Ascension│Bluelock x male reader

3.29. Square One

Y/N sighed to himself, waiting on the pitch for the eighth game of the Neo Egoist League to start.

He couldn't get his head clear. There was so much, so many different things happening at the same time. Kuroi taking over L/N Tech. Eiji dying. Himself, getting scared of a goddamn soccer ball. The fact that Kuroi was out to fucking dissect him - and thanks to the BLTV live stream, knew exactly where he currently was.

And through all that, he had to maintain his composure. He didn't want to let anyone know what'd happened. He didn't want to see their faces. Would they be disappointed? Disgusted? Angered? Y/N didn't want to know.

He was back to square one.

Alone.

Damaged.

Untrusting.

Only this time, he'd chosen it for himself. He'd stopped talking to everyone, he'd chosen to show this blank facade that was nothing like how he truly felt inside.

Why?

He didn't really know.

"Welcome to the Neo Egoist League, Match Eight!" The casters' yelled. Y/N forced his face into a blank slate. "We've got a special one for you guys today! Manshine City against Ubers!"

Both teams spread out across the pitch. Ubers took one side, breaking off from their huddle with confident grins all around. On the other side, Manshine City seemed to be feeling the pressure. Reo and Nagi shared a serious look with each other, and Agi scowled.

On the latter team, only Chigiri looked to be relaxed. He had an easy, sweet smile on his face, pink hair tied back behind his head. Relaxed shoulders... arms swinging about to warm up... it took a huge effort for Y/N to tear his eyes off the boy.

"I'm stoked for this game, honestly! Both these teams are pretty evenly matched! I'm pretty sure that a game between these two would come down to the wire!"

"But we have to remember, our beloved prodigy Y/N L/N is in play! He was absent the first half of the NEL, but he's come into the second swinging!"

"Yeah, absolutely! He showed us one of the most stunning hat-tricks we've seen, and has likely skyrocketed up the auction rankings because of it! They will be revealed as soon as this game ends!"

"Now... are you guys ready...!"

The match started.

Ubers began with the ball. Y/N watched with emotionless eyes, as they slowly, methodically moved up the field. They were feeling out their opponents, trying to understand Manshine's game plan before they made any moves.

Y/N had been angry at them before. Now, he just... felt nothing.

Though, something was off about the Ubers' players. They looked oddly slow, sluggish to respond to each others' passes. The cocky confidence they'd displayed just minutes before was replaced by yells and annoyed groans as passes went wide and players struggled to organise each other.

Y/N wanted to frown. He didn't. The game in front of him was a welcome break from everything clouding his head. Something to get himself immersed in. What are they doing...?

He spotted Niko, face scrunching up with annoyance as Aiku missed a pass. The boy barely received it, and was immediately passing it on with no thought. He sent it towards one of the midfielders, even though the man was right next to two Manshine players.

That can't be right. What are they up to...? Niko doesn't get mad like that. Y/N sighed quietly. It's fake.

Fake as it was, it certainly looked real. The Manshine players certainly bought it, cheering up a little as they organised themselves. Y/N caught one of them yelling. "They're messed up! Just press them, they can't coordinate properly!"