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Reo cannot believe he let himself get roped into this. Well, actually, he can. For some reason, whenever it comes to Nagi Seishiro, Reo finds himself doing the most ridiculous things.
This time, the task he’s taken on is considerably more normal than most Nagi-related endeavors. After the incredible match between the Blue Lock 11 and Japan’s U-20 team, the public’s interest in the Blue Lock project has skyrocketed. In particular, a great deal of that attention has focused on Isagi and Nagi due to their stellar performances during the match. Is Reo a little pissed that it’s not him and Nagi in the spotlight? Yeah, maybe. But he’s also secretly pleased with the recognition Nagi’s gotten. A treasure deserves to be shown off where the whole world can see it.
So, when Anri had approached Reo and asked for his help preparing Nagi and Isagi for an interview on national television, it was hard to refuse. Why they needed his help exactly wasn’t explicitly stated, but Reo got the gist of it. The increased interest in Blue Lock means there’s a lot more to do on the administrative side, and Reo is convinced Anri is the only one actually keeping this project running. Between her overflowing work schedule and Ego’s complete lack of interest in anything that doesn’t involve sending hundreds of high schoolers through the world’s most brutal soccer boot camp, there isn’t a competent person left to oversee the interview. And that’s where Reo comes in.
He’s spent his whole life as a public figure. TV appearances, impromptu interviews, managing the careful balance that is public relations, it’s all second nature by now. The most logical thing, of course, is to send Reo with Nagi and Isagi to make sure the two of them don’t cause a scene and deter potential sponsors from investing in Blue Lock. A few weeks ago, Reo would have been more than happy to help. Hell, he’d be bursting at the seams with pride at the opportunity to show the world how amazing Nagi is. The problem is, that was then, and this is now.
As things are, Reo still isn’t sure how to approach Nagi. There’s not really any hostility between them, not like there was during Second Selection, but the distance in their relationship still feels uncrossable. The sting of betrayal and abandonment has yet to fade away. As for Nagi, well, he’s just as hard to read as ever. Before they joined Blue Lock, Reo thought he understood Nagi perfectly. Each minute change in his facial expressions, the slightly different intonations of Nagi’s voice, they were Reo’s favorite puzzles to piece together. Now, though, Nagi is different. The thought that Nagi’s unspoken language is now foreign to Reo terrifies him. He can’t take another fight. So, Reo tries to avoid Nagi as much as possible.
Unfortunately, that proves far harder than Reo had expected. Case in point, Reo’s present job as Nagi’s supervisor. He watches from his chair in the waiting room as Isagi talks with one of the show’s producers. The interview is set to officially begin in about fifteen minutes, so Nagi should also be out here getting a quick rundown of how things go. Nagi is nowhere in sight, though. One of the staff members from the hair and makeup team walks up to Isagi and the producer. She says something too quiet for Reo to hear, but once she finishes talking, three pairs of eyes zero in on him. Reo holds in the sigh that sits heavy in his lungs. Instead, he smiles politely and approaches the group.
“Is something the matter?” he asks.
“There’s been a delay in getting Nagi ready for the interview,” the staff member says. She pauses momentarily, clearly searching for the most appropriate words to say next. “Nagi is a bit… unique. He sits perfectly still, which is great for styling, but doesn’t seem to want to do anything but sit there.”
The producer raises an eyebrow. “Which means...?”
“Nagi has been in the dressing room for over thirty minutes. We’re not sure if he’s dressed or not, because he won’t open the door, either,” the staff member says.
Both of the producer’s eyebrows shoot up at this. Isagi, meanwhile, sends Reo an exasperated look.
“You’re used to dealing with this, right?” Isagi asks him.
“You should be too, considering you guys were roommates for a while,” Reo points out, just a twinge of bitterness seeping into his voice.
“Look, I don’t know what you and Nagi get up to in your free time, but I can guarantee it’s nothing like my experience rooming with Nagi. I have zero interest in babying a guy who’s a whole head taller than me,” Isagi says.
Reo’s first instinct is to argue that Nagi’s height has nothing to do with whether or not he should be spoiled. In fact, part of Nagi’s charm is the contrast between his tall, strong build and adorable personality. Luckily, Reo realizes that this is not the place or time for such an argument. He does, however, file it away to revisit later.
“Alright, I get it. I’ll go check on him,” Reo says.
Relief washes over the staff member’s face. “Thank you so much! Nagi’s just down the hall and to the right, in dressing room C.”
Reo nods, then turns on his heel in the direction the staff member indicated. The layout of this studio is simple and easy to understand, with signs helpfully labeling each hall and door. In a matter of minutes, Reo stands outside of the door marked “dressing room C.” He raises a hand to knock, only to hesitate before his knuckles make contact with the wood. What is he supposed to do if Nagi refuses to come out? Promise him rewards for good behavior, or lather sweet praise onto Nagi until he’s compliant to Reo’s demands? Reo’s stomach churns at the idea. No, he should keep things professional.
“Nagi, it’s me,” Reo calls, finally knocking on the door.
