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It was supposed to be a perfectly normal trip between seven of the most emotionally stable (source: themselves) football players in the world.
Unsurprisingly, it took less than an hour to become a disaster.
Wherever the other four members of the New Generation World Eleven were, Sae hoped they appreciated their good fortune.
Everything was going dandy at first. They'd unpacked, ignored each other, and eaten their food. What else could they want? Conversation, apparently.
It started with Loki. You would have assumed Kaiser, or even Bunny, would start shit, right? Nope, Loki just had to mention Japanese football (ugh), especially that doomed project with the crazy bowl cut guy. What was his name again? Igloo, Ino, oh yeah, Ego.
Well, Blue Lock led to Loki’s time in PXG, which led to his little brother, which led to now.
“Rin could do so much better than Isagi.” Loki states, his eyes flaming with unleashed fury. His golden flow or whatever it was called surrounding him.
Sae had no interest in involving himself in Rin's love life. Still, as Rin's older brother, he supposed he should know what was supposedly wrong with Isagi Yoichi. “Why?”
Loki didn’t even hesitate. “Rin deserves better.”
“Better how?”
“Literally anyone else.”
Hugo responds to Loki, having dutifully listened all this time. “I agree.”
Sae looked at him. “You don’t even know either of them.”
“Yeah, but Loki’s opinions are always valid.”
Sae wondered how unbiased their opinions really were, but it was for Rin…
“Go on,” Sae prompts.
“Yeah, Yoichi would be a terrible boyfriend,” Kaiser joins in, nodding dramatically along. “The absolute worst.”
No, Kaiser was not bitter.
“A horrible person.”
In fact, he was pretty much over it—
“I feel bad for little Itoshi.”
—Mostly.
Loki nods at Kaiser. “It’s practically charity.”
The two of them seemed content in their little hating Isagi Yoichi club, so Sae turned to look at the other players.
Teddy, with his emotionless, egoless self, stares back before opening his mouth. “I am a worthless puppet.”
Never mind.
Sae looks towards Lorenzo, his gold teeth shining when he speaks. “He looks broke.”
“His bid was just as high as yours.”
Lorenzo shrugs, clearly uncaring.
He then turns to Bunny, who smiles innocently.
Never mind, again. He isn’t going to get answers from anyone else.
“I don’t see anything wrong with him,” Sae says.
To which Kaiser snorts, loudly muttering under his breath. “Yeah, what isn’t wrong with him?”
Sae glances at Kaiser, clearly hearing the very indiscreet mutter. “He seems well-mannered.”
“Have you seen him on the field?”
“He’s a good player.”
“He’s okay at best.”
“He beat you.”
“I was distracted.”
It’s silent for a beat, and Sae continues to stare at Kaiser, who is now scowling.
Then, the worst person imaginable, absolute filth, had to open his mouth. Bunny Iglesias. “Ah, young love makes me want to die.”
Now it’s Sae’s turn to scowl. “Then go die.”
Really, it was Sae’s fault for agreeing. He read the contract, then read it again, and still had the gall to sign. The money isn’t even worth it; no amount of money is worth being stuck in a room with these six idiots.
Loki speaks again. “Besides, Rin needs someone who can keep up with him.”
“Isagi does,” Sae points out.
Kaiser clicks his tongue. “That’s not the point.”
“What’s the point then?”
“The point is,” Kaiser starts slowly, as if talking to a young child, as if it’s painfully obvious, “I don’t like him.”
Loki nods, to which Hugo says. “Valid.”
“No,” Sae starts. “It’s not.”
Loki sighs. “We’re getting off topic. Let’s do this properly. Everyone, state your opinion.”
“I am a worthless puppet,” Teddy says. “With no opinions of my own.”
In unison, they all say. “Shut up, Teddy.”
“Well, I, for one, believe Isagi can’t afford Rin.” Lorenzo states, finger pulling at the corner of his mouth.
Sae sighs. “What does that even mean?”
Lorenzo shrugs. “Rin is expensive.”
