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The arcade is loaded with flashing neon lights, loud music, and the metallic clatter of game tokens. It’s loud enough to drown out most thoughts, but for Isagi, the noise inside his own head is much louder.
He’s standing by a racing simulator. To his left, Reo is leaning against the machine with an effortless charm, flashing a bright smile at a couple of people passing by who had clearly recognized him. He just radiates wealth and natural charisma, completely comfortable under any spotlight.
Next to Reo you'll always find Nagi, slouching, eyes glued to his phone screen, continously tapping at whatever game he's in, while complaining about how his shoulders ache, yet somehow still managing to look effortlessly cute and impossibly tall without even trying.
And then, a few steps away, arms crossed and face set in it's usual rigid expression, is Rin. Even though he does't pursue people's attention, he still draws eyes like a magnet. He has distinct, beautiful eyelashes, and the unmistakable aura of being Itoshi Sae’s younger brother.
Isagi shifts his weight, feeling incredibly small in his own jacket.
"Hey, Isagi, you’re up next!" Reo says, gesturing to the screen with a tilt of his head.
"Ah, right…" Isagi murmurs, but his attention is elsewhere.
Just a few meters away near the claw machines, a small group of girls is huddled together. He can hear the faint, high-pitched giggles over the arcade noise. When he glances over, he sees them nudging each other, their eyes darting between the white and purple duo, to Rin’s moody silhouette. A wave of insecurity hits him square in the chest.
What am I even doing here? Isagi thinks, his throat tightening slightly. He isn't a towering genius like Nagi, he doesn't have Reo's flawless, aristocratic charm, and he certainly doesn't have Rin's striking eyes.
He’s just... Yoichi. Ordinary. Or how Karasu likes to say, mediocre.
Then, his blue eyes lock onto one specific girl in the group, holding a plushie.
She isn't looking at Reo. She isn't even looking at Nagi. Her gaze is fixed entirely in his direction.
Isagi’s heart does a weird flutter.
Is she…gazing at me?
He then remembers that Rin is standing barely a foot away from him.
Of course. She’s looking at Rin, he immediately jumps to the safest conclusion.
Rin is right next to him, tall, and brooding. There is absolutely no way someone would bypass the genius Itoshi Rin to look at a plain guy like him. Isagi quickly averts his eyes, staring at the screen and gripping the steering wheel. A bitter, self-deprecating taste in his mouth as he tries to swallow down the sudden twinge of envy.
But he has it completely wrong.
Across the aisle, your heart is beating frantically against your ribs. Your friends are gushing over Reo’s smile and Nagi’s height, but your eyes haven't drifted from Isagi for a single second.
You watch the way his dark blue hair reflects the neon pink light of the arcade, the intense, focused depth in his eyes, and the slight, nervous way he just bit his lower lip. To your friends, the others might be flashy, but you aren't looking at the prodigies or the billionaire. You're completely, utterly focused on him.
The electronic alarm of the racing game signals the end of Isagi's turn. He steps back from the simulator, rubbing the back of his neck with a tense sigh. Rin steps and takes over, his expression already intense with focus as he grips the steering wheel.
Your friends finally snap out of their own simping session and notice where your eyes have been locked this entire time.
One of them whispers, nudging your shoulder playfully. "You've been looking at Isagi for a while now~"
"Oh my god, he's actually so cute though!" Another giggles, peering over your shoulder.
"Awww! Look at him, he looks lost!"
"Girl, go talk to him! Get his number before they leave!"
Your stomach does a sudden flip. "What? wait-right now? I can't just walk up to him!"
You clutch your plushie against your chest, hesitation holding you still. The thought of stepping into that circle of talented, high-profile athletes makes you nervous.
"Yes, right now! Look, the scary one is playing the game now, so your man is just standing by himself!" your friend urges, giving you a shove forward. "Go, go! Before someone else does!"
Stumbling slightly from the push, you find yourself taking a few hesitant steps closer to their area.
Isagi's watching Rin take sharp corners on the screen. The heavy weight of his earlier insecurities still hovering over him. He’s completely wrapped up in his own head, he didn't even notice someone approaching him.
