Title: Onikko

Author: themirrorminder.372259

Main Pairing: Itoshi Reina x Isagi Yoichi, Original Female Character x Isagi Yoichi (Blue Lock).

Background pairing(s): Potential side pairings for other Blue Lock characters TBD (if you really want to see a specific one let me know). Previous reviewer requested Nagi x Reo, so that will be a background pairing going forward.

Disclaimer: I own none of the original characters nor plot of Blue Lock.

Warnings: cursing, classism, references to homophobic parents

**Spoilers ahead: Only read if you have read to at least chapter 151!**

**This chapter uses a secondary character from the BL Spinoff Episode Nagi. Not technically a spoiler, I guess, since it's not plot. But if you count using the character, spoiler for Episode Nagi chapter 1 as well.

AO3 Chapter Preview:

"What kind of terms are those?" Isagi prickles, much to Reo's vindictive delight.

'Possessive much, Isagi? Sucks when people go after your treasures, huh?'

BIG

HUGE

GINORMOUS

THANK YOU

TO MY BETA:

*ALCHAZAR*

And

TO MY REVIEWERS:

Thank you so much for motivating me to push out these chapters!

OliviaStone – Sorry I totally missed your ch 3 review! But yes, I am having such a fun time Isagi's pov and his focus on soccer vs guilt over being 'distracted'. Why you love him is exactly why I do too! You'll definitely see more of him debating Reina as an obstacle in the coming chapters – as to if he cuts her out, stay tuned ;) If you love his parents, I can't wait for you to read chapter 5, we get lots of them! No spoilers, but I love that you caught the "over apologizing." Omg I loved the Naruto reference – Gai is the GOAT. LOVE that you loved Mei because I did too LOL. She was just a side character for this chapter but I might try to bring her back at some point because I just had so much fun writing her!

Isagi Loves Thighs – Glad you liked his POV! He totally wasn't this petty but I head cannon him as though he is lol. Hmm I wonder if the -ya is some sort of dialect? I also love his voice sm and Kurona! Ahh the refresh comment made me smile SO big! Oh, jealous!Isagi will definitely be in play, Jealous!Reina too in later chapters.

Chappy9712 – Tysm for your detailed review! I'm so glad you like the OC! OC's are always so hard to write because you're never sure how people will respond! You'll be seeing more Reina and Reo friendship, don't you worry ;) I don't want to spoil too much, but yes you will definitely be seeing some overprotective brother moments in future chapters! (I'm holding off Reina's POVs until I catch up with cannon so I have some fodder while waiting for more cannon material, but yes you will get her family stories too! ) I am actually SO excited to write the complex dynamics between the Itoshi trio, hopefully I can do it justice lol! I was initially going to just have Nagi appear here only but since there's been such a positive reception to him and Reo I'll probably be bringing them back again!

Anon - more possessive Isagi? Here you go ;) I added a clarification above re: the school situation! Nagi is just naturally gifted at everything in my headcanon lol. More Reo full speed ahead :D

102602 - Thank you for your review and readership :D

TIMELINE SO FAR:

Pre-high school: Reo & Reina meet when they are 12 and 11, respectively

End of August: Saitama Prefectural Final and the Tokyo Trifecta Annual Social event between Hakuho (Reo and Nagi's school; known for business), IMS (known for Social Studies/Law and Soccer; Reina attended for a month before transferring), Shibuya Academy (known for math; school Reina currently attends at their girl's only campus)

***to clarify, Reo/Nagi & Reina do NOT go to the same school, but these three elite schools have a social event once a year where their students network. ***

Early September: Blue Lock starts

Mid-late November: U-20 game. Itoshi "family dinner" after it.

Late November:

Day 1 – Boys freed from Blue Lock

Day 2 – Bowling in Shibuya. Isagi meets Reina (Rin & Sae's half-sister) and Megumi-san (barista), then meets up with Tada-kun.

