Work Text:
I.
Barou couldn't help but notice that Nagi's clinginess towards Isagi had intensified lately, with Nagi always seeking out Isagi for piggyback rides or other forms of physical contact.
At first, Barou had dismissed it as just Nagi's usual laziness preventing him from walking on his own, but he started to notice a pattern in Nagi's clinginess. Whenever Isagi was around, Nagi would cling to him as if he were a lifeline, never letting him out of his reach.
Barou watched as Nagi clung to Isagi's back like a koala, arms wrapped tightly around his neck and legs wrapped around his waist. No matter how many times Isagi tried to shake him off or tell him to walk on his own, Nagi would not budge, instead nuzzling his face into Isagi's neck as if he wanted to absorb his presence.
Barou rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath, "This is getting ridiculous."
Despite his annoyance, Barou knew that Isagi would always indulge Nagi's clinginess and never push him away for too long. It was almost as if Isagi couldn't resist Nagi's puppy eyes and pouting face, always giving in to his requests and allowing Nagi to hang off him like a limpet.
Barou wondered what it was about Isagi that made Nagi so insistent on being near him at all times. Was it merely a case of Nagi's laziness, or was there something else at play?
As Barou observed their interactions, he started to notice other things as well. The possessive way Nagi would grip onto Isagi whenever someone else attempted to get his attention, the way he would glare at anyone who dared to touch Isagi in any way. It was as if Nagi thought of Isagi as his property, and he wasn't keen on sharing him with anyone else.
One time during practice, Barou approached Isagi with a stern look on his face. "Isagi, you and Nagi need to get your act together and come practice. We're wasting valuable time just standing here."
Nagi immediately bristled at Barou's words, his lips curling into a scowl. He shifted his body slightly, positioning himself in front of Isagi as if to shield him from Barou's gaze. A deep glare set into his eyes as he fixed his gaze on Barou, clearly possessive and protective of Isagi.
Isagi, caught in the middle, tried to diffuse the tension. "Guys, calm down. We'll go practice, just give me a minute." Barou and Nagi's gazes remained locked on each other, the air crackling with tension for what felt like an eternity.
Isagi knew that if he didn't act soon, the tension between Barou and Nagi would escalate into a full-blown argument. So he stepped in between them, arms raised in a placating gesture.
"Both of you, knock it off," he said firmly. "We're here to practice, not fight."
Barou grumbled but grudgingly backed off, crossing his arms over his chest. Nagi, however, was a little more difficult to deter. He continued to glare at Barou, his arms still tightly encircled around Isagi's waist.
──────────
II.
Isagi is currently paying a visit to the English stratum dorm room as per Nagi's request. Now Nagi, who appears to be fatigued, has firmly established his grasp on Isagi's midsection, refusing to loosen his grip. Reo and Chigiri, who are watching the spectacle in amusement, witness Nagi's reticent demeanor.
In spite of this, Isagi tries to be cordial towards Nagi "Nagi! I have to leave to practice with my team soon!"
Nagi, not appearing to comprehend his words, mutters a short yet emphatic response, "Stay..."
Isagi, aware of the possible repercussions of lingering any longer, tries to persuade Nagi to let him go by pointing out that Noa may chastise him for skipping training. "Nagi, I can't stay," Isagi responded, "Noa will get mad and reprimand me for skipping practice."
"It's just a few more minutes, Isagi. You can spend that time with us before you head back," Nagi murmured as he pulled Isagi closer, his hand tightening around his waist. His head was resting against Isagi's chest, his breathing steady and even. Isagi felt the warmth from Nagi's body seeping into him, and he was surprised to find that he didn't mind it.
Reo and Chigiri watched the scene in amusement, their eyes flickering from one to the other as they tried to suppress their laughter. Isagi raised an eyebrow at them, feeling a bit self-conscious.
"What are you two laughing about?" he asked, trying to sound annoyed.
"Oh, nothing. It's just that Nagi finally has his hands on you, and we find it a bit...amusing," Chigiri replied, a mischievous smile playing on his lips.
Isagi growled but couldn't help the light pink that colored his cheeks. Nagi had always been the forward one of the trio, and it seemed like he still felt the same way even now.
Reo and Chigiri were more reserved and didn't make their feelings known as easily, but Isagi had always known that they cared for him as well. He was just surprised that Nagi had been so bold as to grab him so casually, but then again, it was Nagi we were talking about. The boy who was known to do what he wanted without caring what others thought.
But as the minutes ticked by and Nagi refused to let go, Isagi found himself thinking that Nagi's boldness was part of his charm.
