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Isagi had woken up in his hotel room and decided to get ready for the day.
Man, the match yesterday was incredible. He couldn’t believe he actually got to talk with a player as cool as Bunny Iglesias. Those high jumps are only a small indicator of the strength Bunny must have.
After hoping in the shower, he out on a navy tracksuit to go on a jog. “Just ‘cause i’m on a trip doesn’t mean i have to skip training.”, Isagi thought happily. He loved putting his body to work
Suddenly, his phone went off. An unknown number appearing
[Unknown Number]: Yo! This is Bunny from yesterday. I got your number from Lavinho
[Isagi]: Oh it’s you… do you know how embarrassing it was for me after you left.
What do you want
[Bunny]: Woah calm down. I’m free for a week and i wanted to see if you’d be down so look around with me.
[Iaagi]: After the stunt you pulled yesterday, why should i trust you?
[Bunny]: I promise to be a good little guide this time ;)
Isagi read the message and thought it over. He did still have one day left in Spain before he had to go to Germany…
[Isagi]: Okay fine. Meet me at ***. Don’t be late.
[Bunny]: Wouldn’t dream of it
Isagi putin his shoes and order him some room service
for breakfast. Just some waffles, eggs and sausages to get him going.
Only 10 minutes later, Bunny had texted that he had arrived. Isagi quickly grabbed his things and hurried to the elevator. He didn’t want to leave Bunny waiting for too long.
When he stepped outside, Isagi found Bunny right away. It’d be impossible not too with Bunny being as tall as freaking buildings. He would never admit it out loud but for the first time, Isagi felt a bit jealous and… embarrassed of his short stature.
As he walked closer to Bunny, his head kept tipping back little by little, only further highlighting the insane height difference between them.
“Yo! Long time no see.” Bunny started.
Isagi laughed nervously, feeling less confident than he did the day before, “ It’s only been a day geez… So uh, what exactly did you have in mind for today?”
Bunny looked down at Isagi for a beat and said teasingly “You’re so tense today haha. What happened to that confidence you had yesterday? Getting all up in a stranger's face and asking questions.”
Isagi went red immediately. He didn’t think what he did was that out of the ordinary… I mean how else was he supposed to order food in a foreign place?
Still, he kept his composure when he said, “It didn’t look you minded! i recall you laughing and joking with me too”
“Who wouldn’t laugh when there’s a funny looking bunny in front of them” Bunny said and gave Isagis sprout a flicker for good measure. Isagi just pouted and began walking.
“Well? Aren’t we going?”. Isagi feigned nonchalance. Bunny just smirked and put his hands in pockets.
“Our adventure starts this way actually. I don’t know about you but i’m hungry.”
~~~
In a cafe not to far from the hotel Isagi was staying in, Isagi on a bench outside with Bunny was inside, ordering himself a chocolate dipped croissant. Isagi sat and admired the scenery. Spain was beautiful at this time of day.
The morning sun casts a soft golden hue over the cobblestone street, and the breeze carries the scent of fresh pastries and blooming flowers. His eyes drift across the scene—people passing, leaves stirring in the wind, sunlight catching on glass windows—each detail absorbed with quiet appreciation. The ding of cafe doors opening and closing as more people start waking up.. Everything was beautiful and it just made Isagi’s appreciation for this trip grow so much more. He couldn’t believe he was actually here!
Bunny came back out with a bottle and a brown bag. He sat next to isagi, opened the pastry bag and offered a piece ro Isagi. “You seem like the type of guy to like sweets.”
Isagi had already eaten but he gladly took the sweet. Throwing away his usual rules of not eatibg too much before training.
Isagi finally noticing the bottle asked, “What’s that? I thought you were getting tea.”
“Oh this? Want to try? It’s my favorite.” Bunny handed over the bottle and isagi took a small sip. Immediately he started choking and his eyes were watering
“*cough* What is That!!” choked Isagi. “You’re drinking what?” Isagi blinked, watching Bunny Iglesias sip a can of sparkling peach-chili soda like it was normal human behavior.
“It’s refreshing,” Bunny said brightly, flipping his curls over his shoulder. “It’s got spice, depth, and a little chaos. Like me.”
Isagi should’ve known that someone who talked about dying in their very first meeting would be a masochist in his everyday life too. “You’re gonna give yourself heartburn!”
Bunny grinned. “Then I’ll run it off with fabulous footwork.”
“Speaking of footwork, I was very impressed with your jumps during the match. You’re seriously amazing!” Isagi smiled enthusiastically.
Bunny watched him spit out a million praises for his skills, bringing him back to yesterday when Isagi went on and on about the wonders of football. It’s been a long time since he’s seen someone so excited about the sport. A very long time since Him. It made his heart hurt and his emotions dull over.
Isagi stopped his rambling and looked about Bunny. “There you go with that look in your eyes again. That same lonely look.”, Isagi stared intensely.
Bunny turned his head and stared into nothing. Isagi wondered if he offended him somehow. “He was fine yesterday though” Isagi thought.
“U-Uh..”
“Let play a game. Just me and you.”
“Right now? I mean i’m ready anytime!”
