3.18. Left-Legged

"Without further ado, here are the starting lineups for each team! Bastard Munchen, against Ubers!"

Y/N watched the livestream on his tablet, resting on his lap. He sat alone on the pitch, yet again on his solitary chair in between the two teams' technical areas. Without two large teams playing, the pitch was eerily silent. Just a ghost field, a lonely ball sat right in the centre.

The BLTV livestream was pretty well made, with the first hour or so of the show playing adverts, a gameshow with some soccer pros and casters, and other small fun things. They'd just finished going over analysis of the game and its players, highlighting key tactics and strategies both teams would be using.

But now, it was time for them to reveal the teams. First off, the stream cut to a video of Bastard Munchen's prep room.

The stream chat went wild. Y/N tracked a few of the messages, eyes scanning each one quickly.

"Start Isagi! I don't care who else plays!"

"Gagamaru G.O.A.T!"

"They should put Kurona on."

"I want to see Yukimiya play...!"

"Honestly, BM should drop Isagi or Kaiser. They can't play together."

"I'm a huge Ness fan, please put him on!"

"I love Kaiser."

"I love Isagi."

"I love Noa."

"I'm hoping they put the monk guy on. Igaguri hat-trick incoming!11!!!11!!"

Noa held a clipboard in front of him, foregoing the usual tablet for the more old fashioned choice of a piece of paper. He looked over the assembled players. "I'll now announce the starting eleven players for the game against Ubers."

He took a deep breath. "Goalkeeper, Gagamaru. Left back, Yukimiya. Centre backs, Mensah and Birkenstock. Right back, Kurona. Now, at defensive midfielder, Raichi Jingo."

Everyone in the room paused. Y/N himself frowned, pulling his head back from the tablet slightly. He spoke at the same time most of the live chat did. "What the fuck?"

"During training sessions, he showed the highest stats in duelling, one on one defending, and physicality. As the key to this match is winning duels, he will need to become our team's defensive anchor." Noa explained to the camera. The chat was only half convinced. Noa didn't seem to care, continuing to talk.

"In centre midfield, Ness. Left midfield, Grim. Right midfield, Isagi. At the front, Kunigami on the right, and Kaiser on the left." Noa nodded. "That's it for the starting eleven. We will play similar to a 4-4-2, with a few minor adjustments. And keep in mind any and every one of the positions are liable to change."

Most of the team slumped at not being picked, mainly the Bluelock players. Noa didn't notice, rattling off facts. "Ubers, as I've already gone over before, are a strong defensive team. Their coach and master Snuffy is a highly tactical player, and will have many set plays to work with on both defence and offence."

"Kaiser, Isagi." He pointed to both of them. "I'll keep it simple. Whoever manages to destroy Ubers' game plan in this game will become the so-called 'king' of this team. Kaiser, don't get too fixated on Isagi. Isagi, stop letting emotions cloud your vision."

"Now. Showtime, Bastard Munchen."

Y/N leant back in his chair as the stream switched teams. Before, it showed the Bastard Munchen prep room. Now, it showed Ubers.

Snuffy stood at the front of his team, tapping away at a tablet.

"We'll play a 3-5-1-1. Unconventional choice, but you all know how it works." Snuffy pursed his lips. "Aryu, Lorenzo, Aiku as centre-backs, from left to right. Our five in the midfield will be, from left to right, Abdi, Drago, Niko, Peron, and Rico."

He glanced over the team. "The front two are Barou at the top, and Sendou in a supporting position behind him. The key to this game is simple - manipulation of their forwards."

Y/N frowned. What does that even mean?

Thankfully, Snuffy explained more. "The goal is to draw out the 'ego' inside of these Bastard Munchen forwards. Make them take unnecessary risks, steal the ball, and counter down the centre. Focal points are Lorenzo, Niko, and Sendou." He hummed. "In the case we concede the first goal, you all know what to do."

That last part was quieter, less emphasised. Therefore, less people in the chat noticed it, commenting more on the first part of the plan. But Y/N's frown deepened. They have a plan if they lose a goal?

