Chapter Text
The cold splash of the questionably filtered blue lock water was nice, nice. *crackle*, "Reo Mikage, Nagi Seishro, get to the office…now.", the loudspeakers sounded especially loud when his name was paired next to his treas- Nagi's. When his name was next to Nagi's.
Reo had personally never been in Ego's office, (if you could call it that), it was similar to some kind of surveillance room with a microwave, and it reeked of cheap two minute noodles.
"take a seat," Ego said calmly, Reo obeyed and sat down on one of the plastic chairs opposite to Ego, then the familiar scent of Nagi filled his lungs— not that he really knew Nagi's scent that much…being around him so often had just trained his lungs to recognize when he walks into a room, that’s it!
Nagi took the seat adjacent to Reo, he felt that white haired boys gaze on him, but he refused to give the satisfaction of making eye contact, (and he was slightly nervous, they hadn’t really talked since that whole declaration of enemy-ship in the bathrooms…)
His very important thought process was cut off by Ego's matter-a-fact voice "you're both going to be featured on 'Tomomi's Talk.'"
. . . "excuse me?" Reo found himself saying, a dumbfound expression on his face.
"you and Nagi will both be featured in Tomomi's talk, the talk show where Tomomi interviews—"
"I know what it is, I just…" he glanced at the larger boy, he didn't even show a reaction! Did he not care that his new biggest rival and he were going to be put onto some talk show!
Tomomi's Talk was currently one of the most popular shows in Japan! She gets currently popular people, like athletes, popstars, and actors— and brutally 'interviews' (brings up all their controversies and any other secrets she could dig up) them in front of a live audience, on live television for goodness sakes!
"I'll do it if Reo does." Nagi said, not with the slightest peek of any expression- no shock, no annoyance, no nothing! How could he just agree, and put all of the pressure onto him, now he had to say yes or he'd ruin the opportunity! Nagi must've done this on purpose! Reo let out a breath that was too shaky for his liking.
"I'd be happy to participate, can I ask why me and him were the ones chosen for this?" Reo's last resort, his professional business voice! One he so greatly perfected and paired along with his signature flashy smile, nobody especially not Nagi was going to see him falter over something like a silly talk show!
"good, and she requested you two specifically, said you both seem to be the perfect contestants and that you have something 'juicy' between you both that she'd love to expand on, as well as the fact that you two are a well-liked pair, the media likes you both and it would be good rep for blue lock." Reo shivered at the idea, expand? As in expand on how Nagi humiliated him in front of everyone, how he abandoned him for some stupid blue haired sprout! Well-liked on the media, well great news for them, they aren't a duo anymore! They're enemies, swore, hating enemies!...and since when did Ego care about good rep?
"okay." Nagi said, seemingly thoughtlessly. Okay? What's the point of speaking when all your saying is 'okay!', gosh…Reo needed to work on his internal temper, if he was this bad with a few words then he would really need to practice for before the show…mirror, here he comes.
"then you're both dismissed, you will be updated on any news about it, the date in which it'll take place, and any teasers you'll have to do." Teasers? What kind of talk show makes you do teasers!
Reo up quickly, the plastic chair making a painful noise against the ground— his peaceful exit out the door was interrupted quickly.
"Reo," he holds his breath, he is not having some stupid talk with Nagi, if anything— it would make him more awkward on the show! That’s what Nagi's approaching for, right? "it's fine, I don't want to talk any more than we'll have to, just save it for the interview", too cold? Maybe, but Reo's last thought was Nagi's feelings. Okay maybe it was somewhere way higher in his thought hierarchy, but that’s not the point!
Reo speeded away before Nagi could say anything else to him, but not before getting one last glance at Nagi. He had an odd expression, almost pained…no, probably just annoyed that Reo isn't going back to him at his every beck and call!
The lunch bell was a nice freeing sound to hear as he ran walked at an appropriate speed away from Nagi.
He plopped down onto his usual table, the boring blue lock slop that he got served, he could use his points to get something nicer, but he didn't.
"what'd you get called up for?" Chigiri asked, sliding in across from Reo. "some stupid talk show, and get this— it's with Nagi, I have to do a talk show with him!" Shidou perked up at the gossip, sliding in to the seat next to Chigiri, him and the red head weren't really friends, just both mutual to Reo (as Reo had somehow befriended Shidou after being chosen for his team in the second selection).
"what's that purple bun? Talk show?", Reo wasn't usually the type to tell his life to Shidou of all people, but he's seen enough of Reo's behaviors surrounding Nagi to deserve to know- and quite frankly, Reo just wanted to get everything out of his system.
"Ego called me and Nagi up, he told us that we have to literally go onto Tomomi's Talk, I don't want to go on some stupid talk show with him! And get this, he just agreed, he didn't hesitate or ask questions— he just said yes so then I felt pressured to say yes too! It was a whole thing! Chigiri's eyes widened at the name, "Tomomi's Talk? my Mum and sisters would watch that on a daily…"
"exactly! I don't want to be put on blast to random mums and sisters! No offence, Chi."
"none taken."
Shidou grinned, "you’re gonna be even more famous, purple bun! Empires son, to soccer star, to talk show guest…" he said with his usual manic grin, Reo didn't really like the mention of being known for his parents, but being known as some guy who went on a talk show sounds even worse.
Shidou's lips make an 'o' as he looks up, and Chigiri looks slightly confused as he also looks behind Reo.
"what?" Reo suddenly felt self-conscious, recognizing the height of the shadow behind him— Nagi. He turned his head back and craned his neck to look up at Nagi, him standing whilst Reo sat felt like a weird power imbalance
"Reo, can we talk?" a full sentence, the first full sentence Nagi had said to him in forever what could he possibly want? Nagi's gaze lingered up for a moment before Reo could've sworn his eyes narrowed for a split second. Before Reo could make some remark or response, he noticed the person next to Nagi, Isagi, great idea— bring the person you ditched and the person you ditched them for all together.
"bug boy! What's with the stare? Angry purple bun's feeding me now?" Shidou made an 'aa' sound to add to the bait, he really did like getting reactions out of people. Reo didn't care to look at Nagi's expression, it's not like he'd make one in the moment anyways, and Shidou's same old snarky grin was a more pleasing sight than a blank face, (not that Nagi was ugly, he was quite handsome in fact and—)
"'m not talking to you…talking to Reo." The same lazy way he spoke made Reo's heart traitorously warm. He was just going to stop this before Shidou took it further. "Listen, Nagi— I'm not interested in practicing holding hands for the interview, if you'd like to practice go do it in a mirror or something…", his gaze flickered to Isagi, but there was no way he would suggest to do it with isagi- not that he'd care if Isagi and Nagi held hands, its just…whatever!
"you heard him, bug boy~ he chose me." The weird damsel expression Shidou wore made Reo gag a bit, but whatever. Isagi looked like he was going to say something but the white haired boy spoke first, "okay, Reo…" he didn't say anything further before walking off, Isagi trailing behind him. Whatever, he didn't care— he just wanted to know what would be next for the stupid show, he wanted it done now sooner than later.