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Itoshi Sae gets around. It wasn’t an unspoken truth as much as it was widely-discussed public knowledge, because he hardly bothered to wear turtlenecks to cover up the marks on his neck, and the media loves a story. As a young teen in a foreign country, some fans were concerned at first, prompting gossip magazines to question him in interviews about who his mysterious lovers were—and to no one’s surprise, he refused to answer, but would later be photographed hand-in-hand with various famous athletes. Now, however, as an 18-year-old living in Europe? (And in the country of love, no less?) The world dubs him a player in more ways than one but keeps spinning nonetheless, and no one minds when he leaves with someone from the opponent team instead of celebrating with Re Al after an away game.
Of course, there’s one person who does have a problem with it, and it’s his younger brother, Itoshi Rin. When the English news outlets stopped reporting on his brother’s newest lovers, he spent weeks of his free time learning Spanish to be able to read what they were saying. He followed all the celebrity websites that would speculate on famous celebrity relationships. Whenever a new face was photographed beside Sae’s, he dutifully printed it out, and copied each name into a notebook with a black cover he’d bought in middle school just in case a shinigami ever decided to show up.
Today, unlike most days, his brother is in Japan. The anticipation of seeing him was all Rin had been able to think about all morning, rushing through the practice game at Blue Lock just to leave sooner.
It’s all worth it, because the taxi drops him off at his house, and when he rings the bell, it’s Sae who answers.
“Nii-chan,” Rin breathes out, unable to look away from his brother, who is finally standing in front of him again after months. Last time, they didn’t stand face to face like this, and now that he’s grown slightly taller, Rin wonders if Sae will have to tilt his chin up a little higher to make eye contact with him. If he’ll notice at all.
Sae doesn’t greet him, but steps aside so Rin can enter. Rin takes his shoes off and puts his sports bag down, but he doesn’t want to end this interaction by going upstairs to his room like he normally would. So instead, he looks around, expecting to hear his parents rushing around to pack for their weekend trip.
“Mom and Dad are out?”
“They left early this morning.”
He’s not surprised, but Sae has a glint in his eye that means Typical, huh? , and he relishes the moment of shared understanding that can only exist between siblings.
“You can invite people over this weekend if you want. I don’t care.”
Rin scoffs. “Who would I invite? Isagi? No thanks, I’d rather stab myself in the kidney.” Just the thought of willingly spending more time with any of them outside Blue Lock is absurd to him. Perhaps that wasn’t a good answer, though, because Sae leans against the wall and crosses his arms.
“Don’t you have a girlfriend?” Sae frowns.
“Of course not,” Rin shoots back instantly. Then, he hesitates. Trying not to sound too hopeful, he asks, “How about you?”
Sae shrugs nonchalantly. “I don’t do long-distance,” he replies, as if that was an explanation in itself. Then he’s back on topic. “So it’s a boyfriend, then. Again, I don’t care.”
Rin stares back, trying to figure out if he’s being serious.
“Rin, liking boys is okay.”
“I don’t have a boyfriend! I’ve never given a second thought to another guy. Guy OR girl. Women are fucking gross too,” Rin says, and the words have barely left his mouth before he regrets them because Sae is looking at him disapprovingly. What if nii-chan thinks I’m an incel?
“I literally don’t give a shit about anyone who isn’t you,” Rin tries again, but it’s too late, because Sae isn’t listening, and—are those the Fibonacci numbers floating around him?
There’s a metaphorical screech of gears turning in his head, and then Sae starts to speak again. “Go upstairs and shower, Rin. I’ll be in the living room, so meet me when you’re done.”
Before Rin can say another word, Sae turns into the hallway and walks away. It’s been years since Rin has allowed himself to be ordered around by his brother, but he follows the instructions with a shameful eagerness he would not admit to anyone. After all, at least Sae was talking to him.
He returns downstairs afterward to the sight of Sae sitting sideways on the sofa, leaning against the armrest with his knees drawn up while he watches something on his phone. Rin can’t help but notice how small and cozy he looks there. How easy it would be to scoop his brother into his arms and carry him to the bedroom. The thought distracts him entirely from the words that come out of Sae’s mouth as soon as he notices Rin standing there.