Day 3 – Isagi and Rena meet up for a second cup, Iyo (his mom) helps him with laundry, he and Issei have a mini-heart to heart.

Day 4 – Reina's late to the duo's third meeting because of an interview, Isagi asks Bachira/Nagi/Chigiri for some girl advice. Iyo is getting more curious about his 'new friend'

Day 5 – YCA volunteering, on his way walking Reina back home they encounter Reo.

Onikko

{鬼っ子}

chapter 4

- they hate their names –

part two

Reo had honestly repressed the whole Nagi situation for the past few weeks. But, seeing Reina dredged up memories of a time where he thought Nagi was his forever, embittering Reo more than expected. So when Isagi (the one who so casually stole Reo's treasure) bristles with jealousy over Reo's easy familiarity with Reina… Reo has no choice, really.

"We're childhood friends, I'd say we're quite close," Reo simpers with a sly smile. The Mikage heir positively savours the way Isagi's brows crease with self-doubt.

Reina, that perceptive kill-joy, axes Reo's fun immediately. "Don't spin any stories just because you're bored, Reo-kun. You know I'm not into drama."

"Clearly." Reo looks rather pointedly at the (lack of) space between Isagi and Reina. The Mikage heir opts to redirect the conversation, and try another angle to rile up Isagi. "Well, looks like you're really using our time off to… let go, Isagi." Reo deliberately raises a brow towards the junk food splattered onto the ground and the 8-11 bag by the seated duo's feet.

Isagi tenses, sensing Reo's affected disapproval. "I got up at six and worked out for five hours. I figured I earned a break."

"Nani!?" Reina exclaims, cutting off Reo's next verbal swing. "That early? I'm so sorry, Yo-kun." Her eyes turn remorseful. "Did you only do it to make sure you had enough time to help me at the YC-"

Isagi turns to her and his irritated look immediately softens. "Nah, Reina. My own choice." He reassures her.

'First name basis, huh? Interesting.' Reo notes. 'Looks like Isagi's got a soft spot for you, Reina-chan. Good job. If you were searching for a way to piss off Rin, you struck gold.'

At Isagi's reassurance, Reina smiles back at the shorter striker almost bashfully. Surprisingly, Reo judges the girl's expression as genuine. 'How curious… Is he more than a plot to you, Reina-chan?' Then again, maybe he's just not seeing all the pieces yet. The taller boy knows how skilled she is at playing a part when she can get something out of it.

"Hey Reina," Reo interrupts the pair's little moment, eager to piss off Isagi more by being intentionally overly familiar with the girl. "Still kind of smart?"

"She's brilliant." Isagi bites back.

'And how would you know?'

"A bet, then." The defender proposes. "We can have a round of our question game, just like usual. And if I win…" Reo very intentionally leans down closer to her. He tosses a goading smirk at the seated striker, before directing a rakish grin back to the girl. "Then I get to walk you home, Reina-chan."

"What kind of terms are those?" Isagi prickles, much to Reo's spiteful delight.

'Possessive much, Isagi? Sucks when people go after your treasures, huh?'

"I thought you two were teammates." Reina stares between at the two, eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Did something happen between you guys in Blue Lock?"

"Nothing," they both answer simultaneously.

"Clearly." She snorts, intentionally mimicking Reo's previous disbelieving tone. "Fine, question game." Reina acquiesces. "But, if I win, you buy us all some yakitori." She points to a colourful stall selling some on the other side of the street. "And while you eat it with us, you both will settle whatever weirdness is going on between you two." She points between the two boys.

Reo rolls his eyes. "Still a pacifist, then, Reina-chan?"

"Still a warmonger, then, Reo-kun?" She baits back, all sharp teeth as she gestures for him to sit on her other side. The heir obliges, much to Isagi's visible annoyance.

Fifteen minutes in and Reo gets her to almost stumble once, but she recovers. Ultimately, history repeats. She catches him with a question regarding the Fukushima Daiichi Accident.

"Good job, Reina." Isagi smiles stupidly at her, and the dark-haired girl beams back.

