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In Japan, there's a tradition of spending Christmas with special people, usually a boyfriend/girlfriend or family.
Rin hadn't gotten along with his brother for years and barely kept in touch with his parents. So he saw no reason to spend that date with them.
Instead, he decided to walk around the city, hoping to find something interesting to do.
He walked through the streets of Tokyo without any hurry. Around him, he saw couples holding hands, families gathered together and friends smiling as they enjoyed Christmas Eve. Shops, buildings, houses and windows were decorated with colorful lights, garlands and other ornaments that gave the city a cozy glow.
From the speakers scattered through the streets echoed the traditional Christmas songs. They were the same songs every year, but for some reason, no one ever seemed to get tired of hearing them.
Ego had given the Blue Lock Project participants a few days off during Christmas week. That decision only happened because Anri somehow managed to convince him.
Rin didn't really care about it. Of course he appreciated the chance to rest a bit from that place, but to him, Christmas was just another day like any other.
When he reached a square, he decided to sit on one of the benches. In silence, he began to watch the people moving around him, letting his thoughts wander.
For an instant, his mind went back to the Blue Lock Project. He remembered the exhausting training sessions, the matches, the wins, the losses and, inevitably, some of his teammates.
That annoying Isagi. Bachira, with his tireless energy. And... Hiori.
The blue-haired boy was, in a way, tolerable. Strangely, that memory brought a faint sense of nostalgia to Rin.
Hiori had helped him once, after he got into a fight with Shidou. Without saying much, he took care of his injuries and changed his bandages.
For some reason, Rin allowed it to happen. Normally, he would have refused any show of care, but with Hiori, it was different. The silent kindness and the attention with which he treated him awakened a feeling Rin hadn't experienced in a long time.
Safety.
They didn't talk much. Whenever they met, Rin remained silent, and Hiori never tried to force a conversation. Somehow, that shared silence was comfortable.
As time passed, however, Rin realized he wanted to get to know Hiori a little better. He wanted to know more about him, to understand who he was beyond the player on the field. The problem was he had no idea how to ask anything without it seeming strange.
However, his daydreaming was interrupted by a soft, velvety voice, carrying a hint of surprise.
— Rin?
He looked up and turned toward the voice.
For an instant, he just stared at the owner of his thoughts.
It was Hiori.
— Hiori.
For a moment, the two just stared at each other, not knowing what to say. The silence that settled between them, however, wasn't uncomfortable.
Hiori was also spending Christmas alone. Staying at home was difficult when his own parents lived in constant arguments and seemed incapable of showing any affection for him. In the end, wandering aimlessly through the streets of Tokyo seemed like a much better choice than going back to that environment.
Hiori hesitated for an instant. He thought about just going on his way, but decided to start a conversation.
— Are you alone today?
Rin considered lying. It would be easier to end the conversation that way. However, he realized there was no reason for it.
— Yeah.
Hiori thought for a moment about whether he should invite Itoshi to walk around with him. He was almost sure he would refuse - after all, Rin wasn't exactly known for accepting invitations easily.
But, as they say, only those who take risks have a chance to experience something extraordinary.
— There's a coffee shop open nearby. Do you like hot chocolate?
Rin hadn't expected that invitation. For a few seconds, he just stared at Hiori, surprised. Still, it seemed like a good opportunity to get to know him better.
— It's... good.
The two walked to the coffee shop without hurry. The silence between them wasn't awkward; on the contrary, it felt natural.
As they walked through the illuminated streets of Tokyo, they watched the twinkling Christmas lights, the decorated shop windows and the people passing by, each following their own path.
For a few moments, neither of them felt the need to say anything.
They entered the establishment, greeted by the pleasant warmth inside. The heater warmed the place, soft music played in the background and the irresistible aroma of hot chocolate filled the air.
Outside, small snowflakes began to fall, causing some people to come into the coffee shop to shelter from the cold. Little by little, the place became busier, while the snow silently covered the streets of Tokyo.
They placed their orders and sat down at a table. For a few moments, the silence between them remained, until, surprisingly, Rin decided to start a conversation.
— What do you like to do, Hiori?
The question caught Hiori by surprise.
Rin hadn't asked about soccer, strategies, or anything related to the field. For the first time, he was showing interest in something that didn't involve competition.
It was a personal question.
And, coming from Rin, that was unexpected.
— I really like playing video games. And I don't even need to ask what you like to do, I already know it's soccer. Did I get it right?
Rin just stared at him for a few seconds before answering.
— Yeah.
Hiori let out a small laugh at the predictable answer.
As time went by, late afternoon gave way to evening. Between calm conversations, small discoveries about each other and the comforting warmth of the hot chocolate, the two remained there, forgetting for a few moments the loneliness that had brought them to that coffee shop.
Hiori was a nice person. Probably one of the nicest people Rin had ever met.
And... for some reason, he was also strangely handsome.
At one point, Hiori got up and said he needed to step out for a few minutes, asking Rin to wait for him.
Rin didn't question it. He just nodded.
When Hiori returned, he was carrying something small with him.
— Merry Christmas, Rin.
He held out the package toward him.
Rin was silent for a few seconds, looking at the present in his hands. He hadn't expected that.
Even so, he decided to keep it and open it only when he got home.
For some reason, Rin felt like returning the gesture.
He wasn't someone used to receiving or offering that kind of attention, but Hiori had done something different. So, when he realized it was already dinner time, he decided to pay for both of their meals.
He didn't say much about why. He just took the initiative, as if that was the simplest way he found to say thank you.
And so the following months passed.
They returned to the Blue Lock Project, going back to the routine of intense training, games and competitions. Still, something had changed. Even with the distance and the rush, they kept in touch.
The conversations, which were once rare and full of silence, became more and more frequent. Rin started to wait for Hiori's messages, to seek out his company and to care about small details about him.
Until, at some point, he realized something he hadn't expected.
What he felt for Hiori was no longer just comfort or admiration.
They were deeper feelings.
Until, on exactly the same date, a year later, on another Christmas, they met again.
The same company. The same cold in the streets of Tokyo. The same hot chocolate in their hands.
But this time, something was different.
Hiori had made a decision.
That Christmas, he was finally going to confess to Rin.
— Rin, I... I need to tell you something. But somewhere more private.
Rin's heart sped up slightly when he heard those words.
He didn't know exactly what Hiori wanted to say, but for the first time in a long time, he felt a different kind of restlessness. An expectation he couldn't ignore.
Without questioning, he just nodded.
The two walked together to a nearby square, away from the bustle of the streets. The Christmas lights still illuminated the city around them, but there, it was just the two of them.
No other person nearby.
Just Rin and Hiori.
Hiori took a deep breath, gathering all the courage he needed.
— Rin... for a while now I've been thinking about you more than I should. In a different way, you know? I like you.
For an instant, Rin was silent.
His heart seemed to skip a beat. So many times he had tried to understand what he felt, but now that he was finally hearing those words, he didn't know exactly how to react.
He wasn't good with feelings. He didn't know how to find the right words.
But he knew what he felt.
— Me too.
Hesitantly, Hiori stepped closer and hugged him.
Rin remained still for a few seconds, as if he was still trying to understand that moment. Then, slowly, he returned the gesture.
In that instant, something inside him seemed to calm down.
For the first time in years, Rin felt a peace he didn't know. For the first time in a long time, he felt truly loved.
The End.