You'll never walk alone

By ArokuRaita

Disclaimer: Blue Lock belongs to Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yusuke Nomura and this fanfic was written nonprofit.

12. Path of the geniuses

"Let's do this, king. Did you do your kneeling practice properly?"

Nagi couldn't accept people who thought too highly of themselves without a good reason. And power wasn't a good reason for him. It was valid for Isagi, but well, he hadn't had so much power to begin with.

Within the first minutes Barou scored the first goal, and then Naruhaya marked Isagi tightly. When Isagi didn't know what to do, Nagi's instincts awakened.

"Here, Isagi! Send it to an open space!"

If going against the king face-to-face was difficult, then it was better to be chased. Almost all of Nagi's previous plays were done like that, showing his back to the enemy. That was his intuition to win and he scored the next goal. Now it was Isagi's turn.

If only it would be that easy! He thought while seeing his teammate evolve. Nagi and Barou scored, so they were tied at 2 goals. The key to victory was in Naruhaya or himself.

But how can I score by myself?

While he was thinking, his former teammate used a different attack.

"Do you know why I wanted to fight against your team, Isagi?"

"Wasn't it because you wanted Nagi?"

"That's the excuse. But my biggest reason is because I thought that I could beat you. I know what you can and cannot do. And you're not the kind of player who can play alone"

The imposter's syndrome kicked in again inside Yoichi's mind. What am I doing here? Can I really dream about being number 1? I don't know how to find my formula! In that split second, Naruhaya charged in, blocked his pass towards Nagi and moved to Isagi's blind spot. Then he tried to shoot, but the ball was stopped by Team White Blue Lock's man. Luckily for him, Barou was near and kicked it in. Team Red was winning 3-2.

Naruhaya felt pretty confident in himself. Not blindly, of course. Winning against Isagi was everything he needed to be closer to the geniuses and he thought he could do it. His former teammate was able to shoot and had spatial awareness, but nothing more. He was the closest step in this ladder.

And Asahi would climb up, no matter what. Because he loved soccer, but more importantly, because a pro soccer player's salary was exorbitant and his family would be able to live happily at last.

I just need to take Isagi down from the pedestal.

Nagi scored another goal and they were tied again, this time at 3 points. No worries, I have the king and I can improve.

Maybe I should change more than my tactics and actions, Isagi thought, coldly. In order to change, I have to discard how I was so far…

Was it possible? If everything was ending in this match, it wouldn't hurt to try. And it better had to be soon —Team Red was on fire.

When Naruhaya stole the ball from him for a second time, Yoichi had a revelation: blind spots. If he could master a blind spot positioning, plus his direct shot, that surprise attack would be a perfect formula for him.

While he was rewriting himself, his teammate scored another goal. Now they were 4-4.

Nagi looked satisfied and walked towards Isagi. He knew he was carrying a big weight in the team, but that would change soon. At least, he hoped so. His partner always knew how to turn the tables at the last minute.

"Well, we have to be able to steal the fall from… Isagi, are you listening to me?"

"Shut up for a second. I'm on a roll right now"

Nagi felt a chill down his spine. It was so exciting to see Yoichi thinking and talking cold and calculatingly. He remembered last night and smiled to himself.

"Very well, striker. I guess that means we'll win"

"Yeah"

That confidence, too! Winning was now imperative. Not to get over frustration, but to be closer to Isagi one more night. Nagi needed it so much…

Barou was annoyed. The white haired plebeian treated him disrespectfully, the nobody who was his teammate was trying to get the ball and proposing a team play, and the black haired one… He made him feel uncomfortable. Barou was having a kind of feeling a king should have for his queen.

His imperial philosophy would never accept a man as his queen. Even if he had the blackest hair, the palest skin and the reddest lips. Even if his body wanted to act on its own and crown that peasant in oh so many ways…

Never.

He kicked the ball with so much force and rage that Team White's crossbar trembled for a while. Naruhaya catched it and tried something: Isagi's direct shot.

What is that shrimp doing?! Barou thought, even more furious than before. Obviously, the shrimp failed. He didn't have time to react when Isagi went running towards the Team Red goal post. Everyone looked at him, shocked.

Barou ran faster to catch Yoichi. It was difficult to take his eyes off him —that hair seemed so soft, but he had to check the other players' position… And then, his prey was gone.

Huh?

He tried to move towards Isagi, and the peasant moved away again.

HUH?!

Barou just could feel the ball passing over him. He tried to stop Isagi, but he had already shot.

And Team White won.

Nagi ran to where his teammate was to celebrate. Although his face didn't show any emotion, he was dancing inside. Hell yeah, another night with Isagi! I hope the king is a heavy sleeper. If not, I'll knock him out.

Had he ever felt this way when he won all those matches with Reo? No, at least he couldn't remember. But his winning sensation with Reo was different. As if it were deeper.

Nagi wanted it to be deeper with Isagi, too. He tried to find his cobalt blue eyes, but his partner was looking at Naruhaya, who was lamenting his defeat.

"That was a really close match… Between you and me, it could've been either one of us"

Naruhaya denied it. Isagi really had the potential of a genius, because he didn't stop at copying someone and was open to change. That adaptability was something Asahi didn't have.

Then, Team White had to choose a player to keep going.

"Come with us, Barou. You're not done, are you?"

Yoichi looked like a royalty member, more than Barou. He neither was arrogant nor conceited and his posture was dignified. Then, Isagi tried to say something to his former teammate. Naruhaya stopped him, but Isagi talked anyway. He was kind, perhaps too kind for a Blue Lock striker.

Even when I said such terrible things to him…

Well, his dream was over, even when he fought with all his might. That would make him proud in the future, but at that moment, watching the back of the winners while they walked away, he just wanted to cry.