S2 Blue Lock Arc Final
Orbit, to have you...
The car sped towards the assigned location. A visible frown could be seen on Maureen's forehead. «Young Lady, is this right?» Maureen asked hesitantly. Maureen looked at the front view mirror and saw Yui coughing out loudly. She didn't look good and despite the amount of layers she wore, the young lady couldn't stop trembling.
«It's fine... please.» Yui said, slight exhaustion laced her voice. She knew she was being reckless and felt sorry for making everyone go along with her selfishness. However, a part of her felt like she might miss out on something vital if she were to miss this match. And Yui refused to take any chances when it came to Sae.
'Every moment spent with a loved one is a treasure,' Yui thought. 'Mother would probably agree.'
The car drove in and arrived at the U20-Stadium and much to Yui's surprise, someone opened the door from outside.
Yuusuke's smiling face greeted her.
«Yuusuke?» Yui asked, not expecting to see him.
«You really...» Yuusuke said with a heavy sigh. «Megumi told me about your little escape plans. We're gonna talk about this later, but for now...» Yuusuke retreated and Yui saw Shuu crouch down in front of her.
«The second half has already started. Let's get going.» Yuusuke said.
Yui's eyes glazed over touched at her friends' and family's consideration. Shuu glanced back at her with a small nod. He quietly urged her to get on and Yui felt a strength overcome her as she slowly shifted from her seat and put her arms around his neck.
«Thank you, Shuu. I'll treat you to some nice cake after." Yui said shyly.
«That sounds good.» Shuu replied back in his usual calm voice.
«You're really such a handful.» Yuusuke complained and Yui had the grace to cover her face into her scarf shyly.
Shuu stood up and carried her on his back easily. Now outside, Yui could see at the faces of her beloved friends. An and Takao smiled at her, while the former even gave her a thumbs up as if she was proud of her. Ageha was immediately at Yui's side with a blanket and can of tea, she had secured from who knows where. She finished up with putting her own beanie on her.
«Just as precaution.» Ageha said. Yui giggled shyly, all wrapped up in layers of clothing. She felt ashamed for her irresponsible actions towards her generous and supportive friends.
Takao seemed to notice this and said.
«It's too late to feel bad now. You better go out with a bang. Don't forget what you came here for." The law major said decisively and Yui nodded at that. Takao was right. She had made her decision and now she would have to bear the consequences for her behaviour.
«Shuu, please.» Yui said with a soar throat. Shuu didn't need to be told twice and the group finally headed towards the stadium.
The tension inside the seats was at an all high. With a score of 3 - 3 there was an intense battle for the ball. Neither side wanted to give in and as such ball possession kept changing between the players and side at an incredible rate.
Yui's breath felt hitched. She focused as much as she could on the ongoing match, but her heart felt gripped at the sight of the two figures in front of her.
'Sae... Rin...' Yui thought as she watch the older and younger brother go at each other. Rin was different from the little brother she had grown to adore and love. He was... a ghoul.
The usual calm and refrained Rin, with a natural elegance to him, was now displaying such an overwhelming desire for destruction and greed, her heart ached.
«Rin's and Sae's styles are the complete opposites of each other.» She heard Yuusuke say. He too was focused on the match and didn't dare look away for too long. He was mildly interested in seeing how desire could change a player's personality this much.
«A beautiful destruction, based on logic and precise calculations. And a style that steals and desires to devour all...» Shuu thought.
«Takes one to know one.» Takao added.
«I always felt like Rin was hiding something, and I guess he's just putting everything into expressing it through football.» An said.
«You mean like how some artists do through their art? And musicians through their songs?» Ageha asked.
An nodded at that. «Of course, it differs from person to person...» An said. «But usually the more individual your style is, the higher your talents and skills as an athlete are. At least that's how it is in the sports world.» An commented wisely.
«Still...» Yui commented. «Doesn't he... Look a little desperate right now?»
Hearing this An sighed. «Ah, indeed.» She said. «That little brat is being far too riled up right now. If he doesn't learn some mental stability... it might crush him in the future.»
«Oho~» She heard Ageha say. «So that's why you have returned as such a mature young lady now~.» Ageha teased her friend.
An scoffed with a little smile. «I am naturally mature.» She stated and flipped her hair overly dramatic. They all chuckled at that.
'Ah... It's over...' Yui thought when the cheerful yell resounded throughout the whole stadium. Tears fell from her eyes as if this was her own victory she had just witnessed.
