13. A Familiar Face... (Part 1)

"What was that?"

When he'd returned to Team Z, none of them looked all too happy. Except Bachira, who always looked happy to see Y/N. "Your boyfriends...?"

Y/N blushed a bright red, waving his hands and shaking his head fast. "Nononono, they're just my classmates. We went to the same school."

"And they're in Team V?" Raichi exclaimed. "Are you sure you aren't being a traitor and telling them all our plans?" Kuon's head flicked to Raichi, but nobody noticed it except Y/N.

Y/N shook his head again. "Remember, I haven't gone to a single strategy meeting yet. I couldn't tell people even if I wanted to."

"He's right, you knoooow..." Bachira half sang, skipping up to Y/N and round the boy with a smile. "Besides, why are we so suspicious? Let's eat dinner."

"Why do you defend him? Are you a spy too?" Raichi yelled. Most of Team Z were just covering their mouths, trying to hide their snickers at the blond boy's yelling.

"I might be, who knows?" Bachira joked, sticking out his tongue. "But really, can we eat now please?"

"I'm not going to forget this, Y/N." Raichi threatened him, and it was all Y/N could do to not burst out in laughter.

They headed over to the cafeteria serving hatches, Y/N taking his same order of yakitori skewers. Compared to the expensive, delicious crab he'd just had, and the rich soup, it didn't seem nearly as good as it did before.

"Hey, Bachira..." As the team sat down, talking amongst themselves, Y/N pushed his food towards Bachira. "I've already sort of eaten..."

"What did you have?" Bachira took most of the food happily, but pushed back a bowl of soup. "At least have the miso."

"Crab, Tonkotsu Ramen, and some European cold meats."

Bachira grinned widely, looking over to where Nagi and Reo were just beginning to make their way out of the cafeteria. "Is that their food?"

"Yeah." Y/N replied. "They're the two highest ranked in Building Five, so they have crazy good food!"

"Made some good friends there," Bachira laughed. "Get some crab for me next time, pretty please?"

🥕🥕🥕

The rest of the night went by fairly quickly. The entire team went for a group workout session, each of them training the specific muscles that pertained to their weapons.

Y/N just went on the treadmill, running at the max incline and hoping nobody noticed just how fast he was going. He needed to work out more - his skills might have fallen off from the lack of challenge in Bluelock.

After a shower, they'd sat around in their dorm for a while, discussing strategies. And instead of that, Y/N was on the side chatting to Chigiri about video games.

So the next morning, while everyone was stressing, practising, and doing some final practices of how their plan would work, Y/N was doing cartwheels on the turf and annoying the hell out of Raichi.

Lunchtime was tense, with barely any conversation as everyone seemed too stressed out. Y/N supposed it was fair, though. If they lost this game, their soccer careers would be completely over.

By the time the game came around, Team Z was even more stressed. The stretching before the game started was silent, and as they linked arms and put their heads together in a huddle, everyone's faces were written with similar expressions of fear and worry.

"Like us, Team Y lost the first game. Their backs are against the wall, so they'll be desperate." Kuon said. "Watch out for their number 9. He's Kumamoto prefecture's top scorer."

"You guys just have to be more desperate." Y/N grinned widely, a strange enough reaction to send chills down the others' spines. "How badly do you want this win?"

"A lot." Isagi hesitated before answering.

"Enough to die for it?" Y/N tilted his head, staring directly at Isagi.

"Yes." The tension was thick enough to cut with a knife. Everyone watched Y/N and Isagi, before the small boy laughed.

"Well then, let's get this win, shall we? On the count of three, Team Z!" He looked around the team - everyone nodded.

"Team Z!"

They broke off, heading to their specific positions. Iemon headed off to goal, Chigiri and Y/N walked into defence, and the rest of the team took their positions around the pitch.

The robotic female voice from the last game spoke overhead. "This game - Team Y against Team Z. Kickoff."

A whistle blew, and Bachira was instantly moving his way up the field by himself. The other team was hanging back, and as Team Z's players gradually moved up, they pushed Bachira.

