Ascension│Bluelock x male reader

2.21. Standoff

"W-what?!"

"He missed?!"

"Not only that, it looks like the ball has hit a manager for the Bluelock team?!"

"Did he purposefully shoot for him? Surely not...?!"

Everyone was on their feet for two reasons. One, that Y/N L/N, the newest Japanese prodigy, had just fired the ball off the field. And two, that the whistle had blown right after, and the match was over.

Bluelock players streamed onto the pitch, colliding with each other as they screamed out congratulations, exchanged hugs, and tossed water bottles to their fellow teammates. On the other side, the U-20 players let out sighs, hands on hips as they sucked in huge lungfuls of air.

And up above, the commentators were trying to figure out just what had happened in the last minute of the game. "It looks like medical staff are headed to that manager's location... there's a bit of a nosebleed at least, but it was a powerful shot, maybe there was more damage?"

"It looked like maybe he wanted to pass to a teammate on the wing, and overshot it? The manager simply got unlucky?"

"Oh, I have no idea! But anyways... with Isagi Yoichi's shot on goal in the last minutes of the game, Bluelock takes the victory, 5-4!"

As they spoke, voices nearly overlapping with their excitement, the players of both teams formed lines, Rin at the front of one, Aiku at the front of the other. They walked forwards, passing each other as they exchanged quick words and handshakes.

And right after, they broke off. Isagi was swarmed by teammates, huge smiles on all of their faces as they laughed, dizzy from the victory. The U-20 team was a little more reserved, a few faces of worry. Because Bluelock now controlled the U-20 team, they could choose who played and who didn't in the World Cup.

Isagi found Igaguri yelling into his face. "This is nuts, Isagi! They're calling for you on TV!"

"Huh?" The teenager found himself dragged to his feet, and shoved over to the side of the field. A camera crew was waiting, as well as a man holding a microphone. His legs moved automatically, even though they were on the verge of collapse.

The man grinned, white teeth easily visible. "Ah, here he is! Isagi Yoichi, the player who scored the final, winning goal for Bluelock!" He took a few steps forward, shoving the microphone into Isagi's face.

"Please, let us know your feelings on that match! Did you enjoy it? Because I certainly did!"

Isagi was caught completely off guard. "Uh... yeah... happy..." He stammered. "I'm very happy with it..."

The man winced a little bit at the response, but did his best to keep his smile up. "You certainly looked like it, and so did your teammates! And I'm not surprised, because with this, Ego Jinpachi now controls the U-20 team!"

"Yep."

"So, here we've seen just a little of the talent that the Bluelock project has been cultivating. May I ask, what other goals does this project have? Or more specifically, what are your goals as a player?"

Isagi paused for a second. He glanced around. The entire crowd was cheering, for him, and for Bluelock. The name Isagi Yoichi was being thrown out everywhere, and he knew it wouldn't just be in the stadium, but all over the country.

From now on... my goals. To Isagi, it was clear what he wanted. It had been clear ever since he'd joined the Bluelock project.

"Win..."

The reporter moved the microphone a little closer. "Sorry, what was that?"

"Bluelock will win the U-20 World Cup." Isagi hesitated. "We will... no, that's not quite right."