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With Isagi, he was supposed to be invincible. The player who tore through Reo and Nagi’s plays as if they were child’s play. But he watched Bachira leave with their opponents, a dreadful silence descending upon them like a suffocating blanket.

The mood did not lift in the locker room. Isagi sat on one of the benches, face buried in his hands, an air not dissimilar to when Nagi had left Reo behind. It was as if they had buried Bachira, though all that happened was that they lost him to another team.

Nagi took off the sweaty clothes, wondering if he should shower or not. The discomfort of being icky and sticky outweighed the effort it would take. He tossed them on the ground, hoping it would elicit some kind of reaction from Isagi. Nothing.

Comforting has never been his strong suit, and fortunately, Reo never required comfort from him. But it seemed that Isagi needed some consolation, and the man suited for the job was just stolen away. “We just have to win all our matches, and then you can see him again.”

“I know that.” Isagi roughly rubbed his face. “But I wanted to play together with Bachira; it feels like with him, I’m unbeatable.”

“But you’ve lost games with Bachira at your side.”

“Yes, but we kept pushing each other, and unlike you and Reo, we met at Blue Lock. It took a while for us to get used to each other.”

To Nagi’s horror, Isagi started to look like a blushing maiden. He had seen it before; Reo’s many admirers. They tended to flaunt and twitter all over Reo as if he were something bigger than life.

“Aren’t you the same with Reo?” Isagi said, clearly interpreting Nagi’s reaction wrongly. “You joined Bachira and I to become stronger, to be able to play at Reo side at the top.”

“I suppose.” Nagi tugged on the rim of his underwear, wishing the conversation to end so he could shower. He could leave, but a nagging voice in the back of his head told him it was rude. Likely, that voice belonged to Reo.

“You don’t sound particularly convinced.”

Because he wasn’t. He still stood by his decision. As they were right now, they couldn’t help each other grow. Reo happily assisted Nagi, deterring both of their growth. Reo would never become stronger, and Nagi was far too complacent. Others would force them to fight for the spot; they no longer were the first choice.

Isagi got up, stretching his entire body. It reminded Nagi of the stray cats that wandered around the school. “Have you told him why you made your choice.”

“I tried.”

“Maybe you should try again.” Isagi looked forlorn. With each passing second, he started to look more and more like a romance movie heroine. “Of course it won’t be the end all be all, but it is rare to find your other half, especially so young. You should cherish that.”

Nagi was well-aware of his short-comings in the emotional department, but even he could clock that Isagi’s words had a more romantic nature to them.

“That might be a little much; I’m not even sure if I will be playing soccer in a year.”

And if I quit soccer, Reo will lose all interest in me, Nagi silently mused.

Confusion flitted across Isagi’s face. There obvious was something wrong with Nagi’s answer, but he couldn’t put a finger on it. He must know that Nagi wasn’t as passionate about soccer as most people here.

Whether he got the answer he wanted or not, Isagi finally decided to quit moping. “Let’s shower. We need our rest, and then we start practising.”

“Can it wait for tomorrow?” Nagi whined, trailing after Isagi into the shared showers.

“Absolutely not.” Fire burned in his eyes. “You said it yourself: we need to win to get Bachira back.”

***

Though Baro only had been a member of their team for five minutes, Nagi already mourned his peace. Though Bachira and Isagi only had soccer on their brain, they at least where nice off field.

They were all showering, though Baro stood as far away as possible. He was still steaming, metaphorically and literally, and his rumblings rose aboe the clattering of the water.

“Are you sure…” he whispered to Isagi, who had taken the shower next to him.

“He is an incredibly strong shooter,” Isagi argued, fingers up in hair, sooth overflowing and splattering on the ground. “We’re a bit weaker on the offensive side, so we need someone to blast through our opponents defences.”

Still, he wasn’t looking forward to having to share a room with Baro. He liked his peace and quiet.

Agitated and jittery, his gaze flicked across the room to distract himself. Baro’s hulking form, all the eerily unoccupied showers, Isagi’s balancing act to get his feet cleaned. His gaze lingered on Isagi’s naked hip. At first glance, it seemed just some soap, but as the water hit it, the shape morphed into a soccer ball.

Isagi caught him. His already ruddy cheeks grew redder, and he covered the tattoo with his hand. “It is rude to stare.”

“Then why would get you a soccer ball tattooed?” he blurted out, a little tactless.

Baro, who had been in his own world the whole time, snorted loudly. “Who in their right mind would get a soccer ball tattooed?” he sneered. “Half of the people here have it as their soulmark; it would be a waste of money.”

Nagi stared blankly at Baro. A something-mark? Nagi had never heard of it. He glanced at Isagi, who looked flustered, but serious. Clearly, it wasn’t a joke.

“Don’t tell me you don’t know what soulmate marks are.”

The silence between the three of them was deafening. Clearly, this was something he supposedly should have known, though he was sure this was the first time he ever heard of the term. Though, soulmate itself wasn’t entirely new to him.

“I’ve heard some girls call Reo their soulmate, but I thought that it was girls being girls.”

Baro ‘muttered’ some insults under his breath. Nagi started to feel for Isagi; neither of them were particularly well-adjusted humans.

“During home room?” Isagi asked.

“I usually sleep.”

“How are you even alive?” It was more-so a remark than a genuine question. “I call an intervention; I can’t be in a team with such an idiot.”

Baro should consider himself lucky that he didn’t share a team with Zantetsu, who seemed to know even less about the world than Nagi, though he genuinely tried.

***

Nagi sat in one of the bottom beds, opposite of Baro. Isagi was still standing, trying to tidy the pig-sty that is their room. Baro was glaring daggers at something or someone; it could be Nagi, Isagi, or their dirty laundry. Slowly, Nagi reached for his handheld, hoping that they would drop the talk about soulmates and whatever adjacent jargon was used. He figured that it wasn’t important; otherwise, Reo would have told him.

Isagi cleared his throat. “It has been a while, so I try to do my best. Anyway, if I recall correctly, the Romans believed that humans were created with four arms, legs, and two faces. However, because they were feared to be too strong, some person split them in two, creating two humans. For the rest of their lives, they look for their other half. It is something akin to the red string of fate. Nowadays—”

“Greek,” Baro corrected. “And it was Zeus, one of their gods. How did you ever pass history.”

Isagi nodded, seemingly unbothered by Baro’s snide remark. Some of it sounded vaguely familiar; maybe something Nagi once learnt for his history test. Usually, he crammed the night before, blacked out, and somehow pass.

“Nowadays, pretty much everyone has a soulmate. However, because there are so many people on this planet, they get a soulmate mark to steer them in the right direction.”

Though Nagi was still fairly clueless about it all, if he would pick a soulmark for Isagi, a soccer ball would be on the top of his list. He was soccer obsessed, and likely, he wanted a partner that was also soccer obsessed. What better place than Blue Lock? However, he wondered how he would know that it was Bachira, among all the soccer crazed people here?

“A mark must be quite obvious, right?”

Nagi was quite sure he would have noticed something like a tattoo show up on his body. And if not himself, it would be the doctor who looked them over.

“Soulmarks usually appear somewhere in your teens or early adulthood, so it isn’t too surprising that yours hasn’t shown up.” Isagi acted as if it was common knowledge: it likely was for anyone. “But they aren’t particularly useful. Mine has manifested years ago, but even after putting it in the register, there have been no hits. Most marks are quite generic, so you would have to wait for the second phase anyway.”

“Second?”

Baro groaned. “I wished that this Reo person cared as much about your education as your soccer skill.”

Nagi figured that maybe, if his parents had cared more, they would have explained it to him. That would have saved him the pain of Baro scolding him and Isagi treating him like a kid. He had never expected to see a motherly side to Isagi.

“But to get back to the second phase. First stage marks are quite generic, so they eventually blossom into their second phase. Sometimes it is when you’ve fallen in love, other times it acts as a nudge in the right direction. I haven’t seen many in real life, but they are usually quite something. However, this usually doesn’t happen until well into adulthood.”

It all sounded like quite the pain. “So when all the girls told Reo they were his soulmate…”

“They have a soulmark they think might connect to him,” Isagi confirmed. “Though, nowadays, most people just shoot their shot, especially when they’re young. You have plenty of time to settle down later.”

Says the guy waxing poetry about Bachira, Nagi thought. He was secretly proud of himself that he didn’t voice that out loud; he had some restraint.

“And what if I don’t like my soulmate?”

Dating in general felt like a pain. It was easier to not date; he would never have to worry about his other half leaving. His parents had cared little when he decided to live on his own, and they didn’t even protest when he was invited to Blue Lock. He was aware he had a difficult personality, so it was likely his soulmate would eventually get fed up with him.

“Then you don’t date them,” Baro piped in. “Soulmates can be something beautiful and romantic, but if you don’t get along, you shouldn’t stay. You can’t pick your soulmate, but you can pick the person you want to date. They don’t have to be one and the same.”

He wasn’t sure what was worse. Isagi’s possible one-sided love for Bachira, or Baro who was a romantic at heart.

“Don’t look at me like that, I have younger sisters. I have to make sure that they are treated well, soulmate or not.”

***

A couple of Google searches confirmed that Isagi hadn’t been pulling his leg: soulmates were real. However, their realness was no real concern to Nagi, so he promptly decided to forget about it. Why would he bother with something that didn’t concern him?

