3.9. Best Coach (Part 1)

Yeesh. They're not the worst, I'll give them that.

Michael Kaiser glanced across the pitch, keeping an eye on both the ball and Isagi at the same time. The goalkeeper being from Bluelock, he'd probably try to pass to one of his friends.

And he did. The ball was rolled right to Yukimiya, the kid with glasses. As Manshine's offensive players closed in, he whipped a long pass across the entire pitch, sending it right to Kurona. Kaiser sighed. Predictable, much? It was funny, to watch them scurry around like little rats. Every single move of theirs was trivially easy to read. It was just a matter of when Kaiser decided to stop them.

Very carefully, he wasn't looking at the sidelines. Every time he looked across at Y/N, just lounging around on the side, his vision tinged with red. He hated him. Because how... how could such a normal person be better than him at soccer?

The vast majority of good soccer players were pieces of shit. Kaiser knew that better than anyone else, after all, he himself was one. Yet, Y/N wasn't. Maybe Kaiser just hadn't seen that side of him yet... but the shitty attitude, shitty personality, and shitty life that having the ego of a striker always came with just weren't showing.

Was he just not showing that side of him? Or... did he not have an ego?

Whatever the case, he'd soundly beaten Kaiser. He'd crushed him, made him realise just how idiotic he'd been. Kaiser acted like he was at the top of the soccer world, but really, he was nowhere near the top. Y/N was living proof of that - a prodigy that had easily beaten him, but still was worse than Noa.

To get to the top of the world, he first needed to crush Y/N.

But he couldn't, right now. The kid was just sitting on the sidelines, unable to play. Kaiser needed him in the game, and not on the same team like in the last game. He needed him in Manshine City, so he had to be the first one to score.

Kurona and Isagi rocketed up the side of the pitch. Kurona took the first stretch alone, shark-like teeth gritted as he dribbled past the first defender. It only took a small fake step, and he was able to breeze past him on one side. He passed the ball to Isagi.

They quickly fell into a rhythm. Kurona's speciality was short turns, and Kaiser had seen that a lot in his training sessions. He'd practised his positioning a lot, and it clearly showed as he danced around the Manshine players. Isagi had easy passes whenever he wanted with Kurona's quick turns, and with it, they blitzed up the field.

Pass to Kurona. Pass to Isagi. Pass to Kurona. Kaiser followed, running sideways alongside them. Isagi wasn't focused on him at all, just looking ahead at the space in front. Kunigami was being marked by two defenders, and so Isagi was more free to move. His body twisted, moving towards the goal. Kurona's leg swung back, preparing a pass.

That's when Kaiser intercepted. Before the ball could get anywhere near Isagi, he snatched it out of the sky. Ness's voice rang out across the field from behind him, but he completely blanked it out. Don't distract me. Landing in a crouch, he would've gone for the goal himself if a princess didn't steal it out from under him.

It was a decent clear. The ball was sent flying back towards Bastard Munchen's goal, in prime position for one of the Manshine players to pick it up. Murmuring something under his breath, the purple-haired boy began to move. The two main attacking players moved too, a white-haired boy and that mad doctor, Agi.

Kaiser and Agi had played each other a few times before. And every time, it was an annoyance. Usually, he would stick near Kaiser as much as possible, long limbs flailing around like a drunk fish out of water. Thankfully this game, he wasn't, choosing to play around the guy called Nagi.

A long pass, from grape hair to parsnip hair. Kaiser dutifully headed back towards the defensive line, but he was way too far away. The parsnip pushed two Bastard defenders behind him with ease, using his chest to trap the ball. It was all insanely fast - when the ball hit the floor, his foot was already moving out to take hold of it.

Spinning, he shoved his way right through the centre of the two defenders, speeding up to completely break through them. The trap had been incredible. But the dribbling that came after made Kaiser chuckle under his breath. He looks like a toddler trying to walk.

The ball neared the goal. The toddler passed right to Agi, a high curving ball that was perfect for his sheer height. Agi rose into the air, limbs easily reaching it even as the defender marking him struggled. The Bastard Munchen goalkeeper, Gagamaru, was wholly focused on Agi. He's not the type to shoot! Focus on the person who's actually trying to score!

As expected by Kaiser, Agi didn't shoot. He passed, using a strong kick that bounced the ball off the floor. The white-haired kid trapped it perfectly using the top of his foot. Before the ball could land, he fired it towards the goal.

Yukimiya flung himself into its path, arms tucked behind his back. His face took a painful hit, sports glasses flying off as he just about deflected the ball away. It spiralled off behind the goal.

"What a super block!"

"Manshine City gets themselves a corner off the back of Nagi Seishiro's amazing run!"

Amazing run? As the game paused for a few seconds, Kaiser scoffed under his breath. Don't make me laugh. He's about as creative as a zombie, and all the dexterity of one too. Is that seriously all he can do? 'Relax', and wait for other people to do everything for him?

Kaiser took a spot outside the view of both Agi and Nagi, nearish to the goal. His mind was racing, taking in the position of all players as they grouped up around the goal. Two guys there... one guy covering that side... two marking Agi... but they're both looking upwards. Agi's smart enough to notice that.

But Agi won't shoot. I've seen that earlier. Kaiser glanced around. Out of the Manshine players, only one was really in a good spot to shoot. Kaiser's eyebrow raised just an inch. Really? This guy?

The princess took the corner.

The field exploded into action.

Three Manshine players ran straight for the goal, dragging their Bastard marks alongside them. Kaiser lingered near the back post, watching as Agi discreetly motioned to a teammate. The tall man dashed forwards with stunning speed, not bothering to jump at all. The ball went fast and low, right to his feet.

