note: i didn't remember at all, but apparently, i wrote this when only the second episode of ares aired. after that i don't even think i continued watching ares, lol, so i don't take responsibility if this fic doesn't stand the turbulence of time :) reader's discretion advised.

***

When she saw the injuries on Haizaki Ryouhei’s legs, she couldn’t help but to let out a small gasp. Granted they were not that severe - most of them are shallow cuts - but still… some of them are still letting out blood and Haizaki look nowhere near worried about them. Quite the contrary, he’s still shooting and dribbling, too engrossed in practice to even realize the condition of his legs.

Haizaki dribbled the ball towards the goal, once again preparing to shoot - now with his killer technique instead of his usual, yet powerful, shots.

She knew if this keeps up, his legs are going to get worse - and so she exhaled deeply and shouted out his name in a rather loud voice: “HAIZAKI RYOUHEI!!”

Haizaki immediately stops and froze in place; surprised. Honestly, who wouldn’t?

“Who…-” He turned his head towards the source of the voice. When he did saw the face of the person who’d shouted his name earlier though, he heaved a sigh, “Oh, It’s just you.”

“What do you mean it’s just me?” She entered the pitch, half-running, towards Haizaki, “More importantly, your legs!”

Haizaki tilted his head in puzzlement, “My… what?”

He’d only understood what she meant when she pointed at his legs, and he turned his head downwards to see what’s up.

“Oh,” was the only thing he uttered. He didn’t look surprised.

“Enough with the ‘oh’, already,” She sighed exasperatedly, “Look, we should seriously treat that now , or -”

“No need,” Haizaki immediately replied as he turned around, preparing to practice again. However, before he could start running, someone’s - obviously, hers - hand held his firmly.

It wasn’t as though he couldn’t shake the hand away - in fact, despite it being firm, the grip was nowhere near strong, especially when compared to Haizaki’s strength. He could’ve just lightly shook his hand and she would probably fall down. However, Haizaki didn’t feel like doing such a barbaric thing towards a young lady. Despite his rough exterior, even Haizaki has his own standards - though , as much as he hated to admit, there was another reason…

“Please,” She said, her strong tone earlier gone, replaced with a weak, worried voice, “Haizaki…”

Without turning back, Haizaki shuffled his long hair with his other hand - “...Fine,” He conceded, and the two of them walked towards the bench on the side of the field together.

When he saw her contented face, he couldn’t help but to feel something surging from the depths of his heart. ‘Something’ he’d rather not identify what, at least not now.

“There you go, all patched up,” She said, as she looked at Haizaki’s legs, now full of band-aids. She looked very satisfied with her handiwork. “Honestly, you should really take care of yourself -” 

“Why?”

Haizaki interrupted her sentence with a one-word question. Indeed, half of it was that he didn’t want to listen to her lengthy preaching, but also… he’s genuinely puzzled as to why she always seems to care about him despite how everyone else seems to be scared of him, of the Devil of the Field. Granted he wouldn’t do anything to hurt a defenseless young lady, not even a soccer player, outside of the field, but…

“Why… what?” She returned the inquiry, tilting her head to the side.

“Why do you… care so much?” Haizaki looked a bit unsure with his choice of words, yet he couldn’t seem to find anything else that fits.

“...?” She still looked confused for a moment, but in another second it seemed like she finally understood his question: “Why I care about you, you mean?”

Haizaki did neither nod nor shake his head. He simply stared straight at her, looking out for signs - gestures, anything, that could make him understand her and her motivation even just a little bit.

“Well…” She smiled sheepishly, “At first it was your face.”

“My… what?” Haizaki looked at her blankly.

“Your face,” She repeated, “I mean - you might get angry hearing this, but I find your face really beautiful. I mean, uh,”

She looked at Haizaki, trying to find even a hint of emotion - only to find none since he’s still surprised - before she continued: “I think you look really nice. That’s... actually why I wanted to get close to you, at first.”

Haizaki was about to say something when she started to speak again.

“But then I started to see you as... you, not just your outer appearance...”

Of course, I’d asked stuff to Kidou about you, too, but I’ll refrain from saying it since you’ll probably look at me like I’m some kind of stalker... though, I guess that’s not...really far off.

“And I... I don’t know, actually,” again, she smiled sheepishly, “I guess, I just feel like I can’t leave you alone.”

Especially when I’d heard from Kidou how you’re... searching for somebody to save you from the darkness... Although I’m sure that someone like me, who couldn’t clash heart-to-heart with you on the pitch, wouldn’t be able to save you... At least, I wanted to make sure you’d have somebody on your side.

“...”

Looking at her, suddenly all quiet and gloomy, Haizaki raised his hand... and ruffled her hair.

“Eh, wha-!?” She exclaimed in surprise at the sudden touch.

“Stupid,” Haizaki said - and in contrast to his rough words, the tone he’d used was kind... at least, the kindest she’d ever heard coming from him.

“...” She smiled, “You’re the stupid one - look, now my hair’s all messed up.”

“What did you say, you cheeky...!”

Haizaki once again ruffled her hair, this time rougher, ignoring her pleas for him to stop. Honestly, she’s still such a puzzle to him - and he did get pissed off when she called him ‘beautiful’ - but at least now he felt less inclined to kick her away from his life.

For some reason.

...That he doesn’t want to know what is, at least for now.