He felt the warmth of Nagi's touch spreading through his body and wondered what it would feel like to give in to Nagi's request. To stay. But as much as he wanted to, Isagi knew he couldn't. Noa's words echoed in his head, reminding him of the importance of practice.
Reluctantly, he pried Nagi's hand off his waist and stood up from the couch, the warmth disappearing as soon as his body wasn't pressed against Nagi's anymore.
"But I don't want you to go," Nagi murmured
Isagi sighed, feeling guilty for having to leave, but he knew he needed to get back to practice soon. He reluctantly leaned in to give Nagi a quick kiss before whispering in his ear, "I'll see you soon. Don't do anything reckless, okay?"
Nagi nodded, a small smile on his face. Reo and Chigiri, who were watching their exchange with amusement, exchanged a knowing glance.
"Don't worry, we won't let him get into too much trouble," Reo said with a smirk.
"Yeah, we'll make sure he doesn't do anything too crazy," Chigiri added, looking at Nagi with an amused expression.
Isagi shook his head and started making his way towards the stairs. He could hear them all laughing and joking behind him as he hurriedly walked outside the dorm, feeling a smile creep up on his face.
──────────
III.
Isagi had just taken a moment to catch his breath after the strenuous training drills. He could feel Kaiser and Ness' eyes on him, and he knew that they were itching to start a verbal confrontation. As Kaiser opened his mouth to speak, Isagi braced himself for the inevitable comment.
But before Kaiser could utter a word, something unexpected happened. A familiar white-haired figure appeared out of nowhere and Isagi's fatigue quickly faded away as Nagi unceremoniously flopped onto his lap, taking him completely by surprise.
Isagi's eyes widened in surprise. "Nagi?" he gasped, completely caught off guard by the sudden appearance of the other boy.
Kaiser and Ness, who had been eagerly waiting for the opportunity to pick a fight with Isagi, now found themselves momentarily stunned by the unexpected interruption.
Nagi hummed in response, getting comfortable on Isagi's lap like a cat. He could feel the surprised gazes of Kaiser and Ness on him, but he didn't care. He was too tired and comfortable on Isagi's lap to care about their reactions.
Kaiser and Ness exchange bewildered looks before turning their attention back to the unexpected scene unfolding before them. Kaiser looked particularly annoyed at the sight of Nagi lounging on Isagi's lap.
Nagi's tired and weary expression began to melt away as Isagi's fingers ran softly through his hair, massaging his scalp in a soothing manner. He closed his eyes, letting out a small sigh of relief that was laced with a tiny hint of longing.
"I missed you," Nagi mumbled again, his voice barely above a whisper.
Isagi couldn't help the smile that tugged at the corners of his lips. Even though he was surprised by Nagi's sudden appearance, he couldn't deny the warmth spreading in his chest at hearing those words. He continued to stroke Nagi's hair, his fingers running through the soft, snowy locks.
Nagi leaned further into Isagi's touch, practically purring like a contented cat. He nuzzled closer to him, burying his face in the crook of Isagi's neck.
"You missed me? Aren't you supposed to be practicing with your own team?" Isagi asked, his tone gentle but tinged with amusement. He continued patting Nagi's hair, feeling a sense of fondness for the boy snuggled up against him.
Nagi hummed in confirmation, not wanting to move from his current position. "Doesn't matter. I wanted to see you."
Isagi chuckled, feeling a pang of adoration for Nagi's clinginess. Even though he knew they were supposed to be rivals on the field, moments like this made it hard to remember that fact. He continued running his fingers through Nagi's hair, savoring the feeling of having the usually emotionless boy being so openly affectionate towards him.
Kaiser scowled at the sight before him, his annoyance clearly written on his face. He couldn't believe the audacity of Nagi to waltz in here and make himself comfortable on Isagi's lap like it was his personal throne.
Ness, meanwhile, was seething with jealousy. He couldn't stand to see Nagi being so affectionate with Isagi, especially when he felt like he deserved even a fraction of that attention.
"How insufferable," Kaiser muttered under his breath, rolling his eyes at the display.
Ness shot a venomous glare in Nagi's direction, his jealousy and irritation reaching their peak. He couldn't comprehend how someone as arrogant and lazy as Nagi could gain Isagi's affection so effortlessly.
"Can you believe this guy?" Ness hissed, crossing his arms in a defensive gesture. "He has no shame, parading himself around like he owns the place.”
Kaiser let out a scoff, rolling his eyes again. "Typical." he said disdainfully. "He thinks he can just walk in here and do whatever he pleases. It's infuriating." Ness narrowed his eyes, his anger growing with every passing second. "It's like he's rubbing it in our faces, showing off how close he is to Isagi. It's ridiculous."
