3.21. Second Thought

Hiori was on the edge of his seat.

As Gagamaru tossed the ball far into the air, he leant forwards, wide eyes trying to catch the motions of every single player as they rushed towards it. Nearest to the ball, though, were three players. Isagi, Yukimiya, and Noa.

Only a few defenders stood between them and the goal. Hiori found himself clenching his fists, his breathing unconsciously getting faster as he pleaded for them to score. If anyone can do it, it's you, Isagi. Right now.

The trio surged forwards at blistering pace. Every move Isagi did, Hiori predicted. He passed to Noa, Noa more than happy to help his disciple of sorts out. The man sped up instantly, dribbling past one, then two players with huge strides. It took a third player, Aiku, to finally bring him down, sliding into him in an overly rough tackle.

Yet, it didn't stop the ball. Even as Noa and Aiku hit the ground, the striker managed to get a pass out. Isagi scooped it up, and without a second glance back, continued to run forwards.

Hiori couldn't help but wonder how Noa felt. He's the best player in the world, and Isagi doesn't care at all. He pretty much used Noa as bait, and Noa knows that but went along with it anyway. Though, what kind of mindset does Isagi have...? As soon as Noa outlived his usefulness, it's like Isagi completely forgot about him.

He's like some kind of gamemaster...

But with Noa out of the equation, it left just Isagi and Yukimiya, against the defence. 30 metres left. Don't stop, you have the advantage.

Isagi passed to Yukimiya. They broke apart, Isagi going wide against the last three defenders. One of them followed him. The other two advanced on Yukimiya.

It's all up to Isagi to shake off his tail...! Hiori stared, unblinking even though his eyes were about to sting. He couldn't miss it.

Isagi did just that. He sped up, going to the right of the defender. Then he spun, one foot shooting out to slow his momentum, a second foot to push him backwards. Caught off guard, the defender overshot, and Isagi raced past him on the left side.

Hiori grinned. It was reminiscent of Y/N, the other boy using similar techniques to throw defenders off. And something that Isagi definitely hadn't known before. Did he learn it from Y/N...?

In any case, Isagi was through. He was pretty much right in front of the goal. Him and the goalkeeper - he just had to get the ball. But when Yukimiya found the opportunity to pass, Hiori already knew it was going to go wrong.

Snuffy was approaching Isagi on the side. Isagi had his head angled towards the ground, hoping for a low pass. But Yukimiya, pressed by two defenders, didn't see it. He lifted the ball over their heads in a high lob, the ball almost tauntingly slow as it flew through the air.

Hiori's voice trailed off as he muttered under his breath. "No... a lob pass won't..."

On the field, he could tell both Isagi and Snuffy also realised that. With a powerful jump, Snuffy got to the ball midair, way before it could reach Isagi. He used his head, batting the ball aside, and effectively completely stopping their counter-attack.

The ball went to one of the Ubers players. Hiori groaned, lowering his head. Isagi is so close to getting his goal... but he doesn't have anyone near him that can see the game the same way he does. The same way I can.

And that realisation was both frightening and exhilarating at the same time. He needs... me?

As Hiori silently prayed for a chance to be put on the field, the match raged on. Ubers launched their third wave of attack, at an even faster pace than before. With Isagi momentarily too far away to defend, they easily ripped through the first few defenders.

Niko. Lorenzo. Aiku. They kept passing, faster than ever. Bastard Munchen's defenders had virtually no chance, Ubers somehow managing to be in the best position, every single time.

Hiori's eyes were on Isagi, though. The blue-haired boy was sprinting down the field on the side, both eyes fixed on Barou.

No matter who it goes to before, it always ends with Barou. Hiori confirmed. And Barou has two options every time. Either he waits till Gagamaru can't see him to shoot, like how he scored the first goal. Or, he straight up launches it as soon as he gets it.

This time, it looked like he'd chosen the first option. Ubers flooded the goal box just like last time, throwing the entire pitch into confusion as they forced the defenders to move. In the back, Hiori could see Barou, gearing up for his shot. Isagi was behind him.

One more second... As he saw Gagamaru tilt his head with confusion, Hiori leapt from his chair. "Now!"

It wasn't clear whether Isagi heard him, or if he just had the exact same idea at the exact same time. He threw himself into an all or nothing block, Barou's leg swinging forward. Ubers burst into yells of encouragement.

"Now!"

"Shoot!"

"Go, king!"

