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He climes out of the window, straight onto the roof. The galaxy painted right over his head, a dark canvas splattered with glittering specks, forming constellations.
He can escape his everyday life here. He can escape the voices, the whisper of those around him. His so-called friends, that weren’t actually close to being what they claim to be. He blames it on himself, be it his personality or looks, something makes the people around him anxious. Was it his unusual sharp teeth or the way he speaks? The way he shortens sentences, if he speaks at all or how he says one word twice? Were these ticks the reason why they didn’t want him around? Do they think he would break under the pressure, under their gazes? He likes to believe that he can handle it. His life has been throwing much more at him. Be it the bullying from his classmate or how even strangers stare at him. He stands out and he suffers all the consequences. He heard all kinds of names, all the insults thrown his way. The looks he received from others, hatred, confusion, or just plain disgust. When he was younger, he couldn’t handle them. He came home crying, confused in what he did wrong. He had never been rude, he did like to talk but it was never meant to be mean, to insult. Still others picked on him, treated him badly. They only see sharp teeth, an unusual sight. None bothered to look into his eyes, to see what is hidden, to search for the boy.
Growing older meant he understood more. He learned about the true nature of humans. How they were rude just because they could be. He stopped talking almost wholly, only giving his opinion when asked. And even if he did share his thoughts, it was usually only a fraction of the whole piece. A shard of the big picture. Nobody minded though, they thought his way of speaking was weird anyways. He didn’t want to give them more reasons to ridicule him. Nevertheless, he pulled through. He played football even when the others didn’t like him. He passed and followed his teammates, obeying to their orders. He let his flame be contained, let it hold himself back. It worked well, the team begrudgingly accepted that he was a needed starter for the team, that he was essential for them to win. That he was useful.
The stars had always been his companion. His personal little light of hope. Whatever happened to him they would be there. They would be waiting for him, be there when he climbs out of the window on the roof of his home. They would be twinkling, lighting up the dark sky. His interest started when he was young, his father had shown him the telescope. Had told him about them, shown him how to use the telescope, how to see them clearly, where to find them. His father had held a matchstick close to a dry branch and the spark had ignited a fire. Researching all his hands could get on about the gas globes in the universe. He spent his birthday money on a book about constellation, which is still one of his most prized possessions.
Blue Lock gave him the opportunity to meet tons of new people. Shidou was unique company. He was loud and obnoxious. Brilliant, too. Uncontrollable on the field expect if you’re Itoshi Sae, then you can put shackles on him. Kurona had always thought that this guy was something else, which later got confirmed when they released the new ranking after the second selection. He felt a smidge of envy when he heard that his teammate got placed second, right behind the younger Itoshi sibling. But what should he do. He will wait for his time. Patience is key.
Patience didn’t score him a place in the starting eleven of the blue lock team. He was also not chosen as a substitute, not like Reo, another old teammate. Reo was strong but had one huge flaw. That flaw was 190 cm tall, had white hair and had scored a goal in the first half of the game. Kurona wasn’t going to lie, the chameleon technique that he had acquired is amazing. He hoped that one day he would be able to use such a technique too, a trademark that he will be known for. But for now, he watches as Isagi scores the final goal, the match ending with it. They celebrate, Kurona joins the other, despite the somewhat hollow feeling in his chest. He observes Niko going to Hiori, talking together calmy, but somehow excited. Reo seemed surprised when the pink haired one congratulated him on his quick decision making, on defending their goal. Reo always seems surprised by their interaction, not thinking that Kurona would want to talk to him. Sometime Ranze wonders what exactly happened between him and Nagi. He doesn’t dare to ask.