Sae sighs again. Really? Why did he do this to himself? He could be at home, in his apartment, sitting on the couch, watching TV, and not talking to these imbeciles. The things he does for his little brother.
“Does anyone have anything else to say?” Sae asks again.
This time Loki speaks. “Rin is exceptional. He will become a great player. While Isagi is… Isagi.”
Sae blinks. “That’s your argument.”
“It makes sense,” Hugo states.
Sae, once again, sighs into the void.
“Do worthless, egoless things deserve love?” Teddy asks.
Oh boy, can’t the guy take a hint? Sae thinks.
“Oh my god, Teddy!” Kaiser yells. “Shut the hell up, no one gives a damn!” He then takes in a breath. “Anyways, to more important matters: Yoichi isn’t even a good person; what makes you think he’ll be a good boyfriend?”
“Why isn’t he a good person?” Sae asks.
“Well, he’s manipulative, self-serving, and egotistical—“
Is Kaiser describing himself? Sae wonders.
“—horrible company, obsessive, and can’t pass the damn ball.”
Kaiser then takes a deep breath in, like he’s done something remarkable. “Do I even need to say anything more?”
“Hmm,” Sae comments. Part of it is true; Isagi does tend to do what he can to survive on the field. And with this many people against the idea… Are they correct to assume he wouldn’t treat Rin well? “I see.”
Kaiser and Loki both nod, and Hugo follows suit after Loki. It seems like Sae Itoshi has finally understood their side.
If six world-class players had reached the same conclusion, then surely their advice had to count for something.
So, of course Bunny just had to speak up; he couldn’t keep his mouth or unwanted opinions silent, could he? “His face makes me want to die.”
Sae breathes in, a prayer being sent. He almost doesn’t want to ask, but… “Why?”
“His eyes are too round, and his smile…it all just makes me want to die.”
Okay, clearly none of this was reliable, and none of them should be trusted on matters that didn’t concern them. Still, better safe than sorry, especially when it came to his little brother. It didn’t matter if the advice came from biased sources; the possibility was still there.
Having gathered enough evidence, Sae nodded and began to stand. “I’ll take that into consideration.”
It seems like the whole room freezes; no one moves, no one speaks, and no one even dares breathe too loudly. Honestly, Sae wished it could be like this all the time.
Kaiser breaks the calm. “You're actually going to talk to him?”
“Of course, why wouldn’t I?”
There’s a pregnant pause, then Kaiser replies, lips pressed tight like he’s holding back a smile. “No reason. Good luck.”
Sae walks out the door, leaving the other six behind, phone in hand.
He scrolls past all the useless contacts and presses Rin’s number.
It goes to voicemail, so he presses it again and waits. One ring, two rings, three rings, still no answer. He presses it again.
On the fifth time he calls, Rin answers, his annoyance palpable even through the call. Wow, he must have been busy. “What do you want, shitty brother?”
“The others and I don’t think Isagi Yoichi is a good fit for you.”
It’s silent for a beat, but then Rin’s voice can be heard again. “What others?”
“The New Generation World Eleven.”
It’s quiet again, far longer than Sae expected really. Is this a normal response for someone questioning their relationship? Should Sae say something?
Finally, Rin’s voice is heard again, rougher than usual. “What?”
“You shouldn’t have a boyfriend anyway. A relationship is unnecessary if it interferes with your football. Instead of focusing on boys, you should focus on developing your playing style.”
“Listen here, you shitty, good-for-nothing, brother, my relationship with Yoichi is none of your concern—“
Sae has to hold the phone away from him so as not to go deaf.
“—So you can take your opinions and shove them down your throat—“
This phase Rin has is surely loud.
“—I didn’t ask you, and I will never ask you, so you should shut the hell up—“
Is this what all teenagers go through?
“—and go die, you piece of—“
Sae hangs up, disconnecting himself from Rin’s yelling. A moment later, he looks down at the phone, getting a barrage of texts, all different ways of telling him to “fuck off” and to “go die.”
Well, that couldn’t have gone better.