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As the rain poured down harder, Nanase was thankful that all the students had all gotten picked up before the initial downpour of rain. Running the local recreational center was more draining than one might expect, but at least it gave him a purpose and brought joy to his everyday life. After leaving Blue Lock, he played soccer domestically for a couple years before calling it quits. While his demeanor never let it show, seeing the leaps and bounds his peers were evolving took a toll on his self esteem; forced to reckon with his own physical limitations, Nanase decided to leave the league on his own terms and return home. Once returning home, he got involved with the creation of the newest recreational center in Mito. Now, ten years out from Blue Lock, he officially runs and owns said center. After all, PE and home economics were his favorite classes during his time in high school, so he enjoys incorporating different sports and practical skills into the center.
Today’s activity was indoor soccer with the littles. While watching the children run around and play with unbridled joy warmed his heart, there was still a part of him longing to be back on the field. Collecting some of the foldable soccer goals, Nanase was in the backroom with all the equipment when he heard the entrance door open.
“Sorry but we’re closed for the day.”
Silence ensued. Huh that’s odd . Just imagined it I s’pose. Yet, as he finished that thought, footsteps echoed in the distance, indicating that the mystery person was wandering around. Maybe the person couldn’t hear that . It is raining cats and dogs out there, maybe this person wants to find shelter for a quick reprieve. But I also wanted to go home. Darn, what do I do?
Walking out while continuing his internal dilemma, he readies himself to approach whoever this newcomer is. About to repeat his initial statement, the words fail to come out as he looks into a familiar pair of teal eyes.
The same teal eyes that weaseled themselves into his heart all those years ago when he pledged himself to become his property. The same teal eyes that bored down into him with barely concealed disappointment the last time they interacted. The ones that still creep into the occasional dream or two even now. Except he’s not dreaming and instead looking into said eyes, looking right back at him with barely concealed surprise.
What would compel Rin Itoshi to come all the way out here? While Nanase essentially fell out of touch with everyone from Blue Lock, he still does his best to keep up with how they’re faring professionally. Which ties back into his question, considering that Rin only comes back to Japan when the National Team is preparing for the World Cup… which was last year. So what if he pays special attention to Rin? Sue him for being curious. Realizing that the silence is teetering from awkward to rude, Nanase forces the words to stumble out of his mouth:
“Rin-san? What a surprise! How’d’ya end up in here?”
“The rain,” Rin bluntly stated, as if it were obvious.
“Well, it’s good to know some things don’t change,” Nanase shares aloud before realizing that he verbalized his thoughts. Desperate to cover up his blunder, he rushes to add on to the statement before Rin could ask what he means. “Logical as ever is what I meant by that y’know? Anyways, I am surprised to see you in Mito since I could’ve sworn yer family was from Tokyo or some other big city.”
“So this is what you’ve been up to.”
While he could not detect judgment from Rin’s tone given the impassiveness, Nanase still felt like he was being spoken down on. While part of him wanted to be defensive and question what Rin meant by his statement, he ultimately deters himself from doing so. After all, mama raised a real respectable and polite son, so I’ll act like it. Oh the things I do fer my family .
“Yeah, I own and run this here facility. Y’know not everyone can become mega soccer stars like you and Isagi, but I think that I’ve done pretty well fer myself,” Nanase responded, careful to keep any indication of being defensive out of his tone. “Yer welcome to stay here while I finish cleaning up, but I’ll be locking up soon. Or leave, up to ya truly. S’okay either way, considering it’s raining real bad out there an’ all.”
No response. Well Nanase expected that. What was unexpected though was seeing Rin collecting the rest of the foldable soccer goals and the cones laid out. Rin turns towards Nanase, and while still not saying anything aloud, Nanase could easily see the question lying in Rin’s eyes. Since when have I been so keen to reading him?
Wordlessly, Nanase takes him to the storage closet and stands by the door as Rin puts the items in their respective sections. Would hate to have some lame cliche and end up stuck in the storage closet with my sexual awakening, he tells himself; yet as he watches Rin from the back, Nanase wishes he indulged in the whimsical cliche. Would me ten years ago been bold to pull that off? Probably not. After all, he spent that time trying to make himself useful for Rin, anything for some sort of positive appraisal. As Rin turns back to Nanase, he barely has time to process the words falling out of his mouth:
“Do ya need a ride? ‘m heading home and don’t mind making a pitstop fer you. Since it’s late and raining hard an’ all…”
“Yes please, I’d appreciate that,” Rin replied politely. Processing the response, Nanase smiled and led Rin to his car. Typing in the hotel address for Rin, Nanase started the car. Thankfully, it was not too out of the way for him. As he reaches to turn on some music to fill the silence in the car, Rin spoke up.
“I see you still have your bumpkin accent.”
“Ah, woulda never noticed til you pointed it out haha,” Nanase shakily responded. He can feel his cheeks warming as he continues to barrel into his response, hyperconscious of what and how he says the words. “Back in Blue Lock, I tried my best to emulate a standard Japanese accent but would still trip up and pepper in country slang an’ all.”
“It’s nice. Your accent, I mean. It’s good to know that some things don’t change. And that you’re doing good for yourself. Truly,” Rin responded. While in the typical Rin awkwardness, the genuine sentiment was palpable. The combination of the two causes Nanase to burst out laughing.
“Thank ya Rin, truly means a lot comin’ from ya of all people,” Nanase shared, smiling brightly at Rin. Rin returns a softer smile of his own as the two continue their drive in a comfortable silence before Nanase drops Rin off at his hotel.
On his drive back home, Nanase resolves within himself to reach out to his former Blue Lock pals to see how they’re faring (assuming their numbers haven’t changed). As he rounds the corner to go home, he realizes that he never did get an answer as to why Rin was in Mito. Yet, with a new number in his phone and a coffee date tomorrow, he figures he can always just ask again.