Over the lengthening time that he's away, you and Nagi settle into a comfortable routine- he calls you during the evening, to avoid you getting into trouble at school (having your phone confiscated for a week because Nagi simply wouldn't stop dialling your number hadn't been fun at all, for either of you) , telling you about his day and you doing the same.

He doesn't call you every single day; sometimes, he's too tired, or he's late-night training with Reo.

Today, however, is different- the date marks his two week anniversary in Blue Lock, and whilst it's not really that long, it feels like an eternity for you.

As of right now, that's not what's bothering you; it's the troubled expression on Nagi's face as he listens to you talk, his grey eyes clouded over and his mouth downturned.

"Nagi," You decide to just abandon what you were saying to him and address the issue. "What's the matter with you? Did something happen?"

"Hm?" Nagi hums as he slowly meets your gaze, running a hand through soft white locks to push his hair out of his eyes.

"You didn't tell me about your game today. Against Team Z, right?" You prompt, and you know it hasn't gone well when his jaw clenches.

"Yeah," He concedes, holding his phone so close to himself that you can only see the light blue of his sweatshirt and the bottom of his chin. "Against Team Z."

"You lost, huh?"

"Yeah."

Ah, that explains it.

"You're only human, Nagi," You sigh, wanting more than ever to be able to reach through the screen and run your fingers through his hair and console him. "It happens."

"It's  frustrating. I really don't like this feeling."

"That's a good thing then," You tell him. "Means that you'll try harder next time, that there's room for improvement."

"... I guess you're right." Nagi says, and you hate how distant he sounds.

"I usually am," You try for a joke, and Nagi chuckles slightly, the sound of his amusement making your heart flutter.

"You usually are." He echoes softly.

You feel yourself melting into a puddle on your bed, and clear your throat, wanting to move on the conversation and absolve whatever weird tension Nagi's settled over the two of you.

"Anyways, you're through, aren't you? To the next round or whatever."

"I am, yeah," Nagi's still clutching his phone to his chest, but you decide not to say anything about it. "Now we've got to just train and stuff to improve before meeting the other teams in the other buildings."

"Is that why I can hear Reo aggressively counting his push-ups in the background?"

"Not just him, Zantetsu too. Except Zantetsu can barely count so Reo's counting for both of them."

"I can count!" Zantetsu's indignant protest leads both you and Nagi to burst out laughing. "It just gets confusing when Reo counts over me!"

"Yeah, yeah, make your excuses," Nagi huffs. "Doesn't change the fact that you're an idiot."

You feel slightly relieved, glad that Nagi's mood seems to have improved.

You're also slightly intrigued-he never seemed to be that interested in football before, so him taking this loss to heart is new. Blue Lock really has changed him, you suppose, whether for better or worse, you aren't sure yet.

As long as he keeps in contact with you, you don't really mind.

-

Nagi's call comes at the exact same time the next week- you pick up excitedly, eager to talk with him again (the chokehold he has over you is crazy) but falter when you see his face.

He looks tired, the bags under his eyes dark and prominent, his hair falling flat against his face. His mouth is pulled into a slight frown, and whilst his face retains its usual neutral expression, you know him well enough to know something is up.

"Nagi?" You ask tentatively. "Is everything alright?"

"I lost again." He replies, his voice heavy.

"Wanna talk about it?"

His mouth snaps shut and he shakes his head no, and you feel your throat squeeze and tighten.

"Nagi, you can talk to me." You prompt gently. "I'm not going anywhere. I'm right here, you know? I'm right here with you."

He's hesitant for a second before breaking open like a dam; he tells you everything, from there being no higher teams (turns out, Ego had lied about that) to the 100 goal challenge, and all about how him and Reo had parted ways.

"Really?" You ask incredulously. "You seriously left Reo?"

He shrugs. "Well, yeah. I wanted to play with Isagi."

"Isagi? Who's that?"

Nagi's camera flips, and he reveals a black-haired guy on the bunk below him, muttering incessantly to himself as he draws on a sheet of paper- you've seen Reo strategise enough times to know that he's devising formations for a match of some sorts, although there are only four players in his diagram.

"Isagi, say hi."

Isagi doesn't hear him, mumbling something about a middle shot range, and Nagi reaches down to tap lightly on Isagi's head.

He jumps, staring at Nagi with a bewildered expression, before glancing at the camera.

"Nagi? Are you filming me?"

"Nah, it's my girlfriend. Say hi."

You stifle your laugh as he shoots Nagi a disbelieving look, before smiling confusedly into his camera and waving at you.

"Hi, Nagi's girlfriend."

"Hi, Isagi!" You chirp, and Isagi shoves Nagi's phone out of his face as he returns to whatever it is he was doing.

"Alright, now leave me alone, you lazy genius. I'm busy."

"Okay." Nagi says, and flips the camera back onto himself.

"Nagi, you've got a bunk bed now?" You ask curiously. "You never had that before."

"Yeah, now it's just me and Isagi, so we're stuck here."

"Wait, so what happened to Reo again?"

He explains to you the process of Blue Lock's second selection; choose a trio, play against another team of three, and win to collect a player to go to the next round.

