Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The sun was still out, light snow drifted across the streets, dusting the sidewalk in thin sheets of frost. On those sidewalks, was a particularly buzzing bee, skipping happily while humming a tune under his breath, not caring for the crunch sound underneath his thick boots. He held a small box, pressing it close to his chest. Cold air rushed past his face, his nose and cheeks red.

He stopped skipping and turned to the house right in front of him, not plain, but not overly decorated. Small lights hung from above the door, flashing the brown wood green and red. The buzzing bee skipped up the steps, knocking softly on the door. 

With a soft click, the door opened. “Oh! Bachira,” the woman behind the door said. “Come, come, it must be freezing out there!” 

“It’s okay!” Bachira said, rubbing his boots on the welcome mat to get rid of any snow, before making his way inside the house. Inside, he was hit by a wave of warmth and the soft yellow glow of the lights. “Are you making cookies, Mrs. Isagi?” 

“Oh? You noticed?” Mrs. Isagi asked, gesturing for him to move to the kitchen. “You’re exactly right! Made them just for Christmas,” she said, walking to the kitchen aisle. “Why don’t you go to Yo-chan’s room? I’m sure he’s waiting for you, he’s been nervous all day!” She winked at him, before pointing to the stairs.

“Alright then! See you Mrs. Isagi!” He gave a cheerful wave before venturing on to the wooden stairs. 

…

Alright, time to admit.

Bachira was nervous.

Crazy nervous.

Sure, he had met Isagi’s mother many times, and sure, he knew he was well liked by her and his father, but, this was the first time they’d hung out romantically.

He continued walking up the stairs in silence, only the sounds of it creaking there to accompany him. His heart was beating so fast, he could swear it would burst out of his chest. He walked down a long corridor, neatly decorated with picture frames and medals, before reaching Isagi’s room.

Knock.

Knock.

Knock.

“Hold on!” Said the all too familiar voice on the other side. “Give me a sec—” 

He opened the door. 

For a second, he and Isagi just stared at each other; Bachira couldn’t help but notice his messy hair and flushed face. “Meguru…” Isagi started, before being interrupted.

“Isagi, are you rushing to get somewhere?” Bachira laughed.

“I–what?” Isagi looked at Bachira confused, before realizing what he was talking about. “No! I just put on my hoodie! That’s all,” he reached his hand out to his hair, in an attempt to smoothen it. “It’s okay,” Bachira said again, waving his hand dismissively.

Then, silence again. Isagi shifted uncomfortably at the door, clearly not knowing what to do with the silence. “Hey, wanna come in?” He tilted his head to the inside of his room, all plain.

“Sure!” 

Bachira stepped inside, taking sight of the room. He gazed at the thick stack of soccer magazines and books on the wooden dresser, then back at the plain white walls.  “Where are all your posters?” He asked, eyes wandering around the room. “Oh? My Noel Noa ones?” 

“Yeah, those.” 

“I took those down,” he shook his head. “After the Neo Egoist League earlier this year…” 

He didn’t need to continue. “Oh, I get it.” 

“You do?” Isagi lifted an eye brow. He walked over to his bed and sat on it, patting the spot next to him for Bachira to sit. “Yeah! Of course,” Bachira started, walking over to Isagi. He sat on the bed, leaning back as he spoke, “it’s like the monster. But mean.” 

“But mean?” 

“Yeah, like…” Bachira stopped for a moment, looking up to the ceiling thoughtfully before continuing. “The monster wanted to awaken me for my own gain. Noel Noa wanted to awaken you to awaken Kaiser for his gain. Selfish monster.” 

“Selfish monster…? That actually makes sense,” Isagi lifted his hand to his chin. 

“Course it does!” Bachira giggled, now leaning onto Isagi. 

Isagi, like an instinct, wrapped his arm around Bachira’s shoulders, pulling him closer. 

“What’s that you got there?” He pointed to the neatly wrapped gift that Bachira still held. 

“Oh! My gift for you!” 

Bachira outstretched his arms with the gift, as Isagi took it. 

“Early Christmas gift?” 

Bachira nodded.

He carefully opened the blue and yellow wrapper, revealing a cardboard box. Opening it, he gasped. “Meguru…is this…?” 

“Yup!” Bachira said, taking account of Isagi’s face.

“A Totoro figure!?” 

Isagi practically jumped on Bachira, pulling them both down to the bed, yelling, “it’s adorable! How’d you know it’s my favorite movie?”

“Just a hunch,” Bachira put a finger to his lips and winked at him, “oh, and don’t forget the other thing in the box.” 

“Another thing?” Isagi shook the box, causing three packs of sour gummies to fall out. “Meguru…holy shit. How’d you know?” 

“I’m a psychic!” 

“At this rate, I’m really gonna believe you are.” He stared at the Totoro figure, then back at Bachira, then back at the figure. He got up, and put the figure and gummies on his night stand, before falling back onto the bed. Again, he wrapped an arm around Bachira, facing the ceiling as he pulled him closer. 

You could never really get enough of Bachira.

“Hey, Meguru…?” He turned to fully face Bachira, blue meeting yellow, as he spoke. 

“Thanks.” 

“Always, partner!” Bachira smiled back at him; laughter filled the not so plain room, now decorated with the colors of laughter and love as the two lay side by side together. Bachira shifted on Isagi’s arm, gazing at him like he hung the moon. 

Outside, the snow gently fell down, painting roads and sidewalks and windows white, whilst the frigid air moved wispily. Inside, two lovers lay, warmth curled between them, carrying memories and secrets and stories that they hope will stand for eternity and after.

“Did something happen?” Isagi asked, seeing the look on Bachira’s face. Bachira didn’t answer, snuggling into Isagi’s warm embrace.

“Hey, Isagi?”

“Yeah?”

“Merry Christmas.”

Chapter Text

Rin sat at the wooden bench stationed under a tree at the park, trying to avoid the heavy snow. He practically recoiled at the sight of the weather, muttering about the weather app betraying him. He checked his phone again, trying to see if there would be a period where the snow would stop and he could return home, but to no avail. He continued to grip the strap of his soccer bag, staring and staring and staring at the snow.

Time passed by, and Rin was slowly losing it. 

The area was quiet, much needed quiet for Rin, but somehow, he hated it.

Ding!

His phone buzzed, and he pulled it out to check what the message was.

User 1–XXX–XXX–XXX: Hiiii!!! Is this Rin’s number? 

Huh? Who the hell was this lukewarm?

The phone buzzed again.

User 1–XXX–XXX–XXX: Sorry if this isn’t! But please let me know ASAP!!!

Rin sighed before replying back.

Rin: No, this is Rin. Who is this?

User 1–XXX–XXX–XXX: oh! That's great! I’m Nanase :D

Oh. The country bumpkin. When’d he give him his number?

Rin: When did I give you my number?

Country Bumpkin: Before winter break! You said to call me if I needed help training

Did he really do that?

He stared at his phone, Nanase’s typing bubble lingering.

Country Bumpkin: It’s ok if u can’t tho 

Now he’s typing informally. Great.

The snow seemed to pick up the pace, the now thick sheet of snow reaching up to Rin’s ankles. He pulled his coat tighter around his chest, muttering curses under his breath. But, he did make a promise, and he wasn’t one to break them, unlike a certain someone.

Rin: No. I can. Do you need help now?

Country Bumpkin: That would be great actually!! 

I’ll send you my location

Rin waited for the location pin to drop, idly checking the time on his phone which read, 9:21 PM.

He didn’t expect Nanase of all people to be the one to train so diligently so late.

Country Bumpkin has shared their location : XXX, XXX

Rin: Alright. As soon as the snow ends I’ll be there.

Country Bumpkin: Tysm :D!!!!!!

Rin felt the praise for upholding such a simple promise was unnecessary, but nevertheless, it didn’t matter. He sat at the wooden bench, face presumably red from the biting cold, fidgeting with the loose string of his coat. He tapped his foot impatiently against the thick snow, leaving almost no sound.

Thankfully, after his conversation with Nanase, the snow quickly subsided. For reasons Rin could not understand, he practically leaped up when the snow ended, walking unusually fast just to train with some unpolished lukewarm. 

Country Bumpkin: R u out in the cold all alone?? Do u need someone to pick u up?

Rin: No, I’m fine. Thanks.

Thanks. Thanks? 

He walked down the street, following the map to where Nanase seemed to be. He walked across a large lake, taking the time to stare at his distorted reflection in the water. He felt as though he couldn’t see his own reflection as his own anymore.

No.

The reality was, 

he couldn’t see himself at all.

 The cold practically pierced his skin, numbing his whole body. Strands of his hair swayed in the frosty wind as Rin shook his head and continued walking forward. He wasn’t going to let some tepid thoughts consume him, not again. 

When he reached the indoor field, he saw a brown-haired boy sporting a familiar headband at the door, leaning against it. 

He seemed to spot Rin before Rin could say anything, do anything, back out even. 

“Rin! You came!” 

Rin scrunched his nose, he could feel the happiness radiating off this guy. 

Too bright.

Too welcoming.

Too Nanase. 

It was warm though, and welcoming. It was hard not to just melt into the embrace, and Rin couldn’t help but notice many details about Nanase. The way his eyes shone with ambition, the way small strands of his brown hair would fall past his eyes, the way his lips curled into an oblivious smile, the way he’d stare at Rin with so much hope, it made Rin’s stomach churn and twist and flutter all at once.

Maybe the cold was getting to him and Rin was actually sick now.

“Yeah yeah,” Rin walked towards him, careful not to slip on the snow.

“Let’s go practice!” 

Nanase grabbed his hand, tugging on his wrist. Rin, for some reason, didn’t object, letting him lead him inside to a building filled with warm pale lights, making the field seem brighter than it usually was. He stopped at the bench, taking off his coat and boots, changing them for his cleats. Rin made his way to the field, getting a feel of the ground. 

“Alright then,” he said, “let’s train.”

Chapter Text

Shidou has created a group chat 

Shidou has named the group chat “JINGLE BALLS😍🔥🔥🔥”

Shidou has added Rin, Isagi, Chigiri, Kunigami, Sae, Ness, Kaiser, Nanase, Hiori, Kurona, Reo, Nagi, Karasu, Otoya, Bachira 

Shidou: WHAT UP BITCHES😍 

Rin: kys 

Shidou: okay damn 

Isagi: woah woah woah what is this gc 

Shidou: TO COMMEMORATE THE HOLIDAYS 

Chigiri: why are we yelling 

Shidou: js say u dont feel holly and jolly smh😒 

Bachira: I FEEL HOLLY AND JOLLY!!! :DDD 

Shidou: AYYY AT LEAST SOMEONE GETS ME 

Sae: Why did u add me. 

Oh. 

Rin, ur here too? 

Unblock me please. 

Mom keeps asking me why u blocked me.

Rin: SHIDOU WHY WOULD YOU ADD HIM 

Rin has left the group chat 

Sae: oh😕 

Chigiri: coward behavior tbh  

Isagi: yeah couldn’t be me🙏💯💯💯💯💯 

Kaiser: are we SURE tho 

Isagi: who the FUCK added you

Kaiser: shidou 

Sae: kaiser ur rin’s friend right 

Ask him to unblock me 

Kaiser: bitch do u want ME to be blocked too??? 

 Otoya: i do NOT claim this negative energy🥹✌️ 

Isagi: bro stfu💔 

Shidou: its ok saebae i gotchu😍😍😍😍 

Nanase: guys we should js give him some time maybe😭 

 
Shidou: who r u 

Nanase: ????  

U added ME 

Rin has rejoined the group chat 

Rin: don’t be mean  

Shidou:??? 

bro do u got a 6th sense or some shit?? 

Isagi:??? 

Sae:??? 

Chigiri: ??? 

