ใโฃใ โ YUJI. YOU'VE GOT IT FROM HERE โใ เธบใโฐ
ใแฒ แผแฝแผ แฐแฉ feng/hua. In her late teens, finally got through my exams and STILL using Tumblr as a mini escape. Chinese + Nigerian, British-born, intp.
" you are but a phoenix among feathers. " zayne liShen's assistant + nanami's sweetheart..
fandoms: (bold = wonโt write for)
gachiakuta, obey me, love and deep space, genshin impact, scissor seven, assassination classroom, percy jackson, harry potter, jjk, jjba, phantom busters, gokuraikugai, haikyuu, kuroko no basket, my hero academia, tbhk, chainsaw man, kemono jihen, naruto, bleach, nana, criminal minds, blue lock, marvel, final fantasy, resident evil, tokyo ghoul, tokyo revengers, danganronpa, pokemon, mlp, devil may cry, sinners, tsitp + more !
currently writing . . .
FRENCH EXIT (Itoshi sae x reader x Itoshi Rin) โ on hiatus cuz my brains gone dead sowwy
So I got sick within the few days of writing the side chapter from Saeโs pov and when I logged back into my tumblr it deleted the whole entire thing, and all I have left is the 4 paragraphs I typed up in my notes as a starter prompt :// Iโm super annoyed because it was 10.5K words and I had it scheduled to post today. Iโll of course rewrite but it wonโt be as long. Iโm really sorry guys๐
The rooms felt quieter on the return, though nothing about Blue Lock was ever truly silent. There was always a hum; machines breathing behind walls, electricity threading through unseen veins, something alive beneath the steel, the beating in the atmosphere fell in sync with the steady focus of y/n.
She barely noticed it now.
She sat cross-legged on her bed, one profile open, then another, fingers tapping lightly against the side of the iPad. Low volume music tuned from the iPad speakers. Names blurred into numbers, numbers into tendencies, tendencies into patterns. It was instinct at this point; like watching a match unfold before the whistle had even blown. It was almost exciting to her, to be able to see all of the potential and statistics of the multitude of people here.
Across the wall, Solene's faint movements echoedโdrawers opening, pages flipping, the occasional muttered complaint when something didn't align neatly, though it blended into music. Eventually, the hours passed. When she shifted, nearly finished with her half of the profiles, there was a knock.
Y/n didn't bother to look up, already knowing it was Solene, and well if it wasn't her, then she'd face the embarrassment of that. "Door's open."
Solene stepped in without ceremony, her iPad tucked under her arm, notebook in hand, curls slightly looser now, her hair slightly frizzy, glasses tucked by her eyes, evidence of time passing and patience thinning.
"Well?" she asked, heading over to sit at the desk, turning the chair to face her friend.
Y/N exhaled slowly, rubbing her temple. "They're not random."
Solene raised a brow. "Obviously."
"No, I mean it." Y/N finally looked up, eyes sharper now, focused in that way Solene recognised immediately. "The selection. It's not just skillโit's volatility. Decision-making under pressure. Ego's not aiming to really build a team, he's trying to build collisions, harvest their egos."
"Exactly." Y/n agreed, she shifted so. There would be space on the bed, Solene manoeuvred her way over, with a soft sigh she put her hand at her back, cracking it with another sigh of relief.
"I'm tired already, it's not even nine o'clock yet. We've been at this for a while." She said softly, her voice just over a whisper, she looked over at y/n, who dutifully resumed her work, detailing the final profile and she hummed in agreement.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Solene got up again, charting the room, dropping into the chair opposite her. "I've been mapping physical thresholds," she said, sliding her notebook across. "Endurance baselines, recovery rates, previous injuries. Some of them shouldn't even be here if this was a normal programme."
Y/N let out a quiet huff. "Good thing it's not. Though a lot of these high stats aren't.. coincidence, it's not really skill, just luck. Though that description doesn't fit most of them, just 6-7."
Their eyes met brieflyโ an understanding passing between them. This wasn't the school program anymore, this wasn't even sport, not in the way they knew it. This was something else entirely, but before either could continue, the speakers embedded in the ceiling crackled softly. The girls froze, Solene's brow quirked up.
"Y/N. Solene. I need you to get to Observation Room Z. Now.โ
Ego. Of course, his voice grating across the speakers annoyingly placed in their accommodation. Solene groaned under her breath. "He has the worst timing."
Y/N stood, stretching slightly, rolling tension from her shoulders. "Come on. If we ignore him, he'll probably deduct points out of spite."
"Petty," Solene muttered, though she followed.
The girls made their way out of y/n's room, their feet hitting the metal floor simultaneously. Y/n rubbed her eye, cracking the knuckles of other hand. All while Solene took her glasses off to clean them, using the shirt she wore under her gym jacket. Both of them walked in their comfortable silence, until it dawned on them.
"Where even is observation room A." Y/n asked, Solene shrugged and looked around the hall at the hanging signs, she tilted her head and shrugged again.
"I think we'll have to go back to the main hall, then follow the doors that the boys walked through previously?"
Y/n nodded, the doors to the main hall slid open, revealing the familiar hall. They both looked to the floor, the glowing lines that graced upon the boys in the morning were no longer glowing, but it was clear enough where they'd have to go. Y/n took the first step, Solene followed. Their quiet movements took them to a metal door, similar to the ones for their rooms, above held a large sign, they made it there.
Solene looked past the door, down the hall they would've gone through if they were males. "So.. that's where their accommodation must be. Just how big is this building.." she murmured, before the doors to the observation room opened.
When you'd look inside, you'd see that 'Observation Room Z' overlooked one of the first training rooms.
The moment they stepped inside, Y/N felt it againโthat tightening in her chest, that pull of attention snapping into place. Below them, chaos. A football rendition of 'tag'
Players sprinting, colliding, shoutingโsome already arguing, others pushing past limits they clearly didn't understand yet. The drills weren't explained, they were thrown into it, expected to adapt or fall behind.
It was messy, messy in the way that it was deliberate, to test the players and their reactions to untold practice.
Ego stood behind them, hands in his pockets, gaze fixed on the glass.
"This is group Z, tell me what you see," he said, no.. he commanded, his eyes flickered to y/n then raised a brow expectantly.
Y/N stepped closer to the window, swallowing her pride and glancing out of it. Her eyes moved quicklyโ too quickly for conscious thought, just pure instinct working at hand.
"That oneโ" she points to a shaven head male with wide eyes, "not great, you don't need statistics to see that, he's a weak point, probably might survive by being carried by his teammates."
She pointed again, short hair, black, blue eyes.
"Left sideโhesitates before decision-making. He's watching too much, not acting, but he's got the desire to do things himself, just can't yet. His statistics already show his promise."
Another, white hair, oozing with potential from what she can see.
"He's... interesting. Ranked the top of group Z. He's conserving energy but adjusting positioning constantly. Hes good, Kira.. pretty boy, popularโ Jewel of Japan..but if he wants to survive here, it's not just skills he needs, he needsโ"
"Ego." The man himself cuts through, smiling a little sickly as he listened to her talk, y/n nodded as she looked at him as if he was crazy.
"Yeah.. he needs ego.. though that seems a bit narcissistic on your part.โ
Silence followed, only for a moment, before a quiet hum of approval behind her, his eyes then challenged Solene's, she scoffed and rolled her eyes, before she stepped forward next, her tone more clinical.
"Pink-hair had a previous leg injury, just from watching alone, he's fast but could always be faster, his strides are long, he'd need physio support in order to recover from the phantom strain on it."
She crossed her arms. "Number 7's breathing is already irregular. Poor stamina management. He needs interval conditioning, not endurance runs. There's also a chance he's got undocumented asthma."
Ego chuckled softly, but it landed like needles on their skin. "Good. Continue."
".. the one sleeping, his file alone shows great promise, he's.. unique, his dribbling abilities align perfectly with his physical appearance, lean, high bouts of stamina, longer legs, shorter torso."
They didn't turn around.
"Now," he continued, voice lowering slightly, "watch carefully."
The timer shifted abruptly, speeding up. The lights changed, faces tightened. All because the pressure increased.
Players began to falter, more frantic running, voices rose over the muffled of the glass. Mistakes multiplied, the ball was passed around faster, more people scrambled around.
Over the chaos downstairs, ego's voice, calm and detached; descended on the two girls.
"You are very young, you are clever, and you are very beautiful. Because of your youth, you should be exceptionally valuable to us. The faces of management at bluelock's new and exciting football program."
Y/N's breath left her shortly, she shifted to Solene, he had an unamused expression. There it was again, that word,
Value
It echoed through the room anyway, clean and deliberate. Her fingers curled slightly at her sides.
Ego tilted his head, watching not the playersโbut her.
"Value," he said softly, almost conversationally, "is a dangerous thing to assign too early. But you two won't disappoint me." He said it so slowly you couldn't help but feel the weight of the silence. 'You won't disappoint me yet.'
Y/n's face twitched with uncertainty, glancing back to the scene below, the light from the makeshift pitch gleaming on her features. She thought back to what Sae said; "you shouldn't go if you aren't ready."
Whatever that means.
The sleeping male below looked as if something within him woke up, and Solene's assessment was witnessed in real time, sharp, fluid movements, agility combined with precise positioning. Kira was good too, dodging the ball.
Ego spoke up again; "whoever the ball touches last, they're out. Forever. No chance of playing for japans World Cup team."
The girls stiffened and looked at him, raising a brow, y/n interjected first; "at all? Without any second chances?"
"Yes, that parts obvious. I'm not here to plant any seedlings of potential, i want it to have already sprouted, so I can nurture it more. I want ego and skill, not one nor the other." His voice was definite, final, as if it was the simplest concept in the world for them to get. Bachira: who was the one that slept, was chasing Kira even further, pressing him. The ball flew overhead, Bachira; on one hand, kicked the ball above him, almost as if he was doing some sort of dance moveโ Kira ran, and the ball fell right infront of Isagi Yoichi.
Ego spoke up, voice bored with a breath, as if he'd witnessed things much more exciting than this. "Someone once said, 'in a world of soccer, you can train first rate goal keepers, defenders as well as midfielders.. but strikers are a different breed entirely'. How can you tell someone's a first class athlete, it's easy. They will look for where it's most intense."
Three seconds on the clock, Kira smiled, ego's face twisted in some sort of amusement, the girls nerves were on edgeโ was Rin and Rowan alright? They weren't in this room, that much was clear, so where were they. 2 seconds, Bachira's face flew into a delighted grin,
"Boom!"
Isagi kicked the ball so hard it didn't even look intentional at first. Kira grunted.
"Then out of no where, that's where you'll find them."
Y/N's eyes followed the blur of white instinctively, expecting it to veer off course or clip someone's shoulder at most, but then she saw the trajectory straighten at the last second. The ball spun violently through the air and slammed directly into Kira's face with a crack that echoed through the entire chamber. The sound alone made her stomach twist, her face cringed.
Kira stumbled backwards instantly, one hand flying to his nose as blood spilled through his fingers and splattered onto the polished floor beneath him. The ball dropped nearby and rolled in a lazy circle, completely disconnected from the damage it had just caused. Around the room, the players froze. Some stared at Kira in horror, others stared at Isagi as if they no longer recognised him.
The buzzer rang out overhead. A long mechanical sound, something scary to hear, it was final.
Y/N physically winced beside the glass, her brows pulling together as she watched Kira trying to steady himself. He looked less injured than humiliated, which somehow felt worse. Blood continued dripping between his fingers while his breathing turned ragged, his eyes darting around the room like he was waiting for someone to say it was a joke. Solene let out a sigh, masking her truth; she was just as affected by it as y/n was.
Even Isagi looked disturbed by what he'd done. His chest rose and fell heavily, pupils blown wide with adrenaline. There was something frantic about him now, like instinct had overridden thought entirely during those final seconds. The desperation in his expression slowly shifted into realisation as he looked at Kira standing there instead of himself. He paused and began to apologise, his voice filling the overseeing chamber.
"Sorryโ the ball.. came at me and-"
"Huh?.. don't give me thatโ"
Ego began to clap his hands, as if entering some sort of orchestrated villain monologue; "well done, my diamonds in the rough, only results matter here. Kira Ryousuke, you're disqualified. Now lock off, loser."
A few players visibly flinched at the sound of him speaking. Others immediately straightened up, as if terrified of appearing weak now that the game had ended. The atmosphere in the room had changed completely. Only minutes ago, they'd all been introducing themselves, acting awkward, competitive, curious. Now the entire space felt hostile. Cold. Like everyone had suddenly become aware that the person beside them could become the reason they failed.
Kira looked upward toward the speakers, anger overtaking the shock on his face. "What the hell was that supposed to be?" he snapped, blood still staining his hand. "This isn't football. I'm the jewel in the crown of Japanese football!"
Ego hummed thoughtfully through the speakers, clearly entertained. "No," he replied. "It isn't."
That answer made the room even quieter.
Kira lowered his hand slightly, disbelief written all over his face. "He hit me in the face," he said again, almost like he genuinely expected someone to care. "You're just letting that happen?"
"Of course," Ego replied instantly. "You lost.. every aspect of your living will have something to do with football."
The bluntness of it made even Solene shift beside Y/N. There wasn't a shred of sympathy in Ego's voice. No acknowledgement of Kira's reputation, his talent, his injury, nothing. To Ego, the outcome itself justified everything that led to it.
"You hesitated," Ego continued. "Take a look around mister mediocre elite. You assumed your status protected you. You assumed your skill made you untouchable. That's why you're leaving, take a look at the size of the room around you."
The room dimmed and layers projected around the room to emphasise the point ego was about to make.
"It's the same size as the penalty area. 75% of the goals are born within this zone.. and if you can't do your job in this area.. mm.. you suck."
The massive screens around the chamber flickered, and Kira's information vanished from the rankings entirely. Just like that.
Y/N felt her chest tighten unexpectedly as she watched the expression on Kira's face fall apart. Not dramatically, not all at once, but slowly. Like something inside him had genuinely cracked. He had walked into Blue Lock carrying confidence, recognition, the certainty that he belonged here. Now he stood alone in front of everyone with blood on his face while the facility erased him in real time. A few players even stepped subtly farther away.
The survival instinct had already started.
Y/N swallowed hard before speaking quietly, almost without thinking. "Are they not supposed to help each other?" she asked, her gaze still fixed on the room below. "Football is a team sport."
Ego smiled faintly beside them. Not even listening to Kira who yelled bloody murder outside.
"No. I donโt care about teams, not yet anywaysโ
The answer came immediately, with such certainty that it made her skin prickle. There wasn't even a pause beforehand, no consideration whatsoever. To him, the answer was obvious.
"They're supposed to win."
Something in Y/N's chest shifted at those words. Earlier, his philosophy had felt ridiculous, cruel even, but now, after seeing the way the room transformed under pressure, she could suddenly understand what he meant. Not fully. Not comfortably. But enough that it unsettled her.
Because Isagi hadn't even targeted the weakest player. He'd targeted the strongest one.
And somewhere deep down, a small part of her understood why. Beside her, Solene folded her arms tightly and stared down at the chamber with narrowed eyes. "And the ones who can't keep up?" she asked quietly.
Ego's gaze drifted lazily toward Kira again. The doors behind him had unlocked now, revealing the exit corridor waiting beyond. Cold white lights stretched down the hall like a path leading nowhere.
"They become irrelevant. Locked off"
Solene clicked her tongue softly under her breath. "Harsh."
But even she sounded thoughtful rather than disgusted. Y/N knew exactly where Solene's thoughts had gone because hers had gone there too.
If this was the standard Blue Lock expected, then those two would either thrive here or become monsters inside it. Rin and Rowan;
Rowan especially worried her in a strange way. He was naturally charismatic, naturally chaotic, the kind of person who laughed through pressure instead of shrinking under it. On the pitch he manipulated people without them noticing, pushing teammates and opponents exactly where he wanted them through sheer confidence alone. His playful arrogance stopped feeling playful the moment a match became serious.
Y/N had seen his eyes change during games before.
They became sharpened knives, he genuinely enjoyed the challenge of tearing people apart mentally.
And Rin...
Rin already thought like this place. He didn't need Blue Lock's philosophy explained to him because he practically embodied it already, precise, detached and overall ruthlessly efficient. Watching Kira get eliminated probably wouldn't shock him nearly as much as it shocked everyone else.
The thought made Y/N's stomach knot. Not because she thought Rin or Rowan would fail, but rather because she thought they might adapt too well.
Below them, Kira finally started walking toward the exit. His movements looked stiff now, unsteady in a way that had nothing to do with the injury. Nobody stopped him as he passed. A few players looked guilty. Most avoided eye contact entirely.
The room had already moved on from him.
Y/N exhaled slowly and looked back toward Isagi. The boy still seemed shaken, but beneath the shock there was something else now. Something dangerous.
Excitement.
Not because he hurt Kira, no, it didn't seem like that, rather it felt like he was excited because he survived. That was what Ego wanted them to become. Survival of the fittest.
People who prioritised survival over guilt. Y/N's mind was moving faster now, adapting despite herself. She found herself analysing the room automatically, separating players into categories the same way she always did during matches.
The ones panicking.
Solene broke the silence, speaking to y/n outloud.
"So.. We don't just predict who advances," she murmured quietly, more to herself than anyone else. "We predict who can overcome and harvest their ego.โ
Ego's smile widened slightly at her words. Though they weren't directed at him.
"Exactly, you learn fast."
