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The Blue Lock common room was buzzing with small, casual conversations on this well-deserved rest day. The players had scattered—some discussing strategy, others chatting about girls, while a few lounged on the couches or played various video games.
Among them, Hiori sat comfortably in front of the room's main screen, controller in hand. A palpable sense of focus surrounded him as he navigated through a kart racing game with effortless precision.
Rin Itoshi, meanwhile, observed silently. He had only intended to pass by and grab a bottle of water, but something about the way Hiori played had caught his attention. The serious look on his face, his precise movements, and... that faint, satisfied smile whenever he overtook an opponent.
"Can I play?" Rin finally asked in his usual flat tone.
Hiori looked up, surprised. Rin didn’t seem like the type to be interested in video games.
"Oh... Sure," Hiori replied, handing him a controller with a shy smile.
They started a match in team mode, and within minutes, it was painfully clear that Rin had absolutely no experience in this domain. His kart never went straight, constantly fell into ravines, and crashed into walls.
"Why does it keep turning on its own?!" Rin growled, furiously mashing buttons.
Hiori burst out laughing, a light and crystalline sound that made Rin blush slightly.
"You have to brake on the turns, or else you’ll—well, see? You just hit a banana peel."
"A banana peel?!" Rin repeated, incredulous, staring at the screen as if he had just conceded a goal in the World Cup finals.
Their exchange soon caught Isagi's attention as he walked by.
"Wait, Rin’s playing? Seriously?"
"And he’s terrible," Bachira chimed in with a wide, teasing grin, drawing more curious onlookers.
Rin tensed.
"You want to play? Grab a controller. I’ll beat all of you."
Hiori gently shook his head.
"Rin, maybe you should learn how to stop driving in reverse first..."
The room erupted in laughter. Rin, visibly vexed, clenched his teeth and pointed a finger at Hiori. "Fine. Train me."
"Huh?" Hiori blinked, caught off guard.
"You heard me. You’re good, right? Then train me."
And so, an unlikely training session began.
A Few Days Later
Hiori and Rin had spent several evenings together, sitting side by side in front of the screen, holding Hiori's Switch controllers. Hiori was patient, explaining the rules and offering tips, while Rin, true to himself, approached video games with intense competitiveness.
Over time, their dynamic began to evolve. Hiori learned to anticipate Rin's mood swings, and Rin—though he’d never admit it—appreciated Hiori’s soft laughter and encouraging remarks.
One evening, as they played one of Hiori’s countless Mario games, Rin muttered, “You didn’t have to do that for me. You could’ve taken the Fire Flower yourself.”
Hiori smiled gently. “I did it because I wanted to. I don’t mind.”
A silence settled between them—not awkward, but heavy with unspoken thoughts. Rin turned his head slightly toward Hiori, his eyes meeting his.
“Do you… have fun with me?” Rin asked, his voice almost hesitant.
Hiori burst out laughing. “Of course I do! You’re… funny, Rin.”
Rin frowned. “Funny?”
“Yeah, funny. You’re so serious, even about ridiculous things like dodging a banana peel or stomping on a Goomba. It’s… cute.”
Rin quickly looked away, his ears turning red. “Tch. Focus on the game.”
But his heart was beating just a little faster.
One night, the two boys were so engrossed in their game that they didn’t notice the other players gathering behind them, whispering and stifling their laughter.
“Hey, don’t you think they’re adorable?” Bachira murmured.
“Totally. Look at Hiori, he’s so happy, he can’t stop smiling,” Chigiri added.
“And Rin? He’s obviously trying not to smile, but it’s so obvious,” Isagi chuckled.
When Rin finally turned around to ask why everyone was laughing, he was met with a crowd of grinning faces.
“What?!” Rin barked, his cheeks slightly flushed.
“Nothing, nothing,” Bachira replied with a mischievous grin. “Carry on. You’re officially our couple goals now.”
Hiori, who had stayed quiet, smiled softly and murmured to Rin, “Should we just let them think whatever they want?”
Rin looked at him, then shrugged. “As long as they leave us alone.” But deep down, he couldn’t help but think that playing with Hiori had become his new favorite routine.
Ever since the embarrassing moment when all of Blue Lock had labeled them the "official couple of the common room," Rin and Hiori had tried to keep a low profile… with very limited success.
Every time they sat down to play together, a group of onlookers inevitably gathered behind them, whispering comments, exchanging knowing looks, or bursting into laughter at their interactions.
Yet, that didn’t stop Rin from continuing to play.
Hiori, on the other hand, seemed to find the situation more amusing than embarrassing. He quickly realized that Rin, despite his grumpy demeanor, genuinely enjoyed their time together.
One evening, when most of the others had retreated to their rooms, Rin entered the common room carrying a box.
“What’s that?” Hiori asked, curious.
Rin placed the box on the table. “A new game. I thought we could try it.”
Hiori raised an impressed eyebrow. “You bought this?”
Rin shrugged, looking away. “It’s nothing. I just… wanted something different. Besides, I’ve got too much money sitting in my Blue Lock account, and I never use it.”
They opened the box to find a complete set for a multiplayer virtual reality game.
