Ethereal ✦ Blue Lock

16|| Are we losing? Oh, wait, No!

Chapter 16: Can We Get a Refund on That Yellow Card?

Song: Lose yourself

"Success is my only motherfuckin' option, failure's not."

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

Louis's POV:

Reo kicked off again, charging down the field with determination—until Raichi swooped in, blocking him like a guard dog with zero chill. I could tell Reo was about to pass it again.

"Not on my watch!" I yelled, snatching the ball mid-pass. "Kira, time to return the favor!"

Kira caught the ball, nodding. "I'll appreciate it!!" his eyes scanned the field, zeroing in on the defenders closing in. With a sudden burst of speed, he moved the ball forward, his frame powering through the pressure. 

The first defender lunged at him, but Kira shielded the ball with ease, using his strength to hold off the challenge. He made a quick feint to the left, sending the defender off balance.

But Zentitsu was right there, closing the space, and Kira knew he couldn't rely on brute force alone to break through. With a flick of his foot, he redirected the ball with pinpoint precision, sending it spiraling toward an open space. With a quick flick, Kira sent the ball to Kunigami.

"Don't let him get to his goal zone!" Reo yelled, practically vibrating with tension.

"Go, hero!!" I shouted. Kunigami kicked the ball from way out, sending it hurtling toward the net like it was on a mission. The goalie tried to fist it away, but the ball was a bullet, no spinning. Boom. Right into the net.

Team V - 3

Team Z - 3

Kunigami's fists went up as he shouted, "Yeah!!" and I leaped onto his shoulders, pumping my fists. "Woohoo!" others also started to run towards him.

The celebration was cut short when Chigiri gave me this dead-serious look. "Louis... are you, like, possessed or something? Or did someone swap you with a clone?"

I blinked. "W-What?"

"Kunigami's shoulders," Bachira said, squinting at me like I was an alien. "You were... actually celebrating?"

"Okay, and?" I replied, feeling defensive.

"Dude, we thought your motto was 'energy conservation,'" Kunigami chimed. "Like, your life goal was to let others do all the running."

I scoffed. "You guys are acting like I'm some kind of statue! Just because I don't go all-out doesn't mean I'm incapable of moving!"

"Just checking. You know, in case the real Louis is in some sleep pod somewhere," Kira said, circling around me like a detective. "I half-expected you to just lie down and give us a little thumbs-up from the grass instead."

"Maybe he's an impostor," Isagi said, circling around me from other circle like I was under investigation, teaming up with Kira "Louis, if that's even your real name, where's the real you?"

"Shut up, all of you!" I threw my hands up. "The one time I actually give it my all and started having fun, and this is how you all react? And you call yourselves my friends?!" I turned away, but they just stood there, staring at me with blank expressions. 

With a sigh, I shrugged. "Fine, I'll turn on 'conserve energy.' mode, Happy?"

"Thank god," they sighed collectively as I dialed down the energy, going back into lazy mode.