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“What?”
It came out sharper than Isagi intended, halfway between a scoff and a choke, his drink sloshing dangerously close to the rim of the red plastic cup in his hand.
The music was loud, bass reverberating through the wooden floors of the house, rattling picture frames and vibrating up through the soles of his sneakers. Despite this, the girl’s words had sliced through the noise with almost terrifying precision.
Around them, bodies pressed shoulder to shoulder, laughter rose in bright bursts, someone whooped from the kitchen as a chant started near the beer pong table - yet in the small pocket of space near the staircase where they stood, everything felt abruptly still.
He had been doing fine. More than fine. He had arrived at the party with his friend, Hiori, and the guy was gone meeting with some old friends of his that Isagi himself personally didn’t know. Staying back, he decided to scan the floor to see if anyone would catch his eye. Then, he’d spotted this girl across the living room and he’d made his move with the same smooth calculation he was known for.
A joke about the DJ’s tragic playlist, and a casual mention of the upcoming intramural football finals… She’d seemed amused, leaning closer to hear him over the music, her fingers brushing his arm when she laughed. It had felt like a win unfolding in real time.
And then Kaiser had arrived.
Michael Kaiser. Six-foot-something of infuriating composure, blonde hair styled like he’d stepped out of a magazine spread even at a sweaty Friday night party, with that dumb lazy smirk permanently etched into his face.
He wore the fraternity letters too, same as Isagi, except on a hoodie - but somehow made them look less like borrowed tradition and more like a brand endorsement. Where Isagi was focused and coiled with quiet intensity, Kaiser was all effortless arrogance with his hands in pockets, chin tilted, and blue eyes sharp and calculating beneath half-lidded lashes.
“Oh, don’t stop on my account,” Kaiser had said lightly when he joined them, voice smooth as expensive whiskey. “I love watching Yoichi try to get girls with his cringey jokes. Mmm, I know! How about going for me instead?”
Isagi’s jaw had tightened at the familiar nickname, the one Kaiser used like a hook beneath his ribs. The audacity of this man to try to take the girl Isagi approached and talked to first?
Try, as if that’s all he ever did. Kaiser was the one who’d been gunning for him since freshman year, since the first day of practice when their shared position on the field had turned into a silent declaration of war.
They were both strikers. Teammates by technicality, and rivals by nature.
The girl had looked between them, eyes sparkling with interest rather than discomfort. “You two know each other?”
“Knew him before he learned how to pass a ball,” Kaiser replied smoothly.
“Still waiting for him to learn how to score without hogging the damn pitch,” Isagi shot back before he could stop himself.
That had earned him a delighted grin. Kaiser loved this - loved pushing and hovering just close enough to invade Isagi’s space without touching him, their shoulders nearly brushing.
The tension between them wasn’t subtle, it never had been: on the field, it translated into precise passes and brutal competition. Off the field, it simmered into something messier.
The girl’s gaze flicked between them again, slower this time, almost as if she was assessing the situation.
After which, she dropped the bomb.
“Look, I’ll consider giving both of you my number,” she said, raising her voice slightly over the music, “If you two kiss each other.”
The silence between the three of them contrasted the loud room.
Isagi blinked. “What?”
Surprisingly, Kaiser actually laughed - soft at first, then louder, like she’d told the best joke of the night. “Bold,” he said approvingly, dragging a hand through his hair. “I like it.”
“I’m not kissing him,” Isagi snapped automatically, heat flooding his face. Whether it was from embarrassment or anger, he couldn’t tell. Probably both.
“Oh?” Kaiser tilted his head, stepping closer - way too close. Isagi could feel the warmth radiating from him now, could smell the faint citrus of his cologne cutting through beer and sweat. “Scared you’ll lose?”
“Lose what?” Isagi demanded.
“Our kiss competition,” Kaiser said lightly. “Afterall, I don’t half-ass anything.”
The girl covered her mouth to hide a laugh. “It’s just a kiss. You guys act like I asked you to elope.”
But that was the problem. “You’re ridiculous,” Isagi muttered, but his voice lacked its usual bite.
