NIKE -Blue Lock-

White room

Kunigami's pov

What the fuck is going on?

"NICKLAUS-"

That was all I could ask myself as I stared wide-eyed and blindly at the situation around me, with the sensation of his so seemingly gentle fingers gripping my hair violently and desperately.

"STOP! VINCIGUERRA-SAN STOP."

They were shouting at him as if they only knew he was capable of doing something, as if those red eyes that had never been crazier and darker and that at that moment could see nothing but me were really hiding something more bleak than what he was already showing everyone.

"Don't touch me, Teieri-"

You were the only one who was not shouting in the midst of all the chaos, the only one who spoke in a low, controlled tone, bleak and slow. Yet, even overpowered by all the other voices, your words were the ones that seemed loudest to me.  

"Garcia turn off the camera. Nicklaus, let go of him-"

What I wanted, the only reason I had agreed to do that interview, was happening: the whole world would see Nicklaus Vinciguerra as the monster he was.

So why...

"No. He has to tell me. Rensuke-"

...as they tug you away from me, pulling your fingers away from my hair, pulling your face away from mine, pushing your body away from me....

"Rensuke you have to-"

...why does my hand reach out toward yours, intending to take you back and separate you from those claws that take you away, as I watch your wide eyes fixed in mine, with all those truths hidden by lies and unspoken words?

I didn't know how to answer that question, and precisely because I didn't know, I didn't even know what to do when Nicklaus disappeared behind the door, evidence of his previous presence only the Italian profanities coming from the hallway.

I got up slowly from my chair, blinking and looking around. In the room, contrary to my expectations, there was nothing out of order: as if that tornado of chaos and destruction had only been in my head.

I saw Garcia arguing angrily and still shaken with the Blue Lock's manager, Anri Teieri, who with a cold, resolute look was telling her something about delivering to them the video card.

I looked at the now closed door behind which the redhead had disappeared, stiffening to see it open again. Ego Jinpachi's irritated and tired expression was the only thing I saw crossing that threshold.

His black, static eyes immediately shifted to me, and he stared at me, saying or doing nothing. I stood under his impassive yet so judgmental gaze, not understanding why the man was giving me so much attention after admitting months ago now that the only reason he had given me a second chance was because I was among the devil's favorites.

I'm also the reason you didn't end up staying in the garbage, my lovely Wild card.

I already knew this: it was Ego who had told me after surviving the project. However, not understanding why, I had also refused to accept it.

"Wild Card, go back to your dormitory and don't mention this to anyone." Ego's voice rang out, interrupting the discussion between the two women and dropping the silence.

I gritted my teeth, looking at him from under my eyebrows with my newfound irritation.

"My name is not fucking Wild Card, you psychotic zombie." I replied hoarsely, provoking no reaction from the man, who instead simply shrugged his shoulders as if nothing had happened.