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The Blue Lock training grounds were decorated with an uncharacteristic amount of effort.
Banners that read "MEET THE PARENTS DAY!" were hung awkwardly across the dining hall. Balloons were taped to chairs.
Ego had allowed this chaos for the sake of "psychological evaluation through social strain."
Isagi stood nervously near the entrance, his hair neatly combed. Bachira bounced excitedly beside him.
"Yoichi, are your parents scary?" Bachira asked.
"No, they're actually pretty nice," Isagi said with a sheepish smile.
Moments later, Mr. and Mrs. Isagi entered, radiating warmth and middle-class charm.
"Yoichi!" his mother called, waving a bento box.
Bachira squinted at them. "No way... They're so... normal."
Chigiri walked in with his mother, a graceful, poised woman who immediately offered everyone rice crackers. Bachira's mother arrived shortly after, dressed like she had walked out of a modern art exhibit.
"Is that a kimono made of... mirrors?" Hiori whispered.
"I made it myself!" she announced proudly, hugging Bachira.
Hiori's parents arrived next, both wearing "#TEAMHIORI" sweatshirts.
"We're so proud of our little soccer star!" his dad beamed, while his mom tried to hand Ego a scrapbook.
Ego recoiled.
Karasu slinked over with two very suspicious-looking "parents."
"Are those your actual parents?" Aryu asked.
"Define 'actual,'" Karasu replied.
Otoya appeared and striking a ninja pose.
"My parents are here. You just can’t see them."
"Sit down, Otoya," said Ego.
Yukimiya entered with his parents, both looking like runway royalty. The room collectively gasped.
"Are those... Are those real people?" Isagi muttered.
"Why do I suddenly feel less Glam?" Aryu added.
Reo stood by the corner, arms crossed. "My parents are not coming. Mikage Corp is their priority."
"Expected," said Nagi, reclining on a bench. "My dad won’t show. But maybe my mom."
"Really?" Reo perked up. "What’s she like?"
"Embarrassing. Hassle."
Suddenly, a low, haunting choir echoed through the halls.
"Why do I hear boss music?" Niko asked.
The door burst open. Smoke curled along the floor. A tall, impossibly elegant figure stepped through, long silver hair gleaming, a black coat trailing behind him like a shadow.
Everyone froze.
"That’s... That’s SEPHIROTH!" Hiori shrieked.
Nagi stood up. "Mama!" he called, walking over. The room imploded in hysterics.
Sephiroth knelt gracefully, brushing Nagi’s bangs aside as if handling a precious relic. "Seichan. My sweet little light. Did you make any friends today?"
Nagi shrugged. "Reo is enough."
Sephiroth's stern face softened, like clouds parting after a storm. He gently tucked a lock of Nagi's hair behind his ear and nodded. "That is enough. As long as you are happy."
Even Ego stumbled back, mumbling, "That man... shouldn’t be real."
Reo swallowed his fear and stepped forward. "I’m Reo Mikage. Nagi’s best friend."
Sephiroth turned his glowing eyes toward Reo. "You are the one he calls his light."
"I treasure him," Reo replied with all the calmness his corporate bloodline could muster. "Always will."
Sephiroth's lips curled into a rare smile. "Then you are worthy of my most precious creation."
Nagi turned red as he pleaded. "Mama, stop."
"My beautiful white chocobo chick," Sephiroth said, reaching into his coat.
"Please no," Nagi groaned. His hands covered his face.
Too late.
A hologram projection activated, showing baby Nagi in oversized pajamas, curled up like a kitten in a laundry basket, clutching a soccer ball half his size.
"Look at him," Sephiroth said proudly. "Not even two, and already destined for brilliance."
"Reo, don’t look!"
"Too late," Reo whispered, mesmerized. "You were so small..."
Nagi lunged for the projector, but Sephiroth effortlessly blocked him, petting his head with reverence.
"Papa sends his love from the other side of the Earth," Sephiroth added.
"You mean... there’s more?" tokimitsu squeaked.
Reo turned to look at his 'friend'. "Wait, why do you call him 'Mama'?"
Nagi shrugged. "I did it once as a baby. He never corrected me."
Sephiroth sighed with an almost divine fondness. "And why would I? Being called 'Mama' by my Seichan is an honor beyond all titles."
The remaining Blue Lock collectively decided they would rather mark their own ankles than cross Nagi.
Later, as the day wound down, Reo leaned against the wall beside a dozing Nagi. He watched the way the boy's eyes shimmered faintly with a bluish-green glow.
"Hey," Reo said softly. "Your eyes change color sometimes. It's not the lights, is it?"
"Mama said it's from the Mako. I inherited it," Nagi murmured.
Reo blinked. "Mako? As in... like from SOLDIER and all that?"
"Yeah. Energy runs in our blood. Hassle to think about."
"So you literally glow because of your genetics. That’s... kind of amazing."
Nagi shrugged and nestled deeper into his jacket. "Sleepy."
Reo chuckled, gently brushing a strand of silver off his friend’s face. "You’re the most adorable baby."
Nagi mumbled, "Too much praise... let me nap."
But then he cracked one eye open.
"Reo..."
"Yeah?"
"Don’t tell anyone I glow."
"Secret safe with me."
A moment passed.
"Wait," Reo suddenly said. "If Sephiroth is your mom... who’s your dad?"
