The match had ended, but the tension hadn’t. Shidou’s eyes burned with fury, his body still coiled like a predator. The whistle meant nothing to him.

Rin stood firm, his jaw tight, eyes locked on Shidou with cold disdain.

“Now that it's over, I can beat you to pulp without worrying.” Rin said, voice sharp as steel. “You worthless, shitty insect!”

Shidou’s grin twisted.

“Yeah! I totally agreed!”

Before Rin could even react, Shidou's knee slammed into his face. He lost his balance for a moment, Shidou jumped, his leg raising dangerously high.

“I’m gonna crack your skull, Rin-Rin!” he roared, lunging forward with a wild kick.

You didn’t think. You didn’t hesitate. You ran.

Your body collided with Rin’s, pushing him aside just as Shidou’s kick came crashing down. The impact hit you instead—a brutal blow meant to break bones. You crumpled to the ground, unconscious before you could even register the pain.

Rin turned, stunned.

His breath caught. You—you—were lying there.

The field froze. Shidou stood in shock, his fury evaporating into confusion. The other players stared, unsure who you were or how you’d gotten there. You weren’t part of Blue Lock. You weren’t supposed to be here.

But Rin knew.

You were his childhood friend. The one who had always been there. The one who had stayed when Sae left. The one who had believed in him when he couldn’t believe in himself.

He had pushed you away at sixteen, convinced that love was a distraction, that obsession was the only path to surpassing his brother. He had buried every feeling, every memory, and walked into Blue Lock alone.

And yet—here you were.

You had sent email after email to Jinpachi Ego, begging for just one day. One moment to see him again. And Ego, amused or curious, had finally relented.

You arrived just in time to save him.

Rin dropped to his knees beside you, his hands trembling as he reached for your face. His voice didn’t come. His mind was blank.

You had always run to him. Even now.

And for the first time in months—maybe years—Rin felt something break inside him. Not anger. Not ambition. But fear.

Fear of losing the only person who had ever truly seen him.

The others watched, silent. Shidou stepped back, unsettled. Ego’s voice crackled through the speakers, but Rin didn’t hear it.

All he saw was you.

And all he could think was: I didn’t deserve this. I didn’t deserve you. But you came anyway.