2.15. You're Up

He's scored three by himself... in less time than it took all of us to score two goals. Isagi swallowed hard. "Shit."

He'd thought they prepared well enough, but nothing they did seemed to work. Using Hiori to pass the ball away from him didn't work. Trying to break through on the opposite side to him didn't work.

Bluelock would always run headfirst into that Iron Wall, and the ball would return right to Y/N. What even was that goal? He didn't even look happy. He's destroying everything... and he isn't even fully fired up yet?

And Sae's been feeding him perfect passes the entire time! And the U-20 forwards are beginning to get their act together. And we still can't break through their Iron Wall, and when Y/N plays better, we'll lose even faster.

The stadium rang with cheers, names being yelled, but it wasn't for Bluelock like it had been in the first half. With such a fast comeback, the crowds were fully in favour of the U-20 team. Their voices rang out, cheering on Sae, cheering on Y/N.

He ran towards Ego Jinpachi.

Anri was already talking with him, hugging a clipboard to her chest. Ego didn't seem bothered, leaning back in his chair. "Ego, how are we going to fix this?! Y/N is playing out of his mind, and with Sae's support, he's virtually unstoppable!"

"Mhm."

"We need to do something to restabilise! Tell them how to counter, I know you've got a hundred different tactics to beat the U-20, Y/N or not!" Anri was in a full blown panic. "Please, Ego! We can substitute whoever you want?"

"...I've got nothing." Ego rubbed at his temple. "Not right now, at least."

"Maybe Kuroi then?" Anri asked. "He'll know, he knows Y/N really well!"

"Kuroi..." Ego sighed.

"What about him? He gave us Y/N's weaknesses, he'll know good counters too!"

"Kuroi's betrayed us. He's not going to control Y/N to stop him. We have to figure it out by ourselves-"

That was all he managed to say, before Isagi was standing right in front of him, breathing heavily. His face tightened with anger.

For a few seconds, they just stared at each other. Isagi's face went through a whole set of different emotions, starting with confusion, but rapidly turning to disgust and anger. He opened his mouth like he wanted to shout, but closed it right after.

In the end, the teenager settled for a quiet, dangerous voice. "What the fuck did you just say? Kuroi'll control Y/N?"

"Yes." Exhaling softly, Ego shook his head to himself. "I struck a deal with him. Kuroi has some... influence over Y/N's playing, and I was going to use that to help us win. But he's betrayed us."

"And just because of that, you'll roll over and take it." Isagi stated. His eyes were on fire, burning with want, burning with hatred. He needed to win this game, and Ego's mistake could cost them. "Don't you care about losing?"

"You don't get it."

"I get it plenty well."

"Your careers don't end here. Sure, I'm going to be a laughing stock, but you'll be in capable hands. Kuroi will take you all in his new project, and you'll still be able to play for the U-20 team eventually." Ego shrugged. "You'll win in the end. Just give it time."

Isagi stilled. "The fuck?"

"What."

"Where's the ego you gave us?" Isagi snarled. "You think I want to go to Kuroi's project?! You think I want to be anywhere near that psychopath of a man?"

"No, but your caree-"

"Fuck my career!" Isagi stepped closer to Ego. "You fucked up real bad, coach. You had no trust in us, making such a messed up deal. And now you're sitting here, telling us it's okay to lose this game? Because we're still going to play soccer, but instead, for sadistic, criminal scum?"

Ego was... taken aback.

"Listen, Jinpachi. I don't want to play soccer for Kuroi. You were the one that taught me what ego was. You were the one that made me into the player I am now. So, I don't care what you have to do, just. Make. Us. Win."

"Bluelock's legacy carries on without me." Ego replied. "Don't play for Kuroi, that's fine. I wouldn't want to either. But the ideals I ingrained into you will still be there. Japanese soccer will still change."

"I don't give a shit." Isagi immediately replied. "Not about the future of Japanese soccer, and not about who I play for."

The other Bluelock players were approaching Ego. They'd heard what Isagi was saying, and boy, were they pissed.

"He struck a deal with Kuroi?"

"Did he not trust us to win?"

"All talk, it looks like."

"Lukewarm trash. Ran out of ideas already?"

Isagi gestured to the others. "What we want is to win. Now, not in some far future. So get your head out of your ass, and think straight. Kuroi betrayed you? Fuck it! Nobody likes him anyway!"

It was strange. Isagi was the one giving Ego the pep talk, instead of it being the other way around. But it was necessary, because Ego had managed to convince himself it was fine to let Kuroi win. It was fine to let him restart the Ascension project. It was fine to lose this game.

Ego lowered his head.

Why did I think like that?

Was it because I was stunned? Kuroi scared me?

What a stupid excuse. That's what I've been doing, isn't it? Making excuses. As soon as he betrayed me, I gave up.

No, the Bluelock project must continue.

I'm not going to let my players go to Kuroi.

So we have to win this game.

Raising his head, Ego cracked the smallest of smiles. He met Isagi's eyes, silently sending his thanks. Turns out, even coaches need to get their mental straight sometimes.

"Right. You're right. Of course you are." He looked over the assembled Bluelock players, both the active ones and the substitutes. His eyes landed on a particular few.

"Barou Shoei. Shidou Ryusei." Ego raised a hand.

"You're up."

🥕🥕🥕

"Immediately after losing the upper hand to Y/N L/N's third goal this half, Bluelock are substituting out more players!"

"We've got number 9, Otoya Eita, being swapped out for Barou Shoei, and number 2, Aryu Jyubei, being swapped for Shidou Ryusei!"

"It looks like they're making some formation changes too, and no wonder! Even from this distance, I can feel the danger rippling from these two players! They look like natural forwards!"

The casters' voices were loud, as Ego watched his team head back onto the field. He'd discussed this exact strategy beforehand, with a certain captain.

"If I ever sub on Shidou and Barou, it won't be to support you." He had said to Rin. "It's a desperate strategy. It would throw all teamwork out of the window, and replace it with nothing but chaos."

"I get that."

"Good. Then you know what to tell the team when I do it. Go all out. Crush each other. Forget about your positions, and overwhelm them on the attacking side."

Kuroi was on the other side of the field. Ego looked across at him, despising everything about him, from the way he stood to the coat he wore.

If Bluelock won this game, would the Ascension project still go on? Would it still reopen? Ego could only hope not, but he still knew nothing. What kind of madmen would sponsor Kuroi? What kind of idiots would give him their money?

He didn't even notice the surprised shouts from the Bluelock substitutes, too lost in his own thoughts to hear the murmurs of shock. Ego only realised something was up when Anri shot to her feet.

She walked behind him, her face lighting up. Ego watched Kuroi. It essentially came down to this game. If the U-20 won, Kuroi would win with them. If Bluelock won, Ego would be able to damage Kuroi's plans.

A soft hand touched his shoulder. Ego jerked away, slapping the hand instinctively.

An even softer voice spoke near his ear. Looking up with surprise, Ego found himself face to face with a soccer superstar.

Julian Loki smiled down at him. He pointed across the field, at Kuroi.

"Tell me, Ego Jinpachi. Why is he here?"