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“I can't believe how lucky you were to get that “excuse me goal” the last minute! You were able to score such an amazing goal with luck and nothing else”
Isagi didn’t know what to feel about that. Did it really just seem like luck to others? They didn’t even know what he had to go though to even get that far! To be allowed to even play against the now former U-20 like that!
After that, the air was tense and awkward and after Isagi realized there would really be no sense in trying to convince Tada from something different or explain that he had to put a lot of work to actually stay at Blue lock, he excused himself, saying he was still tired from the game and constant training beforehand and was on his way home.
However he didn’t want to face his parents like that, they shouldn’t worry about him right now, so he went to a nearby park to unwind and think a bit.
“Ahhh shit, what a mood killer.” Thinking about the good time he had before meeting up with Tada, led Isagi to think about Bachira. Seeing him in his normal clothes for the first time and not in the standard Blue lock uniform everyone had to wear made a huge difference. It is said that clothes show others how the person sees themselves or wants others to see them, or what kind of fashion they have, really. and Isagi had to confess - he was enraptured with Bachira. Because he just looked way too cute.
Before Isagi realized it, his bad mood was almost gone. All that just thanks to Bachira. He made a mental note to thank Bachira even if he won’t understand what he is being thanked for.
Isagi was wondering if Bachira and the others were still together. He hoped they had fun, even though he was a little sad not to be with them (him) right now.
The first thing Isagi registered after waking up was his depressing thoughts about the day before, so he decided to distract himself by playing football in the park he was the day before. Ironic, considering football kind of was the very topic he was depressed about.
While he was getting ready for the outside world, his phone suddenly started ringing and when Isagi went to look who was calling him, he froze a little and then started feeling shaky with giddiness, because Bachira was the one calling him. So after he got over his shock, he picked up the call with a barely repressed smile on his face.
“Hey Bachi-” “Hey Hey Isagi, let’s meet up! I’m so sad you had to go so fast yesterday. It feels like we didn’t really talk and that simply won’t do!” Heat spread to his cheeks like wildfire and Isagi realized with a start, he wasn’t the only one thinking about meeting again and feeling actually sad about spending so little time together.
“Sure, I’d love to meet. When and where?”
“Really?” Bachira’s smile and happiness was heard through the phone and if Isagi wasn’t used to Bachira, he might have thought of it as weird and even embarrassing that he would react that way. But instead he just smiled and felt joy himself.”I’m so glad. Hmmm, how about we meet in Shibuya at the station in about two hours, do something there and then go over to my place for the night?”
“Yes, that sounds great. Then it’s decided. Just don’t be late.” A giggle was heard over the phone, followed by “Says the one who arrived late last time!” Bachira laughed harder. His sputtering noises apparently were a delight to him. "Nyaha, it's a date then! See ya later.”
“Huh…” went unheard by Bachira but Isagi wouldn’t have expected an answer anyway. But, did he just hear that right? A date? Isagi pinched his arm to make sure he wasn’t dreaming but it was useless. Now his arm hurt and he still couldn't believe what he just heard.
Isagi was visibly shaking now, his heart was beating way too fast and it felt like a bunch of hyperactive butterflies were set free in his stomach.
However he also felt a small pang of doubt manifesting in his mind. Maybe Bachira just meant that as a joke and it’s gonna be just a normal day between two best friends.
So Isagi tried not to get his hopes up and instead tried to focus on more pressing matters. Like what he was going to wear today and if Bachira was going to like it or not. Because even if it wasn’t a date, Isagi still would like to impress Bachira.
After finally deciding on an outfit he felt comfortable in and also looked nice, Isagi went to the living room, where his parents were sitting to tell them he would go out for the day and only return the next. He told them he would go meet Bachira and stay the night at his place. His parents threw him a very knowing look which left him slightly embarrassed. “Greet Bachira’s mother from us.” his mom said, “we got to know her at your last match.” Isagi agreed, of course, but felt a tad nervous, because what were they talking about? He hoped it was nothing bad or embarrassing.
After putting his shoes and jacket on, he said goodbye to his parents and was on his way to the train station.
He finally arrived at the station and thought about texting Bachira but wasn’t entirely sure what to say so he instead scrolled mindlessly through his phone in an attempt to distract himself. He didn’t want to get nervous again.
However, soon the train arrived, Isagi decided to at least let Bachira know that he was finally in the train.
Though, no matter what Isagi did, he still felt a bit nervous. At least it wasn’t consuming his whole being anymore but was rather an annoying feeling in the back of his mind and a fluttery feeling in his stomach and clammy and cold hands and shakiness all over.
