Work Text:
Rin is alone at home, His parents have gone out for a date. And Sae is in spain, Rin is already used to being home alone, He spends his days alone doing yoga, training, and practicing. He’s very strict with his bedtime, 9 PM every night—yet today, he doesn’t pay attention to the time. He just stays there in bed, staring at the wall. God knows what he’s thinking about? (It’s Hiori.)
Suddenly, his phone rings. Rin lazily turns to get his phone from the night stand and see who it is, “Hiori Yo” Rin reads, Oh. Right, Hiori put his number in Rin’s phone before they parted after the U-20 Match. He picks it up, He usually ignores calls. Well, he barely gets any though. Just this time, It’s the person Rin hasn’t realized he obviously has feelings for.
“Rin-kun! Have you been well? It’s almost new years you know!” Hiori speaks from the other side of the phone. Rin panics on what to say.
“Uh I’m okay, are you going out?” He’s obviously curious, yet he says it in a nonchalant tone. Rin reads the clock in his room. 11 PM. 2 hours past his bedtime, and here he is on the phone with Hiori.
“I’m at a cafe right now, I was with Karasu but he just left. Can we meet up?” Hiori smiles at the thought of celebrating new years with Rin, Hiori also has feelings for Rin. but he acknowledges it unlike Rin, yet he wont confess knowing that his feelings probably aren’t reciprocated.
Meet up? With Hiori? At this hour? Rin thinks to himself, Gosh. He cant turn down an opportunity like this. “..Sure, where at?” He sits up and is now sitting cross legged on his bed, swinging gently side to side out of nervousness.
“What about the airbnb i’m renting? I’m getting away from my parents for new years. I already ordered some food too, we could have dinner together!” Hiori is quite excited about this, but he’s scared Rin might turn it down since it would only be the two of them, but he’s unsure. Rin hates parties too, So.. if Rin agrees, Hiori is very lucky to be the very few people Rin is fine with.
Rin hesitated. Wait, i’m going to be alone with Hiori in a room? He’s nervous at the thought, but he would do it anyways. “Okay.. pick me up?” Rin asks. Hiori is very happy by this point.
“Of course! Just tell me your address.” Hiori prays that he wont mess up, he’s gotten this far already with Rin! “Uh yeah, its *******.” Rin replies. Hiori searches it up on the maps. Perfect! Only 5 minutes away. “Okay, You can go get ready. I’ll be there in 5!” Hiori says excitedly, Rin can sense that he’s smiling on the other side.
“Mhm, bye bye” Rin says before hanging up.
Rin walks toward his walk-in closet, the soft sound of his footsteps swallowed by the quiet of his room. He stands there longer than he means to, eyes scanning the rows of neatly hung clothes like the answer might suddenly reveal itself.
Something casual would make sense. Comfortable. Practical for winter.
But then—something else crosses his mind. A hoodie.
Not just any hoodie. One in that familiar shade of blue. Too bright to be a coincidence, too specific to ignore. The color Hiori’s eyes turn when the light hits them just right.
Rin’s gaze drifts to it almost immediately, like it’s been waiting for him to look. His fingers brush the fabric before he can stop himself.
If he remembers correctly, Sae bought it for him three years ago, back on Christmas. Rin hadn’t asked for it, hadn’t even hinted at wanting one like it. Sae had just tossed it at him with an offhand comment about how the color would “suit him.” Rin hadn’t questioned it then. He questions it even less now.
He exhales quietly and pulls the hoodie off the hanger.
In the end, he settles on layers. Winter calls for it—and somehow, it feels easier to hide behind them. He starts with a fitted black turtleneck, the familiar snugness grounding him as he pulls it over his head.
The hoodie comes next. The blue peeks out at the collar, vivid against the dark fabric beneath it. Rin hesitates for half a second before tugging it on, It’s warm. Softer than he remembers. Or maybe he’s just noticing it more now.
He adds a dark, cable-knit sweater over it—charcoal gray, understated, practical. The blue is still there, though. Just enough to be seen. Just enough to matter.