The response made something uneasy settle inside her chest, mostly since the worst part was that she was beginning to understand him. Her hands buzzed with excitement, she enjoyed this new approach to analysing, to football.. And a flicker in her brain manifested the words Sae spoke to her.
This time, she didn't reject it.
'You don't have what it takes'
She just kept watching the room below as Blue Lock swallowed another player whole. Her lips pressed in a line to suppress the smile that was about to grow, she was going to prove sae wrong and shove his words down his throat, one elimination at a time.
Ego clicked his tongue and glanced at the door. "Do you both wish to see your boyfriends?"
The suspension in the room broke with a thin snap at ego's words.
The girls looked confused; "what lovers?" Y/n spoke up again, placing a hand on her hip as she raised a brow.
"Yeah.. as far as I'm concerned this isn't some sort of love-island.." Solene trailed off, following ego's eyes to the door.
"I only assumed you both were dating Rin and Rowan.. when I scouted for you four.. always together, in every photograph taken it seems erm. Romantic?."
"No.. we're just all friends. That's all." Y/n answered, scratching her head and glancing to Solene who shrugged. Solene coughed awkwardly as a blush danced over her face. "Well.. some of us wish we were dating." Y/n continued, looking completely at Solene now, who blushed further and looked away.
Ego merely gave them a second of his attention and looked back to the room. "Ok. Congratulations to those of you who have passed blue locks entrance exam. For now, you 11 will be living together. Sometimes, team work, most of the time, out to wreck each others dreams. Now, you're dismissed."
the screen shut off and the room went darker than it was before. Y/n stood up straight, Solene followed suite.
"You two are also dismissed?" Ego said as if it was obvious.
'Who does he think he is?..' y/n thought, a vein appearing on her forehead at his audacity. She rolled her eyes to herself and turned around. Solene stayed put and folded her arms over her chest
"How do we get to the training chambers for the other teams?"
"I dunno. Ask Anri." Ego shrugged, looking completely aloof with wide daunting eyes.
"Hey you work here?โ you own the place- are youโ.. nevermind."
Ego simply smiled creepily and began to relax into his chair, a pot of noodles sat patiently atop the metal control table. The mechanical whir of the doors sliding open echoed behind them, leaving the hallway stretching ahead in pristine silver silence. For a moment, neither girl moved.
Y/N stared blankly at the opened entrance to Ego's office before pinching the bridge of her nose. Ego slid on some headphones and with his lanky hands, almost began to dissect his pot-ramen.
"He literally told us to ask Anri," she said at last, her voice flat with disbelief, lowโ just incase he could hear.
Beside her, Solene remained exactly where she'd been standing, arms folded over her chest as she stared at the door, waiting for Ego to turn around and tell them he was joking... wishful thinking honestly mate.
"He owns the facility," she replied.
"He probably knows every corridor in this place." Y/n added on,
"He definitely knows every corridor in this place."
Y/N looked sideways at her. "Then why didn't he just tell us?"
Solene's expression didn't change. Well, partly, all that there was to show her exasperation at Ego was a slight furrowed brow and a half- frown
"Because he's committed to being insufferable, duh."
For a brief moment, silence hung between them before Y/N let out a short, incredulous laugh, one hand covering her face. The corner of Solene's mouth twitched upwards.
"I genuinely think the darkness in that office is self-inflicted. There's no way someone accidentally ends up with fifty monitors and chooses to sit in the shadows like a supervillain." Y/n ranged on, getting closer to Solene and linking arms with her. They began to walk out of the room.
"He probably practices turning around dramatically in that chair." She responded back, her usual smirk on her face.
"I bet he rehearses it; 'I'm ego.. and my ego is bigger than my diโ' okay too far?" Y/n grimaced, while Solene nodded and patted her arm as if to console her.
Despite everythingโthe lingering image of Kira's bloodied face, the unsettling acceptance beginning to bloom beneath Y/N's ribs, the impossible expectations now resting squarely on their shouldersโthey found themselves laughing quietly in the middle of an empty corridor.
The laughter faded naturally and their reality settled back in. The metallic walls suddenly felt colder.
Y/N shoved her free hand into the pocket of her jacket.
"...Do you think they're okay?"
Solene's gaze softened slightly, She didn't ask who, because they didn't need to,
"They're probably fine," she answered. A small shrug lifting her shoulder.
Y/N raised an eyebrow, skeptical, because knowing those twoโ it was probably either more than fine or less than fine; and to that solene sighed.
"Okay. Rowan has almost.. probably?.. definitely. started a riot or something."
A snort escaped Y/N before she could stop it.
"And Rin has probably gotten irritated and ended a fight.. or even started one himself, everyone pegs him as the nonchalant type but... I'm not sure about that"
Something in Y/N's chest eased at that.
Because if there was one thing Blue Lock couldn't take away from them this quickly, it was familiarity. She knew Rin. She knew Rowan. Knew the shape of their competitiveness better than most.
Still...
Her thoughts drifted there anyway.
To her friends.
If this was truly the standard Blue Lock expected, then those two would either thrive here or become monsters within it.
Rowan especially worried her in a way she struggled to explain. He was naturally charismatic, naturally chaotic, the sort of person who laughed through pressure instead of shrinking beneath it. Football came to him the same way breathing did. Effortless. Instinctive. He manipulated people without them even noticing, nudging teammates and opponents alike exactly where he wanted them through sheer confidence alone. His jokes disarmed people. His smile distracted them. And then he'd strike, like some sort of thief in the night.
Y/N had seen his eyes change during matches before.
The warmth disappeared. That was a corny way to put it but it was that simple to say. His smile was like needles wrapped up in something else
He genuinely enjoyed the challenge of tearing people apart mentally, finding weak spots in their confidence and pressing down until they cracked. The terrifying part wasn't that he could do it. It was that he made it look fun, like if you did it, you could find it enjoyable too.
And Rin... well, he already thought like this place.
He didn't need Blue Lock's philosophy explained to him because, in many ways, he embodied it already, his acts were precise, fluid, detached. Ruthlessly efficient. The R in rin stood for that.
He played as though emotions were unnecessary clutter, stripping everything back to what mattered most: the goal itself. Watching Kira get eliminated probably wouldn't shock him nearly as much as it had everyone else. He would call it unfortunate, maybe even stupid, before moving on. Because sentiment didn't score goals. That made y/n wonder who was eliminated out of their group, clearly they were better than everyone in room Z, ranked much higher than them.
Because somewhere along the line, Rin had learned that caring too much only slowed you down. She had learned that too, both learning a lesson from the same teacher.. Sae.
The thought sat heavily in Y/N's stomach, and it wasn't because she thought they would fail. But because she wasn't sure what succeeding here would turn them into. Another Sae? Another mistake?
The hallway eventually opened into a larger viewing, above another reinforced metal doorโ 'Observation V', inside, the platform overlooking another chamber below. Instinctively, Y/N moved toward the reinforced glass, Solene following beside her. At first, all she registered was movement.
Dozens of boys. Yuck
Voices bouncing off steel walls, all discussing things other than what skincare they use.. or maybe even discussing that, you'd never know.
Thenโ just a bright flicker of.. Crimson.
Rowan's fluffy red hair emerged, hooking a sweaty armpit over Rin, who only grimaced and shoved him off. Walking away from the cherry bomb.
He stood near the edge of the room with his hands shoved into his pockets, expression carved from complete and utter annoyance. Even from above, Y/N could recognise the slight downturn of his mouth, the familiar tension in his shoulders.
He looked exactly the same, somethjng in her chest loosened.
"...Rin," she breathed.
Beside her, Solene's footsteps slowed. And a slight breath fell from her lips too, "Oh."
Y/N followed her gaze.
"...Oh."
Rowan now stood several feet away from Rin, one sleeve rolled messily to his elbow and his headband sitting slightly crooked. He looked completely at ease despite the unfamiliar environment, animatedly talking to a cluster of boys who seemed equally entertained and bewildered by him.
He laughed, and a comical sunlight beamed from him.
"...He's making friends," Y/N said slowly.
"He was trapped in Blue Lock for.. like six hours," Solene replied, sounding vaguely horrified. "Just like we predicted."
"He could unionise a prison. Good gosh.."
As though summoned by the sheer force of being discussed, Rowan glanced upward. Squinting before his eyes widened immediately.
Then lit up.
His entire face split into a grin.
"Oi oi!โ
Every head in the chamber turned.
"Y/N! SOLENE!"
Y/N physically recoiled. Ducking behind Solene who also attempted to duck behind... well something.
"Oh my God.โ
In front of her, Solene brought a hand to her forehead, lowering herself. A small blush dusting her face.
"He is so embarrassing."
"YOU CAME TO VISIT ME?" Rowan shouted, waving both arms over his head. He ran closer to the observation class, somehow managing to drag a reluctant Rin with him
Y/n pressed the button that connected them to the speakers and she spoke; "we're actually here to do our jobs, and check to see if you guys are okayโ"
Rin finally looked up at the sound of her voice, his teal gaze landed on them. For a second, nothing really happened.
Then his shoulders loosened ever so slightly, and he shoved Rowan off him again. Anyone else would've dismissed it as him just relaxing now that Rowan is off him, but to him it wasn't just that, beneath the annoyance, beneath the sharp edges and perpetual irritation.. Rin had been worried too.
And suddenly, standing above the chamber with Solene beside her and Rowan causing an entire scene below, Blue Lock felt a little less suffocating.
Ego had built this place to strip people down to their ambitions. To convince them that dreams mattered more than companionship, that winning justified isolation. Maybe, eventually, that philosophy would sink its claws into all of them.
Maybe the day would come when friendship and ambition could no longer coexist. But looking at Rowan's ridiculous grin and Rin's almost imperceptible relief, Y/N found herself clinging stubbornly to one simple thought.
Not today, they were still themselves.
The speaker crackled once more before cutting out, leaving behind a strange sort of silence that seemed heavier than the noise itself. Y/N stayed by the glass for a moment, her fingers resting against the cold metal as she stared into the chamber below. The boys were dispersing now, already focused on themselves, recalculating their place here now that Blue Lock had shown them exactly what it was willing to take.
Beside her, Solene folded her arms across her chest, her eyes narrowed as she watched the same scene.
"Well," she said after a moment, her voice quieter now, less sharp than before, "be didn't say observation staff weren't allowed to interfere. He never said anything about watching from closer."
Y/N looked at her, catching the faint glint of mischief behind her usual composed expression.
"That sounds like a bad idea.โ
Solene shrugged, though the corner of her mouth twitched. "Most of your favourite ideas start like that."
Y/N laughed under her breath, and without much more discussion, the two of them stepped away from the railing and found the staircase leading down.
The descent felt longer than it should have. Every step echoed through the steel corridors, and the closer they got to the chamber floor, the more the atmosphere changed. The clean, sterile silence of the observation deck gave way to something warmer, heavier. The air smelled of sweat, rubber flooring, and that sharp metallic scent of overworked bodies. Voices carried through the hall now, louder and rougher than before, overlapping with the squeak of trainers against polished ground and the occasional thud of a football hitting a wall.
By the time they reached the doors, Y/N felt that familiar tightness in her chest again. Her hands pressed by the door, and it whirled to life, sliding away allowing her to step inside.
The room reacted almost immediately.
Not everyone stopped what they were doing, but enough heads turned for Y/N to feel it at once. The stares weren't subtle either. Curious, confused, some openly assessing. It wasn't hard to understand why. In a room built entirely around male strikers clawing their way toward becoming the best, two girls walking in felt almost unnatural.
Solene moved closer beside her without thinking, her posture tightening.
"It's like walking into a zoo," she muttered, looping her arm with Solene's once more.
Y/N glanced sideways. "Pretty sure we're in the enclosure... Eyughh...โ
That earned the smallest laugh from Solene, though it faded quickly when a louder voice cut through the room.
"There they are! Our star girls!"
Rowan, of course, was the loudest in the room, his voice bouncing off the walls and echoing to the ears of everyone in there.
He was halfway across the chamber before anyone else had fully processed their arrival, moving toward them with that easy, loose confidence that somehow looked even more natural here. His grin was bright, untouched by the tension that had settled over everyone else.
Y/N noticed immediately that he looked different though. Slightly flushed, hair messier than before, sweat still drying at his temples. There were marks on his arms too, faint red scratches that hadn't been there earlier. Signs of working hard and.. probably being shoved about.
"Well?" Rowan asked as he stopped in front of them, spreading his arms slightly like he was welcoming them into his kingdom. "Did creepy bowl-cut make you sign your souls away?"
His fingers made this creepy crawling motion as if that was ego himself, before he put his hands on his hips, cocking his hip out slightly, weight resting on his dominant leg.
"Pretty much," Y/N replied.
"We're basically interns now," Solene added flatly. Before she lifted up the clipboard that they didn't even register they were still holding onto.
Rowan blinked at that before letting out a low whistle. "That's somehow worse than what they've got us doing.. but.. fitting for you two."
Y/N opened her mouth to ask what exactly that meant, but another presence approached before she could.
He moved slower than Rowan had, hands in his pockets, his expression carrying that same familiar irritation like Blue Lock had done nothing but inconvenience him. His eyes landed on Y/N first, scanning her in a way that was quick but deliberate, as if checking for something she couldn't quite place. Stress, maybe. Damage.
Then he looked at Solene, though his eyes couldn't resist the magnetic pull of y/n, and they drifted to her again, nodding.
"You're fine."
Y/N crossed her arms. "Woww... Nice to see you too."
Rin clicked his tongue and looked away, his eyes rolling as if they'd done this a thousand times before. "You're standing here, aren't you?"
Rowan barked a laugh beside them, clasping a hand on Rin's shoulder, causing him to cough and lung forwards slightly. "That's practically affection from him."
Y/N shoved Rowan's shoulder, earning another grin.
Around them, the room had started watching more openly now. The interruption had become entertainment. Some of the boys were whispering to each other, others just staring.
Rowan noticed it too, and in his usual fashion, without warning, he slung an arm over Y/N's shoulders and gestured around the room dramatically.
"Since everyone's being nosy," he said, "this is Y/N. Scary when she's quiet because it means she's thinking, and if she's thinking, she's probably already figured out how to beat you. Our shining burning star!"
Y/N shoved him off instantly, swatting at him like he's a dusty fly.
"And this," he continued, stepping slightly toward Solene now, "well, this beautiful woman is Solene. Also terrifying, just with better hair. And the most magical eyes, one look and she can tell you just why your leg is hurting"
Solene rolled her eyes, though Y/N caught the faint colour rising in her cheeks.
A few boys laughed, the tension easing just enough to make the room feel less hostile.
Y/N took the opportunity to properly look around now that she was standing in the middle of it all. It felt different here, being among them instead of above them. The atmosphere wasn't just competitive, it was unstable. She could feel it in the way boys stood too stiffly, or avoided eye contact, or kept glancing toward one another like everyone had suddenly become a threat.
Ego's philosophy had sunk in fast.
The idea that someone else's failure could become your survival.
Her eyes drifted across the room until they landed on Isagi. He must've trailed in once their first test was over, this room was much larger anyways.
He stood a little apart from the others, quieter than before. His shoulders were tense, his face unreadable, but there was something unsettled about him. Like the reality of what he'd done to Kira hadn't fully settled yet.
Solene followed her gaze.
"That him?"
Y/N nodded.
"The one who got Kira out."
Rowan gave a low whistle. "Takes nerve. Well, I could've done it easily"
Rin's eyes shifted to Isagi too, sharper than before.
"Not nerve," he said after a moment. "Desperation. And don't get so cocky Rowan."
Y/N looked at him, her brow twitched when he didn't look back.
"But desperation's useful."
The words sat heavily in her mind because they sounded too much like Ego. Maybe that was the point. Maybe Blue Lock didn't just test players. Maybe it changed them. Before she could think too hard on it, a sharp whistle cut through the room.
Everyone looked up.
The screens flickered, revealing the villian to this story.
Ego appeared again, his face stretching into that same unsettling grin as his eyes scanned the chamber. They stopped when they landed on Y/N and Solene standing among the players.
For a second, his smile widened.
"Well," he said, leaning back in his chair as if he'd been expecting this all along, "looks like observation staff decided to join the wildlife."
Y/N felt her stomach drop, and she flushed like a deer caught in headlights, Sol only sighed beside her.
Egoโs face remained on the screen, his expression unreadable for a brief moment before that familiar, unsettling smile spread across it again. Y/N had already started to recognise that smile for what it was. It wasnโt amusement, not really. It was the look of someone who was always three steps ahead and took genuine enjoyment in watching everyone else scramble to catch up.
For a moment, the room was quiet. The boys who had been talking amongst themselves only seconds ago had gone still, their attention dragged back toward the screen. Even the air felt heavier, the tension of the room shifting now that Ego had acknowledged the girls standing among them.
Y/N half expected him to reprimand them, to throw them out or remind them of whatever invisible rules this place ran on. Instead, he leaned back into his chair and let out a low laugh, almost as if their presence here had entertained him.
โWell,โ he said, resting his chin against his hand, his sharp eyes glancing over the room below, โthis saves me the trouble of forcing an introduction tomorrow.โ
Y/N frowned slightly, exchanging a look with Solene. Soleneโs brows had furrowed too, though her expression stayed far less reactive. If she was confused, she hid it better.
Ego clicked something beside him, and immediately the giant screens behind his figure flickered to life. Rows of information appeared in scattered bursts across them. Names, rankings, physical data, short clips from previous matches. Y/N recognised a few faces from the folders they had been given, but seeing all of it laid out like this felt different. Less like profiles, more like inventory.