Instead of going for a shot, he passed. Without even turning around, his heel made contact with the ball. Most of the momentum left the ball. It rose into the air in a smooth, shallow arc. Right for the boy Kaiser knew was going to score. Nagi Seishiro had just began turning when Kaiser ripped the ball from the air in front of him.

"Fucking premature." He spat, landing in a crouch as he took off. "Get this shitty baby off the field. It ain't bring your kid to work day."

Legs pumped. Breath quickened. Eyes lasered in on the ball. Kaiser took off down the field. I need to score. I need Y/N on the other team. I need to win this.

Behind him, he was dimly aware of Isagi following. But that didn't matter to him. Isagi could copy him as much as he wanted, he wasn't going to get anywhere. "Ness, catch! Let's counter."

Ness gave him a quick nod of the head, easily retrieving the ball. He faked a run to the right, before using both incredibly flexible legs to whip the ball suddenly to the left. The Manshine defender up against him nearly tripped over his own feet with the sheer speed of the manoeuvre. So reliable. Not half bad, Ness.

They'd done this a million times - maybe even more - so unconsciously, Kaiser was moving to support Ness in the same way Ness was trying to support him. He sped up, Ness slowed down, and within seconds they drew level with each other, at the perfect passing distance.

They quickly drew near the goal. Kaiser slowed, trading passes with Ness at a somewhat leisurely pace. They had a little bit of time, while Manshine was split in two. Half of the team was coming back from their attack, and would take some time to be able to tackle them. The other half were all hunkered down in front of the goal. One, two, three, four, five... This many players to try to stop me, and they're still not going to be able to?

It was clear as glass. Even as one of the Manshine players laughed, claiming they'd cut off his shot course, Kaiser knew better. He locked eyes with Ness, and the magician instantly knew what he wanted. A low pass came right to his feet, backspin slowing it down to a trivially slow ball.

The millisecond the ball was at his feet, he shot. His entire leg swung forwards at a speed even Noel Noa couldn't match, with a power that nobody in the world could match. In that moment, he didn't just feel powerful. He felt godly.

"You're."

"Fucking."

"Blind."

Reo and Chigiri both blocking? Agi's long limbs blocking? A defender's head literally centimetres from the ball? The goalkeeper staring right at Kaiser, ready for the shot? Nothing mattered.

The ball slammed into the back of the goal, playing out its energy on the net before thumping, spent, to the floor. Kaiser grinned. He whirled, ignoring everything and everyone else. Both eyes locked onto one boy, sitting by himself on the side of the field. He raised a hand, one finger pointing right at him.

"Y/N L/N. Let's play."

🥕🥕🥕

Y/N dramatically dropped to one knee, lowering his head. Both arms hung at his sides. All cameras were on him as he maintained the kneel, his jersey slowly changing colour into Manshine City's white and blue. The club's logo formed itself on his back, a circle with a soccer ball right in the centre.

He raised his head, eyes shining with anticipation. Surely Prince puts me on, right? I've been improving my body like he asked. Y/N couldn't get over to the substitutes bench fast enough, throwing himself onto the chair next to Prince and nearly knocking him to the floor in the process.

Blinking up at him with all the innocence he could muster, Y/N didn't bother saying a single word. He knew Chris understood. The coach grinned down at him, humming. "Hmm?"

Y/N placed both palms together in a praying motion, still not saying a word. Prince knew exactly what he wanted, but just shrugged, teasing him. "You want some ice cream?"

The smile was gone in an instant. Y/N scowled, punching his coach's shoulder. "Are you gonna put me on or not?!"

"Aggressive, much?" Prince laughed, the punch having absolutely no effect on him. "Of course, Y/N. I'm just messing with you."

"Then..." Y/N pursed his lips, gesturing to the pitch. "Now?"

"Nope."

Before Y/N could start ranting - or making offers - Chris cut in to clarify. "You'll go on when Noa goes on."

"Huh?"

"You want to test yourself against him, right?" The man laughed. "In the meeting, you sounded pretty miffed about him not wanting to play you."

"Yeah...?"

"So I'm giving you a chance to play against him. You can go in the striker's position, if you want? I'll play defence, so even if you lose, we don't concede a goal."

Y/N was rendered speechless. Not only was Prince letting him play, he was letting Y/N take the striker's spot, letting him play against the strongest player in the world, and was willing to play defence to let him do that. "W-why?"

Grinning wider, Prince flashed him a model-worthy smile. "What kind of coach would I be if I didn't? Everyone deserves chances to play, especially those that work hard. And these past few days, you've done that."

"Don't you wanna play against Noa?"

"Nah." Prince brushed off his concern. "I've played him many times already, and it's never been conclusive. Though, I'll have you know I always hold the upper hand..."

Y/N laughed. Of course he thinks that. Prince had really been a good mentor to him. Sure, he was eccentric, but even just following his workout and meal plan for a week had shown its benefits. He had more energy - despite getting less sleep. His skin and hair looked healthier. And it wasn't like he was only eating bland stuff. Most of the things Prince recommended were actually pretty tasty.

It was a relief to hear that he could play. He had a chance to win against Noa, reduce the ever-present voice in his head that screamed he was weak. And because of that chance, his expression lightened, eyes clearing momentarily. The casual smile from before was still present, but a little more genuine.

Prince continued rambling, making up all sorts of excuses why Noa was rated higher than him, and how he was actually the best striker in the world. Y/N just smiled, nodding along with it. With a light voice, he murmured under his breath.

"You're definitely the best coach, Prince."