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“Welcome home, Sweetie,” Bachira’s mother, Yuu, hums as her eyes move from her half-finished painting over to the door. “Something wrong?”
“Nothing at all, I’m just a little tired.” Bachira’s mumbles, a slight aura of melancholy buzzing from him—it didn’t go unnoticed by his mother. She wouldn’t bring it up, because she knew he’d rather get his feelings out through dribbling and shooting a soccer ball.
After a quiet beat, she spoke once again.
“A letter came in the mail for you.”
Bachira’s eyes widen, a little glimmer of excitement replenishes in him at the small thrill of a surprise. He spots the envelope on the counter, neat and clearly folded with care. He glances at his mom for a moment, looking for the green light before opening it.
He slowly opens the envelope and slips the pristine paper out, which he unfolds with steady yet slightly eager hands—maybe even a little anxious.
Bachira Meguru
YOU HAVE BEEN SELECTED TO BECOME A CERTIFIED ATHLETE
More text includes details at the bottom. A soccer training facility?
His mother gasps. “Your hard work paid off! You should go!” She exclaims as she places a supportive hand on his back. “It’s about to get more fun!”
You could’ve only looked at Bachira for a split second and been able to spot the beaming twinkle in his eyes and the bright smile on his face.
“Yeah!”
He’ll get to play soccer with people? What if he finds someone like his monster…
ﾟ· ﾟ·
The candidates have been in Blue Lock for almost four weeks now, and after the first selection everyone’s been bored with nothing to do.
Well… not everyone.
Bachira has a new friend now; someone that matches his energy, someone who makes his heart flutter when he talks to them, someone to play soccer with.
Yoichi Isagi is perfect.
But, unfortunately for Isagi, being a friend of Bachira’s meant dealing with his clinging. It’s not like Isagi minds much, though. And even as the days went by in Blue Lock, he never got tired of his dear friend, Bachira. Today is no different.
As the sun rises up in the morning sky, the intercom of Blue Lock’s building rung a soft, steady stream of notes, one that roused the players awake every morning. Isagi groaned along with the rest of team Z as they all awoke, all except one…
“Mmm… Bachira… Time to get up, dude…” Isagi murmurs, voice scratchy and quite lower than usual as he stretches widely across his futon. Bachira didn’t even move an inch. Isagi smiles softly and chuckles under his breath.
He leans down, a little closer to Bachira’s ear this time. “Bachira, rise and shine.” He whispers, placing a gentle hand on Bachira’s shoulder, and he carefully shakes it to try and stir him awake.
“Pass… the ball… Isagi…” Bachira mumbles, still completely asleep.
Isagi’s eyes widen, his heart suddenly beating just a tad bit harder. Bachira’s dreaming of him?
“Isagi…” Bachira says under his breath again, and his eyes slowly flutter open, soft eyelashes batting as he stirs awake. As his vision unblurs, he awakes to the same pretty face he always saw.
“Hey, good morning.” Isagi greets. He slowly removes his hand from Bachira’s shoulder, almost with a bit of reluctance.
“It’s too early for this…” Bachira whines. He rolls over onto his back, his body feeling all heavy and drained. He didn’t want to get up yet… He didn’t want to practice yet… He just wants to lay here with Isagi.
“Too early for what? Getting up?” Isagi teases, standing up as he grabs Bachira’s hands, hoisting him up to his feet.
Bachira whimpers tiredly, falling into Isagi like it was impossible for him to stand. He finds purchase against Isagi, fingers lightly gripping his first as his head finds Isagi’s collarbone.
“Hey… why’s your heart beating so fast?” Bachira inquires, looking up at Isagi from where his head had landed on Isagi. His eyes were all bleary and sleepy, and hell if Isagi didn’t find it attractive.
But.. Isagi’s face looks confused, deep in thought, and Bachira could tell he isn’t quite sure why either.
“I… I dunno… you just… make me feel flustered sometimes…” Isagi sheepishly murmurs, his voice full of truth.
“Oh, really?” Bachira mumbles, smiling softly at Isagi. “I guess that’s a good thing then, right?”
“Yeah…” Isagi nods timidly.
“Hmmm… I’m hungry… time for breakfast!” Bachira murmurs, rubbing his eyes as he just abruptly got off of Isagi, as if all this never even happened.
How is he so casual about this? Even Bachira was asking himself, but he knew why. They’re just friends, nothing more, so there’s no reason to overthink things.
ﾟ· ﾟ·
Isagi is so pathetic, and so, so lost.
Around dinner time, he walks over to Nagi and Reo; both of whom are all snuggled up while Reo feeds Nagi. What a spoiled boy.