'The way she lights up at his simple praise, you'd think she'd just been ordained by a god.' Reo snorts irreverently. 'That dumbass probably didn't even understand half the words we used, Reina-chan. You could do better.'

Reina interrupts his uncomplimentary thoughts by standing. She turns towards the Mikage heir with an obnoxious wink, and holds out her hand. "Cough up the cash, rich boy. I'll get the yakitori for us all."

"I'll go with you." Isagi immediately offers and starts to stand.

'Like a bloody dog on a leash.' Reo rolls his eyes. The defender's getting some serious nausea from the pair's little displays of flirting and pining.

"Nuh uh, striker." Reina gently pushes Isagi back onto the bench with a hand on his chest that lingers longer than needed. ('Gross.') "Don't worry, I'll focus on getting both of you soccer stars the smallest, healthiest-looking skewers I can find. You guys focus on making up by the time I get back." She looks between them sternly. "Play nice."

Reo resolutely ignores how the girl's final words seem especially directed towards him. Instead, the heir near-caresses Reina's outstretched hand when he slowly slides some cash into her palm. Reo thoroughly enjoys how his teammate abruptly looks away from the sight with a worried frown.

'Does it hurt yet, Isagi?'

With her departure, there's a few minutes of awkward silence before the shorter player heaves out a defeated sigh. "So… have you gotten any updates from Teieri-san yet?"

Reo could accept the (clearly involuntary) olive branch (grumbled and forced out as it is.) However, it's just so much more fun to rile up his thieving teammate. "Reina-chan's sure got you whipped, huh?"

"Fuck off, Reo." Isagi scowls, hackles up once more. "Is there a reason why you're being so hostile? You were fine at bowling the other day."

'Because you stole my treasure and Reina just brutally reminded me of how much I miss him. More than that, she made me remember...'

The chameleon striker leans back against the bench, while actively directing each muscle to keep the motion languid. Reo was taught better than to let his insecurities show in front of rivals, even allies. Billionaire business moguls like his father didn't tolerate weakness or pity, especially from their successors. (But Reo wants to be more than that, so do his father's expectations really apply?) The Mikage heir tilts his head up, and observes how the dark, angry orange creeps into the sky.

'She made me remember how much it still fucking hurts that Nagi chose you.'

Yoichi's wonders what triggered Reo's antagonism today, especially when the taller striker seemed perfectly fine with him just earlier this week at bowling.

"Don't know," Reo finally answers, gazing up at the sky. "Guess I'm just... bored."

Yoichi nearly gapes. 'Bored?' No way it's just that.' His gut crawls. 'Does it have to do with Reina?'

"Actually, I saw Reina-chan and started remembering some stuff." Reo elaborates. He seems to hesitate before continuing. "Maybe I'm still more sour than I thought about what happened during second selection." The defender shrugs, still looking upwards. "Who knows?"

'How do I even respond to that?' Yoichi could just stay silent. But, the striker feels like Reina will be disappointed if she returns and whatever this is, isn't settled by then. Accordingly, Yoichi tries again, at least attempting to sound less begrudging. "So what have-"

"You know what she is, right?" Reo interrupts, still distantly staring at the sky. "The story with her parents."

"Yes," Yoichi lies. It bugs him that Reo knows something about Reina that he doesn't, but no way he's letting Reo realize that. Besides, Yoichi's got a good enough guess. After all, there aren't many ways to be someone's half-sibling and share the same age. She's either adopted, or more likely, an illegitimate child. "It doesn't bother me."

Because it doesn't. 'It won't change anything. She'll still be just temporary no matter her family history.' It's the deal he made with himself and the voice, after all. Yoichi will spend some time with her before Blue Lock, and then forget about her when he's called back. 'I can't be distracted now.'

But once he has the World Cup in his hands, then maybe… he could...

Reo turns his neck to face the shorter striker. "Good," he says firmly with a small smile. The taller boy seems friendlier again, so Yoichi blurts out the question that's been burning his tongue. "So how do you know her?"