He stands there in silence for several seconds. The longer he goes without a response, the heavier the air feels. Very few times in Reo’s life has he wanted to run away like a coward. This is one of those times.
Just as Reo considers sprinting down the hall and informing the producer that they’ll have to find someone else to drag Nagi out, the door cracks open. Nagi peers out at him, blinking remnants of sleep from his eyes, and Reo freezes on the spot. He can’t help it. Not when Nagi looks like… that.
The hair and makeup team really knew what they were doing. Nagi’s usually unkempt hair has been tamed into a stylish, side-swept look. His overgrown fringe is brushed back to reveal his forehead, drawing attention to Nagi’s large, dark eyes. And what stunning eyes they are. A delicate line of eyeliner accentuates the gentle curve of them, while a light coating of mascara highlights the length of Nagi’s lashes. Lashes which flutter against smooth cheeks dusted with a nearly unnoticeable blush. Of course, Reo notices. How could he not, when he’s never seen such color on Nagi’s face outside of strenuous workouts?
“What’s up, Reo?” Nagi says, his voice a lazy drawl.
Reo barely manages to stop himself from jumping, startled out of his thoughts. For a moment, he stares at Nagi, brain struggling to piece together what it was Reo came here for. Right, the interview. He forces his gaze to drop to Nagi’s torso, where he catches sight of a half unbuttoned dress shirt. The way Nagi’s toned chest peaks through the gap in the fabric does not help the situation. Reo’s eyes snap back up to meet Nagi’s.
“The show will be going live any minute now. Finish getting dressed then meet up with the producer and Isagi,” Reo says.
He starts to turn away, desperate to get as far away as possible, but is stopped by a warm hand gripping his wrist. This time, Reo does jump.
“Help me?” Nagi pleads.
He has that pitiful, wide-eyed expression that never failed to make Reo melt in the past. Looking at him now fills Reo with two conflicting emotions. One part of him wants nothing more than to slap away Nagi’s hand and tell him to do it himself. After all, Nagi doesn’t need Reo anymore. He made that abundantly clear. Another part of Reo, a part he wishes he could rid himself of, is still hopelessly smitten with Nagi. That part begs Reo to give in. Look, it says, Nagi does need you. You can’t leave him like this.
Reo sucks in a breath through his teeth. It ends up sounding like a hiss. “You know how to dress yourself.”
“But it’s such a pain,” Nagi whines. His fingers tighten slightly around Reo’s wrist. “Reo, please?”
Reo squeezes his eyes shut. Partially to help center himself, and partially to avoid looking at Nagi’s puppy-dog eyes any longer. Reo is not a weak-minded person. He’s the one that gets what he wants from others, not the other way around. Yet, Nagi is the exception. Always has been, and, unfortunately, probably always will be.
“Fine, but only because we need to hurry,” Reo says. He’s not sure which of them he’s trying to convince.
Nagi doesn’t question this, though. He just nods and lightly tugs Reo into the dressing room. Once inside, Reo is quick to sidestep out of the suffocating space between Nagi and the door. He says nothing as he gets to work buttoning up Nagi’s shirt. The gesture feels unbearably familiar. As if it were the most natural thing in the world, Reo deftly tucks each button into its designated hole, leaving the last two undone. Just the way Nagi likes.
Out of the corner of his eye, Reo spots a sleek gray blazer haphazardly thrown onto a nearby chair. A quiet, amused huff leaves Reo’s lips as he turns to pick it up.
“Planning to go out without this?” Reo asks.
Nagi hums in response. A non-answer to most, but Reo knows it’s a confirmation.
“No can do, Nagi. The stylists will have your head if you don’t wear it,” Reo says.
He crosses the short distance between the chair and Nagi in only a few steps. Reo is careful not to get too close, though. There’s still a thrum in his veins from when he felt the warmth of Nagi’s skin beneath the thin shirt earlier. But Nagi appears to have no such concerns. He shuffles closer and holds an arm out to Reo. Another bid for help. Reo clicks his tongue, not nearly as annoyed as he thinks he should be.
Nagi is helped into the blazer in one fluid, practiced motion. Reo is reminded of all those mornings he went to pick Nagi up from his dorm, only to find him still half-asleep in his pajamas. Back then, Reo had laughed fondly as he dressed Nagi the same way he is now, aligning buttons and shrugging on blazers. Absentmindedly, Reo reaches out to straighten the blazer’s lapels. The ones at the top seem to have gotten stuck on Nagi’s shirt collar, so Reo shifts them around until they lay flat. In the process of doing so, Reo’s hand grazes Nagi’s neck. The shock of warmth and soft hair against his fingertips has Reo pulling away as if he were burned. Nagi stares at him, confused, and Reo vehemently avoids meeting his gaze.
“You’d better get going. I’m sure everyone’s waiting on you,” Reo says.
“Right,” Nagi says.
He stands there for a few seconds longer, unmoving. Reo still refuses to look at him. Whatever stupor Nagi is in, he finally snaps out of it and walks over to the door. Nagi opens it, takes one step into the hall, then stops.
