2.16. Statement

Aiku stood in the back line, eyes narrowed at the two new players on the field as Bluelock restarted the game.

They worked their way forwards. The dark purple haired midfielder was dribbling forwards, the other Bluelock players hovering around him. Yet again, it looked like they were using a different attacking pattern, packed into a tight ball in the centre of the field.

They didn't seem to be using the new players. Hayate and Chou went to try and put pressure on them, but it was the same players as before trading passes between them. Isagi Yoichi and Rin Itoshi worked their way up the field by themselves.

"What are you up to...?" Aiku's eyes took in everything. One of the new players was shadowing Isagi, following him from behind like some kind of stalker. The other looked lost in a world of his own, grinning crazily as he zipped around the field.

It didn't look to have any logic in it, but Aiku was sure there was something going on. He just had to find it... some pattern to the madness that was Bluelock as they moved forwards.

Sendou attempted to tackle Rin. The captain passed it backwards, to a cyan-haired boy Aiku didn't know. He'd been subbed on, and while his passing was good, the rest of his skills were limited. As soon as the ball touched that midfielder's foot, both Rin and Isagi shot off, splitting up as they ran on either side of Hayate.

Aiku tensed. Hayate sees Isagi and Rin. He's going to mark Isagi... Rin is being marked by Sendou. He could only watch as Hayate ran forwards, finding a timing to steal the ball before it could reach Isagi.

But before he could get a hold of the ball, the newly subbed guy, Barou Shoei, burst past him with frightening speed. Aiku's eyes widened. He stole the ball from his own fucking teammate?!

Hayate chased after him as the man barrelled up the field. With an impressive sprint, the midfielder barely managed to get in front of Barou. Aiku glanced around the field. All of Bluelock were on the move, their movements speeding up as if they'd gone into a frenzy.

Barou wasn't at all bothered by Hayate, though. He did a sort of hop over the ball, and using his heel, chopped the ball in a completely different way. Hayate nearly tripped trying to change direction, his ankles completely broken (not literally) by Barou.

Placing a hand on Hayate's shoulder to hold the man back, Barou surged forwards. Aiku's breathing quickened, trying to absorb all the information. Everyone was on the move. "Darai, go to him!"

"Yep!" The man was immediately in Barou's path. Aiku wasn't confident at all that he could stop the new player, but he couldn't move. If he did, he would leave a massive gap in the defence.

He wants to go into the penalty box to score. Isagi ran past Barou, screaming for the ball. In that moment, it was a bunched up two-on-two, with Isagi and Barou against Hayate and Darai. Aiku clenched his teeth. He's going to go inside... either by passing, or using him as bait.

When Darai realised that as well, and turned to defend the path to the goal, Aiku nodded subconsciously. Then he froze, because the madman that was Barou had decided to go outside. That's away from the goal?!

He can't shoot at that angle... Barou was pretty much running towards the corner post. So he's going to pass, in the end?

They're set if he passes. Aiku watched. Barou drew back his leg like he wanted to pass. Darai ran forwards, in a panicked attempt to block it. And with that, Barou chopped the ball in another direction. This time, it was Darai with his ankles broken.

Before anyone could react, and yet again, not passing, Barou's left foot slammed into the ball hard.

The ball shot forwards at insane speeds, a deafening clang echoing across the pitch as it bounced off the post. What kind of messed up soccer is that?!

The damage had been done already, though. Aiku's defences were in tatters, with defenders trying to re-establish control, and Bluelock players just kind of causing havoc.

Wait... what?

Something was happening.

The ball went to another one of their forwards, Yukimiya. He darted forwards, weaving in and out of players. Bluelock players were everywhere. Barou was back to shadowing Isagi. Rin was setting up a trap on the left side. Shidou was running straight at the guy with the ball, even though they were on the same team.

It should've been chaos. Especially with the U-20 defenders scrambling all over the place, midfielders coming back to try and help with the sheer amount of players Bluelock was committing to the attack.

But Aiku could make perfect sense of it. Every single player had a pattern. Some of them aimed to pass... some of them wanted to support others... some of them wanted to take one against one challenges, others wanted to sow chaos, others wanted to get into the box.

It all stems from one thing, doesn't it?

You all want your goal.

Yukimiya was shredding through his defences. Aiku could see it, even before it happened. He's going to fake left, go right. Then Niou will go to press, to cut off his shot course. But because he wants his goal, he'll try for it anyway!

It all happened exactly as Aiku predicted. Cries of surprise came from his defenders as the Bluelock players tore through them. Before he'd even registered the fact that Yukimiya had shot the ball, his body reacted. He leapt for the corner of the goal, tucking his hands behind his back and using his head to smash the ball aside.

What the hell?

What is this feeling?

I can see everything.

Aiku's heart sank. I can see how we're going to lose.

His team was painfully outmatched. He could see all the stats, all the data he'd looked over before the game. The Bluelock players were simply better, all of them outmatching his own team except for three players. Himself, Sae, and Y/N.

The ball bounced along the floor. Instantly, five players were rushing for it. Aiku went as well, nearly clotheslining Isagi with the force the two hit each other. His foot just managed to scrape the ball, shoving it to where more of his defenders were waiting.

If only Sae would defend with us, this would be a hell of a lot easier!