“Hey, Reo…? I need your help, if you don’t mind.” Isagi says, awkwardly staring at the ground as a tinge of red flushes his ears.
…
“How… did you know you loved Nagi?”
Reo’s eyes widen as he smirks, and he… almost starts laughing. “So you need advice on Bachira?” He states confidently, with a hint of tease. How the hell did Reo sniff that out so easily?!
“Uh… yeah, I guess. I… I think I have feelings for him. I mean, he’s so amazing, and so caring and thoughtful, and funny, too! My heart beats so loud I can hear it in my ears when I talk to him, and I love talking to him so much. I can’t imagine a world without him now that I know him, and—”
“Alright, alright… enough with the sap.” Nagi murmurs, his usual apathy very much on display. He doesn’t want to hear this guy ramble about his love life, listening is such a hassle.
“Okay… but, what do I do?” Isagi begs, looking like a lost, sad puppy.
Reo teasing smirk softens, and he nods softly. “Alright, I’ll help.”
Isagi’s eyes widen, and his smile reeks of relief.
“Thank you so much.”
ﾟ· ﾟ·
Bachira’s expression saddens slightly. He sat alone, the seat where Isagi was sitting now being empty. His gaze follows where Isagi had gone across the room, to Reo and Nagi’s table. Isagi’s hands are flailing around all dramatically, something he doesn’t do unless it’s important.
He’s noticed Isagi’s distance every since this morning. Had he done something wrong? Did he upset Isagi? The last thing he wants to do was make Isagi mad or uncomfortable, or upset with him.
He couldn’t stand losing Isagi.
Bachira’s appetite has suddenly diminished. He sighs as he grabs his half-full tray and walks over to the trash can, dumping the leftover contents out. He sure felt like garbage right now, maybe he belongs in there with his wasted food.
He mopes back to his team’s room, the “Z” on top of the door making it easy to spot.
“How could I be so stupid…? I made my best friend uncomfortable… All because I just want to show him I love him.” Bachira murmurs to himself as he settles on his Futon, immediately curling up into a fetal position. It’s quite comforting.
He lies there in silence, belittling thoughts swirling in his head.
How could he be so stupid..?
Then, a realization suddenly hits Bachira.
…
He always wants to be with Isagi, he loves waking up to him, he loves listening to him talk, his heart flutters when he’s around, and Isagi’s the only person he’ll stop and be calm with so he can listen to his sweet, sweet voice… he… he loves Isagi.
But, all of that means nothing now. Isagi probably hates him, and is probably complaining to Reo about how annoying Bachira is, or how much of a freak he is, or how he’s probably schizophrenic.
Teardrops slowly slip down Bachira’s soft cheeks, and he shuts his eyes tight to try and stop them from flowing. (it didn’t work.)
Before Bachira could even process all his emotions, he’s silently sobbing into his knees like a little boy, only this time his mom isn’t around to help him to look on the bright side. He has no one. Again.
One thought led to another, and soon enough Bachira breaks down, and breathing becomes a struggle. He inhales sharply, trying to get air into his lungs.
It’s so hard to breathe, and he can’t even think straight…
ﾟ· ﾟ·
“Okay... I got it. Thank you, Reo and Nagi!” Isagi exclaims, a bright, nervous smile on his face.
Reo snickers softly at how pumped yet nervous Isagi looks. Even with his anxious body language, he’s buzzing with excitement.
“Your welcome…” Nagi mumbled.
“Yeah, good luck!” Reo cheers.
Isagi nods softly before turning back to his table, ready to confess to Bachira, but…
Bachira isn’t there.
Isagi’s heart drops. No trace of him, not even his tray. He would usually at least tell Isagi he’s leaving. Maybe he’s just training?
Yet, for some reason, he feels a looming sense of foreboding.
And so, he dumps his food and returns the tray before running to the team Z room. He has to trust his gut. Something is wrong.
He walks into the room, a pit forming in his stomach. His eyes widen and he inhales sharply.
Bachira looks at Isagi with fear in his eyes, and his breathing is rapid and unsteady.
“Can’t… hah… I can’t breathe…” Bachira chokes out, tears streaming down his face.
Isagi runs over, sitting down beside Bachira. He does the only thing he can possibly think to do, and he carefully maneuvers Bachira into his lap perpendicularly.
He holds him to his chest, squeezing him tightly. “Bachira, you can breathe… come.. come on, you’ve got this.” Isagi whispers, voice quivering wildly.
