NIKE -Blue Lock-

Hope/Desperation

LONG CHAPTER ALERT

The labored breaths served as a perfect backdrop to the sound of the fist striking his face.

"IT'S THE FOURTH GOAL YOU'VE SCORED ALONE-" the blonde boy, who had raised his hands first, lunged at the redhead, pinning him beneath his body.

"LET ME PLAY, YOU SELFISH BASTARD!" he violently grabbed his opponent's neck, forcing his head down to the ground, as he prepared to land a second punch to his face.

Nicklaus deftly reversed their positions, positioning himself on top of him and ensuring that Kaiser's legs were pinned down by his shin, while his hands firmly gripped the German's wrists.

The bloodshot blue eyes ravenously locked onto the person straddling him.

Curses, slurs, and insults in German spilled out like a torrent of water.

Nicklaus didn't respond.
He was slightly sweaty.
His hair was more disheveled than usual, with a few strands falling over his gaze, making the red in his eyes appear darker and more menacing.

He tightened his grip on the German's wrists slightly, lowering himself just enough so that his face hovered mere millimeters above the other's.

With the German's eyes fixed on him, Nicklaus disturbingly licked the blood from the corner of his own lips, the act more erotic than it had any right to be. His intense gaze remained locked on the blonde as the metallic taste spread across his tongue.

Kaiser could swear that all the cameras had turned toward them, eager to capture that scene from every possible angle.

He breathed heavily.
His pupils were dilated, the black within them brimming with adrenaline and rage. A few strands of blonde hair clung to his sweaty skin, and his cheeks were flushed from the exertion after multiple attempts to take control of the ball.

And it had only been 20 minutes into the game.

"Nicklaus, Michael—" the coach's powerful yet calm voice echoed through the air, followed by the sound of his approaching footsteps.

The two young athletes continued to stare at each other, Nicklaus above with a bored expression, and Michael below seething with anger.

Noel's shoes stopped next to the German's head lying on the ground, entering the Italian's line of sight.

"Are you done?" Noa asked, his tone imposing and stern despite the quiet and impassive quality of his voice.

The two lifted their eyes to the man towering over them. His citrine-colored irises first met the blue ones, staring directly up at him, then shifted to the red ones, which were observing him coldly from beneath long, dark lashes.

Feeling unnerved by the scene, Raichi signaled to Isagi and Gagamaru to hold the narcissistic blonde in place while he took care of pulling Nicole away from Noel's stern gaze.

The defender approached slowly from behind.

"Come on, pizza boy..." he murmured, fully aware that they were surrounded by microphones. He reached out and grabbed her bicep, his grip gentle enough not to cause her any discomfort.

Her red irises met his amber ones as she glanced over her shoulder at him.

"Stop acting so gay and get off his lap." Raichi said, his tone devoid of any real command but still tinged with annoyance.

While she offered no resistance as Raichi helped her up, Isagi and Gagamaru had to grip Kaiser's arms tightly to lift him.

Raichi let go of Nicole's bicep, casting a quick, attentive glance to see if she was hurt or upset. But her face revealed nothing, and her lifeless eyes showed that what was happening didn't faze her in the slightest.