Work Text:
1.
“You sure you don't wanna come with me?”
Bachira pouts as he looks at his boyfriend lying on the hotel bed, still comfortable after a long nap, while playing something on the Nintendo Switch. He doesn't even bother to look up as he shakes his head.
“I'd rather die.”
Of course Itoshi Rin would say something like that when asked if he would like to go out with some Blue Lock members. Years may have passed, but he still acts as if he isn't friends with them.
“Sure,” he laughs at the answer, “do you even intend to say goodbye to me properly?”
He hears his boyfriend snort before getting up from the bed and putting down the video game. Rin walks towards him while looking the boy up and down.
“You should take a coat, it'll get cold later,” Rin's voice is soft, as is his thumb caressing Meguru's cheek.
In the next second, Bachira is kissed by his boyfriend.
He will never tire of this feeling.
“Thank you for always taking care of me, Rin,” he whispers in his ear.
“Have fun with your friends, Meguru.”
He nods excitedly with a big smile.
It's rare for Bachira to see all his friends from Blue Lock now that they're professional players scattered around the world. He usually ends up seeing one or two of them during the Champions League, but a reunion like this? Never.
He grabs his coat and heads to the café where they agreed to meet.
They're all in Tokyo right now because Ego invited them to take part in a documentary about Blue Lock. Five years since the big project that changed Japanese football.
“Bachira!” he hears Isagi's excited voice as soon as he walks through the door.
“Isagi!” he replies, equally excited, jumping to hug his old friend, “Wooo! I missed you so so so much!”
“Didn't you guys see each other like... three hours ago?” Chigiri grimaces, “literally in the Blue Lock building?!”
“Aww, I missed you too, Chigiri!” this time he grabs his other friend and lets out a loud laugh, “I missed you all!”
Then he hugs Kunigami, Reo and Nagi.
When he is finally satisfied with the affection he has shown them all, Bachira sits down in the only free chair waiting for him.
“You took a while,” Kunigami observes, “I thought you weren't coming.”
“I’d never miss this,” he replies, leaning his head on Reo’s shoulder so he can see the menu the boy is holding.
“That’s exactly what Isagi said,” Reo snorts. He subtly tilts the menu towards his friend so Bachira can read it more easily with him.
His best friend lets out a laugh.
“Bachira is too energetic to miss a meet-up like this,” Isagi points out easily.
“But he's terrible with time, so he'd be late,” Nagi adds to the reasoning.
Meguru looks at his friend and sticks out his tongue childishly.
He pouts, “‘Yo! I wasn't late because I wanted to be, okay?! Rin-chan and I accidentally fell asleep, so we didn't set an alarm.”
Bachira sits up straight after choosing what he would like to order.
“How did you and Itoshi Rin just end up falling asleep together?” Chigiri raises an eyebrow.
“Rin?” Reo teases in amusement.
Kunigami frowns thoughtfully, “I don't like lies, you don't have to make things up like that just to justify yourself, you know?”
“You and Rin...?” Isagi tilts his head.
This time it's Bachira who makes a confused face.
He didn't mention to his friends that he was staying in a hotel room with Rin while they needed to stay in Tokyo, but... They should have figured that, after all, he and Rin had been dating for almost a year.
It's completely normal for couples to share a bed.
So... why were his friends giving him amused and uncertain looks???
“You guys are messing with me?” Bachira asks, arriving at the only possible logic.
It was a joke from his friends…
“No...?” Chigiri tries to answer, “What do you mean?”
“It was kinda obvious that Rin and I would share a room, wasn't it?”
“What are you talking about?”
“No?”
“Not really...”
“Why would you and Rin do that, Bachira?” Isagi definitely looks confused.
He knows his best friend and knows that look is genuine. Isagi has no idea why he and Rin would do that…
Oh my God!?
Bachira looks momentarily horrified, they're not joking...
“Because Rin and I are dating.”
A silence stretches momentarily, before everyone at the table starts laughing.
What...
Nagi looks too amused, “That's hilarious, very good joke!”
“Did you purposely be late to make a joke like that?” Kunigami asks.