โThese two,โ Ego began, gesturing vaguely toward Y/N and Solene without much ceremony, โare not players, that much is obvious.โ
A ripple of murmurs spread through the chamber almost instantly. Y/N could feel the shift in attention around her, boys glancing sideways, trying to make sense of it. Though out of the lot, a white-haired individualโ taller, leaned on his purple haired companion lazily, as if interested by the news.
Ego continued, unaffected by the noise.
โTheyโre part of a secondary initiative within Blue Lock. While you focus on becoming the best striker in the world, they will be tasked with monitoring your progress.โ
His gaze shifted, settling on Y/N first, or it felt like that.
โY/Nโs role is observational analysis. Sheโll study your performances, your instincts, your decision-making under pressure. Every movement, every hesitation, every choice you make. Her job is to identify patterns. Strengths, weaknesses, adaptability.โ
Y/N stiffened slightly hearing it spoken aloud. It sounded far more serious coming from him, like he was stripping away the simplicity sheโd tried to frame it with in her own head.
Then his eyes moved to Solene.
โSolene will oversee your physical capabilities. Your endurance, recovery, injury risks, stamina output. Based on her evaluations, sheโll help design training adjustments for future rounds.โ
That caught the roomโs attention in a different way.
The players looked at Solene now with a more measured kind of curiosity. Some skeptical. Some interested.
Rowan was the first to speak, an arm going around her shoulder tighter, using his other arm to twirl a part of her hair.
โSo what, theyโre here to babysit us?โ
The grin on his face made it obvious he wasnโt serious, but Ego didnโt humour him.
โNo,โ Ego replied flatly, his voice carrying enough weight to kill the joke instantly. โBabysitting would imply I care if you fail.
A few boys laughed under their breath, but the tension remained, Egoโs slender fingers tapped lazily against the arm of his chair as he looked over them all.
โThe reason theyโre standing in that room instead of watching from a screen is because observation from a distance only provides partial information. A camera shows movement. Statistics show results. But neither tells you who a player really is.โ
His eyes sharpened then, and Y/N felt herself listening more carefully.
โBeing in the room gives context, the context means I get better results.โ
He gestured toward them all.
โThe way you carry yourselves. The way your posture shifts when someone stronger enters the room. The way your breathing changes after loss. The way your eyes move when faced with pressure. Those are things you canโt measure from behind glass.โ
Y/N glanced around instinctively after he said it, and almost immediately she realised he was right, you couldnโt deny that being up close, everything was louder. Itโs like watching someone cook, you wonโt know if the results are good unless you try it yourself.
The way some of the boys kept themselves puffed up, trying to reclaim confidence after the entrance exam. The way others stayed quiet, shrinking into themselves, still rattled by Kiraโs elimination.
The way that Isagi lookedโฆ unsettled. Not guilty, exactly, but changed. Like crossing that line had left something behind.
Rin, on the other hand, looked untouched by it all. He stood with the same cold stillness as before, his eyes focused but detached, like this entire place made perfect sense to him. And Rowanโฆ per usual, he looked alive.
Solene folded her arms tighter beside her, her expression thoughtful now.
โSo you want us to get familiar with them,โ she said. Her face slightly disgusted due to the stench of rowanโs sweat around her. She shoved him off as she spoke, earning a dramatic whine from him.
Ego smiled at that.
โClose.. hmm yes close, but no. Not familiar,โ he corrected. โAccurate. Familiar seems to empathetic? I want results. Accuracy, you bring here provides me with such.โ
He leaned forewards, arms dug into his knees now, and his voice dropped just enough to force everyone to pay closer attention.
โbeginning tomorrow, your assessments will influence what happens next.โ
That caught Y/N off guard, she shifted in her spot, Rin shifted with her, her unease rubbing off on him in ways he didnโt want to admit
She frowned, her hand going to pinch her arm, as if to ground her. โInfluence how?โ
Egoโs grin widened, eyes retaining that creepy look once more.
โSpecialised development.โ
The screens shifted again, displaying graphs, training modules, physical metrics.
โEvery player here has a weapon. Some of them know it already. Most of them donโt. Your job is to help identify it.โ
He looked at Y/N.
โYouโll decide who needs sharpening.โ
Then Solene.
โAnd whoโs on the verge of breaking.โ
The words sat heavily in Y/Nโs chest.
She looked around the room again, but this time the boys didnโt feel like competitors or strangers. They felt like variables. Possibilities. Each one carrying something different. Some obvious. Some hidden.
This whole camp-initiative-thing.. it wasnโt even like they wanted the players who liked the sport, they just wanted the best of the best, and then wanted to select the best from that selection, and mould them into the perfect player. Tearing them apart to figure out what made them dangerous.
Egoโs voice cut through her thoughts again.
โSo for tonight,โ he said, almost lazily now, โyeah sureee.. observe each other. Speak. Compare. Build your hierarchy. Make โfriendsโโ
There was a pregnant pause, and everyone felt the jitters of the silence.
โBecause by tomorrow, theyโll begin deciding exactly how to tear it apart.. thatโs all.โ
The screen buzzed off, and the murmurs began. Solene and y/n looked at each other, brows furrowed, whilst Rin and Rowan basked in the idea of a sort of competitive training regime, they thrived in this sort of energy, and that only worried the girls, who were they going to be when this is all over?
notes: idk this feels ass but finally updated cuz my exams r finisheddd!!!
Y/N stood with her hands buried deep in her coat pockets, the hem of Sae's old jacket brushing her waist. The fabric smelled faintly of detergent and something older, like the ghost of a memory she couldn't shake. Rin waited beside her, bag slung over one shoulder, hair still damp from a shower. He hadn't said much since they left the house anyways, not that he ever did -but his silence this morning was different. Thicker somehow, threaded with something unreadable. Y/n wanted to deny this thickness but, she knew that he knew.
They walked toward the station, their footsteps quiet on the damp pavement. Y/N's breath came out in soft puffs of white. Neither of them had touched breakfast.
"You're quiet," she said eventually, glazing over.
"You usually talk enough for both of us." He replied, glancing at her briefly.
Her lips curved faintly. "That's supposed to be an insult?"
He didn't answer but his mouth twitched, the smallest betrayal of amusement. The sound of hurried footsteps echoed behind them, and they both came to a slower pace.
"Oi! You two walk like pensioners!"
Y/N turned just as Rowan came loping around the corner, bag bouncing off his back, curls a stormy mess. He looked awake in the way someone did when they'd downed coffee but forgotten to breathe since. His hair was pushed back by a head-band, and he had on his usual black Nike-tech.
"You're late," Y/N said.
He slowed his jog into a swagger, grinning. "Late? Nah, man, fashionably delayed, thank you very much. Blame Sol' she says she was repacking and organising, but really she was panicking, since my beautiful face was coming to her front door."
From behind him came Solene's calm, unhurried tone, her own tighter curls looped into a high bun, her edges done neatly- a sweatband making sure none of her flyaways truly fly away.. She wore a black zip-up jacket and some simple grey sweats, similar to Y/n's outfit, since of course it was coordinated.ย "No!- what- actually yes!.. If my father saw Rowan.. I don't think I want to know what would happen. I had to rush downstairs, so I broke my claw clip somehow, then I had to run back up to grab another and make sure that twat doesn't get noticed! Not everyone throws their life into a their duffel like a delinquent. You look beautiful by the way y/n"
'How can she look so... good so early?.. magic.. its gotta be.' Y/N narrowed her eyes at Solene slightly, mentally cursing whoever she needed to. She then took note of how everyone including their grandmother was wearing grey or black, or both, talk about group telepathy.
He shot her a look over his shoulder, grin widening. "You could bring a bloody build-a-man kit with how long you take. What are you packing, love? Spare organs?"
"Maybe," Solene replied, chin lifting, her lips barely hiding a smile. "Might rebuild you while I'm at it."
Rowan clutched his chest in mock offence, his voice low and teasing. "What, am I not your dream man already baby?"
"Dreams," she murmured, brushing past him toward the platform, "are supposed to be pleasant."
Y/N laughed under her breath as Rowan stared after her, acting as if he was wounded.
"You walked right into that one."
"I know," he said, still grinning. "I like walking into it. Keeps her entertained.. on her toes if you must."
Rin made a quiet sound -not quite a laugh, but something close and the four of them fell into step together, the faint noise of the city fading behind them as they reached the station entrance. The air smelled faintly of metal and rain, the platform glistening beneath weak morning light. Rowan and Solene moved ahead to check the train time. Y/N lingered beside Rin, shifting the strap of her bag higher on her shoulder.
"You shouldn't take it to heart," Rin said suddenly, his voice low.
She blinked, caught off guard, but then again.. not really, of course he heard it. "What?"
"What Sae said." He didn't look at her, eyes fixed on the track ahead. "You shouldn't take it to heart."
Y/N's hand tightened on the hem of the jacket she wore. "I'm not."
"You are." His gaze flicked toward her, sharp as ever. "We both know you're lying."
Her throat tightened, but she managed a smile. "Guess we both lie well, then."
The train screeched into the station, a gust of air rushing past them. The doors opened with a mechanical hiss, and that was the end of it, the moment folded away, neatly as always. They stepped inside, finding their seats.
"Oi, Rin," Rowan said, elbowing him lightly. "You ready for this mystery camp, yeah? It might be some mad test of endurance or something. Bet you they make us run until we see God."
"I already see you, that's punishment enough," Rin muttered without looking up, immediately taking out his gaming console.
Rowan barked a laugh, pleased. "He's got jokes! Knew I liked this one."
Solene sighed, finally taking a seat and resting her head on her hands, elbows propped up onto the table. "You like anyone who insults you."
"That's because I have excellent taste. You insult me, โโaye? Does that mean I like you?"
"Dear god, stop flirting, please, ladies.. ladies." Y/N hid her smile, leaning her head against the cool glass of the window. The train lurched forward, and the landscape began to slide past grey streets- they started melting into motion, into blur.
The rhythm of the rails, the soft murmur of voices, the steady breathing around her; it all bled together. Her eyes grew heavy. And before long, Solene's soft hum and Rowan's faint laughter faded behind her.
And somewhere, in the space between waking and sleep, she thought she heard it again. Quiet, almost imagined.
You can't be anybody's friend.
Her hand curled against the fabric of herย jacket. The train carried her further into the unknown, the sound of the city fading into the hum of something new. She felt sick to her stomach, half excited, half scared. It felt a bit hypocritical of her to dislike the sacredness of change, especially since she was so excited about the fact that Sae went off. She then began to feel annoyed, angry, pissed, the latter, and she unzipped the jacket, sliding it off her without knocking into Solene. She folded it and put it on the side of her.
They all looked at her, a mix of confusion, then a wave of acknowledgment, then confusion again.
"So... did the jacket upset you or?" Rowan said in a sing song voice, slinging his arm around the stoic-individual next to him. Rin grit his teeth and shoved his arm away, then flipped him off, causing a shared laughter between the four friends.
Y/n shook her head with a laugh, and she remained silent, even if sae had left, even if he didn't respond back to any of her messages, she had her friends, and that's all that mattered to her now, that and the blue-lock of course.
The train ride went ahead and paused for just a moment, and Solene looked to y/n, whose head slowly but surely landed on her shoulder. Rin huffed in amusement and slipped his headphones on. Shaking his head as he scrolled through some tunes.
"D'yu reckon that all the Keiko business is getting to her?" Rowan spoke up, pushing his headband up onto his head, his untamed mane brushing back. He looked genuinely concerned for Y/N.
Solene didn't shrug, still trying not to wake the beauty, and she shook her head gently. "She'll act like it isn't, but really it is, only God knows how much in denial she is about her feelings."
The train rocked gently beneath them, steady enough that Y/N barely stirred when Solene shifted closer to keep her from slumping sideways. Her head lolled for a second before settling again, cheek pressed to the window, breath slow and even.
"Ironic from you, Solene," Rin repeated quietly, the smirk still there, fleeting but unmistakable.
Solene flushed instantly. "Don't start," she muttered, though the heat in her face betrayed her. She reached up, slipped a spare headband from her wrist, and flicked it at him without looking. It hit his shoulder and slid into his lap.
Rowan watched the exchange with open curiosity, eyes moving between them like he was following a tennis match. He leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice.
"What?" he whispered. "How's that ironic?"
Solene shot him a warning look and pressed a finger to her lips, nodding subtly toward Y/N. Rowan glanced over, registered the sleeping figure, and raised his hands in surrender. Rin huffed quietly, more amused than anything.
"Forget about it Rowan, you'll see in due time." Rin said, slipping his headphones back over his ears with a small smirk.
The train kept moving, the scenery outside blurring into long stretches of muted green and gray. Fields gave way to trees, trees to fencing, the world narrowing as if being funneled toward something inevitable. The chatter in the carriage died down, replaced by the low hum of the rails and the occasional metallic rattle.
Rowan leaned back in his seat, folding his arms. "So," he murmured after a while, "none of us actually know what we've signed up for, right?"
"No, but whatever it is, it's selective. That much is obvious." Solene didn't look up from her phone, manicured nails tapping the screen satisfyingly.
Rin didn't respond. His gaze had drifted back to the window, expression unreadable. He looked like he was already somewhere else, already thinking ten steps ahead.
Y/N shifted then, brows knitting faintly as if something uneasy had brushed the edge of her dreams. Solene glanced down at her, instinctively adjusting herself so she would sit up comfortably against her. The movement was gentle, practiced, almost fond.
Minutes passed. Then more. Then everything began to blur into itself.
When the train finally began to slow, the change was subtle at first. A deeper vibration underfoot. The pitch of the rails shifting. Y/N's eyes fluttered open as the brakes hissed softly, her reflection in the glass blinking back at her, disoriented.
She straightened slowly, fingers curling into the fabric at her chest. "Did I... miss anything?"
Rowan nodded his head with vigour, pointing outside where he was sat from. "Yeah- world exploded and now we're the only people left"
"That doesn't help," she muttered, rubbing her eyes.
The announcement crackled overhead, distorted and impersonal, announcing a stop that meant nothing to any of them. The doors slid open, letting in a sharp, clean cold that cut straight through the carriage.
Y/N stood with the others, heart beating a little faster now. She stepped onto the platform and froze.
There was nothing familiar about this place, the station was the last stop on the line- and even exiting it felt out of the blue, sure people lived around hereโ but only campus residences were around, meaning it was all the more unfamiliar to the high schoolers.
No crowds, no shops, no signage that felt human. Just a long stretch of concrete, bordered by tall fencing and mist that curled low along the ground. And ahead, down a solitary road, stood the facility- vast, metallic, looming like it had been dropped here by mistake.
Rowan let out a slow breath, his hands digging into his pockets, the feint jingle of his keys filling the rest of the short silence. "Right," he said. "So it's one of those."
Solene's eyes narrowed slightly, already cataloguing details, entrances, exits, the way the air itself felt heavier here. Rin took a step forward without hesitation.
Y/N followed, pulling the jacket tighter around herself. She didn't know why her chest felt so tight, only that whatever waited ahead wasn't going to be simple, and that was okay, because she knew she had those around her that actually cared, that wouldn't leave for four years and ghost for two. She let out a breath she didn't know she was holding and brushed a stray hair from her face, her feet feeling more confident to hit the concrete and embark on some unknown journey.
The road stretched out in front of them like a deliberate test.
The pavement was not wide but not narrow eighteen, just enough to feel accidental. Just a single strip of dark pavement cutting through the sunset and fencing, guiding them forward whether they wanted it to or not. Tall lights lined the path at even intervals, but it was light out, so their heads stayed off, the electricity humming faintly as if alive.
Y/N hesitated for half a second before moving again. She hadn't even noticed she'd stopped until Solene brushed past her shoulder.
"Stay close," Solene said quietly, not looking back, it wasn't fear in her voice, she was too cautious for that, it felt more like it was instinct. Past them, a student of the university looked at them odd, then acknowledged their presence here.
She went up to the group, her hair swished as her bubble gum popped to alert them of her presence. "Right.. yeah, you guys here for the initiative right?.. mm.. you're on the wrong campus, the athletics course is further that way." She points east, then back up to the building she's likely from.
"This is the academics building.. you're cute by the way."ย ย She glances at y/n, smirking a bit, her eyes glazed over the girl and she continued to chew, turning on her heel and walking away.
Rin narrowed his eyes as he shifted in his spot, earning a side glance from Rowan, who sucked in a sharp breath.
He then let out a low laugh, rubbing the back of his neck, as always trying to press optimism into tense air. "Feels like we're walkin' into a sci-fi film. Any second now, someone's gonna tell us to surrender our phones and dignity."
Y/N glanced at him, not really taking what the girl said too seriously, raising her brow with a smirk. "You already lost one of those."
He gasped, offended, a hand lifting up to snap sassily in her face, the other pointing at his duffel. "Rude. I packed extra dignity today."
Rin didn't slow. He walked a few steps ahead of them now, shoulders squared, eyes fixed on the structure growing larger with every step. The building didn't really look like a training facility, it looked like containment.. for animals. Smooth metal walls curved upward, broken only by narrow, dark windows that reflected nothing back.
The closer they got, the quieter the world became.
Y/N became acutely aware of everything at once: the way her heart beat just a little faster, the tension coiling low in her stomach, the lack of the weight of Sae's jacket grounding her when everything else felt unsteady, she gripped Solene's hand and huffed out air. She scanned the building without meaning to, her mind slipping into that familiar analytical rhythm. Height. Distance. Entry points. The way the road subtly funneled inward.
