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"Ah btw, if you don't kiss him just because you're too shy, I'll have you pay for my lunch tomorrow", Sakura's message was visible for a little too long and from the corner of your eye you saw how Nagi's gaze slowly focused on you instead of the anime which was still continuing to play.

You sighed and pressed pause, knowing that neither of you paid attention to what was happening since Sakura's message came in.

Bad timing, Sakura. I love you, but bad timing.

"Have you been talking about kissing me?", he asked, straightforward as ever. You loved that about him, however it was hard to talk about some subjects when emotions were involved, you realised. The fear of screwing up was constantly present.

'You and your date would be much more comfortable with each other if you finally kissed', you recalled Sakura's words from earlier. Maybe she was right, you figured and made a decision.

"Yes. I want to kiss you, Sei", admitting that was even harder for you than calling him by this new nickname. Everything inside you felt excited.

"Okay. Just do it, we did it multiple times before"

"No, I don't mean a kiss on your cheek or forehead. I want to kiss you...on your lips"

"Oh...", he said, slightly blushing. "I...want to do that too, (Y/N)-chan"

Whenever he added a 'chan' to your name, you felt your heart hammering against your chest. It made you incapable to reply, so you were glad when Nagi continued.

The boy sat up and you instinctively did the same. Now the two of you were sitting there, on your bed, across from each other, the setting sun tinting your room in a comfortable red, the only noise being your fast paced heartbeat in your ear and Nagi's calm breathing.

Unconsciously, you started fidgeting with the hem of Nagi's shirt, not daring to look into his eyes. However, you could feel his constant gaze on you.

Come on, (Y/N), you can do better than this.

Eventually, you forced yourself to look up into the boy's eyes. His gaze was filled with more excitement than you had ever seen before in them. They were almost glowing.

How unusual to see his grey eyes that lively.

"(Y/N)", he said, his voice low.

"Yes?", your voice slightly broke and you cleared your throat, slightly embarrassed. He didn't reply anymore. "Sei?"

He placed one of his hands on yours which was still playing with the hem of his shirt. It caused you to become aware of your action so you finally halted in your movement. "I really want to kiss you. May I?"

"Yes", you replied, your nervousness causing you to freeze in place when Nagi leaned towards you, carefully placing his lips on yours. His lips were soft and the kiss was gentle. Even though it didn't have much dynamic, it felt like some hunger inside you was finally stilled.

As Nagi slowly retracted again, his half-closed eyes looked directly into yours, asking for permission to continue. You merely licked over your lips, when his hand made its way to the back of your head, burying itself in your hair, pulling you in for another gentle kiss.

Its dynamic was developing more passionate the longer you kissed each other. Eventually, you were able to move again and buried your hands in his hair. Nagi carefully let his hands wander down to your hips, breaking the kiss for a moment.

"Is it okay when I touch your hips like that?", he mumbled, patiently waiting for your reply. You smiled and nodded. He grabbed you a little more firmly, just to pull you onto his lap for you to sit there comfortably while the two of you gave into each other again.

You didn't know how long you had been kissing each other in the end and you certainly hadn't expected him to become that passionate about it - however when you were laying in his arms some time later, with him caressing your back, you were indescribably happy.

"I like your kisses", the boy mumbled, which made you bury your smile in the crook of his neck. "Did you like it too?"

"I liked it", you let him know. "It was...my first time kissing someone"

"Same for me", he said.

Somehow you had expected that, yet you were a little confused anyway. "How comes you're such a great kisser then?"

"Reo gave me some tips"

Did he ask him for tips beforehand?

"I see"

"Yes. But it was also kind of easy. Just like football. I just do what I am allowed to do whenever I wanna do it"

"You're really some genius in certain things"

"Genius...do you think so?"

"Yeah", you chuckled. "A lazy genius"

"Hmm"

There was one thing still pestering your mind, causing you to stay wide awake. You didn't want to ask Nagi, however you had no other choice if you wanted peace of mind. You gathered some courage and eventually spoke up.

"So, what are we now, Sei?"

"What we are?"

"Yes, I mean...we were dating these past few weeks. And now we kissed. I feel like we get along very well and...I can't imagine having anyone else by my side"

"..."

"To be clear, I would like you...to...be my boyfriend. But, how do you feel about that? I mean we still have to get to know each other better and all but I couldn't fall asleep in anyone else's embrace but probably we shouldn't rush things but I like you and-"

"I understand", he interrupted your rambling. "Let's be a couple"

"You just say it like that?!"

"It is that easy, isn't it? Overcomplicating it would be a pain"

You instinctively sat up and stared at the boy who was looking at you with a tired and confused, yet serious glance. A guttural laughter erupted you, causing him to sit up as well. "Did I say something funny?"

"No", you slowly calmed down. "It's just..."

This is so typical for him.

"You're right", you concluded. "So, you want me too?"

"Yes, I want you", he affirmed. "I want to spend every day with you. You are my family to me"

His family?

"Okay but you have to promise me something", you said, warmth spreading inside your chest.

"Hm? What is it?"

"Go to this football training camp"

"What? Why?"

"Because you really are an incredible player. And you and Reo have a goal, don't you? I want you to live your life to the fullest so that you can be happy. Just try it and if you don't like it at all, you can come back any time anyway"

Nagi seemed to think about your words for some time until he sighed and spoke up again. "Damn, how annoying. But it's a low price to pay for you being by my side"

"So you agree?"

"Yes"

"Great!", you were definitely more enthusiastic about it than he was, however you didn't care at that moment. You were sure he could learn to love football. He was extraordinarily skilled, had a good teammate, and hated losing. In your eyes, Nagi was made for that job.

