On the day of the Manshine City game, Isagi was an odd mix of frustrated and content.
He'd made it onto the team. The Bluelock Auction rankings had been released again after PXG and Ubers had played, with ten Bluelock players getting bids.
Itoshi Rin - 36,000,000
Bachira Meguru - 32,000,000
Y/N L/N - 29,000,000
Kunigami Rensuke - 24,000,000
Shidou Ryusei - 20,000,000
Isagi Yoichi - 17,000,000
Oliver Aiku - 15,000,000
Karasu Tabito - 12,000,000
Eita Otoya - 9,000,000
Aryu Jyubei - 5,000,000
Yet, he wasn't anywhere near the top. Isagi could only wonder what had happened in that game. What was so impressive that Rin had received such a high value? He desperately wanted to get closer, to eventually surpass him as the top valued striker.
And that had to start with getting as much game time as possible.
Isagi's hands unclenched and clenched, anxiously fidgeting. All of the Bastard Munchen team stood inside their changing room, fully kitted out, warmed up, and ready to go. Noa held a tablet, one finger tapping at it idly. He looked up, yellow eyes glancing around the room.
"The optimal formation against Manshine is this. We're playing a 4-4-2. Michael Kaiser and Kunigami Rensuke will be centre-forwards, former on the left, latter on the right." Isagi grimaced a little at Noa's words. I'm still not good enough to be in the front positions.
"For the rest of the offence, we'll have Isagi Yoichi on the right, Grim on the left, and Ness in the middle. Our defensive midfielder will be Ali." There were multiple sighs and groans at that, one of the loudest from the man Isagi had replaced. Noa paused. "Our defensive line, from left to right, will be as follows."
"Yukimiya Kenyu. Menser. Birkenstock. Kurona Ranze." He let it sink in for a few seconds. Turning as discreetly as he could, Isagi met Kurona's eyes, grinning at him as he gave him a silent thumbs-up.
The pink-haired boy nodded back, mouthing quietly as Noa kept talking. "I'm in the match to support you, Isagi. I'm taking your side over Kaiser's."
Heart swelling, Isagi's smile widened a little. Even more, as Noa announced their goalkeeper. "Gagamaru Gin."
"Huh?" The caveman blinked twice. "Why me?"
"I'm aware you weren't going for such a position, but your physical stats and abilities all are suited for a goalkeeper. For this team, you have the best numbers to be one."
"Cool." Gagamaru shrugged. "At least I get to play. No complaints here."
"Good. As usual, this team composition has largely been based off numbers. Each of you is highly suited to your role. But this is also an experimental team of eleven."
On the wall behind Noa, a screen flickered on. It showed the formation that Noa had just described, with the addition of a jagged crack running right down the middle of the field. "Currently, this team has two ideals. One is the traditional Bastard Munchen philosophy, using efficient methods and Kaiser as the finisher. The second is Bluelock's style, allowing players to work against each other and surpass each other in order to score goals."
"These two ideologies will go against each other, and in the end, we will shift towards whichever seems more... effective." Noa's dull eyes were unblinking. "Any questions?"
"Wait... Noa." Kaiser hummed. "Is this a test for me?"
"I'm glad you get it." The reply was swift and sharp. "I expected much more from you, Kaiser. But you already lost to the Mercenary, and in horrible fashion too. Show me you still deserve to be the ace."
Isagi glanced over at the tall man with surprise. He lost to Y/N? When did they even get a chance to play? Kaiser was visibly annoyed, fists clenching behind his back and a forced smile on his face. "You should mind your own fucking business."
"You shouldn't have lost." Behind Noa, the screen split in half. One half moved in either direction, forming a door that opened wide with a loud whirring noise. "Time to play, Bastard Munchen. Don't hesitate. Just win."
From the doors, there was nothing but bright light. Isagi's eyes took a few seconds to adjust from the darkness of the room, and he blinked a few times to clear his vision. Beyond the doors, the pitch was waiting. Perfectly green artificial grass, high, monotone grey walls, and the Manshine City team.
Bastard Munchen took the field. Isagi immediately spotted a trio of Bluelock players standing together, all of them looking directly at him. Nagi, Reo, and Chigiri. With them, a tall, dark-skinned man, wearing gloves. Is he the goalkeeper? I wouldn't be surprised, with that height...
He headed over to them. "Hey! Congrats at being chosen as regulars."
"So high and mighty." Nagi quietly commented. "You didn't think we'd make it?"
Reo laughed, eyes lingering on Nagi. "As expected from the guy with a seventeen mil salary." Isagi didn't know what had happened before, but during the entire of the third selection, the pair had avoided each other. Now, it seemed they were somewhat more comfortable... but still nowhere near before.
Smiling, he shook his head. "It's not about the money!"
"Oh, you love it." Reo joked, hands resting on hips. "Seventeen million is like a board member for a big company!"
Upon Isagi trying to protest, Nagi hummed. "You're like a mini president, Isagi."
"Zip it." Isagi chuckled. "You're all gonna get offers as well."
"Eh." Nagi just shrugged. "I'm not bothered about it. I just want to beat you."
As the two spoke, Reo's eyes flickered to Kunigami. He headed over, beckoning Chigiri after him as well. For some reason, Kunigami hadn't talked to either of them since his return to Bluelock. He'd changed... but Reo wanted to know why. "You went through a lot, didn't you?"
Peering at Kunigami, he sighed. "My parents told me a little about it. They aimed to make you a copy of Noel Noa, right?" There was no response from the orange-haired boy. "Well, we both lost to Shidou. We should've been out. So I'm glad you're here, and that we can fight again."
Upon seeing Chigiri hanging back slightly, Reo smiled, tilting his head towards Kunigami. Go to him. The boy was facing away from both of them. Reo held out a fist, tapping his shoulder before walking off. "Let's have a good game, yeah?"
And then it was Chigiri's turn. "Hopefully so."
He edged closer. "You know... you think you're changed, with all that edge-lord shit. You think you're so bad." Smiling a little, Chigiri sighed. "But I'm still gonna play like you're the same guy from before. How's that sound?"
Kunigami didn't answer for a few long seconds. And he didn't turn around, facing away from Chigiri. His head angled towards the floor, shoulders rising and falling with slow, measured breaths. He sucked in a deep breath.
"You'd better let go of the me of before. You sheltered little princess."
Chigiri just grinned. Call it ignorance, call it hope, he didn't care. He wasn't gonna accept Kunigami's new emo phase. "Keep talking. I'll wake you up, cynic hero."
They split apart, each heading to their own side of the field as the casters' voices rang out from above. Neither of them knew it, but at that very moment the pre-game show had concluded. Now, it was time for the actual game to start.
