Work Text:
“Let’s go, Nagi.” The difference in their heights is a mere five centimeters, but Nagi has built up a lot of bulk over training. Coupled with his determination to put off getting up as much as possible, trying to drag him up should count as part of morning exercise. “We have a full day ahead of us!”
One eyelid lifts to give him a sullen look. “Didn’t you say that you’d be busy with a lot of things today?”
“Good morning to you too,” he says, patting the other’s hand. “I am, but I’m bringing you with me!” He’s quick to preempt a protest about not wanting to socialize. “You don’t have to make small talk with anyone, just leave everything up to me!”
In a way, it’s kind of sly.
But it really can’t be helped.
He knows that Nagi would rather spend a free day napping, playing games and catching up on his manga. But, it’s a rare free time that he’s been able to negotiate from the coaching staff. It’s kind of selfish, but he wants Nagi to accompany him today too. He’s already grown past the naïve thinking of expecting everything he wants to fall to his hands, but this one, he wants to grasp tightly in his hold.
“…Eh.” Nagi’s hair is mussed from presumably rolling around in his sleep. There are obvious sleep-lines on his face, making him appear like a slothful bunny. A giant slothful bunny, who moves to a sitting position, but distributing his entire weight to the also-seated Reo. “You’d be busy, though. Because everyone would want to spend time with the birthday boy.”
It’s not exactly a secret that today’s his birthday. Each year, there’s a grand celebration—even when there’s summer break, he usually either attends summer classes, clubs or internships, so he’d be out and surrounded by people. And then, there’s the luncheon and dinner party, where his parents would introduce him to members of high society.
…That said, he’s pleasantly surprised when Nagi brings that up. He can’t help but feel his face warm up in happiness. “O-Oh! I didn’t think you’d know about it, Nagi!” He ruffles the white hair that’s close to his chin, given that Nagi’s starting to fall back asleep and substituting him for a body pillow. “Then you have to grant my birthday wish! You’ll have to spend the entire day with me!”
“Of course, I’d know about it.” There’s a childish quality to his voice. Once, he’d likened Nagi to a whiny baby, but he’s a lot cuter now in his eyes—to be fair, Nagi’s always been cute in his eyes, save for that time period where they’d been separated. In any case, this pouty tone widens his smile, and he continues to comb the other’s hair using his fingers. He doesn’t stop, even when Nagi adds, “Didn’t we agree to be together until the end? It’s important that I know these things.”
Something swells inside his ribcage. It’s still odd to hear Nagi say such serious words with a very mature aura, but it’s also undeniably nice. It’s always nice to be reminded that the desire to work together forever isn’t one-sided. It’s even nicer to know that even someone who’d rather do nothing would actually take initiative in these matters.
“That’s right. We’ll win massive bids from the Neo-Egoist League, take up the pro league by the storm, and win the World Cup! We’ll play together all the way!”
Nagi’s arms tighten around his waist. When he lifts his head from burrowing against his neck, their foreheads end up touching, the tips of their noses a hair away from bumping. At this point-blank distance, Nagi’s eyes are wide and dark, like a deep void wanting to swallow him up.
For a moment, Reo’s reminded of the reaction from Chigiri, when he once mentioned about how he thinks Nagi is like a bunny. Chigiri’s usually really graceful, even when he’s insulting other people or when he’s being fired up in a match, but there’s no grace whatsoever when he deadpanned about how Nagi’s more like a murderous rabbit. At that time, Barou was nearby too, and the other man scoffed so hard and grumbled something about Nagi being a monster rabbit instead, and how Reo’s eyes must be shit.
At that time, whatever words Reo was about to tell Barou off for insulting Nagi were all swallowed up by blocking Nagi’s way so he wouldn’t end up throwing hands with Barou again.
…Really, Reo has heard that those two managed to work together before, so why are they back to fighting again… Maybe some people just aren’t meant to fit together, just as how some people are seemingly destined to work wonderful together, no matter what.
…In any case, Reo thinks that right now, he really couldn’t fathom Nagi being anything like what others are saying. But, there’s no denying that Nagi looks different now, with a more confident and serious attitude.
“Together until the end,” Nagi reiterates, staring hard at him.
“Mm, that’s right.” And because he can’t help it, he ruffles the other’s hair again. It really is one of his best decisions, overtaking the task if handling Nagi’s toiletries, so he could ensure that the other ends up using top-tier shampoo to keep his hair soft. “And that includes accompanying me today too.”
Nagi blinks, then rubs their noses together. Like a really cute bunny. “Mm, happy birthday, Reo.”
“Thank you, Nagi!” He lets himself enjoy this embrace for a few more moments. “I’m really happy today.”
His partner is with him, not only on the pitch, but off it as well. He has his future steps planned out, and their shared dream continues to shine at them. At this point, there really is nothing more he could ask for, aside from winning the World Cup outright.
“Tomorrow too, and the next day after, and the day after that. Reo should continue being happy too.”
He can’t help but pinch the other’s cheeks, his fingers electrified with a strange buzzing energy. It really is quite a feat, listening to Nagi say this kind of words. He could feel his eyes crinkling in delight. “Then you should make sure to accompany me tomorrow, the next day after, and so on too.”
Nagi blinks at him again, and raises his hands so he could keep his face trapped between his palms. “…Got it, Reo. I’ll make sure to make you happy.”
The intensity of that stare makes him wonder if he has misunderstood something, but it’s impossible. They’ve now resolved to communicate better so they wouldn’t have the same sort of misunderstandings that caused them to have that bitter separation.
So, Reo could only nod, hug Nagi again, then pull him up once more so they could get started on having a happy day together, one day at a time.
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end
(it totally is a misunderstanding, reo’s thinking of the world cup while nagi’s thinking of marriage lol)