on my hands and knees telling u I would die for the hiorin fic....
ahahaha! here's the thing... I can't promise it'd be a Hiorin endgame 🥲
I do love them as a ship, but as a writer I'm thin on ideas for AUs where they're happy and well-adjusted together 🫣 angsty and falling apart though? Way too many thoughts
So… who’s King Barou™️ getting shipped with in the CO universe?
You: *asks a really straightforward question*
Me: lemme concoct backstories for fifteen other characters, then I'll get back to you
I wish I was joking 💀 but also I love getting these kind of questions, it lets me be indulgent about my AU! So thank you 💗
For context: I am writing a Kunigiri longfic set in 2033-34. This has involved making up fifteen years worth of post-canon life events for the principal cast. Barou doesn't feature prominently, but Kunigami recently revealed that he had a crush on the King back in their Blue Lock days.
Kunigami has moved on by now (like... reeeallly moved on), but Barou's still around, being his good ol' tsundy self. Does he have a partner? Well...
To figure this out, I had to remind myself who's actually on the national team with Barou and work through their dynamics. So...
Sixteen character backstories under the cut, eventually getting to your question.
The following characters have been named in Cassis Orange as being on the Japanese national team, in order of position/role:
Isagi (FW)
Rin (FW)
Shidou (FW)
Barou (FW)
Bachira (Wing)
Otoya (Wing)
Nagi (CAM)
Hiori (CAM)
Sae (CAM)
Karasu (CDF)
Sendou (CDF)
Aryu (FB)
Niko (CB)
Aiku (CB)
Gagamaru (GK)
Fukaku (GK)
This means that 2018 Blue Lock alumni occupy sixteen places in the squad (which should have 23-25 places). Probably two or three too many—ah well. I've alleged that some of the other squad members participated in the second Blue Lock program (which took place in... 2023, right around now lol). There's likely a few other older players from before Blue Lock's time, but it's really Isagi and friends' team.
Everybody knows team squads are synonymous with dating pools in Blue Lock. So, in considering who Barou might be shipped with, I had to think through where everyone was at in life, come January 2034, in my particular AU. Here's the lowdown:
Aiku (34) is currently working through his second divorce. He has a couple of kids. He remains good friends with his teammate Sendou (33), who plays for a Japanese club normally and does a lot of promotional work with sportwear companies.
Karasu (33), Otoya (32) and Shidou (33) represent something of a clique within the squad. The three play for French clubs, alongside Rin (31), who resents being mentioned in the same paragraph as them. Everyone but Otoya is outwardly single, as far as the media knows. Otoya dates influencers and idols.
Because Rin's home club is in France, he doesn't care to rent or purchase a place in Japan. Hiori (32), a long-time friend and Tokyo resident, agreed to let him stay at his apartment for the duration of the tournament. Hiori is single, and streams part-time. Players enjoy the juxtaposition between his gentle personality and the violent games he plays. He plays for the Kawasaki Breakers.
Sae (33) is based in the UK. He has won the Ballon D'Or twice. Although there's been speculation about the nature of his long-term friendship with Shidou, he refuses to speak about his personal life to the press.
Isagi (32) has lead his home club (Bastard Munchen) to victory in the Champions League twice, and he is widely regarded as one of the finest players of his generation. This World Cup will be the third he's contested, and his first as captain. He has stated publicly that third time's the charm. He is openly single, based in Munich. He started a charity to promote football in developing countries in 2027.
Bachira (32) has played for mostly Spanish clubs over the years. He's an advocate for youth football and does outreach work in schools both in Japan and Spain. He has auctioned his own artworks for charity. Not much is know about his personal life, despite his outgoing personality.
Nagi (32) was the face of Japanese football for the 2030 World Cup, in association with Reo (32). The two of them were inseparable following their days in Blue Lock, choosing to play at the same or neighbouring clubs throughout their careers. However, due to his father's untimely death, Reo stepped down from football two years previously. Since then, Nagi has been media shy. Despite his relative youth, there are rumours circulating that he intends to retire soon.
Niko (31) is a formidable centre-back who (with Aiku) forms the iron defence of the Japanese team. He's open about his neurodivergence and advocates for the inclusion of kids like himself in sports. It's understood he has a partner living in England, where he's based.
Fukaku (34) plays for a Japanese team, and has indicated his intention to retire after the 2034 World Cup tournament. As for Gagamaru (33), the man known as the world's best goalkeeper is notoriously reclusive. He is picky about what clubs he plays for, prioritising proximity to nature and the mountains over salary offers. As a result, he's mostly played for German clubs. Nothing is known about his relationship status.
FInally...
That leaves Barou (33) and Aryu (34). The duo play for Fiorentina. It's reported that the two share a villa together in the city's outskirts. Aryu has dabbled in modelling and fashion for many years, and his self-titled brand is steadily growing in renown.
Aryu speaks of Barou as his glamorous partner... but he calls next to everything glamorous, leaving the media stumped.
Barou, meanwhile, refuses to entertain fluff piece journalists and has neglected to comment on his relationship with the towering wingback. There is no record of any public affection between them both. However, the two are certainly very close. Last year, they both began sporting matching black rings.
Hey anon! Short answer: I have no stories planned or in progress with Bachisagi as the main pairing.
Long answer: I've been thinking about what I'd next like to write in my 2034 AU. I'm leaning towards writing Hiori and Rin's story before I tackle NagiReo's, and the former will provide additional insight into Bachisagi's deal. But work on that is in the planning stages, and like in Cassis Orange, Bachisagi would be peripheral rather than the main focus.
That aside, I'd like to write another oneshot for my Bachisagi fantasy AU, but I have several other things I'd like to finish or progress ahead of that.