Otoya: ??? 

Bachira: are you guys dating??? 

Rin: WJAT 

Nanase: WHAT NO NO NO WHAT 

Rin: 

…

is the idea of dating me that bad 

Nanase: NO I MEAN I  

Bachira: ??? 

Isagi: ???
 

Kaiser: guys is there something we need to discuss 

Rin: WHAT NO 

Isagi: uhhhh ok bro 

Reo: man i logged in to THIS what the fuck 

Shidou: HEYEYEYEYE MANBUn😍 

Sae: Shidou?
 

Shidou: NO SORRY SAEBAE UR MY ONE AND ONLY🫶 

Rin: kys 

Isagi: is that the only time you talk in this gc 

Bachira: GUYS GUYS GUYS 

I HAVE A GENIUS IDEA🥹 

Kaiser: whens that ever good

Isagi: SHUT THE FUCK UP KAISER GWIYBHJEFHIVSBKEAHLHBVJDFAJ  

Isagi has been muted for one minute 

 Ness: yh what is it? 

Bachira: LETS HAVE A CHRISTAMAS PARTY PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE 

PLEASEEEEE PRETTY PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEE WITH A CHERRY ON TOP 

Ness: that sounds fun!! @Kaiser wanna do it??? 

Kaiser: ... 

... 

... 

Isagi: bro is he gonna say smth 

taking his sweet sweet time smh 

Karasu: why is he edging us 

Reo: why is tHAT THE FIRST THING YOU FUCKING SAY😭 

Kaiser: okay we can 

Kunigami: ? What is this gc? 

Chigiri: KUNI MY BAEEEEEEEEEEE 

Reo: gayass 

Chigiri: shut the FUCP UP BC IK U CANT BE TALKING WHEN UR GOING BACK AND FORTH W THE SAME MAN FOR THE PAST FREAKING YEAR @Nagi 

Nagi: wh 

Chigiri: oh my GOD HE CANT EVEN FUCKING TYPE RIGHT WHAT THE FU 

Chigiri has been muted for five minutes 

Hiori: guys lets calm down😦 

Reo: well thats crazy 

haters these days  

Nagi: what 

Reo: nothing go to sleep bby🥹 

Isagi: Gay 

Kaiser: Gay 

Otoya: Gay 

Karasu: Gay 

Kunigami: Gay

Sae: Gay 

Shidou: GAYYYY 

can i join🤤 

Isagi: man NO ONE would have sex w ur nasty ass😒 

Karasu: ong bro 

Rin: no one but sae apparently 

Sae: ??? 

Isagi: HELLO???

Kunigami: 😨 

Chigiri: sae u rlly gonna take that??😭 

Rin: like how he  takes shidou every night?
 

Shidou: YEAH AND IM PROUD OF IT😍 

Sae: RIN. 

Kaiser: crazy man he’s rlly gon let that slide😭 

Rin: like how he probably lets shidou SLIDE IN HIS 

Rin has been muted for five minutes 

Karasu: bro he out for blood tdy😭😭 

Isagi: better watch out😭🙏 

Sae: ... whatever he said is NOT true 

Kaiser: sure bro🥹❤️‍🩹

Isagi: yh WE believe u dont worry🥹✌️❤️‍🩹 

Ness: mhm yeah wtv helps u sleep in shidou’s arms at night🥹 

Sae: STO 

Karasu: wtv floats ur boat broski🙏 

Sae: STOP 

Bachira: wtv makes ya feel better😋 

Sae: FUCK ALL OF YOU ACTUALLY
 

Shidou: promise🥹😫??? 

Bachira: sooooooo uhhh christmas party??? 

Isagi: oh yh sure  

Kaiser: sure 

Ness: Sure!  

Shidou: SURE😍 

Rin: @Sae will u be there 

Sae: ... 

If shidou’s going yh but honestly i dont wanna face u anymore🙁 

Rin: then no. 

Reo: were the bold letters rlly necessary though 

Nanase: r u sure ur not going?? Im going!! Maybe we could train tgt :DD 

Rin: ok then 

Isagi: WHAT YOU FOLDED SO FAST😭
 

Rin: SHUT. 

Shidou: SIMPPPPPPPPPP😹 

Rin: ur getting shot tmrw 

Shidou: shots...as in backshots???🥹 

Isagi: oh my god🫩 

Chigiri: bro shut the FUCK up 

Kunigami: do u ever stop talking 

Shidou: hero-kun ur in love w me dont even😋 

Chigiri: HANDS OFF BITCH 

Kaiser: yeah you guys got that 

@Ness come over 

Ness: bro im literally on the couch RIGHT across from you could you NOT js tell me urself 

Kaiser: no not rlly tbh 

Isagi: fatass 

lazyass 

nagi ahh 

Nagi: why am i catching strays🙁 

Chigiri: NOW he speaks😒 

Reo: i will leak the messages chigiri dont start 

Chigiri: YOU HOE 

Reo: i could send em RIGHT now 

Chigiri: no you will NOT BECAUSE I HAVE PHOTOS TOO 

Reo: SLUT 

Hiori: this is why we shouldn’t be vulnerable over text😕 

Kurona: yes yes 

Isagi: KURONAAA HIII 

Bachira: HIIIIIIIII 

Chigiri: AWE KURONAAAAA 

Reo: @Chigiri DONT try to change the subject rn. 

SQUARE UP BITCH 

Chigiri: BET. 

Chigiri has gone offline 

Reo has gone offline 

Bachira: see thats crazy 

Anyone wanna see my bug collection???? :D 

Ness: i do!! :DD 

Isagi: what. 

Kaiser: what the fuck. 

NESS WHY ARE U FRIENDS W THE ENEMY😡 

Isagi: when did you two become buddy buddies???😕 

Bachira: it all started a long long time ago... 

Ness: not rlly  

it was like a few months ago  

we js started talking🤷‍♂️ 

@Kaiser are you NOT best friends w rin??? 

Rin: hes NOT my friend bro 

Kaiser: yes i am don’t listen to him 

Sae: didn’t think rin had friends tbh 

Rin: ... 

Sae: rin? 

Isagi: holy shit bro skeddadle😭✌️ 

Karasu: brotato chiP RUN 

Otoya: brobrina carpenter short n SCRAM😭 

Ness: thats a new one  

Hiori: bro i hear boss music wtf😭😭😭

Nanase: guys guys im across from rin in the cafe we’re at rn hes typing really fast 

like CRAZY fast 

Bachira: AWWW YOU GUYS ARE ON A DATE???

Nanase: no!!! I js offered to take him out after training!! 

Kaiser: take him out...?  

Bro thats a date 

Nanase: NO WE’RE JS FRIENDS 

Ness: yh nanase ur kinda on ur own w this one 

Isagi: wtv u say buddy😭 

Nagi: idk u guys seem pretty in love 

Karasu: yh if nagis speaking full sentences abt this you this MIGHT be on a date idk 

Otoya: yh considering rin LET you take him out i think hes in love  

Idk js a hunch tho 

Isagi: nanase do NOT fumble rin 

Rin: @Sae I KNOW you’re not one to talk about having no friends considering you were a complete loner in Spain, and you had to change careers because of a guy named BUNNY I KNOW you are not talking about “Rin has no friends” because i have NEVER seen you go outside the house unless its for soccer and i KNOW you cannot be talking to me about being social because so far the ONLY bitch you’ve pulled is SHIDOU and he falls in love with ANYONE who looks at him long enough and the ONLY time you touch grass is accidentally on the field and YOUR social life was so bad you probably photosynthesized at home 

Karasu: Jesus Christ

Isagi: LMFAOOOOOO 

Kaiser: BAHAHAHAHAAHA

Reo has come online 

Reo: guys what did i miss  

oh.

Jesus sae wtf did you DO 

Sae: NOTHIGN??? 

Otoya: bro u got rin losing punctuation and shit MID rant😭 

fym you did NOTHING 

Rin: and if by saying you did “nothing” means that you did NOTHING to help me after you went to Spain and came back as Japan’s Greatest FAILURE then yeah you’d be correct 

Sae: WHAT 

Ness: oh my 

Hiori: dude sae atp js give up😭 

Chigiri has come online 

Chigiri: JAPANS GREATEST FAILURE????😭 

Isagi: ts is diabolical💔 

Bachira: bro chose violence😭✌️ 

Reo: bro does NOT want peace😭 

Otoya: how do u even recover from that 

Kurona: ts gon cause generational trauma😭 

Shidou: LMFAO HE GOT YOU THERE😭😭😭 

Rin: @Shidou your crusty ass CANNOT be talking bc i KNOW ur actually a loser with nothing better to do so you terrorizes people to feel better about your pathetic sorry self YOU probably cry yourself to sleep at night when ppl don’t talk to you bc ur such a LONER and the only reason anyone glances at you is out of pity. 

also i can SEE that crusty ass weave and smell that cheap ass ross cologne 

Shidou: ... 

…

sorry sir 

Isagi: LMFAO THE ROSS COLOGNE???😭 

Hiori: bro is NOT having it tdy😭🙏 

Sae: acc disowning u bro😭 

Rin: thats okay no one in the family liked you anyway 

Sae: im telling mom

Isagi: now why r we snitching

Karasu: yh bro snitches get stitches🙏 

Bachira: yeah not cool >:( 

Sae has gone offline

Sae has come online

Sae: i hate this family 

Rin: YOU hate that you peaked at 14 

Reo: OH MY LORD

Nagi: holy shit 

Hiori: who needs enemies when you have a brother like rin😭 

Kaiser: LMFAO CLOCKED😭 

Chigiri: he ate i fear 

Isagi: this is why im glad im an only child 

Sae: i wish i was an only child too 

Rin: doesn't matter cause either way you’d still be the greatest failure the family ever had 

Sae has gone offline 

Ness: BAHAHAHAH😭 

Shidou: he got you there i fear😭😭 

Rin: coward. 

Reo: hells got a special place for ppl like u rin😭 

Rin: thats ok as long as sae’s not there 

Bachira: honestly i would NOT let that slide 

Rin: well sae let shidou slide into his dms so does it rlly matter 

Ness: oh lord 

Kaiser: LMFAO 

Hiori: WHY IS HE STILL AT THIS SAE ISNT EVEN IN THE GC ANYMORE

Kurona: so...christmas party...? 

Isagi: YEAHHHHHHH 

Everyone has gone offline 

Bachira has come online 

Bachira: WAIT GUYS WE NEED TO INVITE OTHER PPL 

Everyone has come online 

Isagi: ??? Who else r u talking abt bro 

Bachira has added Aiku, Sendou, Charles, Barou, Aryu, Niko 

Aiku: hi??? 

Chigiri: bro WHY would you add the BRITISH ONE 

Isagi: yh fr he gon colonize the gc😭✌️ 

Otoya: going back to his roots ahh💔🥀 

Karasu: once a colonizer always a colonizer ahh aiku😭 

Aiku: YOURE ALL HATERS
 

Rin: yh basically 

Sendou: guys guys guys wtf is going on 

BRO. 

I just backread omg bro what possessed rin😭 

Sae: STOP TALKING. 

Aryu: rin that was NOT glam (keep going) 

Isagi: bro @Sae how’d u get the femboy to dislike you too 

Sae: SHUT. 

Kaiser: this makes my day actually 

Isagi: ok no one asked you  

go back to ur pet play w ness would you 

Ness: ??
 

Kaiser: drop DEAD 

Karasu: ok but did he DENY it tho 

Chigiri: what happened to this being about christmas 

Bachira:🗣🗣️🗣️️🔥 AFTER THE WAR I WENT BACK TO NEW YORK 

Isagi: A-AFTER THE WAR I WENT BACK TO NEW YORK🌃 

Kaiser: I FINISHED UP MY STUDIES AND I PRACTICED LAW 

Ness: I PRACTICED LAW BURR WORKED NEXT DOOR😒 

Chigiri: EVEN THOUGH WE STARTED AT THE VERY SAME TIME 

Kunigami: ALEXANDER HAMILTON BEGAN TO CLIMB🧗 

 
Sae: HOW TO ACCOUNT FOR HIS RISE TO THE TOP? 

