Huddle Up ! || Nichojoo

Nicholas couldn't help but be annoyed.

Not just at the scrimmage, or Heeseung's smug face, or Jay's endless trash talk. No, what was really pissing him off was the fact that he couldn't stop thinking about Euijoo.

More specifically, the way Euijoo had stopped him. The way his hand had wrapped around Nicholas's wrist, firm but not forceful. The way he had looked at Nicholas—steady, knowing, like he had seen the storm in his chest and quietly told it to settle.

Nicholas hated that it had worked.

The locker room was buzzing after practice, but Nicholas wasn't really listening. Taki was saying something about dinner plans, Yuma was laughing about how Maki almost picked a fight with Sunghoon, and Euijoo—

Euijoo was just minding his business, towel draped around his neck, like he hadn't just messed up Nicholas's whole brain.

Nicholas scowled and slammed his locker shut.

"Jumpy much?" Taki snickered.

"Shut up," Nicholas muttered, running a hand through his hair. He needed air.

Nicholas should've known he wouldn't catch a break.

He had barely stepped outside when he spotted them. Heeseung, Jay, Jungwon, and Sunghoon loitering near the parking lot, talking loudly. They must've just finished up, still in their rival team jackets, looking like they owned the place.

Nicholas exhaled sharply. He could ignore them. He should ignore them.

But then Jay noticed him.

"Yo, Nico!" Jay grinned, nudging Heeseung. "Man, you should've seen his face earlier. Must suck, watching your team play just fine without you."

Nicholas clenched his jaw.

Heeseung, ever the smooth talker, leaned back against a car. "No hard feelings, though. I mean, if I were you, I wouldn't want to be on the field either. Easier to sit back and let the real players work."

Nicholas took a step forward, but before he could do anything, a voice cut through the air.

"That's rich, coming from a team that cheated just to lose again last time."

Nicholas blinked.

There Euijoo was again.

He was standing next to him now, arms crossed, looking completely unbothered. His tone wasn't sharp, just matter-of-fact, like he wasn't even trying to insult them—just stating the truth.

Jay scoffed. "Please. We didn't cheat—"

"Then why was Heeseung chewing out that freshman after the game?" Euijoo tilted his head. "You know, the one who got caught?"

Heeseung's smirk twitched, but he recovered fast. "Damn, you pay a lot of attention to us. Should we be flattered?"

Euijoo didn't even blink. "I just like knowing how bad you guys actually are when you don't have an extra player sneaking onto the field."

Nicholas felt the tension shift. Jungwon, standing slightly behind Heeseung, was watching Euijoo now—not hostile, just observing. Sunghoon looked like he wanted to say something, but for once, kept his mouth shut.

Jay clicked his tongue. "Man, you're just full of surprises, huh? Didn't think you'd be the one keeping Nico on a leash."

Nicholas opened his mouth, but Euijoo spoke first.

"Nah," he said simply. "I just know when something's worth our time."

And just like that, he turned, giving Nicholas the smallest glance before walking off.

Nicholas hesitated for half a second before following.

Jay laughed behind them. "Damn, I was joking!"

Nicholas ignored him.

The walk back was quiet at first. Nicholas was still fuming, but not just at Jay anymore.

Eventually, he muttered, "You didn't have to step in."

Euijoo, walking just ahead, glanced back. "You were about to punch Jay in the face."

"So what?"

Euijoo sighed like Nicholas was exhausting. "And I don't like seeing you get benched."

Nicholas nearly tripped. "What?"

Euijoo kept walking. "You're already sidelined. You really want to get suspended, too?"

Nicholas stared at his back, something uneasy twisting in his stomach.

That should've been it. A logical, responsible answer. The kind of thing their coach would say. The kind of thing Euijoo would say.

But something about his tone—just slightly softer than usual—felt off.

Nicholas caught up, stepping in front of him. "You don't care about me getting benched."

Euijoo stopped. "Excuse me?"

"You don't," Nicholas insisted. "You act like you don't care about half the stuff that happens on the field. You barely react when we win, and you never complain when we lose. So why the hell do you care if I'm on the bench?"

Euijoo stared at him for a long moment. Then, slowly, he smiled—not his usual teasing smirk, but something smaller. Quieter.

"Wouldn't you like to know?"

Nicholas's stomach flipped.

Euijoo took a step back, hands slipping into his pockets. "Try not to overthink. You'll be alright."