Bunny got up and led him to a nearby field that had a small football setup. You can probably find one on every block here in Spain.
~~~
Bunny spun the ball on his finger. “So,” he said, tossing it to Isagi, “you scared I’ll embarrass you one-on-one?”
Isagi caught it effortlessly, raising a brow. “Pretty bold for someone who speaks about dying all the time.”
“Now that was pretty bold for someone who is three apples tall,” Bunny sniffed. “But go ahead, mock me while you can. Because in five minutes, I’ll have you eating turf.”
Isagi grinned. “Let’s make it to three goals. First to three wins.”
“No goalie?”
“No need.”
“Love it.” Bunny bounced on the balls of his feet, practically buzzing with energy. “Let’s make it interesting. Winner gets bragging rights and picks dinner.”
“You’re on.”
They set up makeshift goals with training cones at opposite ends of the small-sided pitch. No refs. No teammates. Just them, the ball, and the wide open field.
Isagi started with possession.
He was calm, composed—his usual surgical mindset calculating angles, distances, movements. Bunny, by contrast, moved like a spark—fluid, unpredictable, his body dancing to a rhythm only he could hear.
Isagi feinted left. Bunny bit.
Then pivot—ball gone, Isagi already slicing past with a burst of speed.
“SCORE!!,” Isagi said as he tapped the ball into the cone goal.
Bunny groaned dramatically, flopping to his knees. “You’re so cold-hearted. I feel like dying… Lord take me now!” he yelled with his hand on his chest.
“Get up. Still plenty of time to lose.”
“Oh, you’re gonna regret that.”
Bunny Iglesias had a totally different playstyle than he did. With high jumps (completely towering over isagi), flashy footwork, and sharp dribbling. Isagi had been skeptical at first—someone that flamboyant had to be all style, no substance—but Bunny could play. Not just with flair, but with vision. Precision.
The next play was faster. Bunny took possession and started weaving, his footwork dizzying—heel taps, step-overs, the occasional flourish just to be extra. Isagi kept up, but Bunny’s rhythm threw him off just long enough for a
Isagi froze.
“Oops,” Bunny smirked as he slotted the ball between Isagi’s legs into the goal. “That’s one-one. Might want to close your legs next time.”
“You’re insufferable,” Isagi muttered, but the corner of his mouth twitched.
They reset at midfield. This time, the tension was real. No banter, just the crunch of cleats and the quiet thump of the ball moving between them.
Isagi came in harder—quick acceleration, body low. Bunny countered with a wide sidestep, dragging the ball behind him in a showy flourish. It almost worked. Almost.
But Isagi anticipated the cutback, lunged, and stole the ball clean.
With a single touch, he pushed it past and sprinted.
Bunny tried to chase him down but misjudged the angle. Isagi didn’t even look back.
Goal. 2–1.
“Still not too late to surrender,” Isagi said between breaths.
Bunny placed a hand on his heart. “Never. Only death could make me quit.”
He got the ball next, flipping a switch from lighthearted to laser-focused.
This time, he didn’t dance—he attacked. Fast turns, close control, pressure mounting. Isagi kept up, but Bunny wasn’t giving him time to breathe.
Then—out of nowhere—a rainbow flick. Isagi stumbled back half a step, surprised, and that was all Bunny needed to dash past and toe-poke the ball cleanly into the goal.
“Two–two, darling!” Bunny sang, spinning in place with his arms raised.
Isagi stared, mouth slightly open. “Did you just call me—?”
“Focus, Yoichi,” Bunny said, winking. “We’re in the final act.”
Isagi froze.
“Oops,” Bunny smirked as he slotted the ball into the goal. “That’s one-one. Might want to close your
Both of them were breathing harder now, sweat glinting on their skin, but neither showed signs of letting up.
Match point.
Isagi started slow, ball at his feet, eyes locked on Bunny.
Bunny mirrored every movement, bouncy on his toes. “You gonna pull something genius now?”
Isagi smirked. “No. Just something simple.”
He pushed the ball forward, inviting Bunny to lunge. Bunny took the bait—just a little too fast.
That’s when Isagi cut sharply right, slipped past, and chipped the ball toward goal in one smooth motion.
The ball rolled, teasing the line—
—and nudged against the cone.
3–2.
Game.
Isagi doubled over, panting, triumphant. “Told you.”
Bunny groaned, collapsing onto the grass with a dramatic sigh. “You’re the worst. Also: that was beautiful. I hate how much I respect it.”
They lay there in the growing dusk, breath slowing.
“I needed that,” Isagi said quietly. “It’s different when it’s just you and the game.”
“Yeah,” Bunny replied, eyes on the sky. “No pressure. No coaches. Just you, me, and pure football.”
After a moment, he added, “Best two out of three?”
Isagi groaned. “Only if you’re buying dinner after I win again.”
Bunny grinned. “Deal. Besides, I doubt you’ll even be able to order food without my help”
And with that, the two of them stood back up, tired but smiling, ready to chase the ball one more time.
~~~
They plopped on the ground, both out of breath. In the end, Bunny came out victorious with 2 more wins than isagi had. Bunny thought Isagi would be at least a little disappointed, maybe even angry, but instead he got a face with a huge smile on it despite the tired look still plaguing eyes.
