𝐀𝐂𝐂𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐓; 𝐍𝐚𝐠𝐢 𝐒𝐞𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐨

20. NAGI

You noticed that Nagi was quieter than usual. He seemed aloof, but not the same kind of aloof Nagi always was. A more focused kind. After the game, you met up with him outside the locker room and you two had walked off of Blue Lock's campus and into town, per your post-game tradition. Although, contrast to his usual lazy nature of short answers and groaning, the boy was simply silent.

"That goal you scored was cool, Nagi." You chirped, patting him excitedly to try and start a conversation. "I didn't understand what happened, but you looked super cool while doing it."

"Oh, thanks." He curtly nodded. "It was mostly Reo."

"Nonsense! You're the heart of that team." You smile. "Yoichi's got nothing on you."

"Mm."

Silence again.

Soon, you two wound up at that same frozen yogurt place you had your first date at. For old time's sake, you got your exact order from that day, and Nagi did the same. You had a feeling he got the same thing every time, though. You snagged a spot on a bench inside, sitting close to Nagi as you two silently nibbled on your fro-yo.

As you ate, Nagi glared at his frozen yogurt. The image of Tao with his arm around you, sharing the jacket your boyfriend gave you, watching a football game that your boyfriend was playing in, was burned into his mind. For some reason it made Nagi angry.

Stupid Tao. Stupid him and his stupid face. Nagi began stabbing at his frozen yogurt, pretending it was the boy's brain matter. It was annoying, because Nagi knew you meant nothing by it, and neither did Tao. You two had been friends since you were in diapers, so it was natural you two were comfortable around each other.

But he couldn't help feeling this way. He was your boyfriend, and you were his girlfriend. All that mushy stuff was his job! He was already wary of you and Tao's relationship from the moment he, Isagi, and Reo sat with you, Rio, and Tao at lunch. You both were too friendly. Later, he brought it up to Isagi and Reo, and they gave him advice on how to tame jealousy.

"Well, when it comes to Tao, you can't do much." Isagi had told Nagi. "He and Y/n are usually tied to the hip-- in the most platonic way possible. I would know. So, just know Tao doesn't have any intent to steal your girlfriend."

"Ah. I know I don't have a right to feel that way, then--"

"No, you totally do." Reo interjected. "You can express what you're feeling to Y/n without being a jerk about it. There's nothing wrong with being jealous of other people, even if she's being completely platonic. You're probably thinking: "I wish that was me", right, Nagi?"

"Yeah."

Reo smiled and gave him a firm hand on the back. "You just have to trust her"

"Nagi, you okay?" You hum, poking him gently on the shoulder. He broke from his trance and glanced down at you, then you continued. "I don't know if I'm imagining it, but you look a bit mad at your fro-yo."

"...Are you attracted to Tao?" He blankly asked. There was a path of silence following his question.

Your mouth hung open, a sour expression crowding your face. Nagi swore you turned green for a split second before you explosively replied. "Huh? What are you talking about? I'd rather lick the bathroom floor."

"You sure?" He teased.

"Yes! What gave you the idea that I did?" You blanched, sticking out your tongue. "Ugh, now I've lost my appetite."

Nagi shrugged, turning his head away from you shyly. "Well, I saw you with him, and you two looked... cozy."

You smacked your hand on your face, thinking back to you and Tao's method of staying warm during Nagi's game. Of course he saw. You placed your frozen yogurt down on the bench beside you and turned to face Nagi.

"Nagi, Tao is... where do I start? He's a brat! He's gross, he's stupid, he's mean, the list goes on. I literally met him while he was picking his nose in preschool." You hiss, your fingers contorting as if strangling the boy. "While yes, he's one of my lifelong friends, and I care for him very much, I have never once been attracted to him like that."

"Never?"

"Never." You scoff. "In elementary school during a school play we had to be husband and wife, since none of the other kids volunteered. We hated every second of it and fooled around whenever we could because it was so... terrible. To him, I'm a dumb sister to piss off, and he's like an annoying, snotty brother to me--"

You were cut off by Nagi's arm sneaking around your waist. He pulled you close to him, into a position where he could stare directly into your eyes. There was a different mood about Nagi now.

"I know you say that, but I can't get that feeling out of my chest." He muttered, his face turning into discomfort. "I don't like seeing Tao have his arm around you, because you're my girlfriend. Not his. He can do that with his own girlfriend, but not mine. Is... it bad to feel that way?"

You turned a bit red at Nagi's urgency. You could feel his grip on your side a bit tighter than usual, as if he were holding onto you like you were flying away from him. "No... its not bad. If I saw you with another girl, I think I'd feel annoyed, too. I'd get really jealous."

"You would?"

"Yeah. I'd probably rip my hair out-- or maybe her's." You giggle. "I'm sorry I made you feel like that Nagi. I promise nothing is going on between Tao and I."

"I know that, I trust you. I don't think you're cheating on me or anything." He replied. "I just... I want to be the one warming you up. Or the one sharing your jacket. Or the one you sit really close to and laugh with."

You giggle. "Well, I feel the same way."

Nagi sighed. "You can still hang out with him. I know you're friends. You guys can't kiss though."

"Pfft-- yuck! Wasn't planning on it! Plus, he has the hots for some girl in our physics class, anyway. I'll leave the kissing to them."

"Good."

"Good!"