Chapter Text
Ever since he was a child, Nagi had always been the kind of person who preferred to go unnoticed. He hated studying, hated doing chores, and his only real hobby was playing video games. His life was quiet, even if a little lonely at times. But then he presented as an alpha.
Alphas were social pillars, figures of power tied to dominance and strength. Nagi was none of that. He was calm, someone who just wanted to live life peacefully. Even though he was what people called a recessive alpha, the responsibilities that came with his secondary gender only grew heavier with time. Controlling pheromones, scheduling his heats, taking his medication at the right times…
He really wished he had been born a beta.
But when he became friends with Reo, for a moment, his whole perspective on being an alpha shifted. He had a friend. A relationship untouched by secondary genders, and Reo never seemed to care about Nagi’s alpha status, despite being a dominant omega himself. On top of that, Reo always took care of him and spoiled him so he would keep playing soccer — which was strange, considering that alphas were usually the ones who played that role.
It was an odd friendship. A rare thing, since it was unusual for those two subgenders to become close. But Reo and Nagi were different. They didn’t care about that.
Or at least that’s what Nagi had thought, because Reo Mikage hadn’t shown up at school for a week due to his heat.
That was normal — it happened every few months — but he had never been gone for this long.
If only Nagi were a damn beta, he could go visit him.
But he was an alpha, and everything could go terribly wrong if he got too close to an omega in heat. What if he got arrested? It was a crime to try anything with an omega, especially one as wealthy and influential as Reo. At the same time… why was this heat taking so long? Was he okay?
Nagi missed the way Reo took care of him, the way he smiled when Nagi controlled the ball, the way he carried him after soccer practice — which he hadn’t gone to. Nothing made sense when Mikage wasn’t around.
“Wow, I’ve never seen you make that face before! Did you miss me?”
Seishiro snapped his head around so fast he almost knocked over his classroom chair.
“Reo…!”
The omega looked fine — to Nagi’s relief — but he was wearing a mask, his face slightly flushed. Seriously? Reo was still finishing his heat?
Nagi definitely should have been born a beta. Damn it.
“Did you go to practice and eat properly?”
“No. It doesn’t make sense to go without you,” he replied bluntly, as always. Now Nagi felt a bit bothered. “Are you… Are you really okay? Your heat lasted longer than usual this month.”
“I’m fine, don’t worry,” Reo said with a smile. Or so Nagi thought. “I can’t practice today, but I want to watch you play.”
Seishiro looked away immediately. He hated being separated from Reo, but he couldn’t get too close because of the end of Reo’s heat cycle. He also hated the idea of playing without Reo. It didn’t make sense.
“It won’t be fun without you,” he muttered.
Reo felt his heart skip a beat, but pretended not to react. Nagi always said things that made his heart race — and it was even worse now, considering his heat still left him sensitive.
Nagi was such an idiot.
…
Being surrounded by alpha and omega students was difficult for Reo in his state. But inside the Hakuho soccer club locker room, it was even worse.
Alphas released a lot of pheromones after working out. For a dominant omega and team captain like Reo, it normally wasn’t a problem. But today was different. He waited for everyone to finish changing so he could be alone and breathe. Then he put on his training uniform and walked to the field. Even if he hated just standing around watching, seeing Nagi play felt like a privilege.
When they were both on the field, it was hard for him to look directly at the alpha — they had to keep moving, after all. But now, his treasure looked incredible.
Seishiro ran between some students, intercepting the ball midair the way he always did. It was like watching Vinci paint a masterpiece, or Isaac Newton write the most important laws of physics. A genius doing what he did best.
Ever since he met Nagi on that stairway, Reo felt like his life could finally begin. He no longer had to act like a “proper omega” to inherit his parents’ empire, no more fake relationships to maintain appearances. It was just soccer. Friendship.
When he blinked, practice was over, and everyone was headed back to the locker room — except Mikage. He walked straight toward Nagi, who was lying on the field catching his breath.
“I knew it, you really didn’t come to practice, did you?” Reo teased, crouching down and tapping the tip of Nagi’s cute nose. “If you don’t train every day, you’re going to lose your stamina fast.”
“Yeah, you’re right,” the white-haired boy sighed, stretching his arms above his head. “Carry me, Reo.”
He said it without thinking — an innocent request from a tired Seishiro. But the moment he realized what he’d asked for, he jolted upright. Reo couldn’t do that, he was in heat!
“I…”
Before the genius could say anything, Reo turned around and crouched down, offering his back for Nagi to climb onto. That nearly made Nagi whine with relief. His legs were tired and, more importantly: he had missed his friend so much. He wrapped his arms around Reo gently.
