Chapter Text
Sae let out a loud sighed from his nose as he plopped down on the couch. Cracking his knuckles and his shoulders too, leaning back on the couch, as he placed his arm on the headrest. Staring at the table with a glass ash tray before him. The glass was clean and empty, no dust of cigarettes there, just cleanliness.
Helping his parents wasn't unusual, except Sae rarely comes home. So sometimes it's unusual but other than that, it's okay. He guess. Being at his parents house was comforting except at night however, when he sleep, some unwanted memories would gradually came back, Sae ignored them but it proved to be a challenge. He wondered what has he done to deserve this?
Sae rubbed his forehead, closing his eyes as he recalled the invitation this morning from that four eyed freak. Opening his green blue sea's eyes, Sae's expression was in a sour frown, Tomorrow, he has to go to Blue Lock, celebrating their victory, Sae thought that he'll lose contact with Blue Lock soon, but it seems that he didn't, ever since the U-20 match. But no, Sae thought he'll lose communication since later on, Rin quit the Blue Lock program but he didn't. And he's wondering why he's still in contact with them in the first place.
It's not that he's worried that Shidou's there, or if randomly that scar bunny shit would show up, he don't care about them, he's just irritated is why, but Sae has never been one to entertain others so, he'll leave early and unnoticed. It's easy, slithering through the crowd like a snake. Sae rubbed his eye, then removed his hand, as he did so, a ding notification caught his attention. He turned his head towards the sound. Blinking once, twice. On the table, there layed his mother's phone. Taking it, he unlock the device. It's her friends, Sae didn't give a text or anything. No, he roamed on the apps present there.
Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, WhatsApp, Gmail, then he clicked on Gallery.
Scrolling down, there aren't many pictures or videos, just random work papers, as he was about to shut off the device, a picture of Rin stopped him, he paused then he tapped on the picture. It was sunny outside, Rin was standing on the backyard with a mug on his hand, having a small smile present on his lips, his hair was ruffled like he just woke up and in simple clothing too. It's quite nice seeing his little brother here.
As he tapped on the arrow above, he scrolled down again, then he saw videos present there, he clicked on one of the videos and Rin was there, but much younger, eight or nine years old. He was jumping in the couch, then the floor and repeating it all over again. His mother's voice interrupted his playing, “Rin?” she called his name, Rin immediately perk his head up, his cheeks chubby and his lips in a small pout from the earlier concentration, his owl-like, summer ocean's eyes looking at his mother, the red jersey was too big for him and wearing a dark green cargo shorts, his eyes screaming confusion with an expansion of innocence.
“What is it? ” he asked, his voice soft and low, his mother chuckled, confusing Rin more, his pout gone but replaced with the slight pursing of his lips, and the furrowed of brows. “Rin I want you to close your eyes and don't peek. ” their mother ordered. Rin nodded, putting both of his palms on each side of his eyes. “Don't peek, okay? ” their mother said. Rin nodded again. Then someone came in the living room, their mother was laughing quietly now.
Sae watched the video, a small smile unknowingly made its way to his lips, then as the scrambling and shuffling in the video continues, Rin called their mother with a shaky voice, “Mom? Mom? ” their mother answered in a gentle tone. “Yes?” and upon hearing their mother's voice, Rin seemed to calm down. His tense posture relaxing. “Can I open my eyes now? ”
Their mother stood in a more proper position. Then she hummed, “Hmp! Yes you can! ” she exclaimed. Rin let his hands fell steadily and slowly opening his eyes. Seeing the person standing directly apart from him, Rin's eyes widened, then jumping in joy on the couch. “Dadd!” he screamed, their father chuckled, there was some amusement and joy in his laugh. Approaching Rin who immediately jumped into his arms, hugging his father's neck tightly.
“Dadd I miss youu!” Rin screamed. Their father barked a laugh loudly, turning to face the camera, Rin's small body was wrapped in their father's arms. Who's now chuckling lightly at Rin's sudden crying. “Dadd! I miss youu! ” he suddenly sobbed, crying on his father's shoulder. his small arms tightening their hold around their father's neck. “Okay okay...” his father pressed a kiss against the side of Rin's head.