“Reo,” he calls.
Against his better judgment, Reo’s eyes shift to fix on Nagi. Nagi’s body is mostly turned away, so he has to look over his shoulder to see Reo. At this angle, a few strands of Nagi’s hair fall out of their carefully crafted placement to frame his face. God, he looks infuriatingly pretty.
“You’ll be watching, right?” Nagi asks.
Reo’s heart lurches into his throat. What is he supposed to say? “As if I could look anywhere but at you?” The admission would leave him too vulnerable, too raw. All Reo can do is nod. Satisfied, Nagi shoots him a peace sign, before disappearing down the hall.
By the time Reo manages to collect himself, the interview has already begun. He enters the room where it’s being filmed as quietly as possible, yet, somehow, Nagi’s eyes lock onto him the moment he walks through the door. Not knowing what else to do, Reo offers him a small wave. Nagi doesn’t return the gesture, but he also doesn’t stop staring at Reo. A few members of the production crew follow Nagi’s gaze, curious. Reo awkwardly smiles at them and wishes he was anywhere but here. The crew’s attention soon shifts back to filming. Luckily, Nagi has also returned to half-focusing on the interview host.
Following suit, Reo turns his attention to the host as well. She’s a young woman, somewhere in her mid to late 20s, dressed in a light blue pantsuit. As she speaks to Nagi and Isagi, an easy smile rests on her lips. The friendly, inviting air she gives off would make most people feel comfortable enough to spill their secrets on live TV. Reo just hopes that Nagi and Isagi remember enough from the crash course he gave them on PR to avoid saying something they’ll regret.
“You two are both so young, yet you’re already making quite the names for yourselves. All of Japan is on the edge of their seats waiting to see what you’ll do next,” the host says. “Tell me, what has it been like under the spotlight?”
The tips of Isagi’s ears flush pink as he sheepishly smiles. “Honestly, I’m still not used to it, but I really appreciate everyone’s support. I feel like I can work even harder knowing so many people believe in me.”
Reo nods to himself. Good answer, Isagi. Sometimes, Reo forgets how mild-mannered Isagi actually is off the field. As long as no one gets him too riled up, things will be fine. Probably.
“That’s wonderful to hear! I can assure you that I, and many others, will be cheering you on with our whole hearts.” The host’s smile broadens, then she turns to face Nagi. “What about you, Nagi?”
Nagi, slouched in his vibrant red chair, answers in the most Nagi-way possible: “It’s a pain.”
For a split second, the host’s friendly expression falters, replaced by one of confusion. She manages to school it back under control so quickly that less attentive listeners won’t notice the slip up. Unfortunately, Reo sees it all. He suppresses the urge to bury his face in his hands. Apparently, Nagi remembers nothing from his training.
“Could you tell me what you mean by that?” the host asks.
“Mmm, it was quieter when less people knew me. And I didn’t have to do as much stuff,” Nagi explains.
“So, you… prefer your life before joining Blue Lock?” the host asks slowly.
Nagi hums thoughtfully. He seems to consider the question for several seconds, before ultimately shrugging in response.
The host uses this opportunity to shift the conversation to a new, hopefully less awkward, topic. “You know, your fans are dying to know what your experiences at Blue Lock have been like. It’s hard to imagine an environment where everyone’s vying to be the best striker in the nation.”
“Well, it’s definitely not easy,” Isagi admits. Then, his eyes glint with that almost feral look he gets when talking about soccer. “But that’s what I like about it. Everyone is constantly striving to improve, so the competition is intense. Blue Lock is the only place where it really feels like you can play soccer with your life on the line.”
This time, Reo does bury his face in his hands. This interview is going to be a nightmare.
“Wow, what a passionate answer. I wonder if your peers would agree?” The host glances at Nagi. When he offers no comment, she decides to move on. “Out of everything you’ve gone through at Blue Lock, Isagi, what would you say was the most difficult time for you?”
Isagi thinks long and hard about his response. “Hmm, I guess if I had to pick something in particular, it would be the first couple of weeks? I was still trying to figure out my own skills and how to use them to beat my opponents. It felt like I was rebuilding myself from the ground up.”
“That certainly does sound difficult. How did you find the strength to keep going at that time?” the host asks.
“I just kept focusing on my goal of becoming the best striker in the world. I won’t let anything get in my way,” Isagi says, grinning.
The host chuckles. “Ah, that straightforward determination is so youthful. It makes me even more interested in supporting your journey.”
The pink tint on Isagi’s ears returns, brighter this time. He looks pleased. There’s a brief lull in the conversation as the host looks over at Nagi again. She seems to pause, maybe wondering if it’s worth trying to get a meaningful response out of him, before remembering that it is literally her job to do so. Sitting up a little straighter in her chair, the host speaks again.
“And you, Nagi?”
“Huh?” Nagi blinks, clearly not paying attention to the conversation.