'Is this the moment you have been waiting for, Sae?' She thought. 'No...This has to be it, right?' Ah, at this moment they had all witnessed the birth of a new light and fire that would soon spread across the world of Japan's Football. The change Sae had been waiting for years, the little flicker of hope for the country that raised him... Yui felt the desire to see him right away and rush up from her seat.
«Hold it, young lady.» Ageha was the first one to stop her with a friendly smile. «We can't have you wandering around in this crowd like that.» She warned her.
Yui nodded and immediately sat back into her seat again. She was feeling dizzy and tired. She was sure, that she was basically ruining her health in anyway possible right now, but she'd see it through !
Just as Yui resolved to do so a certain red-head happened to notice a certain group in the VIP Area of the seats. Of course, Sae's Yui senses would tingle and lead to this...
The guys immediately started waving in order to get his attention. They even pointed at Yui with bright grins.
Sae narrowed his eyes into a deadpan glare. 'How humanly irresponsible could they be?' At this point Sae wasn't sure whether he should be surprise or not.
At the next possibly chance that he had, Sae immediately went for his phone. He opened it and was about to send her a text message.
Wait for me at the exit.
It wrote, but before he could press the send button, Sae reconsidered. He couldn't just leave a sick girl waiting. Well, he could, but not Yui.
Ring. Ring. Ring. Ka-chak.
«Stay where you are, you dumbass.» Sae said mildly passive-aggressive. He didn't even wait for a response, before he threw aside his drink and towel, and hurried off.
He found them waiting in one of the hall areas that led to the seats of the VIPs. By now the crowd had thinned out nicely and as such not many paid attention to him.
Yuusuke had intented to chat with him for a little, but after seeing the expression on Sae's face, he saw it as a sign to lead the group away. His excuse: «We're gonna look for Megumi and Rin.»
Understanding that their two friend's needed some private time, the rest obediently followed.
There was more than one curious person who considered spying on them, but they knew that the story could be shared for later.
«...» Sae took a deep breath as he stared at the girl in front of him. She was wrapped up in layers of clothing with feverish eyes. He would make it quick and simple. He could do it. Witnessing the Blue Lock and that final goal of this match made, strenghtened his resolve.
He would... Confess to her here and now! It's all or nothing... With the silence acting as a rise for tension, Sae sharply exhaled, took a deep breath an said:
«Japan can change.»
...
...
...
The sound of cicadas in the background could be heard. Or the crawling of an owl. Sae mentally slapped himself, and yeeted himself off the planet. 'I said something I wanted to say, but this is not it...' He thought and struggled to find the yarn again.
«I saw!» Yui's excited reply greeted him. «Congrats, Sae!» Her eyes twinkled so beautifully. Her whole being was filled to the brim with excitement for him. He felt her wish to the depths of his bones.
Seeing her smile at him like this, Sae felt a thread within him snap. He grabbed her by her shoulders and steers her towards the VIP rooms. The door closed with a shut and Yui found herself trapped between Sae and the wall. He was close. So close that she could hear his chest beating in front of her and his breath on her skin.
Wordlessly Sae hovered above her and leaned in. Yui felt warm in his hold and this comforted him.
«Listen,» Sae started. «I will only say it once.»
«But something is wrong with me." He paused and closed his eyes collecting his thoughts. When he reopened them, Yui was able to see her own reflection in his eyes.
«You're so cute. I'm going crazy if you aren't mine.»
Yui lifted her face and was met with the sight of a Sae she had never seen before. He looked as if a new world has been born inside of his heart, an universe, just for him and her. Yui's heart was moved at his blatant words of love.
If so..., then she would be honest as well.
«I-» Yui began, her voice quivering slightly. «I watched the match well.» She said.
«And before I knew it, I was crying...» She confessed honestly.
«Seeing you on the field, seeing the new light of Japanese Football...» Yui paused and sharply inhaled.
«I was overjoyed at the thought that your dream could come true...Here.» She confessed.
«But I... I'm such a vile woman...» Yui said. «All I could think about was that I didn't want you to leave. I wanted you to stay here, be with me. Sae, you should have chosen me!»
«... You're not.» Sae said after some quiet. «I'm the one... who made you wait for four years.»
«You're not wrong, Sae.» Yui denied it immediately. «I realized after watching this match... I think I know why you like football this much...And also why I'm this attracted to you.»
She took both of his cheeks into the palm of her hands and looked at him convincingly.
«Look here, and don't look away from me...» Yui said.
«Before you found me, I was always alone. Surrounded by people but always alone!» Yui's voice wavered when she remembered.
«After losing my mother, I was scared to love again. I couldn't believe in anymore! After all,»
Yui paused to collect her thoughts. «It was so painful.»