Rin: MANNN THE MAN WAS NONSTOP 

Aiku: STOP YOU’RE MAKING MY PHONE GLITCH 

Isagi: sorry does hamilton offend you 

yk. considering your roots as a british person

Aiku: KYS KYS KYSKYSSOHEUDFBIASDHAJVASFHBJD🤬🤬 

Reo: why is he forgetting how to type 

Nagi: its the dementia i think🙁 

Sendou: ok but like why does your PHONE gotta be old too😭 

like one old thing (you) is enough 

Aiku: YOURE SUPPOSED TO BE OBN MY SIDE YOURE MY BF??? 

Sendou: not if u keep this attitude up😒 

Isagi: woah britain couldn’t keep their land and you can’t keep ur bf crazy huh😭 

Reo: LMFAOOOOOOO 

Aiku: WHAT IS WITH YOU AND BRITISH PEOPLE 

Isagi: see i don’t dislike the british its js u 

Kaiser: yh u kinda js piss me off tbh  

Rin: you piss US off😭 

Kaiser: oh yh WE’RE haters tgt right twin🥹✌️❤️‍🩹🌹 

Rin: yes twin🥹🌹 

Isagi: WHAT  

Ness: WHAT 

Sae: WHAT 

Shidou: WHAT 

Reo: WHAT 

Nagi: WHAT 

Bachira: WHAT 

Otoya: WHAT 

Karasu: WHAT
 

Nanase: what does kaiser do to make u act so out of character bro😭 

Kaiser: its my aura😋 

Isagi: where 

Sae: or is it the lack thereof

Nagi: is the aura in the room w us rn 

Chigiri: LMFAO😭 

Kaiser: KILL YOURSELVES 

Shidou: i feel like i havent spoken enough so here it goes 

Rin: no i think youve spoken enough for all of us 

Isagi: yh no agreed tbh 

Kunigami: yeah idrk why u think u have the right to speak rn shidou 

Hiori: sorry shidou the adults are discussing🥹 

Shidou: im bout to crack u RN OPEN THE DOOR 

Hiori: WJHAT😨 

Kurona: I’ll save you🌹 

Hiori: thanks kurona 

HES AT MY DOOR BRO 

Karasu: yeah you got that hiobro✌️️ 

Hiori: BRO BRO BRO IM SO SCARED 

oh kurona js shoved him to the ground 

wtf i didn’t know he could do that??? 

Shidou: bro why does sharkboy tackle like hes in wwe😭 

SHIT HURTS MAN
 

Rin: good 

Shidou: no ur next  

Sae: don’t threaten my brother 

Shidou: anything for you saebae😍 

Rin: kys whore 

Isagi: hey where are the other ones 

Shidou: YEAH WHERES MY SON 

Rin: asleep probably loki always had a strict schedule for charles

Isagi: ok but what abt barou and niko 

Aiku: nikos asleep alr 

Sendou: barou too hes acc rlly responsible its crazy 

Chigiri: thank the lord barou isnt  here 

Reo: ? Why 

Chigiri: hes ALWAYS on my case abt smth bro😭 

Bachira: Boy, you make me jellyous 

Isagi:  

Hey 

hey 

hey 

 boy, you make me jellyous 

Kaiser:  

Wait 

wait 

wait 

고백은 너무 이른 걸 

Ness:  

Hey 

 hey 

 hey 

 일요일엔 담아둬 

Chigiri: "I don't wanna do anything", 너의 update 

Kunigami: 똑같은 맘에 공감, 공감 emoji, check 발사 

Reo: 밤새 달린 DM 끝에, 너의 잠 확 깨는 메시지 

Shidou: whats up on Sunday😜 

Nanase: 달콤한 하트 shape, 궁금해 flavor 

Rin: 그 순간 당겨진 핑크빛 lever 

Sae: can u guys stop pls 

Shidou: dont let this fool you i got him the bomb illit album for his birthday earlier 

he was WAY too happy 

Sae: CAN A MAN NOT ENJOY HIS KPOP😭 

SHIDOU STOP EXPOSING ME IM LOSING ALL MY AURA 

Rin: its ok you had no aura to begin with 

Sae: rin im SO close to jumping you 

Rin: BET YOU CANT DO IT 

Sae: ARE YOU CHALLENGING ME??
 

Rin: YEAH ARE YOU SCARED?? 

Otoya: ladies ladies break it up😫 

Rin: shut the FUCK UP 

Bachira: guys no fighting!! :( 

Sae: im telling u when u get home tonight im beating ur ass 

Rin: oh no so scared😒 

Isagi: holy ragebait bro😭 

Kaiser: he gets it from me🥹❤️ 

Chapter Text

Chigiri tapped his foot impatiently, arms crossed as he muttered something under his breath. His hair swayed against the harsh wind, his expression hardened. He stood in the middle of the town square, occasionally looking up, expecting to find a bright bush of orange hair standing out. 

The wind seemed to pick up, strands of his hair sticking to his lips (lipgloss is both a blessing and a curse). 

“Bleh,” he said, pushing the strands aside with the back of his hand. “Where is he?” 

“Here.” Said a voice in front of him.

Chigiri looked up, his eyes lighting up; meeting the man in front of him. “Kunigami, you actually came!” 

Kunigami tilted his head in confusion, “why wouldn’t I come?” 

Chigiri shrugged and mumbled something along the lines of “don’t know,” before grabbing Kunigami’s wrist and ushering him along. They made their way through the waves of people, twisting and turning at every corner. “You ready for this?” Chigiri asked, glancing back at Kunigami.

“Why…wouldn’t I be…? It’s just shopping right?” 

“Right,” Chigiri rolled his eyes, “you’re gonna be here for a pretty long time though, and with the Christmas sales people are gonna go crazy.” 

“Oh. I don’t mind,” he started, slowing his pace down. “Long as I’m here with you.” 

Kunigami smirked.

That jerk.

“I–whatever!” Chigiri huffed, facing turning red, from the cold he assured himself, leading Kunigami to the first store he saw. 

They walked in, and Kunigami was greeted by flashing pale lights and hoards of people. He wandered around the aisles as Chigiri shopped, sometimes picking up the price tags before dropping them in horror. 

He asked Chigiri what that was about, but Chigiri said it was a Christmas gift from Reo.

“He gave me soooo much money,” Chigiri lifted a pink sweater against Kunigami’s chest, and said, “this one looks pretty good on you.” 

He threw it in his cart, making his way to another section.

“Kunigami!” Chigiri said, “I need your help. Come here.”

Kunigami sighed. “Coming, your highness.” 

After a while, they traveled to another store, and another one. And slowly but surely, to Kunigami at least, it felt like he was at the gym, the weights on his arm growing heavier, and his feet growing tired. 

“Okay,” Chigiri said, watching as Kunigami put the bags in the trunk. 

“Last store, then we can go get something to eat.” 

“Alright then,” Kunigami checked the time on his watch, “your highness,” he said.

“Yeah?”

“It’s already seven, do you think we have enough time?”

“I always have enough time,” Chigiri said, giving Kunigami one of those insufferable—heart fluttering winks before walking off. 

“You’re gonna be the death of me,” Kunigami whispered, shaking his head before following suit. 

…

The sun set in its pretty orange and pink, the last rays of warmth disappearing across the horizon. It gave the world one last glimpse of light before the moon took over, lighting the world with its own soft glow. 

“Where do you wanna go?” Chigiri asked Kunigami, opening the GPS on his phone.

The words slipped out of Kunigami’s mouth before he could stop them. 

“The city skyline.” 

“Skyline?” Chigiri repeated, raising an eyebrow.

“I—” Kunigami decided it was best to just be honest, “I wanna go see the city skyline with you.” 

Curse him and his stupid mouth.

… 

Kunigami and Chigiri stood at the edge of the railing taking in the view of the city.

“You left your coat in the car,” Kunigami said, watching Chigiri with a wary eye. 

“It was ugly,” Chigiri responded, trying to pretend he wasn’t shivering. Kunigami took in everything, however, noticing how Chigiri’s arms would tighten at his side, the way his jaw seemed to chatter. “You’re freezing.” 

“Oh, what was your first clue?” 

Kunigami didn’t say anything as he took off his own jacket, placing it on the railing, then the sweater underneath, before throwing it at Chigiri.

“Ack–! What was that for?” Chigiri exclaimed, hands gripping the polyester sweater. Kunigami simply shrugged as he put back on his own jacket, zipping it up before putting his hands in his pocket. “Wear it,” he said coolly, staring at the view of the fleeting lights.

“Thanks…” Chigiri mumbled, “but you didn’t have to throw it at me.” 

Kunigami hummed in acknowledgement.

“You know,” Chigiri started again, smoothing out his hair after he put on the white sweater, “you’ve changed a lot.” 

“You gotta specify which time you’re talking about.” 

Kunigami was right, everyone used to see him as this hero, as some figure of justice. Then came Wildcard and everything fell like a thin deck of cards on shaky ground. He was cold and mean and cruel and everything a hero shouldn’t—couldn’t be. He felt a pang in his chest.

“Doesn’t mean all that change was bad.” 

Kunigami turned to Chigiri, “what are you talking about?” 

“You’ve become stronger. Not always in the best way, but now you’re neither too hopeful nor too pessimistic. You’ve grown since the Neo Egoist League. I think that’s pretty fuckin’ heroic if you ask me.” 

The biting cold seemed to subside as Kunigami took in Chigiri’s words. Chigiri only looked at him, eyes wide and unexpecting, waiting to see his response. 

What he certainly didn’t expect though was, 

“I’m actually in love with you.” 

“Oh?” Chigiri laughed one of his precious laughs, one that Kunigami wanted to seal into a bubble and keep forever. “Since when were you so blunt?” 

“Ever since you.” 

“Oh my god! You’re so corny,” Chigiri laughed again, this time leaning into Kunigami.

Kunigami didn't back out of it, softly gazing at the redhead. 

“Merry Christmas, your highness.”

“Merry Christmas, hero.” 

Chapter Text

Kaiser had never once known the feeling of serenity, nor did he ever want to.

He only wanted everyone to experience the same soul crushing feeling he woke up with everyday, the heavy weight pressing on his chest, testing how long his heart could hold up. He only ever wanted to see the despair in people, he only ever wanted to understand them in a way he could cope, for he could not truly understand himself.

He wanted to see their faces painted in shades of agony, complex colors of cruel love. He wanted to see the way their faces contorted into twisted shapes of fury and rage, he wanted to see them lose every last bit of the emotions he was denied as a child; compassion and kindness and hope. 

He wanted so much and so little.

Kaiser walked down the silent street, idly kicking loose pebbles out the way. The sound of leather shoes hitting the sidewalk was the only one that could be heard in the small,  dim lit street. He walked past the dingy houses, their colors practically faded and worn, slabs of wood barely hanging on, creaking in the wind. 

The snow hurried past Kaiser, flakes falling onto his nose, his lashes, and on his blue knitted scarf; now undone around the edges, but still good enough to be worn out. His hands were in the pocket of his black trench coat, the leather belt hanging from the side. 

He continued walking until he hit a dead end, then, he made his way to the small alleyway. He walked past the colorful and bright graffiti on the concrete walls, stepping over the trash someone never bothered to throw away, avoiding the broken bottles of wine and beer. 

Kaiser—Michael, can only wonder what it is like to be loved.

