EXTRA - @y/n_l/n

To clarify, Ascension is over. This is an extra, side story that isn't part of the main plot, nor affects the main plot in any way. Thank you for reading :)

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Y/N covered his mouth, eyes wide and jaw dropping at the amount of likes his random photo had got.

His manager had given him an earful for posting such an unprofessional photo, and even more for using casual language alongside it. Y/N had apologised profusely - after all, he had barely used social media before, and all the sudden attention was definitely something to get used to.

He was staying at a hotel in Tokyo for the night. Tomorrow, Y/N was going to head to a new apartment he'd bought a while back for a few nights, and get himself reacquainted with the city. Travel around the rest of Japan was reserved for the next week of his holiday, as well as visiting other Japanese soccer clubs up and down the country.

Before, Y/N had intended to try and get himself a minshuku on the outskirts of the city. Cheap, homely, and perfect for a single night's stay. But unfortunately, he'd had to change his plans due to a certain something. Or someone.

Michael Kaiser did a full spin of the room, sighing. He spoke in tired German. "Is this it?"

"Course." Y/N replied. "It's a hotel."

"Expensive hotel." He muttered.

"Western hotel." Y/N corrected.

He'd spent the past months playing for Bastard Munchen's main team, sometimes swapping out for Kaiser, sometimes playing alongside him in an incredibly offensive formation. Kaiser had kept his promise - while he wasn't quite on the same level as Y/N yet, he was certainly close, and challenged him every other day to try and beat him.

And yet, they'd become friends. Or at least, learnt how to tolerate each other's company. Each challenge became less frustrating for Y/N to deal with and Kaiser to lose, and more friendly. Each interaction had slightly less hate from Kaiser, slightly less contempt from Y/N. Y/N wasn't on completely good terms - he certainly didn't like the god-awful look of hatred Ness gave him every day for no reason - but he was getting there.

When Kaiser had heard about Y/N going back to Tokyo for the off season, for some wild reason Y/N couldn't comprehend, he had been utterly set on going with him. So much so that if Y/N hadn't given in and allowed him to travel together, he'd have booked a ticket and gone completely alone. The man didn't even speak Japanese.

"Western hotels are like, twice the size."

"Well, yeah." Y/N snorted. "You wanted a Western style one. Space is money in Tokyo."

"Where else would we stay?" Kaiser shot back. "Some crappy motel?"

Y/N shrugged. "Yeah. Why not?"

The man winced. Y/N just gave him a small smile, tucking his phone away. "Never thought the emperor of Bastard Munchen would be so particular."

"Never thought a world class player would be so scared of spending a little cash."

"It's a short career." Y/N murmured. "You don't think of the future?"

Kaiser paused.

For all his bluster, the taller man was wholly out of his depth in the megacity. He stepped towards the bathroom, opening the door to peek inside. "You're the last person who needs to worry about the future after your career."

"Huh?"

"One of the highest paid players in the world?" Kaiser drew his head out, raising an eyebrow at Y/N. "Modelling career as well? Possible gaming streamer? I don't think you'll have trouble."

Y/N clicked his tongue. "I guess." He pushed himself off the chair, leaving the phone on the seat. "I'm hungry. Let's get something."

Kaiser closed the bathroom door, and stood by the doorway. They'd just arrived at the hotel, sure. But it was pushing eight p.m, and Y/N needed something to cleanse the taste of aeroplane food off his tongue. "Like what?"

"Don't know." Y/N shrugged. "What do you normally get when you travel?"

The man scoffed. Standing under the entranceway light, his blond hair stood out. He'd kept it long, even over the summer. And Y/N had told him not to, but he'd refreshed the blue rose tattoo on his neck.

Y/N tugged the wide shorts on his hips down a little, and slipped an oversized jacket on top of his white shirt. Kaiser looked a lot more professional, with a black button up rolled to his elbows, and long black slacks. He looked like he was going to a business meeting. Y/N looked like he was a little kid in a playground.

"I don't travel."

"You don't?" Y/N cocked his head. "Don't like it?"

"Never tried." Kaiser opened the door, stepping out into the corridor. Y/N grabbed the hotel keycard, slipped it into his pocket, and turned off the lights before stepping out himself. "Didn't have much money, and then when I did, I didn't have much time."

"Ah. Kay."

They left the hotel.

Kaiser usually walked slightly ahead of Y/N in Germany, confident in knowing where he was going and what he was doing. Here though, he walked to Y/N's side, keeping pace with him as Y/N stared up at the buildings around.