Turned out, it did concern him. If everyone had a soulmate, it also meant Reo had a soulmate. There was someone out there who was Reo’s other half, his supposed first choice, as Isagi had explained it. The idea of losing Reo so easily had kept him awake at night, and even haunted him in his dreams.

Reo introducing his soulmate to Nagi had been the start of several lively dreams. Others involved several soulmark placements—he pitied anyone who had theirs placed on their ass—and ended up Nagi marrying a stranger with well manicured nails, pretty make-up and long hair, who clung to his arm, betting her lashes prettily. It made him want to crawl out of his own skin.

“Is there a way to not have a soulmark show up?” Nagi said in lieu of a morning greeting.

“Someone woke up on the wrong side of his bed,” Baro grumbled. His follow-up was done in a sickly sweet voice. “Did poor baby have a nightmare?”

Isagi took his question serious. “Well, theoretically you can by isolating yourself. However, even so, it seldom works.”

With his games and an internet connection, he figured he could last for quite a while. He could get everything delivered to him, so he would never have to meet another human being.

“It means that you will never see Reo again.”

Nagi wrinkled his nose. He started to look for his clothes in an attempt to look busy. “Why specifically Reo?”

“Because anyone seeing you two together think you’re already dating.”

“It’s just an assumption,” Isagi piped in. “It’s perfectly normal to have male friendships.”

“Yes, but none of my friends ever fed me, or carried me on their back, or dropped anything to do my bidding.”

“You have friends?”

Their increasingly heated back and forth was ended by Isagi herding them to the dining hall, telling them to get ready for practise.

***

To his annoyance, Reo’s soulmate haunted him the entire day. During breakfast, during practise, even in the public bath. His eyes kept flicking to Isagi’s thigh, wondering what Reo’s would be. Something elegant? Something generic? To whom would it belong?

“You could try not to stare so blatant.”

“Sorry.” Nagi tore his gaze away, looking at the ceiling. Maybe he could count the ceiling tiles to district himself?

“It’s fine. I imagine that this is all quite new for you.” Isagi was far too lenient. His on and off field persona couldn’t be more different. “Are you hoping yours belong to Reo?”

“Not really.” Nagi ignored the discomfort in his chest. “I much rather have none.”

Being Reo’s soulmate would be the easiest; he wouldn’t fear of losing Reo to anyone else. But he knew that these relationships tend to be romantic by nature, and he couldn’t imagine them being in a romantic relationship. If not Reo, Isagi would be his second choice, but he also knew that he would be at most Isagi’s second choice, if not even further down the list.

Their peace was disturbed by two of Isagi’s old teammates. Nagi had forgotten their names, but their faces were memorable enough. The pink-haired one was incredibly fast, while the guy with orange hair had a nasty hard shot. Maybe Isagi could suggest trading Baro for either of them; it would at least elevate the mood.

As the guys made small talk with Isagi, Nagi noticed that these two also had a soulmark. An orange blob on the pink-haired guy’s left shoulder blade, and the red-head had a soccer ball on his bicep. He wondered how he hadn’t noticed up to now, as they seemingly were everywhere.

“Who is your third member?” Isagi asked.

“Reo.”

The name did ellict dread and curiosity. Reo hadn’t taken him breaking their promise well, so he expected to be met with hostility. However, this was also the opportunity to satiate his curiosity. What was Reo’s soulmark? A flower? A soccer ball? Something unique?

“I expected you to pair up with Bachira,” the pink-haired guy said.

Isagi’s face dropped. “We lost.”

Both visibly winced. It was obvious that Nagi wasn’t the only one aware of Isagi’s one-sided infatuation.

Footsteps approached the bath. Nagi caught a glimpse of purple hair and Reo’s striking eyes. He considered drowning or fleeing, whichever was easier, but Reo caught him staring. “Don’t,” he said warningly, as if reading Nagi’s mind. “I still want to beat your ass.”

“Does that mean you want to play against us?” Isagi asked, either oblivious or wilfully ignorant to the tension.

“Reo isn’t the only one who wants revenge,” the pink-haired guy looked at Nagi, eyes steeled. “I was quite hurt to find out you just left us behind.”

Isagi smiled sheepish. “I figured that you would eventually catch up with me, and it isn’t like we could’ve formed a team of four.”

Obviously, Nagi had never been part of the equation. He forced himself upon Bachira and Isagi, and for whatever reason, they agreed.

“Who is your third player,” the redhead asked.

“ Baro,” answered Nagi and Isagi in unison.

Their three opponents shared an all-knowing look. If they won, it likely would be between Nagi or Isagi who they were going to steal. While Baro was an amazing shooter, he was a pain to play with. In a selection where teamwork was everything, he was a liability.

“Well, do we have a deal?” the pink-haired guy ask. “Tomorrow, the six of us.”

Isagi agreed, sealing away their fate. Nagi wondered if this was a good idea; there surely were weaker teams they could battle. But the idea of playing against Reo lit a fire under him he hadn’t felt in a while. He could prove to Reo that he had improved, and he could steal him back, that he hadn’t made a mistake back then.

***

Nagi knew that, beside his height, he was fairly plain. He didn’t garner attention like the likes of Reo, or even their new team member, Chigiri. So when someone—he figured it was Isagi—gasped as he took of his shirt, he knew he was in trouble.

“What is it?” Nagi looked into the floor-length mirror the room facilitated. He saw nothing outside the ordinary.

He saw Isagi nudge Baro, who took one look and started to laugh. Chigiri looked a bit more puzzled.

“Isagi,” he said. “What is going on?”

Maybe there was a bad-looking bruise on his back, or he had an allergic reaction. Or worse, someone decided to be funny and draw on his back. He had seen it happen before in the movies Reo liked to watch.

Isagi’s reply was far too giddy. “It… appeared.”

It, was undoubtedly, his soulmark. It explained Isagi’s cheery mood, the way Baro was still wheezing, and why Chigiri looked confused. He had missed the whole ordeal of Nagi discovering what even soulmates were.

“There is nothing wrong with a floral soulmark,” Chigiri grumbled. “At least it isn’t a soccer ball.”

“You don’t get it princess. A couple of days ago, he didn’t even know what soulmates were.”

“That’s concerning.”

“Thanks for the reminder.”

Nagi tried to get a glimpse of it, but it was somewhere out of sight on his back. Isagi, noticing his failed efforts, took a picture of it.

Right between his shoulder blades was a flower with a rich purple colour, with five gentle sloping petals and an upstanding core. It was on the large side, wherein Isagi’s was hardly larger than a coin, his seemed to almost be the size of his palm.

“A rose?” he asked.

“Don’t think so,” Isagi mused. “Any idea Chigiri? You are probably somewhat of an expert on flowers.”

Chigiri scrunched up his pretty face. “Because I have a floral soulmark doesn’t mean I am an expert,” he said defiantly. “However, I have a book on it. Maybe we can find something.”

They sat in a circle on the ground, the book on floral tattoos in the middle, next to the picture Isagi had taken. They flickered through the pages, trying to pinpoint the exact flower. Nagi started to lose hope halfway through, trying to remember the difference between all the flowers. They came in all shapes, sizes, and colours. Plenty looked like his, but none of them were a true match.

Isagi almost slapped Chigiri as he turned a pace, slamming his hand on a pretty but very pink flower. “I think it is this one.”

The flower in question was a string of pink of flower attached to a long stem. They counted the number of petals, five, and looked at the upright core.

“Do they exist in purple?” Isagi asked.

“What colour don’t they exist in,” Chigiri answered. “They are popular household plants. My grandma tried to keep one, but it died on her each time.”

Chigiri’s eyes flitted across the pages before stopping his finger halfway on the second one. “Purple orchids are often seen as symbols of royalty and wealth. Sometimes, they are used to expressing admiration, respect, or dignity.”

“That’s quite a lot,” Nagi remarked, feeling a little uncomfortable.

“It is,” Chigiri said, surprisingly gently. “And don’t take the words too seriously. It is unlikely that they are actually someone of royal blood. If I garnered a guess, maybe the child of a company president, or sports royalty.”

“As if Nagi would ever catch the attention of someone like that.”

Up to now, despite his initial dislike towards Nagi and Isagi, Baro had been surprisingly behaved during their research. It seemed that he was done playing nice.

Could it be? Nagi mused, before tossing the theory straight in the bin. It fitted Reo well, a little too well. The colour, his wealthy background, his pretty appearance. Flowers suited him well, Nagi supposed.

“It could be Reo. Say, Chigiri, do you know if Reo has a soulmate?” Isagi said, happily throwing Nagi under the bus.

“Not as far as I know,” Chigiri admitted. “However, he might as well hide it. Not everyone wears their mark loud and proud.”

With the many people who wanted to marry into the Miyagi family, Nagi wouldn’t be surprised if Reo made sure that it was a close kept secret. A secret he wouldn’t even share with Nagi, who he considered a very dear friend. Though, seeing as Nagi hadn’t been even aware of what soulmates were, he might have spared Nagi the headache of this foreign concept.

Nagi stared at the picture and made up his mind. It was here to stay, so he had to figure out a way to keep it hidden. If Reo saw it, he would know what was up. There wouldn’t be a moment of doubt; Reo was Nagi’s number one. However, was Nagi even Reo’s number one? What if he wasn’t? What if someone else could make him happier?

“Could you teach me?” he asked Chigiri.

“Teach you what?”

“How to cover it up.”

Chigiri blinked once, twice, before sighing. “Did your parents never teach you?”