Yui said and looked up at him. «I was hurting all this time, because I could love no one the same ever again!»
«Yui...» Sae mumbled. Hearing the things he had never known of before, Sae chose to listen.
«What changed... with me?» Sae asked and put his hand atop of hers. It was soft and warm.
His heart skipped a beat when he saw the overwhelming, radiant smile Yui gave him in response.
«You're... My sun.» Yui confessed.
«My radiant star, whom I'll always orbit around. I'm attracted to you, your warmth and your light, that's how it was at first...» She said.
«But that's not all... When you returned I realized it, even without any of your shine, I'd have loved you all the same.»
«Even without any...» Sae repeated. «Are you certain?» Sae asked.
«I am certain.» Yui replied.
«Hahaha,» A soft chuckle came from Sae as he relaxed into her warmth. «You're stronger than me.»
«... I don't want to hear that from the person that went to a foreign country all on his own to fulfilll his dream.» Yui said.
Sae clicked his tongue playfully. «It didn't come true.» He confessed.
«... My dream didn't come true either.» Yui said. «But I've found a new dream. Not just a dream, but a whole future.» Yui said when one of her hand gently caressed his hair.
«... I did, too.» Sae said following Yui's lead. Their eyes set on each other when saying so.
«And did that dream come true?» Yui asked with a spark in her eyes. Her voice was soft, so soft and very sweet-sounding it tempted him.
«It did...,» Sae said. «Right now.»
He closed the remaining distance between them as his feelings began to untangle, with each second he could feel her breath together with his. Because he loved her, and because saying I love you wasn't enough, he took all of his love for her and poured it into this one, single kiss.
If he was her sun, and she his moon, then he would fill her with his light to the brim. She would shine the brightest amongst all, as an unrivaled beauty closest to him - and only him -, closest to this heart, and only his, until the day came where he'd lose his shine and crush and crumble into million pieces of stone and stardust.
Even then, Sae believed that Yui would be the one to pick up all of his pieces and remains, and breathe a new life into him in the way that only she can do.
'Ah~really,' Sae thought when he looked at his love nestled in his arms. 'How can I not love you when you're like this.'
He leaned down and placed one more final kiss on the girl who had fallen asleep soundly in his arms.
Shu was the first to notice the couple when they returned.
«Yui! Sae! » Megumi exclaimed next. She had arrived just a few minutes prior, and was the first to jump up from her seat and darted over to her friend.
With the girl in the lead, the rest followed.
«She fainted from overexertion.» Sae said.
Takao's eyebrow twitched at that comment, while Yuusuke smirked a little.
«What did you do?» His voice carried a suggestion that only the guys would understand.
Well and An too. Said girl turned around to glare at him as a sign for him to shut up.
She was worried for her friend, considering how she surely did not faint from something Sae did alone considering her fever.
«Yuusuke, we need to take her to the hospital right away.» Megumi said, hearing this Yuusuke's smile fell.
«Is it serious?» He asked.
«Damn, it is!» Megumi said with a sigh and leaned in to whisper into his ear. «You know fully well how bad her health is.» This whole situation was making her uneasy, and Sae suddenly had a bad feeling as well.
Heeding to Megumi's advice, Yuusuke leaned in to take Yui from Sae. He was hesitant to let her go, but there was no better choice this time.
«Sorry, Sae.» Yuusuke said. «Your blissful moment will have to get cut short a little.»
Sae didn't respond. The solemness in Yuusuke's voice worried him.
As the group left to take Yui to the hospital, An and Takao chose to stay back and wait for him.
U-20 Building
«I hope Yui is going to be okay.» An said while they were waiting for Sae to get changed.
«There's nothing we can do now," Takao reassured her. "You know how she would bounce back right away the next day... And sometimes, not.» He ended in a whisper.
An scowled. «If you are trying to cheer me up, you're doing an aweful job at this!»
An exclaimed with a huff and Takao laughed at her antics.
«Sorry, sorry!» He apologized lightly, but their little banter soon turned solemn again.
«Argh!» An said after a few minutes of continued silence. «I can't do this! You should be honest with me. You know something, don't you?»
«Wha-?» Takao said surprised at how sharp she suddenly was.
«Don't 'what?' me! I know something's bothering you. My An intuition is telling me so.» An replied, pouting that her boyfriend would keep secrets from her.
Takao smiled and sighed in relief.
«Judging from Megumi's behavior...» Takao said with a sigh. «She likely knows something.»
«What do you mean?» An asked. «She always worries for us, and Yui especially.»
«Yes,» Takao agreed. «Maybe because I'm her twin, I can tell that she is hiding something. And not only her..., Yui likely as well.»
