Maybe it was a bad idea to choose natto.
He pokes his food with his chopsticks and hears a revolting crunch. The gooey substance makes him reconsider his choices. He places his main dish aside and picks up the bowl of rice.
The canteen is half full. Players like Niko who entered and exited the bathrooms first, are already sitting all over the cafeteria. Others, who just finished, are slowly occupying the remaining seats.
After the third selection, training became just as tiresome as ever. It has been difficult to move the players who would normally be forwards to other positions.
Preparations for the game against the current U20 team are in full swing. He doesn't really know how to feel about him taking a backseat and becoming a defender but as long as he's playing, he's happy.
During the second selection, he played either in midfield or in defense. It wasn't necessary; more like it would have been stupid for him to be a striker, considering he had players like Zantetsu, who was one of the top scorers in his statrum, on his team. After he got stolen away though, Niko made sure to opt for players that could fill in the gaps the striker's removal brought with it.
Now that all Blue Lockers are gathered at one stage and everyone has the same schedule, the training was longer and more intense. But Niko shouldn't complain; he came here to play football after all.
"Ah, Niko!"
Looking up, eyes darting towards slender fingers clutching the edges of a tray. He can't see most of the person's silhouette but the silvery voice and dark locks shaped like a V in between indigo eyes reveal who it is.
"Isagi-kun...," he mumbles, his face stuffed with rice and his cheeks puffed up.
The blue-eyed striker chuckles softly. "Mind if I sit here?". He gestures towards the empty chair next to Niko with the corner of the tray. Although he could have pointed at the six other chairs around Niko that aren't being used.
Teal eyes scan the cafeteria, searching for the blond and red-haired duo Isagi usually hangs out with.
"Oh no!" Isagi exclaims with a sheepish smile on his face. "Don't worry, they know." He shakes his head. "I wanted to sit with you today."
Niko swallows his food. He isn't so sure if he wants to eat and chit-chat with his rival. He'd rather prefer eating alone but although Isagi is his nemesis he still considers him to be a competent and friendly one (at least off-field).
He hesitantly shakes his head, thus receiving a wide smile from the striker who sets his food on the table and pulls out a chair to sit down.
Yoichi is considerate enough not to enter Ikki's personal space. The distance between them is acceptable, not too small for them to be considered close friends but not big enough for oblivious passers to assume their strangers.
"Thanks for the food," Isagi mutters before digging in. He stuffs his face full of fried vegetables and instantly swallows it. It doesn't look like he is properly chewing his food.
"You must've been starving."
"I could eat a whole horse right now." He eyes Ikki's food. "Aren't you gonna eat?"
"I'm not that hungry." He places his chopsticks on one of the small bowls.
Yoichi breathes out a laugh. "I wouldn't be that hungry too, after having to eat that for the entire first selection."
"I usally like natto. But the way it's been made here..." He scrunches up his nose.
"Oh, I totally get what you're saying. Food at home just hits different." He puts the rim of a cup of water to his lips.
