3.6. Just A Talk

Y/N was having a good time. Until the Master Striker of Ubers walked into the room, sharp eyes immediately locking on to him. "Y/N! I was actually looking for you."

"Shh!" They'd moved off the cooking show, onto a drama that most of the Ubers were surprisingly invested into. Lorenzo raised a hand to his lips, quietening Snuffy.

"Okay, okay." The man smiled, lowering his voice as he approached Y/N. Niko was napping, Y/N's arm still over his shoulder as the younger boy snoozed against his side. Aiku was sitting forwards, eyes on the show. "Are you free now?"

"Free for what?"

"Just a little talk."

"If it's about Ubers, I don't want in." Y/N shook his head. "I don't really do strategy."

"Neither did Barou, until now."

"I'm not Barou."

"I know that." Snuffy smiled. "Don't need to be so cautious. It's just a casual talk. Nothing to worry about."

"The way you say that makes me worry about it."

"Just trust me. I'm not asking you to do anything, I just want to give you some friendly advice."

"Can you not do that here?" Y/N gestured to the rest of the Ubers team, most of whom weren't paying any attention to their quiet conversation.

"Afraid not." Snuffy pursed his lips. "Come on. Please? Just a few minutes."

"What do I get?"

"Uh..." The man's eyes lit up. He fished a phone from his pocket. "You have a tablet, yes?"

"Yeah..."

"I'll send you this." Snuffy turned the screen around, showing it to Y/N. A whole page of statistics and diagrams filled his vision. "It's a complete breakdown of your playstyle, as well as the ideal teammates for you, weaknesses and strengths."

"Prince already gave me one of those."

"I don't think so." Snuffy smiled wider. "His aims to get your body functioning to the best of its ability. Mine focuses on the plays itself,."

"Send it, then?" Y/N was hooked. After Loki's advice of being more flexible, and seeing Lavinho's creativeness in action, his head was full of curiosity, wondering how he could improve himself. Snuffy had just piqued that curiosity.

"Only if you talk with me."

Y/N paused. He considered it. Then, making sure the napping Niko wouldn't be disturbed, he rose from the chair. "Sure."

As quietly as possible, the two of them left the room. Compared to the dim interior of the lounge, the corridor's lighting was horribly harsh, stinging Y/N's eyes. He rubbed at them, following Snuffy half blind a few metres away from the lounge. "What did you wanna say?"

Now that they were away from the team, Snuffy's face grew more serious. "What is football to you?"

Okay, what the fuck? Little did Snuffy know, Y/N had asked himself that question thousands of times before. Only recently, in the U-20 game, had he answered it properly. "Soccer... is what I enjoy doing in life. It's how I feel free."

"Hm..." Snuffy seemed caught off guard by the answer. "More mature than I thought. Definitely over your fellow Japanese players, who all called it their life."

"I mean-" Y/N paused. "It sort of was. But I didn't want it to be. Only recently have I been doing other things. Like enjoying life."

"Right. Do you wanna talk about... that place?"

Y/N's eye twitched. "Not really."

"Mkay. Even though you're trying to move away from soccer as your life, you're still very... reliant on it, correct?"

"How do you mean?"

"You didn't have the top auction value." Snuffy mentioned. "That's hurting you, right?"

"Before, it would've." Y/N shrugged. "Now, I think it's just a natural annoyance. Anyone would be annoyed to get second place."

"Hmm..."

"Hmm what?"

"Have you ever thought of trying to think of football as a business? The players are employees, the clubs are businesses, and each match is a contract."

"That takes away the fun, then."

"And the risk. If you lost a game, Y/N, what would you do?"

"I lost the U-20 game. It didn't bother me that much."

"Because you gained something from it. But what if you lost, and it was personal? You lost because you weren't good enough? What are you without soccer?"

"I already lost in that manner already. To Loki." He admitted. "And... even without soccer, I'm Y/N L/N. I'm the survivor of Ascension, a friend to the Bluelock guys, and a broke 17 year old."

