3.28. Eiji

"When describing or thinking of Metavision," Hiori started. "You can describe it as a sort of... 4D vision. Like you're viewing the soccer pitch as a game board, from far above. To achieve this, you need to picture the field in your head and constantly update it, as well as gathering information from your surroundings at all times."

Isagi, Yukimiya and Kurona sat in front of Hiori. Gagamaru sat on one of the beds. Raichi leant against the wall, and Igaguri for some reason stood in the direct centre of the field with his arms crossed. Only Isagi knew what Hiori was actually talking about, but the others had joined in for the team talk before they headed to bed.

"And then Predator Eye, which is what Barou and Kaiser have, is a narrowed vision that focuses on outplaying a goalkeeper." Nodding to himself, Hiori continued. "It watches the goalkeeper's eyes, trying to see if they have vision of the ball. And if not, then it tells the striker that it's a good time to shoot."

"But I saved it." Gagamaru blankly said. "Against Barou."

"Yes, but that's just cause you're amazing." Hiori flashed him a bright smile. "Predator Eye works insanely well against goalkeepers. In the game earlier today, PXG against Barcha, Y/N used Predator Eye. He also used Metavision, but I don't know if he calls it by the same name."

Isagi prompted Hiori to continue. "But you noticed something else, right?"

"Yes." Hiori replied quickly. "He didn't just use Predator Eye and Metavision. He brought out a third type of vision, one specialised in reading individual players' movements."

"Movements?"

"Movements." Hiori confirmed. "Most players will look towards the enemy's face, to read their eyes and expressions, correct? We all do that here. But in the game, Y/N didn't at all. He only looked at the torso or legs of the PXG players."

"That's something a newbie would do." Yukimiya pointed out. "At this level, that shouldn't work."

"But Y/N is seeing a lot more." Hiori countered. "Here's what I think is happening. He's looking at a person's muscles and movements, in order to predict on the most micro of levels what they are trying to do. Metavision gives you big strategies, Predator Eye gives you the enemy mental state, and this vision allows you to predict exactly how an enemy is going to move, even when they've only moved a centimetre."

"How does that work...?"

"Okay." Hiori sighed, raising his arm into the air. "That movement. None of you saw it coming, right?"

Isagi glanced at the rest of the assembled players. He shook his head. "No."

"But if you look really, really carefully at me." Hiori lowered his arm, then raised it slowly. "If I want to raise my arm like that, my shoulder is the very first thing to move. My shoulder moves upwards, and from there, the rest of my arm follows. So, you can tell I'm going to raise my arm even before I've begun the main motion."

Slowly understanding, Isagi nodded. "So he's using sort of... cues in a person's body, to predict them."

"Yeah." Hiori nodded. "It requires an insane amount of human biology knowledge, as well as incredibly high soccer IQ. But it's a tactic I haven't seen any other player in the world employ. I'm thinking of calling it Bio-Optics."

"Bio-Optics..." Isagi nodded again. "Makes sense. But how did Y/N get it...? How can we use it?"

"We gotta study biology." Hiori shrugged. "Human tendencies and common motions. But I have no idea how Y/N has created this ability. It's... incredible, really."

Isagi sighed. He stared at the floor.

Damn you, genius.

He was so close. So close to getting the number one spot in Bluelock, and now this came up. Y/N was once again, appearing as this unassailable wall. Isagi knew that if Y/N called him out to play right then and there, he would have no chance at winning.

But he had two weeks to prepare. Two weeks until the PXG game.

He looked up at Hiori, determination hard in his chest. "So, how do we stop him?"

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"Y/N."

As soon as the game was over, Y/N turned to leave the pitch. He didn't stay to receive his team's compliments, stalking out of the field by himself. Nobody followed him, half of them too busy celebrating, the other half too scared by his cold manner.

Loki wasn't, though. He followed, hurrying out of the room after the small boy. "Y/N. Hey."

He didn't turn around. He kept walking, movements repetitive and utterly drained. Loki sped up. "Y/N? It's Julian."

Eventually, Loki got to Y/N's side. He tried placing a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Hello?"

He stopped. Loki stopped with him. Slowly, ever so slowly, his head turned. Dark, blank eyes met Loki's own. What...? Inhaling sharply, Loki spoke. "Hey... what's up?"