Hiori yelled with them, but for a completely different reason. Isagi had the right timing. He was going to block the sho-

Barou's leg slammed into the ground next to the ball. It chopped the ball sideways, perfectly faking the shot. Instead of the ball hurtling towards the goal, it simply shifted a few metres to the right.

Everyone on the pitch froze. Isagi thudded to the floor.

"He didn't shoot...?" Hiori breathed. It wasn't just him that was surprised, though - all of Ubers had stopped, sending confused, wary glances at Barou. He went off Snuffy's script, didn't he...? He didn't follow orders like everyone expected.

Barou's voice echoed over the field. "Hey, Snuffy." He placed one foot on the ball, staring at the ground. "If I'd shot according to your pretty little design, this imbecile would've blocked it."

Hiori frowned. He leant forwards, trying to hear the man better. The entire field was silent as he spoke. "Didn't you tell us... if I go along with your plan, I'll become king. If I fail, it's your responsibility..."

"That's right." Snuffy replied. "So what are you dissatisfied about?"

"I think..." Barou's voice was low, threatening. More like a growl than anything human. "It's time to terminate our agreement."

Yells of surprise and outrage, from nearly every single Ubers member on the field. Snuffy blinked. "Eh."

And as Barou lunged for the goal himself, the shouts grew even louder. Hiori just watched, watched as Barou took on the entirety of Bastard Munchen by himself. He dribbled past two, three, Ubers' shouts growing by the second as Bastard flooded towards the lone striker.

But when the entire team was focused on Barou, he passed.

Aiku received the ball. "Huh?"

"Follow me, lackeys." Barou commanded. "It's all you know how to do, right?"

And one by one, Ubers began to join him. It began with Aiku, passing the ball to Niko. Then Niko, passing it backwards to Lorenzo. Like some kind of infection, Barou's rebellion spread to every single member of Ubers. Some reluctant, some excited, it didn't matter. All of them began a new attack, working with Barou.

A complete new attack. Hiori's jaw dropped. Shit...

It wasn't nearly as predictable as it was before. Whether Ubers were encouraged or angered, it didn't matter as the pace increased to an unbelievable level. The tactics and passing lines were still there - just alongside that, came an all-encompassing, all-devouring (haha) chaos.

Barou needs risk.

The thought popped into Hiori's head. He needs the risk. Without taking risks, he can't evolve the way he wants. And playing for Ubers is pretty much the opposite of risk. It's an environment where the ego is suppressed, where non-strikers can flourish. And so, Barou hates it.

The ball eventually went to the man himself. The increased passing speed threw off everyone. Isagi and Kaiser couldn't keep up, and as a space opened up in the centre in front of the goal, Barou launched himself into it.

He burst out into open ground. Kaiser and Isagi were barely there in time, waiting in front of Barou. Beyond them, Snuffy and Noa's shoulders collided as they both tried to get into a good position. And beyond that... the goal.

He has to shoot near post or far post. Hiori thought. But... both spots are covered. Isagi has the far post. Kaiser's covering the close one. So how can Barou score...?

The man hit the ball sideways. Isagi and Kaiser both turned to face him. That's a mistake...? By moving like that, he'd made it so only one of them was needed to block the goal. Either Isagi or Kaiser could block both sides.

And yet, he raised his foot back. Hiori's chest clenched with panic - why, he didn't know. What is he planning?!

Barou shot. Isagi and Kaiser both moved to block, legs opening wide.

But.

Barou.

Scored...?

The ball rocketed straight through the middle of their legs. First nutmegging Isagi, then Kaiser, it skimmed along the floor. It bounced once. Gagamaru was in no place to stop the ball, waiting on the complete wrong side of the goal as the ball thundered towards the left.

Snuffy and Noa were, though. Both of them were directly in the path of the ball. Either Snuffy could take the goal for himself, or Noa could block it.

And Snuffy chose a third option. At the last second, he simply stood up straight, and moved to the side. His body acted as a shield, blocking Noa from getting to the ball as it bounced on the floor.

It pierced the back of the net.

🥕🥕🥕

"That goal was fucking amazing?!"

"Hail, the true king!"

"You actually pulled it off!"

"Disobeying orders makes you do that?! Do it again, fuck it!"

Celebrations filled the room, as Ubers rushed Barou with huge grins and yells. Even Snuffy grinned, eyes shining with pride as he walked over to Barou. "Nice goal, Barou Shoei." He nodded. "You did one better than me."

Barou glowered. He flicked the people off him like they were nothing but mosquitos. Snuffy shrugged. "That goal was better than anything I could've predicted."

