𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐇 𝐈𝐓 ➛ ryusae

chpt 36 ➛ sae

A day before...

Sae didn't sleep that night.

He lay in bed, eyes wide open against the ceiling's shadows, the cool sheets tangled around his legs like chains. His chest was heavy—too heavy—and his thoughts looped relentlessly, dragging him through every word, every breath, every silence from that goddamn phone call with Shidou.

His eyes were dry. He hadn't cried again—not after his shower. But the hollowness that filled his lungs felt worse than crying. Like there was nothing left in him to squeeze out. Just air. Just silence.

By the time the sun crawled over the skyline, Sae had already been staring at the ceiling for hours. The morning hit like a dull punch. His limbs were heavy, muscles tight from the lack of rest, but sae dragged himself out of bed, moving on autopilot. 

Shower. Kit. Coffee that didn't help. His eyes were dull in the mirror, the bruise-colored shadows beneath them evidently showing. And by the time he stepped onto the pitch, surrounded by teammates and coaches and cameras, all Sae could do was pretend.

The bright lights and cold professionalism forced him into a performance. He adjusted his posture. Shoulders back. Chin high. Blank face. He knew how to wear that mask better than anyone.

To the rest of the team, it seemed to be working. No one questioned the tiredness in his stride or the sharpness missing from his touches. Not even the coaches. Not even his teammates. They were too caught up in their own routines.

All except him.

Leonardo Luna.

Leonardo Luna had been watching him from the moment warm-ups began.

But today, it was different. That lingering stare. The way Luna's gaze followed him after every drill, every misstep. The way he didn't smirk when Sae misfired, didn't gloat when Sae's passes came a fraction too slow. Just... watched.

Sae was halfway through a possession drill when Luna jogged over, wiping sweat from his brow with a towel slung around his neck.

"You look like shit," Luna said casually, no bite in his tone—just blunt, irritating honesty. "You're kinda moving like someone unplugged you this morning."

Sae didn't even blink. "I'm fine."

Luna tilted his head, dark brows raising. "That so?"

"I said I'm fine," Sae repeated, sharper this time.

But Luna didn't back off. Instead, he slowed his steps, falling into pace beside him as they crossed the pitch toward the sidelines.

"Uh-huh." Luna crossed his arms, eyes narrowing just a bit. "Your passes are slower than usual, and you haven't looked up once during a play."

"Do you want me to say it again is Japanese?" Sae snapped, turning his head towards Luna.

Luna's expression didn't change. Instead he just eyed Sae for a moment, his bright green eyes piercing right through whatever was going on in Sae's mind.

"You know," Luna said, his voice dropping a touch lower, "I may be a cocky bastard, but I'm not blind. You haven't been here all morning."

Sae was taken aback by his sudden change in tone, but was too exhausted to bite back. He exhaled through his nose, jaw tight as he ultimately gave in. "I'm just tired. Not that it's your business."

"Yeah," Luna nodded slowly, "I figured."

They walked in silence for a beat, the thuds of distant shots on goal echoing behind them.