Three people were watching him with curiosity, as if he was a zoo animal. In the past, he had been able to avoid talking about his parents, but now it felt inevitable.

“I don’t speak with my parents much,” Nagi admitted. “They very much believed in ‘hands off’ parenting. I mean, I came out fine, so I can’t complain too much.”

“I’m pretty sure that’s called negligence,” Baro said, almost sounding angry. “But that explained why you are so clueless. But I will teach you, I have mine cover pretty much all the time, so I know all the tricks and tips.”

Like an owl catching sight of prey, all the attention swivelled to Baro. 

“You have a soulmate?”

“The majority of the population has one. I just don’t care enough to shout it from the rooftops.”

Both Isagi and Chigiri kept ribbing Baro, who remained unreasonably tolerant. Nagi was relieved the attention was off him, though he can’t say he hated it. Besides Reo, he never really had many friends, something he had been fine with. But there had been something fun about tonight; the way everyone chipped in to solve the mystery of Nagi’s soulmate.

“Is this funny to you?” Baro snarled, his patience officially has worn thin.

“Somewhat,” Nagi admitted. “It has been a while I had this much fun.”

It was a different kind of fun compared to playing soccer. It made it all a bit easier to breathe; it didn’t feel like he had to pretend. It was almost as if he were with Reo, though it might be for the best that Reo wasn’t there.

***

They lost. Frustration bubbled in the pit of Nagi’s stomach, and his body just couldn’t stop shaking. The devastation radiated from Isagi’s face; all their hard work was for nought. Their opponent simply was too good, though they had gotten closer than before. Their scraped together, rag-tag team had come close to winning.

“We’ll pick Isagi.”

Panic ran him over like a tilde wave. Isagi was the glue that held their team together. Without him, they would be lost.

He watched Isagi walk to the other side of the field, shooting them an apologetic smile. However, that smile stretched, and his eyes started to sparkle. He almost fell into Bachira’s arms, which was returned with much enthusiasm.

It was Bachira’s smile that made Nagi’s previous assumption about their relationship void. It was full, wide, and slightly terrifying. However, there was no hesitation or teasing, but pure, unadulterated joy. A smile Nagi only had received a few times, all from Reo.

“Have they always been like that?” Baro asked, gagging.

“Somewhat?” Chigiri looked a little uncomfortable. “Though it was never that bad.”

“I mean…” Nagi wanted to kick himself for even commenting. He wasn’t a romantic at heart. “I just… after we lost Bachira, it seemed that Isagi wanted to nothing but chase after him and win him back.”

“You make it sound like a fairytale.”

Nagi only managed to shrug. He supposed that fairy tales were a just description of the situation. Isagi chasing his supposed soulmate to the end of the world, or well, the end of the second selection. He might not come out victorious, but they were once again together.

“I think he took the loss hard,” Chigiri mock-whispered.

“At least he sustained some brain damage,” Baro continued. “Let’s hope we don’t run into Reo, or we will lose our next match.”

***

“Reo, wait.”

Nagi half expected Reo to ignore him, but he did stop. He turned around, giving Nagi an indifferent look.

He had been looking the same ever since the second selections had passed. Reo had made it with the skin of his teeth, having to claw his way up to become the last team to pass through.

“I want to talk,” Nagi continued. He was sweaty, itchy and more nervous than he was for any of the upcoming games. Facing the Japanese team almost seemed like a cakewalk compared to repairing his friendship with Reo.

“Alright, talk.”

“I saw you chose my team.”

Reo shrugged nonsensical. “I already teamed up with Shindo, and I'd rather not do that again,” the edge on his voice softened a little. “And this might be my last change to play with you. I at least want to show you that I have improved.”

“Aren’t we going to play for Japan together?”

“Against those people?” Reo asked bitterly. “I have no chance; at best, I will be a spare. But the best striker? That is a dream long gone.”

“Then I will also quit.”

These words did a great job smacking the apathetic look from Reo’s face. “You can’t.”

“Why not?”

“Why not?” Reo’s cheeks turned pink. “You’re in the top six. You are already among the best, and you haven’t even played for a year yet. Imagine where you will be in a couple of more years? You’re made for this.”

“But I don’t want to do it without you.”

The itchiness got worse. He scratched his back through his shirt, worried that maybe he had an allergic reaction to the laundry detergent. Blue Lock was struggling with their budget, so maybe they had to use cheaper ones.

“Yet you broke our promise, or do you regret it after all?”

He knew that he should be saying yes, that he had to express he was truly sorry. That it was like he was missing his other half. But if he had stuck with Reo, would he have changed for the better? His team taught him things he hadn’t known yet, both about the world and himself.

“I don’t,” he said. He readied himself to explain everything, but the itchiness distracted him and he lost his shot.

“Figured as much.” Reo turned around, literally giving him the cold shoulder. “I promised some guys to practise with them. Maybe you don’t regret leaving me behind now, but I will show you what you missed out on.”

With that, Reo stomped off.

Nagi slumped to the ground, fingers digging into his back. It no longer itched, it downright burned. If it didn’t stop soon, he might not even be able to play in the team matches. If he couldn’t place for the team, even if it was just the bench, he would lose Reo forever.

One of the doors opened and a very sheepish, very apologetic Isagi peeked into the hallway. “You were kinda loud,” he admitted. “It didn’t go well, I assume?”

Nagi just stared. Isagi’s sheepishness turned into alarm.

“Are you alright?” He left the room and crouched in front of Nagi. Isagi’s hand was freezing cold against his forehead. “You’re burning up.”

Nagi’s reply, which would be something akin to ‘yes, I am noticing’, was rendered to a pained groan.

“Bachira, help me get him inside.”

While the top six had single-room privileges, the rest had to bunk with another player. How Isagi and Bachira managed to room together, Nagi did not know, but he was happy for them. They couldn’t keep their hands off each other, whether on or off the field.

With the help of Isagi and Bachira, he was picked up and deposited on the bottom bunk. It likely belonged to Bachira, seeing how cluttered it was.

“Everything alright?” Bachira offered him bottled water.

“I think he is running a fever.” Isagi pressed his hand against Nagi’s forehead. This time, it was more-fridge-cold than freezer-cold. “Fortunately, it isn’t as bad as before.”

The burning sensation had stopped, and even the persistent itchiness was ebbing away. “I think I had an allergic reaction.”

Bachira frowned. “Shouldn’t you see the nurse?”

Nagi shook his head. He couldn’t miss out on the opportunity to play with Reo, and they were quite strict when it came to their health.

Somehow, Isagi could read his mind. “Let us check anyway. Maybe we have some over the counter stuff that works.”

Nagi carefully took off his shirt and showed them his back.

The first reaction was a wonder-filled ‘oh’. “That’s,” Isagi stumbled over the vowels. “Oh wow.”

Bachira giggled. “That’s the biggest soulmark I’ve ever seen. Reo is sure a lucky guy.”

“Agreed, it couldn’t be anyone else.”

The two finally had mercy on him and showed him the picture.

The soulmark was framed by a Tudor-style window and light curtains, looking out on a dining room. The four-seated dining table was cramped, with a huge, blossoming orchid taking center stage. The table was set for two: two plates, fancy cutlery, and light blue glasses that seemingly belonged to a gift shop. The wooden chairs were draped with coats and jacket. Keys, mail and other junk cluttered the free space. The rest of the living space was out of focus, creating a soft background.

“It will be hard to hide,” Bachira said to break the silence. “But hey, I think Reo would be absolutely delighted. I would be.”

He had no idea what Reo would think, and in all honesty, he didn’t want to know. Nagi knew he wouldn’t make the best life-partner, and with an entire business to run, Reo likely would have to marry out of necessity. There was no room for Nagi, and he much rather avoided the rejection.

“Nagi?” Isagi asked carefully.

Right, he should be delighted. Unfortunately, all he felt was dread. “Didn’t you say that this usually happens well into adulthood. Why now?”

“Knowing your bothersome personality,” Isagi said, as if he wasn’t just insulting Nagi. “It likely appeared to push you forward in confessing. Or otherwise, you will let Reo walk away, and you come to regret it.”

Though Nagi had shared bits and pieces of what was going on, he hadn’t expected Isagi to hit the nail on the head so easily. Though, he couldn’t say he was entirely right.

“I don’t think I will regret it.”

“Why not?” Bachira piped in.

“Because soulmates are romantic, right? I’m not in love with Reo, so it might be a mistake.”

“You’re not?” they said in unison, as if practised.

“I—no,” Nagi frowned. “At least, I don’t think I am. I look at you guys and I don’t see any of that in my relationship with Reo.”

“But you do,” Bachira stated matter-of-factually. “You act much cuter and clingier around Reo than any of us, though you might haven’t noticed.”

“I do not.”

“I mean, he does dote on you,” Isagi pointed out. “And you let him be. I think most of the people here think you’re currently hitting a rough patch in your romantic relationship.”

He wasn’t sure what was worse; that everyone thought they were already in a relationship, or that Bachira thought he acted ‘cute’ around Reo. There was nothing cute about him. 

With a lack of a proper response that wouldn’t make things worse, Nagi opted to go for his favourite strategy: deflection. “What if it isn’t Reo?”

Though Reo was the most logical choice, it was possible it was someone else. Nowhere it explicitly spelled that Reo was his other half. The only sign it was even Nagi’s future was that the jacket with the number fourteen and Nagi’s surname.

“We could ask others. We do have a group's chat with all the other players.”

“Absolutely not.”

