Chapter 5: Building frustration

It seemed Isagi's goal made the team a little more compact and willing to work together.

Although I was grateful we stopped barking like dogs, but in the end 'It doesn't help me show my worth'.

The way the field was currently moving I was sure Isagi would earn more value then I would, and that was the last thing I wanted. But even then I couldn't think of any ways to take the spotlight for myself.

'I have good speed and I can dribble a bit, but even while using both of my skills to their limits I cant even score.' I thought whilst wiping sweat off my forehead. It was frustrating knowing i was better but couldn't show it to ego or Isagi.

'Tsk, since Isagi can score while being weaker than me ill just keep an eye on him, until I can take whatever he has for myself.' And with that kickoff began.

The other team instantly began by passing to Barou, he wasn't my check so I watched from a distance.

His check being Isagi he simply used his physique and speed to pass him to the next in line of defence: Kunigami.

Barou had tried to do a similar movement to what he had done to Isagi but with Kunigami's physique he wouldn't win in such a straightforward battle.

Kunigami managed to stop whatever play he attempted to make forcing him to a standstill, "hah, who thought the meat head could defend?" Barou spoke with arrogance laced into his tone, quickly passing to the left and making a run to- 'oh shit he passed to my man'. Taking my focus off Barou I gathered it onto my check.

The player was a tall grey haired individual with a number 3 on his shirt, making a quick assumption on what he could do I began to press him.

He tried to sprint past me, not something possible. Understanding that, he quickly pulled the ball back under his foot then lazily glanced up to see the field. 'This is my chance' Quickly jumping in to steal the ball I thought the break was on. But at the last second he pulled the ball back even further leaving me in a splitted position.

"bleghhh, fell for it!" he mocked while sticking his tongue out. I did my best to get up as fast as possible but before I knew what was happening it the ball was long gone, taking a look around I finally understood what was happening.

Barou had the ball, and he was outside the box. It was all too quick, and before I could even think further the ball was being shot at straight angle into the top right corner. Barou had scored again, making the score 2-1.

"YEAHHHHH LETS GOOO BAR---"

I stood there in silence not understanding how things could've happened so quickly, I understand he had got past me but was that all it really took for them to take advantage of the field?

'Dammit, they scored because of... me?' it was a hard pill to swallow and it didn't help that I could hear a shouting voice getting louder and louder.

"OI SHITTY WHAT WAS THAT HAH???? ARE YOU A FUCKIN GYMNAST WHY ARE YOU ON THE FLOOR? JUST GUARD THE GUY" Raichi said while turning me around to look at him, it looked like actual fumes where coming out his ears, going into grab the scruff of my collar I slapped his arm away with force.

"I know, you of all people don't need to fuckin tell me. There wont be a next time." i said walking away not wanting to use my energy on this.

"YEAH YOU BETTER, OTHERWISE YOU WONT HAVE LEGS TO DEFEND WITH" giving his final statement he also walked away back to his position.

"Phewwww", I need to think harder just relying on my instinct and skill will only get me so fa-'

My inner monologue was disrupted by a tap on my left shoulder, looking to my left I saw nobody so I looked to my right, seeing nobody there I quickly turned around but to my surprise again nobody was there, aware I was being played I was about to call out whoever this joker was but feeling a singular tap on my back once more I jumped around to see the same number 3 with grey hair running backwards with his tongue out and his hands waving on his ears, mocking me.

"Hahahahahaaaaa, yknow what, fuck a plan I think ill just kill him," Done with thinking I walked into position with not only motivation but rage boiling in my veins.

The kickoff then soon again began with isagi passing the ball to Bachira who did a step over feint and quickly beat his opponent, with some freedom to move TBC

'Good, he's behind me, I'll have space to dribble up.' taking the ball past the midfield I was contemplating my options to score but before I could think further I heard a sound to my right.

"What did I say Shrimp? STAY OFF MY PATH," he said attempting to put his arm in front of me and taking the ball for himself.

'Damn, Barou... He's faster than me.' but before he could put his arm in front of me I quickly ducked whilst pulling the ball back with the sole of my foot. And before he could turn around to defend me I dragged the ball to my right and turned the jets on leaving him in the past.

"Some king you are to be left in my trail!" There it was… that feeling again. The feeling of knowing I could score!

'I could see It, the path to score. There were 3 defenders but Isagi was pulling one to himself. So I just have to beat two to score right?'

"Then I'll Do It!!" One defender pushed me, and just when he was a few feet in front of me I came to a complete still. And just as his feet were firmly planted I once again went to my max speed, leaving him to fall on his back as he tried to turn around and catch me.

At this point, I was already a few meters outside the box but the defender seemed calm. Seemingly waiting for whatever move i made.

'Hmm he won't come closer, and I won't be able to give a powerful enough shot from this range... Dammit' not thinking any longer I ran towards the box where he finally came towards me.