Solene glanced at her, sharp eyes catching the shift in her tone, she adjusted the strap of her bag on her shoulder and looked around fully, taking in the large symbol on the main part of the building. "it must've been expensive to design.. just look at the size of it."
Rowan raised a brow, he wasn't going to catch onto the vibe as fast as the others would. "What, is it got mind games built into the architecture now?"
"Yes," Solene said plainly, her face screwed in an annoyance that everyone else but Rowan could tell was just her affection covered up. "Actually."
He blinked. "Oh."
They reached a massive gate set into the front of the structure. Matte black. Just a seamless wall of metal that loomed over them. For a moment, nothing happened.
Then, with a low mechanical sound, the gate split down the middle.
The entry hall opened wider than Y/N had expected, branching into a vast interior space filled with people. Boys. Dozens of them. Maybe more. They stood scattered across the floor in loose clusters, some leaning against walls, others stretching, pacing, sizing each other up with open curiosity or barely concealed hostility. Y/n almost thought to make a joke to Solene about 'scoping the menu out', but her face just pressed in discomfort.
Every type of player was there.
Tall ones with long limbs and sharp stares. Compact builds coiled with restless energy. Broad shoulders, narrow frames, messy hair, pristine uniforms, scuffed trainers. Some laughed too loudly, others said nothing at all. A few already looked like they were itching for a fight. A few looked bored. A few looked afraid.
It hit Y/N all at once, the sheer density of presence in the room. So many different postures. Different gaits. Different auras. Even without trying, her mind began sorting them.
Beside her, Solene slowed her steps almost imperceptibly, shoulders brushed. It wasn't something either of them commented on, but instinct took over. Solene drifted closer, her bag shifting so it rested against Y/N's side. Y/N adjusted her path without thinking, placing herself just a fraction nearer in return. Two girls in a room overwhelmingly filled with boys. The awareness was immediate and sharp.
"Just when I thought Rowan and Rin was enough male hormones to be by, we're forced into this. Guess we gotta stick extra close together right n/n?" Solene smiled, squeezing her hand in attempt to reassure her, y/n smiled back, letting go of her hand and instead looping her arm in hers, holding Solene.
Rowan noticed too. His usual grin softened, his body angling just slightly to stand a bit in front of them, casual but deliberate. Rin remained a step ahead, gaze unreadable as ever, though his presence was grounding in its own quiet way.
Some of the boys glanced their way.
Curious looks, assessing ones. A few lingering stares that made y/n's shoulders tense despite herself. Solene's expression remained composed, but her eyes were alert, scanning, cataloguing. Stress points. Aggression. Posture that suggested they're actually just pussies disguised as bravados.
"Place is lively," Rowan muttered under his breath, his eyes narrowing in an almost protective way as too many gazes went towards them. "Ain't none of these boys ever seen a female before clearly, the shock might be too much, let alone two girls here."
Y/N exhaled slowly, her arm tightening around sold as she shifted. "Lively is one word for it."
The screens along the walls flickered again, Ego's image reasserting itself, voice cutting cleanly through the murmur of conversation. The boys quieted, attention drawn upward.
"Look around you," Ego said. "These are your competitors."
Y/N did exactly that. She saw raw talent standing next to recklessness. Discipline beside ego. Players who burned too fast and others who conserved every movement. She felt it like static along her skin, the weight of possibilities pressing in from all sides, her pulse quickened and the nerves dissipated into excitement, there was so much raw potential around her, she was only ever used to Sae and Rin, this was different, and this different was better.
Solene leaned in just enough for only y/n to hear, her voice ground y/n. "Breathe," she murmured. "You're analysing again."
Y/N gave a faint, almost grateful huff. "Can't help it."
"That's how they welcome us? Like.. allll of us." Rowan spoke up, gesturing to the assortment of many different people here.
As if on cue, the screens blinked to life.
A single figure appeared across all of them at once. Tall. Lean. Dressed in black, seated casually with his chin resting against his hand. His eyes were sharp, almost predatory, his smile thin and knowing.
"Welcome," the man said, voice echoing through the hall. "To Blue Lock."
Y/N felt it then. That unmistakable tightening in her chest. Not fear exactly. Anticipation laced with something darker.
Rin's jaw set, and Rowan straightened without realizing it. Solene's gaze hardened, already assessing the man on the screen the way she would a patient with a hidden injury, or even a hidden secret.
The voice carried through the space again, unhurried and unapologetic, as if it had all the time in the world.
"If you're standing here," Ego said, "it's because something about you was deemed... useful."
The word sat wrong with her.
y/n felt her fingers curl into the fabric at her sides before she even realized she was doing it. Useful wasn't praise. It wasn't admiration. It was purpose without care, value without warmth. She tried to make it mean something else, tried to convince herself it was enough.
Not talented. Not gifted. Just.. useful.
Her eyes moved through the crowd again, slower now. Boys stood everywhere, some puffed up with pride, others tense and restless. She wondered if any of them felt the same quiet discomfort crawling under their skin, or if it was just her.
Then the thought slipped in, unwelcome and sharp.
you can't be anybody's friend.
It didn't sound like Ego. It didn't sound like Sae. It sounded like something that had been waiting for the right moment to surface, insecurity. She breathed out slowly, forcing herself to stay grounded. Whatever this place was, whatever it wanted from her, she could handle it, she always had.
The screens shifted, Ego leaning forward as if he were addressing them one by one. "From now on, your lives will revolve around a single objective. Your value will be measured only by what you can produce."
The floor lit up beneath their feet in long, glowing lines. Doors slid open along the walls, mechanical and precise, each path clearly marked. Movement rippled through the room as the boys began to follow the lines assigned to them.
Rin stepped forward with the others without hesitation. Rowan moved too, then slowed, looking back over his shoulder when he noticed y/n and Solene hadn't followed.
"You lot coming?" he asked, his eyes stayed on Solene rather than y/n, brows knitting slightly.
y/n glanced down at the glowing line at her feet. There wasn't one. She looked to Solene, who was doing the same quiet assessment, eyes flicking between the doors and the screens.
"I don't think... we have one," y/n said, kicking at the floor awkwardly and pressing her lips into a thin line.
Rin stopped then, turning back toward them. For the first time since arriving, his focus shifted fully away from the front. His gaze moved between y/n and Solene, expression tight.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
Before either of them could answer, a softer voice cut through the noise.
"Excuse me.โ
They all turned and saw the woman approaching them looked almost out of place here. Short pink hair, neat posture, kind eyes. She smiled at them, not sharp or calculated, but genuinely warm.
"You're y/n and Solene, right?" she asked.
y/n nodded. Solene did too.
"I'm Anri Teieri," she said, bowing slightly. "If you could come with me, please."
Rowan blinked, shifting once again protectively. "Uh... where exactly?"
Anri smiled apologetically. "You two won't be joining the boys. Ego asked to see you both."
That made Rowan frown, confusion clear on his face. Rin's jaw tightened, eyes flicking briefly to y/n.
"So they're not going with us?" he asked, moving over to y/n's side, not in a guarding way, almost as if he wanted to just keep her close one last time.
"Not yet," Anri said gently.
There was a pause, and the moment stretched, awkward and heavy. Around them, the room was emptying fast, boys disappearing through doors, footsteps echoing away.
Rowan shifted his weight, scratching the back of his neck. "Well. That's... yeah. That's inconvenient."
Solene exhaled softly. "You'll be fine, me and y/n will be fine.. don't worry too much about us" she said, steady as ever, though the knot in her brows made it hard to believe that. Rowan let a hand awkwardly fall to Solene's shoulder, and he gave a typical awkward tightlipped smile. Solene's face didn't flush red, but she still looked slightly flustered.
y/n looked at Rin, smiling at him and playfully punching his face- gently, keeping her fist there. "I'll see you soon, yeah?"
He held her gaze for a second longer than necessary, then nodded. "Don't get lost."
She huffed quietly. "You say that like I'm the reckless one."
Rowan grinned faintly, his hand leaving Sol's arm, he gave y/n a tough pat on the back, beginning to walk with Rin. "Try not to let the creepy football man scare you."
Anri let out a small laugh, then gestured toward the center aisle. "If you'll follow me."
Rin and Rowan stepped back, pulled reluctantly toward their own paths as the doors waited open behind them. y/n watched them go, the space between widening until the facility itself seemed to swallow them whole.
When she finally turned away, Solene was already beside her.
Together, they walked forward with Anri, moving against the flow, toward the stage where Ego waited. Ego didn't waste time once they reached the stage.
The lights above dimmed slightly, the vast room feeling even larger now that it was mostly empty. Screens flickered to life behind him, lines of data scrolling too fast to read. He stood with his hands in his pockets, posture relaxed in a way that felt intentional. Like he wanted them unsettled.
"So," he said calmly, eyes sharp as they landed on the two of them. "You're probably wondering why you weren't sent off with the rest."
y/n stayed quiet. Solene did too. Something told her interrupting him would be a mistake.
Ego continued anyway, unfazed by the silence. "This project doesn't only require players. It requires perspective."
His gaze shifted to y/n first, she flinched under his unhinged gaze.
"Y/n," he said, pointing at her without ceremony, "will observe."
The word echoed, though not as sharply as useful had earlier, she refrained from clicking her tongue under her breath, and she shifted under his gaze.
"You'll assess the participants during the first evaluation rounds. Their behaviour, their instincts, their adaptability under pressure. I want predictions. Who advances, who collapses, who surprises everyone."
The screens behind him changed, faces flashing across them. Players y/n had already seen. Some confident. Some nervous whilst others were barely holding it together.
"You'll document everything, patterns matter more than talent here. I'm not interested in guesses. I'm interested in accuracy."
y/n swallowed, then nodded, her voice steady but hesitant. "And if I'm wrong?"
Ego smiled slightly. Not kindly. Creepily.
Ego u da real creepy
"Then you learn why."
His attention shifted to Solene, she didn't flinch like y/n did, she challenged him in a subtle way, a sharp brow quirking up.
"And you," he said, tone changing just a fraction, he almost smirked at her attempt to challenge him, "will support the process physically."
"You'll assess the players' physical conditions, stamina levels, injury risks. You'll work with y/n to recommend training regimes based on what you both observe. If a player has complications, pre existing issues, or sustains an injury, they're sent to you."
Another screen lit up, this one showing a clean, sterile infirmary.
"You'll be stationed there," Ego continued. "Medical clearance, recovery plans, and intervention if necessary. You are not here to coddle them. You are here to keep them functional. The technology here is advanced, for the both of you, this is an opportunity to harness what may be your future careers."
Solene nodded once, humming under her breath as she looked away from the screen in disinterest.
Ego turned back to both of them. "You won't interfere with the evaluations directly. You are not players. You are not spectators either."
He paused, letting the words settle. Silence followed. Thick, deliberate.
Anri stepped closer then, lowering her voice so Ego wouldn't hear. "Your accommodations are separate from the players, butt if you two need to stay together, that's allowed."
Her smile was small but reassuring. "You don't have to do this alone.โ
y/n felt her shoulders loosen just a little. She glanced at Solene, who gave her a brief nod, grounding as ever.
Ego clapped his hands once, sharp and final. "That's all. Your work begins once Anri- shows you around."
The screens went dark, and ego walked away, not bothering to further his own introductions or even dismiss them properly.
'Lanky shit.' y/n thought, turning to Anri
As Anri guided them away from the stage, y/n's eyes lingered on the open doors through which Rowan and Rin had disappeared. Their forms were already swallowed by the corridors, moving toward the evaluation floors, and a quiet pang twisted in her chest. Evaluation had started for them, yes, but for y/n and Solene it was a different kind of test. Ego had said they weren't participants in the initiative like the boys were, but neither of them was naive enough to believe they weren't being observed. Failure to meet the criteria expected of them was not something they wanted to imagine.
Anri moved with a calm, purposeful stride, glancing back occasionally to make sure they were keeping up. "This way," she said softly, voice melodic, the kind that seemed to ease tension even when the words didn't. "I'll give you a quick tour so you have an idea of where things are. Don't worry, it's nothing too complicated."
The halls were wide and pristine, a strange mixture of industrial efficiency and quiet luxury. Screens dotted the walls, and doors, each one marked with precise numbers and symbols, opened into various rooms that hummed faintly with machinery they didn't yet understand. As they walked, Anri pointed out practice halls, medical bays, and communal areas. "You'll spend most of your time here in observation," she explained, "but it's good to know the flow of the building. You might be called to any of these spaces at a moment's notice. Oh and.." she trailed off, finding the words to say.
y/n absorbed everything in a swirl of curiosity and apprehension. The building was designed to feel bigger than it was, every angle calculated to impress or intimidate, and y/n knew Ego would want them alert at all times. Solene's presence beside her, steady and composed, was an anchor, her hand brushing lightly against hers once in reassurance as if to say they could do this together.
Finally, they reached a quieter wing, one where the walls were softer in tone and the hum of distant activity less pronounced. Anri stopped outside two identical doors. "These are your accommodations for the time being, nothing fancy. Plain, practical, and clean. Ego allows personal touches, but only once he feels you've settled in. Until then, no decorations or extra items.. and I will need your devices, all of them.. sorry."
y/n stepped inside, taking in the modest space. A single bed, a desk, a chair, and a small dresser, she handed her iPad, phone AND MacBook over to Anri, Solene was much more reluctant to let her iPad go, and had a small frown on her face. Everything was functional. The window overlooked a narrow courtyard below. She pinched the edge of the desk lightly. "We get our phones back eventually?" she asked.
Anri smiled. "Not until further notice. Communication outside the facility is limited for your own focus." She paused, letting the statement settle. "Ego doesn't want distractions."
They placed their bags down and turned back to her. "How exactly are we... measured?" Solene asked. Her tone was clinical, precise.
Anri gestured toward the desk. "Like the players, you'll receive points, but not based on athletic performance. y/n, your points will come from the accuracy of your assessments and predictions-how well you can determine who advances and who doesn't. Solene, yours will reflect how effectively the training plans you devise improve their performance, reduce injury risk, or enhance recovery."
"Points?" y/n repeated, brows furrowed. "Like um.. some sort of a scoreboard?โ
"Exactly," Anri said, nodding. "Everything here is quantified. Every observation, every adjustment, every training plan counts. Ego wants measurable results."
"We at-least have time to figure things out right" Solene asked, already scanning the room, noting how she could use the space to plan schedules or keep records. Though she also just assumed her room would look the same as y/n's.
"You'll have three days once you've settled in. Three days to plan, to strategize, to analyze. After that, Ego will expect results. Consider it your preliminary phase." Anri's eyes softened, and she offered them a reassuring smile. "It sounds strict, but you can rely on each other. Don't feel like you have to go it alone. Not to mention, a few more girls may be joining, this sector of the initiative is relatively new, not as planned nor developed as the athletics training the boys will endure.. but we girls are just as important, can you imagine if we let the men decide and do everything?"
"Chaos" y/n muttered with a smileโ slowly easing into the conversation with Anri. Solene nodded as Anri agreed verbally, her fingers rhythmically tapping her clipboard.
y/n and Solene exchanged a quick glance, a small nod passing silently between them. The words were kind, but the weight of Ego's expectations pressed in around them. This wasn't a casual observation job. It was a test within a test.
Anri lingered for a moment, giving them time to absorb the space. "I'll leave you to settle in for now. Make yourselves comfortable, take stock of your tools, and organize however you need. I'll check in later to answer any questions. And remember," she added, leaning in slightly, "don't be afraid to coordinate. You're allowed to stay close if it helps. Ego doesn't forbid collaboration-it only rewards results."
As she left, the door clicking softly behind her, y/n exhaled, letting herself sink onto the edge of the bed. Solene took the chair by the desk, flipping open a notebook she'd brought, already jotting down mental notes.
"I can't believe she took my iPad and then ego has the nerve to say I have only three days to plan a training scheme with no information on any of the players besides Rowan and Rin, y/n hold my poodle."
Y/n laughed at Sol's little inside joke they had, and she pretended to hold her poodle whilst Solene punched the air, it was obvious the two were trying to calm each other down. Solene sighed and shut her note book. Three days. That was all they had. And somehow, y/n already felt the quiet tension of knowing every observation, every decision, and every misstep would count.
"It's good my room is just next to yours.. and I get my own room and stuff- for my physician stuff. And you get a whole office to be edgy and analyse players.. we're basically interns." Solene leaned on her hand, her curls coming slightly undone in her bun, not that she minded really.
"Mmhmmm.. I just- it's weird no?.. being trapped here, they must've contacted our parents right? I hope they did.. my mother can't handle being away from me for so long.." y/n tugged her hoodie off her and leaned back, looking up at the ceiling. She glanced to Sol who looked lost in her thoughts aswell.
"My dads probably flipping tables at work, his precious youngest born daughter has finally grown wings and flown away like a phoenix" She dramatically makes a bird gesture and flaps her hands like wings, chuckling to herself.
The two stayed in a comfortable silence, then Solene stood up, the chair shifting and breaking the silence, she smiled at y/n and took her bag.
"I'll.. be back later, I wanna see if my rooms the same and reorder it and stuff, and then pack away. You should too, we can meet up around.." Solene looked around the room for a clock and then she nodded
"3pm? Sorry, I need to relax a bit, it's all so overwhelming honestly" She gave Y/n a small apologetic smile, all y/n did was shake her head and sit up.