Even if Reo wasn’t in said group's chat, it was likely he would catch wind of it. Knowing Reo, he wouldn’t let it rest, even if he was still angry with Nagi.

***

For the third selection, he was paired up with number five: Yukimiya Kenyu, according to the email. Nagi knew nothing about him but for the superficial stuff. He was almost as tall as Nagi, with a handsome face, good physique and glasses perched on the bridge of his nose, a rarity among the players. Someone also mentioned he modelled, the only reason he agreed to have an actual strategy meeting.

“You model, right?”

Yukimiya looked him over, taking the conversation into a direction Nagi hadn’t predicted. “I might introduce you to someone. You’re tall, though your smile needs some work.”

“No, thanks.” Nagi shot down the offer without a second thought. At least soccer was somewhat fun. Modelling sounded like a nightmare. “I was just wondering what you do with soulmarks? Are there techniques to easily cover them?”

Yukimiya blinked owlishly, his orange eyes only adding to the effect. “It depends. Some people already have their own custom-made patches, so then we don’t touch them. For others, we usually cover them with make-up or hide them with clothes.”

“Patches?”

Nagi had yet to get used to the confusing stares he got when he asked a question regarding soulmates. Obviously, whatever patches were, most people knew about them.

“They are like a second skin and custom-made to melt with your skin. They are expensive, so I’m not entirely surprised you haven’t heard of them. I only recently got mine.”

Yukimiya pointed to a patch of skin that looked to be perfectly normal.

“Do they…” Nagi scrunched up his face. “Cover big soulmarks?”

“They don’t work well on large surfaces or places where it's bumpy. Have you never asked a doctor if you’re a fit candidate, if you desperately want to cover it up?”

“It’s recent.”

“Aha,” Yukimiya nodded in understanding. “That isn’t uncommon when you meet all new people. I could look at it if, you'd rather not go to the nurse. I’ve been in the industry long enough to have a general idea what you can and can’t do.”

Nagi wiggled out of his shirt. They were comfortable, but the fabric tended to stick the moment he started to sweat. But he was willing to deal with it for the fact it had a high neckline and the arms were covered: nobody could see his soulmark.

Yukimiya had a more measured reaction than his friends. He stared quite intensely, as if committing every detail to memory. Briefly, he wondered if maybe Yukimiya had an idea who it could be, whether it was Reo or someone entirely else.

“I would recommend either finding your soulmate, or growing very fond of shirts with high collars. Maybe some experienced body-painter is willing to give it a shot… but it’s unlikely.”

Though it was the answer he expected, it wasn’t the one he wanted. His shoulders dropped in defeat. “It isn’t as if I liked going to the beach anyway.”

Yukimiya slapped him on the bare back. “Think positively, you could make a career out of this. Instead of shying away from showing them off, soulmarks are embraced nowadays. Yours surely would be a hit with the ladies.”

“Still not interested.”

To Nagi’s horror, the locker room door was pushed open and the first of their teammates stepped inside. It was well an hour before the arranged time. He recognized him as one of Isagi’s previous teammates, the one with the crazy reflexes and lank limbs.

Their teammate took one look at Nagi’s colourful back. His eyes grew big, he turned around, and basically fled the locker room.

Nagi wanted to die. He trusted Isagi and Bachira to keep quiet, but a near stranger? Undoubtedly, the news would spread across Blue Lock and eventually reach Reo.

***

“This one is good.” Chigiri pointed to one of the suggested video’s.

Before YouTube autoplayed the next video, Nagi tapped the video and settled in.

“So…” Chigiri’s attempt at small-talk made his skin crawl. There was a reason he preferred Chigiri’s company over Isagi and Bachira’s right now; it was quiet. Chigiri wouldn’t hound him to practise.

“No.”

Chigiri rolled his eyes, reminding him a little of Reo. “You can’t outrun all your troubles.”

The ‘watch me try’ laid on the tip of his tongue, but he wasn’t actively trying. He just tried ignoring the problem and hoping it somehow goes away.

“The rumour that goes around is that you have quite a… noticeable soulmark.”

“You have seen it.”

He had to learn how to lie better; otherwise, Reo would find him out the moment they talked again.

“Also the big one?”

“Gagamaru?” Contrary to popular belief, Nagi wasn’t too lazy to eventually learn the names of his teammates.

“No, Isagi, he’s worried about you.”

He knew that off court, Isagi could be a worry wart, but he had never expected him to actively meddle with Nagi’s problem. Why not let him be? That was his plan anyway.

“Personally, I think Isagi should let you make mistake after mistake and regret all your life decisions.”

Chigiri’s remark caught him off guard. “Mistake?”

“Not chasing after Reo,” Chigiri said. “Whether you love him or not, you’re letting him get away. You have your entire back dedicated to him; isn’t that some sign that he is important?”

“I…” he missed the gentle patience of Isagi.

“Why are you running?” Chigiri continue. “What is holding back to just talking? It isn’t like you can lose anything.”

“I can.”

“Alright, what can you lose?”

Right now, he wouldn’t really lose anything. Though Nagi might still be Reo’s number one during soccer, he definitely wasn’t that outside of it. If he kept it that way, he would never feel betrayed if he eventually lost the position to Reo’s future wife. Based on the little he knew about Reo’s parents, he somehow doubted they were soulmates.

“What if he isn’t my soulmate?”

Chigiri looked like he had just taken a soccer ball to the face. “You’re kidding me?”

“No.” Nagi laid down on his bed spread eagle, anything to not having to face anyone. “I mean, I assume mine belongs to Reo, but what if his doesn’t belong to me? What if it is a one-sided situation?”

“Beside that they are awfully rare—”

“—Just like my soulmark.”

“It still is very unlikely. Not everyone finds their soulmate in their life-time, but it seldom, if not ever, happens that you find your other half, but theirs belong to someone else. It is more often that they just picked someone else.”

“But if Reo has a different soulmate?”

“I think you severely underestimate Reo’s dedication to you. Weren’t you the one that suggested Isagi was chasing after Bachira as if he were a maiden in need? Isn’t Reo doing the same?”

“It’s not the same,” Nagi murmured.

It wasn’t. Because Bachira and Isagi’s separation had been unwanted by both parties, where Nagi happily had left Reo behind in pursuit to become stronger. Reo did chase after him, filled with spite and anger. He took every opportunity to make Nagi regret his decision, to show how much better he had gotten.

“Even if I would bother to apologize, where would I even start?”

“Well, the easiest would be to corner him, take off your shirt and show him your soulmark.”

“Absolutely not.”

If he did that, and Reo would go along with it, their relationship would turn romantic. Romance seemed to be an absolute pain, something Nagi desperately wanted to avoid. And if Reo wouldn’t go along with it, it would signal the end of their friendship. It was difficult to be friendly with the person who was supposed to be the love of your life, but you didn’t share that sentiment.

“Then just apologize.”

“But I am not apologetic.”

Chigiri groaned. “You might not be apologetic for your choice, but you can feel bad for hurting his feelings. If you can explain why, he might be willing to make it up with you.”

“You think writing a letter works?”

“Are you a school girl?”

Alright, no letter. He figured as much, but still, maybe it was a ground shattering idea. Pouring all his thoughts into a beautifully written letter that would fix their entire relationship. Though, maybe he should’ve actually paid attention to class to be able to pull it off. Now he feared that anything he wrote would sound like he was under duress.

“Can I see it?”

Nagi sighed. “Why is everyone so interested?”

“Because I’m nosy. I want to know why Isagi was so sure.”

“Only if we drop the subject after.”

Despite Chigiri’s answer was anything but convincing, Nagi went along anyway.

***

Nagi’s apology to Reo never got further than ‘I’m sorry for hurting your feelings, I miss you’, which sounded like an apology made by a five-year-old. But at least a five-year-old would have the guts to apologize.

There was a gentle knock on the door, followed by Isagi peering inside. “The bath is deserted.”

“Thanks.” Nagi got up, stretching his sore limbs. Training was no joke, even as he tried to do the bare minimum.

“Why use the baths when you have a shower?”

“I like baths better.”

“But with your…” Isagi pointed to his own back.

“I doubt anyone will come in this late.”

Isagi left with a wave and an early ‘goodnight’. Unlike Chigiri, he no longer pried, though it didn’t stop him from throwing concerned looks.

Nagi gathered his favourite pyjamas, which were a gift from Reo. Actually, quite some stuff were gifts from Reo, all given casually, never expecting anything in return but for Nagi to play soccer with him. A promise he, in the end, hadn’t been able to keep.

As Isagi promised, the bath was deserted. After a quick shower to wash off most of the grime, he lowered himself into the comfortable warmth. He sat on one of the submerged benches, back against the tiled wall and feet firmly planted against the floor. He opened the game, whose new patch had been out for several days already, and started to play.

He had barely started when the serene silence was fractured by someone clearing their throat. His character got mobbed and returned to the beginning of the dungeon. Great.

His annoyance was swept away by the sight of glimpses of purple hair; a colour Nagi had gotten quite acquainted with ever since his soulmark had shown up. Reo had a towel wrapped around his waist, his hair damp and droplets ran past his well-defined body. Almost impossibly, Reo had bulked up. His waist a little slimmer and his chest a bit more defined.

“What are you doing here?”

Reo scrunched up his face. He dropped the towel and stepped into the bath. He sat opposite of Nagi, one leg hiked-up, the other dangling off the edge. Though the distance was plenty, it still made Nagi nervous. He was like a cornered animal, having nowhere to go but sit out and hope that Reo had mercy on him.

