A week after what happened, the harmony and resonance of Team Z began to build little by little. In training sessions, Kaiser took it upon himself to push his team to the limit, considering his self-imposed restrictions.
Although not everything was a waste of time in his opinion, his main goal in participating in the Blue Lock facility had not changed at all.
He was still aware of the influence his mentor had on the Bastard Munchen team and on him and the others. Kaiser was the best striker on the youth team of them academy, but even he was aware that it was nothing more than a sham. He felt limited and imprisoned in the academy.
Ironic, isn't it? But it was the reality. He was known as one of the great prodigies of the new generation of soccer, and yet he felt like a prisoner and a show animal. There was no progress in fighting against weak teams Except from ubers and that annoying lorenzo, justo nos the feeling of stagnation weighed heavily on his heart.
There was a time in the past when soccer was everything to him, vaguely remembering fragments of his childhood with his most special ball, that soccer ball that was priceless to him, that no other wealth could match, a friend who didn't cry, complain, or yell at him.
Far from the reach of Noah and his academy, Kaiser experienced a slight sense of peace in this place, a place where the bureaucracy of soccer's top executives was restricted, although for him the priority now was only to escape the influence of his Master and escape to another team where Noah could not restrict him.
In recent weeks, Kaiser had devoted himself solely to pushing his team to the limit. In accordance with the contract he had established with Jinpachi Ego, he gradually flaunted his abilities to stimulate and instill rivalry in the hearts of his teammates.
Although his team still had a long way to go, just like him in soccer, he couldn't help but feel deep down that seeing his team gradually breaking through their limits again inspired him in a way, and he made the decision to gradually create alternatives in his style.
He was bored of always executing his signature shot, the one that initially helped him escape the chains that separated him from being an ordinary player to an exceptional prodigy, but now became a burden that chained him to a throne that was false and imperfect in his eyes.
Knowing this, and remembering his experiences, he recalled a player he had long respected, back in the day at Real Madrid, who, despite being a defender, instilled terror in anyone who watched him due to the power of his shot. His name was "Roberto Carlos"
He took as a reference some plays he remembered mentally about him, although he was very limited by the absence of his phone, which had been confiscated by the rules of the facility. Even so, he began his preparations for a select group of weapons that could help him break out of his deadlock, although he still put the matter aside as he needed refinement and time to conclude his plan properly.
At that moment, Team Z was resting on the gym floor, waves of sweat and a variety of different smells emanating from everyone, including our protagonist, who was still being watched by the others as he lifted an intense weight of 110 kg in squats.
With the goal of strengthening his legs even more and breaking through his limits again, Kaiser made the decision to moderately increase the density of his leg muscles this week.
It wasn't entirely difficult for him, although his legs hurt a lot. He had endured much worse experiences in the past, and this pain would only help him improve and become stronger.
Here at Blue Lock, there was no complacency, and that was something he liked. He felt a resonance with Jinpachi Ego's philosophy and way of doing things.
Meanwhile, Kaiser stood with his eyes closed, immersed in his internal monologue.
Bachira, who was standing with the rest of her team, watched him... An intense fire ran through her body, affecting her mood. Little by little, a slight red pigmentation appeared on her cheeks, and her gaze was completely focused on him, without looking away for a second.
She felt her mood skyrocket. Before coming to Blue Lock, she didn't have much social experience with boys and girls her own age. Since childhood, she had focused exclusively on soccer, and although it was a very popular sport among boys, the same could not be said for girls.
Very few dared to talk to her since she was little, and she could understand that to some extent, since it was not very common for women to be involved in soccer itself. However, everything changed one day when, out of envy, the girls at her nursery school turned the boys against Bachira out of mere jealousy or envy.
Her former self and her current self still did not understand the reasons for that decision, but she had no choice but to live with it. She complained inconsolably to her mother, still not knowing how to deal with the loneliness that adorned her heart. Was it wrong to enjoy something that others considered unusual? That was what she asked herself at the time.
But even to this day, she still cannot find a clear answer. She simply resigned herself to her difference from others and continued on her lonely path, putting on a friendly and mischievous mask to avoid making others uncomfortable with her true feelings.
However, when she arrived at Blue Lock, everything felt completely different to her. The presence of girls and boys who understood her and looked at her for her abilities and not for her beauty or eccentric personality meant that she never felt judged. She only felt recognition for her abilities, which had previously been the target of envy for being different from other girls, but now were needed and supported here.
Bachira dismissed those thoughts. All that reigned in her mind now was the figure of Kaiser standing in front of her. Ever since she saw him at Blue Lock, she felt his exceptional presence pressing against her. Admiration lingered in her mind. Very few boys could compare to him, at least in her opinion. He was the most exceptional man in her field that she had ever witnessed with her own eyes.
She didn't know what this feeling and glow running through her body was, but it felt good in her opinion. Kaiser's figure and his muscles and veins showing on his forearms and legs under the Blue Lock uniform awakened things she had never experienced with other boys.