“Rin, we look alike enough that you should know…”
He tunes back in halfway through the sentence—
“...You’re incredibly handsome.” Sae says.
Rin’s eyes widen. “Nii-chan…” he murmurs softly. Is this how it happens? He crosses the rest of the living room and sits down on the sofa next to him slowly, not looking away from Sae. His brother holds a steady gaze, and identical hues stare back at each other.
“So if you’re having trouble finding dates, it couldn’t be due to your appearance, but rather your personality,” Sae finishes.
Several seconds pass before Rin recalls their conversation from earlier. He groans internally and mutters back, “My personality is fine. I just won’t waste my time on lukewarm losers.”
“Hm. Maybe we can start there. Want me to teach you rizz?”
“Oh my god, you didn’t just say ‘rizz’.”
Sae swats his head lightly. “If you keep acting like a loner, you’ll give us a bad name.”
“Since when did you care about the Itoshi name?” Rin replies, slightly hurt. It was the first thing they all noticed when Sae began playing abroad: how he never wore their family name on his jersey.
However, Sae ignores him and keeps going. “Fortunately, I have plenty of experience with flirting.” He lowers his feet from the sofa to sit properly, and scoots closer to Rin. It turns out that he wants to show him something on his phone. After a couple taps and scrolling all the way to the top, he holds out the small screen so Rin can read what looks like a text conversation.
Unknown : Hey, Sae, good game today. Just had to say your legs looked incredible in those shorts
Unknown : But I bet you already knew that :)
Sae : Who is this?
Unknown : It’s Bunny, silly.
Sae : I thought I blocked your number.
Unknown : Haha
Unknown : Anyway, if you’re free tonight after dinner, there’s a nice bar near our stadium that has a VIP lounge. I can show you?
Sae : Fine
Unknown : Great! I’ll pick you up from your hotel at 9, angel. See you in a bit!
Sae : 👍
“This is how you get a date,” Sae explains.
To be honest, Rin isn’t sure what he was expecting, but it wasn’t this.
They definitely just went along with it because you’re hot. Rin thinks in his mind, and says “Wow, nii-chan, you’re pretty good at this.”
His brother nods approvingly and puts his phone away. “Romance is like soccer. Some might be natural geniuses, but effective training given to a talented learner is enough to make up for the difference.”
He isn’t sure where Sae was going with this. “Okay, and? Are you going to aim to become the best lover in the world and tell me to become a close second?"
Sae rolls his eyes. “Stop being a brat. Were you even listening?” Rin still looks confused, so Sae generously decides to clarify. “You’re lukewarm at relationships. I can give you advice.”
Rin leans forward, suddenly very interested.
“So, for example, you could help me learn how to kiss someone?”
The air between them suddenly feels charged. He knows he just dropped a bomb, but Sae continues without missing a beat, as if Rin had suggested the most reasonable thing in the world.
“You haven’t even had your first kiss yet?”
“No…”
“Then you definitely shouldn’t be starting with that. Are you an idiot? Even in my shortest relationships, we at least had a conversation first.”
“Well, I’m serious, nii-chan.” Rin gulps. “I want you to teach me how to kiss someone. For… educational purposes.”
Sae raises an eyebrow at him, but doesn’t look disgusted by the idea. In fact, Rin can swear he sees his brother’s eyes flicker downward to his lips. He hesitates. If he’s reading this wrong, there’s no coming back from it. But Sae doesn’t look away or move, and that’s all the encouragement he needs before he’s slowly pushing Sae down on the sofa underneath him and pressing their chests together, mouths hovering.
He closes his eyes and leans in. His lips brush against Sae’s, and Sae’s lips are warm, and real, and press gently back against his. Rin’s breath catches as he tries to move even closer, chasing the sensation like he’s drowning in it. They break apart after what feels like minutes.
“Thank you, nii-chan. I learned a lot,” Rin whispers breathlessly. Below him, Sae doesn’t speak at first. His cheeks are still flushed beautifully pink, and his normal composure is shaken.
Then, slowly, Sae’s hands come up and tangle into his hair. “Come back, Rin. Let me teach you how to make out next.”