The host offers him a tight-lipped smile. “What would you say was the most difficult time for you in Blue Lock?”
“Oh. Being away from Reo.”
What.
“Reo? As in, Mikage Reo?” the host asks.
Nagi nods. Not-so-discreetly, some of the crew glance in Reo’s direction. Reo is barely aware of them, though. His brain is still trying to process what the hell Nagi means by that. Oh god, the host is asking for more details. And Nagi is fucking answering her.
“I heard that you and Reo played on the same high school soccer team before joining Blue Lock,” the host says. “There are also rumors that the two of you were close off-field as well. Is that true?”
Nagi nods again. “Yeah, Reo and I hung out a lot.”
“So, what changed in Blue Lock? Why were you apart from him?”
“Uh, I made Reo mad. I think.”
The host, sensing that there’s an exclusive scoop just waiting to be uncovered, leans forward in interest. “And how did that happen?”
Nagi directs a withering look towards Isagi, who splutters indignantly.
“Don’t look at me like that! I had nothing to do with you guys breaking up,” Isagi says.
The moment those words leave his lips, Reo’s blood runs cold. This can’t be happening. He has to be trapped in some weird form of hell, paying for sins that only the rich elite can commit. Why else would Isagi 1) think he and Nagi broke up (they were never dating in the first place??) and 2) say as much on national TV?
“Break up?” the host echoes, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. “You and Mikage Reo were dating?”
“Um…” Nagi trails off.
Why does he look unsure? The answer is obviously no. No matter how much Reo may have pined for Nagi up until Second Selection (and afterwards, but that isn’t the point), Nagi never showed any sign of reciprocating those feelings. Things are strictly platonic between them.
Reo’s rising panic spikes when Nagi turns his head to look directly at him. The plea for help is clear in his eyes, but Reo is in no state to offer assistance. Stupid Nagi, he thinks, don’t look at me, look at the camera! The camera! Despite Nagi’s many talents, telepathy is sadly not one of them. So, he continues to stare at Reo like a lost puppy.
“We’re partners,” Nagi eventually says, eyes still locked on Reo.
It makes the situation infinitely worse.
“Oh, you two made up?” the host asks.
“Not yet, but we will,” Nagi says.
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because Reo and I promised to be together until the end.”
If Reo were a weaker man, he would be screaming and pulling his hair out right now. What the fuck is Nagi saying? He’s not clearing things up at all. Reo shouldn’t be surprised, given Nagi’s habit of leaving out “useless context” in conversations, but this has to be the worst misunderstanding Nagi has ever caused. Suddenly, Reo is hyperaware of all the eyes in the room pointed at him. Even the host breaks professionalism for a moment to glance in his direction. Reo is so mortified that he just stands there, frozen.
“That… sounds like a very serious promise,” the host says.
It was supposed to be, anyway. But Nagi went ahead and broke it without a second thought. Why even bring it up when they both know it’s just meaningless words now?
“It is,” Nagi says.
Liar.
“Would you like to take a moment to send a message to Reo?” the host asks.
Please, don’t.
“Sure.”
Nagi – stupid, oblivious Nagi – turns so that he’s now fully facing Reo. At this moment, Reo wants nothing more than for the floor to swallow him whole. His heart pounds wildly against his ribcage, a mixture of anxiety and fear running rampant in his veins. They haven’t properly spoken since, well… maybe ever. It’s impossible to guess what Nagi is going to say.
Nagi rubs the back of his neck awkwardly. “Sorry, Reo. Don’t be mad at me anymore.”
For what must be an eternity, the studio falls silent. Reo stares, dumbfounded, at Nagi, who is now refusing to look at him. What the hell is he getting shy for now? After doing the single most embarrassing thing Reo has ever experienced, Nagi is the one acting bashful? The irony of it all causes a sharp laugh to burst forth from Reo’s throat. It tears through the silence the way thunder rips through a storm.
The host clears her throat and tries to steer the interview back on course, but none of her words reach Reo’s ears. Before he registers that his legs are moving, Reo is already flying out the door and into the hall. He doesn’t stop, doesn’t think he can stop, for a while. It isn’t until his fourth or fifth lap around the building that Reo realizes he’s shaking and should probably sit down.
He collapses onto the floor in a random hallway, no longer caring if anyone sees the absolute state he's in. After all, the whole damn world now knows about his complicated relationship with Nagi. Reo hugs his knees to his chest and lets his head thunk against the wall behind him. He truly can't imagine that interview going any worse. All he can hope for is that, now that he's gone, they'll go back to focusing on Blue Lock. You know, the whole reason this interview was arranged in the first place.
Reo closes his eyes and tries not to think about what Nagi said. That lasts all of two seconds before Reo realizes it's a futile effort. The conversation between Nagi and the host plays on repeat in his head. He just doesn't get it. Why did Nagi say those things? Claiming that it was difficult being apart from Reo, bringing up their promise, apologizing as if Reo hasn't been desperately hoping to hear those words for weeks. Was it all for show?