After months in Munich's older, more traditional architecture, Tokyo was like something from a different world. Churches and castles were replaced by skyscrapers and superstores. Flat concrete took the place of cobbled pavement. The apartments of Munich became three, four times taller, made from glass and metal instead of stone.

And the people were everywhere.

Y/N led Kaiser down the street at a brisk pace, keeping in time with the people commuting home from work, and slightly faster than the crowds of younger adults out for the nightlife. He threw a glance back at Kaiser - the man was astonished. He tried to keep a calm expression, looking over everything with a disdainful curl to his lips, but Y/N could see the stars in his blue eyes.

He drew looks, of course. Both of them did. Kaiser's height, long blond hair, and blue eyes made him almost unique in the crowds of locals, and Y/N was recognisable by pretty much everyone in Japan. He was one of their star prodigies, after all.

"Where are we going?" Kaiser leant down to ask Y/N. Y/N shrugged, eyes fixed ahead.

"No clue."

"Sorry?"

"No clue." Y/N glanced across at him. "Just walk. We'll probably find somewhere."

"I thought you were hungry." Kaiser blinked. "There's nowhere particular you're going?"

"Nope." Y/N cracked a smile. "I'm not that organised. Which way did we come from again?"

"I have my phone. We can use Google Maps."

"So prepared." Not looking across at him, Y/N hopped a little, trying to see over the heads of some of the pedestrians. He spoke in a flat monotone. "I'm astonished."

"Would you prefer it if I didn't have one?"

"Do you have a Japanese SIM card?"

"No."

"Then yes, I would." Y/N waved his head. "Roaming charges are probably a fortune here, don't bother using it."

"How are we going to get home, then?"

He just shrugged. "I'll find a way."

At some random point, in the middle of the street, Y/N stopped dead in his tracks. Kaiser stumbled into his shoulder. "What?"

To the German striker, the section they'd stopped on was just like the rest of Tokyo. A narrow sidewalk, tall buildings on either side, unreadable Japanese plastered over every sign, and crowds of people moving at a pace far faster than European crowds did. He frowned, looking down at Y/N. "Why'd we stop?"

"Food." Y/N gestured to one side. Cutting through the throng of people, his movements prompted Kaiser to follow.

They left the main street, heading down a much darker, much less travelled side street. Kaiser stuck just a little closer to Y/N. A soft snicker came from Y/N. "Scared of the dark?"

"No." Kaiser replied. "Where are we going?"

"I'm gonna slit your throat behind a dumpster." Y/N flatly said. When Kaiser gave him a 'bitch, really?' look, Y/N just shrugged. "It's always a possibility. Nobody would know."

"You'd miss me too much."

"Miss you? I'd celebrate. Throw a party."

"I'm fun at parties."

"Maybe in Germany." Y/N snorted. "Do you sing?"

"No, why?"

"No reason." Y/N shot him a grin, teeth white in the dark. Up ahead, a single open window let out beams of light into the street. It drew a cross-shaped shadow on the opposite wall. Y/N headed for the window. Without even stopping to read the signs outside, the small boy pushed right through the door. Kaiser hurried after him, muttering a thanks as Y/N held the door for him.

It was a small room. Lit up by a small yellow bulb dangling from the ceiling, floor a hard tile, walls and ceiling a softer brown wood. The far wall was covered in shelves, hosting everything from green vegetables tied in bunches, to jars of dark liquid and seasoning, to a whole shop worth of pots and pans. The place was split into half, with a wooden counter dividing the kitchen area and a seating area.

Y/N strolled in like he owned the place, glancing around before taking five steps to cross the entire width of the room, and take a seat at the counter.

There were only six seats. Kaiser counted each one of them. Only one was occupied, by a much older man in a white shirt and black slacks - the typical office worker. He was hunched over his noodles, definitely looking like someone who would be happy without being disturbed. Yet, when Y/N glanced over to him, and smiled, his mouth fell open.

Awkwardly standing by the door, Kaiser watched as the man nearly knocked his bowl off the counter. He spoke in frantic Japanese, bowing his head and flushing with bright red embarrassment. Y/N shook his head, laughing as he pressed both palms together and nodded.

Eventually, Y/N glanced over to Kaiser. He beckoned him over, switching languages as easy as anything to German. "Take a seat, dude."

Kaiser moistened his lips. "What? Why?"

"It's a restaurant." Y/N blinked. "To eat food, what else?"

Instantly, the man, as well as the kitchen-esque area in the back all made sense. It was like no restaurant Kaiser had seen before. He headed over, taking a seat on the far end of the counter. "What do they have here?"

