Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Life seems to have gone back to normal.

Except…

It’s not.

At least for the two ace strikers of Blue Lock. 

In fact they’re probably close to losing their minds at this point.

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2 months have passed.

Two. Whole. Months.

Of Rin and Isagi slowly losing their minds trying to find an answer.

For two months it felt like they were being a part time detective / stalker aside from their usual football training.

It should be simple.

Easy right? 

Both Sae and Bunny are members of the New Gen 11.

Hence in other words they are public figures. 

They should count as half celebrities right?

And everyone knows that privacy is sometimes a foreign concept for people who are celebrities.

Sooner or later they're bound to find some valuable information scattered all over the internet.

At least that's how it should be, right? right????

 No!!!

WRONG!

Whoever said that collecting information of public figures is easy deserves a careful beating 💢

Rin had to close his eyes, inhaling and exhaling a few times to control his itch to beat someone up. 

Maybe preferably, that someone is in the form of a magenta haired young male, with teal green eyes.

Or perhaps it is a tall Spanish man with lavender, almost white hair and blood red eyes, and an annoying scar to match his personality.

Seriously! Rin is going insane!

He feels like he will experience premature balding! just from how much he had been clutching at his hair in frustration from these past months!

God forbid his beautiful hair actually start falling. If that happened he might as well commit homicide at that point. 

‘Damn you shitty brother!!’ 

Why is it so hard to find any information about his older brother?!

Didn't he do interviews?

He did! 

Rin is sure of it, back then before he had a fight with his brother, he would often see his brother on the TV, either in commercials, sports news, or even just some random journalist interview. 

Then can anyone tell him why Sae never said anything remotely useful in those shitty interviews?

He had never realized it back then, because he was just happy every time he got to see his brother.

It was stupid, Rin knows now. 

But he and Sae didn’t really keep in contact much during his brother’s time in Spain. 

Rin just felt it was… wrong to bother his brother with his complaints and even if he started feeling like soccer is not as fun as it used to be, he couldn’t bring himself to burden his brother even more. 

His brother whom he is sure is struggling and working just as hard to be the best in the world. 

And at the time, Rin was so sure that he had known his brother so much that it really never bothered him when there was basically nothing important being said in the interview of his brother he kept on watching all the time back then…

Well clearly it all backfires on him now 😒

For the first time Rin cursed his brother for being so good at keeping all of his private matters quiet.

‘Brother! Can you stop being such a hole dweller for once?! God he really need to learn how to properly communicate and not just brush people of like air all the time 🙄✋’

(A/N: …. 👀 Ironic that it’s you who said that Rin 😐🤣)

If he were in a better mood he would grudgingly admit that it is impressive for Sae to be able to maintain his privacy so securely when he has been under the media's eyes from childhood.

Seriously. 

For as long as Rin remembers, even back then when he was only watching Sae play, there were always some pesky reporters trying to interview him.

Of course Sae being Sae and his perpetual bad manners would just ignore them and even call them annoying.

He had always admired that part of his big brother who doesn't care about anything regarding how others might view him.

But he never thought this would come back to bite him in the end.

Now his brother's stubborn personality is just a nuisance to him figuring out this mystery!

‘Brother please! Give me a break! How am I supposed to figure out what happened to you if you don’t give me anything to work with!!’ 

The sound of a groan can be heard in the almost empty Blue Lock Cafeteria.

As a dull thud follows shortly after.

If anyone else was here they would probably be surprised by the sight in front of them.

Itoshi Rin, Blue Lock's number one. 

That arrogant, cold, and mean teen that always had a look of wanting to murder someone, or dying of boredom either one works really,  is now slumped on top of the cafeteria table.

Isagi Yoichi, his rival and the person whom Rin had mentioned wants to kill several times mind you, is sitting right beside him.

It was shocking to see Rin and Isagi having such a tame moment without one of them thinking about devouring the other.

But this sight has become more and more common in the past 2 months.

Isagi ignores the slump teen beside him as he continues to scroll through the documents in his phone.

Rows and rows of headlines containing the name Itoshi Sae are displayed on his phone.

Opening one of the few websites that he hadn't seen before. Isagi skimmed through the article.

But once again came up empty handed.

 He exhaled a tired sigh.

Just as all of the previous ones. There is nothing useful in the article. Seriously, most of those articles are usually just filled  with descriptions of Sae, praises for him, or mocking him. He even checked some websites that recorded his interview!

Yet every time, he came up with nothing.

If the article is not superficial then, It's just wrong, haters are being haters and running their mouth thoughtlessly.

Trust him. Isagi knows. Despite him not being a fan of either of the Itoshi brother's arrogant and shitty personalities, he can’t lie and say that they didn’t play marvelously.

Especially Sae, those people that are just hating his plays don’t even know anything about football and just spewing some random shit all the time. 

His thumb presses the X sign of the website and he continues to scroll.

Only to find that he is at the end of his search.

Without any change in his expression he exited his current tab and pressed another tab.

Rows and rows of almost identical headlines from before pop out in his phone.

The only notable difference is this time the name at the center of all of these headlines is “Bunny Iglesias.”

With a robotic movement, Isagi began his scrolling once again.

At least, until he heard another groan from the teen beside him.

“Ughhhhh This is not working!!” Rin’s muffled voice can still be heard even if his face is hidden by his arm.

Isagi paused in his research for a moment to stare deadpanned at his seatmate.

“...” Isagi wants to roll his eyes at Rin sometime.

‘You’re annoyed?’

Shouldn’t I be the one who is annoyed?!

Hell how did he get involved in this mess in the first place?!!

‘What bad luck’ remembering how this all started, it makes Isagi want to cry without tears.

And preferably if he could go back to the past, he wants to hit past him in the head and tell him to mind his own business!

‘I knew it. 😭’ he should’ve just changed direction the moment he saw Rin glueing himself to the wall in front of one of the Blue Lock’s fields.

Hell knows, he should doubt himself to be hallucinating when he found that cold guy eavesdropping on someone. Since when would Rin ever cared about some ‘lukewarm’ business.

But no. His stupid ass decided to greet Rin and look and behold where that got him ☠️🙏.

Not only did he get an additional nightmare thinking of that creepy ass conversation between Bunny and Sae. Now Rin won’t let him go until they figure out the whole thing!

But alas….

He is just a man…..

And a curious one at that!

He just can’t help it! Okay?!

He always wants to learn something new every time. And now? Regarding Sae and Bunny? 

Well sue him if he is curious okay?! Something was clearly wrong with Sae!

And can you believe that?! Wrong? And Sae? Together in a sentence? It was too much temptation to pass out on!

Itoshi Sae. That cold and indifferent guy? Rin’s older brother, and Japan’s most beloved treasured jewel, Itoshi Sae?

Yeahhhh….He needs to know what’s up with him.

It had already been a shock to know that Sae had something to do with that annoying jokester he met in Spain almost a year ago! But now it’s clear for everyone to see that they have some past history together. The only question is what?

Of course it doesn’t surprise Isagi that the both of them knew each other, given that they share the same New Gen 11 title, and play in the same country. And most of all, the rivalry between their clubs is very well known. So it makes sense that they know each other from playing against each other.

But he never expected that they would have such a close relationship privately! Judging from the brief conversation that they have overheard before, their relationship certainly seems abnormal. Even concerning to some degree if he dared to say.

Even more concerning is the fact that after the day they eavesdropped on that weird conversation, Sae had gone back to Spain two days later. With Bunny at that.

How strange it was! The last time they heard them they were literally fighting. Looking like they wanted to pounce on each other’s throat. And suddenly not even 48 hours later they suddenly became buddy buddy and even flew back together???

Yeah right.

Something is definitely up.

And with how Bunny talks about Sae, Isagi couldn’t help his over imaginative brain.

‘Hey. When he said that he’s not surprised if Bunny would kidnap Sae he didn’t mean it literally okay?! Who would've known that they would actually disappear together two days later!!’ Isagi felt like he had jinxed it.

Rin’s annoyed cursing brought him back to reality from his own increasingly morbid thought, that he swore to God, give him goosebumps. As glad as he is getting out of that train of thought, Isagi couldn't help but roll his eyes this time.

‘For looking so concerned about your brother. Between the two of us, it seems like I did most of the research. 🙄🤚’

Well sorry if he’s being mean to Rin right now. It’s been 2 months.

2 months!! He’s going bloody crazy at this point if they don’t find anything soon!