He can only imagine the warm arms that hug your shoulders, can only dream about the soft, soothing, whisper to your ear. His brain could conjure a million different ways one could dream about the warm touch to your day; thousands of worlds where love was a right and not a privilege, but a man can only dream of the impossible.

He walked past the small and dirty kids playing soccer with a tattered ball, laughing and giggling.

What a lucky privilege they have.

…

When Michael was a kid, in his black oversized hoodie, and shaggy hair that fell over his cerulean eyes, he had learned what a privilege was.

It was, in fact, a special right, and it left Michael pondering, why can’t I have this right?

Michael could never tell you the answer, see, because when he went home, the thoughtful dreams and wants and wishes ended and only the fight for survival remained. 

He lay on the ground, breathing hard, cracked lips bleeding. His eyes half lidded, blood dripping from his nose, his arms painted with shades of blue and purple and violence. His body burned with fury.

Slowly, he lifted himself up, wincing at his newfound headache. He put his hand to his temple, hoping to soothe the pain as he walked to his tiny room in the broken house. He walked into his bathroom, the rotting door creaking and screaming, hinges rusting, and closed the door behind him. 

The porcelain sink was cracked at the edges, the mirror yellowed from all the years of dust and grime, with a large crack across it. The light above flickered its pale color, making Michael look more ghastly than he was; he traced his finger around the giant cut on his cheek, bleeding down his chin. 

He didn’t say anything, didn’t need to, as his now not so bright blue eyes stared back at him in the splintered reflection.

It hurt.

All of it, really.

Fucking hell, he hated this.

Hated everything so much, all he wanted was the privilege everyone seemed to have.

“But some people are not worthy of privileges.” 

“Stop it,” he gritted out, whether to himself or the voices in his head or the injustice of it all.

He splashed cold water onto his face, shuddering at the sting that seemed to follow. “Ow,” he mumbled, wiping water over his cut, using the sleeve of his hoodie to dry it. 

Creak.

He heard the door to his house open, and there he knew once again his walls would have to go up and his tears would have to hide. He’d rather the giant brick walls crumble than letting himself show any ounce of emotion anymore.

He wasn’t going to be the punching bag, the thing to let off steam. He wasn’t going to be the prey, the little lamb running from the greedy wolves. He was going to change all of that. 

…

Now Kaiser’s walls were built of iron and steel, indestructible really. He never bothered pulling them back down, never bothered opening a small gap for love and light to be let through; he preferred to be swallowed by the darkness that was his consequence for being so hateful, for being born out of hate.

Hate was the only thing Kaiser knew.

Hate was the only thing the Emperor knew until his reign threatened to crack under the influence of a feeling he could not name, nor pin point in his heart. 

When the boy with the brown and pink hair fell in front of him, he felt something he could not describe.

It was not love, he knew that much.

Was it an infatuation? 

Desire, maybe?

He saw the weakness in the boy, the way he’d shrink in the crowds, the way his voice would go soft when others interrupted him, the way he’d sit in the corner all quiet instead of talking. 

He was perfect, a malleable, weak figure he could shape to do his bidding.

Now, let me tell you a story.

Long ago, the Emperor found a silver coin. He saw it lying on the ground, outdated and outpolished. He  melted it, just to shape it into something new, something more modern, something more useful.

And useful the coin was, up until a new coin showed up. The old, silver coin could not compare to the rush that this shiny new coin gave the Emperor, and while the Emperor had regrettably ended up holding some sort of attachment to the silver coin, he “threw it away”, as he’d like to believe, but really just slipped it in his pocket to be forgotten. He chased after the thrill of the gold coin, not wanting it, but wanting the power it gave. Gold was all the rage now. 

He wanted to see what it really was.

One day, chasing after this gold coin, the Emperor slipped and fell, he dirtied his face, his new silk robes, and scratched his skin. The disregarded silver coin slipped out his pocket and onto the dirt in front of him, falling on top of the gold coin. Before the Emperor could get up, a group of bandits appeared in front of him and stole the two coins. 

Before the bandits could leave, the Emperor yelled, “wait! Why do you want the silver coin?”

He could not understand why they’d want something so old and crude, but he also could not understand the contorting anguish he felt when he saw the silver coin in the palm of someone else’s hand.

“Silver is worth just as much as gold,” a bandit said, giving the now fallen Emperor a pitying glance. Another one spoke, “silver may be overlooked in favor of the lustful gleam of gold, but do not forget the role it plays in strengthening it.” 

Many people may not know this, but pure gold can be a very soft substance, making it hard for jewelers to bend and shape to their will. The solution? Silver. Silver makes gold stronger, more durable, more wanted. This practice is known as an alloy.

That day, the Emperor realized what he had lost, and he made great efforts to return what was once his. Sadly however, the coin never graced his presence again, and he could only sit there on his cold and lonely throne, his mind forever chasing the now gone thrill of the silver and gold coins.

Safe to say, when Kaiser learned of this story in his psychology book, he had realized quite a few things.

       1. Alloys are similar to what a striker (gold), and in his case, a certain midfielder (silver) are to each other. Ness built him up, gave him the passes that he’d need to score world level goals, gave him the perfect little subject he’d need, gave him the perfect feeling of love, but not love, Kaiser never got that (or so he thought). 

       2. Like the Emperor with his now lost silver coin, Kaiser too felt something special with Ness, more than he’d like to admit. He would also not let himself lose his silver coin like the pathetic Emperor did, and he refused to sit at the throne without it by his side.

       3. Gold was farther away from people than silver was. Silver is used in everything, utensils and pots and pans and mirrors and instruments and daily life. Gold is used in crowns and thrones and trophies and untouchable dreams people could barely grasp with the tips of their fingers. Kaiser may have been untouchable, may have been a king, and Ness may have been ordinary, everyday life, but Kaiser may have been farther from reality than Ness was (that’s saying a lot).

       4. Finally, this story opened Kaiser’s walls, just a small bit, but just enough to let the fire of tenderness burn through. It felt so nice to have light in his iron castle, to have warmth instead of frigid cold, and though the walls may have opened in fear of losing everything if he didn’t, and though he was still only now just learning to embrace those flames, the giant gates haven’t closed, no, not in a long time. 

Kaiser stopped at the front of the jewelry store, staring at the glass displays. He took a deep breath before walking inside. As he stepped inside he was greeted with a rush of warm air; he shook the snow off his scarf.

“Excuse me sir,” a lady said, all dressed up. “Do you need any help with anything?” 

Did he need any help with anything?

Part of him just wanted to tell the woman to fuck off, he didn’t even know what he was doing really. A Christmas gift? Since when does the great Emperor buy Christmas gifts? 

He opened his mouth, before thinking carefully about his words.

“Really, all I want is for you to be a better person,” Ness said, crossing his arms. Kaiser still remembered the way Ness’ magenta eyes would harden, his pink lips downturned. He remembered the fierce and determined look he’d give him when he wanted things to go his way, and not Kaiser’s. 

Kinda hot honestly, but a pain in the ass all the same.

Kaiser scoffed and rolled his eyes, “enlighten me then. How is someone like me supposed to ‘be a better person’?” 

Ness glared at him in return. “Is being a little bit nice that hard? Go and make yourself some friends, go outside more! Stop looking at things negatively—stop acting so pathetic. It’s so unlike you.” 

“You don’t know shit about me. Didn’t I tell you already?” 

Kaiser peeled the skin off his lip replaying the memory in his mind, he knew what was coming next.

“I’m a—” 

Worthless human.

Mistake.

A child of hatred.

Piece of shit.

But Ness didn’t let him finish. 

“And how many times have I told you that that’s just not true? You’re a human being. Flesh and bone just like me. Are you dense?!” 

Now both Kaiser and Ness were glaring. Ness had started to grow a backbone, and while Kaiser was glad he wasn’t just some dog at his side, it was getting rather troublesome when some things wouldn’t go his way. 

So now here he was, at some fancy store, trying to surprise Ness—trying to be a better person.

He glanced around the interior of the building, thick dark brown wooden slabs decorating the walls, intricate designs chiseled in. He glanced back at the lady, her eyes unyielding.

What is it with these greedy salesmen?

He gave it one last thought.

Maybe kindness wasn’t the path for him. 

But he remembered Ness’ disapproving look, the way he’d shake his head and sigh one of those dangerous sighs, oh how Ness had grown. Somehow, however, seeing that look on Ness’ face, made Kaiser glad. He didn’t know why, didn’t think he’d ever understand why, but watching him go from blindly tolerating all of Kaiser’s antics to critiquing them and even Kaiser himself, made his heart flutter, a warm, bubbly feeling rising in his chest, much like words of hate he naturally spewed.

He straightened up his shoulders, opening his mouth to speak again.

“I’m looking for a pair of rings, preferably gold and silver.” 

Chapter Text

Aiku: GUYS GUYS GUYS HEAR ME OUT 

Isagi: HEAR YE HEAR YE ahh aiku😭🙏 

Hiori: bros bouta present free thoughts on the proceedings of the continental congress💔🥀 

Sendou: samuel seabury ahh😭 

Bachira: chaos and bloodshed are NAWT a solution❌ 

Aiku: uhm ok FUCK YOU GUYS IG???? 

was js gonna ask if u ungrateful hoes wanted a slumber party after the christmas one😒 

Shidou: “slumber” bro is NOT shakespeare💔🥀✌️ 

Nagi: “not” and “shakespeare” bro is nt shkspre💔😭🥀 

Karasu: “bro” n “and” br s nt shkspr😭✌️ 

Rin: ??? 

abcdefg??? 

Bachira: YEHAHH WHAT RIN SAID >:D 

Isagi: oh yeah speak ur shit king🙏🙏 

Niko: hi guys 

Aiku: niko arent u supposed to be at training rn??? 

Niko: what? 

ur crazy 

Chigiri: yeah man i think its alzheimer's 

Isagi: yeah what r u talking abt aiku😭 

Charles: HAI GUYSSYSUOWSAGADYZFjkHAHJCDSHLHJ😆 

Shidou: CHARLES MY SON🥹 

Charles: DADDDDDDDDDDDD 

Rin: what the fuck 

Ness: not important rn can SOMEONE explain why the FUCK kaiser has so many blankets next to him like wtf we do NOT need this many😭 

Reo: WE??? u guys are sleeping tgt??? 

Kaiser: yh idk why ness is overreacting tbh😕 

Ness: bro you have THREE BLANKETS 

Kaiser: yeah one for me one for u one for us 

Isagi: how tf do u deal w him bro😭 

Sae: corny ass HOE ur js as bad as my brother😒 

Rin is typing... 

Sae: WAIT IM SORRY NO 

STO 

STOP PLEASE 

Rin has stopped typing... 

Rin is typing... 

Rin: open the fucking door right now. 

Hiori: yh you got that bro🫶 

Otoya: wdym the blanket thing is so real @Karasu this is us right😍😫 

Karasu: ofc bby😍❤️‍🩹🌹 

Chigiri: genuinely hang yourself 

Sae: dude hes POUNDING ON MY BEDROOM DOOR WHAT 

DEADASS ITS ABT TO BURST OPEN AT THIS RATE 

Shidou: its not the only thing abt to burst😍❤️ 

Isagi: dude can someone genuinely block this guy 

Hiori: real bro why r u still here  

Karasu: why does sae even want u bro🥀 

Shidou: cockblockers smh😒 

Kurona: guys i never got to ask but what did you guys do for christmas las year??? 