Something sharp and heavy twists in Reo's chest at the thought. He knows their relationship isn't what it used to be, but does Nagi truly care so little about him that he would wave the tatters around for entertainment? Tears prick at the corners of Reo's eyes. He vigorously scrubs them with the heels of his hands. No, he refuses to cry in the corner of some second-rate studio. He has to salvage some of his dignity.
In the middle of Reo’s self-pity party, he suddenly hears shuffling footsteps approaching. Quickly, he wipes at his eyes one last time, hoping they haven’t turned red at the edges. When Reo looks up to see who’s walking towards him, he doesn’t have the energy to act surprised. Somehow, they always end up finding each other.
“Nagi? What are you doing here?” Reo asks, uncaring about the frustration that laces itself into his voice.
Nagi tilts his head in confusion. “Interview’s over. I’m getting changed.”
He gestures to the door in between them. Reo’s gaze travels up until he sees a sign that plainly states “dressing room C.” Maybe it’s Reo’s fault for not checking where he was earlier, but this situation feels like a personal attack against him. A moment passes where neither of them speak. Then, Nagi opens his mouth.
“Reo–”
“Don’t. We’re not talking about this right now,” Reo cuts him off.
“‘Kay.”
Reo’s eye twitches at the casual response. He watches Nagi open the dressing room door, completely unbothered, and irritation burns beneath Reo’s skin. Fuck it, they are talking about this right now. In one swift motion, Reo stands, pushes Nagi into the dressing room, and slams the door behind them. Nagi’s eyes go wide.
“What the hell, Nagi?” Reo’s voice is just shy of a yell.
Nagi blinks at him owlishly. “I thought Reo didn’t want to talk.”
“I changed my mind,” Reo huffs. He steps closer, crowding into Nagi’s space. “Was it fun embarrassing me like that? Saying shit that makes people think we’re a couple after you abandoned me?”
Nagi’s gaze sharpens. “I didn’t abandon you.”
The sheer audacity of his response causes Reo to let out a wry laugh. “Bullshit.”
“No, Reo, I–”
“God, I can’t believe you, Nagi. You think that time we were apart was hard on you?” Reo scoffs and shakes his head. “Try being the one who wasn’t chosen. Twice.”
He pauses to wait for a response. Nagi visibly wilts, like a small child who just got scolded.
“I meant what I said out there. I’m sorry, Reo,” he says.
Reo tries to ignore how the sincerity in Nagi’s voice tugs at his heart. He knows he’s weak when it comes to Nagi, but Reo needs to stand his ground. He’s been burned by blind faith before. Even so, there’s a traitorous part of Reo that yearns to forgive and forget. To fall back into Nagi’s gentle companionship as if nothing had happened.
“Then why wait until now to tell me?” Reo asks.
“Reo was avoiding me.”
“That’s…”
True, but still, there had to be time for a proper apology at some point.
“I didn’t abandon Reo,” Nagi says again, firmer this time.
Reo shoots him a skeptical look, which Nagi frowns at. His brows pinch together slightly. It’s a rare expression on Nagi, one that means he’s actually thinking hard about something.
“I’ve been working really hard,” Nagi says.
The words sting. Yeah, I know, Reo thinks to himself as he averts his gaze. Isagi made soccer interesting for you, so of course you’re working hard. It’s not a pain like it was playing with me.
Upon receiving no response, Nagi continues. “I thought that Reo would be happy if I got stronger. So we can be the best in the world.”
“Huh?”
Startled, Reo’s eyes dart up to meet Nagi’s. The fluorescent lights above them catch in Nagi’s dark irises, illuminating speckles of silver and bronze. The glimmer of hidden treasure.
“That’s our dream, right?” Nagi says.
Our dream. All the air in Reo’s lungs escapes him in an incredulous exhale. At what point did the dream shift from “his” to “theirs?” And how had Reo not noticed?
“Yeah,” he says breathlessly. “It is.”
Nagi nods to himself. “Cool.”
He reaches out to hold Reo’s hands in his own. As Nagi casually interlaces their fingers, Reo is only vaguely aware. His brain is still trying to process their conversation. So, Nagi didn’t leave with the intention to abandon him? It was for the sake of their dream? It’s a barebones explanation that soothes the gaping wound in Reo’s heart, but he still has questions.
“Wait, but why Isagi?” Reo finds himself asking from his stupor.
“Hmm? Oh, ‘cause we lost to Isagi,” Nagi replies. As if remembering that fateful match, he frowns. “It pissed me off, so I wanted to figure out how to beat him.”
Reo can’t stop the laugh that bubbles up from his throat. “What, by watching him? Learning his strengths and weaknesses, or something?”
Nagi nods.
“Geez, you’re so…”
Wonderful, silly, unbelievable, cute, precious, the list goes on and on. But Reo never finishes his sentence, choosing instead to pinch Nagi’s cheeks and give them a light tug. Nagi whines pitifully, as if mortally wounded.
“Is Reo still mad?” Nagi asks. His words come out sounding funny from his stretched cheeks.