"Um... excuse me."
A soft, hesitant voice breaks through his thoughts. Isagi blinks, turning his head, and his breath hitches. It’s you. The girl from the group.
His brain completely short-circuits. He couldn't see you clearly from the distance, and the heavy neon lighting, but now that you're up close, his heart skipped a beat. You were just so adorable!
"Hi, you're Isagi, right? I saw you're game on TV." You say, a faint blush creeping up your cheeks as you clutch your plushie. "You were really cool."
Isagi’s eyes widen. He stammers, rubbing the back of his neck. "Ah, thanks... I uh…"
Before he can finish, you nervously hold out your phone, the screen open to a blank new contact page. You’re too shy to say the actual words 'can I have your number', so you just look at him expectantly, hoping he gets the hint.
Isagi stares at the phone, and his brain immediately goes into overthinking mode. The heavy insecurity from a few minutes ago slams right back into him. He looks at the phone, then looks at Rin.
Of course, he thinks, a sudden lump forming in his throat. She’s too shy to ask Rin directly since he's so intimidating. She wants me to give her his number…
It makes perfect sense to him. Why would a cute girl walk up to a random guy when Itoshi Rin is right there? He feels a sharp, disappointing sting in his chest, but he forces a polite smile on his face anyway. He doesn't want to make things awkward for you.
"Oh! Yeah, of course." He takes the phone from your hands, his chest feeling incredibly heavy. "I can give you his number."
He quickly taps into the keypad. He doesn't even hesitate. He types in Rin’s contact information, labels it 'Rin' and hands the phone back to you with a small, slightly disheartened nod.
You blink, completely confused. "His?"
You look down at the screen, expecting to see a new number with the name 'Isagi', only to see the name Rin staring back at you.
You look up at him, confused, while Isagi just gives you a reassuring "good luck" smile, completely oblivious to the massive misunderstanding he just created.
He doesn't understand your confusion at first. "Well…he looks really intimidating and he's kind of unapproachable." Isagi continues. "So I get why you didn't want to ask him directly. Rin's always like that, but-"
"Wait, stop!"
Your voice cuts him off, sharp and hurried. You reach out, your fingers gently touching his wrist to stop him from talking any further.
Isagi freezes, blinking down at your hand on his wrist, then up at your face. "What's wrong? Did I spell it wrong? It's R-I-N..."
"No, I don't want Rin's number." You say quickly, the blush on your cheeks deepening as you look right into his wide blue eyes. You take a breath, letting go of his wrist. "I came over here for you."
Isagi completely stops breathing. The noisy arcade, the thumping music, the flashing neon lights, everything completely vanishes.
"For... me?" He squeaks out, pointing a finger at his own chest in disbelieve.
"Yes, for you." You repeat, a small, shy smile finally breaking through your nerves. "I've been watching you this whole time. I want your number."
Isagi just stares at you, his mouth slightly open. All the heavy insecurities that were weighing on him, just a few seconds ago, completely evaporated replaced by a sudden, intense heat rushing straight to his face.
On the side, Reo smirks, having overheard the whole thing, while Nagi finally looks up from his phone with a lazy, curious blink.
Isagi quickly clears his throat, takes your phone, frantically erasing Rin's name and number from the screen. His hands are shaking a little bit as he types in his actual phone number, a genuine, completely bright smile taking over his face.
"There." He says, his voice much warmer now, a nervous but happy scratch to the back of his neck. "I... I'd really love for you to texte me."
"I will, once I get home." You say as you put your phone back in your pocket. "See you another time, Isagi-san, goodbye!"
As soon as you blend back into the crowd with your friends, Isagi lets out a long breath he didn't realize he was holding, a goofy, dazed smile plastered on his face.
"Well, look at you, striker." Reo chuckles, leaning over and elbowing Isagi playfully in the ribs. "And here you were, thinking she wanted Rin's number~"
"Shut up, Reo." Isagi mumbles, his face burning hot again, though he can't stop smiling.