“Actually, I think he really did fall asleep and oversleep, but decided to use Rin's name so we'd focus on that part,” Reo says his thoughts aloud and his friends quickly agree.
Is this serious??
“No... we're literally dating!”
“Uh-huh, of course,” Chigiri snorts amusedly before rolling his eyes, not believing it one bit.
Bachira stands with his mouth open as he stares at his friends' reactions.
This is too weird. He knows he sent a message months ago in their group chat saying about them.
He remembers the exact day.
Meguru can still mentally visualise the messages he received in return. Isagi sent smiling emojis, Kunigami put a thumbs up emoji, Reo told him to have fun, Chigiri asked how long, and Nagi sent a simple ew.
Wait.
Rin came to see me in Barcelona!!! We're finally together >_<
Bachira hits his head on the table, unable to believe he did that…
Finally together.
He said that.
Oh... He didn't say the word dating.
His friends have no idea.
Oh my God...
“Wait— Guys, you misunderstood, I...” He stops talking when he feels Isagi messing up his hair.
“Let's just leave it at that,” Isagi gives him a supportive smile, probably thinking he's helping his friend, “it doesn't matter why you were late, the important thing is that you're here now!”
2.
FC Barcha player spotted wearing rival team's sweatshirt
On Saturday morning (20), Barcha forward Bachira Meguru was spotted at a market in Madrid wearing a Re al sweatshirt, the club's biggest rival.
Fans of the team are expressing their outrage on various social media platforms, as Bachira was the big name this year for leading Barcha to victory in the Copa del Rey. Some say that it is disrespectful of the footballer to the team that welcomed him and helped him grow in the professional world, while others say that it is worrying for the player to appear in Madrid wearing a rival's sweatshirt in the middle of the season.
Could Bachira Meguru be considering leaving his current team for a secret offer from Re al?
FC Barcha released a statement a few hours ago, confirming that Bachira Meguru still has a valid contract until the end of next year and that they do not intend to sell him. They also mentioned that their players are free to support other teams they like or identify with, as long as it does not interfere with their own performance on the pitch.
It is worth remembering that Bachira was responsible for Barcha's victory in their last match against Re al, scoring a beautiful goal in the final minutes of the game.
It may have been a big surprise to discover that the Barcha striker supports Re al, but his commitment to Barcha should not be questioned!
The only thing we should question is why Bachira Meguru was seen in Madrid if he lives in Barcelona. Could the player be hiding an affair...?
The news continues, but Bachira stops reading aloud when he hears his boyfriend snort.
“You can stop reading,” Rin says as he squeezes the knife a little harder than usual, “I don't wanna know about the stupid people the tabloids think you're dating.”
Meguru laughs as he watches his boyfriend chop the vegetables with more anger than usual.
“You're so jealous,” he says, putting his mobile phone in the pocket of the Re al sweatshirt he was still wearing.
They are in Rin's flat in central Madrid, cooking dinner.
Actually... While Rin cooks and Meguru just distracts him occasionally.
“Yes, you're mine,” he snorts.
Bachira laughs again at his boyfriend's cute expression.
“I'm going to make a public statement that I don't support Re al, but I support you,” Meguru hugs his boyfriend from behind, “I'll also say that I came to visit you on my weekend off.”
“Tsk,” Rin tries to appear indifferent, but Meguru knows his jealous boyfriend well enough to know that he would like that.
He is about to tease Rin, but his mobile phone starts beeping annoyingly, as if he is being bombarded with messages. Bachira briefly moves away from his boyfriend to see what it is about.
Oh, right...
Bachira only saw the article posted about him because Chigiri sent it to his best friends' group chat.
Chigiri: [link]
Chigiri: explain yourself @Bachi???
Reo: Wait
Reo: Wtf
Reo: Too much information
Nagi: right??? i dont even know what to ask about
Kunigami: @Bachi do you support real???
Kunigami: lololol they're losers.
Chigiri: didn't your team lose to them recently?
Kunigami: small details....
Kunigami: they're still losers!!!