“Wait, you mean we’re gonna have to wear these headsets?” Hiori chuckled lightly.
Rin nodded. “It’ll make things more interesting.”
A few minutes later, they were both immersed in a fantastical world where they had to work together to defeat monsters, solve puzzles, and explore dungeons—a genre Hiori particularly loved.
“Rin, watch out! Behind you!” Hiori’s voice rang through the headset.
“I know! Stop yelling!” Rin snapped, awkwardly flailing around as he tried to fight off a massive dragon with his virtual sword.
Hiori lifted his headset and burst out laughing as he watched Rin gesturing wildly. In the game, Rin’s character was graceful and precise, but in real life, he looked like a cat swiping at a fly.
“Stop laughing and help me!” Rin growled.
Still laughing, Hiori dove back into the game, casting a flurry of spells to save his teammate. Together, they defeated the dragon, and a massive “VICTORY” flashed on the screen.
Rin let out a sigh of relief. “Finally.”
Hiori took off his headset, his slightly messy hair sticking out. “Not bad, Rin. You’re getting better.”
“Obviously. I’m good at everything I do,” Rin replied with a hint of pride.
Hiori smiled, amused by Rin’s arrogance and his disheveled hair. But he noticed something in Rin’s expression—a genuine spark of satisfaction, as if he truly enjoyed the moment.
“You know,” Hiori began hesitantly, “I didn’t think we’d become this close, you and me.”
Rin blinked, surprised by the sudden confession. “Why not?”
Hiori shrugged, a shy smile playing on his lips. “You’re… intimidating. But in the end, you’re just someone who takes things really seriously. It’s…”
“What?” Rin asked, narrowing his eyes slightly.
“Adorable,” Hiori finished, a playful glint in his eyes.
Rin blushed faintly, clearing his throat. “You’re talking nonsense.”
But before he could say more, the door to the common room burst open.
“I KNEW IT!” Bachira shouted, barging in, followed by Chigiri and Isagi.
Rin and Hiori froze.
“You’re playing AGAIN in secret?!” Bachira exclaimed, feigning dramatic indignation.
“They’re definitely surpassing Nagi and Reo at this point,” Chigiri added with a smirk.
“You could at least invite us, right?” Isagi chimed in with mock offense.
Rin rolled his eyes. “Nobody asked for your opinions.”
But Hiori, ever calm, turned to them with a smile. “Do you guys want to play too?”
Rin whipped around to glare at him. “No, they don’t. This is our thing.”
A stunned silence followed.
Then Bachira burst out laughing. “Oh wow, Rin, you’re really attached to Hiori, huh?”
Realizing what he’d just said, Rin immediately looked away, his face turning bright red.
“You should leave them alone,” Chigiri declared, putting on a mock-serious tone. “After all, you don’t interrupt a date.”
With that, the trio left, laughing and whispering as they disappeared down the hallway.
Hiori, still smiling, glanced at Rin with a mischievous glint in his eyes. “So, this is our thing, huh?”
Rin groaned, crossing his arms. “Shut up and restart the game.”
Ever since that awkward encounter when Bachira, Chigiri, and Isagi had caught them, Rin and Hiori had gone out of their way to find more secluded spots for their gaming sessions. They’d found refuge in a small unused room near the locker rooms, where they had borrowed one of the common room’s secondary screens. It was a quiet corner where they could enjoy their evenings without interruptions.
That night, they decided to try out a new exploration game where two players took on the roles of adventurers searching for a lost treasure.
Hiori was intently focused on the screen. “You take the left; I’ll handle the right. Watch out, there are traps everywhere.”
Rin nodded, but his character almost immediately tripped an invisible wire, triggering a giant boulder that rolled straight toward him.
“ARE YOU SERIOUS?!” Hiori burst out laughing as Rin lost a life in record time.
“They should add a manual to this game,” Rin grumbled, clearly annoyed.
Hiori wiped away a tear of laughter, reaching over to pat Rin’s shoulder. “You’re improving, I promise. But seriously, who gets hit by a boulder in the first level?”
Rin crossed his arms, looking away, though a faint smile tugged at his lips. “Tch. Stop laughing, or I’ll leave you to fend for yourself.”
Hiori shook his head, his warm smile lighting up his face. “Never. We’re a duo, right?”
Rin glanced at him out of the corner of his eye. Those words, simple but sincere, struck a chord deep within him. He wasn’t used to hearing things like that. Most people relied on him to win, but no one had ever really cared about him like this.
“Yeah,” he murmured after a pause. “A duo.”
As they continued the game, the atmosphere in the little room grew more relaxed. Hiori, ever patient, guided Rin through puzzles and traps, while Rin, true to his competitive nature, threw himself into improving.
After defeating a particularly tough boss, Hiori set down his controller and turned to Rin.
“You know,” he began softly, “I’m really glad we started playing together.”
Rin raised an eyebrow, caught off guard by his partner’s serious tone. “Why?”
Hiori lowered his gaze, nervously fiddling with the drawstring of his hoodie. “Because… I feel good when I’m with you. It’s relaxing to be around you.”
