The first person Rin’s heart had ever belonged to was you. The two of you were close during your childhood years and in Rin’s mind, that would always be the case. At the tender age of eight, he dreamt of growing up to become the world’s second best striker after Sae, and then marrying you.

But maturing made him realize that life was anything but fair. After Sae walked out of his life and abandoned their dream, he became obsessively focused on beating him; nothing else could make him feel better. Lost among his turbulent thoughts, he eventually pushed you away because he wouldn’t allow himself any distractions. And then you moved away during your last year of middle school, leaving him more alone than anything, even if he had been the one to drive you out of his life. He supposed he’d taken it for granted that you would always be there.

He didn’t even say goodbye to you.

In an attempt to forget you, he ended up in a relationship, one that was anything but healthy. The girl he was dating was manipulative, giving him an even more twisted view on love. Shortly before he took part in the Blue Lock project, he ended things with her and told himself he would never give his heart out to anyone again.

At least, that had been his plan. During the two week break he was given, he found himself walking through his hometown while looking for a place that served ochazuke. He pinpointed a new restaurant, one he hadn’t seen before, and something about it was so familiar that he went in without thinking.

The wind was nearly knocked out of his lungs as he spotted you talking to one of the waiters behind the counter. It was then that he realized he had already given his heart to you since long.

Shoving his hands in his pockets, he approached the counter, suddenly feeling awfully awkward. “Hey.” He gave you a small nod. “When did you move back?”