A Monster's Playground || Blue Lock x Reader

(Pt. 6) Game On

A whistle sounded, signaling the beginning of the game.

Naruhaya dashed forward, and I mirrored his movements, making sure he wouldn't be close enough to the net to shoot. We ran side by side for a bit, his jerky movements attempting to throw me off.

"You got this (y/n)!" Isagi called out.

Naruhaya was getting impatient. I could tell. He pulled the ball backwards with him, and winded his leg, shooting to score.

'Can he make it from all the way back there?'

All I could do was hold my breath and watch as the ball shot past my face and towards the goal.

*Thunk*

I took a deep breath out and attempted to relax my tense body. He missed, and the ball went out the field.

"Damnit." Naruhaya grinned his teeth.

"Better luck next time." I said to get under his skin.

"Whatever."

The ball was now mine. I focused on my footwork, doing the same motions I had done just the night before, and it was enough to break through. I sprinted as fast as I could towards the other side of the field, Naruhaya close behind, but not close enough to steal the ball away from me. I was practically face to face with the goal line, ensuring there was no possible way I could miss. Winding my leg, I undoubtedly scored the first goal.

"Let's go." I lightly pumped my fist. A sound effect played, and the screen breifly changed to show the score 1-0 before turning back to Ego.

"Strike!" The people on my side cheered as if it were a wii bowling game, posing to make fun of the other side—everyone but Bachira.

I wasn't too excited. It was too early to celebrate yet. One more to go, and it was Naruhaya's ball again.

I stayed closer to the net this time. On the whistle blow, the game resumed. He ran forward, and so did I. By the time I reacted, he was already winding his foot back.

"I won't miss this time." He said before shooting.

'Surely if it didn't work before it wouldn't-'

The net lightly recoiled, the ball rolling back in my direction. The sound effect played, the screen once again transitioned to show the score now 1-1.

"Shit." I mumbled under my breath.

Is this really the end? My soccer career over all because of a stupid bet? Because I wanted to be stubborn? Because I let someone get the best of me? If I lose this point, I'll have to leave Bachira, Isagi, and Rensuke. I'll have to leave before I get to see the monster inside of Chigiri, or whoever this 'King Barou' really is.

I looked over at everyone who was on my side, carefully watching. I could see the worry on their faces too. I looked up at Ego. His face gave away nothing. His messages rung in my ears again. "Rewrite everything you know about soccer." There were no rules that we places on this game. I'm going all out for this point. It's my ball. Simple.

The whistle blew, the last time it would to signal the start of a match. Winner takes all. I dashed towards the goal, Naruhaya blocked me in every way he possibly could, resulting in an everlasting stalemate on the field.

"That first break was just luck." Naruhaya said.

"I'll do it again. Call it luck after that." I came back.

"I don't think so." He stopped the ball from underneath me then kicked it between my legs, quickly shifting to the left, and grabbing it from behind me. He ran towards the goal, getting closer than his last two goals to make sure he scored the winning point.

"Oh no you don't!" I sprinted as fast as I could in his direction, the time it took him to position and wind up his leg gave me enough time to slide the ball, sending it rolling to the other side of the field where it went out. My other leg folded underneath me, creating slight discomfort, but the game was still on. Naruhaya's ball.

"Come on Naruhaya!" Raichi called out again.

"I got it, jeez. Just be quiet over there." Naruhaya shouted back. Play resumed.

My body started moving on its own. These movements weren't mine alone, but instead the culmination of everything and everyone I had played with so far. I entered a state of zen where I was completely relaxed, but still the fire within me burning bright. Something within me gave me an overwhelming sense of confidence, like I could beat any team, score any goal. This next point was already mine. I could feel it.

Me and Naruhaya were at a middle ground standstill once again, but everything felt different.

"You're getting sloppy Naruhaya. You must be getting tired." I teased.

"Shut up."

"If you don't do anything, you'll be on your knees in a second." I pressed further, a devilish grin on my face.

"I said shut up already!" He lashed, trying to go for one of my legs to get himself an advantage. Great, his focus is elsewhere.

My movements became swift, sharp, and exotic, similar to Bachira's play style. I crouched down to the ground, then swept the ball from underneath him, kicking the ball upwards, and head-butting it so that it went to my side of the field, then faking out to the right to get Naruhaya's center of gravity off balance, only to run to the left, taking the ball for myself, then shooting at a distance I felt comfortable with. My heart raced, until I realized I wasn't even breathing. I closed my eyes after I shot, not wanting to see the results

The sound effect played again, and the net curled in. The screen transitioned to show the score: 2-1

"LETS GOOO!" I finally cried out, releasing all the excitement within me. Naruhaya fell to his knees after seeing te score, Raichi motioning to meet him.

"N-no way. I just lost to a girl."

"She's not just any girl." Raichi mumbled under his breath, holding out a hand to Naruhaya, the both of them shaking on it before Raichi walked towards the towel stand.

"Well there you have it. Your rankings will be updated shortly." Ego said. "If you're done arguing like a bunch of hooligans, then get ready for the first selection."

The screen cut out, as Isagi, Bachira, and Rensuke ran up to me. Rensuke held up his hand again, and I gave him a high five, just as I did when my ranking became higher than Igarashi's.

"We really need an actual handshake." I smiled.

Bachira hopped on my back and pinched at my cheeks. "What was that at the end there (y/n)? You started to have a little too much fun there huh? Play with me like that next time!"

"Sure, if I can figure out how I even did that." My words came out muffled, my cheeks now getting sore from Bachira's pinching.

"What did you say to Naruhaya at the end there? He looked like he completely forgot how to play soccer for a sec there." Isagi asked.

"It's a secret." I teased, holding a finger over my mouth.

I made my way to where Naruhaya had stood on his knees with his head held low. He looked up at me. "I'm-" He choked. "I'm sorry...for saying all of those things about you. I was wrong."

Everyone else had stopped their chatter and listened silently to the interaction.

I hesitated at first. On the inside I was smiling, a bundle of joy. I had been waiting for so long and worked so hard for this very moment, for proper acknowledgment. I had pictured myself laughing at the look on his face, but Naruhaya was already utterly defeated. His ego had been punctured by my victory.

"Aw get up already." I pouted, crossing my arms. "We're still a team or whatever. I don't need you hating me when we still have to work together for this first selection."

He slowly stood to his feet. "Right."

I held out my hand, and we shook on it. The numbers on our uniforms quickly shifted, adjusting to account for the results of the match. Thanks to that victory, I was now ranked 273/276.

_____