Reo: This is confusing
Reo: I thought Bachi was like... /very/ loyal to barcha until death or something
Isagi: he is!!!!
Isagi: unless...
Isagi: he really got an offer from Re al
Isagi: ...
Kunigami: barcha said they have no interest in selling him.
Chigiri: and Barcha is in 1st place this season
Chigiri: he wouldn't do that
Chigiri: @Bachi right????
Nagi: nah he wouldnt
Isagi: then why is he in Madrid???
Isagi: @Bachi ???
Isagi: u don't tell your friends anything…
Isagi: :(
“My friends are such idiots,” Meguru sighs, looking indignant as he scrolls through the messages in the chat.
“I’ve been saying this for years.”
“Rin!” He murmurs dramatically as he closes his eyes, “they’re... unbelievable...”
His boyfriend seems amused by his pained expression.
“You can handle any stupidity, you’ve been doing it for years,” he kisses Meguru’s forehead encouragingly.
omg???
u guys are crazy
i tell you EVERYTHING.
yk I’d never leave barcha!!!
im in madrid bc i came to visit rin.
its my weekend off :)
btw the sweatshirt belongs to him
love wearing his clothes <33
and b4 u guys get weird ab him letting me borrow it
he is my BOYFRIEND
so he doesnt mind :)
Bachira feels satisfied with his messages.
Nagi: lol
Nagi: still on that story
Reo: Uh... sure
Reo: /Pretending to believe/
Isagi: ohhhhh that's why ur in Madrid!!!
Isagi: say hello to Rin for me it's been a while since I've seen him
Isagi: btw should u joke about dating him? he won't get angry if he hears u say that?
Kunigami: he probably won't like that joke.
Chigiri: so no real affairs then????
Chigiri: can't believe the media lied sigh
Chigiri: and i was thinking i was going to find out something interesting
He turns off his mobile phone, not bothering to continue reading their messages.
“They still don't believe we're dating,” Bachira snorts.
Months ago, Meguru told his boyfriend that his friends didn't believe they were together and at the time Rin just laughed incredulously.
“Forget about it,” Rin replies casually, “help me set the table.”
3.
Paris is known as the city of love.
Meguru is upset that he never had the opportunity to come to Paris with his beloved boyfriend. Maybe in the future they will be able to do that... but now in the middle of the season it is impossible to even imagine.
Rin couldn't come with him because Re al is playing this weekend. He himself is only in France right now because Barcha is playing a match against PXG tomorrow.
Long-distance relationships can sometimes be really challenging when both people are very busy...
They haven't been video chatting much lately, and they couldn't see each other on Meguru's birthday last weekend because Rin had a match.
Meguru understands that. He really does... he's very busy with his team himself but...
He misses Rin…
“Why you look so down, Bachi?” Karasu sits down next to him on the sofa.
“Ignore him. He's like that for weeks,” Otoya mutters as he sits down next to Bachira too.
Meguru snorts.
“Why?” Shidou asks, approaching with two beers in his hand and handing one to Bachira.
He didn't intend to drink today, but all his friends are drinking and the game they have is only tomorrow night so why not...
He takes a sip of his drink before replying, “I miss Rin.”
Otoya rolls his eyes, having heard this many times before.
“Rinrin?” Shidou tilts his head in confusion.
“Yes, my Rinrin,” he pouts.
An amused chuckle catches Bachira's attention. Hiori. The boy is the most cheerful of them all. He is also the only one drinking more than casually, since he is not playing tomorrow and is only in Paris to visit Karasu.
“Isagi told me you have a crush on Rin.”
“Obviously,” Meguru scoffs.
Of course he has a crush on Rin. He's dating Rin.
“Isagi also told me you make jokes about dating Rin,” Hiori laughs, amused by the idea.
Months later and his friends still think that...
Bachira even tried to convince his friends that he and Rin were really dating, but every time he said it, his friends seemed more and more certain that he was joking.
He honestly doesn't know how to convince them.
He takes a big gulp of his drink.
“I've never heard that joke?” Shidou raises his eyebrow curiously.