Rin steps into slim dark pants, smoothing the fabric down his legs with practiced motions, then sits at the edge of his bed to pull on his boots. He pauses as he ties them, staring down at his hands like he might find clarity there.
This is stupid, he thinks. Overthinking a hoodie.
Still, he doesn’t change it.
When he finally looks at himself in the mirror, he barely reacts. Calm expression. Same sharp eyes. Same composed posture. But the blue at his collar catches his attention again, and his gaze lingers a fraction longer than necessary.
Hiori will notice.
The thought settles quietly in his chest.
That’s enough.
Rin grabs his phone just as a familiar notification lights up the screen—Hiori, telling him he’s 2 minutes away. Without another look back, Rin heads for the door, heart beating just a little faster than usual.
The cold hits him the moment Rin steps outside.
The night air sharp against his face, breath fogging faintly in front of him. Snow from earlier still clings to the edges of the sidewalk, the streetlights casting a pale glow over everything. It’s quiet.
Rin stands near the curb, hands tucked into his pockets, He tells himself he’s early because it’s efficient. Because waiting inside would’ve been pointless. Not because he feels restless.
His phone vibrates once in his pocket. He doesn’t check it yet. Instead, his gaze drifts down the street, eyes narrowing slightly as a car turns the corner.
A familiar one.
Headlights cut through the dark, slowing as they pull up in front of him. The engine hums softly before coming to a stop. The passenger door doesn’t open right away.
Inside the car, Hiori freezes.
For a second, he forgets how cold it is. Forgets he’s supposed to say something. Because Rin is standing there under the streetlight, snowflakes catching in his dark hair, his expression calm as ever—but the blue at his collar stands out immediately.
That hoodie.
The color hits Hiori right in the chest.
It peeks out just enough from under Rin’s sweater, bright against all the dark layers, like a quiet confession Rin probably doesn’t even realize he’s making. Hiori’s eyes flick down instinctively, taking in the rest of him—how the outfit fits, how Rin looks… softer. Warmer. Almost cozy.
Cute, his brain supplies traitorously.
Hiori swallows, forces himself to breathe, then pushes the door open and steps out into the cold.
“Hey,” he says, voice a little lighter than usual.
Rin turns at the sound, eyes lifting to meet his. “You’re on time.”
Hiori laughs softly. “You sound surprised.”
“I’m not.” Rin pauses, then adds, “You didn’t have to park so far.”
Hiori glances at the curb. “You didn’t have to wait outside.”
Rin shrugs, minimal. “It’s fine.” It’s not fine. His ears are red.
Hiori notices.
He smiles—small, fond, the kind he only ever seems to wear around Rin. “You cold?” Rin looks away. “No.”
Another lie. A bad one.
Hiori steps closer anyway, close enough that Rin can feel the warmth radiating off him. Close enough that Hiori can see the texture of the knit sweater, the familiar blue fabric beneath it.
Hiori tilts his head slightly. “That hoodie…” Rin stiffens. Just barely.
“…it looks really good on you,” Hiori finishes.
For half a second, Rin doesn’t respond. When he does, his voice is quieter than before. “It’s warm.”
Hiori’s smile widens, something gentle and unreadable in his eyes. “Yeah,” he says. “It suits you.”
Rin doesn’t argue this time.
“Get in,” Hiori adds, opening the door again. “Before you freeze.”
Rin hesitates, then moves past him, brushing Hiori’s sleeve as he does. The contact is brief, accidental—still enough to make Hiori’s heart skip.
As Rin settles into the passenger seat, he pulls the door closed and finally exhales.
Outside, Hiori lingers for just a second longer, glancing at the spot where Rin had been standing, then back at him through the window. Cute, he thinks again, Hiori is doomed.
Then he gets in the car, shuts the door, and starts the engine—already counting down the minutes until New Year’s.
The car ride is quiet in the way that only feels comfortable between them.
The heater hums softly, warm air filling the space as Hiori drives, one hand on the wheel, the other resting casually near the gearshift. Rin sits in the passenger seat, gaze fixed out the window as the city lights blur past, blue and gold reflecting faintly in his eyes.