"Her father hosted a party a few years ago. I was bored, and she was the least boring person there." The chameleon striker shrugs. "Now, let's discuss the more baffling mystery. How did you two meet?" Reo raises a brow. "You both definitely don't run in the same circles."

Before Yoichi can determine whether Reo's words were intentionally insulting or not, the topic of their conversation returns.

"All better, children?" Reina teases. "What are you doing down in Shibuya anyways, Reo-kun?" She inquires, while handing them their skewers, and then reseating herself between the boys.

The defender takes a bite of the chicken and veggie combo. "I bulked up a bit in Blue Lock. The arms on my old suits are tight, so I needed a new one made for a party this weekend. There's a tailor I like nearby. I guess I could have been driven, but I wanted some fresh air."

'Understandable.' Yoichi nods, chewing on his own skewer. "I get that."

"Almost liberating, huh?" Reo stretches out, "just two weeks of fresh air before being stuffed back into Blue Lock." He turns to Yoichi. "By the way, to answer your earlier question, Isagi. No, I haven't heard anything from them yet about when we're due back."

"That's hardly considerate." Reina frowns. "How do they expect you guys to plan your time off if they don't give you an exact return date?"

Yoichi scoffs. "The last thing I'd accuse Blue Lock of is being considerate."

They talk a bit more, Reina telling Reo about her new position, before all three finish with their street food. Yoichi grabs the 8-11 bag from her feet, using it to scoop up the forgotten dropped coffee treat. He offers to take Reina's skewer away with his.

Reo decides to become a pest again. "Look at you Isagi, trying to be all gentlemanly for our sweet Reina-chan. How about getting rid of mine too?"

"Get bent." Yoichi grumbles, but roughly grabs the stick and wrapper from Reo's extended hand anyways, dumping the garbage with the other items in the make-shift trash bag. "I'm going to toss this." Then he hesitates, seemingly contemplating something before heaving a sigh and turning. "I'll be right back."

Now that Reo's finally got Reina alone, he's curious.

""So… are your classmates still deterred from being assholes?"" He asks in French, choosing a lesser known language so that any passers-by won't be tempted to listen in. (And to see if she's still as fluent as she made herself out to be. What can he say? He's competitive too.)

She smirks. ""Seems like the protection of the great Mikage Reo worked wonders.""

'Shit.' Her French is smoother than his, annoying him. 'She can trill the R's.'

Her playful tone turns earnest. ""Thanks for that, by the way. It's… been a lot easier at school, now. For me and for my friends."" Her lips curve into a warm smile. ""How's Nagi-kun?""

""Wouldn't know."" Reo's fists clench in his pockets. ""Try asking your new boytoy.""

""Ahhh, so that's what all the tension was about. What happened between you guys?""

Reo relays an abbreviated version of events.

""…Regardless of anything, Nagi chose Isagi. Despite everything we'd been through together and despite our goal to win the World Cup together." He shrugs, trying his best to seem unaffected. "So, I'm just maintaining the distance he clearly wanted.""

""I can see how him choosing Yo-kun's team would have hurt you."" Reina places a hand on his arm. ""But, are you sure that's how Nagi-kun saw it?""

Reo quirks a brow. ""What do you mean?""

""Well I don't know him nearly as well as you, obviously, so it's hard to put into words, exactly. But, well, he doesn't seem to always be aware of how his actions impact other people's emotions, you know? He thinks that just because he doesn't care, others won't either." Her brows furrow in consternation. "I think he prioritizes the end result as the only relevant piece. I mean, you both ended up playing together when it mattered, and you were both really good. Honestly, I was floored by how much you both had improved over just a couple of months." She tilts her head. "Do you think you could have grown like you did if you had stayed side by side?""

Reo doesn't answer, because the answer's obvious. She continues.

""And well, there's something maybe not quite right about what you said, unless things have changed since I last spoke with Nagi-kun.""