Nagi yawned. "Papa's name is Cloud. Cloud Strife."
Reo choked. "As in Cloud Strife? Spiky hair, motorcycle, ridiculously massive sword Cloud Strife?!"
"Yeah. He's really cool. Always brooding. Calls me 'kid.' Says things like 'whatever.'"
Reo buried his face in his hands. "Your parents are a literal cosmic rivalry... and you just want to nap."
"Mmm. Napping is peace," Nagi muttered, already halfway asleep again.
Eventually, Sephiroth rose, his presence like an eclipse in motion.
"Seichan, I must go. The Planet whispers to me again."
"Okay," Nagi yawned. "Thanks for coming, Mama."
Sephiroth turned to Reo, placing a hand on his shoulder with ancient solemnity. "You are entrusted with the heart of my son. Cherish him."
"With my life," Reo said without hesitation.
Sephiroth nodded once, then turned into a swirl of black feathers and vanished into the air, choir still echoing.
Silence.
"I TOLD you my parents are ninjas!" Otoya shouted.
Ego ripped down the "MEET THE PARENTS DAY!" banner. "We are NEVER doing this again."
ADDITIONAL TIME: Birthday Blues
Nagi’s birthday plan was elegant: do nothing.
He burrowed into a blanket like a hibernating cat, phone on silent, curtains drawn to the perfect "nap gray." Reo had arranged a minimalist celebration: a can of Lemon Tea and some strawberry gummies. They queued a sleepy lo‑fi playlist that Reo called “zzz striker.”
Then the facility's siren wailed.
"…No," Nagi groaned and whined into his pillow.
Reo was already on his feet, scanning the door panel. "Security triggered in our hall. Stay behind me."
The lock hissed. The door slid open. A lean, compact muscle silhouette filled the frame at 173 cm, gravity‑defying blond spikes, and eyes like cut sapphires with a faint, otherworldly glow.
"Papa?" Nagi blinked. "What are you doing here?"
Cloud Strife stepped in, the alarm lights painting him red, then blue. On the surface, his posture screamed seasoned merc, gaze sweeping the room, words rationed to the bare minimum. Underneath, the pause at the threshold gave him away with the awkward breath before speaking, the way his shoulders squared as if bracing for small talk.
He held up a small white box. "Delivery," he said. "From your Mama. Happy birthday, kid."
Nagi sat up, hair mussed, taller by a head when they were close. He took the box like it might float away. "Thanks."
Cloud’s mouth twitched into almost a smile, or the memory of one. "He insisted on… presentation. I told him a cake’s a cake. He wrote a note." Cloud produced a folded card, cleared his throat, and read, woodenly: "To my Seichan: May your naps be long and your burdens light. Consume sugar. – Mama." He tucked the card into Nagi’s hand, ears faintly pink.
Reo brightened, stepping forward with perfect manners and barely concealed awe. "I’m Reo Mikage. Nagi’s best friend. It’s an honor to meet you, Mr. Strife."
Cloud studied him like Materia, then one beat, two. "Cloud. His... father."
Another beat. His gaze softened a fraction. "You stand steady. That’s… good." The compliment landed like a rare drop. Reo tried not to beam too hard.
An awkward silence assembled itself.
Cloud broke it by staring at the ceiling speaker. "I’m not… technically not supposed to be here," he said, as if reporting a weather update. "So I should… go." He gestured toward the hall with a vague mercenary shuffle.
"Wait," Nagi said, and then, with all the emotional athleticism of two taciturn people, he leaned down and hugged his father. It was slightly clumsy with shoulders bumping, chin catching, and weight shifting, but it held. Cloud’s arms went up in a defensive reflex… then settled around Nagi, careful and firm.
"…Yeah," Cloud murmured, the word meaning happy birthday in a language made of ellipses.
Reo, quietly thrilled to witness the rare event, stepped back and busied himself with plates he didn’t need yet.
They parted. Cloud nodded once to Reo with an acknowledgment, trust, a tiny benediction. Then he turned, already halfway back into myth, and wandered out down the corridor like a man who was always on his way to the next rooftop.
Then finally, the alarm cut off. The door shut. Silence returned, warm and soft.
Reo exhaled. "I just met Cloud Strife. I didn’t faint."
Nagi opened the box. Inside sat a small, neat cake with no frills, just a perfect circle with pale vanilla frosting and a single silver sugar feather on top. He unfolded the card again, eyes lingering on the loopy, dramatic signature.
A tiny smile tugged at his mouth. "Mama’s thinking about me," he said. "Papa too."
Reo handed him a fork. "Make a wish."
Nagi considered. "Wish granted," he decided, and took the first bite. They ate side‑by‑side on the edge of the bed, trading the fork without talking about it.
Halfway through, Nagi’s eyelids drifted. His mako‑kissed irises softened to sea‑glass. He bumped Reo’s shoulder. "Good birthday."
"Yeah," Reo said, content. "The best low‑effort party ever."
Nagi finished a last, lazy bite, then slipped down into the blankets, cake box on the nightstand, card beneath it like a pressed flower. Reo dimmed the lights back to nap gray and set the playlist to loop.
From the hall came the distant, innocent hum of security systems resetting like nothing impossible had happened at all.
Nagi was already asleep.
Wearing that almost‑invisible smile as the kind that said both of his legendary parents had been here, in their own crooked ways, and that was more than enough.