Ascension│Bluelock x male reader

2.5. Walkout

Aryu brushed his long hair over his shoulder, maintaining his perfectly glam posture. This was the big game. He was going to be akin to a shining star, showing his brilliant glam soccer with the world. Nothing would take this moment from him.

His eyes slowly ran over both teams as they lined up side by side in the tunnel. For the past weeks, they'd been training as a full team of eleven. He was playing in the back, as a defender, and while it wasn't his preferred position, Aryu didn't mind.

Because no matter where he played, he would play with style, and outshine everyone as the most glam person on the field. There was no doubt in his mind of that.

Both teams were already exchanging banter. Up in front of him, he spotted Isagi, smirking at the captain of the U-20 team. Rin, one of the more glam people in Bluelock, was staring dully at the bright light coming from the end of the tunnel. Bachira was laughing at a man with the name Sendou on the back of his shirt.

Beyond the players... the noise of the crowd was tremendous. Aryu couldn't see anything from where he was standing at the back of the line, but he could hear them. A constant roaring, loud enough to be heard through the concrete roof above them, and echoing down the tunnel. It was terrifying, and exhilarating at the same time.

The entirety of Tokyo was out, it seemed.

Above their heads, a light flashed green, and that was their que. The two lines of players began to slowly move forwards, Aryu taking a deep breath as the first pair of players disappeared into the bright light.

Then a second pair, and a third pair. The cheering rose significantly, each player entering the field drawing a fresh wave of cheers. Announcers sprang to life, their rapid-fire, excited talking ringing out from huge speakers. Aryu smiled to himself. A big crowd meant more people to see his glam soccer.

"The players are walking out onto the field as I speak, let's give them a warm welcome, shall we?" The crowd's cheer rose even higher, noise blasting Aryu from the end of the tunnel.

"This game is bound to be an amazing one. Sae Itoshi has returned to Japan, and I'm looking forward to seeing just how good he looks in the domestic leagues!"

"That's right, Tereasa! Sae Itoshi has been an absolute demon in Spain, on La Real. And combined with this U-20 team, his midfielding is going to be an absolute treat to watch! Everyone on this team is at their peak right now."

"Oh, here come the two main stars! Aiku, captain of the U-20 team, alongside the rest of his 'Iron Wall Quartet'! They're incredible defenders, every single one of them! And Sae Itoshi... the genius himself!"

The crowd impossibly grew louder, but this time, Aryu could hear a chant with it.

"Sae!"

"Sae!"

"Sae!"

"And their opponents, the Bluelock project! Headed by Ego Jinpachi of the JFU, they're a project that is trying to make the best strikers in the world! Only recently has the project been made public information, so to any folks in the audience that don't know what they are, they're a team of U-20 forwards that are trying to usurp the current team!"

"This is a game to represent Japan in the U-20 World Cup, Natsuki! Bluelock, or the U-20 team, it's bound to be a hell of a game!"

Then it was Aryu's turn to walk out.

He emerged into the field, blinking in the bright light, heart quickening at the roar of the crowd. The entire place was packed. Hundreds- thousands- no, tens of thousands of fans filled the arena, waving flags, yelling, waving, calling names and singing praises. For the few hundred metres around, the air was charged with energy.