""What's that?""

She takes her hand off his arm. ""You said it was both of your dreams to win the World Cup, but Reo, I think that's just yours.""

She could have slapped him, it would have shocked him less.

""And, well. You might get angry at me for saying this, but I think it's important for you to hear. And because of who you are, it's not like anyone else is ever going to say it."" She pauses. ""Nagi-kun is… prodigious. I knew when I saw him play so… so fluidly and creatively, just five months after being introduced to the game. That's why you became friends with him, right?""

Reo nods, wary of the direction of her words and unsure if he'll like what she has to say next.

""Well… from an outsider's perspective…maybe it could be argued that…"" She takes in a breath. "You use him, but you get angry when it seems like he maybe used you?" She glances away from him. ""A healthy relationship wou—""

""Because you're the expert on relationships, right?" Reo snarls back, defensively. "With all your experience.""

""I knew you'd be angry." She sighs. "No, I'm not an expert at all, actually. Which you're well aware of. But, I do read some fiction between studying and Mina-senpai makes me watch the occasional shojo anime. I like to believe the kind of selfless love in those stories exists, even for people like us who never experienced it growing up.""

""You sound so fucking pretentious."" Reo growls. "What do you even know about me and Nagi? Or my parents?"" He'll probably regret being cruel to her later, but right now, he's too incensed to care. ""Don't try to compare my family situation with yours. I wasn't a mistake.""

She definitely flinches that time. There's a few breaths of tense silence where she looks to her lap and refuses to meet his eyes. When she finally turns to him, it's with a mouth twisted into a self-deprecating smile and glistening eyes. ""I get how it feels to be abandoned, Reo-kun."" She whispers just loud enough for him to hear. Her voice cracks. ""I'm pretty familiar with the feeling actually.""

'Shit.' Reo's chest stutters with guilt, he takes a few breaths to try to calm his anger. ""I didn't… I know we both have our reasons to hate our names… I didn't mean what I said.""

Another pause. Reina takes in a breath, slowing breathing out before she pats his arm. ""I know. People say things they don't mean when they're angry or hurt.""

For her to say that so easily, Reo wonders if she has experience with misplaced anger. And maybe she can sense he's going to prod into an area she doesn't want to explore, because she diverts abruptly. "I wonder what's taking Isa-kun so long?" She asks in Japanese.

Reina blinks her eyes rapidly, pushing away the shine. No tears fall, and her mouth curves up. The defender wonders if she has experience with that as well: hiding tears with a polite smile.

(Reo wonders if her father forced her to learn - his definitely made him.)

The chameleon striker reverts back to French, because there's another sensitive topic he wants to discuss. ""Hey Reina-chan… does your dad know about you and Isagi?""

Her smile becomes strained. ""Don't be silly. There's nothing to know. We're… just friends.""

Reo stares at her incredulously. ""You sure about that?""

Reina looks down at her shoes while Reo continues. ""Honestly, when I first saw you with him. I assumed it was just a scheme to piss off your brother.""

Reina immediately turns back to face him, frowning. "It isn't that..."

Not entirely. She doesn't say it, but he can sense she almost does.

""Then what is it?"" Reo prods. ""There must be something else you're getting out of this in exchange for the veritable shitstorm you risk if your father ever finds out.""

""Since we're on the topic of prying into potential partners who will piss off our parents." She smiles sharply. "How about we get back to you and Nagi-kun?""

""Hardly a deft deflection, Reina-chan. I know you can be more subtle than that,"" he censures, before heaving out an exhausted puff of air. She knows his world, and she owes him. Perhaps it feels safer to let confessions spill onto her. (Or maybe the words finally got tired of being pushed into a void, they finally clawed their way into existence, and sunk into the closest target.) ""Nagi and I weren't, aren't, and will never be together. You know why.""

