ISAGI HAREM

CH3 LSS: Even If All Else Goes Wrong, We'll be Alright

Oliver Aiku and Nikko Ikki hear it when a sudden punishment turns into an unexpected gift.

It starts with a feast, and pretty much ends in disaster.

Ego announces the night before that he's rewarding them because of their hard work, by throwing a fairly extravagant feast for the Blue Lock players and their international teams. No one actually believes that the bespectacled man would willingly pay for it, considering the only time he genuinely wants to spend on them is when it involves improving their skills and heightening their suffering.

It's been about a week since their last actual break, and their days are filled with non-stop matches and evaluations from the higher ups. The grueling days leading up to Ego finalizing the roster for the U-20 has everyone clawing their way to climbing up the ranks and proving their worth.

At this point, Aiku is sure no one's keeping track of how many more of these matches they're expected to play, or how many more weeks it'll take before the final decision rolls around. Members of Blue Lock aren't oblivious that additional matches are suddenly getting scheduled - separate from the original lineup - probably from the involvement of the Japanese Football Association, and their addiction to raking in more dough. He's pretty sure these matches happen for the sole purpose of streaming it to an audience, not that anyone is complaining. More matches mean more chances to show off to the recruiters, and no one's dumb enough to say no to that.

Which is why, when Ego mentions the reward (which Anri eventually lets slip is actually sponsored by a generous fan who's loyal to BLK TV) , all the players in the facility - including the masters for each international team - gets invited to participate. Ego wasn't one to waste an opportunity after all, so when a sponsor offers, he's sure as hell going to make the most of it.

And that's how they all end up here in the food hall, the largest one in the facility, gathering together like a bunch of juvenile school kids. The noise and chatter in the hall is actually a welcome distraction comparing itself to the stress they've been having with training and games.

Aiku sits himself down next to Karasu and some members of Ubers and even his former U-20 teammates, and observes how even Blue Lock participants seem to cluster themselves among their own cliques. Members of each international club are found sitting together, while members from Blue Lock are sitting with their own set of friends. There are some who did find themselves with mixed company, but Aiku can only see a few of those. Most notably, the most intriguing crowd he keeps looking at seems to only have one common factor pulling them in.

The presence of Isagi Yoichi.

Blue Lock's number 11 is currently being swallowed by a plethora of personalities all in one table. Aiku recognizes almost everyone in that table because of their involvement in the previous U-20 match up, but there are also faces he has yet to put a name to. He identifies them one by one; from Barou, that sleepy genius, the rich kid, the roommates and even the long haired princess - Aiku really should start remembering names better. The biggest shock though, is the presence of Shidou of all people, among that cluster.

"If you stare any harder, you'll drill holes at the back of their heads in no time." Karasu tells him.

Aiku laughs. "You gotta admit, I never thought Shidou would be tame enough to interact with anyone. Looks like Isagi can tame that monster too."

"Isagi could probably do whatever the hell he puts his mind to, and then some." Karasu says, and he places his face in his hand in contemplation. "It's a shame he doesn't seem to see the amount of influence he has. He can probably use it to his advantage."

Aiku blinks at this. "I've seen him on the field. That one definitely knows how to get people to do what he wants. It's almost as if he's in complete control of everyone."