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Isagi knew it, he was dead, very dead. As he rammed his pale ghosty body into his living body he only felt an electric shock sting himself. He was dead. Jesus- he really was! Everything in him was panicking, how could he be dead? He only got knocked into the goal post! That shouldn’t have been enough to kill him- no way. Still he watched his body lay lifeless.
It was the Germany vrs Spain match, the first one so far. He finally got to see his hero Noel Noa. Be beside him, train beside him, get his advice. Everything he worked for was gone, all his hard work and achievements got him here.
“Isagi!” Bachira yelled, he sprinted over to the now lifeless boy. “Isagi? Isagi!!” He yelled, slapping his face. Chigiri ran over as well, he touched Isagi’s forehead, his neck, and his wrist, looking for a pulse or some body warmth but it was fading, and he seemed to find no pulse. Chigiri gagged, looking away from Isagi now. Bachira snapped his head to Chigiri and back to Isagi. The others were now surrounding him as well, soft whispers fluttered about.
“What’s happening down there.” A loud voice from the speaker ripped through the panicked atmosphere. “Isagi- he’s- he’s..” Bachira was lost for words, his best friend was unresponsive. A medical team rushed in, trying to alive the boy. Isagi felt his soul get pulled to his body but the pull wasn’t strong enough. The team stopped after a moment, checking his pulse and then horrifically staring at each other. One mumbled something in a walkie. A loud alarm sounded the building. “All games are canceled. If you were winning or not doesn’t matter, all games are suspended.” The voice repeated 3 times before stopping. The body of Isagi Yoichi was taken away and the boys were sent out of the stadium.
Isagi walked with all the boys, no one could see him and no one could hear him. He tapped Bachira, kicked Kaiser, nothing, no one could see or hear him. Everyone was sent to the common space between each stadium.
“Hello diamonds in the rough.” Egos bored voice as ever held a slight bit of hesitation, unsure of how to go about this. “Isagi Yoichi..a member of the German Bastard München sector has died on the field due to a head injury presumably.” Before the mic cut off you heard a quiet, “What a waste of talent.” Than silence. “What?” The one to break the silence, Itoshi Rin. Everyone started to talk, yell, some even shed tears and some just stayed stoic. It was odd to watch all these reactions. Isagi ran to Rin, “Rin I’m right here! Please look at me.” He begged him, he begged and begged for Rin to see him. Isagi and Rin had gotten together, gotten too close over their time at blue lock, even with the ups and downs of their relationship they still found each other liking the other.
Rin didn’t look good, he looked mortified, probably the most emotion you’d see on his face ever, probably since what happened with Sae at U-20. He turned on his heel and left, “Lukewarm.” He mumbled, it was shaky, it was obvious to Isagi it was a front. He could see the tears in the boys eyes, he could see the tremble in his body.
When Rin got to his room he was in denial, this was a very unfunny prank from Ego, Isagi was fine, Isagi was well. Maybe they got it wrong, they definitely did, he’s alive, he’s well. He was alive yesterday when they kissed and talked about the game tomorrow. He was alive when they ate breakfast together this morning. He was alive. Keyword..was.
Rin broke down at this point, he was still a kid, an emotionally distant kid, but a kid who lost his boyfriend. Quiet sobs rang through the empty dorm. He choked on his tears, coughing and sobbing as everything hit him. Isagi was gone and there was nothing he could do. He didn’t even know what happened, how this happened- how could’ve he got a head injury- how could he be so careless? Rin couldn’t protect Isagi, Rin was hopeless.
He stayed in the dorm for the rest of the day, the crying didn’t stop, no one entered the dorm, maybe they heard him and didn’t bother. Rin must’ve passed out, he felt a cold airy pressure on his chest, when he rubbed his eyes he saw it. His boyfriend, on his chest. So this was just a bad dream! He hugged him tight, waking him. “Rin.? Isagi blinked, “Wait you can see me?” He lit up. “Huh?” Rin was now confused. “Rin I’m dead but- you can see my spirit?” Rin touched Isagi’s face, it was cold and pale but this was Isagi. “But you’re here with me.” Rin simply smiled. “I’m happy you’re here..” he sniffed, Isagi held him as he fell back asleep. He didn’t know how or why Rin could see him, but he could.
By the morning Rin was in the search for the ghostly boy. When he couldn’t find him he broke down in a panic for a bit. He noticed a note on his forehead. Pulling it off, “I’m here. I guess you can’t see me anymore but I’m here.” Rin smiled, he felt relieved, holding onto the note he gained the courage he needed for the day.
They found that Isagi was only found at night, but he could manipulate objects and write notes, so that’s how they talked. Isagi would write notes as he talked. He got used to this system, he did hit every night, he wasn’t getting very much sleep. Due to Isagi’s death blue lock was canceled which was to the despair of the fans and members of blue lock. Rin became nocturnal after that, would sleep during the day and talk all night to Isagi. He was happy, even though Isagi’s body was dead he could still talk, see and hold him, he was okay with the arrangement. Isagi never visited anyone else, he must’ve liked Rins company since he didn’t see anyone but him.
Sae had visited Rin once, Rin didn’t talk to anyone else after Blue lock, he stayed in his room and slept all day and would talk all night. Their parents were so worried they called Sae to try to talk to him, try and get him to cheer up.