"It's okay Sol, me too, seriously- I wonder how Rin and Rowan are doing." Y/n thought to the side and sighed, lying back again.
"They'll be.. okay, hopefully." Solene smiled as she exited, the door automatically sliding shut behind her.
"Alright.. time to pack away I guess." y/n spoke to no one but herself, rolling off the bed and grabbing her bag, beginning to unpack, she had to imagine songs in her head since there was no way she could get music at that moment.
Her clothes fit perfectly in the closet, and her desk already became conquered by her note books and pens. She shifted her notebook so it would sit perfectly in the corner of the desk and she leaned back, sighing and looking at the time. Nearly 3pm.
Y/n looked down to what she wore and then to a mirror that rested on the closet's side, she felt a bit self conscious now, if she was being watched and judged, that surely means appearances too right? She poked at her face in thought, before standing upโ deciding to change into something else.
A zip-up black athlete jacket and leggings set, with leg-warmers over the top of her socks, and just some crocs. She zipped the jacket up fully and looked at herself, properly. What sae said is irking her, the fact he had the nerve to claim she wasn't ready for the world, it was nagging at her side. She let out a huff and took her hair out from the style she previously had it in.
She used a headband to push her hair out her face, and slid her glasses on, as if on que, Solene knocked, and y/n looked for the button to open the door. When she did Solene and her stared at each other before high-fiving.
"Talk about twin telepathy!" Solene smiled at y/n's words, they were wearing the same thing in different colours, whilst y/n was in black, Solene was in a baby-yellow. Sol's hair however was still in the same bun, but some water slipped down the stray curls, so she must've had another shower to calm down.
"We're like a bumble bee now, black and yellow- like cute ones." Solene leaned into y/n with a smile, and y/n and her posed infront of the mirror.
"If only I still had my phone, could've taken a photo to remember this cute moment of telepathy." Solene smiled solemnly at the unfortunate.
"So.. we're here now.. what do we do? We've got a day to settle and then three more to decide the stuff for Ego.. we should find Anri and maybe ask for the files on each player- if they have one." Y/n suggested, answering her own question, and Solene nodded.
They walked down the metallic hallway, both their heads in thought despite eventually calming down their nerves, but y/n just kept worrying-
"Do you think Rin and Rowan are okay?" she asked, her voice filling the walls around them.
Solene hummed in response, shrugging. The thought was gnawing at her too, mostly because if they have no phones, they had no means of communication unless directly face to face. "They'll be okay, mostly Rin? I don't think Rowan can handle being bossed around." She chuckled to herself, a small smile gracing her features.
"Oh my goddddd.. just confess to him already...." Y/n groaned, pretending to strangle herself. "It's so yucky seeing you guys flirt all the timeughhh..."
Sol only shoved y/n away playfully, biting the inside of her cheek, "I can't, I doubt he sees what we have as more than a playful friendship, besides, we've got bigger fish to fry now.. like what Sae said to you. I heard you and Rin, something about 'not taking it to heart?"
Solene raised a brow, an unimpressed expression on her face. "Whatever it is he said, im beating his ass."
Y/n sighed, glancing away as she put her hands in the pocket of her zip up, a frown on her face, brows furrowed. "He just.. he's got such an ego, like ever since he went to Spain. And I don't even get it, Keiko is nice, but he's.. mean? He was never this mean to me."
"I get that, sort of, any examples of his 'mean' behaviour?" Solene responded, copying her action of putting her hands in her pocket.
"Like, he said I wasn't ready for this, that.. I think I can be everyone's friend. And he started to claim he never had a crush on me. Like that makes no sense." She continued on, growing more frustrated as she spoke about it.
Solene stayed silent as they reached the end of the hallway, the main part of the hall where they'd originally came from coming into view. As the doors slid open, Solene finally responded. "Do you think something happened whilst he was in Spain, something bad? From what I know.. well, what I saw as we all grew up, Sae's been crushing on you too, so what could've caused him to say that.. probably the Spanish cartel drugged him. I don't know.โ
She attempted at a joke, earning a chuckle from y/n. The stopped in the centre of the hall, then looked to the stage where ego had gone through. Glancing at one another they walked up to it, and went up the stage, going behind the thick curtains. The building was odd, because why there was a whole metal-hallway behind those curtains was weird, not to mention the even larger door that had a silver plate on it that read 'EGO's OFFICE.'
".. Sol you say something"
"And get killed? No way, you know they kill the black girl off in these scenarios!.."
"Youโ okay.. I'll knock.." y/n sighed in defeat, bringing a sweating hand to the door, before she was about to knock, the door opened, revealing Anri, who looked a bit annoyed, less by the girls, more so by whatever she was about to storm out of.
"Oh!" They all said in union, a shared surprise between them all.
"Y/n.. Solene, what's wrong?" She asked, stepping aside, Ego came into their sight, sitting lazily in his chair.
"We.. needed information. On the players that is, since someone decided to just thrust us into a task that requires statistics and evidence, but gave us neither." Solene spoke up, giving a slight glare to the bowl-cut male behind Anri. Ego huffed in amusement at her bold expression.
"Ah, I see, I'm sure Ego has the documents that you require, I'll be on my way, my office is the third door on the right from this hallway, I'll be there if you need anything else ladies." Anri smiled, turning her head to glare at Egoโ though unseen by the girls anyways, and turned back, smiling once more before walking away. Leaving just y/n, Solene and the evil ego.
Ego turned in his chair, and tapped his mouse once, the room upon further analysis from both girls was.. dark, dark and creepy, and when the computer turned on, many more appears, screens displaying heaps of information and profiles of players shifted, then appeared a few girls, including themselves. Y/n shifted once moreโ uncomfortable with seeing a mug shot of herself, but she mustered up the courage to step forwards and clear her throat. "The player data?"
"It's here." Ego responded, shifting aside a stack of papers in folders for them to see. Then he turned back around, leaning lazily on his elbow. "Is that all.. or do you also want updates on how the training is going?"
Y/n raised a brow, then Solene folded her arms, looking at her nails uninterested with ego's words.
"If training had already started, then it would make sense for us to get live updates, considering we'll be the ones designing the next set of training sessions and analysing their progress." She looked back to ego, whose lips curled in an amused excitement.
"Yes.." he hummed, "that is very true, not to worry then Solene Zhao-Obi.. I'll do just that, however, on one condition."
"Which is?"
"Well, in order for you to monitor the progress, you'd need a device to view it on.. so, I'll return back your iPads, or perhaps just give you new better ones overall. That's the unimportant part though.. im shortening your deadline to 12 o clock in the afternoon.. tomorrow, so you have to entire of today and part of tomorrow to impress me, since I am giving you all the information you need in order to do your job. Is that understood?"
"Sureโ"
"Only if I get a better iPad." Solene cut through, a mix of triumph and excitement on her face at the mention of brand new iPads.
"Very well, they'll be delivered to you shortly, you may take the documents and go.."
y/n looked unimpressed at Solene's eagerness to get that new iPad, but she only smiled, knowing what she'd like. She took half the stack of profiles, and Solene took the other half. They both left the office silently, as the door slid shut they began to giggle with one another.
"Holy shit I nearly pissed myself trying not to laugh.. you see the way he turned around as if he's some mob boss? Holy cringe dude." Y/n snickered, letting out a puff of air.
"No literally, I guess I must've been just as amusing to him though, kept smirking when I spokeโ like you guys never seen a confident girl before?.." Solene responded, looking ahead as they both walked back to their rooms.
They walked in their comfortable silence, passing by more metal doors and the hall, before returning to their rooms, where two brand new iPads sat just outside their doors.
Solene let out an amused huff, crouching down to pick it up. "We literally only left five minutes ago.. how did he do this?"
"So this is kind of creepy but ahhh fuck it, new iPads is new iPads." Y/n responded.
"I know that's right, whose room, mine or yours? Or should we go through our halves then debrief?" Solene pressed the button to open her room, waiting in between the door frame for an answer.
"Uh.. second one, it'll be quicker if we do that. We have a much shorter deadline now." Y/n pushed her button too, the door sliding open with the futuristic hiss. She stepped inside and smiled back at Solene.
"When one of us is done, we'll knock, Okay?"
"Okay, to the salon!" Y/n exclaimed, both their doors slid shut, and as the girls sat at their desk, their new iPads aiding them in their research, the boys had their own troubles to deal with.
But again, that's their OWN trouble to deal with.
a/n: love Solene and reader much, I hope u guys noticed the Hamilton lyrics, also I realised I made a huge mistake and reader DIDNT throw the jacket at sae, only wanted to, so thatโs been edited to make more sense with this chapter :P
The afternoon light stretched long and warm over the practice field, soft gold bleeding into the edges of the goalposts. Y/N exhaled, pulling at the sleeve of her hoodie as her phone vibrated in her pocket, slowing down. Rin stood a few feet away, quiet as ever, starting to methodically collect stray cones like it was part of a ritual. Solene jogged up to y/n and held out her bottle for her, whilst Rowan threw the football they were all toying with at Rinโs headโ gently of courseโ earning an annoyed scowl from him.
It was supposed to be a normal day, basic training of course. Until the man in the suit arrived. He walked across the field like he didn't belong there-polished shoes, pressed collar, a clipboard tucked under his arm. Y/N tilted her head as he approached. "Uh... you lost or something?"
The man smiled faintly. "Not at all. Y/N L/N, Rin Itoshi, Rowan Ashford, and Solene Zhao-Obiโ You all currently attend the local highschool, right?ย ยป
At the mention of their namesโ not to mention the institution they all attend for education, y/n froze. Rin's brows furrowed faintly, the other two figures looked just as perplexed- Rowan let out a deep exhausted sigh, brows creasing but his expression still slightly aloof, and Solene, who instinctively shifted forward ahead of y/n, as if guarding her slightly.
"Yo, that's us," Rowan said, voice carrying that thick london accent tone that made him sound perpetually unimpressed. "What's this then?" He then continued in the common tongue of Japanese.
The man handed each of them a cream-colored envelope, sealed with an unfamiliar insignia: a sharp wolf's head pressed in dark ink.
"An invitation," the man said simply. "You've been selected."
Y/N blinked. "Selected for what?"
He didn't answer, only offered a small, knowing smile. "You'll find out soon enough. Read it. The date and time are inside, itโs nothing bad.. itโs actually a great thing, congratulations you four." Then he was gone, walking back toward the parking lot without another word.
They stood there for a moment in the fading light, the four of them staring at their envelopes like they'd just been handed prophecies. Rowan tore his open first, impatient fingers ripping the paper. His lips moved as he read aloud, the words strange and official-sounding:
You have been chosen to participate in the Blue Lock Initiative. Your skill set aligns with our vision for the future of Japanese football. Report to the location below on the assigned date. Failure to appear forfeits your eligibility.
. . . 'Weird..'
"'Blue Lock Initiative'?" Rowan repeated, his accent twisting the name like it didn't belong in his mouth. "Like.. the blue lock thatโs extremely hard to get into unless youโre loaded or fucking smart? Solene can you verify?"
"Well, some 'Ego' signed it," Solene said, scanning hers more carefully. "Just the name. No organisation, no logo besides that... Weird thing.. ego? Sounds like a cringy gamertag if I'm honest.." She turned the envelope over, as if a clue might be hiding there. Rin's expression didn't change, but his eyes flicked over the words like he was memorising every line. "Blue Lock," he said softly, as if testing the weight of it. "If it requires some guy in a suit, it's probably real."
Y/N ran her thumb over the embossed seal, her heart thudding. "Still doesn't say what it is. Training? Tryouts?"
"Whatever it is, it's official," Solene said, folding the letter neatly and tucking it into her bag. "We're all listed as invitees. It can't be a coincidence. You both have scouts,โ Solene referred to the two actual football players, and then she glanced to y/n, her thumb tracing the envelope. โI suppose this is a sort of letter of recommendation program for me and y/n.โ
Rowan tilted his head toward Y/N. "You're the people genius, innit? You tell us. What does it mean?"
Y/N laughed under her breath, though there was a tension she couldn't shake. "I don't know yet. But... it feels big. Like it's gonna change something."
Rin gave a small nod of agreement. "We'll find out soon enough."
They lingered a moment longer as the light faded from the field, the wind tugging at their jackets. None of them said it out loud, but the air had shifted; quietly, invisibly, like a fuse had just been lit. Whatever this Blue Lock invitation was for, they were already part of it.
Soleneโs ring tone cut through the silence, the soft chime of Les filles dรฉsir tingled through the air. She muttered a sorry and held it to her ear, before she hummed in acknowledgment and lowered it briefly. โItโs my pops, Iโve got to get home. Iโll.. see you all at the place? Tomorrow. That is.โ
Rowan cocked his head in his English way of agreeing, before he tugged on the sweatband on his head. Rin merely glanced at her, whilst y/n smiled and gave a small wave, earning a blown kiss from the departing girl. Rowan let out a low whistle as he watched her walk away, before he shrugged. โMy cue to leave too, I promised my dad Iโd help out a bit with our new garage being built.โ
โNo one asked Rowan.โ Rin cut him off, shoving him and giving a smug smirk, Rowan rolled his eyes with a smile and slung his bag across his torso. โYeah yeah, you love it when I talk rinnie-boy. Butโ alas, play hard to get. See you lot tomorrow thenโ
Rowan saluted as he jogged up to Soleneโs side, from a distance you could see joint smiles and conversation. Y/n smiled knowingly at the two. โGosh.. denial is a river in Egypt ainโt it.โ She crouched down to pick up her belongings only to find Rin was already holding them.
โI got it, letโs go home now.โ
Standing up to her full height, she smiled gratefully at her companion, their foots began to move in motion, one leg after the other they went down the path that lead to their street.
The walk home felt longer than usual. The letter weighed heavily in Y/N's pocket, the paper's edges softening from the nervous way she kept folding and unfolding it. The city hummed around her- low engines, distant chatter, the faint hiss of a vending machine cooling bottles for the night- but everything felt quieter somehow.
Blue Lock looked for me.
She'd whispered to herself under her breath more than once, as if saying it might make its meaning clearer. It didn't. She kicked a loose pebble across the pavement, watching it skitter into the gutter. The others had gone their separate ways, she could hear Rowanโs voice in her head.. still half-grumbling that it was "some posh setup" with the ever so graceful Solene calmly explaining that if it was a scam, at least it was a well-written one.
By the time they reached the Itoshi household, y/n didnโt go inside like she normally would after training, making an excuse to โpack now rather than in the morningโ so she wouldnโt have to see Sae again, so her heart wouldnโt thump with unrequited vigour.
Rin didnโt press, just nodded and wished her a goodnight. Y/N pushed her hood back as a breeze passed, eyes flicking to the soft glow of her house windows ahead. Whatever this invitation was, she'd already decided she was going. She didn't know if it was pride or curiosity or something more dangerous. But Y/N needed this, a chance to distract herself like she always does. But she wanted to know what this Ego saw in her. And she wanted to prove that he wasn't wrong.
Whether it was the plush fleece of her blanket or the jitters at the invitationโ sleep came easy to y/n, her eyes slowly shut and her breathing slowed down. This was her routine, school, training, home and bed, but she loved it like this, this was her normal, and no one but her knew that itโs okay to break from the cycle once in a while. This blue loco initiative would be that cycle breaker, and sheโd do one hell of a good job if it meant shoving a โI told you soโ in Saeโs face, just to prove him wrong.
โIโm okay without your letters. I hope your girlfriend knows how much of an emotionally unintelligent incell you are.โ She smirked in her sleep, if she couldโ sheโd pump her fist triumphantly too.
The next morning broke pale and early, sunlight creeping through the blinds in dusty ribbons. Y/N's alarm had already gone off three times, each one promptly silenced by a hand that refused to leave the warmth of the blanket.
When she finally stirred, the first thing she saw was the letter again- propped neatly on her desk beside a half-empty mug of tea. The words Blue Lock still looked surreal, almost theatrical. She sat up, rubbed her face, and groaned softly.
Then her phone buzzed. A text from Solene.
Y/N chuckled, just as she was about to start thumbing a quick reply, a call came in- Rin this time. She sighed, hit accept, and someone elses voice voice immediately filled the room.
"Yo, you up yet? Tell me you ain't still sleeping, I swear down-"
"I just woke up, Rowan." She stretched one arm toward the desk, grounding herself before her other hand scratched at her hair through her bonnet. "You sound like someone's mum. Oh and it's 7 in the morning.. are you insane. Why are you shouting?"
"Someone's gotta be," he muttered. "You'd miss your own funeral at this rate."
Another voice chimed in, crisp and lilting. It was Solene, who'd clearly joined the call. "You two are hopeless. I've been up since six. Already packed. Already organised."
" yeah yeah.. 'Course you have, Sol," Rowan said. "The bloody rapture could start.. or someone could throw you in a warzone and you'd still have your shit together"
Y/N laughed, dragging herself out of bed. Rin spoke up, his voice laced with sleep. โShe's lying, Rowan. She probably repacked three times just to make sure it was perfect."
Solene sniffed. "Precision is not a crime. You could learn from me."
Rowan made a mock gasp, teasing Solene. "You hear that? Little miss obi-wan is talking backkkkk"
"Rowan," Y/N warned playfully, "stop bullying our princess. She'll refuse to treat your injuries later."
"Oi, that's low," Rowan protested, though his laughter gave him away.
Y/N padded across her room, grabbed her duffel bag from the chair and tossed in a few clothes. Her heart beat steadily, that odd mixture of excitement and nerves sitting heavy under her ribs. She went into the bathroom, just about to brush her teeth, there was a pause, everyone silent on the call.
