Chapter Text
Isagi soaked in the summer air; the humidity was so thick he swore he could taste it. The air as heavy as honey filled his lungs and made him sluggish. His eyes turned toward the sky. He was thankful that Tada-chan told him about the regional high school partnership program going around. Although he was aiming for Aomori Yamada high school due to their strong football team.
A top team from Northern Japan that was fast becoming 2-year champions. It would be the perfect place to play football with Japan’s leading high school players. But instead of snow fights, heat packs on his hands, or the taste of miso curry milk ramen on his lips after a long tiring practice match, he got the sweltering and hustle and bustle of one of Tokyo’s finest high schools. Renown for rich kids and studying maniacs but not known for football at all. They just started playing football a few months ago!
Isagi was beyond shocked to discover that he got accepted for Hakuho high school instead. Well, the high school itself wasn’t too bad. It was indeed a top-tier elite high school. Students going here are primarily government worker children who aspire to get into Tokyo National University. Well, suffice it to say that his parents were thrilled at his acceptance and ushered him to accept and helped him pack. Even days before the enrollment date, his parents were already cooing and praising him.
“Don’t worry Yo-chan, this would be a great chance to make new football pals!”
“And perhaps maybe enter Toudai?”
“Only if you want though!”
His parents' joyful shouts were still ringing in his head even after carrying his luggage to Kawagoe station and arriving at Tokyo Station through a few transfers. The train time from his city to Ikebukuro was only around 40 minutes through the Tobu line and today he wanted to get up and leave early for a chance to see the football field. Although it was not his first time in Tokyo; amidst the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, Isagi did feel a tad bit out of place at times. Especially seeing how well-dressed and fashionable everyone was.
Well, that is Tokyo for you.
After casually seeing trendy teenagers in a smart and elegant fashion, he lowered his face down to see his own fashion style: a casual shirt with plain pants. Not bad but not good either.
He sighed and started marching—Isagi brushed those thoughts away, it didn’t matter anyway. He was here for one thing and one thing only. Pushing past the crowds, he finally reached the next station. Just 2 more stations and he would arrive at his destination. He came here to play football and who knows? He might just be scouted at a match, and what better place to be scouted than the biggest city in Japan?
At least that was the plan until he got sidetracked and the rapid train turned out to be express and he was just stupidly lost. Saitama was more in the countryside and although there were trains every few or so minutes, Tokyo’s trains were absurdly fast, and for a teenager just right out of bed and hauling heavy luggage, it was fair to say he wasn’t in the right space to make quick decisions as everyone else seemed to be doing. Already he was missing the crisp taste of dried potatoes and Sayama tea that his grandmother makes.
Isagi brought his luggage with him near the walls. Maybe he should have let his parents take him there…but it was a workday and he would feel pretty guilty afterward. He was about to call a taxi (and lament his summer part-time job savings) when a gentle tap on his shoulders woke him up.
“Hey, you okay?”
Isagi turned to look at who interrupted his whirring thinking.
Big.
The first thing he noticed was that the boy was big. Now usually Isagi doesn’t really feel bad about his height, he is okay with it. Sure it would be useful to be taller to get more headers but Noa isn’t known for his headers but for his ambidexterity. So safe to say Isagi easily pushed that potential insecurity out of his head.
But looking at this…huge Tokyolite with height and expensive-looking silk (was that really silk?) patterned uniform really did stir him up a bit. Isagi even had to strain his head to look up at him. It had to be at least a 15 cm difference in height. Wait a second, that uniform—Isagi turned his head down. The fine checkered pattern at the collars and the fine material pressed down on each appendage…Wasn’t that his uniform as well?
“Wait—are you from Hakuho high school as well?”
If the guy wanted to look surprised or delighted, Isagi couldn’t tell either way. His face was blank. Spotless. Like a modern painting, completely indecipherable.
“Ah yeah,” He said as if it was an afterthought. He looked at Isagi’s state, his tousled hair and drooping luggage behind him. Keep in mind he had to lower his knees down to get a good look at the boy. He slightly curved his hands in his pockets. Isagi looked up at his gray eyes.
“Can you take me there?” Isagi asked, pleading and holding out this random guy's sleeve.
‘Even his arms are long,’ Isagi thought, pulling out the sleeve.
The white-haired teenager stared peerlessly at him. Unbeknownst to Isagi, the teenager was actually thinking about skipping for today. But the look that Isagi showed stirred something in him. He doesn’t know why or understand the strange feeling but accepted it. It seemed interesting in a way and Nagi paused. His stomach felt weird. It flipped when the stranger looked desperate for help, for Nagi to go and help this stranger for no reason at all except out of desperation.
Even if was him, he would have given up and gone back home. Why the hassle to go through so much to even ask a complete stranger? It was such a bother. Nagi stared back at the urgent expression the teenager was showing and felt himself go completely stiff. This stranger was asking someone he didn’t even know for help. How desperate could someone be? As annoying as it sounds, Nagi hummed softly to himself.