Isagi: ohhh i think i was w family 

Aiku: I was in america i think 

Reo: why were u in america 

Ness: yh were u going to reclaim the 13 colonies 

Isagi: “here we go again” ahh aiku🥀 

Otoya: “history repeats itself” ahh oliver💔✌️ 

Nagi: “you’ll be back” ahh aiku😭 

Aiku: STOP WITH THE HAMILTON OMFG 

Sendou: didn’t know america’s founding fathers was still a touchy subject for british ppl😕 

Aiku: ALL OF YOU WILL BURN IN HELL 

DUMB BITCHES IM HALF SWEDISH AND GERMAN

Niko: no ur not ur half british 

Aiku: WHAT TTHE FUCK WHY ARE YOU DEBATING W ME ABT MY OWN NATIONALITY 

Niko: i said what i said🙂 @Charles agrees right 

Charles: YESYEYSYEYSYSYSSYYSSYYSYS 

Isagi: ok but the french person cant rlly be talking abt colonization either right 

Shidou: guys charles said he’d show me paris GOODBYE FRANCE HELLOOOOO PARIS 

Chigiri: bro who does this guy think he is🫩 

Kunigami: idek bro WHY is he still in this gc😐 

Isagi: he thinks hes sooooo funny😭 

Nagi: holy cornball🫩✌️ 

Shidou: can a guy not be full of whimsy😔🥀 

Kaiser: when its u no not rlly 

anyway @Ness how did we spend christmas last year 

Ness: uhhh i think u lowk avoided celebrating it like the plague last yr 

I dont think i celebrated much either last yr cause i was w my family😔 

Sae: i spent it in spain 

Hiori: oh u lived??? crazy man 

Niko: did NOT think rin would spare you bro😭 

Rin: i didnt im in his room rn on his bed he looks rlly annoyed idrk why tho🤷‍♂️ 

who pissed him off was it shidou?? 

Sae: who do you THINK U FUCKING DOORMAT 

Rin: NOW YOU KNOW HOW I FELT THE PAST TWO FUCKING YEARS  

anyway hes lying he spent christmas all alone listening to mitski and illit (for some fucking reason???) with a face mask and crying 

Sae: IT WAS A HYDRATING MASK SHUT THE FUCK UP 

AND WHATS WRONG WITH MITSKI AND ILLIT 

Rin: THE ONLY THING HYDRATING WERE UR SALTY ASS TEARS  

AND ONLY COOL PPL GET TO LISTEN TO MITSKI AND ILLIT UR NOT ONE OF THEM 

Bachira: IM CRINE why was bro sobbing to jellyous😭😭😭😭😭 

Isagi: rin strikes again😭 

Kaiser: bro honestly i think hes worse than slursagi sometimes😕 

Isagi: i call barou the r slur ONCE and suddenly its ALL im known for??? 

Sendou: yh kinda 

Isagi: shut the FUCK UP YOU FUCKING 

Isagi has been muted for five minutes 

Reo: crazy 

oh anyway @Charles did u like...grow up in the french courts 

Charles: oui😝 

Chigiri: OUI BONJOUR 

Nagi: was life ALSO a chore for u too 

Ness: bro i bet he went to the uk in 1522 too😭 

Niko: all the british dudes (aiku) were lame too huh 

Aiku: WHAT 

Charles: yess!!!!!!!!! 

Kunigami: charles also wanting to dance and sing makes sense  

Shidou: charles dont lose ur head ok🥹 

Charles: why would i lose my head :( 

Ness: guys should we like exchange christmas gifts at the party?? 

Bachira: OHHHH SECRET SANTA???? 

Rin: if i get sae im genuinely killing myself 

Sae: bitch IM RIGHT HERE??? 

Rin: yet you STILL CANNOT TAKE THE HINT 

Sae: YKW FINE DO IT THAT WAY MY CHRISTMAS WILL BE ENJOYABLE 

Rin: omg ur so obsessed w me wtf🫩 

Sae: RIN IM GOING TO 

Sae has been muted for five minutes 

Rin: guys 

guys guys GUYS HES RUNNING TOWARDS ME 

WHY IS HE 

Rin has gone offline 

Nanase: uhhhhhhh rin r u okayyy???/😭 

Isagi: see this is why im so thankful im an only child 

Chigiri: we GET IT you’ve said that before  

 
Isagi: bitch and ill say it again??? 

Sae has come online 

Sae: we can do secret santa ig 

Hiori: bro what happened is rin ok😭 

Kaiser: bro wtf did u do😭 

Rin has come online 

Rin: he didnt do SHIT I WON 

Sae: NO THE FUCK YOU DIDN’T???
 

Rin: YUH HUH 

 
Sae: NUH UH 

Rin: FIGHT ME AGAINR N 

Shidou: FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT 

Isagi: guys lets calm down🥹 

Reo: yh we’re in this tgt🫶 

Bachira: GUYS COME TO MY HOUSE ON THE 24TH OKAY????? 

WE CAN CELEBRATE AT MY HOUSE EHEHEHEHEH 

oh am i interrupting something 

Chapter Text

Ring. 

Ring.

Ring.

Shidou practically leaped up at the sound of his phone ringing, the blanket following suit.

“Sae??” he whispered under his breath, grabbing his phone from the night stand.

SAEBAE❤️ is calling…

He picked up the phone as quickly as he could, “hello?”

“Hey,” the voice said from the other side. “Saebae! Calling to take me out?” Shidou leaned one arm onto his nightstand, taking a quick glance at the window.

“...”

“What? Cat got your tongue?”

“How’d you know I was planning to take you out…?”

Shidou’s eyes widened slightly, before letting out a small snort. “Saebae I was only joking, but if you’re really planning to take me out I have no problems about it.” 

He stopped for a moment. “Wait. You’re in Japan?” 

“Yeah, family wanted me over this year.” 

“Oh? Does this mean you’re gonna fight with your brother again?”

“Fight? What are you talking about?”

Oh my. Itoshi Sae was really dense, wasn’t he?

“Rinrin thinks you and him are fighting silly!”

“Rin…is mad at me? Why?”

“Cause—” Shidou stopped. He actually didn’t know why. Rin was never one to talk about himself, especially not with Shidou.

“I don’t actually know,” Shidou said, pushing himself off from the nightstand and walking over to his closet. “Whatever the case may be, he’s pretty fuckin’ pissed at you. Kinda funny to watch.”

“...Oh. I didn’t know. I thought he was just being annoying. Like all younger brothers do? Is that why he was going off on me in the groupchat?” 

Shidou snorted. The group chat was…

Well, clearly Rin let his emotions get the better of him.

“You need to learn to read emotions better, Saebae! Apart from the lashes it's another thing you two have in common.” 

He pushed aside some clothes to find something to wear, before picking out a pink shirt and black under shirt. He put the phone between his shoulder and ear before continuing to talk. 

“What time are ya gonna pick me up?” 

“Around 2, if that's fine with you.” 

“Anytime is fine by me Saebae,” Shidou was so giddy you could probably hear it in his voice. 

“Alright then.” 

Just as Sae was about to hang up, Shidou said, “hey, if you’re free…wanna stay on call?”

Silence from the other end, as if Sae was debating on whether Shidou was really worth his time or not. Fortunately for Shidou, he chose the correct answer. 

“Sure.” 

Shidou let out a satisfied hum, before flopping back onto his couch. 

“Shidou,” Sae said from the other end. “Yes?” 

“Why are you still here?”

“What’re you talkin’ about?”

“Why have you still stayed? I mean–” Sae started, “it’s not like I’m the easiest to talk to. And people say I have a dry personality and—” 

“Sae.” Shidou said, interrupting him.

“Yeah?” 

“You’re you!” Shidou exclaimed, like that would solve everything. “I’m with you because I think you’re pretty fuckin’ cool. You’re amazing at what you do, and honestly its kind of enviable. Yeah sure, you don’t really talk, and yeah sure, you’re really bad at communicating,” that earned him a “Hey!” from the other side.

“But that’s what makes you you. It’d be kinda weird if you were social honestly. Rin was right, you probably did photosynthesize at home.” 

“...I thought we were saying nice things today.” 

“I’m so nice,” Shidou said in response. 

…

Eventually, ten minutes of talking turned into two hours, and it was almost time for them to go out. Shidou was combing his hair in front of the white mirror, the lights flickering unevenly.

“I really need to fix those,” Shidou muttered, flicking one of them with his finger, turning it off completely. He put the comb back in his drawer, with all the other hair supplies he had before getting up and turning to his bedroom door. He walked down the stairs, towards the shoe stand. 

Ding.

The doorbell. 

Shidou jolted with excitement, opening the door with all his strength. 

“Saebae!” He said.

“Demon,” Sae said in response, looking at him.

“Just one moment,” Shidou said, turning around to put on his shoes. 

As he walked out of the house, he noticed the way Sae was fidgeting with the loose string on his shirt. “Hey,” Shidou said, lightly punching the side of Sae’s shoulder. “No need to be nervous,” he gave him a reassuring smile.

“Thanks,” Sae mumbled, walking to his car.

“Always,” Shidou responded, moving to the passenger seat. Sae seemed to be considering something, before saying, “hey, Shidou?” 

“Yeah?” 

“Merry Christmas.” 

Chapter Text

“I don’t really know how it started,” Otoya said to Yukimiya, twisting his fork around. “It was just some glances, and those glances turned into stares. Stares turned into talking and…next thing I knew he was in my bed.” 

Yukimiya narrowed his eyes, “how long ago did you meet Karasu…?”

Otoya pressed the sharp edges of the fork to his lips, “Not sure.” 

Yukimiya sighed like he’d seen this a million times, “Otoya, you’re super sure you like this guy? After all, you’re the one who breaks up with people after like, a week. And we’re all in Blue Lock—don’t you know how awkward it’d be if you guys broke up?”

“We’re not!” Otoya exclaimed as Yukimiya raised an eyebrow. “You’re not what?” 

“We’re not dating,” Otoya said, voice soft as he looked down. “It was just a fling—a bad decision. That’s all.” 

“That’s what ya think of me?” A voice said from behind. Otoya jumped up in surprise, pressing his palms to the table. “Karasu…?”

Shit.

Karasu crossed his arms, giving Otoya an unreadable face as Otoya looked back and forth between Yukimiya and Karasu. Yukimiya gave no solace as he closed his eyes and leaned back on his chair.

“A bad decision? That’s what ya think?”

“No—I just—” 

“Then what? Am I gonna turn into another one of your one night stands? That’s what this is?”

“I…” Otoya didn’t say anything, just turned around to stare at his food. Karasu scoffed, muttering, “well lucky for you, you won’t have to make any more bad decisions,” and walked away.

Yukimiya opened one eye, watching Karasu walk away. “Great job,” he said, before getting up to walk after Karasu. Otoya said nothing, still feeling the glare burned into the back of his neck. He dragged his hand against his face as he groaned. 

…

“Karasu—wait!” Yukimiya yelled, putting his hand on Karasu’s shoulder. “What is it?” Karasu responded, voice gruff, not glancing back. “Don’t go defending the bastard.” 

“I’m not gonna do that,” Yukimiya said, taking his hand off. “Just…you think maybe you and him could talk it out?”

“Ha!” Karasu said, rolling his eyes. “Ya think I’m gonna do that?”

“Well Otoya is a confusing guy—at least maybe try communicating…?” 

“Yuki,” Karasu said, now it was his turn to put a hand on his shoulder. “Stick to soccer and modeling, okay? Giving advice doesn’t suit you.”

Well. 

That’s the last time Yukimiya tries to help.

“Fine, fine. You quarreling love birds or whatever do what you want. Sorry for attempting to help,” he said, shaking off Karasu’s hand and walking away. 

Karasu stood there, snow falling gracefully onto his coat, as he watched him leave. 

He sighed as he leaned onto the brick wall providing him absolutely no comfort; the cold traveling from the wall to his back, causing him to shiver. The cold didn’t seem to pity Karasu as the temperature picked up, leaving his nose and eyes red, from crying maybe, not that he’d ever say it. 

He sniffed, his moment of wallowing in self–pity interrupted by someone.