“You’re really amazing! I saw you jump in the match but they were even higher somehow just now. You could jump over my head if you wanted too!” Isagi gleamed.
Out of breath, Bunny replied, “Yea well… It helps that you’re so short.”
Isagi let the playful tease go, too worn out to come up with a witty comeback like he’d usually do. Instead he laid down on his back and looked up at the sky- already starting to turn shades of pink and purple. He didn’t realize they’d been out here for so long but time always seems to pass when he’s training.
“Sorry we wasted the day away training. This was supposed to be a fun day for you.” Bunny said but Isagi couldn’t really tell if he was actually sorry.
He shrugged it off and said “It’s fine. I probably had more fun playing with you than I would've if we went somewhere else. N-Not that you wouldn’t have picked a fun place! But you’re just a super cool fun player! I know I keep saying it but it’s true.” Isagi said cheekily.
Gah! I probably sound like such a huge nerd to him.
Bunny didn’t know what he was feeling at the moment. This feeling, this sense of comfort, all felt too familiar. It made him calm but he also felt confused and a bit sad. Maybe even a bit… guilty for feeling this way especially when He… No. Bunny didn’t want to think about Sae right now. It’s all he’s been doing these last years.
They sat quietly together watching the sunset. Isagi knew it was almost time for him to go but he just couldn’t bring himself to stand up.
Unbeknownst to them…
Kaiser was also in Spain. He still had some formalities to get through before officially joining Re Al. He was here for meetings—branding nonsense, sponsor deals, and one painfully dull Q&A session with a crowd of wide-eyed football teens who kept asking if he and Noel Noa were friends. (As if.)
When Kaiser arrived in Spain earlier that day, he almost turned back around to get on the plane and fly back to Germany. And all because Spain was just too hot.
Too bright.
And far too loud.
Kaiser probably wouldn’t admit it out loud but he was very picky when it came to things (everyone already knows. He just thinks he hides it well). Which is why everyone was so shocked when Kaiser decided to accept the Re Al offer.
Heck, even Kaiser wanted to give back the money.
But… if there was one thing he hated more than, hot, bright lights, and loud noise, it was Noa Noel and Bastard Muchen. So, Kaiser just had to suck it up and deal with it.
The whole reason he came to blue lock was to get away from the team.
Well…
Not the whole reason.
But none of that mattered today. Because today, he was standing just outside a training pitch in Valencia, sunglasses low on his nose, mask hanging over his chin, a long sleeved shirt that covered his tattoos (even though it was above 70), arms crossed, pretending he wasn’t watching what he definitely came here to see.
He only came outside with this ridiculous get up to get some food. hoping to maybe find a good German diner or something.
So what was he doing here?
On the field just outside the bustling city. In a quiet little park was Isagi Yoichi. And Iglesias.
Bunny Iglesias, with his white, wazy hair, his dramatic movements, and flair that made Kaiser’s jaw tighten. The striker spun and passed isagi like it was nothing. Jumping so high, Kaiser was even a little nervous that he’d land on Isagi. Playing and jumping and running like it was… a dance.
All while wearing the smuggest grin this side of Europe.
Bunny Iglesias who was also on his rival team.
And Isagi?
Focused. Fast. Eyes locked on the goal like it was a living thing. His touches were sharp, his runs precise. He looked stronger than Kaiser remembered. More self-assured.
Too comfortable next to Bunny.
Kaiser clicked his tongue.
Bunny was the most smug asshole he knew (besides himself). They’ve never been able to get along mainly because Kaiser didn’t like the way he talked about dying so much. He, who had lived his entire life trying to live, fighting everyday and longing for long, just hated the way Bunny joked about death.
It made him feel like his will to live, to love, was meaningless.
But here, right now, the two of them were playing in some friendly showcase match—no cameras, just scouts and trainers and a few locals passing by, respecting the two celebrities and giving them peace.
Tch. Kaiser wasn’t even supposed to be in Spain this long. He still had to go back to Germany and pack his things in a couple of hours.
So what was he doing here watching a friendly match, a match that didn’t mean anything, between his two rivals?
He told himself it was to “evaluate potential threats.”
To gather information.
To see if they’d progress seen the last time.
He was lying.
On the field, Isagi passed to Bunny with a sharp, inside flick. Bunny responded instantly—no hesitation, just trust—returning it with a backheel into space. Isagi took it in stride and buried the shot into the top corner.
They didn’t high-five.
They bumped shoulders, laughed, and ran back like it was nothing.
Kaiser’s jaw clenched.
He didn’t want to care. Really, he didn’t. Isagi was supposed to be his rival, his shadow. His greatest annoyance and sharpest motivator.
So why did he care that he was laughing with someone else like this? That his face wore such a carefree expression.
Especially not with Iglesias, who had once smugly told Kaiser he was “a bit too tragic to be interesting.”
Kaiser scoffed under his breath.
Isagi jogged over to the sideline for water, sweat clinging to his forehead, cheeks flushed from the heat and effort. Bunny followed close behind, tugging his hair out of his eyes and saying something that made Isagi snort through a sip of water.