And Rin’s complaining certainly didn’t help!

‘What am I? Your private investigator? 🙄🤚I’m just here to play footbal man 😭😭 I didn’t sign up for this shit! 🥀’ So sue him! He’s tired, and Rin should already be grateful that he is willing to help him with this okay?!

“Stupid shitty brother! Shitty Bunny! Shitty Spain! Shi-” curses continued to flow out of the younger teens as Isagi continued to ignore his rambles and scroll through the articles upon articles of Bunny Iglesias.

But much to his disappointment he still came up with nothing new.

‘How strange.’

For being so famous, both Sae and Bunny are such a mystery if you really try to find out more about them.

All of the information that is circulating the internet is basically useless. Just about their appearance, the ‘formal’ introduction and description. The leading midfielder of Re Al Madrid, and FC Barcha rising star striker.

But…‘How could that be?’

Even if they are private individuals they are bound to be more news about them. Especially since he knows that Bunny was once Sae’s teammate from those files Ego gave him a while ago.

It’s weird how there is barely any news of them together.

Hell there isn’t even any mention about Bunny being in Re Al before.

From those files, Bunny had transferred to Barcha when he was 16 and Sae was 15, there should have been at least 2 years where they were together as teammates. 

There is no way that in those two years they never played in a public game together.

And if they did, why is there no news about it?

Perhaps the public doesn’t know much about it, but from the fact that Ego manages to find out at the very least, this news should be available in the football circle. Isagi highly doubts that there is no reporter that has access to such information.

But.. if so…

‘It doesn’t make sense.’ They were both such high profile youth soccer players. There is no way those vultures of reporters would leave them alone all this time. Especially once the both of them were chosen as New Gen 11, any connection between each player would be like a gold mine for those reporters.

Isagi knows how much people like learning about celebrities' private lives. Sae was already such a public figure since young. Hell he could even find footage of Sae and Rin in the past if he wanted too!

So how come there is nothing about Sae and Bunny?

Forget about their Re Al days!

Even their current relationship. There is almost close to nothing.

How is that even possible?!

He could even search up some stuff about that annoying blue rose and his fateful partner Ness! And you’re telling him there is zero information about the two leading youth of that behemoth of a club Re Al and Barcha?

Yeah right! At the very least there should be news about their rivalry. Those two clubs' rivalry is after all the most watched rivalry in football history he dares to say. Who doesn’t know Re Al and Barcha have generational beef with each other? They’re practically at each other’s throat each match.

And now their rising star is never mentioned to have any sort of rivalry?

‘Is someone covering up their relationship on purpose?’ his brows furrowed in contemplation.

For the first time, he felt like someone had cast a purposeful shadow in things between the two of them.

The more Isagi thinks about it the more he feels like something is wrong.

‘There are more.’

There are more puzzle pieces that they both are not aware of.

Perhaps the matter behind Sae and Bunny is more complicated than they thought.

‘What happened to both of them??’

For the first time, he came across the question.

“Why did Bunny transfer to Barcha?” unknowingly he had spoken his thoughts out loud.

A choking sound, sounded from beside him. Isagi looked towards his side only to see Rin looking at him with heated eyes, half in a glare but half in shock as the teen was still coughing.

Isagi questioned had halted the dark haired teenager cursing rant in a not so pleasant way.

“What are you talking about Isagi? Why would I care about why that fly transfers?” Rin scowled, his eyes glaring at Isagi with annoyance, yet Rin looked more flustered than intimidating at this point.

Even his usual cold glare loses some of its intensity as a small prickle of tears cling to his eyelash, from choking on his own saliva.

“Think about it. Don’t you think it’s weird? We know Bunny was your brother's teammate, and clearly they had something going on between them that we don’t know of.” Isagi started putting down his phone on the table, as he began to muse. 

Rin looked even more disgruntled at his last words, but who cares? If he wants to figure out whatever the hell happened to his brother, he needs to get used to this. 

Isagi closed his eyes for a while, trying to piece the puzzle pieces together.

Rin grabs his water bottle harshly, as he clears his throat, finally finished with his coughing fit that Isagi pays no mind to.

“Don’t you find it suspicious that there is no single mention of Bunny being in Re Al before? Stars like the New Gen don’t come from nowhere, Rin. Kaiser, Lorenzo, Loki, even Sae himself. We know about them more or less even before they become new gen right? So how come Bunny has nothing about their past? And how come no one seems to know about the relationship between Bunny and Sae? Don’t you think that’s weird? I’m not saying that they should’ve known, but at the very least there should be notes that the two seem to know each other personally right?? Especially considering the rivalry their club is in” Isagi tapped his finger on the table, as he continued thinking.

Tap.

Tap.

Tap

“So what? Are you suspecting that someone is covering things up about them?” Rin leaned back on the seat rolling his eyes. 

But if you know Rin, you would’ve realized that the way he answered is wrong. Even his posture is wrong.

Despite leaning back on the seat, Rin was actually quite tense. His arm tightened around itself as he crossed it in front of his chest. 

Tap.

Isagi looked at the rigid teen beside him. And for a moment he remembers that this is not just anyone they are trying to find out about.

This is Sae. Rin’s brother. Probably the most important person to Rin. 

He couldn’t imagine what the teen must be feeling right now. He basically got dumped with a shit ton of half-assed information in the span of like... 20 minutes. 

Things that he had never known about his brother before. The same brother he thought he knew like the back of his own hand despite getting estranged with him.

So Isagi couldn’t fault him, really. When Rin seems to be losing his mind trying to find out about Sae.

“Yes.” His answer came softer than before, as he empathized with his rival. 

Tap.

“But … why?” Rin’s voice almost sounds hesitant. Surely something unusual, when it is coming from him. Hell Isagi would’ve bet second selection him would have thought he entered an alternate universe if he sees how they are right now. 

“I don’t know.” Isagi replied grimly.

It’s the truth. 

“.... so what do you propose we should do then Isagi?” Rin grumbled, clearly displeased by the idea of asking Isagi to take the lead in their investigation. 

“Well… since we know about Bunny having a past in Re Al from Ego, I’m thinking maybe we could ask the guy.” Isagi suggested. 

“Andddd he would give us information why?” Rin drawls out, finding the plan dumb.

He couldn't imagine that bowlhead to be of any help to their investigation whatsoever. 

“Are you stupid?” Isagi rolled his eyes in exasperation at the younger teen. 

“Watch it.” Rin growled as he glared at Isagi. 

“You” Isagi pointed towards the scowling Rin, “are his brother.”

“And I” then he pointed towards himself, “was tasked to learn more and analyze about star players among our age for the U20 world cup by Ego.”

“If we say that we want to learn more about Bunny, why wouldn’t Ego give it? Plus we lost to that guy if you haven’t forgotten. I do need to study him more for my sake too y’know” Isagi stood up and pocketed his phone as he started walking towards the cafeteria exit. 

“Of course I haven’t forgotten! That stupid rabbit was so annoying, jumping around all over the field” Rin sneered, as he rose from his own chair and grabbed his phone.

“Great! Then let’s go.” clapping his hand with fake enthusiasm, Isagi left without looking back.

Rin rolled his eyes in annoyance but followed Isagi’s lead without any other complaint. 

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.

Given the hindsight, they really should stop being so nosy.

With how much of a mess the last time had been when he eavesdropped on someone, he ought to know to avoid listening to people's conversation.

Yet at the same time, what is he supposed to do?!

Years later, when he got reminded of this time, Isagi still would not know whether he regretted listening or not. 

Well, he should’ve known, the moment he decided to join Rin on eavesdropping Sae and Bunny, there is no getting out of this. 

To be completely honest, maybe this time it was his fault. 

While going to Ego’s office, they pass one of Blue Lock’s many common rooms, when Isagi immediately recognizes the annoying voice coming from one of them.

He really didn’t plan to actually listen to what that asshole was saying, but at the same time, he was feeling a bit stressed so he wanted to make fun of the german a little bit.

So he made the bright idea to linger outside of the open door a little bit, making the taller teen confused but still follow his lead.

Their translator earbuds beep to live as it translated the german words into japanese in their ears.

And look and behold.

‘What kind of luck is this?’

Who would’ve thought that he was actually talking about Sae and Bunny?!

The one thing that they’ve been searching for.

Isagi almost cursed out loud by how bad his luck is at this point. 

Really?! The thing that he and Rin had been losing their mind over trying to find out, and they ended up finding it out from his arch enemy????