“Karasu…?” The voice said. He knew that voice all too well. He turned his head to avoid making eye contact, mumbling, “go away bastard.”

“Wait,” the voice said, stepping forward and disregarding what Karasu just said. “Can we please talk? I know I said some things, and you don’t have to forgive me but—”

“No, it was my fault, really. I should’ve known you’d treat me like all of your other “partners”. Otoya, do ya even know what love is?” 

“I know what love is!” Otoya exclaimed, fists curling up at his side.

Karasu pushed himself off the wall and walked forward. “Oh yeah? Why are you always cheating on people?” 

“I—” Otoya stuttered, face flushed, maybe because of the snow. 

Karasu interrupted him. 

“Why do ya always flirt with other people? Give people that look that makes people think you’re—you’re…” 

“That I’m what?” Otoya asked, watching as Karasu stuttered. “That you’re interested in them, dammit. Why are you always playing with people? For once in your fuckin’ life, can ya take things seriously?” 

The boy in front of Karasu didn’t say anything, only set his gaze down at the white snow. Karasu stepped forward again, “tell me you didn’t mean what you said.” 

Otoya didn’t—wouldn’t—-couldn’t—look up to face Karasu. 

And that told him everything he needed to know.

“You’re fuckin’ unbelievable.” Karasu spat at him, before stepping past him to walk away. 

But before he could, Otoya grabbed his wrist.

“I can’t say I don’t mean it,” he started, now facing Karasu, expression uncharacteristically serious. “I can’t lie. Not to you.” 

What the fuck was he playing at?

“What’re ya playing at ya fuckin’ jerk?” Karasu said, trying to worm his way out of Otoya’s grip, but Otoya only tightened his hold on Karasu’s wrist. “But I also can’t say I didn’t feel something.”

Karasu stopped moving.

“I can’t say that I didn’t hope there would be something more. I can say that maybe—just maybe—I want something more from us.” 

“You want—more?” Now Karasu was just confused. “I think I like you. I’m…I’m not sure. It’s a new feeling. Like, I’m satisfied just by being with you.”

“Oh that means so much,” Karasu said sarcastically. 

“I’m being serious!” Otoya hissed. “I don’t know what this feeling is, but I feel it for you.”

Karasu paused for a second, thinking about what he could say, maybe something snarky or mean or cruel, but instead he said:

“Ya mean it?” 

“For once, I think, yeah.”

Chapter Text

“C’mon Nagi!” Reo said, dragging the younger one’s arms. “We gotta make it before they close the doors—” He tugged the hem of Nagi’s sleeves. “Does it matter though? You’re rich aren’t you? Can’t you just ask to open them again?” He yawned, rubbing his free hand over his eye.

Reo stopped to look back at Nagi in all his disheveled glory, “it’s not the same though.” 

“We can always just come next year,” Nagi muttered again, staring idly at the view over the bridge. He shifted, loosening Reo’s grip on him. “The lights may be here every year, but who knows if we’ll be?” 

Nagi shook his head, “okay then,” and walked forward. 

…

They stood in front of the blinding lights; Nagi raised a hand to his eyes to shield himself.

“Nagi! Look!” Reo pointed, grabbing the hood of Nagi’s jacket. Nagi slowly lifted his head, his gaze on the fluorescent lights. He watched the soft snow drizzle across the tree, and watched the lights paint the sky bright colors. “Ya like it?” Reo asked him, staring at him.

Only at him.

“Yeah…” Nagi mumbled, feeling an unfamiliar heat creep up at the back of his neck. 

“When’re we going home…?” He mumbled again, “ah,” Reo said, checking his watch. “In about an hour, give or take. Unless…you’re ready to head home now?” 

No.

“No…” Nagi said, his voice soft, drowned out by the cheers and screams and bursts of joy around them, “I don’t wanna go home, not yet.” 

…

Nagi said he didn’t want to go home, so why was he the first one to? 

He sat, hunched over his desk, tears welling in his eyes, mind replaying every last memory lost to time.

 Lost to sloth. 

Lost to a faded desire to keep going.

In his mind that world collapsed, the lights went dark, the cheers faded, leaving only an empty buzz that rang through the empty town square. The big tree in the middle fell apart, lights flickering lazily, as only Nagi stood, feet grounded in the snow.

“I said I didn’t want to go home,” he hiccuped, sobbing through his tears.

Reo’s face is what flashed through his mind.

Reo, oh how beautiful he looked, his tears spilling, voice breaking. 

Reo, how desperate and pathetic he looked—he wasn’t even the one leaving.

And Nagi.

What did Nagi do?

What did he ever do?

He could feel the stares burn through the thin polyester of his jersey, something now undeserved. He could still feel the way his hair shifted against the air, the way he rubbed his neck in awkwardness.

He could still feel himself suppressing the urge to run to Reo, to tell him he’s done, to tell him he’s done all he could. 

Instead he mustered the courage to pat his head, saying bullshit he absolutely didn’t mean.

He wasn’t satisfied.

So why’d he let go?

Chapter Text

“So so,” Kurona said, leaning in to see Hiori’s monitor. “This is what you do?” Kurona tilted his head, hair falling onto his eyes. “Yeah,” Hiori responded, fixated on his game. 

“Wanna try?” Hiori spun his chair around to look at him, handing him another controller. Kurona stared at Hiori thoughtfully, staring at his bright blue eyes, and his bright blue hair.

“Sure sure!” Kurona said, ignoring the way heat rose up in his face. He grabbed the controller, thumbs resting on the joystick.

“How do I play, play?” Kurona said, tilting the controller and examining it. 

“Like this,” Hiori said, leaning into him. Kurona tried to disregard the fast beating in his heart, watching idly as Hiori explained the video game to him. “You just aim, and shoot.” Hiori pushed the joystick back, his gaze concentrated on the screen in front of him.

“Wow,” Kurona said, observing Hiori carefully.

Kurona tried to do the same, slowly pushing the joystick back before shooting, completely off target. “Oh,” he said, a little dejected. “It’s alright, ya just gotta try again!” 

As they played, Kurona found himself losing track of time, immersed in the moment of warmth they created—something that would turn into a small memory; that could be lost to obscurity.

Kurona kept this feeling close to his chest, as if the warmth would die out if he ever let go. “Yo—Kurona? Are ya okay?” Hiori said, waving his hand in front of him. “You zoned out for a bit,” Hiori said again, smiling softly. 

“Sorry…” Kurona said, “I zoned out.”

“That’s alright,” Hiori gave Kurona that soft smile that he always did, warm and kind and sweet and magical. 

“You’re coming to the party right? The one on the twenty–fourth?” 

“Yep, yep!” Kurona said, clasping his hands.

“So, do you have any ideas for Secret Santa?”

“No,” Kurona put a hand on his chin, thinking thoughtfully.

“What about you?” He spoke again, facing Hiori.

“I got no idea,” Hiori shrugged, turning his chair around with a creak as he went back to playing his game.

“Hey,” Kurona said, leaning into Hiori’s shoulders. “Do you like Christmas?”

“Well…” Hiori hesitated, Kurona noticed how the light in his eyes seemed to dim.

“It’s okay, okay. You don’t have to tell me,” Kurona said again.

“No–! It’s just…Christmas hasn’t felt like an actual holiday in a long time. My parents…they…”

Hiori’s voice got quieter, as Kurona said, “it’s okay, I get it, it.” 

“Ya do?” Hiori’s eyes seemed to light up again, and Kurona wanted to treasure that look. “Of course!” 

“Alright then,” Hiori said, resting his head over Kurona’s.

“Oh, Hiori?” Kurona asked.

“Yes?” Hiori said, occupied by the screen in front of him.

“Happy early Christmas!”

Chapter Text

Groupchat - JINGLE BALLS😍🔥🔥🔥

Rin: lowk sae triggers my cacophobia😕 

Bachira: o whats that???😦 

Ness: its fear of ugliness... 

Sae:...bitch.  

no WONDER ur too scared to look into the mirror 

Rin: YH BC I LOOK LIKE U  

Isagi: damn bro i thought we were done w ts😭 

Karasu: if i go down ur going down w me ahh rin😭🙏 

Otoya: WE’RE chopped ahh itoshi rin💔😭 

Chigiri: does anyone wanna play dti w me rn 

Bachira: OHHHH I DO I DO I DO  

Barou: can you all SHUT UP A NEW ROUND IS STARTING OMFG 

Reo: SHIT ALR??? WHATS THE THEME 

Hiori: OHHH SHIT ITS UHH PROM 

Shidou: PROM?? WAIT IM GONNA EAT I JS KNOW IT 

Chigiri: rin get your ASS OFF PINTEREST THATS CHEATING 

Rin: IM EXPANDING MY CREATIVE PALETTE MIND UR BUSINESS 

Isagi: “creative palette” what is bro’s vernacular😭💔 

Reo: BRO ISAGI R U PLAYING OR NOT 

Isagi:  WAIT I AM GIVE ME A MINUTE 

Yukimiya: wait guys i got this im a model 

Hiori: if ur a model whys ur fit so freaking ugly what 

Yukimiya: hoe 

OTOYA  WHY IS THE TOP SO SMALL BITCH U GOING TO PROM OR THE STRIP CLUB 

Otoya: mind ur business😒 

Ness: WAIT ITS VOTING TIME EVERYONE VOTE FAIRLY 

Kaiser: no❤️ 

Aryu: wait everyone shut up its my turn 

Isagi: yh no we can tell🫶 

Aryu: ok so i think ur insinuating something and i dont like it 

Ness: honestly these fits r kinda triggering MY cacophobia 

Isagi: ness u cant have cacophobia ur dating kaiser😕 

Kaiser: STOP IT 

oh my god guys im on the runway everyone give me five stars 

Rin: no i dont think i will 

Kaiser: rin...i...i thought....we had something🥺 

Isagi: holy monstrosity  

dont u have vip too😭 

Bachira: WAIT WIAT WAIT WHOS OUTFIT IS THIS ITS SO GOOD HELLO??? 

 
Rin: .... thats mine. 

Isagi: no fucking way 

Sae: i thought u lacked creativity 

Rin: and u lack emotional intelligence so

Sae: ok damn 

Otoya: its cause he’s on pinterest bro 

how many times do u think hes played 

@Rin arent u an ipad kid 

Rin: ... 

Sae: HE IS  

HE ABSOFUCKINGLUTELY IS 

Otoya: RIN DEFEND URSELF 

Karasu: silence is CRAZY MAN😭 

Rin: can u all shut the FUCK UP AND PLAY 

Sae: see hes js mad im right 

 
Rin: for once in ur fucking life 

Shidou: GUYS VOTINGS OVER HSHEOHRFKREWEJDKSSS 

Bachira: OMGGG WHO WON?? 

 
Isagi: WHAT THE FUCK RIN GOT FIRST 

Rin: im always first. 

Sae: jesus christ
 

Ness: AHHAHAHA I GOT SECOND 

Chigiri: BITCH YOU TIED W ME😭 

Isagi: bsfr MY outfit was the best one 

Hiori: no MY outfit was peak🙏 

Yukimiya: peak ugly u mean 

Hiori: WANNA SAY THAT AGAIN BITCH 

Yukimiya: PEAK UGLY 

Hiori: IM GOING TO 

Hiori has been muted for one minute 

Aryu: honestly you all lack vision MY OUTFIT WAS THE BEST 

Barou: u literally dressed up like that girl from twilight fym 

Kaiser: this was ALL rigged id say 

Sae: considering u got last place it was kinda accurate id say🤷‍♂️ 

Kaiser: genuinely hang urself 

Bachira: oOOOOO OKAY GUYS ROUND TWO  

Shidou: AHHAHAAH THE THEME IS SCHOOL 

Isagi: @Kaiser ohhhh thats tough man 

Kaiser: FUCK U IVE BEEN TO SCHOOL 

Chigiri: oh yh?? How many days 

Kaiser: ... 