Y/N just shrugged. "How would I know?"

"You haven't been here before?"

"I didn't even know it existed until a few minutes ago."

The office worker spoke a few words. Y/N turned, shaking his head, and asking something Kaiser assumed to be a question from the tone. The man pointed over the counter.

"The owner is just doing something. He'll be back in a second." Y/N relayed the information to Kaiser. "But it's a ramen shop. Try some more local foods, you know?"

On cue, an older man appeared from behind the counter, closing another door behind him. He took a few steps into the kitchen area, peering at Kaiser and Y/N over the counter. Then he stopped. And stared. Kaiser glanced at Y/N. The boy just smiled, and winked at the man before speaking in quiet Japanese.

The man's face lit up brighter than the single bulb in the room. Kaiser watched, confused as Y/N and what he assumed to be the cook spoke, Y/N smiling, face slightly red, and the man looking like he'd won the lottery. He dashed back out of the kitchen, and Kaiser could hear muted thumping in the background before he was coming out with a younger boy.

Y/N grinned, and spoke in German. "They're fans."

Now that was something Kaiser could get behind. He raised a hand, nodding at the younger boy. But the kid just stared at him blankly, before turning to Y/N. Kaiser slumped. "Not of me."

"No." Y/N laughed. "They're Japanese, why would they know you?"

"My ego is damaged."

"It's good to be humbled every now and then."

The man and the younger boy came around the counter. Y/N got off the chair to bow, shaking each of their hands. Kaiser didn't miss how their eyes were alight. Alight with joy, excitement, and wonder as they stared at Y/N. He understood it. Y/N was a miracle of talent in a country not known for their soccer, an inspiration to Japanese fans.

Y/N sure didn't feel like a miracle of talent. But he smiled nonetheless, speaking with them in Japanese.

"Picture? Please?" The shop owner held out an old camera.

"Course, course." Y/N grinned. He beckoned the office worker into the picture as well, and passed the camera to Kaiser. Thankfully, the blond man seemed to understand what he wanted, getting off the chair to stand awkwardly at one side of the room. Y/N stood in the centre of the photo, the shop owner on one side, the office worker on the other, hands resting on the kid's shoulders.

Kaiser rattled off a few photos, each one being printed from the bottom of the camera. Each of them took a photo, Y/N even taking one himself to slip into the pocket of his shorts.

"For you, extra meat, yes?" After saying goodbye to the owner's child, he got behind the counter fast. "Extra noodles? Free food? Thank you so much for the photo."

Y/N shook his head. "No free food. I can pay, really."

"You paid with the photo!"

"I want to pay with money as well." Y/N insisted. He dug into his pockets, and frowned. And then he dug a bit deeper, turning them inside out. I forgot to bring money. He hesitated.

The owner jumped on it. "Aha! See, no money. You have free food."

Again, Y/N shook his head. He pointed at Kaiser. "I'm with him. He's going to pay for me."

"Foreigner? English?" The man turned to Kaiser, speaking in broken English. "Hello. You. Not pay. Good?"

Kaiser raised an eyebrow, and looked to Y/N for help. Y/N ignored him, continuing on. "German, not English. And he is going to pay."

"Aaaah." The man sighed, shaking his head. "Okay. What do you want in your ramen?"

"What do you have available?"

"Egg, chashu, spinach. Edamame, shiitake." The man hummed. Y/N glanced at Kaiser.

"You'll eat whatever, yeah?"

Kaiser blinked. "Uh. Sure."

Y/N turned back. "Everything, two bowls please."

"Okay!" The man nodded. "Sure the German will pay?"

"He better." Y/N shot Kaiser a look. Kaiser stared back, baffled.

"Such a gentleman." The owner snickered. "So tall, so handsome. His girlfriend so happy."

"He doesn't have a girlfriend."

"Really?" While busying himself with the food, the man stopped momentarily to make a surprised face. "He so man."

"Definitely not." Y/N knew Kaiser well enough. The man lived and breathed soccer. He didn't have the time, nor the social skills to date.

"Then, you so happy?"

Y/N blinked. "Huh?"

"You so happy? Your man so tall. So handsome. So rich." The chef laughed loud. "I wish my wife so rich."

From a room behind the kitchen, through the door, Y/N heard the sound of an older woman. "I heard that!"

"Why you no rich?" The man yelled cheekily back. "Y/N L/N here, with his tall German rich boy! Why you not tall rich German!"

