⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ I DON'T KNOW MUCH, BUT I KNOW I WANT YOU
pairing: Hiori Yo x [FEM!] Reader
genre: fluff, first crush, oneshot/drabble, hiori character study if you squint, classmates to lovers, pre-bluelock au, canon compliant
synopsis: hiori knows something is wrong with him when he can't focus during practice, or during games, or during anything really. he initially pins the blame on you, you're the only thing occupying his mind whenever he tries to do anything. karasu says hiori's got it bad (aka he's in love) but there's no way, ...right? (or in which our cyan haired prodigy tries to figure out his very obvious feelings for you, and karasu teases him like the amazing friend he is)
CW: mild language, potentially ooc hiori and karasu, mentions of toxic/controlling parents (I mean it's hiori what do you expect?)
The whistle sounded, and the match came to an end, and Bambi Osaka Youth had...
Lost actually.
Normally Hiori would've been worried about his parents' reaction. How they would make sure he got even more practice than usual, and how his mother would put him on another excessive and controlling diet.
Normally Hiori would be dreading the walk back home, already feeling the disappointment radiating off of his father, even if they weren't present at the match itself. The fear that maybe today would be that day that his parents would stop loving him, the day where his facade would finally shatter. The day that he would finally fall off the thin tight rope that he had been clinging to his whole life.
But today, his thoughts were anything but normal.
The only thing plaguing his mind was you, some pretty girl that became his seatmate in school a few weeks ago.
He spotted you before heading to the change rooms with the rest of his teammates today, and his mind reverted to the dumb fantasies he always got whenever your were around.
They usually consisted of him holding your hand, giving you your favorite flowers, or sometimes they were just snapshots of you.
Your smile, your voice, anything and everything about you drove him crazy.
Not that he would ever admit it.
Hiori's developed a sixth sense to your presence, even during the short time that's he's known you. He doesn't know why, nor does he know the name of the feeling that makes his heart jump to his throat whenever he hears your laugh, but he's always certain whenever you're nearby.
He decided to risk a glance, and lo and behold, there you were, chatting with a friend about something. Your face lit up at something that she said, and you playfully swatted her arm in retaliation to something.
"It's rude ta' stare ya' know."
With a mere brush of shoulders, Hiori's attention was drawn away from you, and to his raven haired teammate instead. Karasu leans forward to get a better look at you, quickly analyzing your behaviour and mannerisms before turning back to his teammate.
"So that why you've been so distracted lately."
Karasu looked at Hiori with that shit-eating grin of his. That same face he always makes whenever he sees right through him. It was almost concerning how well his upperclassman seemed to know him.
"If ya' like her so much, you should just talk to her."
"I- I don't like her."
"Those starry eyes of yers' say otherwise."
Hiori looked away and tried his best to hide the red hue that spreads across his face. Of course there was no point in doing so since he was dealing with the ever-so-lovely Karasu Tabito, but he didn't need his teammates calling him out.
Not yet at least, he didn't even know what was going on in his own head, or heart for that matter.
Their coach called them over, everyone was about to be granted leave, the two of them walked over and positioned themselves next to the rest of the team, and coach went on about how they shouldn't slack off during practice or somethin'
Not that Hiori could care, seeing as how you were only a few meters away from him, some cheaply painted fence being the only thing standing in between the two of you.
Coach kept lecturing and scolding them, but Hiori's gaze kept wandering back to you.
Why were you here? Were you watching the game? Were you watching him? Did you like soccer? Had you watched his other games before? If you did, how has he not noticed yet? Maybe one of his teammates knew you personally. Wait- what if you were dating someone on the team?-
Hiori doesn't know why, but the thought of you being taken gives him a sinking feeling.
Suddenly he felt a blunt kick against his ankle. It's Karasu, of course.
"What the fu-"
"Not my fault yer' too busy ogling at her to concentrate, consider this a favour."
The older boy quickly cut him off before any crass language could fall from his lips, and Hiori's focus returned to whatever their coach was saying, but his superior's words simply entered one ear and exited the other.
His mind was still filled with thoughts of you, and only you, and when he saw you leave with your friend from the corner of his eye, he felt that same sinking feeling again.
When their coach finally dismissed them, Hiori was tempted to try and catch up with you, but he doesn't dare, Bambi Osaka lost, which was already enough to get a scolding from his parents, but coming home late? 'Cuz of a girl no less?
