Chapter Text
Isagi dig in his Katsu Curry with want that night. It taste ten times better than the last time he's eaten this. It feels more deserving and victorious. Hero, huh.
Bachira bombarded him with pictures he'd taken and Chigiri sent some as well. So Nagi had stayed with them when he thought that guy would run just after the bowling match. He hasn't heard from the U-20 members but somehow it feels like they were satiated from then. It was all good.
'Live your life as you want.' the phrase flustered him his chest aches from feeling it too much. Isagi conclude that perhaps that's what being an egoist mean, living the life he wanted and learning the excitement of the soccer Blue Lock has to offer. He both gained and left things behind, and yet that path led to victory and gave him wider vision.
This is what Ego must mean. This is how he wanted each of them to feel. The overwhelming taste of excitement and victory earned from dramatic win.
That night an email came from Blue Lock.
From:
TEIERI ANRI BLUE LOCK
BLUELOCK PROJECT: NOTICE OF RESTART OF ACTIVITIES
Below, the details were listed carefully. "Oh." The adrenaline rushes inside at the thought of going back to the battlefield he called Blue Lock. Isagi wanted nothing more than that.
He plops down at his bed, bouncing a little. To think that last time he came home having their team defeated and not going to Nationals into becoming a hero from his goal in front of thousands of spectators watching.
It was crazy how everything feels they were ages ago when he's only gone to Blue Lock for more than a month. Maybe it's not the time that made it that way but the improvement he'd noticed from himself. He was just a random high school soccer player dreaming of becoming like Noel Noa before. Then he remember Tada.
"An excuse-me-goal like that.." he said and it punch like a reality. "Already used up all the luck in your life!" Isagi responded with a rather unpleasant laugh.
"I’ll go to Ichinan High School and play at the Nationals! Then I'll turn pro, get called up to the National team, and score the final goal in the World Cup!" is what Isagi promised to himself before he let them change his beliefs and turn him into someone else.
If only the version of himself right now stands back then in Saitama Prefectural Tournament, the goal Tada had missed would've made it because Isagi is an egoist. Instead of passing and assisting he would've shot that himself and got them to Nationals they wanted.
If only.
Isagi read the email once more and turning on an alarm for that day before deciding to go to sleep. He was sure those guys received the same email as well and he couldn't fathom what more awaits for them.
Does he have any plan tomorrow? Maybe catching up with everything he missed outside or with his parents. If one of those guys decided to hang out again, then.
The alarm pierce through under the covers. Ah it was too loud!
His mother knocks at his door. "Yocchan, if you don't get up now you'll be upset. You told me to wake you up this early."
For what? Isagi groaned but rolled on his back and pulled the comforter off himself, unwillingly. The chilled room made him want to dive back to sleep but the alarm won't stop. Did he mistakenly set a reminder last night?
He swiped the screen, successfully silencing the ringing tone. It was serene once again, then came hurried footsteps outside his room.
"Yocchan, are you up?" it was his mother.
"I am!" he replied loud enough.
"Your dad's downstairs, start preparing and join us for breakfast." her tone is mellow, sweet and reminding. It takes him back.
"I will," although he doesn't have a clue what he should prepare for.
Ignoring, Isagi ruffle his hair and blinked at his empty notification panel. No new messages. Well, it's fine. He get up and take one look at his room, it looked a bit used but maybe it's due to the fact that he hasn't been here for a while. Then he caught the hem of his t-shirt. Wasn't he wearing a shirt last night? Isagi doesn't remember changing out of it. Puzzled, he walk out of his room and heads to the bathroom. Maybe he was too deep in sleep it's almost feel like he's having an amnesia or the transience of his morning state.
Isagi wonders if it is too bright or colder when he enters the bathroom. The tap water certainly awoken his spirit.
He blinked at his reflection.. he looks a bit smaller. And different. Did he perhaps shrink during the night? But wasn't sleep supposed to make you grow taller? Perplexed by his own appearance, Isagi stop seizing himself in the mirror and get on with his routine. Brushing and facial wash.
He could hear the noise from the morning news his father always tuned in everytime they eat breakfast. There was a clatter of utensils in the kitchen, that should've been his mother preparing the meals.
"Goodmorning," he greeted and pulled his own chair across his dad, whom smiling widely at him.
"Did you overslept?" his father asked.
"I did, I just came back this week after all." Isagi smile as well.
"That's right. You were out late from practice yesterday, are you sure you're not pushing yourself, Yocchan?" his mother came in and carrying two plates, placing one before him and his dad.
"Eh? We just play in the arcade and went to the bowling alley." he reasoned, weirdly, it surprise his mother.
"Really? But you were beaten up yesterday, weren't you in the soccer club then?"
"No.."
"It's fine, right dear? Relaxing before the tournament, I'm sure Yocchan will give his all. Isn't that right?" his dad indulge.
"Uh.. what tournament?" he ask as though he was spacing out. Did I missed something from the email Ms. Anri had sent last night?
"The final match of the Saitama Prefectural Tournament, Yocchan. Silly, now eat. You need lots of energy!" she usher his plate and the appetizing meal.
Saitama Prefectural Tou.. no, that couldn't be it. Isagi thinks. That was in the fall and way back his start of second year in Ichinan, moreover it was in the past.
Maybe they mixed it up? Probably.
His interview didn't show up during breakfast. Isagi guesses it would be too much if they will air it several times in a day for consecutive days. And his father had already recorded it couple of times Isagi was sure they exceed the space of their hard drive.
"Thanks for the meal."
"Leave the dishes, you go and prepare."
Clueless but without protest, Isagi ascend to his room and snatch his phone above the bed frame. He doesn't know what he needs to see but he was searching for it.
Isagi frown. The date is not matching. It's still could be an error on his side, he just had his phone back after all. He exited the setting app and tap on the message icon, searching for Chigiri or Bachira's name on his recent messages. When there's none his heart sped up and hammering inside his chest.
Isagi calm his breathe and trick himself to think more rationally. He start to recite the events that he know had occured.
They got two weeks off from Blue Lock. He came home a week ago and stay indoor. And only yesterday he hangs out with Chigiri and Bachira before the rest. He went to an arcade and karaoke, they found Aiku and the rest of U-20 members. They had fun in the bowling alley and Barou joined them. What else then? Ah, he left early because he promised to meet his old friend Tada.
Nothing peculiar happened yesterday. What is happening then? Was he in some kind of joke and he's the punch line?
Isagi feel his room but nothing comes weird out of it. A hidden cam maybe? But Ego does not seem to be the type to be into comedy shows. Think Isagi. His hand reach for his mobile again to check the most recent photo he saved. It was a group picture that Bachira had sent last night, he was sure about it but even that— not quite, nothing appears on his album and they are not in the contacts as well. He was sure everything is screwed.
"Fuck." he cursed. A turmoil is beginning to form in his stomach.
His phone starts vibrating beside him. Isagi idly pick it up and surrendering to whatever waiting for him but with a tiny hope that it would be from someone he can talk to.
Tada-chan (6:14AM)Hey Isagi! Dude where are you??
The message read and he stare at it as if the letters will rearrange themselves. Shit. This can't be truly happening to him.