Darai passed it right back to him. Aiku gazed ahead. The whole box was filled with enemies, and a single mistake could cost him everything. So why was he so fired up?

He ran forwards. The first attacker came, trying to steal the ball. Aiku flicked the ball out, then back in, sending it bouncing once through his legs. He darted past, shoving the player off balance to regain control of the ball.

Another player challenged him. Aiku leapt over the ball. He used his back heel to chop the ball, in an exact replica of Barou. The player stumbled, momentum carrying him in the other direction, and Aiku barrelled forwards.

I used to be a striker, too.

It didn't last, though. More and more players surrounded him. Eventually, no matter how hard he dribbled, no matter how hard he tried, he was caught off guard. By none other than the enemy captain, Rin Itoshi.

The boy stole the ball from right under him. Aiku knew it was coming, but he had no choice. Any other way would lead to an instant goal.

Hayate ran to defend. He planted himself firmly into Rin's path, and as the two clashed, he managed to knock the ball aside. Aiku sprinted right for it.

He was too late.

Barou was there. He ran straight through both Niou and Darai, both of them grabbing onto his shoulders to try and slow him down. It didn't work. Even as his upper body tilted back, his legs shot out.

Mid slide, he shot into the top corner.

And scored.

🥕🥕🥕

It was even. Bluelock had three, and Y/N had three.

But to him, it wasn't enough. It was never enough, there was always more he could do. Kuroi had taught him that, and having the man on the sidelines watching him only amplified that feeling.

Never enough, Y/N. You're still weak. You're still a hopeless case.

It's not over until you've scored ten, remember that.

Who cares if you're tired? Lazing around isn't going to get you anywhere.

Do you think your parents would want someone like you?

Y/N swallowed, hard. Aiku retrieved the ball from the goal, walking forwards. When will I be enough?

A hand clamped down on his shoulder. He jumped, startled by the sudden movement. Sae stood next to him, and squeezed his shoulder once. "What are you thinking about?"

"Just... stuff." Y/N vaguely answered.

"Stop thinking about stuff then." Sae removed his hand. "When we restart, just get into a free position. I'll get the ball to you."

Aiku placed the ball on the ground, and backpedalled into a defensive position. He caught Y/N's eye midway to his spot, and just nodded. What that meant, Y/N couldn't decipher.

He kicked off.

Y/N shot forwards like a rocket, immediately running straight between the oncoming Bluelock forwards. He didn't let anyone follow him, weaving side to side, running straight one second and sideways the next.

"Y/N L/N is tearing down the pitch! Is he going to be set up?!"

For a second, he was completely free. There was a clear path between him and Sae, and the nearest defenders were a good distance away.

They locked eyes. The next moment, the ball was hurtling down the path to him, right between two Bluelock forwards. They threw themselves into the path of the ball, neither of them managing to reach it.

But the ball didn't get to Y/N. A third player was already jumping in the way, foot barely managing to scrape the ball. It bounced off course.

"What?!"

"Tereasa, are you seeing this?!"

"I sure am, Natsuki! One of Sae Itoshi's famous passes, and to none other than Y/N L/N, caught by Isagi Yoichi!"

Y/N's eyes went wide. Fucking Isagi?! He predicted it? How? The ball was nowhere near him, and had gone instead to Hiori. While Y/N immediately began running to steal back the ball, Hiori was already kicking.

It was an amazing pass, by all standards. Y/N reached Hiori a second after the ball had left the ground, unable to stop the pass as it flew straight over the mass of players in the midfield.

And where was it going? Right over the heads of the Iron Wall, to an overjoyed Shidou Ryusei. He'd somehow snuck in behind them, and Y/N could only watch as his goalkeeper came out of the box.

It wasn't a bad play, but it wasn't exactly a good one. Y/N was no defender, but he did understand that trying to slow down Shidou before he got to the goal was a good idea. But by doing that, he'd left the goal open.

Aiku and Niou were already running for the goal, to block off a potential shot. Shidou had his back to the goal - it was going to take him a few seconds to trap it, get past the goalkeeper, and shoot.

Right?

Shidou didn't turn around. He didn't trap it. And he certainly didn't take a few seconds.

His entire body tipped backwards. Shidou jumped into the air, pressing a palm to the floor as his legs swung high up.

It was beautiful, and horrifying. Y/N's blood went cold as Shidou performed a flawless bicycle kick. His foot connected with the ball perfectly, sending it spinning high into the air. No way.

Shidou hadn't looked at the goal.

Y/N's eyes tracked the ball as it drew a smooth arc in the air. Shidou was thirty metres from the goal. No way.

Aiku and Niou spotted the ball, speeding up as they tried to get back to the goal faster.

But the ball was faster.

It bounced right on the goal line, flying into the top of the net. Y/N could only stand there in shock. From thirty metres... without looking... with a bicycle kick...?

"Oh my god?!"

"That must've been the best goal I've ever seen! Shidou Ryusei, making a statement on the big stage!"

The crowd was on their feet. The cheers for Bluelock grew again, thousands of voices chanting Shidou's name. For people watching online, Y/N knew they would be going absolutely crazy.

The stadium was in uproar. Japanese national flags were put away, replaced with simple cries of 'Bluelock'. Everyone stood up from their chairs, a few people jumping with sheer excitement.

Y/N set his jaw. They'd scored two in a row. Now it was his turn.