Reina looks down again, this time she's the one who's contrite and clearly regretting her barbed words. ""Maybe if you explained, your parents might eventually come around to-""

""You think my overly conservative and traditional parents, who don't even let me talk to you because of your mother, would be okay with a gay son?"" Reo grimaces. ""Even in the hypothetical world where Nagi and I got together… If I ever introduced him as my boyfriend, my father would break his legs.""

Reina frowns. ""That's from Edo Japan. No one does that anymore.""

""You sure about that?"" Reo scowls. ""Our fathers are the same breed. What do you think your dad's going to do to you if you don't shut up and marry whoever he tells you to?""

She doesn't answer verbally, but he sees the way her fingers clench into the fabric over her thighs.

""Besides, not like it's a problem for me."" Reo continues sardonically. ""When Nagi had the choice, Nagi left. He clearly doesn't feel anything more than friendship." Reo snorts. "If he felt even that in the first place… Maybe he thought I deserved to feel discarded, after-"

""No one ever deserves to be abandoned by the person they love,"" she interrupts resolutely, hand on his arm.

Reo looks away, feeling his annoyance rear its head again, even though he can't pinpoint why. 'I wasn't abandoned. I'm Mikage Reo, I'd never let myself be thrown away. I wasn't…'

Reina grabs a pen from the sport's bag sitting at her feet. She tears off a piece of paper from a pamphlet stuffed in one of the satchel's pockets. She scribbles out a line before passing it to him. "It's my cell number. As someone who knows how sucky it can be to feel lonely… If you need a friend or even just someone to vent to, you can call me."

'I don't need your fucking pity.' Reo's annoyance morphs into rage again. He sneers, leaning in closer. ""Maybe those rumors I stopped held some truth."" He spitefully whispers into her ear. ""Should I tell Isagi that you gave me your number for when I get lonely?""

She shoves him back, then forcibly stuffs the piece of paper in the breast pocket of his coat. ""Stop getting defensive. This isn't pity, Reo-kun. It's friendship.""

He scowls, looking at his feet and once again facing a tense silence.

""But if we're going to stay friends,"" Reina says quietly, breaking the impasse. ""You can't say stuff like that to me anymore, okay? Even when you get upset or offended. That kind of stuff, it hurts even more coming from people who actually know you.""

'Fuck, I'm an asshole.' He's never been this impulsive or mercurial in his life. Losing Nagi must have messed him up more than he thought. 'Guess you can only hold down an eruption for so long before it explodes and burns everyone around you.'

"Okay," he agrees, "sorry." He knows he should apologize more eloquently, but for once, the words don't come.

Maybe she senses his turmoil, because she offers a forgiving sort of smile as she starts another topic. "What are your plans for the rest of your break?"

'She forgives too easily.' But it works in his favour, so he doesn't question it or comment on it.

He's half way through explaining the annoying business and networking events he's being dragged to by his parents over the next week, when Isagi returns.

"Isa-kun!" Reina beams at the incoming striker. "What took you so long?"

She doesn't immediately rip her hand off Reo's arm, and he appreciates it more than he wants to say. Not because her action will irk Isagi, but because he realizes he hasn't had anyone touch him without an agenda since Nagi. 'Is that it?' Did he trust her so easily with his troubles and reactions because a part of him already started identifying her as a friend? 'Huh, a friend.' He begins to suspect that maybe he could use a real one: someone that isn't maneuvered by his parents, motivated by his family name, or clouded in maybe-we-could-be-mores.

Isagi doesn't even glance at where her hand sits on Reo's arm, instead resolutely looking straight at their eyes when he answers Reina. "I needed to pick up something for home." He raises his arm, showing the seated duo a new 8-11 bag with some sort of detergent sticking out of it. "The older lady in front of me couldn't decide which bingo ticket she wanted. And then she couldn't decide which gum flavour she wanted. And then when she finally chose them, she tried to barter the price down with the cashier." Isagi uses his free hand to pinch the bridge of his nose, clearly exasperated by the other customer. "The guy didn't compromise - so she left, angry tears and all." He puffs out an irritated sigh. "Who tries to bargain in a konbini? It's not a market."

