𝐇𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐒; 𝐈𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐢 𝐘𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐢

01. TRAIN

THE TRAIN RIDE.

Isagi remained as stiff as a door in his seat when he felt your head delicately fall onto his shoulder. His eyes were widened, his mouth sewn shut in a fine line. He would do anything, and everything, to not wake you up.

He cautiously lowered his shoulder a bit, shifting his weight so he could subtly place his head onto yours. All the while, praying to God that you wouldn't wake up and notice the insane blush on his face.

Isagi Yoichi was deeply in love with you, but he couldn't show it. It was embarrassing- no, frustrating. It was frustrating. There were so many things he's always wanted to say and do that he just couldn't, because you were his best friend.

You two had known each other basically since birth, since your mothers were childhood best friends and somehow aligned their pregnancies to be mere weeks apart. You were raised together from the start; your first playdate, your first park visit, your first sleepover. It had all been with Isagi. Attending the same daycare, pre-school, elementary school, middle school, and highschool were a direct result.

Both your personalities seemed to mold together and become one of the same as a product of your friendship: you talk alike, think alike, act alike. The amount of jinxes you've had is laughable. Naturally, you shared his same love for football, and he shared your passion for baking... or, well, eating what you bake.

In short, you'd been attached by the hip your whole lives as nothing more than friends. But Isagi has been fighting a losing battle all this time, trying to defend off the feelings prickling at the back of his mind and within the innermost parts of his heart. The absolute last thing he wanted was to drive you away from him- and a confession met with rejection would do just that.

Nagi joked that Isagi had attachment issues, and Isagi was sure he was right.

You faintly sighed, your chest rising calmly up and down and back up again. You were on the shorter spectrum of height, so Isagi's shoulder became a home away from home when you were tired and in need of a pillow.

He admired you while his chin rested on the top of your head. Your weary eyes closed lightly, your lips slightly agape, the petite freckles that reveal themselves in the sunlight only when Isagi focuses very hard. He loved everything about you, inward and out. It was a shame he couldn't vocalize that.

His romantic feelings started getting really bad a few months ago, when he found himself starting at you in a similar situation. You were at his house for a study session, sitting on the nook in his bedroom while focusing on the material. It was almost lunchtime, so the sun was delicate on your features and made your hair practically glow... and Isagi's heart clenched in his chest, as he realized he was knee-deep, and there was no going back to how he felt before.

He sensed you shift beside him, suddenly wrapping your grasp around his arm to get into a more comfortable position. Your cheek was pressed right against his uniform as you held his arm tightly to your chest. Isagi thought he'd explode sooner or later if you kept this up.

Of course, the impish boy Isagi knew and loved had to enter the train car in that exact moment. Bachira was on his phone, but looked up upon noticing Isagi. But his smile turned from a genuine one to a sly grin as he looked you and Isagi up and down.

Bachira mouthed: "Lovebirds." and brought out his phone to snap a picture.

'Kill me now.'

The fact is, blue lock academy was coming back from a short lunch out in the country to celebrate another win for their football team. You wanted to tag along, as you were the football team's official manager... and you wanted to eat.

Bachira made two little finger foxes with his hands and waddled them close together, until the tips of his fingers were touching, indicating a kiss. Isagi mouthed: "Knock it off!"

To Isgai's demise, three more familiar faces walked in the train car: Chigiri, Nagi, and Reo. Isagi sent them a glare, but the knowing looks came his way nonetheless.

Nagi took another picture, then another, then another. Reo could barely hold back his laughter. Chigiri was making kissy faces with Bachira. This couldn't get any worse.

But it did!

You stirred from your sleep, letting a yawn creep by your lips before letting go of Isagi's arm and sitting yourself upright. The four boys stopped their teasing immediately and took seats down on the train, pretending to be focused on something other than Isagi's humongous crush.

"Huh? Yoichi?" You murmured, another yawn cutting you off. Isagi felt his heart clench. "Did I fall asleep?"

"Yeah, you did. I told you to quite pulling all-nighters." He sighed, fixing your hair to be less in your face.

"How else will I catch up to you? You're like, twenty episodes ahead of me on Breaking Bad. I have to get my game up." You defended, hitting him lightly on his shoulder. "I blame the train. I get sleepy easily on them."

"Well... you're free to use your personal pillow whenever." Isagi muttered, glancing in the opposite direction to hide his blush. He can't believe he just said that.

You snorted, resuming back to your rightful place leaning on his shoulder. "Thanks, Yoichiiii!"

Isagi glanced once more time over the the four boys, who were all starting at him with the same look in their eyes.

They're saying: "You're in love, dummy."