"So," she said after a moment, quieter, "no takebacksies? Weโre all going?"
The line went still, then Solene's voice came, gentle but sure. "Of course. I asked my sister and she did some digging, this Ego doesn't invite people for no reason. Even if it's... unusual, it's a chance."
Rowan exhaled slowly. "Yeah. Whatever the initiative is, it's somethin' bigger than Sunday kickabouts and side tournaments. I'm not missin' that." The clicking of his back from him stretching was heard, a whispered ew from Solene in response.
Y/N nodded, even though they couldn't see her. "Yeah. Me neither." She spat the toothpaste foam out her mouth and splashed her face.
They lingered a bit longer, trading small jokes and reminders- Rowan reminding Solene to "pack snacks like a real person," Solene telling Y/N to actually comb her hair this time. It felt almost normal, like it used to before everything started to change.
Then Solene hung up first, her fathers voice was the last thing heard before the line hurriedly cut off, and Rowan signed off soon after, leaving Y/N alone with Rin, which was fine, they both sat in silence. Her room was quiet now, save for the faint tick of her wall clock. She picked up her jacket from the chair and paused- her fingers brushing the old, worn fabric of another jacket hung just behind it.
Sae's.
The realisation made her chest tighten briefly. Ever since that dinner, she'd just left it there, even if it was her good luck charm, she decided that it wouldn't be appropriate to wear his jacket with his girlfriend around. She had that much respect for herself and for Keiko. She stared at it for a moment longer, then shook her head and turned back to her suitcase.
"Not anymore," she muttered. "Return it y/n, you can find a new good luck charm.. right? Why am I even talking to myself? I'm a creep.. I'm a weirdo." Taking a look over her room and gathering stuff, closing the door behind her, muttering once more to the air in the house, a small goodbye to her parents- then she paused and shuddered.
"I'm not leaving them forever.. don't be cringy y/n.."
โStop talking to yourself y/n. Iโm hanging up, Iโll see you soon, you still coming over?โ Rin chimed, his voice no longer as gruffy as it was just a moment ago, the faint sound of water running could be heard.
Y/n hummed in agreement, holding her phone to her ear as she shut her room door behind her, duffel bag weighted with the possibilities the initiative has. โYeah, see you soon Rin.โ
The line cut and she slipped on her crocs, since if sheโs going to be travelling quite a distance, she might as well be comfortable doing so. She brushed past the staircase and descended to the front door.
So, Y/N left her home, and the sun had climbed high enough to turn the rooftops pale gold. The morning breeze still carried that faint bite of September, sharp against her cheeks as she walked. Her bag swung at her side, a rhythm that matched the uneven beat of her heart.
It had been just a few hours since she'd walked this street- the one leading to the Itoshi household. The pavement still curved the same way around the old camphor tree, the same place where she and Rin used to race their bikes as kids while Sae looked on, quietly unimpressed. Y/N reached the Itoshi house, and the morning mist had barely lifted. The streets glimmered faintly with dew, each step soft on the slick pavement. She could see her reflection in the wide windows as she approached. Pale hoodie, hair tied back, duffel bag hanging from one shoulder. She looked calm enough, but her pulse hadn't slowed since she left home.
The house was as pristine as if it didnโt hold the weight of unsaid words; white walls, quiet elegance, not a thing out of place. Even the ivy climbing the balcony had been trimmed neatly since she was last here. She stood for a moment at the gate, fingers brushing the cold metal before she rang the bell. The door opened a few seconds later.
"Y/N?" Rin's voice. Tired but unmistakable.
She smiled, relief spilling out before she could help it. "Morning. Sorry - I know I'm early."
Rin stepped aside to let her in, towel slung over his shoulder, hair curling slightly at the ends. "You're fine. I was in shower anyway."
"Oh, thank God," she teased, brushing past him. "You stank yesterday"
He scoffed softly, but a faint chuckle tugged at his mouth. "That was horrible, don't do that again. You talk too much in the morning."
She grinned. "Someone has to fill the silence. You Itoshis, brood too much."
Rin looked at her, his gaze unreadable, but he just muttered something under his breath and padded upstairs. "Don't touch anything. I'll be quick."
"Half this house is under my grasp, loser", she spoke after him, but he was already gone.
The Itoshi home was the kind of quiet that made time feel slower. Everything immaculate, measured. The faint scent of lilies and expensive detergent hung in the air. Y/N exhaled slowly and sank onto the edge of the couch. She scrolled absently through her phone - a few unread messages lighting up her screen.
THE GOONERS
ROWEENIE: Bro, if we get locked in this Bluelock thing.... I'll tweak, no like deadass.
DOC OBI-WAN: can you stop texting as if weโre ur friends, ur just some stray we use to hold our bags thanks๐
YOU: Ladies stop flirting infront of me
DOC OBI WAN: I canโt believe youโd assume Iโm flirting with this clump of tissue
ROWEENIE: This *sexc clump of tissue x
3 people reacted with ๐๐ฝ
I hate you guys.
She was mid-laugh when footsteps creaked faintly behind her. She didn't turn, hands typing a response to the gc. โOh yeah, Rin! Don't forget your shampoo again. And hey- remind your brother I still have his jacket! Unless, y'know..." she trailed off with a laugh, "his girlfriend wants it or something."
Silence.
No reply. Well, that was until-
"I forgot my jacket had a new owner."
Y/N froze. Her stomach dropped before her head even turned. Sae stood near the doorway, one hand in his pocket, hair damp and swept back, wearing the kind of calm that wasn't peace- just control.
"Oh," she blurted out, scrambling to her feet. "I thought you were outside. Or asleep."
He ignored her for a second, and his gaze drifted lazily from her face to the jacket beside her. "You still have it."
"Yeah," she said after a heartbeat, her hand instinctively going to grip the fabric. "It's... or well was.. my good luck charm."
He tilted his head slightly, a faint, disbelieving chuckle at the corner of his mouth, it was weird, talking with him, especially with how casiual he spoke, like he didn't ignore her for a whole two years. "For what? Bad timing?"
She laughed weakly, more out of nerves than humour, her hand went to squeeze her arm and she spoke through gritted teeth. "For surviving mornings like this one."
Sae moved past her toward the kitchen, the quiet hum of the refrigerator filling the silence between them. "If Keiko heard that," he said without looking back, "she'd probably ask for it."
'There was no need to bring that up Itoshi Sae.. but of course you did.' She thought to herself, her gaze flickering from her arm to his face- then back to the couch she sat on
Y/N's laugh caught in her throat. "Right," she said softly. "Your girlfriend."
"She's not really one for charms, though, it's childish, you should try getting out of that habit, you're 17 now." he replied, pulling a bottle of water from the fridge.
Y/n's brows knotted together in confusion at that statement. Rather she just ignored it, and diverted away from that sense of a conversation.
โYouโre the one who said it was my lucky charmโฆโ
The sound of the cap twisting open was louder than it should've been. Y/N looked down at her shoes. "If she wants it, I can-"
"She won't," he interrupted, tone flat, final. "You can keep it."
Her throat tightened for no good reason. "Okay, " she whispered. "Thanks."
"Not sure why you brought it up though.." she muttered under her breath, relaxing her hands against her lap, soothing the wrinkles on her sweats sweats.
He took a sip, eyes on her again. "You here for Rin?"
"Uhh yup," she said, straightening, popping the P playfully. "We're heading to something."
Sae arched an eyebrow. "You even know what that is?"
"Not really," she admitted. "But I guess we'll find out."
A faint pause. His eyes softened, just slightly; like he was remembering something from far away. "You shouldn't go if you're not ready."
Y/N blinked, a sort of annoyed and taken aback chuckle brushing past her lips, nothing entirely harmful. "And who says I'm not?"
He let the silence sit before answering, "You're not built for that world." He spoke so easily, as if dismissing an annoying child, it aggravated her, a she immediately got dรฉfensive.
"Because... I'm not you, right?" she shot back before she could stop herself. Questioning him, the tone was harsher than she intended but she didn't let it show, she just kept her brows furrowed and her hands crept up her side, as if she was attempting to comfort herself.
Sae's lips curved faintly. Not in amusement -in disappointment. "Because you still think you can be everyone's friend."
Her chest tightened, her brows furrowed and her posture shifted. "And what's wrong with that?"
He looked at her then, properly- those sharp eyes steady, unflinching, as if he was seeing straight through her skin and down to the pulse beneath. Her eyes stopped at his for a split second, but she looked away and narrowed her eyes.
"You can't be anybody's friend," he said quietly. "Not if you want to survive there. And with the way you stiffen up every time I speak to you, you can't even survive here. Youโre so readable, your crush on me is so obvious. You should get over it, itโs been five years.โ
The words hit like a clean strike to the ribs -not cruel- okay well maybe a little cruel, but not loud, just devastatingly true. Y/N's voice faltered; she felt herself growing frustrated by his words more than she should let on. "You really think that makes you stronger? Cutting everyone off until there's no one left to care about? 'Yeah my name's Sae Itoshi, and i like to ghost my childhood friend and brother because im a complete total pink haired asshole' like?" She mocked his voice, quotation marks in the air with her hands as she did so. Continuing on, responding to his second sentence.
"Whatever made you think I would love you, even ifi could." Y/n whispered in the air, loud enough for the both of them to hear. She stood up abruptly and scoffed.
โI recall you having a crush on me before I left.โ He cut through the brief silence, y/n was taken aback, her face hot with not embarrassment but something rawer.
โYou had a crush on me too. Oh but I forget, the great itoshi sae doesnโt do silly crushes does he? No.. he just ghosts for five years and comes back thinking everything is fineโ She snapped back, her hand tightening, nails digging into the thick skin of her palms.
โI didnโt have a crushโโ he was interrupted by y/n letting out a dry laugh.
โDonโt evenโ you know what youโre right. It is childish of me to think for even a second this jacket is lucky, itโs quite the opposite, just a reminder that youโre not yourself anymore.โ She held the jacket as she spoke about it, then she stepped closer to sae, her mind arguing with her heart on whether she should just throw it at his chest.
Sae didn't respond. He didn't have to. The silence was the answer. And that hurt more than anything he could've said. When Rin's footsteps came down the stairs, it felt like a spell breaking. Her shoulders relaxed and she let out a sigh, turning to the green-haired boy.
"You ready?" he asked, adjusting his bag.
"yeah, I'm ready," Y/N responded, picking her bag up and folding it over her shoulder. She brushed past Sae as if nothing had been said. But as she stepped outside, she swore she could still feel his gaze; it was heavy, unreadable, almost regretful.
The door clicked softly behind her. And even though she didn't look back, the echo of his voice followed her all the way down the path.
You can't be anybody's friend.
Who does he think he is?
What makes him think I'm in love with him.
.
.
.
And why am I?
Not particularly my fav chap so farโฆ I feel like I rushed the pacing of this one, lmk what u guys think :))
There was a pause, followed by the distant sound of a crumpled packet being tossed into the trash. Solรจne's voice crackled back through the speaker, full of exasperated flair. "You shouldn't even be thinking about that manโ boy even, because how can he go what.. 4 years no contact?" There was silence from y/n's part before she spoke up hesitantly
"Actually it was 5โ" she winced as Solene groaned from the other line. โYouโre literally not making your case any better babe."
Y/N groaned, pressing the heel of her palm against her forehead. She was sprawled across her bed in a mess of blankets and oversized hoodies, her hair in a bonnet that looked like it was ready to slip down her back and give up on its task. She rolled over on her bed, her phone lazily in her hand. She glanced to her curtains that were open just a crack, the light filtering through was pale and unmotivated; the kind of afternoon light that made everything feel both too early and too late. The kind that made her feel a little sad. She felt like the light.
She exhaled through her nose, long and weary. "Sol, you don't get it! I can't just- you know- show up! We haven't spoken in.. five years!" She flopped onto her back dramatically, arms flailing as though the ceiling could possibly give her answers. "Mostly his fault but- still! He's been busy! He hasn't even spoken to Rin! That's- that's petty! Like, capital P-E- to the T-T-Y, petty!"
The groaning returned, now muffled into the pillow under her chin. "Ughhhh."
Solรจne's laugh rang through the phone, bright and chaotic. "Yah, no, I wouldn't even say spelling petty is enough.. it's not quite Beyoncรฉ taking Jay-z's writing credits petty but.." she paused for dramatic effect, "-still pretty petty. But y/n I mean.. you go over to the Itoshi's often enough, even after he left.. sure it's been like..only three months?โฆ"
Y/N snorted, flipping over again so she could rest her chin on her folded arms. "I can't believe you're so calm about this.. I mean I've tried but every second I see Rin I sort of freak out dude!โ I mean the only thing different about him and his brother is their hair but if you see them with a hood up side by side.."
She puts her hands together side by side as if to demonstrate. "No different. Oh and come onnn don't bring up the three months I've not been there, I've been studying like non-stop for our exams.. university is not going to apply for itself!"
Sol groaned audibly, a soft slap echoed through the room, her hand to her forehead at y/n's anticts. "You're the only thing stressing me out n/n... I mean you've been writing non stop- like you're running out of time until the exams, which you aren't, we've got a while, and your grades are high enough.."
Y/n let a shrill of laughter, only to pause abruptly and show her boredom and so not amused expression to her curly-headed companion on the phone. Solene smiled before snickering at her, she tapped lightly on the phone and looked directly into the camera. "Easy for you to say miss top of the class.."
"You need to chill okay? You're smart, talent and beautiful, any guy who ghosts you is not worth your time, those exams are worth your time, and you're doing a good job so.. just chill, summer is right around the corner" Solene chimed, sticking her tongue out and grinning like she's got something cheeky planned.
"It's September sol." y/n deadpanned, her fingers dutifully tapping at a random game she downloaded.
"And you the birthday girl.." Solene rebutted back, rolling over and setting her phone on her desk.
The two of them giggled in tandem and y/n leaned comfortable on her pillow, her bed was slowly luring her into taking a mid-day nap.
The laughter faded, leaving behind a comfortable hum of silence; the kind that came from years of friendship. Y/N's eyes wandered to her desk, where a thin layer of dust clung to a small, framed photo. It was old, taken back when Sae still smiled without restraintโ Rin was laughing too, and of course so was she. It was a rare, unguarded moment their parents had somehow captured. She stared at it for a long second, using her finger and pretending to knock it over without getting up from her spot.
Before she could spiral any further, a sharp knock rattled her door.
"Y/N!" came her mother's voice, cheerful and far too knowing. "We're leaving in two hours for the Itoshis' dinner! Get dressed, please- and be presentable this time!"
Y/N froze. Her mother continued, oblivious to her internal collapse.
"You know Sae's back, right? His mother's been over the moon! Oh- and I did promise Mrs. Itoshi that if you two are still single by twenty, you have to get marri-"
Y/N nearly choked, springing upright like she'd been electrocuted. Her hoodie slipped off her head as she clutched the phone to her ear, wide-eyed in horror.
From the other end, Solรจne's cackling erupted loud enough to make the phone vibrate. "That's my cue to leave, I'll probably call the group chat, bye mrs. L/n! Go shower, stinky! Love you, bye!"
"SOL- nononono please- DON'T YOU DARE HANG U-"
Silence. "I've been betrayed.."
Y/N flopped back down, letting out a groan that could only be described as existential. Her ceiling fan spun lazily above her, blades creaking in rhythm with her intensely fast heartbeat. Somewhere downstairs, her mother was humming, completely unaware that her daughter was moments away from a nervous breakdown.
Sae Itoshi was back.
A full five years. Sixty months. And not a single word between them for atleast 80% of that time.
She swallowed, turning her face into the pillow as her stomach twisted. What was she supposed to say when she saw him? Hi, remember me? The girl grew up with and then left? giving her an overdeveloped sense of emotional attachment?
Y/N groaned again, muffled by the pillow. "I'm doomed," she muttered. "I'm actually doomed. My chungus life is officially over.."
Still, she forced herself up, dragging her hoodie off and tossing it somewhere into the void of her room. Her reflection in the mirror caught her off guard- older, sharper somehow, but still with the same uncertain glint in her eyes.
"He's just Sae," she whispered to herself. "Just Sae."
Her voice trembled. Because he wasn't just Sae. He never was. And she knew that better than anyone. Her mother shook her head with an amused huff. "You're a l/n alright.. procrastinating is our thing.."
Y/n manoeuvred to her bathroom, sliding the water on so that way when she stepped in it would be warm. She took her hair down and started to undress- slipping into the already warm water and letting the water attempt to calm her nerves.
Steam gathered quickly, fogging the glass, clinging to the ceiling like it wanted to stay. She let the water hit her shoulders, head bowed, palms flat against the tiles. It should have been relaxing. Normally, it was the one place her thoughts behaved, she felt like a lone alpha in the rain.
The Itoshi household sat heavy in her mind. Too formal, too quiet. Too many unspoken things tucked behind sliding doors and polite silences. She rinsed the shampoo out of her hair a little too fast, fingers moving on autopilot as her chest tightened for reasons she couldn't neatly explain. She visited frequently yeah; but it was always with Rin, and it would be right into the study room where they'd either do school work, or the garden where they'd kick some ball.
By the time she stepped out, wrapped in a towel, the mirror was a blur. She wiped it with her forearm and stared at herself. Same face. Same eyes. Just a little more restless than usual.
"Not today," she murmured, almost like a warning.
