Work Text:
Title: Magic Snow
Pairing: SaeIsa (Itoshi Sae x Isagi Yoichi)
Rating: PG
Note: Football player Sae, Yocchan is the older boy next door who is five years older than Sae, OOC. Please read with discretion ^^ This fic was written for the SaeIsa Cafe event! ^^
.........
Winter holds a certain magic
Whenever the snow gently falls.
Aside from Santa bringing gifts,
There is also...
You, who are greater than all the magic in this entire world.
Just one smile from you,
Just one glance from those bright eyes,
My winters have never been freezing cold again.
Itoshi Sae was particularly fond of his childhood. He got to play the football he loved, display his potential to the fullest, and had an adorable, wide-eyed little brother who was a genius just like him.
Playing football with Rin, doing everything together with the little brother who constantly called him "Brother"—it made Sae incredibly happy.
And then...
"Sae? Rin? Why are you two here again today?"
There was this person.
Sae looked at the older boy next door, who was five years their senior. Someone who possessed a talent for football no less than his own. But perhaps because he was too talented, God had made his body frail, unable to handle any strenuous physical exertion.
Sae often saw those beautiful blue eyes sparkle with excitement whenever he watched him and Rin play football. But the boy himself couldn't join in. As he watched from the sidelines for too long, a dull melancholy would eventually replace that spark.
Yes... because no matter how much he dreamed or desperately reached out for it, for Isagi Yoichi... football was the most absolute taboo.
"Wanted to eat ice cream, so we came to make Yo-nii treat us!" Rin threw his hands up in the air. The younger Itoshi wasn't particularly close to anyone. Besides his older brother, no one else in the world was cool to him.
Well, except for Yo-nii.
"Hold on a second, Yo-nii isn't your personal convenience store, Rin-rin."
"Ugh! I'm not Rin-rin!"
"Alright, alright, come on in. Yo-nii already bought some ice cream and saved it for you guys." Isagi pinched Rin's cheek and then smiled at Sae. The older Itoshi simply nodded in acknowledgment, looking so much more mature than his age that Isagi didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Sae was nothing like Rin. This child possessed a high level of maturity. And... he had witnessed plenty of Isagi's embarrassing moments.
Whether it was the time he cried because he was scared of a bug, or when he cried from the sound of thunder. Or even when it was raining, this kid would always be nearby, staring at him with those wide, unblinking eyes.
He was a younger kid who somehow made a boy five years his senior feel like the actual child!
Isagi held Rin's hand and led him inside, while Sae trailed behind, his gaze resting gently on the two of them. For a brief moment, the child who acted far too mature for his age curled up the corner of his lips. Those eyes, which were usually so cold, gleamed with a soft warmth.
He wished he could watch this exact scene... for the rest of his life.
Because these two were his ultimate happiness.
.........
However, in this world, there is no such thing as "forever," just as there is nothing certain.
Sae's talent shone so brightly that it became renowned worldwide. The genius boy hailed as the nation's treasure, who was about to become the youngest player in the Real Madrid youth team.
Los Blancos... one of the best clubs in the world.
Sae carried his absolute confidence to pursue his dream. On the day he left for Spain, besides his parents and younger brother seeing him off, Yo-nii was there to send him off too. The older boy wished him success in achieving his dream.
Sae was excited to train alongside geniuses from all corners of the globe.
But nothing was ever easy.
Sae's dream was utterly shattered.
His abilities... were practically no different from child's play here.
The suffocatingly competitive environment, the contempt, and the disdain.
Even in a developed country, one couldn't escape these things.
Everything felt completely empty...
Sharp eyes gazed out at the snow from the window of his room. His hand gripped his mobile phone tightly. His finger absentmindedly pressed the unlock button, only to let the screen turn black again. The image displayed on the screen showed three people.
Sae, Rin, and Isagi.
They took the photo by the river, holding brightly colored ice cream in their hands.
It was winter just like now, yet the three of them were still eating ice cream.
Even so... it wasn't nearly as freezing cold as it was right now.
Sae gripped his phone tightly. A suffocating, agonizing feeling was packed tightly in his chest, but he couldn't speak of it or vent it out to anyone.
Here, he had no close friends, no acquaintances he trusted enough to pour everything out to.
The language, the culture, the race, the grueling training, and having to compete against geniuses from all over the world. Everything was so overwhelming.
Even plain water... sometimes tasted bitter.
The world's number one striker, huh...
It's something I can never reach anymore.
Thinking like this, the image of his younger brother flashed into his mind. Those eyes of the exact same color, looking at him with such admiration, only made him ache indescribably.
I'm... no longer that amazing older brother of yours, Rin.
I'm not good enough... to fulfill the promise I made to you anymore.
It was crushed to dust.
Shattered... and so agonizing it was hard to even breathe.
On the day he felt utterly incompetent, no longer wanting to play football, and even... terrified of playing football, a phone call rang.
