weren’t in the middle of a high-stakes emotional hostage situation.
Rin, on the other hand, looked like he had personally fought God and lost.
He was pacing. Hands in his hair. Then out. Then fisted in his jacket. His words kept starting and dying mid-sentence.
“Okay. Okay. Okay so—listen,” Rin said, holding up one hand. “Before you say anything. Or like, react. I—fuck, how do I—okay. So technically, I may have—shit.”
Kaiser didn’t interrupt.
He just watched. Silently. One brow quirked, the corner of his mouth tugging up with morbid curiosity. Like watching a beautiful animal implode.
Rin pointed at him. Accusing. “You’re not helping.”
“I haven’t even said anything.”
“Exactly!”
Kaiser blinked. “Are you high?”
Rin groaned and nearly headbutted the wall. “I may have said something incredibly fucking stupid.”
“That checks out.”
Rin shot him a look that could’ve leveled a city. “At the reunion.”
“I gathered.”
“You weren’t supposed to be there!”
“I’m still technically not.” Kaiser shrugged. “Cause a certain Japanese man stopped me from entering but Figured I’d make a dramatic entrance. Which I did. You’re welcome.”
Rin exhaled sharply through his nose. “Okay so—I panicked. There was this whole thing—Isagi and Ness—they… they’re engaged. And it’s gross. And fine. And they asked if I was bringing someone and I said yes. Which is normal. People lie. It’s fine. I was gonna make someone up. A name. A guy. But then Ness said plus-ones are allowed and Isagi made a face and they were gonna pity me, and I couldn’t—so I—”
Kaiser held up a hand.
“Pause. Rewind. Start from the part where this becomes my problem.”
Rin stared at him. Just… looked at him.
Then muttered like it was the worst sin he’d ever committed:
“…I said I was engaged. To you.”
Silence.
Kaiser blinked once.
Then twice.
Then said, very helpfully:
“…Why?”
“Because,” Rin growled, frustrated at his own existence, “you’re Isagi’s most hated person and Ness’s ex-obsession or let’s be real he was in love with you and I wasn’t thinking and it just came out and then they didn’t believe me and I doubled down and now the entire room thinks we’re fucking engaged and you weren’t supposed to show up so I was gonna figure it out later but you’re HERE now and I have approximately two minutes to convince you to go along with it before everything burns and I die.”
Rin exhaled. Chest rising. Face pink.
Kaiser just blinked again.
“…Wow.”
He stared at Rin like he was an alien. Or a rare artifact. Or a very pretty, very explosive grenade.
Rin closed his eyes. “Oh my god. I’m so fucking tired.” Then Rins eyes widens “ oh shit…you weren’t their you don’t know about the engament I didn’t mean to ughh damit it mabye i should have let Ness tell you about the announcement shit shit uhh your best friends engaged to isagi but pretend you didn’t no uhh I don’t want to ruin this for your best friend shit I’m sorry-“
There was a beat.
And then Kaiser stepped forward.
Flicked him—right in the forehead.
Hard.
Rin yelped. “What the fuck?”
Kaiser grinned. “You’re adorable when you spiral.”
“I hate you.”
“I know.”
He stepped back slightly, hands in his pockets now. Looking far too casual for a man who just found out he’s someone’s accidental fiancé.
“You really thought you had to tell me Ness was getting married?”
Rin hesitated. “I mean. I wasn’t sure—”
Kaiser snorted. “Rin. Who do you think he told first?”
Rin’s brain hiccupped.
“…you’re kidding.”
Kaiser’s grin was all teeth now.
“He called me two weeks ago to cry about it. Then texted me the invite. Said I was the first to know then cried over his family’s surprisingly supportive reactions “
Rin looked like he wanted to collapse into the floor.
“…So you already knew everything?”
Kaiser nodded.
“Then why did you let me talk for that long?!”
Kaiser gave a smug little shrug. “Entertainment value.”
Rin groaned and tugged at his own hair.
“So?” he asked, barely above a whisper. “Will you?”
“Will I what?”
Rin looked up at him. Sharp. Vulnerable. Slightly feral.
“Will you pretend to be engaged to me?”
Rin had never hated the silence more.
Kaiser didn’t say yes. Didn’t say no. Didn’t even blink. He just stood there, hands in his coat pockets, expression unreadable except for the tiniest flicker of amusement in his eyes—like a cat watching a cornered mouse.
Finally—
He stepped closer.
Not fast. Not aggressive. Just deliberate. One slow footfall at a time, like he had all the time in the world and nothing to lose.
Rin didn’t move.
Kaiser tilted his head, gaze sweeping up from Rin’s scuffed boots to the mess of dark hair falling into his eyes. His voice was low, smooth, and far too pleased with itself.
“So.”
A pause.
“You’re asking me…”
Another step.
“To pretend…”
Another step. Close now. Close enough that Rin had to force himself not to step back.
“To be engaged to you.”
Rin crossed his arms over his chest. “You heard me.”
“I did.” Kaiser smirked. “I just like hearing it again.”
Rin’s eye twitched.
Kaiser leaned in slightly, just enough that Rin could smell his cologne—something expensive, lazy, and infuriatingly magnetic.
“Why,” he asked, “should I?”
Rin scowled. “Because I just told a room full of our mutual teammates that we’re getting married and if you don’t go along with it, I’m going to die. Publicly.”
Kaiser hummed. “Mm. And that sounds like a you problem.”
Rin’s fists clenched.
“I’ll owe you.”
Kaiser perked up. “Owe me what?”
“I don’t know. Favors.”
“Too vague.”
“I’ll buy you something.”
“I can afford things.”
“Do you want blood?!”
Kaiser laughed.
Not fake. Not polite. Just—amused.
“Wow,” he said, grinning now. “You’re really spiraling.”
Rin glared. “Is this funny to you??Are you enjoying this? “
“Absolutely.”
He circled behind Rin like a shark. Not touching. Just orbiting, like he knew exactly how unsettling it was.
“I have to say…” Kaiser’s voice dropped slightly, more thoughtful now. “I didn’t expect this from you.”
“Expect what?”
“You, begging.” A pause. “To me.”
Rin looked like he might commit murder.
“I’m not begging.”
Kaiser smiled wide. “You kind of are, babe.”
“Don’t call me that.”
Kaiser ignored him. “You know what I think?”
“No, but I’m sure you’ll tell me.”
“I think you need me more than I need you.” He stopped right in front of Rin again, eyes sharp, teasing. “So what’s it worth to you, Liebling?”
Rin swallowed. Pride and rage and panic all curling in his gut.
Kaiser watched it all happen. Savored it.
Rin muttered something.
“What was that?” Kaiser asked, leaning in again.
“I’ll…” Rin gritted his teeth. “I’ll owe you one solid favor. Anything. One. Just say yes.”
Kaiser didn’t answer right away.
He stepped even closer, nose nearly brushing Rin’s. His grin softened—not kind, but cutting. The way people smile right before setting something on fire.
Then he whispered—
“I’ll do it.”
Rin blinked.
“Wha—”
Kaiser flicked his forehead. Again.
“You’re lucky you’re pretty when you panic.”
“I hate you.”
“I know. “Kaiser stepped back, hands in his pockets. “C’mon, fiancé. Let’s go ruin some lives.”