مدیر همه کاره

CH 36

Let's take a break from all this football tension.

A few minutes passed. Just enough time for Yoshiro to take a few deep breaths and rein in the storm inside his head.

He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, trying to clear the panic that had clung to him like static. Breathe in. Breathe out. You've been through worse.

Suddenly, a shadow fell over him.

Ego stood beside him, arms crossed, his sharp eyes gleaming behind those ever-glinting glasses. "You alright?"

Yoshiro looked up, forcing a small nod. "Yeah. I'm good."

Ego stared at him a second too long, not buying it. Then he clicked his tongue. "If you walk into the locker room with that face, I'll smack you myself."

A bead of sweat rolled down Yoshiro's temple. Damn, he caught that.

He let out a slow breath, pushing the weight off his shoulders, emptying his head. One by one, he shoved the spiraling thoughts back into their boxes and locked them tight.

His face slowly settled into that familiar mask of calm indifference.

"...How about now?" he asked, voice cool again.

Ego gave him a once-over, then smirked. "Close enough."

You, Ego, and Anri started walking down the hall toward the players' locker room. The thudding of cleats, the muffled yelling, and the clatter of water bottles being tossed around echoed from behind the door-even from here, you could tell emotions were running wild.

"Damn," you muttered, hands shoved in your pockets. "You can already hear the chaos."

Anri glanced your way, frowning slightly. "That second goal caught everyone off guard. I mean, I didn't think U-20 had it in them."

"They didn't," Ego replied flatly, his tone cold and sharp. "Not until now."

You glanced over, arching a brow. "You mean their momentum flipped mid-game?"

"Exactly," Ego said. "That wasn't part of their original strategy. Sometime during the first half, they switched it up. Aggressive press, fast rotations... someone on their side adapted, fast."

Anri sighed, arms crossed. "I thought we'd go into halftime with a lead. That goal from Sae..." she trailed off, eyes narrowing. "It felt personal."

You didn't say anything right away, but your fists clenched slightly at your sides. It wasn't supposed to happen. Not like this.

Ego glanced at you again. "Stay sharp. They changed the game once. They'll try it again."

You nodded silently, eyes locked on the locker room door as the noise inside surged.

Then we'll change it right back.

You step into the Blue Lock locker room alongside Ego and Anri, and the moment the door opens, a wave of noise hits you. Everyone's still caught in the adrenaline of the first half-shouting, laughing, fist-bumping, hyped beyond belief.

Ego stops just inside the door, adjusts his tie, and with that signature razor-sharp tone of his, says,
"Calm down, you unpolished diamonds."

The room slowly starts to settle. A few players look over, wiping sweat off their brows, still panting.

Anri steps forward, softer in tone. "Ego-san wants to go over the first half... and discuss your tactics for the second."

Ego takes a step forward, glasses gleaming.
"Let's talk about what just happened. You scored. You pushed them back. You forced U-20 into a corner. That was the power of flow... and ego."