Even without seeing his face, that voice... reminded him of a smile like the spring breeze, driving away the winter and all its bitter cold.
It allowed Itoshi Sae to stand tall and overcome it all by himself.
Today... he hesitated.
He wanted to be the one to call.
He wanted to hear his voice.
He didn't need much.
Just...
Yo-nii calling my name.
But Sae didn't have enough courage to make the call.
He had acted so arrogant in front of him, confidently declaring that he would become the world's number one striker and would send him tickets to watch from the sidelines.
"Ugh..." Sae bit his lip tightly. He drew his knees up and buried his face into them.
As if... to hide his tears and his weakness.
But no.
Sae wasn't crying.
Because he understood full well that tears wouldn't help anything.
Crying only made you weaker.
It was just... agonizing.
But the sound of the phone ringing, displaying a certain number, made his sharp eyes light up. He hesitated slightly before pressing answer.
(Sae, it's snowing in Spain lately. Don't forget to wear your coat.)
"You too... watch out for the sound of thunder."
(Hey now, you brat. Here I am worrying about you! Rin came to tattle on you too, saying his older brother wouldn't answer his calls. He led his team to win the school championship, you know. He's doing really great.)
Listening to that cheerful voice telling stories from the other side of the world, Sae felt the heavy suffocation in his chest fade away. A sense of peace took its place. He leaned against the window, putting the phone on speaker, and gazed out at the white flakes falling from the sky. His sharp eyes fluttered shut, absorbing the gentleness that seemed to envelop him.
You saved me once again, Yo-nii.
(Are you eating enough? Have you gotten used to Spanish food yet? Are you sleeping well? Do they have the tea you like over there? Don't just focus on training and forget to take care of yourself.) The voice on the other end continued to nag endlessly.
Ordinary things, yet filled with the care they had always shared.
Sae clenched his fist.
For a fleeting moment, he wanted to say he missed him. He wanted to be selfish and ask him to come stand right in front of him.
But...
You've grown up now, Itoshi Sae.
Grown enough to have to step through these things all by yourself.
And stand in front of Yo-nii,
Stand in front of Rin with absolute pride.
"I'm doing fine. How about you, Yo-nii? And Rin?"
(We're doing well. I learned how to make kintsuba, you know! Next time you come back to renew your passport, I'll make some for you to try!)
"Making your own favorite food for me to try? Weird."
(Who's the weird one here? By the way, Sae... are you sure you're okay? Your voice... is trembling. Are you feeling sick? Hm?)
Still as sharp and perceptive as ever.
And just that single question made the edges of his eyes burn so hot that Sae had to bite his lip tightly.
"No... I'm fine. The weather in Spain is just cold."
(That's true. Wrap yourself in thick blankets, okay?)
Sae tried to control his voice to keep it from shaking. He took a deep breath, gripping the phone tightly. "You too. Use thick blankets and be careful not to catch a cold. If it rains or thunders, put your headphones on. I already selected a playlist of your favorite songs on your iPad."
(Sae.)
"Hm?"
(You know I'm still right here, right? ...If anything happens, just call me.)
Just that single sentence nearly shattered all of Sae's strong facade. Those sharp eyes widened, tears welling at the edges as his chest burned.
"Yeah. Thank you... Yo-nii. Goodnight."
The call from the other side of the world had ended. Sae stared blankly outside through the clear window. The white snowflakes continued to fall endlessly, as if trying to dye everything completely white.
But inside his heart,
A tiny blue flame had been ignited.
"Goodnight..."
........
Sae returned to his hometown to renew his passport and met his younger brother, who was steadily advancing in the football world. Every match Rin played, he successfully led his team to the championship. He had talent that was second to none.
Those sparkling eyes full of admiration still looked at him just the same.
The younger brother who respected and idolized him.
But... just this isn't enough, Rin.
To reach the world stage filled with countless geniuses... just this is not enough.
But I believe you can do it. You are better than me and will surpass me, too.
Therefore, Sae chose to use his words to hurt his younger brother, chose to use his superior skills to crush Rin's confidence into pieces.
He was doing to his brother exactly what had been done to him.
It was the only way to make Rin step over him.
To surpass him.
But the sound of his brother's crying and his agonized demeanor made Sae clench his fists. He almost pulled the other into a hug to comfort him and pat his head like when they were kids. He clenched his own fists tightly.
If Rin hurt, he hurt too.
That was... his little brother.
His incredibly precious treasure.
I'm sorry, Rin.
I'm so sorry...
So Sae chose to walk away, even though his younger brother was crying on the ground amidst the freezing snow. And a figure suddenly ran in. Those blue eyes looked at the situation in utter disbelief. The person was panting heavily, their breath forming white clouds in the air, face pale from forcing himself to run.
Having not seen each other for a while, Yo-nii hadn't grown taller at all.
His face looked almost exactly the same as when Sae left for Spain.