An impossibly fond smile curves across Reo’s lips. “No, Nagi. I’m not mad.”
“Yay,” Nagi cheers with as much enthusiasm as he can muster. Which, by anyone else’s standards, is not much.
Reo finally releases Nagi from his hold, only for the latter to shuffle closer to rest his head on Reo’s shoulder. Nagi makes a content humming sound. It reminds Reo of a very large, very clingy kitten. Being this close after so long should feel strange, but that’s not the case at all. Reo has never felt a greater sense of peace and belonging than he does surrounded by Nagi’s warmth. They fit together the same way they always have. Perfectly.
“Just so you know, if you do anything like that again, I’m not forgiving you so easily,” Reo says, but there’s no bite behind his words. “Next time, just tell me if there’s something you want to do. We can figure it out together.”
Nagi shifts to nuzzle his face into the crook of Reo’s neck. “Mmkay.”
With a sigh, the last of the tension in Reo’s body melts away. He raises a hand to card his fingers through Nagi’s hair. The familiar, soft locks are covered in so much styling product that they refuse to move under Reo’s touch. Well, that’s annoying. They’ll have to fix that as soon as they get back to Blue Lock.
A couple of minutes pass with them simply basking in each other’s company. Reo has taken to rubbing soothing patterns onto Nagi’s back, while Nagi loosely rests his hands on Reo’s hips. Based on the slow, even breaths puffing against his neck, Reo thinks that Nagi may have fallen asleep standing up. It wouldn’t be the first time. While he contemplates whether or not to wake Nagi up, Nagi suddenly raises his head until they’re face-to-face. Reo meets his gaze with a sweet smile.
“Reo.”
“Hmm?”
“I wanna kiss you.”
At first, the request doesn’t process. Reo just stands there, smile frozen in place, with one hand still on Nagi’s back. Then, it hits him. Hard.
Reo’s eyes go so wide he’s sure they’ll pop out of their sockets. Heat rushes to his face, rapidly coloring it from a peachy pink to bright red. For a good few seconds, Reo is sure he’s lost the ability to speak.
“What?” he finally manages to squeak out. The sound of his own voice makes him even more embarrassed. “Where, uh, did that come from?”
“Reo said to tell him if I want something,” Nagi says simply.
Something between a hysteric laugh and a pained wheeze escapes Reo’s mouth. He thinks he might be dying. Not knowing what else to do, Reo grabs Nagi by the shoulders and holds him at arm’s length. Nagi grumbles something in complaint, but it sounds like static in Reo’s ears.
What’s going on? Things were supposed to be back to normal, and this is not normal.
“I thought Reo wasn’t mad anymore,” Nagi says with a pout.
“I’m not, but what does that have to do with wanting to kiss me?” Reo feels frantic as his fingers dig into Nagi’s shoulders. “That’s not something friends do, Nagi.”
“But we’re partners,” Nagi says.
“Meaning?”
“Meaning… we’re not friends?”
Forget butterflies, there’s a swarm of bees inside of Reo’s stomach. The longer they stare at each other, both equally confused, the more a daunting realization dawns on Reo. Nagi’s uncertainty when asked about their relationship, wanting to kiss now that they’ve made up… oh no.
“Nagi,” Reo starts. He has to pause to gather his words without going insane. “We aren’t dating.”
Nagi frowns. “We’re not?”
“No, we– we were never dating,” Reo says.
Nagi blinks at him, long and slow. Then, his entire body deflates as a dusting of pink settles on his cheeks. “Oh.”
For some reason, Reo feels like he’s just kicked a puppy. Clearly, he’s not the one in the wrong here, so why does he feel like shit? It occurs to Reo, then, that he may have royally messed this up. If Nagi thought they were dating, then that means he likes Reo romantically, right? All this time, Reo has been agonizing over his unrequited feelings, and now he’s destroyed his one actual chance to date Nagi because he panicked?
“Sorry, you’re probably super uncomfortable now,” Nagi mumbles.
“Not at all!” Reo answers quickly.
His voice is louder than he meant it to be, and Nagi flinches. The sight sends a wave of overwhelming panic through Reo. He has to make this right. Just say something, anything!
“I’m in love with you,” Reo blurts out.
That… wasn’t really what he wanted to say. Sure, it’s the truth, but Reo had always wanted to confess to Nagi with more poise and romance. Somewhere special, where the two of them feel like the only people in the world. Maybe under a starlit sky, or the warm, golden lights of a five-star restaurant. Not standing in the middle of a dressing room with clothes and makeup haphazardly strewn about.
Now that the words are out, though, the panic melts into anticipation. Reo’s hands clench at his sides as he forces himself to look Nagi in the eyes. He wants to see Nagi’s reaction, for better or for worse. It takes a while for Nagi to do anything besides stare at him. As the seconds pass, the faint pink flush on his cheeks darkens, and his eyes sparkle with an unnamed emotion. Reo sucks in a sharp breath through his teeth. He wants to have this sight immortalized the way painters capture their muse’s beauty for all eternity.