The answer was fast. "I don't need your praise. I'm not playing for you anymore. But... as a soccer player, I have to say." Barou scowled. "You're a coward, Snuffy. What are you thinking, retiring after this season?!"

"What?"

"Is that your so-called 'adult' way of living? Disappearing away with your trophies, even though you're still one of the best players in the world?!" Barou yelled. "Don't you dare retire, Snuffy. Not while you and I still have a score to settle!"

Snuffy hesitated. His grin grew wider. Raising one hand, he patted Barou on the shoulder. "Alright, kid. I won't retire." His voice grew louder, and he turned to yell across the pitch himself. "You hear that?! I'm the best player in the world!"

The casters heard it, alright. Their excited voices filled the room just moments after.

"Whoa?! We definitely heard that right, everyone!"

"After being inspired by Barou Shoei's wonder of a goal, Marc Snuffy of the Ubers has officially decided to rescind his retirement!"

"I'm stunned, Natsuki! We're gonna see more incredible play from him after all! And this breaking news comes to everyone live, from soccer's hottest place, Bluelock!"

Y/N looked down at his hands.

His hands had long been one of his most expressive parts of him. Y/N could control his facial expressions, he could act... half decently, but he could never control how his hands reacted to things. And yet again, they were shaking.

Not trembling slightly. Not fidgeting like he often liked to do. Full on shaking, like how they'd done during the U-20 game. Like how they'd done since Ascension.

He took an equally as shaky breath, raising his eyes to nervously survey the field.

Y/N knew what was happening. I'm losing.

Barou... I thought it wasn't possible to fight against Ubers' system. I didn't want to follow Snuffy's orders, but I did anyway. Even after he used me, I let myself stay as a winger instead of going for my own goal.

But Barou got free of the system. Actually, he didn't just 'get out'. He completely hijacked it, making it his own. He forced everyone else to follow him... Y/N couldn't help but wonder. Why hadn't he done that? What was so different about him...?

I can't get free.

As soon as he thought of those words, Y/N paled.

I can't score goals. I can't beat them. I can't beat him. I can't get passes. I can't play with the team. I can't outread them. I can't follow orders. I can't even be happy...

The shaking of his hands grew worse, as he tilted his head up to the ceiling to stop sudden tears leaking from his eyes.

I... can't... win?

I can't win.

I can't... win.

I can't...

I can't...

I can't...

He didn't move. Substitutions were being made around the field, but he didn't look. I can't, I can't, I can't...

Can't,

can't,

can't,

can't,

can't...

"Y/N L/N."

Talking. Why was it always talking? Why did everyone think Y/N needed to talk? He didn't want to talk. He just wanted...

What do I want again? Freedom...?

Do I really?

The voice spoke again. It was cold, harsh, and wholly unsympathetic. Robotic, even. "Y/N L/N."

Hands shaking, blinking back water, Y/N lowered his eyes just enough to see the world's best striker standing in front of him. Why can't I be the best, huh? What do you have that I don't? Why is it so easy for you and so hard for me...? Why...? Why...?!

He opened his mouth, croaking a reply. "What...?"

What's wrong with me?! Please... What am I not doing right?!

"You're being substituted off." Noel Noa replied. His voice was calm. Calm, as he shoved a virtual spike into Y/N's chest. Calm, as burning bands tightened around Y/N's lungs, squeezing the breath out of his throat. "Get off the pitch."

I can't... even play anymore.

Everyone else on the pitch was still going about their business, setting up after Barou's goal. Snuffy was already returning to his seat on the substitutes bench. When did the Star Change system's time run out? Y/N didn't know.

He nodded, swallowing his emotions as best as possible, sure that some of it would still show on his face. If Noa noticed - or cared - he didn't show it.

The game restarted, as he left the pitch.

He headed for his chair, scooping the tablet up from underneath it. It was still playing the stream, Y/N able to spot himself barely at the corner of the broadcast. Heading for Snuffy, he steeled himself.

The coach looked over to him with a small smile. "Ah, Y/N. I hope you don't mind the substitution."

Y/N flattened his voice, tucked his hands behind his back. "N-no, sir." He took a deep breath. "A-are... am I still needed for the game? Or can I go now?"

"You can go." Snuffy murmured, already returning his eyes to the game. Y/N wasn't even thought of as he waved a hand. "You won't be subbed on again."

Y/N nodded. The tablet nearly slipped from his shaky grip.

Then he turned, and walked out of the room.

Nobody gave him a second thought.