"Sae! Why..." Isagi panted rapidly. He had sprinted from his house as fast as he could, but he never expected to see a scene like this. His head was filled with nothing but confusion, a barrage of questions about what had just happened.
That Sae and Rin were brothers who loved each other deeply. Rin respected and idolized his older brother just as much as Sae loved and adored his younger brother.
He never thought he would see a scene where Rin was crying his heart out while Sae just stood there watching blankly, preparing to turn his back on him.
Sae watched silently, as if branding the image of the person he missed so dearly into his mind. He took a deep breath, not saying anything for several minutes, before taking off his own scarf and wrapping it around Isagi's neck. "Take care of Rin for me, Yo-nii."
"Huh?"
"And..."
Sae suddenly grabbed Isagi and pulled him into a tight hug. He hugged him so tightly that Isagi was left bewildered about what was actually going on. This kid, who was now taller than him, hugged him until he was buried against his chest. And his voice was trembling, sounding as if he were breaking apart.
"I'm sorry."
Sae hugged the smaller frame for a long time until he finally let go of the embrace. Isagi breathed out white clouds. The snow continued to fall endlessly.
He didn't know what exactly had happened.
But this year's winter,
Truly brought agonizing pain.
Isagi walked over to the person crying on the ground. As soon as he crouched down, Rin threw himself into Isagi's arms.
"Yo-nii... hic... Nii-chan..." Rin cried agonizingly, his pitiful sobs breaking the silence.
This child rarely cried, but this time it must have been truly too agonizing for Rin to bear.
Of course. Rin's entire world had shattered.
By the hands of the person he respected the most.
"Come here, Rin. Come to Yo-nii." Isagi hugged Rin tightly, his hand soothingly petting the large boy's head. The more Rin sobbed, the more agonizing it was for him too. And the person who was standing and watching was probably suffering just as much.
Sae stared at the scene in front of him silently. He made his decision, dragging his suitcase towards the airport... without turning back to look again.
"Sae."
However, just that single call of his name made his footsteps halt automatically.
"I'm going to call you every day... don't forget to answer, okay?"
Even without turning back to look, Sae knew full well that Yo-nii must be smiling.
This person was always like that.
Always offering him a gentle smile.
"And... wait for me just a little longer," Isagi muttered softly, watching the tall figure walk to get in a car until he was out of sight.
He didn't know what had happened. He didn't know why Sae did this.
But your back looked so incredibly lonely.
Have you already shattered, Sae?
Are you enduring and suffering right now?
I don't know at all...
But... wait for me just a little bit.
I won't let you be alone for too long.
.......
After the events of that day, Sae never returned to Japan. He became La Liga's genius midfielder, a highly sought-after player by everyone. If it weren't for the Spanish Football Federation's age regulations, Sae would have long become a regular starter for Los Blancos.
Sae's reputation was outstanding, especially in his home country. Everyone talked endlessly about the genius who was the nation's precious treasure. No matter where he went, people were talking about him, to the point that the tall figure stepping off a large motorcycle grimaced and rolled his eyes. He swept his hair back, standing with his arms crossed as he leaned against the bike, listening to the group of passersby endlessly praising a certain someone.
Blind idiots.
Praising a shitty guy.
But who knows.
Maybe there's a tiny part of him that feels proud.
Hmph!
"What's with the 'hmph'? Rin, why are you standing here acting cool for all the girls and guys to stare at, huh? I told you to wait at the university cafe, but you never listen." The smaller figure running towards him panted as he complained, making Rin roll his eyes.
"Annoying. Here, helmet." Rin tossed the helmet to Isagi before starting the engine. He watched the short-legged person struggling to climb onto his massive bike with a glint of amusement in his eyes.
Yo-nii is the type who just doesn't grow any taller. Even though he eats a lot, it probably all went straight to his cheeks.
Chubby, round cheeks.
"So what were you 'hmph-ing' about, Rin?" Isagi finally managed to sit securely on the back of Rin's motorcycle.
"Annoyed at the people praising my shitty brother."
Isagi blinked rapidly, shaking his head slightly, and then had to quickly grab onto the hem of Rin's shirt when the younger boy accelerated abruptly.
You brat!
It didn't take long for Rin to drive Isagi to the riverside. With an ice cream popsicle in each of their hands, they walked slowly, letting the gentle breeze caress their faces. The soft orange light of the evening sun reflected all around them.
"How come you could pick me up today, Rin?"
"I'm free. No classes, no matches. I'm not the one who's busy like you."
Isagi furrowed his brows. "Well, I am busy. What can I do about it?"
Rin cast a brief sidelong glance at the person beside him. How could he not be busy? Yo-nii devoted himself heavily to his studies, skipping grades while simultaneously studying languages, and even interning at a football-related institution. He barely had a moment to rest each day.
He's gotten smaller. Thinner.
"Working this hard... is it all so you can go see that guy?"
For his shitty older brother.
Isagi smiled. "It's not just for Sae. I'm doing it for myself. And for Rin."