Y/N didn't immediately answer. Loki waited, worry building the longer Y/N hesitated. "Y/N, you know you can talk to me, right?"

Mouth opening slightly, Y/N responded. But his voice matched his eyes - empty, cold, and soulless. He was purposefully pushing aside his emotions, purposefully hiding himself from Loki. But why?! "Leave." He quietly said.

Loki frowned. "I wanted to congratulate you. You played so well today."

Y/N didn't seem to have heard. Or maybe he just didn't care what Loki said. "Leave." Again, in the same monotone voice.

"What's wrong?" He tried. "You look tired-"

"I'm fine."

Y/N began walking again. Loki sighed. But if that was what Y/N wanted, he wouldn't push it.

So he let him go.

As for Y/N himself, he walked slowly down the corridor, taking a right, and then heading down some stairs.

Since the NEL had restarted, Y/N actually hadn't spent much time inside of Bluelock itself. While everyone else was training inside the compound, Y/N was going home every day to his apartment, stopping by a convenience store along the way to pick up food, and locking himself away till the next match.

He did the exact same today, wandering out of Bluelock's front door. Ego probably could see him coming and going, but so far he hadn't raised any questions about it. The security guard posted at the gate didn't question it either, greeting him with a small nod. Y/N didn't nod back.

It was a beautiful day. But Y/N didn't show any sign of emotion, remaining with slumped shoulders and blank eyes. At least until he was in his apartment, locking the door and placing a plastic bag filled with food on his counter.

"Fuck..." He whispered. "What..."

Y/N's eyes were already closing. He barely managed to make it to his sofa, legs weak and head pounding painfully.

Just two weeks of Ascension had left its marks on him. Marks, plural. Marks over Y/N's arm and neck, little injection sites, everything. Y/N had learnt a new type of vision - Bio-Optics. But using it came with the cost of incredible tiredness, a splitting headache, and itching eyes.

He hated it.

Y/N didn't want to talk to anyone. What would they think? He'd... he'd returned to the very place that had destroyed him. He'd been stupid enough to get stuck there. And he'd turned into something different on the pitch.

It was terrifying.

In that game against PXG, Y/N couldn't properly control himself. Upon the sight of the ball, he'd just... lost it. Kuroi's voice echoed in his ears.

That's it. If you want to avoid being hurt, then you give the hurt to someone else. That's how life works, little godling. That was the rule in Ascension. Hurt or be hurt. If you won a game, you wouldn't be punished. But it came at the cost of the enemy being punished.

Y/N didn't want to hurt anymore.

As soon as he'd saw the ball, he'd just... panicked. Played like he did in Ascension. Played to hurt the enemy, just so he himself wouldn't be hurt.

He was ashamed. They were supposed to be his friends, but he couldn't stop himself from being selfish. He couldn't take the pain alone, he wanted to share it. He was scared, and cowardly, and... just plain weak.

Lifting his phone from the nearby coffee table, his arm trembling, he stared at the screen again.

For the past few days, it had been open to two news articles. Articles that had taken the world by storm, thrown the business world of Asia into chaos.

L/N Technology was the biggest Asian researcher into biotechnology. Valued at over 74 trillion Japanese yen, they were a leading developer of AI software, and a manufacturer of non-lethal security systems. On top of that, they worked in hundreds of other specialised fields, all of joining together to form the supercorporation that it was globally known to be.

Since its beginning, it had been headed up by the same family. The L/Ns were of obscure backgrounds, but over three generations of incredible people, they'd built the company into one of the biggest in the world. Every single member of the company was skilled, smart, and undoubtedly worthy of heading up such a company. They didn't let outsiders take ownership - the only people that had ever controlled the company had the last name L/N.

Until now.

Two big articles. The first, announced the untimely death of one of the owners of L/N Tech. Eiji L/N, husband to Yume L/N, had died age 50. A sudden death, an unexpected one. The media didn't know many details, but rumours were he'd died from a stroke.

Y/N knew better.

The second article was just as controversial. The End of An Era - L/N Technology's Yume L/N gives ownership to one unknown employee, first name Kuroi. It was a change that would transform L/N Tech. Not only did the company belong to someone from a different family, but it rested in the hands of just one man.