Kaiser stared at the way they stood next to each other—shoulders brushing, casual and close.
He hated that it got to him.
He hated that he missed that version of Isagi—the one who smirked, talked back, played like he had something to prove, just for him.
Kaiser turned to leave, but paused when he heard Isagi’s voice float across the field.
“Despite that lonely look you have on your face at times, you get supper fired up on the field. You might be one of the players I've ever played with! I mean man… those jumps. Hey! Do you wanna try jumping over me?”
Kaiser tuned out the rest. The bitterness flared quickly and quietly in his chest.
But deep down, he knew this was all his fault. He went to Blue Lock for Isagi. He confined himself to that prison because he saw how amazing Isagi was.
But he also went there to break down Isagi. To show that he was and will forever be the emperor. He treated Isagi with disrespect, stole the ball from him a number of times, even tried turning a number teammate against Isagi… he really had no one but himself to blame for this current situation.
He had no one but himself to blame for that fact that he wasn't the one down there getting close, having fun and laughing with Isagi.
He pulled his hood tighter and walked away from the field without another glance, the sound of their laughter echoing behind him like a whistle he couldn’t un-hear. He wasn’t even in the mood for food anymore but still, as a athlete, he knew that listening to your body was important.
He looked up German food spots but found nothing in walking distance so he just went to the first spot he saw.
Dim lights, wood-paneled walls, the smell of oregano and charred crust hanging heavy in the air. A couple of booths in the corner, a handwritten chalk menu above the counter, and music just low enough to be ignored.
He loved places like this where could just be alone. No fans asking him for autographs or pictures, no Noa being particularly wordless, and no Ness being particularly Ness. He liked the solitude here. The way no one whispered his name or asked for photos. Just peace, hot food, and his own thoughts.
Looks like a regular pizza spot… I'll just order a salad and go.
He placed an order for a slice of pizza, a salad and a tea and waited for it to be done. It seemed like the kind of place that didn’t ask questions so he sat down at a table for two and pulled out his phone to pass the time when the bell on the door chimed
Kaiser didn’t even look up. Trying to stay hidden but also just trying to enjoy his margarita pizza before leaving— until he heard it.
Laughter. Two familiar voices, tangled together in easy rhythm.
“Okay, okay, but you can’t tell me anchovies are valid,” Bunny Iglesias was saying, dramatic as ever. “That’s not a pizza topping, Yoichi. That’s a crime.”
“I didn’t say I liked them!” Isagi replied, laughing. “I just said you haven’t even tried them. You’re judging based on vibes.”
“I am vibes!”
Kaiser froze, a slice halfway to his mouth.
They walked in, hair wet from training and pouring water on themselves, Isagi skin flushed from training and overheating, with grins wide as ever on their faces. Bunny had a towel around his neck that wouldn’t have meant nothing but Kaiser could see a little lobster stitched on.
That’s Isagi’s towel… Kaiser felt jealousy bubble up in side up for reasons he didn’t even want to pinpoint.
And Isagi. Isagi just looked stupidly relaxed in a worn hoodie, hands still tucked in his pockets. Which did nothing but anger Kaiser more for some reason.
They hadn’t seen him. Mostly because he was covered head to toe in his usual stealth disguise but Kaiser didn’t want to see it that way. To him, it looked, felt, like he was being ignored. And being ignored by Isagi was the worse.
They were too wrapped up in each other’s orbit, brushing shoulders, arguing over toppings, laughing about something he wasn’t part of. “Hmph, for someone who’s strength is reading people, you can even tell when someone near you is feeling down”, Kaiser whined like a baby.
But in truth, he knew Isagi had no reason to look his way
Kaiser’s appetite vanished.
He set the slice down and leaned back in his chair, face covered with his hair, his mask and by his glasses.
The counter guy greeted them like they were regulars. Maybe this was Bunny’s spot… and he’s showing it to Isagi… sharing it with Isagi… so this can become THEIR spot… together. The thought lodged itself in Kaiser’s chest like a cold stone.
He wasn’t used to this feeling. It itched. It didn’t belong in someone like him.
He watched Isagi steal a tomato slice off Bunny’s plate before they even sat down. Bunny squawked in outrage, smacked his arm, and they both laughed again—louder this time.
Kaiser frowned.
It wasn’t that he missed Isagi. Not really. He didn’t need anyone. He was Kaiser. He lit his own path, created his own gravity.
But.
It was hard to watch the one person who used to push him, glare back at him, stand toe-to-toe with him—play like he belonged at his side—now sit across from someone else. Smile softer. Relax in ways he never did with Kaiser around.
Bunny leaned over to whisper something, and Isagi rolled his eyes but smiled anyway.
Kaiser turned away.
Isagi and bunny were sharing a pie, eating across from one another, and talking rapidly (well isagi was mainly holding the conversation, though it was just about more football talk), that the stark contrast of him sitting alone, with a single slice felt all the more real.
He stared at the crust of his pizza, suddenly aware of how cold it had gotten.
He didn’t know why he stayed.
Maybe to punish himself. Maybe because some part of him hoped Isagi would glance around and notice him—give a nod, a smirk, anything.
He didn’t.