"Hmph."
"I can't play football, even though I want to play it so badly it drives me crazy. But since I can't, I chose to do what I can do instead. I want to support you guys as much as I possibly can. I want to see you and Sae step onto the pitch together, whether as rivals or teammates. You guys are trying your best... so I'm going to try my best too."
Rin clenched his fist tightly. He still hated his older brother; that hadn't changed. His brother's words that day had practically killed him alive, leaving Rin obsessed with defeating his brother, surpassing his brother, until his football became something unrecognizable.
It was a good thing he still had Yo-nii by his side.
Yo-nii didn't make excuses for his brother. He didn't force him to try and understand his brother, either.
Rather, as Rin grew older, he began to see it for himself.
Amidst those cold words that pierced like sharp blades, amidst all that mockery...
Rin started to question in his heart.
Had his older brother encountered the exact same things before? And how did he get through it?
One person entirely alone among geniuses from all over the world. How lonely must his brother have been? Was it agonizing? Did he eat well? Did he sleep well?
And when he wanted to talk to someone... did he have a Yo-nii like Rin did?
His brother really was a piece of shit.
But that guy chose to leave his own precious treasure right here by his side.
Truly an idiot.
Who the hell asked him to do that?
Playing the hero, when someone like him could only ever be the villain.
That was why Rin... protected Yo-nii right here. Keeping anyone from getting too close. Yo-nii was dangerously charming. People were constantly swooping in, hoping to build a relationship. If Rin didn't put on a fierce face to ward them off, a naive guy like Yo-nii would have been lured away with food ages ago.
If you asked if he ever felt his heart waver, it would be a lie to say no.
Because Yo-nii was so charming, so incredibly kind.
But above those fleeting flutters was a bond that transcended romantic love.
Rin had counted Yo-nii as a member of his family for a long time. The person most suited to stand beside his older brother. If a guy like his brother missed out on Yo-nii, who knows if he'd ever find another partner in this lifetime.
Rin was just afraid his brother would die a bachelor, so he was guarding Yo-nii for him, that's all.
And from his point of view, watching them since they were young,
When those two stood side-by-side... no one could ever wedge themselves between them.
They were practically born to complete each other.
The most perfect match.
Let's just say if his shitty brother had someone else besides Yo-nii, Rin would throw a fit. If Yo-nii had someone else besides his brother, he would throw a fit too.
He wasn't being unreasonable!
"But no matter what, I still despise his face." Rin tossed his popsicle stick perfectly into a nearby trash can. Isagi hadn't even finished his yet. He chuckled softly in his throat.
"Mmmm. Sometimes Sae really can be frustrating."
"My brother likes Yo-nii."
Isagi blinked, his cheeks flushing a faint red before glaring playfully at Rin. "Sae? Hey now! Why are you suddenly talking about who likes who?"
"Hmph. If you're blushing, just admit you're blushing, Yo-nii."
Smack!
Of course, Isagi smacked the deadpan kid who was teasing him. But Rin just glanced at him and shrugged, as if Isagi's hand was merely a cat's paw that couldn't inflict any pain or itch no matter how hard it hit.
Ugh!
"Fine, if you don't like him, then let him wither and die in Spain. You should go find someone new, Yo-nii."
"Find someone new? What are you saying, Rin?"
"That guy is as cold as polar ice. It's better to find someone new."
Even though he said that, Rin firmly believed that no one was as worthy of Yo-nii as his older brother. Meanwhile, Isagi rolled his eyes and finished his ice cream, before breaking into a run to chase after Rin, who still wouldn't stop teasing him.
Beautiful blue eyes looked at the broad back that was slowly growing bigger bit by bit, filled with absolute pride.
Don't worry about your younger brother, Sae.
Rin is a good kid you can be completely proud of.
.......
Winter rolled around once again. It seemed the snow in Madrid was falling heavier this year than ever before. Everything felt as if it had been frozen in time, slowing down to a crawl. The frequency of team practices gradually decreased as the coaching staff had to take the players' physical limits into consideration.
Sae walked onto the training pitch even though he had no scheduled practice today. Everyone on the team knew of his strict dedication, especially the main squad players who couldn't wait for this midfielder to officially join their ranks.
Sae had become a genius midfielder that every league fought over. In a league notorious for its fierce competition and high levels of discrimination, this Asian player stood out like a brilliantly shining star.
No one knew how he had overcome it all, how he had managed to reach this point.
Because everyone was too busy envying and admiring him.
Sae was practicing his dribbling inside the artificial turf room. There were heaters keeping the place warm, so the freezing winter outside hardly affected him. He practiced the same routines repeatedly until he broke a sweat, finally stopping to drink the electrolyte beverage he had brought with him.
Sae swept his hair back. It was damp with sweat, and his hair had gotten quite long.
I need to find a chance to go to the barbershop soon.
Knock, knock.