What does the world have against him !!

Isagi has half the mind to just pretend he didn’t hear anything.

But of course he couldn’t do it. Because Rin who was with him also heard it, and now Isagi had a new problem.

How would he stop this genius from barging into the room and demanding answers from their two guests?

Knowing Kaiser's shitty personality the moment he knows they are looking for information, he would just draw it out and skirt around the information to annoy him. 

So really Isagi is thinking for the best of both of them when he stops Rin from barging in and instead listens in from behind the door. 

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{15 minutes ago}

It was already pretty late in blue lock. 

They had finished with late training, had dinner, and had time to freshen up.

Right now all of them are free to do whatever they want. 

Kaiser wasn’t planning to spend the rest of his evening with any of the idiots here much longer of course, but who would’ve thought he would be in for a pleasant surprise?

Just as he was scrolling down his Instagram, multiple notifications suddenly appeared at the top of his phone.

Curious, he clicked on one of the notifications, leading him to a post that had just gone viral.

And who would’ve thought that he was met with the shock of the century probably.

Well… certainly an exaggeration, but then again knowing those two….not really. With the way the internet has been reacting he wouldn’t be surprised if the news is plastered everywhere.

His eyebrow rose in surprise the moment he read the headlines. Before curiosity and amusement took over as he clicked on the post hanging there on his notification.

An amused laugh spilled from his lips as he could already imagine how those guys would react.

‘I gotta tell Lorenzo about this’ that was his first thought as he continued to scroll in the post and started walking to one of blue lock’s resting rooms.

One that he knows Lorenzo probably occupied because there just happens to be a vending machine in that room.

As expected. Kaiser found the purple zombie right where he thought him to be. 

“Yo. Lorenzo, did you see?” 

At the sound of his delighted voice, Lorenzo looked over his shoulder to see him standing right by the door. 

“Ah! Micha~ To what do I owe this pleasure to have a visit from you” Lorenzo greeted him with a wide smile as he raised an eyebrow in amusement and curiosity.

“You seem awfully amused for some reason?” he quipped. Indeed the german looks way chippier than normal. 

“Well, How could I not?” Kaiser plopped on the couch beside Lorenzo, making the Italian raise an intrigue eyebrow.

“Well what is it?” A wide smile spread on his face, as his eyes lit up with twinkling amusement. 

This must have been big. Since when would Kaiser sit willingly beside Lorenzo, if not for some big juicy gossip. 

“Have you seen the post?” Kaiser turned his phone around to show Lorenzo. 

“See what?” Lorenzo answered, as he reached for the phone.

“This.” Kaiser’s grin seemed to grow even wider as he watched Lorenzo's eyes bulge in surprise.

“Holy shit.” he cussed, putting his popcorn hastily on the coffee table in front of him as he snatched the phone right from Kaiser’s hand, and zoomed in on the picture. 

“You’re kidding me. Seriously?! Sae? And Bunny?” Lorenzo whispered in disbelief. Yet unlike his words, he didn’t seem worried at all, instead a fiery light lit up in his eyes, as his smile widened even more, making him look like he was borderline crazy. 

“Right? I can’t believe they made up” came Kaiser's breathy answer, half chuckling.

Lorenzo ignored Kaiser’s laughter beside him as he clicked on the caption of the photo.

“‘Back together 💝🐰’ Really? Is he crazy? Hah!” Lorenzo, cackled loudly, his laughter reverberate through the empty room

After a moment, Lorenzo handed Kaiser's phone back to him, as he quickly grabbed his own phone and went to see the ruckus on his own. 

Lorenzo whistled lowly as scrolled through his own social media.

Kaiser on the other hand calmly took back his phone, as he zoomed in on the picture this time, observing it with great detail.

It wasn’t that wild of a picture, well…. at least it wasn’t a scandal or anything. 

That’s already saying something when it comes to those two assholes. 

It was just Bunny and Sae together in a yacht, wind whipping their hair around, a glass of champagne on Sae’s hands as his other hand was still tucked in his pockets. His face still on that perpetual stoic face of his, though there is a tinge of softness, of easiness that is not normally found in his face. Dare he could say Sae looks like he almost smiles. 

Bunny on the other hand, of course had that big stupid grin on his face, typical of that white haired devil. Of course, that deceiving facade of his that makes him look friendly, Kaiser wanted to laugh out loud every time he saw people fall for Bunny’s ‘innocent’ look. That rabbit is the furthest thing from ‘innocent’. However, this time, there is something different in that usual smile of his. There is… a strange sense of genuineness in that smile of his, while usually his smile is so fake you could see it from a mile away.

His head half leaning on Sae’s on head, resting his cheeks on Sae’s red locks. One of his arms slung across Sae’s shoulder, and just from a glance of the picture it’s easy to tell that Bunny was the one who took the selfie between them. But then again, that is the only possible answer, there is no way in hell their frosty Japanese friend would ever take a selfie. With Bunny of all people, much less. 

The photo looked disgustingly romantic, his eyebrow rose in amusement.

‘If I didn’t know any better I would’ve thought those two are going to try auditioning for a modern titanic any second now’ that thought made him chuckle. 

What drama queens they are.

Perhaps if it were anyone else, the photo wouldn’t be as shocking as it is to them. 

After all, not many had known a lot about the history between Bunny and Sae. But knowing them personally? And all of that drama that happened 3 years ago? This picture is as good as someone dropping an info bomb on them.

But then again, it shouldn’t have caught him off guard as much as it did. After all this is Bunny and Sae. 

Abnormality is just the norm for those two. 

Kaiser, scrolled through the increasingly chaotic comment section below the post, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

‘Right. Maybe the public wouldn’t realize how monumental this is, but it is certainly a shocking thing to them.’ After all, Sae and Bunny had always been quite mysterious. Sae much more than Bunny. I mean just take a look at his social media page, it’s practically empty aside from his own endorsement that he is probably obligated to post there. There’s nothing personal about his account. 

Bunny on the other hand, is much more active but not less mysterious, the most he would usually post is about food, the only anomaly to his post had been that post 2 months ago, where he took a selfie with Rin in the background.

Speaking of that post, some people must’ve gotten curious and suspicious about the connection  of the Itoshi brothers with that bunny. He couldn’t blame them, anyone with eyes can see there is something behind them. Bunny? Never posting anything other than his food or travel blog and suddenly he posted a selfie with the little Itoshi and then Sae back to back? It’s practically a honeytrap for their fans and those journalists like a moth to flame. 

And most of all, that photo with Sae…. The hand placement? The way he leaned his head on Sae’s head? The setting sun? The yacht? The champagne? It’s practically the equivalent with a hardcore release of their relationship, coupled with that caption much less. 

It was then that Kaiser realized Bunny wanted them to assume. 

Hell, he’s practically leading them on, what’s with his posts and the caption most of all. 

‘Seriously? A heart emoji? He couldn’t have been even more obvious.’ Kaiser rolled his eyes in faint amusement and exasperation. 

“Hah that insidious rabbit” he couldn’t help but let a laugh slip out as he locked his phone, and crossed his arms.

“Hm? What is it?” Lorenzo questioned easily. 

“He’s doing this on purpose. He’s basically claiming Itoshi in public” Kaiser pinched the bridge of his nose. ‘Really what a headache, they’re so dramatic.’ 

“Well~ It’s expected to be honest, c’mon it’s Iglesias we’re talking about here. You know how he is.” Lorenzo mused, before he cackled out loud like a madman.

Kaiser rolled his eyes but didn’t disagree.

It is expected.

Hell the first thing you probably notice about him if you saw him back then is just how possessive he was over Sae.

Kaiser was sure that trait of his never changed. 

“But I’m still surprised that Sae lets Bunny do that. After what? 3 years is it?” Lorenzo chimed in, as he went back to eating his popcorn while scrolling through his phone. 

“Right? Who would’ve expected our resident ice prince would get back to that devil after that dramatic divorce bullshit they did. What a plot twist” Kaiser’s sighing voice cut through the silence as he closed his eyes and melted more into the sofa. Despite the sigh he looks the furthest away from exhaustion, if anything else he looks amused first and foremost. 

Lorenzo hummed in agreement. “Do the others know?” he questioned offhandedly.

Kaiser shrugged, as he answered easily “beats me, knowing them they are probably still training or something.”