«You mean...» Takao didn't need to continue elaborating as An understood the implications of his words.
Tears welled up in her eyes as the severity of the situation and concern seeped in.
«They have been hiding something about Yui's condition to us all this time?»
«... Most likely.» Takao said softly as he wrapped an arm around An's shoulders to comfort her. She tiredly leaned into her boyfriend's arms with quivering lips. Sometimes, she hated life for how unfair it could be. This was one of those times.
«Ha...» Takao sighed suddenly. «It's going to be alright. It's Yui we are talking about after all.» He comforted her.
An suddenly realized something. «Is that why you chose to stay here? To comfort Sae?»
Takao shifted his gaze at being caught.
«Ah-...» He said. «I figured someone should explain to him. He must be worried.»
An agreed wholeheartedly. «Anybody would be worried!» She might fight with Sae at every chance possible, but she still considered him a friend. «Color me surprise though... Yui and Sae, huh?»
Takao smirked at how quick his girlfriend could be in moments like this. A woman's intuition is truly frightening at times. «You noticed?» Takao asked.
«I'm telling you that guy was basically oozing with a lion king's pride when he appeared just now! How infuriating!» An hissed. And Takao couldn't help but piction the scene of an angry cat hissing at an unbothered lion. The cat being An and the lion being Sae.
«Wow.» A voice suddenly interrupted them. «It must suck being worse than me.»
Their gazes turned around and met Sae's usual lackadaisical expression.
An was about to throw hands if it weren't for Takao's smooth intervention.
«Since you're done, let's hurry and catch up with the rest. I'll explain everything on the way.» Takao declared and the trio left.
Dream Sequence
When Yui came to, she found herself trapped inside a room of white again. The white ceilings, and white walls. The white curtains and that constant ringing noise that wouldn't stop beeping. And suddenly Yui was brought back into That place again.
'Mother.' Yui whispered and whimmered. 'Mother!'
From somewhere a child cried out for her mother. 'Mother, where are you?' The child continued to wail. Her cries echoed throughout the white room and Yui couldn't help but crouch down in an attempt to cover her ears.
It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. IT HURTS. IT HURTS. IT HURTS. IT HURTS. IT HURTS. IT HURTS. IT HURTS. IT HURTS. Yui's whole body was hurting and swallowed in white.
«Sometimes, when I'm in pain, a part of me would thinks it is Her punishment.» Yui heard and the white room disappeared into a new scenery.
Flashback / New Scenery
Yui rested inside of a private cottage in the outskirts of town. The greeneries here resembled that place where she used to grow up with her mother Yuuko. It was idyllic and healing and a place she loved very much. Whenever she needed a break in order to recuperate, Yui would go there. It was one of the few places of solace for her in this country.
This happened when they were in their 2nd Year of Highschool. It was the moment where Yui's condition had suddenly taken a turn for worse. A time filled with uncertainty towards the future, and a time in which she also realized that... The same disease that had taken her mother away from her, was now also running through her: Guillain-Barré syndrome. A neurological disorder and autoimmune disease, in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the myelin sheaths of the peripheral nerves.
Yui remembered the events all too vividly, the fear at possibility having her life taken, and the decision she made then, that would change her life forever.
Yui had collapsed during a family gathering and had to be rehabilitated for quite some time. During those times, her friends would visit her occasionally as to not make her feel lonely. On that day, Megumi was with her.
Yui had recovered steadily enough to regain her sight, although walking was still deemed outside of her capabilities. Yui just sat there, on the bed inside of her little cottage. She looked through the window peacefully with Megumi by her side.
There was a fresh wind blowing in and out of the room, enthralled by the mood, Yui must have remembered her mother when she began speaking. «Sometimes, when I'm in pain, a part of me would thinks it is Her punishment.»
«That's not true!» Megumi gasped. «You know your mother would never do that.»
Megumi had tried to say calmy, but her heart hurt for her friend.
Yui gave her a little smile.
«I know,...» Yui said. «Mother loved me with every fiber of hers...»
But it was not fair. - Her unspoken implication wasn't left unnoticed by Megumi.
«... I wanted to live up to her legacy. I wanted to live a good life filled with loved ones at my side... Happy... And healthy...» Yui said.
«... But before I knew it, I had become someone incapable of feeling love. 'The Immovable Queen.'» Yui said as she recalled that title. «And my health is like this now...»
Megumi opened her mouth. She wanted to say something to comfort her: To say that it was not true, that Yui was her most beloved friend and that she would get better for sure, again.