Kaiser’s smile softened, just a fraction. “Come on, Yoichi. Think of it as… Team bonding.”
“We’re not a team.”
“By technicalities, we unfortunately are.”
Their eyes locked. For a moment, the party faded again: the music dulled, and the laughter blurred. It was just them, standing inches apart, breathing the same air. Isagi’s pulse hammered in his ears, and he hated that Kaiser could probably see it - he could probably feel the tension radiating off him like heat.
“You don’t have to,” the girl chimed in, though she looked thoroughly entertained now. “But I won’t lie, I kind of want to see it.”
Kaiser leaned down slightly, voice dropping low enough that only Isagi could hear. “If you back out, I’m telling everyone you chickened out.”
“You wouldn’t.”
Placing a hand dramatically over his chest, Kaiser acted as if he was deeply wounded. “Yoichi,” he said, voice honeyed with mock offense, “You think so little of me? I would absolutely tell everyone you panicked.”
“You’re actually unbelievable,” Isagi muttered, but there was the faintest crack in his composure now, the kind that only appeared when Kaiser pressed just hard enough in the right place. Around them, the party had shifted subtly; a few people nearby had started paying attention, sensing the familiar current that sparked whenever the two of them stood too close for too long.
Kaiser leaned back on the heels of his shoes, considering the girl’s proposition with exaggerated thoughtfulness. “I mean,” he drawled, “It won't mean anything. Though, I get why you’re nervous - it’s a little gay, don’t you think?”
A couple of guys behind them snorted into their drinks.
Isagi rolled his eyes instantly, grateful for the deflection. “You’re the one entertaining it.”
“I’m open-minded,” Kaiser replied evenly.
“Please. You’re insufferable.”
“But am I wrong?” Kaiser tipped his head, gaze sharp beneath the lazy posture. “You look nervous.”
“I’m not nervous,” Isagi snapped.
“Your ears are red.”
“It’s hot in here.”
“It is,” Kaiser agreed, stepping half an inch closer. “Are you sweating because of the crowd, or because of me?”
Isagi scoffed once more, but it came out thinner than intended. “Isn’t this slightly weird?” he muttered, lowering his voice ever so slightly. “We’re both straight. This is stupid.”
Kaiser’s mouth twitched, amused. “It’s just a kiss.”
“That’s not the point.”
“Then what is the point? Don’t you want this girl’s number?” Kaiser tilted his head, his eyes narrowing. “Consider it a favour, Yoichi. I find her quite cute too, you know, so surely you could just go fetch the bone that I’m humbly throwing for you?’
The question hung between them, heavier than the teasing tone it was wrapped in. The music thudded through the floorboards; someone knocked into Isagi’s shoulder from behind, jolting him a step forward. His chest brushed Kaiser’s for a split second before he caught his balance. Neither of them moved away immediately.
The girl raised an eyebrow. “So? Are you two going to do it or not?”
Dragging a hand down his face, Isagi sighed in defeat. “This is ridiculous. It’s not like we’re trying to prove something.”
Kaiser’s smile sharpened as he shrugged his shoulders indifferently. “Speak for yourself.”
“To who?” Isagi demanded. “Her? The crowd? You’re the one who said it’s ‘a little gay’.”
Smiling, Kaiser only responded to Isagi with an amused look. “Only if you make it weird.”
“I’m not making it weird,” Isagi shot back quickly.
“Sounds like you’re making it weird.”
“You’re literally the one who brought it up!”
“And you’re the one overthinking it,” Kaiser countered, stepping closer again, lowering his voice until it was a private murmur. “Unless you’re worried you won’t be able to handle it.”
Isagi’s eyes flashed, his fist clenching. “Handle what?”
“Kissing me. Are you scared I'll be a better kisser than you?”
A chorus of ‘oooh’ rose from somewhere to their left, and Isagi became acutely aware of the semicircle forming around them. Phones were out now. Someone was chanting Kaiser’s name. Someone else shouted Isagi’s.
God, this was humiliating.
