Chapter Text
Reo had never gotten used to flying around the world for soccer matches. His teammates had always been surprised at this fact, having heard numerous stories of his travels as a child, and knowledge of the multiple times he had travelled by jet to go to soccer competitions or matches. Even so, Reo had never fully grasped the concept of high speed at high altitudes, and he was almost fully convinced that he never would.
Even so, his body felt stranger than usual now. The U-20 win still hadn’t fully sunk in, but neither had the reality of being back in a hotel lobby at midnight, exhausted and sweaty despite the shower, and with an air of vaguely hidden irritation hovering in the air. This was supposed to be the reward, maybe a few days off, courtesy of Blue Lock's PR team, before everyone scattered back to the training facilities. Reo should be relaxed. Instead he was standing in a musty hotel lobby, listening to Anri stammer through an apology, her voice half hidden behind a thick stack of files.
"So."
Rin deadpanned, arms crossed tightly over his chest.
"You booked 12 rooms."
"The system glitched," Anri stuttered, fingers twisting the edge of the dog eared paper she was holding.
"We're… we're getting more sorted for tomorrow. Tonight you'll have to double up … if that’s okay of course..-"
“How many beds are in each room?” Nagi mumbled, adjusting his hoodie until it fell over softly onto the edge of his bangs. Reo glanced at him, feeling a sense of calm wash over himself as he looked at the boy’s slouched position. Typical Nagi, he had always been so-
His train of thought was interrupted by the sound of bags hitting the floor, before a flash of black and yellow hit the floor.
"Ah, Bachira… maybe it’s time we go… I’ll take him," Rin winced, rubbing his eyes and watching as the former unconsciously stuck a thumb into his mouth. The team watched the green haired boy as he gently gathered his friend up, and headed towards the elevators, slipping a room card into his pocket.
"Friends my ass." Chigiri scoffed, before clapping his hands as if to referee something.
"Let's mix it up instead of the usual pairs.”
He looked around at pairs of unimpressed eyes.
‘C'mon, it'll be fun."
"I want ‘toya ," Karasu muttered, grabbing his arm and heading toward the elevator.
Reo watched as the rest of the team murmured amongst themselves, slowly grabbing their belongings and heading up the elevators together, all while sneaking glances at the white haired boy to his left. He hasn’t moved this whole time, Reo noted, only looking at his phone.
Typical Nagi.
"Ah, Reo," Zantetsu called.
“Seems like there is only one room left. Come, we can go with Nagi, just like before!”
Reo blinked. Beside him, Nagi didn't even look up from his phone, thumb still moving over some idle game. He eventually looked up, noticing both boys’ eyes waiting on him intently.
"Kay," he said.
Reo shivered. It should be nothing… right? He had previously shared baths with Nagi, running his fingers through thin strands of silvery hair, had been pressed shoulder to shoulder as the latter dozed off on his back, spent more hours next to him at Kakuho then he could count. The memories made his stomach turn, and he couldn’t help but peek at Nagi again, wondering if the white haired boy missed those memories just as much as him. Nagi was looking down at his phone, hoodie covering his eyes.
Of course… he had been the one to abandon Reo that day, no wonder he didn’t react at all. The elevator doors closed in a strange silence, broken only by Zantetsu’s offkey humming, as he rubbed his glasses in the mirrors.
The room was small but clean, with a wide window overlooking the city lights, and a queen bed in the centre of the room, that looked somewhat smaller than it did in the brochure photo Anri showed them.
Nagi dropped onto it immediately, starfished, eyes already closing.
"You're going to fall asleep in your clothes," Reo muttered, setting his bag down. He shouldn’t talk to the boy, it would only lead to more problems… since Nagi didn’t care about him anymore.
"Mm… Reo can help…," Nagi mumbles.
Reo rolled his eyes, had he forgotten they weren’t friends anymore, let alone close like they used to be back in Hakuho? Still, he grabbed Nagi’s phone and put it on the charger, and took off the boy’s hoodie with much effort, because although Reo didn’t want to admit it, he was still weak for Nagi, almost reaching out a hand to ruffle the silvery hair before he could stop himself.
Afterwards, Reo showers, and by the time he was out, towel-drying his hair, Zantetsu had created a makeshift bed on the floor, and was passed out over it. Nagi had changed into his pyjamas, a blue set with Bonobono printed over it, his favourite show, Reo fondly remembered. He was curled toward the window on the edge of the bed, with his phone dimmed beside him.
Reo took a breath, trying to calm the nerves deep inside his stomach, as he slowly lifted the blankets, climbing into the other side and curling in on himself. He noted the coldness behind his back, a large, empty hole, where Nagi used to lay. Reo urged himself to stay still, fighting his desire to turn around and wrap his arms around the white haired boy, inhaling his scent and feeling the warmth beneath the furry pyjamas. But how could he, after all this time, after Nagi had abandoned him? All those habits that they used to share, Reo couldn’t do anything to get them back, instead chasing after Nagi with outstretched arms everyday.
Far away. He was far away.
Reo could feel his throat constricting as he curled in deeper on himself, searching for warmth and pulling the blankets up. Thoughts continued to swirl around in his mind, and he slowly began to drift off. He could feel a distant warmth behind him… how pathetic, he was so desperate for Nagi that he had begun hallucinating, what a loser…
“Reo… ‘m cold,”
Reo’s eyes shot open as he felt a distinct force wrap around his waist, and a warm air travel past his neck. He felt his muscles tense, and urged himself not to push him away, even though he still badly wanted to embrace Nagi back.
“Nagi. You should sleep.” Reo responded, keeping his voice as neutral as he could muster up.
"Can't," The former replied, voice muffled by the pillow, and maybe Reo’s shirt.
"new place…takes a while..."
Reo suddenly remembered (how had he even forgotten?), he had known it since their first away trip together, when Nagi sat wide awake throughout the night. scrolling through nothing in particular, jittery in a way that didn't match his usual half-asleep demeanor. It was strange, the things you learn about someone through nothing but proximity. How Nagi would tap his fingers against his thigh when he was nervous. How his voice went louder, not quieter, when he was nervous… really the opposite of what you'd expect.
Reo was snapped out of his train of thought by the feeling of hair nuzzling against his neck. He really should push Nagi away, tell him that they weren’t like that anymore, deny him this privilege and show him what he had lost… but Reo was still weak, and he knew it.
"Talk to me, then," Reo offered.
"Take your mind off it."
"’bout what?"
"I don't know. The match maybe? Or are there any new games you’ve tried?"
Nagi was quiet for a while, long enough that Reo assumed he had somehow finally drifted off.
Then, "Do you think we'll actually get invited back? Like… to Blue Lock?"
"Obviously. Did you not see the header stats?"
"...huh. I didn’t look much… too much of a hassle,”
Reo laughs silently, quiet in the dark room. Nagi shifted, leaving Reo’s neck in the cold of the room again as he moved.
"...was thinking about the finals," he admits.
"And what if what Ego said actually happened, and everyone goes to different clubs."
Reo felt something twist in his chest, as he realised he didn’t have a good answer. Instead, against his better judgement (or maybe the late hour) he shifted in the bed and said, “Come here.”
Somehow, he doesn’t even register the offer himself until Nagi has already closed the gap over the void between them completely, head against his shoulder like they used to. It should feel strange… but somehow it didn’t. Yet, Reo didn’t know what to make of it.