Something however stopped Megumi from doing so. It was Yui herself that stopped her.
Yui's reassuring smile told her that she knew of how dearly her friend treasured her.
«I don't feel that way anymore.» Yui continued.
And then, the smile on her face grew brightly.
«I realized that I have something to live for. Something, no... Someone waiting for me.»
«I have you, An, Ageha, Shuu, Takao and Yuusuke by my side.» Yui said as she recalled her friends one by one.
«And Little Bro Rin now as well of course.» Yui added with a little giggle.
«And then, there's him... He's still somewhere out there, across the oceans and seas, doing his best even if alone.» Yui gripped the sheets in her hands as tightly as she could.
«But I still feel him here with me,» Yui said. «I don't want to let him do his best and struggle all on his own. I don't want to be left behind either.»
«I must have fallen for him a lot harder than I thought, haha...» Yui said with a love-sick chuckle.
«Yui...» Megumi said as she watched her friend. Little tears rolled down her cheeks.
«Gumi...» Yui chided her friend when she saw her crying. But her eyes soon shared that same wetness. Megumi pulled her into a tight embrace. Yui nuzzled into the safety of her friend's arms.
«I can't give up before I've told him how I feel.» Yui cried into her arms.
«I will definitely get better soon so please...» Yui cried out.
'Can the shooting stars make our wish come true?'
Flashback END
Dream End
When Yui came to she found herself staring at a starry ceiling. She tried to tilt her head left and right but found herself unable to move too much.
She blinked once and twice checking if her eyes weren't playing a prank on her. She sighed in relief when everything seemed fine.
Still... Yui was feeling strangely lethargic and dizzy. Not to mention the needle that was stuck onto her and connected her to the IV drip.
«You're up.» A voice said. Yui recognized that voice and remembered vaguely what had happened. They had kissed! She flushed red and attempted to hide beneath the blanket.
«Pft,» Sae smirked. «Getting shy now? You weren't that shy when we-»
«Sae!» Yui cried out and immediately started coughing. Regretting his decision to tease her, Sae grabbed for the blanket and pulled it down to have a look at her.
He sighed once her coughs calmed down.
«Can you tell me what happened?» Yui asked shyly.
«...» Sae gathered his thoughts for a moment. «Nothing much happened. You just got too excited and passed out from a fever.» He said cooly. He faced her with one hand propping up his chin casually. «Was it that good?» Sae teased her in order to lighten up the air.
Yui squinted her eyes in embarrassment. Not only did they kiss, she also passed out! How embarrassing.
Suddenly remembering something, Yui looked at the lights. «The stars...» Yui commented towards the starry sky ceiling with fondness. 'They remind me of the beach.' Yui thought to herself as she remembered the day of their goodbye.
«... I cried then...» Sae suddenly said.
«You never asked why, not that I could tell you anyways. It's different now though... » Sae said and in his eyes a shooting star flashed through.
Taking his pause as a cue to intervene, Yui asked softly.
«What made you cry back then?»
Sae looked back at the ceiling and inhaled once.
«... It was you...» He mumbled and looked at her without wavering. It was silent, and neither said anything until Yui tilted her head slightly and encouraged him to go on with a smile.
Sae scowled and rolled his eyes, but the tiniest but of a blush was on his face. He grabbed his neck with the hand that had been propping up his chin.
« I liked you, even then. And... I. Was. Probably... Hurt -» Sae paused when he realized what he truly felt back then. « To no be able to tell you what I felt...»
'Ah yes, that's right... I wanted to stay.' Sae remembered his wish back then.
«... Do you think you could tell me now?» Yui incquired softly.
«You're making this awfully hard.» Sae complained as he leveled her a stare.
Yui chuckled. «Is that a no?» She asked gently.
Sae sighed once shortly. He suddenly smirked and reached for her hand. In a caring motion he lifted it to the height of his lips and placed a light kiss on her fingertips, before planting another one on her palm.
«You're so unexpectedly needy. I can't take my eyes off you for too long or else you will disappear to somewhere beyond my reach.» Sae began.
«Your curiosity is an endearing part of yours. Heck, your purity borders on Heaven's realm if I'm not with you some weirdo might start a cult to worship you.» Sae continued.
«I have never met a woman with a prettier smile than yours. I never considered dimples a thing until I saw yours. Your eyes are -» Sae was monologuing at this point and only stopped when he saw that Yui had retreated back into her blankets.
« ...» Sae had a short moment of victory when he saw her apparent shyness and decided to deliver the final blow. He hovered over the blanket just centimeters from lying on it.
«I like you, Yui. Please go out with me.»