"Me and Reo passed the 100 goal thing really quick." He says, and he looks rather proud of himself. "I finished seventh out of all the 125, and Reo was eighth."

"Of course you were." You smile at him fondly. Trust him to pass with flying colours.

"Then we were told to form a team of three, so I wanted to wait for Isagi. He's from Team Z, and he's the one who beat us in that match a while ago."

"Okay, but then what?"

"That's where things went a bit wrong. Isagi came a bit after- he was fifteenth- but he wanted to be in the same team as Bachira and he wouldn't join me and Reo."

You have no idea who Bachira is, but you don't ask.

"Is that when you and Reo split?"

"Yeah," Nagi says casually, and you're surprised at how nonchalant he is. "I joined Isagi and Bachira and told Reo to meet up with me later."

"Oh my god, Nagi," You groan, closing your eyes and sighing. "You can be so terrible sometimes, you know?"

"Why does everyone keep acting like I committed a crime?" Nagi protests, throwing his hands up in exasperation. "Even Reo! He was looking at me like I killed his entire family! All I did was team up with someone else?"

"You're so dense, you know that? Of course he's gonna be upset with you! You literally abandoned him!"

"But I didn't." Nagi replies, getting slightly heated. "I told him that I was going to improve with Isagi so we could play football again- so that I can play on my own, and improve on my own. Is that so bad?"

"Well, no," You say, immediately recognising where the misunderstanding with Reo started. "But did you specify that?"

"Do I have to?" He retorts, and you have to admit, he's got a point. "Why do I have to explain myself? I'm sure he'll understand, once he gets over himself."

"I hope that's the case." You say. "I'm sure he'll come around. He's Reo, after all."

"Yeah."

"And I'm assuming you lost your third person in a match?"

"... Annoyingly, yeah. Those guys were so good, you wouldn't even believe it."

"They must've been quite special, if they beat you." You admit. "It's hard to imagine."

"That's why it's only me and Isagi, now. We're going against Barou tomorrow, though, and we're going to beat him and force him to be on our team."

The name Barou sounds familiar. "Have I heard of this Barou before?"

"Yeah, you have. He was on Team X."

"Wait, how long have you had your phone for?" Isagi interrupts your conversation from his bed, and Nagi shrugs.

"Since my first match with Team Y."

"... you scored three goals on the first day?"

"Yeah?"

You hear Isagi scoff in disbelief. "Man, you're in a whole different league."

There's a creak as Isagi stands on his bed, peeking over the top of Nagi's phone, his bangs slightly brushing over the camera. He's got dark blue eyes, and raises his eyebrow as he sees your face.

"Woah, Nagi, your girlfriend's pretty."

"Um, thanks?" You say, and he gives you a wink before retracting back, landing with a thud onto the floor.

"Anyways, Nagi's girlfriend, we've got to go, so he'll talk to you later."

"What are you talking about?" Nagi asks. "I'm not going anywhere."

"... Dude, we need to practice. Unless you want to lose tomorrow to King Barou."

"That's got to be the lamest nickname I've ever heard." You comment, and both Nagi and Isagi snicker.

"The worst part is, he calls himself that." Nagi says, and Isagi snorts with laughter.

"You coming or not?" He asks, and Nagi shakes his head no.

"Give me just like, ten more minutes. Then I'll practice all you want, dude, I promise."

"I'll hold you to that." Isagi warns. "Your girlfriend is my witness."

There's a click as the door shuts when he leaves the room, and Nagi sighs.

"He's a bit like Reo, you know. Always hard work, and never rest."

"Maybe that's a good thing," You offer with a shrug. "But are you sure you'll be alright without Reo?"

Nagi's expression darkens immediately, his grey eyes slanting as he looks at you.

"What's the big deal about Reo?" He demands. "Why do you care so much about him?"

"I mean, he's my friend too, you know? I'm worried that you guys are going to fall out, if you haven't already."

"What's the problem, though? If you care so much, go and speak to Reo, not me." He pouts childishly, and you feel yourself getting defensive.

"Even if I wanted to, I couldn't, Nagi. You're the only one I can speak to."

"Well, sorry to disappoint you." He replies curtly. "You're stuck speaking to boring old me, and not Reo, like you obviously want to."

"What's gotten into you?" You ask, taken aback by his outburst. "Of course I want to talk to you, Nagi!"

"Yeah, well, it doesn't seem like it." He mumbles darkly.

You stare at him, unsure of what to say.

"Okay, I'm sorry," You eventually say, sighing. "I'll drop it. I was just worried about you guys, that's all. But that's not my place, so I won't talk about it anymore."

"Okay, good." He huffs.

Silence.

"You're not mad at me, are you?" You ask hesitantly. "Nagi?"

"No, I'm not mad at you." He sighs, running a hand through his hair and offering you a soft smile. "I flipped out at you for no reason, so I'm sorry."

"It's fine."

"We good?"

"Yeah, we're good."

Somewhere, in the back of your mind, you get the feeling that everything is not good, that there's still some unresolved tension between the two of you and you're scared that it'll escalate.

It won't. You won't let it.

You and Nagi will be fine, right?