[13] Rejected

Looking at the expressions of both Aiku and Haruto, Izumo could see that they weren't surprised by his decision at all.

In fact, they merely chuckled and shrugged their shoulders as if they had already expected his answer.

"Was it my face?"

Izumo asked, wondering if he had somehow shown his thoughts on his complexion.

"Part of it"

"..."

"Though, it's mostly cause we happened to know what kind of personality you have"

Aiku answered and smirked, clarifying the reason for their reaction.

After all, just like how Izumo figured out Aiku had a purpose for coming here due to the time they spent together...

They too knew how Izumo would respond to the offer.

"Tch! So, that's how it is, huh..."

Izumo clicked his tongue and felt annoyed at being seen through.

Usually, he was the one who saw through others and not the other way around. So, this was a new experience for him and he didn't quite like it.

"Hey, maybe it's a good thing you rejected it"

"Hm? What'd you mean?"

Izumo asked, urging Aiku to explain more about what he meant by his words.

Meanwhile, Aiku merely flashed a bitter smile in response, making Izumo even more curious.

"Your coach"

"My coach? What about him?"

"The Tokyo Conquest made a change in their coach"

"..."

Hearing those words as well as the bitter smile Aiku had on his face...

Izumo, for some reason, recalled his earlier conversation with Haruto about his coach conversing with someone.

And coupled with the words Aiku spoke just now, he had pieced the puzzle together, forming an answer inside his mind.

"I see..."

Izumo stood silent, processing the news as he finally deduced why he was indeed fortunate enough to reject the offer.

It was because the coach he disliked was hired by Tokyo Conquest thereby becoming its coach.

'Seems absurd to be honest'

Izumo thought, having a hard time accepting that his coach was actually hired by a famous club.

"A-team coach?"

Izumo asked, wondering what position his coach was given.

"No, B-team"

"Oh"

Hearing the answer, Izumo was secretly satisfied and felt like it was only right for his coach.

Though it felt somewhat wrong to think like that. But he had a justified reason to do so...

Just like in the original timeline, he didn't want anyone with the potential to have the same thing happen as Aiku.

Especially with how his coach would soon be in a club full of talented players.

After all, it was partially the coach's fault that a talent like Aiku lost his passion.

Even Isagi due to his coach had almost turned out the same if it weren't for Ego or Blue Lock.

So, naturally, Izumo had biased opinions regarding individuals such as his coach.

"Izumo, don't hate on the coach too much. He's just doing what he believes"

Haruto stated, trying to persuade Izumo to pacify his hate for their coach.

"Don't worry, I'm mature enough to understand that. If I truly did hate him then I would have transferred ages ago"

"..."

"It's just... we merely have a disagreement between our football philosophy, that's all"

Izumo nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders, expressing his understanding which got Haruto to nod and smiled in relief in response.

"You staying?"

Aiku waited till the atmosphere calmed down before he suddenly asked, curious whether Izumo would still stay in Aoba Academy or not.

Meanwhile, Haruto hearing the question felt curious too as his ears perked up to await his answer.

"Hmm..."

Izumo stood in silence as he crossed his arms and closed his eyes, contemplating for a minute before he opened them and looked towards the two.

"Unlikely"

Hearing his answer, both Aiku and Haruto nodded and somewhat expected it.

After all, with Izumo's talent, there was just no way the academy would be able to keep him.

"Any thoughts on which school you'll go to?"

"No, not at the moment"

"..."

"Ah... though I might choose an ordinary school to enroll in this time"

"Oh?"

Aiku smiled and looked particularly interested after hearing his words.

On the other hand, Haruto was very surprised since the time he spent with him, he had never once shown any interest in such things.

After all, this man called Izumo had spent the past 10 years focusing his entirety on football, always striving to improve and train himself.

And to speak of enrolling in an ordinary school all of a sudden...

It just sounded somewhat unlike him.

"Reason?"

"To enjoy youth"

"Enjoy... youth?"

Both Aiku and Haruto were momentarily surprised, taken aback as they never expected such an answer to come from him.

'Indeed... to enjoy youth'

Izumo thought, smiling at himself since he was the only one who knew that he was a reincarnated person.

He who was given a second life would never pass the chance to not experience high school life again.

With all the time he spent relating to football, it's high time he takes a vacation considering Blue Lock is looming closely now.

Once he gets invited by Ego, there is no chance that he'll have a normal life anymore therefore he will take this chance to experience youth while he still has time.

And while Izumo was contemplating life and such, Aiku on the other hand had regained his momentary surprise.

"Youth, huh..."

Aiku mumbled as a sly smile formed on his face, staring at Izumo with amusement.

"Good man"

"...?"

"I never thought you were a man of culture"

Aiku grinned and flashed Izumo a thumbs up, making the young man tilt his head in confusion.

Meanwhile, Haruto had already calmed down when he suddenly heard Aiku and saw his gesture, confused before he realized what they meant and had a blush on his face.

"Hey, hey, hey... that's not what I meant by youth!"

Izumo twitched his right eye and instantly reacted as he just deduced the intent behind Aiku's words through Haruto's expression.

It seems this man, Aiku had somehow misunderstood his words and associated them to be something indecent.

However, one shouldn't be surprised considering the type of reputation Aiku had.

Even with Izumo's influence, he still became a playboy somehow.

Perhaps this was just fated to be...

"You sure? With your face, you could snatch some girls with ease"

"Hah! Don't lump me together with you, you two-eyed colored bastard!"

"Hahaha"

"I'm a man of integrity and respect!"

Izumo grumbled, feeling annoyed that he was being categorized the same as this damn womanizer.

Meanwhile, Haruto just watched the act between the two and laughed, occasionally joining in the fun every now and then.

And after a back and forth, the teasing finally ended as Izumo let out a sigh and felt exhausted for some reason.

'I can't believe I got teased... what have I become?'

Izumo thought, lamenting the changes that happened to him since he got reincarnated.

Perhaps it was because of puberty or the hormones from his young body...

It could also even be because of not having any burdens as an adult anymore but lately...

He had become more emotional and would periodically show a childish side of him every now and then.

'Well, it's not like it's a bad thing actually...'

Izumo thought and smiled warmly, secretly enjoying the atmosphere as he gazed toward the two who were laughing and chatting with each other.

If it were the past him, he would have never gotten to see such a scene because of his work.

'Maybe, it's good to let go once in a while'