“You okay?” Hiori asks, glancing over.
“I’m fine,” Rin replies automatically.
Hiori hums, unconvinced but not pushing. After a moment, he turns the heat up just a little more anyway.
Rin notices. He doesn’t comment.
They arrive at the apartment building not long after. It’s quiet inside, clean and modern, the hallway lights warm against the winter night outside. Once they’re inside the Airbnb, the heater kicks in immediately, the sudden warmth wrapping around them like a blanket.
Rin exhales without meaning to.
“Feels nice, right?” Hiori says, shrugging off his jacket.
Rin nods. “Yeah.”
He slips off his coat, then hesitates before pulling the cable-knit sweater over his head. The hoodie comes next, folded neatly over the back of a chair. Without the layers, he’s left in just the black turtleneck, sleeves hugging his arms.
Hiori tries very hard not to stare.
“Uh—make yourself comfortable,” he says, a little too quickly. “I’ll grab us drinks.”
Rin watches him disappear into the kitchen, then glances at the hoodie he just took off.
He doesn’t know why he feels strangely exposed without it.
They spend the evening quietly—music playing softly, eating snacks together as the city buzzes faintly beyond the windows. As midnight draws closer, distant fireworks begin popping in the sky, flashes of color reflecting off the glass.
Hiori drifts toward the balcony and slides the door open, cold air rushing in. He steps outside, then turns back, smiling. “Rin. Come here.”
Rin hesitates.
He’s already cold.
Still, he walks over, stopping just inside the doorway. The cold sinks in fast.
Hiori notices. Of course he does.
“You didn’t bring your sweater,” Hiori says gently.
“It’s fine,” Rin replies, voice tight.
Rin barely has time to register it before Hiori’s hands are around his, warm and careful, like he’s afraid Rin might pull away if he startles him. Hiori rubs his thumbs over Rin’s knuckles, slow and steady, trying to chase the chill out.
Rin freezes—not from the cold, but from the way his chest tightens.
Hiori’s hands are warm. Rin’s aren’t.
He hates how much that contrast makes him aware of everything.
“Your hands are really cold,” Hiori murmurs, brows knitting together. “You should’ve grabbed your sweater.”
“It’s fine,” Rin says again, softer this time. He doesn’t pull away. He can’t.
The fireworks crackle faintly in the distance, colors blooming across the sky. From the balcony, the city looks unreal—like something suspended between moments.
Hiori swallows.
“Rin,” he says, and there’s something different in his voice now. Nervous. Careful. “Can I… say something?”
Rin’s heart stutters.
“…Go ahead.”
Hiori exhales, a shaky breath fogging the air between them. He keeps holding Rin’s hands, like letting go would make this impossible.
“I’ve been thinking about this all night,” Hiori admits. “Actually—longer than that.” He lets out a quiet, almost self-conscious laugh. “I didn’t want to mess things up. You’re not exactly easy to read.”
Rin looks away, jaw tightening. He knows that.
“But,” Hiori continues, eyes fixed on Rin now, earnest and open in a way that makes Rin’s chest ache, “every time you do something small—like wearing that hoodie, or waiting outside in the cold—I start thinking maybe… maybe I’m not imagining it.”
The countdown starts somewhere below them.
Ten.
Rin’s breath catches. The hoodie. He feels exposed, like Hiori has seen straight through him.
Nine.
“I like you,” Hiori says quietly. “Not just as a teammate. Not just as a friend.” His grip tightens just a little. “I like you in a way that makes me nervous. In a way that makes me notice stupid things, like what color you’re wearing.”
Eight.
Rin’s mind is racing. He thinks of the hoodie folded inside. Of Sae buying it. Of Hiori’s eyes. Of how warm Hiori’s hands feel around his.
Seven.
“I didn’t want to pressure you,” Hiori says. “So if you don’t feel the same—”
Six.
“Stop,” Rin interrupts.
Hiori goes still.
Rin forces himself to meet his gaze. His voice is steady, but his heart is pounding so hard it feels unreal.
“I do feel the same,” Rin says. “I just… didn’t realize it until now.”