"Hey, Sae. Figured you'd be in here... we have something we want to talk to you about." The team manager walked in with a smile, accompanied by the coach. Sae nodded.
"What is it?"
"A new assistant coach arrived today. We wanted to introduce him to you... He's Japanese too, so we were hoping you could help look after him a bit."
Sae immediately raised an eyebrow. The previous assistant coach had resigned after being pressured and squeezed out by the team. Who told that idiot to be so utterly trash and fond of discriminating against others? Discriminating based on race, on skin color, on other people's abilities—all while having zero skills himself. A bottom-tier football player who rode the coattails of being in a big team to secure an assistant coach position. When it came time to actually prove his abilities, he couldn't do a thing. Incompetent, which was why he got kicked out so far away.
His future on the coaching path was pretty much dead.
Sae followed the two of them out to the reception room, and then abruptly froze.
His sharp eyes widened, and his walking pace instantly accelerated.
Just from the tips of that hair and the shape of that back.
He recognized who it was in an instant.
Because it was a person engraved in his heart, never to fade away.
Strong arms grabbed the other person from behind, pulling him into a tight embrace until the smaller frame was buried in his chest. It completely surprised the manager and the team coach, as they never thought someone like Sae would have a side like this.
"Yo... Yo-nii."
Why was the person he missed every single second standing right here in front of him?
Was this a winter hallucination?
Or the magic of the snow?
"Your hug... is way too tight, Sae." Isagi murmured softly, burying his face into the broad chest before looking up, his eyes and lips curving into a wide, beaming smile. "Surprise!"
Sae let out a breath and flicked the forehead of the person in his arms.
A surprise indeed.
"Ouch! What was that for... that hurt!" Isagi rubbed his forehead gently. Even now, Sae still hadn't let go of him. It was a warm embrace that made him want to just collapse into it right this second.
"You didn't even tell me you were doing this."
"If I told you, would it still be a surprise, hm?" Isagi wrinkled his nose before raising a hand to gently touch Sae's cheek. Those beautiful blue eyes gazed up at him with the utmost tenderness. "I made you wait so long, didn't I?"
Just that single sentence made Sae tighten his hold, burying his face into Isagi's hair.
Ah... it's as if my heart is being embraced by the wind all over again.
Because of the same person.
"Yo-nii..."
"Leaving Sae to endure the waiting all by himself." Isagi wrapped his arms around Sae, hugging him just as tightly.
Between the two of them... it was as if they were transferring warmth to one another.
"You were lonely, weren't you? It must have been agonizing. Did you eat well? Did you sleep well?"
The questions he usually only heard through the phone, he was now hearing spoken right in front of him.
The warmth he could actually hold was even warmer than he had ever imagined.
I kept longing for you, deceiving myself even in my dreams that you were standing right here.
But it couldn't even compare to the reality.
"Yo... Yo-nii. Ah... Yo-nii." Sae held Isagi tightly, nuzzling him and muttering his name over and over, as if terrified this was just a hallucination his mind had conjured up.
"I'm sorry. I was so slow, wasn't I? I made Sae wait for such a long time." Isagi softly stroked Sae's head.
"It's... it's fine."
As long as you came. As long as you appeared.
As long as the person I am holding right now is the real you.
That is more than enough.
I don't need a myriad of reasons.
Because Yo-nii... is above all of those things.
"The fact that you're here... is already the best gift I could ask for."
The edges of Isagi's eyes burned hot as well. He buried his face and clung to Sae without letting go, fluttering his eyes shut as he nestled snugly in his embrace.
"Mm... I won't let you walk alone ever again."
The two of them hugged each other so tightly they practically melted into one. Meanwhile, the manager and the coach could only blink rapidly, eventually letting out a few forced coughs.
Isagi's face turned beet red. He had been so overjoyed he accidentally held onto Sae tightly without caring about his surroundings. Right now, he just wanted to bury his face into the other's chest and never look up at anyone!
As for Sae... his expression didn't change in the slightest.
It was the coach and the manager who had to be the ones feeling embarrassed for them instead.
"Ahem! Uh... so you guys know each other. Guess there's no need for introductions then... Uh, anyway, please look after Yoichi, Sae. Don't... don't bully him!" The team manager emphasized with a strained voice, before grabbing the coach's arm and dragging him out of the room together.
Anyone could tell these two wanted some privacy!
.......
"Skipping grades?" Sae asked the person beside him as he took the other out for a stroll on the streets of Madrid. He and Yo-nii had already finished unpacking and arranging clothes in his room.
Honestly, Sae had wanted Yo-nii to move in with him so badly, but the older boy said it wouldn't be appropriate, and the club had already provided him with a dorm room anyway, leaving Sae with no choice but to yield.
"Mm-hmm. Studying while interning. Relied on the connections of people around me and just kept taking exams. When I passed to become an assistant coach for Real's youth team, I was so incredibly happy. I wanted to call and tell you first, but I wanted to tell you face-to-face even more." Isagi smiled brightly, letting Sae hold his hand before tucking it into his coat pocket.