The next two weeks are boring. He returns home, where he get greeted by his parents. His old classmates don’t even look at him when he walks into them in his hometown. The stars welcome him back thou, as if he never left. He is once again laying on the roof, a blanket thrown around his shoulders. He reflects on his time in blue lock so far. The first and second selection, the teammates he made and lost. He thinks of Reo, Shidou and sadly also Igaguri. He really doesn’t care about him. But the monk had found something interesting in him and therefore will not leave him alone. It got annoying quickly. Funnily enough, Igaguri and Reo didn’t get along much. Which taught him that sticking with Reo meant being left alone by Igaguri. Kurona saw that chance and took it. Reo was also fun to play with, Shidou had noticed that too. They had practiced quite a few times together. He wonders how the whole match would have gone, if Shidou had played for their side. Maybe someone would have been murdered, considering the clash of personality that was going on between Rin and him. Still the blue lock team and his teammate from the second selection aren’t people that he will forget fast. Secretly he hopes to play with them all again in the future. Except Igaguri, he can stay with someone else, his playstyle doesn’t mix with Ranzes at all.
Kurona feels himself relax, a small smile forming. Being up here felt like talking (or thinking) with an old friend, the stars listening attentively.
If it was warmer and not the middle of winter, he would have stayed the whole night up here, even fallen asleep under the canvas of stars. However, the harsh cold and frost clinging to his blanket told him that it was time to get back inside. The warmth that he is greeted with makes his skin feel like it is getting stabbed by tiny needles. His bed felt like a warm hug, and he lets himself drift to sleep.
He dreams of the universe and the solar system. He dreams of being a star, floating around, a constant chemical reaction happening. He dreams of the universe moving around until it has the shape of a football field. He sees himself as a star, just like the other players on said celestial field. Glowing humanoid shapes that are running around with an equally glowing ball at their feet. It gets passed around and shoot towards what must have been the goal. The goal is marked by planets, Uranus, and Neptune on one side and mercury with mars on the other. The remaining planets are floating around the side-lines indicating the size of the field. Kurona glows brightly like a supernova, he briefly hopes that he won’t disappear as fast as the dying star. Slowly the humanoid shapes are taking more form, turning into familiar faces. The blue lock even is playing on the outer space field. Kurona watches them. Studies their moves and imagines inserting himself into their plays.
One body or precisely one person catches his eye the most. Isagi’s plays are pulling him in. Kurona transforms himself. From a star to the moon with the goal in mind to orbit the earth. The earth in that specific dream wasn’t a planet. It is a person. The one he had been intently watching for the majority of his dream. A little voice in his head tells him that it must be his chance. That this was it, the one thing, his sign that he had been waiting for. His getaway from all the negative. He continues to stare a little longer before he decides that he knows who he would stick to.
It was around three weeks later when he had his grand debut. Noel Noa had chosen him, between all the available players. Even though he had to share the field with the German players from Bastard München he was excited. Once again telling himself in his head that this is it. The moment he had been waiting and hoping for. His moment to shine, his supernova. Isagi is important for his success, for leaving his mark on the field. So, he allies himself with the player bearing the number 11. He and Isagi work through the field, orbiting past the manshine players. This is it, his own special weapon. The planet hotline.
That night, he dreams of a familiar celestial field again. This time, instead just of watching he is also running across the celestial field. The glowing shapes have transformed into the Bastard München players. The one that stands out is the humanoid looking earth. It’s Isagi, being like earth. Kurona looks like the moon, the grey colour adorning his body, the texture telling which planet he should represent. Hiori looks similar to Isagi, indicating his equal playmaking skills. Therefore Venus, earths twin planet is fitting for him. Kunigami is red, representing mars, the name of the god of war in certain mythologies, while Yukimiya looks oddly similar to Jupiter. Kaiser and Ness are Uranus and Neptune, while Gagamaru represents Saturn, the rings curving around his body where he’s guarding the goal. The sun has not taken a definite shape yet, but the way it plays looks awfully familiar, just like someone dancing and dribbling across the field.
They win thank to Yukimiyas goal, assisted by Isagi. It feels great, to be on the field. To feel the electricity, the tension. Kurona decides then that he will continue to orbit around the earth, contend to contribute to his success. He hopes that the stars are watching, he can’t wait to tell them what he had experienced.