Her phone buzzed on the counter. She picked it up immediately.
An incoming face time call from 'the Gooners'
She answered before the second ring finished, her camera off and turned to face the ceiling as she dried off. She kept the towel around her shoulders so it could soak up the water from her hair, and she went into her room, her camera off.
Rin's face filled the screen first, camera angled slightly too low. Rowan leaned into frame a second later from somewhere off to the side, hair still damp, while Solene appeared last, already dressed and seated neatly on her bed.
"There she is, our princess manager" Rowan said, grinning. "Thought the shower swallowed you whole, or worse...."
y/n rolled her eyes softly, rubbing the towel into her hair. "Very funny."
Solene smiled, gentle and observant as ever. "How are you feeling?"
y/n hesitated, then shrugged, reaching for her clothes. "Weird. Nervous. I don't know."
Rin stayed silent so he could listen to her for a moment, his response came swift. "You'll be fine."
"That's easy for you to say," she replied, pulling on her top. "It's your house."
"Exactly, nothing's going to happen."
Rowan scoffed, as he spoke over the sound of a packet crumpling, then crunching. "That's what people say right before something absolutely does happen."
"Rowan," Solene warned.
"What? I'm being supportive," he said, holding his hands up. "In my own way."
y/n smiled despite herself, fastening her bag and sitting on the edge of the bed so she could see them properly, turning the camera on. "I just don't want to mess anything up."
"You won't," Solene said immediately. "You're overthinking."
Rowan nodded, unusually sincere for half a second. "You're terrifyingly competent. It's unsettling, actually."
Rin looked at him flatly. "Stop talking."
y/n laughed quietly, the sound easing some of the tightness in her chest. "I'm heading out now."
"Call me when you get there, or don't. Just let me know you're alive." Solene smiled reassuringly at the camera and blew y/n a kiss, Rowan on the other hand pretended to intercept and crossed his arms in a X form.
"None of that!!! Kisses to me only please Solene"
Solene groaned and flipped him off, "no way you cunt" and she hung up, leaving Rowan to laugh.
"And if Sae scares you," Rowan added, "blink twice on camera next time."
Rin sighed. "Ignore him."
"I always do," y/n said, standing. She adjusted her sleeve once more, then looked back at the screen. "I'll see you soon."
"Yeah," Rin said after a beat. "Just chill, okay?"
She nodded, ended the call, and slipped her phone into her pocket.
Outside, the air felt cooler, sharper. She locked the door behind her and started walking, nerves humming low beneath her skin, every step carrying her closer to the Itoshi household and whatever waited beyond its doors.
The Itoshi house hadn't changed much from when she was last here, which was only a few months ago.
It was still quiet, pristine, and faintly intimidating- like it had been frozen in time while the rest of the world kept moving. The same pale walls, the same scent of cedar polish and green tea. Even the framed photographs along the hall seemed to watch her, her younger eyes meeting her current ones, caught between old smiles and distant memories. Y/N adjusted the collar of her sweater and forced a polite smile as she stepped through the door. It's fine, she told herself. You're fine.
And for the most part, she was.
Rin was there now, sharper in both jawline and tongue, but still the same in that quiet way she recognised. His presence grounded her, like muscle memory. He'd greeted her with a nod, that small flicker of warmth in his eyes that said more than words ever could. She knew Rin, and Rin knew her. So she clung to that safety of familiarity as she sat beside him at the low dining table, helping Mrs. Itoshi fold napkins into neat triangles.
The house felt... expectant. Like it was holding its breath. And Mrs Itoshi let it out.
"Y/N, darling, could you hand me that platter, please?" Mrs. Itoshi asked, her voice soft and melodic as always. The woman hadn't aged a day - still elegant, still composed. "It's been far too long since you've joined us for dinner."
Y/N passed the dish with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "It's been a while. Rin said you've been busy hosting guests.. plus, I've also had so much to do with school and then managing Rin's team."
Mrs. Itoshi chuckled lightly, arranging the last of the tableware. "Ah, yes, work never ends, even when the house is empty. But tonight feels special, doesn't it?"
Y/N's fingers hesitated over the next napkin.
"Special?"
"Oh, of course!" The older woman smiled- the kind of smile that carried both pride and sentiment. The words hit harder than she expected. Y/N blinked, trying to hide the way her stomach twisted, half excitement, half worry. "Sae's coming home tonight."
"Oh. Right. He's... back."
'If Sae is a complete asshole.. at-least I know it's him and not this wonderful woman he called mother..' Y/n thought to herself as she shifted the plate so the design faced her.
Rin shifted slightly beside her, the sound of his chopsticks clinking against the bowl punctuating the air, something to toy around with as he sat patiently, his work in the dining room long completed, his expression was unreadable. "He hasn't called."
Mrs. Itoshi tilted her head. "Oh, Rin, don't be so dramatic. You know your brother."
"No, I really don't," he muttered, low enough that Y/N wasn't sure his mother even heard. There was an awkward beat. Y/N glanced at him, catching the way his jaw tensed, then quickly looked down again. The smell of simmering broth drifted from the kitchen, familiar, comforting, but somehow too warm for the chill that had settled in her chest. Rin tilted his lips up into a semi-smile, something youโd miss if you didnโt know him.
Mrs. Itoshi didn't seem to notice. She was fussing over the arrangement of glasses now, humming softly. "He said he'd be home before dinner. I'm not sure when exactly... Rin, did your brother mention anything to you?"
Rin didn't even look up. Just poked at the table cloth with angsty hands. When his gaze finally lifted he looked as if she asked a ridiculous question.
"No... I just said he hasnโt called.. and he hasnโt spoken to me in like two years ma."
The air stilled, the fathers who- up until that point was quiet, let out awkward coughs at the same time, and exchanges glances.
"Oh," Mrs. Itoshi said after a moment, her voice bright but forced. "Well, he did mention something briefly - about bringing a friend from Madrid along! I couldn't say no, of course. My entire family together again, isn't that wonderful?"
Y/N's hand froze over her lap. A friend from Madrid. Her heartbeat faltered. The warmth drained from her fingertips. She laughed but it came out thin, unconvincingly convincing. โThat's... nice. Must be someone important if he brought him all this way."
Mrs. Itoshi didn't catch the edge beneath her tone. She just smiled, glowing with maternal excitement. "Oh, I'm sure she's very sweet. I'm thrilled he's made friends overseas."
Y/n's mother raised a brow, looking over to her daughter who stiffened, her face was unreadably readable, atleast for a mother and her daughter.
"She? Im sure she's nice then." She added onto Itoshi's mothers words, whilst a hand soothed other her daughters knee, the action loving and kind. She used two hands to bring y/n's hands into her lap, her hands tenderly dancing along the life lines in it. Then she gave it a gentle squeeze.
"Well she better be lovely enough he ignored his little brother and his childhood best-friend for it.. is she female Jesus?" Rin added with sharp wit, his fringe covering part of one eye in true emo-esque fashion, and he flicked it to the side, a small frown on his face. One that was between his neutral face and the truth- he felt a bit abandoned by someone who should be family.
Y/N stared down at her hands that were with her mothers, her heart hammering against her ribs. A small chuckle flew past her lips at Rin's comment. A friend from Madrid. The phrase echoed, taunting. She could picture it too easily; Sae stepping through that door, expression calm as always, with someone else at his side. Someone who had shared a part of his life she'd never seen.
It wasn't jealousy, not exactly. It was... displacement. Like returning to a home you'd kept warm in someone's absence, only to realize they'd rebuilt somewhere else. She didn't want to think about what kind of person this girl might be. Pretty, no doubt. Elegant. Probably someone who matched Sae's quiet poise, who understood his silences without needing to fill them. Someone who didn't stumble over her words or ramble like she did. The parents decided to pass the waiting time with idle conversation in the living room, leaving the two teens to sit in a partial silence.
Rin's voice broke through her thoughts. "You okay?"
She blinked, realizing she'd been staring into space. "Yeah. Yeah, just thinking."
He studied her for a second longer before leaning back, exhaling. "Don't overthink it. It's Sae. He'll be civil. Probably."
"Probably?" she echoed, brow arching. Rin's mouth twitched, aka the closest thing to a smile she'd get. "Don't expect miracles."
Before Y/N could respond, the faint sound of a car engine rolled into the driveway -smooth, expensive, and final. Her breath hitched. Mrs. Itoshi clasped her hands together, beaming, God her energy is radiant. "Oh! That must be them!"
Time seemed to slow as the front door opened, footsteps echoing in the hall. The rhythm was familiar: confident, measured, followed by another pair of steps, lighter, deliberate.
Y/N's grip tightened on the fabric of her shirt. Rin set his mug down with a soft clink. And then, from beyond the archway, a voice-smooth, composed, unmistakable.
"Mom," Sae called lightly, his tone polite but distant. "I'm home."
'He's here, he's actually here- the boy I'd hopelessly written too in hopes of getting a letter back but never did is here- Sae.. I'm like.. ughhh Noah from the notebook doesn't come close to me. Okay calm down, youโre better than this y/n???โฆ lock in.โ
He stepped into view, taller somehow, his presence filling the room effortlessly. His hair was slightly longer, his posture sharper, his expression unreadable, that same infuriating calm that made him impossible to gauge. And beside him, a girl.
She had sun-browned skin and long hair swept neatly behind one ear, her eyes bright with curiosity as she took in the house. A faint latin accent coloured her greeting as she bowed politely. She was beautiful.
Y/N felt her heartbeat stutter- not a stutter out of envy, but realization. Sae had changed. He belonged to another world now, one far from Tokyo streets and childhood winters. He didn't belong to her world.
Rin's expression hardened, though he said nothing, raising his brows in a greeting at his brother.
Sae accepted his motherโs affection, and stepped aside slightly to introduce his new friendโ Keiko.
Y/N stood awkwardly beside the couch, hands gripping the edge of her seat as if it would anchor her. For a heartbeat, his gaze flicked toward her. It was brief, unreadable, and gone too soon. Then he smiled faintly at his mother, the kind of polite smile reserved for press photos and strangers. And just like that, she realised; Sae Itoshi wasn't just back. He was a stranger wearing the face of someone she used to know. And she hated it.
Dinner at the Itoshi house had always carried a kind of quiet elegance, but tonight, it felt rehearsed. The table gleamed under warm light, the dishes were arranged with care, and Mrs. Itoshi's laughter filled every pause like she was trying to smooth out the rough edges between her sons. The scent of simmered miso, grilled fish, and fresh rice should have made the room feel like home. Instead, the air sat heavy, as if even the walls were holding their breath.
Sae sat across from Y/N, his posture straight, expression calm, every inch the composed professional he had become. Keiko sat beside him, her fingers curled neatly around her glass, her voice soft and melodic with a faint Spanish. She spoke easily, like someone used to being heard, and every word slipped into the silence before Y/N could find hers.
"So," Y/N began, her fingers tracing the edge of her cup. "Madrid. How was it?"
Sae looked up briefly. "It was fine."
"Just fine?" She tried to laugh, but it came out weak. "You were there for like.. five years. There must've been something you liked. The food? The city?"
Before he could answer, Keiko leaned forward, her smile bright. "Oh, the city is incredible," she said. "Sae always complained about the early practices, but I think he secretly liked them. The light over Madrid in the morning is unreal."
Y/N smiled politely, she realised she genuinely can't find anything bad about this girl, she's beautiful, a familiar beauty, plus y/n doubted sae would tell her anything about their playground crush. "Right.. uh, Madrid sunlight must be hard to leave behind!- I'm.. so jealous of you.. you got to see that beauty, I plan on going one day.."
"It is," Keiko agreed. "But Tokyo has its charm too. Sae told me you used to come over a lot. You must know this house better than anyone."
Her tone was friendly, but the comment landed wrong. Y/N hesitated before replying, eyes flicking toward Rin, who was quietly eating, detached from the conversation. "Yeah. Used to."
Rin's jaw tightened, though he didn't look up. Sae's expression didn't change at all.
Mrs. Itoshi, ever cheerful, clapped her hands softly. "Oh, Y/N practically grew up here! You, Rin, and Sae were inseparable when you were little. Do you remember the summer you got locked in the garden shed? Oh, Sae, you were terrified of that poor spider!"
Keiko laughed, eyes glimmering. "Really? You?"
Sae exhaled through his nose, a faint smile touching his lips. "That was a long time ago."
"Still cute, though," she teased.
Y/N's hand tightened around her chopsticks. The word "cute" sounded foreign, like it had no right being said in this house. Not about him. Not in that tone.
Rin broke the tension by asking for the soy sauce, and for a moment, everyone pretended things were normal again. Y/N took another bite of rice, though she barely tasted it. The conversation around her blended into a hum of soft laughter and polite words. She felt like a stranger in a place that once felt like her own.
Then Mrs. Itoshi turned to her again, smiling kindly. "And how about you, dear? You mentioned you're still doing your analysis work with the teams, that university scholarship is definitely on your way. You must be proud of yourself"
That question, at least, brought a flicker of life back into Y/N's eyes. "Ohโ uh, yeah," she said, sitting a little straighter. "I've been refining my body-system. It tracks players' adaptability and perception during high-pressure matches. It's less about raw numbers, more about instinct and awareness- how their minds process the field."
Rin made a low sound that might've been amusement. "Still psychoanalysing everyone, creepy n/n."
Y/N smirked, her tone light and teasing, familiar with Rin, like how it once used to be with Sae. "Only when they deserve it, you rarely do"
Mr. Itoshi chuckled. "You always had such a sharp eye. Even as a child, you could read people like a book."
Keiko tilted her head. "That's fascinating. You analyse football players' potential?"
Y/N nodded. "It's not just what they do on the field, but why they do it. Every decision reveals how a player thinks, how they see others. It's about uh.. understanding them.. seeing what they can't yet see in themselves."
Keiko smiled, clearly impressed. "You must be amazing at it."
Y/n flushed at her kind words, understanding why Sae picked such a beautiful girl like her. Across the table, Sae's chopsticks paused for the briefest second. He didn't look at her, but Y/N felt that small, heavy silence between them. The kind that said more than words ever could.
"It's not about being amazing," Y/N said quietly. "It's about paying attention."
Rin's gaze flickered between them. Keiko, blissfully unaware, complimented the food and went back to chatting with Sae's mother about Madrid. Mrs. Itoshi clasped her hands together, her voice warm. "It makes me so happy to see everyone together again. My family, my boys, and our Y/N. It feels like old times."
Y/N forced a smile, but something inside her twisted. Old times. The phrase sounded like a memory you couldn't go back to.
"Only difference is we don't have two messy eaters, but we still have one graceful angel" Y/N's mother smiled and soothed over her daughter's hair.
Sae looked up at her then, just for a moment. His eyes were calm but unreadable, the same soft green that once looked at her differently. She wondered if he remembered how he used to be- how they used to be-before the distance, before Madrid, before the silence that became their only shared language.
Keiko leaned in to whisper something to him, her voice low and teasing. He said something back, a faint curve to his lips. Y/N didn't catch the words, and maybe that was better. Some things hurt less when left unheard. His eyes flickered to y/n and he glanced away, his claw ticked.
Sae sighed quietly, setting his chopsticks down. "Guess there's nothing more discuss," he muttered to her and glanced briefly to y/n, who was too busy talking to Rin about their training.
Y/N's lips curved slightly. Not out of humor, but because it felt real, honestly it felt nice being in this sort of environment again. The dinner continued, filled with careful laughter and practiced warmth. Yet Y/N's mind drifted elsewhere. Every gesture, every pause, every silence- she noted it all. The analyst in her couldn't help it. The player in her heart, though, just wanted to stop thinking.
By the time the plates were cleared, her pulse still hadn't settled. It wasn't the food, or even Keiko. It was the quiet recognition that everything around her looked the same but didn't feel the same anymore.
Dinner continued on, and meals were packed away for breakfast, dishes were washed- but there was still an awkward air, much less from Keiko; who actually was really nice.
"You are so beautiful y/n! Seriously; you should consider coming back to Madrid with me and we can model together.." Keiko smiled at y/n, clasping her hands together, her attention less on Sae.
"Huh- oh no I couldn't possibly- I mean, you're like outwordly beautiful.." y/n flushed once more under the compliments of Keiko and she rubbed the back of her neck. Keiko shook her head and dismissed her uncertain thoughts
"No no really, you are very pretty, is uhhh, Rin your boyfriend ?"
The air went quiet and the water from the faucet just kept running, y/n coughed and shook her head. Rin looked no different and just shook his head.
"Ah no- he's just a friend- a bestfriend of course but never dating.. I grew up with him and sae that would be too weird you know?"
Keiko looked genuinely confused, but it was quickly replaced with a small smile, and she nodded her head in acknowledgment. โIโm surprised, youโre so beautiful i was just curious, since you and Rin are so close, but no mind,โ she leaned in to whisper, winking as she spoke. โI can introduce you to many more handsome men back in Spainโ my treat!โ
Y/n flushed red and let out a light yet hearty laugh at her words, nodding with a small shrug. โWho am I to turn down such a request.. it was lovely meeting you Keikoโ
The girl blushed politely in return, clasping her hands at her front with a small nod. โAnd you too y/n, Iโm glad Sae grew up with such a good person, makes me have a more faith in him.โ
Sae's eyes flicked between his little brother and y/n and he huffed quietly, then his gaze returned to his girlfriend, things resumed as they would.
