"To celebrate Team Z's second consecutive win, cheers!"
"Cheers!"
Everyone raised their glasses of water together, celebrating their second victory.
They hadn't celebrated the first win mostly because Ryan had used five points to get his phone back, while the remaining point went toward steak for himself, Isagi, and Kunigami.
But now that they had more points to spend, the five who scored each redeemed a steak.
"Everyone, eat to your heart's content!"
"The taste of victory… it's delicious."
"So good! So good!"
"Hey, save some for me!"
"There are five portions, aren't there? This time I'm eating until I can't move!"
Jugo came over carrying a tray.
"Alright, alright today we've pooled everyone's food, so eat up before you start fighting again."
"You sound like a lunch-lady at school."
The table was packed dumplings, saury, natto, pickled radish.
"Ryan was a total god today no matter the situation, he still found a way to score."
"Hahaha, of course! My strength comes from relentless effort and sweat. Have any of you seen Blue Lock at 4 a.m.?"
"Nope."
"I have! It's thanks to my constant training that I've reached this level. But don't try to copy me my body's unique. If a normal person trained that early, they'd probably drop dead from exhaustion."
Isagi just listened silently while Ryan bragged. Every morning when he got up, he saw Ryan still fast asleep. Early training? Yeah right.
"But, Isagi, that run you made at the end was impressive."
"Yeah, did you actually know the ball would end up there?"
"N-No, not really. I just ran because I wanted to score, and somehow it felt like that spot might be lucky."
"That's because of my pass! I saw you moving, so I sent it straight there!"
"Thanks, Ryan, for the pass."
"Of course your weapon is spatial awareness. You can smell where a goal's about to happen."
"Hmph, if you hadn't passed, I'd have scored with my sexy football anyway."
"Whatever the reason, we won. We're staying here, Team Z!"
"Yeah!"
"'Staying here'? No ambition at all. With me here, we should be crushing every team."
"Fine then, let's crush them all!"
"Alright, once more our goal is to stomp every team beneath our feet!"
"Yeah!"
After dinner, Ryan played a few mobile games on his futon, chatted with his girlfriends for a bit, then got ready for bed.
He turned his head but Kunigami wasn't there.
That idiot… he's not training again, is he? These try-hards are going to kill me. How's a naturally lazy, handsome genius supposed to live in peace?
No, I have to scold him properly for this.
Ryan wandered through every room looking for him even checked the bathroom. Finally, he found Kunigami in the gym, doing squats.
"Hey, Kunigami, what the hell are you doing?"
"Squats. Why? You want to use the rack? We can train together."
"You idiot, I'm asking why you're training this late. Nighttime's for sleeping; otherwise you'll have no energy tomorrow."
"I know… but I'm just lost right now. I don't know how to keep getting stronger."
"Didn't you just hit that insane knuckle-shot today? How are you lost?"
"I'm not sure that wasn't just luck. I don't want to rely on luck. I want to win with my own strength. Luck won't always be on my side."
"So what you're saying is… you want to get stronger, huh, kid?"
Kunigami caught the change in Ryan's tone and thought he had the secret to power.
"Yeah! I want to get stronger. Please, tell me how!"
Ryan crossed his arms. "Then I'll ask you this: do you have the courage to make a pact with a demon?"
"A… demon? Do those even exist?"
"They do. Just because you haven't seen one doesn't mean they aren't real. In fact, my body houses five sealed demons Red, Yellow, Blue, Green, and Purple. I can already use three of their powers."
"So that's where your power comes from?"
"Exactly. Tempted yet?"
Without hesitation, Kunigami shook his head.
"No. I'll defeat everyone head-on, with my own power. I don't need help from demons or anyone else."
"Hahaha, gomen gomen I was kidding. You looked so serious, I couldn't resist teasing you."
Veins popped on Kunigami's forehead.
"You bastard !"
He took a step forward, fists clenched.
"Hey, hey, relax. Even though the demon thing was a joke, I do have a real way to make you stronger."
"What is it?"
"You're left-footed, right?"
"Yeah, what about it?"
"Train your right foot until you're ambidextrous. If you can shoot with both, defenders can't predict you. Your scoring chances will skyrocket."
"That's true… but easier said than done. How do I even start?"
"That part's up to you. I'm just giving you the direction. I was born ambidextrous, so I can't exactly teach you."
"Still… thanks. You gave me a path to follow."
"Aww, you're gonna make me blush. But tell me, Kunigami, you say sweet stuff like that to girls too?"
"Ha? What are you talking about? Of course not!"
"So I'm the first person you've said something that embarrassing to? How cute~"
"You damn punk!"
Seeing Kunigami about to charge, Ryan bolted.
"Catch you later!"
After running a safe distance, he turned to make sure Kunigami wasn't chasing, then exhaled in relief.
Maybe I went too far that time. He looked ready to kill me.
As he passed the monitoring room, he noticed a faint light inside.
That must be Chigiri again. What's he doing here every night? Don't tell me he's watching… that kind of video?
Ryan slammed the door open.
Chigiri nearly jumped out of his skin.
"Wh-what the hell, you scared me!"
"What are you watching, Chigiri?"
"Match replays, obviously. Why else would I be here? Aren't you watching too?"
"Alone in a dark room at night? You sure it's not something… weird?"
Chigiri instantly realized what he meant. His face turned crimson, part shame, part fury.
"Could you be any more disgusting? There's nothing like that on these monitors!"
"Alright, alright, my bad, Chigiri-chan."
"'Chigiri-chan'!? That suffix's for girls, you jerk!"
Ryan grinned, but his eyes caught the footage playing on screen clips of Chigiri running and scoring.
"Huh, didn't expect you to be so narcissistic."
Chigiri ignored him.
"I just wanted to rewatch today's game… to see myself running again. I'm scared this might be the last time."
"Don't say crap like that. As long as you're enjoying yourself out there, that's enough. You've already stopped hiding, you're alive again."
"Yeah… thanks. It's because of what you said before that I could move forward again."
"In that case, maybe introduce me to your sister or cousin sometime? I bet your whole family's gorgeous."
"Not a chance, you three-timing bastard."
"Hahaha, relax! I was joking! Well… mostly. So really no?"
"No means no. And by the way, I haven't forgotten you used the same sweet-talking lines on me that you use on your girlfriends. What was that about?"
Ryan whistled innocently and started backing toward the door.
"Sorry, what? Can't hear you. It's late, I'm sooo sleepy. Night, Chigiri!"
And with that, he slipped out before Chigiri could throw something at him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you're interested, you can read advanced chapters:
pat reon .com / Samorash
~> Bonus Chapter every 300PS!!