“I had to practise until late,” Reo answered coolly. “Doesn’t top six privileges give you a private shower?”

“It isn’t the same.”

Reo nodded, as if he understood. Actually, he likely did. He might understand Nagi better than anyone else, which was the frustrating part. He should understand Nagi, and yet…

Well, to be fair, it wasn’t as if Nagi fully understood himself. Something like soulmates were entirely ridiculous, and if it had been anyone else, he wouldn’t care. But the fear of losing Reo to anyone else haunted him; his future wife frequented Nagi’s nightmares too often.

 He tried to return to his game, but Reo’s persistent gaze made his skin crawl. He was suspecting that it wasn’t a complete coincidence that Reo had shown up. Maybe one of his friends clued him in, he wouldn’t put it past Chigiri.

To get the unnerving gaze to stop, Nagi blurted out the first thing that came to mind. “I’m sorry!” the shout startled both. He quickly tacked on the rest of the apology, before Reo stormed off again. “For hurting your feelings.”

“I…” uncertainty flitted across Reo’s face. He was likely running through the same scenario’s as Nagi: accept the apology and mend the relationship, or get to the root of the problem. Unfortunately, he picked violence, though it wasn’t out of character for him. Reo wasn’t the one to give up so easily. “Why did you pick Isagi?”

“I’m sorry.”

Reo tipped his head back, showing off a vast expanse of flushed skin.

Uncomfortable heat stirred in his chest. He tried for the second time to return to the game, but ended up putting away after not even a minute. He couldn’t focus whatsoever.

“Isagi is your soulmate, isn’t he?”

Of all conclusions Reo could jump to, and Nagi had imagined many, this was one he hadn’t considered. Having no prepared answer, he was left with two options: say no or play dumb. Though Isagi and Bachira didn’t exactly keep their relationship a secret, they had never confirmed it to anyone. Nagi knew it wasn’t his place to tell Reo about Isagi’s soulmark, but nor did he want to talk about his own.

“Soulmates?”

“Don’t play cute,” Reo said, leaning on the palm of his hand. He almost seemed cheery. “You must have the rumours too; your soulmark has gotten half the participants in a tizzy for being incredibly noticeable.”

He shouldn’t be surprised that Reo had caught a whiff of the rumours. Soulmarks were not new; the number of soccer balls decorating the players bodies was staggering. But Nagi’s must be something gossip worthy.

“It isn’t Isagi.”

“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely,” he confirmed. He mentally apologized to Isagi for exposing his soulmark, though he doubted Isagi would mind. “Isagi’s soulmark is a soccer ball.”

“Yeah, I doubt your soulmate would have a soccer ball as a soulmark. More likely your phone, or your bed.” It was said in jest, though the humour landed flat.

“What would your partners soulmark look like?”

“Most likely something regal. Most of the men in my family have something dignified, like peacocks, lions, or something like that.”

Well, time to throw any hope out of the window. Maybe Reo had a cousin that could fit criteria and that’s why the soulmark showed up, though Nagi had no interests to date any of Reo’s cousins, whether male or female.

“But I wouldn’t mind a different one. I don’t think it necessarily suits me, and soulmarks aren’t the end all be all for me.”

“Maybe a chameleon?”

Reo grimaced. “Let’s hope it is not that.”

They ended up being swept up in the sleepy quiet of the bath. Nagi wondered if now was the moment to leave. Their relationship was heading in the right direction, and he was still aware enough to hide his soulmark. He feared that the later it got, he would slip up and give Reo an eyeful.

“Say,” Reo’s words cut through the warmth. “If not because he’s your soulmate, then why did you follow Isagi?”

Nagi wished someone would decide to take a late bath, but as the silence stretched thin, he knew that this would be an unfulfilled wish. Why did he even follow Isagi? After some very tiresome and unwanted reflection, he realized that leaving was entirely out of character for him. It would be comfortable staying at Reo’s side. They worked well together, and with the right teammates, they would easily have reached the end. But for the first time, he had felt the trill of wanting more. He craved the rush of facing something difficult, like a video game he had to work hard for.

“Playing soccer with you is fine,” Nagi tried to pick his words carefully. “But when we were facing against Isagi, I felt excitement I hadn’t felt before. I wanted to chase that feeling.”

“And did you find it?”

Did he? He supposed to say no, but as before, lying felt wrong. Not to mention, he had to keep all his lies straight. Lying about his soulmark caused him a headache, any more and he would explode.

“Yes.”

Reo sighed, slumping against the wall. His pale face was framed by dark strands of hair, his cheeks and neck flushed and sweat clinging to his skin.

What had Chigiri suggested? Be honest? He figured he owed Reo that much, even if it would only cause more hurt.

“Thank you.”

Reo’s physically stiffened. Nagi didn’t give him the opportunity to interject or spiral; he was getting tired of all the running. Reo physically ran away, but Nagi never bothered to actually speak what was on his mind, trying to run away from the truth.

“For introducing me to soccer. It is still tiresome, and if you told me months ago that I would be having fun, I would call you a liar, but…” he took a deep breath. “The reason I don’t regret picking Isagi, is because I had fun. It was fun to play with Isagi and Bachira, though they are unnecessarily intense. Baro is a pain in the ass, but he’s fun to tease. He is surprisingly romantic, which he blames on his younger sisters. And Chigiri is surprisingly blunt, but also way more socially aware than most of us. He even sends me video suggestions…”

A heavy silence fell upon them like a blanket.

“Is that all?”

“Yes?” What more was there to understand?

“What about Isagi? What made him special that you were drawn to him?”

“Isagi is… well, Isagi, I suppose. His passion for soccer is undeniable, and his always gives it his all. I assumed it was over after we lost Bachira, but it was as if someone lit a fire under him. He fought as if his life depended on it.”

Reo had scooted a little closer. Though small, the gesture made Nagi’s stomach twist. He itched to run away, fleeing any potential confrontation, though Reo hadn’t even reached the supposed long end of the pool.

“Do you know why?”

“Why what?”

“Why that drew you to him?”

Despite that the entire conversation felt uncomfortable, this was the first time he felt flustered. He hoped that he could write it off as the heat of the bath. “I was jealous at how hard Isagi fought to be reunited with Bachira. It made me wish you would do the same.”

Reo’s slow progress to inch closer halted. “You can’t truly expect that.”

“I can’t, but that didn’t stop me from wishing you did.”

The disappointing look was reminiscent of the one he got when he slacked on training, or slept throughout class. “And here I thought I understood you.”

It was a jab meant to hurt him, but Nagi took it in stride. It meant that Reo hadn’t caught up on the uncomfortable, fluttering, feelings that plagued his stomach.

Now was the perfect opportunity to tell Reo he missed him, make up, and return to their previous friendship. He still had to tip-toe around the subject of soulmates, but figuring that Reo didn’t want their relationship to fall apart again, he would thread lightly. At least light enough to not discuss something as sensitive as soulmates.

“I—”

“—when did it appear?”

“What appear.”

Reo, now leaning against the ‘long’ wall, rolled his eyes. He inched even closer, the movement reminding of a cat ‘sneakily’ scoot closer and closer. It was charming.

“Your soulmark. I understand, when we first met, you wouldn’t talk about it. But we’re friends, right? I never had the opportunity to really talk about soulmates with anyone.”

Nagi felt bad, but not bad enough to suppress his frustration. He wasn’t smart enough to talk himself out of this. So, his options were: lying or being honest. If being honest worked out, he was forever indebted to Chigiri. A debt he wasn’t sure how to pay. Flowers? Chocolate? His imaginative first child? What did you even give people as a ‘thank you for helping me mend a friendship I fucked up because I have no social skills’?

“It appeared after our match, during the second selection.”

“After our match?” hope flitted across Reo’s face.

He nodded. He wished his soulmark were a cliché, that it was like Isagi’s. The purple orchid, even when it was a single flower, was already on the nose. He could never show Reo without raising suspicion.

“Isagi noticed it after our match, though it could’ve been there before. I couldn’t see it myself, so I probably would have go on with life if he hadn’t pointed it out.”

He longed for that easier life. If he was fully unaware of soulmates and soulmarks, he would never have gotten worried about losing Reo. Now his future was uncertain, and his nightmares haunted by attending Reo’s wedding, seeing him marrying a beautiful woman. Him being introduced as a friend, not even Reo’s treasure.

“Let me guess, on your back?”

Nagi pushed himself harder against the wall. “No.”

“Sure,” Reo eyes sparkled. “Did you guys have fun, talking about it?”

“I suppose, though Baro was mean about it.”

“Has he ever been nice?” Reo was now close—too close. There was still enough distance between them to not touch, but now Nagi could see the finer details of his face. The dark circles underneath Reo’s eyes didn’t go unnoticed.

“Well, he taught me how to cover it up, though not after laughing first.”

Reo shrugged. “I mean, we are all soccer rivals here. I guess most of us didn’t expect to somewhat become part of each other’s lives.”

“They could have left me be.”

“I wouldn’t.” Reo hugged his legs, looking up at the ceiling. “Soulmates might seem special, but it is just another milestone in your life. Your first crush, your first kiss. The first time you failed a test, the first time you tried something new. We want to share those experiences with those close to us because they are significant to us. I would’ve been honoured if I was the first one you shared your soulmark with.”

