All the forwards want me all to themselves - Chapter 2

After the first selection ended, Jinpachi Ego organized everyone in each room into teams and began collective physical training.

The daily training routine was tedious. Icarus yawned as he watched the group on the screen training diligently.

As the accompanying physician, he was responsible for monitoring the physical data transmitted from everyone’s suits, preventing any players from overtraining and damaging their bodily functions. After all, it would be a disaster if someone ruined their foundation by being too reckless. Many famous athletes had to retire due to injuries; Icarus didn’t want to see such a thing happen within Blue Lock.

However, while everyone else was gritting their teeth and training hard, the only one not taking it seriously stood out quite a bit.

Nagi Seishiro, you again.

Icarus stared at the screen at the “Giant Miffy Bunny” lying on a sofa and yawning.

While the rest of Team V was training in full swing, this one slacker was loafing around with such utter composure. Beside him, Reo Mikage wore an “I can’t do anything with you” expression, indulging Nagi’s blatant laziness.

Even the young master of the Mikage family is practicing seriously. Just how much wealth do you have, Nagi Seishiro, to dare to relax like this?

Icarus: “Euan, look him up.”

Euan’s efficiency was high. A moment later, the files were presented to Icarus.

“His family background is quite ordinary…”

Since it wasn’t the power of money, it had to be genius.

Looking at the physical data transmitted from Nagi’s suit, Icarus understood. To reach these stats without effort meant this was a man blessed by the heavens.

But what if he actually tried?

Nagi still had a lot of untapped potential. I need to find someone who can ignite his fighting spirit.

No slacking. I’ve got to get this genius moving.

Icarus pondered, jotting down a note in his memos: [Nagi Seishiro: A lazy genius, expert at loafing. Find someone who can bring him to life.]

Finally finishing his day’s work, Icarus rubbed his eyes, exhausted from staring at the screens. Seeing this, Euan immediately stepped forward and spoke in a low voice.

“Lord Icarus, it is time for dinner. Shall I fetch it and bring it to you as usual?”

Icarus did not eat in the Blue Lock cafeteria. Euan insisted that every meal for a Cecil required a specialist to prepare and deliver it, as per Lord Nolan’s requirements. Originally, Icarus wanted to rebel against this, but upon hearing it was his brother’s request, he curled his lip and accepted.

“Fine. Go fetch it.”

Euan bowed slightly and was about to leave when the black-haired youth spoke up.

“But, bring it to the cafeteria.”

Euan turned back in surprise, meeting Icarus’s unquestionable black eyes. After a moment, he bowed respectfully.

“Yes.”

Blue Lock cafeteria.

Most of the boys had finished their meals after a day of training and were heading to the baths in small groups. There was almost no one in the dining hall.

Except for the conspicuous trio.

Reo Mikage took his last bite and turned to Nagi Seishiro, who was still slowly chewing his meat, offering a helpless smile.

“Why are you eating so slowly? Do you not like it?”

“Eating is such a pain.” Nagi slumped on the table, his eyes half-closed. “It would be great if the meat could just fly into my stomach on its own.”

“That would cause indigestion,” Reo said with a laugh.

Zantetsu Tsurugi said with a serious face: “If you don’t like it, you can give it to me.”

Meals in Blue Lock were provided based on rank, those with higher ranks ate better. Zantetsu felt that the fried pork loin in Nagi’s bowl looked very tempting, so he quickly expressed his desire to “cherish the food.” As for his own vegetable salad, while delicious, it wasn’t enough to curb his hunger.

“Mm, is that so? Then take it all.” Nagi conveniently pushed the bowl forward and leaned his body against the purple-haired youth beside him.

It was at this moment that Icarus and Euan stepped into the cafeteria.

Euan carried the meticulously prepared meal boxes. Once Icarus chose a seat, Euan quickly arranged the plates layer by layer. Appetizer, main course, dessert, and drinks. Even though they weren’t dining at the Cecil ancestral home, not a single detail was missed.

Setting the utensils in their proper places, Euan stood behind Icarus with a slight bow, waiting silently for him to finish.

Icarus: “…” Icarus: “Euan, there’s really no need, Forget it.”

The black-haired youth let out a long sigh. Although he couldn’t feel it himself, he had heard that the suppression and commands of a high-tier vampire over a lower-tier one was absolute. There was nothing to be done about Euan’s inability to relax around someone with the Cecil name.

Still, having someone stare at him with such burning intensity while he ate felt, incredibly weird.

On the other side, Reo Mikage withdrew his gaze thoughtfully. That black-haired guy has such a grand setup for a meal, and he isn’t wearing a training uniform. Is he part of the Blue Lock logistics staff? A staff member with special privileges?

Wait, that black-haired silhouette looks a bit familiar, why?

“Reo, carry me to the bath.”

