AN: This story is 100% fiction. I am not educated on any of the issues that follow, so please take this for what it is, which is a story written as entertainment, not to inform. I mean no offence, and if drug-addiction is a trigger for you, don't read this.

After Blue Lock, Kunigami had realised that wanting to be a superhero was a dream for kids. Still, he wasn't so weak that he was going to give up on his dream altogether. With soccer off the table, his dream had evolved, and that's why after he'd graduated high school, he'd become a firefighter. It was a way to be a real hero, making a difference to fewer lives, but in a much more definitive way.

He enjoyed the work too, because at the fire house there was no room for egos, and everyone fought together to make sure everyone went home at the end of the day.

Regarding Blue Lock, he really only had one regret, and that wasn't the soccer, because he had given that everything he had. Still, it did no good to dwell on the past, so he'd moved on and tried to live the best life he could.

The alarm rang at the station, and they mobilised, on route to a fire at an apartment building.

Kunigami's adrenaline surged, and he did appreciate that this job allowed him to be physical. Like with sport, he had to keep in shape, and his strong physique allowed him to excel in his role.

Arriving at the scene, they could see the building was already well ablaze, and they would only have a few short minutes to search for victims before it became too dangerous to be inside. As usual, he was first into the building, and as instructed headed upstairs immediately. The corridor was smoky, and it was getting almost too hot to be inside. Still, he called out, listening to see if anyone was still in the building.

"In here!"

The voice was coming from the far end of the corridor, and as Kunigami made his way towards it, a wall of flames flared up in front of him. He could see that the ceiling was about to collapse, and he knew protocol, but something about that voice left him no choice. I have to keep going. I have to save them.

He pushed through the flames, trusting his turnout gear to protect him. When he got to the other end of the corridor, he called out again, but there was no reply now.

He called a warning and kicked the door in. Inside the apartment the smoke was thick and there were flames. He spotted a body on the floor, and adrenaline surged because he knew without a doubt now he had to save this person, he'd recognise that brilliant red hair anywhere.

"Chigiri!"

He didn't think, just pulled his coat off and wrapped it around the other man. They were going to have to go out the way he'd come in, and that meant fire. He wanted to protect Chigiri as much as he could.

He hefted the smaller man over his shoulder and moved as fast as he could, knowing with every second that passed the situation was only going to get worse.

He ran back through the flames, ignoring the heat, knowing only that he had to keep putting one foot in front of the other until he got Chigiri out of danger.

He made it down the stairs and out the front door, calling for medics immediately. They began to ask about his injuries, but they'd missed the point, he didn't care about himself.

He laid Chigiri on a gurney. He was unconscious.

"Help him first."

The first team did as he asked, and then a second team tended him, and now that they mentioned it, he could tell he did have a few burns on his arms.

The chief came over to reprimand him for removing his safety gear, but he didn't care, anything to keep Chigiri safe was the right thing to do.

On account of his burns, he had to go to the hospital. It turned out his forearms caught the worst of it. The burns were second-degree and would heal with only minimal scarring he was told. Being at the hospital, he was more concerned with Chigiri. He asked where he could find the redhead, and as he was the one who'd saved him, was allowed in to see him.

Approaching Chigiri's room, he took a second to just look. His first thought was that Chigiri looked fragile. He was small and pale, and with the monitors and drip hooked up to him, something pulled at Kunigami, an urge to shelter and protect this person he'd once been close to, even though it had been years since they'd seen each other.

Blue Lock had been one of the most intense experiences of his life, and after he'd failed, he left it behind. All of it, Chigiri included. The day that Chigiri had been chosen over him was the beginning of the end, because somewhere along the line, even though it had only been for a relatively short time, he'd started counting on Chigiri being there, not just during games, but for all of it. And once they were separated, Blue Lock just hadn't been the same. Of course, he didn't blame Chigiri, he'd wanted Chigiri to go as far as he could, it was just the way things were.

As for Chigiri, clearly it hadn't worked out. The place he'd been living wasn't exactly for star athletes, and Kunigami did notice that Chigiri was kind of on the thin side when he'd lifted him. He was worried, and had to satisfy himself that Chigiri was okay.

He stepped into the room.

"Hey, Chigiri. How are you?"

Chigiri looked up at him, those pretty eyes widening.

"Kunigami? What are you doing here?"

"Oh, they didn't tell you? I'm the one who pulled you out."

Chigiri took a moment to look him over, obviously seeing the uniform and the bandages.

"You're a firefighter?"

"Yeah."

"Figures. It's perfect for you, Hero."

The old nickname made something warm pool in Kunigami's belly. He laughed it off, this wasn't the time to be focussing on himself.

"It's worked out. How are you doing, Chigiri?"

Kunigami knew how frightening fires could be, especially for people who weren't trained to deal with them. It would be no surprise if Chigiri was shook up from the experience.

Chigiri's brow knit into a frown and he dropped his eyes, and that was when Kunigami knew Chigiri was struggling with more than just what had happened today, and that he wouldn't be able to walk away until he knew Chigiri was alright.

"Hey," Kunigami said, stepping closer. A bunch of possible things to say went through his head, but in the end he decided that Chigiri just needed a friend so he offered a simple truth. "I've missed you."

Chigiri looked up, eyes glassy, and it stabbed Kunigami straight through the heart. I want to take care of him. He sat on bed and touched Chigiri's small hand.

"It's okay, Chigiri. I'm here now."

Chigiri tried to fight back the tears, but Kunigami wanted him to know he didn't have to. He wrapped Chigiri up in a hug, as best as his injured arms and all the tubes and wires would allow.

"I've got you."

"I'm sorry," Chigiri said. "I'm sorry they picked me."

"Forget it," Kunigami said. "Blue Lock is over, it doesn't matter anymore. I only care about now. Let me help you if you need it."

"I've made a total mess of my life," Chigiri confessed.

"Then it's a good thing I've found you again," Kunigami said, leaning back and looking at Chigiri, touching Chigiri's chin to tilt his face up so he had to look at him too. He needed Chigiri to really hear this. "Whatever it is, I'll help you fix it."

"I'm not a good person, Kunigami. You should leave while you still can. Look at what I've already done to you," Chigiri said, his hand hovering over the bandages on Kunigami's arm.

"That was my choice and it's part of my job. It's not your fault, Chigiri. Besides, it's too late. I've already decided I'm going to take care of you."

"No, Kunigami. I don't want that."

"Why not?"

"I'll drag you down with me."

"Chigiri, you're not that strong. Let me worry about me. I have to go back to work now, but I'll come see you again tomorrow, okay?"

"I guess it's not like I can stop you," Chigiri muttered, eyes cast down.

"That's right. You can't," Kunigami agreed, reaching out to tilt Chigiri's face up and look him in the eye again. "Chin up, Chigiri. I promise I'm not going anywhere this time."

xxx

It was all too much. On top of nearly burning to death today, Kunigami had reappeared in his life. He was still the incredible hero he had been at Blue Lock, and now he was Chigiri's personal hero too. Part of him was glad to see Kunigami again, but a bigger part of him was ashamed, and terrified what a good guy like Kunigami would think when he found out the truth. He didn't want Kunigami to find out how weak and stupid he was. Kunigami was good, and he didn't deserve to be tainted by someone so unworthy. Break your promise, Kunigami. Save yourself instead. But Chigiri knew that wasn't going to happen. It's already too late. I'm going to ruin him too.