Reina smirks. "Sounds like you got front row seats to a real K-drama."

Reo internally scoffs at the poor pun attempt. 'Surely you can do better than that, Reina.'

"Well, I was glad for the fucking credits." Isagi shakes his head. Reo watches how the striker reaches for Reina's sleeve, and gently pulls it. It's the sleeve that's attached to the hand resting on his arm. 'Guess Isagi wasn't as unaffected as he wanted to portray.' Reo almost raises a brow at that, because the Isagi Yoichi he knows isn't capable of hiding an emotion. "Let's get going, Reina. I still want to practice some shooting after."

The Mikage heir glances at his watch, "I guess I should also head out."

"See you next week," the shorter striker offers, with Reina standing next to him.

"See you next week, Isagi." Reo rises off the bench. "And Reina, it was nice seeing you… I'm… glad to see you're doing well."

'And I'm sorry I took out my anger on you. You didn't deserve it.'

Reina smiles. "You too." She leans forward to tap the coat pocket holding her number, as if reminding him of its presence. "Don't be a stranger, okay?"

"Yeah." Reo stays standing by the bench, watching curiously as the unexpected duo depart. The crowd isn't too dense in the early evening, so he sees their warm glances and shared smiles. Reo even sees Isagi's hand creep from her sleeve into her palm. The defender watches with an uneasy foreboding at how she lets the striker interlock their hands.

'Be careful Reina-chan.' The heir sighs, turning to walk in the other direction. 'Isagi thinks like him.' Reo reflects on a grey-eyed boy with light hair, and he remembers what it felt like to see the taller boy's back. The heir ponders on how easily people like Nagi and Isagi toss away what they treasure to reach their goals, and how little they consider collateral. Reo angles his head over his shoulder once more, searching out Reina's messy hair. But, she's lost - swallowed by the crowd and evening air.

He pulls his coat closer to ward off a chill.

'You and Isagi… it won't end well.'

'Shibuya Academy is fucking massive.' Yoichi's eyes widen. "This is your school?!"

Reina nods sheepishly. "Yeah, haha. Home sweet home. It offers a boarding option to its students, so it needs to have dormitories to accommodate that."

Yoichi doesn't think 'it needs sleeping space' is all there is to it to explain away the unfathomable size for a school. At the last turn, they even passed by a map listing different entrances and what they were near, and he's pretty sure it listed a Tennis Court A and Indoor Pool B. That wasn't all. The striker had assumed he'd walk her to her door, but was instead surprised by a gate with two actual guards. ("It's the all-girls campus. With a few exceptions for special events, men aren't allowed past the entrance. Even the Shibuya Academy males have to stay on their half.") Yoichi tightens his grip on her hand, pulling her back so that the pair pauses twenty or so metres before reaching the men in uniform. "Why do you board?" Yoichi asks, "Doesn't your family live in Tokyo?" He's pretty sure he remembers Bachira asking Rin, and the captain grudgingly replying that he lived in the capital (prior to criticizing the rest of their five man team for their shitty English).

"It's just easier," Reina responds with a half smile. 'A half smile with a half truth.' Yoichi almost prods further, but she continues speaking. "I live in the dorms. I only go back to my father's house when he calls me back, really. Like when we had that dinner after the U-20 game, or like this weekend. He's calling me back for Sunday since we're hosting an event at our house that evening."

'Does that mean she won't be available this weekend?' Yoichi frowns, his left hand tightening its hold on her. "I still want to go over those pro reels from the other day with you tomorrow."

"You mean you haven't gotten sick of me yet, Ichi-kun?" She teases.

The striker rolls his eyes, deciding not to respond.

The space-case pulls herself closer to him by their still-interlocked hands, coyly smirking. "And how do you know that I haven't gotten sick of you?"

