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The classroom was quiet. The room was filled with gentle sunlight coming through the windows. Nagi was sitting in the last row, half-asleep, his head resting on his hand.
“Sei.”
Nagi slowly opened his eyes.
It was Reo.
Sitting beside him, wearing their school uniform. His tie was perfectly straight, his blazer buttoned up, and his tidy hair. He looked just as clean and perfect as Nagi remembered him.
“Your sleeping again” Reo said, smiling brightly “Class is almost over”
Nagi looked around. It was their old classroom. The same desks, the same blackboard, the same light.
“We’re at school?” Nagi asked.
“Obviously” Reo said with a small laugh “Where else should we be?”
The bell rang. The other student stood up and left the class. Nagi kept staring at Reo trying to understand what was happening.
“Let’s go to eat” Reo said, grabbing his bag.
They walked through the hallway and out to the courtyard behind the gym. Reo took out two bento boxes and handed one to Nagi.
Nagi opened the box, Inside there were neatly arranged sushi rolls, a few pieces of karaage, and fresh fruit slices shaped like hearts. It was colorful, balanced, and clearly made with care.
“You cooked?” Nagi asked
Reo rolled his eyes: “Yeah, I know you don’t eat properly when I’m not around, so I made sure you eat”
Nagi ate slowly. It wasn’t perfect, but it tasted good and familiar: It felt like Reo.
“You always take care of me” Nagi said.
Reo smiled as always: “I like taking care of you!”
They sat together, eating in silence. The breeze was light, the sky was clear.
Reo looked at him: “Do you think if we hadn’t gone to Blue Lock…we’d still be like this?”
Nagi thought for a moment: “Maybe. But you always wanted more”
“I wanted more for you,” Reo replied “But somewhere along the way, I lost you.”
Nagi didn’t answer.
Reo reached out and took his hand.
“I missed you” he said.
Nagi’s heart felt heavy: “I missed you too.”
They sat quietly. Then Reo leaned in and rested his forehead against Nagi’s. Their faces were so close, their hands still together.
“I wish we could stay like this forever” Nagi whispered.
Reo gave him a small smile. “But this isn’t real… is it?” Nagi’s heart ached. The colors around them started to blur, as if the world was slipping away.
“Wait,” he said, voice shaking. “Don’t leave… not yet.”
Reo gave him a soft, sad smile. He leaned in and pressed his forehead gently against Nagi’s.
“I wish I could stay,” he whispered. “But you have to wake up now.”
Nagi opened his eyes.
He was in his bedroom. Morning light came in through the curtains. His blanket was half on the floor. Everything was quiet.
He sat up slowly, his chest felt tight.
The dream was over.
It had felt real, so real that he could still feel Reo’s hand in his.
He looked around the room: His duffel bag was near the closet, still unpacked, a reminder of what happened.
He hadn’t made it into the final 23 players for the World Cup: he was 24th.
And Reo?
He remembered the look on Reo’s face when the announcement was made: eyes wide, lips trembling, tears he didn’t even try to hide, that image had never left Nagi’s memory.
Nagi pulled his knees to his chest and buried his face, trying to block it all out.
“I miss you” he whispered.
He didn’t care about being quiet. He didn’t try to stop.
He cried for Reo. For the dream. For not trying hard enough for their dream.
“I don’t wanna wake up…” he whispered through the tears.
But he already had.
And now, he was alone