The crazy psychopath that wanted Y/N dead.

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The fourteenth, and final day at Ascension. One day before the NEL was due to start again, with Manshine City against PXG. Inside Ascension, in one of the many operating rooms. A small boy was strapped to one of the beds, one man looming over him.

Y/N's eyes were wide. He yanked at the bindings on his wrists. "I-I don't know!"

"Your choice." Kuroi repeated calmly. "Option one. You play for me. You stay in Ascension, and become the best player in the world. Abandon Bluelock, play only for me. Be my loyal puppet, as you deserve."

"I-I don't want that...!" Y/N's eyes pricked with panicked tears.

"Then the second option." Kuroi murmured. "I dissect you. We learn about how your body is optimised, and from there, that knowledge lets us improve other people."

"Y-you did this to me in the first place!" Y/N managed. "W-why do you need to dissect me?"

Kuroi's smile was ghastly in the dim light. "Maybe I forgot." He showed teeth. "Or maybe I don't like the fact my little godling betrayed me."

Y/N swallowed. "P-please..."

"I'm giving you a choice." Kuroi inspected his fingernails, turning his hand over. "You agreed to this at the start, godling."

"I..." Through dry lips, Y/N gasped for air. "I... wasn't thinking straight. I didn't want to come here, I just... I just wanted to be happy."

"You're not happy here...?" Kuroi tilted his head, looking genuinely confused. "I thought you liked to be strong. You liked being the best. And here I am, ready to give you that."

Y/N shook his head - as best as he could, strapped to the medical bed. "I don't- no... I just..."

"Words, Y/N. It isn't so difficult." Kuroi slowly said. "Option one, or option two."

"I don't wanna..." Y/N mumbled. He was beyond terrified. Muscles tensed, eyes wild like a caged animal, chest heaving with breaths. "I... I can't..."

The door to the small room they were in opened. Through it, came Yume and Eiji. Y/N's parents. They moved closer, faces unreadable. Y/N's heart dropped at the sight of them.

He'd been an idiot. He thought that they actually cared about him, that they truly wanted to become his parents again. Of course, he knew it was improbable, impossible. But he'd had a sliver of hope. Misplaced hope, seeing both of them standing there. They didn't care about what was happening to him.

"P-please..." He croaked quietly. "Mama. Papa."

They didn't move. Yume looked towards Kuroi, voice hard as stone and cold as ice. "Did he choose?"

"No."

Turning her eyes to Y/N, the boy couldn't hide the shiver at his mother's gaze. "Why not?" She addressed Y/N. "You said you wanted to win." When he'd met them at the shrine, Yume had been the gentler of the two. Now, she was just as bad as Kuroi. A terrifying monster.

"I..."

"If you want to win, train with Kuroi." She harshly replied. "Isn't that what you wanted? To not lose ever again?"

Y/N shook his head wordlessly. He couldn't speak - panic gripped his throat, blocked off his words.

Yume sighed, disappointed. She waved at Kuroi. "It's obvious he won't make a choice."

Kuroi nodded. His dark eyes stared down at Y/N. Y/N flinched. "Then we'll go with the second option."

Y/N's eyes widened. He shook his head as fast as possible, tugging on the restraints. They... were they serious? He was going to be dissected? "N-no...!"

Pursing his lips, Kuroi shook his head, just as disappointed as Yume. "We had a deal, godling. You broke it, by not making a choice. So I choose for you."

Y/N couldn't speak, couldn't think. Bile rose in his throat. He could barely understand what Kuroi was saying, his head filled with nothing but primal fear. Kuroi pointed to the door. "Yume, dear, get the doctors."

She nodded obediently, moving for the door.

"No."

A new voice.

Eiji L/N. Y/N's father.

Y/N's panic subsided momentarily. He stilled, wild eyes glancing towards his father. His father that was reaching into his pocket. He held a small black handgun, the barrel pointed directly towards Kuroi.

The world itself stopped for a heartbeat.

"Eiji." Kuroi spoke quietly, dangerously. "What are you doing?"

"D-don't move." He replied shakily. Yume froze by the door, her hand on the handle. "Don't make a noise."