“Me too,” Nagi says softly.
The beating of Reo's heart floods his chest with an all-consuming inferno. It’s so close to what he’s waited ages to hear, but not quite. He crosses the short distance between them, grabs Nagi by the lapels of his blazer, and tugs until their noses nearly bump together. When Nagi’s gaze briefly darts down to Reo’s lips, it sends a thrill up Reo’s spine. Soon, but not yet. Nagi has to earn it.
“You what, Nagi? I won’t understand if you don’t say it clearly,” Reo teases.
Nagi whines. “Reo’s being mean on purpose.”
“Am I?” Reo gives him a toothy grin. He’s not sure what’s come over him, but his entire body is buzzing. “But you know I always reward good boys.”
Once again, Nagi glances at Reo’s lips. The tension is so addictive that Reo almost hopes Nagi won’t answer just so he has an excuse to hold him captive for longer. He wants to see what Nagi would do after being subjected to the sweetest torment of barely-there touches and honeyed words.
“Reo,” Nagi says as he leans in so that their noses finally touch. His next words are more breathed out than spoken, but they reach Reo’s ears all the same. “I love you.”
It’s too much, it’s not enough, it’s perfect. Reo can’t contain his giddiness, surging forward to press his lips to Nagi’s. Perhaps he’s a bit too eager, because their teeth dully clack together, but neither of them cares enough to pull away to adjust. The feeling of Nagi's warm, chapped lips against his own is exhilarating. Each small movement and shared breath sends an electric current through Reo’s nervous system. He's never been high before, but this must be what it feels like.
Reo tilts his head, trying to press impossibly closer. He chuckles when he feels Nagi wrap his arms tightly around his waist. Nagi has certainly gotten stronger during their time at Blue Lock. Reo can feel his toned muscles through his shirt. Deliriously, Reo wonders what it would be like to rub his hands along Nagi’s bare skin. Not for the sake of massaging sore muscles or washing up after practice. No, simply to explore, to connect, to indulge.
When they eventually break apart to breathe, Reo smiles against Nagi’s lips.
“That wasn’t too much of a pain, was it?” Reo says jokingly.
“Reo isn’t a pain,” Nagi replies.
Reo’s eyes soften, unable to contain the amount of fondness he feels. His hands slide up to gently cup Nagi’s cheeks. They meet halfway this time, exchanging chaste kisses that never seem to satiate their desire. In a perfect world, they would stay like this forever. Wrapped around one another, warm and happy.
In reality, all good things must come to an end.
Their little bubble of bliss is abruptly burst by a knock on the dressing room’s door. The noise startles them both, resulting in Nagi accidentally nipping Reo’s bottom lip. Reo swallows down the soft moan that threatens to escape. He must not do a great job, though, based on the curious look Nagi gives him. Something tells him they’ll be revisiting this later.
“Nagi, Reo, are you guys in there? It’s almost time to go,” Isagi calls from the other side of the door.
How long has it been? Reo’s cheeks flush at the realization that he has completely lost track of time.
“We’ll be out in just a minute,” Reo responds.
“Alright, but hurry up. You know how pissed Ego will be if we get back late,” Isagi says.
Reo's face involuntarily scrunches. Yeah, it's best they avoid that.
Then, as if an afterthought, Isagi adds, “Oh, and Nagi, make sure you return your microphone before we leave.”
“Microphone…?” Reo mutters.
His eyes quickly scan over Nagi’s figure, before landing on the small clip-on microphone tucked into the opening of Nagi's blazer. The sight of it causes all the color to drain from Reo's face.
“Have you been wearing this thing the entire time?” Reo hisses as he grabs the blazer and shakes it.
Nagi looks down at the microphone. “I guess.”
“It's not on, is it?”
“Dunno.”
Reo takes in a deep, steadying breath. This is fine. Even if the microphone is on, that doesn't necessarily mean it was recording. Surely, there's nothing to be worried about.
“Okay,” Reo says. “Let's get you changed out of these clothes. We shouldn't keep Isagi waiting.”
Nagi gives Reo’s waist one last squeeze, before reluctantly stepping back. He stands there, arms slightly raised, patiently waiting to be undressed. Reo's gaze zeroes in on the microphone again. Gingerly, he unclips it and sets it aside. Out of sight, out of mind, right?
For a while, Reo really does manage to forget about it. Who could blame him, when Nagi spent the whole rest of the day curled into his side like there was nowhere he’d rather be? No one at Blue Lock seemed surprised by their reconciliation. The most reaction they got was a raised eyebrow from Chigiri, who went to ask Isagi about what happened at the interview. Isagi, in turn, looked far more exasperated than the situation warranted. Whatever. Reo has his treasure back, and that’s all that matters.
The next morning, Reo wakes up in higher spirits than he has in weeks. He stretches his arms above his head, loosening his sleep-stiffened limbs, before rolling over onto his side. What greets him is an unexpected sight. For once, Nagi is awake before him. His back is to Reo, and Nagi holds his phone less than an inch from his face. How he’s able to see anything from that close is a mystery.