“You’re such an idiot,” Isagi muttered, but his heart was hammering in his ribs, and not entirely from embarrassment. Kaiser was close enough now that there was no buffer space left, and no casual distance to hide behind. He could see the faint smudge of glitter near Kaiser’s jaw from someone else’s earlier collision, the subtle rise and fall of his chest, and that steady, unflinching focus in his eyes.
“You’re stalling,” Kaiser said softly.
“I’m not stalling.”
“Then do it.”
Isagi hesitated.
Kaiser’s expression shifted slightly, the teasing edge dulling just a fraction. “Relax,” he murmured, so quiet only Isagi could catch it. “It’s not a big deal.”
It was a strange thing for him to say.
When Isagi seemed to be actually considering it, the crowd apparently decided it was a perfect time to count down before Isagi could change his mind. “Ten!”
Isagi jolted, and then exhaled slowly.
“Nine!”
He looked at Kaiser and saw it then - that expectation that Isagi wouldn’t back out.
“Eight!”
“You’re not backing out?” Isagi asked under his breath.
Kaiser’s lips curved, but his voice was steady. “Not if you don’t.”
“Seven!”
“That’s so dramatic,” Isagi muttered, but his fingers were already tightening around his cup.
“Six!”
Kaiser reached out and plucked it gently from his hand, setting it aside on the banister without breaking eye contact. The gesture was casual, almost careless, but his knuckles brushed Isagi’s in the process, and the contact felt deliberate.
“Five!”
“You’re going to tell everyone I lost if I hesitate, aren’t you?” Isagi asked.
“Absolutely,” Kaiser replied.
“Four!”
“That’s messed up.”
“You’d do the same.”
“Three!”
The chant grew louder. Someone whooped. The girl watched with undisguised delight. Kaiser stepped in fully now, closing the final inch of space between them. “You’re overthinking it,” he said quietly. “Just don’t make it weird.”
“Stop saying that,” Isagi muttered, but his voice lacked heat.
“Two!”
Their faces were close enough that Isagi could feel Kaiser’s breath against his lips now. The teasing smile was still there, but it had softened, like it was being held in place by habit rather than confidence.
“One!”
For a split second, neither of them moved.
The world narrowed to a single, suspended breath.
And then Isagi grabbed the front of Kaiser’s hoodie, tugging him down with the same decisive force he used when driving towards a goal.
The kiss was supposed to prove something. A quick press of lips to satisfy a dare, just so Isagi could get a girl’s number.
Instead, it landed heavy and charged, neither tentative nor exaggerated. Kaiser responded instantly, hand coming to Isagi’s waist - firm enough to steady them both as the crowd erupted around them. It wasn’t gentle, but it wasn’t mocking either. It was competitive in a way only they could manage: each refusing to pull back first, then each pushing just slightly harder.
It lasted too long to be ironic.
When they finally broke apart, the noise of the party crashed back in - cheers, applause, someone yelling “Again!” but the space between them felt different now. Kaiser’s forehead nearly brushed Isagi’s as he pulled back, breathing unevenly for the first time all night.
“See?” he murmured, voice low enough that it barely carried over the music. “Not that weird.”
Isagi swallowed, pulse racing. His eyes were locked on Kaiser’s now, his breath slightly uneven against his skin.
“Shut up,” he muttered, his voice hushed. “I wasn’t finished with you.”
Once more, unexpectedly, Kaiser's lips crashed against Isagi's with a ferocity that silenced the room's buzz, Isagi’s hand fisting into the fabric of Kaiser’s hoodie to yank him closer. It was a battle, tongues clashing like they were still on the field. Kaiser tilted Isagi's head back with a firm grip on his jaw, deepening the press of their mouths, sucking on Isagi's lower lip until it swelled under the pressure. A low growl rumbled from Kaiser's throat as he pushed forward, backing Isagi against the nearby wall, his body pinning the other man's in place.
Isagi didn't yield easily. His fingers dug into Kaiser's shoulders, shoving back with equal force, twisting their bodies so he could reverse the hold. Now it was Isagi's turn to invade, his tongue sweeping aggressively into Kaiser's mouth, tasting the sharp bite of whiskey on his breath.