"Cause you ugly donkey!"

Y/N burst out laughing. The man did too, nearly dropping some of the mushrooms he was slicing onto the floor.

"So your man want to learn Japanese?"

"I don't know." Y/N shrugged. He didn't bother correcting the old man. Kaiser is most definitely not 'my man'. "Maybe."

"Waah." From across the counter, the office worker sat back in his chair. He patted his stomach, sighing. "So good, as normal. Thank you, sir."

"Ah, same normal!" The chef waved a hand dismissively. "Beer?"

"No beer today." The man sighed. "It's making me fat. Maybe tomorrow."

"Of course tomorrow. No maybe."

"Of course tomorrow." He ratified with a smile. "L/N, nice to meet you. Thank you for the photo."

Y/N smiled. "Anytime, man. I might see you here again? Just don't tell everyone to come here, I don't want to be swarmed."

"Okay!" The office worker gave the chef another thank you, before leaving the small restaurant.

Y/N rested his elbows onto the counter. He cradled his cheeks in his palms, looking sideways at Kaiser. "How is it?"

"We haven't got our food yet."

He laughed. "I mean like the atmosphere. There's a lot of local shops like this, just family run. Really small, nothing like the restaurants in Germany."

"Mm..." Kaiser's eyes wandered around the room. "It's not bad."

"Really?"

"Really." He repeated. "It's cosy, in a way."

Y/N nodded with him. "It is. You're paying, by the way." He dropped the second sentence on him, looking away instantly and whistling under his breath.

But to his surprise, Kaiser didn't even bother to question why, or complain. He just nodded, taking out his wallet. "How much?"

"It's only like 700 for one bowl, but I think we can give him a little more." Y/N hummed. "I'll pay you back when we get back to the hotel."

Kaiser shook his head. "Don't bother."

They were interrupted by the chef, pushing two bowls of steaming noodles across the counter, with cups of water. Y/N took his with a thank you and little duck of the head. He picked up his water, turning to Kaiser with a grin on his face.

"Cheers?"

"Why?"

"Why not? To Japan?"

Kaiser considered it. "To Japan."

They knocked glasses together, and began eating.

🥕🥕🥕

"W-why is it so big?"

"You just have small hands, Y/N. Use both hands."

"Then I look stupid."

"You always look stupid. Fuck, Y/N. Not like that. Hold it near the base."

"What, like this? I'm not eating a goddamn banana."

"No - just give it here. Bring near your lips like this."

Kaiser demonstrated how to hold the microphone, using only one hand to hold it to his mouth. His voice echoed through the small, dimly lit room as he spoke into it. "Is it really so hard?"

"You've just got long-ass fingers." Y/N complained. "I'm not coming back to this place again, who gives you a huge microphone?"

"Oh."

"Oh what?"

"There's another one there. Kid's size." Kaiser pointed to the table. Y/N looked down, and wordlessly scooped it up.

They were in a karaoke room. Y/N didn't really have a real reason for bringing Kaiser there - he just sort of wanted to hear him sing. And then bully him after. Because with the amount of times he'd gone with Chigiri, with Bachira and the rest of the Bluelock boys, if he did say so himself he'd become a pretty good singer.

"What song?"

"What do they have?"

"Literally anything. I'm not singing German songs, though. No way."

"Why not?"

"We're in Tokyo. If I wanted to sing German stuff, I'd stay in Munich."

"Fairs."

Y/N scrolled through the songs. "I don't mind English. But surely you have to know some Japanese ones."

"I don't know the basics, how am I gonna sing?"

"Just try. You know Night Dancer?"

"No."

"Yoru Ni Kakeru?"

"Is that the name? No."

"Lemon? Forever Love? Stay With Me?"

"No, no, and no."

Y/N slumped. "English it is." He tapped some button on a tablet, bringing up a song. Lyrics appeared on screen. Music started playing. The lights above changed colour, going from monotone white to pulsing rainbow colours.

Kaiser didn't recognise the song at first. Then he stopped, and stared at Y/N. Y/N burst into laughter, doubling over with his palms pressed against his legs. "You know it, yeah?"

"No." Kaiser lied.

"Come on. What about the dance?"

"No." He lied again.

On screen, the lyrics began to come on. Y/N began singing, expectant eyes fixed on Kaiser the entire time.

"Baby shark, doo doo doo, doo doo doo doo doo."

Kaiser's face lit up bright red.

The German striker, dressed up in his black shirt and slacks, turned and buried his face into the couch to the sound of Baby Shark and Y/N's laughter.