12. Change

Y/n hated the entire week. There were dark circles under his eyes and he looked like a zombie, to put it simply.

His limbs felt like jelly and he swore his skin was melting off from how much he was sweating. But he had to admit, while Ren was persistent on working him to the bone, he made sure that Y/n didn't actually pass out.

Even if his voice was harsh and his words were undeniably blunt, he meant well...most of the time. Aoi was like a translator for what Ren couldn't actually put into words. Someone who could make Ren's bluntness sound sweet, like candy.

Now, Aoi was tending to Y/n's soreness.

"Take some painkillers," Aoi demanded calmly, holding up two pills. "You can swallow pills, right?"

Y/n looked at Aoi's hand. "Yeah."

The water on the table next to the bed in the infirmary was quickly downed along with the two pills as Aoi wrapped Y/n's feet to quicken the disappearance of blisters with pressure.

"You know," Aoi began, attempting to make small talk, "Ren's not trying to be mean. He means well, he just goes about it oddly."

Y/n nodded, bending his ankles after Aoi got up. He didn't say a word to Aoi, he was too exhausted to do so. Y/n's eyes were half-lidded and his stomach grumbled.

"Get up," Aoi insisted, a hand beckoning Y/n, "Ren and I practically begged Ego to let us do this, so don't you complain."

Y/n looked up and raised a brow after a white hoodie and grey sweatpants were thrown onto his lap. White shoes and socks were then placed beside him on the bed.

"What's this for?" Y/n asked groggily.

Then, as if God Himself appeared in the doorway, Ren burst through the door. "We're going out before you work your ass off in the second selection!"

He was dressed casually and harbored a playful grin. His eyes shone brightly under the fluorescent lights of the infirmary. He looked...completely at ease.

Whenever Y/n had seen Ren, he was always at least a little tense. Perhaps it was because he was just keeping his guard up.

But his mentors were absolutely ecstatic—ebullient, even—to take him out to different places.

"It starts after this weekend, and you deserve a break," Aoi stated, his smile ever so kind.

🥀🥀🥀

While the week was now over, Y/n realized just how much he'd changed. He'd finally developed a style. But...he never really played against his teachers. He just...learned from them.

He knew nothing of their style because they tended to be so sporadic. He clearly hadn't the faintest clue that they'd basically be replacing Blue Lock man for him.

Throughout the entire week, the two worked on finding different styles of play for Y/n. They found out that beating an opponent at their own game was one of the best options, combined with trivial footwork and writhing contortions of his body was the way Y/n liked to play.

But he still went into autopilot when his feet touched the ball, and combating it was near impossible. It was like Y/n was physically unable to control himself and his psyche was overrun by something else.

His body eluded reality and he was unable to control whatever he was doing when he was in possession of the ball.

However, under moments of extreme stress, he knew exactly what he was doing but was extremely indecisive and anxious. He floundered when he dribbled, his footwork getting scrappy and shaky as he had trouble running.

But his worries were meant for another time.

🥀🥀🥀

"What's something you like?" Ren inquired as he strode through the mall's lobby. "There's restaurants all around here on the first floor and I figured having a bite to eat before we do anything more is a good idea, know?"

Aoi and Y/n nodded.

"How about here?" Y/n suggested, stopping in front of a small restaurant. He didn't know what the restaurant said.

"Can you read English?" Aoi inquired.

"No," Y/n responded with a small shake of his head.

Aoi chuckled. "You don't have to. Just know the food's good."

"Fuck you mean you wanna go to Pizza Hut??" Ren inquired with a laugh.

"Um.." Y/n pondered.

"He's messing with you," Aoi said, waving a hand dismissively.

After they each had their fill, they traveled all around the mall.

Ren and Aoi insisted they were able to support

Y/n's wants. They insisted he spends loads of their money because he won't get another chance like this if he doesn't make it through Blue Lock.

Everything from clothing to electronics, they supplied money for it all...while fans swarmed them from time to time.

Even so, life then for Y/n was a time to remember. He never knew he could have so much fun with those he considered rivals.

Albeit he still viewed them as enemies on the frontlines, he could forget about it for now.

As for the two older boys, they had forgotten about all of their sorrow and indulged themselves in the moment. This was surely a time to remember even if the end of the night was closing in.

🥀🥀🥀

"See you!" Ren shouted with a smile. "Take care in soccer prison!"

Y/n stopped in his tracks and turned slowly with a chuckle. "Mark my words, I'll beat you!"

"You wanna bet on it?" Ren responded loudly.

The brunette calmed down after a hand was placed delicately on his shoulder.

Y/n waved frantically and then turned to walk into Blue Lock to resume his journey.

Ren sighed. "But what if he isn't dead? What if he goes after Y/n next?"

Aoi's voice was soft and reassuring. "He's no longer in your life, Ren. You've nothing to worry about."

"He's gonna want Y/n, Aoi," Ren argued.

Aoi retorted calmly. "Calm down, he's gone."

"But what if he isn't?"