Chapter Text
How!
I was in Blue-Lock, in front of the mirror that the girls bathroom housed. Staring rather directly at my changed reflection.
One second, I was talking about becoming the worlds best- Never being satisfied- And now I'm back to the day of the first selection?!
And I'm a girl now!
Just how did it come to this?!
{50 days before the U-20 world cup.}
[P.O.V. Isagi Yoichi.]
The parade has just ended, we were in the bus on the way back to Blue-Lock. I am honestly tired, this unnatural feeling of drowsiness is suffocating...
I can't help but continue thinking about Nagi's elimination from Blue-Lock on the way back still.
I want to go back. There are many things I want to change... I don't regret anything in my time in Blue-Lock, quite the opposite.
I am just curious about what if I could do as much as I could do now back then. Devour the selections... Prove myself an extraordinary player from the start... Just thinking about it is surreal.
I want to experience that level of ego. But beyond that...
I want to try and evolve further. What if my first match with Kaiser, I already had meta-vision? My match against the world-five?
All of those moments, these matches, are missed progress for my own goal because I wasn't strong enough, because I wasn't enough of an egoist.
I want to pit myself against Loki again. Against them.
To devour them.
I want to become Blue-Locks center and beating heart, the best in the world!
Soon, my drowsiness takes over me and I slowly but surely fall asleep.
Hey, Bachira... Wake me up when... We... Arrive...
...
Ah. That makes sense...
But what doesn't make sense is...
{Location: Blue-Lock, girls bathroom.}
How I actually came back?! And why am I a girl now!
It's not logical, not one bit...
I put my hand to my chin, intensely thinking while looking at the sink.
Fitting the puzzle pieces seems so impossible...
There is no logic or experience that could explain this yet!
Ok, well... You got your wish Isagi...?
You're back...
...Okay.
Let's do this.
My face suddenly sharpens, my whole look turning serious and reflecting sheer determination and will as I stare at my new reflection.
You are Isagi Yoichi. Blue-Lock's Demon King. This is your chance to understand and adapt even greater counters to someone like Loki Julian or Dada Sliva... These guys are the barrier between me and the world cup. Between me and the best in the world.
I must devour them this time.
No room for error if you want to be the best in the world!
Okay, I have to focus... What can I improve right away...
...Thanks to my knowledge and memories, I am able of using all of my weapons.
So the obvious thing for now, is to work on my physique and ensure it can keep up with my vision... And also allow me to use Meta-vision more effectively too.
If my twice over trained body got tired after using it for half a match in the Neo Egoist league for the first time, this body wouldn't last half a match...
Wait, what match even are we on? I know we're in the first selection thanks to the many futon in the room, but I didn't catch which match we were on...
Nothing hints to Team W... Kuon is still in the process of becoming 'team leader', No hints of Team Y either or the air of desperation that followed last time...
Team V is the last match, but it was a different atmosphere that morning... That leaves Team X.
Okay, come on Yoichi! Let's do this!
You'll have to avoid standing out for a tiny bit so you can train and devour Barou-
'You aren't talented enough for soccer, you should just quit. Donkey.' the memory of Barou saying that resurfaces in my head.
No. My ego won't allow something like that.
I turned the handle of the sink before splashing my face with water and quickly going outside after preparing myself for whats to come.
Training has to start effective immediately so I can use all of my weapons! This will also allow me to upgrade my previous amount of use for my trained ambidexterity...
On the way there, I was so lost in thought that a ball hit the back of my head and I was surprised.
"Ow! Who?!-"
I turn around to see him.
"Hello, I~sa~gii! Training alone? Mind if I join?"
Oh, it's Bachira!
"Hey, Bachira! Yeah. I wanted to catch up to everyone since I'm so far behind..."
'Only in physical specs.' I correct myself in my head. 'Only lacking in physical specs.'
Bachira's always present grin helped me automatically feel more sure about my choice.
Seeing that no matter the universe or time, Bachira will always be Bachira is reassuring.
I smile unconsciously myself seeing Bachira's grin as he spun the ball on his finger, feeling at ease.
"Great! Let me join you then, we'll train together."
We made our way to the field rather quickly, each of us taking a side on the middle of the pitch doing quick warmups.
I smile at Bachira after my warmup is done, I forgot it's gotten so long now that I've started playing at a higher level because Bachira started copying me at some point...
I think last time I asked him about his monster on this pitch.
Seeing that I was done, Bachira stopped stretching too.
"Finally done, Isagi?~ Phew, your warmups sure are long!"
He said, with his usual giant grin.
I chuckle, sub-consciously rubbing my nape sheepishly before speaking.
"I guess I just hate the thought of being injured because I was careless."
He casually responds as usual with his smile almost glued to his face.
"Wow, you sure are diligent Isagi~ I might start joining you for these pre-warm ups, I feel much more flexible after that!"
I respond with a voice I'm yet not used to hearing.
"Your welcome to join me anytime, Bachira."
Bachira soon gained a thinking look for a moment, seemingly thinking about something for a moment.
"Are you not curious why I passed the ball to you, Isagi?"
He asked, curiously. It wasn't that he was confused about how I treated it like some natural occurrence, that wasn't Bachira.
His gaze now felt curious, as if he wanted to know simply for the sake of knowing.
I pretended to be thinking. Now, it's finally time for some pay back for shocking the hell out of me back then, Bachira!