Listening to the person beside him chatter away, Sae's grip on his hand tightened even more.
Yo-nii made it sound easy, but he knew full well that none of it was easy in the slightest. He had to dedicate so much effort, time, and absolutely everything he had to stand at this point.
"Why? Why did you have to try this hard..."
Until you've gotten so small, so thin like this.
Isagi tilted his head, his gaze settling on the lights decorating the streets. The soft yellow glow reflecting off the white snowflakes made them sparkle, practically no different from glittering gemstones.
Sitting and looking at a scenery like this alone would probably be incredibly lonely.
But right now, neither Isagi nor Sae felt lonely at all.
"The day you came back, you were shattered, and I couldn't do a single thing about it." Isagi murmured softly, but there was no way Sae wouldn't hear it. "You were so mean to Rin it made me want to smack you. But I didn't know what you had gone through either. What you had to face all by yourself, how agonizing it must have been. When I really sat down and thought about it... Sae, you spoke harshly to Rin because you wanted him to get angry, didn't you? You didn't realize at all that you hurt him and picked a fight with him. Since that moment, I understood completely... You never asked me to come with you, never asked me to visit you. Even though if you had just said the word, I would have gone immediately."
"Rin needed you more than I did. As for me... I'm already good at enduring things."
"You were just putting up a strong front, because you're the older brother." Isagi smiled before gently shaking his head.
Sae was always like this. Cold and strong, to the point where no one could ever sense his weakness.
Even though he was just a human being.
And a young boy who had grown up too fast.
He carried so many expectations on his two shoulders. On a path where he couldn't retreat, couldn't give up.
No one knew what he had to face.
Every time he called, how could Isagi not sense that trembling voice? How could he not know that the other was slowly breaking apart, agonizing, and wanting to scream out loud?
But Sae kept enduring it, over and over again.
Overcoming it so beautifully that Isagi admired him and felt incredibly proud.
That was why he helped take care of Rin, supporting Sae's pride and honor so he could walk down the path he chose. And he tried everything in his power to stand right here himself.
On the path you're going to walk from now on,
I won't let you walk it alone ever again.
"You have absolutely no reason to apologize, Yo-nii. I'm the one who should be thanking you." Sae pulled the person beside him into a tight hug once again.
Taking care of Rin right by his side.
And always staying by his side as well.
Yo-nii had no idea how many times he had saved him.
Sometimes it was so agonizing he wanted to throw everything away and go back to Japan. But because he remembered his promise, remembered his dream, and remembered these blue eyes that always looked at him so warmly...
Just his voice, just the everyday stories from the other side of the world.
They were like a miraculous magic that helped Sae overcome all those terrible times.
"And I'm sorry."
"What are you apologizing for, hm? Throwing your own words right back at you... you have absolutely no reason to apologize. You're trying your best. Rin is trying his best. So I... have to try my best too."
"Yo-nii..."
"I... can't be on the pitch with you." Isagi smiled. The agony of not being able to play football had gnawed at him for years. Watching others showcase their skills on the field, rejoicing in victory, weeping in regret over defeat, dedicating everything to football. He was so envious it felt like pure torture.
Even though it would have been better to run away and find something else to do, he still chose to stand his ground with the round ball and that grassy pitch.
It was his pride.
It was his attachment.
Both his dream and his passion.
As well as,
His vow and his honor.
The three of us... will walk this path.
No matter in what form.
We will never break our promise to each other.
The three of us, three ice cream popsicles, the riverside at sunset, the gentle breeze caressing us.
It is like an eternal vow.
"Yo-nii..."
"But... I will support you. Both you and Rin. I will be right by your side."
Those sharp eyes wavered, laced with incredibly tender love. Like the winter snow melting away, replaced by a warm, sweet river of honey.
A gentle smile painted itself across the handsome face of the midfielder known for being so terribly cold.
A warm touch pressed against the prominent forehead as softly as possible.
And a sweet, tender sentence whispered into the ear of the person in his arms. "Are you proposing to me?"
"Wh-What?!"
Just that single sentence from Sae made Isagi's face and nose turn completely red. He looked exactly like one of Santa's chubby little reindeer, drawing out Sae's resonant smile and laughter.
The older boy immediately balled up his fists and started smacking the teasing guy out of sheer exasperation.
You little brat!
What do you mean proposing, you droopy-eyelash guy?!
How dare you bully your elder!
I'm embarrassed, okay?!
……
"It's coooold... so cooold." The little coach of the Real Madrid youth team yelled out his complaints. His face and nose were red, looking so adorable that the passing athletes couldn't help but stifle their smiles.
Coach Yoichi was nothing like his outward appearance suggested.
His training programs were so brutally intense they were practically inhuman. When he was on the pitch, he would relentlessly chew people out, and he could do it in multiple languages too. No one could ever argue back fast enough. Even the favorite like Sae would end up sulking. Or even if it were players from the main squad, they'd get caught in the crossfire if they made a mistake.