Isagi noticed the increasing tension and knew he had to intervine before a fight broke out. He gave Nagi's hair one final pat before gently pushing him off his lap.
Without wasting any time, he turned to Kaiser and Ness, his expression firm. "That's enough. Leave us alone."
Kaiser and Ness looked like they wanted to protest, but the stern look on Isagi's face made them think otherwise. With a scowl, they reluctantly obliged and left the room, shooting dirty looks at Nagi as they went.
Nagi, feeling a mix of smugness and satisfaction, couldn't help but stick his tongue out at Kaiser and Ness as soon as Isagi turned away, his expression a perfect picture of childish mischief.
──────────
IV.
With a towel draped around his neck, Kunigami had just finished an intense workout session at the gym. Thirsty from his rigorous training, he took a quick sip of water before heading towards the field for some practice drills.
As he made his way through the hallway, he heard sounds emanating from the viewing room, piquing his curiosity about who could be watching clips at that hour.
Curiosity got the better of him, and he cautiously opened the door, revealing Isagi and Nagi seated right next to each other. The surprising sight caught his attention - Nagi was practically snuggled up to Isagi with his head on his shoulder while the two watch clips together.
Kunigami's eyebrows rose at the sight before him. He had expected to see maybe a few players catching up on some strategy videos, but the last thing he thought he'd see would be Isagi and Nagi all cozied up together.
He stood there silently for a few moments, watching the two of them focused on the clips on the screen. Nagi was practically glued to Isagi's side, leaning on his shoulder with an air of contentment. Isagi, on the other hand, seemed unfazed by Nagi's clinginess, as if it was a routine occurrence.
Kunigami couldn't help but feel a mixture of surprise and disbelief. It wasn't unusual to see Nagi clinging onto Isagi, but he never thought he'd witness it in the middle of the night like this. He cleared his throat to announce his presence, effectively getting the two boys' attention.
Isagi looked up, his eyes widening when he saw Kunigami standing in the doorway. He quickly straightened up, causing Nagi to protest at the sudden movement. Nagi let out a small grunt of annoyance, clearly not happy that his comfortable position was ruined.
"Kunigami," Isagi said, his voice slightly sheepish as if he had been caught doing something he wasn't supposed to. "What are you doing here?"
Kunigami leaned against the door frame, his arms crossed over his chest, his usual frown playing on his lips as he looked at the two of them. "I could ask you the same thing," he quipped back. "It's pretty late to be watching clips."
Isagi chuckled awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, I know. Nagi just wanted to watch a few."
Nagi, who had been silently pouting ever since Kunigami had interrupted his cuddle session, huffed and pushed himself further into Isagi's side. He didn't like the fact that someone else was here and ruining his moment with Isagi.
Kunigami looked at the two boys, his gaze cool and detached. "Watching clips at this hour?" he asked, his voice emotionless. "Don't you guys have anything better to do?"
Nagi shot him a dirty look, his annoyance evident. "We were enjoying ourselves until you barged in," he retorted, clinging even tighter to Isagi's arm. Isagi attempted to soothe the situation, knowing that Nagi could be a bit temperamental when he was interrupted. "It's fine, Kunigami. We were just taking a break."
Kunigami raised a brow, his unbothered attitude obvious. "Whatever. Just don't stay up too late. We've got a long day of training tomorrow." He pushed himself off the door frame and walked away, his footsteps echoing down the hallway as he left the two boys alone once again.
──────────
V.
Yukimiya stood in the doorway, his towel draped over his shoulder, water still dripping from his hair as he pointed towards Isagi's bed where the two boys were fast asleep, wrapped up in each other's arms.
Yukimiya gestured towards Isagi's bed, where Isagi and Nagi were sleeping together in a tangle of limbs, their arms and legs intertwined. "So, are we just gonna ignore that?" he questioned, running a hand through his damp hair.
Hiori and Kurona both shook their heads, their expressions indicating that they had resigned themselves to the situation.
"Nope Nope," Kurona answered casually.
"Can't really do anythin' 'bout it, can we?" Hiori added, shrugging in resignation.
Yukimiya let out an exasperated sigh, He couldn't believe how comfortable and content the two boys looked draped over each other. "I don't understand how Isagi can deal with it. They're practically glued together."
Hiori looked amused, a small smirk playing on his lips. "It's like they're two peas in a pod. Can't separate them for long."
Kurona chuckled, finding the situation somewhat entertaining. "Yep yep, seems like Blue lock's fearless striker can't resist Nagi's clingy tendencies."