And Kaiser would never admit how much that hurt.
After another long minute, he reached for his hoodie and slid out of the booth quietly. He left some bills on the table—more than enough to cover the meal—and headed for the door without looking back.
But just before he stepped out, he heard Isagi’s voice behind him.
Casual. Relaxed. Soft in a way Kaiser barely recognized.
“Next time, I’m picking the place. You have yet to experience the wonders of Japanese food.”
“Or maybe I could just go back there with you.. I’ve been meaning to travel anyways!”
“No way! I’d be a terrible tour guide.” Isagi laughed
He walked out into the cold before he could hear anything else.
He told himself he didn’t care.
He told himself they’d never last.
He told himself Isagi would always come back to him eventually—that no one could push him like Kaiser could. Not even Iglesias.
But deep down, under all the pride and polish, Michael Kaiser walked the street with a tight chest and a quiet ache in his heart
And for the first time in a long while…
He felt completely alone.
And just when things couldn’t get any worse, he got a message saying that his flight would be delayed until tomorrow. So now he had to find a hotel for the night…
Great.
~~~
The taxi rolled to a slow stop in front of the hotel. Pale golden streetlights flickered overhead as the evening breeze swept down the narrow Spanish street, thick with the scent of baked stone and citrus.
Bunny stayed seated in the back while Isagi got out
“Uh G-Gracias for the ride” Isagi fumbled over his spanish. Maybe Bunny could teach him more one day.
Inside the car, Bunny stretched dramatically in the passenger seat. “No problem.” Bunny grinned, then leaned his elbow on the open window frame. “You gonna be okay on your own tonight?”
Isagi rolled his eyes. “Hello? I’m not twelve. Besides i travled on a plane all on my own already. I’ll be fine ”
“You’re not fun when you’re this responsible.”
Bunny stuck out his tongue, but the teasing was soft around the edges. There was something unspoken in the pause that followed—warm and familiar. A shared silence built on sprint drills, failed passes, and inside jokes whispered between water breaks.
Isagi nodded at him, smiling. “And thank- er ‘gracias’ for everything. I had fun today. I hope we’ll meet again.”
Bunny smiled softly, his eyes twinkling for the like they did when they first met “I’m sure we will.” Then his eyes tracked to the top of Isagis head, “… Baby Bunny.”
Isagi rolled his eyes and heard soft laughter as he closed the taxi door. and made his way to the hotel
As he turned to walk toward the hotel entrance, he heard Bunny call, “Don’t dream about me too hard, Yoichi!”
“Shut up,” Isagi called over his shoulder, chuckling.
The sliding glass doors whooshed open—and then he stopped cold.
Right there in the lobby, a head of bling hair with blue tips stood in front of him. ulling a room key from the front desk, stood Michael Kaiser.
Kaiser looked up slowly.
For a second, neither of them said anything.
Isagi blinked. Confused until he remembered that Kaiser did get an offer from Re Al. But wait, “You’re staying here?”
Kaiser cocked his head with that familiar, smug slant. “Tch. You're staying here?”
Isagi exhaled through his nose. “I’m just as surprised as you are. I thought you were in Germany, Kaiser.”
Kaiser’s eyes drifted past him, toward the still-open car window and the faint sound of Bunny Iglesias laughing on the phone outside before the car pulled off.
His gaze narrowed.
“You came back alone?” he asked, voice even.
Isagi shrugged. “Yeah. A friend dropped me off.”
“Of course he did.”
Isagi raised an eyebrow. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Kaiser was trying hard to keep it together. He was tired of feeling like this. Like he wasn’t important in Isagis eyes. Like he was less than. He had to get this off his chest otherwise he’d blow.
He stepped closer, voice low. “It means— It means I don't think you’ve been thinking about me seriously at all since blue lock. Am I even on your mind anymore or are you so caught up with that Bunny- boy to even care about me at all? He could never give you what I've got. Could never make you feel what I've made you feel. That thrill and hunger.”
There was heat in his words—not angry, but pointed.
Isagi stared at him.
“.. You're starting to sound real jealous right now. This isn’t a good look for you.” Isagi turned to walk away, not wanting to get in a petty fight on his trip.
Kaiser’s jaw flexed, but his expression didn’t waver. His usual smirk curled into something sharper—possessive, quiet, dangerously close to vulnerable.
He tilted his head. “Would it matter if I was?”
Isagi blinked, caught off-guard by the directness. “What?”
“You heard me.” Kaiser’s voice lowered, his eyes locked onto Isagi’s like they were mid-match. “You think I haven’t noticed the way you’ve been playing with him? That flashy rhythm, those synced runs—” he scoffed, “—that used to be ours.”
Isagi took a half step back, shocked and confused on what Kaiser was talking about, how did he — “You were watching us?!”
“You weren’t laughing like just teammates out there,” Kaiser ignored him. jerking his chin toward the street outside. Gone too deep to care that he was borderline acting like a jealous, stalking boyfriend.
“So what?” Isagi snapped, frowning now. “You get to be pissed just because someone else reads my movement right? That I’m nice to someone that isn’t you?”
“Yes! Yes I’m pissed!”, Kaiser exclaimed, breathing hard through his nose that his chest was rising.