NESS. 

NESS HELP ME RN. 

Ness: dw my liege i gotchu🥹❤️ 

Rin: im going to dress up as valedictorian. dont copy me. 

Sae: yh we all pretend to be smth we could never achieve 

Otoya: rin wdym dont copy 

arent YOU copying pinterest rn 

Rin: im not using pinterest im an original 

And @Sae is that why u pretend to be stable 

Sae: fuck u actually 

Isagi: rin u look exactly like sae but without the pink are u SURE ur the right person to talk abt being original 

Rin: i do NOT look like him 

Sae: he does NOT look like me 

i look better 

Rin: debatable 

Shidou: is it tho 

Rin: i will kick you so hard ur jaw pops out like a pez dispenser 

Hiori: yuki why is ur fit js random ahh things😭 

Karasu: yh bro did u js click everythign 

Chigiri: a little bit of this and a lil bit of that ahh leukemia😭🙏 

Isagi: LMFAOOO LEUKEMIA??? 

Chigiri: SHIT AUTOCORRECT 

Yukimiya: u guys js DONT get it 

Hiori: yh we rlly dont 

Yukimiya: im a visionary 

Isagi: yuki???? A VISIONary??😹😹😹 

Yukimiya: burn in hell 

Hiori: oh yh i forgot his sight was so bad 

no wonder his fits are so ass bruh🥹 

Barou: can u losers shut uP ALREADY VOTINGS STARTED 

Bachira: OUUUUUUU RINS FIRSTTTTTTTTTT 

Sae: overdressed  

Rin: overcompensating 

Sae: stop ur so obsessed with me😒 

Rin: yh i rlly wanna know how u achieved such a great downfall 

Sae:  

stop  

Kaiser: im next peasants vote me 

Reo: you’ve never been to school and it shows 

Kaiser: IM TRYING OK 

Ness: guys pls give him five stars🥹 

Rin: no the fuck i will not 

Kaiser: rin we’re BEST FRIENDS 

Rin: and everyday i try to forget that 

Sae: rins so obsessed w image bro😐 

 
Rin: and ur obsessed w relevance 

ik ur ass was benched in spain dont EVEN 

Sae: ... 

get out of my room. 

Rin: no. 

Reo: oh well u tried sae 

Chigiri: yh u had a good run🫶 

Isagi: a for effort ig🙂 

Kaiser: its the thought that counts 

ew isagis outfit.

 0 stars. 

Isagi: BITCH???

Ness: kaiser u cant rlly do that 

Kaiser: watch me. 

Isagi: bro wtf does that MEAN 

Sae: rin u wore black and called it a day 

Rin: u wore trauma and called it personality 

Sae: 🙂 

Shidou: see he got you there 

OHOHHHHHH MEEEEEE MEEEEE NEXTTTTTT  

VOTE FIVE STARS OR I EAT YOU!!!!😋❤️ 

Reo: do i have to 

Shidou: YES. 

Reo: 😕 

Chigiri: shidou what r we doing 

u can do sm better 

Rin: hes dating sae idk if he can decide whats good for him 

Sae: I’m going to personally hang you if you keep talking. 

Rin: see idk why saes so mad all the time damn😕 

Shidou: yh saebae dont be mad :( 

Otoya: since when do those two work tgt😨 

Sae: you think you’re funny 

Rin: i KNOW im funny 

idk abt shidou tho 

Shidou: HEY 

Charles has come online 

Niko has come online 

Shidou: CHARLES MY SONNNNNNNNNNNN 

Charles: DADDDDDD🥹🥹🥹🥹 

Niko: what r u guys doing 

Charles: R U GUYS PLAYING DTI WITHOUT US?????
 

Karasu: no🙂 

Chigiri: us???? nooooo never 

Ness: we would neverrrrrr do that :) 

Sae: yes the fuck we did why r u all lying 

Reo: OHHHH VOTINGS DONEEEEEEE 

Isagi: WHY DID RIN GET FIRST AGAIN WHAT  

Rin: im better than u 

Aryu: this is so not glam >:( 

Niko: guys the next theme is santa lock IN 

Rin: yk. sae told me santa wasnt real😕 

Sae: SHUT. 

Chigiri: SAE???? 

Isagi: DUDE WHAT WHY WOULD U DO THAT 

Shidou: awwwwww saebae i love u even moreeeeeeeeee💖💖💖 

Ness: js cause ur childhood was ruined doesnt mean u gotta ruin ur brothers😭 

Karasu: top ten anime betrayals💔 

Sae: U NEEDED TO KNOW THE TRUTH RIN. 

Rin: OH???? 

where was this energy when u watched me water a fake plant for FOUR FUCKING MONTHS 

Sae: the energy was cultivating🥹 

Rin: LIKE HOW U WATCHED ME CULTIVATE THE PLANT??😭 

I LOVED IT SAE. 

it was my CHILD 

Sae: BITCH IT WAS A PLANT

Rin: DIE

Sae: U FIRST 

Charles: GUYS MY SANTAS GONNA BE SO COOL 

Wait. 

 i js backread. 

wdym santa isnt real :( 

Isagi: oh no 

Reo: oh no indeed 

Niko: fuck 

Chigiri: ITS A JOKE HAHAHAHA 

Ness: Yes ofc!!! 

Kaiser: its not a joke 

Ness: KAISER. 

Kaiser: i didnt say anything at all <3 

Yukimiya: see ive been locking in on my fits and yall out here ruining childhoods 

Hiori: like how ur sights getting ruined?? 

Yukimiya: BITCH DIE 

Karasu: otoya WHAT is that fit bro💔 

Otoya: its SANTA. 

u all lack taste 

Bachira: guys wdym santas not real...?

Isagi: oh brother 

Sae: bsfr. 

Karasu: bachibro ur SEVENTEEN

Bachira: so??? santa is FOREVER😞 

Nagi has come online 

Nagi: reo 

reo  

reo  

reo 

reo pls talk to me :(
 

Chigiri: 😦 

Isagi: ... 

Bachira: uhm... 

Reo is typing 

Reo has stopped typing 

Reo has gone offline 

Shidou: wohw 

the tensions yummy😋 

Sae: there he goes again 

Otoya: good job shidou JS when it couldnt get any worse 

Nagi: do u guys know where reo could be 

Chigiri: i do 

but idk if i wanna tell u  

Isagi: yhhh hes kinda uhm. 

uhhhhh 

Rin: he doesnt want to be with u nagi. 

Ness: not the way i wouldve worded it but yeah 

Nagi: oh 

thanks tho 

Nagi has gone offline 

Isagi: wait i feel bad😭 

Chigiri: i dont 

hes had SM chances 

SOOOO MANY 

Bachira: u dont feel a LITTLE sad 

not even a LITTLEEEE bit  

Chigiri: ... 

maybe a little 

Otoya: rins on pinterest doesnt this count as cheating 

Rin: u of all ppl cant be talking abt cheating😒 

Chigiri: LMFAOOO 

Karasu: wait rin how do u even switch between pinterest and roblox so fast without it disconnectinf😭 

Sae: he doesnt. Hes using his computer to search up the outfits. 

Rin: U SAID U WOULDNT TALK ABT THAT 

Shidou: WAIT DEADAS SLMFAOO???? 

Isagi: bro dress to impress cannot be that deep😭 

Sae has uploaded a picture  

Kaiser: good lord i forgot rin had bad posture 

Ness: bro hes a SHRIMP 

Isagi: hunchback of notre dame💔 

Rin: choke. 

Hiori: guys votings STARTED LOCK IN 

Barou: what the FUCK IS THIS YUKIMIYA 

Yukimiya: ITS SANTA CLAUS 

HO HO HO BITCH.  

Isagi: when i look at ur fit im glad santa aint real🥹🙏 

Karasu: real God is good❤️‍🩹🌹🔋 

Yukimiya: i will strangle you all tonight 

Charles: guys im next :DDDDDDD 

Ness: ok everyone vote him five stars right NOW or i shove a double barrel shotgun down ur throat

Kaiser: where was this when I was on the runway :( 

Sae: absent. like ur mother. 

Kaiser: OK RUDE 

Bachira: OOO IM NEXT IM NEXT !! 

Chigiri: oh...bachira... 

Bachira: the monster told me to do this!!!😋 

Isagi: bachira no... 

Reo: thats not... 

Kaiser: u rlly need to stop listening to that thing 

Rin: its horrendous what the FUCK are you doing 

Karasu: didnt even sugar coat it😭 

Shidou: dont listen to the haters bee boy u made santa look as ugly as he acc is🥹❤️‍🩹🌹 

Bachira: thanks !!!! 

wait. 

Shidou: :) 

Bachira: votings done guys !!!!!!!!!!!! 

Sae: rin ur acc hacking wtf 

Isagi: how do u win 1st place AGAIN 

Rin: im telling u im BETTER THAN ALL OF U WHATS SO HARD TO UNDERSTAND
 

Kaiser: this is RIGGED 

Karasu: yh i kinda agree w him rn 

Ness: maybe we all js suck 

Sae: MAYBE rin should stop gatekeeping his pinterest inspo 

Rin: NEVER 

Chapter Text

Reo unzipped his duffel bag, pulling neatly packed clothes out of it. He tossed them lazily onto the bed—when did he get so lazy? He shoved the duffel bag underneath his desk, moving his chair to make way for it. “Didn’t really miss this as much as I thought I would,” he muttered, moving stuff around on his desk. He sighed, “home sweet home, I guess.” Though his home didn’t feel like home. It hadn’t really, for a long long time. Not since—

Well. 

You know.

Sometimes there were nights at Blue Lock, where even the distraction of the cold hard floor and the loud empty buzzings weren’t enough, and Reo was still left to his own devices. The thoughts were loud, building on fear and desperation. 

He didn’t want to go home. 

He’d make sure of it.

But there were his parents, so sure he’d falter. There was Nagi who had faltered, and then there was Reo himself, living with the knowledge he too could follow in Nagi’s footsteps, he too could fall just as hard. So after that day, when he could still feel Nagi’s hands against his head, feel his words hit like a truck, feel everyone’s eyes on them—only them, pitying them, he made sure he wouldn’t feel Nagi anymore. Wouldn’t feel anything about him.

So why did he feel so much when his finger hovered over a single button on his phone, one that served as the only way him and Nagi could ever talk ever again?

He flopped onto his bed, and screamed into his pillow. “This is so fucking difficult,” his voice was muffled against the pillow, “I hate this.” 

Knock.

Reo shot up, arms pushing him out of bed, no one could see him in such a state—though did it really matter after everyone saw him crying his eyes out on TV? “Who’s there?” He said, voice hurried, as he rushed to get up out of bed. Opening the door, he was greeted with his butler. 

“Oh? You need anything?” Reo asked, furrowing his brows. “No, it’s your parents. They’ve called for you.” 

“Okay then…where are they?”

“In Korea. They want you to quit soccer and join them there.” 

What the fuck? Reo felt his chest tighten at the butler’s words—he already knew they never approved of his dream, his goal, his passion. He also knew they never approved of—

“After seeing your and Nagi’s…friendship breakup on screen…”

Right. Friendship. Was it wrong Reo thought they were more than just friends? “Sorry…? What does me and Nagi have to do with this?”

“They obviously never approved of your friendship with him,” again, friendship. The thought of the wretched word made Reo’s heart pang and turn and twist in all the wrong ways as he forced a smile on his face. “I’m not doing that.”

The butler only sighed like he had seen this a million times over, “I know. I actually came to talk to you about him.”

“There’s nothing to talk about.” Reo muttered, twisting the metal door handle. “Of course there is,” replied the butler. “I was once like you, you know.” 