Yukimiya let out a sigh, shaking his head slightly at his teammates' nonchalance. "Seriously guys, don't you think it's a bit strange how clingy Nagi is around Isagi lately?"
Hiori shrugged, a amused expression on his face. "Eh, not really. They're always together. It ain't nothin' new."
Yukimiya nodded in agreement. "It's like Nagi can't function without Isagi nearby."
Hiori chuckled again, his amusement turning into slight disbelief. "It's quite extreme, to be honest. Nagi's like a puppy chasing after its owner."
"Yeah," Kurona nodded, his calm demeanor unruffled. "Kaiser has also been more grumpy than usual lately."
Yukimiya agreed, musing aloud, "That's true. I think it's because Isagi isn't giving him all the attention he used to."
Hiori chuckled at the mention of Kaiser and chimed in. "Well, I guess that's what happens when you have a narcissistic emperor like Kaiser. He's used to being the center of attention, and now that Isagi's giving someone else all the spotlight, he's not too happy about it."
Yukimiya nodded in agreement as a small smirk formed on his face. "It's true. Kaiser's not used to sharing the stage. He's like a little kid throwing a tantrum when someone else gets the attention."
"Narcissistic king! Narcissist king!" Kurona chimed in
Yukimiya shrugged in agreement before looking at the two boys cuddled up together on Isagi's bed. "Should we just go to sleep now? There's nothing we can really do about those two."
"Sounds like a plan," Hiori chimed in. "No use in trying to interfere."
Kurona nodded "Good night! Good night!”
──────────
+1
On the lunch break, the players all observed an amusing sight unfolding in the cafeteria. Isagi was diligently feeding Nagi, who refused to eat without being coaxed and served by his companion. Everyone else in the room watched in a mix of amusement and bafflement, as if they were witnessing something akin to a parent feeding a spoiled toddler.
Isagi chuckled softly as he placed another spoonful of rice into Nagi's mouth. "You know you could just eat by yourself, right?"
Nagi swallowed the food and gave him a blank stare. "Don't wanna."
Isagi rolled his eyes playfully. "You're such a pain sometimes, you know that?"
Nagi simply shrugged and opened his mouth expectantly, waiting for another bite.
Isagi let out a fond sigh and fed him again. "You're lucky I indulge you like this."
Nagi swallowed the food and leaned forward to place his chin on Isagi's shoulder. "You're the best, Yoichi."
Isagi's expression softened and he patted Nagi's head affectionately. "Yeah, yeah, I know. Just eat your food properly next time, okay?"
Reo chuckled and chimed in, "Alright lovebirds, enough with the cutesy display."
Chigiri joined in, laughing heartily as he added, "We're getting cavities just watching you two."
Isagi blushed furiously, feeling embarrassed while Nagi pouted in response.
"We're not lovebirds," Isagi protested, his face still red.
Nagi wrapped his arms around Isagi's waist and grumbled, "He's just jealous because he's single."
Reo rolled his eyes, unfazed by Nagi's comment. "Jealous? Of you two behaving like a pair of love-struck teenagers? Ha, hardly."
Chigiri chuckled again, amusement dancing in his eyes. "Oh, you two are just too much. It's almost sickeningly sweet."
Before Chigiri and Reo could continue with their teasing, Yukimiya interjected with a puzzled expression and asked, "Wait, why you saying he's jealous because he's single? Are you two actually dating?"
Isagi, seemingly surprised by the apparent lack of awareness, tilted his head and responded matter-of-factly, "You guys didn't know?" Reo burst into laughter, making no attempt to hide his amusement. Chigiri chuckled as well, clearly enjoying the situation.
The cafeteria fell into a moment of surprised silence as Reo burst out laughing, unable to contain his amusement. Chigiri chuckled along, clearly enjoying the situation.
Meanwhile, Yukimiya looked taken aback, his confusion evident. "You mean you two are actually dating?"
Isagi glanced at Nagi and shrugged, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Yeah, we've been together for a while now."
Reo's laughter quieted as he attempted to compose himself. "Oh, this is rich. They were practically feeding each other like a couple, and you guys didn't even realize."
Chigiri smirked at Reo, joining in on the good-natured ribbing. "Looks like you guys were actually being blind all this time."
Reo and Chigiri exchanged a knowing glance as they realized that they had known about Isagi and Nagi's relationship all along. They had simply been enjoying watching the two boys interact in their lovey-dovey manner without making it too obvious to the rest of the team.
"Well, looks like the cat's out of the bag now," Reo teased, giving Isagi and Nagi a smirk.
"Well, well, well," Karasu drawled in amusement. "Looks like Mr ordinary and the Lazy genius have been hiding something all this time."
