Go Wild, My Little Demon

chapter 1

Itoshi Sae was not easy to impress. In fact, if he was to really think about it, if he was to consider it hard and long enough, it was entirely plausible that he'd never felt impressed before in his life. Especially not when it came to football.

No, there wasn't a person alive who'd challenged him enough to warrant even a sliver of his admiration, a sliver of his surprise, his respect. Dare he mention any feelings parallel to wonderment.

Football was a sport played by many. Millions of players existed all across the globe, only a select few of them reaching high enough levels to play professionally. There were geniuses in every country; stars born and bred to perfection, performers who played their roles exquisitely like actors on a theatre stage. They were worthy of Oscars, praise, standing ovations. Fans cried for them, cheered for them, and dedicated their lives to them.

Were they talented? Yes. In a sense. Some more than others, Sae had concluded.

But in his eyes, there was always something missing. A key element that would make or break them. Because no matter how many times they scored, how many times they led to their teams to victory, how many followers they racked up or how many magazine covers they landed, they were never truly remarkable. They were never truly different. Unique. Special. Outstanding.

No. Even the world's finest football stars had failed to earn his regard. He'd never really had a hero, a player he worshipped or strived to be just like. Even if he had, perhaps as a small child, he couldn't even remember who it was. That was how insignificant these so-called "stars" were to him. That was how indifferent he felt.

But wait.

There was something different here. Deep in his chest, deep in his gut. He felt it even in his toes, beneath the expensive football boots he'd been forced to wear by his irritating Adidas sponsorship when he didn't even wear Adidas.

Sae had never felt impressed. He'd never felt surprised, or shocked. Not like this. Not like he was now.

But as he watched Shidou Ryuusei's feet leave the perfectly manicured grass of the football field they played upon, as he watched his right leg extend toward the sky, boot connecting with the ball at an impossible height, he felt himself still. Felt himself pause, even for a brief moment, to take in the sight unfolding before him.

A bicycle kick. Straight into the net.

With the force of a formula one engine, Shidou scored his second goal mere minutes after his first. Sae felt it in his bones. Everyone else did, too, judging by the sheer awe in their eyes, the mixed faces of defeat and victory. The crowd was losing their minds now, and perhaps rightfully so. Perhaps it was well-earned. Perhaps Shidou's extraordinary feat was worthy of such powerful recognition.

Sae never thought he would consider such a thing.

Blinking, he snapped himself out of his momentary daze. His eyes had been wider than he'd realised. He hadn't meant to let any expression other than sheer boredom show on his face. He'd slipped up, hopefully not long enough for anyone to notice, not long enough for the cameras to pan to him and his celebrating teammates. But even still.

The demon... he had surpassed Sae's expectations. Was that even possible? Had anyone managed that before? Certainly not, if he recalled correctly. He hadn't felt an energy like this in a long time. Perhaps he never had at all, if he was being totally honest with himself. But Sae didn't have time to think about such trivial matters. Not when his prized demon was now running toward him - something he noticed in his peripheral vision a second too late - and proceeded to throw his entire body weight over his shoulders like a ragdoll.

"I did it, Sae!" Shidou cheered into his ear, practically deafening him in the process. "I wanna play football with you forever! With you, I feel a sensation I've never felt before!"