The room soon descended into a temporary silence after that

“.... Are you thinking of what I’m thinking” Lorenzo's mischievous voice sounded, as he locked eyes with an equally grinning Kaiser.

“Of course.” with matching hunger for chaos in their eyes they opened a certain the new gen group chat intending to bombard them with the hot news. 

Not wasting any chances, Lorenzo even straight up calls Loki. 

{10 minutes ago}

Silence might be the furthest thing from Rin’s mind for the past few months now. Ever since that day his shitty brother suddenly decided to appear in Blue Lock like a ghost and then have that weird and confusing conversation with Bunny, which is basically the equivalent of hitting Rin with a truckload of foreign information mind you. And had the audacity to disappear back to Spain 2 days after without saying anything. Well it’s safe to say Rin’s mind has been …. Eventful. 

He has been getting headaches trying to figure out what the hell his brother is talking about in that short conversation he overheard. 

Something about protecting him? 

Protect him from what? And why? 

Rin scoff, getting annoyed thinking about it again. 

‘Shitty brother…. What are you hiding?’ his brows furrowed as he frowned, still walking behind Isagi about to go into Ego’s office.

Ah. Right. Isagi.

Now that he snapped out of his usual musing about his brother, tired of running in circles in his own brain trying to decipher the impossible puzzle that is Sae Itoshi, he took the time to think about these past 2 months.

It certainly feels a bit weird now that he is consciously thinking about it. 

Him and Isagi have always been rivals. Even before that disaster of a match against the Japan U20, where they faced his shitty brother and the lukewarm Japanese National Team, and the first time Rin had officially considered Isagi as his rival. 

Even before then Isagi has always been….

Something.

Not quite a rival, but not quite nothing either.

Rin had to admit that in this soccer prison, Isagi is the only person Rin had never quite immediately dismissed as nothing like everyone else.

Something about the bluenette just irks him in a way, he had the urge to destroy him, somewhat like his urges towards destroying Sae. And then of course that forsaken last second goal came, and his shitty brother complimented Isagi, while seemingly brushing aside all of his hard work, and things quickly got personal between them.

Rin hates to admit it and he would never say it out loud, but there is jealousy that tether him to his rivalry with Isagi. As much as he has always tried to suppress it, to change that habit of clinging to his brother, to chasing after his brother, it seems like a part of that childish side of him has always and will always live inside of him. 

So that moment, at the end of the U20 match when his brother approached him, a part of him felt giddy, thinking that Sae would finally acknowledge his progress. But of course his annoying older brother did the opposite. 

He complimented Isagi instead. In front of him. 

That memory still feels bitter in his mouth even if he tried to get over it.

So his childish self clings bitterly to rivalry, aiming to both destroy his rival once and for all and prove his brother wrong.

And since then they’re originally healthy toxic bonds bloom even more. After all, for egotists like them the bond of trying to devour each other is the healthiest for both of them.

But now here they are.

Since two months ago, since that damn day, Rin had somehow gotten used to Isagi's presence in his life. On and off the field.

Spending time with Isagi searching about his brother’s past in Spain and that anomaly named Bunny Iglesias seems to be the new norm for them.

Long gone are their hostile interactions like they are trying to devour one another even outside of a match. 

Rin admitted it felt strange…. For as long as he can remember there has always only been Sae in his world. 

Back then he was content with sticking to his older brother 24/7, he had no concern nor need to make pointless and lukewarms bonds like friends who wouldn’t benefit him in any way possible and would most likely just bring him down.

So having someone beside him helping him research like this is kind of… odd.

His eyes travelled to Isagi’s back who was walking right in front of him. 

He doesn’t know what to feel anymore. It felt strange, but not completely unwelcome. 

Isagi is helping him out of his own volition, without expecting anything from him.

….Well… 

Maybe not entirely out of his own volition, if Rin had forced him and basically dragged him to play detective with him, then well… it’s none of anyone’s business aside from theirs. 

Just as he was lost in thought in his mind, realizing the new nature of his bond with Isagi, he almost crashed into the older teen, if not for his great reaction speed.

“Oi! What are you doing?” Rin questioned sharply, a tinge of annoyance seeped out in his voice.

Stepping away from behind Isagi, and walking beside him to avoid another kind of this occurrence happening again in the future.

The bluenette suddenly stopped in the middle of the hallway out of nowhere. 

He looked half questioningly half annoyed at what seems to have drawn Isagi’s attention only to find the door of one of the lounge rooms in Blue Lock. A faint sound of laughter and voices seeps through the closed door. 

His eyebrow raised questioningly. Just as he was about to question Isagi what the hell is he doing. Voices come out of the room this time more clearly, and before they realize it their earbud translator beeps to life. 

For a second he was caught off guard, he didn't register what he just heard. 

His brain only caught up to the word that had been translated into Japanese a few seconds later, and he felt his eyes widened and his jaw almost dropped from the whiplash. 

“You’re kidding me. Seriously?! Sae? And Bunny?”

He thought he was hallucinating for a moment, hell from the amount of detective work and scavenging the internet they did he might as well start to hallucinate hearing those two accursed names out of nowhere.

But no. One look at Isagi’s equally shocked face as him, he understands. This is real. He heard correctly.

It wasn’t a hallucination.

The voice, one that he recognized as Lorenzo, and the other he realized was Kaiser, was talking about his older brother and that Iglesias. 

The two people they have been trying to figure out for so long now. 

Rin felt like the breath was taken out of his lung as he tried to process whatever the fuck he is hearing right now 

Taking a peak at the small slit in the door he could see the two foreigners chatting as they were looking at what is seemingly Kaiser’s phone. 

‘What are they looking at?’

For a moment he was confused as to what they were looking at.

Until a nudge to his side, make him turn towards his partner in this whole mess with finding out stuff about his brother.

Isagi.

The guy look a bit reluctant as he whispered towards Rin 

“Rin ... .I heard they were talking about an instagram post, if it’s on instagram I'm sure it would’ve blown up by now. Let’s check it out.”

Rin can feel himself nodding as he takes out his phone from his pocket. And for the first time since a long while opened his instagram. It’s been so long since he ever used the app that he almost forgot what his account login is if not for him having the same password for all of his accounts. 

On instinct he clicks the search button and searches up his brother’s name. 

The profile came up the same as usual. Just a few posts. Mostly of his brand photoshoot, something that Rin is sure posted by his brother’s club PR. The only thing personal in Sae’s post was only the picture of a beach with a bunch of seagulls. And a picture of Re Al’s club football pitch. The Re Al logo stood proudly in the middle of it all.

Otherwise there is nothing else unusual or out of place from his brother’s account.

It was when he started to doubt what the Italian and German were talking about when Isagi hurried to grab at his arm, shocking him out of his contemplation.

The bluenette has done the same. However, unlike Rin who had immediately checked on his brother’s account. Isagi had refreshed his page and the first thing that came up was so shocking that it felt like it knocked the wind out of him.

Yes. There on the very top of his page is a photo of Sae and Bunny together on a yacht looking like they were away on a vacation. 

Millions of likes and reposts can be seen below the post and the number is still climbing rapidly.

Along with it thousands of comments, flood his screen once he clicks on the comments section. All filled with surprise, disbelief, curiosity, and speculation.

Isagi can definitely relate. 

With slightly shaky hands he grasps Rin’s arm. Shaking the teen’s arm to get his attention. 

Once Rin had turned towards him, he practically shoved the phone on his face. 

Rin’s usual scowled appeared back on his face for a moment before his eyes widened in disbelief and his mouth hung open in shock.

At once he locked his phone and returned it back in his pocket as he snatched the phone out of Isagi’s hand.

The teen was frozen in place, eyes still stuck on that one photo. He hadn’t even checked the comments or anything yet. Just staring blankly at the photo.

Isagi wants to shake Rin a bit to get him out of the trance, (and to get his phone back really) but in the end he decides to leave the teen to his mental shock right now.

Instead Isagi opted to continue listening to what the hell their two guests were talking about inside.

In his shock he had forgotten what they were doing there in the first place.

‘Yeah this happened because he made the stupid decision to eavesdrop on that shitty clown and then things snowballed until here’ he thought bitterly.

But then again they did end up finding stuff about Sae and Bunny so it’s not a totally bad thing. 

Otherwise he swore Isagi is already on the verge of losing his mind if he was gonna keep this detective work any longer, much less months longer.

So maybe it is a good thing that they overheard Kaiser and Lorenzo at least it will put an end to this blind chicken run trying to find something that nobody even knows.

