Practice ended a while ago. Sun's low, throwing long shadows across the field.
I'm lying on the grass, too lazy to move. Still a little warm from running around, but the breeze is decent.
Kind of nice, actually. If I stay like this long enough, I might melt into the ground. Wouldn't mind it though.
Reo's standing nearby, stretching like we didn't just spend two hours sweating our lives away.
Unreal. My eyes are half open, just enough to watch him move.
He then glanced at me, "Here."
Threw a towel at me and I caught it without thinking, stared at his face for a second before dropping the towel over mine.
He said something after that—sounds like a question. I didn't bother answering. Not because I wasn't listening. I just didn't feel like it.
Still. I kept my ears open waiting for him to continue.
But instead... silence.
Then, "...Oi, Nagi. Have you heard?"
I grunted under the towel. "I'm listening, damnit."
Pulled the towel down just enough to peek at him. I shot him an annoyed look.
"Reply back when I talk to you."
"Too much effort."
"That's how conversation works."
I sighed, "Tch... Just say it."
He didn't, not right away. Just sat down beside me. That alone felt off.
"Blue Lock," he said.
"Blue what?"
What was that? I didn't know, don't even wanna. It sounded like too much work already.
I was about to stop listening… but Reo looked serious. Like, actually serious. No teasing. No smirk. None of that usual Reo energy.
I sat up. The towel slid off, landing on my lap.
Okay, fine. I'll bite.
Reo looked straight ahead, eyes locked on mine.
"It's a project, a new one." He said. "Nationwide. The Japan Football Union is trying to build the world's best striker."
I blinked slowly. "I'm not a striker."
"You could be."
I scratched my head. "Sounds like a pain."
He didn't disagree. Just kept looking straight ahead.
"It's an Invitation-only program. Hundreds of the best forwards from all over Japan are going. They'll all compete and train in one facility."
"That is… way too complicated."
Reo didn't laugh. He didn't tease me like he usually would. He just leaned forward, elbows on his knees.
"I'm going."
That made me pause.
"You?"
He nodded. "Yeah. I want to be the best."
He's said that a thousand times. Nothing new. That ambition of his was one of the reasons I even bothered playing in the first place.
Then he looked at me again—serious, focused, like this meant more than anything else he's ever said.
"I want you to come with me, Nagi."
I sighed, laying back down, arm over my eyes.
"That sounds like a lot of work…"
"I know."
"Gotta live with strangers."
"Probably."
"Rules?"
"Definitely."
We sat there in silence. I could feel him waiting. No pressure, but… yeah, pressure.
I pulled my arm away from my face and stared up at the sky.
"…Tch. Fine."
Reo turned fast. "Seriously?"
"Only 'cause it's you," I muttered. "And if it sucks, I'm quitting."
Reo smiled. Not his usual smug grin—something quieter, relieved.
"That's good enough for me."
I yawned. "I better get good food."
"Don't push it."
* * *
Next day. Same train.
Window seat this time. I leaned my head on the glass, stretched my legs out just enough to make it inconvenient for anyone walking by. Earbuds in. No music. A habit now.
Wasn't really thinking about anything. But the Blue Lock stuff kept creeping back in. Stupid Reo.
"Blue Lock, huh?" I mumbled.
Even the name sounded like work.
Regret was already knocking. But it's too late now.
The sun was duller today. Sky kind of gray, like it didn't feel like trying. I got that.
Train stopped. A few people shuffled off. One seat freed up next to me.
Then she sat down.
That girl from yesterday.
White hair. Same shade as mine—soft, pale, the kind that caught the morning light like silk. Her eyes were a pale, piercing blue.
I glanced once, and it felt like looking into cold water—sharp enough to jolt you, clear enough to get lost in.
Her face was calm. Cool, even. Like nothing fazed her, but everything was quietly measured.
That kind of look could make someone forget what they were saying. Or thinking. Probably did.
She didn't say anything at first. Just sat down, hands folded neatly in her lap. Her posture was calm, but her eyes flicked from the floor, to her knees, to me.
Like she wanted to say something and didn't want to at the same time.
I closed my eyes.
"…Hey," she said.
And opened one eye.
She looked like she wasn't used to starting conversations. Like she had to convince herself just to say that much.
"Thanks," she said. "For yesterday."
I shrugged. "It was nothing."
"It wasn't."
Silence drifted in. Not awkward. Just quiet. Soft.
Then she asked, "Could you… stay next to me? When we're on the train. If that's alright."
I looked at her again. Blue eyes, still watching me.
"You want a bodyguard?"
She smiled, small and kinda shy. "Not exactly. I just… feel safer with you."
Her voice got quieter near the end.
I stretched my arms behind my head. "Sure."
Her shoulders relaxed.
"I'm Shinonome Nagi," she said. "First-year."
I blinked, slow. "Nagi?"
She nodded. "Yeah?"
I stared for a beat. "Same."
Her eyebrows went up. "Seriously?"
"Nagi Seishiro."
She laughed, covering her mouth with her sleeve. "That's kind of weird."
"Or kinda convenient."
We didn't talk after that.
Didn't have to.
Just sat there. Quiet. Side by side.
~
(End of chapter)
A/N: So this is a problem. I didn't mean to actually start posting chapters on this fanfic.
What happened was that I turned on schedule publishing to see how it works but something must've happened that it didn't register when I turned it back off.
I haven't wrote much just yet and I don't feel like deleting the chapter. Unfortunately, I'll have to ask for you guys to wait as I work on more chapters.
Anyway, I want to say thank you for those who put this fanfic in their collection.