"You're okay?"

"Yeah, I'm okay." Y/N didn't mention the fact that every single loss that had happened, he remembered. Sure, they were pushed to the back of his mind, but he remembered losing to Loki. To Isagi. To Bachira.

Snuffy didn't look convinced. But he nodded, smiling. "That's good." He sighed. "Sometimes I get worried for you kids. You dedicate so much of your life to playing... base so much of your worth on your goals."

"Are you a therapist or something?" Y/N laughed. "Dude, I'm all good. I'm free now, and I play soccer for myself. I'm happy as long as I get to do what I want. I'm not gonna get upset over some goals."

"That's good." Snuffy's grin widened with relief. "If you ever feel inadequate because of football, just call me, yeah?"

"Fine, whatever." Y/N smiled. "Can we head back? I'm missing the show."

"Sure." Before Snuffy could turn away, Y/N's eyes brightened.

"Wait, you forgot something."

"Huh?"

"Send me the playstyle breakdown."

"Right."

The two of them smiled at each other as they headed back into the lounge. Y/N chattered to Snuffy, eyes bright and lips turned upwards.

He didn't mention how much he'd been bothered by losing.

He didn't mention that he couldn't get the picture of his second-rate auction value out of his head.

He didn't mention the persistent itch in the back of his skull.

🥕🥕🥕

It wouldn't go away.

Every time he was alone, he couldn't forget.

Why... why am I still like this? I thought I was free after the U-20 game... was that a one off? I thought I was over losing. Soccer is fun... so why am I so bothered?

He was trying to face it head on, he really was. Is it normal? I mean, I barely ever think about Kuroi now. I'm playing soccer for myself... so why am I so annoyed by losing? What is this feeling of frustration?

Trying to do other things allowed him to momentarily forget. To have a break, a small space where his head could be free. But that was only temporary. Still, over the two days before the Ubers vs PXG game, he made it his mission to do anything and everything he could.

In the mornings, he would train himself ragged, often with the Manshine City guys, sometimes alone. They all looked to be doing well - Reo, Nagi and Chigiri were ecstatic to see him, and Prince was constantly buzzing around him trying to help him.

There was lots of complaining on Y/N's side, and lots of 'you can do it!' from Prince's side. He forced Y/N to do all sorts of exercises,to everything from breathing to stretching to pullups. And somehow, the man was grinning through the entire thing, advertising his Prince water and weird muscle massagers.

At lunch and dinner, he would always, always find himself with one of the five teams. It was kind of overwhelming, with so many people trying to talk to him. But it was a welcome relief, a distraction. Adding to that, he'd managed to bully Ego into putting Tonkatsu cutlet on the menu, and used it to extort as many compliments as possible from a shy Niko.

Afternoons were spent training, watching live soccer games from around the world, and trying to get used to all the fancy technology the sponsors had brought. The first day, a large chunk of time had been used by Lavinho. The man's manager had somehow convinced him to do something that wasn't soccer related.

It was interviews. Two hours of long interviews, Y/N and Lavinho trying their best to stay composed as they kicked each other under the table and snuck sweetener tablets into each others' water. People from all over the world were tuning in, the interviewer asking all manner of questions.

In the evening of the first day, he joined the Ubers guys for a movie - and immediately regretted it when Lorenzo kept spilling popcorn all over the chair. The second day, he spent in the Bastard Munchen Japanese dorm, hopping from Isagi's to Hiori's to Kurona's bed and generally being a huge nuisance.

All of it helped to take his mind off the losses. But he knew it was only a quick fix. Deep down, he knew that to get the unpleasant feeling out of him, he needed to win. Win something. For a long time, he'd played to win for Kuroi. Now, he... wanted to win for himself?

So when on the morning of the Ubers vs PXG game, Michael Kaiser came barging into his room, he was overjoyed.

"That's a surprise."