All right, nevermind, it did consume his whole being, but he at least tried to not let it show to the whole train. He didn’t want them to think he did something wrong.
For the rest of the train ride, Isagi spent his time looking outside the window, admiring the scenery passing by. His mind wandered to Bachira and suddenly he was glad no one had the ability to read minds. If they did, they would probably be cringing right now and be hoping to somehow turn that ability off. Isagi had to laugh lightly at that.
He thought of the way Bachiras eyes always seemed to shine when he was happy or the way he always gets goosebumps seeing his eyes when they were playing football, because they became almost scary, almost like the eyes of a monster. And really, Isagi should be afraid or at least freaked out by that, but instead he is enthralled by that, by Bachira.
And really, it’s not the first time, but Isagi realized again how deep down the hole he is for Bachira, nevertheless he honestly doesn’t think he would change that. He feels happy thinking about Bachira and even if nothing ever changes between them, he is glad to be his friend.
Isagi finally arrived in Shibuya and he was feeling giddy with excitement. He felt like jumping around but he doesn’t usually do that, furthermore he still had to find Bachira first. He looked around, trying to find a familiar head of black wavy hair with under-lights of the most beautiful yellow Isagi had ever seen on someone's hair, and honestly the most fitting for someone as Bachira, who seemed to shine like the sun. Isagi felt like a sunflower, always trying to direct its gaze upon the sun or else it would be unhappy.
And Isagi most certainly was feeling somewhat unhappy right now, since he just could not find Bachira. No matter where he looked, he just wasn’t there. He decided to call him but then he felt a tap on his shoulder and flinched at the touch, not expecting it. He slowly turned around while trying to maintain a somewhat neutral expression on his face so the stranger wouldn’t know how startled he was. But as it turns out, that supposedly stranger was actually not a stranger but none other than Bachira himself.
Bachira smiled, then started giggling after he saw the expression Isagi made. Isagi should be angry at Bachira for startling him like that. Instead he almost melted at the spot at seeing Bachira laughing like that. And so, he only managed to pout a little, and Bachira, that adorable piece of shit, had to start laughing all over again.
“Hi,” Bachira smiled at him after calming down a bit. “I’m glad you finally arrived, I was bored of waiting, you know!” “Huh? I can’t imagine that you had to wait that long and even if you did, I can’t control how fast the train arrives here.” Isagi was a little fuming there. He didn’t actually want to make Bachira wait so long and now he felt a little guilty, even though he knows it’s really not his fault. That will probably happen more often, considering he was in love with his best friend.
After some bickering between them they decided to go to a cafè. Not the same as the one they went before but still as good. Bachira had the sweetest drink again ‘as expected’ sighed Isagi fondly. And this time, Isagi even tried some of the drink Bachira offered him and he had to admit, it wasn’t even half bad. But he probably still wouldn’t manage to drink one on his own.
After that, they decided to walk around a bit, since Shibuya was kind of foreign to them compared to their hometowns. They found a nice park with lots of grass to sit on and went there to catch up a little on the things Isagi missed the last time, which in turn got them to the topic of what Tada said to him that day.
“Isagi, let me tell you something! That Tada, who wasn’t even able to score that one goal by the way, doesn't have the slightest clue on what we, not what you went through. On how much you had to change, had rebuilt yourself over and over again just so you can keep up with the others and even surpass them. But I was there since day one and as your best friend I am incredibly proud of you. I saw you struggle everyday and despair over things you could not change at that time, but you grew and even managed to score that absolutely amazing goal against the U-20. Only you were able to do that! Never forget that.”
Isagi was flabbergasted. He never knew that Bachira thought about him in such regards. He felt himself getting warm with the affection and adoration he felt for him. His heart started beating faster and faster and it felt like it would soon jump out of his chest and instead try to crawl inside Bachiras, where it belonged.
Isagi was happy and his eyes may feel a little wet too.
However, he must have been sitting there for quite some time without saying anything, since Bachira started picking up grass nervously and swirling his hair around a finger and he was not able to look even in the general direction of Isagi, most likely afraid of having said too much. Even though Bachira was easy-going and carefree most of the time, he was still insecure, especially when it came to matters that concerned his friends.
Isagi knew that, because he and Bachira had more often than not sleepless nights in the Blue Lock facilities, in which they had time to talk and share secrets if they were not in the mood or simply too exhausted for football.
That is why he is trying to say something but Bachira really left him speechless there. So he opted to hug said boy instead in hopes that it would convey just how much these words meant to him, especially coming from Bachira.
Bachira stiffened up a bit before relaxing and returning the hug. Isagi felt eternally grateful for having Bachira as his best friend and he is even willing to ignore his less platonic feelings for him if it meant that they could stay as close as they are now.