A gun. How the hell had he found a gun? Japan had some of the strictest gun laws in the world. Nobody could buy or sell them without good reason, and ownership of one could get life sentences in jail. And yet, this businessman had found one.

L/N Technology dealt in non-lethal security systems. Was this one of them?

Kuroi ignored what he'd said. He took a step towards Eiji, slowly raising his hands. He cocked an eyebrow. "Is that a real gun?"

Eiji pointed the gun at the floor and pulled the trigger. There was a deafening bang, and a flash of light. Y/N winced. Kuroi stared at the ground, at the slight crack. Too used to strange noises in the building, no staff rushed in. "The next one is going in your forehead. Back up."

Kuroi silently did as he asked. He was keeping his cool, but Y/N could see the clenching of his fists, the vein standing out in his forehead. Eiji walked to Y/N, unstrapping him from the bed. Y/N stared, in shock. "What...?"

"Come on, kiddo." Eiji quietly said. One hand on the gun, the other reaching into his pocket, he pressed a set of keys into Y/N's hand. The boy stared at them. "Gold key to exit from the side gate. Car keys are on that ring too."

Everything was happening too fast for Y/N. He stared for another few seconds. "What...?"

"Drive, Y/N. Go." Eiji quietly said. "Nobody will question you. Get home, get safe. Yume doesn't know where you live, only I do. I paid alone for the apartment."

Speaking of Yume, the woman's face was twisted in anger and surprise. "Eiji... you dare pull a gun on Kuroi?!"

"I-I'm sorry." He ignored his wife, talking to Y/N. "I really am. I'll talk to them, they'll understand eventually. Okay? I don't care if you hate me, get out of here, and have a good life. Forget about all this, forget about us. Start again. Start fresh, doing what you want."

Eiji flashed him a sad smile. Y/N didn't know what to do. He turned, legs dangling from the edge of the bed. "What are you doing...?"

"Doing something right, in my goddamn entire life." Eiji replied. "Don't remember me, alright? This doesn't make up for anything. Live your own life. Forget about your past."

"Papa..." Y/N quietly spoke.

Eiji smiled shakily. "Don't call me that. I don't deserve it. Get to the car, now."

"I don't know how to drive..." Y/N murmured.

"It's an automatic." Eiji replied. He kept the gun trained on Kuroi. Yume had joined Kuroi, both of them standing at the end of the room with hands on heads. "Turn it on, put it in drive mode, and step on the accelerator. You don't need to touch anything else. No cars come here anyway."

Y/N swallowed. He rose slowly, cautiously from the bed, grasping the keys so tight his hand turned white. "I... just go?"

Kuroi spoke quietly.

"Don't go, Y/N. I swear on my life, if you do, I'll ruin you." His voice was the quietest, and most horrifying Y/N had ever heard him. Every syllable was filled with rage. "If you run now, I will burn everything you are running towards to the ground. I will kill everyone you've ever loved, starting with your idiotic little father here."

Y/N froze. Eiji glanced across at him, sighing. "Don't listen to him, Y/N. He'll calm down soon. Just go. Get to a city."

Y/N met his reassuring gaze. He looked completely lost - just a child, out of his depth amongst all the suffering and agony around. Wide-eyed, innocent, yet damaged again and again for doing absolutely nothing wrong. "Go...?"

"Yes, Y/N." Eiji chided, his encouraging tone completely at odds with the situation. "Just go. Hurry, fast. My arm is getting tired."

"W-wait..." Y/N muttered. "Did... you..."

"I didn't know about this." Eiji quickly said. "I didn't know they were going to do this to you. Go, now."

"N-no..." Y/N softly said. "Did... you ever love me?"

Eiji considered that. Then he shook his head slowly. "I didn't love you, kiddo." He sighed. "Just one of my many mistakes."

Y/N stepped out into the corridor.

He came face to face with a stunned Kira Ryosuke.

The boy immediately noticed the keys in Y/N's shaking hands. "What..." His eyes widened, and he leant closer to Y/N. "Those are the guard keys?!"

Y/N didn't stop to talk. He grabbed Kira's wrist, staring up at him with fearful, panic-stricken eyes. "Go. Run."

They took off down the corridor.