But off the pitch, he was exactly like a chubby little black cat.
"If it's cold, why are you still eating ice cream?" Sae sighed. The little coach wasn't just eating ice cream by himself; he had treated the entire team to ice cream too. It made everyone blink in confusion, but they ended up sitting around nibbling on their ice cream anyway.
Yo-nii has made the entire main and youth teams go completely crazy.
Bringing color and liveliness to the team.
"Everyone eats ice cream in the winter anyway." Isagi smiled brightly, while Sae just sighed.
"Nonsense."
"I'm older than you!"
"You're not tall."
"Do they measure seniority by height now?!" Isagi furrowed his brows. He didn't want to argue with Sae anymore because no matter how he argued, he wouldn't win anyway. He busied himself taking pictures of the surrounding atmosphere, snapped a photo of the ice cream in his hand, and hit send to the other side of the world.
"Hm?"
"Sending it to Rin."
"Don't they confiscate phones at Blue Lock?" Sae only found out his younger brother was at Blue Lock the last time he went back to renew his passport. Initially, he wanted to stick around and observe that interesting camp for a bit, but he got urgently called back.
And now he was about to return to Japan again because the Japan Football Association had contacted him.
"Yeah, they do. But Rin is rank number one. He can request his mobile phone every now and then. Besides, I already told you, didn't I? Ego-san is my professor. I'm his favorite student, so I obviously get special privileges. Ah... look here, Rin already replied."
But Rin's message made Isagi furrow his brows, his nose practically scrunching up to his mouth. He showed the message to Sae. The older Itoshi let out a dark chuckle.
- Nonsense, Yo-nii. -
His response was practically identical to his own.
Guess it really does run in the blood.
Thump!
"Oof." Sae raised an eyebrow when out of nowhere, he was pummeled by cat fists. Punched with absolute dedication, too.
"Yo-nii..."
"What's going on here? Are you bullying the assistant coach, Sae?"
"Huh? Is Sae acting uncute towards Assistant Coach Yoichi again?"
"Why are you acting so uncute, Sae?!"
"Assistant Coach, sir. I'll hold him down so you can punch him."
"Punch him hard! We'll be your witnesses!"
The team's star midfielder, being ganged up on, could only sigh. But in those turquoise eyes, there was nothing but pure tenderness. The corners of his lips were even curled up into a smile that made Isagi blush so hard he increased the force of his punches.
Thump, thump.
Punching to hide my embarrassment.
Ugh!
.......
Sae returned to Japan and participated in a match with the Blue Lock project, where Rin was the captain. It happened to be during La Liga's off-season. The person even more excited than him was probably the person beside him, Isagi, who looked to be in an incredibly good mood.
After the match ended with Blue Lock's victory, those egoists were given a two-week vacation. Sae was woken up at the crack of dawn by the person next to him to drive over and pick up his younger brother, who was standing outside looking dead to the world.
"What? Are you possessed by a ghost or something?" Rin looked at his own older brother like he was looking at a stranger. On the pitch, they were practically ready to kill each other. Yet now, he was showing his face to pick him up.
"Probably. Whatever, just get in already, Rin."
"Don't order me around."
"Why? Got a problem?"
"Hmph."
Isagi watched the two brothers bickering back and forth from the backseat, laughing heartily until two pairs of eyes turned to look at him. "It's like watching doppelgangers argue."
"What the hell is that?" Both Sae and Rin asked in unison, before Sae started the car and drove off. He wasn't used to Japanese roads, causing him to drive a bit awkwardly. Rin practically rolled his eyes, contemplating doing something illegal by kicking his brother to the passenger seat and driving the car himself, even though he was underage.
Fortunately, the distance wasn't that far. They stopped at a tourist district. Before getting out of the car, Isagi handed black masks to the two brothers to put on. "You're both celebrities, put these on."
"So what's the deal? You guys are going on a date? Why the hell did you drag me along?" Rin swept his hair back, looking back and forth between his older brother and Isagi. "Just let me go sleep."
"Sleep what? Let's go eat ice cream."
"While it's snowing, Yo-nii?"
"Ice cream is meant to be eaten in the winter."
Rin let out a long sigh, shooting a quick sidelong glance at his older brother... This is all your fault!
"We came to eat. As for a date with Yo-nii, I obviously wouldn't bring you along anyway, Rin."
"Hmph. When you weren't around, if it weren't for me, Yo-nii would have been tricked by someone else by now. You better know that."
"Mm... thanks a lot."
The two brothers walked with their hands in their pockets, chatting and occasionally bickering. They were acting so cool, their postures looking exactly identical. Isagi, walking behind them, laughed cheerfully, raising his phone to snap a picture and spamming it on his IG story.
He was so glad to see this sight.
"Yo-nii... hurry up."
"Are you walking slow because your legs are short, or what?"