Not for the first time, Nagi had run out of things to say. He supposed that it was a milestone, but he had never been the type to share his milestones. He wasn’t planning to tell anyone if he ever got his first kiss, or his first romantic feelings or even his first time having sex, if that ever happened. He doubted that anyone cared enough; he didn’t care enough.

Nagi settled on a safe answer. “You didn’t miss much.”

“I missed a lot. When we played again, it felt like I was left behind in the dust. You got so much better; you no longer need me to reach number one.”

“But I do.”

A wry smile formed on Reo’s lips. Their gazes met. “Really?”

Though his world has gotten larger, he still wished for Reo to be the one standing at his side. If he became the best striker, he still wanted Reo to be there. A life with Reo would be fun; it was easy, comfortable. A future like his back portrayed. 

He nodded.

“Don’t let your soulmate hear that.” Reo inched a bit closer, their feet almost touching. “They are supposed to be your number one.”

But they are, almost tumbled out of his mouth. Reo was, despite all that happened, his number one. He could lose all the friends he made in Blue Lock. It would hurt, but if it meant Reo stayed, he would burn all the bridges.

No answer meant more silence. Reo had slowly been talking him into a corner, every answer becoming more and more dangerous. If he were more daring, he would have questioned Reo about his soulmate. Why was he so obsessed with Nagi’s? Shouldn’t he be focusing on his? But Nagi didn’t want those questions to be answered; he would like to think that he still was Reo’s number one, both on and off the field.

“Do you—”

The running of a shower cut their conversation short. Reo cussed and Nagi took the opportunity to flee. He wished Reo goodnight and awkwardly shuffled out of the bathing area, keeping his back hidden all time. He gave the newcomer quite a fright.

Nagi mostly recognized him from his somewhat shorter statue and the mop of hair falling into his eyes, though right now, it was cleared, showing startled, green eyes.

“I thought it would be empty,” the guy said apologetically, his gaze darting between Nagi, the bathing area, and Nagi again.

“Reo is still in there.” Nagi put on his clothes, despite still being soaking wet. He would shower in his private room, if he was still up for it. Likely, he would just crash in bed and deal with the aftermath.

He had fled the room before Reo had shown up, leaving the other player with more questions than answers. Likely, unlike Nagi, Reo was planning to actually do a proper night routine, so he wouldn’t bother Nagi any longer.

***

“I can assume you two fixed your relationship?”

Chigiri’s shot was a little high, but Nagi still managed to trap it. They were playing some game Chigiri called ‘the floor is lava’. The person who lost control of the ball lost and had to treat the other to whatever they wanted, as far as it was within their means. It was more fun than the other exercises, though not particularly popular because it was a bit more ‘childish’. So it was just him and Chigiri.

After juggling the ball a little, he kicked it over to Chigiri. His receive was a bit more clumsy, but he regained control.

“We talked.”

With a gentle kick, the ball once again was in Nagi’s court.

“He was feeding you during breakfast,” Chigiri pointed out. “And he even carried you on his back; you are too tall to be cutely carried around.”

His return kick had a bit more bite and Chigiri had to overextend himself to catch it. Some colourful curse words were hurled his way, but the victory was nowhere to be seen.

“We’re back to as it was before.”

They passed the ball in silence for a couple more rounds, before Nagi got too complacent and let the ball slip off his feet. The thud against the floor was signalled the end of the game.

“I win.” Chigiri placed his hands on his hips. “What I want is for you to tell me the truth. Did you tell him about your soulmark?”

“A little.”

He would like to think he was a man of his words, though he had already broken his promise with Reo. Well, not fully, they still could reach that top. But it no longer was just the two of them.

“Is he aware that he is your soulmate.”

“No.”

Chigiri sat down, ball placed in his lap. “What excuse did you find this time? Is a romantic relationship too much effort?”

“Because it will not work out.”

“Why?”

“Because he will never pick me.”

After replaying the conversation over and over again, a realization had dawned on Nagi. Reo’s lax remark about soulmates, that he was fine with someone who wasn’t his soulmate. Likely, Reo’s father already had his future planned, so Reo had to make peace with the fact he lightly wouldn’t marry his soulmate.

Chigiri made a ‘keep going’ motion.

“It will be less of a hassle if our relationship remains the same.”

“You just don’t want to be hurt.”

Nagi wrinkled his nose. “It mostly would be a pain. Like, my life revolves around him and suddenly, he disappears, and I would be on my own.”

“You can still have us,” Chigiri was grinning, clearly enjoying torturing Nagi. “I think that you’re scared of losing Reo. You left him once, and deep down, you regret it. Because you look at your side and Reo isn’t there, and though the choice was right, it still haunts you. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have gone through such an effort to hide your soulmark. The Nagi I first met wouldn’t have cared; he wouldn’t have hid it. And, if you hadn’t cared, it wouldn’t have shown up like this.”

Soulmates had made everything much more complicated. It haunted him, though Nagi only saw glimpses of it in the mirror. Isagi once said that it was like it had his back; it was looking out for Nagi. Baro had joked that it could also be interpreted as a knife in his back. He wasn’t sure which one was more horrifying.

“I don’t know Reo well, but he doesn’t seem the type to just leave you on a whim. I mean, isn’t he here against his father’s wishes?”

Nagi had half-heartedly listened to Reo’s rants about his father; how he wanted Reo to be his little puppet. Getting all he wanted, but it was void of passion and dreams. Playing soccer was an act of defiance. Taking Nagi as his partner would be another one: there would never be a biological heir.

“At least give him the opportunity to reject you.”

“I will consider it.”

Nagi, in fact, wasn't considering it. He was ready to bring this secret with him to the grave. He couldn’t lose what he didn’t have. If he truly was never Reo’s number one, he couldn’t lose that place to anyone.

***

Unfortunately, Zentetsu and orange juice did not allow Nagi to take his secret to the grave.

Overly sweet and sticky juice soaked into his shirt. Nagi had yet to change, he hardly had made it to breakfast to begin with. Fortunately, Reo had decided to quite literally drag him out of bed.

“I’m sorry,” Zentetsu apologized, looking for some wipes.

“It’s fine.” Nagi tugged his shirt over his head, relieved when it stopped feeling all sticky and icky. “I will get changed after breakfast.”

Though they were in the ‘late’ group, the dining hall was still quite noisy. But in seconds, all the noise evaporated. Multiple gazes landed on his neck and made his skin crawl. They had seen each other naked multiple times in the showers, and it wasn’t as people here were prudes. Some guys were all too happy to remove their shirts, whether it was a sign of dominance or just because they were nudists.

The talking started, all over one-another.

“The rumours—”

“It’s huge!”

“That’s what your mum said last night.”

“Are those flowers?”

“Who is the lucky girl?”

Panic seized him. He took in all his table mates, shirts all too small but for one. “Zentetsu, give me your—”

Someone draped a jacket over his shoulders. It smelled vaguely familiar, though before registering anything, he was being steered out of the dining hall by Reo. His exit was accompanied by some cat-calling, whistling and some encouragement, likely belonging to Chigiri.

Reo ended up kicking out his roommate, who took one look at them, grew flustered, and fled the room. Though not without a ‘please be decent’ before closing the door behind. It was quite obvious what was going on.

“Take a deep breath.” Reo placed his hands on Nagi’s still mostly naked shoulders. “What I will tell you might come as a surprise, but…”

“I already know.”

Surprise flitted across Reo’s face. “You know?”

“It itched like crazy. I thought I had an allergic reaction.”

All the bravo from before left Reo. He sat down on one of the beds and buried his face into his hands.

He sat on the bed opposite of Reo, well aware that his time to lie had run out. He might as well start with gratitude; Reo had reacted awfully fast. “Thank you.”

“Nobody likes to be gawked at like a zoo animal.” Reo’s face turned red. “And I’m a little peeved that others saw it before me.”

“You haven’t seen it?”

Reo shook his head. He finally looked up, their gazes meeting. Reo’s smile was a little wobbly; insecurity looked strange on him.

Briefly, Nagi considered fleeing, but it was likely that someone had taken a picture, someone who had no qualms about spreading it. Up to now, he had been lucky with friends who respected his wishes.

“Can I?”

Absolute not, Nagi thought. If Reo saw it, it was game over. Reo would either show him a matching mark, whatever it could be, or he would offer Nagi an apologetic smile. And, even if they were a matching set, would Reo choose him over his own future? The others had made it clear before that being with your soulmate isn’t set in stone, and with Reo’s set-in-stone future, Nagi would never be his first choice.

“If you…” If Reo did what? Pledge his dying breath to Nagi?

“You don’t have to show me if you don’t want to. Just let me find you a shirt.”

Reo got up and started to rummage through the shared closet. There he retrieved a shirt that seemed too big for him. When Reo held it out, Nagi recognized it as a shirt he likely had lost somewhere. Somehow, he shouldn’t be surprised that Reo kept it, despite their fall-out.

He held the shirt to his chest, the discomfort in his stomach returning. He supposed that he could consider this as butterflies in his stomach, though nobody had ever told him it felt like food that just didn’t sit well with you. Whatever it was, it only showed up around Reo, highlighting Nagi’s complicated feelings further.

“I will show you, if you can promise me something.”

“A promise you will also keep?”

The remark stung. Reo had put his heart and soul into their promise, yet Nagi easily had tossed aside as if it meant nothing. Admittedly, maybe at first, it had meant nothing because he hadn’t realized how much he had started to depend on Reo. Losing Reo had felt a bit like losing himself, though they hadn’t even known each other that long.