“Turn it off.” his father said. His voice a whisper, then the video ended. Sae stared at the phone, he didn't expect the video to be emotional. But as he scrolled down to another video, he saw Rin again, this time unlike the yellow light in the living room. It's in their backyard. Rin was drawing something on a paper. His small hands clutching the color pencil. Moving his small feet back and forth, not even in synchronisation. But that's what make it adorable. Rin was too adorable to handle when he's a baby.
“Rin?” their father called. Rin looked up, he looked more younger than the previous video, maybe around four or five. His cheeks are more chubbier and his lips always on a pout, “Who's your favourite person? ” his father asked. It's a ridiculous question, used for children. And Rin fell for the question, but who can blame him, he's a child afterall. “My favourite personn? ” he repeated and oh, Rin's voice was soo soft and pure. It's making Sae feel how delicate and breakable Rin is. He almost cooed at Rin's innocent facial expressions and quiet answers.
Their father nodded. “Yes.”
Rin blinked again. His lashes are always soo long, “Hmm, my favourite personn... ” he looked up as if thinking more clearly. His father hummed. “Hmm... Who is it? ” then, Rin shook his head. “Noone. I have noone. ” his father laughed at his answer. “You sure? ”
Rin nodded, “Absolutely noone! ” ” Rin declared, his eyes a shining gleam of adamant. Proud of his answer. “Alright! Then, look who's back! ” their father pointed to Sae, him, when he's younger. He leaped into the grass, making his way to their father and Rin— and immediately Rin screamed, getting up and childishly jumped in joy. Sae smiled seeing his brother jumping, Rin suddenly hugged his brother's waist.
Sae let out a soft chuckle, seeing him squealing and screaming when he saw him. Rin is soo adorable, his baby brother is too adorable. Then the video ended, as he saw more videos, he clicked one again. It's him, Sae, lying on the floor, with Rin under him, lying on a pillow. Sae furrowed his brows at the video, then slowly a memory came back to him. He widened his eyes, remembering this moment. He remembered it, an overwhelming feeling of nostalgia and recognition flooded inside him— Sae was playing with Rin, no, baby Rin. Who's laughing at his gestures.
His laugh loud and clear, Sae swears that Rin's laugh was somehow still the same. He knows that he haven't heard his laughter for soo long but that same bark of laughter when something gets too hilarious, and when it also became silent but still laughing. Sae knows that Rin still laughed like that, even though he haven't seen him for who knows what. Sae swears that Rin still laughed like that.
A small chuckle left his throat. Rin was a baby, laughing and filled with excitement as he flail his arms around. Sae could feel the warmth spreading through his chest. Rin was just a baby, not knowing what's right and wrong, not knowing what's happening in the real world. Just laughing since someone entertained him, and Sae sighed, a quiet, exhale filled with quiet joy in it, and the video ended.
Sae shut the phone off, settling the device down on the table, he don't want to scroll more on the phone, so instead he gets up from the couch, walking to the backyard. There's still that same tree, it's trunk old and brown, and the external appearance of it sagging. But there's still those fresh childhood memories present, setting his home wear shoes aside, Sae stepped barefoot on the grass, the afternoon sun rising beautifully on the sky with it's rays landing on some landmarks and it's shine mesmerizingly capturing. With the summer air flowing, brushing his pastel red hair. His shirt moving forward with the harsh air, he closed his greenish blue lake eyes, his lashes fluttering shut.
The warm but fresh air cooling his heated body, he could feel his tense shoulders relaxing. The sound of the leaves brushing against eachother was calmly soothing to his ears, a sound soo peaceful and in solitude. Sometimes, he wondered, why did Rin quit football? He didn't just disappeared, he didn't leave without a trace, he was just gone. And no matter how much those thoughts would disturb his already ruined up mind and busying work schedule and trainings, he can't help but wonder what really happened to Rin.
Opening his eyes, Sae wanted to let the wind take him to wherever it goes. Till they're reached his brother, Rin would be besides him, no arguing, just acceptance of serenity in silence between them. Sae looked up, the white clouds above the bluish afternoon sky, it feels nostalgic. Sae didn't know that he had missed this. No, needed this.
Even though the world may keep moving, and difficulties may happen in the future. Sae will forget about them for a moment. Because he knew something in his heart tells him that Rin will be coming back. He's not an emotional person but he knows that Rin— no, his little brother will come back home.
Sae knows it.