In a peaceful way. like everything that needed to be said had decided to stay lodged between the walls instead. Voices drifted off into separate rooms, footsteps soft against the tatami.
y/n stood near the entryway, slipping her shoes on, fingers tightening around the strap of her bag as she checked she had everything. She glanced up when Rin came down the hall, jacket slung over his shoulder.
"I'll see you tomorrow at school- then we'll go for training," she said, keeping her voice light.
"Yeah," Rin replied, already halfway up the stairs to his room. "Yeah. Whatever time we said."
She smiled, voice teasing. "You mean the time you nodded at and then forgot."
He scoffed. "I didn't forget."
"Yeah right. Too busy tapping at your beat up Nintendoโ y/n snapped back, a smug expression on her face.
They shared a brief look, the familiar kind. Easy. Comfortable. The kind that didn't ask for more than it needed to.
Then footsteps sounded behind them.
Sae was in the hallway too.
He leaned against the doorway with his arms folded, expression unreadable, eyes flicking between the two of them like he was watching something mildly amusing rather than remotely important.
"Training," he repeated, tone flat. "Is that what you're calling it now?"
Rin stiffened slightly. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Sae's gaze settled on y/n instead, sharp and assessing. "Nothing. Just interesting how seriously you take... extracurriculars."
y/n straightened, polite smile fixed in place. "I like to be prepared. You know how I amโ
"Do I?" Sae replied. His lips curved, but it wasn't a smile. "Though preparation doesn't always equal relevance. Some people mistake proximity for importance."
โHey.โ Rin bristled, and shifted to come back down the stairs, leaning on the banister and glaring at Sae. "If you've got something to say, say it."
Sae shrugged, pushing himself off the doorframe. "Relax. I'm just pointing out that not everyone here is part of the bigger picture."
His eyes lingered on y/n for a beat too long before he turned away, already losing interest. The silence he left behind felt heavier than his words.
y/n exhaled slowly, adjusting her grip on her bag. "I'll... see you tomorrow?" she said again, softer this time.
Rin nodded, jaw tight. "Yeah."
She stepped out into the night, the door sliding shut behind her. As she walked away, Sae's voice echoed faintly from inside the house, calm and dismissive, and for reasons she couldn't quite place, her chest felt uncomfortably tight all over again.
For as long as y/n could remember, Itoshi Sae had always been there; silent, steady, and hers in a way no one else ever was. They just did things together like friends would, but it felt different, as if they were two keys in a chorus, one was not the same without the other.
Their bond wasn't loud or dramatic; it was.. quiet, sewn together through the years like an unspoken promise. It lived in shared glances across empty fields, the brush of sleeves on narrow streets, and the kind of half-smiles that could hold entire conversations. He wasn't a boy of many words -not with most people, anyway. His voice was sharp when it needed to be, his presence composed to the point of arrogance, and his eyes.. cold, precise, unreadable. Stoic in the way an adolescence boy could be.
But not with her, never with her.
When he looked at her, something changed- subtly, almost imperceptibly, like a thaw beneath frost. His gaze softened, his tone gentled. He would never admit it, but she was the only one who could pull warmth from his winter. How else could you explain what love felt like to 12 year olds? Other than the silence between a girl and boy as he patches her bleeding scraped knee, or other than kicking around an abandoned ball in the park.
Needless to say, the two were inseparable, but as fate would have it, just before turning an age that would mean change for the both of them, Sae would have to leave. The universe has an odd way of saying itโs time for something different.
That day felt colder than it should have for early winter. The sky above Tokyo was a washed-out gray, heavy with the threat of snow but undecided on when to fall. The air nipped at their fingers, bit at their noses. Bare branches arched overhead, skeletal and solemn, while a thin layer of frost clung to the edges of the pavement like sugar dusting.
y/n walked beside the boy with the wind-tossed pink hair, her steps light, almost skipping to match his unhurried pace.
"Sae! Saaeeee!" she called, stretching his name in that singsong way she knew he secretly liked. She tugged at his sleeve, her fingers slipping into the plush fabric like they belonged there.
He exhaled (a sigh that wasn't quite exasperation, but could be masked as such) and slowed his stride without looking at her. "What, Y/N?" His voice was smooth as glass, indifferent at first glance. But there was something behind it. Something quiet and fond.
"I'm really excited that you get to go to Spain and stuff!" she beamed, her smile bright enough to rival the streetlamps flickering to life. Her hand stayed hooked to his arm, her eyes glittering with pride: the kind that came only from knowing someone since they were small enough to share secrets over hushed voices and stolen snacks.
Sae rolled his eyes but didn't pull away. "Yeah, yeah, whatever," he muttered. His words were dry, but the faint curve at the corner of his lips betrayed him. He was happy.... though he'd rather bite off his tongue than say it aloud.
"You're going to play in the big leagues," she went on, undeterred, as always. "That's huge, Sae! I've been watching your clips online. You look like a pro already." Her voice softened for a moment. "I've been studying the game more too, you know? Rin's been helping me out with tactics and positioning-" she hesitated, her expression flickering. "Oh... Rin. You won't leave him behind, will you?"
Her voice dropped, faintly uncertain. She masked it with a small smile, but her eyes gave her away; y/n was always too expressive for her own good. Rin was y/nโs closest friend alongside Sae, it couldnโt be helped since their families were so close it meant everyone was always together. y/n loosened her grip on Saw as she poked her finger at her cheek in thought.
Sae didn't answer right away. He didn't need to. Between them, silence often spoke louder than words. Theirs was the kind of quiet that didn't demand to be filled.
"I won't," he said finally, voice even. "He'll catch up. It's okay, Y/N.
She believed him.. or at least she wanted to. Sae was strict with how he trained, with how Rin trained, but enough so that with ever training session, you could see the determination put into it.. into reaching their goals. Her hands loosened on his arm, but the proximity was somehow closer.
When they stopped, she realized they were already in front of his house. She hadn't even noticed they'd arrived; she'd been too caught up watching him, memorizing the way the winter light brushed against his hair, turning the pink to copper.
He turned to her then, waiting, hands in his pockets.
"Sae..." she began, her tone light but uncertain. "I'll see you again, right? You won't forget me once all those pretty girls in Madrid start falling over themselves for you?"
Her attempt at humor wavered somewhere near the end, more fragile than she intended. He looked at her, like really looked, and for a second, something unreadable crossed his face. "Yeah," he said softly. "I won't, how could I?โ
The words lingered, thin and fragile like frost crystals clinging to glass. As if on cue, the silent street began to pour soft unique snowflakes upon them, gently kissing the street and their features.
"We won't see each other after this, will we?" she asked quietly, her voice carrying her attempt at being strong. "You're leaving early morning, right?โ
He nodded once, slowly, as if to slow down their time together, but it was definite. "Yeah. 6am.โ
"Then... we can still write, right? Call sometimes?" she pressed, her voice trembling with that small, stubborn hope only she seemed to carry.
Sae nodded again, a bit faster, shifting to the door and opening it, leaning against the frame, kicking his beat up trainers against the porch. "We should be able to."
Another silence. He never said much, but somehow, the stillness between them always seemed to hum with things unsaid.
"Y/N," he murmured after a while, her name slipping from his tongue like a secret he'd never meant to speak aloud.
Her heart skipped, tone light and full of air. "Yeah?"
He hesitated, because of course the great broody Itoshi Sae hesitates, then shrugged out of his overcoat and held it out to her. "Here. So you don't forget me. Even though my brother is here.. you can keep this to remember me, like a good luck charm.โ
She blinked, startled, an awkward laugh fell from her as her face went hot, her heart beating rapidly in her tiny chest. "As if I ever could- I mean, well of course I wonโt because youโre brother yeah.. like you.. like you said.โ
"Calm down," he interrupted, though his tone was gentler than his words. A half-smile ghosted across his lips as he shifted his weight onto his leg, no longer leaning against the door.
"Rude," she huffed, clutching the coat to her chest. It was warm and smelled faintly of him: clean linen, winter air, and something steady, something safe. Her fingers clutched in the plush fabric, as if it could muffle how loud her heart was.
"You should go home," he said, leaning against the doorframe again, he kept shifting, nervous, as if his nerves couldnโt settle. "Your mom won't like you staying out after dark.. my mom wouldnโt be happy if I let you stay out so late either. Iโm the older one.โ
She glanced down the street, where the lamplight pooled in little golden puddles on the pavement. Her breath came out in soft clouds, a small smile came across her face as she voiced her agreement. "Yeah," she murmured.
Then, without warning, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him, engulfing him in a hug. He froze, even though theyโd hugged before, like dozens of times. But this one was different. This one meant a temporary goodbye, and neither of them really wanted it to happen.
Sae thought of what to say in that moment, and he just sighed with a small smile on his face. โYou have to work hard okay y/n.. so you can catch up to me. And Rin can too.โ
Her arms trembled where they clung to him, and after a moment, his hands came up slowly, hesitantly, to hold her in return, his heart thumped so heavily he was afraid sheโd be able to feel it, but of course she couldnโt, her own was beating just as hard.
"I know.. I'll miss you," she whispered into his shoulder, her voice small, caught somewhere between her heart and her throat. He was about to respond but she cleared her throat and let go.
When she finally pulled away, her cheeks were flushed, her eyes glimmering. And before he could react, she rose on her toes and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek. The world seemed to pause for Sae. The air around them went still, and even the wind seemed to hold its breath.
Then she stepped back, embarrassed, flustered, and smiling too brightly for someone on the verge of tears. "Bye, Sae!" she called, voice cracking with something she couldn't name, it felt shaky, it was just unfortunate he was leaving so soon, so soon to her, before she could really grow up, before she could catch up to him.
Her voice rang as she spun on her heels to walk backwards to face him. โThanks for the overcoat sae!โ Iโll keep it forever.. you know what they say! You canโt kill a lucky charm!โ She tripped over her own feet and stumbled, she let out a squeal, but quickly caught herself. With her hands still clutching the over coat, she turned around away from him, running down the street to her own home.
He stood there long after she disappeared down the road. The place where she'd kissed him burned faintly beneath his fingertips as he touched it. A small smile, rare and fleeting, flickered across his face before he turned, stepping inside with quiet finality. โIโll miss you too n/n..โ
The door clicked shut, and Rinโ who had heard everything from the moment Sae opened the door slightly, held a plushie in the shape of a football in his hand. Rin scoffed and flicked his bang out his face. His voice deepened slightly as he mocked his brother.
โA good luck charm.. hurhuhh.. Iโll miss you too n/nโ Rin dropped his ball and turned around, holding himself and making fake Kissy noises. โOh n/n Iโll miss h so muchโ oh me too sae my beautiful sae mmhmhmhmmโ
The ball rolls to sae and he picked it up, scoffing as he threw it at Rinโs turned head. โItโs not like that idiotโ now you look stupid.โ
Rin laughed as both brothers had a boyish grin on their face. He picked up his toy and started to go up the stairs to their rooms. โYou two confuse me.โ
โYeah well, you should be used to it Rin. Plus, sheโll confuse you all the way up until you both get to that school you want to go to.. blueโฆ rock?โ Sae muttered, tilting his head with a raised brow and smug smirk. He opened his room door and shut it behind him.
โBlue lock you idiot..โ Rin stood, his grip tightening on the ball. โPlus..Iโm trying..โ he whispered to himself as a frown replaced his usually neutral expression. He felt weird, and he shifted in his spot before going to his own room and closing the door.
The night carried on as it usually does in both households, and as everyone drifted to sleep in the Itoshi household, it was less quiet in the l/n one, because a particular girl was so giddy she just couldnโt sleep.
She squealed as she still held onto the coat, just a pre-teen and her crushes coat against the world. Y/n giggled to herself and rolled around in her bed a bit too hard that she had fallen off, but nonetheless her smile couldnโt be removed. โOh my gosh I canโt believe I did that! eeeeek!โ I kissed sae on the cheeeekkโโ her voice carried out into a fit of giggles once more.
.
.
โY/n be quiet! We have work tomorrow!โ
Y/n froze like a deer in headlights, before she sat up, sheepishly getting back into her bed. โSorry mom!..โ
She let out a sigh and set the coat on her bedside table, glancing at it as she slowly began to drift off into a blissful slumber. And thatโs how it was that winter, the day before Sae left, and the night prior to his departure in the early morning.
Weeks bled into months.
Winter melted into spring, and then summer bloomed. The seasons changed, but one thing didn't: Sae's absence left a silence that hung over everything, but that was okay, instead; in his place, something new began to grow- a quiet understanding between Rin and Y/N. They leaned on each other. She joined his team as their manager, sharp-eyed and dependable, shouting strategy across the field with a confidence that surprised even her.
Rin flourished under her presence, his focus sharpening, his determination turning almost feverish. When they spoke of Sae, it was in whispers, the kind that carried both admiration and ache. Rin couldnโt help but notice the look in her eyes, she felt slightly betrayed of course, because as the months went by, letters and calls became less frequent, and it felt like they were being left behind.
But through it all, Y/N kept his jacket, it became less of a memory thought of as Saeโs departure and rather just something she always kept on her, of course her mother eventually had to get it tailored because she grew out of it once she had hit 14, puberty tends to hit a growing girl much faster than a boy. It hung perfectly at her shoulders, a little too perfect, sleeves brushing past her fingertips; but it fit her all the same. It smelled of winter, of home, the families signature laundry detergent. It was her lucky charm, she said that whenever she wore it her skills are stronger.
And so it was, and she got older, as you would. Her hair changed from how it was as a kid, of course she did hit puberty.. but most of all, the way she acted. Sae was.. gone, and honestly she would be glad if he didnโt come back, she had Rin now, someone who was actually reliable, someone who didnโt ghost her at 12 after 4 months of writing letters and calling.
She still had feelings for Sae, but it was buried under years of hard work, she had collage entrance exams, and she was aiming high, with Rin getting a full ride scholarship to blue lock university, she didnโt want to be the one left behind, not when even her other friends were applying there too.
"what to do what to doโฆ" She hummed to herself, 17 years old, she soothed over the sleeves and zipped it up, using a claw-clip she brushed her hair and clipped it, something effortlessly her. She didn't know what she could expect this week, but she was prepared to face it.
She wouldnโt let anything get in her way of going there, no matter what.
oh y/n, hopefully as always.
Japan. November 15th. 13:56.
The skies were heavy again. The same gray as before- the same quiet before snow. And somewhere, just beyond the airport gates, amid the echo of announcements and the shuffle of luggage wheels..
Sae was home.
a/n : guys be honest is this ass๐ I had this all pre written but because I made it a collage au I actually have to rewrite it all to fit it, before it was literally the blue lock thingy
โ ใเผ โ โ ใsoleneใ โจพ โ 18, chinese + nigerian.
Solene is a soft-spoken yet hard-headed individual who is undeniably loyal to the reader, a talented and extremely smart student. Solene is a part of an illustrious family of medical prodigies, therefore making her one as well. With soft curls and sun-kissed skin, Solene's beauty is so humbly there that you can't help but stare. She's the reader's best friend. duh, not to mention her obvious crush on Rowan.
NOW PLAYING: butterflies. - Brent Faiyaz
QUEUED UP: Be That Easy - Sade
โ ใเผ โ โ ใrowanใ โจพ โ 18, japanese + british.
Rowan is certainly a character, he's spontaneous, loud and full of energy, this guy loves to hide his infatuation for Solene behind '100% platonic teasing'. He comes from a stereotypical white-Asian household; his dad is a football coach, so that nurtured his love for the sport from a young age. He's got fiery red hair and sharp teeth, with bright smiles, and he spends most of his time pissing Rin off.
NOW PLAYING: Bobby James - N.E.R.D
QUEUED UP: Pretty Fly (For A White Guy) - The Offspring
โ ใเผ โ โ ใreaderใ โจพ โ 18, japanese + (your country(ies))
Reader is hard-working, loyal and determined. Her athleticism stems from her childhood friendship with the Itoshi brothers. Her father is a manager for the football team Rowanโs dad coaches for, so sheโs always had that spirit about her. Her parents, from a young age, instilled y/n with the courage to speak up for herself and always stay true to her heart. (I didn't want to make anything too specific for y/n - reader, just so you can have that creative freedom.)
NOW PLAYING: Hereโs Where the Story Ends - The sundays
QUEUED UP: the perfect pair - beabadoobee
โ ใเผ โ โ ใrinใ โจพ โ 18, japanese
Rin is in all words passionately driven by his goals, heโs a hardworking individual who finds expressing himself either a task too tedious or difficult. He didnโt exactly grow up reserved, and was honestly rather expressive as a kid, but when his brother left and seemingly forgot about him, his passion was slowly twisted into a means to prove everyone around him wrong. Throughout it all he still stayed loyal and silently caring towards those close to him.
NOW PLAYING: Japanese Denim - Daniel Caesar
QUEUED UP: Without You - strawberry guy
โ ใเผ โ โ ใsaeใ โจพ โ 19, japanese
Sae is stoic, you couldnโt even say heโs more actions than words because he didnโt give either to his own brother. Though you canโt deny that Sae doesnโt work hard, heโs skilled and career driven, leading for Spain was one of the best decisions he couldโve made to get closer to his career goals, but he didnโt need to leave everyone from his old life behind.
Keiko Martinez.. sheโs beautiful, sheโs cute, sheโs Spainโs dazzling darling in the making. With golden brown wavy hair and a beach-given tan, Keiko is a Spanish-Japanese up coming model whose father was a former Spanish football star. She and sae met at an important networking event, and supposedly โhit it offโ, both of them bonding over their Japanese heritage and their tastes for sport.
