kiis relationship analysis
disclaimer: this isn't analysis of them in canon, just some thoughts on my own fic Truth or Drink: Exes edition, ft. Isagi Yoichi & Michael Kaiser that got too long to put in the notes lol
The break up scene brings up three issues to light.
For one, Isagi ties his self worth to what the media thinks of him as a player. Nearly all the Blue Lock players like him, so it makes sense for Isagi as a character to essentially be used to being liked. Yet Post-Blue Lock, realistically, Isagi as a player would receive a lot of shit for essentially being born out of a reality show, and it would make sense that he’d be held to a higher standard than other players. And with that, it nearly results in something adjacent to internalized homophobia, thinking that anything and everything would be a threat to his career, including his relationship. Back in the first chapter, during the Truth or Drink segment, he expresses apathy about keeping track of his socials, not even having Twitter. After the four years, it’s clear he no longer ties his self worth to how good of a player the media thinks he is, leaving him more energy to focus on more important things, such as his, cough cough, relationships.
Kaiser’s apathy is another issue. Since he was introduced, he’s always been a cocky character, always needing to seem cool and collected and never “real”. From Isagi’s point of view, seeing Kaiser still be apathetic and uncaring about everything a year into their relationship would wear on him. The issue of Isagi and the article is something important to him, and Kaiser still doesn’t care. After the four years, however, he’s more okay about being vulnerable in front of Isagi, and he’s empathetic enough to worry about whether people were watching, not for his own image, but for Isagi’s.
And finally, Kaiser’s need to be loved. Tying in with the last point, Kaiser tries hard not to care that not many people, including teammates and the media, actually like him, but I really feel like there's no way that wouldn’t grate on someone. And seeing (from Kaiser’s POV) Isagi so blatantly worry about “a few” people critiquing him while nearly everyone else loves him would make him bitter, and honestly a little jealous. During the Truth or Drink Segment, where Kaiser and Isagi have been toeing the line of “what’s okay” for the entire segment, hearing the answer to whether Isagi still loves him would have sent Kaiser over the edge. Which is why, during the reconciliation scene, Isagi stresses how much he does love him.
and thats all folks hope you enjoyed