Isagi pushed the shower door open with his shoulder, water still dripping from his wet hair as he stepped out into the locker room. He was wearing only the team's gray sweatpants, slung low on his hips, and nothing else. His body glistened under the cold ceiling lights: broad, solid shoulders, a chest etched with clear lines of muscle that rose and fell with each calm breath, abs carved into sharp, defined ridges from countless hours of solitary training, sculpted arms with prominent veins running along his biceps and forearms. A white towel hung around his neck, soaking up the stubborn droplets that kept sliding down his collarbone.
The locker room was a lively mess. Shirts being tossed back and forth, loud laughter, the sound of zippers and back slaps. The whole team was changing, still buzzing with the thrill of victory. Isagi barely glanced at anyone. He went straight to his open backpack on the bench, grabbed the facial cream jar without a word, and started spreading it across his face in quick, almost automatic motions, as if the ritual mattered more than any conversation.
The locker room door burst open and the coach strode in, face flushed, eyes shining, clipboard still in hand.
"Boys! Quarterfinals! We're in the quarterfinals! This was just the beginning, huh? You showed real fight today, you showed everyone that Ichinan isn't a joke!"
He kept talking, gesturing wildly, giving motivational slaps on the shoulders of those closest to him, voice brimming with genuine pride. Some players answered with "Yes, coach!", others laughed, already dreaming about the next match.
Isagi just gave a low "hmm," eyes never leaving the small handheld mirror he'd pulled from his bag. He finished applying the cream until his skin looked matte, put the jar away, grabbed the perfume bottle and gave two sprays to his neck and chest. The fresh scent of wood and citrus spread quickly. Then he pulled on a simple black t-shirt, adjusting it over his still-damp skin, and topped it with the team's official jacket, zipping it halfway up.
Ignoring the fact that he had previously badmouthed him behind his back, Tada tried to strike up a conversation beside him, forcing a smile:
"Hey, Isagi, that last goal was insane, right? We were thinking of going out for some barbecue now…"
"I've got something tonight, maybe next time…" Isagi cut him off curtly, voice low, without even turning his face. He grabbed his phone from the bag—the screen already lit up with notifications he didn't open—and shoved it into his jacket pocket.
The coach was still trying to include everyone in his speech, but Isagi was already walking toward the door, calm steps, as if the entire locker room were just background noise. He didn't look back. He didn't smile. He didn't celebrate.
The door shut behind him with a sharp click.
Outside, the stadium corridor still echoed with distant voices from fans heading home.
Isagi pulled his jacket hood over his head, sliding his finger across the phone screen as he walked alone toward the stadium exit. He was already thinking about catching the train back home, maybe replying to a message from his girlfriend on the way, or just staying quiet listening to music until his ego settled.
But then familiar voices came from around the next corner, near the main exit.
"—Isagicchi! Hey, wait up!"
Kise was the first to appear, almost jogging, backpack bouncing on his back and his blond hair still messy from the game. Behind him, the rest of the Teikou group emerged like a small, organized chaos of basketball uniforms. Akashi walked in front, posture impeccable as always. Kuroko appeared beside him almost silently. Aomine strolled with hands in pockets, face showing absolute boredom. Midorima adjusted his glasses while walking.
Murasakibara was chewing on something again. And Momoi trailed a step behind, cheeks faintly pink.
Isagi stopped.
"You guys came…" he said casually. "I thought your Inter High would run longer."
Akashi took one step forward, arms crossed.
"It ended almost at the same time as your second half," he replied calmly. "But we saw enough. Eight to zero… even for you that score stands out."
Kise jumped in before anyone could respond.
"Seriously, Isagicchi, that was ridiculous!" He gestured excitedly. "I saw some fan videos from the game—that nutmeg on the keeper? And then the scissor kick?! Man, I need to figure out how to copy that into basketball!"
Isagi let out a small huff through his nose.
"If you manage to pull that off in basketball, let me know…" he said dryly. "I want to see it."
Kise laughed loudly.
"Challenge accepted!"
Leaning against the wall, Aomine chewed his gum lazily.
"Tch… eight to zero, huh." He glanced sideways at Isagi. "You're having way too much fun."
He shrugged.
"But I still think basketball's better."
Isagi shot him a brief look.
"Football would give you trouble, Aomine."
One corner of Aomine's mouth lifted.
"Heh… I'd like to see you try."
Midorima cleared his throat discreetly, pushing his glasses up.