Sae knocked on the door, no response, the boy was fast asleep in his bed. “Rin, wake up- dude it’s 2pm.” Rin groaned, rubbing his eyes. “Sae..?” He jerked back. “Hi.” Sae bluntly responded. “Mom and Dad are worried about you.” Rin tilted his head a little, he couldn’t guess why. “Huh.? Worried? I’m fine.” Sae shook his head. “Did you really like that Isagi kid? He was your rival right?” He did like Isagi, a large ton. Rin was able to still play with Isagi, he would at night. “Yes.” Sae sighed, “Is this why you’re cooped in your room so much? Over a kid you knew for like 5 months at most?” Rin shook his head, “I’m fine. Why are you even here- why’d they call you?” Sae patted his brothers head. “Because they say you talk to yourself.” Rin shook his head.
“I’m talking to Isagi.” Sae started at him, a funny look on his face. “You’re what?” Rin blinked. “Stay till night, you’ll see.” Sae didn’t want to but he did as he was told. Night rolled around and Rin smiled, he smiled at the wall. “Isagi’s here!” Sae hadn’t seen Rin so happy in awhile. Since before Spain. “Rin?” He looked to the space beside him, nothing was there. “Rin..nothing is there.” Rin looked over and smiled. “Isagi is here! Can’t you see him?” Rin was then having a small conversation with the air. “Rin. You’re speaking to air.” Rin looked over and then a panic struck his features.
“Where’d he go.” Rin spastically looked around his room, Sae just watched it all happen. “Sae did you see him leave?” Sae grabbed Rins arm. “Rin he is dead.” Rin stopped moving. “I know.” Sae shook his head. “No. Rin. He is dead.” Rin nodding slowly. “I know..” Sae spoke once more. “Dead people don’t talk Rin.” His face morphed again, thousands of complicated emotions floated on his face. “What.” Rin shook his head. “I’m not- I’m not crazy Sae!” He looked around the room, “I’m not..he’s real- I’ve talked to him- he’s written to me!” He grabbed the hundreds of notes, throwing them on the bed. It was all Rins handwriting.
“Rin. He wasn’t real, that was your imagination.” Rin laughed, he laughed and laughed and then cried. He sobbed. The same cry he had when he first found out everything. Sae awkwardly held his brother. He didn’t know how to deal with these complicated emotions his brother was having. He tried to use big brother instinct to drive his care home.
“I thought- I thought.” He cried more, Sae could tell they were probably dating. You don’t act this way to a friend. Even most of the blue lock guys he saw seemed to recover.
Rin was broken for days, he would talk to himself still, his sleep schedule too fucked to fix. He would talk to himself, would hug the air. Would then remember it wasn’t real and would break down. Sae knew he was crazy from grief. It was hard to watch, Rin was not Rin anymore. He was just a hurt man.
Rin couldn’t leave his room, his room was the only comfort he had, he would lay in his head and sob until he passed out. He would see Isagi at night but he knew he wasn’t real. On the hard nights he would give into the delusions. Let Isagi pet his hair and tell him a the same dumb story he’s told every time he does this. Rin on those times would be momentarily happy.
-
Isagi’s funeral was happening, everyone was invited. Rin somehow got out of bed for it, he didn’t a wink, letting his Isagi coax him all night as he prepared to see people. When he walked in the hall he must’ve been an eye sore as everyone looked to him. Bachira was the first to approach. “You look awful.” Woah, how kind. Rins hair was undone, heavy bags, extremely pale skin from the lack of sleep and sun. Skinny body from the lack of much food or movement. “You look like you’re the one we’re coming for.” Bachira tried to joke but Rin was too gone. Bachira soon left him alone, seeing him emotionally distraught. Bachira was the only one to know about his relationship with Isagi, he found out the hard way. When Rin sat through the ceremony he was still in denial.
He was getting worse, he was too weak to do any moving and would pass out often, he was ill. His body tried to desperately survive as his grief stricken heart stopped all progress of person. Rin was miserable and he knew it, he lived in that misery and didn’t try to leave it.
His Isagi came more after the funeral, he was even able to see him during the day now. He would talk until he passed out, would wake up and talk again. He was a record on repeat. Sae tried to knock sense into him, tried to bring him away from his imaginary world but he loved it there. It was the only place he felt safe.
He was admitted into a psychiatric ward for treatment. He was getting treated for his depression and schizophrenia. None of the medication worked as he just lived in his own world. The therapy never worked and no matter what they tried to do for him his heart couldn’t leave Isagi.
He was discharged, there wasn’t much they could do to help him. Sae tried to help him, the therapist tried to get family to make him feel better. Sae came back into Rin’s life but the boy was barely alive to see it. Sae would try to talk to him, would make jokes but whenever he did Rin would call him Isagi. He couldn’t see Sae anymore, everyone was Isagi. Rin would often lay on Sae’s lap and tell this random story over and over, saying how ‘Isagi I know you like this one. You laughed at it in the stadium.’ Sae didn’t want to participate in his brother’s illusions but there was nothing he could do. The therapy did nothing as he was always too adamant. He was unfit for work and barely survived day to day.
One day when Sae walked into Rin’s room he noticed the boy unconscious. He had passed away in his sleep due to dehydration and lack of substance in his body. Rin died with Isagi in his arms, happy as he could be as the touch of Isagi felt realer and realer as the night went on.