"Now, get out there, Ubers." Snuffy gestured to the door. "Bring me victory."

As the cameras transitioned to an overhead view of the pitch, Y/N quickly tucked the tablet under his chair. He knew what the rest of the viewers would see, though. A top down camera in the centre of the field should show both teams walking out onto the field from opposite sides, approaching each other in the centre as Y/N stayed in his chair.

They met in the middle. Y/N spotted words exchanged all around, Barou and Isagi accidentally knocking their heads together as they both tried to square up to each other. They both broke apart, rubbing at their foreheads as everyone else talked.

Barou seemed to have done something to his hair. Squinting, trying to see better, Y/N spotted the red stripes dyed, going up his spiked hair. He whistled appreciatively, muttering under his breath. "Jeez. How long did that take?"

Surrounding Barou and Isagi, a lot of other players were laughing. Y/N spotted Niko, Aryu, and Aiku together, Raichi and Kurona were messing with Sendou. Kaiser and Ness stood off to one side, not saying anything. Though, they eventually went their separate ways, grouping up into their team huddles.

Above, the announcer spoke excitedly. "In just a minute, today's match will kick off! Remember, everyone, this is the last game before the two week break, signalling we're halfway through the season!"

"Will the hundred million man Barou Shoei follow up his hat-trick with another brilliant performance? Will Bluelock's Ace, Isagi Yoichi finally score his first goal in the Neo Egoist League? Or will Kaiser outshine them all, with his devastating Kaiser Impact?!"

"Well, we're about to find out, because the Neo Egoist League's fifth match begins... right now!"

The whistle blew. Y/N sighed, focusing on the game.

Kaiser kicked off with a short pass to Ness, as expected. They were met by Sendou and Niko, each defender taking their respective player. Isagi sped up behind the two of his teammates.

They moved up the field quickly at the start, trading ultra-fast passes between the two of them like always. Two, three Ubers players were left in the dust. But it wasn't to continue.

A 3-5-1-1 formation... It's weak on the outside, but incredibly strong in the centre of the pitch, and on defence. After all, they have like... a possible 6 defenders all clustered there. And Kaiser and Ness are running straight into them?

They quickly stalled out. Three Ubers players stood in Kaiser's path, one more going for Ness. Y/N's brow furrowed as Kaiser passed anyway. It's gonna get stolen...?

Ness smirked a little, doing a two-footed jump that let the ball go right under his feet. It was an incredibly coordinated move, with Kaiser passing perfectly, and Ness timing it just as perfectly. The ball bounced once, going right across the field to Grim on the left wing.

Everything else happened fast. Grim received the ball. Ness sped up, sprinting right down the centre of the pitch. From where Y/N sat, he could easily see Kaiser on the opposite side of the pitch, only marked by one Ubers player as he also headed forwards.

Grim took two steps, and passed back. A high pass that headed right for Ness. But Ness didn't receive it, instead letting it go by him again. The ball bounced on the ground, flying towards Kaiser.

Y/N blinked - and he was there. Don Lorenzo, the zombie man he'd met before in the Ubers lounge. He easily intercepted the pass, looking relaxed as anything as he showed off dirty gold teeth. As he craned his head around, followed by the rest of his body, the bite tattoo on his neck moved almost like it was actively chomping at the air.

He hadn't realised it, but Lorenzo was good. Terrifyingly good. Even with a hunched back, rounded shoulders and bent knees, he was as tall as Kaiser, a long mess of pale limbs and a bony body. Grinning, he staggered around, doing a long circle as he turned to face the Bastard Munchen team with the ball at his feet.

Not knowing what he was saying, Y/N just watched as the man pointed at the majority of the enemy players, mouth moving every time he did. Is he... listing auction values?

Lorenzo muttered something final. Then, his foot swung back, ready to launch a counter-attacking pass. All of Ubers abandoned their marks, moving up the field as they prepared for their own attack. Kunigami ran straight for Lorenzo, trying to block off the pass.