Five.
Hiori blinks. “You—wait, really?”
Rin nods. “I’m not good at this,” he admits. “But every time I think about you leaving, or not being around… it doesn’t sit right with me.”
Four.
Hiori’s expression softens, relief and disbelief washing over his face at once. “Rin…”
Three.
Rin swallows. “I think I’ve liked you for a while.”
Two.
Hiori smiles—wide, genuine, a little shaky. He leans closer, giving Rin time. Space. A choice.
Rin doesn’t hesitate.
One.
Fireworks explode across the sky, brilliant and loud and overwhelming—but Rin barely notices.
Their lips meet, soft at first, unsure, then warmer as Rin relaxes into it. Hiori’s hands slide up from Rin’s fingers to his wrists, grounding him there, like he’s afraid Rin might float away.
The kiss tastes like cold air and warmth and something new.
When they pull back, both of them are breathing a little too fast.
“…Happy New Year,” Hiori murmurs.
Rin’s lips curve just slightly. “Yeah.”
They end up in the same bed without ever really talking about it.
It just… happens.
The lights are off, the room dim except for the glow from the city outside the window. Rin lies on his back at first, staring up at the ceiling, listening to the quiet hum of the heater and the steady rhythm of Hiori’s breathing beside him.
He’s aware of everything—how close they are, the warmth seeping through the blankets, the way Hiori shifts slightly, like he’s thinking too hard about something.
“Rin?” Hiori whispers.
“…Yeah?”
There’s a pause. Long enough that Rin turns his head slightly.
“Are we… official?” Hiori asks, voice hesitant in a way Rin has almost never heard from him.
Rin frowns faintly. “What do you mean?”
Hiori swallows, fingers curling into the blanket between them. “I mean—” He hesitates, then looks at Rin, eyes earnest even in the dark. “Am I yours?”
The question hits Rin straight in the chest.
He turns fully onto his side, facing Hiori now. His expression is serious—intense, even—but not harsh. Not angry. Something protective settles into his gaze, instinctive and unwavering.
“You’re mine,” Rin says quietly.
Hiori’s breath catches.
“And,” Rin adds, just as firmly, “I’m yours.”
For a second, Hiori just stares at him. Then his shoulders relax, tension draining out of him like he’s been holding that question in for a long time.
“Okay,” Hiori whispers, smiling softly.
Rin shifts closer, slipping an arm around Hiori’s waist and pulling him in without hesitation. Hiori fits against him easily, like it’s always been this way, head resting against Rin’s chest, one hand gripping the fabric of his shirt.
They settle into the warmth, legs tangled, breaths syncing up.
Outside, the city keeps moving. Inside, everything finally slows.
They fall asleep like that—quiet, close, and certain.
Morning comes gently.
Too gently. Rin notices it the moment he wakes up.
“…Hiori.”
No response.
Rin opens one eye. Then the other.
The hoodie is gone.
He turns his head just in time to see Hiori at the doorway, halfway through pulling on his jacket—wearing Rin’s hoodie, sleeves slightly too long, hood already up like he thinks he’s slick.
“…You’re not slick,” Rin says flatly.
Hiori freezes. Then grins.
“I’ll give it back later,” he says innocently. “I promise!”
Rin exhales, burying his face back into the pillow. “…You better.”
Hiori laughs, soft and fond, and leaves for the living room anyway.
For the first time in a long while, Rin realizes he isn’t alone anymore.
The year has changed, but so has something else—something quieter, deeper. This time, he doesn’t have to face it by himself. This year, he gets to spend it with Hiori. Not as a teammate. Not as someone passing through his life. But as his lover.
Their relationship is like a quiet evening in a room.
Hiori’s type is someone who can leave him alone, and Rin is a loner known for his unfriendliness—so they understand each other without words. Silence never feels heavy between them. It feels shared.
Rin’s destructive energy fits perfectly with the sadistic edge of Hiori’s character, balancing and challenging each other in ways no one else could. Together, they are calm and chaos, restraint and instinct—something intense, something gentle.
Something that works.