"According to today's Oha Asa, Aries was destined for an overwhelming victory." He looked seriously at Isagi. "I assume you wore the green bracelet I recommended."
Isagi sighed through his nose.
"…I don't even remember where I put that thing."
Midorima stayed silent for two seconds.
"Reckless."
Beside him, Murasakibara leaned over slightly and held out an almost-empty package.
"Isagi-chin… want some?" he mumbled, still chewing. "Playing soccer looks tiring…"
Isagi took one cookie just to be polite.
"Thanks…" He glanced at the package. "But if you keep going at this rate, you won't make it home with any left."
"Hmm… true…" Murasakibara was already grabbing another.
Kuroko appeared beside Isagi without warning.
"You looked like you were having a lot of fun, Isagi-kun…" he said calmly.
Isagi gave his shoulder a light pat, not at all surprised by the sudden appearance.
"I was."
One step behind, Momoi finally gathered her courage. She gripped her backpack strap too tightly.
"Isagi-kun…" Her voice came out soft, but a little tense. "You were amazing today. I wanted to get here earlier to cheer properly…"
She looked away for a second.
"…but even so… congratulations."
Isagi looked at her.
"You caught the end at least. Thanks for coming, Momoi-san…"
Her cheeks turned even redder.
Kise suddenly clapped his hands, breaking the mood.
"Alright! Since EVERYONE won today…"
He flashed a huge grin.
"Let's celebrate! There's a place nearby with insane takoyaki!"
Murasakibara raised his hand.
"…do they have ice cream?"
"They do!"
Akashi tilted his head slightly.
"It doesn't have to be long. Just to unwind."
Momoi took a small step forward, clearly hopeful.
"…If you can come, Isagi-kun…"
Isagi shoved his hands into his jacket pockets.
He shook his head slowly.
"Not tonight. I already have plans." Then he added: "But I'm free tomorrow after practice."
He looked at the group.
"If you guys want to do something."
Kise was already vibrating.
"Done! Tomorrow then! I'll organize!"
Aomine shrugged.
"If I'm not sleeping, I'll show up."
Akashi nodded, satisfied.
"Agreed."
Isagi pulled his hood a bit lower.
Gave a short final wave.
"See you tomorrow then."
And walked off down the corridor.
Behind him, the group was already debating places, while Momoi stayed frozen half a second longer than the others… trying to hide the smile that kept insisting on appearing.
On the other hand, a few minutes later, Isagi pushed through the glass door of the main exit, the cold night air hitting his face and making the hood slip back slightly. The parking lot was still half full, headlights on, people leaving gradually. He was about to turn left toward the bus stop when he heard his mother's voice.
"Yoichi!"
He stopped. His parents were there, near the railing, exactly where they had agreed earlier at home.
Next to them stood three girls he knew very well and who definitely weren't "just friends": Marin, Alya, and Masha…
All three looked at him at the same time.
And the world clicked into place.
The first eye contact with Marin was like a direct jolt to the chest—those big, bright eyes widened, cheeks flushing in the same instant, as if someone had turned a spotlight just on her. Isagi felt the same: an electric heat racing up his spine…
That…?
Was exactly what the god at that temple had said!?
Marin… really was his soulmate?!!
For a brief second he stood frozen, mind racing as he reorganized the pieces of that information. Deep down, it wasn't a complete surprise—there had been signs from the beginning, small coincidences and that inexplicable familiarity whenever he was near her. Still, understanding it rationally and actually feeling it were two very different things.
Because the moment that thought truly settled inside him, something in his body reacted far too clearly to be ignored. It wasn't pain, nor exactly emotion… it was a strange, subtle resonance, as if some deep part of his existence had finally found something it recognized. That involuntary reaction, much more than the revelation itself, was what truly shocked him.
But she wasn't the only one who gave him that feeling.
With Alya it was worse. Her gaze met his and, for half a second, her entire tsun melted—pupils dilating, lips parting slightly—and Isagi swore he heard her heart (or his?) skip out of rhythm. A hot, almost painful surge that made him clench his fingers inside his pocket…
Masha smiled the most, but even she wasn't immune: her playful grin faltered for an instant, cheeks gaining a rosy tone that wasn't just from the cold, and Isagi felt the same tingling climb up his neck, as if the air between them had turned into pure electricity.
He blinked quickly, regaining composure in less than a second.
"Hey," he said, voice calm, almost lazy as usual. He raised a hand in a short wave to all of them: "Alya, Kitagawa-san, and Maa-chan. You really came. You didn't have to wait out here—it's cold."
