Sae's Crazy Girlfriend (New Year)
Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, New Year Ver
The common room was decked out in the most haphazard, glorious mess any of them had ever seen. Streamers hung from the ceiling in lopsided loops. A banner reading "HAPPY NEW YEAR!! (TIME TO RESET YOUR AURAS!)" was taped to the wall, one corner already drooping. The centerpiece was a mountain of snacks, among which gummy dinosaurs and frog-shaped cookies reigned supreme.
It was the Blue Lock New Year's Eve party, an event that had only come into existence because (Y/N) had declared it "non-negotiable for vibrational alignment."
The mood was surprisingly light. Even Ego had made a brief, ominous appearance, taken a single frog cookie, and retreated to his monitoring room with a grunt they chose to interpret as approval.
As the countdown to midnight neared, a comfortable chaos reigned. Bachira and Isagi were in a fiercely competitive game of something that involved balancing cookies on their foreheads. Nagi was already asleep on a couch, a party hat askew on his head. Reo and Chigiri were debating the merits of different sparkling juices.
And Sae? He was in his usual spot on the periphery, a silent sovereign observing his kingdom. But his posture was relaxed, one arm draped along the back of the couch where (Y/N) sat, her feet tucked under her, chattering excitedly to Rin about her "New Year's Whimsy Resolutions.""âŚand number three is to finally teach Sae the proper way to do a cartwheel! It's about joyful momentum, not structural efficiency!"
Rin, sipping his drink, just shook his head, but the usual scowl was absent. "Good luck with that."
The large screen on the wall switched to the iconic Tokyo countdown. The room fell into a anticipatory hush.
"Ten!"Bachira hopped onto the coffee table, cookie forgotten.
"Nine! Eight!"Isagi grabbed Chigiriâs shoulder, grinning.
(Y/N) scrambled to her feet, pulling Sae up with her. He came willingly, a faint, tolerant smile on his face."Four! Three! Two!"
She turned to him, her eyes reflecting the screen's light, shining with pure, unfiltered joy. The noise of their friends, the blare of the broadcast, it all faded into a background hum.
The room erupted. Confetti cannons (procured from who-knows-where by Bachira) fired, filling the air with colorful paper. Cheers, laughter, and the clinking of plastic cups echoed around them.
But in their little bubble, time seemed to slow. (Y/N) threw her arms around Saeâs neck. "Happy New Year, Grumpy-Cake!"
Instead of his usual grunt or deadpan remark, Saeâs hands settled firmly on her waist. He looked down at her, his intense gaze holding hers. The noise, the celebration, the entire world outside their fortressâit all disappeared.
"Happy New Year," he said, his voice low and meant only for her. Then he kissed her. This was different than the others. Softer. Deeper. A kiss that held the quiet gratitude for the year of chaos sheâd brought him, and a silent promise for all the years to come. It was a kiss that tasted of frog cookies and hope.
When they finally pulled apart, slightly breathless, they became aware of their surroundings again. Their friends were pointedly looking away, pretending to be very interested in the confetti patterns on the ceiling or intensely discussing resolutions.
(Y/N)âs cheeks were flushed, her smile softer now. She reached into the pocket of her hoodie (which read âNew Year, Same Weird Meâ) and pulled out two small, wrapped parcels.
"First present of the year," she whispered.Sae raised an eyebrow but took his. He unwrapped it carefully. Inside was a simple, sturdy keychain. Not silver. Not from a fan. This one was handmade from baked clay, painted in slightly messy but vibrant colors. It was two figures: a tall, grumpy-looking stick figure in blue, and a smaller, beaming one in pink, their little clay hands linked. On the back, etched into the clay, were two words: My Home.
Sae stared at it, his throat tight. He looked from the clumsy, perfect gift to her hopeful face. In a world of trophies and contracts, this was the most valuable thing he owned.
Wordlessly, he took his keys from his pocket, removed the old, plain ring, and threaded the new keychain on. It clinked softly against his house key. A declaration.
"Open yours," he said, his voice slightly rough.
She tore into the wrapping with gusto. Inside a small box was a necklace. The pendant was a single, delicate, silver frog. But it wasn't just any frog. It was sleek, modern, beautiful. And nestled in the frog's back was a tiny, brilliant green stone. It was whimsical and elegant all at once. Entirely her, and entirely his taste.
"For my queen," he murmured, taking it from the box. He undid the clasp and moved behind her, his fingers brushing her neck as he fastened it. The cool silver settled against her skin, right over her heart.
She touched it, her eyes wide. "It's perfect.
"Around them, the new year buzzed with potential and noise. But they stood anchored in their own quiet world. He had her symbol, a fortress around his keys. She had his, a piece of his steadfast love resting over her pulse.
Bachira, watching from across the room where he was now trying to balance a cookie on a sleeping Nagi's nose, sighed a happy sigh. "They're gonna have a really, really weird and wonderful year."
Isagi smiled, clinking his cup with Chigiri's. "Yeah," he said, his gaze on the pair, now forehead-to-forehead, speaking in quiet whispers only they could hear. "The best kind."
(A/N: HAPPY NEW YEARRRR!!! Posted a bit late tho.)