“I have, Otoya told me,” Karasu says.
Meguru snorts.
“It's not a joke, I really date Rin.”
Hiori bursts out laughing and Otoya joins him.
“It's true!”
Karasu and Shidou smile amusedly.
“Otoya, please tell them.” He pouts at his friend.
“It's true, guys,” Otoya sighs, “he's been joking about this for over a year.”
They laugh again while Bachira frowns in confusion.
Isagi, Chigiri, Kunigami, Reo, and Nagi thinking it was a joke was okay... He understands. He didn't tell his friends properly, and they don't see him every day...
But Otoya????
He told his friend about every date he and Rin had...
His friend taught him how to flirt.
He gave advice.
He read messages and helped reply...
He helped Meguru choose their first anniversary gift!!!
There's no way he doesn't know...
Bachira grabs his friend's wrist to get his attention, “Otoya, you're just joking, right? You know that Rin and I are in a relationship, right?”
His friend tilts his head and gives an amused smile.
“Of course.”
He doesn't seem credible.
Bachira is no longer sure if his friend really knows.
There's a chance Otoya is just teasing him because it's a funny situation, but the boy is also a bit scatterbrained, so maybe he thinks he and Rin are just really close friends.
Which is apparently quite likely...
Meguru rests his head on the sofa and laments.
He's surrounded by idiots...
4.
“I need help,” is the first thing he says when he joins the video call.
“Bachira!” Isagi is the first to greet him.
“Yo,” Nagi says distractedly.
“I thought you were too busy to talk today?” Chigiri asks.
Every month, his loyal group of best friends tries to make a video call so they can keep in touch even from a distance. It's rare for all of them to show up due to their personal schedules and commitments, but it's a tradition they continue to have even if not everyone can participate.
“I need help choosing a tie,” he shows the two options to the laptop camera.
Nagi hums, “both seem like terrible choices to me.”
“Oh no… that's not good,” Bachira laments.
“How about you try them on so we can see which one looks better?” Isagi suggests.
“Hold on! Where you going dressed like that?” Chigiri asks curiously.
He accepts his friend's suggestion and starts trying on the dark blue tie, “I'm going to dinner at a restaurant with a completely oppressive and chic vibe, hm... alright, what do you think?”
“It's crooked.”
He snorts, “ignore it.”
The sound of keys jingles and a few seconds later another figure appears on Nagi's camera, “hey, guys!”
“Reo!” Bachira claps his hands excitedly. “Look at my outfit, what do you think?”
The boy raises his eyebrow in confusion, he doesn't usually see Bachira in formal wear.
“Your tie is crooked.”
Chigiri smiles, “I told him the same thing.”
Meguru snorts as he tries to fix it. “Better now?”
“No.”
He makes a frustrated noise with his mouth while still trying to fix it.
“Where you going that you need to wear a tie?” Reo asks, pulling up a chair next to Nagi.
“He said it was at a restaurant,” Isagi says, smiling as he watches his friend struggle with the accessory.
“Hm? With who?”
“I wanna know that too.”
Bachira freezes and stares at his friends. They won't believe his answer... why would he bother answering that?
He snorts, “It doesn't matter.”
“Oh?”
“Looks like someone's hiding something from their friends?”
“Let's bet on whether it's a date or a job offer.”
“It's obviously a job offer.”
“I hope it's a date, I'd like some fun gossip.”
Bachira laughs. His friends are terrible.
He could tell them he's going to dinner with Rin's family, but none of them would believe him so...
Nah. He's not even going to waste his energy on that.
“I'm late, I'll tell you about it later,” he says casually.
It wasn't even a lie. Rin would probably come upstairs soon to ask if he was ready.
“Hm… now that the tie isn't crooked, do you like it?”
“I think it suits you.”
“So I don't wear the yellow tie?” He tilts his head, showing the other option.
“Try it on,” Isagi asks.
Meguru pouts but still does what his friend asked.
“Where are you, Bachira? I don't recognise this room,” Reo asks, examining the bookshelf in the background.
“It doesn't look like a hotel to me,” Chigiri adds.