“Yes, yes~” His train of thought interrupted, Reo sighed helplessly and steadied the “Giant Miffy Bunny” on his back. “Then, Zantetsu, we’re leaving.”

“Have a safe trip [Ichi-ro-jun-fū].”

“That’s not how you use that phrase. Never mind.”

Midnight, Blue Lock.

Unable to sleep, Icarus snapped his eyes open in the dark and sat up. He hadn’t kicked a ball in days, and his feet were itching. Watching the boys practice during the day had left him feeling restless.

He quietly got up and changed into sports gear. Without waking Euan in the side bedroom, Icarus slipped out. If Euan found out, he would surely follow him every step of the way in the name of protection. What was the point of playing if someone was constantly watching?

Icarus arrived at the pitch with a light step. There shouldn’t be anyone at this hour, he thought as he pushed open the door—

Swish!

First came the sound of air being sliced, followed by the heavy thud of a ball hitting the back of the net.

Someone really is here. And it’s the Rank 1 I saw today.

Icarus raised an eyebrow. Even upon hearing the door open, Rin Itoshi did not turn around. A machine assistant fired the next ball from the corner. After a perfect trap, Rin didn’t pause for a second, swiftly striking the ball. The ball carved a beautiful arc through the air, diving sharply as it approached the net.

“What a beautiful curve shot,” Icarus remarked.

Only then did Rin turn around. For a moment, both were startled as they locked eyes.

Icarus didn’t notice Rin’s strange expression; all his attention was captured by the boy’s lower eyelashes. So long. They looked long in the video, but they’re even longer in reality.

Shifting his gaze upward, Icarus met Rin’s green pupils. They look just like.

“Is there something you want?” Rin asked, interrupting Icarus’s dazed memory.

“Oh, it’s nothing.” The black-haired youth smiled. “Want to play together?”

Rin didn’t answer. He turned to receive the next ball from the machine, striking it cleanly. Another beautiful knuckleball plunged into the net.

“Whatever,” Rin said.

Wait, he meant to refuse. His time was supposed to be spent on defeating Sae Itoshi, not on playing matches with some random stranger. Rin frowned, feeling a bit annoyed. But the words were already out, and the mysterious black-haired youth had already agreed.

“Then let’s see who scores more goals.”

Icarus didn’t mind Rin’s cold face. Strikers always have a bit of a temper; it’s normal. As long as they can score. He had always been tolerant of elite strikers with quirks.

Since Rin didn’t refuse, Icarus took it as agreement. When the machine fired the next ball, Icarus stepped forward to intercept. Watching the black-haired youth’s practiced trapping movement, Rin’s annoyance eased slightly.

Icarus felt the ball beneath his feet and thought for a moment. Before Rin could urge him on.

An identical knuckleball, with the exact same arc, plunged into the net.

“Oh my, lucky me.” Icarus laughed and looked back at Rin.

He had a beautiful smile, and his black “wolf-cut” hair gave him a refreshing, youthful air. A small braid was tied into the longer hair on the left side, which gave a playful twitch.

Watching this 1:1 replica of his goal, Rin pursed his lips and said nothing. He took the next ball, trapped it cleanly, and struck it with even more speed than Icarus, sending it into the net in a completely different style.

“A topspin curve this time? Interesting, let me try too.”

Icarus mimicked Rin trapping the ball, then striking it just right of the center-bottom with his right foot without a single pause. The ball curved into the net once more.

By the third goal, Rin fired a super low-trajectory, sharp-bending curve. Icarus mimicked the form perfectly, and the ball followed the same path into the net.

Rin watched the ball, then turned to Icarus.

“Your name.”

“You want to know my name?” Icarus said with a grin. “It’s not important. Let’s just play.”

Better not tell him; if Rin mentioned it, it would be a pain if it reached Ego’s or Euan’s ears. He really didn’t want another lecture.

Rin pursed his lips and received the next ball. The guy won’t tell me his name.

The two maintained a state of alternating goals, unable to break the tie. The match finally ended due to a mistake by Rin, whose mind had grown restless.

“Ah, what a pity.” Icarus watched as the poorly controlled ball hit the post and bounced far away.

Seems that’s it for tonight. If we keep going, people will start arriving for morning practice.

“I am Rin Itoshi. The man who will defeat you.”

The boy’s words pulled Icarus’s gaze back. Rin’s logic was simple: this person wasn’t in a training uniform, so he likely wasn’t a player. Is he a future coach? Such a young coach? Regardless of who he was, he would defeat him, and then defeat Sae Itoshi.

“Sure. I’ll be waiting.” Icarus smiled.

My, how young and vibrant.

Vibrancy is good. Become an elite striker and crush RE.AL. I’ve got high hopes for you.

Watching Icarus’s silhouette vanish into the depths of the corridor, Rin turned back to the net and began his next round of practice.