“I will sign whatever is needed,” he promised. “I will do whatever is needed to uphold my part of the promise, just…”

“Alright,” Reo looked alarmed. “What is it that you want me to promise?”

“That I will be forever your number one,” he stumbled over his own words, feeling his skin turn flush. “I was fine being alone, until you came around, and now I feel empty without you.”

It was as if Reo had made himself a large home in his heart. As Nagi’s thoughts drifted, he thought about Reo. Had he fun? Had he found someone else? Would he quit Blue Lock, find a wife and start a family? Was his one mistake the end of them?

With Reo not replying, Nagi blabbed on. “You have to take responsibility for these feelings. You can’t make me miss you and then just move on with your life.” Nagi realized he sounded slightly deranged; almost like an obsessed stalker. He was quite sure that he had watched a movie with a plot like that.

Reo, who was still standing, took one big step towards him. He gripped Nagi’s shoulders and leaned close, their noses almost touching. His purple eyes sparkle, his smile so wide his teeth showed. “Do you think I was planning to let you go after we reach the top?” he said, matching Nagi’s desperate energy. “For as long as you would allow it, I will be with you. Both during and outside of soccer. I felt like this way the moment we met, soulmates be dammed. I’m willing to run away to wherever, as long as it is with you.”

There were hundreds of ways Nagi could respond. Hugging or kissing, desperate or relieved. But his brain remained stuck on one specific thing Reo said, and without even thinking, he blurted out a rather unromantic question. “I’m not your soulmate?”

Taken aback, Reo let go and took a step back. His skin coloured a pretty pink and he scrunched his nose. “Well,” he started slowly. “I don’t know? Mine is still small, so it still can be anyone. But it doesn’t matter; I love you nonetheless, whether you’re my soulmate or not.”

Despite the reassuring words, the tension made Nagi’s skin crawl. “But you’re mine.”

The tension evaporated. Reo looked gobsmacked, staring at him as if he had grown a second head. “After our match…” he mumbled, as if in a trance. “Not earlier?”

Nagi shook his head. “Well, it could have been earlier, but Isagi spotted it after our match.”

“And the second stage?”

“After I tried to make it up with you,” Nagi smiled sheepishly. “Not that it went over well, but it is the thought that counts, I suppose.”

Reo sat down on his bed, burying his face into his hands. Nagi hoped that this time around, it was a good sign.

“You want to see it?”

“What if you’re mistaken?”

Nagi snorted. He was sure that half of Blue Lock knew that he carried his feelings for Reo on his back. Unless Reo had a twin brother that would come swoop in out of nowhere.

He sat down on Reo’s bed and untied the jacket draped over his shoulders, twisting to show his back to Reo. It took a while for Reo to gather his courage. Cold fingers brushed between his shoulder blades, likely touching the blooming orchids.

“It’s so warm,” Reo remarked.

“Your room is pretty warm.”

Reo let out a strained laugh. “Your mark, silly. It is warm.”

Warm was the last thing he would describe his soulmark. Pretty, sure. Colourful, most definitely, but warm?

Hair tickled his back and Reo let his forehead fall against the bare skin of his back. His breath was hot, yet it sent shivers down his spine. “My uncle has a smattering of purple orchids on his hip, and a cousin of mine has a partner with purple orchids, at least, that was what I’ve been told. It is a poorly guarded secret, as these are usually the heretics, the ones fleeing the suffocating constricts of the family expectations. But they are also the happiest.”

“Your mother?”

“No orchids. They like each other well enough, but it is obvious they aren’t soulmates. The heir rarely marries their soulmate.”

“You promised.”

“And I am planning to keep that promise.” Lips brushed the nap of his neck, a place where his soulmark didn’t even reach. There was even the scrape of teeth, as if Reo tried to mark him as his, as if that was needed.

“Can I see yours?”

“Sure, though don’t be disappointed that it isn’t as big or as pretty as yours.”

Nagi turned around in time to see Reo take off his shirt. He ran his fingers across his chest until he caught something. Reo seemingly peeled back a second layer of skin. Underneath it was a small and simple picture: a green cactus in a terracotta pot.

Before Nagi could even touch it, Reo placed the fake skin back. It was the same as Yukimiya had told him about, though seeing it made him feel a little sick. It looked awfully real.

“Was that Choki?”

“It looks like her, doesn’t it?” Reo fidgeted. “I had it since I started high school. I never really figured it to whom it belonged, even after meeting you. I was in all honesty ready to give up on them in favour for you, but then we went to Blue Lock…”

Though they spend time together, they had never hung at Nagi’s place. He must never have seen Choki, so he couldn’t have put two and two together until he had handed her over to Gran.

“Why do you keep it covered.”

Reo’s cheeks pinked. “Well, it stands out. It is a bit bigger, the position is kinda awkward, and I worried you would figure it out.”

“I didn’t even know what soulmates were until the second selection.”

“Of course you didn’t,” Reo muttered, rubbing his face.

“And your chest is much more convenient than you back, at least you can see it.”

Nagi touched the fake skin. Reo’s heart jumped underneath his skin, drumming against his fingertips. He broke out in sweat; Reo’s soulmark was placed right on his heart.

A half-hearted apology escaped Nagi’s lips before they were smothered by Reo’s lips. He tumbled backwards, Reo landing on top. Reo cupped his face, taking the lead in the rather spontaneous kiss. He couldn’t say he disliked it, though the discomfort in his stomach returned.

Reo came up for air a bit later, looking flustered and a little annoyed. “It would feel better if you returned the kiss.”

“I tried, I just don’t know how.”

Reo’s pupils dilated. “I forgot that I am your first everything.” The possessiveness sent shivers down Nagi’s spine. “Just follow my lead, we will figure it out.”

After coming up for air for the third time, he managed to flip positions. Reo laid prettily against the sheets, face flushed, lips bruised and eyes huge. He brushed their noses together, a gesture he had seen Reo do before, and then leaned in for a kiss. It still felt a little awkward, but he didn’t dislike it. It did make him realize how foolish he had been to think that their relationship was entirely platonic; presuming that friends didn’t kiss each other half naked. It was just that his field of reference were Isagi and Bachira, who were overly affectionate with one-another.

As if speaking the devil into existence, there was a loud, persistent knock on the door. “Are you guys decent,” Isagi asked, sounded awfully patient and not-flustered about the question.

“We are!” Reo replied, the ‘mostly’ tacked on as a mutter.

Isagi pushed open the door peering inside. His entire face lit up, his smile blinding. “Glad you two made up,” he awkwardly cleared his throat. “Anyway, you’re expected at training, or Ego will replace you both.”

Right, training. It had completely fled his mind—all of Blue Lock had fled his mind. It would be impossible to hide what had just happened, not with their bruised lips and Isagi’s gigawatt smile. He wasn’t even trying to be subtle about.

“Tell Ego we’re coming in a bit,” Reo grabbed his shirt off the ground. “Let him know we had a personal emergency.”

“Will do.” Isagi bowed briefly and scurried away with a pep in his step.

“It seems he’s happy for us.”

Nagi wrinkled his nose. “He has been playing matchmaker for me the whole time; I think he was more invested than I was.”

He picked up the shirt Reo had given him earlier and put it on. Practise was the last thing he wanted to do, but he didn’t want to be kicked off the team. They still had to reach that first place spot in the world.

“Then I suppose to thank him.” Reo rubbed his forehead. “I don’t know what happened, but it seemed you made some good friends.”

“Yeah, well, not as good as you. They don’t wake me up early in the morning.”

Reo rolled his eyes. “I very much hope that I am more than just a friend, or I will reconsider that promise I just made.”

“I don’t think friends casually kiss each other, so I think you’re good.”

***

Nagi had seen Isagi naked too many times to count on both hands, however, context mattered. Showering? Fine. In the locker room? Understandable. A photo studio where Reo had unwillingly dragged him to? In a place where neither lived? That was a first, and hopefully a last.

Isagi’s robe did hide his naked torso, but it did nothing to hide the silky black jock-strap, nor the soulmark that winded down his leg. The state of nakedness didn’t seem to bother Isagi, greeting them with much gusto.

“I thought you didn’t do modelling work?” Isagi said in lieu of a greeting. “But good to see you. Man, that punch was nasty, what did he say to get you that riled up?”

The brief moment of pride was quelled by Reo’s murderous glare. Nagi ended up just smiling sheepishly, diverting the conversation. Though he hardly listened to any media training; otherwise he wouldn’t have punched the guy, he had learnt that diversion was the best way to avoid difficult topics.

“What happened to the rest of your clothes?”

Confusion flitted across Isagi’s face, before delight lit up his eyes. “You didn’t get the briefing? I think it said something akin to ‘make the ladies empty their wallet to support charity’. Apparently, half-naked soccer players do the trick.”

Nagi knew he looked horrified, based on Reo’s smirk and twinkling eyes. While he wasn’t uncomfortable being naked, he tried to limit the number of people who saw his naked back. He and Reo weren’t official in the public eye, and Nagi’s soulmark would give that secret away in an instance. Additionally, after the initial surprise, the teasing started to happen.

“Are they planning to remove your mark in post?” Reo asked, glossing of Nagi’s mental breakdown.

Isagi’s mark was pretty in the opposite way of Nagi’s. It was a charcoal drawing of a winding road, picturing two people in three different stages of their lives. Isagi and Bachira as kids, as teens during Blue Lock, and then as adults, chasing a soccer ball all the time.