“Thank you Bachira,” Isagi smiled. “Those words mean the world to me and you can’t imagine how important you are to me.” He unconsciously tightened the hug and the butterflies returned. “I think I’m in love with you.”
'Ah, shit!' Isagi froze and even the butterflies seemed to slow down. ‘Amazing job done, Isagi.’
Isagi wanted to crawl inside a hole and never see the daylight again while maybe trying to erase the memories of what he just did. Still he tried to free himself from their hug and maybe laugh it off, or say something that could save the their friendship but even if something would come to mind, he didn’t even have the opportunity to say something. Bachira wouldn’t let go of him, somehow his grip on Isagi seemed to tighten instead.
He tried looking at Bachira but he only saw his hair (which smelled good, his mind helpfully supplied), and his ear, which seemed to be a little … red. ‘Huh, but it isn’t that cold outside.’
Isagi felt Bachira taking a deep breath and braced himself for the worst. "Really? Do you mean it? Do you really like me like that? Romantically?” The blue eyed boy nodded, not trusting himself enough to speak right now without his voice giving out.
“I…” Bachira started shaking and Isagi really had no idea what to do. Did he just destroy the best friendship he ever had, because he couldn’t keep his damn mouth shut? But then he felt his shirt getting wet on the spot Bachiras face was and panic started raising up his throat. Isagi struggled to say something, anything to make everything that just happened be forgotten.
He felt fingers digging into his shirt and then a teary sigh being let out by him and Isagi tensed up impossibly more. He braced himself for the worst. For Bachira crying and saying that he just destroyed the first friendship he ever had and that he’ll be alone again (which isn’t true because Isagi would never leave him even if Bachira doesn’t feel the same).
But then he heard the most lovely giggle coming from Bachira and if Isagi won’t die of sadness by destroying their friendship then he will die of the cuteness overload because how dare he, still sounding so cute even though he just cried.
And as cute as that heavenly giggle just sounded, Isagi was still confused. What was so funny?
“Hey-” He wanted to ask, but then Bachira jumped up abruptly and left Isagi wide eyed looking at him. He beamed down on him. His eyes shone like a thousand stars, illuminating the whole universe and leaving Isagi blinking up at him. The tears only let his eyes seem brighter.
He smiled like the sun just emerged after a week of only rain and thunder, looking so, so happy as if he just got the best birthday present anyone could ask for.
“Thank you, Isagi. I think the last time I felt this happy was the time we played football together for the first time. When I didn’t feel alone on the field for the first time in my whole life because I was able to pass to you.” Bachiras eyes were full of emotions Isagi wasn’t able to fully identify. “You know, when I first started feeling that way about you I was afraid that our friendship would end because of me, because I’m weird for liking my male best friend like that.” He looked down and smiled, though it lacked the usual happiness and playfulness Isagi got used to. But then he looked up again, leaned in and kissed him and Isagis' world felt like it was stopping.
‘Wow..’ Isagi froze and warmth floated into him. From his mouth through his whole face and down to his neck until it arrived in his heart and exploded there. The hyperactive butterflies in his stomach started dancing again, to the happy beat of his heart and it thrummed and danced through his body until he was sure Bachira must have felt it too.
Bachira started leaning back, maybe to catch his breath or maybe because he didn’t feel Isagi respond at all and thought he misinterpreted the situation but then he heard a low whine coming from Isagi, felt it through the half hug they still found themselves in and felt Isagi dive in to kiss him again, and again, and again until both of them felt lightheaded because oxygen was leaving them both. However they didn’t separate fully, instead leaned their foreheads against each other and gazed deep in each other's eyes, filled with happiness, adoration and love.
They smiled at each other: “Let’s go home now. Together.”
— — — —
Bonus:
“You know, I’m really nervous right now”
“Huh, why? What is there to be nervous about?”
“Well, I’m gonna meet your mom now and what if I make a bad first impression or say or do something wro-” Isagi got stopped by a sweet kiss, leaving him red in the face. “There is no need to be nervous, really. My mom already likes you. She saw how happy I looked when we played together and she already knows your parents and probably heard stories of you from them anyways.”
Isagi actually doesn’t know if he should feel better now, because he really doesn’t know what kind of stories his parents told Bachiras mom.
But he isn’t alone. He has Bachira on his side, and that will never change.
So instead he smiled at Bachira, his love clearly seen in his eyes and leaned in, kissing him. “Thank you” and started walking again.
Bachira stopped, went red in the face and couldn’t contain his smile, not that he needed to anymore.
“For you, always.”