But unlike other days, when he simply relaxed in Reo’s arms, his gaze drifted to the omega’s neck. The smell of his pheromones. They were flowery — reminded him of spring and the flowers Choki once grew.
Without thinking, he buried his face there. And it wasn’t just because of Reo’s heat. Well… he’d be lying if he said his inner alpha didn’t want to bite and lick that neck… But he missed Reo.
His body was warm and comfortable. He wanted to stay there forever. Was that selfish? Could an alpha like Nagi even want things like that?
“I already told you, you’re my treasure. I’ll do anything to keep us together,” Mikage said, feeling the hesitant energy radiating from the other.
Despite the pretty words, the omega was still struggling to control himself. The way Nagi clung to him, nuzzled into his neck, and released his own pheromones everywhere was driving Reo insane.
Reo didn’t want to deny him anything — but he was nearing his limit as an omega. He needed to take a suppressant as soon as he got back to the locker room.
“I think I should do things for you too, Reo…”
“You don’t need to, I’m fine,” Reo said, not convincingly, as he pushed open the locker room door.
By then, most people were already leaving, and the few who remained were changing into their clothes. They waved and smiled at Reo before heading out. He forced a smile back.
Nagi was set down on one of the benches, now staring at Reo’s face. He was really red.
“I’m going to shower and then we can go. I’ll drive you home.”
Nagi just nodded, unable to tear his eyes away from him. Had he made Reo’s condition worse? While the purple-haired boy headed toward the showers, Nagi smelled himself — startled to realize he was releasing pheromones from exhaustion. Shit.
Was it too much to ask to have been born a beta?
Had he made things harder for Reo?
The sound of running water snapped him back. Maybe he should go home. Sitting together in a car might make Reo’s heat flare up again.
“Hey, Reo. I’m leaving,” he called from the shower entrance.
“What?! No! Nagi, I’m taking you!”
“I’m tired, I don’t want to wait,” he lied.
Reo shut off the shower immediately. He couldn’t let Seishiro run off like that. He hadn’t seen his treasure for a week! And now Nagi was trying to escape, slipping through his fingers again.
Wrapped in a towel, he ran out and froze in front of Nagi.
“Don’t you dare leave without me!”
Seishiro looked Reo up and down. Wet hair, flushed face, uncontrollable pheromones. Reo was kind of mad.
“Fine,” he sighed in defeat, returning to the bench.
Nagi covered his face, trying to calm himself down. Reo looked so pretty. Were omegas always this pretty? Reo was cute. Nagi wished he were an omega so he could stay close to him without worry.
Mikage dressed as quickly as possible and took his suppressants. They worked — somewhat — suppressing the most urgent impulses. But being around teammates still made him dizzy, off-balance.
Except around Nagi. His scent was comforting, familiar.
But Nagi was avoiding him. The thought hurt.
Seishiro had always been different from the other students. While everyone else tried to get close to him because of his money, Nagi had always been sincere. And Nagi hadn’t cared when he learned Reo was an omega. Even though alphas held most high positions in society, Mikage never hid his omega status — and his parents supported him. But the world still saw him as weak, someone to be protected and coddled. Reo hated that.
In their friendship, Nagi was the pampered one. Reo finally felt a sense of control. For once, he was seen as a person — not an omega or a famous surname. His life truly began the moment he met Nagi.
“Why are you avoiding me?” Reo asked as he approached, now fully dressed. “Is it because of my heat?”
Nagi gave him that indifferent look — a look only Reo could understand. He loved that about him. The exclusivity of having his treasure all to himself.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” Nagi admitted, scratching his neck. “I didn’t realize I was releasing pheromones.”
“I told you, it’s fine,” Reo reassured him, sitting beside him. “I like your pheromones, Nagi.”
“Mine?” His eyes widened, unsure.
“They’re nice. They make me feel less dizzy when there are others around. And the locker room is always full of them.”
Nagi looked away, clearly thinking about something. And suddenly, Reo smelled it — that familiar scent: snow.
His friend was releasing his pheromones on purpose.
Seishiro smelled like winter. Like making snow angels, like hot chocolate after the cold. It was fresh and soothing, and it made Reo want to melt into his arms.
Without thinking, his omega instincts reacted and he leaned in, pressing his face into Nagi’s neck. Despite the cold scent and the cold personality, Nagi’s skin was warm. Reo wanted to moan from how good it felt.
Seeing such a beautiful reaction, for the first time since learning his secondary gender…
Nagi was happy to be an alpha.