“You guys are too nosy,” he jokes as he finishes adjusting his tie.
“This tie suits you better,” Nagi says thoughtfully.
“Mhm...” Isagi begins, “I think it depends. The dark blue one might be better for something work-related, but the yellow one is more casual like for a date.”
“Thanks!” Bachira seems happy to finally have an answer, “I'll wear the yellow one then.”
“Our Bachira Meguru has a date today, huh?”
“I wonder who with...”
He rolls his eyes in amusement, “but you already know that.”
Chigiri snorts, “here you go again.”
“Rin?” Nagi laughs in good humour.
Bachira told himself he wouldn't tell his friends since they wouldn't believe him, but he can't help himself... At this point, their reactions are hilarious.
“Duh, who else would it be but my gorgeous boyfriend?”
Isagi shakes his head. “One of these days Rin is going to hear you say that.”
“And then you'll have to explain yourself,” Reo adds.
“He'll think you have a crush on him, you know that, right?” Chigiri adds.
“I'd like to see his reaction,” Nagi sighs.
He laughs at a joke only he understands.
“If I tell him I'm in love with him, he'll just kiss me or say he loves me back,” Bachira snorts, “after all, we're dating.”
“You're delusional, it's fascinating.”
He laughs even more.
“I better go before I'm late,” he gives his friends an affectionate smile.
They may be idiots, but they're his idiots.
He leaves the call and closes the laptop.
Meguru takes one last look in the mirror before leaving the room and going downstairs.
“Hey, I was just about to come up and get you,” Rin says before kissing him on the cheek.
“Ew, that's disgusting.”
Bachira laughs when he recognises the voice of his boyfriend's brother in the background. He's not surprised to see Sae there, as he knew the boy was coming with them to the restaurant. He heard Rin arrange it on his mobile earlier.
“Sae, good to see you!”
“Mhm, sure… Rin's boyfriend.”
Rin snorts. “He has a name, you know?”
“No, no, it's fine!” Meguru smiles, “I like it when people call me that.”
It's so rare for someone to recognise him that way...
5.
It's less than thirty minutes until the New Year.
Meguru is perched on the armrest, leaning on Kurona. If the boy is uncomfortable with the weight on his shoulder, he doesn't show it, but Meguru doubts he cares since he's completely drunk at this point in the night.
Isagi, Hiori, Chigiri, and Kunigami squeeze onto a single sofa because they refuse to sit on the other sofa where only Nagi and Reo are sitting. He won't judge his friends; it's extremely sickening to listen to the drunken flirting of those two.
“For you,” Rin approaches his boyfriend with one of the drinks he had been carrying.
Meguru thanks him before taking a sip of the drink. “Mmmm, you always get it right baby.”
Rin seems pleased with the compliment.
“If you need another one, just let me know, okay? I'll be outside with antenna head.”
Meguru gives a thumbs up and takes another sip of his drink.
He watches his boyfriend dodge a few people with a grimace until he reaches the garden. Maybe it's the alcohol in his system but Meguru laughs. It's kind of funny the way Rin avoids most people.
Isagi is throwing a New Year's party for the first time because, according to him, it's important for everyone to start getting along with each other since the World Cup is coming up and blah blah blah.
Maybe it's just because of this long speech that Rin agreed to come.
“Bachira!” Hiori gets his attention, “I’ve got a secret to tell you.”
“Huh?”
“I think Rin might like you too.”
He laughs. He laughs so hard that Kurona has to hold his drink before he spills it all over the carpet and Isagi gets mad at him.
“What?! What makes you think that?” Meguru mocks.
“That's the third drink he's made for you,” Hiori says seriously.
“Yeah, I'm also starting to think that your crush might be mutual,” Reo looks at him seriously as well.
“I've never seen Rin so friendly before,” Isagi adds.
Meguru snorts and laughs even harder.
He's almost crying from laughing so much.
“You guys are... unbelievable.” He takes the drink from Kurona's hand and takes a big sip before standing up decisively. “I'm gonna kiss him so you can see that we're really dating.”
