2. The Coolest Cousin And The Biggest Fan

Never did he ever think he'd be crowded in a room with two-hundred and ninety-nine sweaty teenage boys.

Never did he did he think one of them would be his cousin...

"Gagamaru I am fine! Put me down!" Y/n shouted at his cousin as he squirmed.

"Simba," Gagamaru muttered. "By the way, you aren't fine. You were standing on your tip-toes trying to see what Ego's displaying on the screen."

His wide eyes stared at Y/n, glossy and full of affection for his younger cousin.

"Fine, at least put me on your shoulder..." Y/n mumbled.

Gagamaru complied and his long arms lifted Y/n even higher until he was eventually resting his small body on Gagamaru's shoulder.

Ego, on a tall stage, spoke sinisterly into the microphone, "And as you may know, L/n Y/n is a perfect example of the ego buried within all of you. Although he's selfish and can be considered a grade one narcissist, that's only on the field...maybe."

"Maybe!? You're telling me that L/n cares only about himself!?" Someone's voice cut through, the sheer amount of fear was enough the make Y/n internally fold.

That fear made him feel good.

"Indeed, and we interviewed him to get more out of him." Ego's long fingers fumbled with a small remote, struggling to press the right buttons. Once he did get around to it, a video started playing.

After the video was done, Ego looked back at all the young boys. "See? This is a high school superstar. This is a perfect example of a striker. He's ready to take on the world, and you all are maggots that are glued to trash because it's the only way you can survive. You all hide in the heaps of trash, while he takes the trash out. You're dirty water, and he's basically a filter. He only lets the clean water through."

"His confidence is otherworldly, and he's got guts. He's everything I want you all to be. He's, for lack of a better term, simply...better. Better than almost everyone here with the skills he's got right now. If you want to be like him, burning with a fire to score relentlessly against your opponents, here is where you should be," Ego finished up.

A certain blonde was not happy.

Neither was Y/n. Almost? He was almost better than everyone in here? What kind of sick joke is this?

🥀 🥀 🥀

"You know, Y/n, you really are cool," Gagamaru said while messing with Y/n's hair.

He was curling it around his fingers and braiding little bundles of it while his cousin (basically his best friend, borderline little brother), Y/n, messed with his phone.

The bus ride was long and Y/n found himself talking about soccer tactics to Gagamaru, who was listening intently, out of boredom. Y/n's voice was flat, but it was clear he enjoyed talking to Gin even if they didn't really ever see each other.

The bus was loud up front, and a certain black-haired boy was trying to shut out all the noise even if it wasn't really reaching the back of the bus. But he couldn't help but gawk at Y/n's features and listen to the way he spoke about soccer. He moved some hair out of his face to get a better look.

His mouth fell open slightly.

He was basically head over heels. Sure, Y/n was shorter in person, but he was very...very...very handsome. Even so, he was a big fan of the other's playstyle...and he seemed nice enough off the field, even if there were videos circling the internet of his blood boiling over and him lashing out at his teammates, his skill was nothing to underestimate.

Niko basically had hearts in his eyes.

The way Y/n spoke was with much finesse, his half-lidded eyes only added to his beauty.

'Just like an anime,' Niko thought, little hearts circling Y/n's figure.

But Y/n wasn't oblivious to Niko's staring.

Nah. He just chose to ignore it.

Y/n was very aware of his cult-like following both online and in real life, and it seems like the guy that plopped himself right next to him is by far the biggest fan he's ever encountered. He didn't mind the attention, even if he found it a little weird.

His mind just drifted back to Ego's whole spiel and tried to decipher it with Gagamaru as they both wondered and discussed what challenges and cracks in newly-formed friendships would face, and if their brotherly bond as cousins would face the same hardships as everyone else, and perhaps something even worse.

But he brushed it off. It was nothing, really. He was just overthinking. It happens a lot, but all he has to do is think about soccer and he's all better.

At least that's what he tells himself.

Gagamaru had fallen asleep after they settled on just letting Blue Lock reveal its secrets to them.

So had the boy that was staring at him.

He leaned back in the chair with his gaze burning holes into the roof of the bus. It was a lot quieter now, and his thoughts decided to consume him.

To drown him.

To engulf him and pull him down.

It caused him to ponder.

How would things go if he wasn't so selfish?

How would his life be if his temper was easier to control?

Why?

He was so deep in thought that someone in front of him thought he was dead.

A quick glare made them leave him alone.

He went back to his thoughts.

'What if Raichi hadn't wished for me to die? That hurt. It hurt a lot. I couldn't sleep well that night. He didn't even apologize for it, so that made it worse.'

His brows knitted together in confusion.

'I knew I was mean, but at least I made an effort to apologize even if it was an empty apology. Me of all people, apologizing. At least accept the fact that I tried to apologize and realized the weight of my words, even if it was deserved.'

He leaned forward, his chin on his hand. He muttered, "Maybe I am an ass."

He looked at the sleeping boys on either side of him.

One, probably a mega fan.

The other, his really cool cousin.

He sighed aloud, his gaze returning to the ceiling as he leaned back again. He swallowed a thick lump he didn't know was forming in his throat. His palms grew sweaty and his breaths were shaky.

Why was he so nervous? Was he worried he'd see Raichi's face, engrossed with sheer disappointment whenever he faced Y/n? Was he worried he'd just make enemies? What would happen to the relationship he had with his cousin?

Long arms wrapped around his shoulders and pulled him close.

Y/n's breathing paused for a moment.

"Mr. Freeze...says to chill," A sleepy Gagamaru with half-lidded eyes mumbled with a soft smile. "You're worrying too much. Besides, I think we'll be the best duo there is."