Isagi decided to tune back in to the conversation on the inside as he is sure that Rin is nowhere in the capacity of eavesdropping right now with the way he is now reading the comments rapidly and trying to find more information on the post.

Isagi rolled his eyes a little. 

‘Really. Did all that shock make Rin lose his brain a little?’ 

If even they didn’t find out stuff about those two, does he think random strangers on the internet knows?

Their source of information basically presents themselves right in front of them.

Kaiser and Lorenzo. They are the ones who must know something more about those two.

Not only do they share the same title. This whole thing after all happened because they overheard Kaiser and Lorenzo talking about Sae and Bunny.

“Hah that insidious rabbit” Kaiser’s annoying voice floated through the gap between the door. 

“Hm? What is it?” Followed quickly by Lorenzo’s response. 

“He’s doing this on purpose. He’s basically claiming Itoshi in public” Well that doesn’t sound concerning at all. 

‘What the fuck?!?’

“Well~ It’s expected to be honest, c’mon it’s Iglesias we’re talking about here. You know how he is.” 

By the time Lorenzo’s answer came, Isagi had decided to smack the teen beside him back into focus. 

Of course he was met with Rin’s angered whisper “What?!” before he gestures towards the door to tell him to listen. 

Luckily the younger listens to him and gives him back his phone with just a little grumble before they are back to eavesdropping. 

“But I’m still surprised that Sae lets Bunny do that. After what? 3 years is it?” Alarm bells immediately start ringing in Isagi’s head. 

‘3 years. 3 years… where have I heard that?’ Isagi thought back. He was sure that number was important. And by the way Rin had his brow furrowed and took a glance at him clearly he also found something off. 

Immediately a flash back of that cursed conversation came back to him. 

"..You've gotten so thin... How long has it been since you run away? 3 years? Tell me who did this to you?"

Isagi still feels goosebumps at that particular tone and sentence. Seriously, why is that guy sounding like he is about to kidnapped Sae right there and then at that moment 😭😭

His eyes widened in shock at the memory. It seems like they are getting somewhere now. What happened in those 3 years? Why did Bunny say Sae ran away? 

“Right? Who would’ve expected our resident ice prince would get back to that devil after that dramatic divorce bullshit they did. What a plot twist”

He blinked in surprise for a moment as he couldn’t process the words. 

‘Divorce?’ Isagi was sure Kaiser was just exaggerating. But still….

While he had suspected those two were in a romantic situation of some kind. It still felt a bit shocking to find out that Sae had an ex-boyfriend. 

A crazy one at that apparently. That cause him to run away and hide for 3 years ☠️. What in the romance drama is this???

For a moment he was almost scared to turn his head to look at his partner. 

Rin….

Rin looks positively ill.

He looks like he half want to throw up and commit genocide right now….

And that’s when he knew with absolute certainty that Rin had also come to the same conclusion as he did. 

Isagi had hurriedly launched himself to grab Rin to prevent the younger teen from barging in and ruin all their chance at collecting more information. 

Thankfully after a few seconds of wrestling with the green haired teen he relent and stood still with the most obvious displeasure written all over his face.

But unfortunately by the time they settle down, nothing useful has come out from the inside anymore. By the brief fragment he had managed to catch it seems like Kaiser and Lorenzo were too busy telling other people about it.

‘Seriously?’ 

He wanted to curse at them for treating all this like drama while he and Rin had been going insane trying to find out about this stuff for the past 2 months!

But then again, it is drama for them. 

Rin and Isagi waited in silence, body tense and rigid as the sound from inside descended into silent.

With each second both Kaiser and Lorenzo doing god knows what in silence the more Rin itches to just open the door and demand some answers about his brother from them.

But like before, his arm was immediately caught by Isagi who shook his head and motioned for him to continue to wait the moment he wanted to charge.

Rin relent albeit reluctantly, shrugging off Isagi’s arm from his as he waits in place in agitation. Body coiled like a spring about to be released. 

Just as Rin was about to lose anymore of his patience, thank God, that those two started talking again.

"Mannnn…” Kaiser’s voice came first as he drew out. 

“Sae is fucking amazing if you think about it huh?” his voice was basically dripping with disbelieved awe and amusement. 

“I mean the same country, same soccer world, same title. And Sae managed to hide from that psycho for three whole years. You must’ve gone a bit crazy pulling that off” he finished with a huff of laughter.

“No shit” came Lorenzo's quick response. 

It irked Rin the way they are talking about his brother like he was just gossip to them, while he is practically left in the dark. Blind to all of this knowledge. It left a bitter taste in his tongue when he remembered that his brother never shared anything with him. 

Lorenzo's voice trickled out again, still with that same infuriating amusement dripping in every word. 

“Remember the bet we made back then Mihya?” At the mention of the bet, his voice seemed to rise in excitement a bit.

Rin scoffed. ‘As expected of that money obsessed zombie’ of course at the mention of money, Lorenzo would sound excited. 

“Ah. The bet. I almost forgot. It’s been so long, I would’ve thought their hide and seek game would last until the end of their lives.” Rin wanted to scowl and at the same time still feel like all of this is unreal.

Sae? His older brother? He could’ve never imagined him as someone who would run away and hide like a coward. Sae was anything but weak, that guy can even be so ruthless as to throw him away. Well… that part is a bit questionable right now, but anyways…. this was so beyond his imagination, he thought he had gone mental when he heard that. 

“HAHA. Certainly does feel like it, doesn’t it. What was it that we bet on? Ah yes. We thought it would take Iglesias 1 week tops.” Lorenzo continued on in that jolly voice of his. 

Now he just felt offended. Not only are they treating his brother’s life like a soap opera they didn’t even believe he could run away for 1 week?

“Mmmm. Yeah. But it seems like our frosty ice prince gave us a surprise huh?”

‘Ice prince?’ well Rin wouldn’t say it’s inaccurate for his brother. But in his opinion his brother is more stone hearted than he is cold-hearted. He’s definitely NOT the most welcoming person there is. He can tell you that. 

“Definitely. Didn’t expect Sae to be able to evade him for so long huh. I mean 3 years? That’s a pretty long fucking time. I’m surprised that Bunny could last that long being apart from Sae” Kaiser’s lazy voice floated through

And Rin could feel his body tensed up again. 

‘Again with this evading and hiding.’ What the fuck happened to his brother in Spain??

Rin began to feel pissed off. It felt like every information he heard was just leading to more and more questions than it brought him closer to answer. 

Just what could go so wrong with his brother in the 4 years he was gone?

And that Bunny….

What’s his deal? Why is he so obsessed with his brother?

Rin could feel a scowl form on his face as his hands clenched into fist.

“Hm. I’m more surprised Sae could hold on for 3 years. Hiding from someone that crazy? Impressive he hadn’t gone insane from paranoia.” 

Not gonna lie he is pretty impressed.

Kaiser is not stupid. Anyone who saw how those two behaved back then, would pick up a thing or two from Bunny’s weird habit.

That guy practically stalks Itoshi in a way. Following him everywhere and popping up wherever Sae was even if he wasn’t technically supposed to be there. 

It was downright kinda creepy if he’s being honest.

‘I don’t know how Sae could tolerate all that’ 

Kaiser stood up from his seat and went to the vending machine. Deciding to get a bottle of cola to accompany him in his gossip session with Lorenzo.

“Hah. True that. Can’t believe Sae spend that long evading him” 

Crunch.

Crunch. 

The sound of popcorn crunching along with Lorenzo’s answer came from behind him.

Waiting for the drink to drop, Kaiser bent down to pick his cola, and decided to just lean against the wall there, continuing the conversation while sipping on his newly bought drink. 

“I mean can you fucking blame him? I would not want that psycho anywhere near me too if I was Sae.”

It was silent for a moment after that.

Lorenzo shrugged easily, having nothing to add to that.

They both could agree to that at least. 

Their Japanese friend was pretty amazing being able to handle Iglesias and his obsessive ass. 

Of course the silence didn’t last long before Lorenzo once again started the conversation. 

“Sure does remind me of our times back in the day huh? You remember how we used to laugh at them?” Lorenzo threw the empty popcorn packaging to the side before getting up and going towards the vending machine too to get himself a drink.

“Oh yeah. Those dramatic assholes. Acting like the world and the fucking professional football field is their soap opera.” Kaiser rolled his eyes, remembering how it was like back in those 3 years. 

