𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐇 𝐈𝐓 ➛ ryusae

chpt 15 ➛ sae

The days that followed felt like they had blurred into one long, unbroken moment. For Shidou, the memory of that night with Sae lingered—soft and fragile, like a song that stuck in his head. Sae had returned to his usual stoic self the next morning, the walls he'd lowered only slightly rebuilt, but Shidou had noticed the difference. There was a quietness to Sae now, a restlessness that gnawed at the edges of his calm facade.

Every so often, Shidou would catch him staring off into space, his fingers drumming softly against the table or his jaw tight as he scrolled aimlessly on his phone. It was like he was waiting for something. And Shidou, as much as he wanted to, didn't push. He'd learned that with Sae, patience was a necessity, not an option.

It wasn't until a few days later that the tension finally snapped.

Sae was sitting at his dining table, the dim light of his laptop illuminating his face. His posture was as straight as ever, but there was a heaviness to the way his hands hovered over the keyboard, his fingers poised but still. Across the room, Shidou was sprawled out on the couch, flicking through channels on the TV with a half-hearted effort. Sae needed some company, and he was always right there, even if they just sat in silence for hours.

Ding!

Sae's body tensed, his eyes narrowing slightly as he stared at the screen. "Shidou," he said, his voice steady but low, like he was trying to keep it from wavering. "Come here."

Shidou was on his feet in an instant, crossing the room with an urgency that surprised even him. He came to stand beside Sae, leaning down slightly to get a look at the screen. His gaze flicked to Sae's face first, searching for some clue, some indication of what he was about to see. But Sae's expression gave nothing away.

"What is it?" Shidou asked, his voice quieter now.

Sae exhaled slowly and gestured to the email open on his screen. Shidou's eyes scanned the text, his brain working overtime to process the words.

We are pleased to formally extend an offer for a one-month minimum term with Re Al Madrid, beginning at your earliest availability. Compensation will be €3,000 per week, with additional performance incentives to be discussed upon arrival.

Shidou let out a low whistle, leaning back slightly as he straightened up. "Damn," he muttered, crossing his arms as he looked down at Sae. "That's... wow."

Sae didn't respond right away. His gaze remained fixed on the email, his jaw tight as he absorbed the words. Shidou could practically see the gears turning in his head, the weight of the decision pressing down on him.

"So?" Shidou prompted, his voice gentler now. 

Sae's lips pressed into a thin line, his eyes finally breaking away from the screen to meet Shidou's. For a moment, the silence was deafening. Sae didn't say anything—just held Shidou's gaze like he was trying to draw out an answer to a question he couldn't put into words. There was something vulnerable in his expression, something raw and unguarded. It wasn't the sharp, confident Sae that everyone else knew. This was different.

"I don't know," Sae admitted finally, his voice barely more than a whisper. "It's... a lot."

Shidou's chest tightened at the quiet confession. He pulled out a chair without hesitation, sitting down beside Sae, the scrape of wood against the floor breaking the silence for a brief moment. His usual cocky grin was gone, replaced with an expression that was open, earnest. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his entire focus locked on Sae.

"It is," Shidou agreed, his tone soft. "It's a lot. But you've done this before, Sae. You've handled 'a lot' before and come out on top."

Sae's eyes flickered, a shadow of doubt clouding his gaze. He shook his head, the movement slow, almost reluctant. "This feels different," he said, his voice barely above a murmur. "It's not just about playing. It's about... everything."