Yoichi rolls his eyes. "Because I indulge your bad habits." He bends to put down the bag of detergent. Then, with his newly free right hand, he reaches into his pocket to pull out a brand new caramel coffee treat. "Remuneration for your time tomorrow." He justifies, echoing Megumi-san's prior word-choice. He mentally grimaces. It feels excessive and phony for him to use a word like that so casually. (He bets Reo wouldn't sound so out of place saying it.)

Reina grins brightly. "Are you bribing me, Isa-Ichi?"

"A bit."

She laughs. "Consider me bribed."

He pushes the treat towards her, but she nudges it back to him. "Oh, not right now. Militant anti-cavity regime, remember? No sweets allowed on campus. But, give it to me tomorrow, okay?"

He nods, distracted by the airy sensation dancing across his left hand after she unlocks her grip.

"And I'm paying for us tomorrow," she yells back to him over her shoulder, as she crosses the street. "So don't you dare order before I get there!"

He gives a small wave as she runs towards the gates. Her ponytail barely contains her hair, the strands fly in the evening autumn breeze.

'Now, time to train.'

It's during penalty kick practice that Yoichi gets a stupid idea. He remembers Mei's goal from this afternoon at the YCA, as well as Reina's earlier words regarding the knee shot. It's probably a waste of time, but he experiments with the move a bit. He repeatedly bounces the ball off the post before kneeing it into the net. Eventually, he figures out how to make it so that when he angles his knee it looks like the ball is going forward but instead goes off to the side, using the 'concave' part of the joint she had pointed out earlier.

'It's not reliable, though.'

He chastises himself for wasting time.

'As if something as unpredictable as that would ever help in a game.'

He checks his phone before bed.

[Thanks again for coming today!]

[The kids were so happy you came!]

[It was fun.]

[Have a good night : )]

[Goodnight.]

He puts the phone back on his nightstand, and then his left hand twitches. It's the one that held her earlier this evening, not just once, but twice. And the second time, their fingers had remained interlocked all the way from the konbini to her school. 'Her hand felt… nice.'

"She's becoming a dangerous distraction." The voice slithers into his ear. "Remember what happens to distracted strikers?"

Yoichi face-plants into his pillow.

'Temporary,' he sternly reminds himself. 'Just temporary.'

He turns to face the dark ceiling, both hands outstretched. His left buzzes pleasantly, but his right reaches towards an imaginary outline of a world cup.

He slams his left hand back down.

'She's just temporary.'

Please drop a review if you can :)

ISAGI PET NAME VOTE

Isa-Ichi: 1

Yo-kun: 1

(see other options in prior A/N note)

Thoughts on Reo's POV? His interaction with Isagi? His strike with Nagi?

Thoughts on the development of Yoichi and Reina so far?

If anyone was wondering, I changed the and format previously being used for texts to the [ and ] because FFN doesn't let me use the former. Also, the double " at the start and end of dialogue will continue to represent foreign languages.

Please drop a review if you can :)

Fun Fact: Reina in Japanese means wise

Preview for Future Chapters

"Oh hello?! Is this my little Yo-chan's girlfriend?!"

Isagi slams his face into his hands, utterly mortified.

/-/

This house will never welcome you… You're nothing but father's mistake, here.

/-/

"Always playing victim, how lukewarm." Rin steps closer. "What? You really think you can hide behind a shithead like him?" He mocks.

/-/

"Are you really that dense, Isagi? … Little Rin abandons little Reina. Little Reina gets a grudge that grows with her.….. One week later I find Reina clinging to you on our usual running route. Kind of convenient… Reina's smart and bored, Isagi; don't get caught up in her games.

/-/

Kaiser has the type of condescending smirk that makes you seriously contemplate murder. Like actually look up the number of years you'd be sentenced for homicide just to see if it would be worth it. (It isn't, but only by the smallest margin.)... If there was an award for most smackable smirk, the German player would be a three-time recipient … smiling like satan himself. Trying to unnerve her by testing her boundaries.

/-/

"If you get to use me," he whispers into her neck, "I get to use you too."

End of Chapter 4