Kaiser stepped closer again—too close. Not quite touching, but Isagi could feel the tension between them like a live wire humming in the space.
“I’m pissed,” Kaiser said slowly, “because for months, I’ve been the one who pushed you, the one who made you play at your limit. And now you’re out here playing house with Iglesias like we never mattered.”
“We?” Isagi repeated, heart thudding. “There was no we. You're the one who treated me badly first. You’re the one who came to Blue Lock for ME. And You’re the one who treated everything like it wasn’t just a game. ”
Kaiser’s voice turned softer, but it lost none of its edge. “…That's not true. It was just a game with you.” Only with Isagi, could he play football like nothing else matters. Only with him could he finally live. At first, Kaiser wanted to bring Isagi, the rising superstar, down… but playing with him had been the most fun Kaiser had ever had in his whole life. It was different with him. It was scary and Kaiser desperately pushed that unfamiliar feeling away. Like a child who fell after taking their first steps. Too scared to get a taste of that freedom again. Too scared to fall again after finally tasting that freedom.
He pushed that feeling away. But of course, that feeling was all he could think about after leaving blue lock. And he wanted it again.
Yearned for it.
That shut Isagi up. This raw, unfiltered passion from Kaiser was something he’sd never seen before. He honestly didn’t think kaiser had it in him.
He felt… bad for some reason.
For a moment, all he could hear was the quiet hum of the lobby, the soft shuffle of distant footsteps on carpet.
Kaiser watched him, eyes burning, voice quiet. “You really think he’s the greatest? That he's the one that will make you feel alive?”
Isagi’s grip tightened as he held the bottom of his hoodie. Still feeling guilty. He looked away. “…He pushes me in a different way.”
Kaiser clicked his tongue. “Not hard enough. I was better.”
Silence.
Then Kaiser stepped back—just slightly—and exhaled through his nose, as if forcing himself to ease off. Turing to get on the elevator.
Isagi’s brows furrowed.
“Don’t forget Yoichi…” Kaiser spoke, whispering now, low and dangerous and almost intimate. “When it’s time to choose—when it’s you and the goal and everything on the line—you’ll never think of him first.”
Isagi didn’t know what to say to that. Was there even anything he could say?
So he stood there in the lobby. Stood there until his feet finally dragged him to the elevator.
He was tired.
~~~
The morning sun crept lazily over the Valencia skyline, golden light seeping through the half-drawn curtains of Isagi’s hotel room.
He sat on the edge of the bed, fully dressed, suitcase packed. He hadn’t slept well. He couldn’t. Not after last night.
He grabbed his bags and walked to the door, stopping when he reached the mirror by the door.
He looked terrible. His face looked tired and eye bags were starting to show. He could still feel the weight of Kaiser’s stare, the low rumble of his voice saying, “You never think of him first.”
Isagi rubbed the back of his neck, sighing. He was supposed to meet Bunny at the airport in three hours for a final goodbye. His next adventure for this trip was in Germany.
“At least Kaiser is in Spain so I don't have to see him,” Isagi thought.
Except, apparently, they wouldn’t be alone.
He stepped out of the hotel elevator with his bag slung over his shoulder, only to immediately spot Kaiser sitting in the lounge café with a black coffee and a half-eaten croissant, sunglasses resting on the table beside him. His hair was still a little messy. His hoodie hung loose around his frame. He looked less like the golden striker of Bastard München and more like some kid too tired to pretend he didn’t care.
Isagi hesitated, then walked and proceeded to walk past him.
Kaiser looked up, unsurprised. “You’re late.”
Isagi stopped in his tracks. Late? “We didn’t plan to meet.”
“I figured you’d come down eventually. You’re not the type to room service breakfast.” Isagi didn’t want to correct him and say that he did, in fact, order room service for breakfast yesterday. Instead he asked-
“How did you even know I was gonna be leaving this early? And why are you down here? Stalking me again?” Isagi questioned.
Kaiser sighed. Annoyed but also kind of amused that his reputation has stooped so low in IsGis eyes, “No. Noa told me that you were gonna be there today to watch a game.” Kaiser looked down at his phone like this conversation was too boring to keep his interest . “I also have to go back today to pack. I’m leaving Bastard.”
Isagi sat down across from him, dropping his bag beside his chair. “Are you flying out today too?”
“Yeah. Noon flight.”
“Same.”
“Of course,” Kaiser muttered, sipping his coffee. “The universe seems to want us together.”
Isagi ignored the bite in his tone. “So what? You’re just killing time down here alone?”
“I was,” Kaiser said, eyes flicking up. “Now I’m killing it with you.”
A silence fell between them—not hostile, just… heavy.
Isagi looked down at the swirl of foam on the surface of Kaiser’s untouched second cup. “You know,” he said quietly, “I don’t hate playing with Bunny.”
Kaiser gripped his phone, annoyed that Isagi was even bringing this up. Can’t they move on from last night? “I didn’t ask if you hated it.”
“I mean it’s different. He plays light. I don’t have to think about every pass. It’s like… breathing.”
Kaiser’s lips pressed into a thin line. That jealousy bubbling up again. “Sounds relaxing.”, he bit.