And in a move that surprised the both of them, he nodded.
“Ok. I’ll take you there,”
Isagi nearly pumped up his arms in glee. He was saved! He felt like a lost duckling waddling around the vast plains of Tokyo and now his mother duck found him! Pulling his luggage beside him he followed the teenager.
“Oh! I didn’t catch your name,” Isagi said, forcing his legs in larger steps. Damn this boy walks fast even though for him, it is more of a tired slug of a walk if anything else.
“Nagi Seishiro,”
“Cool, I’m Isagi Yoichi. Let’s get along well,”
Nagi turned his face towards him. And once again to his surprise, he too was looking forward to it.
“Yeah, let’s,”
Isagi figured that was as much as he was going to get out of the teenager. But then he started another conversation.
“Are you a new student, Isagi?”
“Yes and no, I’m an exchange student part of the prefectural high school program. Have you heard of it?”
“Not really. I think I was asleep when he was explaining about it,”
Isagi’s lips straightened into a single line. Ah well, Nagi did seem like the lazy student type. Still though, despite Nagi’s overall unkemptness and demeanor, he still got accepted in the entrance exam and was a part of one of Tokyo’s most prestigious high schools! Even his parents heard of famous company heirs studying at this high school. But to meet someone who could get in by pure skill alone is quite amazing in and out of itself!
So there are geniuses like this around?
“Oh really? Well, I’m part of the Saitama division!” Isagi said good-naturedly, grinning at the dull expression that Nagi wore.
“That’s close-ish,”
“Yeah, well that's what every Edo person says about Saitama,” Isagi giggled nonchalantly.
Nagi blinked. “I’m not from Tokyo. I'm from Kanagawa,”
“Oh! I couldn't tell. Hmm, I’ve never been there before. But I always wanted to go to Cosmoworld!” Isagi said, competing to walk step by step with the larger male.
“It’s not that fun really,” Nagi said, shoving down a yawn as he walked through the station hallways, easily gliding through the crowds helped by his large figure.
“Have you ever been there?”
“No,”
Isagi raised his eyebrows.“Then how would you know?”
“It just seems like it. It looks like a hassle,” Nagi said, shrugging.
“You say that a lot.”
“Yeah,”
“That too!”
Nagi nodded and then shrugged in the form of an answer.
Isagi smiled. Well, as dependable as this guy seems at least he made one new friend in his exchange program. His parents would be delighted to know that he made a friend on his first day, especially one that actually goes to school. Smiling at the thought of his proud parents, Isagi followed Nagi around like a cheerfully lost duckling around the stations of bustling Tokyo.
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“Last station until we’re there,”
“Roger,”
One thing that Isagi learned about Nagi is that he doesn’t talk much. But when he does it’s short, casual, and frankly sluggish. As if the act of speaking was an inconvenience to him. And he speaks informally; even though they are the same age, Nagi already started talking impolitely even before they even introduced themselves. Usually, Isagi isn’t a stickler for formalities, but if he were Tada or some of his other football members then they would feel a slight irk at being addressed so impolitely.
But perhaps Nagi was comfortable enough to use the casual form with him if that was the case, then Isagi didn’t mind. Not that much, anyway. If he could keep the calming atmosphere continuing then Isagi doesn’t mind it.
“The train is now approaching,” The automatic voice stated. The train arrived with the flush of air that whipped around them as passengers left and arranged themselves like tuna in a can. Nagi and Isagi lined up by the yellow lines and paused until everyone came out.
When the second to last person left, they both stepped into the train.
“Ah, a free seat,” Nagi said, pointing to the left side. “Okay,” Isagi walked in the back, letting Nagi go first. Nagi looked back at him, confused. He looked at Isagi’s lithe frame and large luggage behind him, and frowned.
“What?”
“Take it,” Nagi said, gesturing towards the free seat, standing near it to claim it before an office worker could.
“Oh, thank you,” Isagi said, pleasantly walking towards the free seat. In all honesty, he was perfectly expecting Nagi to take it with no remorse like a child. Even though Nagi was leading him, it felt like Isagi had to be the one in charge at times. Reminding Nagi to keep going no matter how tiring it was.
Isagi sat down and pulled his luggage close to him. Nagi bundled closer and reached for the handrail above him. But since he was so tall, he didn’t even reach up for it. Instead, he grabbed it in front of him.
It must be nice to be tall.
Catching a quick glance at the bag Nagi was wearing; “I can take your bag,” Isagi said, peering up at him.
Nagi looked at Isagi’s eyes blinking into smiley crescents and nodded. He gave him his white bag and continued to peer down at the soft puff of hair the whole way there.
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When they arrived at the high school entrance, Isagi at least had the dignity to not look surprised. Although the school would not start for another few days, he along with the other exchange students arrived early to settle into their dorms.