I quickly take the ball from Bachira, using my shoulder to keep distance as he tried to get it back, clearly caught off guard.
"Because I saw your eyes back then, Bachira."
I said, as I out-dribbled this much less skilled version of Bachira, moving the ball away from him using my footwork from the Neo Egoist league.
Bachira is always good at dribbling, but this version of Bachira has nothing on the one i fought in the NEL!
I continue speaking, my tone very relaxed as if I wasn't playing and talking at the same time. This footwork was muscle memory now, after all.
"Your eyes told me all I needed to know,"
I turned around to face him, looking him in the face like he looked me back then.
"That a monster is inside of you, Bachira."
I smiled widely, much wider than usual.
"It always speaks to you, doesn't it? It speaks of the soccer you want to play, right?"
I don't give Bachira a chance to reply as I cross and use my off-the-ball movement to quickly overtake him and pass the two cones on his side, wining the exercise before finishing speaking.
"I know how that feels now, thanks to you."
I said, smiling casually now as if I didn't say something very absurd.
Hah! Take that, Bachira! A taste of your own medicine!-
...Why is Bachira so red-faced? Did he get a cold? That didn't happen before...
I go up to Bachira very casually, putting my hand on his forehead to check for it's temperature.
"That's why, I'm glad I came to Blue-Lock. I got to meet you, Bachira."
I said, smiling slightly as I continued trying to gauge his temperature.
"I-Isagi..."
Oh, his voice sounds very shaky... I didn't know it was this bad...
I frown a bit seeing his state.
Beating Barou with a sick Bachira's gonna be much harder...
"Yes, Bachira?"
His mouth kept closing and opening, almost like a gaping fish.
Oh dear... That's looking really bad...
Suddenly, the intercom rang out.
Ping
Pong
Pang
Pong
A voice soon followed the ringing, a familiar announcement of sorts playing.
"Uuh... The tallies for the 3-day athletic tests are done. Return to your rooms at once, we'll be confirming the rankings."
I looked at the intercom while it spoke until it finished the announcement, looking to Bachira afterward.
Bachira still looked lost in thought.
I poked his forehead with a smile.
"Come on Bachira, we'll be late."
I said as I passed Bachira and begun walking back to Team-Z's dorm room.
He soon snapped out of it and begun following me- Wait. His gaze...
I discreetly look at Bachira over my shoulder, his gaze felt different...
When I saw his gaze I almost froze. It was an expression I've never seen on Bachira's face.
He looked like a lost puppy following me. His face was slightly flushed, his eyes were wide in seemingly amazement and his jaw looked to be loosening and tightening every second, as if he wanted to speak but his mouth didn't let him.
It was completely unlike the usual Bachira I'm used to.
Is his cold this bad?
I might have to tell Ego...
I turn my head to look at Bachira, a look of concern on my face as I chose to ask Bachira before taking action.
"Do you need medical assistance, Bachira? Your face is pretty red and your temperature feels a bit higher then usual..."
Bachira's eyes widen, almost like breaking free from a spell or a trance as he suddenly smiled and spoke, sounding off...
"U-uh- No need, I-I'm fine Isagi~ Promise!"
I sigh and nod.
"If you say so... Don't hesitate to speak if you feel anything."
His gaze changes again, very subtly but it's there. I can't tell what changed though...
"Oookay, Isagi! You got it~"
Oh, phew... There is the normal Bachira with his carefree smile. I was almost worried.
I felt myself smile, much more at ease now that I saw Bachira was fine.
"Then come walk next to me, what are you doing walking behind me?"
I asked teasingly, knowing that Bachira loved to tease me with little things like this usually.
He instantly came up beside me- He feels a bit too close... Just my imagination probably.
Anyways, we soon made our way back to the dorms.
I was sure ever since I encountered Bachira that this was the first match, against Barou again...
I can't go easy on him. But I'm held back by this mediocre body I haven't yet trained... Using Meta-vision is outside of the equation until at least the second selections first proper training only period...
I was so deep in thought that I didn't notice the door was getting closer until Bachira slung an arm around my shoulder and pointed at the door, saying teasingly-
"Isagi, that's our dorm! Where are you going?~"
I blink out of my trance, seeing the door.
I smile and speak, thankful for Bachira telling me because I almost missed it...
"Thanks. I almost went to god knows where..."
I chuckled as I opened the door.
Igaguri was there, like last time.
"Ah, Isagi!"
He turned around and pointed to his armband.
"Check it out! I've moved up a bunch from 300, see? I'm the 275th now!"
Oh, poor Igaguri...
"Yeah."
I reply with a small smile and nod, knowing that it's not us who went up. Just that twenty five players were eliminated.
Igaguri looked at me confused.
"You moved up too, don't you feel glad about that?"
"It's not that we moved up- Nevermind, he'll explain it soon."
I contemplated explaining myself but realized there's virtually no point as Ego will explain in a moment himself.
Bachira looked at me like my words were gospel and nodded, practically just accepting what I said while Igaguri said-
"Seriously? Who's he?-"
Igaguri was cut off as Ego showed up on the monitor.
I tuned out what Ego was saying, because he was simply repeating what he said last time but instead focused on him.
His posture, speech, everything.
One of the things I wanted to do was figure out Ego Jinpachi... And hopefully, this restart will be my starting point.
Worlds best striker, Here I come!
...