Seriously. 

He never saw someone more dramatic in playing soccer. You would’ve thought they were there to film some cliche romance story rather than train to be pick as the best players of their youth.

Well no one can deny Sae and Bunny soccer ability he suppose. 

At least they made a good entertainment value for him and the rest of the guys I guess. 

“Yeah… Who would’ve thought that it would escalate into this?” getting his drink Lorenzo decided to go back to his comfortable spot on the couch. 

“It’s bound to happen sooner or later. Their relationship has always been weird. It was downright toxic.” Kaiser answered easily. Now walking back to his own seat. 

It really was quite obvious.

Their relationship was weird. And abnormal.

Definitely not healthy.  

Was it toxic?

‘....’ honestly he doesn’t think he have the right to judge that based on his own fucked up relationships throughout his life. 

But at least he can definitely see it wasn’t a normal healthy relationship at all.

He doesn’t know what the fuck those two have with each other.

“Hmmmm I guess you’re right.”

“I suppose… it’s a surprise tho…”

“What is?”

The conversation continues to flow easily between the two, oblivious to the two eavesdropping behind the door. 

Isagi could feel the tension in the atmosphere getting thicker and thicker.

At this point Isagi just wants to swear.

How did they end up here? 

Who the fuck would expect Sae was in an apparently toxic relationship and his ex is apparently a well known psycho in their circle!

And now apparently said crazy ex suddenly posted a post on his insta with Sae looking like they just got back together and soft launched their relationship!

Scratch that actually.

It was practically a slap in the face kind of launch!

“The fact that Bunny didn’t chase after him. That doesn’t sound like Bunny at all.” Kaiser’s contemplative voice broke his train of thought.

Oh great. 

Everything just went from terrible to downright hell.

Why does it keep getting worse and worse?!

He reminds himself to check after his companion, annnnd yupp. 

Just as expected. Rin looks like he wants to punch the door and barge in there like there is no tomorrow.

“Oh yeah definitely, that was such a plot twist. Knowing Iglesias, you would’ve thought he would go hunt Itoshi down right away.” of fucking course Lorenzo said that like it was common knowledge.

Of course. Like the idea that someone hunting their apparent ex is normal. Hell! How did someone break up so badly that one of them ran away????

Great. Great.

Fucking Awesome!

Stop talking! Pls! OMG!

Isagi practically jumped on the taller teen as he noticed him getting ready to take a step. 

His face is downright murderous right now.

He could even feel a sense of blood lust coming from Rin. 

“Man I would’ve definitely won the bet if he did. I mean let’s be for real, there is no way he wouldn’t have caught Sae in like 3 days if he actively chases after him. The guy practically stalked him before. There is no way in hell he couldn’t find him when they are living in the same country playing the same sport. “

At the mention of the bet by Lorenzo, Rin’s mood seems to have fouled even more.

Well, Isagi can’t really blame the guy really. Not only is he getting info bombed. But the two inside are acting like his brother’s disastrous love life is like a tv drama. Anyone would be mad, he supposed. 

And of course that’s also the least concerning part about that whole speech.

Because now they just learn apparently Bunny is so crazy that he not only stalks Sae but those two believe that he could’ve caught sae in like 3 days. Except for some reason the crazy guy decided not too!

IS THERE EVER GONNA BE GOOD NEWS?!

“Guess he got pretty hurt too huh? When Sae run away?” Kaiser answered, fidgeting with the bottle in his hand.

For a moment Lorenzo didn’t say anything. 

He lowered his eyes not really staring into anything as he breathed a sigh and clicked his tongue.

‘Tsk’ How troublesome those two are. 

Though to be honest I guess he never really thought Iglesias would feel hurt like that. It was a plot twist really for all of them, when Sae decided to disappear and then Bunny did nothing. 

They all thought those two just had another nasty argument. Maybe pretty bad if Sae decided to disappear. But it wasn’t that much of a surprise. Bunny always annoys Sae and Sae despite his cold exterior is pretty easy to anger. So no one really put any thought to it. None of them would’ve expected Sae to avoid Bunny for 3 years straight.

Those two were always together. They were practically attached by the hip back then.

What the fuck happened?

“I guess, but even then Sae is still amazing. It’s Iglesias, there is no way that guy would ever let go of an opportunity of confronting Sae if it’s right in front of him. Not actively chasing him is one thing, but leaving him alone once they do meet? Yeah never gonna happen in a million years, I’m willing to bet all of my life savings on it.” For once Lorenzo seems to mellow out his unseriousness. His voice became more calm. 

Kaiser scoff, leaning back on his chair and resting his eyes for a little while. 

“Who’s stupid enough to bet otherwise. That’s basically common knowledge.”

As expected of Lorenzo, that money obsessed. Of course he always thought about bets. Kaiser rolls his eyes at his companion's habit. 

“Which means, our little Japanese friend really is amazing huh? Completely evading his line of sight completely for 3 whole years, I can’t imagine just about anyone who could succeed doing that to Iglesias. On top of that, Itoshi never went on a hiatus in soccer either.” Lorenzo seemed to be back on his jolly mood as he tore into another one of his popcorn stash.

Kaiser nodded absentmindedly. 

Indeed. Running away from that psycho must take guts and immense effort.

Sae really is equally insane for pulling that stunt for 3 years. 

“Pretty crazy if you ask me. I can’t imagine how paranoid Sae must’ve been. In fact, knowing Bunny I would bet a million dollars that Bunny knows all of his schedule.” Kaiser concluded. 

It was a solid conclusion. He couldn’t imagine anyone who wouldn’t go insane or paranoid doing the things Sae must be doing.

“Duh. Bunbun is practically obsessed with Sae, that's like the first level introduction.” Lorenzo rolled his eyes, grabbing a handful of popcorn and stuffing it in his mouth as he answered. 

“Exactly. There is no way in hell he would go completely hands off on Itoshi, he must’ve kept an eye on him still. Even without chasing him, Bunny would’ve kept Sae in his radar, that’s just the kind of person he is.” Kaiser put down his drink on the coffee table as his brows furrowed a bit.

The more he thought about it the more insane this all sounds to be honest.

Well it’s none of his business anyway.

It's just he guess he never really sat down and thought about it before. 

‘Those two really are crazy bastards’

“Hm. Well if we figure that out, I’m sure Sae would’ve figured that out a mile away. So he must’ve been keeping track of all of Bunny’s schedule too, otherwise how else would he be able to evade him for so long?” 

Kaiser shrugs at Lorenzo’s comment.

Yeah. That’s the most logical reason. That’s why he thinks Sae has paranoia in the first place.

I mean how can you not go crazy if you have to obsessively avoid another guy who you're bound to encounter every once in a while? 

They’re playing the same sport. In the same country.

Kaiser highly doubts it is easy for Sae to lay low while still being as productive as he is. 

He wonders how that guy is doing? He seems fine in the photo. 

Maybe everything sorts out well?

Well whatever. He never gonna understand what appeal Sae saw in that albino. 

“True. But this is also Sae we’re talking about. That guy basically has no common sense when it comes to relationships. He’s as dense as a brick wall, if he didn’t see the red blaring warning sign Iglesias is.  He’s basically a walking and talking red flag.” Kaiser held the urge to roll his eyes.

Seriously, Sae should probably get some glasses if he didn’t see all that red flags waving on his face. 

Lorenzo seems to pause for a moment.

What is he thinking?

“...Man. when you put it like that they really are crazy. What is this? a golden soap opera? Oh I would’ve definitely invested in it. Their drama is practically a golden ticket for box office. Think about how much money I could’ve made if we made a movie about them. Their fans would definitely eat it up.” 

Kaiser sighs. 

Of course. 

He should’ve guessed. Of course it’s about more money 😒.

Is there anything else in that zombie’s mind. 

Rin didn’t even realize he was clenching his fist so hard that if he pressed down any harder he’s probably gonna draw blood at any moment.

He could feel himself seeth hearing all of this absurd shit.

At the same time he could feel a giant headache building on his brain. All sorts of emotion felt like it was overwhelming his brain.

What the hell is happening to his brother?!

He already feels like he wants to punch someone, maybe shake his brother to come back to his senses.

Not only did he not tell him anything, but all that he had learned just kept on getting worse and worse.

Did his brother lose all his brain cells when he went to Spain???

How could he not tell him something as big as this!

