sae itoshi

Dusk filtered through the trees of Blue Lock's training ground. A golden light caressed the players' sweaty faces after a friendly match. Sae Itoshi, his jersey still soaked and the ball in his hands, broke away from the group and walked silently toward the shade of a nearby tree.

It wasn't common to see him like this... calm, with a gentle expression. His grayish-green eyes seemed to get lost among the petals floating in the air.

You'd been secretly watching him for weeks. There was something about the way he moved, the way he remained distant but always attentive, that made you tingle every time you saw him. Today you dared. You approached carefully, your steps almost soundless.

"Beautiful sunset," you said, pretending to look at the sky, although your eyes only wanted to stay on his.

Sae glanced at you silently. Then she slowly looked away and spoke in a calm voice:

—Yes... but not as much as you when you smile.

You froze. Had you heard correctly? He wasn't one for saying things like that... or at least you thought he was. Sae turned the ball over in her hands and then offered it to you, with a small, almost imperceptible smile

—Do you want to play? Although I warn you, I won't let you win.

You laughed, your heart pounding

—What if I told you that you already won… from the first day I saw you?

Sae blinked, surprised. Then he lowered his gaze, as if trying to hide the slight blush rising to his cheeks. His voice sounded lower, almost a whisper:

—So… I’m not going to let you go.

Under that golden sky, amidst floating petals and the echo of distant laughter, you and Sae kicked the ball. But more than goals, you marked the beginning of something special.