Y/N was sitting on his bed, grinning wide at Kaiser's entrance. He was already dressed in training gear, exactly the same as Kaiser with shorts and a jersey. Kaiser smiled right back. "Someone's happy to see me. You realised you want to serve under me?"

"Mmmm..." Y/N shook his head. "You came here to play against me, yeah?"

"It's not gonna be a fair game." Kaiser laughed. "I'm gonna crush you."

"But you wanted to play, right?"

"Yeah..."

"Let's go, then!"

"Wait, what?" Momentarily losing his air of arrogance, Kaiser paused. "Now?"

"Yeah!" Y/N flung himself off the bed, quickly heading over to pick up his shoes by the door. "Don't tell me you're gonna chicken out."

"Why would I?" Kaiser shrugged. "It's not like you're gonna win."

"Stop yapping." After putting his shoes on in record time, Y/N grabbed Kaiser's wrist. He roughly yanked the striker out of the room, slamming the door behind them and making down the corridor towards the training room. His eyes were bright - a little too bright, maybe.

Glancing back at Kaiser, Y/N beckoned him. "Hurry up! Sooner we play, the better!"

"What...?"

"Michael Kaiser, you're a bitch. You're a terrible soccer player, and I copied your Kaiser Impact on the spot because it was so easy. I'm better than you at everything, and in the one on one, you're gonna be crushed." Y/N spouted as many insults he could in one breath, watching Kaiser's eyes turn amused, and a little annoyed.

"You talk a lot."

Y/N groaned with frustration. He ran back to Kaiser, grabbed his wrist, and took off running down the hallway with him. Kaiser was beyond confused. Y/N just wanted to play. I need my win. Need to play.

🥕🥕🥕

"Um... are you sure you're ready?" Y/N tilted his head, placing one foot on the ball. It was unconscious, but he held the exact same pose that Loki had during the World Five game. "You've got nothing but weak spots."

"Really now?" Kaiser smirked, eyes glimmering. He was still relaxed - sure, Noa had passed to the kid in the Barcha game, but that was a one-off. It wouldn't happen again, he was sure of it. "Why aren't you moving then?"

"Cause I'm trying to give you a chance." Y/N muttered. "What is your nickname again? King? Emperor?"

"Either works." Kaiser replied smoothly. "You can call me dad-"

"Wait, why can't I be a king? That's a hella cool title..." Y/N paused, frowning. He shook his head, clearing it. "Anyway, you ready?"

"Yes."

"Okay then..." Y/N drew out the words, like he was talking to a young child. His eyes flickered to behind Kaiser. They were playing on a small pitch, like he had against Loki. Smaller goals, smaller sides, and a shorter length. "I heard you're a terrible defender."

Kaiser bared his teeth. "Try me, Mercenary. I'll show you who the real king is."

Leaning forwards, the two of them shot off towards each other. Y/N kept his eyes on Kaiser, noting each of his movements. The other man was wary, not going in for a tackle immediately. Y/N knew why.

Y/N knew it. Everyone that had played against him knew it. He was completely and utterly unreadable. Luna had mentioned it. Loki couldn't read him, just having to react to whatever he did. And so, he was going to win.

With increasing aggression, he charged straight forwards. Kaiser's eyes flickered with confusion as Y/N didn't bother to even try to dodge. He placed himself into Y/N's way.

It only took a split-second. Loki's advice rang in Y/N's ears. Try analysing your opponents. Kaiser has no idea what you're going to do, and he's going to be slow to react. Before he can figure you out, just go all out. Crush him before he has a chance to fight back.

Kaiser wasn't ready at all, in the end. Y/N dashed right past him, the ball firmly in his possession. As Kaiser tried to follow him, Y/N sidestepped, flicked the ball into the air, and fired.

The shot was fast. Insanely fast. Kaiser immediately recognised it.

His eyes widened with something along the lines of fear.

Because Y/N's movements, his shot power and speed- it copied 90% of his very own Kaiser Impact.