From what he is hearing right now, it sounds like his big brother got himself a crazy ex-boyfriend who was obsessed with him and stalked him! And then his brother suddenly went MIA for 3 years??? 

All just to avoid one guy??

WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED?!

And even worse, now he gotta  to worry if his brother has some mental issue. That shitty blue rose keeps on saying Sae had paranoia he is starting to believe he really should drag his brother back to Japan and into therapy now!

And he sure as hell needs to keep that albino rabbit AWAY from his brother, if all those two sayings are true. 

“HAH! Tell me about it. Can’t believe that they’re acting like this now. After all of that drama? Running from him for three years? And suddenly they become buddy buddy again out of nowhere? I wouldn’t believe that for a moment. Something must’ve happened. There is no way Sae suddenly decided to meet him again out of nowhere.”

That’s what also throws him off so bad. 

Because Sae apparently made up with Bunny.

Are you kidding me??

First his nii-chan spent 3 years avoiding that guy like the plague and now they got back together in just 2 months???

His big brother is not someone who can easily change his mind. 

If he had done something so drastic as completely avoiding someone for years, there should be no way in hell he’s going to mend his relationship with them.

But the evidence in front of him clearly proves otherwise.

Rin felt like he was going crazy.

He felt like he didn't know his brother anymore.

And that scares him more than he would like to admit. 

His lips pursed as he became increasingly agitated. 

Even when they were on bad terms, he doesn’t necessarily think he doesn’t know his brother. Even if the kind brother he remembers is nowhere near that cold hearted guy he met that snowy night.

But nonetheless it’s still his brother.

The fact that he could synchronize and read Sae’s play during the u20 match is proof of that. 

But what the hell is going on?!

“Well what can I say, they really do act like an old married couple. They just had their little lovers quarrel before Micha.”

‘Stop calling them that!’ he hissed venomously in his mind.

He gotta admit, the fact that Sae had a boyfriend peeved him even more. It’s worse that he doesn’t even know he existed, before 2 months ago. 

“Hah! Lover’s quarrel my ass. If every lover’s quarrel is like theirs, half of this world population would be imprisoned in a house somewhere.” 

‘What the fuck?????’ And his brother somehow fell for that guy???

He really seriously needs to drag Sae back and into a therapy or an eye doctor to get his eyes checked. 

Clearly it seems like his brother lacks quite a bit of self preservation instinct. 

He still doesn’t believe his brother actually has a crazy boyfriend.

Those two must be exaggerating it for drama.

It is Kaiser and Lorenzo after all. 

“Nothing wrong with a bit of spice if I do say so myself. They make such an entertaining drama in our soccer obsessed filled lives. Liven things up a bit don’t you think?”

“They’re dramatic and tiring, that's what it is. After all of those stuck by the hips shit they do they suddenly go and act as if they were divorce out of nowhere, and now they’re together again. They better make up their damn mind. The whiplash is starting to get out dated” Kaiser ended up ranting on his complaints about the two.

They were really annoying back then, acting lovey dovey on the football pitch.

Eugh.

Brother he just wants to play football not see a romance novel. 

“Oh don’t be like that, they're just in love~ Plus! You can’t deny that watching them is entertaining.” Of course Lorenzo found this much more entertaining. 

“Yeah. The only good thing that came out of that. Iglesias owes us that much for making us bear with his crazy ass.” Kaiser mumbled.

“HAHA! But Mannnnn when you put their drama like that, their PR must’ve gone crazy HAHA. Someone give them a proper raise tsk tsk.” Lorenzo exclaimed joyfully.

Kaiser paused for a moment.

Before nodding.

He felt a bit pity for their PR team, they must be going crazy right now after what Bunny had just posted. Not to mention it had gone viral so quickly too. 

‘Tsk tsk. Poor them’

Rin had really had enough as he once again shrugged Isagi off of him. This time Isagi wasn’t fast enough to hold back the younger teen as he slammed the door open with a bang.

The two occupants in the room immediately tilt their heads towards the newcomers.

At first both Kaiser and Lorenzo looked a bit shocked by the sudden intrusion, before they seem to get the idea of what is happening and exchange a twinkling look between them.

This time as they look towards Isagi and Rin who stood on the doorway, gone was any trace of surprise and apprehension, all that is left is amusement and tease in their eyes.

“Well well well, what do we have here?” Kaiser’s mocking voice came first.

And Isagi swear to God, that sound is really the most annoying sound he had ever heard in his life. Every time the German opened his mouth it grated on his nerves.

But even if Isagi wanted to spew back venom towards Kaiser, he didn’t get the chance to, as his partner seemed to have lost all of his patience and stormed inside the room with the determination of a hundred bulls and the rage of a hungry lion.

“Explain.” Came Rin clipped voice.

Kaiser raised an eyebrow in mock confusion as he tilted his head back to lock eyes with those teal blue eyes. 

“Explain what?”

“You know what.” Rin answered tersely. 

Kaiser only smirked in return, raising both of his hands acting innocent. “I’m not a mind reader Itoshi, you gotta be more specific than that if you gonna ask me something” 

“My brother.” Rin answered through gritted teeth, hands clenching at his side as he tried to glare bloody holes through Kaiser.

Lorenzo on the other hand leaned back on his couch as he looked at the spectacle happening like he was watching a movie, complete with his popcorn in hand.

“What about your brother?” Kaiser kept his innocent act, shrugging easily.

“Stop messing around Kaiser.” Isagi butted in sternly, having had enough of Kaiser going in circles.

“Tell us what you know about Sae and Bunny” Isagi continued, arm crossed glaring at Kaiser.

As expected the German is still as annoying as ever. He knew this would’ve happened. There is no way Kaiser would not take this opportunity to get back at him and annoy him.

If it was about anything else, and anytime else, he would’ve definitely gone square up with the cocky blonde. But one look at the teen beside him, he knows that Rin is at the end of his patience. If they don’t stop this back and forth things will get ugly sooner or later. 

Knowing Rin’s tendencies of… rather destructive urges. Isagi is not risking any chance of him picking a fight and getting all of them in trouble with Ego and ending up messing up their training one way or another.

So he decided to be the bigger person here trying to hold himself back. 

“Ahhh eavesdropping people are we Yoichi? Didn’t think you would stoop that low” 

But man Kaiser sure does make it easy to want to punch that dumb grin off of his dumb face. 

Isagi could feel a vein threatening to pop at the blonde mocking words. And one look at Rin tells him that the greenette is not feeling any better than he is. 

“Shut up Kaiser” Isagi hissed through gritted teeth.

Rin on the other hand is done with playing nice, since clearly asking nicely is not working then he would have to get it out of their damn mouth in his own way.

Slamming his hand on the coffee table in the middle of the sofa cluster, he pinned both Lorenzo and Kaiser with a glare. He hates the way they are talking all of this so jokingly, when he feels like he’s going to go crazy from madness right now. 

“Tell me everything about my brother. Hiding? Avoiding? Stalking? What the hell do you mean by that?!” his voice raised with every word. 

“Just what in the hell is my brother’s relationship with that albino rabbit?!” 

Rin's voice reverberated loudly in the lounge room. Firm is an understatement to describe how Rin looks right now. There is a tinge of feral madness in his teal blue eyes. Yet there is something else underneath his fierce voice.

Any other people might not have caught it. But for Isagi who is so used to observing and analysing his long time rival, he caught that small tremble immediately.

Underneath all of that anger, it almost sounds like Rin is terrified, and panicked. Looking at his teal blue eyes, Isagi could see that sliver of panic even more clearly in the way his pupils trembled just the tiniest bit. 

Isagi pursed his lips as he stood silently beside Rin, eyeing the taller teen a bit worriedly, but nonetheless stood still giving him the chance to do what he wanted. This is his matter anyway. It’s not really his place to butt in, he can banter with Kaiser another time, but for now the younger teen needs this much more than him. 

For a moment the room was silent, caught off guard by Rin’s sudden outburst.

A flicker of surprise crossed through Kaiser’s and Lorenzo’s eyes as they locked eyes with each other before looking back at Rin and coming to the same conclusion.

“Oh?” Lorenzo was the first one who broke the silence, looking at Rin with a curious look in his eyes.

“You mean to tell me you don’t know?” he said softly, a faint giddiness can be heard from his voice.

Lorenzo’s question makes him feel uncomfortable as he straightens back up and crosses his arm right in front of his chest, trying to maintain composure. Face back to his usual stony face.