"Hey now!" Isagi glared at both of them, before two large hands grabbed him, putting him in the middle, and led him around everywhere hand-in-hand.
Being able to be together like this... was a gift more precious than anything else.
......
Many years passed. The Blue Lock project was an overwhelming success, becoming the prototype that sparked the initiation of other subsequent projects.
Itoshi Rin became a genius rising star that everyone fought over. But for whatever reason, he chose to join a French club team with an astronomically high signing bonus.
As for Itoshi Sae... the brilliant midfielder who had swept every award, the precious treasure of Japan, the precious treasure of Los Blancos that they absolutely refused to let anyone snatch away.
And now, the two brothers were facing off against each other.
In the UEFA Champions League Final!
Beautiful blue eyes watched the scene unfolding before him with an excited yet tender gaze, beaming with a wide smile that reached his eyes. He was standing on the sidelines... as the coach for Los Blancos.
We... managed to fulfill our promise, you know.
Sae.
Rin.
But this isn't the end.
On this path... we still have a long way to walk together.
.....
Winter still arrived with snow falling from the sky. The white color that brought a sense of peace, yet also a profound silence. On the streets adorned with lights for the festive season, there were two people holding hands tightly.
Celebrities that everyone in Madrid knew.
Itoshi Sae and Isagi Yoichi.
"It's Christmas. What do you want for a present?" Sae asked the person beside him.
"I want a bolster doll named Sae." Isagi wrinkled his red nose, shifting to hug the strong arm instead. Before he knew it, Sae pulled him into a tight embrace, practically carrying him as they walked.
"Let's go home then."
"Can you carry me? I'm too lazy to walk."
Sae smiled, scooping up the round little lump in his arms and carrying him as they walked just like that. Yo-nii wasn't heavy in the slightest, even though he frequently fattened him up. All the food he ate definitely went straight to his cheeks, which was why they were so puffy and soft. Nuzzling them felt like nuzzling a steamed bun or a cat's belly.
"What about you, Sae? Do you want anything? I'll be your Santa." Isagi wrapped his arms around the strong neck. The decorative lights lining both sides of the street reflected off the beautiful diamond ring.
A ring identical to the one on Sae's left ring finger.
Winter two years ago.
They got married.
Sae brought the Ballon d'Or trophy he had won to propose to Isagi.
It wasn't with beautiful flowers. It wasn't in a romantic atmosphere.
It wasn't kneeling down to swear eternal love.
But it was bringing each other's dreams to propose on the vast, expansive grassy pitch.
Amidst the falling snow.
A soft "yes" echoed loudly in their hearts over and over again.
They had been each other's other half and absolutely everything to each other for a long time, and that just made everything so much clearer.
The winter that was once silent.
Became bright and sweet.
Because they had each other.
"Just having Yo-nii, I've never wanted anything else."
"Wow... such a sweet talker."
"You taste it every day, you should know exactly how sweet it is."
Isagi lightly pounded the guy who was teasing him with a straight face. As they walked past a Christmas tree decorated with mistletoe branches, those beautiful blue eyes sparkled, whispering for Sae to stop walking.
Then... he pulled the strong neck down.
Branding a deeply sweet kiss onto his lips.
And the taste of the kiss grew much more passionate when Sae took over, crushing his lips against Isagi's while still carrying him in his arms. Two pairs of eyes slowly locked gazes. A clear smile formed, and they sealed their lips in another kiss.
A sweet kiss overflowing with so much history.
Branded onto each other over and over again.
The falling snow.
Like a blessing from the sky.
Like conjured magic.
Beneath the Christmas tree and the mistletoe branches. Under the enchanting spell of Christmas.
The magic named eternity.
Is being together like this.
Itoshi Sae's world could never lack Isagi Yoichi. And similarly, Isagi Yoichi's world yearned for Itoshi Sae.
We simply completed each other.
But the incredibly romantic atmosphere was interrupted by a rapid barrage of chat notifications from both of their phones. Isagi and Sae exchanged a brief glance. Sae set the smaller figure down to stand on the ground and picked up his phone to check.
It was a message from Rin.
- Where are you? Come pick me up at the airport. My flight got canceled. Let's just celebrate Christmas together. -
Sae cursed non-stop, sweeping his hair back in pure irritation. "Celebrate my ass, you idiot brother!"
Isagi laughed brightly, hugging Sae's arm tightly. "There, there, let's go pick Rin up. We can go eat ice cream at the shop near the airport, and make nabe for dinner tonight, okay?"
"Hmph! I'm going to challenge Rin to a boxing match."
"Rin is taller than you now, Sae. You can't beat him."
"Just wait until Rin goes back. You'll definitely be celebrating Christmas in bed, Yo-nii."
"Itoshi Sae!"
"What is it... Itoshi Yoichi."
The snow gently fell alongside an incredibly special magic.
So miraculous and warmer than absolutely everything else.
That magic was 'Us'.
.....END.....
Enjoy reading naka ^^