"And that's it!" The announcer's voice rings out through the stadium and on screens across the globe. "With that goal Itoshi Rin secures his place as the best player in the world!"
The roar of the crowd is deafening. Your hands want to fly up to cover your ears on instinct but you don't need to; you've had earplugs in since the beginning of the game.
The live broadcast showing Rin running across the field with an expression of absolute serenity switches to you for a moment and some of the viewers think your reaction is lackluster compared to the people around you.
Your boyfriend's team just won the world cup! And his name's going to go down as one of the all-time greatest players in world history! Do something more than just sit there and clap, show some spirit!
Back down on the field Rin doesn't fight it for once as the team swallows him in celebration.
He doesn't complain as they crowd around and shower him with compliments.
He doesn't even mind that reporters stop him on his way back to the locker room.
"Itoshi! Itoshi! Anything to say after today's game?"
His teal eyes glow as he lets the corner of his mouth lift in a rare smile and stares directly into the camera. "Who's lukewarm now?"
He strides off, the picture of pride, for his post-game routine as he overhears them speculating who he was talking to.
Rin thoroughly stretches, does his yoga and meditates, and showers. Water flowing down his back he closes his eyes; the world's going crazy as he cools down but they can wait all night for their formal interview for all he cares.
All he can think about is how he's going to face you.
"It's your obsession with Isagi that's holding you back!"
It's been a month since he's seen you.
"You can't improve because you can't see past him! It's the same as it was during the U-20 match when you were so focused on crushing Sae!"
Mostly because of the grueling World Cup schedule but also because you've been giving him space.
"Isagi surpassed you then because you let your hate and desire to destroy your brother take over your ability to focus. You let it control you. And Isagi will keep surpassing you as long as you're obsessed with crushing him. God, do you even know why you're playing this stupid game anymore?!"
"TO BE THE BEST, STUPID!"
"OBVIOUSLY NOT, STUPID. Because if your goal was to be the best you'd be acting completely differently."
"My goal is to be the best. Crushing them is just a--"
"Just a WHAT Rin? A detour? A stop along the path?"
"YES! So don't say it as if I can't crush them along the way to becoming the best. You don't know anything; you're not even an athlete. You're just some lu--"
"Don't. You. Dare call me lukewarm," you snarl from the depths of your soul, black fire burning in your eyes. "You let yourself become so distracted in your short-sighted, petty competition that you lost before you stepped on the pitch."
Rin cocks a response, ready to defend himself to the death but you deal the final blow.
"That's why Sae recognized Isagi at the end of the U-20 match."
Rin pauses for a moment. As your words sink in he slowly straightens up, betrayal and a depth of pain he's only revealed to you shows across his face.
"You were too caught up," your voice evens, no longer laced with anger, no trace of pity, as you simply state the fact, "in your childish obsession with beating your brother to see the bigger picture.
"You're the one who's lukewarm."
He's confident that your silence has only been to let him focus, sure that if that fight had meant the end of your relationship you would have told him.
And it helped. It gave your words time to soak in and for him to accept that you were right.
Doesn't mean he hasn't missed you.
"Itoshi!" one of his teammates shouts into the showers snapping him back to reality. "Coach says five more minutes! And someone's here to see you!"
The handle squeaks when he cuts the water.
He dries off and wraps the towel around his waist; the locker room's empty except for one person:
You're calmly loitering by his cubby looking around the room until he walks in; a dozen emotions swim through your eyes as you look at him and he feels the reflection of them in his chest.
He looks you up-and-down still wondering how to start.
You cross your arms, resigned. "If you were anyone else...I'd apologize for what I said."
"If I was anyone else...I'd probably care."
In the silence that follows you stare at each other, tension building until
you drop your hands and a smile spreads across your face.
He smirks and reaches for you, wasting no time in pressing the side of your cheek against his bare chest. "I missed you, too."
Your hands leave trails of goosebumps along his bare back as you clutch him; god he's been so touch-starved he nearly moans.
But he has to do this before he loses his nerve.
He says your name lowly and fervently; you pull back to look at him, wary of his sudden change of tone.
He steps back and you frown at the loss. "There's something you need to know."
"The night we fought..." He takes your hands in his and swallows thickly. "I..."
"What is it, Rin?" your voice is quiet but not tender, exactly the kind of soft he needs.
He sinks down to one knee.
"Ooohhhhhmygodnooooo, Rin get up right now!"
With an impish smirk he stays kneeling, holding your hands firmly in place. "Why?"
"Rin. RIN! You know exactly why!" You're glancing nervously around as you try to get your hands out of his and he's enjoying this way too much.
"Oh, this?" He casually looks down to the towel that's fallen to the floor leaving him stark naked at your feet. "What's the problem?"
"Rin," you growl and he knows you're absolutely flushed with embarrassment; you won't even look down enough to meet his eye.
"I'm proposing," he says so flatly that to anyone else he would've sounded annoyed but you can hear the soul-deep satisfaction at the effect he has on you, "the least you can do is look at me."
Steadying yourself with a slow exhale through flared nostrils, you let your gaze sink to his and feel like you're melting as you try to ignore everything else.
"There. See?" The demon has the audacity to smirk and you shake your head. "Was that so hard?"
He cocks an eyebrow, daring you to make a joke and you almost do...but it's been too long since you've seen him and you're too caught up in the heat of the moment as he reaches into his duffel and pulls out a little velvet box.
Rin follows his team onto the media stage and takes his place front-row, center as the frenzy begins.
He answers questions about the game, specific plays, it's endless yet you patiently wait off to the side in shadow of the reporters but with a clear view of Rin.
And then the topic turns.
"Who were you talking to earlier? When you made the lukewarm comment? Was it Isagi Yoichi?"
"He wishes," mutters Rin in irritation. "And no it was-"
A reporter cuts him off knowing there's not much time left. "People watching at home are thinking it was your significant other?"
He opens his mouth but another jumps in.
"Especially after the lackluster reaction to your incredible performance!"
They're all talking over each other now, cameras flashing as his scowl gets deeper and deeper.
"Seriously, the crowd was going wild but all you got was a little applause?"
"Don't you deserve a significant other who cares about your achievements?"
"How would you react if-"
"-not even excited to see you play-"
"-couldn't have been less interested-"
"Wouldn't you rather have someone more excited for you!?"
Rin drops his fist onto the table making all the microphones bounce and the room falls icily silent which makes it easy for everyone to hear
You ignore the intimidating attention--you're not one for the spotlight and hadn't meant for this to happen--and focus on Rin.
"Sorry." You smile. "I was just imagining you pouting because I didn't cheer hard enough for you."
Rin snorts in a sound of entertainment to you, derision to the rest of the world. "I would've been offended if you did cheer for me."
A mixture of confusion twists through the crowd and Rin reclaims their attention. "What was it one of you tepid losers said? Wouldn't I rather have someone more excited for me?
"Excitement implies feeling a rush of emotion, a rush requires a build-up, and a build-up is caused by stress or tension or anxiety any of which would only grow from a seed of doubt...And did you doubt me at all, love?"
"The night we fought," Rin admits holding the little velvet box for a moment, "I realized that you're the only person in the world brave enough to say those things to me without me wanting to crush them in return."
You laugh exuberantly, the sound blossoming in his chest like cherry blossoms solidifying his confidence, making him smile as he says
"You're the person I believe in, trust, and love the most...And that never waivered once over the past month. Did you doubt me all, love?"
You let your smile spread into a proud grin. "Not for a moment."