“I think I can manage on my own from here on out,” Isagi said looking at Nagi.
“Okay,” He said, ready to take a step back toward the entrance.
“Hey wait!” Isagi said, stopping Nagi from taking another step.
“Hmm?”
“I’ve been meaning to ask: Why are you still wearing your uniform when school didn't even start yet?”
Isagi initially thought it might have been extra classes or there might have been a branch of cram schools. But instead, the answer astonished him.
“Oh, it was the closest thing I could find,”
Ah. What did he really expect? Nagi was truly full of surprises. Between the clouds and sky above and the ground under him, Isagi kept following a whirlwind around, it seemed like.
Isagi chuckled. “I see,”
Nagi peered at him again. Isagi bounced between the heels of his feet, trying and failing to make himself taller and meet eye-level with the almost freakishly tall guy.
“What classroom number are you?” Isagi asked suddenly, perhaps they share the same classroom?
“104,” Nagi said, pushing his left hand to his shoulder.
“We’re the same. That’s nice,”
It was not even the first day yet he was lucky enough that he already knew someone from his class already. Things were looking good from here on out—maybe if he was lucky enough he could meet some of the other exchange students today too!
“–My seat is at the back. I'll see you then,” Nagi said, interrupting his thoughts.
“A-h, okay! Thank you!” Isagi shouted over him, waving his hands to the fleeting tuft of cloud hair floating away.
Nagi sure is strange. Isagi mused, gripping his luggage and pulling away to the dorms. But then again, who’s to say that out of the two of them, he is the normal one?
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Once entering his dorm, he was surprised to see how exceedingly…boring it was? He was expecting something flashy and bright like something out of a high school drama but instead, he was in a regular dorm room. Plain cream wallpaper with wooden flooring and a western bed, cabinet, and study table with a lamp.
How normal it was for such a rich high school.
Guess they don’t spend their budget on exchange students, Isagi mumbled to himself. He was supposed to have a roommate: Kurona Ranze. But staring at the other side of his identical side of the room, it seemed to be empty.
Perhaps he will come later.
Isagi did plan to arrive early-ish so that he could get a feel of the school atmosphere and check out the football field. But first he had work to do. Isagi crouched down and started to unpack his clothes. After playing some trending pop music, he organized his clothes, football equipment, and other essentials.
The dorm room looked better now. Much more lived in now—after a couple Noel Noa posters, football memorabilia scattered around on his desk and a family picture at his bedside. Isagi nodded to himself; satisfied with his work. After a while, arranging the last of his luggage, he felt the all too familiar growl of his stomach. At the sound of his stomach grumbling, he stretched up and wide. For now, he was more or less done with unpacking. It’s not like he packed too much anyway.
Isagi walked down the white hallways to the downstairs convenience store. He would grab an onigiri or two with some tea.Walking down the stairs, he could feel somebody coming behind him. Isagi looked back at him, the sounds of steps reverberating at the staircase. For some weird reason, he felt something was wrong. He looked back at the guy.
Purple and white.
Isagi’s eyes widened. Another step and then–a misplaced step is all it took before the guy tripped and fell towards Isagi. Quick as a flash and through a trance Isagi stilled. He redirected his body’s center and trapped his hands on the handrail and braced the guy’s shoulders before he could completely trip down the stairs.
“Hey! Are you alright?”
“Oh! Yes! I’m fine!” The nearly tripped and fallen guy said, turning his front towards him so that Isagi could actually see him.
“In fact, I’m better than ever!” Isagi was starting to get spooked by this crazy dude. He was the complete opposite of the other dude he just met today. While Isagi took a step back from the guy (who was still talking at this point) “That was some fantastic positioning! Hey, are you by any chance part of the prefectural exchange program?”
Maybe this guy wasn’t as crazy as he initially thought. At least there was someone that knew about it! Forgetting how scarily excitable he seemed to be, Isagi smiled up at him.
“Yes! Are you also a part of it?”
“Yes, in fact I'm the one organizing it! Bringing in the best soccer players in Japan in one place! Isn’t it genius?”
“You organized it?” Isagi gulped—he could barely believe the man that made this exchange program was here talking to him right now.
“Yep! To win the World Cup!” Reo said excitedly, nearly bouncing up and down the stairs.
Isagi felt his heart beat wildly like a bird trapped in a cage finally set free. They shared the same dream!
Staring at the excited man, Isagi nodded his head enthusiastically.
“Amongst the excitement I forget about my manners. I'm Reo Mikage,”
Mikage…that explains the money and program and quirkiness.
“I'm Isagi Yoichi,”
“Let's get along well!” They said in unison.
Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all. After all, he should enjoy his high school life.
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Nagi stared blankly at the ceiling.
“Today was interesting,” he said to no one in particular. But maybe perhaps to his cactus friend Choki.
“Yeah it really was interesting”, he said as he curled in over himself and started to doze off.