Rin stayed silent for a moment, thrown by the unexpected confession. Finally, he sighed and looked away, as though searching for the right words.
“I feel the same. Well, except when my car starts reversing instead of moving forward,” he said at last. “You don’t treat me like… some emotionless robot. With you, it’s… simple.”
Hiori looked up, and their eyes met.
The silence that followed wasn’t awkward. On the contrary, it was one of those rare moments where words felt unnecessary.
Hiori’s heart began to race. Rin, with his usually stoic expression, looked strangely vulnerable in that moment.
Taking a deep breath, Hiori did something he never thought he’d have the courage to do. Gently, he reached out and placed his fingers on Rin’s hand, resting on the couch between them.
Rin flinched slightly but didn’t pull away.
“You know,” Hiori whispered, his voice barely audible, “I’m really glad to be with you like this.”
Rin’s eyes widened slightly, but he said nothing. Hiori, now blushing furiously, quickly pulled his hand back.
“Sorry, I—”
“No,” Rin interrupted, his voice quiet but firm. He reached out and placed his hand over Hiori’s, stopping him from pulling away completely.
The silence returned, but this time, it was filled with a warm, comforting tension.
Rin’s grip tightened ever so slightly, an awkward but genuine gesture. “I’m glad too.”
Hiori blinked, surprised, before a radiant smile spread across his face.
For a while, they stayed like that, the game still running in the background, completely forgotten.
A few days later, Bachira, always curious, caught them again in their secret corner.
“Oh wow, what do we have here? A private date?” he teased as he entered without hesitation.
Hiori, as red as a tomato, tried to protest. “No, it’s not like that, we—”
But Rin, being true to himself, simply stared at Bachira with a cold gaze. “Shut up and leave.”
Bachira burst out laughing. “Ooooh, it’s serious then! I’ll leave you two lovebirds alone.”
Once he was finally gone, Hiori turned to Rin, a shy smile on his face. “You know, if you keep reacting like this, they’re really going to think we’re together.”
Rin raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable. Then, to Hiori’s surprise, he shrugged.
“So what?”
Hiori’s heart skipped a beat, but before he could respond, Rin grabbed the controller and restarted the game, as if nothing had happened.
But Hiori couldn’t help but smile.
Rin had arrived a little earlier than usual, holding a small box of candy in his hand. He placed it on the little table and sat down, waiting for Hiori, his heart oddly anxious.
When Hiori arrived, a warm smile lit up his face.
“You’re already here? That’s rare,” he joked as he set down his bag.
Rin shrugged, trying to hide his unease. “I didn’t want us to waste time on that boss again.”
“Oh, so that’s why,” Hiori replied with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
They sat side by side, the screen softly lighting their faces. But instead of starting the game, Rin seemed hesitant.
“Hiori,” he began, his eyes fixed on the screen.
“Hmm?” Hiori responded, curious.
Rin took a deep breath. “I... I wanted to say something.”
Hiori gently set his controller down, his expression serious. “I’m listening.”
Rin looked away slightly, his cheeks turning a shade of pink. “It’s... weird for me to say this, but... playing with you is the first time I’ve felt... good. Not just in a match or on the field, but really... good in ways you wouldn’t think.”
Hiori felt his heart tighten. He gently placed a hand on Rin’s shoulder.
“You know,” he murmured, a soft smile on his lips, “I feel the same way.”
Rin turned to look at him, their gazes meeting again. This time, there was no hesitation, no barrier.
In a burst of courage, Hiori leaned slightly forward. “Do you mind if I do something a little stupid?” he asked, a nervous smile on his face.
Rin raised an eyebrow. “What?”
Without waiting for a clear answer, Hiori gently placed a kiss on his cheek.
Rin froze, his eyes widening slightly. But he didn’t pull away. Instead, after the initial surprise, he turned toward Hiori with a serious look.
“If you do that,” he whispered, his voice lower, “you’ll have to own up to it.”
Hiori burst into laughter, but it quickly turned into a radiant smile. “Then I’ll own up to it.”
In the days that followed, their dynamic subtly changed. They continued to play together, but each moment was punctuated by softer gestures: shoulders brushing, lingering glances, sincere smiles.
Their relationship was no secret—not with Bachira around. But strangely, no one seemed surprised.
“And another couple,” Chigiri murmured to Isagi as they watched them play.
“We’ve known it for weeks,” Isagi replied, laughing softly.
As for Rin and Hiori, they ignored the comments, too focused on their game... and on each other.
One evening, after completing a difficult level, Rin turned to Hiori.
“Hiori.”
“Yes?”
Rin hesitated for a second, then reached out to gently brush Hiori’s hand.
“Thank you,” he murmured.
Hiori felt his heart melt. “For what?”
Rin looked at him, his expression soft but sincere. “For being you.”
Hiori smiled, placing his hand over Rin’s. “And thank you for being you.”
They stayed like that for a while, their hands intertwined, a knowing smile on their faces.
Rin broke the silence. “Is it my turn to do something stupid?”
Before Hiori could respond, Rin leaned his face closer to Hiori’s and pressed his lips against his.
The game could wait.