Two of them blocked his path from the front, and as Bachira slowed for a second, a third player came from behind. He attempted to steal the ball, forcing Bachira to pass back to Igaguri.

Y/N narrowed his eyes as he noticed something familiar about the third boy. The bangs looked awfully familiar, as well as the skinny build.

He yelled across the field, waving happily. "Niko! Hi!"

The other boy paused, looking around the field before he spotted Y/N waving like a kid. Y/N watched as he gave a hesitant wave back, continuing to run after the ball.

The enemy goalkeeper was calling out orders left and right. "Keep an eye on their number eight!"

Another boy responded. "Number nine inbound! Stop him from shooting!"

Y/N watched the field from all the way back in defence. The enemy team was playing heavy defence, with only one player up near the goal. It was painfully obvious what their plan was, but he didn't mention it to anybody.

They played out the game a little bit more, keeping the ball moving gradually up the field. The other team applied pressure every single time, preventing Bachira from getting far and also pushing back the rest of Team Z's players while they did.

Eventually, the ball went to Kunigami. The orange-haired boy placed one foot on the ball, pausing the game as he motioned for the wingers to move up.

The other team quickly took new positions, running towards the centre of the field as the wingers were quickly marked.

Kunigami began working the ball upfield, and gradually they pushed forwards, stringing together a few passes.

Y/N hung back, just waiting for the moment everything would go wrong, but for now it didn't seem to be happening.

He looked to his side - their number 9 was just standing there, watching his entire team defend with a small smile on his face.

Kunigami received the ball off Raichi, and as Team Z rushed to clear a path for his shot, two team Y members surged from either side. Their legs tangled, blocking Kunigami's shot and sending it ricocheting off the side of the field.

"Crap!" He yelled.

Y/N just snickered at the self-censoring, and moved forwards a little bit to receive the throw-in.

Naruhaya took it, tossing it back down their own field towards Y/N. He took one touch, stopping the ball with the bottom of his shoe, before passing high and far towards Bachira.

"Nice pass!" Bachira took the ball, sending it along to Kunigami.

Kunigami nodded, taking off towards the goal. Y/N seemed to be the only one that noticed Ikki Niko running towards an open space, and two of Team Y's players get ready to block the shot.

He shot, and again, the two players dove in from either side. They blocked the shot, sending the ball spinning off to the side of the pitch.

Niko took the high ball with his chest, before his head immediately turned to look across the field. Y/N couldn't see his eyes, but it was clear where he was looking.

In Team Z's half, their number 9 took off, running for the goal.

Y/N slowly ran towards the middle of the field, unconsciously heading to block the obvious pass before he forced himself to change course.

Niko launched the pass, the ball flying right past Y/N and towards their number 9. He received it easily, flying past Chigiri and chipping the ball over Iemon.

Team Z's faces all immediately fell as the ball hit the back of the goal, and Y/N just smiled. Come on, Team Z. I know you're better than that.

"Let's not dwell on it!" Kuon yelled. "It's only one goal!"

They hurriedly removed the ball from the back of the goal, playing it straight from the middle and into Kuon and Kunigami's attacks.

Kuon's weapon was jumping. So Bachira did a high pass, way over everyone's heads, and Kuon leapt up to receive it.

He headered it to Kunigami, and immediately the orange-haired boy was surrounded by three players. As he hesitated, Niko rushed in from behind, stealing the ball a second time.

"Here it comes!" Isagi yelled, moving back a few steps.

"Watch for a long pass!" Igaguri added.

No long pass came, as Niko simply passed the ball to one of his teammates. As Kuon pushed the attack, the teammate passed the ball on again, keeping Team Z's players far away from it.

"Get on the ball!"

Team Z pushed forwards, attempting to steal the ball.

Meanwhile, Y/N just sat down on the grass, lying on his back and waving his arms as he stared blankly at the ceiling.

The turf was surprisingly comfortable. And Y/N closed his eyes, relaxing on the grass as there was quite literally no chance that Team Y would launch an attack.

"Mmm... Grass angels..."