The thing was, Lorenzo never had intended to pass. Y/N watched with mute amazement as he flopped, stumbled, and staggered his way right past Kunigami. He didn't even know how it worked - Lorenzo looked like a corpse as he dribbled past.

And after, he still didn't pass.

The Ubers midfielders grouped up around Lorenzo. Niko dropped back into defence. That made five, six players including Sendou, all moving forwards at the same pace as Lorenzo. They clustered around him, like a zombie horde as he guided them forwards towards Bastard Munchen's goal.

Lorenzo straight up ran for Raichi. He could've passed, but he chose not to, instead lurching towards him with surprising speed. His head leant towards Raichi, even as his legs moved behind. Y/N had no clue how it worked.

He's like one of those balancing toys... Y/N watched closely, trying to understand as Lorenzo slammed the ball through Raichi's feet and kept going. His body and legs move independently, making it incredibly difficult for anyone to predict where he's going. But his arms and head sort of act as balancers, swinging out so he doesn't lose his balance.

Ubers absolutely tore through Bastard Munchen. Their passes were on point, going from Lorenzo, to Sendou, to another midfielder, and back to Lorenzo all in a few seconds. The few players in their path were lost as they flew past.

Yeah, a zombie horde is the best way to describe them. Y/N watched, as the six players all swarmed towards the goal. Three defenders stood in their way, but Lorenzo didn't slow one bit. He faked a shot, and as one defender slid to block it, he simply jumped into the air.

That grabbed the other two defenders' attention. They both turned on Lorenzo at the same time.

But before Lorenzo could even land, his leg shot out. The ball glanced off it, flying fast towards the edge of the pitch. Midair, he'd hit a stunning pass towards his teammate.

Barou Shoei.

That was clean. A pass there? Barou isn't marked-

Y/N straightened in his chair, eyes narrowing on the field as Isagi lunged forwards. He intercepted Lorenzo's pass, even though Y/N himself hadn't seen it coming. And immediately, he was sprinting up the edge of the pitch, countering Ubers' counter with his own.

Kurona fell in step beside him.

The two of them headed down the side of the pitch, avoiding the huge group of Ubers players in the centre. The two players they got by, they did it effortlessly. Isagi passed to Kurona. Kurona sped up, getting past the first. The second came a second later, but Kurona was already passing back to Isagi.

Isagi slowed down. Y/N watched. Yukimiya was rapidly catching up behind him, hand extending. He was going to steal the ball... but in front of him, an Ubers defender was also trying to steal.

Instead of fighting forwards, Isagi ducked to the side. Yukimiya blew past him, drawing the defender's momentary attention, and Isagi simply ran past.

He sped up again. Kurona and Isagi together barrelled past the remaining defenders, Isagi running right through. Kurona got held up as Aiku pressed, but still managed to arc a pass over the enemy heads towards Isagi.

In the end, it was Isagi against Ness in front of the goal. The ball came arcing down. Ness barged into Isagi's side, knocking his right side off balance. To stay upright, Isagi was forced to plant his right foot into the ground.

So he can't shoot... Y/N nodded. It was a good play by Ness.

But the ball went to Isagi's left side. And he didn't look bothered at all, eyes lasered in on the goal.

Isagi's left leg swung forwards.

He didn't need to trap it.

He didn't even look at the ball.

He just swung his leg forwards.

The resulting shot was like a sniper rifle had gone off. At the close distance, the ball whipped towards the goal incredibly fast. Caught off guard by the shot, the goalkeeper leapt across. Didn't get there in time.

The shot flew right into the back of the goal, stretching the net. Bastard Munchen's substitutes rose to their feet with a deafening roar, Ubers' players yelling with surprise.

Y/N? With wide eyes, he swallowed hard. He grabbed the hem of his shorts, trying to stop his hands trembling. When he spoke, it was nothing but a soft, fear-filled breath. How is he... so good now?

"No. Fucking. Way."