Valentine's Day at Blue Lock

Deal With the Devil - Ryusei & Sae

"Itoshi Saeeeee," Ryusei sang into his phone, still thrilled that he'd actually gotten the number off the soccer star, and even more thrilled that he'd actually picked up. "How's the prettiest guy in the world doing today?"

"I knew it was a mistake picking up," Sae said back.

"But you did," Ryusei said. "Must not be able to resist me."

"I'm hanging up," Sae said.

"No!" Ryusei pleaded. "Wait!"

There was no click. Instead, Sae sighed. "What?"

"What are you doing tonight?" Ryusei asked him.

The question took Sae aback. Since getting his number, Ryusei often called him. He never answered. He wasn't sure why he'd answered today, of all days. Boredom, maybe. Definitely not loneliness.

Sae looked around his hotel room, and then decided to be honest. "Nothing."

"Nothing? You?" Ryusei said back, forcing his shock. "On Valentine's Day? That's a surprise."

"Dating is a waste of my time," Sae said back, and he meant it.

Ryusei wasn't the first to poke fun at his lack of romantic prospects, and he wouldn't be the last. None of them would sway him. Romantic partners were a lot of work, and he just wasn't motivated to put in the effort to get so little out of it.

And having to open up to another person? That was another battle all its own.

"A tragedy, then."

"And Valentine's Day is a stupid holiday," he added.

"Boo." Ryusei chuckled to himself, not believing a word of it. "Let me change your mind. Let's meet up for a drink."

"We're both underage," Sae reminded him.

"Right," Ryusei said. "A meal, then. Nothing illegal about that."

"Not illegal, but nauseating," Sae said back.

"If you're playing hard to get," Ryusei teased. "I can work with that."

Sae rolled his eyes, and then sighed, to get his point across through the phone. "Fine. Whatever. Only because I was just about to go eat anyways."

He wasn't. But that was besides the point.

"Fuck yeah!" Ryusei exclaimed, celebrating his victory and refusing to be shy about it.

"But this isn't a date," Sae said.

"Yeah, of course," Ryusei said. "Totally not a date."

"I mean it."

"Uh huh."

"Meet me at my hotel," Sae told him. "It's the tall one. You know it?"

"Is it weird if I say I'm already outside?" Ryusei asked.

"Yes," Sae answered. And then, "I'll be down in a minute."

The two of them wandered the surrounding blocks for a half hour. Sae's hands were in his pockets and his patience was wearing thin. Ryusei had popped into at least ten different restaurants, all of which had a wait of an hour or longer.

"This is a fucking nightmare," Ryusei complained. "I finally get you to go on a date with me, and nobody will take us."

"It's not a date," Sae reminded him. "And what did you expect? It's Valentine's Day, you dumbass demon."

"Well, how was I supposed to know?" Ryusei said, his head swivelling at he looked for any viable options. This block didn't seem to have any to offer either. "I'm not really a dinner date on Valentine's Day kind of guy."