Chigiri quickly grabs his wrist, “Wait until midnight.”
“Why?”
“If he rejects you, fewer people will notice.”
He sighs. “Rin won't do that.”
“Because you're dating?” Nagi mocks.
He chooses to ignore the comment and his friends' laughter. Meguru easily breaks free from Chigiri and walks decisively towards his boyfriend.
That's it!
A kiss!!! A kiss will make his friends finally believe that they're dating!!!
“Rin!” he says excitedly, invading his boyfriend’s personal space.
Rin keeps his balance even when Meguru nearly falls on him. He easily puts one hand on his boyfriend’s waist. “Hey, hey, you okay?”
Meguru pouts as he shakes his head.
“No... I miss you.”
“I'm right here, Meguru.”
Bachira feels the hand on his waist tighten a little more.
But that's not enough.
That wouldn't prove anything to his friends.
Knowing them, they would say that Rin was only holding him like that so he wouldn't fall. And with that thought, he kisses his boyfriend.
Rin kisses back with an intensity that completely melts him, and for a brief moment, Meguru forgets that he was only doing this to prove a point to his friends.
“Wow, that was hot,” Bachira hears someone say and assumes it's Shidou, but he doesn't look to be sure.
He is staring intently at his boyfriend's lips.
He wants more.
He needs more.
Rin definitely understands his gaze, as he leans in and whispers, “how about we take this somewhere else?”
“Meet me on the second floor in five minutes,” he whispers back, before walking away with a triumphant smile and returning to the living room.
As he approaches, Meguru notices that his friends are staring at him with different expressions. Kunigami looks confused, Chigiri has his mouth open, Hiori is still laughing, Isagi is frowning and talking to himself, Kurona is too drunk to have any reaction other than shaking his head, Reo is questioning whether Nagi saw the same thing he did...
They definitely saw it. Perfect!
“Do you guys believe now that Rin and I are dating?”
“Honestly? No,” Nagicchi is the first to speak, “but it's surprising that he kissed you back.”
“I’m shocked too,” Chigiri agrees.
“He’s drunk, isn’t he?” Reo asks.
Meguru snorts.
“Are you serious?! You still don’t believe me?”
“Bachira...” Isagi begins, “what happened today isn't going to affect your relationship for the World Cup, right?”
He starts laughing.
My God!
There's nothing Meguru can do that will make his friends take him seriously. They really don't believe that he and Rin are dating!!!
“You know what... whatever,” he sighs.
He kissed Rin in front of them and they still didn't believe him...
There's nothing that will make his stupid friends believe him.
Meguru gives up.
He's not going to insist on this anymore.
“I'm tired of you guys, I'll be back later,” he mutters, walking away without waiting for a response.
Maybe it's the alcohol that makes him so determined, but Meguru promises himself that he will never talk about Rin in front of them again. He won't say anything else if they don't believe him... Well, screw it!
“You took a while” Rin murmurs as soon as his boyfriend climbs the stairs.
“I didn't!”
The second floor is dimly lit, only by the lights from the floor below, but Bachira can still see the intense look in Rin's eyes. It's okay if no one believes they're dating, it means that Rin's looks are captured only by him!
“I think you were the one who couldn’t wait for me,” Meguru teases, placing his hand on his boyfriend’s chest and pressing him against the wall.
“Maybe...” Rin pulls him closer by the waist.
“Scandalous, Itoshi Rin, what would others say if they saw you saying that?”
“You talk too much, Meguru.”
And before he can retort, Rin leans in to kiss him.
It's addictive.
They definitely lose track of time, but at some point they hear louder voices and fireworks.
“Happy New Year,” Rin whispers on his lips.
+1.
It is Japan's first match after the group stage.
The team is in the locker room preparing for their match against Germany. Although Germany is a strong team, Bachira is not intimidated. To win the World Cup, it is inevitable to face strong opponents, even this early in the competition...
The atmosphere seems a little heavy, perhaps too anxious. They know exactly what they are about to face.
“Are you hurt, Rin?”