He nipped at Kaiser's upper lip, drawing a hiss from the taller man, and slid a hand up to tangle in his blonde hair, pulling just hard enough to elicit a spark of pain. The push and pull fueled the fire between them, breaths coming in ragged gasps as they wrestled for control, lips bruising, and saliva slicking their chins.
The crowd around them erupted: whistles and cheers slicing through the party's thrum, phones held high to capture the rivals' unexpected clash. 'Get it, Kaiser!' someone yelled, laughter and catcalls mixing into a chaotic roar. Regardless, as the kiss dragged on, the noise faded into a distant hum, drowned out by the pounding of their hearts and the wet sounds of their mouths devouring each other.
Finally, Kaiser wrenched his head back, breaking the seal with a sharp inhale, his blue eyes locking onto Isagi's darkened gaze. A string of spit connected their lips for a heartbeat, snapping as he licked it away. “Think you can handle more?” Kaiser taunted, voice rough, chest heaving.
Of course, Isagi's response was fiercely immediate. His hand shot out, fingers curling around the back of Kaiser's neck to haul him forward again. Their mouths collided once more, hungrier this time, Isagi taking the lead as he sucked Kaiser's tongue into his mouth, dominating the rhythm with relentless thrusts. The world narrowed to the heat of their bodies grinding together, the cheers lost entirely in the storm of sensation.
Kaiser's grip tightened on Isagi's neck, his fingers pressing into the warm skin as he steered the kiss with unyielding authority, swallowing Isagi's aggressive thrusts and turning them into something slower, and more controlled. He broke the contact just enough to trail his lips along Isagi's jawline, nipping at the sharp edge before dipping lower to the sensitive curve of his throat.
The Japanese tensed, a soft, needy whine escaping his lips, as Kaiser's teeth grazed the pulse point there, sucking hard enough to leave a blooming mark. The sound sent a jolt straight through Kaiser, fueling his desire, and he lapped at the spot with his tongue, drawing out another whimper that vibrated against his mouth.
Hands clutched at Kaiser's hoodie, Isagi’s fingers twisted the fabric, but he didn't push back this time; instead, he arched slightly, yielding to the assault on his neck. Kaiser reveled in it, his free hand sliding down to grip Isagi's hip, pulling their bodies flush so he could feel the hard line of arousal pressing against his thigh.
He didn't linger long - after one last bite that made Isagi gasp, Kaiser surged back up, capturing his mouth again in a deep, claiming kiss. Their tongues tangled lazily now, Kaiser leading the dance, exploring every inch with purposeful strokes while Isagi responded with softer, breathless moans, his earlier fire simmering under the taller man's command.
They kissed like that for what felt like an eternity, lips sliding wetly, until Kaiser finally pulled away, both of them gasping for air. Their foreheads rested together for a moment, chests heaving in unison, the air between them thick with the scent of sweat and desire. Slowly, Kaiser lifted his head, locking eyes with Isagi - those light blue depths stormy and intense, mirroring the confusion swirling in Isagi's gaze.
Isagi's eyes widened first, pupils dilating as the reality crashed over him. Kaiser's expression shifted too, brows furrowing in shock, his usual smirk nowhere to be found as he processed the raw vulnerability they'd exposed.
What the hell did they just do?
The question hung unspoken between them, hearts still racing from more than just the kiss.
As if on cue, both turned their heads toward the girl standing a few feet away - the one who'd been watching with wide eyes from the start.
Her hand was clamped over her mouth, shoulders shaking with barely contained giggles, her cheeks flushed pink in delighted shock. The crowd's cheers had faded to murmurs now, but her reaction cut through the haze, a reminder of the spectacle they'd made.
Isagi remained frozen in place, his body still humming from the intensity of their clash, legs locked as if the ground had rooted him there. The party's thumping music and scattered conversations buzzed around them, but it all felt distant, muffled by the pounding in his ears.