"I fucking knew it," Barou muttered, his glare fixated on the couple.
Yukimiya shrugged with a small smirk. "Technically, we should have figured it out sooner. It's not like they were exactly being subtle about it."
Isagi remarked, replying to Yukimiya's statement. "We weren't exactly hiding it either. You guys just didn't catch on."
As Rin walked into the cafeteria and quickly turned around to leave, Shidou called out to him, "Hey Rinrin! Are you in shock that Isagi was snatched up before you had a chance?"
Meanwhile, Chigiri chuckled at Rin's reaction. "Looks like Rin's not too happy about our lovebirds here."
Rin grumbled a frustrated "Fuck off" and quickly left the cafeteria, clearly not wanting to deal with the situation.
Karasu chuckled at Rin's response, enjoying the reaction. "Wow, he's even more pissy than usual. Looks like someone's jealous, huh?"
Chigiri chuckled, turning his attention back to Isagi and Nagi. "Eh, let him be. He'll get over it eventually."
Hiori was the next to chime in, his curiosity evident. "So, when did you two actually get together?"
Isagi, with Nagi leaning against him, answered. "Since the beginning of the Neo Egoist League, actually."
Shidou let out a low whistle. "Really? That long, huh? Damn, you two had us fooled."
Isagi scratched his cheek, a slight hint of amusement in his tone. "We didn't exactly make it a secret, you know."
Nagi added, munching on a piece of food. "We just left it up to you guys to figure it out, but it took you this long to realize.”
Karasu chuckled at the pair's response, shaking his head in amusement. "Well, can't say we were paying much attention to your love life either way."
Chigiri, trying to stifle his laughter, added, "We were more focused on the game, not watching your lovey-dovey moments."
Reo, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, interjected. "They were being pretty obvious about it though, it's hard to miss unless you've been intentionally ignoring it. Or just plain oblivious."
Chigiri chuckled, agreeing with Reo's statement. "Yeah, they weren't exactly hiding their affection. They were practically feeding each other in front of us just now."
Karasu leaned back in his chair, still amused by the situation. "Well, looks like we've been pretty blind then. Who knew that Isagi and Nagi were secretly lovebirds all this time?"
Hiori chuckled, shaking his head slightly. "I guess we've been too focused on training and matches to notice the subtle hints."
Isagi chuckled awkwardly, feeling a little overwhelmed by the commotion. Despite the playful teasing and banter, he couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment with Nagi holding onto him in a clingy manner.
Meanwhile, Chigiri and Reo exchanged knowing glances, both silently acknowledging the fact that Nagi's clinginess was a characteristic trait of his behavior when it came to Isagi.
──────────
Extra:
Isagi was in the middle of talking with a few of his teammates when he noticed Bachira approaching him with an exaggerated pout on his face. It was clear that he wasn't going to let this go easily. Bachira huffed dramatically as he reached Isagi, crossing his arms. "You know, Isagi, I can't believe you didn't tell me that you and Nagi were dating. I'm your best friend!"
Isagi chuckled sheepishly, his cheeks flushing slightly at Bachira's outburst. "Sorry, Bachira. It just kind of... happened, and it slipped my mind to mention it to you."
Bachira playfully swatted Isagi's arm. "Just slipped your mind? Don't give me that. I'm supposed to be your best friend, and I had to find out from the others that you and Nagi are dating? I'm betrayed, Isagi. Betrayed!"
Isagi laughed, knowing that Bachira was mostly exaggerating. "Okay, okay, I'm sorry. Please don't be too mad at me. I should have told you as soon as possible, I know that."
Bachira pretended to pout for a few more moments before his expression softened. "Alright, I'll forgive you. Just make sure you don't keep anything else from me. I wanna know all the juicy details!" Isagi chuckled, knowing that Bachira would definitely want all the details. "Okay, okay, I'll make sure to tell you everything. But trust me, there's not much to tell. Nagi and I are just normal, regular boyfriends, nothing too crazy."
Bachira raised an eyebrow, clearly doubting Isagi's claim. "Mmm, yeah, right. Two guys with egos and passion for soccer as intense as yours are 'normal'? I doubt it. I need all the gossip, Isagi. Don't hold back!"
Isagi rolled his eyes, knowing that there was no escaping now. "Fine, fine. I'll tell you whatever you want to know, but remember, we are a normal couple, okay?"
Bachira smirked smugly, pleased with himself for getting his way. "You can say that all you want, but we both know you and Nagi are anything but normal. But I'll hold you to telling me everything, don't think you're getting off easy.”
Isagi sighed in defeat, this was gonna be a long day today.