"He... He's definitely someone incredible," she said to herself, smiling in her mind, holding her heart, which was beating with slight intensity as she watched him.
Isami, who was next to her, also watched Kaiser. She couldn't lie to herself; with the little time she had spent with Blue Lock, she couldn't help but admire him. Apart from his occasional bouts of arrogance, it was entertaining to share ideas and chat with him.
"Although he is certainly attractive," she murmured in her mind, embarrassed as she watched his training routine.
Chigiri just watched with interest, especially because the exercise was related to the legs. She appreciated his effort, although she felt discouraged by the difference in mentality that prevented her from putting intense pressure on her legs as he was doing.
Kunigami, on the other hand, nodded with satisfaction on her face. For her, a man who worked hard and took care of himself was something worthy of respect. She and he were not so different when it came to exercise habits, to tell the truth.
"10..." Kaiser whispered, feeling intense pressure in his lower calves, but he encouraged himself to continue anyway. "11..."
Once he reached the twelfth repetition, he slowly dropped the weight bar to the floor calmly. Sounds of heavy breathing emanated from his mouth. Wiping away a drop of sweat, he walked back to his teammates, finishing the last workout of the week.
From now on, everyone, just like him, had to move forward if they didn't want to stagnate.
Raichi just watched him, his mouth half open, but he quickly clenched his teeth in frustration, repeating to himself in his mind that he too would be able to do that in the future.
"I'm so jealous," Ikki said in a tired tone.
"H-hah, w-why do you say that?" Kaiser replied haltingly, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
"I can see that you have good genetics when it comes to physical appearance. You're tall and have great physical potential, and I lack both of those things. I can't help but feel a little envious of you," Ikki replied, somewhat embarrassed under the gaze of his team.
"Don't feel so bad, Ikki-kun," Kuon said kindly. "Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. Don't let that discourage you. Focus on finding your own path and approach."
Kaiser nodded in agreement. He had already crushed multiple opponents who were genetically gifted in physical ability in exhibition matches at his academy, but that was useless if you didn't know how to use it properly. For him, that wasn't a problem.
"I guess you're right, but I still think I'll have to put more effort into this. Seeing Kaiser-san earlier cheered me up a little. It's difficult to play a defensive position with my current physique," Ikki replied, taking some water to relax.
"Well, guys, what do you think of the results we've had this week in terms of training and physical conditioning?" Kunigami asked, crossing his arms curiously.
"Honestly, I have no idea!" Naruhaya commented with a smile. "However, it feels good to have a fixed course toward a common goal for everyone."
"That's true," Bachira interjected, drawing the attention of the others. "I want to play again and beat the other teams. My blood is boiling with excitement."
"Do you think we'll play again soon? Another week has already passed," Gagamaru, who was on the ground stretching his torso, asked his team.
"Yes... Maybe we'll be back on the field soon, you never know, hopefully soon," Imamura said with a sigh of relief after finishing his personal routine.
"I miss meat. The food here is very limited. Only Kaiser-kun, who has a higher rank, has access to more decent food," said Chigiri, which made the others nod in agreement.
"To be honest, typical Japanese food barely fills me up. I miss german food," thought Kaiser with a blank face, remembering the food in the cafeteria.
"Tch, that's right, my body needs protein, and that damn four-eyes limits us like that!" Raichi exclaimed irritably, remembering the small portions of food from before.
"I think I saw some information there about special rewards for those who scored goals," Gagamaru said, remembering a special board located in the cafeteria.
"Yes, whoever scored a goal could claim a plate of meat, 3 goals would get your cell phone back, and 10 goals would get you out of Blue Lock for a day," Kaiser said under the excited gaze of the others, especially with the second reward.
"I guess we have another goal besides winning and taking the forward position," Ikki said thoughtfully about the second reward.
"Yeah... I want to get my phone back. It's kind of boring to spend my days without any entertainment," Isami commented, sobbing in a comical tone.
"Ugh, don't remind me of that, Isami-chan. I had already forgotten about it since the first game," Bachira replied, kneeling on the ground with low spirits.
However, Bachira didn't realize that by crouching on the floor, her back and buttocks were outlined by her uniform, and combined with the sweat on her suit, her graceful figure was visible, as were her white panties.
The boys who were closest to her looked away, embarrassed by the display. They had spent so much time surrounded by them that they barely remembered that they were still living with women after all, even Bachira, who was somewhat eccentric in her mannerisms and speech, not deny the fact of his attactiveness.
Kaiser observed Bachira's display as he stood close to her. He reacted for less than six seconds due to his initial surprise before looking away with a blush. Deep down, he felt a slight fire ignite within him, but he controlled himself.
Kunigami, noticing the situation, sighed somewhat jealously at Kaiser's reaction. Although she still did not understand why she felt that way, she decided to intervene.
"Bachira, you're showing your butt to Kaiser. Don't be careless," Kunigami said, annoyed.
Upon hearing this, Bachira quickly regained her previous pose, turning her head to look at the boys, who had slight blushes on their faces from the earlier display. However, she turned her attention to the girls, and Kaiser in particular.
