Chapter Text
The first thing Yukimiya noticed was the cameras.
Three of them.
No—five.
One near the entrance, two mounted in the corners, another following Ego Jinpachi like some cursed documentary crew, and one directly pointed at the Blue Lock players currently suffering through media training.
Which, in Yukimiya’s opinion, was worse than actual football drills.
“Your public image,” Ego announced from the massive screen, “is now part of your value as players.”
A collective groan spread through the room.
Barou looked seconds away from murder.
Bachira was upside down on the couch somehow.
Otoya had stolen someone’s chips already.
Yukimiya adjusted the sleeves of his hoodie and tried not to look irritated. Cameras never really bothered him before. Modelling meant he was used to attention.
But Blue Lock attention was different.
More invasive.
More hungry.
Every expression got clipped online.
Every glance became an edit.
Every interaction turned into shipping discourse.
Ego clicked to the next slide.
ENGAGEMENT METRICS.
The room immediately started booing.
“Silence,” Ego said. “The U-20 campaign begins next month. Sponsors want marketable duos.”
Karasu snorted. “We’re football players, not idols.”
“You are whatever makes money.”
Fair enough, honestly.
The next slide appeared.
PAIRING STRATEGIES.
Yukimiya frowned.
“Wait,” Chigiri said slowly. “What exactly does pairing strategies mean?”
Ego’s glasses glinted ominously.
“It means,” he said, “that select players will participate in controlled public relationship marketing.”
Silence.
Then:
“YOU’RE WHAT?” Rin snapped.
Aryu looked delighted.
Bachira nearly fell off the couch laughing.
And then Ego said the worst sentence imaginable.
“Yukimiya Kenyu and Otoya Eita will begin a trial campaign effective immediately.”
The room exploded.
“No way.”
“Actually makes sense.”
“That’s horrifying.”
“Otoya’s gonna have the time of his life.”
Yukimiya stared blankly at the screen.
Surely this was a joke.
Across the room, Otoya leaned back lazily with that stupid easy grin of his, completely unbothered.
“Guess you’re my boyfriend now.”
The room howled.
Yukimiya’s stomach dropped.
Not because of the joke.
Because Otoya said it so naturally.
Like the words fit too easily in his mouth.
“You can decline,” Ego said, “but analytics indicate the two of you have the highest projected audience retention.”
“Retention?” Yukimiya repeated flatly.
“People think you’re attractive together.”
Otoya burst out laughing.
“That’s insane.”
Ego ignored him.
“The campaign includes interviews, promotional appearances, social media interactions, and coordinated public outings.”
Yukimiya felt a headache forming.
Absolutely not.
No chance.
He already spent enough time carefully maintaining his image. The idea of fake dating in front of millions of people sounded exhausting.
Before he could refuse, Otoya nudged his shoulder lightly.
“C’mon,” he said. “Could be funny.”
Funny.
Right.
Easy for Otoya to say.
Everything seemed easy for Otoya.
Flirting.
Talking.
Smiling.
Being wanted.
Yukimiya glanced at him properly for the first time that meeting and immediately regretted it.
Black hair slightly messy from training.
Sharp green eyes.
Relaxed posture like he belonged everywhere.
Dangerous.
Not because Otoya was cruel.
Because he made everything feel effortless.
And people like that never realised the effect they had on others.
“You’ll start with a photoshoot tomorrow,” Ego continued. “Try to appear convincing.”
“Can we at least get a script?” Yukimiya asked.
“No.”
“Guidelines?”
“No.”
“A reason?”
“You generate chemistry naturally.”
Otoya pointed at himself proudly. “I’m charming.”
“You’re annoying,” Yukimiya replied automatically.
“See?” Ego said. “Excellent dynamic.”
The meeting dissolved into chaos after that.
Everyone immediately started making comments.
“Don’t fight in public,” Bachira called cheerfully.
“Matching rings when?” Reo added.
Rin looked physically disgusted.
Yukimiya stood up before the teasing got worse.
The cameras followed him instantly.
Of course they did.
As he walked toward the hallway, he heard footsteps catch up beside him.
Otoya.
“You seriously hate this already?” he asked.
Yukimiya exhaled slowly. “You don’t?”
“Nah. Free publicity.”
“That’s your concern?”
“What’s yours?”
Yukimiya stopped walking.
For a second, the hallway felt strangely quiet compared to the noise behind them.
His answer should’ve been simple.
That it was embarrassing.
Inconvenient.
Pointless.
Instead, what came out was:
“You flirt too much.”
Otoya blinked.
Then laughed softly.
“Oh, so you’re jealous already?”
“See, that’s exactly what I mean.”
“What?”
“You say things like that without thinking.”
Otoya tilted his head slightly, amused.
“And?”
“And people believe you.”
Something unreadable flickered across Otoya’s expression.
Gone almost immediately.
He shoved his hands into his pockets and grinned again.
“Well,” he said lightly, “good thing we only have to pretend.”
Pretend.
Right.
That was all this was.
So why did Yukimiya suddenly feel disappointed?
—
That night, Blue Lock’s official account posted a single photo.
Yukimiya standing beside Otoya after training.
Sweaty.
Annoyed.
Too close together.
Caption:
NEW DUO PROJECT? 👀
The internet lost its mind in under six minutes.
And somewhere in the middle of scrolling through thousands of comments, Yukimiya’s phone buzzed.
Unknown Number.
A text.
> boyfriend, save me
> bachira won’t stop asking relationship questions
Yukimiya stared at the message.
Then at the contact name.
Otoya 😈
Another text appeared immediately after.
> also ur kinda pretty when ur mad
Yukimiya nearly threw his phone across the room.
Instead, after a long moment, he typed back:
> this fake relationship is already ruining my life
Three dots appeared instantly.
> yeah but now u text me back faster :)
Yukimiya hated the way his chest reacted to that.
Absolutely hated it.