'His body isn't fully facing me... He's smarter than his teammate, this way he can react to any bursts of speed I use.' I only had a few seconds before the defender behind me caught up. 'I could pass to Is- NO... i-I DON'T WANT TO PASS!'

'I have to do something!!'

"Fuck it ill just try this" putting the ball behind my heel I attempted a rainbow flick!

But it failed, with the ball going into the air but not over my nor the defender's head.

With my brain seemingly on autopilot, I turned my back to the defender and did a bicycle kick. pinging it right into the center of the goal... where the goalie was who simply caught the ball.

"You were better off passing shrimp, If you can't even score in front of the goal you're nothing as a striker." I heard a deep monotone voice behind me, but I couldn't care right now.

'I did everything right... why didn't I score? DAMMIT' Turning around I looked at Barou who had turned his back already walking away.

"YOU KNOW NOTHING... JUST WAIT, I'LL CRUSH YOU AND EVERYONE ON THIS DAMN TEAM." He stopped for a second before continuing to walk.

Out of nowhere, an arm grabbed my shoulder attempting to pull me off the ground.

"Hey Ashi, that was a nice play man. But I was open you should've pas-"

"SHUTUP" Slapping his arm off me I got up myself.

'Isagi again, with his kind words... and his bullshit about passing... I WAS SICK OF IT!'

"Stop acting like we're friends, this is BLUE LOCK, I'll CRUSH you and become the world's best striker!" I growled at him unaware of the look on my face right now.

"...You've changed Watarazu... if that's what you wish... Then I'll DEVOUR you and leave no chances for you to grab!" he responded while retracting his arm, and jogging back to our half.

"..."

'ISAGI… ILL CRUSH HIM FIRST!'

We still had 12 minutes in the half, I wouldn't allow them to win!

'I have to focus.' It seemed in the time I spent talking to Isagi they had already passed the ball to the midfield.

Sprinting back to my position, I noticed Barou had the ball again. 'They don't seem to have any other talents on the team besides Barou, Pity.'

'Our team was already wary of Barou having at least 2 people in close enough distance if he ever passed Kunigami.'

Just as I was thinking that he passed the ball through Kunigamis legs and sprinted past him. I quickly left my spot and pulled back to guard him. But it seemed Igarashi and Kuon both had similar ideas leaving quite a few openings.

"Idiots!" I grumbled seeing Barou pass over our heads to some white-haired trash who did a la-croqueta quickly passing Naruhaya and banging the ball into the back of the net.

"Seriously?" That was my check...

"HEY SITASHITTY, WHAT'RE YOU DOING THAT'S YOUR MAN!" Screamed Raichi.

Usually, I would've fired back but it was my man and my fault, making me keep my mouth shut.

"It's fine, lets's not all rush Barou if he breaks through next time, okay?" Said Kuon with his hands up trying to cool down the rising heat.

"...Okay." I agreed, not having enough energy to argue with my own team right now. We still had about 6 minutes before the half ended. Lemon passed the ball to Bachira who set it ready to begin kickoff.

'I've been sprinting a lot this half I'll just observe Isagi for the remaining time.'

The kickoff began with Isagi passing to bachira who wasted no time running up the field. With no hesitation, he did a perfect rainbow over his check and continued running up the field.

'Damn, he's really good. Hmmm, Isagis running to the left side? Why?' Bachiras rush was quickly shut down as 2 players came to guard him.

Or so I thought. He ran closer to the line and when a player was right on him he turned his back on him before kicking it with the back of his heel between his legs.

Just as he was about to run around to get the ball the second player kicked it out of the field allowing a throw-in.

[Throw in for Team Z]

Kunigami quickly came to take the throw-in, throwing it further up the right side of the field where Bachira was. Instead of dribbling, he crossed it into the box where Gagamaru managed to hit a killer header right into the back of the net. The goalie being too weak to even react.

"YAHHHHHH-" They began celebrating but I quickly tuned it out.

'I see now... He's always in the most likely places for the ball to land. Allowing him to score.'

'Is that really it? No, that can't be all of it. He wouldn't be our ace striker if all he did was chill in the box waiting for passes. Right?'

*FWEEEEEEEE*

With that, the half ended, and all of us headed back to our rooms for the 15-minute halftime.

Grabbing a water bottle and a towel I sat down and began to analyze what I knew of Isagis plays.

'Back in high school he would always somehow be in the best position for my passes, but is that it? To observe the field and search for the most likely place to score a goal?' It didn't sound right, it sounded too easy.

To simply analyze the field and wait for a weak spot to occur and take advantage of it.

But the more I thought about it, it was exactly what he did along with his signature no-touch shot that was how he'd always score.

'I understood how good his no-touch shot was so I always gave him passes where he could abuse it. But he'd always be in the perfect spot to abuse them as well.'

"Hahaha, Isagi if that's all you've got, then in this half I'll crush you and take your skills for myself" I laughed heartily to myself feeling heat rush into my brain.

The second half would be different. I Swear it!