Chigiri just smiled amusedly, although somewhat embarrassed by the situation. Isami, on the other hand, looked away with shame on his face because of his partner's display, and Kunigami was just irritated, but a slight mocking smile was visible on her face.
Kaiser, on the other hand, sighed to calm himself, not daring to look ahead where an embarrassed but firm Bachira was staring at him.
"Did you see that, Kaiser-kun?" she asked in a soft but unsettling tone.
The other boys just looked at him with pity. Although they didn't know why Bachira only noticed Kaiser, they couldn't help but feel some sympathy for him in the face of the girl's unsettling gaze.
Feeling the pressure, Kaiser became somewhat nervous due to the sinister aura emanating from Bachira, but he composed himself and dared to respond before the situation worsened.
Under the gaze of the entire Z team, they watched curiously as Kaiser leaned close to Bachira's ear and whispered something to her.
Instantly, under everyone's gaze, Bachira fell to the ground with an embarrassed expression, a deep crimson flush on her face, and white smoke rising around her, which filled those present with curiosity.
Some, like Raichi, Gagamaru, and Naruhaya, laughed at what had happened, while Ikki just sighed amusedly at the situation along with the others.
The girls, on the other hand, had mixed reactions. Isami laughed nervously, scratching her head, but deep down, she couldn't help but feel a little jealous of Bachira and Kaiser's closeness.
Chigiri had a poker face, her eyes narrowed, feeling somewhat irritated, although she did not yet understand why.
Kunigami, on the other hand, was a little more expressive, her teeth clenched and grinding together as she watched the situation impassively, feeling disconnected from reality for a moment.
"What did you say to Bachira?" Isami asked, approaching Kaiser with curiosity and feigned interest.
"It's a secret," was all our protagonist said, crossing his arms and looking away under the suspicious gaze of Isami and the girls.
"Okay..." Was all Isami said, not insisting on the subject any further.
A somewhat uncomfortable wave of silence reigned in the room for a few seconds. No one said a word about what had happened, especially the boys, who felt that the mood of the girls around Kaiser was more tense than ever before.
"I've seen this situation somewhere before," thought Ikki, somewhat frightened, thinking about anime series he watched long time ago.
Raichi was about to interfere, unable to handle the silence any longer, until he watched with the others as Bachira stood up again.
However, her expression was revealing to them. Bachira bowed her head, hiding her eyes, but her whole face was red as a tomato, with her hand close to her nose.
Isami approached his partner, touching her shoulder, which startled her, thinking it was Kaiser. She only relaxed a little more when she realized it was Isami.
"Are you okay?" Isami asked, concerned and jealous at the same time.
"Y-yes... d-don't worry about it, ha ha ha," Bachira replied, trying to calm down.
Meanwhile, Chigiri and Kunigami looked suspiciously at Kaiser, who had his head tilted to the opposite side.
Just as Kunigami was about to speak to him, a sound came from the gym's loudspeakers. It was the voice of Jinpachi Ego.
"Rough diamonds, the results of the third match have been announced. Team W won 4-1 over Team X. The next match will be yours. Please report to the playing field in two hours" announced the voice, drawing the attention of everyone present and diverting the topic from the previous situation.
"It's about time, and thanks for the help, Ego" Kaiser thought with relief as he approached the boys under Kunigami's frustrated gaze.
"It seems it's time. I feel confident enough to claim victory this time," Ikki said, taking control of the conversation and trying to divert the topic.
"Finally, I was getting bored of all the training. Let's do this! Let's see if I can score some goals and claim that meat from the reward session!" Raichi exclaimed excitedly, showing his teeth.
"I agree with him. I want my phone back. I need two more goals to claim it," Kunigami said, approaching his team alongside the girls, letting the issue pass this time.
"Same here," said Kaiser, remembering the goal he had scored earlier.
"Tch," replied Kunigami annoyed, which startled Kaiser, who already guessed why she was like that, under the amused gaze of the other boys.
Bachira, on the other hand, was still a little embarrassed and didn't stick close to Kaiser this time. Just being near him made her heart beat faster, more so than playing an intense game.
Chigiri approached quietly, and once the entire Z team was gathered, they began to discuss strategies and actions before their upcoming game.
Kaiser, on the other hand, who was standing somewhat apart from the girls for his own sake, just reflected on the current situation. Something in him had changed a little when he looked at Bachira. He still didn't understand the warmth that appeared in his heart, but it felt good; it was something he had never experienced before in his life.
"Do I like Bachira?" Kaiser thought suspiciously, gently clutching his chest where his heart was beating intensely. "No... Maybe it's something else, maybe that's it," he said to himself, trying to deny it. He had never known or experienced love from anyone or for anyone, apart from his ball. It was hard for him to admit the idea of feeling affection for someone else, yet deep down he felt he was lying to himself.
"That's for my future self to deal with" Kaiser ended his monologue, watching his team as they observed and immersed themselves in the maneuvers they would take in the next game.
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