Monster of Blue Lock

SS Chapter 13 : Isagi's Frenzied Thought

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“Gah…” I held in my breath just as I felt like I'm going to throw up. Because of practice.

“This isn't good,” I said, to myself. Placing my hand on top of my head. I felt immense pain everywhere, beginning from my head to my stomach. The pain never stops erupting inside of me. 

An hour and a half ago, the members of Team Z trained together in fitness, strength and sprinting speed at Blue Lock's gym room. Ayanokouji, Kuon, Raichi and I used the treadmill. Kunigami, Iemon and surprisingly Igaguri lifted weights together whilst Naruhaya and Gagamaru worked on hip and mobility at the preferred room. You could sort of imagine the shenanigans they played together.

Everyone had something to do… Except Bachira and Chigiri are nowhere to be seen, the latter not even attending the room. 

Bachira said he wanted to sleep, so he was excused early. This in fact made Igaguri mad. He yelled throughout his run with motivation.

Around the thirty minutes mark, I felt a sharp pain and my thighs turned sore. I also became breathless afterwards. I think it was pretty obvious since Kuon suggested I should rest. I'm fine, I said. Denying his advice. I would soon collapse after that.

“My head spins…” I pressed my hand against the wall to support myself and prevent myself from falling.

“You seem to have it worse.” A voice is heard from outside of my door, but I immediately recognize who it is. The same old monotonous voice.

“I think I'm close to throwing up,” I replied, using the little bits of energy I had left. Lifting my head up to reply.

He hasn't said a word after that. I slumped into awkwardness, saying stuff about myself with myself. I completed my shower and wrapped myself in a towel. Just as I was about to twist the door knob, I heard the running sound of water. Ayanokouji is showering from the other stall.

Ayanokouji came here to clean up too. After all, we'd smell badly after being heavily drenched in sweat from running.

I left Ayanokouji alone, as I applied a face washer to my face by a sink.

“You're not like your usual self these past few days. No?”

Had Ayanokouji asked out of concern? Although, it's hard to believe about Ayanokouji showing interest with such an expression.

“Yeah, yeah— no! No… I'm fine, really. I just… I guess I needed a break from all that exercise.”

“Despite all the training and matches we've played, running stops you. To phrase it, running slows you down.”

That'd hurt a little…

“I'm not referring to your athleticism, though. It's something else that's bugging me.”

“Have you gone mental?” He said.

“Huh?! What?” I'm confused. Why wouldn't I? He said it so bluntly, it rattled me a bit.

“Right, you wouldn't get it… let me rephrase it.”

“You haven't been at your best mentally. It seems you are out of the blue all day long.” 

“Did it look that way?”

I quickly scanned my face in the mirror. A quick look at it and I can already see the symptoms. I rubbed the bad section with my fingers, and my baggy eyes made me feel disturbed. 

However, I don't see much of a difference from yesterday.

“Eye bags aside, I don't look too bad. What's wrong?”

“You're mostly lost in thought, but today you seemed far worse.”

“It concerns not just you but the whole team entirely.”

“I'm sure there is something concerning you…. What happened?” He asked. I could sense the feeling of curiosity coming from him.

But should I confess? One part of me believed in sharing my troubles with him, another part of me became hesitant. I couldn't come to a conclusion, my head's decision going back and forth.

Keep it together! I soaked cold water toward my face. The cold texture nudged me back to my senses. This time, I quickly answered him. I decided to tell him the truth in detail.

“Chigiri, he… sort of got angry at me.” I said, shaking slightly at my words. “Of course it wasn't his fault. He told me about himself, his past, about his reason for not playing football. I kind of got a little overboard in my actions and that made him upset or hurt.”

A heavy deep silence aroused within. My throat is burning up, unable to continue. The thing that evoked yesterday, Chigiri’s words still lingered.

“Oh, so it's true.” He said. “I am aware of his past, his broken leg. I know about him going out somewhere late at night.”

I'm kept off guard by his discovery, where has he heard of that? From Chigiri? I doubt Chigiri isn't someone who tells others.

Perhaps it's because he's close to Ayanokouji. That's probably where he heard it from.

“But don't worry, he didn't tell me about you. He didn't rat you out. So I think you two should talk this out.”

“So that that nonsense can come right out. I'm sure you can overcome that drought.”

“My advice, don't let it run around you in circles.”

He opened the door, to reveal a washed up and clean body. Half naked, he got toward the sink and brushed his hair with a comb.

I am still at a loss for words. I watched him leave the room, leaving me alone to think for myself.