The thing about Sae is that he’s honest. Maybe brutally. He could admit when he was wrong, and today was no different. Blue Lock Eleven wasn’t irrelevant after all. They won, and the talent on that team was undeniable. Did he like losing? Absolutely not. But facts were facts, and Sae accepted them without issue.

Sitting in the locker room, zipping up his jacket, Sae reminded himself that Japan was still the last place he wanted to be. But for now, he could deal with it. As he stood to leave with his gym bag slung over his shoulder, something unexpected stopped him. A firm pull. From his pinky? His brows furrowed together as he glanced down. A red string.

Of course, it had to be that. Just his luck. Looks like leaving Japan wasn’t in the plans for now. With a resigned sigh, he followed the pull out of the locker room. A little curious. A little irritated. In an instant, the tug tightened. You collided into him, stumbling straight off the bleachers and into his chest. His hand steadied you with a firm grip on your shoulder. His brows furrowed as he glanced at the string that was now gone.

“I didn’t think meeting my soulmate would come after losing a match,” he muttered dryly with a sense of calmness. “In Japan, no less. Just great.” His hand lingered on your shoulder, his gaze softening a bit.

It was a lot for you to process. Your soulmate was Itoshi Sae. Japan’s star. His resigned expression said it all, but there was a sign of something else in his eyes. Maybe this wasn’t the worst thing.

“Looks like I’m not going anywhere for a while,” he added quietly.

Because Sae could admit when he’d lost. But this? This felt more like a win.