Ethereal ✦ Blue Lock

21|| Winging It

Chapter 21: How Louis Became the Unwitting Star of Isagi's Roast Show

Song: Warriors

The time will come, when you'll have to rise, 

Above the rest and prove yourself.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

Louis's POV:

The field was small, just 30 by 40 meters, with smaller goals to match. Our team wore white uniforms with our ranks emblazoned on them, while the opposing team was in red. 

We faced off, the tension thick between us. I wasn't sure if victory was within reach, but one thing was clear: I was here to test my limits and go head-to-head with Blue Lock's top three... which, honestly, sounds like a problem for future me.

I never thought I'd fight this hard for football. Back then, it was just a game—something I did because I was good at it. But here, everything's different. Each match feels like a test, not just of skill, but of how far I can push myself. The players here are on a whole different level, and it's making me realize that football is so much more than I ever thought.

"So... shall we start?" I asked, glancing at my teammates, trying to sound way more confident than I felt.

"Let's do this," Nagi muttered, eyes narrowed and all intense.

"Of course," Isagi replied.

As soon as the whistle blew, Isagi shot the ball my way. I charged forward, doing my best to weave through the limited space, trying not to run into any walls—or players, for that matter. The field was tiny, but there wasn't anything small about the Blue Lock giants.

Aryu's towering figure immediately closed in on me, moving with a flair that was almost mesmerizing. He extended his long leg, cutting off my path in an exaggerated yet stylish manner. "Prepare to be stopped... in style!" he said, winking like he was posing for a magazine cover. 

I used to deal with 'flashy' problems, and now it's 'stylish.' What's next? Elegance? Glamour?

I faked him out with a quick feint and managed to slip past—sort of. He threw just enough of his leg in there to mess up my dribble. Isagi darted to my left, and I passed to him just before Aryu's limb boomeranged back to block me.

"Not bad," Aryu mumbled, clearly unfazed, though I could catch a flicker of doubt in his eyes.

"Well, thanks," I replied, already sprinting alongside him toward the ball. I kept my tone cool, like it didn't faze me. "But I'm starting to think you're getting a little too comfortable out here, Stylish boy. You're not worried about me slipping past you?"

He shrugged, his long limbs cutting through the air like he was born to glide. "I don't really worry about much. The most important thing is looking stylish while doing it."

I raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Must be nice to not even break a sweat." I pushed myself a little faster, matching his pace while grinning softly and passing the ball to my teammate.

Isagi took the ball, running forward but froze when he met Tokimitsu, a wall of sheer panic. Tokimitsu's face was already on the verge of a meltdown as he lunged in a wild, desperate tackle, sending the ball loose.

"Ahh!" Tokimitsu squeaked, as if he was surprised to see his own feet moving

Nagi was right there, effortlessly intercepting Tokimitsu. He stole the ball with that signature nonchalance of his, giving Tokimitsu a deadpan stare that only seemed to make him more nervous. Without missing a beat, Nagi flipped the ball up and passed it back to me. I was wide open, so I took the shot.