Ignoring the discomfort from the way he addressed her formally while using a cute nickname for the others, Marin was the first to explode, waving her hands like she'd downed an energy drink.
"Isagi-kun! You were INCREDIBLE! Like, I was screaming so much that Iyo-chan had to hold me back so I wouldn't jump the railing! That last goal… oh my god, I almost passed out!"
Alya made a small sound in her throat, trying to keep her elegant composure, but her voice came out a little lower than usual, with that soft accent that appeared when she was nervous.
"…It was a flawless performance. Congratulations, Isagi-kun." She looked away for half a second, murmuring quietly in Russian: "Чёрт, почему он всегда выглядит… (Damn, why does he always look…)…"
Masha laughed softly, nudging her sister with her elbow, cutting her off.
"I heard that, Alya." Then she looked at Isagi with a mischievous smile, though her eyes betrayed the same warmth. "You really destroyed them today, huh? I almost felt sorry for the other team, Saa-kun…"
Isagi gave a short half-smile, shoving his hands deeper into his jacket pockets so no one would see his fingers were still tingling.
"Unfortunately I had to play for real." He turned to his father and mother, quickly shifting focus. "So? What did you think of the game?"
Issei slapped his shoulder, pride dripping from his voice.
"Of course we watched! Eight to zero, kid! I was filming the entire second half. When you did that volley… man, I almost dropped the phone!"
Iyo pulled him into a quick hug, squeezing tight despite her thick coat.
"I'm so proud, Yoichi. You looked so calm out there… like it was easy. But I know how much you train alone. Keep it up, my love."
Isagi let the hug last a second longer than usual, just to smell the familiar scent of home mixed with his mother's perfume. Then he stepped back, glancing at the three girls who were still staring at him like he was the winning goal of the final…
"Shall we go? The train leaves soon."
Marin jumped in front, almost tripping over her own coat.
"Can we walk to the station together? Please? I want to hear every detail—Iyo-chan said you got offers from several different schools?"
Alya and Masha exchanged a quick glance, both clearly thinking the same thing, but neither said a word.
"Sure, of course you can come along…" Isagi said with a faint smile.
The group started walking through the parking lot toward the exit, the parents leading the way, chatting excitedly about the game—Issei gesturing like he was commentating the volley goal all over again, Iyo laughing and correcting the details he was exaggerating.
Isagi walked in the middle of the three girls, hood still half down, hands in his jacket pockets to hide that his fingers were still trembling slightly from those earlier electric jolts.
The walk to the station was short—about fifteen minutes—but it felt longer because no one wanted it to end. Marin started talking nonstop about the game, recounting every goal like it was an anime scene, gesturing so much she almost hit Isagi's arm three times. Alya, who would normally correct every detail with surgical precision, just listened, eyes fixed on him, as if every word he said mattered more than any fact.
At one point Marin asked:
"Isagi-kun, did you feel scared when the other team tried to mark you? Like when that fast guy came charging?"
Isagi thought for a second.
"No. I just… calculated his path and cut it off. It was automatic."
Alya murmured, almost to herself: "…Always so calm."
But her tone held no complaint. It was pure admiration, mixed with something softer, almost vulnerable. Isagi glanced sideways and saw her eyes shining differently—not jealous, not possessive. It was as if she were seeing something new in him, something that made her want to get closer instead of pushing the others away.
Masha noticed immediately and smiled from the corner of her mouth.
"Alya-chan is melting. Look at her."
Alya gave her sister a light slap on the arm.
"I'm not melting! I just… find it admirable, that's all."
Isagi narrowed his eyes slightly.
"You're… unusually calm, Alya. I thought you'd bite someone's throat over Marin bumping into me."
Alya ended up looking away.
"That's a very… primitive view of me, Isagi-kun. I'm not like that."
Marin looked at her with an offended yet amused expression.
"You growled at me three times today."
"I did not growl." Alya shot back immediately, but her tone lacked its usual aggression. "I merely expressed my… disapproval."
Masha raised an eyebrow.
"Rrrr." She imitated quietly, making Alya blush to her ears.
"I do NOT make that sound!"
Isagi let out a short, discreet but genuine laugh. And all three looked at him at once, as if his laughter were some rare prize. Marin smiled even wider. Alya sighed. Masha watched him with a softer glow than usual.
Somehow, the dynamic between the four of them felt… easier? Like there was no jealousy, and they all seemed more relaxed and happy.
So what the God of Love said really was true…