𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞 - ?

the confession caught you completely off guard.

one moment, you were standing outside the training facility, waiting for isagi like you always did. the next, someone random guy was standing in front of you, nervous but determined, words spilling out before you could process them.

"i like you!"

the air shifted.

you blinked, caught between surprise and awkwardness, fingers tightening around the strap of your bag. a few feet away, isagi stood frozen.

he hadn't been part of the conversation, but he was close enough to hear everything. and the moment the words left the other guy's mouth, something in his expression hardened.

his posture stiffened and his fists clenched at his sides.

but he didn't move.he didn't say anything. just stood there, silent and unreadable, as if he were waiting.

as if he needed to hear your answer.

you opened your mouth, scrambling for something—anything—to say. you hadn't expected this. the person standing in front of you was nice, sure, but you'd never thought of them that way.

before you could answer, they kept going.

"i know this is sudden, but i just... i had to say it. i like being around you, and i think we'd be good together."

more silence.

and you could feel isagi's gaze burning into you, though he still hadn't spoken, hadn't moved from his spot.

you exhaled, choosing your words carefully. "i... i'm really flattered, but—i don't feel the same way. i'm sorry."

the rejection was gentle. kind. but final. your admirer gave you a small, understanding nod, forcing a polite smile before mumbling something about heading home.

and then—you were alone.

alone, except for isagi, who was still standing in the same spot, tense and unmoving.

you turned to him, tilting your head. "yoichi?"

his jaw clenched slightly, but when he finally met your gaze, his expression was neutral. too neutral.

like he was trying too hard to act unaffected. "...you ready to go?" he asked, voice even, controlled.

you frowned at his reaction but nodded anyway. "yeah. let's go."

and without another word, he started walking. you followed, but the air between you felt different now. its was tense and off.

and you weren't sure why.

──────────── ⋆☆⋆ ────────────

the walk home had been quiet.

isagi had talked about everything except what happened earlier. training, the upcoming match, even what he wanted for dinner. but not the confession. not the fact that someone had confessed to you right in front of him. 

you had wanted to bring it up you wanted to know why he reacted like that, but something stopped you.

and now, hours later, as you sat on the couch beside him, the weight of his silence was becoming unbearable.

isagi was scrolling through his phone, but his mind was clearly elsewhere. he wasn't really reading anything. wasn't really paying attention.

and when you shifted beside him, his body tensed—like he had been waiting for you to say something.

you exhaled, deciding to just ask. "are you okay?"

his thumb froze over his screen. a long pause.

then quietly, almost hesitantly "you don't... want them, do you?"

your breath caught.

for the first time tonight, isagi wasn't trying to play it cool. wasn't pretending he hadn't heard every single word of that confession.

you stared at him, surprised by how soft his voice was—almost unsure.

like he wasn't asking because he doubted them. he was asking because he doubted himself. your heart ached.

"you really think i do?" you asked gently.

his grip tightened around his phone, but he didn't look at you. didn't answer right away.

and that alone was enough.

enough to know that, yes, he really did think that—at least, for a second.

you sighed, shifting closer until your legs brushed against his. "yoichi."

he swallowed. "i just... they were so confident." his voice was lower now, frustration laced between his words. "and i stood there like an idiot."

"you weren't an idiot."

"i was." he exhaled sharply, rubbing a hand over his face. "i should've said something. should've stepped in."

you blinked. "why would you?"

he scoffed. "because i—"

but he cut himself off.

didn't finish the sentence.

didn't say what you knew he wanted to say.

you tilted your head. "because you what?"

isagi sighed again, this time slower, his shoulders relaxing just slightly. he finally set his phone down, resting his elbows on his knees, fingers laced together. slowly he turned to look at you.

"because i don't want to lose you."

your breath hitched. your fingers curled into your lap, heart pounding at how genuine he sounded.

he swallowed, rubbing the back of his neck, gaze flickering away again. "i know i'm not the best at saying stuff like this, but when i saw them standing there, saying those things to you..."

he trailed off, eyes darkening slightly. "i hated it."

your lips parted, stomach twisting at the honesty in his voice.

this wasn't the usual, easygoing isagi.

this was the real him.

the one who cared too much but didn't always know how to show it.

the one who thought too much but never said enough.

slowly, you reached for his hand, threading your fingers through his.

he exhaled through his nose, like he had been holding in a breath, and squeezed your hand tightly.

"you won't lose me, the one i want is you " you murmured.

he stared at you for a long moment, expression unreadable.

relief. it was subtle. barely there.

but you saw it.

the way his shoulders relaxed. the way his grip on your hand loosened just slightly, like he wasn't afraid of holding on too tight anymore.

like he wasn't afraid of holding on to you.

you smiled. "you're stuck with me, yoichi."

a slow breath.

he smiled back.

"good."

𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