What could this man possibly be talking about?

“Excuse me?” Reo said.

“When I was younger—I too tried to prioritize one thing over the other. Love over passion. Ego over emotions. Then, I tried to balance it. But one overpowered the other. Reo,” the butler fixed Reo’s tie, “I want you to find that balance. Separate the field from outside it.”

Separate his love for his passion and his love for Nagi? How could he do that when they came hand in hand? Everything he had ever done in soccer, every moment, every win and every lose, all done with Nagi in his mind. And when he did it without Nagi, remnants of him still remained, burrowed deep in his heart. 

“I can’t do that.” 

“Sorry?”

“I can’t—I can’t separate Nagi and soccer. They’re both so important to me. There is no Nagi without soccer, I mean, its the only reason I ever became…”

Friends with him.

Again with that cursed word. He winced as his own tongue betrayed him, biting it. The butler sighed, shaking his head and saying, “alright then. But—don’t you miss him?” 

All the damn time. 

The butler took Reo’s silence as an invitation to keep talking, “you’re on break right now, aren’t you?”

“Yes…?”

“You’re not worried about soccer right now—right?” The butler asked, his voice going a little higher on the final word, his tone hopeful. “Yes, what exactly are you trying to say…?” Reo spoke, dragging out the final word before realizing what the butler was telling him. 

“Go get him.”

Reo took that as all the permission he’d need—he wasn’t going to let Nagi slip away from his grasp like so many times before—he wasn’t going to let any of this get in the way of his career—if Nagi falters again, so be it, but it’s not going to cost Reo his own happiness. 

He sprinted down the hall, whispering sorries, squeezing his way through the crowd of servants cleaning the aisles. He made his way to the grand door of his mansion, decorated with gold and silver ornaments and wreaths. His hand hovered over the door handle, adorned with Christmas lights and leaves of all different colors, like he was hesitating. But he already made the grand decision he was never going to hesitate. 

Never again.

He opened the door, and practically threw himself down the marble stairs, stumbling as he sprinted across the pavement. The wind blew past him, offering cool air, just enough to relax him, as his sprint slowly turned into a walk. 

His shoulders relaxed—just slightly, but that was all he’d need; his panting slowly stopped as he gazed at the sight in front of him. 

“Nagi…” He said, voice breathless.

Nagi stood—tall for once—also seemingly out of breath, it was clear he ran here on an impulse. “Reo…” He said, eyes glassy, “Reo…” He repeated, like it was the only thing he knew how to say. 

“I’m—”

“Shut up.” Reo choked out, before running to embrace Nagi. “You should be sorry. Sorry for thinking you were satisfied. Sorry for ever getting locked off.” He pulled him in, head resting against Nagi’s collarbone. Before he knew it, tears were falling out, staining Nagi’s white collar. He didn’t seem to mind; pressing his palms against Reo’s back, strengthening the warm embrace.

Nagi hummed in agreement, resting his head on Reo’s. “Merry Christmas…” He mumbled, voice breaking. Reo felt the cool air rush against his bare neck, his nose turning red, body freezing. “Wow, Christmas already…?” He said between sobs. Nagi adjusted them, so that Reo was leaning against the cold metal railing. 

He pulled back only to take a look at Reo, hair messy, eyes and nose and cheeks red. “Reo—” He started again, before being rudely (affectionately) interrupted again, by Reo grabbing his tie. 

“Shut up.” Reo hissed again, “stop apologizing. You’ve done that so many times before. Show me you’re sorry.” 

So Nagi decided to show Reo how sorry he was by leaning in. Reo didn’t stop him; only seemed to accept him, as his eyes fluttered shut, gripping Nagi’s collar tight as he pulled him even closer. 

Closer.

Closer and closer and closer until their lips met.

Nagi leaned over Reo, hands now not on his back, but on the metal railings, as Reo, who seemed to find this completely normal, like they were meant to do this, curled his fingers into Nagi’s clothes, creasing them. Nagi dragged one hand from the railing to Reo’s back to the nape of his neck to his hair, slowly but surely, curling his fingers around the deep purple. 

He pulled back gasping; taking a deep breath of the cold sweet air of Christmas, and rested his forehead on Reo’s, whispering a small but meaningful, 

“I love you.” 

Chapter Text

As much as it pained Sendou to admit—he had, unfortunately, fallen for a certain Oliver Aiku. Whether it be his lazy gaze, his messy hair, or his laidback attitude that he had for everything, he was in love, completely; which doesn’t work out well when the person you’ve fallen for is a notorious cheater, someone who finds love a hassle instead of a gifted privilege. 

“I don’t know what to do,” Sendou said, flopping down on the couch. A tall man with thick black spiky hair and burning ruby red eyes turned around to face him, “get up.” He said, “you’re pathetic. What if he hears you right now?” 

“But Barou…” Sendou whined, bright pink strands of his hair falling on top of his eyes. “It’s so frustrating.” 

“Why him? And how long anyway?” 

“A few weeks…?” 

In reality, Sendou had first discovered these feelings way back ago—more specifically when they were accepted into Blue Lock—and those feelings stayed. It started with his heart twisting when he saw Aiku’s arms around some girl, one he was bound to break up with in a few weeks time. He saw the way Aiku would look at her like he had won it all, the way he’d pull her into his arms. Sendou told himself he envied his teammate, that was all. He had just envied him—not the girl, who was in his opinion, way out of either of their leagues. 

That sounded right.

It felt like Sendou’s heart escaped tight shackles and grew a pair of wings when he learned that girl broke up with Aiku a month later. He couldn’t help but smile at the situation, his face practically glowing. Aiku looked at him with that stupid, heartfluttering gaze he always did, scoffing, “what? Aren’t you supposed to be pitying me right now?” 

“Why would I do that?” Sendou bit back, crossing his arms and looking to the side. “You cheated on her.” Those words left a bitter taste in his mouth—there he was with the reminder that Aiku was, and probably always will be, a cheater. He closed his eyes and shuddered—he truly had no idea why he pined after this man. 

No. He didn’t pine after him.

He absolutely didn’t.

Did he?

…

Oliver Aiku was a terrible partner, he knew that well. He couldn’t help it—really, it was just so hard to commit. So when Shuto Sendou, his teammate, and the star striker of the U-20 team, started looking different in his eyes, he knew there was a very, very big problem. It started small, when he’d walk around malls with whatever girlfriend was latching onto his arm that day, he’d see certain objects or clothes that reminded him of the striker. He’d see things that match his eye color, or products that Sendou would swear by, and he always felt the urge to buy it—to give it to him, just to see his reaction. 

He didn’t know why. 

He imagined Sendou would pretend to be calm about it, pretending like he didn’t care at all. But in reality, he’d care too much; Aiku imagined Sendou’s eyes would light up with that familiar sparkle in them, the way he’d try so hard not to curl his lips into that familiar smile. Before he knew it, he’d end up imagining them together—way more than he’d like to ever admit. 

So, he did what any ‘sensible’ person would do, and just, date more. Girl after girl, he noticed Sendou’s face, always heartbroken, the way his eyes would go glassy—maybe Aiku was seeing things. 

But no girl or boy was able to fill the giant hole in Aiku’s heart, one that would slowly fade away when Sendou was near. 

Aiku knew damn well that he was too far gone.

…

Sendou sat at the bus stop, watching the heavy rain pour. The wooden bench creaked as he pulled his knees up to his chest, shuddering. He was so tired today—from training, maybe? His eyes threatened to close at any second as he forced himself to stay awake, just a little bit longer. He pulled out his phone to check the time, which read: 8:12 PM.

He still had thirty minutes before the bus arrived. What was he even going to do? 

“Excuse me,” a voice said. Sendou slowly looked up, his eyes meeting a tall figure holding an umbrella. Except this figure looked very familiar. He’d recognize those eyes anywhere.

“Aiku? What’re you doing here?” He said.

“Waiting for the bus, of course.” 

“What, did another girlfriend dump you and refuse to drive you home?” 

“No,” Aiku chuckled, “nothing like that, I actually haven’t had a few girlfriends in a while. Maybe I just wanted to be with you?” 

What?

Hearing those words, Sendou’s eyes widened, a little hopeful. “What do you mean by that…?”

Aiku smiled that all knowing smile, before sitting down besides Sendou. 

“You cold?” He asked, noticing the way Sendou shivered.

“No…” Sendou muttered, looking away, avoiding how his face seemed to flush up. “You sure?” Aiku leaned in closer to his ear, “you’re practically shaking now.” 

“I’m fine.” Sendou said, gritting through his teeth.

“Whatever,” Aiku pulled back, before shuffling around on the bench. Sendou turned his head ever so slightly, just to get a small look at Aiku, before seeing him unzip his leather jacket. “Why are you taking it off?” He asked, brows furrowing as he tilted his head. He got his answer as Aiku draped the jacket over him, “there.” He said, “now you won’t be cold.” 

The simple but sweet gesture made Sendou’s heart—unfortunately—melt, as his face turned redder than before. He whispered out, “thanks, I guess.” Aiku hummed, seemingly satisfied, before pulling his phone out of his pocket to scroll. Minutes passed, and Sendou grew restless, his heart beating fast. He tried to distract himself with his phone, but everything seemed to lead back to Aiku. 

He tried stealing a glance to see what the older one was looking at, and seemed to be too focused on what he was watching, rather than what Sendou himself was doing. Before he knew it, his head was completely on Aiku’s shoulder. Aiku turned to look at him, chuckling, “what’re you doing?” 

Sendou jerked his head back up, stammering as he tried to find the words. “I was just…uh, curious to see what you were watching! That’s all.” Aiku skeptically raised an eyebrow, but didn’t say anything. Little did Sendou know, Aiku was also panicking—just calmer about everything. He tried to ignore the way his heart beat so fast it was going to fly out of his chest, he ignored the urge to steal glances at Sendou, he tried to ignore it so badly, but it ultimately failed. 

He saw the way Sendou would get nervous too—something that never used to happen before. He’d notice the way he put distance between them, the way Sendou would face the other side. 

That could only mean one thing.

Whether it was good or bad, Aiku wasn’t sure—commitment wasn’t his strong suit. But he’d try.

Aiku sighed as he put down his phone and faced Sendou.

“Sendou.” He said, voice firm.

“What?” Sendou said, clearly still embarrassed.

“I like you.” 

Aiku had confessed many times before, to so many different people, yet he still felt so nervous. He was placing everything on this—a gamble based on his observations that could very well just be him being delusional.

“What?” Sendou said, bewildered. 

“I said, I like you. I…” Aiku trailed off. Was he really going to make this commitment? 

He took a deep breath. 

He’d try, at least. That’s what he promised himself.

“I want to be in a relationship with you.”

“I…” Sendou got quiet. His heart pounded so loud he could hear it in his ears, was he hearing Aiku correctly? He shifted uncomfortably, fiddling with his hands. He pursed his lips together trying to come up with a response, he knew Aiku was bold, but not this bold. He wanted to accept it, he wanted to embrace Aiku in his arms, but there was one thing holding him back—not his own flaw, but Aiku’s.

“How do I know you won’t cheat?” Sendou finally said, barely looking up at Aiku, gaze distant; almost a glare. Aiku didn’t seem to falter at this, only straightening his back as he stared into Sendou’s eyes, “I want to commit to you. Only you.” 

Sendou took Aiku’s words into careful consideration, thinking about all the possibilities that could happen, but in the end, he knew what choice he’d make. His gaze softened, as he spoke, voice barely above a whisper, “I like you too.” 

The moment was perfect—the rain, the atmosphere, the way the moon glowed, the way it was just the two of them—Sendou wanted to treasure that moment forever and beyond.

“I want to be in a relationship with you too.”