Isagi raised his gaze. “But sometimes, breathing’s not enough. Sometimes I want the pressure.”
Kaiser blinked.
“You piss me off,” Isagi continued, calm but honest. “You talk too much, you act like you own the field—but when I play against you, I want to be better. I want to win. And when we play together…” He paused. “I move faster. I think sharper. It’s like you drag the best out of me whether I like it or not.”
Kaiser stared at him, unreadable.
Then, in a rare moment of vulnerability, he said, “You do the same to me.”
That silence again—but this time, it was warmer. Almost tentative.
Kaiser shifted uncomfortably. The atmosphere getting much more tense than he’d like. with a quiet, unsure voice, he asked “So… since we’re stuck flying out together anyway—want to grab something before we head to the airport?”
Isagi blinked. “Like… breakfast?”
Kaiser looked away. “Not like breakfast. It is breakfast. Idiot.”
Isagi fought a smirk. “You asking me on a date?”
Kaiser groaned. “You ruin everything.”
But his ears turned a little red.
They ended up in a quiet alley café a few blocks from the hotel—someplace Kaiser claimed was “underrated but tolerable”. He didn’t mention that this was where he first ran into Bunny years ago after a game. They sat in the corner, Kaiser sipping espresso while Isagi picked at a plate of fruit and toast.
They didn’t talk much.
They didn’t have to.
It was strange—how quickly the tension from the night before melted into this easy, unspoken rhythm. They bumped shoulders once while walking. Isagi complained about German weather. Kaiser grumbled about airline food. It was… peaceful. Almost normal.
As they waited for a cab to the airport, Kaiser glanced at him sideways. “You’re not going to ditch me on the plane and sit with Iglesias are you?
“Bunny isn’t coming with us? Whyd you assume that? It’ll just be me and you.” And turned his head, pretending that a group of shook kids was more more interesting that the topic at hand. “You jealous again?”
Secretly happy that it will just be them two, Kaiser shrugged, not denying it this time. “Only when you’re not looking at me.”
Isagi didn’t respond.
He didn’t need to.
When the cab pulled up, he reached for his bag—and without looking, Kaiser grabbed the handle of it first.
Isagi raised an eyebrow. “What are you doing?”
“Carrying your bag,” Kaiser said flatly.
“I can carry it myself.”
“Too bad.”
Isagi blinked, stunned into a laugh. “You’re unbelievable.”
“You’re still here,” Kaiser replied, tossing the bag into the trunk and sliding into the cab like he’d already claimed the entire back seat.
Isagi followed, shaking his head as the car pulled away from the curb.
They had a flight to catch, a country to return to, and a rivalry that never really cooled off. But in this quiet moment between cities, between words, between everything unspoken—
There was the strange comfort of almost.
And maybe, just maybe, almost was enough… for now.
~~~
Bunny met Isagi at the airlines and gave him a massive side eye when he saw Kaiser. Bunny had no problem causing a scene and confronting his rival but he’d figured Isagi wouldn’t like that. Especially with so many eyes around so he just made his way back to his own cab.
But not before giving isagi a huge hug and being extra touchy with. Patting his head and squeezing his cheeks. Saying how he’ll miss him oh so much… all while staring Kaiser right in his eyes. Enjoying the way his chest rises up and down and his face scrunched with pure jealousy.
The plane hummed with low conversation and the occasional rustle of snack wrappers. The sky outside the window was painted in a pale stretch of blue-grey clouds as they cruised steadily toward Germany.
Isagi sat in the window seat, arms folded loosely across his chest, hoodie pulled up slightly around his ears. Kaiser sat beside him, one leg bouncing, hands fiddling with the corner of his boarding pass like it personally offended him.
They hadn’t spoken much since boarding. Just the usual half-snarky comments—Kaiser demanding the aisle seat (“for strategic exit reasons”) and Isagi replying that his “tactics” sucked.
Now, about an hour into the flight, Kaiser had his headphones on but wasn’t listening to anything. His mind was stuck on this morning—the weirdly calm breakfast, the stupid way Isagi had smiled at him, the fact that he carried Isagi’s bag like some lovesick teenager.
God, he was so—
A soft shift pulled his attention sideways.
Isagi’s head had tilted, slowly, like gravity had worn him down. His shoulder gently brushed Kaiser’s bicep… and then stayed there.
Kaiser blinked.
Isagi had fallen asleep.
On him.
The striker’s face was turned slightly away, eyes closed, his breathing slow and steady. His cheek rested against Kaiser’s shoulder like it belonged there.
Kaiser froze.
Like literally froze—back straight, arms locked at his sides, heart hammering like he was in a sudden-death penalty shootout.
Okay. Okay. This is fine.
You’re a composed, elite-level athlete. You’ve handled worse.You’ve scored in front of thousands.You can handle a sleepy Isagi using your shoulder as a goddamn pillow.
Kaiser stared straight ahead, trying to ignore the warmth seeping through his sleeve, the soft brush of hair against his neck, and the way Isagi’s hoodie had bunched up just enough to expose a sliver of collarbone.
He cursed quietly under his breath in German.
The worst part?