But the frown and slightly confused look on his face is already enough to tell the two foreigners.

“Know what?” Rin questioned grumpily, his brows furrowed so tightly it could pinch a fly. 

A low wheeze sounded, Rin’s head snapped towards the sound of the sound so fast that for a moment Isagi feared his neck would make a snapping sound. 

“Oho? What is this? You mean to tell me, you boys don’t know?” Kaiser's mocking voice mixed with his laughter reverberated through the lounge room, making the air even more tense. 

Pointing towards Rin he continued sounding incredulous. “You out of people don't know anything?”

Rin tensed, his body like a coiled string ready to be released as his brow impossibly furrowed even more.

“What do you mean by that?” Rin spit out slowly, feeling more and more confused. 

‘Why are they acting like it’s so absurd that I don’t know?’ Then again it is pathetic isn’t it?

A bitter taste sits heavily on his tongue, as he felt resentment towards his brother.

He is Sae’s little brother, and yet he seems to know nothing about his own older brother, while these two people who only share the same title as him seem to know him much more than even Rin did. 

“I can’t believe Sae’s little brother didn’t know.” Lorenzo chimed in.

“Why do you keep saying that?” Rin huffed, frustrated and suspicious at the two foreigners' antics. 

Kaiser and Lorenzo exchange another look before looking back towards Rin.

Lorenzo shrugged before meeting Rin’s teal blue eyes that seemed to glow in intensity. “Well with how he used to talk about his precious baby brother -”

It felt like someone hit a pause button as Rin felt himself freezed. 

“-the bragging, the adoring words-”

He felt speechless as his eyes widened in surprise. He could feel the breath stuck in his throat as he stared stupidly at Lorenzo who kept on talking.

“-you would’ve thought that he was talking about an angel or something. So of course we thought you knew, with the way he describes you it seems like you two were attached by the hip. I can’t believe he actually didn’t tell you anything about this.”

That answer had caught him so off guard. So much that Rin lost his scowl and frown replaced with a genuinely dumbfounded and surprised look. 

Rin had known that there were some misunderstandings between him and his brother.

He figured that much out from what happened 2 months ago. He knows that Sae still cares for him. 

That he was trying to ‘protect’ him from something for some reason.

So he knows that his older brother still does love him, that it turns out that he never intended to abandon him. Still… if he didn’t mean to throw him away why did Sae say all of that horrible stuff to him.

He could still remember the way panic and fear had clutched his heart that snowy night. The way his breath comes out ragged and short, as if the oxygen is spilling out of him in rapid succession, with no way going back in. He remembered feeling faint, and all he could remember was his brother’s cold teal eyes pinning him to the ground as he claimed he does not need him anymore in his life. He can still remember that night as clearly as day even now.

Remembering what happened always makes him angry and bitter, but at least 2 months ago, Rin knew clearly what he was feeling. But now…. It feels like everything has become much more complicated. 

What happened to his brother…. He needs to figure that out first. 

While Rin might have not found the answer to what he should feel, feeling both warmth and resentment for his brother’s past action, at least it felt like his heart is lighter. Knowing that his older brother that he idolizes so much doesn't actually hate him. 

He had come to terms with that, along with not knowing what to do with his urges to get revenge against Sae for what he did to him that snowy night. All of that murderous intent however has been buried under lock and key temporarily since the moment he and Isagi started trying to find out what happened to Sae in Spain. 

He needs to know the full picture first before trying to solve the matter of his confusing feelings for his older brother.

But now? Being called ‘Sae’s precious baby brother’? It caught him off guard.

He didn’t know that Sae used to talk about him to other people. 

A warm feeling rushed into his heart unbiddenly. The childish part of himself that still loves and adores his brother like before, felt a rush of giddiness, knowing that his brother loves him enough to even brag and talk about him to probably the closest thing he could call ‘friends’ for his brother.

Though Rin doubt his brother is actually friends with Kaiser and Lorenzo, calling them ‘friends’ is a stretch. Most likely something closer to acquaintances. Rin just can’t imagine his brother tolerating these two annoyingness everyday and playing house with them. Oh no. Knowing his brother, it would definitely be more likely that they clash egos on a daily basis. Especially with someone like Kaiser. 

Or, ignore them. Both sound just like his brother to him. 

Still anyway, to know that his brother had even gone the way of talking with others about him….

As embarrassing as it was… 

It kinda makes him want to smile stupidly. 

“...”

Of course there is no time for that. 

So with a restless heart Rin forcefully pushes those feelings and puts it under lock and key for another day. He’s not here to gush about his brother right now. He’s here to figure out what the hell happened to Itoshi Sae in Spain that turns him into the stranger that came back to Japan 3 years ago. Because that certainly isn’t the brother that he remembered. 

The room has descended into silence as Rin is stuck in his own thoughts, before it is broken by Kaiser’s voice a few seconds later.

“Not so omnipotent anymore are you Yoichi? Don’t you love being in the know of everything? You must be dying to know right now right?

His smug voice made the atmosphere more heated as now it was Isagi’s turn to get irritated by the German.

“Shut up Kaiser!” Isagi practically seethe as he fixed Kaiser with his own glare. The German looked much too smug and happy, making fun of him and taking advantage of their predicament right now. 

Of course Isagi being Isagi, shot back with his own venom, knowing he would annoy the narcissistic blue rose with his next words. 

“Why don’t you do me a favor and just answer the damn question and tell us what you know, my finest clown?” 

As expected the condescending nickname really did aggravate the blond as his smirk is gone now, as he glared back at Isagi.

Seeing the hateful look on the blonde made Isagi feel a bit satisfied. Just because he is not trying to meddle doesn’t mean he’s a pushover. He doesn’t have any problem competing with Kaiser again. After all, the German had always and still is very annoying to him. 

“My my you really need to know your place Yoichi.” Kaiser spoke again, this time his voice laced with faux kindness hiding all of the thorn and malice under the thin layer of velvet.

Rolling his eyes, Isagi shot back “Did you forget what was the outcome of our last bet? Do you want me to bring you down to your knees again you fake emperor?” 

The atmosphere is getting heavier and heavier between the two rivals before Rin breaks it off, stepping in front of Isagi to break whatever staring battle that is happening between the blue rose and his older rival.

“Alright enough” Rin intercepted, his brows furrowed in annoyance looking at the two rivals who were always at each other’s throat like cats and dogs.

In any other scenario he would not care if Isagi and Blue Rose are gonna go head to head, but right now he needs to make that emperor spit out some info about his brother and that god forsaken bunny first. 

At Rin’s interruption, finally the two back down. Isagi more so because he knows how important this is for Rin, and Kaiser because for once he is more interested with the elephant in the room more than his petty rivalry with Isagi right now. 

His blue eyes gained back that interested and amused twinkle as he looked back at the younger Itoshi.

“Fine, I’ll entertain your questions.” Kaiser sighs, leaning back on his couch.

Lorenzo, who has been watching the drama with his trusty popcorn, shrugged and gave his answer easily “Sure, why not?”

Finally coming to some sort of an agreement, Isagi was the one who made the first move.

Rolling his eyes at Kaiser, but not saying anything else before he plopped down on one of the vacant sofas, pulling Rin to sit down beside him. 

Even in his annoyance, Isagi noted offhandedly Rin’s lack of struggle. 

If this was normal Rin he would probably make a show of grumbling and shrugging his hands from his arms. But right now the green haired teen said nothing as Isagi tugged him to sit. 

Isagi briefly made a big sigh at the back of his mind, it seems like Rin is more affected than he had thought. 

“Okay start talking” so he decided to start the conversation back.

“Hmmmmm, where to start?” Lorenzo mused aloud. 

“We knew each other from wayyy back, like…. 6 years ago? I think, right Micha?”

“Yeah it was 6.”

“How tho? How do y'all know each other?”

“Hmm? Did you not even know this?” Lorenzo looked curiously at the two boys.

“I didn't expect you to be completely oblivious to this Yoichi, and Itoshi junior” Kaiser leaned back on his sofa as he snarked.

Isagi once again had the urge to roll his eyes at the German, but decided to hold himself back and just ignore the blond.

“We all went to a summer camp. How else do you think we got chosen as the New Gens?” 

“So it was through a camp?”

“Yeah it was a camp that was held 6 years ago and lasted for around 3 years.”

“So. Tell us about it.”

“Alright buckle up boys. Cuz this gonna be a long ride down the rabbit hole.”