Yeah, he wasn't that reckless, even when it came to you
Though that same sinking feeling returns when he saw your figure slowly leave his vision, already missing your presence.
Apparently his gloom was evident, because the second he returned his focus back to his teammates once more, he was met with Karasu and that God forsaken look of his.
It was still incredibly concerning of how easy it was for his senior to pick him apart with a simple glance.
"She's gonna think yer' some creep if ya' keep staring at 'er like that."
"Shut up ya' stupid crow."
Karasu took a few steps forward, but slowed down his pace because he was waiting for Hiori to follow him. He had actually gotten the approval of his parents to take the train back home with Karasu. Hiori didn't know how, but he wasn't complaining.
The younger boy followed him, as they walked off the field with the rest of their team.
Everyone exchanged farewells before dispersing into their own groups, some walking home and others heading to a local convenience store or cafe to wind down.
And that left Hiori and Karasu to walk to the station, Karasu leading the way, and Hiori following him like a puppy.
The walk was silent for quite some time, the only prominent view being Karasu's back facing towards him.
Of course, Karasu couldn't keep that big mouth of his shut, and it seemed like today was no different.
"So what's she like?"
"What do ya mean?"
Karasu rolled his eyes and gave him an unimpressed look.
"That girl."
Hiori paused for a second, he actually didn't know that much about you, he thought you were really nice, and pretty, and you always lent him your stationary, even though you forgot it on some days. You even let him keep a turquoise glitter gel pen of yours since he seemed to like writing with them so much.
"It matches your eyes."
He distinctly remembers your words from a couple weeks ago, when your hands brushed as you gave him the pen, and the way you smiled when you pulled it out of your pencil case. The pen's ink was halfway finished but there was still a substantial amount left.
"Lemme know if you need another!"
He wouldn't admit it but he exclusively used that pen for all his assignments from that day forward.
Suddenly he heard Karasu clear his throat, snapping him out of his daydreams and back to reality.
"Uh, she's..."
Hiori paused once more, trying to think of a word that could actually do you justice.
"....nice?"
"So ya don't know anything about 'er other than the fact that yer' whipped for 'er?"
He was taken aback by the blunt statement, but it was true, other than the fact that he knew that you were nice, he didn't know much else about you.
"Must be one hell of a gal if she can get the attention of our local prodigy without tryin'"
Hiori playfully swatted his shoulder.
"I told ya not to call me that! But yeah, she is."
Maybe Hiori didn't know much about romance, or about you, but there was one thing he knew for sure.
If it came to you, he was willing to change that.
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Chap 1 VS. Chap 226:
Development of Isagi Yoichi
SPOILERS
Dwelling on the "What-Ifs" and producing results...
The "what if" scenario in Chap.1 came from a very unsure Isagi who questioned Ichinans ideals but still went with it anyway-so that layer of doubt and asking "what if" ate at him even after they lost. He was stuck in that loop of asking, "Could it have been different IF i took the shot instead?"
Now in NEL, Isagi himself is saying that what ifs dont mean sht if you can't produce results. And that his plans are just that - plans - if he can't bring them to life.
Instead of dwelling on it and making excuses, he acknowledges that something didn't work or there's a missed opportunity,so he has to try something else to MAKE it work.
Going back, he conformed to Ichinan's ideals when he passed the ball in that match even when he knew could score because that was the philosophy.
Now, Isagi's monologue is him saying, "I'm doing this my way. If you dont like it, then do something about it."
"Your individuality is stiffled."
Isagis has been there and done that before Blue Lock. So he knows that how the Ubers are playing, mindlessly executing Snuffy's plans-is stunting their individual egos. Which is why he's so disappointed when he realizes that Barou - the self-proclaimed king wasn't giving him a challenge.
Barou ignites his ego after he realizes that, too and realizes that yeah, Snuffy's tactics are good - great even- but what was the point if they couldn't score?
I really enjoyed this chapter because it kept bringing me back to chap 1 Isagi and just seeing all these panels of him growing 🥺 He's slowly turning into that striker he's always wanted and surrounded by people pushing him to his limits.
He went from almost giving up, pre-Blue Lock, to realizing just how big of a potential he has and how his dreams can be attained. 😭
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