Bachira looks at his boyfriend the moment he hears Zantetsu ask. His eyes, like a hawk, scan for any sign of pain but Rin seems fine.
“What?” Rin asks, confused.
“Those red marks...” The boy points vaguely at the athlete's body.
Oh...
Meguru bites his lower lip, unsure whether he wants to stifle a nervous laugh or one of embarrassment.
“Zantetsu, you idiot!” Reo slaps him on the head. “Those are hickeys!”
Some other teammates start teasing Zantetsu for not noticing this right away, but others suddenly seem curious about something else...
“Rinrin, looks like you had a pretty fun night, huh?” Shidou makes a mischievous face.
“And pretty wild... wait, is that a bite mark?!” Karasu approaches the boy, frowning.
“I wanna see!” Hiori also approaches.
Rin hurries to put on his shirt as quickly as possible. “Don't you guys have anything better to do?”
“Don't be annoying,” Otoya puts his arm around Rin's shoulder, “we're just curious, it's not every day we find out that Itoshi Rin has a life outside of football.”
“Yeah, it's kinda unexpected,” Nagi mutters.
Rin pulls away from Otoya's touch, “it's really nothing special.”
“Is this a casual thing or are you dating, Rin?” Chigiri asks.
“It's a bit rude to ask that, princess,” Kunigami tries to intervene.
“Don't tell me you're not curious...”
“What?” Rin frowns at the question.
That was a stupid question...
Chigiri was literally one of Meguru's closest friends, wasn't he? He should know that.
Rin looks at his boyfriend for answers.
I told you... Meguru shrugs and smiles slightly.
Rin sighs indignantly when he realises that his boyfriend was telling the truth... Meguru's friends are all idiots.
“I saw this glance,” someone points out between Bachira and Rin, “he knows the answer, right?”
This time even Sae snorts before leaving the locker room.
Bachira understands the feeling, he honestly would rather leave too.
“Are you guys playing dumb to stress me out?” Rin asks.
“...”
“Meguru mentioned that he told his friends we were dating.”
“...”
“You told them, didn't you?” Rin asks his boyfriend directly this time.
“Lots of times,” Bachira laughs as he recalls.
He gave up trying to convince his friends in the New Year. It was months ago...
“Wait- So... Oh my God?! Bachira!” Isagi is the first to show any reaction. “You weren’t joking! You and Rin! You and Rin... You two!”
“That's a bit of a delayed reaction, Isagi.”
“At least now he's having an epiphany about that and not because we're facing Kaiser in a few minutes, right?”
Bachira laughs, noticing that the mood in the locker room seems lighter now and less tense.
“Now do you believe that Rin and I are dating?” He says one last time.
“Mhm... now that Rin has told us...” Chigiri sighs and nods.
“I'm sorry for doubting your word, Bachira,” Kunigami looks genuinely shocked.
Meguru is genuinely happy.
Finally! Finally! Finally!
“Sorry for thinking it was a joke,” Hiori has the decency to look remorseful.
Otoya, however, still seems unconvinced. “You mean I see you practically every day and didn't know that you two were dating?”
“You were definitely the dumbest of them all,” Bachira snorts.
“Hey!”
“Seriously! You helped me pick out a one-year anniversary gift, you helped me make the restaurant reservations, you helped me flirt, you...”
“No wonder those awful flirting attempts weren’t yours,” Rin interrupts.
“Oh, c’mon, you guys are together! My flirting must have helped somehow,” Otoya protests.
“No.”
“Actually, I almost got blocked.”
Meguru shares an amused glance with his boyfriend. Now that his friends believe him, maybe he can finally tell them the whole story of how they fell in love!
“Looking back now...” Reo frowns, “that kiss on New Year's Eve didn't feel like a first kiss.”
“Yeah...” Isagi shakes his head, still in disbelief, “and they disappeared at some point during the party too. It was so...”
“Obvious,” Nagi finishes his sentence with a snort.
Bachira claps his hands. “It only took you guys two years, but you finally got it, congratulations!”
“We're such idiots...”
“Yes.”
“Yeah.”
“Definitely.”