You already knew he wanted to live an easy life. He had told you that he just wanted to not have much stress and be able to chill a lot. That boy certainly was the laziest person you've ever met.

"If you end up winning the World Cup for real one day, you will be able to retire early, you know?", you explained to him, although you were sure he knew that much.

"Really?"

Wait, did he not know?

"Yeah, really. The yearly salary of professional football players is very high. However, it requires a lot of work until you retire. So think about whether you want that for yourself. What Reo and I tell you are merely suggestions, you yourself have to decide in the end, okay? Just do what makes you happiest"

"Will do"

Your boyfriend and you eventually laid down again, switching the topic and talking to each other until you drifted off to sleep.

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The next day you met with Sakura and the two of you actually went to the cinema - however you watched some romcom movie she desperately wanted to see - it would have been a disappointing experience if you had expectations to begin with.

She was head over heels for the male love interest though, rambling on about the actor and his works until you reached a ramen shop for dinner. As you placed your orders, she asked what kind of anime you liked and she listened to you rambling just as much about it.

In the end, she even asked you whether you wanted to show her some of your favourite series and at the end of the day, you knew meeting her was one of the best things that ever happened to you. Spending time with her made you feel comfortable and she was funny too. A real gem of a friend.

Hopefully our friendship will hold for a long time. She's the first female friend I ever had.

After some weeks you even introduced her to your other friends and much to Mika's dismay Reo was head over heels for her. He seemed to like older women, although Sakura wasn't that much older anyway.

Sakura, however, didn't reciprocate the popular boy's interest though and was fast to turn him down when he approached her for a date.

"I'm sorry Reo-kun. You're cute but I'm into women"

Nagi patted the violet-haired boy's shoulder as if to comfort him and Reo accepted his fate.

Eventually, just when everything had finally settled between everyone, the gossip in the school about yours and Nagi's relationship had died down a bit, and you finally had decorated your room at your grandma's home a little more, it was time for Nagi, Reo, Mika, and Hyoma to leave for the training camp.

You didn't expect it to be long, yet it was hard letting all for of them go at the same time.

"I will miss you", Mika whined theatric and hugged you.

"You're such a drama queen, Hayase-kun", Nagi commented.

"Mika Drama Queen Hayase", Hyoma snickered and your best friend retracted from the hug, pursing his lips.

"Don't worry about them, Mika. I'll always endure your drama", you patted his shoulder.

He gave you a meaningful glance which screamed 'why are you stabbing me in the back like that' causing you to laugh out loud.

"I will miss you too, though", you eventually said to him and he started to tear up. "Don't you die out there without me"

"I'm not that helpless", he retorted, yet sniffed as tears wandered down his cheeks.

Maybe I am more screwed without Mika than the other way around, you thought, suddenly feeling rather thoughtful.

Hyoma approached you, giving you a tight hug. "Wish you were born a boy, you definitely would have been invited too then"

"But then (Y/N) and Nagi wouldn't date", Reo commented.

"Why?", you and Nagi asked in unison as you looked at the violent-haired boy.

"I wouldn't mind", Nagi said.

"Me neither", you shrugged your shoulders. "I mean, for me it wouldn't change anything anyway"

"I don't care whether (Y/N) is a girl or a boy or whatever"

"That's love", Mika sniffed from the sight, wiping another tear from the corner of his eye.

"Shoot a goal for me, Hyo-chan", you embraced the red-haired boy again and pressed him firmly against you.

"Oi oi, you act as if we're leaving for the World Cup or something", you heard his grin in his voice.

"I don't know, somehow it feels like that", you shrugged it off, as the two of you pulled away from each other again.

Somehow it feels as if we won't see each other for a long time.

Nagi seemed to feel the same way, since he held you for a long time, gently stroking your hair, not saying a word. When you pulled away from him - since the others were making dumb comments after a while - he asked you to take care of Choki, his cactus.

You agreed and he gave you the key for his parents' house. You carefully stored it in your pocket, before looking up to him again. "I will miss you, Sei", you said, suddenly feeling even more emotional.

He ruffled your hair. "I will miss you too, (Y/N). Would rather want to stay with you and play games"

"I'd love that, you made a promise though. We can game when you're back. It won't be long, enjoy your time there"

"Nh, how annoying"

You laughed and he retracted his hand, gently putting your hair in place again before taking a step back from you. Just when he wanted to turn around, you caught yourself acting on impulse, grabbing for his hand, making him halt mid-motion.

"Sei", you said and he looked down to you, surprised. "I don't know where this training camp will bring you", you heard yourself ramble on without any thought, emotions overflowing your senses, stimulating your mind, making you continue out of the blue - and you let it happen, "but I want you to know...you do so well, you know...you're going there even though it's a lot of work and you also make so much effort for me and your friends...I...I am proud of you"

Nagi's face flushed deep red in an instant and his eyes widened. All the others were staring at you two, half-shocked, half-amazed. And suddenly, to everyone's surprise, a genuine smile graced Nagi's lips. It was small, yet evident. None of you had ever seen him smile before.

His smile was directed at you and only you, and his gaze was filled with warmth as it met yours, making your heart melt as he said his final goodbye. "And once again you beat me. That arrow went right into my heart. Game Over. I didn't feel like this for a long time. Thank you, my cute NemesiS, for showing me what love and family truly feels like."

[𝙻𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚜: ♥ -𝟷]

𝙲𝚞𝚛𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝙻𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚜: 𝟶

𝙶𝙰𝙼𝙴 𝙾𝚅𝙴𝚁

𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚕𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚜 𝚍𝚞𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚒𝚗 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚛'𝚜 𝚌𝚞𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜.

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𝚑𝚒𝚍𝚍𝚎𝚗 𝚕𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚕𝚜 🔓 𝚞𝚗𝚕𝚘𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚍

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