Sensing a shift, Kaiser finally tore his gaze from Isagi and glanced over his shoulder toward his friend, Ness, who stood a few paces back, mouth agape in pure, unfiltered shock. Ness's eyes were wide, his usual composed demeanor shattered, one hand half-raised as if he'd been about to intervene but got stuck mid-motion. The sight made Kaiser's jaw tighten - he could practically hear the questions brewing in Ness's head - but he schooled his expression into something neutral, ignoring the heat creeping up his neck.
Embarrassment twisted in his gut like a knife, Isagi's cheeks burned hot, a deep flush spreading from his face down to his collarbone. He lifted a trembling hand to his neck, fingers brushing over the tender spot where Kaiser's mouth had latched on, the skin already tingling with the ghost of teeth and tongue.
A faint throb pulsed there, a reminder of how he'd whined under the pressure, and it only made the blush deepen, his pulse racing anew. He swallowed hard, forcing himself to meet Kaiser's eyes again, those piercing blue eyes still locked on him with a mix of lingering hunger and surprise.
Oh fuck it.
“...Is your number off the table?” Isagi mumbled, his voice barely above a whisper, laced with that shy vulnerability he hated showing, especially to someone he considered his enemy.
Kaiser's brows shot up, a flicker of disbelief crossing his face. “...Seriously?” he shot back, his tone rough but edged with amusement, like he couldn't quite believe the words tumbling out of Isagi's mouth.
Isagi shrugged, trying to play it cool even as his face stayed scarlet, the admission hanging heavy between them. “Well, yeah. That might've been the best kiss I've ever had. You might be a good fuck too.” The words came out bolder than he felt, a spark of his earlier defiance flickering back to life, though his averted gaze betrayed the nerves churning inside.
The German’s face flushed a deep red, the colour blooming across his cheeks and ears in a way that made him look almost boyish, stripped of his usual arrogance. He rubbed the back of his neck, glancing away for a split second before locking eyes again, a reluctant grin tugging at his lips. “You're so corny, Yoichi. Fine then, give me your phone.”
Isagi fumbled for his phone in his pocket, handing it over with fingers that still shook slightly from the adrenaline. Kaiser snatched it, thumbs flying across the screen as he typed in his number, the simple act feeling charged, like sealing a pact neither had expected.
He handed it back, leaning in close enough that Isagi could smell the faint whiskey on his breath, his voice dropping to a husky whisper that sent a shiver down Isagi's spine. “You'd look good on your knees.”
With that, Kaiser straightened up, shooting Ness a quick nod to snap him out of his stupor. The two turned and walked away, weaving through the crowd, Kaiser's broad shoulders cutting a path while Ness trailed behind, still stealing wide-eyed glances back. Isagi stood there alone, phone clutched in his hand, the warmth of the exchange lingering on his skin.
He rolled his eyes at the audacity, but a small, genuine smile curved his lips, the embarrassment easing into something warmer, and more anticipatory.
Hiori pushed through the throng of partygoers, his eyes fixed on Isagi with a mix of curiosity and disbelief, dodging a couple swaying to the pulsing beat of the music. The bass thrummed through the floor, lights flashing in erratic patterns that cast fleeting shadows over the crowd still buzzing from the spectacle. He reached Isagi just as the guy had pocketed his phone, that lingering smile fading into a dazed expression.
“Dude, what was that?” Hiori asked, his voice cutting through the din, one eyebrow arched high as he gestured vaguely toward the spot where Kaiser and Ness had vanished into the masses. “I leave you alone for one second…”
Eyes flickering, Isagi snapped out of his reverie, the flush still warm on his cheeks. He ran a hand through his disheveled hair, letting out a shaky breath. “Who knows. I need a drink - I think I might've gone insane.”
Without waiting for a reply, he started weaving toward the bar at the far end of the room, the wooden counter lined with bottles glinting under neon signs, bartenders slinging shots to eager patrons.
Hiori hurried after him, calling out over the rising swell of the track, his tone laced with teasing concern. “Are you sure you haven't drunk enough?”
Isagi glanced back, a genuine laugh bubbling up from his chest, light and unburdened despite the whirlwind in his mind.
It echoed faintly against the relentless rhythm of the music, carrying him forward as he reached the bar and signalled for a refill.