Bachira shakes in his arms, unable to regulate his breathing. He feels like his world is falling apart, and all he can do is bury his face into Isagi’s shoulder.
“I… hah…” Bachira whimpers between breaths. “Shit…”
With a deep inhale, it’s like instincts took over, and Isagi feels so confident and calm. He can handle this, he can take care of Bachira.
“Don’t try to talk, just focus on breathing, okay...?” Isagi whispers into his ear, slowly reaching down and letting his digits wrap around Bachira’s shaking hand. He brings it up to his chest, pressing it there with a tender touch. “Do you feel it?” Isagi murmurs soothingly. “The rhythm?”
Bachira’s eyes widen further, breathing still rapid, but… less panic. He nods timidly.
“Match my breathing, Meguru,” Isagi hums sweetly. “You’re safe.”
The use of Bachira’s given name makes his stomach flutter lightly, and he slowly begins to calm.
With Isagi’s unforeseen comforting skills and the warmth of his body, Bachira was soon soothed. His breathing returns to a natural, more regulated rhythm, one that matches Isagi’s.
“Thank you…” Bachira whispers sheepishly, his voice also holding a hint of exhaustion.
“It’s the least I could do…” He murmured back.
“I’m so tired…”
“Sleep, Meguru… I’ve got you.”
ﾟ· ﾟ·
Bachira’s eyes flutter open hours later, and a soft moan slips past his lips.
“Don’t wanna get up…” He whines, as usual.
…
He is abruptly wide awake as his sleepy brain finally registers the soothing, tender arms around him, and the warmth of the body snuggled up behind him.
“Mmm…” Isagi groans, his arms tightening around Bachira subconsciously. Isagi has always been a light sleeper, so the slight shift Bachira did when he first awoke was enough to wake him.
“Meguru…?” He mutters, burrowing his face into the nape of Bachira’s neck. “G’morning…” He yawns out.
Bachira froze, his heart beating fast in his chest. “Good morning…,” He gulps. “Did you… uh… sleep well?”
“Slept amazing… how about you…?” Isagi mumbles.
“I slept well…”
There’s silence for a moment, and Isagi moves impossibly closer.
“Uh… Isagi…?” Bachira starts, looking a little insecure. “Thank you for helping me last night, I really appreciate it.”
“Of course.” Isagi’s expression softens, and he reluctantly loosens his hold on Bachira just a bit. “Can you turn towards me…?”
Bachira nods and shifts in bed, turning to face Isagi. He looks in his eyes, vulnerability displayed in his soft gaze. For once, Bachira’s quiet. He’s listening.
“Can we talk about last night…?” Isagi pleads hesitantly, wanting to tread lightly in this area of conversation. “Please?”
“Yeah.”
…
“What… what made you have a panic attack…?” Isagi inquires, looking at him with a reassuring expression. He reaches for Bachira’s hand under the blanket, squeezing it softly.
“I… I made you upset.” Bachira whimpers, frowning softly
“What? No you didn’t.” Isagi assures. “What are you talking about?”
Bachira takes a deep breath, averting his gaze from Isagi’s. “Yesterday morning, when I was leaning on you… I made you uncomfortable, and I’m really sorry, okay? I… I don’t want to lose you.”
Isagi frowned, his expression softening further. “Oh, Meguru… you didn’t make me uncomfortable, I promise. I’m not upset with you. At all.”
Bachira finally looks up into his eyes, voice slightly shaky. “Then… What were you talking to Reo about? It looked serious!”
“I was asking him for help on how to tell you I love you!” Isagi blurts out, his eyes widening as he realizes what he said.
Shit.
…
“…Really?” Bachira whispers.
A light flush covers the tips of Isagi’s ears, and he makes a nervous noise before covering his face shyly. It’s… quite cute.
“Yeah…” He murmurs into his hands.
Bachira’s silent for a moment, but then he giggles. He giggles like an excited little kid on Christmas morning, ready to open presents. He’s so damn cute.
Isagi laughs along with him. It’s impossible to contain any laughter when Bachira’s happiness is so contagious.
“Why are you giggling?!” Isagi grumbles, feigning annoyance.
“I’m just happy! I love you too, Yoichi!~”
The sentence made Isagi’s heart ache, along with the fact he used his given name for the first time.
“You’re perfect.” Isagi hums admiringly, bringing his forehead to rest against Bachira’s.
“I love you, Yoichi.” Bachira whispers.
“I love you, too.”
The moment wasn’t perfect. It was a little awkward, and unique, and definitely not the most romantic way to confess your mutual feelings…
But, it was special, and they wouldn’t want to have it any other way.
༄ ﾟ·