“Nah, they asked if they could keep it, and I didn’t mind. They even make it the centrepiece, which I prefer over my face.”

“Which month?”

“April or May,” Isagi replied. “They weren’t sure yet; it depended on the other players who show up. But they made me do all kind of things with flowers, so it will be spring. Nagi is doing winter?”

 “They said December in the email,” Reo answered, not even checking his phone. Though Reo wasn’t his PR person, he did have access to most of Nagi’s stuff.

As Nagi was wondering if he had to wear a slutty Santa suit, Isagi pivoted the conversation back to where they started. “But that punch,” he said. “He must have something awful to get you riled up like that.”

Reo beat him to the punch. “He called me a fag,” he said coolly. “Which is totally unacceptable, but if Sei hadn’t punched him, we could have written him up for indecent behaviour.”

“It’s not as if they will do anything about it,” Isagi said.

Thank you! Nagi cheered, glad that at least someone was in his corner.

“I know.” Reo’s anger bubbled to the surface, though it was likely only Nagi noticed. “But I would much rather have ruined his life behind the scene, or punch him myself. I don’t need someone to defend me.”

“That’s why you’re angry with me.”

“Yes, because now he can create a sob story that we are sore losers and had to punch their ace in the face to win, which isn’t true at all, but it is the narrative the media is running with. It has created a PR disaster, one we have to fix before things get worse.”

“What if my soulmark get out there?”

Nagi wasn’t ashamed of it; he wore it proudly. But he knew the harassment that followed. He had seen it happen to other players; fans throwing themselves at them, the media scrutinizing every detail. Some even turned into popular tattoo designs, though they were supposed to be something unique and wholly theirs. Additionally, it would mean they had to get public with their relationship, which could alienate quite some fans. Heterosexuality was still the norm, and both Nagi and Reo were quite popular with the ladies.

“I’m prepared for the backlash,” Reo replied, not so subtly flashing his engagement ring. “We might be able to get new fans; that happened with Isagi and Bachira anyway. Additionally, it will be good for your brand, and of course, I will be asking for pictures for my personal collection.”

There was no way he would escape this punishment; he would have to do the photo shoot. It could’ve been worse. The initial suggestion was to do a hospital visit with the asshole in question, showing that they patched things up and everything was peachy. Nagi likely would have punched him again, making things even worse. No, a photo shoot for charity was fine, even if he would be dressed as a slutty Santa Claus. Chigiri would get a good laugh out of it.

“You want me to show you to the dressing room? This place is a maze,” Isagi offered.

“If you wouldn’t mind.”

The maze-comment wasn’t misplaced. The studio was a collection of dead-end hallways and doors leading to other doors. They even passed Bachira, who wore nothing but skimpy swimming trunks. He had a matching soulmark on his right arm, though the scene it depicted was different. At least, that was what Nagi had heard; despite Bachira’s tendency to walk around in the nude, he had never seen his soulmark up close.

Inside a large area that could be a dressing room, though there was a definite lack of privacy, they were greeted by a frazzled looking lady.

“Mister Reo, you’re early,” she shook Reo’s hand with much vigour. Then she checked her watch, blanched, and slapped on a smile to hide her panic. “Ah, it seems I’m late. Thank you, Isagi, for bringing them here.”

“No problem, I bumped into them after my toilet visit.” Isagi excused himself and left to cheer on Bachira.

“We are early,” Reo said, putting on a reassuring air. “Should we get Sei prepared for the shoot?”

The lady’s smile wobbled. “Yeah, well, we ran into an issue.” She looked Nagi up and down, as if he was some rare piece of merchandise. To her, he might be. He didn’t do much modelling work, and especially no naked work. “Something went wrong with the measurements, and the costume won’t fit.”

“January?”

The lady shook her head. “We already have someone for that month. There is still February, but we wanted to go with a Valentine theme.”

Reo’s eyes lit up. “That shouldn’t be a problem. Sei and I can do that one together.”

The assistant didn’t look entirely convinced, a sentiment Nagi shared with her. Nagi would never pick himself for a valentine shoot; he wasn’t that much of a romantic. He genuinely tried with Reo, and it seemed to pay off, but he wasn’t the one for grand, romantic gestures. Those were more Reo’s style, though Nagi did get him flowers on both their anniversary and Reo’s birthday. Usually, he just grabbed whatever took his fancy, which left them with more potted planted than what they knew to do with in their flat.

“Mister Reo, though I would believe it sells well, we don’t want to make the rumours worse,” the assistant said nervously. “Additionally, the director had planned matching soulmarks for the shoot. She initially wanted Isagi and Bachira, but the marks weren’t colourful enough.”

“I know, I’ve read the plans.”

Realization dawned upon her face. “I assumed they were rumours.”

“For sake of the team and keeping our fanbase, we never confirmed it,” Reo explained, almost looking sheepish. He was an incredibly good actor. “But we are soulmates.”

“Well, if that’s alright with the both of you, I will let the director know,” the assistant clasped her hands together. “She will be delighted. But first, let me hand you over to the staff; they will make sure you look the part.”

The one in charge of clothing sent them into the ‘dressing room’, which was nothing more than a corner that was separated with curtains. Nagi swapped his clothes for the bathrobe, leaving on his underwear. He ended up watching Reo. He wore a well-fitting suit; broad shoulders, dipping at the waist, legs that looked like they could go for miles. It was Nagi’s favourite suit. Reo had it custom-made in England, blowing anything off the rack completely out of the water.

While Nagi’s clothes ended up in a pile on a bench, Reo put it neatly on hangers. First his jacket, then his pants and finally the button-up.

People liked to hype up Nagi’s soulmark; its size and rich colours were quite striking. But it didn’t hold a candle to Reo’s soulmark. It covered the left part of Reo’s chest, picturing a matching scene to Nagi’s. Tutor style windows looking out into a European city, a windowsill filled with knick-knacks, trophies and Choki, who had grown over the years. It bled into a headboard, followed by a pile of pillows and two mops of messy hair peeping out from underneath the blankets. Based on the contours of the blanket and the hair colour, it was Nagi who was clinging to Reo, nose buried against Reo’s hair. It would make sense; they usually slept like that.

“I’m still mad,” Reo said, catching his gaze. “You know I can perfectly fend for myself.”

“I know.”

“Then why did you punch him? The words weren’t even aimed at you.”

He hardly remembered what happened. Reo had slipped past the opponent’s ace, who had hurled the insult at Reo. Insults themselves weren’t new, ‘asshole’ and ‘cunt’ were quite common. Slurs, on the other hand, weren’t tolerated as well. When Nagi heard, even from far away, something in him had snapped.

He eventually settled on a sappy reply, one he knew that would land well. “He insulted someone I love.”

“You’re making it really hard to be mad at you,” Reo said, nose wrinkling adorable. “Would you have done the same if it was Chigiri?”

“Likely.”

“Fortunately, he just insulted me,” Reo put on the robe. The black silk fell like waves over his body, accentuating his athletic figure. “Or it would be twice as bad.”

The why wasn’t even necessary. Undoubtedly, Chigiri would jump in for seconds. Chigiri was the definition of ‘appearances are deceiving’. Looking like a dainty princess, but the first one to throw punches.

“Hey.” For the first time in days, Reo’s smile was a bit sweet. “It will be fine. I’ve talked to your team, and they will handle any backlash, and you’re not getting rid of me that easily.”

“You planned this?”

“You give me too much credit, I’m not that calculated. Let’s say that I think it’s time to finally get our relationship out in the open.”

“Your father contacted you?”

“I had to turn out another marriage meeting,” Reo rubbed his forehead. “I feel bad for the women because father makes them think they have a genuine chance.”

“He knows we’re engaged, right?”

Reo nodded. “He wasn’t particularly happy. But he knows, but the public doesn’t. No family will agree to marry me when they know their daughter is my second choice.”

“Maybe we should send him a copy.”

Reo’s glare was particularly ineffective as his smile crept in. “I’m not planning to send my father to an early grave. We have our grievances, but he acknowledges that I am doing well on my own and I have cousins who can take over the business.”

Though Reo was just being nice and reassuring, Nagi felt inadequate in times like these. Reo did not need him, while Nagi did not know what to do without him.

“Are you guys ready?” the same person as early asked, knowing on the wall to announce their presence.

“A moment,” Reo called.

Nagi had not enough time to realize what was going on. Reo grabbed a fistful of silk and tugged him into a kiss. Though brief, it left his head spinning.

“I wouldn’t be here without you,” Reo whispered harshly. “I love soccer, but I love playing soccer with you the most. I wouldn’t have defied my father if I hadn’t had a future to look forward.”

Someone beyond the curtains cleared their throat. “Are you gentlemen ready.”

Reo fixed the fit of Nagi’s robe and tugged open the curtain. “Sorry for the wait. We’ll be in your hands.”

They were ushered towards the large clothes selection they had brought in. The staff kept giving them cheery smiles and belatedly, he realized that they likely heard all of it.

“Don’t worry,” the staff member leading them put on a reassuring smile. “We’re professionals here, and most of us are fans.”

They didn’t strike Nagi as soccer fans, but who was he to judge. His fans were the reason he earned a ridiculous amount of money.

“Alright, here we go.” They stopped at a rack with skimpy clothes that were all Valentine's themed: reds, pinks, hearts, ribbons, and other cute stuff. It looked like Nagi’s living nightmare.

“Do you think I might still fit in the slutty Santa costume?”