He didn’t want to move.
He wanted to pretend he was annoyed. Say something sarcastic. Shove him off. Anything to restore the power balance he so carefully curated between them.
But instead…
He slowly relaxed his shoulder, just slightly, like an unspoken concession.
Isagi mumbled something incomprehensible in his sleep and leaned in closer.
Oh, Kaiser was going to die. His face nd neck heated up, so much so, tht he probably looked sick to the flight attendant wandering about.
He glanced around the cabin. No one was watching.
The world felt unnaturally quiet—just the hum of altitude and the steady rhythm of Isagi’s breathing.
Kaiser tilted his head just a bit—to see him better.
Isagi looked peaceful when he wasn’t overanalyzing the field or snapping at Kaiser for being dramatic. Softer. Tired, but content. And it hit Kaiser all at once, sudden and overwhelming, that he wanted this to last. Not just the moment—but the closeness. The comfort. The way Isagi let his guard down only with him, even if unintentionally.
He sighed. Quietly. Just for himself.
“…Idiot,” he whispered.
But he didn’t move.
And when the flight attendant came by to offer drinks, Kaiser silently waved her off with one hand, the other still pressed lightly against the seat—anchoring himself in place.
He didn’t dare wake him.
Not yet.
Kaiser hadn’t moved in at least thirty minutes, afraid the smallest shift might ruin whatever delicate spell had settled over them in the stale, recycled cabin air. He kept his eyes on the window now and then—clouds, sun, endless sky—but mostly, he kept them on Isagi.
His chest rose and fell in a slow rhythm. His hand rested loosely on the edge of the seat between them, fingers relaxed, barely curled.
Kaiser glanced down at it once. Then again.
His own hand twitched.
Don’t do it.
He told himself not to. He wasn’t some stupid teenage drama character. He didn’t do soft gestures. He made people fall for him from a distance. With talent. With spark. With brilliance.
And yet…
Cautiously, Kaiser let his hand drift downward—closer to Isagi’s.
Their pinkies brushed.
Isagi didn’t stir.
So Kaiser, heart thudding louder than the plane engine, let his fingers lightly thread between Isagi’s.
Not a full grip. Not a bold gesture. Just a quiet, secret connection—his fingers resting in the spaces between Isagi’s, like he belonged there.
His thumb grazed the side of Isagi’s hand. Once. Absentmindedly.
What the hell am I doing? he thought, not for the first time that morning.
And yet, he didn’t let go.
He just sat there for the rest of the flight, heart beating faster and faster, staring straight ahead, pretending like nothing was happening—even as the flush in his chest warmed him more than the weak sunlight from the window.
When the pilot announced they’d be landing soon, Isagi stirred.
Kaiser barely had time to withdraw his hand before Isagi blinked himself awake, mumbling, “…how long was I out?”
“Long enough to snore,” Kaiser lied smoothly, quickly adjusting his hoodie sleeve like nothing had happened.
Isagi groaned, rubbing his eyes. “Ugh. Sorry. I didn’t mean to fall on you.”
“You’re lighter than you look,” Kaiser replied without thinking. “Which is saying something because your the shortest thing i’ve ever laid eyes on.”
Isagi gave him a confused glance.
Kaiser looked out the window.
~~~
The glass doors parted, and a rush of German winter air greeted them.
Outside, the world was moving again—people on phones, athletes dragging luggage, families crying saying goodbye to their loved ones… the familiar grind of reality settling in. The shared stillness of the flight was gone now, tucked away somewhere above the clouds.
They stood outside the taxi stand in awkward silence, both waiting for their separate rides.
“So…” Isagi blushed lightly, shifting on his feet. “Thanks. For… letting me pass out on you.”
Kaiser gave a lazy shrug. “You owe me one.”
Isagi raised an eyebrow. “I’ll buy you lunch or something.”
“Dinner,” Kaiser corrected, eyes glinting. “And not fast food.”
Isagi laughed under his breath, cheeks turning a bit pink from the cold air of the terminal. “Fine. Dinner.”
Kaiser tilted his head. “… Maybe you just get my number too. You know, so we can make plans”
Isagi blinked. “Oh right of course!” Isagi fumbled around as he fished around his pockets for his phone. “ Kaiser smirked, pulling out his phone and handing it over. “You don’t have to be so excited Yoichi.”
Isagi rolled his eyes but took it. “Don’t be ridiculous. Who would ever get excited for you?”
“And yet, here you are. Still giving me your number.,” Kaiser replied, watching him type in the contact info with something too close to fondness in his expression.
When Isagi handed the phone back, Kaiser tapped the new contact once.
A beat passed.
“Yoichi,” he said, trying the name out like a secret.
Isagi didn’t look away. “Kaiser.”
Another taxi pulled up, this one for Isagi. He gave a half-smile as he opened the door. “Text me. Don’t make me regret giving you my number.”
“You won’t,” Kaiser said without hesitation.
Isagi hesitated for just a second—then slid into the car.
Kaiser stood there as the taxi pulled away, one hand in his coat pocket, the other wrapped tight around his phone.
He didn’t text him immediately.
But his fingers hovered over the message bar the entire ride home.