Sae Itoshi | B.L.

The locker room was silent, save for the hiss of the shower and the faint echo of dripping water. Steam curled around Sae Itoshi like a restless ghost, clinging to his skin as he stood beneath the stream, letting the water burn his frustration. His mind replayed every second of the match—the missed opportunities, the slow passes, the moment the ball slipped past their defense.

Unacceptable.

He wasn't the kind of man to shrug off failure. Defeat gnawed at him, twisting like a thorn in his chest. He pressed his palms to the tiled wall, closed his eyes, and breathed deeply, but the memories continued to loop, mocking him.

After what felt like hours, he finally turned off the faucet. The water stopped, leaving only the sound of his heartbeat pounding in his ears. He grabbed a towel, wiped his face, and forced himself to exhale.

"The past is the past," he muttered under his breath in a low, almost persuasive voice. The words echoed faintly in the empty hallway as he walked, his hair still damp, his bag slung casually over his shoulder. He wasn't really looking anywhere—just ahead, into nowhere.

Then-

"Hey, Sae~!"

He froze. A sudden voice cut through the silence, and Sae's entire body tensed. He turned sharply, narrowing his eyes, only to be met with a smirk that could only further lift his spirits.

Shidou Ryusei stood there, casually leaning against the wall, as if he owned the place. His blond hair glinted in the hallway lights, his grin wide and overly satisfied.

Sae's expression immediately darkened. "What do you want, demon?" He said bluntly, his tone laced with irritation.

Shidou chuckled, lazily pushing himself off the wall. "Oh, come on, don't be so cold. Just checking to see if our little genius wasn't sulking over this loss."

Sae's jaw clenched, but he refused to give him the satisfaction of his reaction. He walked past him, muttering something under his breath. (You play as Shidou Ryusei.)