Reo shuffles closer. He props one arm up on the pillow, using it to prop up his head, while the other reaches out to play with the short hairs at the nape of Nagi’s neck. Nagi doesn’t stir, but he does offer a soft hum in acknowledgement.
“You’re up early,” Reo comments.
“Mm, my phone kept going off,” Nagi says.
“Did a new event start in one of your games?” Reo asks.
“No.” Nagi flops onto his back and holds his phone out at a reasonable distance. “A bunch of people keep tagging me on social media. It’s such a pain.”
Reo grins, ducking down to sneak a peak at Nagi’s phone screen. Sure enough, there are hundreds of unopened notifications. “That’s a good thing! It means you’re getting more popular.”
“Really? But most of them talk about Reo.”
“Huh? Let me see.”
Nagi turns his phone to fully face Reo. Instead of craning his neck at an odd angle to read the text on the screen, Reo opts for taking the phone into his own hands. He spends a minute scrolling through posts not only mentioning Nagi, but also himself. They all have one thing in common. One thing that causes Reo’s stomach to twist into a thousand knots.
They all mention a “NagiReo Confession Audio.”
Reo feels his face flare with heat. Whether it’s from indignation or mortifying embarrassment, he isn’t sure. Either way, only the fact that this is Nagi’s phone and not his stops him from chucking it at the wall.
“Reo?” Nagi’s questioning voice snaps him out of his doomscrolling.
“Nagi,” Reo says. He tries to smile, but it comes out as more of a grimace. “My precious treasure. Did you see what the posts are about?”
Nagi nods. “Us confessing our love for each other.”
“Yes. A confession that was supposed to remain private,” Reo says through gritted teeth.
He’s absolutely fuming. That damn TV studio, they should have cut the connection to Nagi’s microphone the moment he finished the interview. Whose job was it? He needs their name immediately. No, scratch that, he needs everyone’s names. They’ll learn to respect someone’s privacy once Reo sues the studio for all its worth and blacklists its pathetic employees from ever working in entertainment again.
“Wow, Reo’s face is so red,” Nagi says.
He gently pushes the phone out of the way so he can get a clear look at Reo. Under his tender gaze, Reo temporarily forgets his plot to ruin countless lives.
“Does Reo not like that people know we love each other?” Nagi asks.
The flush on Reo’s cheeks darkens. “Well, no, that’s not it… I’m just pissed that our special moment got broadcast to the whole world. It’s embarrassing!”
“Eh? But Reo was so cute.”
“Nagi, you’re not helping.”
Nagi hums and swings one leg over to entangle with Reo’s. At the same time, he lightly runs his fingers up Reo’s side, causing the latter to shudder.
“Isn’t it fine, though? Now that it’s all out there, we don’t have to go through the trouble of announcing our relationship,” Nagi says.
“I wasn’t even sure if I wanted to announce it yet,” Reo admits, eyes shifting bashfully to the side.
“Hiding it would be such a pain,” Nagi whines. He presses closer so that their chests are almost flush together. “Reo loves me, right?”
“I do.” Reo is more sure of this than anything else in his life, and the certainty is clear in his voice.
“And I love Reo. Problem solved.”
Reo doesn’t quite follow Nagi’s logic, but Nagi looks so proud of having figured it out(?) that he can’t bear to argue. In fact, the way Nagi envelops him like a weighted blanket is making it hard for Reo’s brain to form any coherent thoughts. Even the phone now lays forgotten on the bed.
“I guess… there’s nothing wrong with other people knowing,” Reo says, mostly to himself.
Nagi nods, his soft hair tickling Reo’s cheek. “Now that we’re actually boyfriends, Reo can pamper me even more.”
The word “boyfriends” sends Reo’s poor heart into a frenzy. Despite confessing their love yesterday, they hadn’t properly defined their current relationship. Boyfriends, huh? It feels so natural. Of course, that’s what he and Nagi are.
“How much more spoiled can you get, Nagi?” Reo asks. Each word drips with fondness.
“As spoiled as Reo will let me,” Nagi answers easily.
Reo laughs and affectionately ruffles Nagi’s hair. “You brat. You know that I can’t say no to you.”
“Then do I even need to ask Reo to marry me?” Nagi says.
The heat in Reo’s cheeks that was just beginning to dissipate flares to life once more. “What? Of course, you need to ask!”
Nagi opens his mouth, but Reo promptly clamps a hand over it.
“Not right now. Please,” Reo says, almost delirious from the absurdity of this situation.
Nagi’s large eyes somehow seem to frown. It’s as adorable as it is pitiful. Unable to resist, Reo replaces the hand over Nagi’s mouth with his own lips. The kiss is sweet and gentle, no more than a light touching of lips. Yet that tenderness is all Reo needs. Like the oxygen in his lungs or the blood in his veins, Nagi’s warmth is a lifeline Reo can’t exist without.
One day, when that proposal does come, Reo has no doubt that he will say yes.